19
THE OMAHA DAILY HEE: SUNDAY, MAY 11, 1002.
Tie Omaha Sunday Der
E. ROSEWATER, EDITOR,
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XHU BKhi PLBL1B1U.U COMPAix 1.
STATEMENT OF CIRCULATIOM.
Stats of Metiraska, Douglas County, ss :
Ueorga is 'laschuck, secretary u( i.u Bee
"Pubiuning company, being uuiy sworn,
ays thai the actual number oi fuil anu
complete copies ot Ihe Daily, Morning,
veiling aim Sunday Bee piinteu during
the month of April, iHOi. was as tollowa:
1 u,suu 16 ai,fto
uu,u;m it ,siw
a ito.oau 1 iti,no
- xt-.sio itt aii,f.r
. ie,mnt j w,ww
' 3t,7X4 21 !SI,ftHO
7 Xlt.BlO U ai,OIK)
9 att.UMO u ai,ro
XU.ttlU M it,4U
JO UH,4tMt 26 il,-0
11 XI,MU ai,ni
2 ttt,47U Zi KW.HOH,
II KW.NIO I'S ,o"M
14 KU.6NU lilt.oMO
06 X,4HO i KU.U'iO
' Total SK0.IM8
Jjtbi unsold and returned copies... IO.ioT
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-Net dally average
UEORUE B. TZ8CHLCK.
Subscribed In my presence and sworn to
before me this Juth day ot April, A. D.
ixa.
(Seal.) M. B. HUNQATE.
Notary Public
Now that the oleo bill has bocome a
law, the cow has the limgli on the stt'cr.
... The coming week should see some
thing doing In South Africa iu the di
rection of peace.
And now we are told that the Isthmian
canal has !een laid on the shelf. It
Haunt be a pretty big shelf.
After all It Is the coinblue of the con
sumers that is causing the alleged com
bine of beef packers the most Immediate
trouble.
Three new stars added to the flag all
lit one time would be Inaugurating a
policy of expansion in' the azure square
over the stripes.
Omaha newspapers are not all they
tould be. This Is not strange. The
most perfect diamonds have flaws and
even the sun has its spots.
Omaha should now try to look Its
prettiest. The state organization of
photographers is about to invade its sa
cred precincts.
Perhaps it may be JtiBt as well, be
fore buying any more West Indian
Islands, to make Inquiry to ascertain
whether we are annexing volcanoes or
merely hurricanes.
New York City boasts that seven
former members of presidential cabinets
are residing there. Iowa may furnish
the live cabinet timber, but New York
gathers in the dead wood.
The official report upon the mule
Industry at Tort Clialmette Is said to be
ready for the public. Whether It stands
by the mule or repudiates his preten
tions, it is sure to occasion a kick.
Now that the county commissioners
have viewed all the streams and creeks
In the county and found the places
where new bridges can be planted and
old bridges replanted to advantage, the
figuring of the bridge contractors will
begin in earnest
Congressman ltoutell is to address a
republican club banquet at Detroit on
the subject, "The Financial Triumphs
Of the Republican Tarty." No one will
Venture to speak on the financial tri
umphs of the democratic party. The
democratic financial triumphs have all
been deficits.
rubllc business should be transacted
before the public view. There is no
more reason why the work of the State
Board of Equalization should be behlud
closed doors when fixing the assess
tnents of Nebraska railroads any more
than that of the city council when fixing
assessments for Omaha's frauchlsed cor
poratlons.
jlowa has had unusual misfortune In
the destruction of its state institutions
by fire, and Nebraska has suffered much
from the same cause. Fireproof con
itruction should 1k the Invariable rule in
til public buildings to which the lives of
dependents or wards of the state are en
trusted. No more tinder boxes for in
aaue asylums or schools for deaf mutes.
'As a democratic organ the Chicago
Chronicle repudiates Tillman and as
aerts that he is not a democrat, not a
populist and not a republican, but be
longs to a party of which he Is the
Bole member. To get rid of Tillman n
that easy way would doubtless be
great relief to det-ent democrats, but
they must not forget that at the late
democratic national convention at Kan
aas City, the South Curollna firebrand
was almost the whole show. Ills voice
promulgated the democratic platform, in
formulating which his vote had been a
deciding factor. The democrats may
disown Tillman, but they caunot shake
bim Iqom except with an effort
FRANCHISE TAXES IN NE IV TOltK.
