THE OMAHA DAlIi! MONDAY, FEIIIIUAIIY 9. 1003.
The omaha Daily Bee.
E. ROSEWATEH, EDITOR.
PUBLISHED EVERY MORNINO.
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Dully Bee (without Kundavi. One r..$4JW
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Illustrated Bh, On Year '"
Untirlnu I fnw X-'W
Baturday Bee, one Year ,w I
Twentieth Century farmer, une lear.. .w
rifi i vt'u m hv carrier.
Daily pr (without Pmdny). per cop y .... 2c
Daily P (without hj.,rtyi. p" w'-- i?c
Dally Bee (including tunday), per wees.. 1,0
Hun day Pee, per copy oa
Evening (?ud.nrd8andP.".WpPe? 60
&.inV.-of"irr
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partment. OFFICES.
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REMITTANCES.
Remit hy draft, express or postal order,
Only 2-cent stamps accepted in payment of I
lysnle to The nee runimnm ""'i'-"',
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THE BEE fUBLlMllliSU
STATEMENT OF CIRCULATION.
BVt of Nebraska, Douglas County ,
Oeorge. B. Tsschuek. secretary of The Bee
publishing company, being duly sworn, says
that the actual number of full and complete
i - rr-v. t ( i MfxwitiF Kvenlna ana
bunany ueo pnniea auring mo -
, . . .1... mnntH flf I
January, ma, was as loiiuw.. I
1 80.420 17 u,ow
i ...aojtrw
I SO, THO
4 B8.80B
lg i
" ""'.A
20 oVfWiw i
21"" ....8i,vo I
BO.ROO
SO.R20
SO.520
80,400
30.4HO
80,550
28,700
22 80,440
23 s"2 I
Z -J'"" I
m SRO I
10..!...
2 80170 i
27 80,570
11..
J 2 SO.ftOO
II 30,RB0
14 80,400
16 80.B70
29 ""!!!"". 8o!JM I
30 80,570 I
si ,.8o,i
tf ' ' I
Total 4l,4o
Less unsold and returned copies.... o.ma
Net total sales o:u.fl07
Net average sales i
GEO ROE B. liiHUliUi..
... , i- - . . nA an mmrtrn t n I
before me this 3ist day of January, a. D.
I. .. . M. B. HUNG ATE
1 iNOiary luuiit. I
The two Deweta must come out of a
fiithtlng mold. Having no longer a
British enemy to fight, they are said to
be fighting one another.
Lincoln birthday banquets will again
be utilized by democratic orators to
claim Lincoln's accord with political
views he would Indignantly repudiate if
BllTe,
Mr. Rockefeller plainly made a great
mistake in sending telegrams to mem-
bers of congress to kill the anti-trust
bills. He should have wired to John .
Baldwin. . I
uovernor Nicney ua. nui ,i wuu
xo unumoer um tu, uut
chances are good be will have to call it
into requisition before the legislature
A 1 1 t L . KAM Vv.i n A I
aajoums.
It Is found that the city hall roof
leaks. The elasticutuses must have lost
their ability to develop a thirst that
will enable them to absorb all the water
falling on the roof.
That Omaha Is united and In dead
earnest In demanding equal taxation for
all classes of property, corporate and in-
dividual, was manifested by the mass
meeting at the city hall.
Rumors about the Impending absorp-
tion of the Great Western railroad have
been afloat In New York for several
weeks, but these floating rumors may
only.be part of a scheme to boom rail-
road stocks.
Ex-Senator Allen notes In bit paper
that the future of fusion In Nebraska
seems at this time to be uncertain. He
might add that in this respect the fu
ture of fusion In Nebraska is very much
like Its past
The suggestion is made that the Com-
merclal club give up Its top story quar-
ters and come down to the ground floor.
where It can get nearer to the people.
It can itet nearer to the people without
changing Its quarters.
Arizona does toot take kindly to the
compromise proposal to admit it to
statehood only after consolidation with
New Mexico. It evidently looks upon
anion with New Mexico as a marriage I
without possibility of divorce.
The customary threats are being made
that the foreign insurance companies
will all withdraw from Nebraska if
they are made to pay any more taxes in
this state. But the insurance companies
will always go wherever they can do
business at a profit I
Omaha shippers do not relish the new
traffic policy that holds freight trains
back for full loads and slows up the
running schedule. If maximum profit is
to outweigh every consideration of nub-
lie convenience with the railroads, the
next step will be to start no passenger "miliar witn the audacity or the corn
train uiitil every seat is occupied. blnations and trusts within the sphere
Referring to the agitation in various
states for mors equitable taxation of
railroad, property, the Railway Age says
that "it is to be a trying winter for cor-
poratlons and for lawmakers." So long
as the railroads continue to evade their
Just share of the public burdens it is
trying on the other taxpayers all the
year round.
