THE OMAHA DAILY HMK : DNESDAY , FEBRUARY 20. 1800.
STRODE LEADS THE DEBATE
Congressman from the first Nebraska Debates -
bates the Contest Against Tar/moy / ,
ARGUES THE LEGAL ASPECT OF THE CASE
1'\\n limit * C in iiiinril In 1'roKPiitlnu
HIM I'olnlN mill .tnnwfrliiK Hie
iiuiN I'nl Him ! > y the
WASHINGTON , F b. 23. ( Special Tele-
Brant. ) Representative Strode of the First
Nebraska for two hcur * today addressed the
lionso on the election case of Van Horn
against Tnrsney of Missouri , reported from
Ills commlttco In favor of the contestant.
Mr. Strode Inld the foundation of the ar
gument , which will bo followed by the re
publican Bide , and showed thorough famil
iarity with hla subject. Ho presented the
cane from Its legal standpoint. Ho was In
good voice , although slow In making his
IKilnta. which afforded many opportunities
for Interruption , which he bore with com
mendable equanimity. He was not In the
least disconcerted nt thcso efforts to rattle
him , and showed himself thoroughly a mas
ter of debate.
Mr. Mercer gave It out today that the
secretary of the treasury would not specify
any particular kind of apparatus or boiler
to be used In the Omaha poslomco plans
nnd specifications for heating and gas pip
ing now progressing" toward completion.
Secretary Carlisle stated that the only thing
required of bidders would bs compliance
with the specifications , and that copies of the
same would be mailed on application , which
Is to the Interest of Omaha contractors.
The reason for the contract of the Globe
Canal company of Wyoming , In which Omaha
parties arn Interested , being held up , Is
ascertained to be on account of walling for
the report of the Inspector , who Is Instructed
1o report to the department whether the
lands In question are arid or not , the Plate
engineer of Wyoming having Informed the
department that timber was growing on some
of thofe lands. It was the Intention of
the Interlotl department to exempt cer
tain portions of these lands , but Is now
Btalcd that none will be exempt , all stand
ing on the same footing. Whether an In-
npector will be sent from here , or the
local Inspector be appointed , Is also caus
ing considerable friction.
Indian Commissioner Browning states that
lila department will within a month submit
proposals for Indian supplies , and that printed
proposals will too mailed. Thin Is oC partlcu-
'lar ' Interest to liarnossmakers of Ulalr and
Omaha , and wholesale merchants of the lat
ter city , who have been furnishing supplies.
nnd the packers of South Omaha who furnish
meals.
Mr. 'Mercer ' Introduced a bill to place on
the pcnsloa reel , Rev. Warren Cochrau of
Omaha at the rate of $72 per month , be
iiavlng served as chaplain through the war.
Senator Allen stated to The Bee correspond
ent tonight , that ho would Introduce- substl-
'tulo for the Dlnglcy tariff bill , which got a
black eye In the satiate today , and would
make a moderate tariff , to which a free
silver rider would bo attached , for the pur
pose of seeing whether the republicans would
accept that.
The commissioner of the land office says
the register and receiver at DCS Molncs has
received his final Instructions as to procedure
on the 27th , when filings will bo received on
O'Brien county lands. The commissioner
saya ho haa full confidence In the ability of
the Dea Molnes officials to handle the many
'perplexing ' questions , which are bound to
Petitions are coming In from Grand Army
of the Republic posts In Nebraska and Iowa.
asking that the grade of lieutenant general
too revived , and that Qenral Miles be appointed -
' pointed to the came.
The senate bill which Representative
'Gamble succeeded In passing through the
house on Friday was sent to the white house
today. H permits timber culture claimants
to make proof before the clerk of courts or
county commissioner within county of resi
dence , instead of requiring them to go to
the land office.
The Indian bill which passed the house
'today carricB appropriations of $25.000 each
for Indian schools at Rapid City and Cham-
bet lain , S. D. Also an appropriation of $20-
000 Immedlntely available for surveying al
lotted Indian lands , and an appropriation of
S3 000 for an artesian welt on the Yankton
reservation. The bill also provides for the
re-establishment of the Crow Creek Indian
agency.
In tho. . land case of Kenneth McLean
ngalnst the Union Pacific Railroad company
from Grand Island ( Neb. ) district Secretary
Smith today affirmed the decision of the com
missioner of the general land office. Mc-
Iican's application to make homestead entry
for land Is held for. rejection on the ground
that It Is within the Indemnity limits of
the grant to the company and was not pub
lic land at the dateof entry. The appeal of
George F. Damon from the commissioner
Is decided adversely to thn claimant and bis
application to make homestead entry for a
tract of land In Alliance district Is rejected
on the ground that hu had exhausted I.a
rights in making a prior entry.
Matthew O'Keofo of Fort Nlobrara , Neb. ,
baa been appointed a tagger In the Bureau of
Animal Industry at $720 per annum.
Second Lieutenant Wllmot K. Ellis. Fifth
artillery , Is granted a month's additional
leave.
The retirement from' , active service of
Colonel Charles M. Terrell , assistant pay
master , Is announced.
Leave granted Captain George S. Ander
son , Sixth cavalry. Department of Dakota ,
Is extended a month.
First Lieutenant Charles Byrne , Sixth In
fantry , Is ordered to this city for temporary
duty.
A. B. Hudson Is a guest of H. L. Merrlck
of the Washington Post.
Miss Dandy Is visiting friends In this city ,
iduiiH III1I lle or < eil.
WASHINGTON. Feb. 25. Senator Squire
today presented his report on the fortifica
tions bill. The committee today amended
the bill making the total amount carried by
It $80.000.000 , Instead of $87,000,000 ; making
$10,000,000 available at once and to bo ex
pended during the fiscal year , ending June
30 , 1897 , and $10.000,000 thereafter for the
following seven years. This Is In lieu of
the emergency section of the bill , which
allowed the pioaldent to expend all the money
In his discretion. The bill also authorizes
contracts to bo inado for the entire work , of
fortifications.
IIMIMJH ; ix TIM : nunnn.
Hill to Slnp < hr MlmiBlitor of Senln
I'liMxrilVHliout Di-lintr.
WASHINGTON , Feb. 2 : . . The house today
promptly pacscd the Indian appropriation
bill UK amended. No one demanded a sepa
rate vole on the Union sec
tarian H'hcol amendment as agreed to In
commlttw of the whole. The Ogdcn , N. Y. ,
land claim was stricken from the bill In
order to avoid a long discussion.
Mr. Dingley , chairman of the ways and
means committee , then called up the bill
repotted from that committee yesterday
authorizing the president to conclude negoti
ations with Russia , England and Japan , or
either of them for n commission to Inquire
Into the habits of the Alaskan fur teals and
the best method of preserving the teal herds ,
pending which the president was authorized
by the bill to conclude a modus vlvcndl , to
terminate January 1 , 189S , for the protection
of tlie seals , and In case such a modus
Vivendi could not bo concluded before the
end of the present ncsslon , the secretary of
the treasury was authorized to take and kill
all the seals while on their feeding grounds
on the I'rlbyloft Islands.