Two years ago the New York legisla
ture, at the Instance of Governor Roose
velt, enacted a law linixmlng franchise
tax upon corporations that controlled
public utilities. The power of the
courts was Invoked by the corporation
to enjoin the collection of the special
franchise tax and a decision has Just
lwen rendered by the referee, ex-Judge
Karl, on the constitutionality of the law.
The findings are adverse to the cor
porations on every point and It Is gen
erally believed they will be sustained
by the court of apieals.
On the first ioint at Issue, regarding
the violation of the United States con
stitution In Impairing obligations, Judge
Earl holds that the franchise tax takes
away nothing granted, and Impairs no
contract The Imposition of the tax is
not on effort to exact more compensa
tion for the franchises, but to compel
the owners thereof to pay in common
with other owners of property their
share of the public burdens. "If the
argument of the relators Is to be car
ried to its logical results, then the state
could never tax any franchises of any
kind without impairing its contracts
and the millions which have been taken
from corporations under franchlsed tax
laws from nil parts of this country dur
ing the past twenty years have been
taken in violation of the federal consti
tution and have been illegally exacted."
On the point raised that the fran
chises cannot now be taxed because
they were not taxable at the time they
were granted, Judge Earl holds that
they are not by ony law, or contract
exempt from taxation. They were
property of Immense value under the
protection of the government and there
was no reason for exempting them from
taxation. There was no contract ex
pressed or implied. They should, there
fore, be compelled to bear their share
of public burdens like other property.
Regarding the claim that it is impos
sible to value a franchise, Judge Earl
declares it is proper to look upon a
franchise as real estate and It Is not
mposslble to find a tangible value. The
assessment is undoubtedly attended
with great difficulty, but It cun be made
with such an approximation to accuracy
as will satisfy all the requirements of
the law and constitution. Suppose what
constitutes a special franchise of any
corporation should be put In the market
for sale, cun it be doubted that it will
sell for a substantial price and one
which business men could determine
with sufficient accuracy for business
purposes?
The Greater New York tax for 1900,
upon which the litigation was begun,
was $210,C79,351. The figures for the
1IH)2 assessment were $220,620,155.
These figures represent the value of the
franchises in Greater New York alone.
The value of franchises in the various
cities, villages and towns of the state
of New York is computed to be greater
thun that of the franchlsed corporations
of New York City. For the present
year the franchise tax in Greater New
York will yield $5,500,000, or four times
as much as all of the taxes imposed
by the state of Nebraska for the main
tenance of the state government and
state institutions.
THE PRESIDENT VRQINQ LEGISLATION.
"President Roosevelt is said to have in
formed the leaders in the senate and
house of representatives that he is most
earnest in his Intention to keep congress
together until the Philippine bill and the
Cuban reciprocity measure are passed.
It appears to be clearly understood that
If congress adjourns without action on
these measures an extra session will be
called. Regarding the passage of the
bill for giving the Philippines a form of
civil government and that for providing
reciprocal commercial relations with
Cuba, imperative, the president it is
said, feels that he would fall in his pub
lic duty did he not do all that lies within
his power to secure affirmative action
on those two measures.
The republicans are anxious to reach
a vote on the Philippine bill and en
deavored Friday to fix a time for a vote,
but the democrats insisted on further
discussion, though what they hope to
accomplish by it Is not apparent They
have already covered the whole ground
of opposition and further discussion can
only be a reiteration of what has been
said, but there are some democratic sen
ators who want to go on record upon
the question and they must be allowed
to do so even though it be well under
stood that they will have nothing new
to submit. It Is therefore uncertain
when a vote on the Philippine bill In the
senate will be reuched, though it is pos
sible It may be during the present week.
Thut the bill will pass the senate when
It comes to a vote there Is no doubt
In regard to the Cuban reciprocity 1)111
no confident prediction can be made.
Ml the Information respecting It is to
the effect that the measure passed by
the house will be very greatly modified
in the seuate and perhaps an entirely
new measure substitutedone increas
ing the turiff reduction on Cuban prod
ucts made in the house bill and omitting
the provision repealing the differential
on re titled sugar. It is said that until
the decision of the president to compel
congress to adopt some measure for the
relief of Cuba the matter hud almost
been permitted to lapse by default the
administration leuders apparently not
caring to tuckle the problem presented
lu the opposition of a number of repub
licans to the house measure, but it ap
pears now that this feeling Is changed
and the ndmlulstrutlou meu iu the sen
ate are said to be stirring themselves
and speculating on what can be done.
There Is said to be rather more atten
tion thun hitherto to the proposition of
the friends of the beet sugar industry to
give a rebate to Cuba instead of a direct
tariff concession, a plan advocated on
the ground that It would be of more
general benefit to the Cuban people than
the proitosed reduction of tariff duties.
