Nebraska Newspapers

    THE OMAHA DAILY BEE : SA'lATllDAY , PEBRTTATttT 27 , 1807. 11
HOW LONDON IS GOVERNED
liy
Graphic Description of the Greatest Muni
cipal Machine in tbo World.
QUAINT CUSTOMS DATING BACK CENTURIES
A. Multitude of I.lttlr Wheel *
iiiK Wllliln the l.nrKcr , I'o
n CoinpllcuN (1 AfTiilr Suli-
illt xloiiN of I'utt cr.
"The VAftost machine the world has over
tcnl" Such was Lord Hoscbery'a emphatic
comment upon the great fabric of London
local government that colossal product ot the
genius of democratic science which , to say
the least of It , has attained at the present
day a development amply justifying a llttlo
extravagance ot metaphor.
JjorA Iloscbory's tribute was spoken In the
prophetic tense some yeais ago , writes a
correspondent ot tbo New Vork Mall and Ex
press. It has not yet attained a complete
fulfillment , Inasmuch as a certain amount of
regulation and readjustment Is still required.
Hut the great mass of the Imposing structure ,
built up Into working order , diminishes into
insignificance the minor Imperfections which
yet remain to bo remedied , ActUc tongues
and vigorous pens continue to advocate \arl-
ous reforms , but enough has been established
to merit the Investigation of Intonated In
quirers and to demonstrate the wisdom ot
that great principle of devolution which un
derlies thr whole.
To the ) casual observer the London munici
pal sjBtcm looks lllvo the rigging ot a sailIng -
Ing ship apparently a. mwis of complicated
confusion and Inextricable entanglement.
Some initiation Into thu mjsterlwi ot the
craft ( so to hper.k ) Is necessary ere > ou can
properly realize the method and order per
vading the whole. Before 1SSS , In the dark
DECS of the Metropolitan Hoaid of Works ,
the tangle arid contusion wuro % ery real facU.
There- existed In those days a heterogeneous
army of local authorities whoso aieas of
control crossed and overlapped each other In
ii perfectly bewildering manner. In this
Etatu of chaos , without form and void , mat
ters struggled on until the spirit ot the act
of 18S3 moved upon the face of the troubled
waters of local government. At Its bidding
thu darkness of the Metropolitan board
vanished for ovcimoro and the land was Il
lumined with the light ot tbo county coun
cils
Complication to a cerUln extent there
must uvel bo In a place like London. It Is
the arena of a contlmnl conlllct bctwon
ancient traditions and rights * on the one
band , and modern institutions and demo
cratic Ideas , on the othoi. In 1888 , when
ttiu conlllct threatened a crisis , the matter
was , as UMiul In English concerns , settled
by a compromise. Thua It cornea about
that , while theoretically the moelern Insti
tution of the London county council exer
cises municipal control over the whole area
of the metropolis , Its operations are practi
cally excluded from these ptrts which , fal
lowed by historic tr.idltlon and enshrined In
the panoply of ancient laws and charters ,
Ho within the boundaries ot what Is known
as "tho city. "
LONDON'S ANCIENT CORPORATION.
To propel ly understand the present posi
tion of the city It must he berne In mind
that In 18S8 London was made a county
within the msanlng of the act. Prior to
that joar the metropolitan area , which ran
Into the three counties of Middlesex , Sur
rey and Kent , was Judlcally controlled b >
the respective lords-lieutenant ( that Is ,
governors ) , sheriffs and Justices of the
peace of these counties. Now the metrop-
oils has a lord lieutenant , sheriff and
commission of the peace of Ita own , and Is
offlclally known as the county of London.
It covera approximately an area of about
76,000 acres , or 124 square miles. The city
proper that old , once wallcd-ln city of Lon
don with Its exclusive corporate system
and its 670 acres of area , lies as nearly as
possible In the center of London county a
sort of municipal Island In the surrounding
sea of Greater London.
The lullng body In the city ( It must bo re
membered that by "city" throughout this
article I refer only to the present dominion
ot the ancient corporation ) consists ot 20G
councilors and twenty-six , aldermen , one
of whom Is annually elected by hla fellows
to the dignity of lord imvor. Collectively
and for general administrative purposes ,
councilors and aldermen Bit together as
the court of common council , under the
presidency of the lord mayor. The alder
men and lord mayor constitute the judlcal
authority or magistrates of the city , and
elt for that purpose as the court of aldormeu.
The whole system of the city's government
Is hoary with antiquity. It dates back to
the confines of the prehistoric ago. A char
ter of William the Conqueror is still In ex-
istcnco , granted by the Norman monarch to
the bishop , Portreeve , and burgesses of the
city of London. Therein Is guaranteed the
security of their ancient privileges "as they
were In the days ot Edward the Confessor. "
Bcjond the election of the lord mayor and
a tow other officials the administrative power
of the ) guilds has long ceased to exist. At
present , however they are surrounded with
no llttlo pomp and state , and most of them
possess great sums ot funded wealth. The }
reoifscnt , officially , or nominally , every con
ceivable trade- and handicraft , from brewers
to needlemakers , and there is even a guild
for a community of men not regarded exactly
as traders the guild of parish clerks !
ELECTING THE CHIEF MAGISTRATE.
But to return to my muttons' Two two
aldormcn chrscn by the liverymen submit
themselves to the court of aldermen , with
whom the final decision rests. Of course It
Is courtesy for each candidate to vote for
the otticr , although there have been times
when a candidate hna been known to vote
a straight ticket for himself. This llttlo
election business takes place every Michael
mas , and on November 1) ) the new lord mayor
travels In magnificent state from the guild
hall to the court of the lord high chancellor
In the Strand , His election Is there con
firmed by the highest judlchl officer of the
realm , and the choice of the aldermen offi
cially approved by the "keeper of the queen's
conscience- . " The lord mayor and his "show"
with Its military escorts , bannered trumpets ,
emblematic cars , numerous bands and gor
geous state carriages return to the guild hall
and later In the evening he entertain * at a
magnificent banquet ono or moro of the
princes of the blood and occasionally tlic
sovereign. It Is also customary for the
prime minister and several members ot hli
cabinet to accept the hospitality of the now
"king ot the old city , " and the lord chancellor
hlmsslf , accompanied by lord Justices , puny
barons and othur great lights of the English
bench , U also among thu eminent guests.