Mr. Dlngloy had the report of committee ,
wh'cli has already been published , road and
he explained that the necessity for Im
mediate action arose from the fact that the
Canadian pelagic sealers , whoso ravages the
bill sought to prevent , were already titling
out their vessels and would begin to sail In
the course of a. week. The bill was .passed
without debate.
Under an arrangement made yesterday Mr.
Babcock , republican of Wisconsin , chairman
of the District of Columbia committee ,
claimed the floor In behalf of the com
mittee.
After several bills of local Importance had
been passed Mr. Johnson , chairman of elec
tions committee No. 2 , called up the con
tested election case of Van Horn azalnst
Tnreney , from the Fifth Missouri d strict.
There were three reports In the case. The
majority report was signed by all the re
publicans on the committee save one , Mr.
Taylor of Ohio , who was fn favor of the
contestant. On the face of the returns , Tars-
ney had a majority of 745 , but allegations
of fraud , ballot box stuffing , etc. , were made
against the returns from Ihe several pre
cincts In the Ninth and Second wards of
Kansas City , which the majority regarded
as so completely proven lhat they favored
the throwing out of these precincts , which
gave Tarsney a plurality of 1,120 votes ,
thereby giving Van Horn , the republican , a
plurality In the district of 375 votes. The
majorlly , considering Ihc circumstances , op
posed the reopening of the testimony.
The three democrats on the committee ad
mitted the existence of fraud , but claimed
that the vital question Involved was whether
the returns from the fraudulent precincts
should be purgeJ or thrown out. Under the
election laws of Missouri each ballot Is
marked with the voting number of the voter ,
so that the Investigation of the ballots and
the voter would determine absolutely the
fictitious names op the poll books. The
minority , therefore , reported a resolution to
recommit the case with Instructions to the
committee to segregate the legal from the
Illegal ballots and recount the latter.
Mr. Taylor , .In the third report , concurred
In the conclusions of the majority If the
fraudulent precincts were thrown out , but
he favored reopening the case because of the
ease with which , under the Missouri election
laws , the legal could be separated from
the Illegal votes. If that was done , ho ar
gued , the title to the seat "would not rest
on conjecture and Inference. "
Mr. Strode opened the debate In favor
of the adoption of the' majority report. Mr.
Strode spoke for over two hours. He was
followed by Mr. Taylor , the dissenting re
publican , who In a somewhat sensational
speech urged that nothing could Juslfy the
house In throwing out entire precincts at a
congressional election and disfranchising
honest voters. The republicans of the house
owed It to themselves to protect them from
their own partisanship. The returns could
be , and should be , purged of fraudulent and
the honest ballots counted. At 5 o'clock the
house adjourned.
IJEPAIlTMK.Vr WllX NOT IXTEUFHHE
No IroHtect of JiifliHou IleliiK I'rose-
> 'on foil by ToHtiil AutborltlvM.
WASHINGTON , Feb. 25. It is very Im
probable that the case of Pearl Bryan , the
murdered Cincinnati girl , In , Its new phase ,
as Involving violations of the postal laws ,
will ever reach the Postofllce department
for Its action. The published letters bear
ing on the proposed abortion on Miss Bryan
which passed between Scott Jackson , charged
with the murder , and William Wood , held
as an accomplice , are regarded by postal
authorities to be obscene In the view of
the law , but the matter doubtless will not
bo taken up except In case of acquittal on
the murder charges , and then prosecution
will rest with the Society for the Suppres
sion of Vice and the United States attorney
for the district of Ohio. The evidence
would be worked up by R. W. McAfee , who ,
though a postofilce Inspector In the St. Louis
division , would act for the society , holding
the same relation to the western field for
the society that Anthony Comstock does to
the eastern field. In no case will postal
officials here begin the prosecution of the
men , and the only way It may bo brought
up Is by a possible reference of the matter
to Assistant Attorney General Thomas for
an opinion. The maximum penalty for the
offense is a fine of $5.000 or five years Im
prisonment , or both , at the discretion of the
court. .
LOTS OF GOLD IMASIIONALAXD. .
* 'IelilH There Arc lllclier Tlinn Tlioxe
1 the TriiiiHViinl.
WASHINGTON , Feb. 25. The Transvaal
may find a formidable rival In the near future
as a gold producing state In Mashonaland ,
which United States Consul Hollls treats In
a report to ! the State department from
Mozambique. Ho says that seven or eight
years ago the mining Industry In the Trans
vaal was In about the name condition of de
velopment as that In Mashonalaud today ;
now they are turning out $42,000,000 gold
por.annum. Mines In Mashonaland , however ,
ar6' ' oelng much more rapidly developed than
was the Transvaal In the early days. More
over , reliable mining experts have stated
tlmn and again that the gold reefs In
Maslionaland and Matabeleland are , on the
whole , richer and more extensive than those
of the Transvaal ; and there Is < no reason
why those countries , along with Man lea
Safola. should not soon rival the Transvaal
In gold production.
Concur In flit * Semite Amendment.
WASHINGTON , Feb. 25. The house com-
mtttee on public lands voted to concur In
the cenato amendment reducing the time
from ten to six years In the bill providing
for the extension of time within which suits
may bo 'brought to vacate and annul pat
ents upon public lands.
PEN PICTURES PLEASANTLY PUT.
IK1 'KM YKI < I < - . . - iWo i-
Wo don't cure we'll continue to make
priced Just as wo please. We'vo got a great
ono for tomorrow You know those misses'
42,50 shoea , In narrow square toes , cloth
tops aud buttons they're $1.25 tomorrow
Its been a regular line new goods every
pair but they're too exponsivt > We'ro go
ing lo quit buying them and they go now at
half price $1.25 A lot of nilswa' lace shoes
91.25 also. The Mine ftylcj In child's but
ton or lace $1.10 all sire * all widths.
Drexel Shoe Co. ,
§ Sltlift ) .0tttu.r 1419 Fnrimm.
"JUST Ol'T" ' TIII3Y CltllSIl
Thenow tongs "Just out" are "The Time
Will come When You'll Remember , " by
John A. { 'airfield , 40c. "In the Shadow of
the Pines , " by G , 0. Long , BOc very catchy
and popular dermanla March , by Dlllen-
berg , -lOc Eapanlta , Spanluh waltzes by
'
George 'Hosey , composer of "Honeymoon , "
COc These are the very latest am ! when
you get the latest you got It of Iloape and
nowhere else ,
A. Hospe , jr ,
ua Art. 1513 Douglas
OHNHI-HK POIl AMIIASSAIIOH 1IAYA1UI
Ilriiilnllun Miinli More
.Ml 111 Thrill the Orlrtllinl.
