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About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 22, 1903)
0 THE OMA1TA DAILY 11EE: TIIUHSDAY, JANUARY 22, "1003. TKie OMAHA Daily Her E. R08EWATER. EDITOR. PUBLISHED EVERT MORNING. TfcHMfl OF HL'HSCRlPTION. Dafty. p.- (Without Sunday), One tea'r.tt 00 lastly hfv and Sunday, un Year llluHtrated Bee, una Vear...l..... " ISundav Bee. U:,e fear v. .. Saturday Hee, One Ir....". :.. I Twentieth i.'tntury Farmer, One Ytar.. l.tw DKHVERKD BT CARRIER. Pally Bee (without Sunday). per copy... Sc I'elly Bee (without .Sunday), per week..l; lally Roe (Including Sunday), per week.lic Sunday Bee, pr copy . Jo Evening Bee. (without Sunday), per week c Evening ilea (Including Sunday), Pr. week 100 Complaint! of Irregularities In delivery hould be addressed to City Circulation Ls-t partment. OFFICES. Omaha Tha Bee, Building- ' Bouth Omaha-City Hall Building. Tw-ty-flfth and M Streets. . Council Blufla lu Pearl Street. , Chicago ItHO Unity Building. New York-23i Park Row Building. , Washington wil Fourteenth Street. CORRESPONDENCE. ' Communications relating to news and ed itorial matter should be addressed: Omaha Bee, Editorial JUepartment. STATEMENT OF CIRCULATION. Btate of Nebraska", Douglas County, sb : Oeorge B. Tzschuck. secretary of Tha Bes Publishing company, being duly aworn, lays that the actual number of full and com tftete coplea of The Dally, Morning. Even ing and Sunday Bee printed during the month of December, waa aa follows: 1 S3,2ftO 17 80,820 1 81.1 SO 8O.01O S. 81.4TO 1 BO.HSO 4 81,000 W S0.78O 81,040 21 8S.TOO 81.8itO 21 80.UOO I 2H,tno U 8O.H0O BO.IXH) t SO.VOW 10 ...RO.OBO B SO,IMM IX. 8O.0TO U 30.P4O .... ZS,320 it aMio 24 80,000 2S, 80.2B0 A 8O.K30 tl 80.8T0 28 IIS.HttO 2 8O,70 82.M20 Jl 30,870 II 80,t10 ToUl Less untold and returned copies .08,645 . 10,181 Met total sales D42,44 Met average sales 8)(,40J GEORGE B. TZHCHUCK. Subscribed In my piesence and aworn to before m this 31st flay or jjecemoer, a. u, L B. H UNGATE, (Seal) Notary Public. A leading Nebraska populist proposes a public ownership party. If It would Insure public ownership of public serv ants t might find popular favor. With the horrible example set by his predecessor as an object lesson, the new lieutenant governor of South Carolina ought to make an exemplary official by contrast Senator Ilanna says that the produc tion of presidents is still a thriving In dustry In Ohio. Rut the Buckeye state Las not yet been able to get a monopoly on the business. Ferhaps congress made a mistake In not making that appropriation to pay the expenses of the coal strike commission available only after the work of, the commission has been successfully corn pleted. ' The Minnesota legislature has voted down the resolution providing for . an Investigation' Into the distribution of free passes by the railroads. The law makers prefer not to Investigate them selves. . " ' -' , The, land lene. bill Lag, been trans ferred from congress to the legislature, but we apprehend there will be Just as much. If not more, diversity of opinion regarding the propriety of Its passage in the legislature as there Is in congress. The tlnited States court has 'been sit ting In Lincoln, bnt unable to do bust neas for lack of cases on the docket ready for trial. Yet the scheme is to doublo up, court expenses by dividing Nebraska Into two federal Judicial dls- The Omaha Commercial club promises to restrict the use of its club rooms to members only. If it will restrict mom bershlp to men who have something in common with the commercial interests of the city, it will take two steps for ward Instead of one. . am is Senator Vest of Missouri enjoys the distinction of having a salute of thir teen guns fired in honor of his retire ment from the public service. Most of the ' United States 'senators who retire without asking another term make their exit under a different kind of fire. Republics are ungrateful sometimes; so are republicans, but republicans do not begin to be as ungruteful as democrats That Inference will naturally be draw by the relegation of James K. Jones, chairman of the democratic national committee, to private life by the Arkau aaa legislature. Municipal ownership of the water works seems to be a popular band wagon from tho way a(l the politicians are clitmberlug lu. Municipal owner ship of the telephone, the gas works or the electric lighting plant would lie just as attractive and equally useful as a relief to the public, but none of them has, the call. The Lincoln Star Is doing good work In exposing the combine of jab printers organized to mulct the taxpayers of Ne braska lu the mutter of furnishing print ing and stationery supplies. If this combination Involves a conspiracy to de fraud the public, as It seems to do. It would be a good subject for the legis lature to look luto by an Investigating committee with a view to framing legis lation that will prevent further galds of that kind. The proposition made In ,the