The president la right lu Insisting that
these mutters be disposed of at the pres
eut session. The Philippine bill makes
provision for the Islands which will mi-
prove conditions there and should not
be delayed. As to Cuba, If something
must be done for her it may as well be
determined nt once what It shall Ik.
THE MAHTINNI E CALAMITY.
The latest advices regarding the ca
lamity In the Island of Martinique show
It to be the most destructive disaster of
the kind lu all history. If it be true,
as now rcorted. that Ito.wio crlsbed
from the volcanic eruption, the destruc
tion of life exceeds that at Pompeii,
when that city was burled under the
eruption of Vesuvius more than eighteen
centuries ago. The numlwr of Inhab
itants In the ancient city has been va
riously estimated by historians, but prob
ably did not exceed 30,000 and most of
these escaped the disaster. It appears
that few got away from St Pierre,
Martinique, and besides the loss of life
there was greut destruction of shipping
and other property. Assuming the facts
as now reported to be approximately
correct, therefore, the volcanic eruption
in that Island is the most de
structive ever known, greatly ex
ceeding the Pompellan disaster.
St Pierre was not burled, as was
the ancient city of Campania, but It
was swept away by fire, a fate quite
as calamitous.
The prompt action of the United
States senate lu passing a bill appro
priating $100,000 for the relief of the
survivors of this terrible visitation will
be appro vedV by the country and al
though action on the measure was de
ferred In the house until tomorrow there
Is no doubt the bill will be passed at
once by that body and promptly signed
by the president so that there will be
no delay In forwarding relief, which It
Is provided may be done In United
States steamships. It Is to be hoped
later reports will show the calamity to
be less terrible than now stated, but
there is no doubt that the demand for
relief is great and urgent
SCATTERING TliVST STOCKS.
One of the most dangerous features
of the colossal corporations known as
trusts Is the scattering of their stocks
among small investors and wage
workers. A notable example Is afforded
by the well-matured organized effort of
the Steel trust to dispose of Its stocks
among the industrial classes as a sub
stitute for savings bank certificates.
During the past six mouths many
thousands of dollars have been ex
pended by the Steel trust in advertising
extravagant prospectuses that make
tempting appeals to American wage
workers to invest their savings in Steel
trust stocks in preference to placing
their money In savings banks. Great
stress is luid upon the fact that the
United States Steel Trust corporation
has been paying for the past two years
quarterly dividends at the rate of 12
per cent per annum on all of its out
standing stock, and it Is expected that
this dividend rate will be Increused as
soon as Its plants can be enlarged to
meet the needs of a rupidly growing
business.
It is represented that as a rule stock
In well managed manufacturing com
panies is generally bought up by those
in some way connected with their man
agement and the outsider has little
chance to purchase them excepting at a
high premium, but the directors of the
United States Steel company are anx
ious to give an unusual opportunity to
people of limited means to secure an
investment already paying a large in
comean opportunity such as is usually
offered to capitalists only, so that the
man with a few hundred dollars gets
a chance to earn a higher rate of In
terest upon his savings than he could
possibly obtain from any other source.
In view of the fact that the special edi
tion of United States Steel company's
stock is divided into blocks of treasury
shares, fully paid, and non-assessable
at par, for $5 per share, It is not the
least surprising that vast numbers of
the wage working class have become
shareholders in the great Steel trust and
will for the next few years be very
vitally Interested In its prosperity.
Barring the fact that this Is u very
ingenious scheme ' for unloading hun
dreds of millions of watered stock upon
the American people, it Is also a very
bright scheme for reconciling the in
dustrial classes to the trust by making
them individually Interested in its un
curbed rapacity. The poor dupes, who
have been made to believe that the trust
would be able to continue to pay 12
per cent dividends for an Indefinite pe
riod on $500,000,000 or $000,000,000 of
common stock, besides paying on a
billion of bonds and preferred stock,
may at no distant day discover that
their investment Is no better than If
they owned mining shares in a Cripple
Creek hole In the ground.
In that event the ruinous effect of
such a general scattering of trust stocks
upon the whole country can scarcely be
overestimated. The reaction and its
disastrous effect upon Industry and com
merce generally would be widespread.
IN V1TINU IMMIORA TION.
While Immigration to the United
States is larger than for several years,
the efforts of Canada to induce Immi
grants to come to that country are not
very successful. Recently the Domin
ion parliament offered several hundred
thousand dollars to be used in promot
ing education and the government has
agents abroad seeking immigrants, yet
comparatively few are secured; although
the Inducements offered are such as it
would seem should prove attractive to
many who are looking fot opportuni
ties and homes lu this part of the
world.
