Til 13 OMAHA DAILY 111215 : F1MHAY. I ) ICCI'JM Bli5 , 18 0. PUBLISHED I5VKUY MOHNIXQ. TE11MS OF SUHSCRIPTIOX. Dally Uec ( without Sunday ) . Ono Yc r..W.OJ Dally Bee Hid Sunday , One Year 8.00 Dally , Sunday anil Illustrated. One ear S.'i > Hundiiy nml Illustrated , One Year * . . - lliuxiriUCMl Boo , Ono Year ! .W I Kundny Her , One Year * - HatnrOny Ilof. Ono Year l-gj Weekly Hoc. One Your 8S OFFICES. Omaha ; The Bee llulldln * , . . „ „ „ ' South Omaha : City Hall Building , Twenty-fifth and N stroc's. t'oiinoll IJliilTs : 10 Pearl street. < TilciiRo : 1MO tnlty Building. Now York : Temple Court. Washington : .7)1 ) Fourteenth Mreot. COllHUSPONDEXCB. I'ommiinloutlons relating to hews and edi torial matter should br. addressed : Omaha Deo. Kdltorlnl Department. llt'SINI-iSS LETTERS. Hufdno-is letters and remittances should I'o addrc.wd : The Ueo Publishing Coin- puny , Omaha. UEMITTANCES. llcmlt by draft , express or po.-Unl order , payable to The lice Publishing Company. Only 2-ront stamp * fin-opted In payment of mall accounts. Personal cheeks , oxoopt on Omaha or Eastern cxrimnge , mil accepted. BEE PrlJLISHlNU COMPANY. STATi.Mi.vr : or emcn.ATiox. Stnto of Nebraska ! Douglas County , ss. : Ororgo I ! . Tz.srhuck , senrelnry of The Boo PtibllshlnK Company , being duly sworn , snys tlmt thu actual number of full and rornplole c oplon ( if The Dally , Mnrnlng. Evening and Sunday Boo , printed during Iho month of November , ISM , was us fol lows : 1 _ ' -i IO IB -Jll.UIKl 2 'IIMMO 17 a.-tBO | 3 B.i.iiMt is urr.ro 4 Sd.HlO 19 i-,770 D un.oiiii 20 2.1t : in , G i--iti , : 21 as.-ioo S 1K70 23 Sr.,170 o un.-ir.o 24 an.oui 10 ir.--iio 25 an.iso 11 : tlIMI ( , | 2C U7.11MI 32 B.ur.n , 27 as.owo an.ans 23 an.iaii 14 a , r : tri 29 ai , 7o 13 : : . - . . , " ' > 30 UB.OOU Total SIM'7.1. ! ! " " Lesn unsold and returned copies t ISl" Net total sales .7 . ! tl ) Net dally average B .H-l GEOnC.R'R. TZSC1IUCK. Subscribed and sworn before mo this 1st day of December. A. D. . . .nuN.nATRi Notary Public. A Mnrvt'l < > f K\i' < 'lln -M > . Mlimeniiiill'i Times. The Omaha Illustrated lice IB a weekly magnzlna published by The lice company. The Christmas number is a marvel at typographical beauty and literary excellence. Every fea ture of an up-to-date magazine Is unbraced In Us contents and Its loyalty to Omaha ami the west Is evidenced by numerous ) special fea tures handsomely Illustrated. Koports from Capetown indicate tlmt the British slpjrc tniln had arrived at that point. Thij ono Ix-lonslng to tlie Itocrs has lii-on In active operation for some time. The ehanros are said to favor Milwau kee and Kansas Oily for the dcinoiTatie national convention. As between the two Nebraska ought to stand up for its nearest neighbor. * If Mc'tcouk had been made U. S. S. Secretary GUKC would have been com pelled to rcslpn his portfolio or take Ills ehancef ) on impeachment for sup ostiUK the establishment of an International exchange bank. The .Incksonian club sideboard will keep open house New Year's day. The fountain of democracy may have been considerably diluted In recent years , but the goods on the sideboard are guaranteed of regulation strength. Nebraska's attorney general has not taken a shot at a trust for at least a week. Unless he practices more how can lie ever expect to hit the bull's-eye when none-of the shots tired up to date indicate he lias secured the correct range ? _ _ According to reliable reports the ICng- llsh government Is buying meats canned at Omaha for the use of Its troops in Smith Africa. Omaha packers will doubtless be glAd to receive orders also from the 15oer Hide of the fence and promise to till them with satisfaction to all. The members of the State Hoard of Transportation complain that , they aie the least understood body of olliclals In the country. The trouble Is that the public has been able up to date to study but one phase of their existence. A coiratose condition is not favorable for studies from life. A Milwaukee alderman has committed suicide through worry over a street railway urdlnanco he was trying to get through regulating the street railways of that city. I'p to the present lime no Omaha alderman has endangered health or life worrying over the regula tion of street railways. The next thing the defunct candidate for the t' . S. S. will demand will be the enforced retirement of < ! . L. haws , sec retary of the State Hoard of Transporta tion. Laws Is said to express himself bitterly against the popocratlc organ and its proprietor. U'e { ire-mint' this Is another case of the sting of Ingratitude. The commercial Interests of Omaha , St. .Joseph , Atchison , Leavenworth and Kansas City are all together in oppos ing changes in fiel''ht clas-llinitUms the railroads are trying ID Inlllct upon west ern shippers. It Is gratifying to set these great rivals get togelher on a nm-silon that'coiK'erns them all alike. . In other lines , however. ( hey will con tinue to tight one another just as hard as over. The chairman of the New York demo cratic committee Miys lie found durlti } ! his trip tinuu'h the south and west thai the sentiment for making t'nv colnagi the Issue Is waning. The democrats in-cording to his idea , will not re pudiate the Chicago platform for tin appearance of the tiling , but will plan free coinage In an ln > ou.