Glven the opportunity and the man of
genius will develop. This is doubtless
true of Represeutativs Koetter as ofi
other men. Before his election to the
legislature nobody In or out of Omaha
Urea mud that ho was a profound stu -
deut of educational Institutions and no -
body suspected him of having a bent for
educational reform. But the opportunity
came to Mr. Koetter and be embraced It
by Introducing more school bills than
all the other members of the present
legislator combined,
a boost run the book trvbt.
One of the bills recommended for
pnssnge hy tLe lower house of the
loRlslature Is house roll No. 32. enti
tled "An Act to Provide Cheaper Text
Books and for Itlstrlct Ownership of
the nme." A much more appropriate
title for this Mil would be an act to
aid the school book trust In unloading
f"w carloads of school Iwoks upou the
. - N,raskn
people or iNenrasKa.
The bill In question Is very brief, but
,t wording Is both Ingenious and
ratchy. Section 1 empowers and mokes
It the duty of dlrtri.t school boards and
f education In cities of the
flrHt, second and metropolitan classes
an,, trustees of high school districts to
purchase all text Itooks necessary for
the schools In their districts, and they
are further authorized to cuter into a
contract with school book publishers for
a term of years, not exceeding five, pro
vided that the contract price of such
books shall not exceed the lowest price
then guaranteed to any dealer, or other
individual or corporation in the United
gtatefli t0 determined "as hereinafter
provided," and furthermore that such
contract shall guarantee to such dis
trict an further reduction that may be
granted elsewhere during the life of
such contract
Inasmuch as the bill is abruptly cut
Buuri wuauui bu; ueieiiiuiier jirovisioii,
V. . 1 . . . L 1 I . . ... .. . I . ,
nnhnH ,.on r,,,oa 1,,,f n
J .........
puie aDoui prices ansing aner ine pur-
chase of the books Is to be determined.
Tn darkey in that woodpile Is, how-
ever, easily discernible. The bill Is
nothing more nor less than an net to
,. ... .U . A J,-
ula& vuiuuibui mi" miLun?c uuu Ola
trmution or rree text dooks in every
gehooi district in Nebraska from the
kindergarten to the highest grade in
the high school,
Tne limitation of contract to five
vpnra la nalnnhlo flAnv. Tta nr-nctlnl
" - - "
enecr. wm db me aumping or nve year-
"chool book supplies into every district
wuoee bciiooi ooaru can De womea ny
th t,Bt .ronf. tntn fnRI1iilllii fh
n
wants of the district by four years.
... ad,, d th ,
.
tnar. an oroer ror uve years- supply
will Insure lower rates than au order
ror one year ana tne clincher ror the
bargain will be the clause in the con
tract that will allow the board to ex
change out-of-date books for new ones.
Such a deal looks very tempting on th
face, but will in the end leave the
school districts at the mercy of the
trust, which gets much the best of the
bargain in securing a five years' guar
anty of patronage, getting the money
in advance at.d taking the chance of
tne books being worn out, damaged or
destroyed before the five years are im
-iv AMKR1CAN xavt LCAOUC.
I Several Euronean countries have now
leagues and one has just been lncor
porated In New York, with General
B.nJam,n F. Tracy former 8ecretarT
of tne na as ,u Went wlth .
Intimbfr of othor nmminpnt rltlznii mm.
r
members. The purposes of the league
BPreaa 10 tne people the con
a,uon or Ine navai IorceB ana equ,p
UJrr"t Wi luc Dll" uu lu
awaiten public interest and co-operation
in an matters lenaing to aia, improve
and develop their efficiency. The league
will publish a paper and the Intention
Is to secure members in all parts of the
country,
The question of building up our navy
Is commanding a great deal of Interest
aiuj there appears to be a very general
public sentiment favorable to inate-
rlally strengthening the sea power of
the United States. This is shown in
the expressions of a number of state
legislatures and Indeed there is rarely
to be found any opposition to maintain
ing the policy of naval construction.
There may be difference of opinion ah to
how far this should be carried, but
there are very few who do not think
that a very considerable addition should
be made to the present force, in order
t0 assure security for our remote pos-
aessions, our commerce and our rights
ana interests everywhere. The fact
thRt tue United States Is now fourth or
nrta la naval rank 80 rar aa the num
wr RUU wuuage or bd'Ps is concerned,
ana that European countries are steadily
strengthening their power at sea, seems
to make it imperatively necessary that
this country shall not yet halt the
work of building up its navy. It is not
necessary that we enter Into rivalry in
this direction with any other nation,
but simply that we Co not allow our-
selves to be so outstripped as to fall to
the rear of all of them. Within a few
years our interests have been greatly
extended and our relations with the
re6t of the world much enlarged. It
is impossible to foresee what complies
tions the future may have in store, but
It is the part of wisdom to be prepared
for any exigency thav may arise.
