V
THE OMAHA JDAILYIT TUESDAY , MAttCfl IT , 1800.
TlIE OMAIlAPAliyBE
11O8KWATKII. IMIlor.
nvnuvMouNiNQ.
_
TKIUIR OP BL'lISCUIITIONi
Dallr n > ( Without flun.1 rt , OnYTir . I 8 0
milr Jlee ami Bund&y , Ono Yenr . . . . . , 10 W
fill Monlh > . , . . . . . . . . CO
Tlirte Monlhn . , . . . . . . . . . . . . tt
Bundny lire. On ? Yrnr . , . . . . . . ! C
Hiturclny Ilee , One Yrnr . . . 1 &
Weekly Vee , Ona Year . C
owicns :
Omnhft , The U ( > e ItnlMlnc.
Bouth Omaha , Sinner Itlk. , Cor. N ind 21th Sti
Council Ilturr * , II North Mnln Street.
ChlcnRo omc , 217 Chamber of Commerc * .
New York , Ilnomi 13. 14 ami 15. Tribune BIdff
Waihlngton. HOT P Street , N.V. .
All rnmrmmlcntlnnt rclnllng In new * ami
torlal mutter should be aiMrendl : To the Editor
IIUSINKfiS I.KTTKnS :
All huiitncM IHlcm nnd remittance * lionld b
aildrcsird to The Iteo rulillkhlmr Compiny
Omnhn. Draftn , checks nml pojlottlce writers t
lw made pnyablo to the order of tSii * company.
Tim HUB Fi'iu.iKiitNa COMPANY.
8TATEMBNT OP CinCULATlON.
dfoi-Ko n. TzFchuck. fixrctary of Tlie life I'uh
llnhln ? company , liclne duly sworn , > that the
actual number of full and cnmplrti * copies of the
Daily Mornlnp. llvcnlns nml Sunilny lice ptlntctl
rtuMnsr the month of February , 18D < i , van na fo !
laws I
1 . 1.1 19.18 , ,
2 . 19 190
S . ] . ( V3
4 . 18.IIC 19.
E . H.2I >
21. . 1929
7. . . i . IS , I. .2 52 19.1M
II . . H.IB7 51 19.1IK
9 . . . . 19.199 SI 1S.OO.
10 . 15.075 23 ' . , 1J.OS' '
11. . . , . .
H.1I7
' ' ' ' ' " ' ' '
12 . ] , ( ) - , ( : ? . . . . . . ! . . ! ! ! ; ! . nibs'
is . n.nu rs i8ov
14 . imn n 11.016
15. . 1S.M6
Totnl . 531.4SO
IeM deductions for tinnold nnd returned
copies .
Net sales . ,521.902
Net dally nvcrnRC . 11.1
ononon n. T/.sottirK.
Sworn to before me nnd niit ) i > rlbed In my prc -
enco thin 2d day of Mnrch. ISiO.
( flenl. ) N. V. mil. . Notary Public.
Blx woolen from Kroiunl IIOR rtny have
olnpsod , but tills Ruiicroiis weather
prophet bcllovos In giving good incus-
uro. .
It Is Just possible tluit Kentucky nmy ,
nftcr all , offer the vent for stipprnbnn-
ditnt American patriotism that has been
necking an outlet in Venezuela nnd In
Cuba.
I
The talk about utilizing tha endless
letter chain for political purposes seems
to have been nothing but talk. There
nro some devices that are too dangerous
for use even In politics.
Douglas county Is prepared to con
tribute the men for the whole rcpub
81 can national and state ticket tills year
nnd the Seventh ward Is prepared to
P' fill all the orders for Douglas county.
I ! " '
The republicans of'Xebraska are quite
nble to express themselves 011 the presi
dential rmestlon and to" select their own
delegates to St. Louis. They do not
have to ask anyone In Washington to
jia'mo their delegation for , them.
Some men are born great , some
achieve greatness and some have great
ness thrust upon them. The man who
runs for president on the"democratic
ticket this year will In all likelihood be
long to the last mentioned class.
There Is no sound reason why tele1
graph , telephone and electric light com
panics should not pay n municipal tax
upjput their iiiolus iu > > tliQ streets of the
cltyThe - rights of cities fo impose
such tax has long been established.
The "Bolters" brigade of the Ne
braska democracy are proceeding quietly
In their own way with" confident look
that indicates that the other fellows , will
bo the ones to do the bolting at the
Chicago convention If any bolting Is
done.
I Like Llttlo Bo-Peep's fabled flock of
wool-bearing animals , the comet Is goIng -
Ing home and bringing Its tail behind It ,
much to the disappointment of some of
our scientific astronomical enthusiasts
who wanted to secure a piece of Its
caudal appendage as a keepsake.
Ex-Congressman Champ Clark of Mis-
Bourl Is paying up his political debts by
telling tlie public what a high opinion
ho holds of ex-Congressman Bryan. Mr.
Bryan wrote some very complimentary
notices of Mr. Clark about n year ago
and the account between them is now
supposed to stand even.
Canada will soon be luthe throes of
another parliamentary election and the
contest for control of the" legislative
tlody promises tp be most hotly con-
'tcsted. If the Canadians would only
wait a little while they fnlght have the
opportunity to benefit by the examples
of our congressional elections.
