OMAHA DAIJLY BEE : THTTR9DAT , MARCH IT , 189ft ,
THE OMAHA DAILY BEE
E. nOSCWATUIt. Editor.
FUDMSIIUD ISVKUV MOHNINO.
TERMS OF * SUBSCRIPTION I
DiUr Hto ( Without Sumlay ) , One Year $6
Dallr TKe nnd Sunday , One Year I
BU Month
Three Month ! > > 2
Sunday Lite , One Year. . . . . . . . . . . 2
B'turday Dec , One Yenr 1
Weekly Uer , One Year >
OIVFICKSJ
Omaha : The Itee Hulldlng.
Houth Omoliii Blngcr 111k. . Cor. N and 21th 8t
Council llluflni 10 I'cnrl Street.
Clilcuffo omce : M2 Chamber of Commerce.
New York ; Temple Court.
Washington : 01 Fourteenth Street.
COUIIKSI'ONDKNCE.
All communications relating to news end edit
rial matter should Un aiMreued : To tnc KJIto
nasiNEss kETTEns. .
All business letters nnd remittances ihould t
addrreicd to The ll e I'ubllshlnic Compan ;
Omaha. Drnfta , checks , eipremi and poMollL
money orders to be made payable to the order j
the company.
ritn iiKn ruiiusiiiNa COMPANY.
BTATKMKNT OP CinTOLATION.
Etnle of Nebraska , Douglas county , B * . ' .
Oeorge H. Tzschuck. secretary of The Her Pul
Huhlng cotni > nny , being duly swnrn. zny * that tl
actual number of full mul complete copies of Tr
Dally , Mornlnn , Kvenlni ? nnd Sunday IJee prlnte
during the month of Februnry , 150S , was n fo
lows :
1 20.5V
1 21.3V1
S 20.S12
nil ! ! ! ! ! . ' ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! m'.xn
e. 21,0:0
7 20.wa
. . . . . , 21,0'l
9 :0liS2
10 20.SSJ
11 21,121
12 21.070
H 21,011
14 M.003 23 22.3 :
Total . " 7.1 !
returned nnd unsold copies . .i.
' , :
td',2
Kpt totnl Fair *
Net dally atcniKi * : ; ; „ : .
Ri : n. TX.SCHUCK.
Sworn to before mo nnd sub'crllied In m
precncn this 1st day of March , IMS.
N. r. rntu
Notary Public.
Lot every one remember that It Is Si
Patrick's day In ( lie morning.
Tlio rtMimlnlnff undistributed snrpln
of Hint , ' ? 2,000 clinrlty fund Is n fituilln : (
contiadlctloii of the calamity bowler.
Confldcncc Is Rcni'i-al that this Is gc
Inj ; to be a peed year for Nebraska nn
the west , nnd what Is more , this con
fldcnce lias n substantial basis.
The applications for 45,001 patent
during the year ISO" stand as conclnslv
proof that American Intellects nro b'rlgli
nnd In oed working order every day o
the year.
St. Patrick's day should remind ever ,
Irish-American in this country that whll
he was born In Ireland he has volnii
tarlly transferred his allegiance to th
United States of America.
It will bo noticed that Governor IIol
comb lias had more to explain In th
newspapers since he began his secom
term than all his predecessors in th
gubernatorial chair together.
If the \vay to political prefermcn
with Governor Ilolcomb Is by way o
the bootlJo legislative lobby what hope
can the honest populists have who liiiv
the party for reform ?
An early ndjournment of congress I
not now expected , but a. few more unai
liuous votes on roll call will make It tu
necessary for many republican membci
to repair political fences at home.
Omaha ba.s had Iho headquarters o
this military department ever since I
was organized and there Is no gooi
reason why It should not retain then
Irrespective of recent boundary changes
The Transmlsslsslppl Exposltloi
throws Its gates open to the world Jun
1. Not only will there be no postpone
inent but everyone who visits It 01
the lirst day will get full return for hi
admission fee.
What Is human life worth ? A rowan
of $15,000 Is offered for the arrest am
conviction of the murderer of an Idah
man. Yet in many states a limit o
95,000 is placed on the damages recov
oruble for the killing of husband o
father.
The newspaper fence that proclaims
Mr. Bollu to bo honest after he hai
admitted himself an embezzler Is ac
cuslng Its Lincoln annex of atandln ;
p for dishonest public olllcers. Th
pot calling the kettle black is the onl.
parallel.
Railroads are carrying the Klondlkcr
to the Pacific coast at cut rates , but i
steamship sailed from one of the port
a few days ago bound for Alaska wit :
nearly lialf the passenger berths empt >
Midwinter estimates on the size of th
Klondike rush must have been , ovei
drawn.
'Better appoint a few women to th
police force. They seem to bo mnklii ;
much bigger inroads on the swarms o
burglars than the police. A police fore-
composed of women could In no even
certainly be less effective than th
present force luidcr IU IneiUcleut man
agcmuitt and direction.
The new city charter properly sui
rounds the- granting of franchises t
privileged corporations with condition
of reimbursement to the public dictate
by long nnd costly experience. Becaus
the taxpayers have been several time
buncoed by smooth franchise grabber
Is only added reason why they mua
guard against a repetition of the gauu
The argument put forth by Leaver
worth for the location of military d (
pnrtment headquarters In that city I
that It Is the natural headquarters cltj
Strangely enough , too , Kansas City'
claims nro also based on the nssertlo
that it Ls the. natural headquarters cltj
Nature must huvu been cxtrnordlunrll. .
prolific when It was generating heat
quarters cities.