Doubtless the navy league will prove
I to be a useful organization
I - thist audacity.
The PuWlc naa lonff been more or less
of their business operations, it has
I learned something of the methods by
which they have crushed competition
nl ought to establish monopoly. It
knows that they have exacted rebates
from the railroads In contravention of
n lw. thereby enabling them to drive
I others out of business. It is well un-
I derstood, also, that the Influence of the
combinations has been insidiously and
persistently exerted to prevent Ieglala-
I tion for the protection of the public
I against their evils and abuses.
All this has been done with a degree
I of secrecy. The trusts have carried
I on their operations so as to avoid, as
1 far as possible, attracting public atten
1 tion or seeming to defy public opinion
I They have been particularly careful to
I mask their efforts to dvfeat the demand
I for anti-trust legislation. This caution
I has now been abandoned and the first
I and greatest of the trusts, the Standard
OU, through iU president appeals to
senators of the United States not to
enact anti-trust legislation. It Is a
startllnit disclosure and will strengthen
and Intensify the anti trust sentiment
of the country as nothing else could
have done. Its audacity Is. so far as we
know, unprecedented. We do not re
call any attempt to Influence legislators
so bold and brazen as this. Rockefeller's
appeal Is not nlone for the trust of
which lie Is the head, but for nil of
them. Finding futile their secret and
Insidious efforts to defeat legislation.
they openly, through the head of the
parent trust, say to United States sen
ators that antl-truwt legislation must be
stopped.
There should be no question as to the
answer to this most Insolent appeal.
Tho bills that have passed the senate
and the house the Klklns and the Llt
tlefleld measures should be enacted
without delay. The country vlll ex
pect this and it seems safe to say that
no member of either house will now
oppose these measures, which nre ac
ceptable to the administration and will
be an important step toward a proper
and adequate supervision and regula
tion of the combinations. The trust
magnntes will find, it can be confidently
predicted, that In their audacious at
tempt to defeat the popular will they
have committed an Irreparable mistake.
They should have been satisfied with the
conservative policy recommended by
rrcsldent Roosevelt and embodied in
the measures before congress. This
policy would work no Injury to any
corporation that is complying with ex
isting laws and dealing fairly and hon
estly w 1th the public. If now the de
mand for more drastic legislation shall
become stronger and more intense.
which Is very probable, the combina
tions may realize that high-handed at
tempts to control legislation and dictate
the policy of the government respecting
them will not be tolerated by the Amer
ican people.
LUST, STHATED VR STOLtN.
More than a year ago several "well-
defined rumors" were put in circulation
by the occupants of the fifth floor in the
city hall. On the strength of these
startling revelations the Board of Edu
cation adopted resolutions requesting
the Judges of the district court to call a
grond jury to Investigate the well-defined
rumors, alleging that Involuntary
contributions, tantamount to blackmail,
were being levied and collected from
gamblers and keepers of disorderly re
sorts, and that this corruption fund was
being divided between the mayor, the
chief of police and another party not
specifically named.
The grand Jury was duly convened
and many witnesses examined, but their
testimony utterly failed to substantiate
the well-defined rumors. Thereupon the
disseminators of the "well-defined" de
clared that the grand Jury inquisition
proved a failure because the victims
who had been blackmailed for alleged
protection did not dare testify to the
facts for fear of police persecution. -
When the" new Broatch-Baldwin police
board assumed charge of the police de
partment it was confidently predicted
that the proofs to substantiate the well
defined rumors would soon be forthcom
ing and a horrible stench would per
meate the atmosphere when the lid was
lifted. The reform board has now been
in full control of the police for more
than six months. New officers in active
sympathy wth tho element that started
the well-defined rumors have had ample
time to scour the field and search the
innermost recesses of the proscribed dis
trict, but up to date not a trace of the
alleged levy and distribution of black
mall has turned up.
Whether the well-defined rumors have
evaporated or whether they are lost
strayed or stolen has not transpired.
Those who have been on tiptoe for the
explosion of a bombshell are still
looking,
OMAHA'S FORCED CONTRIBUTION.
Omaha is by no means a deadhead in
the indissoluble partnership that exists
between it and the state of Nebraska,
On the grand assessment roll for 1902,
which aggregates ?180,091,192, Douglas
county Is represented by $25,391,835, and
four-fifths of that amount represents
Omaha's share of the assessment for
state and county taxation. The amounts
paid into the state treasury by Douglas
county for the ten years ending Decern
ber 31, 1902, are as follows:
189S 207.809 78
189 148.713 41
1895 191,612 98
189 118,476 70
1897 145,978 49
1S98 163,070 60
1899 162,629 OS
1000 168,913 91
1901 162.559 19
1902 171,829 22
Total $1,629,495 21
This Is an average of $162,949.52 I1
annum, or fully one-seventh of the
state tax paid by the whole state.
