6
THE OMAHA DAILY llEEt, SATUKDAY, FEBRUAHY 8,1902.
The omaiia Daily Per
E. ROBE WATER, EDITOR.
PUBLISHED EVERT MORNINO.
TEnMS OF SUBSCRIPTION.
Imlty Hr (without Sunday). One Tear..W'5
lahy Urn and Sunday, on Tar. ....... '
Illustrated bw, Ona Year
Bundiiy Hee, One Tear f-Jj
Saturday One year .- i J
Twentieth Century Farmer, One Tear... 10J
DKL.IVERKD BT CARRIER.
Dally Bp (without Sunday), per copy. ...
Daily Bee (without Bunuay), per m....1
Dally Bee (including Sunday), per week..lio
Bunas? jriee. per wpy
adenine Bee (without I
fcvenlng Bee (without Sunday), per week. 10
Evening Bee (Including Sun
aay;, pr
eek
Cnmnlainia f lrrulifitlea In delivery
ahould be add reaoed to City Circulation Da
purtment,
OFFICES.
Omaha The Be Building.
South Omaha City Hall Building", Twenty-fifth
and M Street.
Council bluffslO Pearl Street.
Chicago 140 Unity Building.
New fork Temple Court.
Washington M Fourteenth Street.
CORRESPONDENCE.
Comiriunlratlnna relating to ttewa and M
torlal matter ahould be addressed: Oitua
bee, Editorial Department.
I BUSINESS LETTERS. - -'
Business letter and remittance! should b
addressed: The ilea Publishing Company,
Omaha.
. REMITTANCES.
Remit by draft express or poet el order.
Bsyable to The fee Publishing Company,
nly 1-cent atampa accepted In payment ot
'A
mall accounta. Personal checks, except on
Omaha or eastern eachange, not accepted,
.. THE BEE PUBLJBHINO COMPANT.
STATEMENT OF CIRCULATION.
State of Nebraska, Douglaa County, .:
George B. Taachuck, secretary of The Bea
Publishing Company, being duly worn,
laya that the actual number ot full and
complete coulee of The Dally, Morning,
Evening and Sunday Bee printed during'
the month of January, UOS, waa as fol
lows:
1 80, 50
.....-...... .soaio
I......... ..... 80,000
4 80,1 tO
S 80,155
80,400
T '. 80,800
80,820
t. 80,170
10 80,130
14...
17...
18...
U...
20...
21...
22...
23...
24...
a...
2S...
27...
28...
29...
20...
Bl...
S0.1M
SO.lftO
80,830
80,850
...80,100
...80.480
80.400
SO.ZOO
80.1H0
80,0B0
80,440
81,100
... .,...80,080
83.040
8030
80,500
U
It
...S0.800
.. .80,430
...80.4T0
.. .80,180
...80,070
U...
14...
...
Total 941.BOS
Less unsold and returned copies.... ,846
Net total sales... .982,079
Nat dally average SO.OOT
GEO. B. TZBCHUCK.
Subscribed tn my preaence and aworn to
peror so mis 1st day or February, A. L.,
mu. jo. u. nunuAiis.
(Seal.) - Notary Public
Superintendent of Schools Pearse is
now in his element - In the role of
theatrical manager be bag an oppor
tunity to display bis marvellous versa
tility to the limit .
Pulverized rock Is said to have been
discovered ia baking powder by the
New York Pur Food commission. This
probably acconnta for the weight of
some borne editions of biscuits.
Women bave taken to throwing egga
at the members of the French Chamber
of Deputies. With eggs at the present
pries this smashes the common belief
that the French are a frugal people.
Father Williams is old enough to know
that ha can't have the last word when
he is debating with an editor, any more
than the, editor can bave the last word
when be is debating . with his better
half.
Omaha Is willing to take care of all
the unfortunate diseased patients that
are properly a charge upon it but it
draws the line at caring for the wards
of South Omaha, Council Bluffs and
surrounding towns.
The Iowa legislature Is struggling
with some proposed changes In Its Aus
tralian ballot la principle the Aus
tralian ballot is all right but in practice
it appears to need aa frequent tinkering
as a wornout watch.
The students of the Colorado School
of Mines, who have been out on a strike.
bave agreed to arbitrate, and pending a
decision bave returned to work. The
Colorado school is strictly modern, with
Its walking delegate and arbitration
board.
J. : Sterling Morton wants Nebraska
to cut the erection of a state building
out of Nebraska's part in the Louisiana
Purchase exposition. A good idea. No
stele, building can add anything as an
advertisement of Nebraska's resources
and possibilities.
: . According to the annual report of the
city engineer. ;Omaha still has twelve
and a half miles of streets with rem
nants of the wooden block era. A year
or two more and even this reminiscence
of colossal vf oily and boom-day blind
ness will be blotted out
A denial comes from Italy that Prince
Victor is coming to this country to se
cure a wife. If he comes it will be
simply to see the country, 'In spite of
this denial, there Is no telling what may
happen when he meets our American
women in their catlve land.
