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About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 1, 1904)
TIIK OMAHA DAILY I1EE: TIIUIltfDA Y. DECEMHUlt 1. H'Oi. Tiie Omaha Daily Bee K. ROBEWATER. EDITOR. Ft'BLJBHED EVERT MORNING. TERMS OP BfBflCRIPTION. JTally Bee (without Sunday), one year..M W Iallv He an Sunday, nfie year Illustrated U-e, one r 1-jJJ Punday Bf. one year J -J Saturday Hee, one year J Twentieth Century Frmfr, one year... 1.00 DEUVEREU BT CARRIER. rllr Ree (without Sunday), per copy ... le lmilr (without Sunday), per week.. 12e Dally B (Including Sunday), per wK..M Sunday Hee. per ropy so Kvenlng pee (without Sunday). P"1 week 7c Evening Be (Including Sunday), per Wn IZC Complaints' of Irregnlnrltles In delivery should he addressed to City CirculaUon De part mmt. OFFICE. Omaha The Bee Building. South Omaha City Hall building. Twenty fifth and M afreets. Council Bluff 10 Fearl UrMt, Chlraro 1MO Vnlty building. Nw York 1'nrk Row building. Washington H Fourteenth street. CORRESPONDENCE. Communication relating to mw and edi torial matter should be addressed: Omhi Bee, Editorial Department. REMITTANCES. Remit by draft.express or postal order, Fayahle to "The Bee Publishing Company, mly 1-cent atampa received In payment of mall accounts. Personal check, except on Omaha or eastern exchanges, not accepted. THE BEB PrBLISHlNG COMPANY. STATEMENT OF CIRCULATION. Btste of Nebneska, Douglas County, ss. : George B. Tsschiick. secretary of The Be Publishing Comiiany, being duly sworn, says thai (he artunJ number of full ana complete, copies of The Dally. Morning, Evening and Sunday Bee printed during the mouth of November, 19tM, was aa fol low: 1 . .. I. . i . ... 7.. . XMIU ..H,404 ..rtn.tno ,.4n,iwto ..HT.SOO .., too 1 an,.1flO 17 wjmo 11 ZO.A4II 19 ...21,BOO jn ao.aro 81 si,nno 22 31),(HK1 23 2D.4A0 54 aw,viM g HMUV 4M.1tM 10 ,.8 I.IOO Jl SO.MeO IS ......H.M0 i.i no.oao 14 ir,ino is g.ao Total Ieia unsold eoplea. Net total ale...,., 26.. 28.., T,.,, .., !.., 90... ,700 ; ... aa.seo ....ho.hoo ....20,700 ....JMMIitO ....& JMO .niMi.oao 04S.S14 SlJIlT QEO. B. TZSCHUCK. Daily average Kubserlhed In my u presence and aworn to .1.... Kf.,mh.. 10O1 before me tills 80th day of November (Seal) 1 M. B. Hl'NOATB, Notary Public. Itesldents of Kentucky are praying for rain. The crop of wlntr rye luuat be In danger. The rpport, of the treasurer of tho state committee ahoTra that the commit tee la only $2,243.31 in the hole. It might hare been worse. Those Dakota farmer who are en gaged In capturing' Jack-rabbits for Frenchmen may find that they have been engaged in chasing moonshine for soma, practical Joker. The Omnha fire department seems to b? doing quite well as It is. It manages to cut up the entire fire fund and more, looy on ita present scale. Why then eliculd It be enlarged? Japanw are Mid to have carried an other hl) pear Tort Arthur. If a ceueui of the bi:la around that devoted town were taken, one might be able: to make a prediction as to when the islanders will reach the citadel. By deciding against the proposition to use funds to erect a second naval college Russian nobles probably decided that those officers graduated by the existing Institution hardly repay the expense and trouble of their education. 1 Brigadier General Story complains that th United States neglects Its field artillery. lie must admit, however, that for. a neglected branch of the service tho artillery has spokeu to good effect every time It has been called upon. Rev. Ira E. Hicks Is niakfng a counter attack upon Dr. Willis II. Moore's ob jection to '"long range .weather fore casters" and while the argument con tinues tha . elements , are fooliug the prophets whenever they please to do so. Tom Watson, predicts that Bryan will be the candidate of the democratic party for president In 1008. But those who have beeu waiting for the fulfillment bf other predictions of Mr. Watson will risk no money on the strength of the prognostication. ' Now that it Is a flneable offence tq eur a bat In any public place of amused tnent In Omaha the same code of theater etiquette, may be expected to be en forced tn the orchestrion music room as in the thcsplsn halls of grand opera aud Shakespearian tragedy. . 1- L. L The wouiuu banker of Ohio whose speculations have startled New York ia now til lu a hotel In that city. Had she been a man she would have been in Canada by thla time rather than In a sickbed. Yet there are those who main tain the equality of the sexes in every resiHM-t ' Thoe Russian nobles who have de cided toi devote a large sum of money to the education of the vlllagera may uly be guided by that "enlightened self- JshuMn the country heard so much i about a few years ago. Au lgnoraut pedantry Is more fo be dreaded than anintelligent one.. " ' , i The Japanese lust is openbut the dis patches do not tell how many nf the new members ow their offlcs to honors gained upou the field of battle, although it Is impossible to think of a new con gress under the circumstances control ling Japan la which men had not beeu lifted by their shoulderstraps. The Sioux City Journal remarks that Omaha hat reached "that stags of wick edness that It has been enabled to