THE OMAHA DAILY BEE : TUESDAY , MAKOH 20 , 1808.
THE OMAHA DAILY BEE
E. ItOSKWATnit , Kdltor.
MOHNINCJ.
TKrtMS OV SUUSCUUTIONl
Dully Hen ( Without Huliilay ) , One Year . JO 00
Dally ll'c and Sunday , On * Year. . . . . . , . , , . . 00
Blx Months . 4 W
Three Months . * M
Bunday ! ) , One Tear . 200
Biturdny lice. One Vear . t *
Weekly LJee , One Year .
Ol-TKICEH :
Omnh.i : The Hco nulMItiff. .
Buuth Omali.i : HlriRCr Illlt. . Cor. N and 24th SU.
Council Iluff ! : la l'c > arl Btrctt.
Chicago onice : DO ! Clmmber of Commerce.
New Vork : Temple Court ,
Washington ! Ml Fourteenth Street.
COnUCSPONDHNCE.
All communlcnlloni relating to news and edits-
tlal matter rhould tie addressed : To tlie Kdltor.
iiuaiNESs t.iTTins.
All business letters and remittances should be
ddreti-ed to The Dee I'ubllsliInK Company ,
Omaha. Draft" , checks , c pre s and posioflUo
money order * to bo made payable to the order of
the company. . . . . _
TtlK I1KK 1'UDMSHINO COMl'ANT.
8TATEMKNT OP CinC'Ul.ATION' .
Btnte of Nebraska , DouRlas county , ss. !
George II. Tzy-huck , eecretary of The H c 1'ub.
Hilling company , bclnit duly sworn , says that the
actual number o ( full and complete copies of Tha
Dally , Morning. Evening nnd Sun/lay lice printed
( luring the rnontli of February , 1805 , was as fol-
, 20.9M 15 21.08 ;
, 21.953 18 Z1.6J1
20.892 17 .JOI
, ? 0.7 < 3 18 2 .815
, 20,875 19 ; > . ; }
, 21,030 20 | } . < j
2i'.o5t 22" ! " ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! " ! !
- - - - - 23 21,6Si
10 10.8S2 21 . 21.923
11 ll.m 23 ; . ; ; ; 22.111
1 ! ? l.070 ' ' ' ' " " " "
H : . 21,012 27'1" ! ! ! I'iS' ' '
II 20,903 23 22.33J
Total " 7rJJ
leturned nnd unsold copies
Net tot l
Net day , ,
Bwnrr. to before me nml RUbscrlbcd In my
pTftene * this 1st day of March , IMS. _ _ , ,
tSMI' i N , P. FEU *
' .
Notary 1'ubllc.
The nstroiioincrs ngrt-o tlmt tlie new
comet Is traveling at the rate of 1,000,000
miles n day. The only mutter In dispute
Is whether It Is coming or going.
Thirty-six creamery companies were
Incorporated In Nebraska during the last
year. The Nebraska farmers have dis
covered various pathways to prosperity ,
and are following them.
The condition of the streets of Omaha
must Improve very materially between
now and the llrst ofJune If it Is to hold
its reputa'tlon as one of the best-paved
and cleanest cities In America.
If the Rood people of Omaha had to
wait for the bogus reform police board
to move to suppress gambling , they
would have everybody robbed of house
nnd home by the police-protected out
laws. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
One advantage Douglas county will
reap from the sale of Its funding bond
Issue to the state school fund It will
got at least a portion of the interest paid
back In the shape of school fund ap
portionment.
The cost of building and building ma
terials Is reported 10 per cent higher
now than a year ago. Unt 'the ability
of the people to embark In building en
terprises is Increased more than 10 per
cent for tlie same period.
Xo exposition in tills country has ever
managed to get along more amicably
with the workingmcn than has the
Transmlssisaippl. Differences have
arisen from time to time , but they have
always been adjusted without resort tea
a strike or lockout.
The president Is reported to have said
recently to a persistent ofllce seeker that
"the man who feels that he cannot wait
tor a postolllcc appointment at a tune
like this docs not deserve the placa .uul
will not got It. " Whether the report it
reliable or not , the sentiment Is good.
The postofflce win wait.
It cannot bo pleasing to the New Kng-
landcrs to observe the southward move
ment of < he American cotton textile In
dustry. Three new cotton mills are to
bo 'built ' In Clmttdnooga , as this means
still sharper competition- the English
cotton mills that are located so much
farther from the cotton flelds.
Having forced the city to reduce the
market stall rent once by a threatened
lawsuit , the market gardeners * combina
tion now wants to didtatc terms still
more favorable for themselves and more
Unfavorable to the city. The market
stall charges should be reasonable above
all things , but the council must reserve
the right to establish the basis upon
which they are fixed.
Most of the outcry against Immigra
tion to the United States Js without
cause. Only about 1MO.OOO Europeans
now annually seek homes In me Un ted
States , nnd the Immigration to the Ar
gentine Republic Is nearly equal to this.
The reduction In the number of Immi
grants Is not so much duo to r..striothe
legislation as to the fact Hint the people
of the world arc Informing themselves
more about the Inducements held out to
Immigrants who may want to found
Joint's.
An example worthy of Imitation In
very western state has 'been ' set by a
number of enterprising business men of
South Dakota who have called a conven
tion of business men and others Inter
csted In the welfare of the state to con-
filder questions of Immigration , public
Improvements , etc. It Is possible for tin.
business men of any state lo exert greal
Influence for good when they organize
and all pull together , and this la what
l.s needed In more than one of the states
of the west.