The great majority of such, however,
prefer this country, believing that their
chances will be better here, where there
Is abundant prosierlty, a good demand
for labor and other advantages to be
found nowhere else on the globe. The
present Immigration may not be of the
most desirable character. It is said
that skilled artisans and agriculturists
contribute comparatively little of it
and this fact supplies those who want
restrictions placed on Immigration with
a text for urging their demand. It does
not apjenr, however, that any of the
Immigrants are not finding employment
which must lie accepted as showing that
there Is room for them here and that
they will be. useful in contributing to
the general prosierlty and most of
them may reasonably be expected to
become citizens. There would be no
objection, of course, If some of these
leople should accept the Invitation of
Canada to settle there, but none who
come here with the Intention to Im
prove their condition by honest work
and to obey the laws and conform to the
customs of the country will be unwelcome.
AKIV ISTHMIAN CANAL BILL.
The bill providing for" the construc
tion of an Isthmian canal Introduced it
few days ago by Senator Hoar differs
entirely from the pending bill and all
propositions that have been suggested
as amendments to that measure. It
provides simply for the construction of
a canal, leaving the matter of details
to the discretion of the presideut. The
bill makes It the duty of the presideut
of the United States, "as soon as the
same can economically and conven
iently be done, to cause to be excavated
and constructed a caual of such depth
and capacity as will be sufficient for
the movement of ships of the greatest
tonnage and draught now lu use, and
such as may be reusouably anticipated,
from the Atlantic to the Pacific, by such
route as may be selected by him, hav
ing satisfied himself of the right of the
United States to construct and protect
such canal." The president also is di
rected to have hurlors constructed ut
both ends of the caual and he Is given
authority to employ such agencies and
obtulu such advice us he shall find
necessary. Further authority Is given
the president to determine the terms
upon which foreign countries may use
the cauul. The bill fixes the aggregate
cost of the cauul at $180,000,000 and
$10,000,000 Is appropriated for the be
gluulug of work.
Iu view of the Issue regarding routes,
which threuteus to prevent cunal legis
lation by the present congress, would
It not be wise to adopt the compromise
proposition Introduced by Senutor Hour?
It may be objected to this as it wus
to the Spoouer resolution that It sur
renders the function oud duty of con
gress to decide upon the route, but this
does not seem to be a matter of very
vital importance. The president is not
committed to either route. It is not
publicly known that he has a prefer
ence. He Is most earnestly in favor
of the construction by the United States
of an Isthmian canal and thinks the
work should be begun as soon as pos
sible. Neither the advocates of the
Nicaragua route nor the Panama route
have any reason to doubt that Presi
dent Roosevelt would be influenced in
selecting the route by any other con
sideration than the national interest
while all would fee! If the matter were
left to him that thero would be ho un
necessary delay.
The Hoar bill offers a simple and we
believe a perfectly legitimate way of
disposing of the canal question and as
suring an early beginning of the great
undertaking.
All indications point to the coming
summer as nu outdoor season beyond
all else. Open air recreation and out
door si)orts seem to have the call In
all parts of the country as never be
fore, while the country clubs ana tne
various associations to promote special
lines of physical exercise" are flourish
ing on a basis of active membership
that elves most widespread participa
tion. While devotion to particular forms
of sport may in some instances be
properly classed among the fads, the
general disposition to outdoor life for
rest and recreation can hardly be In
cluded under that name. If it conduces
tn maintaining or building up a more
robust health for the people It certainly
will accomplish some tangible good aud
deserve to be encouraged and promoted.
The gratifying assurance has been
given that the revolution in San Do
mingo does not in any way affect the
concession to the Omaha syndicate, that
has obtained a franchise for the con
struction of a railroad in thut country.
The concession, we are told, wus granted
by act of the Dominican congress in the
usual way. Very much lu the usual
way, we presume, that concessions are
granted by a South Omaha city council.
When that Bun Domingo railroad is
completed we may confidently look for
wurd to an excursion on the "Kentucky
treat" plan. In which everybody pays
for his own drinks, and every Juuketeer
will proudly point to the motto on his
badge, "Omaha to San Domingo, by
Jingo."
In response to an Insistent demand the
committee to which the proposed consti
tutional amendment for the election of
United States senators by direct popular
vote promises to report the resolution
"at an early day." "An early day" iu
the senate chronology is usuully a very
elustie period. The people are steadily
being more and more aroused to the ne
cessity for a change in the method of
electing senators, and although their pa
tience may be also elastic, it has limits
beyond which it cannot be tried.