pull off a law and order' uteettng. ' The strauge part of If Is that Omaha has bess, redeemed repeatedly every few mouths by Imported revivalists s and vsngellsts who have successively res cued Hs inhabltsat from aa Impending (at lot horrible to describe. a call rrn Ecowwr. There la a very general eentinient that congresa should exercise Judicious economy in appropriations at the coming session and It is prolwMe that this will Ik urged by both the president and the st cretary of the treasury. Indeed It is an nounced that Secretary Shaw will In his report point out the necessity of going slow In the matter of appropriations for the next fiscal year and In this he Is doubtless In accord with the president. Unquestionably there Is room for a cur tailment In the expenditures of the gov ernment and as the treasury deficit for the present fiscal year Is now about f2,000,000 the expediency of reducing expenditure wherever It can le done without impairing the efficiency of the public service Is obvious. In what directions economy may be wisely applied cannot be Indicated offhand and the task of pruning depart ment estimates la not so easy as the av- ernge citizen may suppose. Every head of a department Is likely to persistently urge that the appropriations he asks for are imperatively required for the proper. carrying on of the work of the department and the pressure from this source Is always very strong. It rarely happens, however, that these depart ment demands are fully complied with by congress ami In view of the fact that fxpendltures are now In excess of receipts It Is safe to assume that no exception will be made at the coming eesxlon. It can lie regarded as reason ably certain, for Instance, that the heavy appropriation which It lias been stated will be recommended by the Navy department will not le allowed, wi,je it ife quite probable that the large amount which It Is expected will be urged for river and harbor improve ments will l)e materially reduced. Hpeakcr Cannon has always been an earnest advocate of Judicious economy in public expenditures and the chair man of the house committee on ap propriations, Representative Hem men- way of Indiana, is lu full sympathy with the speaker. They will doutrtles be able to prevent excessive appropria tion so far as the lion no Is concerned, but the senate ts usually less Inclined to practice economy than the lower branch, so that what the house may do In the direction of economy may not be approved, by the upper branch. With tho president and the secretary of the treasury, however, urging economy, It would seem a safe conclusion that both houses of congress will give heed to their admonition. It Is obvious that un less this Is done the deficit for the next fiscal year will be very large and a con dition may be created necessitating an Increase of Internal taxation. It Is need less to say that this would be most un fortunate both In an economic and In a political way. Increased taxation would be a drawback to prosperity and in evitably It would cause a strong popular resentment toward the party In power. Every consideration favors careful on omy in federal expenditures ''' r BRITISH TABIFV Rrofi)f It Is said that the triumphant elec tion of President Roosevelt has strength ened the cause of tariff reform In Eng land and It is not at all surprising that such ia the case. The London corre spondent of the New York Tribune ob serves that if the American people had shown any lack of faith In the policies which the republican party represented, the free traders would have been over joyed and liberal speakers would have pointed the moral that England must stand by Cobdeulam with unflinching loyalty. As there is no evidence that any of the countries having protection are prepared to sacrifice the interests of their working people by abandoning that policy, the reformers in England are returning to their attack upon free trade with Increased ardor. The Cham berlainltes are telling the supporters of the existing fiscal policy that they are; begging the question when they assert that the weight of authority Is ou their side and point out that when It is claimed that the United States would not have been less prosperous under free trade than under protection tho burden of proof rests with those who make this claim. There is no doubt that the overwhelm ing verdict of the American people rn favor of maintaining the protective prin ciple will not only exert a great In fluence upon public opinion In England and strengthen support of the fiscal reform for which Mr. Chamberlain la contending, but will also make stronger the adherence to protection in ("lermany and France. Whether or not this will be to the ultimate advantage of this country la a question which time must determine. LITTLE LSQISLATWN EXPECTED- A. considerable 'number of senators snd representatives are already In Wash lugton and It is said that the general opinion among them is, that very little legUlatiou, outside the regular appro priation bills, will be enacted at the coming session. It is generally conceded that there will be a river and harbor bill passed carrying a sufficient sum to - meet all Immediate requirements, and In view of the