The lord mayor Is vested for his > ear
of ofilce with an extraordinary number of
privileges and dignities. Ills tltlo "Right
Honorable" means that he Is de Jure a
privy councilor In the event of the sov
ereign's death , on 1 until the proclamation of
the successor to the crown. The signature )
of tha lord mayor must bo attached to the
proclamation of the now sovereign In ( suc
cession. Ho has the rank and precedence of
an earl , and the lady mayoress the rank
and precedence of a countess ; but In the
city proper ho ranks next to the sovereign ,
taking precedence even of princes of the
royal blood , Ho IB officially also coroner
for the city of London , but this duty Is , of
course , performed by a deputy. No troops
can pans through the streets without his ex
press prrmlr.ilon , and he receives quarterly ,
under the queen' * sign manual , the password -
word of London's ancient fortress the
Tower. Finally Ills lordship la a trustee of
St. Paul's cathedral , perpetual oxcheator
of the city , chief magistrate within the
'walls ' , and public dispenser of the nation's
hospitality. His emoluments csnsUt of an
official roildonco and a salary of $50,000 a
jear. It generally costs him another $50-
000 to maintain hla state and table ,
THE ALDERMEN.
Should an alderman refuse to serve after
being elected ho Is liable to be fined { 500.
U U very rare , however , that an alderman
refuses. The ofllco generally secures a
baronetcy for Its holder , and there are at
li-ait a score of peers ot the realm -who
trace thu first substantial step toward the
greatncaj of their faiulllra In the fact that
an ancestor held tbo office ot lord major ,
The qimllficattoua of electors of aldermen
are as follow a :
1 , Property In city rated at uot less Uran
$50 per annum , or ,
2 , Name of parliamentary register , or ,
3 , Tlaoae. who would have been entitled
by rlsht of their city property lo bo on thi
parliamentary register If they resided wtthli
the city hounlary.
The common council Is not qulto BO an
clent as the court of aldermen. The firs
ono of which there Is any recorded cvldenci
met In 1273 , and numbered forty members
The original hki was "tho swearing In o
Rood men ot all the wards to consult will
the aldermen. " The number allotted nov
to each ward varloi from four to sixteen
They are elected annually and the electors
qualifications are the name as for alder
men ,
The common council Is n legislative ft :
well as a deliberative body. It can alto
and amend Its own constitution. In tbl :
respect It differs essentially from tin
county council , which Is merely deliberative
Thu administrative duties of the comn.nr
council are .mostly discharged by tbo ordl
nary system ot committees. The mott Im
portant of thcso , If It can bo called a com
mltlce , Is that august body knowir as tin
commissioners of nutters , who hold a dele
gallon of power from the council to earn
out tbo majority of the city Improvements
and undertake the maintenance and rcpal
of streets and drainage. .
POLICE OK THU OLD CITY.
The city police , the only municipal bed ;
of Its kind In the kingdom , are controllci
by the police committee ot the corporation
acting through a commissioner , who hai
largo Individual powers. The force con
slats of about 1,000 ofilccrs and men al
told. They are paid salaries and wage :
ranging from $ G,2St ) per annum , for thi
commissioner , to $ G 60 per week for thi
latest recruits , front the rank of aiipcrlu
tcndcnt downward 2H per cent Is dcductci
for superannuation fund.
Prior tb the passing ot the local govern
ment act ot 1SS3 , London had no grcatc ;
tepresentatlvo governing authority. Thi
Metropolitan Heard of Worl.s. which was firs
established In 1855 , undertook certain muntcl
pal duties. But It was not elective. IU
members were nominated by a body now ox
tlnet , called the "Vestries District Board o
the City Corporation. " Main drainage wai
the principal matter committed to the chargi
of the Board of Works. Later on the fin
brlgado and street Improvements , and by de
grees other departments , came under Its con
trol. The Thames embankment may bo cltci
oa Its most enduring monument. In splto o
this and numerous other achievements I
never bscamo a popular body. At the op
portune moment , when Mr. Ritchie , as prcsl
dent of the Local Government board , was ad
vocatlng his scbemo for the Improvement o :
county government , the Metropolitan boat'
fell Into disgrace. A parliamentary Inquiry
ro\caled some grave scandals. Several o
the officers wore convicted of corruption
whllo some ot the members wcro uot abovi
suspicion. It was , therefore , abolished am
a representative body , the present count ;
council , was created
At this titno the metropolis bad alrcad ;
been divided into fifty-eight parllamontar ;
constituencies , Including the city , Thcai
were taken as the electorate divisions foi
London's county council. Two member ;
were appointed * to each division and four t (
the city. There Is thus a total ot 118 count ;
councilors. The actual strength of the courr
ell , however , 'Is 137 , the additional nlneteet
consisting ot aldermen.
"
THE REORGANIZED BODY.
The first county council , which went Inti
session on January 17 , 18S9 , had for It
chairman Lord Rosbory. Ho waj succcedei
by Sir John Lubbock. The present chair
man is Sir Arthur Arnold.
The county council elections take placi
ever } third > ar on the same day In March
It sits weekly , onc-vfourth of the total num
her being necessary to form a quorum
The members emulate the example of thi
political world by dividing themselves Inti
two parties the progressives and thi
moderates. Thuso names sufficiently Indl
cato the different lines of policy pursued
They respectively correspond to a largi
extent with the radical and conservative
parties In the Itouse of Commons.