Four-fifths of the totHl paid into the
state 'treasury, or $1,303,590.17, repre
gents Omaha's forced contribution dur
lug the past decade toward the main
tenaiioe of state government and state
institutions, making an annual average
of $130,3.W.l Klnee 1S92. This is cou
siderably more than 10 per cent of the
running expenses of state government.
It stands to reason that a reduction
of city taxes In Omaha, which would
follow 8u equitable assessment of rati
road property for city purposes, would
tend to increase materially the value of
Omaha realty, and an increase in the
value of real estate would be followed
by higher assessment for state purposes,
so that Jn the end the state would gain
materially by the repeal of the law that
allows railroads to be returned on a
mileage basis for municipal taxation.
A protracted ex ioKt facto discussion
of the Ilowell-UUbert water works bill
Is scarcely uecessary except so far as
the principle of home rule and some of
the ill-digested features of the bill are
Involved. That the hill Is crude and de
fective lu several estutiai particulars
will be shown when the machinery pro
vided for Is set In motion. The only
present object the measure will sub
serve Is to sfford lucrative business for
lawyers and supply some people with
soft Jobs at the expense of the tax
payers. Hre is a piece of prophecy by a popu
list paper taken not from one of Its
Issues of IV.mj, but from Its latest num
ber In the year JSsM:
Mark this announcement. Before h?
expiration of Ave years there will Le a
bimetallism established by all the leading
nstlona of the earth, and after that wc
hall have no more of the single gold
standard Idiocy.
But the same authority Indulged a
great many similar predictions during
the two free silver cnmpnlgns 'which
failed to make good.
Word from Washiuirton Is to the
effect that democrats are much pbnsed
over the result of the Colorado senato
rial election returning Teller for an
other six years. Not that they recog
nize much of democracy in Teller, but
they know a renegade republican Is
always more bitter against his former
associates than men of opposite polit
ical faith.
There is nothing small about Judge
Gordon, as all the world knows. Ills
guide, philosopher and friend, Judge
Eller. Is said to be preparing papers to
test .Gordon's salary claim in the courts
for the period since Judge Berka has
been on the bench. The perpetual
claimant will never let up until he stops
drawing salaries on account of heart
failure.
Secretary Hitchcock deserves credit
for standing pat against the frauds at
tempted by the laud grab ring on the
Winnebago agency in connection with
the Indian heirship lands. If the land
grabbers were only gUca free rein it
would not be long before the Indlau
would be parted from all the land al
lotted him as a means of support.
So long as Omaha and South Omaha
pay five-sixths of the taxes In Douglas
county the farmers of Douglas county
will very naturally oppose county divi
sion. But why should they oppose a
merger of the government of county and
city, which would reduce their taxes
still further by reducing the expenses
of county government?
Omaha has an Improvement club in
every part of the city and every im
provement club should speak out for
qual taxation of railroad property by
the city. Relieving property here of
the taxes it has been paying for the
railroads would do more to encourage
Improvements than any other one thing.
Cause ud Effect.
Chicago Post.
It Is now proposed to emend the ant!
football bill Id the Missouri legislature so
as to place high balls under the legislative
ban. Perhaps it is the playing of high ball
by the lawmakers that has led them to see
such evil things in football.
Rivalry in Land Grabbing.
Chicago Chronicle.
With great test tor the enforcement of
the land laws the cattle barons have taken
to killing Wyoming sheep raisers who have
unlawfully squatted on the government do
main. The barons evidently deem them
selves capable of doing all the land-grab
blng that may be necessary to absorb what
is left of Uncle Sam's landed estate.
Silliest Waste of Time..
New York Tribune.
The idle chatter concerning schemes for
the establishment of a national theater in
the United Slates and a censorship of the
stage is the silliest waBte of words that
might readily be imagined. Congress will
never grant a subvention to opera or
drama or establish a censorship of music
or plays in this republic, and there is no
good reason why any federal legislation ef
that kind should be asked for.
Some Facta Forgotten.
St. Louis Republic.
Dr. Edward Everett Hale, properly hon
ored by Boston as a great and good man,
strenuously opposes the American senti
ment is favor of an Increase of the Ameri
can navy. Has the venerable divine for
gotten how earnestly Boston appealed for
raval protection In 1S9S, when bombard
ment by a Spanish fleet was feared? A
sufficient number of formidable American
ships are good things to have around, and
Boston keenly realized this truth less than
five years ago.
