0
THE OMAHA DAILY HKEi SATURDAY, JANUARY .11, 1003.
Tiie omaha Daily Bee
E. ROSE WAT KR, RlilTOR.
FUBLISIIF.I) EVERY MuKSINO.
TERMS OP SUBSCRIPTION
Pally Hee (without Sunday!, One Year.. $1 TO
Uaiiy itee anil Sunday, one lear
lllntratd Ke, On Yrar
Sunday Hee, Oni Year
Haturilay Bee, One Year..
Twentieth Century Farmer, on Year
S(
jo)
1.50
1 (M
DELIVERED BY CARRIER,
Dally Bee (without Bumisy). per copy.... 2c
Dully Bee (Without 8mdy), pir week. ..12c
Dally lire (Intituling Sunday;, per week. .17a
Sunday Hee, per ropy J"
Evening Bee (without Sunday), per week 60
Evening Hee (Including Hunday). per
week :..!!
Complaint of Irregularities In delivery
should be addressed to City Circulation De
partment. OFFICES.
Omaha-The Hee Building.
South omiih:i-cttv Hull Building, Twenty-fifth
and M Streets.
Couni II illurrs lo Pearl Street.
Chicago IM" Unity Building.
New Yrk-2S Park Row Building.
Washington fil Fourteenth Street.
CORRESPONDENCE.
Communications relating to new and ed
itorial matter should be nbiressed: Omaba
Bee, Editorial Department.
STATEMENT OF CIRCULATION.
fetete of Nebraska, Douglaa County, ea.:
OcorKe R. Tzschuek, secretary of The Pee
publishing company, bring duly sworn, eayt
that the aotual numbrr of full and complete
copies of The Dallv, Morning, Evening and
Sunday Hee printed during the month Of
Lfecemuer, ivv. waa aa louowa;
l aa.iiHo
: 81,120
a 81,470
...: 81.000
6 31,0 k)
6 3 i.Mao
7, 2S.OOO
8 30.IMK)
ilO.UOO
10 so.imio
l: ao.uoo
12 30,070
13 ao.ttw
14 as, 320
is ao,.sio
17 30.820
18 80,1
19 ....8O,80
Su.tso
20
21..
22..
23..
24..
25..
.2s,too
'soisoo
ao.o
8o,2B0
26 S0.S3O
8070
m!!!!!!!!!!"!'.6
2fl!!!!!.'! ao,790
S2,aao
lltJiTO I
IS 80,010
Total tiin.ino
Lea. unaoid and returned copies.... o."
Net avera "e' Vaiea" "aolloJ
aVeraB "Veorob bVtzschuc'k.
h.?foVr!1,.Ln n
io2. m. B. hunoate,
tBeaJ) Notary Fubllo.
Having elected new officers, the
Douglas County Democracy will now
try io iana a rew more omces.
Tl.- l 1 I ,1 I
iu ,n..u.jr u. a..iuu '-""
office Is a plum that w 1 1 be greatly
sought and fought for. Don t all speak
.. 1
, i
Senator fiietrich ttAd tho ait.iatinn
t,r..ir nhon ho ...1,1 tho ro.inmitv
treaties pending In the senate were "in
statu Quay."
Candidates for municipal office are al-
ready as thick, as blackberries in June lwt- lt Vou,d be Just as logical to vate American friendship. AVhile, there
aud we are still facing the midwinter coutend that levying city taxes at Ne- fore, the decision of the senate commit-
montta of rcbrunry.
General Fuuston refused to speak
when called upon to respond at the
Kansas day banquet. General Funston
!s making progress.
And now a SSnn Mnlvalne vnlpnnn ta
- ...
cuuing up capers, uut it is too late to
:uu,,cue m l"v vuuul lrlul' u"
'" S"""1 mm vuiuiuuia. , 1
tlovlniF ninwl nut n lmt a trnrjt thlnff I
b- i
' ,t la for them to have a short supply,
T lin nfial trtnn vnnld lllra ir Tiava tftnle I
"
- . 1
A debate between Governor Cummin.
ut Iowa and Senator Hanna of Ohio
,, the hi,.ct nf lotting -uoii nh
.
-
calnmeut
Tf any more ex-pollcemen with shady
records are lying around loose who
have not yet couuected with the force
under the Rrrtatch refnrni hnnrd thuv
should hasten to present themselves and
clalin the reward of reinstatement
. :
Ai usual, nearly every department of
the city government knows where lt
can use to advantage considerably more
money than the charter limit allows,
But these ambitious officers will have
to continue to cut their garments ac-
cording to the cloth.
ino European wocitauers want enex-
uela to make them preferred creditors
.nstcna 01 maKiug tnem tane cnances
like ordinary dalmanU. They ought to
set up an. nuernai.onai coiiecuon
agency ana invite assignment of claims
.... nitj
aiiouiuiiu wuiiuiKsiou..
,
tlmo for tho mnnlclnnl tT ., If
. . . "
" - "
Mt 77 by wringing he
TZJl'
. .
IC Will nave IO Start a-inOVing.
When a mund-nn of tho nit ,.n..ti.
