Nebraska Newspapers

    r ft
The omaha Daily Bee
E. ROHKWATER, EDITOR.
PUBLISHED EVERY MORNINO.
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livening Uce (Including Hunday), per
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Omaha The Bee Hullding.
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COKRESl'ONDENCE.
Communications relating to new and ed
itorial matter should be addressed: Omaha
Uec, Editorial Department.
STATEMENT OF CIRCULATION.
State of Ncbraxka. Douglas County, as.:
Oeorge H. Tsschuck. neiretnry of The Bee
uhllfhlng company, being duly sworn, sr.ys
that the actual number of full and complete
copies of The Dally, Morning, Evening and
Sunday Bee printed during the month of
January, 13, wax aa roiiows;
:io.4ito
1"
....ao.nno
.... ,!(
....ao.mo
,'...3,b:io
....31,530
....3O.4-40
,...304;;o
,...3rt,TBO
,.,.a.s,iro
18
19
20
21
Z
23
24
...30,7tM
...sim.hos
...:io,fwn
...80,020
.. .30,1120
... 80,400
...80,40
,..rto.nn(
25..
0.
26 BO.B70
t! ao,B7o
2J.i..... .IIO.H-IO
, 29 :io,r,:to
)... .'..30.BTU
si .ii(,t
28.T1IO
J2 30.1M
13 so.nno
J4 30,41M
J5 SIU.570
It 30,-lTO
Total.
..04 1. INS
Xes unsold and returned copies.... O.NTB
Vet total sales Wll.flOT
Jet average sales ao.oBl
- GEORGE B. TZSCHUCK.
Subscribed In my presence and sworn to
before me this 31st day of January. A. D.
W. M. li. III'NGATE.
(Beal.) Notary Fublic.
We never put much reliance In that
ground hog, anyway.
let the coal man rejoice. The prouncl
bog saw his shadow without hnlf look
ing. According to the groundhog's calen
dar we are to hnve six weeks mora of
real winter.
Having been Kiwjclully received by
King Edward, General Miles con con
Bole himself for not hitching on to the
ipeclal coronation embassy.
The democrats of the legislature seem
to have dumped home rule for a
mess of pottage. The . nonpartlRan
water commissioner bait was altogether
too many for them.
I
New York will celebrate its 250th an
niversary in May. For a youngster, as
compared with the older cities of
Europe, the American metropolis has
been doing quite well. . ,
When the legislature reconvenes its
first business should be a rigid Investi
gation into the manipulation of the cor-
noratlon lobby and the operations of the
railroad literary bureau.
New Mexico, Arizona and Oklahoma
may have no representation in the
United States senate, but they are run-
jlng the business of that body f5r the
time being Just the same.
The sultan of Morocco has scored a
ilgnal victory' over the pretender, but
the pretender seems to be one of those
pretentious fellows who do not know
nough to know when he is licked.
A Chicago grand Jury filed 121 in
llctments against owners and operators
)f blot machine in the down town dis
jict Saturday. How many of these
il$t machine owners will be prosecuted
remains to be seen.
4
Secretary Hoot say another war is
sure to ironic, uo matter how much we
may long for peace. So Is another
cyclone and another famine and an
otber pestilence and another volcanic
eruption. But we will cross all those
bridge when we get to them.
From the list of officers of ihe
Thomas Jefferson Memorial association
the conclusion is Inevitable that the de
mocracy of the ttiige of Moutlcello wus
in such a nebulous condition that It cov
er professed democrats in public life
today who could get together ou uo
other coinmou ground.
An Omahal paslwr la 'trying to Jmpress
Mb congregation with the wickedness of
avoiding the paying ofr'car fare Just lie
causeHhe conductor forgets to demand
Je fare. As aiV effective means 'of en
forcement we 'suggest that he 'put au
embargo ou'uls coinrlliuilou 1hx ugainst
i.lckeU that In -riifht belong to the
street railway company.
Governor I'ummiUK- is up against a
queer t proposition ns a' result of the
death of Congressman Ituinple. Strict
compliance ' with the law requiring, a
(special election to till the vacancy, wlU
alv two weeks of the term unexpired,
would be a fcostly luxury for the people
of the district.' As illustrating the fool
ishness a good law may work under un
fortteen' conditions this is a slriulug ex
ample,; i ' ' '
. . .t .". 1 .. 11
Whatever pluus the present Nebraska
legislature may ud.ipt for rebuilding or
enlarging state institutions, it should
not forget the' forcible arguments in
favor bt fireproof construction presented
by recent burning of state buildings.
It Is not the los of property, so much
r.a thn loss of life, that Is to be avoided.