So far as we ean discover, the Lincoln
Journal has not yet denounced the mu
nicipal administration of its own town
for arbitrarily raising Salaries all along
the line. If this had happened in Omaha
that vigilant Journal would have
thrown seven different kinds of fits.
The call for the primaries nd con
vention to nominate a republican city
ticket for the forthcoming municipal
election in South Omaha has been
greed on. It will now be up to the
rank and file of South Omaha repub
licans to see that csndldates are named
..who really represent the party and who
can command strength outside as well
aa inside the party.
Th industrial commission, which has
been Investigating the subject takes a
different view of the railroad rate ques
t'.oa thnn the Louisville railroad man
who charged all the troublo up to the
Interstate Cominervs) commission. Th
puMlo will likely coincide with the
eommlitsloa view that the railroad men
who make the rates are responsible for
rebatea to the favored shipper.
PROTKCT AGRICULTURAL SUTLERS.
The 8bA Francisco Chronicle ssy
that In the rtsnngpment of the public
domain the on a principle to he kept In
mind Is that every foot of land fit for
agricultural purpose ahould be kept
available for such purpoopa, and that
the agricultural settler shall be at all
times protected from the aggressions of
the great cattle corporations. No leas
ing bill, nrgie that paper, which can be
made the slightest hindrance to the ex
tension bf agriculture should become a
law and adds: "The great cattle cor
porations bare proceeded on the ranges
in such a high-banded manner, and with
such brutal disregard of the equitable
rlghta of settlers, that the impulse la
always to oppose -whatever they may
ask, la the full conviction that they
would make no serious effort, to obtain
anything which it is to the public inter
est that they should bare. Everybody
knows what they d?elre. It ia the mo
nopoly of the range."
There is no question as to the correct
ness of the Chronicle's view regarding!
the duty of protecting the agricultural
settlers in any plan for leasing public
lands and the fact that the bill in con
gress is defective in this respect should
assure its defeat or radical amendment
The importance of the cattle Industry is
of course recognized by everybody, but
it is not necessary to its preservation
and encouragement that the agricultural
settler should be sacrificed to the de
mands of the cattle corporations. As
the Chronicle well says, the frontier set
tlers are laying the foundations of a
civilisation infinitely superior to that of
a pastoral race and nothing should be
done with the ranges until the require
ments of agriculture and agricultural
settlers are perfectly understood and
protected against any possible contin
gency.
AMERICAN MEAT IS OERWASr.
The American consul at Brunswick,
Germany, states that the imports of
American meat into that country have
been reduced since 1808 more: thai
$5,000,000. There have been no Impor
tations of sausage . and canned wests
since the prohibitory' law went into ef
fect lu 1000 and this, it appears, has
worked a special hardship to the poor
people la Germany, who have been
forced to resort to cheaper meat of a
kind not regarded as edible in the
United States. The most earnest pro
tests have been made by these people
to the government but thus far with
out any effect and it is not probable that
the government will soon abandon a
policy which the agrarian clement
brought about and will Insist upon main
taining. . ,
This loss in our meat trade with Ger
many is small in comparison with what
will ensue If the Intention is carried out
to put Into force on April 1 next a law
requiring that all meats imported into
Germany shall be. examined by an off!
clal in that country. -This regulation,
there is reason to apprehend, would de
stroy the business of exporting Ameri
can meat to Germany and indeed it
may be designed for Just this purpose.
Perhaps the meat producers of that
country would profit by this, but it
would be very hard on the poorer
classes, of whom, however, the govern
ment seems to take no account Yet
such a policy ean hardly be very long
maintained. Sooner or later the priva
tlon of the great body of consumers
must be recognised and their' protest
heeded. Germany does not produce
enough meat for her people and it Is
not probable that her policy of shutting
out foreign meats will enable her to
do so. When this shall have been dem
onstrated the government will be com
pelled to relinquish the restrictions upon
meat importations now in operation.
8TREXQTHEN TH IXT&RSTATS LAW.
The Industrial comrhlslson, in Its final
report to congress, urges that the in
terstate commerce law be revised and
strengthened and submits recommenda
tions which wlllbe approved by the
sup porters of the policy of government
regulation of the railroads. . The com
mission has given careful investigation
and study to this subject and Its con
clusion is that the Interstate Com
merce commission should be clothed
with greater power' and material
changes made in the law. There should
be more stringent regulation regarding
the publication of rates, strict adher
ence to published tariffs required and
heavier penalties prescribed with a view
to preventing rebates and diacrlnilua
tlon. The Interstate Commerce com
mission should be given a specific grant
of power over classification, which
would prevent a system now commonly
practiced by the railroads. A periodical
examination of the accounts of railroad
cjjjpanles Is recommended, which might
prove useful in preventing rebates. It is
true that the system of national bank
examinations is not a perfect safeguard
against abuses of the national banking
law. but it is not to be doubted that
it has a restraining effect and a like
result would reasonably be expected
from the periodical examination of rail
road accounts.