WASHINGTON , Feb. 25. Chairman Hltt
of the foreign affairs committee today re-
period to the house the preamble and reso
lutions agreed upon by that committee cen
suring Ambassador llayard for portions of
speeches delivered at Edinburgh and Iloston.
Accompanying the preamble and resolutions
Is a brief report , which sets forth that Mr.
Hiyard did make the speeches containing the
features alleged to be objectionable and ray
ing that no action had been taken by the
governmcnl thereon. The preamble contains
the extracts of the speeches which brought
forth the resolutions on the subject In the
house and they are followed by the follow
ing resolution recommended by the committee -
tee : '
Hesolved , That It Is the sense of the
house of representatives that Thomas F.
Haynfd. ambassador of the United States to
Oreat Hrltnln , In publicly using the Inn-
Kiingc nbove quoted , hns committed nn of
fense against diplomatic propriety nml nn
abuse of the privileges of his cxalled posi
tion , which should make blui the represent
ative of the whole country ntd not of any
political party. Such utlcrnnces nre wholly
Inconsistent with that prudent , delicate nnd
scrupulous reserve which be himself , while
secretary of sliile. enjoined upon all diplo
matic ngcnts of the unlte-il Stales. In one
Fpeech bo offends n great Iwdy of bis coun
trymen , who believe In Uie policy of pro
tccllon. In the other be offends all bin
countrymen who believe that Americans
are capable of calf-government. Therefore ,
ns the Immediate representatives of the
American people nnd In their mime , WP con
demn nnd censure said utterances of the
Hon. Mr. Hnynrd.
Resolved further. That , In the opinion of
the bouse of represeiitntlvoq , public speeches
by our diplomatic or consular officers abroad
which tllcplay partisanship , or which con
demn nny political party or party policy , or
organization In the United States , are In
ilercllrtlan of duty of such otllcers , Impair
thHr usefulness as public servants ami di
minish the confidence which they should
always command at home and abroad.
A minority report containing the views of
the commlttco opposed to the resolution will ,
it Is expected , also be presented.
VAI.l'H Or TIII2 WKATIIHH SKIIVICIS.
Chief Moorp AnHtrn ( lint Million * of
llolliirn Are Mnvod Aimmillv.
WASHINGTON. Feb. 25. Chief Willis
Moore of the weather bureau has made a
special report to the secretary of agriculture
with reference to the actual money value of
cold wave warnings to the people of this
country. Special reference * o the cold wave
or January to lj of tlie present year is
made. That was one of unusual severity ,
spreading over the enllrc country east of the
Rocky mountains , with the exception of the
nouthern portion of Florida. At every
weather bureau station throughout this coun
try the cold wave flag was displayed and
the warnings were distributed at least
twenty-four hours before the cold wave oc
curred. Reports from twelve stations indi
cate that these warnings were directly Instru
mental In saving from destruction property
exceeding $3,500,000 In value. This estimate
takes no account of the property saved as a
result of those warnings , distributed from
the weather bureau stations to thousands of
small towns and cities from which It lias
been Impossible to obtain reports. The
largest saving was by owners and shippers of
perishable produce. Water pipes were pro
tected In factories and residences and public
buildings , the size of trains regulated by
railroad officials , while florists and agri
culturists protected their hot houses. Re
ports of direct benefits were received from
fuel dealers , owners of Ice harvesters , farm
ers and stock raisers , river men and business
men generaly. Ono of these last reported
the wealher bureau an active party In every
man's business. Another benefit widely re
ported , but necessarily not expressed In
figures , was protection to health and In
crease of comfort of the public generally on
account of these timely warnings.
riiiM.POMCY HOI.DEUS SCAKHD.
R.tpreMM Doubt n to < luS < iiiinliics of
.Aiiirrlcnii Iiixiiriiiiff.
WASHINGTON , Feb. 23. The Immediate
effect of the attllude of boslillty assumed by
the Prussian government toward American
Insurance companies - Is a rush of Gcrjnan
policy holders to the American consuls In
Oermany for Information concerning thf
slandlng of the companies. United States
Consul Tingle at Brunswick reporto to the
State department that scarcely a day passes
that bo does not receive such Inquiries , In
dicating a doubt of the soundness of the
American companies that la simply absurd.
The consul says that outside of the prescrip
tive requirements made of the companies by
the Prussian government , certain agents of
other companies In their zeal to secure busi
ness did not hesitate to picture the Ameri
can companies In the blackest colors. To
meet this , the consul atrongly urges the
American companies to circulate in Germany
compact statements of their financial condition ,
the state machinery of Inspection provided to
Insure their proper management and other
Information of a reassuring character.
TIK VOTE O.V TIIR AXTI-IIOXO I1II.I , .
Sliver SemitorM UrKe tlio PnHitnffe ot
the I'r po etl Act.
WASHINGTON , Feb. 25. The greater part
of the time of the meeting of the senate
committee on flnancs today waa devoted to
the consideration of Senator Bacon's bill to
prohibit the further Issuance of government
bonds without the authority of congress , but
aa there was a tlo vote upon It , final action
waa postponcu.
The bill was brought to the attention of the
committee by Senator Harris , who urged the
propriety of the line ot action , Indicated by
the bill , but the republican senators present
without exception took a position In opposi
tion , aaylng that the passage of the , bill would
he equivalent to the repeal of the resump
tion act. The vote for consideration stood 5
to C. The affirmative votes cast were by
Mesrs. Jones of Nevada , populist , and Har
ris , Vest , White and Walthall , democrats ,
and the negative votes by Messrs. Morrlll ,
Sherman , Allison , Aldrlch and Platt , repub
licans.
Olfern tn I < 'urnlHli DouiiiiieiitM.
WASHINGTON , Feb. 25. The Venezuelan
Boundary commission has received through
Mr. Tehane a letter enclosing one from Mr ,
Clement Markham , president of the British
Geographical society , offering to furnish the
American commission with all the charts and
Information In Its possession touching the
location of the true boundary between Ven
ezuela and British Guiana. A reply has been
made to this effect , expressing the gratitude
of the commission for the 'tender and stat
ing that It will bo held under consideration
In the expectation that the case which the
British government has promised 'to submit
will Include all ot the Information that Is In
the possession of the society and so render
It unnecessary to tax It at this time by an
acceptance of this offer.
Content for the Convention.
WASHINGTON , Feb. 25 , The executive
committee of the National Association at
Democratic Clubs will meet In Washington
at the Ebbltt house 'on the 13th and 14th of
April. There Is quite a contest being waged
for the convention of the Association of Dem
ocratic Clubs , which Is expected to be a
largo affair. Tbo association will as usuaj
request all democratic associations all over
the country to honor the anniversary of tills
Jefferson's birthday by some appropriate
demonstration.
Mini ) KliiKler Let OT HUM- .