-pU-imus placi wli-TO they hope n OIK- will t-ee II. Tin ( rni'hlc will be I" M' ' > he staii'llng ' cin : clidate to balance ou thu new poik'stal ; .v rr.VM. The fact * reported in regard to prison abuses In Cuba and the drlny In bringIng - . Ing prisoners to trial show the necessity for the prompt action taken by Gov ernor ( lOiieral Wood to correct this state of affuhn. If the conditions are as rep resented It must be admitted that the preceding administration did not give proper attention to them , though hardly itny duty It had to perform was more j Important than that of rcqulrinc that persons Imprisoned on cilinlnal charges should lie tried as speedily as possible. This Is tin American principle Unit the representatives of the I'nltcd Statns In Cuba should not have neglected and it would be dllllctilt to IItut an adeituate excuse for doing so. Permitting the Spanish system to prevail In this re spect was a mistake 'which detracts somewhat from the generally e.ipablo and creditable administration of Gen eral Brooke. In taking hold of this matter promptly and llrmly General Wood will undoubt edly be able to effect the needed reform without much trouble , though it Is pos sible that for a time he will eiicounti'r some opposition from those who are strongly prejudiced In favor of the Imig established custom. 1'nder the Spanish regime a person who got Into prison might be kept Incarcerated for years before being given a trial , particularly If without friends to look after his case. I'onseiiueiitly the prisons were always crowded and necessarily in a wretched sanitary condition. This General Wood Intends to put an end to and undoubt edly the better class of the people will approve his action. Those persons who have been kept in prison a sutllclent time to punish them for their misdeeds wilt be released , while such as are charged with crimes that should sub ject them to more prolonged punishment will as soon as practicable be brotuhl to trial. In tlds way the Cubans will be made acquainted with an American principle which is here regarded as a most essential feature of our govern mental system. XA run A IMA v/o.v / A n us t\s. That there are abuses of the natural ization laws will not be questioned. Hundreds of thousands of aliens have been admitted to American citizenship who were not. entitled to It and every year men are given naturallx.atloii papers who have ; not complied with the law. This is common In the larger cities of the country , especially just before an election , and It would perhaps not be an exaggeration to say that half the foreign-born citizens of New York and 1'hihidelplilu got their papers before they had n right to them. The abuses conceded , the desirability of a remedy will also be admltfeil. It Is quite as essential to faithfully ob serve the naturalization laws as any other statutes. An effort is to be made In the present congress , to amend the naturalization laws so as to protect them against abuse. A bill for tlds pur pose was introduced in the senate by Senator Perkins of California , which provides that an alien shall make a declaration of his Intention to become a citizen at least live years prior to his application for admission and must show that he Is attached to the principles of the constitution , that he can speak the Knglisli language and that he lias been obedient to the laws of the country , lie must also show that he has knowledge ; of our system of government , federal and state. Perhaps some will think such requirements as these too rigid , but American citizenship Is a great boon and ought not to be bestowed on those who do not understand its import and value. /'K.V.S/OA / KXI'KXDITUKRS. The government disbursed for army and navy pensions during the fiscal year ended .Tune ; ) , 1St ! ) ! , over JiiS,000Or ? : ; < ) . The secretary of the interior says In his annual report that the probabilities are that the pension roll will , by rea son of the late war with Spain , not only Increase In amount , but In num bers during the llscal year HWO. I'p to the close of the last Usual year there had been tiled 17.r > ( ifl army and navy claims on account of service In the war with Spain , of which only ' , ! 0t : had been allowed. Notwithstanding this assurance of an Increased pension expenditure a disposi tion Is being shown In congress to swell j this account enormously through new legislation. A number of bills have been Introduced for extending the pen sion laws which If enacted would re quire nearly the entire revenue of the government to inrot the demands of the pension otllce. Some of these bills , in troduced "by request , " will probably re ceive no consideration , but others have strong Inlltiencos behind them and will be persistently pressed by the congress men who Introduced them. One measure prop.scs to remove all limitation upon the payment of arrears of pensions , which the pension olllee es timates would be good for .friKUO)0l. ( ) ( ) ( ) ( Another bill provides for a service pen sion , which It Is estimated would add nearly $1 ( > ( > , ( HM > , ( M ) ! ) annually to the ex penditures. Still another provides that every soldier who enlisted in tin1 army after April 10 , IStll , for three years and who served until honorably discharged , by reason of having reenlisted - listed as a veteran volunteer , and whn received from the I'nltod States a b unity of $100 for his llrct term of serv ice , shall be paid an additional bounty of ; ? l < io. If the soldier is dead , then hi * widow , minor children or parents arc to be paid the setoud bounty provided for. It Is estimated that there arc DS.UOO who are eligible under this bill , which would call for an