-" '
men for a special meeting hrcmtnenUy
successful within twelve honra of
failure to get a quorum present at the
regular meeting, lt might be in order to
dock absentees were It not that there
might be more iu it for them to be ab
sent than present
The generosity of members of con-
cress with the public money is Jllus-
trated again by the Introduction of a
bill to Increase the annual salary of the
presldeut from $.')0.(XK to $100,000. Thla
Is doubtless intended principally as a
prelude for. a bill doubling the salaries
of members of congress.
The proposed constitutional amend-
ment authorizing the merger of the
governments of Omaha and Douglas
couuty In part or in whole as Introduced
ln the Beuate Is not as clear cut as was
the amendment on that subject sub-
inttted by the legislature of 1805. Con-
stltutlonal amendments should not be
ambiguous or verbose.
That Representative Thompson is a
cautious and sagacious politician may
bo evidenced from the fact that ha
wants It distinctly understood that bis
bill to make the abstraction of domes-
tic fowls, buylug stolen fowls and con-
cealiug fowls a penitentiary offense ln
Nebraska Instead of a misdemeanor
waa Introduced by rcquaaC ' -
A Victors IWAH FllOM ttKBHAfKA CITY. I
Tbe moat raltfd railroad organ In
braska today la published at Nebraska I
City under the niUnntneY of the
Tribune, lti vicious attack upon I
Omaha and ltt.roar atout Uie alleged I
plot of Omnha "to rob every county la I
the state' outside of Douglas and Lan-
caster conntles of much of the railroad
taxes they are now, receiving" will
create no surprise in Nebraska City and
Otoe county, where its subserviency to
corporations Is well known.
The Nebraska City railroad Tribune
claims to liave discovered In the cam-
palgn waged by the Omaha press on
the railroad tax question a ; conspiracy
to divert the railroad taxes from, the
remaining counties of Nebraska Into I
the capacious maw of Omaha tax eat-
era, and In the effort of the Real Estate
exchnnge to repeal the clause in the
charter that require the assessment of
railroads for municipal purposes on the
mileage basis "an attempt to steal the
lion's share of the taxes for Omaha and
slip this deft scheme down tho throats
of country members of the legislature
on the plausible basis of raising rail-
road taxes."
Taking its text from Head Lobbyist
Baldwin, the Nebraska City organ
promises "In some future issue to pro-
duce facts and figures to show that this
Bugnr'conte1 0l"aha ."cheme will make
reuueuon in iue rauroaa contriDution
to the school districts of Otoe county I
0 from 12 tO 25 ner Cent." Thla la n I
Btartlln relation that should chal-
lenge ptular attention. If It is true that
h- assessment of the Ttnrli
t"v I
and depot grounds and the Union Pacific
terminals and bridge in Omaha for city
taxation would keep a dollar of railroad
t8Xe" from any .cbool district in Otoe
county, it certainly is an unholy scheme
that' Bhould receive no countenance
from any member of the legislature.
But every rational rterann irnowa ti,n
levying a city tax at Omaha on depot
grounds and bulldinirs can have nn
more effect upon Otoe county taxpayers
tnan levying a city tax upon the Bur-
nngton Driage at rsebraska Cltv would
' 1
have on tlie taxDavcrs In Dniur'nuU
county. Wlth the Mnie proprlt,ty tl)e
Nebrflskn city railroad organ might
Cf.lltuIKl that tho iBuluinont r.f I
iur
"oncnisea or tne t acinc Express com-
,mnjr at mah wuld take money out
Vhe dMTCt "nd C0Unty tren"-
unes 01 utoe Bna an otIler counl
luc iuuiiic- impress company
nalntaln9 "gcncles and does bus-
oraska city upon the owner of a team
' ,w ""Pe"wi 10 pay county
aml Blaie la wouia rob the school
children ln Cass county of part of their
patrimony.
But none are so blind as those who
win 1101 see. ine Utoe county railroad
.111 a. mi . w. ... 1
lorfranlat nmnminma tha ... I I
. w.c vnuumigu lur
more eqmiaoie rauroaa taxation a sham
" i' i "t.oB. or tne ret
1U UlOe COUUtV
j . v - I
I 1 it. I
m u uj iiKiiia nssesaeu on a conserva-
tlve basis at one-sixth their actual
,,ni,IA 1 11
ra.uc .ur, buuu.u imve oeen assessed
fi.uio.uuti, iu uLiit r worns. iitnfkii.A t.nir n u nrnt1f 4un
" ..w
county is Justly entitled to fllnra fhn it I
three Umeg ' uch t t"',Z
nK thov ,M . ' "
7" " , '!."' . " Ju "ry u01"
,ar or xax Tne wal are allowed to
get away with has to be paid by tlm
owu r mxpajers, rroperty owners In
Nebraska clty a"e not only compelled
" v ' l, 01 tl,e unty taxes
T muroaas manage to shirk,
Dul Tney H,8 Dar Bearjy the entire
burdea of taxe8 imposed for maintain-
uu,c,Pal government.
ine railroad organist Is, doubt-
t. un..i ... . I
,lD"' U'B". u"'""s of mm fact that
the ot. unty railroad assessment ten
was .by several thousands
higher than it was last year, although
ln Properties or tht railroads there
have doubled and trebled in value since
While the railroad Tribune can
ruuK IU mis. we apnre-
"e..u iui ine taxpayers or Otoe county
will sea a good deal of rank injustice
u -
einrii4 airow(,
In the United States senate a few
I .. .. . .
days ago tne question or reform in the
I
consular service received some corisld-1
1 ration, several senators exnreaainir
. . - . -
themselves in ravor or a reorganiratlon
or tne senice, on some such lines as
propoged Jn tne bUU Mon congress.