WASHINGTON , Feb. 25. Miss Elizabeth
Flaglor , daughter of General Flagler , chief
of ordnance , U. S. A. , who last spring shot
a colored boy named Green , eon of a Treas
ury department messenger , was arraigned
In court today. She pleaded guilty to In
voluntary murder and was sentenced to three
hours In jail and to pay a fine of $500. Gen
eral Flagler paid the line and the young
lady was conducted to jail to servo the
three hours , _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Ttro 111 I Ix Ilei'oinc u I.mv ,
WASHINGTON , Feb. 25. Two bills haVe
become acts without the president's signa
ture , namely , the bill authorizing the
Arkansas & Choctaw railway company to
operate a railway In the Choctaw nation , and
the bill granting right-of-way to the Bralncrd
& Northern Minnesota Railroad company
through the I-eech Like and Chlppewa Indian
reservations , Minnesota ,
IIlHiiilNMeil for Not 1'iiyliiHT HU IleliU.
WASHINGTON , Feb. 25 , Tlio president
haa remitted the sentence of dismissal Im
posed by court martial upon Second Lleu-
tenaitt Chirles SmUer , United Slates ma
rina corps , retired , fur failure to pay hU
debts ,
TIIK FIFTlUTlNUAL RUPORT
4 f\ \ ' *
CONNECTICUT-MUTUAL LIFE
ISSORASCEi'COilPANY ,
.III.-
To the Members : Fifty years ago a few
( , men living In Hartfdni became Interested In
the then novel sahiimj of life Insurance.
They had no know f-dao of Its science , but
were attracted by Its promised result the
i ! protection of the family ngalnst the money
I low Incurred through the death of Its
i brad-winner. A New' England community ,
with Its steady ways. Its sobriety of tem
per and habit , Its many home. " sheltering
Industrious , frugil , thrifty households , Its
pervading sentiment 6f family affection , and
Its strong pcnso of duly * seemed to them n
proper field for the liroiion.nl beneficence.
Not deslrng to make money out of It , but
simply to give this protection , at
Us actual costto .all needing It , they deter
mined to make a mutual company. And'PO
the Connecticut Mutual Life Insurance com
pany was born , being chartered at the May
session of the general assembly In 1S46 , and
soon thereafter organized for business by
securing a guarantee capital , noon after re
tired , nnd f > 00 applications for policies , of
which nineteen are sllll In force. For
tunately for the company and the develop
ment of life Insurance In this country. In the
absence of an American experience , resort
was had to the then fundamental assump
tions of mortality , Interests ) anil expenses
which had been proven nife by the English
practice. The prudent thrift , characteristic
of New England business operations of every
degree , was from the output a marked feature
of the company's management. Another oc
casion will bo chosen to set forth some of the
more Interesting details of the company's
history , Us direful progress , Its conservative
changes In the bases of Us calculallons , and
Its more scientific nnd equitable adjustments
In the matters of returns of surplus and the
application of reserves on lapsing1 policies.
For the purposes of this report It Is sum-
clent to call your attention to the following
striking group of facts :
From Us organization to January 1 , 1890 ,
the company received :
1'or memlunis . JIS7.3CS.5M OT
! Interest . 7.1.5VJ.S21 M
I.'or rcnH . 6.S04.845 9C
llalunce rirulll nml loan. . ! l1i.n.8 81
Total receipts . ttGS.7U.81S 88
It has pilil 2 .JM death .
claims fur . 8ri.OQ3.787 f3
6.53S ' oil'luwmeiUs ' for . 3.16liSH 3J
Surrendered pjllelea . M.MMM 99
l-or dividends . EUM.10S 03
A totni returned to poll *
ey liolJers DP their
lH > nonulirle : > 4. nelni 91.S1
per eent of the entire
pitiiiiluni * received . J173,9l2.1Sj 13
' ' ' " 110" " ' '
Total expenditures . tM7,9 < 7.795 94
Halaiici ! not npoela Jan. 1. 1S96 . J W.701.03) C4
It Ins nddltloirit ui-aets ( s-'C state-
meiit ) . 1.9Jj.4jSl
'
Total assets . . . * 62,759.70' 95
That , Is the amdilnts returned to policy
holders and their beneficiaries ( ? 175,912,185.-
13) ) and the balance of Income after all ex-
penllturcs. < $ fi0.7G4,020.64. ' ) aggregating J236-
670,205.77 are 12C.SI per cent , of the entire
amount received from , policy holders. Add
ing the further Items of assets , as above ,
the precenlage Is 157.33. ' This has been done
at an expense of management of 8.74 per cent
of the Income. Both In what has been done
for the policy holders -and In the economy
of management Ufa I" Is , In the low cost of
the protection glren these results are
equaled by no Amerlcajf company.
OPERAT/giNg IN 1895.
Th9 year 1895 was ; p.ne of prosperity. A
fair gain In new business and In the amount
at risk , with no tincr3ase : In expenses ; a
favorable mortality wllli a considerable sav
ing therefrom ; a substantial gain In surplus
notwithstanding an Increased dividend , nnd
a general .malntennc& of healthy conditions
are the chief featurcjii of , , the. year's ex-
Dsricnco
We greatlyresrel that the new requlre-i
ments of the several1 State1 Insurance De
partments ? Interfere \Vlth our long-continued
practice of completely closing a year's
business bsforo reporting It , and compel us
to close our books while many Items of
business belonging to the year were still
outstanding. In consequence , we show an
Horn of premiums In course of collection
for the first t'.me in many yeara a larger
nnrnllected Interest and a slightly larger
ratio of expense to Income , without an
actual Increase , than would otherwise have
been the castf. The full expenses have been
Incurred without our having received the
full Income to which they are referable.
It Is proper to say that we actually closed
the year's business as * has been our custom ;
but we are not 'permitted to publish the
result as hitherto , a ? the figures would not
agree with those of the reports required by
the several departments. .
THE OPERATIONS OF THE YEAR.
as covered by our report to the Insurance
Departments are as. follows :
Nut nwela. .Inn. 1. .IsW.$00,510,593 ; 36
Less deductions frCm" cost
Home Otllce llulldlng. . . . 530.000 M
IJalnnce net assets WO,3ICS93 36
Kicnivnn. :
Var premiums t 4.011.m 23
For Interest nnd rents 3,0.ir.r 03 CT
nalance profit and loss. . , . 14.2TJ 40
'
Total Income . . . . . 7 , ' ! > 3,2')4 ' ) 33
J M3.1. < 2 "t
suD.
For claims tiy Jeatlt im
matured endowments S I.SS2.SM 70
Suiplu.i rctuineil to policy
holders 1,212,51793
I .a ie i < 1 and nurrendeied
policies 035,97s 03
Total paid policy holdc > r/ , .f C,251,316 01
Oomnilfsions In OKf-ntt" ,
salaries , medical exam
iner * ' fees , printing , ad
vertising , legal , real es.
late , nnd ull other ox-
nemies of inanns inent. . 770,570 41
Taxes 314.68) ) 99
Total expend 11 tires 7,275,182 10
Halnnco net npsets Jan. 1 , ISM JG.70I,02' ) ) Ct
Add Interest duo and accrued , market
values of Blocks and bonds over
cost , nnd net deferred and uncol- .
lectecl premiums , as per Itemized
statement heruvvltli. . . . . . . 1,093.74J : i
Clrvaa Asieta Jan. 1 , 1830 J ,7r,9,703 0,1
Total liabilities KSKM'J 5i
INTEREST.