Two states are preparing to build now
capltol buildings. Pennsylvania will
f rect n new one on the. site of the one
flhat was burned last year In Harrlsburg ,
< ind It will be a modest affair for such a
wealthy state. Montana Is also to build
a new capltol In Helena. Some years
ago It was provided by law that plans
be prepared for a structure to cost abou ;
91,000,000 , , but a contract has been lei
for plans for a building to cost not over
SUT..OOO , which ought to provide a good
building for a young state with a bright
future before It. The legislature of Ml *
etsslppl took action looking to a now
state capital there , but there lias been
some hitch about It and nothing lias been
done. Colorado's capltol building will
soon bo completed by placing a statue
eu the douia.
MAtNK IlKPUtlT Iff CUKIIRCSS.
In transmitting the report of the naval
board on the Maine disaster to congress
President McKlnley made no suggestion
or recommendation In regard to It. Ills
message , which many expected would
contain some aggressive note , Is entirely
matter-of-fact. The president Invokes
deliberate consideration on the part of
congress nnd does not doubt that "tho
SPIISO of Justice of the Spanish nation
will dictate a course of action suggested
by honor and the friendly relations of
the two governments. " There is no Inti
mation as to what course of action the
iresldent thinks the circumstance calls
or , that being left entirely to the de
termination of the Spanish government ,
whose sense of honor may prompt It to
go no farther than 7i declaration of re-
; rct at the catastrophe. As the report
of the naval board does not flx the re
sponsibility , It Is not at all probable that
Spain will be disposed to offer any repnr-
itlim or Indemnity Involving a considera
ble sum of money and our government
could not decently accept an Indemnity
which did not cover the cost of the bat-
Icslilp and provide something for those'
who suffered from the disaster. To ac
cept a trilling money consideration
would give a mercenary phase to the
matter that would be humiliating to the
nation.
It seems safe to conclude , therefore ,
that the United States will have to be
satisfied with whatever course of action
the Spanish government shall be pleased
to take , since by the finding of our own
board of naval experts wo have no case
against Spain. Doubtless public opinion
s largely Inclined to the view that Span
ish treachery Is responsible for the de
struction of the Maine , but the report of
the naval board does not furnish ground
for such belief , because It Is possible that
the submarine mine was not placed by
Spaniards. At all events the careful
and thorough Investigation of competent
American naval olllcers failed to locate
responsibility and therefore this gov
ernment can justly make no claim or
lemand upon Spain. AVhat the Spanish
: overnment may do is in effect admitted
by President McKlnley to be a matter
of its own choice. That government be
lieves , upon the authority of Its own
naval experts that the Maine explosion
was duo to accident. What can It reason
ably be expected to do beyond expressIng -
Ing regret ?
HAILIWAD IMI'IIUVKMENT.
The unusual activity recently shown In
railroad circles , not only In projection
of new lines , extensions and Improve
ments , but in new and better equipment
and betterment of train service , cannot
full to have attracted the attention of
persons on the lookout for reliable signs
of the condition of business and pros
pects for the future. This activity , espe
cially marked on western railroads and
those leading to the principal seaports
south and east , Is more than a good
omen.
The companies operating lines between
Chicago and Denver have been putting
on new equipment for the passenger
service , and now they are buying new
cars for freight business. One road cen
tering in this city alone has ordered the
construction of 1,150 box and stock cars
and asked for bids on 1,000 more , and
other roads will be equipped with new
freight cars during the year. It Is true
that this new equipment on the western
roads is to take the place , at least par
tially , of that worn out during the past
few years when railroad companies were
avoiding expenses and refusing to make
repairs or renewals , but It would not
now be purchased but for the fact that
business In sight requires It. Hallroad
managers are simply business men
watching for business opportunities , and
they realize that when there Is business
to be done the company best prepared
to handle the business will get It. For
several years the outlay of largo sums
In Improving railroad lines and putting
on new rolling stock was esteemed risky
Investment. Conditions have changed
for the better and from this time for
ward the railroad companies will expend
large sums In reaching the highest
standard of efllclency.
While this activity In railroad circles
Is but one indication that the country
has entered upon a new era of Industrial
life , It Is one of the best of the many
such Indications.
( H1R CUMMKllCK IN WAR.
The report that the apprehension of
war Is Interfering with the export ol
cotton- owing to the fact that shippers
cannot get insurance upon It , suggepis
the damaging effect which'an outbreak
of hostilities would have upon out
foreign commerce. A war with Spain ,
If it did not result In wholly driving
American commerce from the seas , would
undoubtedly Inflict serious Jujury to It ,
for of course the Spanish government
would resort to privateering , a method
of warfare which Spain declined to re
linqulsh , as most other European gov >
crnmcnts have done.
Referring to this danger In connection
with a war , the Now York Commercial
Advertiser 'remarks that tlie Injury tc
our commerce In a conflict with Spain
would perhaps not bo so bad as the wai
of 18112 , when the whole Atlantic coas
was blockaded , but It would be worst
than the civil war , because we could no
blockade the ports of Spain and hei
privateers would have a more regulai
status In neutral ports than those of the
confederacy , from which , however , oui
commerce suffered heavily. We were
then , however , able to protect our coast
ing trade better than we could perhaps
do ngaliust Spain. That trade on th <
Pacific coast was not Interfered with m
all by confederate privateers , whcrea :
Spanish privateers might now do grca
damage to that commerce. The Unltei
States may also engage In privateering
being under no restraint , other than respect
spoct for International public opinion , note
to do so and It Is possible this govern
ment would retaliate upon Spanish com
incrco by commissioning privateers , bu
It Is a question whether we could infllc
as much dnmato upon the commerce o
Spain as our commerce would suffer , on ;
coast trade being larger than the eutlr
foreign commerce of Spain.