appropriation of $ i > .SOnoro. Hut the most extnioi' dlnury of all these bills Is the one that provides for extending amnesty to men who ill-sorted dnrlni : the war of the 10 hellion and milking them eligible foi pension frm the date of application following the-proclamation of amnesty It IsaId there are UtO.iKiO mimes 1-oviu on the army rolls as deserters , of wh-jji a considerable number are known t have been bounty jumpers. This Is oiu of thu measures that wore Introducnl "by request" aud which the senator presented It has fold he did not ex amine. At a time when It Is most Important and necessary that the expenditures of the Keminent slul11 ' 'l'1 nt tl10 lowest point compatible with an etllclent administration of the public service , to the cud tlmt the burden of taxation shall not be maintained a day longer than Is absolutely required by the legitimate needs of the government , propositions to enormously swell the al ready heavy pension account will under lie pretext meet with popular appioval. The liberality of the nation toward Its defenders , evidenced in the fact that In the last thirty-three years the disburse ments on account of pensions and the execution of the pension l.iws have amounted to nearly two and a half bil lions of dollars , will be continued. The policy of thus manifesting the national gratitude to the men wfio served their country will be adhered to so long as there is it soldier or sailor who has u just claim to a pension. But there must be a reasonable limitation to this expenditure ami the existing laws make fair provision for those who are en titled to the care of the government. Perhaps these laws need changes and modifications , but not for the purpose of Increasing the pension account , while the pioposed new legislation , which would add enormously to that ac-ount. his : nothing whatever to commend or Justify It. Iot us be Justly liberal to the soldiers and sailors , but we must at the same time consider the Interests of all the people. KIT ; A TIIK DAHK. The republicans of Omaha are still kept In profound darknes-s about the true alms and objects of the Patriotic League club. According to Us printed prospectus this organization Is a repub lican club and the scope of Its work Is the upbuilding and the maintaining" the republican party , the election of nominees of republican conventions ami the bringing about of a more harmoni ous feeling among the members of the party. Incidentally the prospectus as sures us that this is not a secret league , but all good republicans are Invited to favor the club with their counsel and co-operation In harmonlus action for the general good of the party. This is very attractive , but "line | words butter no parsnips.1' When first | organized the head pushers of the league from Cadet Taylor down to Captain Palmer gave It out cold that the object j of its being was to bring together the j soreheads and kickers who were dis gruntled with the action of ( lie repub lican county convention and the candl- , dates with a view to smoothing down their nil tied feelings and bringing them all Into line to support the whole repub lican ticket. When the smoke of the battle had cleared away It was found that the republican ticket had been am buscaded and fusilladed by the sore heads and bushwhackers who had mas queraded as peacemakers. . That the leaders of the gang , including Captain Palmer , were in the plot cannot be doubted for n moment. Instead of har monizing the discordant elements they poured vitriol into their wounds and made them believe that , it was a pa triotic duty for them to vote the fusion ticket. In spite of all denials of a secret com bine it Is a matter of notoriety that there was and is an inside ring which aims to propagate factionalism and practice political assassination. Kven the public meetings of these pa triots have belied the prospectus of har mony and party loyalty. 1C very time reference lias been made by a speaker to the defeat of the ticket he has drawn involuntary applause from ( lie fellows who have not sutllclent tact not to give themselves away. According to the latest figures given out by the inside circle the total num ber of patriots who have been duped into paying the admission fee has reached : ) ( ! 7. That would indicate that there are still more than 11,000 repub licans in Omaha and South Omaha who are not patriotic enough to join the pa triots. These i,000 ) republicans are still in the dark as to ( lie need of such an organization and the benefits to be de rived by the party from its existence. ' If the real object of the promoters ffol up a republican .Tacksonlan club , with poker rooms and other attractive attachments , those who are In want of that kind of social entertainment are of course at liberty to indulge. If it wore purely political and designed to drill re publicans for the ( omlng national cam paign It Is superfluous because the same work can and will be done more elll- clently In the republican ward clubs. If , however , the real object Is to estab lish a permanent club like the I'nloii League clubs of New York and Philadel phia and the Marquctle and Hamilton clubs of Chicago then It will take men of different stamp than Cadet Taylor , Hugh Myers , W. A. Saunders and George Hess to give It tlmt character , without which the belter class of re publicans In Omaha will refuse to he identified with It. It Is to be hoped tlmt the committee appointed by the Commercial chili to investigate the proposed bond Issue for the purchase of the water works will make an exhaustive inquiry into the feasibility of the proposition ; the legal bearings of the contract between the city and the water company and the right of the city to take the works at a rea sonable appraisement within the next two years and report their conclusions as early as possible. The taxpayers and water C'liisumers want all the light on this subject that can be procured. They want this Information without Us bcin , ' filtered through politicians or parties who hope to profit In some way by thu proposed deal between the city and the water c mpany. The proposition to raise the tax levy from -J.