The program for the celebration c
the three hundredth unnlversary of th
BPttlemcnt of Now Mexico by the Spat
lards might properly Include n Reuen
exhibit showing by maps and diagram
just what Spanish conquest and col <
ulzatlon has done for the western worli
The original town the Spaniards fouudc
800 years ngo is not much more of
town now than It was after the fin
decudo and Its history comes near to b
lug typical of Spanish history.
VTAITIKQ FO/l T1IK FIXDINOS ,
Repented statements by the nnthorltii
at Washington , Including the preside !
himself , that there to nothing at han
ns yet to Indicate what will be the m
ture of the findings of the Maine boat
of Inquiry , do" not silence the correspoui
cnts who have been telling the publl
that the wovcrnmcnt U In possession c
Information conclusively showing th :
the disaster to the Maine was cause
by external force. These industrlou
and vigilant gentlemen persist In ni
set-ting that the authorities know th
explosion was not nn accident and. tha
they are fully aware of what the repoi
of the board of Inquiry will be.
A measure of credibility was given th
newspaper statements by the article 1
the last Issue of the Army and Nav. .
Register , which stated that that public :
tlou was In possession of Informatlo
that certain evidence gathered by , th
board of Inquiry at Havana bad com
In a senil-ofllclnl form to the prcslden
from two members of the board nn
that the Information was that the Main
was destroyed by a government sul
marine mine , planted In Havana barbu
nnd deliberately exploded. It wa
further said by the register that it nr
penred from the Information that th
Maine was purposely moored In the vl
clnlty of the mine and that the explc
nlon occurred at the moment when th
ship had been opportunely carried b ,
wind and tide directly over the mint
This from so reputable and rcspouslbl
n source was widely accepted as we !
founded , yet subsequent to Its publics
tlon President McKinlcy authorized th
statement to be made that the executlv
had not hud any communication fron
any person directly or Indirectly con
nectcd with the court of Inquiry cltho
as to the character of the evidence gntli
cred or the probable findings of th
board and this was repented In cffcc
by a member of the cabinet only tw
days ngo. The Washington correspond
cut of the Philadelphia Ledger , howcvci
one of the most careful and trustworth ;
of the newspaper men at the uatioua
capital , says : "In spite of denials tha
the president antt his cabinet have re
cclvcd information of what the finding
of the Maine board of inquiry are to be
there Is no reason whatever to doub
that they have been for more than
week past possessed of information , i
not through olliclal channels , yet fron
officials themselves , that the explosion 1
Havana liarbor was due to externn
force. " The correspondent further say
that there Is little reason to doubt tha
the emergency preparations for dcfens
were based at the outset upon such In
formation.
These contradictory statements ar
confusing to the public , but the genera
disposition will bo to accept that of th
authorities. The unqualified statemen
of the president , the secretary of th
navy and other members of the cnblnoi
that they have received no informntloi
Indicating what the finding of the cour
of Inquiry will be , must be accepted a
ttue. There is plausibility in the thcor ,
that the active preparations for posslbl
war were basDdi at the outset upon in
formation that the Maine disaster wa
due to nn external agency , but It Is no
conclusive. At all events there is n
need of any excitement pending the re
port of the bom-el of Inquiry , which ongh
not to be much longer delayed. Th
country should wait calmly and patient ) ,
for the facts , , knowing that the govern
incut is preparing as vigorously ns pos
slblc for whatever emergency shall com
and confident that the president will d
tils duty faithfully and fearlessly.
OKNUItAL MILKS UA' WAR.
General Miles does not favor war. H
has expressed the hope , in th2 presene
of tlib veterans of the Socoud arm ;
corps , that there will be no war , but h
said if war should come "no will b
prepared , so that the conflict will b
short , sharp nnd decisive. " This Iron
the commanding general of the nrmj
who Is familiar with all that Is goln ;
on In tlie way of preparation- , should b
reassuring loathe country so far ns th
matter of readiness Is concerned. If '
be a fact that the nation Is in coudltlo :
to make a conflict with Spain "shorl
sharp and decisive" there has beei
great work done within the past montl
for U is not more than a month since t
was generally thought that the Unltei
States was Ill-prepared for war wit !
even so weak a power as Spain.
But granting that we are now wel
prepared for hostilities It may reason
ably be doubted whether a war will
Spain would be as easy a contest as I
implied in the remark of General Mile ;
with all due deference to bis mllltur ;
Judgment. Unquestionably the contllc
would be decisive. Spain would lose he
West India possessions , her navn
power would bo destroyed , her commcrc
would be swept from the sea nnd sli
Would suffer general disaster. But tin
sharp fighting would not bo all on on
side nor would we come out of the con
filet without some loss possibly a grea
deal more than niost of our people hav
any Idea of. Neither can we be quit
sure that the conflict would be short , th
probability rather being that it woul <
bo protracted that Is , that It would las
from six months to a year. Every Amci
lean citizen is properly confident in th
ability of the United States to vnnqulsi
Spain , but It Is a mistake to think Urn
a war with that country would be a ho !
iday affair.
THE COUNTY TAX ASSKSS3JEKT.
On the point of commencing thel
work of preparing the new county ta :
assessment , the assessors give It ou
that they will this year endeavor t
place the same valuations on taxabl
property as were returned last yeai
Duplicating last year's assessment roll
may serve the purpose of lightening th
labors of the assessors , but it certain ! ,
cannot fulfill the letter and spirit of th
law , which requires assessors to retun
each year all taxable property , real an
personal , at Its Just nnd true vnluatlo
at the , time the assessment is made.