Bo Bans the World Away.
Saturday Evening Post.
While doubt stands still confidence can
erect a skyscraper.
Only Oas of Maay.
Philadelphia Ledger.
This country Is not elating much over the
fact that it is making the medals for King
Edward's coronation. It 1 getting used to
doing odd Jobs for other nations.
A Ksr-Krtrkrd Assamptloa.
Louisville Courier-Journal.
Five thousand club women are attending
the federation meeting in California.
"Probably," ssya a contemporary, "an
equal number of men in various parts ot
the country are thoughtfully considering
the question ot horns rule." far-fetched
asumption. Club women are by no means
unanimous in hampering themselves with
husbands.
Poets Mast Xot Apply.
Phllndelphta Tress.
The new pension commissioner will prob
ably have to make It clear at the outset ot
his administration that writing poetry
doesn't entitle a man to a pension. It only
helps him gracefully Into ofn.ee.
,ott I.et Justice I nmaak.
Washington Post.
The learned members of the Vnlted
States supreme court are now being Initi
ated Into the mysteries of the straight
front. When corset manufacturers fall out
and fight something Is sure to give away.
Dr. Hale's Hnle of Three,
New York World.
Dr. Edward Everett Hale's three working
rules for lite given to a Chicago audience
"Keep out In the open air as much as pos
sible," "Have faith in your neighbor" and
"Make a practice of engaging In conver
sation each day with someone whom you
know to be your superior" embody In won
drouely little space much wise counsel for
physical, moral and mental growth. It
would be hard to Improve upon them.
Fancy Profits of Syndicating.
Ban Francisco Call.
It Is believed that nothing la easier than
syndicating and nothing pays better. For
financing the steel trust the profits were
$50,000,000; for combining the steamship
lines they were $12,500,000; for converting
the steel trust's $200,000,000 into bonds and
raising $'.0,000,000 cash for the corporation
they were $10,000,000. The profits to Mor
gan and his associates from the Northern
Securities merger are yet to be heard
from.
Keep Cluae to Shore.
United States Investor.
On the whole, our advice to the public
In the matter of speculation would be not
to get too far from shore. The next few
months may furnteh s good market for
"turns" If one has sense enough to know
how to use the "turns." We certainly
should not buy stocks for a long pull until
we had a clearer knowledge than is likely
to be obtained for many weeks of what
the next harvest is going to be like. If
the next harvest should turn out to be
bad. we should rather be short of stocks
than long, because, tinder such circum
stances It would hardlv he Ilkelv that even
all Mr. J. p. Morgan's skill would avail to
keen the financial situation Intact.
UOVEHXOK CIMM1VS SPEAKS OIT,
Indication of the Trend of Pobllc
Sentiment In the West.
Philadelphia North American (rep.)
What kind of strange doctrine Is this that
Governor Cummins of Iowa is preaching to
the republicans of the west? Does the ex
ecutive of the banner republican state of
the middle west, the state which furnishes
his party with two cabinet officers, the
speaker of the house of representatives and
the wisest and most cautious strategists In
the senate, appreciate the responsibilities
that attach to him as a shaper ot public
opinion in Iowa and In the nation?
In a public address on the trusts before a
republican audience at Minneapolis Gov
ernor Cummins drops these heretical hints:
"The American people will no more sub
mit to commercial despotism than they
would to governmental despotism, and the
tendency in the one case can be and will be
as easily thwarted as the tendency la the
other.
"I suggest, first, that no corporation,
whether Industrial or otherwise, should be
permitted to issue stock unless paid for
In money at its par value,
"Second, I believe that some branch ot
the government must be vested with the
power to fix the prices of products or serv
ice upon which monopoly or substantial
monopoly has been established.
"I believe, too, that some branch of the
government must be empowered to remove
the duties on Imports upon those com
modities respecting which competition no
longer exists in our own country.
I believe that the consumer has a better
right to competition than the producer has
to protection. Competition we will have,
that of our country preferred, but that of
the world It necessary."
These are only a few of the salient sen
tences of the long address devoted entirely
to discussion of commercial monopolies,
but they Indicate clearly that the tide of
public sentiment is turning, even within the
republican party, against the do-nothing
policy of congress.
THB FUNERAL, SKRM05.
A New Departure Taken by a Promi
nent Chicasjo Minister.
Chicago Tribune.
Dr. Hlrsch'r announcement of his inten
tions with regard to funeral sermons Is in
keeping with the character of the man.
