THE OMAHA DAILY BEE : SATURDAY. DECEMBER 24. 1898.
PIIAC1ICAI JOKERS' ' DEEDS
How Two Eastern Tenderfeet Amtued the
Oitiieni of Deadwood ,
FOUND WHAT THEY SEARCHED FOR
I'ronnnnced "Dead Enr" by the Ite-
ccpilon Committee anil Treated
Accordingly An AmnsInK
Clianare of llnne.
The old congressman had listened atten
tively throughout the evening to the usual
number of stories , jokcn and adventures
which had been related by the group In the
lobby ot the hotel , relates the Washington
Star , and finally , after the capitalist had
epun a yarn , he remarked :
"That story of yours reminds mo of the
capers of two young eastern capitalists
whom I knew during the Black Hills boom
ome years ago. Although It was a common
occurrence for capitalists to como to the
little mining town , such marvelous stories
concerning these two had preceded them
that the whole assemblage of corner loafers
decided to break up their accustomed camp
near the 'llocket' saloon In order to go down I
to the station for the purpose of subjecting
the newcomers to a critical examination.
When the train finally pulled in , two hours
behind time , < vs usual , the crowd gazed with '
awe and lll-oncealed admiration upon the i '
immaculately dressed young men.
" 'They're cosy , ' said 'Long Kid , ' the bar-
koepor.
" 'Well , I should say eo , ' echoed the oth
ers.
ers."The
"The two young men from tbe > east , who
had come to Deadwood In search ot fortune
and adventure , found a plenty of the latter ,
but the fact that they were separated from
more money than they could ever earn in a
lifetime seemed to make no impression upon
them. They were known aa 'Bill and Tom ,
the partners. ' Fsw knew anything about
their lineage or wealthy relatives and none
cared to know. They posed as partners , but
U could never be learned just why such a
term bad been bestowed upon them , as they
made no pretensions toward anything like
business. It was true that they had bought
a salted mine the day after their arrival In I
town , but as this venture reaulted so disas
trously they had abandoned the idea ot em
barking in business , preferring to remain In
Deadwood and enjoy life in their own sweet
way. Everyone liked them ; some because
they epent money lavishly , others because
they were genial and conciriatory. Their
sole occupation seemed to bo playing prac
tical jokes on each other. Some month *
later a horrible murder was committed in a i 1
miner's cabin In Bear gulch. Soon after this
a second murder , more atrocious than the
first , was committed In the same vicinity ,
and It was developed that the murdered was
a manlao of the most ferocious type. Stories
of hi * wild deeds were toTd with bated breath
in every section of the Black Hills. Finally
he was committed to jail in one of the upper
mining towns to await his incarceration In
the asylum , then located at Pierre , the cap
ital of the state.
Partner * Go to Pierre.
"Tho legislature was In session that win
ter , and as the partners were growing
tired of the monotonous life In Deadwood ,
they decided to make a visit to Pierre.
After a few preliminary jokes , they took
the old rickety stage across the cattle coun
try rather than attempt the long , circuitous
trip by rail. When the stage was In the
vicinity of Bad river , Partner Tom de
cided to appease his appetite at a wayside
ranch house. While ho was within a sud
den Inspiration seized Partner Bill. He
passedjl tothe.stage Ajlyer , who dd | as
instructed , and began to lash the horses
madly with' his whip. Of course Partner
Tom bad to run through snow for a mile
before he overtook the stage. Reaching
the vehicle at last , he calmly took his seat
and made eome joking remark about the
weather. This aroused Partner Bill's sus
picions , aa he surmised that something was
In the wind , for he knew by past experi
ences that this assumed good nature on
the part of his friend foreboded evil. When
the stage finally pulled up before the hotel
at Pierre , and the benumbed passengers
alighted In about six feet of snow , the
usual botcl loafers greeted them , notwith
standing the fact that It was long past
midnight. The tired partners _ retired at
once , vowing that they would never at
tempt the journey across the cattle country
again.
again.Partner
Partner Tom was up early the following
morning , and strolled down Into the hotel
office. Ho was amazed to find the room
crowded with loud-talking , excited men ,
who turned out and gazed ot him. Natu
rally becoming somewhat disturbed at their
comments , ho attempted to unravel the
mystery. Before an opportunity waa given ,
however , a tall , harmless looking Individual ,
lu hlgh-heeled boots , approached nlra and
asked :
"How's your prisoner this morning ? '
"Somewhat taken aback at the question
Tom asked curtly :
" 'What prisoner ? ' ,
"By this time the entire ossemblnge had .
crowded around him and were asking all
kinds Of questions concerning maniacs , prls
onern , convicts and other subjects so foreign
to Tom that he almost lost bis temper. Be
fore ho had time to moke further inquiries a
man rushed up to him and said , defiantly :
" 'Now , look here , you .think . that we don't
know who you nro , but we do. You're the
fchcrlff of Deadwood nnd you has got a crazy
man , takln' him to the 'sylum. We know
all about you. You ain't BO smart as you
think you are. You can't fool us. No ,
slree. '
Tom Get * Even.