state senate to request one mcmlier of the supreme court to act lu an advUory ra paclty In formulating reveuue legisla tion is declu.Mlly unique. ' A merger of the judiciary and legislative depart ments would be the next thing In order. There might have been some propriety, perhaps. In Inviting members of the supreme court, in aq unofficial capacity to confer with the legislative committees char zed with formulating amendments to tha state cuustitutluo VOUK8TIUSH TO THt LKQISLATVRI Now that the legtulature bag gottrn down to business, a, few pertinent sug gestions may not lie inappropriate: 1. Repeal all dead letter law lb at en cumber the statute book. 2. Abolish the fee system and substl- tute fnlr salaries for every public officer nd employe atate, county and munici pal. 1 3. Enact laws that will forever put an end to fanning out public moneys or I trust funds for private gain. This hould Include not only state treasurer, but county, city and school bonrd treaa- urern and county Judges who are cus- todlans of money belonging to widows, orphan and litigants. 4. Revise the revenue laws to conform with the provisions of the constitution that require the ascsHsntent of fran- blues os well ns tangible property of corporations, and piaee theproperty of railroad corporatlons-on an equal foot- lug with the property of other corpora- Hons and Individuals In contributing Its Just proportion of the expense for main- talnlng municipal government. 5. Enlarge the field of taxation by en- acting laws that will tax express com- pnnles, cattle parlor car companies, suburban electric railroads and other concerns that are taxed In every other State but Nebraska. I C. Formulate and gubmlt for ratlflca- tlon by the people amendments to thelnf constitution that have become an lm- peratlve necessity under existing condi tions. These constitutional amend ments should Include: The enlargement of the supreme court to at least five members, which would enable the state to dispense forever with the expensive makeshift of a gnpreme court commission. Amendments to relieve the state, from uie sinm-jacKer. provisions or tn con- stltutlon. that fix the number of execu- uve omcers ana limit tneir salaries, re- gardless of changed conditions and pub- 11c necessity, and, have opened the door wide for whipping the devil around the siump in me appointments or so-called deputies to the governor-deputy labor comm.ssner, neputy on inspectors, deputy health boards, deputy veteri- naiinnS, etC. I A constitutional amendment to safe- guard the public school fund and pro- vide for its rational investment establish home rule for cities and re- lleve legislatures from thankless and pernicious charter tinkering. Last, but not least a constitutional amendment that win compel railroads to furnish state officers. Judges of the lnciude ,n ltg prov,8,on8 the right of courts and members of the legislature a880cIati0n and contract between rail with free transportation over .their lines road-h., ,8 forbidden by the present ,u cceP laws." In the opinion of Chairman ance of a railroad pass In this or any Knapp there mot be continued corn other state by any public officer an im- peou Hun , leKltImate and hone8t peachable offense and subject him to re- .,thot rrn.ittin. h. ,ia h. n moval from office therefor. FRKt coal on pacific coast. It was to be expected that there would oe u.ssHusiactioa.on me racinc coast witn me removal pr tne amy on coal, the duty having been Imposed mainly lor xne protection or me coai inaustry M ii.ni ai fry ci nt v a. vi .in 1 gencer says tnai tne action or congress uimumia io u.e giving oi a ooumy or not less than a million dollars a year to the coal operators of Rritlsh Columbia. to encourage them to take away, with coal mined with Chinese lubor. the mar- ket for coal mined by American white labor In the state of Washington. It A A- 1. 1 4.1 . a. I a ouu. iu.w mrge Wuuu. .ujuuiiuiig m tne aggregate to prooaDiy more man ...Ill v.. t i- a 4.--ii I .m, m K.Tcu i usiroiian and British mine operators to encourage them to flood the Pacific coast wltb coal, brought in as ballast for wheat ships. to tho complete destruction of the Amer- lean coal mining Industry of the const. We are Inclined to think that the Post- mie.iigem.Tr aouie.'