All these recommendations of the in
dustrial commission are wise and should
receive the careful attention of congress
in connection with the measures for
amending the Interstate -commerce act
that have - been framed. There
is ona thing, however, which seems to
us to be vitally necessary to the prompt
and effective . enforcement of the law
and that is the creation of a court hav
ing specific authority in cases arising
under the Interstate commerce act and
whose decisions should be Anal. There
la precedent for such a tribunal In tha
court of claims. Under present condi
tions cases appealed to the courts msy
be prolonged almost indefinitely by the
railroad companies and it haa not in
frequently happened that in this wsy
the purpose of the law has been de
feated. One of the earliest reports of
the Interstate Commerce coratulsaion
pointed out this difficulty and declared
It to be fatal to effective regulation. It
was then urged that remedial procedure
"should be In a measure summary, and
there must be finality, so far as facts
are concerned. In the action of some
tribunal, leaving only questions of law
for review, and these at the Instance of
the party claiming to be aggrieved."
While it is most desluble that the law
be strengthened as recommended and
the powers of the commission under it
enlarged, it appears to us to be equally
Important that provision be made for
more direct and prompt Judicial action
in cases arising under the law than can
now be bad.
The recommendations of the indus
trial commission will strengthen public
opinion aa to the necessity of amend
ing the Interstate commerce act. They
are a con elusive answer to the conten
tion of some railroad managers that
the law is adequate as it stands and
that there Is no need of increasing the
powers of the Interstate Commerce com
mission.- They should have a decided
Influence ' favorable to the legislation
urged.
JIR UESERTtrS DICFEXSE.
In an Interview published by the Lin
coln Journal former Attorney General
Smyth, who has volunteered to defend
ex-Treasurer J. B. Meserve, recently in
dicted for embezzling Interest collected
on deposits of public school funds, is
quoted as follows:
We will meet them on the issues. Ws
want aa acquittal on the charge and ws
hall get It. Mr. Meserve Is aot guilty and
ws expeat to show It. Ws shall not more
to quash the Indictment, as has been sug
gested, but will defend on the merits sf
the cause, .,
Mr. Meservs stsads charged with appro
priating to his owa nee Interest oa $80,000
state funds deposited with tbs Union Stock
Yards National bank of South Omaha,
amounting to $3,000. This indictment was
returned without lavesttgatlng tha records
of the stats. , It was returned oa informa
tion of sx-Bank Examiner MoOrsw, now
connected with an Omaha bank, who gave
hearsay evidence, and tbs testimony of aa
officer of the South Omaha Institution.
There Was no effort made to secure evi
dence ss to whether' or not this Interest
alleged to have beea paid waa credited to
the state. That wasn't a part of the po
litical plan.
As to whether or not Mr. Meservs wss
technically guilty of smbesslemsnt by plac
ing $60,000 of state funds In a bank that
Is said not to be a stats depository and
funds that ara not authorised to be placed
In banks. Is not in Issue. Nothing Is said
oa this subject in tbs Indictment The
money was sll returned. If It was placed
there for saf keeping, and every cent was
turned over to Mr. Stuefer.
The taxpayers of Nebraska who are
deeply concerned in the honest account
ing for all public funds will be pleased
to bear that in the defense of Mr. Me
serve no attemr' will be made to take
advantage of tecnnlcallties or loopholes
that may have been left open by defects
ia the wording of the indictment If
Mr. Meserve can prove that the interest
collected by blm on the $60,000 of school
funds placed for safe keeping in the
Union Stock Yards National bank .was
turned into the state treasury as it . was
paid to him, the people will be glad to
see him. acquitted and vindicated. If,
however, It turns out that be collected
the Interest In monthly installments, as
charged, and used this money for pri
vate purposes, the most successful de
fense will not clear blm In the court of
public opinion.
This Intimation that the grand Jury
voted the indictment without investiga
tion and without other proof than hear
say evidence and prompted by political
animus, has no foundation In fact The
grand Jury had before it witnesses with
whom Mr. Meserve transacted the busi
ness and who testified from personal
knowledge. The grand Jury bad ample
proof that $150 was paid to Mr. Meserve
at the end of each month for the use of
the $00,000 be bad turned over to the
bank. This Interest waa earned on state
money and belonged to the school fund,
Why was this interest collected
monthly when the interest on state de
posits in the regular depository banks is
credited quarterly and added to the
principal of the deposit? If the $150 a
month was intended to be credited to the
state, why should it have been taken
out of the bank before the whole de
posit was taken out? Why should it
not also have been added to the $60,000
in the bank and allowed to draw Inter-
est for the state the same aa the $00, -
000? If the $150 was not taken out by
Mr. Meserve for private use why do not
the records of the treasury show an en
try for $150 each month? To brush
away the indictment the attorneys of
Mr. Meserve will bave to explain away
this divergence from common usage.
which points to a deliberate Intent to
misappropriate the money.