While the ratio of assessed valuatlo
to true valuation adopted is of mine
consequence , the recent city nssessmen
tnado under direction of the tax con
mlsslouer for the city of Omaha afford
conclusive proof that a vast amount c
property properly subject to taxaUo
been regularly omitted from the ta
llst/i by the county assessor * . The dU
crimination practiced In favor of th
franchisee ! corporations and other larg
property owners and against the smal
merchant and homo owner has been m
torlons. The new city assessment is b
no means perfect and leaves much root ;
yet for Improvement , but a coiup.-irlsoi
with the tax llsta upon which the count ,
levy Is based will disclose great b'lock
of property , that has hitherto In eom
way managed to escape taxation.
This Is particularly true with rcspcc
to personal property. The present as
ecssment of personal property by th
assessors IB simply n farce. It Impose
a penalty upon the honest nnd conuclcn
tlous citizen who list ? bis property coi
rectly nnd gives perjurers n premlun
upon tax shirking and tax evasion. In
stead of making the owners of person
nlty bear their share of the burdens o
government , it relieves them almost en
tlrely nnd throws double weight on tin
shoulders of real estate owners. Th
beneficiaries of this system , of course
will have no objections to Its perpetua
tlon , but every year of Its contlnuauci
raises now outcries against Its paten
Injustice.
It rests with the county assessors ti
give us at least a measure of tax reform
If In making up their tax lists the :
will take the city assessment as a guide
Improve upon it where it may be defect
Ive , and add property It may havi
omitted , they , can , even with the lowe ;
ratio of valuation , equalize the ta :
burdens by placing them more when
they belong. This is the sworn duty o
the assessors and they should live tij
to it rigidly.
THE TUKA'fY AUAA'DUXKD.
The senate foreign relations connnlttci
has abandoned the Hawaiian nnnexatloi
treaty and reported to the ( senate a join
resolution for the acquisition of tin
Islands. This disposition of the mattci
was not unexpected , It having been un
derstood for a mouth or two past tha
the required two-thirds vote to latlfy tin
treaty could not be secured , v'jough tin
auncxatlonlsts have been reluctant t <
concede thK When congress mu-t in December
comber the supporters of the treaty wer
very confident of Its ratification and tin
situation at that time did appear verj
favorable to them , but the very thorougl
discussion of annexation In the prcis am
in congress weakened the ranks of it !
supporters , the fallacy of whose argu
ments were easily and conclusively
shown. Senators who were favoiablo t.
the acquisition of Hawaii \\ltou tin
treaty was sent to the senate upon mori
careful deliberation arrayed tlituuselvo !
against It , while there has been a verj
decided Increase In popular sentluien
adverse to annexing this remote ierrl
tory , with its Ignorant and motley pop
ulatiou , nine-tenths of which Is utterlj
unfitted for American citizenship. Then
is not a reasonable doubt that a ver ;
large majority of the America peopli
arc uncompromisingly opposed to Ha
wallan annexation.
In proposing to acquire the. island :
by resolution the question will bo dls
cussed in both branches of ri-ngrcss. PI
that the anuexationlsts will not hiv <
whatever advantage there may havi
been in debating It behind closed doors
To pass a resolution only n majority voti
Is necessary and doubtless this can bi
obtained in the senate , but It Is by n <
means certain that the resolution cat
be brought to 'a vote In that body at thi
present session. Th opposition to nn
nexatlon is strong enougli to prolong dis
cusslon of the subject Indefinitely aud i
is to be expected iliat it will take fill
advantage of Its privilege. But assum
Ing that the annexation resolutloi
passes the senate nt this session then
is not much probability that It would re
cclve consideration in the house. Proba
bly a majority of that body favor an
nexatlon , 'but republican leaders win
exert the greatest Influence upon tin
course of legislation are not favorable ti
It and these are very likely to be fount
adverse to the consideration of tlie ques
tlon at the present session. The fJyh
against annexation was more than hal
won when the treaty was abandoned.
T1IR TKUE REFUHU 1'ARTF.
The session of the Iowa legislature
now nearly ended has been productlvt
of several valuable object lessons wlilcl
the people of the state will not overlook
One of these relates to the board of con
trol bill , which proposes a revolution h
the manner of conducting the variout
state penal , charitable and educational
institutions. The credit for attracting
the attention of the state to the neccs
slty for n departure from the old systen
of local boards belongs to Horace Boles
who , as governor , strongly urged it upoi
the legislature. It is true that two othei
governors bad indorsed the change , bul
that at a time when the necessity for I
was not great. But Governor Boles no
compllshcd nothing , for even the mem
bora of his own party failed to respom :
to his call , and the fact that he urged 11
largely as a party measure prevented re
publicans from helping.
The present legislature , overwhelm
Ingly republican In both branches , nni
with a republican governor in the exect'
tlve office , 1ms prepared a board of con
trol bill that has passed one branch ant
will In all likelihood pnss the other. Thli
bill embodies the best features sug
gested by all who have favored tut
change. The chief argument In favor o
the bill IB that it will result in man
economical management of the state in
stltutlons aud its advocates estimate tha
it will effect n saving of many thousam
dollars annually to the taxpayers. It 1 :
contended also that under the board 01
control system the danger of ex
trnordlnnry appropriations for state In
Ktltutlons becoming larger than the ton
dltlon of the state treasury will wnrrau
will be greatly lessened. It Is a reforn
measure , nnd in its present form Is tin
work of the republican legislators , with
out whose approval it could not havi
had even a hearing , much less a chanci
of becoming a law.