Sycophancy is not one of Dr. Hlrsch't
faults. If be has any faults they lie In
the opposite direction. He Is inclined to
say what he pleases, rather than to please
by what he says.
He says now that he will preach no more
funeral sermons except with the under
standing that what he says la to be con
cerned not so much with the virtues of the
deceased as with tbe general truths appro
priate to the occasion. He is willing to
deliver homilies on death. He la not will
ing to deliver panegyrics on dead r. en. Oc
casionally, no doubt, there would be a dead
man about whom he could aay pretty
things and still keep within the truth. Too
often, however, the pretty things said a
funerals are more in the vein of art for
art's sake than in the vein of realism. The
temptation to laud and magnify is almost
Irresistible. The weeping family expects
to witness a kind of canonization. Usually
it is not disappointed. The minister comes
with harp and halo and beatifies hts de
parted patron without turning a hair. Hi
self-possession la sometimes truly admira
ble, and his power of .keeping his face
straight almost Incredible. There sre two
influences at work upon him: first, his con
nection with the deceased; second, that
mysterious softening effect which a death
haa upon everybody. We have seen lately
In a city not far from here how people can
become hysterical over a dead man who
certainly waa not tbe composite reincarna
tion of all tbe great ones gone before whose
souls be was said to inherit.
The situation st the grave is always a
trying one. Dr. Hlrsch does well to recoil
from it Tbe funeral oration once had s
use. When a Roman family listened to an
account of the life of one of its members
and to a summary of the deeds of its an
cestors, public spirit was fostered and. In
the absence of other contemporary records,
the history of the times was preserved.
Tbe funeral oration of the present day baa
no such excuse. It is redundant. It could
be spared. At any rate, it could be
trimmed. There is no reason, perhaps, why
it should be done away with altogether.
It la appropriate that when a death nap
pens there should also be a sermon. What
Dr. Hlrsch suggests is that the tbesla of
that sermon (hould not be the unsullied
character, tbe spotless reputation, the illus
trious public services and the general won
derfulness of the man who is about to be
burled. We have a surfeit of that kind or
thing. Better and more truthful was the
mining town epitaph: "Here lies Jim; be
did some things that were mean; but then
he did other things that were meaner."
The funeral sermon should either be dis
continued or it should be toned down. At
present, ss the young lady said, "It is too
utterly utter."
ni,ASTS FROM RAM'S HOHI.
Lights sre more Important than lamps.
A creed may be made a casket for a faith.
He loses all who Is unwilling to lose any.
No man can run sway from his own heart.
Heaven docs not wait for earth's ap
plause. Every blessing received creates an obli
gation. It takes a small breeie to raise a storm In
a puddle.
Crutches become a curse when we might
have wings.
The church fair does not help the fair
name ot the church.
It li a greater thing to prevent a disease
than to invent its cure.
The good shepherd thinks more of his
flock than of his fleeces.
The man who Is always figuring where he
will come in will find himself rsst out at
the end.
PFRBOXAI, AM) OTHERWISE.
The Industrial eminence of Chicago In
the production of wind provokes an envious
sneer In Gotham, coupled with eulogistlo
remarks on water.
A New Yorker claims eminence beyond
the average of the town by opening ll.ono
oysters In twelve hours. Thus doth fame
attract the eccentrle
General MacArthur presents an attrac
tive substitute for the term "Insular pc:s
serslons." He refers to the Philippines s
t'ncle Sam's "tultlonary annex."
New York and Chicago are rejoicing over
the prospect of faster trains, which will
enable people to get away from both places
with delightful celerity.
Standard oil people have distributed a
spring dividend of 30 per cent. The owner
of a bunch of that stock has abundant
provocation for a vocal tribute to trusts.
During one of his flights of ecstacy. re
cently, John L. Sullivan bumped up against
a pugnacious lineman and was thrashed
Into s state of blissful unconsciousness.
Old John Barleycorn la a daisy in his line.
Bostontans are disposed to tolerate the
blue laws as long as beans, codfish, pie and
Ire cream are omitted from the expurgated
list of Sunday stimulants. One must be
of the manor born to carry such a Jag with
a straight fare.
The Kentucky girl who tried to fiddle
her father into congress has retired from
the contest. Too many suitors for her
hand spoiled her .artistic touch, and the
loathaome opposition accused her of "draw
ing the long bow."
Dr. Edward Everett Hale was recently
asked to write a few words for the first
Issue of a western college paper. He sent
this condensed sermon: "Keep yourselves
pure. Tell the truth. Keep the Ten Com
mandments. If you have anything to say,
say It. If not, no."