There Is no doubt that the Spanlsl
government could secure any number o
privateers , since It would ! not necessarll ;
have to buy vessels for this purpose , bu
imply comiutolou them to prosecuti
thls legalized piracy under the Spanish
flag. Tlmt It would have many offers
for this purpose from nearly all quarters
of the world Is certain , nut Spain would
have to respect neutral vessels and
neutral goods and thus wo could obtain
security for our commerce by the hard
alternative of placing our coasting trade
under neutral flags. Of course there
would be no dltllcalty In doing this ,
because neutrals would be most willing
to take the trade , but recourse to It
onltl be a rather painful experience and
t might prove to bo of permanent Injury
o a part of our foreign commerce.
This Is one of the considerations that
liters Into the question of war and ob-
lotisly It is an Important consideration ,
Ithough there ore men In high places
ho seem to think It a matter not to bo
erlously thought of.
UKMKF H'UHK.
Whenever any branch of humanity or
eetlou of country Is afflicted with great
Isaster , caused either by accident or
he elements , a tidal wave of human
mpathy goes forth to the distressed , no
latter how remote or how conditioned ,
he periodic appeals for succor seldom
all to receive generous response nnd
ften stimulate Imposture upon the
inrltablc nnd benevolent. Whether re
ef Is sought for the starving heathen
f India and China , the Christianized
Vsiatlcs of Armenia , the starving peas-
ntry of Ireland or Russia , the grass-
opper sufferers of Dakota or the drouth ,
trlcken farmers of Nebraska , there al-
vays spontaneously springs up a move-
icnt for relief in which professional
hnrity distributors find their opportu-
Ity to play the good Samaritan while
hey arc laying by a store of provisions ,
lothlng and supplies that generally lasts
liem from one providential visitation or
orrlble catastrophe to the next.
The emotional outburst of sympathy
or the starving reconcenrrados of Cuba
( fords another opportunity for this class
f professional alniS'Sollcltors , who see
n It simply a God-send to fill their
mpty larders. It has been mo export-
nee of genuine philanthropists who arc
ot In the habit of advertising their
enovolence that promiscuous charity
ml emotional charity seldom affords
ho relief for which It Is designed. Tills
vns the experience twenty-five years
ire during tlie grasshopper plague , and
nly three years ago , when Nebraska and
Cansas were alillctod. with crop failure ,
t would be something abnormal If the
xperlence of the past should not ( again
ie repeated with the Cuban relief movo-
nent. The safe thing and the proper
lilng fox those who sincerely desire to
ild the starving Cubans rather than
bidding for popular favor on tlie Rym-
intliy dodge is to place their contrlbu-
lens at the disposal of the regularly
onstltuted relief commission which the
United States government is about to
ilaco In the field.
Willie the appropriation of half
a million dollars which congress will
loubtlcss make within the next
hreo days will be ample for re-
levlng the Immediate distress , it would
doubtless be proper to supplement the
mtloual relief fund by private dona-
Ions. To be effective anil to reach the
sufferers for whom they are Intended
hese donations , either of money or sup-
) lies , shou'ld be placed at the disposal of
he government commission , acting in
concert with the American consuls in
3uba. This course might interfere with
ho professional relief-gatherer , but it
will bo more efficient In alleviating dls-
ress and misery.
AMER1UAKS IN HAVANA.
If the report Is true that Consul Gen
eral Lee Is preparing a list of the Ameri
cans In Havana , BO that they can be
promptly communicated with in case of
in emergency , it .is highly significant.
It is to be assumed that General Lee Is
not doing this without having informa
tion from Washington that warrants the
precaution. There is no doubt that cltl-
sens of the United States residing In
lavana are now In danger , as the corre
spondents report , and In the event of
lostllltles breaking out it is certain that
some of them would fall victims to Span-
sh hatred. The authorities are now able
to glvo them protection , but if war
should come there would be little effort
; o protect Americans. They would have
to take their chances of getting away
from the island with their lives nnd not
all of them would bo successful in do
ing so.
One correspondent states that the
American colony In Havana is prepared
lo move Into the harbor on short notice ,
but .it . Is not apparent what good this
would do them unless American vessels
nro there to receive them and the same
! orrcspondcnt says that how they are to
lo herded aboard the three little vessels
In the harbor is a problem. Probably
the Spanish authorities would be dis
posed to recognize their duty under In
ternational law and give the Americans
nn opportunity , to get out of the
country , but it Is doubtful whether
they would go to much trouble
to protect them from the element which
Is continually manifesting Its hatred of
citizens of this country. There can bo
no doubt that Havana Is a dangerous
place for Americans to be in at this time
and the wonder Is that any who could
leave the city remain there.
The temperance people should not go
Into spasms about licensing the sale of
liquor on the exposition grounds. There
will be the largest soda fountain in tlie
world find dozens of booths and restau
rants to supply visitors with temperance
beverages nnd there Is less danger from
wines and beer sold by responsible
vendors under police surveillance than
there Is from their unrestricted sale on
the outskirts of the exposition grounds
by bootleggers and keepers of low
groggcrles. It Is a condition and npt
a theory the exi > ostioii ! is dealing with.
The Lincoln Journal Is still distressing
Itself over the canard that the exposition
proposes to pay The Omaha Heo $800 a
page for a four-page illustrated sup
plemeut , when such ft proposition had
never even been thought of. Our Lincoln
contemporary In nil seriousness propose.-
to furnish four-page supplements foi
? 200 a page , but It does not propose tc
glvo the exposition 200,000 copies of the
8.11110 printed on high grade paper ; In
ejt these supplements with 200OOC
copies of ltd reffutar edition ; secure the
names , pay fojlity addressed wrappers
and finally prqnmr the postage and take
l > ay for this sinecure In exposition stock.