I'EKSO.VAL NOTES.
The Navy department has asked Hobson
to reconsider his resignation. So It is still
a case of Hobson's choice.
J. Pierpont Morgan has one of his coun
try homes situated In wilds so remote that
deer from the adjoining forest nibble the
honeysuckle decorating its veranda.
Grover Cleveland has been elected vice
president of the Princeton Fish and Game
Protective association. This will be alarm
ing news to Colonel Henry Watterson.
The notorious Li Luen YIng has started
a native paper In Pekln, called "The Dally
Imperial News." The empress dowager la
a patron of the organ and baa ordered all
the officials to subscribe to the paper.
The "literary fellers" are doing very
well in politics. Bi "th Tarkington has
nominated a United States senator, and
Winston Churchill has pushed two bills
through the lower branch of the New
Hampshire legislature.
Morgan and Rockefeller have bad a fall
ing out because tbe Utter was caught lend
ing money below the established 4 per cent
rate. This is what labor men call "rat
ting" a Job. The Millionaires' union should
now expel Rockefeller.
In the month of January Senator Hanna
attended eighteen dinner parties on elgh
teen successive nights. Like most other
public men who attend such functions
frequently be eats very little on these
occasions and drinks with corresponding
abstemiousness.
, After three years' litigation the heirs of
the late . Joseph O'Hare, a San Francisco
capitalist, have agreed on a compromise.
The estate was valued at about 160,000,
about half of which has been consumed
In legal expenses. One firm of lawyers re
ceived a little over 12,000.
Congressman Ooldfogle of New York was
towing a party of bis constituents around
the capitol building. Pausing in tbe ro
tunda, he said: "That Is a picture of
Washington giving up bis commission."
One of the party, a practical politician
observed regretfully: "I didn't know
Washington was such a sucker as to give
u feia. coouuisslea, iiv. luucix ws Ut"
TAXATION OF Ft All.RO.4D.
Alnsworth Star-Journal: To assess all
property at Its actual rash value would be
a (rood basis for the revenue committee to
work on.
Kearney Hub: If the proposition to as
sess railroad terminals Is a bad thing for
the people of the stair, possibly It can be
explained why the rallronda have so sud
denly taken up the cause of the people.
Some people are suspicion! of tbe fight
bring waged by the railroads apslnst the
so-called Omaha Idea.
Beatrice Express: Ths ordinary tax
payer, who earns his dollars By nara
knocks, and bates to see them get away,
cannot understand why the corporations
should be granted special privileges, for
the money of the corporations come easy,
and there Is plenty of It. The burden of
the poor would be greatly lightened If tho
corporations were required to do their full
duty.
Springfield Monitor: The legislative com
mittee that is trying to draft a revenue
bill for Nebraska Is composed of eight
lawyers, one doctor, two lumbermen and
two farmers. It Is said the committee la
fully able and competent to get up a bill
worthy of the people, but the question Is,
will the members do what they are capable
of domg or will some corporation worker
slip In and spoil things so far as the people
In general are concerned?
Albion News: Does anyone seriously pre
sume that If the additional tax it is pro
posed to assess against the valuable ter
minal properties Of the railroads was
merely to be deducted from what they al
ready pay on their whole system, that
they would be tearing their nether gar
ments and spending money to defeat the
change. They make a very plausible argu
ment, but is it true, that is the burning
question T
Central City Nonpareil: The members
of the lsglslature who are losing consid
erable sleep Just at present over the prop
osition to formulate a new revenue meas
ure are a!l agreed as to one of the main
causes for the present Inequality In the
system of taxation, snd thr.t Is the son-of-
a-tlnker who lies to the assessor every
year about the amount of property he
owns. If ne could tie made to ten tne
truth the whole question would at once
be solved.
Hastings Tribune: There Isn't anyone In
the state, unless it is the railway mag
nates and other capitalists, who does not
desire a change in the present method of
taxation and as the law stands today the
poor man, or small property holders. Is
compelled to pay his full quota of taxation
while the more wealthy ones and capital
ists have a way of paying about one-half
of the amount they should put up. Almost
any change made In the present system
would be for the better.
Imperial Republican: The revenue laws
of the state certainly need revising. The
state's finances have been getting In just a
little worse shape each year, with no relief
in sight. While tbe state has gradually
been growing in wealth and the cost of
government largely Increased, and the as
sessed valuation shows a gradual decrease
for a number of years, we are forced to
the conclusion tbat some means for raising
the assessment to a figure that will yield
sufficient revenue for state purposes is
absolutely necessary. This is what the
present legislature seems to understand and
is planning to curtail expenses and enact
suitable revenue legislation.