.Loi.e said he ,s not one of
those who believe that the consular
.rvco la either bad or lnffl-..t. ,
" " - o
-iv-3 ..uu.ainui-
I Inal.i attur.L-a ),tnl. !,.... I .. J- I
ua. lt' " w" done Uy in the
n0U"e 01 "P"- ut. ne was
',8 frm bHevln tnat " is
wjuuu luipi-urruicui. i ue ueiecis in
our consular system." said the Massa-
cnusens senator, -are not in tne ne-
tual personnel at any given time, but
ln lue ,acK wt Permanency or tenure,
anu m u,e rallure auvanee tne best
tramM nien m tM wrvice to the more
iP"1""1"1 P"8 they grow ln expe-
rlence and therefore in value." He
urnHl that the value of a consul to the
business interests of the United States,
otner tilings being equal, is almost In
exact proportion to his length of serv-
ice. He thought it would be greatly In
the Interests of the business of the Unl-
I ted States to, as far as possible, have a
I body of men as consuls, the mass of
whom have had some training la the
service, who understand foreign lan-
guages. and who realise that when yiey
enter th service there is a fair oppor-
tuulty for regular promotion. "Instead
of taking an entirely new man pitting
I blm into J post of the highest impor -
I tance, it would be better If he could be
I put Into oae of the posts of es ii?ijoc
tance and some man better trained and
of longer experience advanced to the
more important place."
I This is manifestly the policy that
I should be pursued- It Is In accord with
sound business prtaelple nd tha - con -
tills being distinctively commercial
Ne-laments, bavin as their most Important
duty the promotion of trade, there Is
every reason why the service should be
resulnted uion business principles and
the requirement was never no strong a
now. It Is true that the consular serv
Ice of the United States Is neither bad
nor Inefficient. It has Ieen very much
improved during the past ten years, and
the majority of consular ofneinls are
doing excellent work. Credit for this
has been freely accorded them by other
countries. The best meJ In the service
are those who have had the lonpest ex-
pcrlenee, thus proving the contention of
those who favor permanency, of tenure
with prospect of promotion for faith
fill and elDelent performance of duty.
Those who urge reform desire that the
high standard which has been reached
shall be maintained and if possible Im
proved, and It Is necessary to this
that the consular service shall be dl
vorced from politics and put upon a
basis requiring merit and fitness to se-
cure and retain a place lu It
germ AST'S ATTITVDE viscvsatD.
The committee on military affairs of
the United States senate Thursday
discussed the attitude of Germany in the
cussed the attitude of Germany in the
Venezuelan difficulty, with the resnlt
that It was decided to make certain
provision in regara to seacoast defenses,
so as to be prepared for a possible ex-
Imtt T1, rilsineslnn la ont.l n horo
P. V It J -.!- UIQVUDD1UU " ...... ,I 1. ,
been earnest and the conclusion reached
that the United States make it plain
1 1 1 (i v mc mui4 t iv i ip, i i v. i,uu iiuu
try would be maintained
That Germany dominates the Yenez-
uelan situation Is obvious, the other al-
lies doing pretty much as the Foreign
office at Berlin Suggests. The aggres-
slons have been committed by German
warships. Yet so far as the United
c. a i. .
ment has shown evrv desire to avoid
riv
given the most explicit- assurances
that it h nn intpntinn tn iin Bnvt;,in.
ti.ia
' " v.. . , . Hill
- f o.. n,. nc , ,
lrref(po8lbIe men ln blc fe cannot
fairly be taken as reflecting the views
m . . .
or xue aiuiuue oi me government, uniy
a few days ago the new diplomatic ren
resentatlve of Germany to the United
States publicly stated that it was the
desire of his government to end the
Venezuelan difficulty as'soon as nossl
i,i and that Germnnv soueht to cultl-
tee on military affairs may be Judicious,
p are unable to see any eood reason
fr nnnrehendinir trouble with nrmnnv
on the contrary, there are very strong
reasons for thinking that country
wold make great sacrifices to avoid
-
RPris trouble with the United Rtata.
Tha Venezuelan dlfflctiltv will ho a..t.
tid it ,-an cnnfldpnti ho nM,ni
without any Impairment of tbe friendly
.ulatlona Wwoon P.rman Drl
v . -""""J i"io
luuuuj.
tttt TBAfFIC conoESTioy.