Inasmuch as the electoral divisions an
Identical with the parliamentary constltu
encles , It will bo Interesting to compari
the two franchises' . The qualifications o
parliamentary electors are : 1. Occupier ;
of dwelling houses , without regard ti
value. 2. Occupiers of tenement dwellings
3. Occupiers of premises other than dwell
Ing houses which are over 10 clear annna
value. 4. Persons who live In houses b ;
reason of their occupation. ( This Is calle <
the service franchise and Includes she ]
assistants living on shop premises , etc.
5. Lodgers occupying rooms of the value o
10 per annum.
To entitle him to vote the occupier mtrs
have beerr In possession ot tha house , prom
lees or lodgings from July 15 of one yea :
to July 15 of another. Ho may move fron
ono part of a division Id another and retail
his vote , but It ho moves to another dl
vision he must qualify again. Women can
not vote under any circumstances.
Compare the above with the county coun
ell franchise.
Voters must bo occupiers of d\\ellln ;
houses or tenements , irrespective ot value.
Women can vote who occupy houses o
their own right.
freeholders , as such , comprised In the thin
piragraph above , are not Included , but mem
bora of the House of Lords who take m
part In parliamentary elections can vote.
Service voters and lodgers are excluded.
Voters must reside within a radius of fif
teen miles of the county.
Although a voter may have property qual
ifications In half a dozen divisions he car
only vote la one. The reverse Is the case lr
the parliamentary franchise. The qualify
ing period Is the same In both cases.
In the discharge of Its very extensive
functions the county council avails Itsell
largely of the system of committees , con-
Elating of delegates appointed from Its own
members. While the council has firmly es
tablished ltd reputation as a businesslike
body , there are many who strongly advocate
an extension of the commltteo systcnr as
the best means of preventing delay and se
curing the rapid dispatch of the multifari
ous duties devolving upon so comprehensive
a body.
body.LONDON'S
LONDON'S SCHOOL BOARD.
The London school board Is a central
reprcsentrtlvo body. It owes its origin to
the late Mr. rorster's elementary education
net , and was established In 1870 , It consists
of fifty-five members , male and female. The
elections are triennial , and conducted on
the cumulative \otlng principle. For this
purpose the metropolis Is divided Into eleven
electoral divisions , the city forming one.
There Is no register for school board elec
tors. The rate book Is used for that purpose.
Every one , Irrespective of sex or position ,
whoso nanre appears on the rate book , la
qualified to vote , whether they have paid
their rates or not ! But no elector must
vote moro than once In ono division. The
number ot members to * each division varies
from four to seven. Like the county coun
cil , the board divides Itself Into progres
sives and moderates. The system of voting
must bo described as a defective one. This
is berne out by the fact that at the last
election the total moderate votes ( Including
Roman Catholics ) numbered 740,032 , and
the total progressive votes 799,693 , whereas
the board consists of twenty-nine moderate
members and twenty-six progressive.
'Jlie obligatory subjects taught at tut
schools are reading , writing and arithmetic ,
also drawing for boys and needlework foi
girls. But the London youths and rnaideni
may acqulro Instruction In almost ever )
branch of education they desire. The tui
tion In board schools Is frco and the attend'
once compulsory between the ages of 6 and
13 , but a child between 11 and 12 1s not re
quired to attend If ho or she has passed the
"sixth standard. " It Is part of the duty ol
the school board to enforce attendance , and
a Ftuft ot officers Is kept for that purpose.
The cost of the whole system is defrayed
partly by rates and partly by government
grants. The board Is also empowered tc
ralso loans. Tlio salaries ot teachers and
wages of caretakers and cleaners amounted
In 1S95 to a total ot 1,209,541. The organ
ization of the board's work U simplified b )
the employment of six standing committees ,
In addition In thcso there are the divisional
committees , consisting of the members foi
each electoral district , who meet once i
month for the consideration of special bus
iness affecting the work of the schools. Dis
trict visitors are nominated by them and
work under their supervision. There exUl
also about 2,000 local managers , who arc
nominated by the divisional committees , and
retain office so long as they inaKe a minimum
number of attendances. The London school
board sends three representative delegate !
to the Technical Education board of the
London county council.
POLICE OF GREATER LONDON.
The metropolitan police are an Imperial
body under the supervision of commission
ers who are responsible ) to the homo office.
They are supported partly by local rates
I and partly by grants from the Imporla' '
, funds. In addition to ordinary police du
I ties , they undertake ! the licensing ot cat *
nnd "stago carriages , " together with the
' drivers nnd conductors ot some ; they reg
| ulato fares , etc , In the streets , and granl
certificates to chimney sweepers , peddlers
I etc. Their area of control extends a con.
nldcrablc distance bejond the county o
London proper , embracing the whole ot Mid.
dlceex and reaching well Into Hertford' '
shire , Essex , Surrey and Kent , a total ol
442,750 acres , excluding the city. This rep
r < scnts a radius of fifteen miles from Char-
Ing Cross and a population of between five
and six millions. Thcro are within thli
area fourteen police courts.
In October of last } oar the force conslstei
of thirty-two superintendents. 589 Inspec.
tors , 1S90 sergeants and 12,831 constables
with 317 horses. Tire pay of this armj
of peace preservers for the jear cndlnf
Mnrch 31 , JS96 , was 1,266,311. The Juris
diction of the central criminal court , the
headquarters of criminal justice In Lon.
don , elocs not extend over the whole police
area ; nevertheless It reaches far beyond
tire county boundary , comprising 269,14 (
acres , and coutioiling the morals ot up1
ward of five million persons. The tern
"Greater London" Is now generally under
stood to Include the metropolitan police
area. ,
THE POOR AND THE INFIRM.