It is proposed to tax the franchises of
local corporations In this city for which
the revenue laws of the state specifically
provide. There Is no doubt that the
failure to enforce this law has. resulted
lu great loss to the city whose people
hnvo voted away' valuable franchises
upon our streets for the mere asking.
Thcso valuable franchises are reckoned
in the assets of the local corporations
at fabulous figures.
The calls promulgated for district
delegate conventions In the First nnd
Fourth congressional districts appor
tion the representation according to the
liiHt vote on republican congressmen In
theHo districts , or , In other words , ac
cording to the votes polled by Congress
men Strode and Haliicr respectively.
Under what authority does the call for
the district convention In the Second
district base representation upon the
vote for state treasurer two years ago ?
For twenty years the people of Ne
braska have been compelled to pay ex
orbitant prices for hard and soft coal
by reason of excessive and unrcaHon-
ublo transportation charges. It costs.
I..H ) to haul a tan of coal from the
port of Chicago to Omaha , while the
rate on u ton of coal by water route
from Luke Krlo points to Dulnth In no
cents. It would be worth hundreds
of thousands of dollars to the people
of Nebraska could u railroad connection
butweeii Omaha and the Zenith City be
hud , by means of which lower trans
portation rates on coal and lumber could
bo secured. Iteduced rates on Np-
brasku products via Dulnth and the
water route to the seaboard markets
would ulso follow the construction of
cuch road. ' ,
KKRTL'CKm DISUnACK.
Tlio Pvenls of the last few days In
the Kentucky legislature have put n
Htnln upon the political record of the
state for wnleli the parly mainly re
sponsible fthould be held to a rigid ac
countability by the people. The free
silver supporters of Senator Blackburn
arc the men upon whom rests the guilt
of having brought about n state of af
fairs which compelled the governor to
munition the military to protect legisla
tors In their rights , preserve the peace
and prevent a tragedy. Seeing the hope-
leHHiiesH of re-electing Blackburn by fair
means , the supporters of that senator ,
undoubtedly under his direct Instruc
tions , had recourse to violence nml In
timidation , hoping thereby to overawe
the assembly nnd force the election of
their candidate. As shown In the
proclamation of Oovernor Bradley callIng -
Ing out the militia , an armed body of
desperate men had been employed by
the sergennt-nt-arniH of the senate- for
the purpose of Intimidation. One sen
ator was assaulted and prevented from
leaving the henate chamber by these
rtilllans , who also .seized the doorkeeper
of the house while the joint assembly
was In session and would not allow
him to perform his dullcs. This Black
burn crowd furthermore threatened the
arrest of the governor , on the ground
that he had usurped authority lu In
structing the sheriff to take such
measures ns were necessary to preserve
the peace.
The facts set forth In Oovernor Brad-
ley's proclamation fully justify his ac
tion In calling out the mllttla , for there
can be no doubt that but for this there
would have been bloodshed. He re
fused to take tills extreme course until
the situation became so acutely
dangerous ns to make an Imperative
*
demand for such notion. The clvl
authorities were practically Inactive utu
no attention was paid to them by the
desperate followers of Blackburn. Ii
such a crisis Inaction on the part of the
chief executive would have been
cowaidly and criminal , and fortunately
Kentucky has u governor who fs nol
afraid to do his duly. Having the eon
stltutlonnl power to restrain violence
and preserve peace , even where leglsla
tors are Involved , he has exercised It
iroporly and opportunely , and he sliouh
utvo the approbation of all good cltl
zens of Kentucky , ns he will of the In
telligent and unprejudiced judgment of
he country.
The term of the Kentucky legislature
ends today , and Its final adjournment
will undobledly be a great relief to tin.
> coplrf of the state. It Is not probable
hat a successor to Senator Blackburn
vlll be chosen. There has been talk of
he republicans uniting with the honest-
noney democrats and electing Secretary
Carlisle , btit it is liardly likely that
his will be done. There does not ap-
> ear to be any valid reason why the
republicans should do this. It would
be a more equitable arrangement for the
lemocratlc opposition to Blackburn to
olh tlio republicans and elect a re-
mblican senator. But it is not at all
) robnbe ! that either of these tilings will
> e done. ,
rE VAOTS.
The February statement of Imports
ind exports just Issued by'the bureau
of statistics makes a favorable sho\v-
ng ns to exports , the Increase for that
iiouth ovyr the corresponding month of
ast year being reported as amounting
o over $21,000,000. This Js an exceed-
ngly gratifying exhibit nnd it Is to be
loped that the current month will make
as good a showing , though that Is liardly
o be expected. Exceptional conditions
nive swelled the demand for American
n-oducts recently , but these are not
ikely to long continue In force , so that
a decline in the export movement Islet
lot improbable during the ensuing
nonths until after the next harvest.
At any rate It cannot bo reasonably
expected that the increase made In
February as compared with last year
vlll bo kept up , because the wants of
he foreign markets will not admit of It.
V moderate Increase over the exports
of a year ago may safely be counted
on for some months , but nothing ap-
reaching the 'increase of last month.