.jtct exaggeraws me danger to the coal Industry of that sec- tlon. tnaounteaiy it will be injured to an extern oy me removal or me auty, nut we ao not oeneve mere is any gooa reason to apprehend its complete de struction. If a duty of 67 cents a ton has been sufficient to enable . that In dustry to develop . and prosper, it is hardly reasonable to suppose that It will be ruined by taking off that amount of duty. However, the removal of the tariff on coal was demanded by an over whelming public sentiment extending from the Atlantic to the Rocky moun tains and no discrimination ctTuld be maae in nenair or tne 1'acinc coast In- dustry. Perhaps the action of con sr re sa will not nrore aa hpnoflrlnl n. ptih but tt was compelled by extraordinary conditions and it is. doubtful if. thtre will ever again be a duty on coaj. THt VCIflZl'lLAX AlllUTRATIQy, The arrival of Minister Bowen in Washington,. It la understood with full authority from President Castro to ar range wltb : tho diplomatic representa tives of th European powers having Wtb a surplus of $1,500 In Its treas clnlms against Veneauela for their sub- nrJr. the State Board of Agriculture now mission to The Hague tribunal of arbl- tratlon. gives promise of aa'. early ar- rangenieut that - will 'remove all danger Lincoln at a cost or b'j.uuj, provwing tne from the situation and relieve the gov- legislature is willing to make an appro erumeut of the United States from all prtatlon from the state treasury and care or anxletv In re card to it It appears that Minister Bowen Is " i especially deslroua that the blockade sl.aU be raised and with a view to this the offer has been made to pledge' the Venezuelan customs for the payment of the obligations of that country. It Is reported to be the German Idea that tbe blockade must be enforced until tbe protocol Is signed and Mil will probably be concurred In by Great- Britain and Italy. la the Reichstag on Tuesday tbe German chancellor stated that It Is the aim of that government to bring armed action to the speediest "possible termlna - tlon and that the blockade will be raised as soon as the negotiations at Wash lngton have .reachfd a satisfactory con- cjunlou.-., .It la thus, shown that Oer - many's attitude -t conciliatory and that I make up the two-thirds necessary to It baa had bo'otW.'aUil 4 auoUva lalmaka It lnumraUva a i-ougrcas to call this tnatter than that of securing for Its citizens what It lielieves to Ik; their Just claims nKSlnst Venezuela. Had Its purpose gone lieyonri this U would not have agreed to submit the claims to arbitration. It Is quite evlde.it that from the beginning the German government bus dominated the Vener.uo- Ian situation and had It rejected arbitra tion it Is very probable that Great Rrlt aln would have acquiesced. At all events a satisfactory diplomatic arrangement seems assured at an early day, to be followed by unrestricted com merclal Intercourse with Venezuela. For this result the southern republic will be Indebted to the good o(iccs of the United States, while a new prece dent of great value will be made In behalf of the principle of International arbitration for disputes of this charnc- ter INTERSTATE act amexdmkkt. Whether anything will be doue at the present session of congress to strengthen the Interstate commerce act Is prob- lematlcal, but the probability apwars to be that the question will again lie tie ferred. It has been recently stated that the railroad Interest Is exerting Influence to have the Elklns bill pushed for con aiders tlon. but nothing has occurred that.can be retrardpd an conflrmatorv of this. It Is doubtless a fact that most the railroads are not unfriendly to this measure, which Is a emnnromlse and among other things favored by the rail roads contains a pooling clause, this feature being the chief objection to the bill on the pnrt of shippers generally. The measure provides for Increasing the powers of the Interstate Commerce commission and giving to that body authority to enforce Its orders for the prevention of discriminating freight rate9. To this extent It Is unobjectidn- abiet but the authority It gives for the maklng of contracts b railroads for the division of their traffic or earnings, and for tDe formation of traffic associations, meet8 wlth opposition as being prac- ticiiy - renunciation of the most vital principle of the existing law. It is said tnat the chairman of the Interstate Commerce commission has irlven enernl nnPnv. tn tha l.lll nn1 flint ha thlnba tba t)ubllo wll, nt hv railroad nm.l- ,ng nnder certa,n reBtrlctlon8. He Is nnnt Q ..rin.. ."n, ,o and demoralizing of all evils connected wIth naroaA operation Is the giving of h.f. on t f oontrre. la to nmvidr. wiinHv reniedv aeainst that evil: b,,t I think no TmpAv l nnunio whirl, ,w not amendment to the existing law, to put some sanctioned restraint upon compe tition with each other. He therefore ,, w,inh omhuoa w DrlnclD,. ag not only harmonT w,th the atm. nd mimoses of a tmhllshed Uritl regulation, but practically essen- tlaI to the realzfltion of those nurnoses contains most of the meritorious fea tnre8 of ti,e Elklas bI11 0"mits the pooling provision, but It has "received ,lttle consideration and Is not likely to any from tho prcBent congress. This measure was framed with a view to meeting the public demand for a more effective regulation of the railroads and dpeg not contemplate making any concessions to them. Its aim ,8 to protect the nubile bv in- crea8mg the authority of the com- mlgslon so that its decisions and orders Bha effective. It Is needless to sav that this bill Is determinedly opposed bv thfi railroads, rim snhtert hn r- centlT been havlnc some consideration from the Benate committee on