Poor law "administration and Infirmary ac >
commodatlon may be conveniently taken to
gether. Thn Metropolitan Asjltlms board
and the Boards of Guardians of the Pool
are BO closely associated that It would be
difficult to treat them separately. There
are thirty boarels of guardians throughoul
the metropolis , whoso labors are supple
mented by six poor law school districts
and two sick asylum districts , the official !
and overseers ot which are elected by the
guardians. The thirty boards comprise t
total of 817 members , mala and female. .
Each board consists ot eighteen , twenty-
four or thirty , except the city of London ,
which has ninety-four members. Thcj
hold office for three years , one-third retir
ing annually , and arc elected by the parochial
chialvoters. .
The boards of guardians are In some cases
the authorities which levy and collect the
rates. In other cases this function Is dis
charged by tire p-rrlsh vestries.
The Metropolitan Asjlums board Is a cen
tral authority and has existed since 1S67. Iti ?
object Is to provide accommodation for the
Infectious sick and the harmless Insane. The
fact that since 1890 It has had to provide
hospital room for other than pauper patients
prevents It being described ns exclusively a
poor law Institution. Its nsylumn derive
their Inmates mainly through the boards ol
guardians , who secure pajrncnt from the rel
atives when possible. There are seventy-
three members ot the board , fifty-five ol
whom are > elected Tiy tfte guardians from
among themselves , and the remaining eight
een nominated by the Local Government
board for their expert knowledge. The
board now owns ten fever hospitals , with ac
commodation for 4,000 patients ; four1 1m-
becllo asylums , with 6,000 Inmates ; hospital
ships and convalescent homo for 15,000 small
pox cases ; the Exmouth training ship , whlcl :
trains 600 workhouse bojs for the navy , etc.
schools for the education of 400 Imbecile
children , and an ambulance service for the
whole of London. The maintenance of pa
tients Is charged to the parishes and unions ,
according to the number received from each ,
The other maintenance expenses , offices ,
servants , buildings , etc. , nro common charges
levied throughout the metropolis
Thla board must not be confounded will :
the asylums committee of the county council
which Is a separate body altogether , havlnf
charge of the general county asylums , form
erly under control of the county Justices
Nor has It anjthing whatever to do with the
great London hospitals , which are malnls
supported by endowments and motropolltar
hospital Sunday funds.
PAROCHIAL VESTRIES. i
These are the authorities who carry oul
local administration In London. The theorj
Is that all matters of purely local concern
should be managed by them , and that mat
ters which are common to all London should
be taken In band by the county council. In
point of fact , however , this theory is nol
entirely carried out In practice. Things thai
arc common to all London arc not alunjs In
the hands o' the central authority , and mat
ters of local concern are not In every case
relegated to the local body.
The present organization of vestries ant
district boards dates from the metropolitan
management act of 1855 , when the old eccle
siastical parochial vestries were raised to the
dignity of district municipal councils , 1ml
retained their priestly name. Their areas
vary almost as much In municipal works as
they do In size. In the county of London
outside the city , there are twenty-nine par
ish vestries , twelve district boards and one
local board ( Woolwich ) . The explanation
of the term district board Is as follows
When parish vestries are too small to bo In
dependent sanitary bodies , they combine tc
elect a district board , which undertakes the
maintenance of local streets and sanltao
works , but the- vestries retain the duty ol
establishing and maintaining public libraries
baths , wash houses and cemeteries. There
nro forty-two of these amalgamated parishes ,
'which elect 620 delegates to the twelve dis
trict boards. The total membership of the
parish \estrles , Including the local board ol
Woolwich , Is 4,032. They hold ofilce for
thros years , one-third retiring annually anil
being eligible for re-election. The elec
torates comprise all who are qualified under
cither the parliamentary or the county fran
chises , but In this case a voter , instead ol
having ono vote only , or being confined to
ono borough , Is entitled to vote as many
times as he has qualifications In different
parishes. The qualifying period Is the same
as for parliamentary franchise Women can
vote for and are eligible for election to the
vestries and boards.
.An Interesting point Is to be noticed In
connection with the establishing of local
free libraries. Before It can proceed In the
matter the vestry must take a poll of the
ratepayers of the district for and against
the proposal. The majority decides the mat
ter , and thus It happens that free libraries
flourish In some parts of London and are
totally excluded from others , according to the
prevailing whim of the local Inhabitants.
GAS AND ELECTRIC LIGHTING.
Whatever may bo their moral condition ,
Londoners cannot bo reasonably stigmatized
as a people who walk In phjslcal darkness.
At the first suggestion of twilight the whole
plaro Is rapidly flooded ivlth an admirable
artificial Illumlnant. Gas Is still the pre
dominant feature , but not oven the consorv-
atlsrn of the old city has been able to re
sist the extensive Inroads of electricity.
At present the contracts for supply of gas
nro monopolized by twelve companies , three
ot whom may bo described ITS the great gas
companies 6f the metropolis. The collective
capital Invested In them represents a total
of nineteen and a half millions sterling. Ths
price of the gas varies almost as much as the
credibility of the gao meters. It ranges
from 56 cents per cuble ) foot In the eouth to
92 cents per cubic foot In the north. Out
of this the companies pay an average divi
dend of rather moro than 0 per cent. The
gas has to be supplied at 16 candle-power ,
and la oildally ! tested by the chemists * de
partment of the county council. At the
option of the consumer , and on payment ot
a small fee , the council will also test the
BUS meters. If a meter IB found to be - defective
fective the fee must bo paid by the company.
With the exception of the three Instances
referred to , the supply of electric light In
London Is entirely In the hands of private
companies. They have not the eamo power
a the gas companies , neither do any of them
hold a monopoly. Under the electrlo light
ing act the Board of Trade grants provi
sional orders and licenses for the supply of
electricity , and preference would certainly
ttt given to an application from a municipal
boly. The local authorities , therefore , have
only themselves to blame for allowing com
panies to come In at all. When once Installed
they cannot under the act be bought out ,
except by friendly agreement , until after
forty-two yeara.