The congestion of railroad traffic on
tl U11D. I1UCQ a-IVUl IUQ 11 COl 1LJ C
Ai a. 1 t
" " !TU"
m"lOT' """"" rea""u"u5 " uu eyi-
of abounding prosperity, such a
situation has its drawbacks and dlsad
nd thoo ro ii..f.if i,.
both western .shippers and eastern ex
porters. A traffic representative of one
0f the largest trunk, lines going 'Into
Cw York said a few days ago that the
illrond conmnnlea are nhvsicallv nn.
able to handle the unprecedented vol-
unie of trafflc o(rerlng. ne stated that
th,v l.nro neither sufficient locomotive
- "
p. nor tracks: that they are dolmr
their utmost and the beonle w ho are
eomplalulng apparently do not apprecl-
ate the work the railroads are doing or
the proposition the railroads are up
against. Recently the Lake Shore road
oractlrnllv irave notice that it could re.
polvo nr mnr eraln nnd It I. anld that
11,0 Ponnavirnnin la In the wrt ha.
of all. its condition being so bad that
,t8 weslern ronnertlonB det,llne to de.
j,ver graln to ,t for elevators situated
Ion Its system. A Baltimore grain ex
rt,, in a communication a few dva
11 "
t Wni nnm.r atatod th.t
I " " - " - 1' i' . . ...... imiijr
u-nm nt that nnrt k.ihi.. .
o,i i,.t v 0i .,.. i..
i ."-y ,, vB1UK
heavy loss to exporters.
Referring to the situation, the New
York Journal of Commerce expresses
the opinion that it is primarily due to
the suppression of competition. It re
.,. Vv: ... 1. .......
uim Ml umi iurr ;iutv" VI UllHlUftlH, VV
peciuny in tne iai nve years, nas been
steady anu continuous, ana. narrmg
any serious crop failure, its increased
volume could be approximately calcu
lated urn. "If there had been any
tnuig approacning even a regulate.
eomiK-tltion between the Hues of tram
portatlon during these years, each
would have been preparing to secure Itn
full share by ample provision for
handling it. It. would have had a sur
plus of facilities when trafflc was reia
tively light, but this would have en
I aided it to meet the demand when the
full tide came. All the rival line
would not have found themselves over
whelmed at once and ln a struggle with
congestion at Importaut ioints, while
I vast and varied Interests were sub
Jeeted to delay and loss on their a
I count.
I A it Is there are vlrtnally no rival
lines, but a practical consolidation of
the trunk lines luto a single, system
controlling" transportation from the
west to the Atlantic ports, checked only
by tmj Uulf and the St. Lawrence coni-
petition, which has uu great effect, it
1 Is pointed out that Iu building up the
combination there have been so-called
- 1 economies in equipment ami facilities
for handling aud expediting tragic The
aim has been to adjust equipment to
tbe assumed needs of the whole couj-
I blned system and give it a unified dl-
I rection for the common profit. The
1 effect La not only leu to restrict
equipment and facilities to the calcu
lated needs of the entire tniuk line
system and to deprive them of elastic
ity, but new rivalry has leen excluded.
Of course the congestion will soon
w relieved. It cannot continue beyond
ic opening of lake navlirution. ' Hut It
s significant of what may periodically
cur under the system of railroad com
bination or "community of Interest."
with its policy of "economies" In equip
ment and traffic facilites.
Iowa's supreme court has Just de
cided that the state law requiring rail
roads to equip their cars with auto
matic safety coupling devices does not
pply to locomotives and teuders and
hat the railroads may still expose tho
lives and limbs of their employes to the
deadly hand coupler in connecting the
locomotive to every train. The Iowa
lawmakers should see to .it that this de
fect be fixed up, and it would not be a
bad plan cither for our Nebraska legis
lators while in session to make sure
that the Nebraska automatic coupling
law Is not lamed by the same loophole,
as the Iowa law.
The renomlnatlou by President
Roosevelt of Director of the Mlut Rob
erts for another term disposes for the
present at least of the stories of Mr.
Roberts' expected retirement from that
position. So far as the public Is con
cerned lt Is satisfied with Director Rob
erts' conduct of the mint and his re-
ppolntment means that the president
U likewise satisfied.
Importers and manufacturers of coy
ote scalps and bear cub paws will do
well to deposit their trophies with the
state auditor at the earliest moment
before the law offering bonutlos for the
destruction of wild aulmals in the state
of Nebraska is repealed. This has been
most lucrative busiucss, but there
must be an end to all good things.
A great many house rolls and senate
files designed to regulate the Invest
ment and deposit of educational funds
re beiug rolled and filed In tbe legisla
ture, but no effective protection tor the
educational funds can be secured be
fore the submission and adoption of an
amendment to the constitution cover-
lug this vital issue.
Receiving; an Kqnlralent.
St. Louis Globe-Democrat.
Expenses at the White Houbs have been
gradually Increasing during the past year,
but the country cannot complain that it li
not getting good service.
Where Fiction Thrlvea.
Philadelphia North American.
Congressman Lessler denies any collusion
with the self-confeased perjurer Doblln.
It' la curious that a place where so many
Ilea are told should be named after George
Washington.
Hanging Hope on Lnwyera.
Washington Post.
Jim Tillman boasts that forty lawyers
have offered to defend, blm. It la a boast
that tends to create tbe Impression that
an abnormal amount ;of defending, Is going
to be necessary ln his case.
Good Will Toward tbe Laat.
Chicago Chronicle.
The penitent but anonymous citizen who
has sent $1 to the city ball as conscience
money and asks the municipal officials to
meet him ln heaven evidently does not
know much about tbe crowd that holds
forth in the municipal building these days.
Cruelty to Animals.
New York Tribune.