Interstate an,1 foreign commerce, bnt as now in. dlcated there is little promise of any actlon by the present congress In his message to the South Dakota legislature Governor Charles N. Her reld 'Indulges In these canstlc reflec tions about the Inspection of illuminat ing oils: The inspection law of our state, to say the least, is simply a burlesque. Strenu ous efforts have been made with biennial regularity that would prevent the state from being the dumping ground of inferior oil that cannot be disposed of in other states. The adjournment of the legisla- ture la usually celebrated by a particu I lrly noxious tench from evory lamp chira ney in the state. These distressing condi- I l... L at tions havo at various times become in tolerable. What spplles to oil Inspection In South Dakota would apply with equal force to oil Inspection In Nebraska. If the lamp chimneys could only sjteak they would emit volumes of Indignant protest against the oil Inspection burlesque. wy c,enr t0 hma a flsn buUdIn on the 8tate falr grounds at can also be luduced to enact a law mat w111 compel county boards to levy a 3-cent per capita tax on every man, woman aud child In the state of Ne- braska for the support of agricultural aocletles, which, if Douglas county is a falr "ample, are close corporations or- aniwMl for the benent or its members. I Pledging United States senators to support a constitutional amendment for the election of senators by direct vote of the people is all light In lu way, but It cannot be half as effective or expeditious 1 as would be the adoption of resolutions I calling fur a convention to propose - 1 amendments under article v of the con stltutlon. More than enough state 1 legislatures are In session right now to a conNtltutlonai convention, but con gress, or rather Its tipper house, will not budge, until It Is right up against It. Omaha city councllmen sre being paid to attend to the clty'a business. Their salaries of $75 per month are not ex travagant but they are fully equal to the services which are to le rendered In attending one committee meeting and one regular meeting each week and at tending to Incidental matters in the In terval. If any of them think they are underpaid or overworked they are free to resign, and there will be no difficulty in finding equally competent men to fill the vacancies. One of the conundrums the state as sociation of . county commissioners should solve before leaving Omaha Is whether It Is equitable to taxpayers of this or any other county to be compelled to pay ,43 cents for two meals to feed prisoners In the county Jail when pris oners in the city jail are being fed for 10 cenU per day for rations of the same quality and quantity. , A merger of all . the principal express companies Into one great combination is the latest talk of the financiers. If It really materializes It ought to give a strong Impetus to the movement for a parcels post What good reason Is there for running the postofflce department as a feeder to the big express companies? Eatltled to the Rlght-of-War. New Tork Tribune. Coal should have the right of way by land and sea until better days are dawning. Up to the time when warmer weather comes railroads and vessels alike should be taxed to the utmost to hurry fuel to consumers. Squeezing the Horn Conaamer. Chicago Chronicle. Kerosene costs the domestic consumer f cents per gallon more than he paid twelve months ago, while the price to the foreign consumer is only 1 cent per gallon higher. The circumstance Indicates that Mr. Rocke feller Is distributing benefactions to the foreigner in the form of coal oil, while in his own land bis philanthropy takes the shape of universities. Cheeking; a, Pnblle Evil. Philadelphia Record. A member of the New York senate has Introduced a bill against the evl of land scape disfigurement by huge advertisements. The time is coming when legislative re straints will no longer be necessary to check this abuse, for business men will soon universally realize that for other than aesthetic reasons tbe daily newspaper is the best place for advertisements. Some Things Worse Than Death. Portland Oregonlan. . Tbe old saying,, spoken thousands of times In the ears, of the bereaved, that "there are .worse things than death," has bad In the last week significant Illustra tion In the official life of .Oregon. As be tween a public servant stricken down In an honorable career and borne to his grave with high public honors, and one atrlcken with dishonor yet living to meet and face It as best he may... anyone, however fond. would choose that, 4be, former might belong to his household.