IluoKllii'M Arnica Sulio.
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sores , ulcers , salt rheum , fever sores , tetter ,
chapped hands , chilblains , corns and all skin
eruptions , and positively cures piles , or no
pay required. It Is guaranteed to give per
fect satisfaction or money refunded. Price ,
23 cents per box. For sale by Kulin & Co. ,
Omaha , Nebraska
Concern 1111 ; .Suicide.
Dr. Max Muller , professor of comparative
religion at Oxford , has been groping among
the statistics on the subject of suicide , and
he finds first that there Is no ordinance In
the bible prohibiting suicide , and that Prot
estants , who rest their religious life nrore
on the scriptures that Catholics do , are far
more prone to self-murder than the followers
ot Home.
MAKING BEEfS INTO SUCAI
A Qrcnt Opportunity Offered to Atnoricai
Pnraora.
THE TWO NEEDFUL TARIFF PROVISION !
Thirty Million Uolliirx I'nlil to flcr
man } ' for ItiiHi4 ninlcrltil tlmt
Con 111 llu\c Ucpii' Hnlxcd Here
Instructive rncti.
The sugar question Is deservedly nttractlni
much attention In this country. The ablllt ;
of the Untied States to ralso sufficient rav
material to supply tllo homo demand to
sugar Is now conceded , and the press In general
oral Is a unit In urging development of thi
Industry. Among the latest advocates o
the homo Industry Idea Is the New Yorl
Sun , which presents the following rc\lev
of the subject , together \\ith suggestions ai
to a protective tariff !
The consumption of si.gar In the Unltcc
States Is about sixty pounds per capita
With the population of (0,000,000 ( this wouli
mnlto our total annual consumption full ;
2,100,000 tons.
The production of sugar In this countn
docs not exceed 400,000 tons , and of till ,
only about 40,000 tons Is beet sugar. W <
Import from foreign countries about 1,700,001
tons , most of It belnj brown or raw sugar
\\hlch Is purchased by the American Sugai
Ucflntng company and by other refiners , wire
refliio and sell it , dlrccUy or Indirectly , t <
consumers. Most of this vast quantity oi
Imported sugar comes from countries wlilcl
cither buy very llttlo from us or discriminate
against American products. In 1S9G tin
eastern refiners bought 000,000 tons of bro\sr
or raw German beet sugar , for \\hlcli , Includ
Ing freight , about J30.000.000 must lm\o bcei
paid. It > ls not jet definitely reported whal
our total foreign sugar bill \\as In 1S9C , bu !
for the year ending Juno 30 , 1S94 , It was
$120,000,000. Generally , It takes nearly al
our exports of brcadstuffs to pay for oui
Imported sugar. All odr exports of pro\l
slons , Including meat and dairy products
barely pay our sugar bill.
As voare now situated our financial condl-
tlon la constantly strained and put In perl !
because of the calls on us from foreign conn
tries for gold. Itvo should make onlj
one-half of the sugar uo use , tlic relief , s <
far as our financial situation Is concerned
would bo equivalent to doubling our golt
production. t
MODnnATH PROTECTION.
It Is probable that \\ltlr only moderate
protection the beet sugar Industry will be
rapidly developed , but with the best we
can hope for It Is < loubtful If the produc
tion of sugar In the United States can
catch upwith , the consumption .In twcnt >
years. I3y that time our population will
certainly be 100,000,000. and our consump
tion of sugar will be at least 3,000,000 tons
annually , of which probably 3,000,000 tone
will bo beet sugar. Our jearly sugar bill
will probably then amount to at least $280-
000,000. What would the production ol
3,000,000 tons of beet sugar mean to our
farmers ? It would mean that they must
produce annually about 33,000,000 tons ol
sugar beets , which would give- them , at the
lowest estimate , $130,000,000. It would em
ploy 3,300,000 acres of the best farming land
and not less than 000,000 men In the fields
It would also employ an army of men In
the factories , In transportation andi In other
employments. It would use 5,000,000 tons
of coal , 2,000,000 tons of limestone and call
for a vast quantity of chemicals , machinery ,
etc. AVhy should wo not do all this our
selves. Instead of allowing It to be done by
foreign countries which buy comparatively
little from us , orwhich discriminate against
our products ? If President McKlnloy can
bo the founder of this Industry It will be
ono of the chief glprles of his administra
tion.
It Is doubtful If sugar heeta can be success
fully raised In many of the southern states
where both the days and nights arc hot , the
atmosphere humid and the autumn or ripening -
ing season rainy. It is also doubtful If the
extreme northern states can successfully pros ,
ccuto this Industry. The seasons are toe
short and severe winter conies too early
Uut we have a largo urea of country whlcl :
Is better adapted to the business than auj
part of Europe. More than one-half of the
weight of the sugar in the beet comes frotr.
the sunshine and not from the soil , am :
these countilcs which have a mild climate
combined with the greatest amount of sun
light , with a minimum or air moisture , arc
the ones which will produce sugar beets the
richest In sugar and with the highest degree
ot purity. This accounts for the fact thai
California , Utah , Nebraslca and Now Mexlu
have beatea the world's record in ralsinf
rich and pure sugar beets.
PEIl CENT OF SUGAIl.
In France and Germany the percentage ol
sugar in the beets varies from 10 to 14 pel
cent , depending on the season. A fair aver
age , talcing ono season with another. Is aboul
12 to 13 per cent , from which ISO to 20 (
pounds a ton of marketable- sugar are ex
tracted.