fact that this measure car ries appropriations of equal Interest to democrats as well ss republicans. It la not expected to take up much time In . . . - 1 1 , . . . . ' ine iiouae ana win prooaoiy ue ready for the consideration of the senate be fore the holiday recesa. As to wbst legislation other than ap propriation bills may be considered will depend to some extent upon the recom mendations of the president In his an nual message. It Is not unlikely that there are some matters which he regards aa of such pressing importance as to call for action by the present congress snd If so they will undoubtedly receive consideration. It appears to be sssured that so far as tho questions of tariff and the currency are concerned they will be left for the next congress, which may be called la extra session shortly Rafter tbt beginning of the nest admin istration to consider tariff revision. If report Is correct the president thinks there ought to be further currency legis lation, but of course nothing can be done at the short session. There will be busi ness enough for congress during the period from Decemler 5 to March 4, with tlie nsual two weeks taken out for the holiday recess, but the deliberations do not promise to be of extraordinary Interest. l i-' i rvsmsu the fibe limit. The fire department has slwsys len Mayor Moores' pet hobby snd his plea to the city council for an additional ap propriation of nearly $2.,000 to enlarge the department and an extension of ths lire fund limit from $12.,000 to f22,000 Is unquestionably made In sincere earnestness, but we doubt whether it will be convincing upon the taxpayers who would have to foot the bills. Omaha Is now spending more, money upon its fire department thsn uion any other department of the city govern ment and the limit of the fire fund has been pushed by one legislature after sm other, each time with the assurance that It would cover all legitimate demands, only to be followed almost Immediately by overdrafts snd overlaps. The esti mated overlap In the fire fund for the present year Is $18,173, notwithstanding express provisions of the charter forbid ding overlaps and barring transfers to piece out from other funds. According to the mayor's communica tion to the council, the chief of the flro department has prepared a request for an appropriation of $107,000 for the tire department for the coming year, or moro than $70,000 In excesa of the charter limit. The erection of new fire houses has been made the basis for the demand for new equipment snd the purchase of new fire apparatus prepared the way for demands for more men and officers for additional fire companies all working together as, an endless chain draft upon the municipal treasury. Omaha wants effective fire protection by a well-manned and well-equipped fire department It Is willing to pay fair salaries and to exact only reasonable service, but there Is no good reason why the whole city government should be subordinated to this one department. The council should go slow about antici pating charter changes to validate, the overlapa, because the legislative delega tion will be expected to authorise no in crease that Is not absolutely necessary. In resisting the encroachments of a dangerous press clipping bureau, Colonel Thomas II. Tibbies is entitled to the encouragement and support of every liberty-loving citizen of the land. By sending Mr. Tibbies a few complimen tary newspaper notices the clipping bureau conspirators inveigled him Into giving an order for all the printed refer ences that might come under ita scls-sors-wlelders' hands, and as a result 1,432 items of notoriety were trans mitted by Uncle Sam's mall carriers to Mr. Tibbies' postofflce box. The clip ping bureau has the audacity to ask pay ment' at the rats of fi cents per notice, whereas Mr. Tibbies evinces sn unwill ingness to settle the whole account for more than (5, or at' the rate of a little more than three for a cent.. We have no doubt that the quality of the clippings deteriorated rapidly as the campaign progressed from the time his order was given to the press bureau and that Mr. Tibbies' appraisement is, If anything. in excess of their real worth. At any rate, eternal vigilance Is the price of liberty and the clipping bureaucrats may as well be given to understand now aa later that they have overstepped the constitution anjj the laws. The next populist platform will surely contain a plank for national ownership of press clipping bureaus and a service of news paper bouquets to every patriot at tho expense of the government without price and without limit. Senator Dietrich's scheme for utilising convict labor In the construction, of the Panama canal will doubtless precipitate considerable discussion. It should be remembered that aa governor Senator Dietrich evolved a scheme for the em ployment of convict labor on the digging of Irrigation ditches with a view to giv ing them wholesome exercise without bringing them Into competition with In dependent self-HupportJng labor. The present use to which convict labor Is put, namely, the manufacture of brooms. barrels, boots and shoes, harness and articles of that description, Interferes seriously with the free