An unknown postmaster In Illllnols swells
the national conscience fund by $2, a sum
he claims to have drawn from the govern
ment without rendering any service there
for. An epidemic of that kind among, fed
eral officials would fatten the national
surplus beyond precedent.
The celebrated M. Arton, who was one of
the central figures In the great Panama
scsndal, and who, It will be remembered,
was arrested In London and extradited at
the request of the French government, is
now a rich man. Last year he made be
tween $200,000 and $250,000 by speculating
on the Bourse.
Robert Louis Stevenson's ward and step
son, Austin, Strong, is turning out to be a
genius. A boy Just out of school, he has
come to the front of his profession, that of
landscape architecture, by laying out suc
cessfully one ot the greatest public gar
dens In the ' world Cromwell park, In
Auckland, New Zealand. He was 20 years
of age when he accepted the commission.
His father was J. D. Strong, one of the
foremost artists of the older school in San
Francisco, nnd his mother, Isabel Strong,
writes snd Illustrates for the leading maga
zines. The decision of President Roosevelt to
direct the secretary of war to have the
new Infantry military poet at Indianapolis
named "Fort Benjamin Harrison" meets
with popular approval, not only In Indiana,
but throughout the United States. It Is
understood in Washington that General
Miles originated the Idea some time ago, It
then being his desire to name the Indian
apolis arsenal in honor of the late presi
dent. When it was decided to abandon the
arsenal tbe question of establishing a mili
tary post near Indianapolis and naming It
"Fort Benjamin Harrison" was called to the
president's sttentlon and he approved of It
Immediately.
HENRY KSTABIIOOK IX BOSTON.
Omaha Boy's Oratory Charms an
Andlence at the Hob.
" Henry Estabrook of Omaha and Chicago
waa the chief orator of the banquet of the
Middlesex club of Boston recently. Tbe
occasion was the birthday anniversary of
General Grant, and the theme, "General
Grant, tbe Soldier." That the club was
charmed and thrilled by Mr. Estabrook's
oratory Is evident from this account ot tbe
Boston Post:
"Mr. Estabrook bad a theme which In
spired him to his most splendid efforts
the history of Grant as a soldier, whose
natal day the club was celebrating. In
language so vivid that it electrified bis
hearers, with s wealth of splendid power,
a grace of gesture and a magnificent voice,
Vr. Eatabrook held the attention ot the
cljb as no other speaker dared approach.
Mr. Estabrook was generally referred to
ss a 'second Grady.'
"In silence so profound that tbe tinkling
of a glass sounded like a rifle shot, the
members listened ss Mr. Estabrook painted
in moat eloquently beautiful language the
God-gtven mission of Grant, with Lincoln,
tbe savior of the union cause In rebellion's
dark days.
"In parts of Mr. Estabrook's oration he
reached heights which literally pulled bis
listeners from their charrs, and loud and
long rang the applause, until the speaker
was obliged to stop until the effect of bis
matchless eloquence had passed away. And
when be had concluded the gathering
cheered and cheered snd cheered, stood
upon the chairs snd literally yelled in
frenzied enthusiasm.
"Mr. Estabrook is known in Chicago as
a great orator. The Middlesex club waa
not prepared for such s wonderful speech
as fell from bis Hps that nlgbt, even though
they may have known his power. But one
thing can be said that Grant, as pictured
by Mr. Estabrook's magnificent imagery,
will remain s never-to-be-forgotten mem
ory. Other speakers there were, but they
were overwhelmed in the glamour of the
speech of Grant's eulogiier."
In another department of ths paper the
orator Is awarded even higher praise. "At
tbe Middlesex club Saturday night," says
ths Post, "the greaiwt couiradicuon to the
saying that oratory Is a lost art was pre
sented. Henry D. Estabrook of Chicago, a
lawyer unknown In tbe east, delivered tbe
moet wonderful oration ever beard In Bos
ton in recent years. I have heard Ioger
soil, Bryan at bis beat, McKluley and
Henry W. Grady's famous oration on "The
New South," but none ot them, in my esti
mation, approached tbe standard set by the
modest blue-eyed gentleman from Chicago.
His magnificent effort literally held the
audience enthralled. A white-haired man
who sat next to me leaned over as the
orator finished and said: 'Wendell Phillips
at bis best could sot surpass this man.' "
BECll.AK SHOTS AT TUB PILPI'
Washington Post: Oovernor Jrff !s
has come to th eorrluslon that a manay
be a Christian In Arkansas without bt a
member of any church. And then he rifco
fishing and play gnlf on Sunday wlhit
being brought up on ihnrgos.