The destroyed property can be replaced,
fatal or permanent Injury of the state's
wards leaves no way to restitution. The
rtnt trnn nnhllc hnllillnir. esneclallv when
designed for theaecqmmodatlon of de
Student laiuatc should be taboood,
- ' - - " - -- ---
ADVtnsE Ti) AVKH1VAX Til A t)t .'
A report of the American connlil" nen
ernl at IVrlln point 'out that the Jer
niau tariff will be to a serious extent
adverse to our trade with that cnur.'ry,
unless modified by a reciprocity treaty.
He notes as especially ljrnlflVuut the
largely increased duties tin grain and
cereal products, which are more than
doubled, while on flour there Is placed
a practically prohibitory duty On othee
Important staple exports front the
United States, In the line of manufac
tures, duties are largely Increased. A
similar policy Is being pursued by Aus
tria In the rearrangement of her tariff
and Itussla has also Just .adopted a new
general customs tariff that considerably
Increases duties, which will unfavor
ably affect American trade with that
country, though this Is not now very ex
tensive. A short time ago the Prussian finance
minister made the significant declara
tion that In Ills opinion "America Is the
dark p,t In the heaveus of our indus
try. Our Internal market must be
greatly strengthened, for our market is
toxluy deiK-ndent ftnon ' America ' and
England. Agriculture must be our spe
cial concern." Tills, undoubtedly very
well represents the, general . feeling in
Europe toward this country. The
American' invasion . must ' 6mehow be
checked, but the statesmen of the Eu
ropean countries are finding this a most
difficult problem. In most of those
countries there can be no great'Jm
provement agricultural conditions
hnd therefore they must continue to
draw more, or less of their food sup
plies from the United States. This Is
partlctilnriy the case with : Germany.
It cannot produce sufficient to supply
the home demands for foodstuffs and in
placing hlKher duties on these It is in
juring, the masses of Its own people.
The chief part of what Germany ,fcpys
from us It must Import and It can
get It to better advantage from us than
from anybody else. So far as manufac
turers are concerned, possibly it would
be to its advantage to shut out Amer
ican competition, but In doing this It
must count upon some loss of exports
to this country. Much of what we Im
port from Germany we can get with
etpial advantage elsewhere In case our
export trade to it should be curtailed.
We cannot fairly, complain of the
higher tariffs of European countries,
framed with reference to protecting
their industries, so long as they do not
distinctly discriminate against our
products. -This we object to. As a mat
tor of fact the United States has sub
mitted for years to the most unjust dis
criminations on the part of Germany,
France and some other European coun
tries, the representations of our gov
ernment in regard to thjs and the re
quests for fair and Just treatment being
disregarded. It can be confidently ex
pected that the policy of discrimination
will become more pronounced than H Is
If the United States does Hot take steps
to counteract It. TJie resolution of' Sen
ator Lodge, providing for an Inquiry .In
regard to tariff discriminations, against
the United States, should be favorably
acted upon , and. -If discrimination is
shown something decisive should be
done for putting an end to it The Amer
ican farmer and manufacturer want
only fair treatment in. the world's' mar
kets and It Is the duty of the govern'
ment to use every effort to secure this
for them.
BAtiKHVPTl.'Y liAW VBaNOES.
The changes made In the bankruptcy
law will undoubtedly make It more ac
ceptable to all interested and may be
expected to operate favorably to the
permanence of the act. whloh had be
fore, leeu threatened by a more or less
vigorous opposition, in and out of con
gress. The desirability of rq law of
this kind has been most amply shown
and notwithstanding Its defects the act
has had good results., As now amended
there is every reason to believe it will
be of very much' greater value.
The changes effected in the, law are
largely due to the efforts of the Na
tioual Association of Credit Men, which
for the past two or three years has
worked zealously to bring about amend
meuts which experience had shown to
be necessary in order to make the act
fair. Just and equitable. Some of these
changes are exceedingly Important. For
Instance, the amended act provides that
the bankruptcy of u corporation shall
not release Its officers, directors or
stockholders, as such.' from any liability
under the laws of a state, or territory.