development of these Industries, which would otherwise give employment to large numbers of thrifty working men at current wages. The convict labor problem haa by no means had a satisfactory solution snd If Senator Dietrich's proposition leads to something better than the present sys tem it will at least accomplish some good. The Lincoln Star takes up snd re inforces for Lincoln The Bee's appeal for more stringent Inspection and regu lation of the storage and sale of ex plosives and Inflammables within the city of Omaha. The capital city has bad a number of 'disastrous experiences with explosions occasioned bv, conflagra tions In buildings where such materials were kept without the knowledge of the authorities. Dynamite, gun cotton, pow der and explosive oils are more danger ous to the community than opium, ar senic, cocaine and other narcotic poisons, and tho possession and sale of one ought to be as much controlled and safe guarded as the other. The United States circuit court of California has dodded thst the rallrosds csn, If tbey wish, put In a rate on through shipments from Ban Francisco to Omaha less thsn ths rate fur a shorter haul, stopping st an Intervening point tn this state, the esse not being governed by the long and short haul clause on account of the possibility of water competition. If ths court can figure out wster competition in- trans continental traffic between ths. Pacific coast and the Missouri river, It ought to lie able to conjure up some similar pre text by which the local rates throughout Nebraska would be reduced by Judicial decree. Tlwe new circus license ofdlnanee bases the sliding scale of fees iqwrn the price charged for admission tickets Instead of the number of elephants and multiplicity of sideshows, ss formerly. It might le well, however, if this change Is to lo made, to specify a little more definitely whether the price of admission Is the maximum or the minimum price. Circus managers are always looking out for the main chance, and. If they could save a wad of license money by selling a few tickets at cut rates they would hardly be above It. Aside from all technical argument over the sufficiency of the vote for the Iowa amendments. It should be safe to assume that the supreme court will be guided by the Intention of the voter, and certainly no voter expected to amend anything other than the constitution of the state of Iowa by his vote on the propositions. Oh. Forget It. Chicago Tribune. With a record of thirteen killed and nearly !M) Injured, the foot ball senson pasaea Into history as a good second to ths late Fourth of July. Ball for feeble Memorle. Chicago News. Though the stsndard Oil officials may "welcome an Investlaatlon" as reported, It Is not Impossible that their memories will completely fall them when they are sum moned to the witness eland. Xote of the Knocker. Minneapolis Journal. Nebraska cast over S.ono socialist votes. The populist party has sone, but there are still farmers left who feel, when they think of the government, Just as they do when ths cow has stepped Into the milk pail. Mississippi's Trlso Boar. Louisville Courier-Journal. Mr. Vardamsn's latest exposure of him self merely confirms the general opinion, based upon some of his previous perform ances, that Mississippi unfortunately haa a governor who should bs Ignored by gentle men when dealing with gentlemen. I.OXGKVITY- AD TKMPERAXCE. Sabataatlat Impetas 4o the Casme of Total Abstinence. ' Philadelphia Record. The cause of ths total abstainers Is likely to receive a very substantial Impetus from the life Insurance compenlee. A few months ago an English company, which hss been In business many years and which has kept Us business with total abstainers and with moderate drinkers separate, an nounced that the longevity of the former decidedly exceeded that of the latter. This has been followed by the report that the American companies have been .studying the subject, have reached the same conclu sion and will offer cheaper insurance to total abstainers than to those who ','ta.ks a little something when they feel like It." Conclusions of the' actuaries of the lead ing Ufa Insurance, 'companies will carry far more weight wth the' publlo than the arguments and appeal's of the temperance orators. ' Not all rnen are as careful of tbelr habits as they ' know they ought, to bs, but the Judgment of ths Insurance com panies will make an Impression upon men who are not Influenced by the opinions of their wives, -their doctors, their pastors or their own general knowledge. While every man will admit that excessive drinking Is deleterious, few wfll admit even to them selves that they are excessive drinkers. But the conclusion of English and Ameri can insurers, based upon long experience, thst even moderate drinking abbreviates existence, will mnke some Impression upon all men who are not slaves of the drinking habit, and If the companies shall offer to Insure the lives of total abstainers at lower rates than are charged-to others, they will bs backing their conclusions by the most convincing of alt arguments, for "money talks." It Is Increasingly common for the great corporations to make total abstinence, or something very near It. a