New York World: Archbishop Oorrl's
Mstcr had most to do with his rnteriiijjm
priesthood. It was largely due to as
ter's Infliierre that M. Kenan, the Bit
French agnostic, grow up outside je
church. Why is to little written ofie
work of the sisters of the famous?
St. Ixnils Republic: The late Archbip
Corrtg.in of .New York was of the best e
of churchmen, a scholar of profoundt
talnments, an executive of rare abl)it;a
Christian of the slncerest conviction. Is
death leaves a vacancy In the Amern
hierarchy which will not be easily filled.
Des Moines Leader: The church :S
hardly kept pare with the times. Vk
which properly should belong to the chJi
has been neglected by It and been takerp
by other organizations. That church h
may hope for the most In the future wile
that whose work shall be extended out un
the broad highways among a great d
struggling humanity; which shall not cct
It the chief aim of man to go to clun
twice on Sundays, nor the chief aim c
minister to preach sermons.
DOMESTIC PLEASANTRIES.
TVtroit Free Press: "Where did the .
prcxNlnn. 'To look out for number o'
originate?"
"1 'suppose some bachelor said it"
New lork Sun: Mrs. JaRRs John, wt
are you doing down thero, turning
doorknob round nnd round? "
JHKKH-Dunno mdearst. Can't find r
Kesli-nole. Uuesser mush be a stem-winii
Atlanta Constitution:"" "John is so .
mestlc In his u.st.s," enld tho Bllv
matron.
"He Is?"
"Ves He's been all day In the hot s
trving to kill a ruttU snake to get a rat
for the baby!"
Washington Stjir: "What do von th'
or a man who would whip his wife'"
'Well," said Mr. Mockton, absent- mil
edly, I Khould sny that he was n mint
mean man and a pretty nervy tighter.1'
Roston Post: "Haven't I married j
before? asked the clergyman, pleasant
or the ytuinK woman from Chicago
was about to be Joined to the young n;
from Oshkosh.
"Only twice, " she murmured covly, t.
the ceremony went on.
Puck: He You must remember. d.N
we are just starting out In life, and '
must economize.
She But, don't you think getting U
debt Is the best way? Then we'll have
economize! .
Detroit Free Press: Mr. Vopplngtoi
Daughter, that yotniK Iitlngtriu you n
mire so much is said to be lazv.
Daughter Oh. papa, he isn't' a bit !n
he told me nil about It. Hc'm just
awfully intellectual that ho can t make
living.
Chicago Post: He had proposed. "P
fore giving you my reply." ho sal
"let us have a distinct tnnlerslandlng.
I am to consider this seriouslv I will ha
to say 'No,' but If it Is only A summer t
sort engagement I shall be pleased to u
cept you for the time being."
ROOD MOHMV.
TV. D. Nesblt In Baltimore American.
He always said "Good mornln',"
An' emphasized the "Kood,"
As If he'd make It happy
For each one, if ho could. 1
"Oood mornln'!" Just "Uood mornln" '
To ev'ryone he met;
He said It with a twlnklo !
That no ono could forget.
He always said "flood mornln';"
An' people used to say
That one o' his "good mornin'a"
Clung to you all the day, j
An' made you alwavs cheerful.
Just thlnkln' o' the sound
It always was "good mornln',"
'Long as he was around. ,
He always said "flood mornln," j
An glad an liappy-eyeil.
Those were the words he whispered.
The mornln' that he died.
Those were the words he whispered.
As cheerful as he could
An' I beueve the nngels
They emphasized the "good."
The Fees of a Lawyer
and Administrator
in Handling Estates
are Usually Very
Exorbitant,
and the tendencies of Courts and Pro
bate Judges are towards excessive
liberality. It often costs one dollar
to even bandlo ten, and frequently
very much more. The safest way to
avoid these dangers and hazards is
through an
Installment Policy
In the
Equitable Life
which will pay your
Wife. Daughter or Son
any desired sura, yearly or semi-annually
as long as tbey may live.
Equitable Life Bonds
Guarantee5 per cent
Net for Twenty Years
Payable Setni-An-nually
in Gold.
They may be bought by yearly in.
stallments.
Tbey furnish a gilt-edge invest
ment. Tbey furnish life assurance because
in case of deatb ths unpaid Install
ments are cancelled without affecting
the title.
A line to ma will bring you a de
tailed description.
H. D. Neely,
' f issk.
Merchants' Xat. Jlaalc Bldar
I