ThcTo Is as mu VdlfTorciiee between the
proposal to do.inll . this at 13-u cents a
copy and paylnfc'$800 ' a page ns there Is
between a chesfyutt horse nnd a horse
chestnut Rutalf.ithc ; Journal or any
other established paper Is In dead earnest
n.a desire to duplicate The Bee's contract
on equal terms.'UH/to material supplied ,
service rendered. ) nnd payment , wo
venture to gultariteo ! ; It will have no
dllllculty in getting Its proposition
accepted , 'i '
JiiNtldc mill Jli-rcy.
Qlobc-Democrat.
Intervention with rations ! a new ttilng
under the etin , but starvation la at work
In Cuba , and the United States will not
omit the deeds of mercy and charity , along
with those of decisive Justice.
1'olu'n Sl li for fJorc.
Chlrago Chronicle.
Both pereor.al and public consideration !
: ati o ua to deprecate the proposal of Mr.
Polo y Deraab" for the aummary execution
it all newspaper writers. But If Mr. Polo
inslsto upon Journalistic gore we are willing
to rrako a concession. Let him begin on the
proof readers.
All Hvroi-p. Slot Wur Miule.
Chicago inter Ocean.
There Is a maxim , "Jt Is eweot , to dlo for
ono's country. " IU | g etlll better to KVO for
It , and btcsa It by good works In very fluid
to which you are called. There are hero' > a
In the home , as well as on the battlefield ,
and they should always be In harmony.
Heroes can never be expected upon the bat-
tloSelds when there are not heroes and hero
ines tn the homes oP the land. The one cre
ates the other.
Aye , \ol > riiHkn , Too ,
Minneapolis Tribune.
A former secretary of the Montana legis
lature has been sentenced to the peniten
tiary for making way with an Important
measure which should have become a law.
If this precedent hod been established years
ago the early sessions of the Dakota , as
well as the Minnesota legislature , would
have been robbed ot ono of their most pic
turesque features or the penitentiaries
would have received a number of dlstln-
guUtied guests every two years.
Hot StuH !
Minneapolis Journal ,
A nation devoted to bull fights for the
very love of gore and savage pacslon and
to Essasslnatlon from the rear , naturally
chooses to manifest Its hellish impulses by
treacherously blowing up one of our vwr
shins anchored ta a Spanish harbor. The
cauisc of the American nation rests on such
Infamy and It Is such Infamy that It calls
for Itie execration of Spain by the civilized
world and for the most terrible punishment
to be administered to that decaying Incarna
tion of cruelty.
Clirlittrnlnnr.
Chlcnuo News.
As the war ship Kentucky started for the
eea last Thursday a number of Kcntucklans
near by smashed/a / dozen bottles of old bour
bon against the .vessel's side , thus 'Indicating
their disapproval of .Miss Bradley's christen
ing with water" . , But these Impetuous south
erners recked not t e cor.sequencea , for now
they do not dar/"go | < horae , well knowing that
no man will be tolerated In Kentucky who
dares mix whisky with water. Might as well
blow froth froni'a gjjass of beer In Milwaukee
and expect to kcepdon living there In peace.
I. Up.
Press.
Japan Is getting ( ready for war , and the
war cloud Is hovering' over England. Every
nation seems to bo ; looking for trouble , and
trouble Is obligingly going all ways at once.
But the length , of ntlme which elapoes be
tween talk of war end Its near realization ,
and the evident 'reluctance ' of all to plunge
hastily into hostilities , shows that the fcol-
ing is growing- stronger as the world ad
vances tbat war ts a. barbarism ; that there
are plenty of honorable expedients for avoid
ing It , and that only the last extremity Jus
tifies a people In engaging In Its horrors.
Coiuiiiuniliilile Oillolnl Svcrocy.
'Ijoulsvltle Courier-Journal.
Though It has been over a month stace
the destruction of the Maine , there has been
no leak as to the findings of the court of In
quiry , either at Havana. Key West , cr
Washington. The newspaper correspondents
have been vigilant and persistent as never
before , but they have learned nothing frcm
official eourcca. The court and the adminis
tration have attended to tholr business and
kept their lips scaled. Wo do not recall
that there was ever a time In our history
when such reticence about so Important a
matter was st > Icng and so successfully main
tained. All honor to them for It , despite
the Impatient end oftentimes childish crlt-
Iclam which their course baa provoked.
Extent of Life Iimurnnce.
! Springfield ( Mass. ) Republican.
Returns from the llfo Insurance com
panies of the United States , compiled by the
Spectator of New York , Ehow that they had
In force at the end of 1S97 an aggregate
Insurance of $5,330,478,561 , an Increase dur
ing the year of $216,459,774. This stupendous
deus sum , if distributed equally among the
adult males of the United States , would give
to each an Insurance of nearly $300. But
distributed unequally , as they nro , the fig
ures strikingly reflect an extraordinary
prevalence of life Insurance among the pee
ple. The aggregate assets of Ifae companies
amount to $1,349,104 , 965 , and the surplus at
4 per cent to $192,149,157 , an Increase re
spectively during the year of $100,869,182
and $13,841,322.
SPAIN'S cii.vrimr OF WAR.
Fruition * and Kxliuiintiiin : Caiiterta
WIIKCI ! liy Hie Cnntlllnn * .
EprlnirHeld ( Mass. ) Republican.
The number of wara Spain has been en-
eased In during the last century Is extraor
dinary. While the United States since 1798
has had In the aggregate less than ten years
of foreign and domestic warfare , Spain has
had over sixty years. This fact Is highly
Interesting In considering Spain's position
at the opening of the twentieth century.