We received for Interest and dividends
$2,8G9lS0.37f for rents , $228,325.32. The
financial and business conditions of the year
made the collection of ; interest somewhat less
satisfactory than usji.sJo'Tho total of overdue -
duo Interest on rc .p te loans arnouiitlnn
to J3G.OC9.CC1 Januarvrl , 1890 , as by our do-
partment reports , wag $122,110,11. Of this
amount there had { beenj paid to February 1 ,
$16.118.93. . , [
The Intereft ovonjuO'lflBt year on the bonds
of the city of AustliiTwtwas ( met early In
1895 , and the FUcc dU'-u coupons liavo been
paid. v.j
Of bonds costing , JU,087.057.83 only one
Item Is now In default -vlz. , the first mort
gage bonds of tljS Detroit. Lancing &
Northern , the reorganization plans for which
have not been completei ) .
LOANS ONgftjjJAL nSTATR.
In times of buslnore .iloubt . ami depression
conservative borrowrr riYllh satisfactory se
curity seek loans kMs'/freely than under con
ditions which promUo wull for new ventures ,
a fact reflected In tluililnmatnl for our funds
In 1&95. Wo loaned - < enl real entato $7,100-
CGS.03 , and had loaivs paid off , Sg,5C588.C ] $ .
During the company's llfty years of busi
ness It has loaned upon real estate $143,895 , .
950.19 , of which amount ? 36OG9,5G1 are now
outstanding. These loans have been largely
made In the cities and on the farms , of the
"corn belt" of the west and have been profit
able to our members ,
FORECLOSURES AND SALES OF REAL
ESTATE.
The conditions which liavo affoted general
business during the last year have operated
to somewhat check sales , depress real estate ,
and , In consequence , Increase foreclosures.
We have taken In during the year by foreclosures -
closures properties costing $867,740.82 , and
have sold real citato costing $394,535.01 , come
of which was on account of properties' a part
of which remain Unsold , but $220,070,96 of
this amount was the coat of parcels entirely
closed out at $234,076.30 , a profit of $154.605.24.
FIFTY YEARS' FOIIECLOSURES ,
During the fifty years of Its experience the
Connecticut Mutual lias taken by foreclosure
properties coaling It MSG77,393.Q5 ; It bun sold
on account of properties not yet eloced out
11,952,907.11 ; It lus fold out entire parcels
costing $9.192,312.90 for $10.S92,271.41j the
properties which were sold nt more than their
cost yielded n profit of J1.81S.71 US ; tio. ! o
which sold at less than cost nude loss of
$113.765.87. leaving a net profil of $ I.C99-
95S.51. The amount now on hand from fore
closures stands at a cost nf $7,079,181.CS.
Our experience seems lo warrant the belief
that his property , properly held and ti-e.\led ,
will prob.ibly sell for at leant Its cost , at
which It Is carried on our books
HOME OFFICE HUII.ntXO.
Twenty-six years ago the then managers of
the company erected a very handsome and
substantial structure , with nil the conveni
ences and appliances necessary to the busi
ness as It then stood. The property cost
$1,104,879.91. Six years ago $304,879.91 was
charged off from this cost , leaving the , book
value at $800,000. The portions of the build
ing arranged for the company's use luivo
become entirely Inadequate for and UnsulteO
to the safe and proper transaction of the
enormous amount of detail to nlilcli the ! msl-
new has expanded , and wo can no longer
postpone the proper changes and additions
necessary to remedy the situation. This will
Involve an outlay of about $200.000 , In an
ticipation of which your directors have
deemed It wise to make n further reduction
of $200,000 In the book value of the structure
ss It stands , leaving It at present repre
senting In our assets only $600,000. As the
property Is the permanent home of the com
pany , the figure at which It stands on our
books Is of llttlo consequence , so It bo not
exaggerated. There can be no question as to
the entire conservatism of the treatment of
this Item.
IIOND9.
Wo have purchased duriiifj the year bonds
costing $1,76 .B50.8S ; there have been paid
off bonds costing $326.783.30 ; our present
holding Is of bonds of the par value of $13.-
2G1.000 , costing $13GS7.0ri7.83 ; , ami of the
market , value of $14,236,478 , at a very con
servative estimate. Our bonds have mostly
n long time to rim. Their quality will read
ily appear from a reading of the schedule.
l.VStmAXCH OIMJUATIOXH.
Mnrtiillty.
The death losses In 1895 were $3,916SSS.
This amount Is so rar under that expected
by the mortality tables usad In our calcula
tions as to give a saving from the premiums
and reserves provided therefor of $543,155.00
a very satisfactory result.
It la a common thing for those companies
uhlch nro younger than the Connecticut
Mutual , or whose business has lapsed more
freely and had to bo replaced by costly
"new blood , " to represent our mortality as
unfavorable In comparlsan with their own ,
by taking Its ratio to some set of figures
which makes our mortality look large and
thelre look small. The amount of a com
pany's losses and their ratio to assets ,
amount at risk , or any other group of flg-
nrpn linvn nnthlni ? tn cln with the ( lUOStloil
of a proper mortality or of loss or gain
by reason of It. The older the company ,
the longer Its business has been on Us
books , and more persistently It has been
kept up that Is , the more valuable the busi
ness has been to the company the heavier
In amount relatively will Its mortality be.
And the solo test of the favorable or un
favorable character of the actual death
rate Incurred , is In comparing It with the
death rale expected by the table or mor
tality assumed in the calculations and pro
vided for by the premiums nndt reserves
based thereon. Were the suggestions of such
crlllca true , a company would bo safe cnly
so long as It wcro young.
A company's business may be largo and
comparatively now , and Its losses , therefore ,
comparatively small In amount ; and yet
these small losses may be far above what
were expected and provided for , and may be
a cause of serious deficiency. Any exhibit
of the amount of death leases , however ap
parently favorable or unfavorable , does not
signify unless it also appears what the ex
pected losses were and what was the lesser
or the gain by the difference between the
actual and the expected death rate.
Doth In Us financial result and as a test
of care In the selection of. risks , our mor
tality la bighly favorable.
EXPENSES :
1 The -ratio of expenses to Income In 1895
was exactly 10 per cent , a trifling Increase
o\er several previous years. It Is an In
crease In ratio , however , and not In actual
volume , and Is caused by reason of the change
In our method of reporting the year's busi
ness , as staled earlier In' this report. There
has been no relaxation In the strictness of
our economics , and the expenses ore far In
side those of any other company , as the
savlncs show.
NEW BUSINESS.