Rushvllle Recorder: Last week we pub
lished a brief article from Lincoln, in
reference to the Omaha taxation of rail
way terminals scheme. We published the
article In good faith, and ignored Mr. Frank
Harrison's reference to remuneration for
putting it before our people. We have
never yet been paid for editorial space and
never hope to be. Perhaps in our haste
we might have overlooked the fact that
Mr.- Harrison was a Journalistic free lance
employed at present by a railway lobby;
but this Is not to say that railroads have
neither views or rights In the discussion
of matters of taxation affecting them
selves. We have never yet subscribed to
the doctrine that a railroad Is a soulless
corporation; neither have we asserted that
the railroads should be allowed to escape
their full share of taxation. In all mat
ters 'of taxation we have only one Idea
and tbat is that all should be treated alike,
even in the matter of discussion.
Auburn Post: The people from all parts
of the state are demanding a revenue law
of our present legislators, and It seems to
the Post that It would be an act of wisdom
on the part sf our lawmakers to adopt the
Kansas revenue bill in Its entirety, as that
bill Is the result of two years' study on the
part of a commission appointed by the last
legislature to Investigate J ne revenue sys
terns of various states and draft a till. The
commission consisted of thre members of
the house, two of the senate and three state
officers, the treasurer, attorney general
and the state auditor. Ten thousand dol
lars was appropriated for the expenses of
the commission, which visited all of the
western states and studied their revenue
systems and talked with the officials and
found wherein their weak points lay. The
commission found only one state where tbe
revenue system was satisfactory, that being
Indiana, and they needed some changes.
The Kansas commission took the Indiana
law as a basis and drafted one of its own,
every section of which has been unanl
mously agreed to by the commissioners.
As all of the conditions of Kansas and
Nebraska are almost identical, tho rail
roads and rivers run east and west through
the entire length of the state, the large
cities are In the east and tbe went la given
up to grazing, It would seem as though
Nebraska might profit by the labors of the
Kansas commission and adopt its revenue
bill almost entirely.
Ord Journal: The railroad tax bureau Is
getting In its work again and is sending
out articles to prove that the taxing of
depot grounds, side tracks and the like in
Omaha would deprive other portions of the
state taxes that are due them, and many
papers are taking up this cry without stop
ping to think. We all believe In Just tax
atlon, or at least we all advocate It In
speaking on the subject. Then why Is It
right for the railroads who have vast prop
ertles In the cities where they get the same
fire protection aa other property there, have
the same advantages everywhere and then
pay taxes on no more property there than
In some little school district In the Interior
part of the state where perhaps they have
not even a stopping place, say nothing
about a depot? The same ii true In cities
like Grand Island, Fremont, St. Paul, Ord
and the like. For Instance, the Uutnn Pa
clflo pays taxes on (4,200 In Ord, while It
pays far more than that In many of the
school districts down the line. No one who
will stop to think will say but what the
railroads should pay on the amount of roa
they have In the corporation, and their
buildings, aide tracks, engine houses and
other property besides. In fact, the I11T.60
that the Union Pacific pays In taxes, to th
city of Ord Is little If any more than would
be paid on the amount of lots and blocks
they own In the city, If that property be
longed to private parties and was not used
for railroad purposes. The contention that
the railroads should pay taxes on thel
buildings, etc., In the places where they
are located Is all right. The franchises
value of rolling stock and that class of
property shoeld be assessed aa at present
and then be prorated according to the
number of miles, as it now la. The bill be
fore the legislature should not only mak
Omaha property taxable there, but the
same should be true in other towns aa
Lell.,
ROISD AHOtT SKW tORK.
Rlpplea a (he C arrenl of Life la the
Metropolis.
Four owners and boosters of the "Infal
lihle Safetr Wheat Syndicate." a get-rlch-
qtilck swindle, have been gathered In by
the authorities and Jivlled. This Is the first
bunch of scores engagrd In plucking the
gullible, uhlch the authorities have sup -
pressed, and the suppression Is accotn-
panled by the customary announcement
of the relentless war on the swindlers,
Every few weeks the newspapers cf tho
land contain exposures of such s Indies.
yet none of these concerns fails to obtain
thousands o( dupes anj the promoters arc
sually shrewd and wealthy enough to es-
enpe punishment entirely or to get off with
light sentences.
After the exposure of the "Miller syndl-
ate" the swindlers who were playing a
Imllar game sought cover for a while, but
urlng the past few months they have bo-
come bolder, and while there is no groat
tendency now among the general public
oward speculation, the number of victims
Is lcrge enough to materially enrich tho
heraers.