condition of em ployment. There Is little toleration In business for Intemperance and there Is a growing suspicion of occasional drinking. If this attitude of the great employers shall be Mipported by ths Insurance companies the money argument will accomplish for teetotalism more than all ths appeals of the temperance societies. . POLITICAL PALMS ITCHIKti. Millions la 'the Irrigation Fand At tract Covetous Schemers. Cleveland Plain Dealer. The magnitude of ths Irrigation project contemplated by ths government Is well understood. Ths money to execute it Is to corns from ths sals of public lands Mors than t22.ooo.ooo, all of which must bs devoted to Irrigation purposes, has been recMvsd from . this source. This Is to bs expended under ths direction of, the sec retary of ths Interior and ths amount to be spent la each ststa has no relation to the sum received from ths sals of lsnds within that state. For example, ths proceeds of land sales In Montana can bs spent In New Mexico if the secretary so directs. Naturally ths knowledge that such a vast sum Is to be expended has csused an spldemlo of Itching palms among those pstrlots who cannot understand how or why It should bs disbursed directly by the government without ths intervention of middlemen who have so often profited by such transactions. It Is Intimated that a determined effort will bs mads to Induce congress to provide salaried agents to have charge of ths distribution of this money. As the Irrigated districts must pay back within ten years ths money expended for their Improvement, snd as there will thus tlways bs a large fund for irrigation purposes, to be handled ' over and over sgaln indefinitely. It is plain that if ths plan to have these iagsnta or oommlsloners appointed shall suooead there will be not only s substsntlal and probably needless swslllng of ths government payroll, but a possible opportunity for pickings and stealings while the eash Is changing hands. Ths msn now In chsrgs of ths work are specially trained and carefully selected experts snd there will bs no difficulty In finding plenty mors such If need shall arise. Ths law .contemplated entrusting ths work to just such men. sod there can bo no reason or sxcuss for violating Its spirit by srastlng Intermediate sgsnclss In ths snaps of commissioners, who would In all probability bs politicians and not much si so. Tho tran of ths political hack and grafter is over so many departments of too publlo service that Ms Intrusion in this asw field will be bitterly resented. Probably ths publication of tho scheme wlU bo sufficient Is dsfest It. In any event the president takes such peculiar Interest In tho Irrigation project, which is In a certain sense his own creation, thst hs will not ba disposed to tolersts meddling by political lams ducks. WHO ARK THK AMERICAS t Tart Reply to the Criticism of aa Kaallah Lawyer. Philadelphia Press. If sir Rdward Vlarke at the Thanksaiv ing banquet In London had simply bet-n Indulging In playful badinage when he criticised the title of "American" ambas sador aa an assumption. Mr. Choate would probably have retorted In kind. If Sir Kdward Was serious underneath his sar casm. Mr. Choate. not wishing to make a contention, would naturally have turned It aside with only a word, as he did. His negative answer treated the objection as Intended. And yet It Is hard to believe that Sir Edward could seriously have meant to com plain because the people and the ambas sadors of the fnlted mates are described and describe themselves ss "Americans." Ths English lawyer will have to go bach a long way In the history of his own coun try with his fault-finding. He will have to point his shafts at the greatest of English statesmen. When Lord Chatham thun dered: "If I were an American, aa I am an Englishman, I never would lay down my arms while foreign troops were on my shore," did he mean a Canadian or a Mex ican? Edmund Burke in his greet speech on "Conciliation with America." delivered In 177R, showed thst English commerce had grown as much from 1TO to 177 as in all previous history. He pointed to Lord Rathurst, whose life spanned that period. He pictured the good angel of that suspi cions youth ss opening a vision before him. thus: "If amid these bright Snd happy scenes of domestic honor and prosperity, that angel should have drawn up the cur tain, and unfolded the rising glories of his country, and while he was gaslng with admiration on the then commercial grandeur of England, the genius should point out to him a little speck scarce visi ble in the mtoss of national interest, small seminal principle rat'uer than formed body, and should tell him: 'Young msn. there Is Amerlea-whlch at thla day serves for little more thsn to amuse you with stories of savage men and uncouth manners; yet shall, before you taste death show Itself equal to the whole of that com. merce which now atlracts the envy of the world. Whatever England has been grow ing to by a progressive Increase of Im provement, brought In by varieties of peo ple, by succession of civilised conquests and civilising settlements In a series of 1.700 years, you shall see as much added to It by America In the course of a single lifer " When Burke drew