Under the circumstances it Is hardly
fair to charge that the grand Jury was
actuated by political motives rather
than tangible proofs to Justify its ac
tion in voting a bill against Mr. Me
serve. The only point on which the
grand Jury hesitated was the question
of Jurisdiction raised ia Mr.. Meserve's
!ehalf by the county attorney, and that
doubt was set at rest by a ruling of the
court based on the decision of the su
preme court in the Bartley case, which
Mr. Smyth himself, aa one of the prose
cutors of Bartley, supported.
In these days when mandamuses and
Injunctions are flying thick and fast
through the air, it might not be Inappro
priate for the squatters along the rail
road extension projected by 'the Elk-
born railroad north of Verdigris to ap
peal to the courts to compel General
Mansger Bidwell to establish a town on
every quarter section on which the sur
veyor! have set their stake. This Is
an iuberlted right of every American cit-
lsen on both sides of the Niobrara river,
In the enjoyment of which he should be
respected and protected.
Without reference to the merits of the
contention over the tax levy, city em
ployes who cannot well afford to have
their salaries bung up indefinitely to
await the action of the courts ought to
be provided for in sotno wsy without
being compelled to hawk assignments of
tbelr warrants about on the market.
The city pay roll should be root If a plan
to do so can by any way be devised.
An Iowa police judge has decided that
$25 Is about the right penalty to Inflict
upon a defeated democratic candidate
who kicks a democratic editor. Demo
cratic editors In Iowa have trouble
enough without being kicked because
tbelr candidates are nnable to over
come 73,000 republics n majority.
The Minnesota Board of Pardons has
refnsed to grant an unconditional par
don to the Youngers to enable one of
them to go to Missouri to get married.
If Younger still pines for all the com
forts of borne the Minnesota crop of
marriageable daughters ought to
be
ample to meet the emergency.
A new political party has been born
in Kansas and the leader, who is to
bring the peoplo out of bondage Is Moses
Gassoway. Just at present the people
of Kansaa are doing fairly well and no
large number of them exhibit symptoms
of any desire to follow this Moses into
the political wilderness.
Old Lessea Deep-Rootee.
Washington Star.
The forty-four senators who voted against
the proposition to Increase their salaries
merely Indicate a deelre to remain la publlo
ltf.
Where Was the Moaey Speat.
Philadelphia Ledger.
The appropriation asked for the expenses
of senators who attended President Mr,
Klnley's funeraL Is $8,41S. It is asked la
a lump sum, probably because aa Itemised
account would not look well in print How
did the senators manage to spend so much
money on such a Journey T
Sa-ne Old Stery.
Baltimore American.
Now a state ot corruption has been ex
posed In Buffalo. . It is the old story ot
power and opportunity leading to tempta
tion, with Its extent merely modified by the
locality and th amount of tbs spoils to be
looted. ' The nam ot the special city
afflicted may vary la different exposures,
but the system and the methods are th
am in all.
Salary Grab SaaBTet Oat.
Philadelphia Record.
There was scant courtesy shown In th
federal senate to th proposition to in
crease salaries of members of congress by
60 per cent. It was defeated by 44 to IS
when offered ss - aa amendment to th
Judicial salaries bill. So fsdes away ths
nebulous prospect of another salary
grabbing scandal In national balls of legis
lation. A Sensible Deelsloa. .
Buffalo Express.
Th commissioner of Internal revenue has
mad a sensible decision in deferring the
collection of tho federal tax on th undl
vlded profits of banks snd trust companies
until two cases now pending in th courts
are decided. " In the meantime th com
panles are required to 111 returns, so that
collection may be mad If th cases are
decided In favor, of th government. A
good deal tot, trouble will be saved to ths
government i.bui th commissioner's .oeurss
If tbs .suits 1shlnld go sKtnstU.
'. Pecallar Eceaomlo Plea.
Indianapolis News.
While w are expending hundreds of mil
lions of dollars maintain eur hold of th
Philippines, It is a peculiar economlo plea
that objects . to western Irrigation on th
ground that It would cost too much. Irriga
tion would glvs this country a new tillable
area equal to thre states llks Indiana.
Ths large. Intelligent and thrifty popula
tion It would support would crests trade
demands that would amount to more tn a
year than ths requirement of Philippines
would amount to In ten. Irrigation Is In
evitable. . i
Sabataatlal Fralta at Proteetlaa.
Bt. Louis Globe-Democrat.
The census bureau reports a large In
crease la manufactures tor iswu over isu.
Th gains were II per cent la th amount
of wages paid, 25 per cest In th number of
wag earners, $9 per cent In value of pro
ducts, SI per cent In capital, 41 per cent
In cost of materials, and 44 per cent in th
number of establishments. In th aggre
gate of Its manufactursa th United States
Is. of co-arse, far ahead of England or any
other country,, and its lead la constantly
lengthening. This Is a result of 'th
republican pasty's protective policy.