-' las between the alterna tive to die In honor pr live discredited as one faithless to a-'trYiat even a man's near est and dearest hould have no difficulty in choosing. . , Systematic Plundering; of Indiana. Springfield (Mass.) Republican. The communication from Agent Broslns of the Indian Rights association shows once more tbe greed of the white man, wblch at every point endeavors to defeat the efforts of the government to do justice and see fair play to tbe red man. It Is a shameful thing that conscienceless speculators should still be appointed to the responsible post of Indian agent. If anything like the conduct of Agent Honnell and bis gang should be attempted In respect to white settlers in any part of the country, how quick would be the indignation of tbe countryl And should It be less quick to resent this abom inable' injustice? What Is tbe matter with the Indian bureau, which of late years has been supposed ' to select- honest men for agents? Is there any excuse to be offered fcr tbe state of things at thla Kansas agency? - RAILROAD ARE BRIBES. Perquisites of Lanaiakera Sbewa Up in the Proper Light. Detroit Free Press. The Northern Pacific railroad has made a practice of Issuing passes over Its lines to members of the legislatures of Minne sota, North Dakota, Montana, Idaho and Washington. This, was not an unwonted act of generosity en the part of tbe road. In fact, this free transportation bad come to be regarded as one of the perquisites of tbe Interested solons. If these passes could be tortured into representing a legiti mate purpose It would be to enable the legislators to go to and from the capital or to travel to state Institutions or to make Investigation In the line of official duty. President Mellon has brought out the fact that this Is not tbe view of the case taken by the legislators. - The latest batch of passes, as usual, were good only for the time that the respective legis latures were In session, and they have been indignantly returned. The statesmen demanded the privilege of using the road from one year's end to the other, and as otten as they wish. The president answers the angry lawmak ers by declaring that the legislators In every state mentioned have been In the bablt of lending their passes to their friend or selling them to scalpers to an extent that brought protests from the pay ing patrons of the road. The lawmakers now threaten "to get even," and to the ex tent that they attempt to do so from mo tives of revenge tbey will demonstrate their personal view of free transportation. Mr. Melleo has shown that the legisla tors with whom be has had dealings are not ordinarily appreciative or grateful and has brought about a conclusion that if they sttack the road because It will not give them all the passes they ask for. they are capable of favoring It when their swinish demands are gratlned, Legislators, as such, have no business with railroad paeiws. They are provided only wltb a view to keeping the law maker In a kindly temper toward the cor poration which grants these free rides. No self-respecting man will accept this ex pensive hospitality and then seek to Injure those who extended It. No self-respecting man will sell bis nolitioal support for a ..k k.ih. .tt.P hnw thi-k p&as or umc. uiiuv, . conclusion is that ao self-respecting legts- lator will accept railroad passes t all and that la the exact. proposition for which we contend. It Is precisely on a par with the policeman on a beat who accepts free drinks and cigars. In nine cases out of tea tbey Indues blm to look the other way when the law Is being violated, even though be be honest la the ordinary affairs el Ufa. KEEP IT BEFORE Nebraska Railroad Assessments What They Are What They Should Be. . Aseeavment for ls2. I 740,233.00 310.7. VVOO C4.4O0.O0 ' 147.S75.00 142.OSO.tH) 740,7X1.00 170.050.00 2I4.40.-..OO 007,127.00 . 8:t8,tt82.l0 22T.n70.tMt 8,0:iO.OO B03,r50.tH) 438,4 lS.tM) TUB, 4OXO0 3:12,04 2.00 181.800.tMI 284,053.00 288,525.00 - 509,020.00 408.B50.00 BO5,8O9.B0 218,155.00 684,308.50 781,004.00 100,802.00 731,400.00 206.008. (M1 128,020.00 ' 208.400.00 700,710.00 10,480.00 83,320.00 108,115.00 100,600.00 BO4.708.5O . 320.308.O0 843,012.00 87.77O.O0 203,888.00 377,075.00 105,030.00 373,140.00 608,104.00 275,130.00 307,744.00 400,512.50 ' 423,872.50 1.18,300.00 1,108,447.00 840,033.00 281,605.00 588,787.00 132,730.00 362,070.00 506,828.00 632,185.00 300,024.00 173,400.00 181,000.00 283,600.00 582,574.00 94,870.00 217,070.00 300,080.00 " 115,600.00 557,617.00 608,718.00 408,748.00 a 412,700.00 830,415.00 220,035.00. 217,050.00 114,000.00 454.130.0O 110,550.00 84,400.00 154.26B.OO 267,000.00 227,700.00 814,837.00 11,700.00 443,022.00 Cwnlf. Miles. Adaaae ....... 132.0T Antelope .... 72.37 Dlalne ' 1M.40 Box Bntte.... 42.2.1 Brown 2H.A0 Bnffalo 107.no Bart a. 2 1 Bo.on 131.27 121.1.'! 47.30 2.01 112.71 an.32 lltt.OO 43.43 30.32 Boone Bntler Caaa Cedar Chase Cherry Cheyenne Clar Colfax Camlaar Caster ........ 81.13 ae.oi 63.07 fO.79 26.03 4S.4S 81.89 100.92 Dakota Dawsos Dawea Denel Dixon Dodare , Doaarlaa Dandy 41.84 minor 127.88 Prnnklln .... 40.34 Frontier 82.1S Parana ...... I2.37 Gave IBS. 04 ttaraela 4.71 Ooaper 20.H3 Grant 30.8ft Ore ley ...... 51.8ft Hall 74.IM1 Hamilton .... 00. 1W Harlan 81.0ft Hayes 12.BB Hlteheock Holt .... Hooker . Howard .. Jefferaon JABIOB Kearney Keith .... 