The history of this measure Illustrate ;
anew the fact which has boon mauj
times before Impressed UIKHI the A inert
can people that the republican party 1 ;
the only party to which they can nppeu
with confidence for necessary nnd whole
some legislative reforms.
Now socialistic societies are bolni
formed every year for the purpose o
establishing colenics la which properl
will bo held fcJVthe benefit of all an
every person Mitr 0 the equal of over
other. The prospective abandonment <
the famous 7 yu community In Ohl
ought to bo an-lnstructlvo lesson to tti
visionaries whR"A pani of perfect cqua
Ity. The Hoaqltpa own 7,000 acres <
land and whooutjiie division , of proper !
ta made among the seventy-two men
bcrs remainingout of the original CO
property worth''bver $3,000,000 will I
distributed. If a Community cannot c :
1st with such &lntst egg why start o
others with prHcucnlly nothing ?
While the United States hns been bu ;
ing war ships abroad the British goveri
mcnt hns been making more coutrncl
with an American firm for armor plat
for war vessels. One company has justBi
cured a British contract for a larg
amount of armor plate. Americans ma
be slow about building a big navy lu
time of peace , but American workshop
turn out the best there is of cvcrythlui
Including defensive armor. The skill c
American workmen alone would bo c
great value to Uncle Snni In case of
prolonged conflict with another nation.
The time Is ripe for another triple
signed order for the popocrats to get U
getlier and save tha country. Some c
them are still engaged In trying to coi
vlnce the public that President McKlnle
lacks courage and patriotism because c
his reluctance to plunge the country hit
Ill-advised war , and others are equall
sure that the war scare Is nothing bu
n base Wall street conspiracy to provld
a popular Issue for the campaign. Whet-
Is Chairman Tones and bis lieutenants 1
this emergency ?
Making nil due allowance for the pnc
ding of his order book , the statement o
n Chicago traveling man that In to
weeks he took orders in England fo
? 1,000,000 worth of American goods , I
one that encourages the belief that ther
was some "error about that old free trad
theory that n tariff cannot keep forelg :
goods out without t the same tim
keeping home iua Ie goods lu.
t'ulty Worth ( he l'rloc.
New York World.
Senator Pcoctor Is right. The readiness <
the south to fight .for the nation Is worth a
that our preparations for nar bavo cost , an
vastly more.
Steel for Hrllluli Slili > .
St. 1'aul. Pioneer Press.
American shops have begun to help In U
manufacture of the British navy. TL
Carnegie company hoe received an order fc
G.OOU tous of platca for the hulls of ship ,
Thlfi Is the kind of Anglo-American alliam
uo like.
Itcform.
Clilcaco Post.
"No railroad pVsse ! " cries Plngree wart
Ingly to Michigan officials. How absurdl
old-fashioned anlT'nai'rovv-mlnded Plngree li
Why , If he hart his' way. It "la moro tha
likely that a man holding a political o01c
would not be permitted to take any mot
than bis salary.t %
name.
Washington Star.
The two Unltetr States army officers wh
were recalled trbm .Monte Carlo will , t
course , realize tHal hot only Is It deslrabl
for Undo Sam ( U'h'ave ' his lighting taler
at hand , but tha unacrtho circumstance
It Is Just as welFnnE to let any more lees
change get out'Jof ttie country tlia'n I
absolutely necessary.
I WMBM Mi MHVMMMMM.
No UnrKiitiiinK ( or Culm.
New York Tribune.
The United States has twice offered to bu
Cuba at a liberal price , and Spain has twlc
rejected the offer and resented- as llttl
shott of insulting. This country might b
able to endure a third rejection , but it woul
not be generous to offer Spain a third It :
suit. If such a bargain Is to be niado th
overtures should come from Spain.
Flr t Honor * of War.
Chicago Tribune.
The first honors In the war with Cuba ueei
to bave been won by Hon. William Aide
Smith , congressman from Michigan , whi
single-handed and alone , with his umbrell
routed a detachment of Spanish soldiers 1
Havana who had manifested their lack i
respect tor the American statesman by Jeei
Ing at his high silk hat. Of course , beln
semi-barbarians , these uncoulfc Castllhr
could not be expected lo show their reepci
for eucb. a badge of a higher clvlllzatloi
but they -will probably stand more lo aw
of it In the future. There ta already tal
of erecting some sort of a monument to tti
hero of the exploit , but exactly what fen
It shall take whether an umbrella or a ell
hat has not been decided.
SPAIN'S CUIIAX It.VI.AXCi ; SHEET.
The Inland a Superb Promoter c
Treasury DeflcltH.
C , 13. Alters In Harper's Weekly.