A FVBMO SCHOOL riD."
Physical Caltara Proaoaaee a, Wast
' ot Pablle Messy,
Chicago Chronicle.
While ther may be debate ver other
1 subjects la th publlo schools, ther csa be
none in reason concerning "physical eul
tur.M It Is simply a "fad."
Nlnaty-nln per cent of th children ia
th publio schools belong to families wblch
require their assistance In bom manage
ment. Ther la no on of the children,
whether boy or girl, whose time ut of
school hours during daylight Is not spent
largely In assisting la household work or
running family errands. Nlnety-nin par
cent of th children who attend th public
school are so tired physically by night that
they can scarcely get to bed soon enough.
This great maas.ot the pupils receive spon
taneously snd without a cent of cost to ths
taxpayers all the physical culture they
need. A large proportion of the mass hav
to endure more physical culture than la
agreeable to them snd some hav to endure
more than Is good for them. Additional
physical culture at public expense la for
this mass of th pupils a wasis ot pumio
money and to a considerable extent a waste
of the energy of th children. The entire
Item for "physical culture" la th public
schools ought to be stricken out.
It Is true that after several .hours' con
ttnuous breathing ot th asm atmosphere
within an 111-ventllated schoolroom chll
drea become languid. Ia this languor th
physical culture" fad finds Its plausible
apology. Th proper cur, however, for the
languor Is not to be sought In aa enormous
waste of public money, but la scientific ap
plication of the principles of ventilation In
th construction of school buildings.
Th science of ventilation Is a modern
on and has only entered upon univeraal
adoption. ' Tha old school buildings hav na
ventilating appliances except tbelr doors
snd windows. These, however, oaa be used
with effect If th children are marched out
for a few minute at frequent and regular
Intervals so that the poisoned air of lb In
closure can be completely expelled snd In
vlgoratlng osone let In. During th winter
season a little additional time would be re
quired for donning th clothing necessary
for outgoing. This simple method ' of
"physical culture" will dispel mental Ian
guor and restore both corporal snd Intel
lectual power more thoroughly than any
pretty caltathenle drill within walls.
"Physical culture" ia the public schools
Is aa unmitigated fad and ought to be com
pletely eliminated.
POLITICAL DRIFT.
Dennis Mulvlhlll, the "stoker mayor" of
Bridgeport. Coon., is talked of ss a candi
date for th governorship of that stat on
th democratie ticket.
Democrats In theNew Jersey legislature
voted for a real gold bug for senator.
Symptoms of platform treason are becom
ing shamefully frequent.
Philadelphia holds its municipal flection
on February 18, New York City holda Its
election In November, Chicago la April
and Boston In December. ,
St. Louis promises to dispose of a few
"horrible examples" of political depravity
before formally presenting a model city
to tha. world next year. The task Is Urge
enough to produce nervous prostration
Congressman Joseph Sibley of Pennsyl
vania scoots around Washington tn his
own automobile. Hla skill in rounding ths
curves ot th capital rivals his agility in
sliding from ons political party to another.
Th Connecticut constitutional convention
haa before It a proposition for woman
suffrage, another for minority representa
tion, a third for a radical civil aervlcs
clauss and a fourth making a member of
th legislatur Ineligible to any other elec
tive or to any appointive office.
Virginia's new constitution contains a
requirement thst sll municipal franchises.
sav only those tor trunk Ha railroads.
shall bo sold to th highest bidder. Fran
chises are limited to thirty years, and
thereafter ths plant and property of ths
grantee Is to become ths property of the
city, "If so provided In ths leas or grant."
Ths prohibitionist ot Georgia say that
outside of four cities In that atate, of
which Atlanta la th chief, there Is no
"wet" territory In Georgia. Actually, ther
are now twenty-eight counties In Georgia
la which th sal of liquor Is lawful, ex
clusive of twenty-two counties ia which
th South Carolina dispensary system hss
been sdopted.
A representative of Melrose tn the Massa
chusetts legislature haa Introduced a bill
for ths official establishment la that stat
ot sa "Old Horn Week" such as prevails
successfully In Mslne, New Hampshire and
Vermont and during which New Englanders
who hsvs found homes elsewhere return
to the stat of tbelr birth for th period ot
celebration.
Colonel Ed Butler, the democratic boss
of St. Louis, candidly admits that be la not
la the boss business for his health. Hs says
hs wa approached by th promoters ot th
Suburban franchise and urged to put
through th deal for $100,000, but hs In
slated th Job could not be don for less
than $146,000. Asked as to what use hs
would hav put tha $146,000 had It beea
glvea him, Mr. Butler replied: "My fee,
my fee." "Nobody accuses Ed Butler of
being a briber," hs continued. "I simply
lay propositions before the people, then
go home snd pray. Ths result comes. I
never fall. At th time I waa in confer
enc with the company ths bill was not up
before th house. Had my proposition been
accepted the bill would have been Intro
duced and hav become a law alxty days
afterward."