'ho aggregate exports of merchandise
or February were about $ U,000,000 in
xceSs of the imports for thttl month ,
ml another interesting fact Is that there
vas exported only ? 2,1S3,700 in gold
oln nnd bullion , while there was Im-
) orted $ llr > ri,039. ! )
If this condition could be maintained
t would have a most favorable effect
ipou the business of the country , but
t probably cannot be. Kxpovts may
ontinue for a time somewhat larger
him last year , but. Imports are pretty
ure to also Increase , whether to nil
qual or greater' extent than the
xports It Is Impossible to say with
ny degree of certainty. It may
o confidently asserted , however , :
liat Kuropcan manufacturers will con-
Inuo to take the largest possible ml-
iintago of the favorable conditions nf- ,
orded them by the existing tariff and
et all they can out of ( lie American :
mrkct while these conditions remain ,
'he Imports of merchandise during Feb-
nary amounted to over $0:2,000,000 : , :
hlch was considerably larger than for
; ie corresponding mouth of last year ,
nd It Is safe to say that the amount
or the current month will be still
leavier. It is true that the market :
as been pretty well stocked up , with
he result that a great many Anierlcan
innufactnrers have shut down or arc
pern ting ther | mills and factories on )
liort time , but still the foreign manu-
icturers will go on sending their goods
o this market , yet the best In the
vorld. It Is not likely , therefore , that
0 gratifying an uxhlblt as that of Feb-
nary will bo made In any other month
f the current year and It IK quite pos-
Ible that Instead of the trade balance
elng In our favor , as it was last month ,
will In the ensuing months of the year
u against us.
There Is nothing In the faets pro-
ented by the bureau of statistics from
lilch the supporters of the existing
arlff can derive any eniHiuragement. '
t remains true that under this law ,
'hlch at the end of February had been
1 operation a year and a half , the
avenues of the government 1mtl fallen n
75,000,000 , short of meeting the run-
nlng expenses , whllo the value of Im
ports Increased more than $72,000,000
over the preceding eighteen months.
Improvement In exports Is In nowise
due to the tariff , which has been an
Injury to both our agricultural nnd
manufacturing Interests ,
AXOTIlKIl CAXAJj 1'IIOJKCT.
A bill has been Introduced In congress
to Incorporate a maritime canal com
pany , which proposes to construct a
ship canal to connect the great hikes
with the Atlantic ocean , a similar com
pany having been chartered lu Canada.
A number of large capitalists In various
parts of the country arc named as Incorporators -
corporators of the company , nnd the
project contemplates the use of existing
waterways , Including the Wollnnd.
While every scheme of this kind of a
feasible character Is Interest Ing. It Is
doubtful whether congress will be dis
posed to give tv charter to n com
pany which proposes to use a
Canadian canal In carrying out
Its project. The demand of
those who advocate a ship canal to con
nect the lakes with the seaboard , is
that the waterway hall be absolutely
American , constructed wholly within
our own domain , nud favorable action
lias already been taken lu the house
to authorize a survey for an American
canal around Niagara Falls. It Is un
derstood , furthermore , that the feeling
In congress Is very strong against turn
ing over any business of this kind to
private corporations , llenco there ap
pears to be small chance of this latest
canal enterprise receiving the endorse
ment of congress. Perhaps the time
s propitious for undertakings of this
kind , there being an abundance of Idle
capital available If a fair prospect of
eUsonnble returns can be shown , but
: he American people will hardly look
with favor upon any such project that
must be at all dependent upon Canadian
concessions. That Is a requirement In
the proposed canal scheme that will
probably be fatal to It.
WHAT T1IK ASSKSSOHS VAN DO
While It Is generally admitted that the
full measure of reform which our in
equitable system of taxation demands
Is not to be had until we shall have
secured a revision of our revenue
laws , there Is much which our
assessors can do in the way of remedy
ing present defects If they will only
use their best endeavors to carry out
the spirit and Intent of existing law.
As The Bee has time and time again
pointed out , the complaints against the
present burdens of local taxation are
based not so much on undervaluations
In property assessments as on the
valuation of ono man's property at one-
half Its market worth , of another's at
one-tenth its market worth ami the
entire omission of the property of
another. No one will deny that the
assessors could continue as at present
to list taxable property at one-tenth
Its real value nnd still find enough
taxable property that has hitherto es
caped assessment to double the ; total
assessed valuation , of , the city and
county.
In view of these facts the qomlng
meeting of : the assessors of Douglas
county that has been called for the
purpose of devising means for prevent
ing a recurrence of the abuses of fernier -
nier years , Is of the utmost importance
To all taxpayers and citizens. If the
assessors will agree upon a uniform
basis of property valuation and -will
further agree to list every piece of taxa
ble ' property In the county , whether
lands , lots , houses , stocks , bonds ,
moneys , furniture , bicycles , sewing ma
chines or franchises , they will relieve
themselves of blame for the unsatisfac
tory condition of- our taxing system.
l
At present the great bulk of the burdens -
dens of local government is loaded
upon the shoulders of a. comparatively
small body of real estate owners , while
the great franchisee ! corporations
stocked and bonded for millions nnd
the largo group of people whose- Income
Is derived from personal property cither
escape taxation altogether or pay upon
an Infinitesimal portion of their pos
sessions.
The a&sessors should awaken at once
to the responsibility which rests upon
them In this matter. The power of our
boards of equalization to equalize
assessments is practically limited by
law to the correction of gross errors
of the assessors. If the assessors will
faithfully perform their full duties there
will bo little or no work for.the boards
of equalization. The question Is , Will
the assessors do what they can ?
It will bo with regret that the people
if Oniiiha will pnrt with the services of
Prof. Homer P. Lcwls > who for over .
i dozen years 1ms guided ns principal
the work of tlie Omaha High school.