Brain was at war with 'England In 1706 ,
and from that tlmo until the battle of Water
lee In 1815 she was almost constantly en
gaged In hcstllltlcR on one side or the other
of the great Napoleonic struggle. Even then
there was no peace : or her. The Spanish
colonlps In North and South America were
In rovolt. and tht efforts to subdue them
' -mlli'tind for years. Domestic revolutions ,
e's ? began In' ' 1S19 , a largo French army
Ip.v Jed the country in 1323 and remained
ftur years. Not until 1S28 , or over thirty
years after the hattlo of Capo St. Vincent ,
did a period of'pra'ce come to that distracted
land. For about felx years there was quiet ,
but In 1834 Don Chrlos. the pretender to the
throne entered the country nnd dynastic
wars broke out afresh. These and domestic
revolutions continued Intermittently , to
gether with wars against the Moors In
Morocco and the Cubans In America , until
1S78. From lS2Sito 1S7S , a period of flfty
years In the Jwft of the nineteenth cen
tury , when other ( nations were taking great
strides in ceaixquilc and Industrial develop
ment , there nifty .DO found uomo halt a dozen
short Intervals ' of'peace enjoyed by the In
habitants of tl'ip Spanish peninsula. These
periods ranged'approximately from one to
nlno years In length. Since 1796 the long
est Interval of peace Spain has had was the
fifteen years from 1878 , the end of the ten
years' war In Cuba , to 1893. when a war
was begun agalnat Morocco. The nation has
not had over thirty-eight years ot trtoqullllty
for a century.
The little peace Spain has enjoyed ha :
been too often Interrupted to avail much ,
Like sleep , peace must have some reasonable
duration If It Is to restore vitality to a na
tion. But Spain has been like the Individual
who Is tortured by Insomnia or frequent fltt
of wpLefulncss. And even now there Is nc
promise ot peace. Yet Spain must bavo rest
lone and undisturbed. If she Is to bo saved
from utter decrepitude and perhaps complete
decay. Another century of war like the lasl
he could cot endure. The nation vrouk
expire.
MAXIMUM HATK IIECISIOX.
Severe Illovr to thr roller of I.cnliln-
UVP HpRiilntlon.
Chicago ItccorJ.
When the decision ot the federal lupremo
court In the famous Nebraska maximum
relght rate cose was handed down the sum
mary of It given In the press dispatches
"rom Washington Indicated that the opinion
merely rcafilrmcd principles enunciated In
'ormcr decisions of the court. A perusal of
.he text of the opinion , however , shows It to
contain features that are new and of far-
reaching Importance , especially to the west
ern stntrs. Theoretically , the decision gives
.o states the right to regulate rates -within -
.heir borders , In practical operation , the
ruling of the court Is likely to make state
control of transportation rates , In the west
at least , Impossible of realization ,
In the "Nebraska case the supreme court
hl that the state hnd the power to lower
rates , provided the charges fixed were reason'
iblo and did not amount to confiscation.
The rate fixed by the Nebraska 'legislature
was held to bo unreasonable , and therefore
void. Bo far the court was simply following
n the line of Its own former decisions. But
a the ( Nebraska case , for the first time ,
ho supreme court undertook to define with
much precision the method of procedure for
determining whether or not rates fixed by
state authority are reasonable. In so doing
t laid down the principal that a state , In
reducing rates , must concern Itself with local
raffle only. The road must be permitted to
make a fair profit upon business beginning
and ending In the elate , without regard to
ho profit made upon the whole volume of
business done within the state. The conten-
lon of counsel for the state had been that
ho reasonableness of the rates established
> y the Nebraska statute Is not to bo dc-
ermtacd by the Inquiry whether such rates
vould Icavo a reasonable net profit from
.he local business affected thereby , but that
: ho courts should take Into consideration ,
among other things , the 'Whole ' business , pas
senger and freight , Interstate and domestic.
To this the court replied :
If wo do not mlsnpprehend counsel , their
argument lends to the conclusion that the
state of Nebraska could legally require
ocal freight' business to be conducted even
at nn actual' loss , If the company earned
an Its Interstate business enough to give
it Just compensation In respect to Us en
tire line uml nil Its business. Interstate and
domestic. We cannot concur In this view.
In our Judgment It must be. hold thnt the
reasonableness or unreasonableness of rates
prescribed by u state for the transporta
tion of persons nnd property wholly within
Its limits must bo determined without ref
erence to the Interstate business done by
Lhc carrier , or the profits derived from It.
The state cannot Justify unreasonably low
rates for domestic transportation , consid
ered nlone , upon the ground thnt the car
rier Is earning large profits on Its Inter
state business , over which , so far ns rates
nro concerned , the state has no control.
Nor can the carrier Justify unreasonably
nigh rates on domestic business upon the
ground that It will be able only in that
way to meet Josses on Its Interstate busi
ness. So fur as rates of transportation arc
concerned domestic business should not be
made to bear the IOFSCH on Interstate busi
ness , , nor the latter the losses .011 domestic
business. It Is only rates for the transpor
tation of 'persons nnd property between
polnttl iwlthln , 'thel ' state that Clio state call
profcrlbo. And when It undertakes to pre
scribe rates not to be exceeded by the car
rier It must do so with reference exclu
sively to what Is just and reasonable , as
between the carrier and the pubNo , In re > -
spect of klomestlc business. The argument
that a railroad line is an entirety ; that
Its Income goes Into anil Its expenses are
provided for out of n common fund , and
that KM capitalization Is nn Its entire line ,
within and without the. state , can have no
nppllciitlon where the state Is without au
thority over rates on the entire line , and
can only deal with local rates and make
such regulations as are necessary to elvo
Just compensation on local business.