The financial prospect under the new Ion
of government is so unsatisfactory that I
can hardly fall to strangle all progress an
development , even if peace could be assured
Under one of the additional clauses to th
home rule constitution the public debt o
Cuba , including the expenses incurred fo
past ana future military operations , It to b
borne by Sraln and Cuba In such proportion
as may hereafter < be determined. The deli
before the revolt broke out was $170,000,00
In round figures. Up to the end of 1897 th
military operations cost $210,009,000. At th
present time the expenditure is betweo
$3,000,000 and $9,000,000 monthly. The tola
arrears now owing are about $70,000,000. A
the close of 1S9S tho.debt will bo therefore
not less than $580,000,000. The total servlc
for Interest and sinking fund can be cal
culatcd at $35.000,000. If Spain Is contcn
to assume one-halt of these obligations ther
ntlll remains a yearly payment of $17,500,00
to bo made by Cuba. The maintenance c
the rights of the Spanish crown has to b
paid for by the Cuban treasury and toda
this Is costing , as has already been stated
n sum equal to $100,000,000 annually. Thi
cost could of course be very greatly reduce
If peace were established on a permanen
basis ; but as the prospects of peace are mor
'ban doubtful at present , this sum of $100 ,
100,0)0 annually .njpsjt be allowed In all cal
rvlflt.ona for the next three years If Cub
icnialcfl a Spanish colony. The cost of th
administration of the colonial government I
estimated at som5i.r5,000,000 yearly and n
doubt can bo carrTqdJ on for that sum If con
ducted on prudent flues. To meet all thi
hoivy disbursement there Is only a colonls
revenue of $20,000,000 or thereabouts. I'rc
vloui. i to the outbreak of the insurrection th
revenue was a little lees than $23,000,000bu ;
Cuba was then exporting five times as muc
produce as Is now tfio case and some year
n'LMt necessarily elapse before the trade c
the Island recovers from Us present state c
chaoj. TO sum up , the matter briefly , th
financial condition fqr the next three year
under the new constitution is this :
Annual charge for1'service ' of debt. $17DOOOC
Maintenance -t/ieirights of the
Spanish crown" , , 100.000.0C
Coat of colonial administration . . . . 15,000,0 :
Total annual expenditure . . . . $132SOO.O (
Total annual revenue 20.000 , < X
Annual deficit IJW2XX,0 ! ) <
At the end of three years the accum.u
latcd amount of these deficits will reac
$337,000,000 clearly an Impossible position I
maintain for the colonial exchequer.
If Spain remains with Cuba this sum <
$337,500,000 ia what > he will be called'upo
to pay between now and 1901 In order to hoi
her colony. Of course the service of tb
debt may bo allowed to go into default an
tha army stationed la Cuba for the main
tcnance of the rights of the Spanish crow
may bo kept unpaid for a very long period
but if such a course li Uken it only make
the position of Spain more dlfQcullt In th
cod *
otrrr OK THIS COUNTRY.
Jnitlltrntloa ( or Inlrrvrntloai.
New Tork Sun.
Neither delay nor Arbitration la cxcueabt
In the matter of Cuba. The United State
have bid for several rears full JUAtlflcatlo
for Intervention. Whatever the report c
the Maine court of Inquiry It will rotnal
not only our moral right , but our polltlca
duty to say to Spain that the day of he
rule In the we-stern hemisphere Is over.
There are perhaps various roads leadln
to that result ; but some may be shorter an
better than others.
After hp Ileiiort , Whntf
Minneapolis Journal.
Before Easter the result of the court o
Inquiry Into the Malno disaster should b
known. It U almost certain to declare external
ternal agencies as the procuring cause o
the disaster , "and In that case Spain mus
pay damages whether unauthorized partle
blew up the irhlp or not. The demand fo
dama6es will bring affairs ( o a crisis. Spali
must either pay or fight ( submit the qucs
tlon of damages to arbitration possibly ) an ,
the wUdom of our policy of preparation wll
he manifest. It Is a policy of peace am
Uncle Sam holds the winning card. Th <
Cuban question will not harry us anotho
year. -
Tint n CHIINP of War.
Philadelphia Times.
The apprehension that the finding of th
Board of Inquiry will give cause for th <
demand to be made upon Spain for rcstltu
tlon and Indemnity that may lead to war , 1
therefore not unreasonable ; but It shouli
bo remembered that even If our war shl |
was destroyed by external explosion fo
which Spain may be called to niswer , 1
would not be a necessary cause of war , un
Irea It can be clearly shown that the de
structlon of the vessel was deliberate ) '
planned and executed by the Spanish au'
tborltlM. That would be an act of wai
and place the Itsuo beyond the lines o
diplomacy.
If Spiln has by negligence caused thi
destruction of the vessel , her povermnen
may ngree to Just restitution and Indemnity
or falling In that may accept arbltratlot
which wo could not decline. Thus bad ai
the report of the Board of inquiry may bi
It should not to accepted In advance as ai
unavoidable cause of war.
Critical QitcntloiK.
Philadelphia Press.
Wo do not here discuss the larger Cubat
problem and the possibilities connected will
It. That will come In Us tura. If tht > ques
tlons of the Maine are. not speedily adjusted
II may bo Interwoven with them. If the-
shall bo satisfactorily settled , It will li
any event press for early consideration
The march of events , the temper of thi
American people and the disposition of thi
government will not permit Us long post
ponement. 'But ' In the llfiht of present dls
closures there Is enough In the destruction o ;
the Maine to raise very critical questions
Wo may bo very sure that the president
whllo yielding no right and saerlflclnR nc
honor , will most earnestly desire and seek t <
maintain peace. Ho will take no poattlor
which Is not clearly right as ho will elirlnl- -
from none which Is plainly necessary. Tin
maintenance of peacn with hcnor depends
however , -not on him alone , but also on thi
attitude and policy of the Spanish govern
mcnt , and that will be developed by events
Indemnity for theDUaMtcr. .
Baltimore American.