Without extra expense we made a good gain
In new business written In 1895 , and a some
what larger gain In the amount In force.
Measuring , as we do , the true _ value of a
life Insurance company to Its " "constituency
and to the community by Its success In
realizing the Ideal results of the system
perfectly secure protection steadily main
tained at Its lowest possible annual cost It
Is a profound satisfaction that the Connecti
cut Mutual has long since attained the mag
nitude , financial strength , stability In mem
bership and all tlioso elements of steadiness
In operation 'which remove the temptation
to r.ectiro the show of a large new business
at the cost of smaller dividends to present
members , or at the sacrifice either of sound
principles In underwriting or of consUeratlons
of public policy. Pursuing one undevlatlng
course of management , we are able , as no
other company Is , to give the highest result ?
to our old business , and to take on new with
equal advantage to both. Looking to the
constant and growing need of family protec
tion so long as the American home shall
enciuro , me acmevcmeni 01 uus position is
not the least of the beneficent results of
fifty years of corporate life and activity.
NO FOREIGN BUSINESS.
Wo regard It a very material element of
safety , as well as of profitable economy , that
our business Is icstrlcteJ to our own country.
We select our own risks under familiar con
ditions and have our entire organization Im
mediately In hand ; we do not have to dele
gate the control of most vital matters to the
dlhcretlon of a foreign directorate , nor dis
tribute the custody of our assets among
foreign ' governments , subject to all the con-
tlng'enctes of their political and commercial
future , to bb left behind when withdrawal
Is compelled until all liability on account of
foreign contracts disappears ; a long wait.
.DIVIDENDS.
The dividend paid In 1895 was larger In the
case of each policy than that paid In 1S94 ,
giving a decreasing cost of Insurance , There
will ' bo a similar Increase of. dividends and
"decre'ase"6f cost on policies renewing In 1896.
The persistence of our business continues to
ba a gratifying feature of our experience.
SURPLUS.
Notwithstanding the dividend paid In 1895
and the deduction from the cost of the home
olllco building already noted , we made a
satisfactory gain of surplus , corresponding
safely with the Increase In liabilities.
From a legal and governmental point of
view our strength Is much greater than our
own calculations show. We are required to
compute our liabilities on the assumption
that we will earn 4 per cent annual Interest.
On all business written since April 1 , 1882 ,
wo have assumed only 3 per cent as the
basis of calculation , mak'ng our liabilities
probably over $1,000,000 more ( and our sur
plus considerably less ) than the department
tepurtalll show ,
SOME FACTS A110UT SURPLUS.
The public ought to understand much better
than it docs Just how 'surplus arises In.a life
insurance company , and how It la affected
by the yearly variations In Its experience.
Policy holders would bo the belter able to
judge of the treatment accorded them by
their several companies In the matter of
dividends , paid-up Insurances , etc. The
knowledge would remove prejudice as to those
companies which are doing right , and would
make perfectly clear the precise character of
the speculative or "Investment" policies BO
greatly In vogue , and would show what
must first be lost by somebody that It may bowen
won by somebody else ,
Wu agree to pay certain sums on the oc
currence of a certain event. To do this
wo must have premiums largo enough to pay
running expenses , the death claims , and
provide a reserve for the greater mortality
that will come' with the Increasing ago of
the business. We can earn Interest on that
reserve while wo liolil It. So we assume
a maximum death rate , a maximum expense
rate , and a minimum rate of Interest , and
calculate our premiums mid the re-serve to
be laid aside out of them ou those three
assumption * . If the death loaseu and ex
penses are lees than we animed , we fcavo
the difference from the premium ; If the In
terest 18 more , wo save that also. There
are sundry other Incidental Items. Here In
an exhibit of the oricration of the e several
factors In the Connecticut .Mutual In ISO , ; .
Part of premium pivnldNl for
rtpentea. Me. . . . . . . . . . t MJ.OM
tntiMfst nnd i > ntfl in ? tc < * ! tA < * f
rnle an'iimM . t.ftSS.l
| ttjilanw pront nnd HJ- . II , WS
Savrd fmin expovleil dnlli In * " * Ml.'IM
from reyiM1 > : ! iiirn-n *
llii.io.nc in mnikPl uiht" < > 1 N > n < ! ?
nn.l Mock * . 1M 111
i Sundries . H tfil
Total . JJMIJ
The tolal Items applicable lo espouse * ,
{ dividend * , etc. , has been applied , a.i follows :
! ; \P n. rs of m.innKtment . t 77"G
Tiivei . lll.tw
OntKiil off ins Home Oltlei ?
IJ''ll.lliiff .
Dividends paid . M,2IJ S
Additions tn ncrnmtilitcd dl\l-
ili-mH . 4 . VT.M'i
Incifns ? Iti miTtiHi.i . } ) .nl |
IJ.SI3.K2
The only Item In this cthlblt which docs
not explain Itself Is probably the saving
from tin ! reserve on policies Mirremlerod or
not Miiowetl $85.402. This grows out of
Upsied anil turrondercd policies ( less those
reluctated ) for $5,128,051 , the reserve upon
which was $810,145 , oflilch amount $7fll-
743 , or about 90 per cent , was returned
lo Iho pollcyholdcrs In paid-tip lumirance ,
cash or otherwise , leaving the saving men-
Honed $ S5,402. This covers policies \\hlcli
had not been In force long enough to have
a value ; but Is principally made up of Small
surrender charge made upon each surren
dered policy to help In replacing the business
su lost , to cover the cost of the change , and
lo protect the company against the Impaired
vltallly caused by Hie voluntary withdrawal
of sound lives. Not only the falrncttt bul
Iho necessity of this saving will be obvious
tn all familiar with Iho nature of Iho trans
actions , out of which It Is made ; and Its
moderation In amount , proportioned to those
transactions , Is cheerfully submitted to com
parison.
Let It be noted that were wo doing n Ton
tine or speculative "Investment" business ,
the whole $840,145 of reserve and all the
surplus It had accumulated would have
gene Into the "pool. "
A similar exhibit of the Items available
for expenses , etc. , and their application for ,
say , the last fifteen years , will bo lu'ercst-
Ing In this connection.
Pint of premium provided for
cMt'n&ra , etc" . $1 1.S3I.OI2
Interent nnd rents In cxeens of
rule < is < mnril . H.1S9.61 ! ?
llnlnnee ( irnllt nnd In * * . K.'il.Ml
Snveil fiom ( xpcctoil ile.ith lus cs 6.713 KS1
iavM from reserves on sunen-
ilers. ete . 1,183,789
Increnso In mniket values of
hands nnd BtocUu . . ' . . 161,702
.Sundries . Cl.r.31
JSOS3,502
This has been applied as follows :
Kipensea of management . Jli.9W,3i
Taxes . J.SN.WS
Dividends paid JlS.049.Gt9
Increase III accumulated divi
dends 4G7.453
Increase In nurrilus 3.741,101
22.K2.2iN ;
J3S.OC3r,02
Hero again the only Item needing ex-
planallon Is the saving of $1,189,789 In he
fifteen years on lapsed and surrendered
policies. These amounted to $70,937,316 ; the
reserve on these was $11,507,047 , of which
amount $10,317,258 or about 90 per cent-
was returned to policy holders In paid-up
Insurance , cash , and otherwise. Were ours
a Tontine business , the whole $11,507,047
and all t'ne surplus accumulated by It would
have gone Into the " "
"pool" for the lucky ones
to divide or so much as was not eaten up
by the expenses of "Racing. "
Similar exhibits by the many Tontine or
Investment life Insurance companies would
be of remarkable Interest.