"By thl * time Partner Tom understood * he
entire situation , since the man had let the
cat out ot the bag. Ho remembered that tne
sheriff was expected the night before with
the celebrated maniac from Bear Gulch. So ,
seUed with en Inspiration , he began to ex
plain with unotlon that be * had no desire to
deceive the public , but for prudential rea
sons'did not think It wise to disclose his
identity on account ot the wild character ol
the maniac In his charge. He continued
further , that , as ho had been discovered , It
.
waa perhaps as well for him to explain all
" 'You must remember , gentlemen , ' he
said to th * crowd In a mysterious tone , I .
have one ot the wildest maniocs In the work
In my charge and if you will not become
*
alarmed permit me to state > that he Is now
unchained In 'bis ' room. I came downstairs
to ask for volunteers to assist In the work
of placing the man in Irons and also to
compel- him to partake ot food. He Is sub
ject to whims and caprices ot the most
extraordinary character , Coming over on tne
stage' be tried to eat all the cushions , but I
regret to say that I have not been able to
induce htm to eat any food tor two weeks. I
LIEBIG
COMPANY'S
EXTRACT
OP DKKF U a pcrfttt tonloi It brac i up
the ijrttcm tomtit NBuralclt , . Colds oa
Infintnss ! It ke ps th liedtby well , and
itrcngthiM InTklldi. A perfect tenr of
Bc f ; lUtfftctupon the 171101 U UUo | ,
not traniltory Ilk * alcoholic itlmolsau.
ouhlMlDa-
turloBLU&OB -
tat * * .
would like to know how many men will votp
untcer to asl t In the work of chaining him
down and compelling him to/tiat. '
"Not a man moved. Finally the hotel pro-
prlctor came forward and suggested that he
would place three negro porters at the eerrUJ
Ice of the pseudo sheriff.
" Very well , said Partner Tom , looking
with scorn upon the great , atrapplng men
who would hot dare .to assist him. 'Boys , '
ho said , addressing the swarthy porlers , 'I
want you to go upstairs and place theie on
the wild man , ' at the same time handing
forward some handcuffs and manacle * that
ho had found on the desk. 'And I also want
you to take up a bowl ot hot gruel and pour
It down his throat. He will kick and say
that ho Is not crazy and that he Is a mining
man from Deadwood and will give yoU a
whole lot ot rot about coming from the east ,
but don't listen to a word he tells you. He
says the same thing every time. It's some
delusion of his. Just go ahead and tie htm
down and pour In the gruel. '
'All ' right , boss , ' said the porter , who
disappeared up the stairway.
Porter * Procccil to
"Preeently there was heard the most un
earthly nolio coming from the floor above.
Loud yells , screams and the sounds of fallIng -
Ing chairs and furniture rent the air. Then
could bo heard such sentences as 'Get out
of here ! I'm not crazy any more than you
ere , ' Then some one would say savagely ,
, 'Yes ; you Is. You got to eat this stuff. Lie
I down ! ' After another struggle the victim
would say :
" 'I'm a mining man from Deadwood and
lived originally In the east. Let me alone , I
say. If ever I get loose I will kill you and I
will burn that partner ot mine at the stake.
See It I don't. '
"Then , after another struggle , all was
quiet. Thinking that It was all over , Part
ner Tom continued telling stories of the tvlld
man , , much to tha delectation of the audi
ence In the office of the hotel. Ho had re-
I i malned at his post near the stove all through
the riot which was taking place Upstairs and
was attempting to light a fresh cigar , when
another awful yell seemed to tear the tym
panum of every man In the room. Then ap
peared at the top ofthe stairway a most
fearful looking figure. It was dressed in the
remains of what had once been pyjamas , a
manacle was dangling from one bare ankle ,
and It held a revolver high In the air. Sud
denly recognising the flying figure ot Part
ner Tom disappearing through the window
Partner Bill came down the stairs four steps
at a time and shooting at every step.
"About an hour afterward the spectators
of the excitement of the early morning were
surprised to see the partners playing bil
liards together , just as thbugh nothing un
usual had happened. '
"A long , lank co-wboy looked In the bil
liard room and , turning to the crowd , said
with emphasis :
" 'You kin think what you pleas * , but I
believes both ot them fellers Is crazy ! ' "
Dr. Bull's Cough Syrup , regularly taken ,
wards off attacks of asthma. 25 cts.
STORIES TOLDJHE POLICE
Vllllnin Henry Urineoe , an Bxpresi-
mnn , In Trouble Over n Milling ;
Package of Goods.
William Henry , whose right name appears
o bo William Henry Brlscoe , was arrested
n the charge of larceny as bailee. It Is
sscrtcd that he was hired to take a couple
f trunks and a Woden box to the home of
Irs. Peterson In South Omaha. He also
ook a paper box which the consignee had
ot expected and which has disappeared. It
ontalned an astrakhan cape and other
rticles of considerable value. Brlicoe's
ome , was searched , but the goods were not
ound. He savs he remembers having
oaded the box , but does not know wbat
ecame of It , as be did not se it afterword.
Ida Mitchell , a negress Who has been In
olloe court a dozen 'times , was up ' again
n the charge of using loud and prorane
auguage on the corner of Eleventh and
Dodge streets while Intoxicated. She pleaded
ot guilty and was granted av continuance.