Under his direction the school has not ,
nly Increased In numbers with the In-
jreaso in population , but , butter still ,
t lias steadily Improved In standard ;
,111111 It Is recognized amoiiK the best '
n the country. The better acquainted
lie people become with the results ti
tchlovocl by this brniich of their public-
ichool HyHteni , the more will tliey llnd JjSI Jj '
hein elves Indebted to the services ren- SI
SItl
lered by Its head , who Is now about to tla
tlo i
etlre.
o !
The problem Is solved ! It wasn't SIsi SIn
ho comet ! . It was the earth- si
° if
limke ! Kverybody knew that the
mheard-of and iinprecodented appear-
unco of water in the World-Herald '
C |
lllco last week must have been due to
101110 wonderful freak of nature. So ti
inusual n "plienomenon" could be ex-
ilalned only by BOIMO equally unusual ir
llsturbaneo of the elementB. Now that "
if
ts origin liaa been traced to an earth- j ,
juako the people will quiet their fears ,
issured that the water temptation will
lot beset Uio AV.-II. jieopio except at
ery Infrequent Intervals.
Attention Is called to the fact chron-
eled In our cable dispatches that the
Utmtlan Diet has voted the sum of 100-
XX ) marks for the relief of the sufferers
'rom the Hoods In the province , and the
Diets of Baden and Wurtembiirg have
lone the same for the relief of distress
their provinces. The fact that once
Us whole history Nebraska was com-
lulled to appiopriato public money for
the relief of drouth sufferers among Its
generally pnwpty-otis fiirmlng commiinl
ties Is not tff'lMi ' viewed as nn evcrlnst
Ing blot upon , "fljj fnlr mime. Nebraska
Is no more tiHitrshniiiicd because It had
one almost 'ToYal crop failure since It
was settled , $ j $ are Alsace , Baden and
Wurtemburgiltfrlbe forever maikcd be
cause they a.r.q , suffering from the rav
ages of an unprecedented Hood.
According , "the veracious Lincoln
. "lournal , the deposed stownrd of the
Grntul Islatjtt .Soldiers' home ascribes
his ejection ! fr'iuS'that ' Institution to the
report which bad reached members of
tlie Hoard of Control that be had been
seen talking to "that notorious leglsla
tlvc lobbyist. Captain H. K. Palmer of
Omaha. " This liiinitatlon upon his char
actcr the ex-steward Indignantly re-
souls. He firmly asserts that he has
not even an acquaintance with that ob
jectionable personage , leaving the Ini-
liresslon that If ( lie charge were true
It would , In his opinion , liavu been am
ple grounds for his discharge. We think
our Lincoln contemporary owes It to
the public to unravel the tangled situa
tion In which it lias placed the charac
ters In Its story.
If It be true the council has adopted
a policy which shall Insure careful de
liberation In the passage of ordinances ,
somebody is entitled to congratulations.
The disposition to railroad measures
through the council has long been mani
fest. When ordinances have not been
wholly bad they have many times been
defective and Ill-considered. A sense
of responsibility lu eity legislation has
been too often lacking in members of
the council. The new plan , if adopted ,
will be highly lienellclal In all respects.
The weekly table of bank clearings Is
the most sensitive barometer of trade
conditions presented for the considera
tion of business men nml the public
generally. Last week It Indicated an
increase over the corresponding week
last year of 40.8 per cent a most grati
fying proof of > a revival of business In
this city. With the heavy snow of the
Week and the consequent improvement
of country trade the volume of business
will doubtless continue to show a large
Increase.
Secret of Iti-nl Diplomacy.
Is'rw York Sun.
The trouhlo about the Spanish minister
In this country. Is that , llko our own Mr.
Bayard , ho hasjnqt mastered the dlfllcult
art of making speeches without saying any
thing. tl 1"
Tl c ji'nxfl'liur of Lcitily.
Chlc.ifco Tribune.
Aldermanlc records are broken by a mem
ber of Omahi's . .nttmlcipal council. Alder
man Lemly ueefleu his property to Mrs. '
Lemly , ran off % lth the serving girl , Joined
the Cuban ItisUrgcnts , and sent In 'his resig
nation as councllfnan. The resignation
demonstrates hfs 'Irfsanjty. ' ' '
nine GniMH Drllliprntloii.
'I ' Ifttiifler-Journall * '
Ono of the JHro-eatlns Kentucky senators
bounced up yesterday and- shouted that the
Kentucky senatoi Mas a , deliberative body.
It Isl it Is ! ! ThoKentuclty , senate , ns well
as the Kentucky house. Is aJmcst as much
a deliberative ! body ( as It ould bo if Its
membership W.CTP confined to Spanish stu
" '
Settling : n TroiiMe oine Qucxllon.
Chicago 'Chronicle. a
As If wo had n6t other troubles enough , an
Inopportune eensational writer has raised
anew the old question , "Did Marshal Key )
die In the United States ? " He did not. He
v.ao shot and killed nt Paris December 7 ,
1815 , placing his hcnd over his heart and
telling the platvon of soldiers detailed as
executioners , "Flro here. " His death was
Ir.atantaneoua and prevented his emigration
to the United States.
[
Bud of ( lie Spy Syntcm. :
Chicago Tribune. :
Tlio action of the house of .representatives
in dealing a deathblow to the spy system
Inaugurated last summer in the Postofflco de
partment will meet with general approval. [
It waa never anything but vexatious both to
the department and the men , and In no con
siderable number of cases has It proved of
any value In bettering the service. The
principle of sscret espionage employed was
obnoxious to everybody , and the- most potty
delinquencle ? , excusable In nearly every In
stance , were the * only fruit of the system.