-I to : to mills will not meet with favor at the hands of Omaha taxpayers The tax burdens are higher already than they should be. If more money Is ab s lutely necessary to i-airy on mnnl'ipa ) government and support tin- public at-hool fcybtew some oilier means for raising revenue other than Increasing the tax levy should ln > devl od. Kor ex ample , a very considerable sum could be raised by an occupation tax , grad uated according to the class" " of Im-dues" . This Is done In other cities of Nebraska and could be Introduced In Omaha with out doing Injustice. The main trouble , however. Is that the vast real estate holdings of the railway corporations are practically exempt from local taxes. j These corporations enjoy as much municipal I t nicipal protection and are benellted by ! municipal government Just as much as , any other property ami should by rights contribute their pioportlon of the reve nue necessary to support the govern ment. The new order of the Indian commis sioner prohibiting reservation Indians from traveling around the country with Itinerant shows threatens to put a quietus upon several wild west enter prises. The great Indian congress at the Transmlsslsslppl Exposition was the grandest collection of Indians of differ ent tribes over gotten together and The Bee's assertion tlmt the like of It would probably never be seen again promises to prove t'ruc. There are a great many admirers of General Lawton In and arouii'.l Omaha who ought to be glad to contribute to the fund tlmt Is being raised for the benellt of his family. Such contribu tions made through The Bee will be ac knowledged Its columns. Make the checks payable to the Merchants Na tional bank of Omaha. The popocratle organ is as mum as an oyster almut municipal ownership anil especially the water works ques tion , but sixty days from now , when the city campaign Is in full blast , we may expect a deluge of horrible fakes about plots ! > prevent the acquisition of the water works by the city. Winston Churchill's experience In walking the railroad track and riding the trucks on his trip out from Pre toria entitles him to Initiation in the Order of Weary Willies. Krom the fact that he allowed himself to go hungry , however , it is evident that he has sev eral degrees yet to take. The picture turned to the wall at the Bryan banquet at Lincoln can be read ily identified without the trouble of j turning it around. If there should be any doubt about it the small red spot where the ingratitude stinger was ap plied will be sulllclent to disclose the identity of the original. Uncle ItnliNt > cilH n Ilrake. , , IJoston Herald. Undo Horace Boles of Iowa has aban doned free silver again. Ho performs this i feat at frequent Intervals. What ho ucenia to need is a brake on his wheel to prevent his backing down hill'so often. A Trlst ! Convinced , Globc-Ucmocrat. After a test of American locomotives on French state railroads the uuthorltles man aging the lines have"ordercd ten more for passenger traffic. Wherever they are tried abroad our loeomotlvta' acore an Invariable success. An Orf-rwoil ; < Fil Prophet. IiulIiumpollH News. Senator Jones , chairman of the democratic national committee , Is quoted as saying that the prospects for democratic success next year are brighter than they were in 1S9G. They can hardly bo brighter than Jonea and his friends professed to think them up to the very moment of counting the votes three years ago. Si-rolM' a nil loililil. . St. Paul Pioneer Press. . It.is . a subject of congratulation that while the eastern financial centers , around which rage the storms of stock market panics , have been undergoing the stress of a eevero financial stringency , the country at largo , and especially the west , has been wholly frco from any disturbance of that sort. If money has been scarce and hard to get in Now York and lloston , It has been easy and plentiful In all western business centers. SiicircHtlfin for tlii * Tall. Now York Sun. Hon. James Stephen Hogg doesn't want to bo the Uryanlte candidate for vlco president. Hon. Joe Sibley Is a member of the con spiracy of 'Mone-y ' Kings. But there Is a right man for the Job. Dr. KHsha Benja min Andrews of Chicago Is on unshaken sll- verlto and aa an excavator of Issues he can beat Bryan himself. Bryan and Andrews would bo a ticket at which the golden calves would full down if they had any sense of propriety. _ of Troulilr. Philadelphia Ledger. Now wo learn , practically for the first time , that the whole island of Panny , In the Philippines , Is In the hands of the in- j Hurgonts and must bo conquered. Perhaps I this explains why the government Is stfll 1 sending troops to Manila , to crush a "re- ! bullion" purposed to bo virtually ended ; while the repetition of the old story of nn expedition half prepared and Insufficiently HUpported gives sarcastic point to