The dummies In front of the Boston store
arod ill Thursday afternoon and must have
uttered from cold had they any feeling.
'wo had overcoats taken from them , one
oslng a brown box coat and the other a
chinchilla.
H. J. Hughes reported the loss ot a brown
melton overcoat from the cloak room ot the
Ugh school building.
S. B. Layland of Vandalla , Mo.had a gray
eles 0pe containing clothing valued at $10
tolen from the union depot Thursday night
about 0 o'clock.
Frank Coleman of Nebraska City In-
orms the police that while he was In some
aloon , with whoso location he Is unfamiliar ,
ah overcoat and a $65 gold watch were taken
rom him.
L. Arnstlne of South Omaha reported to
ho police that his residence was entered and
a pair of trousers and a vest were stolen.
The barn of W. B. Oady at 2024 St. Mary's
.
avenue was entered and a valuable set of
double harness carried away.
Isaac Catch , alias Humphrey Lynch , An
thony Dean and Jlmmle Lindsay were dis
charged yesterday afternoon by agreement
of the complainants. The first two cre
ated a rough house in Foley's saloon the
other night and got Lindsay mixed up In II
so that ho blacken d their eyes. Lynch ant1
Dean also had the case dismissed In which
they were accused of resisting an officer.
Patsy Fallen was brought In yesterday
afternoon to answer to the charge of atsaul
and battery whlcn was filed against him
by John E. Bergen. He pleaded not guilty
and took a continuance.
J. J. Derlght procured a warrant yester
day for the arrest of Harry E. Cole , whom
he accuses of larceny as bailee. Cole Is sail
to have disposed of a Smith-Premier type
writer.
George Wilson entered a plea of guilty to
the charge of petty larceny and was sent to
the county jail for thirty days. Ho took
two pairs of trousers from the W. R. Ben
nett Company. He had just completed a
term In the county jail for a similar of
tense.
Emit Penn , a young colored fellow 18 yean
of age , will be in court this morning to
plead to the charge ot assault with In
tent to commit great bodily Injury upon
Fred Faulkner. Ho Is said to have used a
piece of brass with serious effect.
John O'Keefe was arraigned yesterda
afternoon by Judge Gordon on the complain
ot J. R. Marshall , who accuses O'Keefe o
having assaulted him at his home on Tweltt Lh
and Vlnton streets. He says that O'Kecf
used a pair of brass knuckles and also drew
a knife. Although Marshall Is an old man
from the appearance of O'Keefe he Is abt
to care for himself , as he looks the less dl
lapidated of the two. O'Keefe entered
plea ot not guilty and will bo tried thl
afternoon at 2 o'clock.
MONEY FOR THE EXPOSITION
Secretary Smith of the Greater Amer
lea Say * Subscriber * Are Paying
Up Promptly.
Secretary Smith ot the Greater Amerlc ,
Exposition says that the stock sub
scrlbers to the corporation seemed t
be tumbling over themselves to get Int
his office to pay the 25 per cent ass
mcnt on their stock. Hundreds of notice
calling for the assessment have not ye
been sent out , but this does not seem t
deter the subscribers from coming In to pay
Secretary Wakeneld of the old exposition
company has made up a lot of boxes con
taining samples ot every ticket used during
the progreis of the exposition. These are
to be used as souvenirs of'the 'exposition ,
and will be sent to such of the vice presi
dent * and commissioners of the transmls-
etislppl stat b as attended the exposition.
Other friends of the enterprise will also
be remembered.
CORNELL , ON WRONG TRACK185
Opinion of Tax Commissioner Sackett on the
Btatfl Auditor's Letter.
STATUTORY DEMAND SEEMS ABSURD
ProvUlon * of the Nebrakn tinvr Do
Not Equally Affect the Insurance
Companion nnd Cannot There
fore Be Enforced.
State Auditor Cornell , as state Insurance
commissioner , seems to have placed him
self In a rather awkward position in send
ing out to foreign life Insurance companies
who do business In this state , notification
that they must pay Into the state treasury
as an additional tax the difference between
.
the tax they pay under the Nebraska law
and the tax they art ) required to pay Into
the treasury of the state under whose laws
they are Incorporated In accordance with
the Insurance laws of that state. That Is
tltl
the opinion formed by those who have In
vestigated the position assumed by the au
ditor and also of the Insurance companies ,
who propose to fight the matter.
The gist ot the law under which State
Auditor Cornell Is acting is contained In .
the following extracts from the letter ho
has . sent to the Insurance companies : "I
beg to call your attention to the rcclproe
cal feature In our law passed In 1895. It
peremptorily orders that this department
collect the higher fees and taxes from
ompanles coming from other states and
ountrlee , provided in the laws ot other
tatcs. I notice that the state of Pennsylr
anla imposes a tax ot 2 pe-r cent on prlml-
ms ; therefore I herewith hand you a bill
or tax on 1897 premiums. Tax s paid on
romtums in this state can be deducted
rom this bill. Bear In mind I say only
axes on premiums can be deducted. Taxes
aid to fire departments in the various cltp
es In this state and money paid as oc
upatlon tax anywhere can not bo de-
uoted. "
City Tax Commissioner Sackett gave It aa
Is unqualified belief that the action of
ho state auditor and the law under which
e Is acting are entirely Illegal and that
lie Insurance companies can never be re-
ulred to comply with them. He bays :
When I first read the letter I came to the
oncluslon that U was a holdup scheme
ecause it was of such a startling char-
cter. When I read the statute upon which
: wa * based , I reached the conclusion that
the law is unconstitutional and Illegal.