40.10 77.02 30.18 01.2t 105.83 58.40 70.81 41.75 38.15 27.00 BOO.B4 l oft. an Kimball Knox . . . Laaeuter Lincoln Madison 58.40 Merrick 08.33 Ranee ......... 33,04 Nemaha ...... 73.07 lfnckolls 140.22 Otoo 112.14 Pnwneo 87.10 Perklna 43.85 Phelps AdJtO Pierce ....... 60.30 Platte 07.18 Folk 21.48 Red Willow.. 50.40 Rlebarasoa Rook ........ Saline ........ Sarpy ...... Saunders . Bcotta Blnff... . 70.80 23.12' 80.25 04.10 : 85.80 85.30 T7.0B 67.37 Sward Sheridan Sherman Sloax 48,18 Stanton 82.08 Thayer 09.11 Thomas ...... 83.80 Tharatoa 10.88 Valley 40.11 Waahlnsrton .. B3.40 Wayne 45.54 Webster 6O.07 Wheeler 3.80 Tork 80.02 Total 20,830,631.00 Average assessment per mile, 1802 , 5,367.66 Artragt aaseaament per mile, 1902 4,661.07 Fairly aaaeaard, wonld be ... 0,222.14 Tbe figures above presented are carefully complied from reports of the state auditor, the bulletins issued by authority of the railroads and the reports to their stockholders published within the past year. .These documents' afford ' conclusive proof that the- aggregate true value of railroads In Nebraska based on net earnings, after deducting operating expenses, betterments and taxes paid, exceeds (312,000,000. An Inspection of the table herewith presented shows Just how much each county has lost by gradual reduction of tbe railroad assessment within the past ten years, the aggregate apportionment of railroad assessments, to each county for the year 1902 and what the aggregate assessment should be If the railroads were assessed at one-sixth of their value based on net earnings. The appraisement of railroads that have not ' reported net earnings, wblch constitute less than ' one-sixth of the entire railroad mileage in the state, is based upon the value of their tangible property.' ' " . ' ROVND A BO IT HEW TORK. Ripples on the Current of Life In the Metropolis. An eccentric Frenchman with a title and - name outpointing a yardstick has started a tremendous flutter among the swells of Gotham. The -newcomer Is a genius. So Is bis press agent. Holh admit the charge and congratulate themselves on tne vista of nrosoerlty ahead. Besides the press agent the titled genius has two barbers at tached to his staff, together witn me im pedimenta of a born poet and literary ana lyst. He is not a lecturer. He gives "con ferences." His managers have llstea seven of these "conferences." Admission to each "conference" Is flxed at $5, but no one may buy a ticket to a single "conference." . "I care nothing for people who would make me the object of vulgar notoriety, either In this country or my own," said tho count to an Interviewer. "Those who In Ignorance or malice essay to hold me up to ridicule I can afford to ignore. What do they know! Why should I care? I do not address myself to the small-minded. "I come to thenew world as the repre sentstive ot the old French nobility, as the scion of one of tbe most ancient and most Illustrious houses in France, that comprised among its members Marshal de Montesquieu and Mme. de Montesquieu, mother of the fsmous D'Artagnan, to cite only these, and I hope to attract here an element of curi osity snd Interest different from that which centered sbout the academicians and uni versity professors." "The very thing that newspapers want to know about the way detectives work In big department stores are the things we don't want to tell," said a superintendent quoted t the New York Times. "We should be .1 j 1 - i,h ik. but ) we can't afford to. A clever woman will outwit tne snreut nwi" wictuTo iuol ever walked. We have to work cautlounly or we lose our trade. If the deetectlve" ts a man and stares at a woman too hard she mskes a complaint at the desk and tells other women bow she was Insulted. If the store detective Is a woman she is likely to get 'fresh. I think the best store detective a New York today la a man who used to THE LEGISLATURE What They Have Been What Assesameat Shoald Be. a 1,284,306.11 203,402.50 60,200.00 148.060.OO 132,228.70 1,808,764.70 241,233.71 552,405.10 1,062,712.60 1,141,147.06 246,833.30 66,440.00 621,283.75 1,080,016.40 774,448.41 408,300.40 179,388.46 470,226.00 825,628.86 1,214,446.00 1265,808.75 525,666.40 1,067,865.52 782,822.82 834,183.83 627378.48 06,390.00 298,918.05 2,520,736.27 12,610.00 82,400.00 . 02,870.00 808,471.60 1,046,640.71 1,108,249.63 710,882.00 87,770.00 639,252.08 816,086.25 00,640,00 1,270,354.20 1,161,291.70 . 001,062.52 467,800.44 815,452.80 711,164.40 107,466.78 2,820,812.11 1,201,586.80 467,187.83 1,022,166.28 717,401.60 . 085,626.44 775,076.18 1848,586.56 878,908.06 181,550.00 186,479.10 244,472.82 1,816,550.25 886,070.08 - 641,261.29 1,185,682.48 108,980.00 48.772.88 . . .832,863.78 1,015,584.63 120,150.00 848,618.84 296,586.00 400,463.60 108,180.00 . 110,779.02 084,046.08 00,000.00 1 16,644.88 208,282.40 . 157,000.47 311,004.54 002,237.07 10,080.00 630,710.08 Aeaeaataeat for 1002. f 082,621.60 240,018.00 02.000.00 10O.4O4.OO 1O2.024.OO 640,821.00 ' 183.O02.OO i8i,4on.ot ; 401,133.00 862,014.20 204,780.00 65,440.00 4O6,750.MI OOO,30tMM ' 646,610.10 272,404.00 144.688.00 807,108.80. 