The question presented In the Malno affal ;
seems to bo how great was the laches of th (
Spanish authorities ? Could they , will
reasonable care , have prevented th (
diabolical purpose of the assassin or assas
sins who fired the mine ? They are undei
any circumstances guilty of constructlvi
negligence , and answerable for It ; but thej
may , as many think , have largely con
trlbutcd to the disaster by uhpardonabli
negligence. This would accord with wha
Is known of Spanish administration
especially on the Island of Cuba. A govern'
ment which has wasted the tremendous re
sources placed at the disposal of the Cubai
administration , with nothing on earth t <
show for them tout devastation and starva
tlon , would not bo likely to take the mos
reasonable precautions for the safety o
foreign ships.
lit Is this which makes the Maine dlsastei
BO serious ; but It doe * not make It a causi
of war. Spain should bo forced to pay , am
pay heavily , for her gross neglect ; but beyond
yond that there is no precedent in Interna
tional law for proceeding.
WAR FKVl'THS WOHID-\VIDE.
Philadelphia Press : War measures In thi
'
present stage of civilization are peace
measures. England's proposed expenditure
ot $118,000,000 for naval purposes Is rathen c
proof ot England's growth in commorct
than on Indication of preparation for war
Last year England spent over $105.000,00 (
on her seagoing force , but ahe did It to guarc
a merchant marine aggregating 9.000.00C
tons , and a total foreign trade of more than
$1,000,000,000 a year. England Is not a bel
licose nation. Trade , not -war , Is the hearl
ot English supremacy , i
Plttsburg Dispatch : Ono of the striking
features ot the situation overt almost > the entire -
tire world this week has been the unnnimltj
ot the nations in making extraordinary pro
visions for war , and especially for naval
war. Fop twenty years the European powers
have spent money like water In preparation
for a. war that has not ytA come , and now In
a slnglo week they devote an additional sum
that exceeds In its total all that Europe
spent In years ot Napoleonic wars. And
there la absolutely no promise of its cessation
except 1m the warning conveyed. In the verj
magnitude ot the sums that the limit must
be reached somewhere.
Philadelphia Inquirer : Germany Is ex
pending $95,000,000 in the building of battleships -
ships and cruisers. England to to make ad
ditions to her already powerful fleet , and
her naval budget carries $127,000,000. Rus
sia has set apart $70,000,000 for new ships ,
and It ta suspected that a great shipbuilding
yard la to be laid out at Port Arthur , pcs-
slbly under the direction ot Mr. Charles H ,
Cramp , who Is now speeding eastward across
the Atlantic. France io- making plans for
building vessels at on expense of about $50-
000,000 , whllo Japan is hurrying to com
pletion a very great addition to a navy
which la already an Impeding one ,
Springfield ( Mass. ) Republican : When one
considers the extraordinary condition of the
world In these closing years ot the nineteenth
century he may easily be startled by the
possibilities ot an almost universal war aris
ing from the present Imbroglio between the
United States and Spain. It Is often said
and generally believed In this country that
Spain would have no allies in war with our
selves , because Russia controls the Euro
pean situation , and Russia Is not only a tra
ditional friend ot the United States , but at
the present time , on account of the com
plications In China , seeks to prevent Amer
ica from becoming the moral supporter of
England , the greatest of Russia's rivals for
the mastery of the Orient. If Russia really
seeks our favor , the support ot Spain by
France , the meat natural ally of the Span
ish monarchy , is an impossibility , because
the one supreme purpose of French states
manship Is the maintenance of the Russian
alliance. Even Germany would not venture
Into the HUpano-Ainerlcan cjuarrcl at the
risk of Incurring the displeasure of the
The Royal U the hlgtieit grade baking powder
fcnown. Actual to Ufcow It goeione-
tblrd Urtfacr ttaci a y olker broad.
POWDER
Absolute/ ! Pure
. , NI * YORK.
flIGK OP THE } T1MKS.
It U not so war to get Into the Uoltee
States artillery rglra nU at Is general ! ]
supposed. Out ot 130 appttcanti ton onlltt
ment In New York last Saturday only fou
were accepted.
Tha new battery at Tort Hamilton , N
Y , , Is ready for service. It consists ot flvi
< n-lnch rlftce. all ot the latest type
mounted on disappearing carriages. Eact
gun weighs 61,000 pounds and U about thlrtj
feet long. The carriage of each weighs 30-
000 pounds , The shells weigh 850 pound !
raoh , and each carries 42S pounds ot powder
with a bursting ) charge of thirty pounds
The velocity of the ehell Is 2.100 feet t
second. The energy at the muzsle U 16,28 !
foot tons , which gives the projectile powci
to pierce twenty inches of hardest steel a !
the muzzle. At the dlrtanco of 2,500 yard *
from the gun the ehell would have A epeec1
of 1,724 feet a second. The battery Is sup
piled from the most modern magazines
which are under the guns.
The steam yacht Elllde , which has beer
secured 'by ' the government for o. torpcdc
boat , Is said to bo the fastest boat In the
world. It has a record ot forty miles ar
hour and could easily distance any vcssc
afloat.