In so far as the project was designed for the
benefit of the public It was discredited from
the beginning. The logic of the plan wculd
liavo required an endless chain of spies to
Inspire any confidence in their fidelity , and
oven then the average citizen would accept
the statement of his own letter carrier as >
against the combined testimony of the men
set to watch him. The results have shown , a
what the opponents of the system claimed ,
that the eagernesu'of the rples to prove their
zeil brought cut charges notable both for
their number.and weakness. The carriers
were tormented , the public disgusted , the
spies discredited , and the department made
ridiculous , C
EI KCTIXfi SK.VATOIIS.
)
The ProHcitt SyN < i > m u Fruitful Source
lit Mciiniliil ami Corruption.
Chicago Itecord.
There have been fewer tangles In atato * f
legislatures the present winter over the
election of United tSates senators than has
been usual of recent years. Kentucky fur- .
ilshes the most notable Instance , but the
situation there shows aggravating compllca-
.lons that mnlco perfectly evident the dto-
idvautages of the present system of choos- if
ng senators. The session of the legislature 3
s iwarly over , and , very likely , no senator
vlll have been chosen when the body ad-
lourns nine die. Thus Kentucky -will be de-
irived , for the time being , of ono-half her
opresentatlon in thd upper house of con-
reo3. In addition Kentucky has been do-
nlved of the .benefits supposed to accrue
'rom a sctHloiu of itho legislature , for the
Imo of that bpJy , js largely wasted , so far
is legislation * Js cgnccrncd , whllo a sona-
.orlal flght Is
Turning from Ifpntucky we flnd that at
ho present tl/iyj , Delaware has only ono
'ecognlzod sonaHjr , the legislature of that
itate having aiUouriied after a bitter con-
not , leaving lt,0miestlonable as to whether
successor to .Senator Illgglns has been
iloctod. The "jbglslatures of Washington ,
Montana and Wyoming spent many necks
tot long ago In .fruitless struggles over
lenatorshlps , wnlr the result that all three
those Btntfti1vcb without one-half their
epresontatlon 1h tlie senate for two years. fo
Expensive' and6lrrltJtlni ; contests of llko so-
'erlty , though'TrSt'so harren In results , are
iominon. 01 aM
The influence dfilwealth and political In-
rlguo In Bccurtng- ) eaU In the senate under
he present tyuttmi lias caused many to
aver a dlfferiiiitn method of selection. If , r
addition , stUres frequently are to remain
vlthout representation and the whole time n
legislative pylons la to to devoted to
rultltsB conteata , U becomes a Eerlous
lucstlon If the agitation for a change of '
ystem of clioaalng ovnutora ought not to bo
aken up seriously.
is AOAIXST Tim nm.n.
All Precedent * Point tjir S ccc t f
the ltrlc llorAr.
llnlllmTc Hun ( InJ.-ilcm. )
If wo were bound to risk n prophecy con
cerning the fit , LoUlg convention wo nhould
be disposed to doubt whether either McKln
ley or Reed" will 1'ftve the nccwjiry number
of delegates when the convention meets to
carry things In cataract f sfilon on the first
ballot. It Is n fact worth nntlng that when
ever there has been n contnt In a republican
national convention -the popular favorite at
the commencement of ilia balloting hns al
ways failed to carry off Hit nomination. It
the nomination of Dhlne over Arthur In JS < H
Is pointed to ns an exception , It can be fairly
nnswercd that the conditions then wore hbnor-
mnl , and have no parallel In thowj of 1S96.
Thus In 18CO the friends of Mr. Sewnrd of
New York confidently claimed In , advance
tint he would secure the prize on the first
ballot. Nearly all the politicians thought no.
Horace Qreeley , who stoutly opposed Seward's
nomination , nevertheless , telegraphed to hi *
newspaper the night before Lincoln's nomina
tion was made , that Sewnrd was sure to b
the choice , bccanso the field was too much
split up and. could not bo combined against
htm. In that convention there were 4GG
votes , which were divided on the first ballot
between twelve candidates. Seward , on the first
ballot , led all the rcot with 137 votes and
on the second ballot his column Increased to
1SHJ votes. He only needed fifty more voles
to have nominated htm , but on the third bal
lot the whole field concentrated on Lincoln ;
nd Thurlow Weed , who had managed Sew
ard's canvass , actually wept In mortified
amazement , as Lincoln's nomination was an
nounced.
Again , In 1870 , nt Cincinnati , lllnlno was
Just where McKlnley and Heed expect to be
this time. There were 756 votes In that con
vention , and Dlnlne started with nearly 300
of the 379 votes necessary to a choice , but
on the seventh ballot the field combined on
Hayes nnd another favorite was beaten.