263.022. OO 408,801.60 ' 820,124.00 262,248.00 . 261,648.00 - 453,022.00 745,631.00 186,080.00 828,924.60 186,061.00 110,848.60 252,297.00 703,042.00 12,676.80 71,868.60 100,026.00 161,851.40 . 450,570.00 289,567.00 817,976.50 87,770.00 104,070.00 267,282.00 102,612.00 - 802,191.40 687,033.00 268,280.00 855,600.00 406,896.00 854,808.00 120,824.00 1,200,867.20 . 785,694.50 215,009.00 ' 518,018.40 118,790.00 862,2 11.00 617,119.60 , 525,468.00 800,877,00 101,282.50 156,767.00 206,020.00 .465,008.00 76,648.00 209,073.00 4O1.OB7.O0 83,232.00 .. 627.873.20 . . . 681,670.00 647,601.80 88,110.00 832,680.00 S71.842.00 18S.852.80 170,642.00 86,000.00 , , 415,604.50 113,220.00 87.T76.00 146,944.40 230,000.00 ' 236,808.00 287,858.50 10,214.40 . 803,202.00 Miles. 132. 07 72.37 18.40 40.52 28.00 1O8.10 80.21 60.no 134.27 121.31 47.30 18.48 112.71 134.45 12O.00 43.43 80.82 - 4.2ft ' 60.91 63.09 OO.TO 28.76 66.07 81.89 107.09 41.54 127.86 40.84 82.18 62.37 171.16 4.17 20.83 8O.8O 61.85 74.06 66.83 81.65 12.69 40.16 77.02 . 80.18 91.29 110.41 68.46 70.52 41.52 86.21 27.66 228.16 105.85 58.48 08.33 33.04 73.67 130.00 112.28 87.10 43.85 45.30 59.80 07.16 21.49 B0.46 80.36 23.12 82.72 08.40 8S.8O 40.00 86.O6 77.05 67.37 48.25 22.08 90.11 88.80 10.88 40.27 63.40 45.64 60.97 3.38 80.02 B26,680,502.7O 02.803,002.53 be with the San Francisco minstrels. He took the lob on trial, till good times came again, but nothing good enough has come along to t,empt blm to give up a $5,000 job, and he la worth every penny of It." '. "A laudable effort Is being made In New York City," says a Philadelphia Ledger let ter, "to arouBe public sentiment to the evils of child labor In New York state, In the hope that it may be abolished In all its phases. The campaign is being conducted by a committee that Includes William H. Baldwin, president of the Long Island rail road; Dr. William H. Maxwell, superin tendent of schools; Dr. Felix Adler and Bishop Potter. For several months Investi gation of the matter bas been going on, and It is said amazing evidence has been col lected which shows' thst child labor con ditions In New York state are almost as acute as tbose in tbe southern cotton mills and in the Pennsylvania coal regions. "While New York bas laws forbidding tbe employment of children under 14 years of age in factories and mercantile establish ments, tho statutes are so defective that a large number of children of tender age are at work In such places. One of the pro visions of the law which permits of evasion Is that public echool pupils are allowed to work during vacations. Vnder the com pulsory education law a child Is not re quired to attend school more than eighty days and is, therefore, free to work the rest of tbe school year. "Wholesale perjury by parents, who have sworn that their children are 14 years of age, bas been discovered, and In the legis lation that will be sought a system 'of reg istration, by which children will be required to obtain a certificate ot age signed by the registrar of births, will be Included. The legislature will also be asked to Include newsboys, messengers, peddlers, delivery and office boys within the scope of tbe laws, which at present apply only to factories and mercantile establishments. It was found during the committee's Investigation of street children that a large proportion were at work without any family necessity for their earnings. "Governor, Odell is In thorough sympathy wltb tbe movement to amend tbe laws, and the outlook for tbe needed reform la en couraglna." ' ABRAM STKVKS9 HKWITT. New Tork Suit: Abram Stevens Hewitt was of the very best and highest type of the American at any period In tha htstory of this republic. Minneapolis Journal! Abram Hewitt wss what Is known as a democrat from prin ciple. Some time ago he coaaed to be a democrat also from principle. Chicago Tflbline: Mr. Hewitt was in all respects a man of whom his city and slate bad reason to be proud. He played many parts during bis long life, and played them well. Ruffalo Express: Mr. Hewitt silled him self by marriage with another good man and friend of the people. Tcter Cooper. A large part of his llfework was tbe reallza tlon of his father-in-law's dreams of prac tical philanthropy. Finally, Mr. Hewitt Is leaving behind him sons and daughters who are following In his footsteps and proving of much use In tbo world. A noteworthy and praiseworthy American- family is this one of the Cooper-Hewitts. Kansas City Star: - Among public men who were enger only for legislation to help their constituents or themselves. Mr, Hew itt was a conspicuous figure. He was nut willing to be a quiet recipient ot govern, ment aid. While- he would like It eo long aa the people Insisted on paying for It, ho never let slip an. opportunity to point out to them how unnecessary It was and to urge them to let tbe business develop nat urally without the federal