Heroic 'Hill ' Anthony , the marine ordcrlj
ot the Maine , who pprang Into Instant fame
when , af-ter the explosion and wreck of the
war ship , hastened to Captain Slgsbce anil
saluting , said : "Sir. I have to Inform you
that the ship has been blown up and is
sinking , " wrote a letter to a Chicago girl
in which ho saya ; "To ece , day by day ,
comrades taken from the wreck ot whal
was once the very embodiment of strong-th -
and beauty is sere Indeed , but , dear lady ,
a day of vengeance Is near at hand , when
the starry banner of freedom will bo un
furled on 'the ' battlements of BI Morro and
Cabannas ; when American womanhood will
greet tha return of husbands , sons , or fath
ers , who went forth 'to ' avenge the foul
murder of Yankee seamen whllo lying un-
conpcloua of danger In a supposedly friendly
port , llut nothing can ever bring back to
their loved onta 'those wlio are gone. They
icst , but are not forgotten. As I am a wit
ness before the naval court I can't tell you
mope ot 'the ' horrible ultalr than you al
ready know. If we should ever meet I hope
to tell you in detail of Its horrors. ' "
Requirements ot men seeking cnllytmcnt
In thei new artlllwy regiments authorized by
congress la very exacting. Applicants must
bo between 21 and 30 years old , unmarried ,
sound physically and able to read and write
the English language. Boys between the
ages of 16 and 18 may be enlisted If they
are required for musicians , but In all such
cacEii the applicants must have their rarcnta'
or guardians' consent.
The requirements In relation -to height ,
weight , chest measurement , etc. , are as fol
lows ;
Chott Measurement ,
Height. Weight. Expiration. Mobility.
Feet. Inches , pounds. Inches. Inches ,
" 4-12 Gt 12S 322 2
r > -12 < V > 130 3S 2
C-I2 CO 133 33',4 2
7-12 C7 13J 31 2
S-12 &S 141 31 \i \
9-12 ( ! 9 US 3IV4 2U
10-12 70 15" a'l 2' '
11-12 71 102 3 ; > U W.
ica r. . ;
i 1-12 73 170 35U 2' ' , $
If the United States secures the Chilian
man-of-war O'lllgglns It will bavo a ship
bearing the honored name of a man who
was leader In the Chilian revolt against
Spanish rule. There were two O'HIgglnscs
In Chill. The Jlrst , Ambrose , or Ambroslo ,
won't to that country from Ireland In 1730 ,
became captain general of the army and
was viceroy at the time ot his death. His
son , 'Bernardo ' , became leader of the Chilian
patriots , achieved a great vlttory over
Spain , was named supreme dictator of Chill
and proclaimed 'Iho ' Independence of the
country.
THE : QUESTION OF I'IIOFITS.
HOTV la the Orlicliinl Cant of ItnllrnnilH
to llo rU lcriuln Mlf
Minneapolis Times.
The supreme court of the United Statca In
Us decision on the Nebraska maximum rate
case holds that It has Jurisdiction , though
the case Involved only the rates for carryIng -
Ing freight from cno point to nn older In
NcNbraska. It asserts jurisdiction on the
fourteenth amendment to the federal con
stitution , which provides -that no state sdall
deprive any person ot property without elue
process ot law. Corporations arc persons In
the Intendment ot law.
The state right to fix charges Is not with
out limit and the court holds that 'the Ne
braska rates were- unreasonably low. They
were fixed at about 30 per cent below the
rates made by tfio roads. Altogether there
was a reduction of about 50 per cent from
the rates l > r. vogue bcforo the state began
Interference with railroad charges.
On the question of profits to bo reasonably
illowed the court says ;
"Tho etato cannot justify unreasonably
tow rates for domestic transportation , con
sidered alone , upon the ground that the
Mrrler Is earning largo profits on Its Inter
state business , over utilch , so far as rates
ira concerned , the state has no control.
Wo bold that the basU ot all calculations
is to reasonableness of rates to be charge 1
l > y a corporation maintaining a highway
ander legislative sanction must bo the fair
naluo of the property being need by It for
he convenience of the public. And In order
-.0 ascertain th-tt value , the original cost ot
instruction , the omount expended In per
manent Improvement , the amount and mar-
< et value of Ita bonds and stock , the present
is compared with the original coat of con
struction , the probable earning capacity ot
( jo property under any rates prescribed by
itatute and the sum required to meet optrat-
ing expenses , are all matters for consldcra-
: lon and to be given such weight as may be
luat nnd right In tuo particular case. "
This Is a doctrine that will suit the rall-
oaclfi very well , but It is not the grouad
.hat has been taken by the state supreme
ourtfl. Our own supreme court , in the opln-
on written by Judge Canty , held that the
itate of Minnesota might reasonably ques-
Icn how far the railroads might go In hold-
ng up rates In this state to pay expenses
m 'profitless extensions elsewhere ; also that
, ho true method of determining the reason-
ible rate was to base It on the present cost
if .reproducing the property. Judge Canty
llscuBsed at considerable length the amount
if value to be accredited to terminals and
aniJa for term'nals held by railroad com-
> anles. If railroad companies are to base
heir rates on their original cost It would
certainly t om to b * f Ute Inquire tew
much of that coit ther did not ptjr. * ew
much was given them by stattw , counties ,
cities and oven Individuals , to secure road *
where they wanted thorn. Tticn , too , It would
be fair to lr\iulr how much ot the alleged
original cot want to conattuctlm cotnpanlci ,
which paid back Inflated dividends to th
offlctalB win- were openly promoting the road
and eecretly milking the original atnckhold-
rs through conntructlon comptnlta. Th *
truth about the original cod of rallroiula la
hard lo come at , The evidence Is nil In the
handset those Interested la Inflating the coal
of the property ln < order that rnie.i may re
main high. The dccUlon ot the miprcmo
court makes It very difficult for state court !
to deal with tht * whojq question , Inasmuch as
nearly nil roads are ItiteiAtatc. If Minnesota ,
for example Is boutid to nlloIho Great
Northern road freight rates to the Ned river
valley based upon the cost ct mulnlalnlng nni )
operating the whole mountain n ) tcm , it will
become nc < cttaary for a court having a juris ,
diction an broad at least an the s ) tetu to Bar
what those rate * shall be.