General Miles' recommendation that some of the West Point cadets be sent to command In the Philippines. Sceri-l nf ilryiin'M Kllulit. Now York Sun. It Is depressing to have to record more strife lu the Nebraska fusion ranks. In 18'Jfl the Lincoln Women's Bimetallic league was founded to labor for Bryan and the money of the producing classes. At the annual election of oniccrs last week It was charged that the convention was packed and the majority bilked. There wns a secession , nnd the Women's Bryan club , full of war to the knlfo agalm > t the parent league , came Into being. Colonel Bryan has escaped to Texas. Ho will dive Into a sea of troubles when ho returns. Th > ( i. O , M. of Soulii Afrlen. Baltimore American. The world has no evidence to whew that Oorn Paul fans lost any of his Innnto stole- Ism , or that the history-making events In South Africa have disturbed his wonted equipoise. From the meager bits of authentic news which niter through from the flocr lines we learn that ho and the bravo men under him are following the even tenor of their way , fighting for a common cause , and impelled by a strong conviction of right. "Trust In Ciod and keep your powder dry" Is their motto. It is , therefore - fore , not surprising that In the Imminence of rpnfllct the eld Boer ehleftaln should have faced the crisis calmly , nnd given ut terance to this philosophic reflection : "We Boers have hunted the Afrlran lion too lon lu fear the British one. it's one thing to men the beast in his hunting veldt ; It's very differem when lie romes In front of jour \Mndow. where mi are standmc with a loalc'l rifle Evidently , if tliere'H to bo any plg-ciu-Ulns sport. It will uoi be ftl tbo expense of the Afrikanders. ic-jMii : ; i OK 01 uv.vn. . \mons the odds nnl ends of trouble scooped In by Uncle P.im In ( Philippine * Is a collection of bandit ? , who roam over the island of Tanny nml wax wealthy and boisterous en the spoils of iht > chaso. Jtiat now the bandit band Is reported uncommonly active and Industrious and Is giving the boys In blue n hot run for the Islnnd. There la n great deal of shooting g < Mns on , but little harm Inflicted. I'ncle Sam's boys are hand- Icappctl lu the sprinting match. The native wcbfect are amazingly swift ou land and water , while the pursuers nre obliged to wade through rlco sloughs , swim river * and buffet typhoonn. At n rangeof 8.000 mlVs the spectacle In picturesque , but the boys right In It nre not charmed by the scenery. It Is one of these tropical views ( o which "distance lends enchantment. " A correspondent of the Philadelphia Pros ? , writing from Hello , Islnnd of I'anay , tays ( your Uncle- has a bill for $300,000 ddtnagia to pcltle with the foreign merchants of that town. The foreigners claim that our mili tary authorities were responsible for the burning of the town and these authorities have up to the present time Ignored the whole matter. "Knrly In December , 1SSS. " said a promi nent biiilncfo man of Hello , "n circular let ter was handed to Major General Otis , signed bv the foreign merchants In Manila who had branches of their firms In Hollo. In which his attention was drawn to the danger that would Inevitably result to foreign life and jpmpcrty If the Americans did not send Im mediately an armed force to Hello to tnko over possession of the city from the Span- Ir.rd ? before the latter left , ne It was well known that the Spanish governor had orders fron > Spain to evacuate the city with the least possible delay. 'This letter was Ignored by General Otis and American troops did not arrive In Hello bay until December 28 , four dny after thu Spaniards had left. " KITorts have been made within the last month by merchants directly Interested In this matter of claims to ascertain what the authorities had done , were doing or con templated doing In the matter , but It wns impo ? lble to gain any satisfaction what ever. A correspondent of the Chicago Tribune at Manila relates an Instance Illustrating General Otis' conscientiousness in matters of petty detail. During an advance on the north line recently one company had to Ho down at the side of the road for shelter from the well-directed volleys of the In surgents. Ono of the privates had dropped his haversack In the middle of the rood away back and , after the company had lain down , he calmly stood up and walked down the road towards the lost haversack. Ho made a flno target for the Insurgents and the bullets rattled around him pretty ll\oly. "Here , come back here , O'Malley , " yelled the lieutenant of the company. "You'll be killed. " "Well , " replied O'Mnlley over his shoul der , " 1 might Jest as well be killed ns have General Otis a runnln' mo up hill and down dale and comln' over to mo house ivery mornln' and sayln' , 'O'Malley , why don' you pay the govermlnt for that havey- Back ? ' " Then ho calmly walked on and got the lost piece of property and , as he came back and sat down just in time to escape a volley of Mausers , he throw the haversack on the ground and said : "And when he does come tomorrow mornln' to me liouso I'll say : 'Otis , me llttlo man , you're dead wrong. I never lost no havcysnck. There's your bloody old potato bag. Take It to the gov- .ermlnt with mo compliments. ' " 1M2USO.VA.I , AXI ) The end of the famous Hungarian painter , Munknczy , eeems to be approaching. He has long been insane and he has recently been attacked by paralysis , while blindness la thicatened. Ex-Speaker Reed and ex-Senator Carlisle will