bounty. It was by his public-spirited course, by bis stead fast support of what be believed public welfare, even where it seemed to conflict with his own business Interests, that Mr. Hewitt made his chief Impress upon tha country. ri:novL NOTKS. Governor Taft has aurroeded In pacifying everybody la the Philippine country ex cept the editor of an Insurgent newspaper at Manila. William Hill ot Honesdale, Pa., la the last survivor of the crew of Commodore Stock ton's frigate Congress, which raised the first United States flag over California lu 1846. The Isthmian Canal oommlsBlon has ex pended over $200,000 in salaries and travel ing items. The members of the . commis sion propose to stay with the appropriation to the last ditch. Harold Godwin will rebuild the William Cullen Bryant bouse at Roslyn on the lines of the original structure which was burned a few weeks ago. There will be no attempt to reproduce tho exact interior. . There ia not a single negro 'in either house of the South Carolina general as sembly this year. It Is the first time that has been the case since the enfranchise ment ot the negro, although last year there was but one colored member. Lieutenant Blakeley, who is In charge of the naval recruiting station at St. Louis, says that more than 50 per cent ot the men who offered to enlist have been rejected bo cause of "flat foot." He says that more cases of flat foot are found in tho cities than in the country. ' , Dr. Bven Hedln has been honorarynem-. ber of the Scottish Geographical society,, an honor rarely given. It bas also awarded . him the Livingstone memorial gold medal,, for tbe distinguished services which bo ren dered to science by his explorations in Cen tral Asia. That medal, which was founded to commemorate the life work of David Li v- , ingstone, Is the highest distinction which Scotchmen can confer on distinguished ex plorers. v POINTED REFLECTIONS. . ' Yes, I know' him elignVlyi' He always Impresses me as being rather a hurd mau.'1 "Hard? Say, that man can dull a klilfo by lust carrying it in bis pockot!" Chicago Tribune. . "E'vythtng hab some comfort 'bout It." aid Uncle Eben. "Ef dar warn' no Ice in winter, dar wouldn' be no Ice cream in summer." Washington Star. Judge Did the defendant, to your knowl edge ever Invite another to commit per- Jury? Witness Yes; I once heard him auk a woman her age. Boston Globe. Kitty I am going to see the ne problem play this evening. Aunt Hannah I'm surprlHed, Kitty. Thoy say the play Isn't lit for a young womun to listen to. Kitty Yes, I only heard that today. I was luoky enough to get tickets, how ever, for tonight. Boston Transcript. . Kwoter You can never Judge a man by bis clothes. Newltt I'nless he's clothed In a little brief authority. It's easy to size him up then. Philadelphia Press. Cleanliness may be next to godliness, hut the woman In the sleepliiK car who keeps all the other women wuiting for an hour, while she' makes her morning toilet, is not likely to be puffed up by thti receipt of the encomiums of her sex tjomorvlllo Journal. . . ' "Why don't you try to hand an honored name down to posterity?" "I don't know," answered Senator Sor ghum. "Maybe I don't look far enouKl. ahead. So long as my signature Is honor, it at the bank, .1 can't see that my credit with posterity makes much Uifloroiiee." Washington Star. SEEIBP HER HOME FROM MEET 131', James Barton Adams in Denver Post. Say, you old frost-headed chaps, there's a ' memory, perhapa. Often through you sends a thrill from head to toes Of the days of lung ago when the fuzz began to grow On the llppy surface underneath your nose. When on many a blissful nlxht 'neath the moon s soft, L.eHiny liKiit Wlth your brain all in a love-lnsplred whirl. And with heart all ripe with soug, you would proudly man h alon Goln' slowly home from mectln' with your girl. Through the sermon you would ait, hearing si urce a wcir nf tt, In the church's dim. religious sort of llnht. And your eyes would often rove to the seat where sat your love While your heart was In a very sorry uilKht! When the services were p'or you would hasten to tl.e door, There to wait the coming1 of your mald-n Dearl. And you'd feel a sweet content tinged with rupitire u you went Walktn1 slowly home from meetln with ' your girl. At the gate you'd always pause for soma further talk, beraune It was such a painful task to break away. And her timid good night kins sfent a streak of heavenly n Hum Thr.HiKh your hoodooed boeom aa a' sunny ray. Many soulful joys, I ween, since those nappy oays you ve seen As you've played your part amid life's butty whirl. But you've met with very few that could hold, a candle to Goln' slowly home from meetln' with your girl. THE PURE GRAIN COFFEE Even children drink Graft-0 becauso they lika it and the due tors aay It is good for them. Why sot? It contain all of the nourish. ' ment of the pure grain and none of the poisons of coffee. TRY IT TO-DAY. . AX poesrs avarywksra ISO. and Wo. pa package, RAN-O II .-as