OVERREACHING CREED.
Lass of th Collapse of the Asphalt
Traat. .
Engineering News.
Th old story of killing th goose that
laid th golden egg appears to b admirably
Illustrated by the recent history of th as
phalt trust. Bom four or five years ago
competition In th business and Improve
ments In methods of msnufactur brought
about a large reduction In the prlcea for
asphalt paving. - At about th same time
too, ths blcycl fever caused a great pub
llo demand for asphalt paving; no other
trect covering ao wall met th demand of
th wheelmen. Engineers, too, at about ths
same time were brought to regard asphalt
with much more favor on account of th
development of methods for th ready re
pair of defective or worn spots In the pave
ment without disturbing th foundation or
th binding course.
The net result wa aa enormous Increase
tn th us of asphalt pavement and in th
business of the companies laying them. Then
cam th consolidation of ths different com
pant snd a gam of hocus pocus with
their securities, of which the final outcome
was th burdening of th business with a
hug load of bonds, the Interest on which
was sufflolent to absorb all th profit th
companies could msks tn daya of palmiest
prosperity.
To meet these heavy charges It waa at
tempted to take advantage of th supposed
monopoly and mark up th prio of asphalt.
but tn trust managers found to their aor
row or th sorrow of those who had pur'
chased th trust securities that ther was
still aotlvo competition la th asphalt bus!
aess, and that higher price for asphalt
paving meant that th public would get
along with lesa asphalt. Ther are other
paving materials than asphalt, and public
favor has been turned toward them, not
only by th higher price charged for as
phalt, but by ths public opposition to the
award ot contracts for a trust-controlled
product
It ahould not be hastily sssumed that th
public ean escape so easily from paying
tribute to every trust. There are cases, of
courss, where a monopoly haa much stronger
hold upon Its market and caa endure for a
longer time. In general, however, a day of
reckoning will com sooner or later, for
every concern which attempts to take ad
vantage of th possession of a monopoly to
xact exorbitant prlcea for Its product.
MAKING THB WORLD OVER ANEW,
Molrra Prasrese Develops Maay
table Eeeaaaalee.
Boston Transcript
While th current bulletin cf th census
offlci are demonstrating the phenomenal
crowth of American manufactures some
economlo changes which are quit ss nots
bl, but do aot readily yield to statistical
Inquiry, are going on before our eye.
Every long-retired merchant, for example,
who looks over th stock ot th retail shop
et th day Is surprised st th complst
stat - of preparation of th artlclea of
household trade. Almost everything caa
now be bought la a condition for Immedt
at us. "Only a llttl hot water and tben
serve" seems to be th mott of tbs times.
In th dry good realm hundred of tblnga
which the prudent housewife ot a genera
ttoa ago bought In cloth and made up la
her own horn ar now bought ready to
wear. Th country ator haa probably
shown a more decided change la thl re
spect ia a half century than Its city rival
for th highly prepared things, when re
garded as luxuries, could b obtained la tbs
Isrg center, but wer not a practical In
vestment for the country. Carpenters and
builders, tinsmiths snd plumbers might all
tell the ssms story. Ths things they make
ar aow sold ready for use; formerly they
cam la tha form of stock which th local
mechanic or artisan put Into th sbsp
finally desired.
What th developments of th future ar
to be In th lis of greater preparedness of
th articles of very-day life cap hardly be
Imagined. W may now buy material for
kindling a grat fir In a tablet, wher for
merly th soft pin cam tn long stick and
required oooeiderable use of the family ax
to get It In shape. Doubtless th American
kitchen will lose aa tlm goes oa more and
more of Its serloos tasks snd It long proe
esses. Just aa th eewlng room ha been r
leased from its heaviest burdens.
OTHER LAD THAN OVRS.
As Premier Waldeck-Rousseau truly re
marked to th Parliamentary commission
which is charged with Investigation of tbs
causes of th depopulation of France, the
queatlon 1 on of th most vast and com
plicated Ibat could be conceived. A gen
eration ago the population of Franc wa
about equal to that ot Oermany; at th
present tlw that of th empire has reached
67,000,000, whil the people of the repub
lic number but SS. 000. 000. For many years
the birth and death rates In Francs wer
nearly balanced, but ot lata there haa been
an annual excess of deaths. This Is not
result ot a particularly high death
rats la Franc (on th contrary, th per
centage of deaths In thst country Is com
paratively moderate), but of an abnormally
smsll number of births.
Ths decrease of the birth rata has been
progressiva in Franc. Between 1811 and
1120 ths annual surplus of births over
desths was nearly alx per 1.000 ot th pop
ulation; between 1851 and 1S60 It was lets
than thre per -1,000; between 1881 and
1885 about on and a half per 1,000. and
now th relation between births and deaths
has been reversed. The number of chil
dren per marriage was sbout thre dur
ing th five years ended 1885; tn the suc
ceeding five years the number bad declined
to two per marriage, and nines then has
been reduced to a fraction under two. But
for tho growth ot population In the depart
ments of France adjoining Italy, Germany
and Belgium, an actual decline In number
would hav become apparent many years
ago. The lnnux of Italians ana inrainp,
however, no longer suffices to offset tn de
ficiency of births In Franc.