appear In the United States supreme court as counsel for the Interests which are testing the constitutionality of the war tax on Inheritances. Although President McKlnley has recently added a new team of sorrels to the Whlto Hoiise stables ho has been ordered by his doctor to walk for his health. He will be running after ho Is renomlmitcd. Sol Smith Russell has decided as a result of his breakdown In Chicago recently , when he had to ring down the curtain before the play was ended , to retire from the stage for at least a year. AH his engagements for the remainder of the season have been canceled. I'hlllp D. Armour of Chicago has gene to Pasadena , Cal. , to pass the winter. He Is now In somewhat better health than ho has lately been , and It Is hoped the Cali fornia climate will bo beneficial to him. Ho Is accompanied < by Mrs. Armour and his physician. A project Is on foot In Savannah , Gn. , to purchase the big Spanish dock at Havana , Cuba , and tow It to Savannah , If It can be bought at a reasonable figure. It Is said Spain refused an offer of $250,000 for It. It was built In England and Is reported to have cost $1,000.000. It Is said that the senatorial Investigation of the case of Senator Clark of Montana , who Is accused of obtaining his scat through bribery , will cost not less than $80,000 , much of which will go for fees and mileage to wit nesses to bo brought from Montana. The amount Senator Clark Is accused of having dispensed Is variously estimated at from $300,000 to $500,000. Henry Labouchero says that at the break ing out of the South African war nil the salaries paid by the Transvaal government were nt once reduced , that of President Kruger , which had been 7,000 , being cut down to 1,000. Mr. Liibouchero points out that If this method were adopted In Eng land nil the officials would become unceas ing advocates of peace. XI-3W IMS.YHIOX C'liAMIS. Aollvll- Volunteer * fur n Plnoe on UKrriiNlnn Hull , Chlcairo J'ost. The rate at which pension claims nre he- Ing filed as a result of the war with Spain IK enough to make Uncle Sam gasp and begin to count his money. Of course It Is his do- filro nml Intention to grant a pension to every soldier who was so Injured In health bccaugo of disease or wounds as to Jmpalr his ability to fight the battle of life , hut when ho takes pencil and paper and undertakes to do n little figuring CD the basis of claims al ready filed he naturally begins to get anxious. Ho rnllid for 200,000 volunteers , and If the proportion of claims filed for cno regi ment the Ninth Massachusetts U a cri terion by which to Judge the entire volun teer army he will bo asked to pay pensions in stout 120,000 caM > 8 , which Is just a little heavy. Kven If lie figures It out from Iho claims HO far filed by members of the Sov- nty-flrat New York , who are extremely modest men when compared with the I Massachusetts reglmuit , he would have about 00,000 peni-ions to pay. And these , of course , do < iot Include the pennlcns for the army since recruited for service In the Philippines. In view of these facts , is there any oc- caelou f-r surprise If Uncle Sam U nervous ? Yet the financial future Is not so dark as ft might seem , for In mustering out the troops this time ho too'i ' every precaution to ac quaint hlirsilf "I'll ' all the facts as to their Phybli-al ronHluo" Ho had learned a little tomi'ihlng ' to v rleni-e Hence h ought not to ha c cnu < difi > ultjin sifting the j.iscs down to ' * " " mber actually tn'ltlcd to pcnt-'onr ' \ * ' u" those ho is not only willing but B'i- ' " " " "niiouu to give what la needful. suiiiiTHU IAVTOin M ) . Olobo-Democrat : General Lawton'd countrymen have promptly given n token of s > mpathy for his family that goes deeper than wone and will stnml AS the flr.it and most Important tribute to his brilliant services. I'hllajclphla Record ; Army omcers of high rani : , exalted public functionaries and widely knonn capitalists and captains of Industry are pushing the Unwton remem brance fund ns .in earnest labor of love , a welcome opportunity for recognition of true heroism and an eager fulfillment of pa triotic duty. Buffalo Express : The public Is responding nobly to the appeal for funds for the family of the late General I.awton. The death of Lanton Is bringing hc < mo to n larger num ber of people than have brforo appreciated II the fact that wo nra consecrating the soil of tha Philippines \\ltli the blood of our best and bravest. Having so CMisuvrnted It , can the American people consent to see our conquest of the Philippines used for any un worthy purpose or private gnln or mere na tional aggrandizement ? Only the planting there of gcnulno liberty and civilization , such as exist among Americans themselves , can Justify the sacrifice of a Lawton. Chicago Tribune : The spontaneous nature of thr subscriptions Is not only significant of the admiration of Americans for the brave folillcrlio has fallen , but It is also a note worthy proof of the nation's convlcthns with regnrd to the cniiso In which General Lawton - ton gaveup his life. The call for financial aid to his bereaved family has given the people a chance to glvo substantial testi mony of their esteem for the brave men of all ranks who have been fa"lng the same perils. U In only t ) bo regretted that some of the fruits of this American generosity cannot bo distributed to the needy families of the cnany privates who have fallen In the ranks and who He In Philippine graves , the same as their heroic