The Importance of having beets with a
high percentage of saccharine matter , com
pared with these of a low percentage , in the
successful prosecution of this Industry can
not bo overestimated- factory able to
work 100,000 tons of beets In a campaign of
130 days would cost , with sufficient workIng -
Ing capital , about $450,000. The difference
In jield of sugar from. 100.000 tons of beets
lunnlng 14 per cent , and from the same
quantity running 17 per cent , would bo
3,000 tons of sugar. The factory expense
would bo llttlo moro for working the lat
ter than the former , but the Increased gross
Income , with sugar at 3 > cents a pound ,
would bo $210,000 , which sum , under the
method now ruling , would bo nearly
equally divided between the farmers and
the factory. The question of purity cuts an
almost equally Important figure. It la well
known that the higher the percentage ot sugar
the higher the purity ; that means that the
Julco contains loss of these elements which
prevent crjstalllzatlon , causing a loss of
sugar. Tho. average purity of beets raised
In Franco and Germany Is about 80 , whllo
that of tboso raised In Now Mexico aver
ages 84 cent.
NEBRASKA AND CALIFORNIA.
It Is , therefore , easy to sco to what ex
tent the successful prosecution of the beet
sugar business In any locality Is an agri
cultural question. This will not bo appre
ciated by many wbo embark in the business ,
and many failures will bo Inevitable. In
"In the Spring a
Young Man's ' Fancy"
lightly turns to bis bicycle for tbo
comingseason. . Shall it bo a
If ho be a shrewd buyer , yea Ono
hundred dollars Is a good , invest
ment when spent for a wheel
"BUILT LIKE A WATCH"
An artistic and mechanically cor
rect construction , strong and dur
able. Catalogue for the asking.
Gate City Cycle Co. ,
424 South 15th Street ,
OMAHA , NEB.
Ladles Who Value
A refined complexion must use Fouonl'a Povi
tier. It produces a soft and boantlful skin.
Nebraska , for Instance , they hftvc chenpo
fuel , labor anil transportation than In Call
fornla. Their product Is 2,000 miles ncnre
market , nnd yet with all thcso apparcn
advantages and nlth the Aid of a stati
bounty the financial results have been In
significant compared \slth those obtained b ;
the factories situated vsherc the soil Is rlcl
In the proper elements , water for Irrlgatloi
abundant , almost constant sunshine , nnd i
dry ripening and har\cst time. A week'i
rain otter the beets are ripe deprhcs then
of nearly half their sugar. In most parti
of the nrld region the falls and early nln
ters are dry. Unquestionably , these parts o
the arid region ulicrc Irrigation Is possslbli
which are not too far north nnd which an
not of too great elevation nro the Idea
places for profitably carrying on the bee
sugar business.
Many take It for granted that the Inter
ests of the sugar refiners and those ot thi
beet sugar men will he deadly opposed t <
each other. 1'robably this may not bi
found , In actual experience , to be true.
Tin : FOUUIQN IMIODUCT.
In Trance , Germany and Austria n vcr ,
largo proportion of the beet sugar , factorle
nrako brown , or raw , sugar , which they sol
to the largo refineries at home or ship t
foreign refiners. A largo quantity goes t
Hnglaml and Scotland , and , ns before stated
o\cr 000,000 tons wcro purchased by Arncrl
can refiners In 1896. Urown beet sugar of i
certain polarlscopo test Is quite nsnluabl
ns cane sugar of the same teat. The mode o
running Is precisely the same nnd thcro 1
rro difference In the resulting product.
White beet sugar produced by our Ainprl
can factories doss not trell for quite ns mucl
as the white sugar produced by the grca
refineries. It Is sometimes a little off cola
and the quality In the same factory may vnr :
slightly from jear to year , depending on tin
quality of the beets or the skill of thosi
running the factory. In fact the productlor
of raw sugar nnd refining nnd dlstrlbutlni
It io the public nrv t o different trades
Sugar refineries nro usually enormous concerns
corns , employing largo capital , hlgh-prlcei
men of great skill nnd fitted with labor
sn\lng and costly devices and processes \\hlcl
uny beet eu ar factory cixnnot afford. The ;
recel\o raw sugar from many sources , It I
mixed up and treated ns a whole. Just na th
ores ore In large smelters , nnd thu result 1
n uniform product from month to month nn <
> mr to jear , which It Is dlfllcult to obtain b ;
any single beet sugar factorj' . Ont > modcrat
sized refinery In Philadelphia uses 125,000 ton
of rasugir annually. This la nbout thlrteoi
times ns much ns the largest beet auga
factory In the United States can produce.
It seems clear , therefore , that the bulldtn ;
up of the beet sugar Industry In the Unlte <
States will not end or outlaw the grca
sugar refining and distributing companies
If such a specific duty Is put on raw sugai
tlmt It can bo profitably produced hero lr
largo quantities cheaper than It can bi
Imported , the skill , the capital , and thi
hold on the market rontrollcd by the grca1
refiners will bo ns necessary to the bee
sugar men as the raw product they product
will bo to the refiners. Rightly considered
their Interests are or should bo Identical
nnd there should bo rro conflict bclueci
thorn In the making of a new tariff. Thej
should bo able to agree on tv\o things t
specific duty on raw sugar , and a stilt dutj
against the refined duty of bountj-pajlru
countries. Think of our paying aboul
$20,000,000 jearly for German sugar whcr
that government does all In Its power t <
exclude American products from Its mar
kets
The public sentiment In fa\or of our mak'
Ing our own sugar Is so Intense that a sufll
olcnt duty to accomplish It seems 6uro tc
bo enacted. The new administration Is
pledgpd to It , It Is In harmony with republl
can policy , nnd mnnlfesaly to our Interest !
as a nation. Surely the great army o !
fanners nnd worklngnren who sorely need re
Hot will be listened to by the party whlcl
has pledged Itself In Its national platform tc
foster the domestic sugar Industry. This
promise redeemed , the Industry can bo bulll
up to largo proportions to the advantage
of the refiners now In the business , If the )
and the beet sugar producers work together
for their mutual Interests , as in France and
Gernranj' .
.SiiNiiii It. Allllioiij ' llloKraiihvr.