3IIUT1IFUI , .MUMI.VOS.
Chicago IleccmU "I like to go to Ton * ,
kins' . "
"Is ho a palnlcw elcntlst ? "
"No , but whenever he pulls a tooth for
me he makes frightful faces himself , "
Puck ; "Ah ! my dear , of com so you did
not have your sewing circle today , when
It was so stormy ? "
"O , yes ! KUwIti , elcarest. Wo had It by
telephone. "
Hnrlem Life : "What's the reason your
baKKagc Isn't hero7 Wasn't It checked ? "
"That's just the trouble. It w.ts checked
by an attachment. "
Chicago Post : "I was surprised to learn
that slip was a woman \vlth a past. "
"Surprised ! Great mackerel ! DOOM aha
look ns It she was born yesu > rday ? 1 should
say she had n pn.-U that Is not a bit lus *
than twenty-eight years. "
Chicago Times-Herald : "Cuba Is a pretty
slippery subject to handle , " remark * n Now
Oilt-.uis paper. Certainly ; It U Castile's
hope.
Detroit Journal : The- next morning he
was full of bHter thoughts.
" \Vo are but worms ! " ho gloomily cx-
cln lined.
His wife , who nlthough she was deeply
liun by having him come homo Intoxicated
the previous night , yet pilled him. beard
him pak thus with much dlMquteUulc , nnd
Insisted Unit ho Imvc at once more pounded
Ice upon his hrael.
Detroit Free Pies : Mrs. McDi-lde-Tho
CtibniiB say they would much rather have
contilbuttoni of ammunition than bread.
.Mr. Mcllllde We'll wnel thorn , aoino of
your hlfcnlts and they can use them either
for food or cannon balls.
Philadelphia North American : "I want
\\ar , " said Hllllts , facetiously , "became t
am In hopes thnt In that wny some of my
crcdltorM will lx > klllnd off. "
"I suppose , " remarked Crisp , "that you
uould rath or pee. ahem killed outright than
have them utnrvp to death. "
Cincinnati Enquirer : The Cautious One
I wouldn't fro to the Klondike. Already
more money liny gone In there than tins
been token out.
Tlie Sanguine One You don't say ! If the
place la fitting richer like that , I think
I'll go as BDon HH I can.
Washington Star : "Did you know , " said
the Spanish student , "tnnt when the
Chinese KO Into < var they beat songs and
send oft Hrcworka ? "
"How foolish ! " mused the general.
"When they get anything- their minds
why Uon't they write It ? "
Chlcapo Tribune : "Now , George , quit
pulling my earl"
"It's my car now , sweet ! Going to pull
It all I please ! "
This la why the hard-featured passenger
with the Iran gray chin beard , who had
been sitting In the scat behind a young
man In a new black broadcloth suit and. a
young woman In a gray slllt traveling dress ,
got up hastily and wont forward Into tli
smoking car.
It Is reported that Kaiser Wlthelm. hn
applied , through his ambassador , to the
Bngllsh censor of plays to have stopped a
song that Is being ming nightly In the Lon
don music halls. The lyric which offends
his Imperial majesty la entitled "The Mailed
Fist ot Germany. " It begins In till *
fashion :
"Fltz slmmons met the kaiser.
And they warmly , hugged nnd kissed.
Old Fitz ho had hlv gloves on
Bill had , a mailed list.
The kaiser he grew nasty :
They nad a blooming row ;
The kaiser hit Fitzslmmons
Where la the kaiser now ? "
Brooklyn IJfe.
Whene'er a man attempts to drown
Ills troubles , then I note
He always seems to think they are
Located In his throat.
THE "WU.VHUXG OK TUB GIIKEN. "
Minna Irving In Leslie's Weekly.
He laid his blackened pipe aside ,
A moisture dimmed his eye
And made Its blue as soft a hue
As April's misty sky.
The morning frost was on his beard ,
The winds of March were keen , ,
But all his heart was warmed to hear
The "Wearina of the Grocn. "
The burden of his years of toll '
Was lifted from his back ;
His furrowed cheek was smooth and younft
His grizzled hair was black.
The silken flags nnd snowy plumes
Tney passed him nil unseen ;
He walked again whore fln > t he sung
The "Wearing of the Green. "
The mossy rocks and rugged glens
Sent baclfi his voice again ,
And Mary , In her cabin door ,
Took up the sad refrain.
She had a shamrock In her breast , '
The kerchiefs fold between ,
And redder lips have never trilled
The "Wearing of the Green. "
His Mary's old and feeble now ,
Her scanty locks are white ;
3ho dozes by the fire all day
And Brumbies half the night.
But they ore wedded lovers yet ,
And on each other lean ,
And still elio hum ? , In quavering tones ,
The "Wearing ot the Green. "
Come sun or shadow , once a year
The bands are sure to play
The good old tune , the dear old tune.
Upon Balnt Patrick's day.
TI.s like a breath from bog and hill ,
Though oceans roll between ;
TIs sweet to every exile's tur
The "Wearing of the Green ! "
This time
It's Hats.
The clever judge of headwear who does the style making
for our hat department , says , "Spring shapes are ready. " That
is good news , bscause it means money in your pocket if you
satisfied to take the exclusive hatter's
are shape with our label in
the crown , Our own shapes may suit you better they do so
many and are § 1.00 up to § 4.00. Some styles in our window
see if you like them. If not , we have more inside that may.
and Uougf tJt * *