More discouraging still for the MoKlnley
faction , and hardly less so for the Keed fac
tion , la the record of the Chicago republican
convention of 18SO. In that body there were
again 70S delegates , and 37D votes were n&\\n \
necessary to a choice. Kor fully three
months before It met the Grant men had de
clared their confidence In the nomination of
their favorite , either by acclamation or on
first ballot. But when the convention met ,
though the Grant managers claimed to have
more than enough votes to nominate , there
were a large number of disputing delega
tions , and there was the question of the unit
rule nlso to b ? settled. The committee on
credentials was organized , against Grant ,
the nialno forces and the field uniting to do
so. All the contests were decided against
Grant and the unit rule was smashed. That
took away from the Grant column enough
votes to mnlce the first ballot undecisive and
Grant received only 304 votes against 284 for
Dlalnc. The memorable tlilrty-slx roll calls
of the Etatco proceeded. When It was all
over the two leading favorites had killed each
other off , and the field , as usual , had named
another man Garfield.
There Is much Instruction , but very little
encouragement in thess historical facts for
the ardent boomers who are lust now so
confident that McKlnley and Ileed will be
the only alternatives this year at St. Louis.
Unless all the precedents are broken , neither
of them will be In It when the fight Is over.
And It la true of the national convention
contests , as of other things , that the best
laugh is the ono that Is justified by the last
ballot. _
THE OHIO MOXI3Y PLANK.
Chicago Times-Herald ( rep. ) : Their
( Ohio republicans ) financial plank Is not
satisfactory , cither to sold standard men or
to the free sllveritcs. It Is neither flesh ,
fish nor fowl.
Hartford . Courant ( rep. ) : The present
Ohio Idea is that the St. Louis convention ,
V'hjlo not. letting go of the sound money
vote , should try to hold on to the sllvcrltes
with the old "Wo favor bimetallism"
equivocation. In the long fight against in
flation and repudiation Ohio has usually been
u follower rather than a leader.
Chicago Post ( rep. ) : If the X ray could
bo applied to the Ohio financial resolution It
would probably' bo found' to be absolutely
Ulnplianouei. And If the same process were
applied to the mind of whoever wrote that
rerolutlon It Is equally probable that this
would be found full of waves of laughter
ver the universal attempt to construe some
thing out of nothing.
Cincinnati Commercial ( rep. ) : The free sll-
rer men have forced the silver Issue , nnd the
republicans of Ohio ought to have met It :
squarely aa squarely as Abraham Lincoln
met the Issue of slavery. And they didn't
lo It. They adopted words which arc ccn-
ps"edly ambiguous ; adopted them because
hey were ambiguous. We hope the national
onventlon will do better.
.
New York Advertiser ( rep ) : Not even the
:
most captious and distrustful of single , gold
standard men can flnd exception to this
) laln , frank , unequivocal utterance. It .
lomonstrates that the party which brought :
the union out of the slough of cheap money
o the solid rock of specie payments Is in-
lexlbly loyal to that record. Ohio has
spoken. Let the republicanism of other
ivestern commonwealths bo equally cour-
igeous and consistent.
Philadelphia Ledger ( rep. ) : In view of Mr.
iIcKlnley's double dealing with regard to the
Inanclal question he should not bo nominated
it St. Louis. The choice of the republican
ionventlon should bo one that the republican
lorty can unreservedly , heartily support , and
10 ono who In the south bids for the dlshon- s
yt mcney vote , and in the north the honest
noney vote JanuJ like , facing both ways
nt to be the standard bearer of the repub.
lean party In the coming presidential cam-
ialgn.
Philadelphia Inquirer ( rep. ) : When the
ilatform considers the money question it Islet
lot straightforward. The national plank of
our years ago concerning money need * an
ray to penetrate Its meaning. The silver
icoplo Interpret It one way , the honest
noney advocates another , It was hoped that
hlo , with a prominent candidate for the
iresldency , would make a careful and de-
Iberoto declaration. It has done nothing
the sort. It contends for honest
noney , but It Ic-avcs the door open to the
amo old controversy. If an international
greemcnt cannot bo had It demands gold
.nd silver "under such restrictions and ruch
irovlslons , to bo determined by legislation ,
s will secure the maintenance of the parity
values. " Thla Is not honest , because It
meaningless
FISIlSOJVAIj AM ) OTI113HAVI.SI5.
The lap of spring has baen losing ( lie con-
Idenco of the public of late years.
As a promoter of wind colic , Kentucky
eglslators outclass the modern prlzo fighter.
In presidential races , as In the other kind ,
ho runner that leads the field In the first
uarter may fall behind In the homestretch.
In a biographical sketch of her father , the
met , Mlua Allco Longfellow say * that an
npald bill weighed on him like a nightmare.
Spain is preparing to send 60,000 more
roops to Cub i not that she expecta to fight
ny great battles there , but yellow fever
line Is coming on ,
Slgnor Carmine of the new Italian cabl
et lias charge of the department of posts
nd telegraphs , Instead of the war port-
olio. This Is a coiicer | on to the modern
nethod of waglns windy wars.
General Miles In In constant receipt of
alters asking for his latest photograph , and
hero la hardly a square mile on the globe
rom which he has not been at Home time
other besought fcr his autograph.
The acceptance by the prince ot Wales of
honorary membership In a Now York
lub to restore tbo happiness of swelldom ,
imewhat shaken by the bounce of Dunrnvcn.
'ho Cliollys are now nt liberty to turn up
lielr trousers when rain ( alia In "deah ol'
lUiinou , "
Highest of all in Leavening Power. Latest U , S. Gov't Report
fceati.x. . _ . , ,
I PTintrnT T/A OT t TP w \ vro
I SUBJECT TO STATE 1AXES
Ccntr.il Pacific Hot Allowed to Ilido Behind -
hind a Federal Charter.