thnf glowing picture did he by "America" menn Braxll or Peru? 8ir Edward Clarke should pour his sar casm on Chatham and Burke! Poor ora tors! according to this new Daniel come to Judgment they did not know how to use the term. There Is the fnlted states of Mexico, and they are Mexicans. There is tho tnlted States of Colombia, and they arc Colombians except now the Panamans, thank Roosevelt! There is the United States of BraslI, and they are Braslllans. There Is the United States of America, and why are they not the Americans? RAILROADS AS ARTFIL DOMERI Variety of Means by Which Laws Are ISnlliaed. Chicago Tribune. When the railroads of the countrv fin A law passed which prohibits a discrimina tion In freight rates between shloriers "hv any special rate, rebate, drawback, or oincr aevice. a law which Intends that all shippers shall bs equally favored by the ranroaas. what do they do? Do the faith. ruiiy observe ths law both In letter and In practice, as loyal rltisens of the ennntrv shold do. and in case they think It unjust either prove it to the courts or take th. consequences? This query seems childish wnen me tacts are known. There are several methods uaod hv h railroads to evado the law against rebates. uno is the industrial railway, another is the privets car line, a third la the eiin. damage claim. They have all been revealed by the Interstata Commerce rnnmi..i. They are all Ingenious, and It Is difficult to tell which Is the most clever method of law- breaking. The industrial railroad Is In reeiitv . switch track owned by ths favored .hinn.. He uses his own engines to haul his freight a mils or so to the connecting railroad and gets a division of ths rats charged for hauling ths freight to its destination, tn Chicago some of the Industrial roads get per cent Of the rate to the Missouri river. It is 500 miles to that point. Bay they haul the freight five miles. Thew i. 1 per cent of the work and get per cent of the compensation. This subtarfti i them a switching charge of about til a car, where the ordinary charge would be about S3. Ths owner of the Industrial mm A i this manner gets a rebate of fs a car. In genious as well as profitable! The private car Una is a device hr whih ths favored shipper forwards his freight In his own cars and the railroads make him allowances for using his own cars Instead of theirs. The railroads are aM t w. generous to a fault In the allowances they grant these private car owners. Tho fictitious damage device has besn brought out recently In the Inquiry Into live stock ratss. It was found that ths favored shipper brought in a bill for dam agea to his stock whlls In .transit, and the railroads were so Uken aback and stag gered by the overwhelming evidence against them that they forgot the cus tomary practice of contesting all damages especially damages for death and injury to human live stock and paid tho bills without protest. The Interstata Commerce commission hss ferreted out all these Ingenious methods or talented lawbreakers, but It Is largely ham. pered In its efforts to check their operations for lack of authority. Ths present law to regulate commerce Is ridiculous, because while It authorises the discovery of law breaking It provides no means for Its prompt suppression whsn It Is discovered. It provides for diagnosis, but not for a remedy. ' It employs a one-legged and a one-armed man to defend the public against one In the possession of ail his members. Congress should end ths pitiable and un equal struggle between the commission snd tho railroads. It can do so by giving ths commission tho powers It wss originally In tended It should have. Desertion tho Army other. Springfield Republican. Ths annual report of Oenersl Chaffse. ss chief of staff of ths army, expresses un limited satisfaction In tho working of ths now system of army organisation, which has boon In operation about s year snd s half. For ths present, little new legisla tion Is nseded for the army, according to tho general. Thsro ia the same old prob lem of desertions, but that evidently la be yond roach. A certain proportion of en listed men are sure to desert each year, and no amount of punishment seems to have a deterrent effect. rattlaa Owt tho HaaSsbako. Portland Oregonlan. Handshaking of a president is a nuisance, a bore, a hardship and a danger; snd It seems to have been properly omitted for the ceremony of tho reception to President Roosevelt st St. Louis. If ths president Inaugurstes during his present tsrm a needed reform by declining to shaks bands at any public reception, hs will bo sus tained by sentiment. The popularity of ths hsndetiaksr Is nht necessarily lasting, any-way. GOSSIP AHOIT TUt WAR. Men and Measares Censplenoos la the straggle. A late Issue cf Enslneerlng gives de railed Information obout ths recently com pleted link In the Transslberian railway around the south end of Lake Baikal. Ths purpose of ths line Is to avoid ths delays Incident to the ferry service across a body of water frequently swept by storms and covered with Ice four months of tho year. Ths new section la 1M miles In length, but the most difficult work was required be tween station known as Baikal and Kultuk, trhlch ars fifty-three