,
Although, as statistic show, It Is not
difficult to indue Italians to leav ths
peninsula for Tripoli, it IS hard to get
tbem to settle In th East African pos
sessions of Italy, where their presence la
particularly desired by th government In
Rome. At length private enterprise has
been Invoked by th government to de
velop ths Italian territory contlguoua to
ths emplrs ot the Negus. According to
recent advloea from Rome, th railway
from Massowah will shortly be extended
to Asmara Ths preliminary operations for
testing ths richness of th gold mine in
Eritrea hsvs already given very satisfac
tory results, and in the course of this year
sufficient data will hav beea obtained to
afford some Idea of their value. It la con
fidently anticipated In Rome that the
knowledge thua gained will gtv an Impetus
to further prospecting, ss there is every
resson to believe that gold exists through
out Erltres. Th cultivation of cotton haa
also given very good results and ths In
dustry Is to bs Isrgely extended. The
Benadlr company, In co-operation witn tns
government. Is prepsrlng th way for th
further opening up of Italian Somallland.
A steamer la to be placed on tha Webbl
Shebeyll and certain tracka ar to be so
Improved sa to msk them available for
wagon traffic.
An animated and significant debate waa
caused In th German Relchatag the other
day by an interpellation Introduced by tha
national liberal deputy, count urioia, on
the subject of the law concerning' military
pensions. Ths lnterpellstlon directed at
tention to the tact that th necessity of
some revision had been repeatedly admitted
by the government, and asked whether th
ministers wer prepared with a scheme
which would bs laid befors ths Hous In
th course of the present session. In
reply It wss stated on behalf ot ths min
istry ot wsr that th regulatlone on th
subject of pensions undoubtedly Involved
hardships, and that th unfavorable finan
cial situation was alon rspnslbl for
tho fact that tha government waa not In a
present position to proceed with th mat
ter. This reply was snarpiy
various part ot the House, ths radical
member. Herr Lenxmann. remaraing wi
was astonishing that no place could be
found for a sum of at most 24,000,000 la
sstlmatea where thousanda ot mllllona
wer In question. Hs expressed ths opinion
that It provision for the private aoldlers
could not otherwise b mad, tha - stat
tnl.ht easily be abl to settle tn aimcuuy
by cutting off the necessary amount from
th approprlatlona for tn pensions oi om-
cers. "
The annroachina visit of President Loubet
to Russia Is already the subject ot much
discussion in the French press. It cannot
tak place much before the end or April, as
th lc will not hav broken up. Th naval
arrangements are being made by Captain
Huguet of th Elyse household, and by
Count de Montebello, French ambassador
at St. Petersburg. Th president will em
bark upon Massena, which will b fitted
In palatial fashion, and accompanied by two
cruisers, Montcalm and Gulchen. Th naval
escort will b under th command ot Vic
Admiral Gourdon of th Northern squadron,
snd not Admiral d Courthlll. who escorted
M. Felix Faure. Ther 1 no disposition
In Parla to minimis in pouuca in
portanc ot th coming meeting. Th most
- . . I . I T..,
enthusiastic expect in aoeorpiioa ui uaiy
Into a new triple alliance, but th more
sober-minded talk of - mutual agreement
concerning affairs In China, Syria, of
Trlpolls. Undoubtedly th French presi
dent will be th center ot a splendid and
lavish hospitality. In no whit less costly. If
perhapa less artistic, than th Parisian
Russophll demonstrations. Some splendid
court functions will be held in his honor
and he will rid aid by aid with th csar
at a vast ini.Ury rvlew.
v
According to th return of th British
Board of Trad fully S6.000 to 75,000 British
ers went to liv In th United States dur
ing th last year, against 18,000 or 20,000
WW
An Extra Pair
of "Trousers" i$ all that the winter suits needs to make it
as good as new. r .
Maybe a fresh j air of
"TROUSERS'
and the time to buy a pair to advantage is iiow-WVve
lots of broken lines and odd trousers left from suits that
are true bargains and are on sale now at , . , '
$3.50, $4, $4.50, $5, $6 and $6.50.
These figures represent very great reductions.
No Clothing Fits Like Oura."
Exclusive Clothiers and Furnishers
R. S. Wilcox, Mutineer.
to th Caps of Good Hope, 12,000 or 13,000
to Canada, and a amaller number to Aus
tralia. Th quota of "Islanders" furulnhril
the Dominion Is considered far from satis
factory, and the Hon. J. A. Smart, deputy
minister of the Interior in the present
Canadian administration. Is aow tn London
"empowered." according t his own state
ment, "by my government to creel aa
Interest tn Canadian Immigration, to bring
home to the minds ot 'the people, and
especially the aarleultural classes of ths
United Kingdom, the 4 advantages which
Canada offers to settlers." In a published
statement Mr Smart said that th Do
pinion government was prepared to msk
a frr grant of 160 arrea of land to every
settler, snd h added: "We want British
subjects to settle In our country, snd we
Intend to give Immigrants every assist
ance to becom prosperous cttliens ot th
Dominion. The' land we a re offering Is
chiefly In Winnipeg snd other part ot th
Northwest territory.