In January the authorised capitalization
of new concerns that filed papers lu tha
eastern states with a capital of $1,000,000
or over, as well as Increases tor companies
previously In existence, reached a total of
$177,9P0.000. In December the total was
$1)7.250,000; In November, $115,140,000, and
In October, $244,650,000. In July, which was
the record month of 1002, It was $469,S5S,-
400.
The increased ease In money, which per
mitted of the acquisition of funds for new
enterprises was responsible for the large
Increase in January ver December. Tho
January total of 1903 makes a good show
ing compared with that of 1902, when the
ggregate Incorporations reached $146,950,-
000.
The total was distributed among the va
rious eastern stales as follows: New Jer
sey, $93,000,000; Maine, $39,800,000; New
ork, $20,590,000; Delaware, $12,000,000;
Connecticut, $7,000,000; Pennsylvania, $5,
600,000. Total, $177,990,000.
A Brooklyn electrical engineer has just
patented a device that, It Is asserted, will
make impossible such a disaster as occurred
last week at Westflcld. It is a signal appll-
ance that will work In connection with the
present semaphore system, and will
fh !n.l nn hoard the locomotive
play the signal on board the locomotive
immediately before the engineer's eyes, S3
that it cannot be obscured in fog or dark
ness, and if it is a danger signal, will put
on the airbrakes and stop the train, even
though the engineer be dead in his cab.
The signal works In three ways at the
same time. It displays for a danger sig
nal a red light, blows a whistle and puts
on the airbrake simultaneously. For a
precautionary signal It simply puts on a
green light In front of the engineer's eyes.'
In order to make the system doubly sure,
the semaphore lights now in use may be
left on the semaphores, so tbat there will
be signals on the cab and alongside tho
track. A large railway system is consid
ering the adoption of the Invention.
In the meantime, the question of com
pelling railway companies that are using
engines of the type of that which caused
such havoc at Westfleld, N. J., to havs two
men in the forward cab is being vigorously
agitated In New York.
"Does the learned court, In lta Intelli
gence, feel that I will be better next July
than now?" asked Ezeklel Esau xoung oi
Magistrate Flammer, in Jefferson Market
court the other day.
If your honor will permit, I will relate
unto you tha circumstances which brought
me hither."
Proceed," said the magistrate.
I was strolling along Eighth avenue last
night, and my walk begat a thirst; thirst
suggested drink, the price or whlcn, aiasi
I had not. A damsel crossed my path, and
asked the maiden tor assistance. Tbe
appeal produced one penny. I then ap
proached a man and requested him to give
me four more pennies, ana witn mat
amount I might buy a nickel drink. He
gave me the 4 cents, and then arrested me.
He is devoid of sympathy, your honor, and
he who is without sympathy for his fellow
man is not of the elect. I have spoken."
You have, and, I understand, been com
mitted five times," said the magistrate.
You have been correctly informed, most
lenient Judge," replied Ezeklel, "and, ac
cording to the new law, which is uncon
stitutional, you have the power to send me
up for 160 days. But I protest. I am a
free-born citizen of these United States,
and I crave your clemency. The uncertain
ties and possibilities of this mundane ex-
lsterce, that"
We are not dealing with futures," broke
in the court.
But, your honor, It Is to the future we
must look. Are we positive of anything?
Even you, with your intelligence, to which
I bow, do not know that you are alive. Be
merciful, for the quality of mercy is not
strained; it blesseth him who gives as well
as him who receiveth. I " s
This fellow will talk all day, if you let
him," broke in Smith, the "bridge" officer;
he's an oldtlmer."
"Six months," said Magistrate Flammer,
and Ezeklel Esau Young was led away,
vowing vengeance on Smith for "buttln
In."
Ga-Betweea as a Stedjr.
Chicago News.
Qulgg and Lessler having been exon
erated, tbe attorney general will pleaae
look Into the case of Philip Doblln more
closely. As a product of American political
Institutions Doblln may be a profitable sub
ject for study.
Drive away your Cough
WKAHY OP rOt.LY.
Yermoat Torn from rrofclbllloa to
local Optloa.
St. tenuis tllolie-Irsiocrat.
The cause of prohibition received a
heavy blow In the triumph of the lock!
j option Idea in the election which has Just
taken place In Vermont. Prohibition has
j hern la operation In Vermont for Just halt
, a century. The "Maine law," called thus
, from the state in which it originated, was
j adopted In Vermont In 1812, and has been.
, theoretically In force ever since. Some op.
' position was made to it early In its days,
and this has been growing in strength,
. The trluini-h of the license candidate for
. governor In the election last September, in
the most exciting contest which Vermont
; had known since the civil war days, fore-
j shadowed tbe overthrow of prohibition.
j which has now come In the special elec-
j tion on that issue which was ordered by
i tbe legislature.
j As In all the rest of the stales In which
i prohibition has prevailed, under constltu-
I tlonal provision or by statute, the inter-
! diet had been evaded la many places la
(Vermont, especially In the larger centers.