Fatal Defect * In the L TT.
"In the first place , the law cannot stand
'ecause ' It does not levy a uniform tax. As
tatcd In the auditor's letter the state of
'ennsylvanla Imposed a tax of 2 per cent
u all excess premiums. But there are
ther states which levy only a tax ot 1
er cent , others 1 % per cent , and so on
, nd still others who employ an entirely
llfforent system of Insurance taxation and
Io not levy upon the excess premiums.
Consequently the Insurance company In-
orporated under the laws of the state ot
'ennsylvanla would have to pay a greater
tax than the Insurance company Incorpor
ated under the laws of another state in
which they are required to pay but 1 per
ent. Then the Insurance companies who
pay In their homo estates taxes exactly _
equivalent to the amount paid in Nebraska'
would not be subject to additional taxa-
lon at all. This system Is manifestly un-
ust , for It taxes one insurance company
more or less than others.
"The law goes further and declares that
heso companies shall pay to Nebraska the
excess difference between , 'the taxes , f es ,
> enaltles , etc. , ' Imposed by the Nebraska
aw nd the same items they must pay In
heir home state. For example , if a com
pany must pay to Nebraska under the ex
iling law a filing fee of $500 , and if It Is
required to pay a fee of $1,000 In the state
under whoso laws It Is Incorporated , the
extra $500 must bo paid In Nebraska. But
.he company who must pay $500 both in
Nebraska and in Its home state , does not
lave to pay an additional fee.
"In ono point Auditor Cornell Is rals-
aken. He elates that this law applies to
companies coming from 'other states and
countries , ' whereas the law specifies the
companies from other states only. This
being eo , an Insurance company from Ger
many , which pays an enormous tax at
home , would not be required to pay any
tax whatever on excess premiums suchjia'
American companies are called upon to pay.
This statement discloses the second objec
tion to the law.
Tax Collected In Nebraska.
"The Nebraska laws provide for local
taxation ot Insurance companies on excess
premiums ; that is , the excess premiums ,
are taxed In each county In which the j
company docs business and not by the state
generally. The section goes on to atata
that the Insurance companies shall be subject -
ject to no other tax , fees or license except t
taxes on real estate and filing feea. If the
act that Auditor Cornell quotes Is legal ,
then certainly it Is the Insurance law ot the
state , since It Is the latest passed by the
legislature , and repeals the section In which
the local taxation Is provided and which
declares that the etate shall impose no
other tax.
"The resulting situation Is Interesting.
Pennsylvania Insurance companies will be
taxed under the laws of that state. Ohio
companies will be taxed under the laws of
Ohio , and so on with all the states of the
Union. And Insurance companies from for
eign countries will absolutely escape from
all taxation on excess premiums because
Mr. Cornell's law does not Include them. "
PUTS THE POLICE CASE OVER
Mnnilnmui Matter Ilcfore Jmlae Key-
or I'OBtiionrd ta Some Hay to
lie
At the hour for the hearing by Judge
Keysor ot the seven mandamus cases
brought against the ( Ire and police com
mission by ex-Police Captains Haze and
Sign-art , ex-Sergeants King and Halter , De
tective Ornisby and Patrolmen Fay and
Wolfe to force the board To reinstate them ,
there was nobody nrcsent to appear for the
board , City Attorney Connell being engaged
In the trial of the Omaha National bank
case upstairs , and Attorney E. H. Scott
being In New York.
It was necessary , therefore , to take a
continuance. No service has yet been made
of the alternative writ of mandamus upon
Mayor Moores , as ex-offlclo president ot the
board , owing to his absence from the city ,
and Commissioner Dlrkhauser Is also away ,
By consent the matter was put off until
some day next week , to be yet designated.
,
um
Now Vlndact IMnui.
City Engineer Roiewater bad sent to the
Union Pacific and Burlington railroads re-
vised plans of the proposed Sixteenth street , i
viaduct. They Include a few ot the changes
made by the railroads In the plans they drew
up , but the main features ot the plans orig
inally drawn by the city engineer are re
tained. Therailroads desire a few days to
consider the new plans.
Charged wllh Stc-nllii *
Detective Romalne of the Chicago , Mil
waukee & St. Paul rood came In from
Oandy , Neb. , with W. H. Meyer , who Is
charged with stealing a bicycle from a
freight car at Sioux City on the night ot
December 10. He was traced here , where
he sold the wheel to a man In South Omaha.
He went to half a dozen different places , and
finally landed la dandy. He claimed t
I paid a tramp $13 for the wheel , but Mr ,
Remains has learned that he Is an old
crook.
ORDERS FROM HEADQUARTERS
Officer * of the Twentieth Infantry
Directed to Join Their Itegl-
mcnt at Once.