The practical bearing of this Is that In
most western states local business , consid
ered alone , docs not pay large profits. A
road that may be making excessive profits
upon Its entire business wlth'n ' a state may
yet bo able to show that a reduction of rates
for trafilc beginning and encflns In the state ,
considered by Itself , Is unreasonable. The
Nebraska law made a reduction amounting to
29 % per cent upon local traffic alone. Esti
mated upoa the entire business of a given
road within the state , the reduction would
have been Jess than 5 per ceint , and might
not have been unreasonable. But the court
would not allow It to be so estimated. Tak
ing the Burlingtcu road as an example. It
was shown by expert testimony that the per
centage of cost to earnings upon all bual-
mcao done within the state.tor 1S93 was 65.51.
Expert testimony also showed that the cost
of local business exceeded the cost of Inter
state business by at least 10 per cent , which
would make the perceutago of cost of local
business to earnings 75.51. A reduction of
earnings ( taken as 100) ) by 29 per cent , ao
the Nebraska law provided , would have
made earnings 70,50 per cent , against a coat
of 75.51. which would have made the IOF.I
5,01 per cent upon local business. Estimated
upon the entire earnings of the Burlington
road In Nebraska , the reduction would have
amounted to only 4.2 per cent. The number
of tona carried locally by the Burlington
road in Nebraska during 1S93 was 583,294 ,
whllo the nurater ot tons of Interstate
freight carried was 2,221,005. These figures
are fairly typical of the relation between
local and Interstate traffic In most .western
slates. That being the case , few states are
likely to be able to show that a reduction
of rates on local traffic , considered alone ,
would bo reasonable , no matter how much
a road may bo making upon Us business as
a whole.
The practical and political effects ot till a
decision are likely to be far-reaching. For
nearly a score of years the people of the
west have been seeking to control railroad
rates through the instrumentality ot their
state govern meets. The decision of the su
preme court In the Nebraska case must prove
a severe blow to the efficacy of this policy.
The effect must be to bring the railroad
question Into greater prominence In national
politics , and to Increase 'the ' demand for the
regulatlcu of rates from Washington.
AMKHICAN LOCOMOTIVES.
Tribute of Foreign Countries to Atner-
lni.il Skill.
Chicago News.
The government of Egypt has ordered
'fifteen ' locomotives of American make to be
used on the state roada of the country. It
Is a llt'tle ' etrango that Egypt , which Is prac
tically on English dependency , should come.
to the United States tor machinery of this
character when It la rnado In England In
largo quantities for exportation.
But unless one keepa some run of our
export trade the fact is not appreciated that
American machinery of all kinds Is raoro
popular In foreign markets than that made
by any other nation on earth. China , Japan ,
India , Iliiasla and Finland use American
built locomotives and now Egypt follows
their lead. In 1896 this country exported 261
railway engines , valued at $2,516,270. They
were cent to Russia (74) ( ) , Canada (3) ( ) , Guate
mala (5) ( ) , Nicaragua (1) ( ) , Salvador (2) ( ) and
Mexico (23) ( ) . Last year our exportatlons of
locomotives reached , In number , 338 , valued
at $3,225,831. Thl trade has grown up Mnco
1880 and was small even as lateat 1888 ,
when wo exported only fifty-six.
The peculiar feature of this trade Is that
It U with countries almost all of which hove
largo Iron Interests that they are cultivating ,
and besides they have manufactories that
turn out guns , cutlery and railroad nuppllen
of great variety end excellence. In many
kinds of Iron manufacture this country Is far
Tbo Royal is the highest grade baking powder
luiown. Actual lots how It goetooa-
tblrd further than any other bread.
POWDER
AbMlutcly Pure
OVAL IUCIN * POWOII CO. , NCW VOUC.
behind lUicsIa , and the bit * ot statuary cait
from Iron and exhibited by tbat country t
the World's fair In the Mine * and Mining
building excited the admiration of every one
who saw them , But when It comes to ma
chinery to bo used on railroads Huasla comet
to the United States for It.
Thcro lue been a good deal ot rivalry be
tween the British and American builders ot
locomotives , the former claiming the ad
vantage both In epecd nnd durability. Hut
wo have now beaten the Englishman In the
matter of speed and the running of the
engines of the two nations side by sldo on
the same road has demonstrated the greater
durability of the American machine , while
Us cost Is not so great as that of the
British locomotive.
HinilUlt 1.VW OF llfMAMTV.
CinlilliiK Principle * In Our Di-nllimn
wltli .x pill n.
Philadelphia 1'rcw.
The action of our government In dealing
with Spain should be frank , open , honorable j
and manly. Thcro should bo no subterfuges
or pretexts. Whatever wo do should be put I
on high grounds that will stand before man-1
kind. |
If the court of Inquiry reports that the
Malno was blown up from outside but that '
the direct responsibility cannot bo fixed , wo ,
should frankly recognize both the Impllca- .
tlons atvl the limitations of that judgment. '
Such a verdict becomes a subject for rep
resentations and not for a finality. The
Initiative will teat our sobriety and Its recep
tion will test Spanish disposition. After that
everything depends on good or bad faith. I
If wo arc to Interfere In Cuba It must be
with "a distinct , open and unequivocal avowal.
The loss of the MH..C will not justify It. That
stands by Itself. It must bo dealt with rn
Its own merits. The Malno cannot bo a
pretext or a reason for arresting the hand
of Spain tn Cuba. If we are to undertake
that duty , let us do It with a clear , lofty ,
convincing declaration to all the world of the
causes which Impel us to the step.