The bill which has passed the house of
representatives and Is now before . the
senate, permitting railroad companies to
keep cattle and other live stock ln cars
without food or drink tor forty consecutive
hours, ought to be defeated. This Is legia
lation for the promotion of cruelty to
animals. The present limit of, twenty-eight
hours should not be exceeded. That Is
liberal enough to shippers and railways
alike.
Adyantaar of Foot Ball.
Casper Whitney In Outing.
There are other games as Interesting ss
foot ball, but foot ball happens now to be
tbe most popular, and hence Is made the
target for all the slings and arrows of the
unsportly. It is vigorous, to be sure; it
demands more physical effort than any
other game, but, If not abused, lt gives
larger returns to tbe participant. It has
an element of danger, but no game lacking
that -spice Is really wortb while. It is
mental and a physical stimulant which
strengthens not only the body, but denfnnds
quick thinking, and lt develops patience
and courage, and promotes clean living
and temperance. These are not mere words;
tbey may be verified by any one who cares
to take the trouble to make a fair Investl
gallon at the nearest school or college.
GIVES ITSELF AWAY.
SnrprUlnar Admission of Great Ilrltalu
In She Veneaaelan Hatter.
Kansas City Star.
One of the greatest surprises of tho wbolo
Venezuelan affair is the announcement by
the British foreign office that Great Brit
ain, and not Germany, took the Initiative
in bringing about the alliance between the
two powers.' The statement, made by a
high British authority, that this announce
ment was forced by Germany through a
threat to publish the diplomatic corre
spondence, la entirely plausible. With
amazing self-containment the British au
thorities have permitted the people of the
I'nlted State and the press of their own
country to believe that Germany was the
instigator of the joint movement and. to
express themselves accordingly. Tbe won
der is that Germany did not force ac
knowledgement earlier, especially consider
ing tbe unfriendly feeling that has been
aroused In this country.
Great Britain's belati'd announcement
changes the aepect of the case somewhat.
and lessens the promise of an early ad
justment of the difficulty. It absolutely
dismisses the thought that tbe London gov
ernment might, through displeasure over
Germany's policy In maintaining the block
ade, withdraw from the alliance, and move
for independent aettlement. It emphasises
the blunder made by England In going Into
the alliance a blunder tint has been recog
nized by the English people and commented
upon pretty freely by the English press,
and which may yet cause the ruuignatlou
of tbe Balfour ministry. It does not. bow.
ever, change tbe opinions of the world aa
to Germany's rash procedure In Venezuelan
waters. It frees the G'-rman government
la a measure of the suspicion of having
designedly sought to ally Itself with Eng
land in a deliberate acbme to harass the
United States on tbe Monro doctrine Issue.
OTIIFFl LAM) THAI Ot RS.
King Oscar of Sweden, who hna been
obliged by 111 health to temporarily abdi
cate the sceptre, Is reputed to be one of
the most learned men In Europe. He Is
a member or honorary member of nearly
every Important academy or association of
sciences. In addition to which he has at
tained fame as a poet, HngulM, critic, In
ternational arbitrator and athlete. He Is
the possessor of hundreds of deroratlons,
Including those of almost every known or
der of knighthood, but the medal he val
ues moat highly Is one given him by the
Humane Society of France for stopping a
runaway team on the streets of Paris. A
characteristic Illustration of hla extreme
modesty la given by a story told of his
examination of some school children. Hav
ing asked the class) to nnme the most fa
mous monarch of Sweden, a small girl
mentioned Oscar II. When pressed to
mention a notable event of his reign the
diplomatic miss wns obliged to admit she
knew of none. "That is right," remarked
the king. "I don't know of any myself."
If the nation Is happy that has no history
the Swedes own that privilege. King Os
car spoke the literal truth. The only stir
ring event of his reign was perhaps the
Norwegian poet BJornsen's challenge of the
king to a duel.
Tho annnintment of Dr. Raudall Pavld-
on to the archbishopric of Canterbury is
but another illustration of bow the Scot Is
conquering south of the border. The arch
bishop of York is likewise a Scotchman.
In the British government ten Scotchmen
are drawing yearly 37,617 from the treas
ury, viz: Arthur Balfour, tbe premier;
Gerald Balfour, secretary for thn Board
of Trade; Mr. Ititchle, the homo secre
tary: Lord Balfour of Burleigh, secretary
of Scotland; H. T. Anetruther, a Junior
lord of the admiralty; Hon. T. Cochrane,
parliamentary secretary for the home of
fice; A. B. Law, parliamentary secretary
for tho Board of Trade; Sir R. B. Flnlay,
advocate' for Scotland, and Scott Plekson,
solicitor general for Scotland. Moreover,
the earl of Mlnto, governor general of
Canada, Is a Scot, and Lord Hopetoun, until
recently governor general of Austria, is of
the same nationality.