Mrs. Ida A. Harper , who Is to write the bl
ography of Susan D. Anthony. Is a well knowr
journalist of ability , having been connected
with the most prominent western news
papers. For some time past she was rnana-
glng editor of the Terre Haute Dally News
besides doing all tire paper's political writ
Ing. For several jcars she conducted a do
partrnerrt In the Saturday evening Jlall , he-
sides being a traveling correspondent of the
Chicago Times , Cleveland Leader , Detroll
Free Press and Indianapolis Journal. Mrs
High on the pedestal
of public approval stands
liebig COMPANY'S
Extract of Beef
For over thirty years the
standard for Purity and fine flavor.
QUAnTOHMASTBlTS OFFICH-
Om.ilia , Neb . February 24.18U7. Sealed pro
posals. In triplicate , will bo received iii-rc
until 12 o'clock m. , central standard tlmo ,
Mnrch 29 , 1S97 , nnd then opmod , for furnish
ing transportation , drayaBO , and for hand
ling' BtoreB In Department of tha I'lnttn ,
during fiscal jear commencing Julj- , 1897 ,
U. S reBervea light to reject or accept
any or all proposals , or any part thtreor.
Information furnished on application. Un-
volopos containing proposalH to bo marked
"Proposals for tranHportatlon on Houto No ,
- ' and addressed to 1J. D. WHCBtilJH ,
Major , Q. M. _
.SfnuMuililorn' Mcellnti.
Notice Is hereby given tlmt the regular
annual meeting of the stockholders ot the
Boutli Platta Land company will bo holii
at the olllcu of said company In Lincoln
Neb , at 1030 o'clock a. nr. , on tire llrsl
Wednesday In March , 1837 , being the thlid
day of the month.
liy order of the board of direct ore.
11. O PHILLIPS. Secretary.
Lincoln , Neb. , February 1 , 1S3I.
: Nell 'c' of Irrigation Iloml .Snlc.
Honied bids will be received up to April
1 , 1S97 , at 2 n in. , for ttiu aalo of J3J.OOC
bonds of the Lillian Irrigation district. $25.
000 of sard bondH nro of the denomination
of JMO each and $7.000 of { 100 euc.li Ad
dress 1' . L. MIJTCALT , Secretary ,
Walworlh , Neh
_ _ _
McCREW
II THI ONLY
SPECIALIST
WHO TBBATJ AU.
PRIVATE DISEASES
Weakness & Disorder ol
MEN ONLY
tO Years Kiperience.
0 Yean in Omaha.
Rook Fret. Consultation
and Examination frrce.
| 4lh and Fa num Sis ,
UMAIIA NKII.
CURE YOURSELF !
Una Jllg J far unnatural
discharge * , Intiilniniillons ,
Irritations or ulcerallouo
of mucous membrane * .
falulesn , and uot mtrln-
Rent i
or sent la plala wrapper ,
Ly xpress , prepaid , ( or
tl.io , or 3 bottl.i , ( .1.73.
Circular seat ou irquwt.
Harper read several papers before the World s
fair congresses , has been state secretary of
the Indiana Suffrage association , and did ad
mirable service as chairman of prcsswork
during the campaign for the suffrage amend
ment In California. It U expected that the
writing of the biography will occupy one
yctr , during which tlmo Mrs. Harper will
remain In Rochester and do the work under
the supcrUslon of Miss Anthony.
to 1 , Intern
Chicago Tribune : "Can I talk to you a
few minutes ? " asked the life Insurance agent.
"Yes , " replied the superintendent of the
factory , "If you don't rnlnd wralklng nbout the
building with me. I ha\en't rcallj the tlmo
to sit dov\n. "
"That's nil right , " said the agent. "I'd
rather move around a little , nnywny. "
The superintendent led the way oirt to the
pattern room , thence Into the woodworkers'
department , stopping every moment or two to
converse with some oporathe , and took his
caller ut last Into the room where tire hugo
triphammers were filling the nlr with tlielr
unearthly din.
"Now1 ho said , jelling Into the car ot the
llfo Insurance man , "I am ready to listen to
> ou. Qo alrcad. "
Supreme In South Cariillnti.
Congressman McLnurln of South C.rrolln.i
vouches for the following story In the
Washington Post : "Tho late constitutional
coiucntlon In South Carolina piij d an
educational qunllllcatlon rterliulrig th.il n
voter to register muni l > elte\o In n Supreme
Helng nnd bo nblo to read or irnder-unml
the constitution when rend to .dm. In the
i-ourrty of Horry. generally called 'the In
dependent republic. ' an old negro c.inro Into
the supervisor's ofllca to register.
" 'Well , who Is lie , whit do vou call
Him1 asked the ouncufeor.
" 'Oh. him Is Mr. Johnny McDcrrnott , de
clerk ob do co't. ' "
For Infants niid Children.
71ft fii *
.Hallo
Keep up hope. There arc
thousands of cases where re
covery from Consumption
lias been complete. Plenty
of fresh air and a well-nour
ished body will check the
progress of the disease. Nu
tritious foods are well in their
way , but the best food of all
is Cod-liver Oil. When
partly digested , as in Scott's
Emulsion , it docs not dis
turb the stomach and the
body secures the whole bene
fit of the amount taken. If
you want to read more about
it let us send you a book.
SCOTT & no\VNF , New York.
Clilclitttrri. > nculi ! Ili tnuTia Tirana.
" "YROYAL Pit
Orlclnclnmllnly tirtmlnr.
or Httfittiir
llln HriU
- " * * I > iJ ? ' Mfl rtle > l wtl > W"t HSwn 'I olvo x
" Vfj * n tClhcr.fwiltitfft'j'rf fci ivftffffu *
iiA < fvii an t fmffiiiljni ( Al bta lut er fn4 l < s ,
JV Jo kuftii ) for i iff iitMi. l tlniocliU < nl
\C * / Mtrlltrnir lw1ltm.tiMrrr tvrrltirn
, Ub tJi. u. < Uticil i. M II. .
nn. .N si'i.cinr ' _ .i > s )
U nn lv > alMMi Mltlioul tin * t < iiiMilo lire of
Ilin iniUrnt lilrnir. ( , In en urllrleinf fnoii , " 111
rllict n ivrmnliciit nlul niwoil ) uirolirllior In *
twtknt Nn np > IrrnliMlrlnl.n in on all nholle Uriel. .