Another provision extends acts of bank
ruptcy to Include a case in which a
lH-rtMin has applied for a receiver or-
trustee for his property, or because of
Insolvency a 'receiver or trustee has
Iwh put . In charge of his property
under the laws of a state or territory
To the causes assigned In the original
niljor refusing to grant the discharge
of a bankrupt the following have been
added: A discharge shall lie refused to
one who has obtained pruierty ou credit
from any icroii upon a material! fulse
stutemeut :i writing, or who luis at
any time subsequent to the first day of
the four months lupmedlately preceding
the tiling of the petltlou transferred, re
moved, destroyed or conciled any of hi;
property with Intent to hinder, delay o
defraud li!a creditors, or who in voluu
tury proceedings has had a discbarge i
bankruptcy within six years, or who
has. refused, to plxjy any lawful order or
to answer' any material question ap
proved by the court. Those sections
providing means . wliereby property
transferred iu violation of the act may
be recovered are so- aiueudd as to cotir
fer Jurisdiction for the purpose upon
auy state court which would have had
Jurisdiction ' If bankruptcy had not In
tervened. t
Doubtless It will lie 'f.mnd that some
further amendments will be necessary
U perfect the law, but those mode will
materially strengthen the act and render
- lu oierutlo more satisfactory. ' , In
ve'stigatlon has shown that a' Very large
i -
proportion' of the bu!liies men of the
touniry whn have given the subject in
telligent consideration are favorable to
a national bankruptcy law and now
that the chief causes of objection to tip
act have Iteen removed there Is reason
to expect that It will receive more gen
eral approval.
'
THK HOWKLI. HILIEF BILL.
The water works purchase bill, which
passed both houses of the legislature
last week and has now been approved
by the governer, at once become
law, as It carries an emergency
lause. The father of this measure,
Senator Howell, has kindly volunteered
to enlighten the citizens of Omaha cou-
erning the important features of the
bill, which are summarlwl as follows:
Under the terms of the measure the
governor will be required to appoint 'a
water board of six members within thirty
days of the date of attaching his stgna
tura to the bill. Two members will be
ppolnted for two years, two for four ana
wo. for six years, all of whom must be
lectors of the city. The bill also pro
vides that one member for each term
must be a. republlran and one a democrat.
Why . representatives of the 4eople
should show such a dislrust of the peo
ple, ami especially the taxpayers who
are to assume obligations that may ex-
eed $4,(0,(iiH), ond should deprive
them of the right to elect their own
water commission, and why they are
to le put - on probation under state
guardianship for four years. Is not ex
plained by Mr. Howell. Neither does
he explain why the commission is made
responsible to. nobody,, removable by no
body mid euipt .vered to appoint its own
successors lu case' of vacancies by death
or otherwise
The provision requiring one-half of
the commission to be democrats and the
other half republicans affords no safe
guard against malfeasance In office.
The purchase and management of the
water works involves no political Issue.
Venal democrats and corrupt repub
licans will combine Just as readily for
any boodle scheme as would dishonest
members of a single party.
The next feature of importance, ac
cording to Mr. Howell, Is the provision
of'the law that requires the city coun
cil to declare by ordinance that It Is
necessary for the city to purchase the
water plant and at the first meeting of
the council after the approval of such
ordinance the council must take the
first steps In the actual acquisition of
the plant
The council may proceed under the
terms of the contract between the city
and the water company, which Involves
the appointment of three engineers as ap
praisers, one by the city, one by the water
company and a third by the two appraisers
so named, r the council may proceed to
acquire the water plant by condemnation
proceedings, as provided In the city char
ter. In such case Ave appraisers must be
appointed by the mayor and counoll, as to
the condemnation of right-of-ways for
streets and alleys. If the first method la
adopted nothing will bave to be paid for
the unexpired portion of the franchise
claimed by the water company; if the sec
ond plan Is adopted an allowance for the
unexpired . franchise .will be vndoubtedly
claimed by- the company. . -.-.;
' All these proceedings were within
reach without special legislation, and
the fact that, the bill passed both houses
without a dissenting vote indicates that
the water works company is not ad
verse to such procedure. It certainly
could have influenced at least a few
members of the legislature to antagonize
the bill at some stage.
But while Mr. Howell Is willing to en
lighten the people about the mode of
procedure to purchase the water works
plant, he studiously emits all reference
to the fact that he has saddled upon
the taxpayers of Omaha a water com
mission which will commence drawing
J300 a month out of the city treasury
for the salary of its members and from
$150 to $500 a month for a water com
missioner within thirty days, although
It may be thirty months before the
commission will have any water works
to manage or before the water commis
sioner has anything more to do than to
draw his salary.
And this Is really the milk In the
water bill cocoanut, which properly
should have been labeled "A Bill to Pro
vide R. B. Howell with a Lucrative Job
as Commissioner of Water Works."