Some doubt has been thrown by recent
travelers upon the correctness of the ac
cepted notion that China Is a land of teem
ing population, lt has been asserted that
the human hives along the seaboard and
the great rivers of China ought not to be
taken as a basis for estimates; that ln
those parts of the empire which lie off
the main routes of traffic (the natural and
artificial water courses) the population of
China Is comparatively thin. A census
recently taken by the Pekln government
for the purpose of assessing taxes to meet
the Indemnity payments seems, however,
to prove the accuracy of the older esti
mates. The census shows that the eighteen
provinces of China proper contain 407,737,-
105 inhabitants; that THancburln nas
8.600,000 and Mongolia, Thibet and Chinese
Turkestan a little over 10,000,000. The total
population of the empire is 426,447,325, ac
cording to this enumeration. The absolute
reliability of Asiatic statistics Is ques
tioned; nevertheless, the agreement of the
results of the ceneus with the accepted
estimates is so close as to Invite confi
dence. The statement that the Chinese
empire contains one-third of the human
race will hereafter be regarded more than
ever as an approximate truth.
The Rand in general and Johannesburg
in particular are tn the hands of what lr
probably the most complete railroad mo
nopoly in existence, and the fact that this
Is controlled by the government does not
better oonditlona. The freight rates from
the coasts ta the Transvaal are so high
that only the comparatively wealtby can
live ln comfort there, enjoying luxuries
in the way of furniture and the like such
aa they have been accustomed to at home.
Rents are abnormal, very moderate houses
ln decent localities renting for from $2,500
to $3,000 a year and everything else Is
proportionately dear. There is only one
remedy for this the reductions of charges
on the railways from Natal and the Cape,
which are paying dividends to the govern
ment large enough to make private cor
poration green with envy. Import duties
on foodBtuffs, building materials and min
ing necessaries might be abolished until
ordinary economic conditions return, to tbe
great advantage of the colony.
The fact that no especial honor has been
conferred upon Lord Curzon for tho suc
cessful way ln which he has "pulled oh"
the Durbar is creating some surprise, even
ln England, but the fact In, tha.t Lord
Curzon occupies a position which makes it
difficult to give him a distinction such as
would usually follow an event like the
Durbar. He is not a British peer. He de
cllnes to become one, and lt is, therefore,
impossible to give him a step in the peer
age. It is true that he is an Irish peer
and lt might be possible to offer blm a step
up ln the Irish peerage. Lord Palmerston,
for instance, was a viscount ln the peerage
of Ireland, and it would be quite feasible
to confer the same rank, or even an Irish
earldom, on Lord Curzon. Apparently,
however, King Edward does not care to
create Irish peerages or give promotion to
existing Irish peers. In these circum
stances, the only distinction that can be
conferred on Lord Curzon is one of the
orders which he does not already possess.
The removal of that great English In
stitution, the PoBtofflce Savings bank, from
Its 'present location to more commodious
quarters ln West Kensington, makes salient
the remarkable growth of the enterprise.
In 1880, when it had to move to get more
room for its business, lt had 8,185,000 de
positors, and Us deposits amounted to
1168,000,000. Now its depositors number
9,000,000, and the deposits count up to
$725,000,000. Originally designed for the
benefit of the working classes, the bank
now haa all kinds of depositors, Including
many children and the wives of men whj
have bank accounts elsewhere. The great
popularity of the Institution is due to Its
safety, the British government itself
standing behind lt. Deposits as small aa
25 cents are received.
Searchlights for Firemen.
Powerful searchlights of such Intensity
that their rays will throw Into bold relief
every object that fire fighters may want to
tee aro likely to be installed among the
equipment of the Chicago fire department
on wagons especially equipped for the pur
pose. Marshal Musbam and City Electri
cian Elllcott now have one of the lights of
60,000 candle power which they intend to
test on the fircboat Illinois at tbe foot of
Illinois street.
The big light Is supplied with power from
a new steam turbine engine, said to be tbe
first 10 be applied to any commercial use la
Chicago. The turbine Is expected to realize
S'i per cent of the power stored up in tbe
fuel. With the light the whole equipment
weighs 600 pounds.
The rays pouring from so concentrated a
source of light would dazzle the eye and to
meet this objection a shield has been de
vised which will confine the gleam as far as
possible to a point. Pilots In the lake and
on the river are particularly to be pro
tected from the danger of blinding.
When turned on a building the light Is
expected to stream through the windows
and fill the house with light practically as
strong as the rays of the sun. The ef
fectiveness of such a device in the saving
of life and minimizing danger to firemen
la the main object of introducing the light.
Chicago Chronicle.
19 IT A BOOMKn llKCIIO
Prematare Rejolrlna; of Ta Dodaers
Over a Sew York t'onrt Halloa;.
Chicago Post. -It
Is not Impossible that the New York
frnnchlse-owlng corporations hav over
reached themf.'lves In their artful attempt
to annul the admirable and equitable law '
for the taxation of their special privileges j
a real estate. The decision of the appel- 1
late court, which they hailed as great ;
victory, may turn out to be a bitter defeat
for them. That would be an Instance of
poetic as well as pra-tlcal Justice. The
question now under iliacusslon Is " ttiln:
noes tne decision anect the essential tea- ;
ttire of the law, the assessment of fran
chises as real property, or does It Invali
date only that tricky amendment which
vests In the State Board of Tax Commls
sloners the power to assces this species of
taxable property?
The prevailing opinion uses this lan
guage: 1 am forced to the conclusion I
that sn trturh nf thn art ss nrnvMns for Ihn
assessment of a special franchise by the
State Board of Tax Commissioners la un
constitutional and void." "So much of
the act"' is not the whole act, and all the
Judges distinctly upheld the principle of
franchise taxation. In another place the
opinion says: "Therefore, when the legis
lature deemed It wise to sdd to the tax
able list the so-called special franchise.
tho duty of assessing it devolved at once
upon the local assessors. Its creation at
one brought It within the scope of their
official duties."