DERIVES ITS POWERS FROM THE STATE
Siinrcinr- Court of ( lie I'nlfnl Slntrn
Di-cldc * ( lint Cnllfornltt Slny Col
lect it I'VnnolilNc 'J'nv HoMpltc
the National C'hnrtor.
WASHINGTON , March 1C. Chief Justice
Fuller In the United States supreme court
handed down the decision of the court In the
cases of the people of the stale of California
against the Central I'acinc and the Southern
I'.iclflo Hallway companion Involving the
right of the state to tax the franchises of
reads.
The railroad companies resisted taxation
on the ground that their franchises were do-
rlvod from the national government aa well
as from the state authorities and were Insep
arable. The court decided against this view ,
holding that the railway companies ono their
existence as corporation ! ) to the state and
that they are subject to the state laws In the
respect cf taxation. The chief Justice said
the state franchises never had been merged
In the federal franchises nnd they were as
legitimately subject to taxation as the roadbeds -
beds of the companies.
Justice Field read a dissenting opinion.
Ho slid the position taken In the majority
opinion wag absurd and untenable.
Justice Harlan also dissented from the
opinion of the court. The dlssMitcrs held
the franchises to bo derived from the United
States , nnd that the mortgages upon the
roads held by the government were the
property of the national government , and
therefore not subject to state taxation.
The supreme court today reversed the de
cision of Judge Maxcy of the Texas federal
court In the case of Consul Ornnles of Mex
ice , asking for the extradition of certain
men claimed to bo engaged In the Garcia
Insurrection of 1SD1 nnd 1S92. The supreme
court decision has the cited of holding
them subject to extradition. Chief Justice
Fuller read the opinion of the court.
JAPAN WHjb 1101,11 ITS 0\V\ .
Not niNponeil to YIelil Any o
Aci-ulrfd Pix-NtlKe.
WASHINGTON , March 10. Evidences of
great activity , political nnd commercial , In
the affairs of Japan , China and the countries
of the far cast come to the legations here.
As a result of Japan's prosperity , brought
about by the successes in the war with
China , that country hag determined not only
to enlarge her navy , but also to establish
commercial steamship lines connecting the
United Stales with Japan. The Japan Steam
Navigation company Is preparing to enter
this new field , running between San Fran-
cloco and Yokohama , In competition with the
Pacinc Mall nnd the Oriental and Occidental
lines now controlling this trade. An lm > -
portant consideration In projecting the new
Japanese line has been that of railway con
nection east from San Francisco , but In the
event of a determination of the Pacific rail
ways not to give the same rates as those
given to the old steamship lines , which are
branches of the railways. It Is said the Japanese
aneso company , supported by ample subsidies
from the Japanese government , will bo prepared -
pared to run at a loss In order to establish
a foothold. New steamers are to bo built
and the1 representative of the company has
recently passed through Washington on his
way to contract for the ships. tno of which
probably will be built In this country and two
In England. They will bo of 0,000 to 8,000
tons burden and a speed of several knots
greater than the ships "now la the Pacific
service. J
There appears to be llttlo further doubt
that two of Japan's new war ships will be
built In the United States , and , although the
contracts have not been let , the Indications
uro that the Cramps of Philadelphia will
build one and the Union Iron works of San
Francisco the other.
The Japanese Parliament has passed the
laval appropriation bill giving $20,000.000 for
ho single Item of new war ships. As this
will cover only the first year's payments
the aggregate expenditure on the Increased
navy promises to bo very largo during the
several years that vessels are under con
struction. Representatives of the American
ihlp building firms are at present In Japan ,
.hug marking a new departure In the Amerl-
an builders seeking to place their ships
ibroad. Heretofore the Armstrongs nnd
ithw largo English shipbuilders have been
.ho only ones represented nt the foreign
apltals. The Japanese cabinet is strongly '
avorablo to the American builders , although
ho Japanese naval officers having been
rained In English schools favor the English
nilldcrs.
Events In Corca have caused Intense ox- Tl
ilteme-nt In Japan of late , so much so that
he emperor prorogued Parliament In order .
o allow the popular feeling to subside. The
ondltlon In Corea Is critical and may
irlng serious results at any time. The king
ontlnues to occupy quarters'at the Russian
Dgatlon at Seoul on the plea that his life
In danger. A sensational climax came W
ecently whcn a mob representing the cle-
nent favorable to the king seized two of the Ai
AiTt
nbliiet ministers thought ) to favor , the Tt
apanose and chopped off their heads. , At
ho same time three Japanese were killed , " 1
no of them a Japanese peddler , being llter-
' lorn limb from 11mb. Thcs ? atrocities
hnvo caused Intense Indignation In Japan , as
the popular belief prevailed th t the Ilus-
slnn nuthorltlco In Corea had some part In
the demonstration ,
The Jnpnncsa government In determined
not to l e drawn Into n Intrigue t > r contest
over Corps , ns there It a sincere ileslro to nco
Corea Independent nnd free from foreign
domination. Hut Japan will protect her
people , and If any overt net occurs reflecting
on the dignity of the country , there will bo
prompt nnd forcible Action by Japan. It I *
bellovcxt Japan 1ms already demanded In *
ilemnlty for the out rages at Seoul , but the
possibilities of n crisis have been most Im
portant aa affecting HusslA and Japan , rather
than Japan nnd the llttlo middle kingdom.