It will now be In order for the papers
that have published editorials and con
tributions fabricated by the Baldwin
literary bureau to tell the people tlie
exact size of the distribution made from
the railroad slush fund to pay the ex
jieuse "of putting the article In type and
running it." It is currently reported
that some of the paid editorials have
ben more expensive to the railroads
than others. This la an Injustice that
should be equalized by a state loard
It might he Interesting, for example, to
know how large a check was mailed to
the York paier, how much to the Os
ceola paper and how much to the Ne
braska Ity railroad organ. Also
whether the contribution that appeared
on the edltorlol page of Monday's issue
of the World-Herald, over the signature
"M." was paid for at the rates which It
exacts for editorial space.
Interchangeable steamship tickets ale
announce!, good ou allvessels operated
by the Morgan Hues. This Is no doubt
an outgrowth of the Interchangeable
mileage system adopted by American
railroads. We have not, however, yet
reached the Interchangeable meal ticket
nor the Interchangeable theater ticket
though they, too, may be brought out
before luug.
The city council rests temporarily
under a Judicial ban that prevents it
from making the annual tax levy, but
that does not stand lu the way of the
school board revising It estimates to
conform to actual requirements, which
do not Justify a school tax for 1903 of
more than 2 mills.
Of course the railroads are alwaya
ready to iend good money for the
benefit of the rural counties, but only
when they know the dear public will
make good the outlay. That explains
their eagerness to discredit what they
call "the Omaha tax scheme." Any
scheme to stop railroad tax shirking
would stir the railroads up Just as
much.
'Typewritten editorials from the bril
liant pen of John N. Baldwin decrying
the Omaha plan of municipal railroad
taxation as a raid on the school fund In
Counties along the line of the Union
Pacific may have duped some credulous
people, but such Imposture cannot with
stand the searchlight of publicity.
There Is not a county, school district
or village in the state of Nebraska that
Is getting taxes on the proportionate
value of the railroad property actually
within Its borders, much less a penny
In addition on any part of the Omaha
terminals allotted to It by distribution.
Stick a pin there.
roat-Mortem Hot Air.
Boston Transcript.
A very good scheme, this of utllUIng
Sundays for congressional eulogies Instead
of interrupting the regular business of con
gress. Besides, the better the day the bet
ter the lie.
nermaay is the Ioaer.
8t. Lou la Globe-Democrat.
Germany proposes to deprive Itself of
American apples by putting on a tariff of
12 a barrel. But even this figure may fall
to reduce the demand for the beat and
most wholesome fruit in the world.
Wise Leader of Labor.
Indianapolis Journal.
John Mitchell did two things during the
recent miners' convention which should
strengthen his Influence with them. He
opposed the proposition to build a house
for him in this city and he declined the
offer of a place on the Illinois State Board
or Arbitration. Mr. Mitchell it ambitious
for the Miners' union, but not for himself.
Annoyances of Publicity.
Philadelphia North America.
President Roosevelt's desire to lose him
self in the woods and enjoy the privileges
of a private citizen for a brief time should
be respected, and it is to be hoped' that
he will be allowed to go hunting without a
brass band this year. Even a president
has some rights of privacy which are en
titled to respect.
Bat Silence Is Golden.
Chicago Inter Ocean.
Mr. William J. Bryan may be a big man,
but he writes himself down a very small
one on slightest provocation or no provoca
tion at all. "Recently Mr. Bryan has been
in Mexico, and in a letter relating his per
sonal experiences said: "On a low, wooded
mountain range, near the cattle ranch, I
was assured parrots, monkeys and even
tigers can be found in their native haunts.
I did not have time to hunt parrots and
monkeys and was not disposed to infringe
upon the patent of those who find relief
from the cares of state in the pursuit of
larger and more ferocious wild animals."
Mr. Bryan would do well to observe the
old rule, "When you have nothing to say,
say nothing."
Ota, bat This Is Different.
Detroit Free Press. .
There was a ftre'4n at New York factory
building the other' mbmirig, and One re
sult of It is hus escribed by the., Sun:
-vvomen naa tne lire trampled out of
them beneath Uni feet of cowards who
thought only of saying their own skins."
When something of this sort took place at
the burning of the charity basaar in Paris,
all the English and American newspapers
were shrieking about the cowardice of
these Parisians and the degeneration of a
people in the midst of which anything
of that kind could happen. Tet they do
not seem to be excited about this New
York disaster, or' has the "Anglo-Saxon"
coward certain privileges In the way of
trampling women to death which are not
held by the cowards of other tribesmen T
INCOMPETENT MANAGEMENT.
"Ho Excuse for the 81aahler of
Which Railroad Are Gallty."
Indianapolis News.