This seems to Imply that the assessors
are entitled and bound to assess the fran
chises regardless of the provision cf the
law which places this power In the state
board. And. this is the construction now
put upon the decision by the comptroller
of New York and by the author of the
original act, ex-Senator Ford. The latter
says: "It unquestionably leaves the orig
inal Ford bill Intact. It has now been de
cided that tbe two amendments put ln at
the suggestion of Governor Roosevelt-are
void. Tbe principle of franchise taxation
Is tn no way attacked by the decision."
If Mr. Ford and the comptroller are right.
what a boomerang the decUlon will prove
to be for the tax-dogging and tricky cor
porations! Not only will they have to pay
franchise taxes, but they will have to ac
cept the valuations of the local assessors.
Cunning sometimes overreaches itself, and
there is such a thing as getting hoist with
one's own petard. The case goes to the
court of last resort, and the people have
a better prospect of ultimate victory than
the corporations.
POLITICAL. Dill FT.
The state of Maine is out of debt and
awfully lonesome.
Mayor Carter H. Harrison of Chicago is
hustling for a fourth term. ,
There is quite a flood of trust-busting
bills ln the New Jersey legislature. They
have as good a show as a snowball In the
Sahara.
Governor Pennypacker of Pennsylvania
urges the enactment of a measure restrain
ing newspaper criticism. Campaign lashes
must have made a lasting impression on
the governor.
A Kansas lawmaker advocates a law for
bidding the eating of snakes. There are
a few Jiggers of mercy in the measure. To
see snakes is sufficient punishment for a
drug-store Jag.
The mayor of the bustling city of
Worcester, ln the old Bay state, has set a
noble example of self-abnegation. He has
vetoed an ordinance raising his salary from
$2,500 to $4,000. ,
Tbe Utah' legislature has resolved that
a newspaper comment comparing the mem
bers from San Pete County to Jackrabbits
"casts serious reflection upon the intelli
gence and fitness for work of the legis
lature." The Titan ex-Governor of Texas, The
colossal J. S. Hogg, is emulating the ex
ample of Ctncinnatus, and has taven to the
cultivation of cabbages on a tremendous
scale. Next month he intends to ship north
many tralnloads of the savory vegetables
so Intimately associated with corned beef.
"Cy" Sulloway of New Hampshire is the
tallest man ln the national house at pres
ent, measuring nearly 6 feet, but 'in the
next house he will give way to Representative-elect
OUle James of the First Ken
tucky district, who Is not only taller than
that, but larger ln proportion, weighing 850
pounds.
An Ohio man who died in Idaho recently
achieved distinction in his native state by
losing power of speech during a campaign
in which he was a candidate. Triumphant
election restored his power of speech. It
was the first instance on record where a
Buckeye lost his conversational talent with
an office in sight.
All told, the city of Boston is to collect
thla year from real and personal property
$15,979,373, which is $217,640 less than the
assessment of taxes for the previous year.
The expenses of Jhe year are estimated at
$19,425,152.69, or a little over $500,000 less
than last year's figures.
In some parts of the United States Finns
are becoming an Important element of the
voting population. One advantage they
have over immigrants from many European
countries is that the proportion of il
literacy among them Is Infinitesimal, hi of
1 per cent only, while among the Immi
grants from southern Italy, Russia, Portu
gal and Poland lt varies from 60 to 70. By
the last census there were ln the United
States 63,440 natives of Finland, of whom
19,000 resided In Michigan, 10,700 in Minne
sota, 6,100 in Massachusetts, 4.000 In New
York, 2.800 ln Ohio, 2.700 In California, 2,700
ln Washington and 2,100 ln Oregon.
WW
V
A Sudden Drop
This la the time of the year to look for sudden drops in the prices f
clothing and other articles of masculine splendor. It Isn't because w bar -charged
too much heretofore, but because we are willing to let the remainder
of our broken lines of winter merchandise go for less than they are worth.
The reason for this Is a simplo business reason these are the
remaining garments after a busy season. We don't want to carry
them over, and, a the season Is pretty well advanced, we sr will
ing to share the loss with our customer.
There are a few more of those CHILD'S VESTEE SUITS at $1.60 that
sold at $3.00 and up to $9.00.
$1.50 and $2.00 SHIRTS to be had now for $1.00.
$1.00 SHIRTS to be had at 75c (all sizes except 16).
30C NECKWEAR to be had at 25c.
BOYS' SHIRTS AND SHIRT WAISTS (slightly soiled), that sold a high
SS $1.00 now 25c.
BOYS' GLOVES (the warm, leather kind) for 25c.
MEN'S TROl'SEKS that sold from $5.00 up are bow $1.50...,
And Overcoats, Ulsters and Suits from broken lines and odd sizes
have been very materially reduced.
No Clothing Fits Like Ours.
R. S. WILCOX, Manager.
nooKVKI.T A A 111 11KM MAN.
So Man llettrr F.nrnn Ilia Par Than
the President.
James Ford Hhrdes In Prribnet's.