Officers of the Twentieth Infantry on de
tached service have been ordered to join
their regiment to go with It to the Philip
pines. Recruits to this regiment are re
ported arriving every day until tne quarters
at Fort Leavenworth are overrun with sol
diers and they are compelled to sleep on the
floor wrapped In their blankets. Nearly
1,450 enlisted men are. now at that poet.
First Lieutenant Peter W. Davlson , Twen
ty-second Infantry , who has been absent on
sick leave , has reported to the commanding
officer [ of the post for duty. Captains Hal-
lance ) and Sharpe , on detached service , have i
sent word that they will be at the fort within
a few days. i
U Is estimated that about 120 men In the ,
I Twenty-second will have to be discharged
i before j , the regiment leaves for Manila under
the rule against married men and those
whose term of enlistment will soon expire.
Recruits , however , continue to arrive and It
Is believed the regiment will have Its full i
quota of men by the last ot the month.
Christmas at Fort Crook will be shorn of i
some of Its festivities this year owing to
the unsettled condition of affairs there. This
!
applies to the games and amusements usually
engaged , In by the enlisted men on this !
holiday. An extra dinner will be served
the men on this day , while the officers will'
have their customary social affairs. The club
at | the fort will have a big blowout as a
' \
farewell'entertainment before the regiment's
removal. Christmas trees will be numerous
In | the homes of the officers and there will
be < many dinner parties among them.
A large batch of court-martial sentences
on enlisted men in this department have
just been approved by the commanding geu-
eral. Corporal Dell H. Brubaker , Troop B ,
First cavalry , Is reduced to the ranks and
forfeits $8 ot his pay ; Corporal Thomas Brit-
ton , Company I , Twelfth Infantry , la re
duced to the ranks and forfeits $10 of his 1
pay ; Private Burgess B. Brlggs , Troop B ,
:
First cavalry , forfeits $10 and Is confined
ten days at hard labor ; Private William S.
Fltzpatrlck , Troop L , First cavalry , Is dis
honorably discharged , forfeits all pay and
allowances and is confined at hard labor
throe months ; Private Emit Ray , Company
I , Twelfth Infantry , forfeits $10 ; Private
Michael Mahoney , Company K , Twelfth in
fantry , Is dishonorably discharged , forfeits
all pay and allowances and Is confined at
bard labor three months ; Private Thomas
W. Plunkctt , Company K , Twelfth Infantry ,
ta confined at hard labor for two months and
forfeits $10 a month for that period ; Re
cruit George E. Meyer , Company I , Twelfth
Infantry , Is dishonorably discharged and
forfeits all pay and allowances ; Private
Charles J. Dulan , Company I , Twenty-sec
end Infantry , Is confined at hard labor tor
four months and forfeits $10 a month during
that period ; Private Urban R. Lawson , Light
Battery E , First artillery , Is to be confined
at bard labor for three months and forfeits
$10 a month for that period ; Private James
O'Nell , Company K , Twelfth , Is dishonorably
discharged , forfeits all pay and allowances
and Is confined at hard labor for three
months. The offenses embrace various
violations of < tbe articles ot war , most of
them being drunkenness.
DIVIDEND ON GERMAN SAVINGS
Ilccelver McCagne Band * Out a Small
Chrlitma * Present to the Walt-
Ing Depositor * .
Yesterday Thomas H'McCague , , receiver of
the German Savings5't'fc that closed Its
doors a couple ot years ago , , 4s on * ot the
most popular menin , tho'.ctty , as he was giv
ing out Christmas presents to 2,000 Individ
uals , all ot whom were depositors In the de
funct financial Institution. While these
presents range from a few cents to hundreds
of dollars , there are enough of them so that
the aggregate reaches the sum of $16,000 ,
which is the fourth dividend that has been
declared since the bank went to the waif.
A few daya ago Receiver McCague pub
lished a notice that today he would distribute
a 5 per cent dividend to the depositor * ot
the bank and consequently hla office was besieged -
sieged all day.
When the German Savings bank failed It
owed the depositors the sum of $325,000 In
round numbers. Since that time dividends
aggregating 25 per cent have been paid.
When the next dividend wilt bo distributed "
}
is uncertain , but it is safe to predict that It
will not come before next spring , as It will
require until then to get the assets In shape
to be made available.
There Is nooDlura or other harmful sub
stance 1U Chamberlain's Couch remedy.
There is not the least danger in giving it to
children. It Is oleasant to take. too. and
what Is more , has an established reputation
of twenty-five years as the most successful
medicine In use for couchs , colds , croup and
whooping cough. It always cures. Try It.
Under Kulllnjr Plank.
William Waltz went to the police station
with a gash Cut In the back of his head
ebout two Inches long. He was working In
a building at Tenth and Harney streets when
a board above him became misplaced and
fell , striking him on the crown ot the head j
In Its descent. Dr. Spaldlng toook three
stitches In the cut. While the scalp was
opened his soft bat contained no mark to
show be had been Injured.
NEED | OF A NEW TAX MEASURE
Officials and Oitizant Discuss the Proposed
Betenne Law Btform ,
LOCAL COMMISSION TO PREPARE A BILL
Neoelty of Change Freely Admitted
nnd Importance ot Early IlrRln-
nlng Urged io Bnppurt the
Meeting' * Action.