With a sincere purpose and an honest ex
pression we have nothing to fear from the
world. No nation In Europe can Interpose.
Thcro may bo deprecation or remonstrance ,
but there can be no practical Interference ,
Europe Is too much absorbed end trembles
In too delicate a balance at home , Even It
they were disposed , its rival powers dare not
stretch their arms across the sea. Physically
wo have to deal only with Spain , but we must
stand right In the moral opinion of the world ,
and wo shall do so If wo faithfully observe
the law of nations within Its limits , and
only follow Its higher end rarer mandates In
obedience to the law of Qed and humanity
which expands and exalts the law of nations.
Lot us make It plain that we do not covet
Cuba. Let us convince mainklml that wo are
not Impelled by any territorial ambition. L < ! t
us declare with all the sincerity and force of
; ho national conscience that wo Interpose In
this awful war only to stop the further
inarch of otarvatlon cod ruin which cry to
lieavcn for humanity's sake. And then let
us move forward openly , firmly and unfalter
ingly , leaving elsewhere the responsibility
of challenging and combatting the plain call
of civilization.
If we know President McKlnloy's true
icart this Is his Impulse. If we know his
sound head ho will find the way. Let con
gress and the country stand patiently and
faithfully behind him , and the result will
vindicate the confidence.
1'lCIt.SO.VAI , AM ) OTIIKIlWISE.
Journals of the "clan jnuno" Is what the
Paris Debate calls our sensational sheets.
So long as yellow journalism .can make
the head lines of a country It cares not who
makes the news.
It Is recalled that General Mcade wan
born In Spain and that the family of Ad
miral Farragut came from the Balearic
islands , which are a part of Spain.
Jerry Slmpeon , when speaking of James
Hamilton Lewis In Chicago , said , "The
populists would not elect us their leader a
man who Is stuck on his lialr and wears
epats. "
Prince Ponlntowskl Is at the head of a
new company , which will bring a " 10,000-
horse power electric current from the elope-
of the Sierra Nevada mountains to San
Francisco.
Maryland has passed a la\v. doing away
with the words "So help me God" In Judi
cial oaths , and It Isn't likely that there
will be any more perjury there than there
waa before.
New York bon vlvants are now dining on
a new plan. They'get oysters , soup and
fish In one place , entrees and roasts In an
other and sweets and icca at a third. They
hua take exercise Instead of cigarettes to
assimilate courses.
The city of Seattle has decided to keep
wide open house this year for the entertain
ment of Klondike pilgrims. Every known
means of changing the ownership of Incom
ing nuggets Is In operation , and any pilgrim
anxious for a little game can unload In short
order.
Senator Sewell of Now Jersey Is the
brigadier general of the First 'brigade of the
tfew Jeracy militia , and In case of war he
will cither have to go with the troops and
lese his scat In the senate or remain at
lomo and give his enemies a chance to up
braid him.
A rumor comes from abroad that BU-
marclc has given up cigars , dogs and French
wine. This may bo true In part , berauao
the pipe Is left , and numerous substitutes
for wine , but most people will regret to be
lieve that the prince has turned his back
on the magnificent great Danes with which
ho has eta often been photographed.
Qreentown , Ind , , appears to bo rightly
named. It Is a manufacturing town of 2,500
people nnd a majority of them arc Impreg
nated with the Idea that the town can pros
per without a legal government. It has not
been Incorporated as a city , and has been
ruled heretofore by Uvc trustees. Two of the
five trustees have moved out of tbo jurisdic
tion and the remaining three cannot trans-
ict any legal business for want ot a quorum.
Strange to say , the people are not alarmed ,
and no political boss has appeared to "save
them from ruin. "
"Long ere the second centennial arrives , "
wrote Walt Whitman years ago ,
giving his poet's vision up to
prceo prophecy , "thero will bo
forty or fifty great states , among them
Canada and Cuba. What an age ! What a
land ! Where elsewhere one GO great ! The
Individuality of ono nation must then as
always lead the world. Can there be any
doubt who the leader ought to bo ? ( Bear In
mind , though , that nothing ICES than the
mightiest original non-subordinated soul has
ever really gloriously led , or ever can lead. "
TIIF. I'URGIOUS
In t Yrnr'H Rrrord of Gold mnll
I'riiiliuMlnn.
I'hllntlolphlA llccorJ.
The Wells-Frgo company's recently l -
Btiod nnnunl report concerning the precious
metals produced In the ntntci nnd tnrrl-
torlrn west of the Mississippi river during
1S97 contains several Items of general In
terest. It shows , for Instance , that Colorado I
rado actually passed California as a gold
producing state lust ycnr , California bav
ins heretofore always held the pnlm , Cole
rado's contribution to the golden flood
amounted In valim to $18,326,045 , whllo Cal
ifornia la credited with $17.021.959. In th
production of silver Colorado rah far ahead k
of her rival state , the output of the two
holiic placed nt $12SCS,7S3 and $772J47
worth respcct'vcly. ' Sliver Is valued In this
computation at CO cents per ounce , Idaho
and Montana produced much more silver
than gold , but In Nevada , formerly the
great silver state , the conditions were re
versed. The following table shows the
value of the total output during the last
year of the two metals In question :
Stntoa. i ( lolil. Silver.