LIFE INSURANCE SPECULATION A TURN
IN THE TIDE.
Over twenty years ago certain New York
companies found themselves losing business
very rapidly on account of very high expenses
and very small dividends. The enormous
number of resulting lapses threatened their
extinction ; but these were seized upon as the
happy basis of a plan to convert life insurance
Into a scheme for making
money out of the
many who should dlo or lapse their policies
for the benlflt of the few who should live and
keep paying premiums through a certain
period of years. The reserve on lapsed
policies which with us go to buy paid-up
Insurance for the family and the unpaid
dividends of both those who died and lapsed
were to ba put Into a , Tontine pool , to be
divided among tlioso who were lucky enough
to live and keep paying. The' gamble was as
to who the lucky ones should b ? .
They figured out enormous profit
able profits from the enormous losses
Individual policy holders wcro to
suffer , and the "estimates" of these
were powerfully attractive. Rich men
took the policies in certain confidence that
they could beat the game ; poorer men took
them In Imitation of richer men , and trust
ing luck to escape consequences the for
feiting of their dividends and reserves for the
rich men to divide. Plain life Insurance has
no glitter , but here was a new up-to-date
thing that sparkled. The "pool" wan drawn
upon for commissions to agenta that were
simply staggering , and for rebates to new In
surers which became a principle means of
competition. The scheme swept the field
'
1'ke a prairie fire. The business of these
companies took on a startling growth , and
new business , as a measure of the popu
larity of the new scheme , was Insisted upon
as the real criterion of success. The reli
ability of the "estimates" could not bo
tested until the day of settlement came at
the end of the tontine or postponed divi
dend period , and that was many years
ou.
ou.There wore but two ways of meeting the
scheme on which , and the commission and
rebates by which , business was being cap
tured In such enormous quantities. One waste
to fall In with the scheme and offer the
same speculation with the same sort of call-
mates , and pay the same prices for business ,
and justify one's eelf on the ground that It
was "selling people what they wanted. "
Tbo other way was to point out to those
whoso families needed protection , and all
the protection they could get , that this was
a pure gamble with that protection ; that If
the scheme succeded for the lucky fnw , It
must be at the cost of much confiscation of
the reserves and dividends of the many , as
was a crime against those thereby stripped
of the protccllon they needed ; that "tho
people wanted It" only because ; they were
made to believe that It was something else
than what It was ; that the expense at which
the scheme was being worked precluded
the possibility of realizing the "CBllnmted"
profits , and that , 'Insurance ' being simply the
distribution of losses , and premiums being
simply contributions to losses , It was Impos
sible to make It a profitable "investment"
to any one except by robbing some one else
for his benefit.
The Connecticut Mutual chose the latter
course. It has uteadlly and continually ex
posed the true character of tlio schemes
exploited In the name of life Insurance ; It
has pleaded for pure life Insurance to those
whoso families could not afford to have
their protection gambled with ; It has tried
to tearh the truth , to show people what
their true want la ; to make the copt of
protection as small as possible ; It has been
content to BOO many of Its agents hired
away , to be kept from gottlng new ones
by demoralizing commissions , and to do new
business by the tens of millions where Its
speculative rivals and they have become
a numerous company have done It by the
hundreds of inllllonH , and to be criticised an
wanting In smartness and enterprise and
knowing how to cater to thepublic. . It has
gene on studying how to make still better
service , Instead of Decking novelties that
atlract until they arc understood , and then
must be replaced. It ban bided Its time.
Its warnings have been realized. Wliero
twenty yeara ago these companies were get
ting business by an "estimate" of profits
at the rate of , say , $10.000 on a man , then
aged 40 , they are settling tliat business
now at $3.970. Thousands of millions of
life Insurance have been forfeited , but the
bulk of the grist ground out has gone to
pay higher commissions arid bigger rebates
to keep the volume of new bimlneiis swelling
and has left only a pitiful 40 per cent < or
less ft the splendid estimates that "catered
to the public. "
And now the tide lias turned. Even their
tremendous expenditures for business cannot
keep them ahead of the game , at least In
times like tlieuo , One of tlioio companies
wrote In 1895 the enormous sum of $132,509-
r > 33 of new business , and yel has shrunken
Its amount In force , which means lhat over
$133,000,000 has gonu off Its book * last year.
Another wrote $127,492,555 of new business ,
and $141.769,715 went off Its books. Many
ecoros of millions' of dollars , the reserves
and accumulated surplus on many hundreds
of mlllloni of Insurance , have eon Into the
"pool" of the several Tontine cotiipAtilrs In
all theseji'iuj but no account of Iho appli
cation of thfl proceeds e\rr hRi been or ever
will lia nmde. There are no accounting * .
The Connecticut .Mutual rrncns Its plea for
pure life Insurance ; that men wluvo Mmllies
need it buy the only thing a life Insunuico
company con renlly R ! > C , the full , abs\lul
and Jltuple piutectlnn nce.le.l ; that they cease
to gamble' with It or try to make a specula
tion out of It. and to all such the company
offers Its best and most sincere endeavor ,
llluMtatrd liy Us impArallolnl record of fitly
years. llcspcclfn'ly ' sulmillled ,
.IAl'011 L. ailEEN'K , FrciUliut.
llHrlford , Feb. If. . 1S96 ,
IM.NMS M.MIT Till * UMMt.MUTl HK9 ,
\Vnj mill .MCIIIIH Citmtnlttrr of I lift
limit Si'iuili * UIIN n I'ritlilrtn ,
IKS MOINIW. Feb. 25.-Si ( > ecIsl.-Work )
on the appropriation bills wns commenced
by the senate committee today. It Is the
intention of Chairman Waterman lo go care
fully through the estimates submitted , strik
ing out all Items Unit are not absolutely
ncccstary , and then making a horizontal re
duction sulllclcnl to bring the totals within
the limits of the estimated receipts. There
are , however , some extraordinary appropri
ations that must bo made In order lo prevent
actual suffering among w.mh of the state.