FLOATING FIN.
Philadelphia Press: Miss Passay W hen I
met him at th ball he said he didn't see
how 1 stood the social whirl so well. I told
him I meant to give up dancing when I waa
ao and
Miss Sharpe And why didn't youT
ego Post: "IJfe," he asserts oracu-
larl
ly, "Is nothing Out a great big r-iun.
Possibly. Dosslhlv." -was the reply, "but
the bluff ts calM-4 when you least expect It
as a general thing."
Baltimore American: Bobbs Ragger and
Chewer got Into a big argument this morn-
ln5obb Who got the better of It?
Bobbs I did. I left as soon a It started.
Chicago Tribune: "Josiah." asked Mra.
Chugwater, "what Is a bucket shopT"
"It's a place. I suppose," replied Mr.
Chugwater, looking Impatiently up from,
hla newspaper, "where they empty the
water out of stocks."
Washington Sr: "I don't bellev you
could tell the difference between a three-for-a-quarter
cigar and ona hat, costs a
dollar, ' said the man who sneer.
"Yes. I could," answered th matter-of-fact
person.
"How?"
"By purchasing It myself."
Chicago Toat: "Papa", said the small
boy, looking up from his book, "what Is
a curio?"
"A curio," replied tha father thought
fully, "la something that, .Costs ten times
what lt'a worth."
Chicago Post) "Look pleasant," said th
photographer.
"Well, I guess not." . replied the man.
"This is being taken for soma distant rela
tive who threaten to visit u and I want
to look as savage, snd mean as possible."
Tonkers Statesman: Sue Brett I
they have named a cigar after your lead
ing man.
Th
fhe Manager Well, I hope to gracious It
will draw better than he
aoes:
Somervltln Journal: Mr. Whyte Do you
know anything about th people who hav
moved In next doorT-
Mrs. Browne No, It wa dark when th
furniture wagons brought tbelr goods and
they haven't hung out a washing yet"
Detroit Free Free: "What's worrying
you?" they ssked of th convalescent In
valid. "I am trying." ' sh answered thought
fully, "tn make up my mind whether lam
at a sanitarium or a sanatorium."
Chicago Tribune: "Tour vote In favor of
thl measure," said th lobbyist, "would
be worth millions to you"
"Hardly so much as that!" gasped Sena
tor Graphter, his finger working convul
sively. " In the consciousness of having dons
your duty to your countrymen."
The eager light died out of th senator's
eyes, and he relapsed Into his former
apathy. .. . . .
IN A FRONTIER GRAVBTARD.
James Barton Adams In Denver, Post.
Here lie the dead 'neath headboards stained
by time,
pin grave uncAred. for; iruiaap heap of
earth; -
Rough men whoso Uvea on earth were
black with crime.
Devoid of every mark of honeat worth.
In ways unnatural they met with death.
In blood-stained garments they were hid
from sight,
A curse clung to each vlotlm's . dying
breath
And hatred lit their eyes till dimmed of
light
With boots yet on their sinful feet they'll
He
Till Gabrlel'r trumpet echoes from on high.
Hero Ilea old Texss Joe, who met his death
From band of on who waa of quicker
fire.
And Tuscarora Sam, whose fund of breath
Slipped from him when h called Black
Bill a liar.
And her Is Poker Frank, who tried to
steal
. The frayed affection ot Sport Daly's
dame,
And this rude board stands over Brocky
Teale,
Whom drink bad mad unsteady In his
aim
When with their shooters he snd Qrlssly
Pet
Went cut to hunt each other on th street.
Her rests the shot-up frame of Smoky
Tim, ; ,,
Whose stolen hors lacked necessary
Speed,
And close beside him sleeps old Greaser
Jim, , .
Who was by vigilantea roped' and tread.
Just over there lioa Sacramento Joe,
Who died with boot too full of wriggling
snakes.
And Just beyond they planted Tommy
Lowe,
Who made a fatal play to grab th stakes
From oft the table In a game of draw
"Bit off." the boys said, "more than he
could chaw."
Her' Bob tha Methodist and Sleepy Ik
And Doughfac Henderson and Whisky
Mack,
And poor Jo Bowers (not th man from
Pike), ,
And Faro Dick and old Thr-F!ngrd
Jack.
And other, names unknown, II In this
spot;
And standing In 'this border burial
ground.
Rude and uncared for, come th pasalcg
thouKht
.That when th dead wak at th trumpet
eound
Old Gabriel will b Jllled with nut sur
prise To se this gang of thoroughbreds arts!
(2