miles apart, This part of ths route wss chosen from several that had been sun-eyed because it had no steep grades. The quality of tho rock to bs cut seemed mors satisfactory thsn that elsewhere, and a piece of road previously built from Irkutsk to Baikal could bo utilised. Otherwise thirty or forty miles of track would have besn wasted. Along the shore from Baikal to Kultuk the mountains rise abruptly to a height Of from sno to I. JOO feet, snd In most places the cliff Is absolutely vertical. Thirty-two tunnels have been needed, whose aggre gate length Is three and one-half miles, and one of which Is nearly half a mils long. Inasmuch aa the rock Is often loose there, It was found expedient to line these passages to practically' their whole ex tent with heavy brickwork, aa a precaution against caving. Even this safeguard may not prove Invariably effective. The region Is subject to earthquakes, which Invite Isnd slides on the open part of the line j and threaten to cause a collapse of the tunneis. Again, there are almost count less clefts In the rock, and small streams emptying Into the lake. Tho BaJkal-Kul- tuk section Includes no fewer than 210 bridges. Torrential rains are not uncom mon In the vicinity, and as much as eight Inches of water has fallen there In a single day. This Is about as much ss Is ever precipitated by a tropical cyclone, and ths fact Is unpleasantly suggestive of wash outs. However, the all-rail line Is Of great value in expediting military supplies, but the ferry service will be continued as here tofore, so that a break In one will not block transportation to the front. "There are certain featuYes ef the Japanese army which are wholly distinctive and which separate It from all ths armies of the world," says s writer In Leslie's Weekly. "An Invitation to a band con cert at headquarters a function so llttio Indulged In by the Japanese and so pal pably a foreign Innovation brought home this trsln of reflection with especial fores. In attempting to analyse the subject, some of the factors seem to be these: There Is no psnopty of war; there are never any ostentatious effects. It is a fighting ma chine, pure and simple, divested of all trappings, tinsel, and glittering martial display. Quite, sober, serious, ths general no moro conspicuous except for, a fine dapple-gray horse than tho cavalry trooper; ths colonel of foot la modestly dressed aa ths private In his ranks. A modern army, run on plain, business principles; no spectacular demonstrations: no dare-devil, hair-raising taking of chancas with tho enemy, but a grim, silent and stealthy preparedness, to toko ad vantage of ths slightest falsa move on tho part of ths adversary. No sporting spirit; slways meet your enemy two, three, four to one, If possible, and overwhelm him. And, when the time cornea to dla in ths attack, sacrifice your Ufa ss dearly as possible, making use of svsry bit of cover, but die unoompIalnJngly." Field Marshal OySma, who la In com mand of tho Japanaaa armies In Manchu ria, wm ones a pupil in tho Temple Hill school at Oonasso, N. Y., and Walter O. Patterson, ons of Ganasou's leading resi dents, remembers Oyasaa and relates many amusing experiences of ths young Japa nese, whom ho describes as an undersized boy of IS, heavy set. but bright-eyed and keen-witted. "I am perhaps the first man who saw Oyama under firs." sa d Mr. Pat terson tho other day. "One Saturday morning a crowd of atudenta started afoot for a peach orchard belonging to Tomp' Campbell, which was a favorite place with tho boys. While climbing a fenoo Oyama wss the last over. Suddenly Mr. Campbell appeared with a shotgun. Ho took aim at Oyama and fired a charge of rock sail Into bis body. Oysma stood ths pain stoically as one of tho fortunes of war to bo encountered when raiding peach orchards." Ths money value of the Russian fleet now speeding towsrd ths seat of war It quite large. Borne Idea of Its cost may be obtained from tho following table: Seven battleships. 16.600.000 14S.50A.000 Two armored cruisers, 3,000.OM.... 10.OTO.00) Six protected cruisers, ti.60j.ftO.... ItOOd.oOO Twelve destroyers, $250,000 S.iOO.OJO Nina auxiliary cruisers. il.000.C00.. s 000. 0 0 Two repair ships. IhOO.OOO , Throe colliers, tuOO.OUO Hospital ship l.yoo.ooo l.bOOOOD 760.0UO Total .ttf.7tO.O0O Apparently Marshal Oku is tho most ad- ml of ths Japanesa generals. A letter fo. . In a mall bag captured by General Rennenkampf contained the following: "When our awe-inspiring commander for tho first time Inspected our battalion the new men shook with fear, think ng ha could sea Into their hearts. But tho gen eral dismounted from his horse and talked to ths men, giving sweats to the youngest. Ho tasted our food, examined our a'o.hea and ordered us to bo given new boots. Now that wo have fought under hla re nowned leadership wa fear no defeat." Field Marshal Oyama Is not much of a beauty, but hs la a jrood deal of a man. Once ha was ths Judge advocate of ths Japanese army and well known for his Justice. Hs attsnded a ball at Toklo one night and was standing near a dcor when a European woman or unusual oaauty passed him. Hs watched her for aa la. slant, and, turning to a rrteno. sal. What a lovsly