At A meeting held in the county commis
sioners' room In the court house last night
another movement In the direction of a re
form In the revenue laws of Nebraska v/as
actively begun. The meeting was called
by Commissioner Klcrstead at the request
of Senator J. II. VanDusen for the purpose
i of appointing a committee to consider
I whether it would be advisable to attempt
to formulate an entirely new bill at this
time or to recommend some of the most
i essential amendments to the present law ,
j
I leaving the reform to be completed two
j I years hence. All the county commissioners
' . except Hector , Senator Van Dusen , ltoire- ;
I I sentatlves Olmsted , Detweller and Houck
I and a number of other officials end citizens
, were present and after some preliminary
I discussion a committee was selected which
I ! will meet dally during the first five days
' of next week and report at another general
meeting which will be held next Friday
i
I ' night.
The discussion last night was largely
based on the bill which was Introduced two
years ago as a substitute for the Pollard
and other revenue bills and which lias
received the approval of the state organlza.-
tlon of county commissioners. It ta ex-
peeled that the committee will make any
changes that may be desirable during its i
dally sittings and that the new bill will 1
be substantially similar to the substitute i
of two years ago.
Commissioner Klerstead called the meeting -
ing to order and called on Senator Van i
Duten , who said that there Is no question i
j I that the revenue laws ot the state nacd 1
' amendment. He suggested that It the leg
islature should pass a satisfactory reveuue
law and then adjourn without accompllfhi
Ing any other object it would be ot moro' )
real benefit to the state than any legis
lature that hea convened In ten years. He
expressed some doubt whether a bill that
would be satisfactory In all respects could 1
be formulated In the brief time that Is
available and suggested that a committee
be appointed to take the matter lu hfeud 1
with the assistance of the members ot the >
delegation and other Interested cltL.us and
decide what course was most desirable.
Judge Stenberg declared that a reform
In the revenue system Is one of the great '
est needs ot Nebraska. Under the present
system taxes are practically a voluntary
contribution. There Is no effective method
of collecting them , as no one is willing
to buy property at a tax sale unless they
happen to have a mortgage on It and find I
It necessary to make the purchase In order
to protect their interests. He also condemned -
demned the present system of assessment.
Commissioner Klerstead called attention to
the necessity for some reform that would
put the valuation where it belongs. As
It is the valuation ot Douglas county has
gradually decreased from $26,000,000 to $21- r
000,000 In spite of the Immense additional
Improvements that have been added. The
result is that the limit of 9 mills for the
general fund will not pay the running ex
penses of the courts and charities and the
county is piling up obligations In aplte
of the closest economy that will eventu
ally require an issue of funding bonds to
dispose of.
Short speeches by > M. H. Redfleld , J. L.
Kaley , Mr. Olmsted and Commissioner
Harte expressed very similar sentiments and
it seems to be the unanimous feeling that
Immediate action should be taken to secure
some relief at the coming legislative ses
sion. On motion of A. C. Harte a commit
tee , consisting Of E. M. Stenberg , A. C.
Harte , H. E. Ostrom , M. H. Rodfleld and
H. A. Solomon , was appointed , which will
, meet In the court house every day next
week. The Douglas county legislators will
also be represented and a number of prom-
luent attorneys and citizens who have given
special attention to the subject will bo re
quested to assist the committee In formulat
ing a bill that will hold water and which
will meet all requirements. It Is expected
i to have the bill practically completed by
the end of the weak.
When you ask for De Witt' * Witch-Hazel
Salve don't accept a , counterfeit or Imitation.
There arc more case * of piles being cured
by tills than all others combined.
Mortality StntUtlc * .
The following births and deaths were re
ported to the health commissioner during
the twenty-four hours ending at noon yesterday -
terday :
Births Joe Axman , 1036 South Eighteenth ' ,
boy ; W. E. Garst , 627 South Twenty-seventh ,
coy ; A. L. Howard , 2022 Charles , boy.
Deaths Lizzie Dutton , 1729 South Twenty-
seventh , 10 months ; Elsa Droderson , 1611
Oak , 0 months ; M. Ewlng , 5312 North Six
teenth , E years ; KIrsten L. Hanson , 855
North Twenty-fifth avenue , 2 years ; Charles
Wilson , 1C12 Izard. 3 weeks ; Clarence J. t
Murhpy , 2016 North Eighteenth , 1 month ,
Meeting Place of N. E. A.
Superintendent Pearso has been notified
that Los Angeles lias been selected as the
Kodaks
Givers of Gifts ,
Cnu do no bettor than to come hero
and make 'their selections from our ex
quisite perfumes fnucy cut glass hot- - _ _
dcs hand-painted and silver perfume | /\I/I
bottles colored glass atomizers per VJlwl.V4.
fumes In fancy boxes-sachet powders-
manicure sets kodaks nnd cameras Spectacles
gold-rimmed .eyeglasses and spectacles _
any of these articles make very ac- J
ccptnblo and useful Christmas presents 51 M II
You should come here so many sugt J.AVt.
gcstlous that will save you time and
money. Eye Glasses
TheAloe&PanfoldCo fnr Thrift
rrmQ
LBWM R.t Il Dr. * How , . 1U1 V ill ID LIllCiD
14 < N Farnam Btrtet.