California $17.i2t. ( ! 9 $772S47
Nevada 2,0.12,311) 4M.4GI
Oregon 2,401,797 45.000
Washington 471. l 70,001)
Alaska 31,000
Idaho 2.72.,0ti )
Montana 4,450.ono , , ,
Utah lrr,3,204 13.7U
Colorado lS.T.Vi.tV > 4 , st > 9.s3
Now Mexico W3.G78 1&3.343
Arizona , 8.3M.IWI
N. nnd S. Dakota 5S2i75 ! ) 230,000
Texas 5.WO 309.717
Wyoming 27iVX > 31.000
While It Is true thnt these figures differ
somewhat from the estimates of the mint
authorities and of the Mining and Kngl-
nccrlii ! : Journal , they tend to show that
America has now become the leading gold
producing , country of the world. It Is nn
assurcu fact that In the future the mining
of gold from four known lodes of low
graclo ore will bo a legitimate , non-spccult-
tlvo enterprise , entirely distinct from the
working of the occasional sensational dis
coveries of Individual lucky prospectors.
Incidental ! } ' It may be noted that the con
tribution of gold from Alaska as shown In
the above table Is Insignificant In compari
son with the output of Colorado or Call *
fornla. or even of the Dakotas.
TAUT TUIFMOS.
Detroit Journal : "Speaking of the averaga
lion of the hour , " remarked Ilia observer
of men and things , "It I1) well enough to bear
In mind tlmt the ass In lion's 'skin lasted
above an hour. "
Indianapolis Journal : "Ain't I n little , bow-
lejrKed ? " asked the dubious young mnn.
"HowlewRcd ? " paid his tailor. "Th Ideal
Your lower limbs , sir , nro absolutely - without
out a iparallol. " V
JurfKo : He Who is that disreputable , ugly
old 'follow there ?
She ( hiuiRlitlly ) That Is my husband , sir ! "
Ho ( coolly ) How true it la tlmt homely
men always ; cure the handsomest wlveaM
Ch'lcng-o ' TribuneIt : was the country
merchant's llrst vlalt to 'tho city wholcsalo
establishment that supplied him with goods.
"Your letter lie-nils , " .ho wild to one of tha
proprietors , "show this to be n ten-story
building , but I see now that half of the sto
ries arc lies. "
Juilgc : Clubman .No. 1 The woman I
imirry must have , brown OX-H.
Clubman 'No. 2 Ths one of my choice must
not have reiUhnlr.
Count do 'Monte ' Carlo Ah ! for me. I care
not zo color oC xe hair or zu eyes , no long as
my ( InncD have zu greenbacks.
Chicago ncoord : "They way war Is needed
to thin out our pooulatlon. "
"Well , but thei fattest men won't go. "
Chicago Tribune : "Talk of going to war !
\ou ! " exclaimed Mrs. l.Mceker. looking at
him 'with ' regal pcorn.
"Why , yes , my dear , " replied Mr. Meeker ,
anxious to placate. "In cit-e : of war with
Spain I thlnM one of us ought to go. "
Chicago Post : "Nice ktnd of a dramatic
critic you are > "
"What's the matter ? "
"You snld there was no action In that
fnrco that was produced last night. "
"Well , what of It ? "
"Why , I've Just learned that one of tha
principal character * la a professional
sprinter. "
Detroit Journal : The hapless miscreant
wept copiously.
"Ah , " slghe-d the courtiers , "surely thest
tears wtli touch your majesty ! "
"I'll be damp of they do ! " replied th
tyrant , gloomily.
And the doomed1 man , being liy no means
devoid of Insight , fell upon bla face anj
laughed loudly for mercy.
Atlanta Constitution : An old colored citi
zen , hearing the rumors' of war with Hoatrv ,
applied for the position of coolc to the army
"What experience have you had ? " he was
asked.
"Iwuz cook In de confedrlt army , nun , "
ho repliKl "dat Is , I had de position of cook ,
but. ter tell do truth , I didn't wuk at It"
"Why ? "
"Dey wuzn't nuttln' ter cook , suh ! "
Puck : Father Daughter , you know It hi
Lent , nnd I would llko you te > keep your
mind off worldly things. You have dona
nothing but think' ' of that new dressi for thn
last week. I repeat , keep your mind oft
worldly tMngs !
Daughter ( In amazement ) Wlijr , papa ,
there Isn't anything worldly about this dress.
It is perfectly heavenly.
, " 1IKV , 'HUIIE ! "
Cleveland Plain Dealer.
When I wuz In th' circus line
A tentln' through th1 west ,
I found It wuz a hlzness fine
For puttlu' spunk1 to test.
'Gainst one of us with club or knife
Tihe rowdy Bang would fly ,
An' then you'd see us wake to llfo
When came his warnln' cry :
"Hpy , Rube ! "
There wasn't nothln1 In th' biz
That stirred ua up like that ;
Wo waltzed Into the tight , see whiz !
Before you could say scat !
The unlmlles might all vamoose
An' KO n-rushln' by ;
Wu'd lot th' whole concern turn loosa
When came that warnln' cry :
"Hey , Uubo ! "
It all comes back to me again
From watchln' Undo Sam
A-ooktn' ! toward the sunken Maine
An' waltln' cool anil ca'm ;
But , Lordy , won't there bo a swoop-
It's comln' by an' by
When Uncln gives a mlsihty whoop
An' sounds th' warnln' cry ;
"Hey. Ilube ! "
Just a
is all that the windows af '
fords of the store's contents.
_ Come in. We don't undertake -
take to show half the styles
or materials , or more than
an example or two of the
variety of patterns that we
have in the store.
If people were only judges of sound clothing , we shouldn't
have to advertise , and we are doing all that we can to educate
them up to a point of understanding the advantages of well-made
garments , and the unwisdom of buying the cheap stufl that is so
common.
Our children's clothing especially , is an instance of what
clothes for the little ones should be , and , by contrast with the
common sorts , show the advantages of dressing small boys in
durable and well-made suits.
, , . .
- m Mtn.n * rum.