woman." Ths woman heard him. turned, recognised him and said, "What sn excellent Judge." Consecrate how Bishop, NEW ORLEANS. Nov. Ml-Father Cor- nellua Vandeven was tooay conaecraieu bishop of Natchlluchsa, Spaulding & Co. CHICAGO Goldunltlu. SiWertraitbs and Jeweleri 1 uv oof tort of Diamonds Precious Stones Watches and Art Goods Producers pt Rich Jewelry and Silverware Our jtrort will fltut hn the opiwrtun.ty for dltbrU wlsvtloa which ! only jHsalbU lu having an unlimited ranRw in variety. Special and artmtto aaaiSHea VartHaAod sw f tr la SrauUlojj t A JaoitAn A HATTER OF HEALTH POl'JDEaR A&iolirtsly Pure !X$ HO SUBSTITUTE PER SO V I, KOTES. O' Donovan Rossa has arrived In Ireland his twenty years' exile from that country having expired. Miss Helen Oould unveiled a bronse tub let In the West Side Young Men's Chrlstlar association building, New York City, or Saturday night last, entitled, "Washington at Valley Forge," which was presented bj John J. Clancy. W. R. McKeen, who recently celebrstei" his seventy-fifth blrthdny at Trrre Haute. Ind., was for twenty-five years president of the Vandalla railroad. In the twenty five years of Ms presidency the road never killed a passenger. Mrs. Pauline 8telnem, described as tin most prominent Jewess of Toledo, O., and a great favorite with the lute Mayor Sam Jones, has been elected to the city's school board. She ran "00 votes ahead of her ticket and her plurality wss sbout l.ono. J. Adam Beds haa been talking about the Roosevelt landslide. "I once asked a Mon tana conductor." ho says, "why his trsln was two days late, snd ha told me that half a mile of tho scenery had fallen down. Thst's what happened a few days sgo." James Jeffrey Roche, the author, Is a very amusing story teller. One of his friends thus Identified him to an unknown admirer: "It you see two men sitting to gether, and one of them la all broken up laughing, the other one ia James Jeffrey Roche." Copenhagen has lost Ita most prolific nov elist by the death of Louis de Moulin. He used to write half a dosen stories at once. Many of them were printed In the Danish Review, and hs la said to have been bound by contract to furnish at least Ave murders in each story. Judge Charles Field of Athol, Mass., Is ths oldest member of tho bar in New king land and ths oldest Judge In the United States who is at present exercising full Judicial funotlona. Although 0 years old. Judge Field sits on his court bench almost every day, either at Athol or Gardner. POINTED PLBASANTRIHS. If a man's nine could tell all tho medita tions It has shared with him they would make his wife's hair stand on end. New York Preea Gerald There's a fool born every minute. GeraJdlne But that would be only sixty an hour. Sunday Magaalne. 'Why should beef bo' so expensive?" asked - the .consumer. - , I - "Because," answered Mr. Dustln Stax, "beef Is at a disadvantage with most other riroducts. There is no method of sdulterit ng It with cheaper matarlals." Washing ton Star. "Don't y; believe then that 'publlo offlos Is a public truaf?" "Oh, sure: It's very like a trust. At any rate, some fellows seem to have a monop oly of It." Philadelphia Ledger, Woman of tho House Yes, I advorttsa for a lost dog, but it Isn't any of these. You have brought a lot of cheap, common ours. Caller Yes'm ; these Is ths tS dawgs. If yo'd offered LS rewa.d I'd hava brought a smaller an' more eeleck lot fur ye to choose from, ma'am. Chicago Tribune. "Tho Berwicks aro lucky people." ''How so?" "Why, you know, that Jewel of a girl of theirs, ths one who ran the lawn mower?" "Yes." "Well, Beswlck haa Just discovered that she can use a snow shovel, too." Cleveland Plain Dealer. "Don't you think that Freddy Feather topp is a terribly puny, puerile, undevel oped little Idiot r" "Do I? Say. if his folks would only gst ono of these incubstors and put him In It. there d bo some show for him." Cleveland Leader. THUS WEDDING GIT. ST. Philadelphia Cathollo Standard. Whenever you're a wadding guest Bo Jolly as you can. Endeavoring your level bast To bo a ' funny man." Don't get tho notion In your head That you wore bidden there To see an aament couple wed And merely wish tho pair All peace and Joy along tho way That theiy have Juat begun. O! no. ba gay! Remember, pray, A wedding's simply fun. A bride and groom aro often pro no To take a sober view Of Ufa and duties Ilka their own. And on It s up to you To counteract thu sense of gloom With your pocullsr mirth. So Just bombard that bride and groom With Jokes for all your worth. Dtsyhnasuro titer, of course, may show At some things that are done: Dva't snind them, though; they oushA fi know A wadding's simply fun. You mar bvgln by throwing rice And shooa, and after rhat An ancient eg or two aro nice Aud otxno in very pat. ... Of couraa Iholr carriage should bo decked With placard weird and queer; To this the bridegroom may object. But bans htm on tho oar' If aftvr l hoi the silly tht Should still Wick up his heels, Esilud a stlrk vt dynamite tivtiMtn the carnage n. This aisevo wiU taaa then by sur It It la neatly dona, And survlv make tbem re Hie A woddliuj a stoapi (un. Oarreet snd Istest fora) la rtne Stationery. rattia Cakenter. lUvil Cor State St Chicagj