There Are Many Things
That can't bo put in the stockings-
sleds for Instance and they make the
very best kind of n present for either
n boy or girl whUe our assortment Is
larger than ever before on the day be
fore Christmas then there are skates--
Peck & Snyder skates S5c up Iron
wagons that won't break or wear out-
patrol wagons wboelbarrow sliooflys
hobby horses ami doll baby buggies and
cribs chafllug dishes and live o'clock
teas lu great variety We're going ? o
make or rather let you make selling
prices for us on nil these goods left Sat
urday Come In early or late we'll be
open.
open.A.
A. RAYMER ,
WE DEUVEK YOT'B PDRCHASB.
1514 Fornam St.
For Constipation
AND Bfl
Sure
YOU GET THE
GENUINE
place for holding next year's session ot the
National Educational association. Three
cities were after the meeting Salt Lake ,
Los Angeles and Portland. This year's meet
ing was held in Washington.
SUMMER WORK SATISFACTORY
Omaha Chapter , Daughter * of the
American Revolution , Review *
It * Hecent Achievement * .
At the annual m etlng of the Omaha chap
ter , Daughters of the American Revolution ,
postponed , owing to the exposition , from
October until this month , the reports ot
the officers showed the affairs of the chap
ter to be In a flourishing condition.
I The last summer was ono of unusual
I activity for patriotic societies all over the
j country , and especially eventful In Omaha.
; In August the members of the chapter met
and sewed to help furnish the hospital
ship , which was fitted out by the National
Society of the Daughters ot the American
Revolution , to care for the sick and
j wounded soldiers. During the five months
' .of the exposition an exhibit of colonial and
revolutionary relics was jointly displayed
by the Omaha chapter , the Deborah Avery
| ; chapter of Lincoln and the Nebraska So
ciety of the Sons of the American Revolu
tion in the Nebraska building. The collec-
tlon aroused so much favorable Interest
i
that the societies feel well repaid for the
I money And labor expended.
I During the last year twenty-two ap-
pllcants for admission to the Omaha chapter
furnished satisfactory evidence ot ellglhll-
Ity and w < ere accordingly Invited to join the
society.
The registrar reported that the papers ot
Mrs. Alfred Mlllard , Mrs. E. P. Peck and
Miss Anna Bishop bad been forwarded to
the national society at Washington for ap
proval this month , and a number of others
hope to complete their proofs by the first
of the year.
( The parlors of the Commercial club have
been secured for daytime meetings in the
future.
! | j The officers elected for the ensuing year
j I are as follows : Mrs Elsie De Cou Troup ,
regent ; Mrs. Nellie F. Crane , vice regent ;
I i Mrs. Mary E. Hall , recording secretary ;
i Miss Abbie Lelghton , corresponding sccre-
| I tary ; Mrs. George C. Towle , treasurer ; Mrs.
i H. S. Jaynes , historian ; Miss Anna. T.
Adams , registrar. The members of the
| i advisory board are Mrs. C. W. Lyman , Mrs.
J. H. Evans and Mrs , J. W. Griffith.
1 The entertainment for the month of
January will bo in charge of Mrs. Anna T.
' Skinner , Mrs. Will Bancker and Mrs. E. L.
Alexander.
"It la the best medicine we ever had In
the house. " That is what A. J. Soauldlng ,
a prominent merchant at Center Road , Pa. ,
eays of Chamberlain's Cough remedy. "It
Is the only remedy , " he say * , "that ever
gave my little boy In croupous attacks per-
manent relief. I would not think of being
without It. as it IB worth many time * Its
cost in saving needless doctor bills. "
SUCCESSFUL BEAN GUESSERS
of Ye tcrday'M Canteiti Six
llacanjarltci Who Knew Beam
Pretty Well.
The successful guessers In the bean jar
contests ending last night are as follows :
Bean jar No. 16 Nearest estimate , 679 ,
by Max Winter , 3857 Seward. Actual count ,
681. Club member , T. L. Coombs & Co. , 1520
Douglas. Award , $6 ect ring.
Bean jar No. 27 Correct estimate , 2,078 ,
by W. H. Wlgman , 1816 Dodge. Club mem
ber , Milton Rogers & Son , corner Far u am
and Fourteenth streets. Award , $15 Monitor
steel range.
Bean jar No. 29 Correct estimate , 5,056 ,
by John Beaten , 209 South Twenty-eighth
street , and by George W. Roberts , jr. , 4223
Miami. Next nearest , 5.C5G , by Cora Rlcker ,
913 South Thirteenth street. Club member ,
i Guarantee Clothing Co. , Capitol avenue , near
Sixteenth. Awards , $36 fur overcoat , silk
umbrella , eight silk handkerchiefs.
Bean jar No. 31 Correct estimate , 733 , by
Ed Jensen , 17G4'fc Leavenworth. Club mem
ber , Robert Dempster Co. , 1215 Farnam.
Award , 3Hx3 % tourist pocket camera.
Arnica galv * .