I The majcrity against prohibition In the
' election Just held Is small, but It rcpre-
: Bcnt" a movement which has steadily been
1 growing, and which will probably soon be
i overwhelming. Under the system which
has now been adopted by the people, all
Vermont's towns and cities, after March
1, 1903, will be permitted to decide, by
votes of their citizens, whether or not in
toxicants shall be sold in them. There Is
no doubt tbat most of them will declare la
favor of the sale, under restrictions and a
high license.
Of tho largo number of states which, at
one time and another, have bad prohibi
tion, by constitution or act of the legis
lature, only five have been left Maine,
New Hampshire, Vermont, Kansas and
North Dakota in recent years, and Ver
mont now drops out of the list. Maine,
the first stale, which adopted it, did this
in 1S51. Vermont followed Its example la
1852, New Hampshire In 1855, Kansas In
18C1 and North Dakota in 1889. Other
states than those here mentioned had pro
hibition for a few vcars. but ahaurinnil it.
' " V""' no.wvdoe,8;. ,IJow.
"'T "u ,iUBl ,lB ,n
I1"" " poucy oi uquor exciu-
"" "
, ""U "va ,are( e,livly beginning to be
"keptical about it. The. chances are that
even m Malue nd Kansas the days of
prohibition will not now be long In the land.
I ASM Mi 1'I.KASA.Vl RIES.
"If your daughter trusts me, sir, why
can't you?"
"She doesn't care how murh a thing
costs, and 1 do." Brooklyn Life.
"No," said the freethinker, "I never could
have any faith In hell."
"True," replied Rev. Goodman, "so you'd
better have some here." Detroit Free
Press,
Herbert Did you get what you wanted
yesterday?
Horatio Didn't even get what I deserved.
Herbert You'll hardly get that in this
world, you know. 1 should think you'd
want to stave it oft as long as possible.
Boston Transcript.
"How many years doc It take a woman
to learn not to talk to her husband while
he's shaving?" '
"I don't know. I've only been married
eight years." Pittsburg Dispatch.
Towne I never knew a man with such,
optimistic self-assurance.
Browne Stuck on himself, eh?
Towne Well, rather. He's no sure of
finding himself famous some day that every
morning when he wakes up he puts his
hand behind his ear and listens for the ap
plause of the public Philadelphia Catholio
Standard.
"What would you do, dear," queried Mrs.
Gabberton, "If I were to become suddenly
deaf and dumb?"
. "What would I do?" echoed the freight
payer of the combination. ''Why, I'd send
for an undertaker, of course. Chicago
News.
"My wife," said Mr. Younglove, proudly.
can laiK in lour uinereni languages.
What!" replied the crusty old bachelor:
"not
all at once!" Detroit Free Press.
The Peach.
When he "popped" and received a refusal
from her.
He exclaimed, "You're a peach, I de
clare!" "From which," she replied, "you would
have me Infer
That my charms with a peach's com
pare?" "Well," he said, "since your question com
pels me to speak.
The sole points of likeness you own
Are Just the superfluous down on your
cheek
And the fact that your heart Is a stone."
Philadelphia Catholio Standard.
MILLS OP THE SOLO IKS.
Pittsburg Dispatch.
Now the mills of legislation,
Here and there throughout the nation.
Are all running to tbe limit of their epeed;
Long and steady Is the grinding,
For the stateemen keep on tlndlng
Piles of grist to Jam in hoppers that they
feed.
With an earnestness surprising
Everything they're scrutinizing.
Framing bills for which there seems to be
no cause;
Water, earth and eky they're scanning
In the vigor of their planning
Anything will suit In grinding out more
laws.
Though each state, as well as batlon,
Gngs or. too much legislation,
And has laws for which there's not ths
slightest need,
Still the number keeps on growing,
And the statesmen keep on throwing
GrlHt and push the mills to limit of their
speed.
Often there is sore vexation.
And -it times there's Indignation,
But at 1 "ist we to these laws may gladly
turn;
For when scarcer grews the fuel.
And men feel the pinch that's cruel.
They'll be thankful they have tons of laws
to burn.
Drive it away!
Drive it away!!
That wolLoh cough of yours
"Coughs are deceitful, de
structive. They tear delicate
membranes, prevent heallde,
and prepare the way for seri
ous lung troubles. Quiet your
cough. Bring rest to your
throat and lungs.
For 60 years the doctors
have prescribed Ayer't
Cherry Pectoral for
coughs, colds, asthma,
bronchitis, pneumonia.
f. o. aria oo., Low u, at-