When we think that during one year in
Great Britain there was not one railway
passenger killed, and theu read of the
slaughter of scores of people on the Central
Railroad of New Jersey and the Southern
Pacific in two days. It la hard to believe
that there is not something wrong with our
way of conducting railroads. The New Jer
sey disaster was the result of the gross
carelessness of whom? The officers of the
roadsay that the . engineer of the express
was at fault inasmuch as he ran by the
danger signal. He himself is said to. have
declared when he was taken from his en
gine that be paid no attention to the green
and red signals, aa he thought they would
turn white. Later in bis delirium he said
tht he saw no signals.
The station agent at Cranford says that
'a minute before the accident" he received
orders to hold the express at Cranford.
Even then he could hear the train coming,
and without waiting to answer that he un
derstood the Instructions, he grabbed his
lantern and rushed out on the platform.
Just as he reached the platform the train
flashed by and Engineer Davis was leaning
out of the engine cab looking straight
ahead, and "apparently attending to his
duty." Then the agent tried to warn the
next station, but before be could do so the
train had passed it, olng at the rate of
more than sixty salles an hour.' Certainly
this was a narrow and dangerous margin
on which-to run such a train ou such a
road. The vice president of the road, W.
O. HeSBler, declares that the accident was
due to "the element of human fallibility."
It is so with practically all our accidents
And the question is whether a few convic
tions and executions of some of these fal
11 bio men, no matter how high their posl
tirm, would not essen "the element of
human fallibility."
1 he frightful accident on the Southern
Pacific also aeemi to have been due to
human "fallibility." The story Is that an
operator failed to deliver Orders to the
westbound expreaa stopping it to allow an
other train to pass. Whether the operator
had bis orders of' not is yet to be proved.
But it does not matter. - Por If he did not
have them the responsibility is merely
shifted to the maa who should bave given
them to him If be did have them, of
course, he Is to blame. But no explanations
ca bring to lift the dozens of people who
ere killed' In tbeaa two accidents, or help
ihe scores who were injured. What we all
want Is not explanations, but fewer mur
derous accidents. We talk about, them
when tbey happen, and demand that the
guilty be punUbed, and that some ateps
bs taken to make their recurrence less fre
quent. But we soon forget all about - it.
Rarely do coroners or grand Juries do their
duty In such cases. Neither one of these
aerldents should have happened. ' Both
were entirely avoidable. Bo there Is crim
inal negligence in both cases that should
be severely punished.
There ia no excuse for the great slaughter
of which the railroads are guilty. There
were a half dosea or more wrecks recently
la all of which peopje were killed or seri
ously Injured. It la certainly time that
something was done,
TALK F THK STATE MIF.S.
Rushvllle Recorder: When the present
legislature rommenced Its work some of
the "I told you so's" predicted Introduc
tion of a lot of fool measures; but the
fact has come out that the freak legis
lator was never so conspicuous for his
absence, as he Is In this session of the
Nebraska legislature.
Atkinson Graphic: The west end of the
state has an excellent . delegation in the
legislature this year. In the house
Coats, Hanna, Currte and Herron,
with Douglas as spokesman, con
stitute a group which command the atten
tion and respect of all members, and have
been instrumental in framing many of the
most important measures now under con
sideration. Blair Republican: The legislature Is
against the land-leasing bill of Senator
Dietrich, and it Is probable the fences will
have to go so that Colonel Mosby will
score at last. Yet there are two. sides to
the controversy. The cattlemen have an
Immense sum Invested, and unless these
lands can be irrigated no one would ac
cept a homestead for farming purposes
alone. It Is a big question.
Wausau Gaiette: Fifty-five of the one
hundred members in the lower house of
the present legislature are representative
farmers. This proves the absurdity of the
bowl about railroad domination. Grant
that -every mother's son, who is not an ac
tual tiller of the-soll. Is a "railroad tool,"
It Is yet In the power of the farmers to kill
every measure that would tend to Infringe
upon their rights and we are sura they
will.
O'Neill Frontier: It appears that the
people of Nebraska do not want a public
land-leasing bill. There has perhaps never
been a measure up for consideration that
has been so generally condemned by the
people of this state aa the proposition to
lease out the remainder of the public do
main. Wherever there has been any sen
timent expressed at all It has been In op
position to tho proposed law. It has also
developed that ahere Is a general senti
ment In favor of 640 acres for a' home
stead. Crete Vldette-Herald: When Nebraska
has another United States senator to elect
the legislature would receive the praise of
the whole state If that body . followed the
example of the Kansas legislature, which
passed resolutions last week, asking the
seekers for senatorial honors, who were
congressmen, to go back to Washington
and go to work, and allow them to choose
a senator without being dictated to. The
scene at Nebraska's last senatorial battle
was enough to sicken even a dyed-ln-the-wool
pop, and caused many legislators to
becomes advocates of the plan of election
of United States senators by popular vote.