THE BEST SALVE In the world tor Cuts ,
Bruises , Sores , Ulcers , Salt Rheum , I'ever
Sores , Tetter , Chapped Hands , Chilblains ,
Corns and all Bkln Eruptions , < uid positively
ruree Piles , or no pay required , It Is Fuai-
ant < ed to glvo perfect satisfaction rr itioncy
refunded. Price 25 cents par lux. Tor rale
by Kuhn & Co.
HOLIDAY RETAIL BtSINESS
Omaha Merchants Congratulate Themselres
on an Enormous Trade ,
LARGE i STOCKS ALREADY DEPLETED
Local Buyer * Are HpcndlnK More
Money Thau Common and Many
Conntry People Hero Pur
chasing PreseuU.
Notwithstanding the fact that during the
last two weeks the downtown streets of the
city have been veritable seas of mud , slush
. * nd filth they have been thronged with snop-
j I pors buying holiday goods. While this con
dition and the unseasonable weather has
, kept many people at homo , the Omaha
|
merchants have no cause for complaint on
account ot the trade which they nave enJoyed -
| Joyed , ns the stores have ben filled with
I buyers from early morning until late * t
night.
While the holiday trade is not over , the
Omaha merchants are realizing that they
have had the best . trade In years
I i and the stocks of goods laid In
I
1 for the occasion have been prac
tically depleted. People have bougnt
more this year than ever before and they
have elBe bought a better and more ex
pensive quality of goods. There has teen
loss haggling over prices than heretofore , all
Indicating that money Is moro plentiful.
Speaking otthe holiday trade , ono ot ttio
local merchants said : "This year our trade
has been enormous , and the same can ne
said with relation to all of the stores In the
city. Our trade from the country has Been
larger than ever before , which to my mind
can bo attributed largely to the exposition.
| Last summer people from the towns within
i a radius of from 100 to 200 miles came here
| and priced goods. Most of them bought
. largely and a great many have returned dur
1 ing the last two weeks. When they were
here last summer they discovered that the
Omaha merchants carry large stocks and
that they ecll at a small profit. The result
ot this has been that people who had from
$25 to ISO to spend come here , pay their
railroad fare , hotel bills and other Incidental
expenses and make money by buying their
goods herof The oUt-of-town trade has been
the heaviest in years. This trade has coma
from both the people ot the smaller towns
and the farmers. Of course we realize that
this may have been bard upon the
merchants In the small towns , but
we could not refuse to take the money ot
these people and give them our goods In
return. Thn business I * legitimate and
there has been nothing for us to do butte
to sell coeds to all who came. We have
not asked questions recording the location
ot the buyers ; what wo have been peeking
to do has been to give the people good
values for their money and this wet have
done.
"The local trade has been unusually
| heavy , and If the streets had been In good
condition It would have nearly doubled.
The crossings and the main thoroughfares
have been allowed to remain so filthy and
sloppy that much of our evening trade his
been kept at home , but still we have dona
well enough nnd are satisfied. *
"Tho exposition left hundreds of thou
sands of dollars In Omaha , and much ol
this money has been hoarded up and kepi
i ( for the holiday season. All ll\o \ Omaha people
ple , or at least a large majority of them ,
have plenty of money , and they have been
spending It freely. "
GIOHOU *
Comes from Dr. D. D. Cargllc ot Washlta
I. T. lie writes ; "Four bottles of Electrlt
Bitters has cured Mrs. Brewer of scrofula
which had caused her great suffering foi
years. Terrible sores would break out o
her head and face and the best doctors could
give no help , but her cure Is complete and
I her health Is cxcellcrit. " This shows what
thousands have proved that Electric Bitten
Is the best blood purifier known. It's the
supreme remedy for eczema , tetter , salt
rheum , ulcers , bolls and running sores.
It stimulates liver , kidneys and bowels , ex
pels poisons , helps digestion , builds up tha
strength. Only 0 cents. Sold by Kuhh A
Co. , druggists. Guaranteed.
MnrrlnKc Llrcnie * .
County Judge Baxter Issued the following
mn triage llcermrn yesterday :
Name and Residence. Ago.
Sophun P , NolHoil , Omaha . 28
Amelia L. Hoffman , Omaha . 21
John Bund , Omaha . 25
Anna Jefferson , Omaha. . . . . . . 21
The Night Before Christmas-
All of Drex U Hhooman's friends
the little 'folks will hang up their
stockings and there won't be u tiling
put In these stockings that wljl make
their little hearts beat faster tliiui a
pair of our $1.50 shoes 'they will keep
the little toes warm and the little feet
dry and wear longer than any other
shoe we've ever sold at a dollar and n
half We love the HHle ones and love
to glvo them the best bargain * * l.n the
whole store There's only one day more
before Christmas and we will be open
till late Saturday night.
Drexel Shoe Co. ,
Up-to-date Ilia * HOBS * .
1410 FARNAM STREET.
Come early Saturday and get ono of HOSPE'S
the fine pictures fro ore making special
prices on.
We do not wish to carry anything
over the season You know what that ART
means Bargalui.
A. HOSPE ,
UilC OU Ul 1313 Douglas DEPT.
A