general. Chicago Record : The hearty good will with which the Amorlcan public hns gone to work to raise a fund which shall Inaurc to the wife of General Lawton the possession of a home and a competency Is gratifying , both ns n sign of patriotic spirit and ns n de served , substantial tribute to the memory of a bravo and faithful officer. General Lawton - ton passed most of his lifetime In effective I servlco for his country , but It did not fall ! to his lot to be the single , central figure In any spectacular and momentous battle. Ho was not placed on the pinnacle of hero- worship. Yet that his solid worth , the value of his service and his capacity to do great things when occasion required were under stood nnd appreciated Is shown In the growth of the fund. A ! IIUW AT IMTItlOTISM. HIM in Kruno < lnChnrKi * of Urni-rllim AtxnliiNt Soldier * . Philadelphia Lodger. The Cullnm pension bill Introduced In congress Is not only a peculiarly Impudent and Indefensible scheme of public plunder , but an Insult to the Intelligence of the coun try and to the bravo nnd honorable old soldiers on the pcnslcn roll , whose heroic services to the country nre placed on nn equality with desertion. The Cullom bill directs the secrctarj ; of war to grr.nt an hon orable discharge to "all soldiers who wore at any time In the actual servlco of the United States and who have f"r nj"ri i1--- ! thirty years been held to bo Ineligible for j such honorable discharge by reason o : any charge of desertion which may stand against them. " This Is a proposal to degrade the inerl- toriotis old soldier , to pension the vast army of bounty-jumpers and deserters and to re ward the faithless , the cowardly and the treacherous , who ought to be shot. There Is a record of 117,647 deserters from the union army during the civil war and If the estimated number of them now living were placed on the pension rolls $10,000,000 a year would be required to pay them. In addition to the recorded cases of desertion there Is an army of undetected bounty- jumpers who are Included among the miss- Ing. The Lentz bill seems to supplement the Cullum bill completely In opening the doors wide. If the Lent/ general service pension bill should become a law It would take about $00,000,000 a year from the treas ury. ury.Tho The two bills call for an additional ex penditure of about $100,000,000 a year , and It Is Inconceivable that congress will con sider a step which would bankruot the treas ury or call for onerous and unnecessary new taxation for such unworthy purposes. The Cullojn bill Is Infamous , and Senator Cullom , In defense of his action as introducer of the bill , hns announced , It Is reported , that ho introduced it by request nnd will oppose It. A bill to pension deserters is simply placing a premium upon desertion , and the records of the present war show that this would bo a dangerous policy. fn response to a resolution of the senate calling for the number of desertions from the regular nnd volunteer armies the secretary of war makes a statement showing that from May 1 , 1898 , to June 30 , 1809 , the very large number of 5,772 men deserted , 2,738 being volunteers and 3,036 regulars. A considerable army has deserted -when desertion Is a disgrace ; what would ho the result If a premium were placed on desertion ? The proposition to place the malingerers , bounty-Jumpers nnd deserters on a parity with courageous defenders of the nation should arouse the Just resentment of the bravo men who fought nnd suffered In a glorious cause , The Lentz service bill also places on nn equality with those who re ceived wounds nnd contracted disease In battle nnd camp a great army who do not need aid , and should not look to the treas ury for support. Both bills nro the expres sion of nn unbridled and rapacious policy of loot nnd deserve the active , persistent oppo sition of all honorable old soldiers nnd nil patriotic citizens. SMAI.I , 1IOKII I.OSSI2H. Value < > f a DcfciiNlvc I'liKltlnn In Aruulnir wild tinIlmiuy. . St. Louis Olobi'-Democnit. According to Boer reports , nnd there Is no reason to doubt their accuracy , the Iocs of the burghers nt Mngcrsfontcln wuti leas than 100 killed and wounded. The British Jens was originally placed at 063 , but nddl- 1 tiopa have since been made. General Gatacro lost 700 men , while his antagonist's casualty Us' wns llvo killed , fourteen wotimlej , a ' proportion of 1 to SO. In Butler's attack at Colenso the British losfes were over 1,000. Thu Boers fought under cover , nnd It Is 1 doubtful If their casualties number 100 In ! a' ' ! . They have lost a few hundred prlson- I cri * , chiefly at the battle of Elnndslnagte. i Up to nnd Including Coloneo thu total Brit- Is'i ' loss la figured at G,8fi2. In officers alone CO Imvc been killed , 171 wounded and sixty- 1 thrre captured. In the ranks the record Is i 370 killed , 1,0'JC wounded and 2,47-2 captured and missing. But this Is not the whole sto-y. Twc-lvc thousand British soldiers nro bc- slrgcd , and If all imiet surrender the British Ilia * In the opening pluma of the war will 1 stand at the extraordinary figure of 20,000. | It Is one of the peculiarities of the situa tion that though the Boers have been In superior force they fight defensively and j mi con their men In action with the moot ( scrupulous care. Probably their total loss lu , ) to this tlm Is not moro than 1,200 , and i n u'- becta. \ . At the some time almost unl- ' fbnn success line gtrcngihonrd their confl- ' dcttce and tenao of efficiency , f.a far the 'Biliish ' have been struggling with a dabacle 'and ' the tide Is still against them. Their striitrgy has brcn valiant indeed , bur the result * nro fearfully nieuger A lo-u of c\Vfr \ ( or ten to ono is a heavy pru-p to pay fo aggressive ( Ufcheg with In-iulll tent armies 1 on ) prrrariou ! ! lines of supply Agann | > nil enemy so wary and vlgoroun moro caution | &nd preparation are vitally necessary , HUVMAI , ! ! ' m\IA.MSM. ' / Chicago Inter Orcnn : It Is doubtful If our Irldh-AmerleAii fellow citizens would roun- tennneo another 1'onlnn Invasion of Catmdn , It would be n poor way of attacking England , Tlu.se . who are contributing liberally toward the Boer hospital fund and sending utippHos to the Transvaal , \la Detngon bay , nro tak ing n much wiser and far more praiseworthy course. Cl-lcrtRi ) Chronicle : U In possible th.it seme cntluiEdnsts have developed on pnpcr or In llttlo gatherings n plan for a raid upon Canada , the purpose being HIP em barrassment of England now that It Is In serious and unanticipated trouble In South Africa. Notwithstanding that the ndmlnls- trntlon IB pro-British and that many Ameri cans have colored their opinions to suit thnt of McKlnley , it l nevertheless true that then are few sympathizers lu America with th war for aggrandizement carried on by the British against the Boors , but their dis approval of British nggrcxslon would by no men tin menu approval of aggression from the United States , upon Canada because It Is British territory. That which we condemn In Great Britain wo could not excuse In our selves. Baltimore American : The Irish In Amer ica constitute a large and valuable , part of Iho population. They are thoroughly loyal to this country , and to charge thuni with .1 scheme which , If successful , would plunge thlt > country Into war with a friendly nation , ami If unsuccessful , as It Mirely would he , would consign a largo number of them to the gnllows , must bo condemned by fair-minded | met' . While tiicro may ho adventurer * who ! would engage In any conspiracy for htich 1 are to bo found among every race Iho re- spi clablo Irish arc too loyal nnd too sensible to do that which would provoke as much In- dlRiintlon In this country as In Great Britain. Aihenturcrs of every nice nnd nation who are anxious for blood cnn gratify their upI - \ \ I pMltes by shipping to South Africa and i enlisting In the army of their choice. I.KJMT AM ) MVKIit. Indianapolis Journal : "What 'Is ambi tion , Undo Theodore ? " i "It Is a man's conceited Idea that ho Is 1 big enough to beeomo popular oilttddo , elI I liln own town. " i .Sotnervlllo Jtmtnul : The man wlw never had n br.ll . In hi * life doesn't know what 1 real bappliu-s's Is. Heal happlnos consists I In set ling rid of one. | Indianapolis 1'nw. lie You look good I enough to eat. , . I She-bo you think 1 am good enough to , Love Is woman'H whole existence , and , I imtunilly. she overlooks loss bets In tnc iiun than man does. i New York 1'ross'What' : * tbo matter ? " ! Inquired the Shade nf Ablmelooh.nu ; IIIOK nut out. " , I "I should think so , " said Iho blimlu nf i liavld , with Irritation. " 1 hoar nome chump i ou the earth lm been writing about my j llnrom. " Philadelphia Press i Mrs. Smltli-O ! Is that you' . ' I'm so glad to sea you here. Mrs. Smytho Heally , you Mrs. Smith-Yes : 1 was afraid lit first I that everybody would bo more fashionable i thin I. Detroit Journal : The Gniees spoke today , In sadness , of worldly affairs. I "And you. Modesty , " several of those nx- olalmed at once , "nre hccoini ) n mere mat ter of olothes with most poojilc ! " "Oh , my name is pnnts all right ! " sighed Modesty , shyly. . The times were Indeed parlous , when all this could be true. S\rr > iirliipr Oir. St. Louis llepubllr1. Ye blithesome and beloved sins That ImiB have swayed the soul , Propnro ye now to nlidlimte Your place of high control ; The tlrno has come when you must go , Sneer how you will or scoff. For now Is New Year's day In wight , When nil mankind swears off ! Oh , why , ye psyehlo springs that move i , Our being to the mil , Dotli virtue Heeni no dull n mute , And vlco so fair a friend ? Kor righteous robes wo should rejoice Sin's motley garb to doff Yor , oh ! how dismal looks that day Whim we must all swear elf ! AX ASTONISIIMI5XT. Wushlncton Star. There's n mlsbty curious feller who 1 llvln' out our way. Ho novelsoonis as anxious us the rest to have his say. Ho listens to un ui-Rument ns quiet as kin l > 0 An' never makes un uffort to break In nil referee. An' once upon a time us folks Is talkln bout ft i-pt Wo asked him his opinion so's to help de cide a. bet. It was on 11 general .topic that excited high and low. This feller thought a minute. Then ho said ho didn't know. We'd heard a lol o' people who bad strug- cled to explain Kach query. It 'ml give you palpitation of the brain To hear the way they figured. An' their words were of mich length That tryln1 to remember them wns Jos' u waste of Htrenuth. Hut Iho wlHi-st of tliotn never , with .their great display ofvlt Within my recollection made the mem- 1 ornliln lilt That ho scored when , after thlnkln' very carefully an' slow. He faced the situation an' confessed he didn't know. Five Specials this week No. 1. Nice Warm Fleeced Underwear 40c. No. 2. Heavy Camel's Hair Underwear 4c. ( ) No. 3. Any 50c Necktie in the House 40c. H No. 4. All 50c Suspenders , 40c. No. 5. $1,50 Colored Star Shirts $1.15 Ilcllolilc and Exclusive rarulilieri. Jft-