The asylums at ClnrliuU and Cherokee can
not be neglected , ami these will require
nearly or quite $250,000. The Soldiers' homo
at Marahalltown Is overcrowded , and many
are being turned away. An extra $100,009
Is iiske-d for by this Insilllutlcn , and this re
quest Is being endorsed by numerous peti
tions from the lira nil Army posts. The
St.ite Agricultural college , whose water sup
ply gave out last fall , compelling the closing
of the school two weeks earlier than usualf
asks foi $25,000 to sink n nunslcr welt to
such depth as to limtro a culllclcut supply
for the future. These Items will cover three-
fourths of tne available funds.
Tim committee on ways and means has
not yet given up all hope of being able to
devise menus of materially Increasing the
revenue. One of the methods now under
cansldetatlan Is the fixing cf a sliding scale
of fees based on the amount of capital stock
for all corporations organized fur pecuniary
profit. Tim proposed schedule fixes the min
imum at $10 , with $1 additional for every
$1,000 of stock , s ) that a corporation with a
capital stock of $100.000 would pay filing fees
to the amount of $100. The proposition to
raise thp cost of notury public ccrtlfiactcs
from $1.25 to $5 , does not seem to find much
favor. "Tho collaleral Inheritance tax , "
from which It was expected a large sum
conld be realized , has not met with any
cordial support In either branch of Iho gen
eral assembly. The 2 per cent tax on ex
press companies now seems to be about ( lift
only new method thut will be adopted for in
creasing the sic to revenues , and the amount
that may be realized from this source will
not bo very iarge.
The senate recalled nnd consumed nearly
the entire session In deballng an amend
ment to the Kilburti bill authorizing school
directors to furnish free text books to pu
pils when so directed by a vote of the elec
tors. Senator Waterman made the clurgo
that the school book lobby was behind Iho
bill , and moved to strike out the word
"electors" nnd Insert "freeholders , " thus
leaving the matter to be determined by the
taxpayers. The substitute finally passed.
In the house only legalizing acts and bills
of minor importance were taken up. Among
the bills Introduced was one by Dawcll , Im
posing a lax of 10 per cent on the gross re
ceipts of all foreign Insurance companies
doing business In this state. The tax la
Intended to be prohibitory , and was Intro
duced at. the solicitation of local companies.
The house committee on constitutional
amendments approved Temple's resolution
providing for the submission of an amend
ment to the state constitution Increasing
the number of representatives In the lower
house to 101 , giving each county one mom-
her except Dubuque and Polk , which will
have two. The same commlttco will report
favorably a joint resolution submitting the
question of prohibition to a vote of the people
ple on the third Tuesday In June , 1897. A
minority report may be filed by Lambert ,
Lowry and Putnam' .
The senate committee on banks and bankIng -
Ing killed the Ilcalcy bill , prohibiting ex
press companies from Issuing moiiey'orders.
The senate committee on judiciary haa
decided to report favorably a bill subjecting
street railways to the- same liability for ac
cidents as railroads.
Representative Spauldlng of Floyd proposes
to hasten the work of the district courts
and require the judges to file annual reports -
ports of their dolnqs. As a preliminary step
to the necessary legislation , the house , on
motion of Mr. Spauldlng , adopted the fol
lowing resolullon :
Whereas , It hns come to the knowledge )
of this bouse that there Is , much delay and
accumulation of pressing business In the.
different counties of the state In the dis
trict courts , much to the detriment of liti
gant ! ! In aald courts * , nnd nt the exorbitant
expense of salil counties ; therefore , be It
Hesolved , That the secretary of state be
nnd Is hereby requested to obtain from
each district Judge the following' Informa
tion , viz. :
1. The number of days during the year
1895 bo held court.
2. The condition of the court calendar on
January 1. 189G. In the respective counties
of ouch district.
And that the secretnry of state be fur
ther requested to tranmnlt this Information
to this house.
Mr. Spauldlng Is also In favor of limiting
the time of attorneys In both civil and crim
inal cases. He believes the presentation of
an ordinary case to the jury should , not consume -
sumo over two or three hours , or one full
day at the most , and will favor some such
a limit to be fixed by statute.
I'lniI.cKiil I'ulnt Ili-clilril.
JEFFERSON , la. , Feb. 25. ( Special. )
A decision , handed down by the supreme
court , relating to chattel mortgages , Is at
tracting a good deal of Interest , Inasmuch
as It I a revcrtul of the- decision of the t
lower tribunal. Coo Davis of Scranton made
an assignment , and executed a mortgage In
favor of his brother , who had advanced him
money to carry on the business. The mort
gage covered the stock , and also certain notes N ?
and the book accounts. It appear * that pome ' ,
of the creditors Induced Davis to make a ' !
reparata alignment of the notes and book ' .
accounts to them , The transfer was rather
Informal , being In the nature of an order "
to take them , made on a ficrap of paper , and
the result wan that. Iho other creditors , by
thlri means , got hold of the accounts and
not en before the. brother , who had Iho mart-
gage , arrived on the tweno to claim them.
Ho sued on the mortgage , and Judge Gold
smith decided against him , holding that the
mortgage could not convey the book accounts
1
counts and notes. The case wan appealed ,
and the supreme bench gave a good deal of
attention to the care , 04 It was something ;
that had not before corno up for adjudication ,
In fact , the. judges all took a hand In the cam.
They decided , unanimously , that the mort
gage was good ; that a chattel mortgage
could hold notoo , accounts and bills rccelvA-
able , jtiDt ) as well us It could a stock of
gooda or a plcco of real estate , and the
lower court'u decision was reversed.
Afmill of illiilillii'Hn.
JEFFERSON , la. , Fob. 25. ( Special. )
There Is a clash between the authorltloa at
Grand Junction over school mutters. Three
wccka ago the echoolu were clotted on account - , ,
count of diphtheria. Two deaths occurred <
from the clUcaw ; children who had been ' '
attending school , but who had not been pres
ent for three dayu prior to coming down
with the dUeaso. Two weeks liuvo now
elapsed since the ileatlm , and there has been
no ulgn of an epidemic or of any i'proidlng '
of the- contagion , and It Is t > ald the people
nro anxious the doom of the school fliouhl
bo opened , Tliu school board Is In favor of
resuming , but the mayor declines to call the
bard of health , by whouo orders the school
was closed , and nothing can be legally done
until this In given , Parties Imvo telegraphed
the state authorities concerning the ultua-
tlon , and propoeo , If It la among the possi
bilities , to compel the mayor to call a meetIng -
Ing of the board of health and consider Iho
matter. A good dual of lll'fuellnK has been
engendered. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
( Jiivcrnnr Holm' I'oNitloii ,
DBS MOINES , Feb , 25 , ( Special Tele
gram. ) Governor Doles has Iwueil a letter
declining to be a candidate for president , and
coming out emphatically for free silver ,
Mr. lloleb' friends utnert that he has no
ambition bcyomV his law olllce anil his farm ,
Ho did not aiccnt to the useof his imno
In l&'J't , to hU friends nay , Governor Holes
has a large following among Iowa demo
crats , hut many democrats believe ho ba *
made a mlntuko In writing a serlcn of ' < *
( era on the iliver quentlou.