Until this senalble idea is adopted a use
of the Kansas plan would be decidedly
beneficial, undoubtedly a saving to the
state of a considerable sum during Such
sessions.
PERSONAL. NOTES.
Ex-Governor George. S.. Boutwell of
Massachusetts observed his 85th birthday
anniversary on Wednesday.
Down in Mississippi five negro murderers
have been tried and condemned In the reg
ular way since 1903 came In. Civilization
moves on apace.
In crowded New York all shades of life
may be witnessed In a day. One day last
week there was a wedding,-a fire and a
funeral in the same flat in the Eaat Side.
Senator Thomas Patterson of Colorado
says that one of the most enjoyable periods
of his Ufa was the two weeks he spent
traveling with a circus In -Southern Michl-
Naval Constructor Richmond Pearson
Hobson, the Tiero of the Merrlmac episode.
has tendered his resignation to President
Roosevelt through the ' secretary of tho
navy.
The members of the' foreign' legations in
Fekin are again embarrassed by lavish
gifts of game, plants and trinkets from
the dowager empress on the occasion of
the Chinese New Year.
Joshua G. Dodge, who was an associate
of William Lloyd Garrison, Wendell Phil
lips and other leaders of the anti-slavery
movement, haa .Just celebrated his 90th
birthday at Arlington, Mass.
The Lessler bribery charges reminded
older congressmen of the time Representa
tive "Birdie" Adams of Pennsylvania went
up to Speaker Reed to ask about a bill he
wanted passed. Adam took some change
from his pocket and rattled It In his hand
while he talked. As It happened he had
five quarters. "Hold on, Birdie," said
Reed, "even in these hard times you can't
pass a bill in this house for a dollar and a
quarter." - '
REGIL.ATIXG IMMIGRATION,
Views of an Expert on Exlallnsr Re
strictions.
Philadelphia Public Ledger.
In view of the possible amendment of the
immigration laws during the present or
the next session of congress, the opinion
of an expert as to the desirability of sug
gosted changes in said laws is worthy of
respectful consideration. Dr. A. J. Mc
Laugblln of the United States Health and
Marine Hospital service. In a conservative
contribution to the January number of the
Popular Science Monthly, takes a position
with respect to one of the proposed changes
which may not be In harmony with popular
opinion on the subject. The- writer ob
serves that the percentage of undesirable
Immigrants is doubtless higher at present,
than It was in former years, but restric
tions bave been growing more stringent, so
that now the system in operation at Ellis
Island is sufficiently effective to keep out
the diseased, the pauper and the criminal
while admitting the Immigrant "with two
strong arms, a sound body and a stout
heart." He la opposed to the educational
test, which seems to be gaining favor In the
country, for the reason that -It would ex
clude many thousands of desirable Immi
grants, those supplying us with nearly all
of the unskilled labor needed for our indus
trial progress. The . educational test, ac
cording to Dr. McLaughlin, would not keep
out some of the least desirable arrivals.
but It would have one good result the re
duction of the total number of Immigrants
and thus permit of a more rigid examina
tion of foreigners who seek admission here.
The contributor thinks that a head tax
as low as $5 or $10 the tax is now only tl
would naterlally reduce the number of ar
rivals. This would result from the fact
that large families, including aged de
pendents, would be obliged to remain In
Europe, but it would not debar alngle un
skilled laborers. In the case of large fam
ilies even a $5 tax would be prohibitive.
One of the most valuable restrictive regu
latlona would be the extension of govern
ment Jurisdiction over arrivals until they
become citizens. The writer of the article
favors such a regulation, Inasmuch as It
would give the authorities an opportunity
to deport criminals and others whose dis
ability was.no. discovered when they
landed or within a year after landing. Dr.
McLaughlin makes a strong point for such
a regulation in the statement that the
friends of detained aliens would be disin
clined to guarantee that they, would not
become public charges If the guarantee cov
ered five years iaatead of one. -The flood
of immigration is beginning to tax the as-
Islmllativs power of the republic, and the
time has arrived when more restrictive
regulations ar desirable and accessary.
HOI Xn ABOIT HEW YORK.
Ripples on the Current ( Life In the
Metropolis.
Vnatle to expand his talents In the
enervating environments of St. Joe. a Mis
souri lad of 13, answering to the name of
Richard Murphy, blew into the big city
and rut a large swath until the police
took him in. The special talpnt of the young
Missourtan was shoving worthless checks
for cash, a business In which he displayed
the nerve of a Missouri train robber. Mur
phy Is a penman. His signature to a check
is a business looking one, and written in
an easy and apparently quick flowing hand.