Morton Munt tMirclinno
WASHINGTON , March 16. The nate
Joint resolution tUroctlng the secretary of
ngrlcutturo to purchase and distribute seeds ,
bulbi > , etc. , as has been done In preceding
years , has become n law without the presi
dent's rlgnatiiro , the resolution not having
been returned to congress \\ltliln the consti
tutional ten days' limit. Secretary Morton
iff lined to carry out the ohl law nnd vigor
ously opposed the passage of the present
mandatory act.
l''nvorn ' the Arid l.niul Dili.
WASHINGTON , March IG. The house
committee on Irrigation of ar.d lands today *
decided to report fa'vorably the bill Introduced
by Mr. Herman , chairman of the committee ,
providing for the conveyance of arid lands
to the RtatcB nnd territories. This land
Is to bo disposed of to settlers In small holdIngs -
Ings and the money thus obtained to bo used
In the reclamation of the remainder of the
lands.
llil Not ( Jo Into Dry Doolc.
WASHINGTON , March 1C. A telegram
received nt the Navy department today from
Port Hoyal. S. C. , announced that the bat
tleship Indiana did not go Into dry dock
this morning owing to lack of sufficient
water over the entrance.
Cuiiilltoii ol the TrciiNtiry.
WASHINGTON , March 10. The stale-
ment of the condition of the treasury shows :
Available cash balance , J2CG , 192,005 ; gold
reserve , $127,930,136.
THIS HMlLIi MAKI2US.
"
Chicago Tribune : "You must take better
naro of your lungs , mudnrn , " mild the phy
sician. "Lonrn to breathe with deep , full
Inspirations. "
" 1 don't see how I can , doctor. " nnswercd
the caller.Vo live. In a Hat. "
Indianapolis Journal : "Did you go Into
society In Philadelphia ? "
"Yes. "
"And how do they kill time there ? "
"They don't kill It. They Just nit down
and wait for It to die a natural death. "
"Philadelphia Record : "Thou hast &
pretty wlf quoth the monarch.
"Aye , nnd a dry humor , " replied the
jester. Whereupon the king pushed the
button.
Washington Slur : "It Is sad , " said ono
girl , "that so ninny men nowadays have
a Kicat deal more money than brains. "
"Yes , " sinned another ; "and so little
money nt that. "
Home Journal : Sprntts Miss Elder la
much older than I thought.
Hunker Impossible !
Spratts Well , I nskcd her If she had read
Esop's Fables , and she said she read them
when they tlrst came out.
Chicago Record : Extract from woman's
club proceedings : "Many a man who BOCS
to bed with Insomnia becomes a catnlcptlo
the minute the baby begins to cry.
Detroit Free Press : Mr. Askln My pro-
clous one , will you Bhnro my lot ?
Precious One Is there a mortgage on It ?
Chicago Post : Agent Can't r put a
burglar alarm In your House ?
Laily No , we don't need U.
Agent nut-
Lady No , I mean It ; the family across
the street watches the place so closely that
jven a burglar couldn't get In without
jelng scon !
PINK POSTERS FOIl PALE POETS.
New York Tress.
A pallid poet pored , /
O er a pretty paragon ; jJ ?
He preened It anil he pared It
Anil ho pieced the padding on. ' ' '
Then he put a price upon It , C
And a painter pale and queer ,
Paid to paint it on a poster
For a pork-packing peer.
FOUTU.MO 1'KI
Clinton Scollnrd In Harpcr'n Hazar. <
iVhen on the grain was Bummer's gold , . 1
And blue was summer's sky , '
Vo went to have our fortunes told ,
A witching' maid nnd I ,
Phc irypsy sibyl seemed uncouth
And weird to look upon , t
Ind yet for each of us. In sooth ,
A merry tale she spun.
line wns a kindly horoscope ; i
I heard my birth above
Ind hung the happy star of Hope ,
The lambent stnr of Love ,
'ho Ftar of Love that brlngcth bliss ,
I learned , still shed its glow ,
luch mote the sibyl said , but this
Was all I cared to know.
'hen Into Sylvia's slender hand
I saw the Rvpsy peer ,
.nd words I longed to understandl
Were whispered In her ear ;
I'lilTe on her cheek a blush had birth
That fprcad In rosy lire ,
s when the winter-wakened earth
Feels spring's divine desire.
ff loft behind the BVPSy old ,
And 'nenth a dusky pine
.pratn was that fair story told
That pndod , "Sweet , bo mine ! "
hon Sylvia , the roguish-eyed.
Laughed In her winning1 way ;
That's what. " triumphantly she cried ,
"The gypsy said you'd say ! "
"Will you , " the young mill boldly rrlod
"Siy will you ! > my wlft-V
The lovely in ilUon , 4 ! < > y , ronlUw/ / !
"Nulunyojrnalur.il mo , "
Had this master purchased his wearing'apparel of
us this would have never occurred , for we can make a
youngster or young man irresistible in one of our new
spring1 suits , We are having an opening this week and
are .showing a very choice selection of reefer , sailor ,
2-piece and 3-piece suits , in many qualities and colors ,
besides some very dainty neckwear and shirt waists.
That SPECIAL shirt waist of ours with- two collars
and link cull's is very swell , and already is in great de
mand. Mothers and children are especially invited.
Young men always welcome at
Browning , King & Co. ,
Reliable Clothiers , Furnishers and Hatters ,
S. W. Cor. 15th and Douglas Sts.