Hook of pirticnlarR fni . In I omul i > f
Kuhn A Co. I Sill A ll.mclu" MOmnllil. . f < CU.
GOLDEN SPECIFIC CO. , Prop's. Cincinnati. 0.
at ) " 7tltr : t Itif It " Book on MxlH ln < lltl.lt. hi.iM ) 11. .
3'rlmnry , Secondary or Tor-
tliu'y lUnnil I'otaon pcrnm.
nontly oufcil In 15 to : irs
ln5P. You can bu treated nt homo
for the simc prlco undOr fcixmo
guaranty. If you prefer to comu biro ive lll
contract to pay railroad faro and hotel blllj , any
no charge If we fall to core. If jou have tnkct
mercury , ioilldc fi n" | 5 OBSB E B Vliotnsh , and still ha\o
nclica and pains , Mucous J H B * ' 6. ' * & Saf Evit > n a > atclira In mouth ,
Horc Throat , riinplcb , Coppcr-Colorcil SpoJH , Ulcers on nny part of the body ,
Unlr or Eyebrow M ftilllujj out , U Is this IJIcOOD i'OlSOX that wo KunTnntcc to
cure. We solicit the moat obstluntcJ n H R-J5 R" JTT4 ffS ff 0330 atpa easi-H und
cliaJlccBO tlionorldforncnso C yireiSiO B3 g IB
cure. This disease hr-Nnlways Ijnlllcil the Bldll oftlio most eminent
8500.OOO capital behind our unconditional guaranty. Almolnto prool > sent scale 1 on
application.
Address COOK ; tr..niiir co. ,
307 ainsoiilc Temple , CHICAGO. IIfc.
"CUPIDENE"
Till * nrr.it Vrectablti
VltullziTlthcori.scrli > -
tlonof famous rroncil plijslclnn , will quickly euro i on of all ncr-
\oii3 or dlsiucs u < too generative orpaua , stitli M iostManlinoil.
Insomnia , I'ulns 111 thu Jliiclr , bentlnii ! Lmlsslniis. Ni rvoni JJcblllty
I'lmplci , Unntncsa to Mnrry , l.xlianstliu : .Drains , Vnrkorclo nnj
Constln-itlon. Itstonin I losses , | - rio\rnts
by nor nlglit \ quick-
_ nfsaor uiscliargo.xvlilcnlrMotcliPcltpilloailitofepprrnutorrlia'n nil
„ " 'bohorrorsof Irnpoti'ncy. iri'inKKKcloauscsuiomcr , tlia
. . ?
BEFORE AFTER
93 aururtc. AND Mr i c.n | .
lcJnCjrsand tlinnrlnary orcanaolullimpurities.
aB * 'tJIII FNE Rtrcngthcn3ninlre toresBniallwpnkc.rpani.
Iho reason nutTerrn nro not curcil by Doctors li becituso ninety per cent ire troubled wltli
PrnRtatltl * . CUPIDKNK lathi" only known remedy to euro \\lllioutun opi ration. SOOOtiMlmnnl-
nK A wrIt pnBinrnntipfrl7Pnnnil money returned If six hnxca does not cOccl It licrmaneutcuro.
ftoOnl > oTslxf [ > r3K > , tiy mnll. Bend for FBEB circular and testimonials.
"Ai KT-nu'WUI ! . , P. O lloi 1078 , Han rri"icbcr > fnl ? v * Vt/efcy
Myers-Dillon Drug Co , S E. Cor. 16th nnd rnrnam. Omaha , Nob.
Vihcrr In doubt v.lmt to use foi
Nervous Debility. Loss of l'o cr.
Impotcncy , Atrophy , Vancocclc ana
other weaknesses , from nny cause ,
use Scunc Pills. Drains checked
and full viper quickly restored.
Irnrglcoifd .oca troubfpn iriutl f.ullr.
Mailedforl OO.Uboics$500. wit *
53 00orders we C've.i ' guarantee to
cursor refund the money. Addreil
< S. M'CONNnLL DRUG t O. Onmitn. Neb.
LESSONS IN NEWSPAPER MAKM {
% * % /x xxs sxO
LESSON NO. 3.
Do you not see Omaha on the globe ? Do you not
also notice the telegraph wires leading away into distant
lands ? These carry the news from all parts of the globe
direct to the Bee Building. We have already shown you
how The Bee surpasses all competitors in amount of news
published and now we will have a lesson on
FOREIGN CABLE NEWS
Taking four days February 14 , 15 , 16 and 17 be
ing the Sunday , Monday , Tuesday and Wednesday
editions , this is the result :
Here again THE BEE is ahead of all competitors
for a comparison of Sunday and the following three week
day s ; :
THIS 111212 iirlntoilDO InuliOH.
Thu Worlil-Herulit iirlutrd KITti Inched.
Thu Lincoln Jouriiiil nrlntoil 11)2 ) liiclu-H.
The Sioux City Journal iirlutcil ID-V. Inol
That gives THE OMAHA BEE for the same period :
lilSW InohcK ( nliout ( I column ) morn thuit thu Wurlil-Hrrnlil.
nH liiulir * ( nlout ft uoliiiiinx ) morn Iliiui the I.tiiuoln .liiuriiul.
127 Inchcn ( nliout 7 columim ) more thun the Uloux City Jouriiiil.
YOU CAN'T READ IT ALL UNLESS YOU
O9