The writing In the body of the check is mora
In keeping with that of a boy of IS. This
difference In writing led to the belief that
the certificate contained the writings of
two persons. On the other hand. It Is said
that Murphy writes "three hands."
Murphy was asked who originated hla
chock scheme. "Oh, I guess I'll say nothing
about that," he replied, with a wave of his
gloved right hand. "We'll meet things as
they come. Keep still and then there's no
explaining afterward is the wiser way.
Isn't it; now, truly?"
When all the worthless checks that "Lit
tle Dick" has left In his trail are gathered
they will make a formidable pile for a
lengthy spindle. A bank official said that
be had heard of several being held In New
York City, while there are a few in Phila
delphia and additional ones in Washington.
The manner in. which the people of New
York have fallen back upon gas as a fuel
because of the scarcity of coal, is shown
In the annual report of the Consolidated
Gas company. The consumption of gas ran
at times up to I0.0O0.O00 cubic feet per
day. The sales In the year amounted to
18,3."8. 478,000 cubic feet, or Increase of
1,915,000.000 cubic feet, or 11.65 per cent
over the previous year. The increase dur
ing, the last three months of 1902 ran as
high as 20 per cent, and in some districts
to 30 per cent over the corresponding
period of tho previous year. The company
sold In the twelve months 42,632 gas ranges,
stoves and beaters.
Forty-five million dollars of Uncle Sara's
gold was In danger of being melted down
In one solid lump by a Are in the United
States assay office, next door to the sub
treasury, last Thursday, It came from a
slight explosion of gases used in the labo
ratory and created a dense and suffocating
smoke, but the firemen got the blaze under
control In a short time.
The damage was small, mostly to the fur
niture and fittings of the office. The 145,
000,000 was in gold bars. The building
being old and largely of wood, was at one
time in danger of destruction. The second
floor of the building and the attic above
were entirely burned out. An entire new
roof will have to be put on, and It is esti
mated $5,000 wjll hardly cover the damage.
Secretary Shaw a week ago recommended
to congress that $750,000 be appropriated to
build a new assay office, aa the building was
old and unfit for the use It was put to.
Mrs. Theresa Lynch, "the queen of dia
monds," is dead at her home, 65 Central
park, west, having succumbed to a stroke
of paralysis. Her Jewelry store at 1 Union
square has made her famous.
Mrs. Lynch was a thorough business
woman and died wealthy.' It is said that
there was not better Judge of precious
stones in America. She was the daughter
of a fruit seller in Dublin, but her eyes
often feasted on the gems In the Jewelers'
windows and with the first money she
could save out of her small earnings she
bought-a diamond. Her father reproved
her, but a few days afterward she sold the
stone for more, than twice the price paid.
Coming to this country she married John
Lynch -and their married life was unique.
Lynch spent his money as fast as it came
to him often faster, while his wife was
prudent and frugal and her bank account
grew. The economic differences after a
time led to a disagreement. He still con
tinued to live at their home, although for
fifteen years not a word paaaed between
them. This strange existence was finally
broken when Mrs. Lynch moved uptown.
He died shortly after. '
Mrs. Lynch's Jewelry store was reputed
to be the resort of women of fashion who
were In financial straits. She was said to
bave served as a polite pawnbroker for
many aristocratic families when pressed
for funds, at times advancing thousands of
dollars on family Jewels.
Every once In a while the newspapers
print stories about the devices adopted by
life Insurance men, book canvassers and
others engaged in simitar occupations to
gain and hold audience with their pros
pective vlctjma. A favorite story tells of
the life Insurance agent who, when on the
point of being ejected tn the ground that
his victim's time wss too valuable to waste
In listening to Insurance schemes, bought
five minutes of the time at $1 a minute, the
price being set by the ovtner, of course.
At the end of the Ave minutes the Insur
ance man had the victim's signature to a
$10,000 policy.
But for simplicity that does not compare
with the plan pursued with great success
by an insurance man reported by the Sun
to be working in New York. Admission to
the victim being gained, the conversation
runs something like this:
Insurance Man Give me a dollar and I'll
tell you eomethlng of great Interest to you.
Victim (cautiously) Not so fast; why
should I give you a dollar in advance? Tell
me your scheme first (or words to that ef
fect). With an Invitation such as that It is
plain sailing. This poaaesses the advantage
over the first scheme, that In case of fail
ure, even If tho agent is not a dollar In, he
Ib, at least, not $5 out.