Mr. Roosevelt merits the encouragement
and sympathy of all lovera of good govern
ment, aud he Is emit led, as Indeed Is every
prr,,,jpnt, to consldernte and forbearing
criticism. For. ardently desired as the
mcp lt (B a hara p),rf, t0 n) Through
the jinjn,,g 0f president Roosevelt. I have
DpPn cnbled to observe the dally routine
of n)g orX sn(1 j am frre to say that from
tne business point of view no man better
earns hit pay trisin cloos he. Mr. Bryce re-
,.Pv tht ,t nt the r.relilint
work is like that of the manager of a rail
way. Po far as corcerns the consultation
with heads of departments, prompt de
risions and the disposition of dally mat
ters, the comparison is apt If a great
American railway and a manager like
Thomas A. Scott are borne In mind. But
! ttiA llwa mnmavA.'a IkKnr Is rtftllA In
... ...
comparative privacy; he can be free 4rom
interruption and dispose of his own time
in a systematic manner. That is Impossible
for the president during the session of
congress. Office seekers themselves do not
trouble the president so much as In former
days; they may be referred to the heads
of the departments; and, moreover, tbj
introduction of competitive examinations
and the merit system has oporated aa a
relief to the president and his r. blnet of
ficers. But hearing the recommendations
by senators and congressmen of their
friends for offices consumes a large amount
of time. There are, as Senator. Lodge has
kindly Informed me, 4,818 presidential
offices and 4.000 presidential costofflcts: In
1 addition there are army and naval officers
to he appointed. The proper selection In
four years of tbe number of men these
figures imply Is in Itself co small labor; lt
would by a railroad manager be considered
an onerous and exacting business. But thn
railway manager may hear the claims of
applicants in his own proper way, and, to
prevent encroachments on his time, may
give the candidates or their friends a curt
dismissal.
MIIITHFIL IlKMAKKS.
"Pretty fast horse, eh?" asked the friend.
"Fast? I should say so. Why, I can
start out for a two-mile sleigh ride with
him and get back before it thaws." Wash
ington Star.
"Colonel, how did you catch that cold in
your head? '
"Taking off my hat ln an elevator, auh."
"What did you do that for?"
"There was a picture of a lady hanging
up ln it, suh." Chicago Tribune.
"Ira! Get up!" Mrs. Dayman called,
shaking her sleepy husband. "If you're
roing down town with Asa you'll have to
hurry. Asa's up."
"Aces up?" replied Qayman, sleepily,
"You win the money. I never did havt
any luck." Philadelphia Post.
The Manayunk Philosopher rises to re
mark that a woman In a decollete gown al
ways reminds him of an oyster on the half
shell. Philadelphia Record.
Plattytude There la always room at the
top.
Merrlt Yes, but the fellows who are up
there ere monopolists. N. Y. Time.
Naggsby They tell me young Tryfler haj
been quite another chap since his rich
uncle kicked him out and made htm shift
for himself.
Waggsby Yes; the ' kick out of doors
served a a aort of bloodless operation
for congenital worthlessnes. Philadelphia
Press.
"But suppose," said the eastern girl,
'suppose, when you're out alone ln the
evening without a chaperon, some man
should accost you?"
"I'd ewat him one,1' replied the western
gin, calmly, "and trim's more than the
chaperon could do." Chicago I'ost.
Wlssum I was surprised that you should
hit that little fellow nt the seance, Jle was
somewhat Intoxicated, I prsnt you, but he
Is one of the leaders among the spiritual
ists and they didn't like your assault upon
him at all.
Harry There's no pleasing you, Wlssurri.
You have alwaya told me to strike a happy
medium and the first time I do lt you
blame me. Boston Transcript.
"Don't you think." said the man who was
looking over the wares at the news stand,
"that a Kst deal of poor literature is
gotten out now?"
"I'm not expressing any opinion," an
swered the somewhat haughty attendant.
"L am here to sell the stuff and not to
read it." Washington Star. '
Boy (on hither side of line fence) If I
had a fence like your I'd take lt off and
let it reet a while.
New Boy (on the other side) Tf I had a
face like yours I'd see If I couldn't run It
for enough soap to give -it a waahln'."
Chicago Tribune.
JOIIX BILL FllOTESTS.
New York Bun.
Oh, William, stop bombarding!
Oh. Billy, please be nice;
Stop calmly disregarding
My excellent advice.
Please be a little wiser,
Be good and com awayt
Oh Billy, be a Kaiser,
Not a fireworks display.
Oh. heavens! what's that roar therT
What are you shelling at?
That little speck on shore there?
A fortress! It's a cat I
Your head, my friend. Is swelling-,
With all thla blamed pow-wow.
Oh, William, dear, stop shelling
That doubtless neutral cow!
I do not mind blockading
To gather ln your debt.
But all this canonadlng
Has got my nerves upset;
I'm down here, willy-nilly
To help your gunning sport,
I'm , oh, confound it, Billy,
That hen is not a fort!
I don't see what I came for,
Nor how to get away.
Nor why I lent my nam for
This Herman holiday I
B111Y wild bombarding habit
Is Damn! He's at it stllj;
Oh, Lord! ha s killed a rabbit!
I'll leave you, Cousin Bill!.
5-S
1