Coutant
Well
COAL
w
The one thing you may be sure of here is
a full line of clothes and furnishings from
which to select. Another thing equally
sure ia satisfaction, and another that
NO CLOTHIJtO
THE OLD RELIABLE
mm
V
'Mi
POWER
Absolutely Puro
THERE IS NO SUBSTITUTE
DEFECTIVE KF.HF.HAL OFFICIAL!.
Move to Supply Them with Educa
tional Text Books.
Philadelphia Record.
Senator Penrose is the father of a re
markable bill for the purchase of 5,000 cop
ies of "March's Thesaurus" (at the rate of
$10 a copy) to be distributed among the de
partments and offices throughout the coun
try "to enable officers and employes of the
government to Ond the proper word to ex
press their meaning." In the classified
service no such book Is needed. Tho em
ployes who have gone through a competitive
examination have rroved that they know
enough about words and synonyms to ex
press themselves with lucidity. If there bo
any need of a thesaurus by persons who are
not engaged In literary work, but whose re
ports concern only severe matters of fact,
it must be among the officers and employes
who owe their appointment to political in
fluence. Many government officials are afflicted
with an ambition for a literary style. Finn
writing ia tho terror of the olflcers at
Washington who receive reports from sub
ordinates. The victim of a literary style
will sacrifice truth and elearnesa every
time In order to make a fine sentence. Hla
reports read like the essay of tho school
girl graduate, and only bis limited vocabu
lary compels him to use words wtthln the
comprehension of his superiors. So far
from correcting the evil, the possession of
a thesaurus must magnify It. Tho official
with an ambition for a literary style will
no longer suffer his fancy to be restrained
by a lack of words; his Imagination will
expand and his reports will cease to convey
any meaning.
There can be no reasonable objection
the policy of supplying educational hoc! :,
to such officers and employes of the gov
ernment as are appointed through political
Influence. Persons In the classified service
are expected to know something, but fltncBi
Is not a consideration in the case of those
who are appointed aa a favor. It is not
well, however, to begin with a book of
words. Bafore a thesaurus can be of any
practical UBe to a man he must have somo
preliminary knowledge besides that relating
to the packing of a caucus. The publisher
of "March's Thesaurus" may need the $."i0.
000, but that amount expended for school
masters in the federal building would yield
better results. '
POINTED REFLECTIONS.
Dlcto-Do you ever get the last word wltl '
your wife?
Charles Oh, yes; but I have to say It to
my,".'U whE.n 1 Ket out " the street. De
troit Free Press.
"I nebber could see," said Uncle Eben.
how nahd times or de trusts could keep a
man dat's wlllln' to work fum earnln' two
bits by shovelln' snow." Washington Star.
"The place is only a small country town,
but there used to be a very good tavern
there."
"But not now." said the traveling- man
sadly. '
"Torn down, eh?"
"Oh, no. It'a a 'hotel' now." Philadel
phia Press.
Knnx W'hy do you always put "dictated"
at the bottum of your letters? You have
no stenographer.
Knox Well, you see. I'm a very poor
speller. Detroit Free Press. -
"And you're really a lord?" said the
maiden.
"Of course. Do you think I'm an Im
post or?"
"No; oh, no; but papa says one can't
be too cautious these days. Would you
mind bringing me one of those abstracts
of title I hear so much about before I give
you my anawer?" Chicago Post..
"Was that an unmarried woman you met
Just now?"
"Yes, I knew her several years ago. How
her face has changed."
"Has It? Well, when a woman's face
changes as much as that she can never
hope to change her name, too." Cleveland
Plain Dialer.
FLOWERS IN WINTER.
The soft, white mantle of the snow
la tucked about the sleeping ttow'rs.
And, where no chilling winds can blow.
They're storing dreams for summer hours.
They rest snd dream while human hearts
Beat high with hope and human cheer,
Or, while some soul, In sorrow, parts
With what It holds in life most dear.
I No earthly woe disturbs their sleep.
no muriui imijj)iiicnn can unuKQ
Their peaceful slumber, calm and deep,
For love nor hate they will not wake.
But. when the sunshine brings them back,
The flowers, freely, will unfold
And scatter on life's sombre track
The restful dreams their hearts will hold.
Wlnslde, Neb. Utile Wllley Que.
S Squires
Best grades, and all sizes of Arkansas Ai thraclte and
Semi-Anthracite as good as hard coal and at much lower
price. Best Illinois Nut, $6.50. Cherokee Lump, tor Fur
naces, $3.75. Cherokee Nut for Underfeed Furnaces, $5.50.
Missouri Nut, $4.75. Telephone 930. Office 1406 Farnam.
Equipped
FTTfl LIKE OCRS.
R. S. Wllaox, Mgr.