Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, January 16, 1905, Page 4, Image 4

Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page. It is also available as plain text as well as XML.

    TI1E OMAnA DAILY BEE: MONDAY, JANUARY 16. 1S03.
The Omaiia Daily Bee
E. ROSE WATER. EDITOR.
PUBLISHED EVERT MORNING.
TERMS OF SUBSCRIPTION
RMS OF SUBSCRIPTION,
(without Sunday), on year. .14.00
i and 8nday, one year J-'
1 Bee, one year J-
Pally Bee
Iailv Bp
iii'j.iiBiFf Dlr, one yrar i za
Sunday Bee, one year
Saturday Hee, one year... !
Twentieth Century Farmef. one year...
f i . . . .
DELIVERED BY lAKKlMv
lly Bee (without Punrtny). Pr copjr...
!ly Res (without Sunday), per week.. .10
Da
la
a v Bee dm lniln- Kundav). Dr w..'
E. .-.,!.. a zz '.. ' 60
cull...? ,-.-, y I i:ujr -
Evening' Bee (without Sunday). Pr week To
Evening Be (Including Sunday). Per,-
week 120
Complaint of Irregularities In dllvr'
should be addressed to City Circulation De
partment. OFFICES.
Omaha The Be- Building. ,
South Omaha City Hall building. Twenty
fifth and M streets.
Council Blur? 19 Fearl street.
Chicago KWO T'nltv building.
New York ZCT Pnrk Row building.
Washington full Fourteenth street.
CORRESPONDENCE.
Communlcatlona relating to newt and edi
torial mRtter should be addressed: Omana
Eee. Editorial Department.
REMITTANCES.
Remit by draft, express or postal order,
payable to The Bee Publishing Company.
Only 2-eent stamps reclved In payment 'I
mall account PersonnI checks, except on
Omaha or antrn exchanee. not accented.
THE BEE PUBLISHING COMPANY.
STATEMENT OF CIRCULATION.
State of Nebraska, Douglas County, ss.:
George B Tssrhuek, aecretary of The Be
Publishing Company, being duly sworn,
says that the actual number of full and
complete cornea of The Pallv, Morning,
Evening and Sunday Bee printed during th
month of December, 1904. wa aa followa:
1 2fl,KM) 17 82.T15
1 80. SIM) lg HO.20O
1 Sii.SAO It 2H.HHO
f at ,220 JO 2H.030
E JfO.rHM) a 2H..HO
8O.020 12 2N.220
7 2,inO J3 2et,20
t 21),.1nn 24 8t.t00
t 1,B(IO 26 80.220
JO 82.0O0 IH 2H.BOO
11 S4.2.-.0 57 2S..150
12 20,100 28 2H.4T0
13 2N.THO 2 2S.2SO
14 2,T) so as.aao
15 Ses.TKO U 81.470
16 2H.7UO
Total 921,7MB
Leas unsold coplea 10, l.'M)
Net total sales UIl.4tl
Dally average , 2U.408
GEORQB B. TZSCHUCK.
Subscribed In my presence and sworn to
iWnre m this 31st day of December. 104.
(Seal; M. B. H UNO ATE.
Notary Public.
At Inst accounts the Mrffe of tlic
court house had not ben lifted.
This is the week Unit the legislature
lms the election of a United States sen
ator on Its hands.
The lee crop is out of tliinger, but It
would hardly be safe to count yet on
a reduced lee bill next suturuer.
It may be that Brodle L. Duke will
have cause of action against that new
wife for obtaining money under false
pretenses.
Cossacks are again beginning to figure
In the news from the seat of war and
American barbed wire factories should
prepare for rush orders.
Those who know the penchant of the
family for foreign alliances put little
credit in the story that "Joe" Lelter is
backing "An American Woman."
The report that an operation Is to be
performed on the spine of the sultan
of Turkey s the first positive evidence
that the Turkish ruler really possesses
a backbone.
The movement for beautifying Oraaffa
seems to have gone into winter quarters,
although winter is the proper time for
rational discussion of plans for beautify
ing the city In the spring.
While there is little danger of Involv
ing other nations in the war In the
orient, Japan will probably start war
upon France about tho time Russia de
clares formal hostilities against China.
Bofore the new county board fills all
the offices it should find out bow many
places need to be filled and how many
sinecures can be abolished without im
pairing the efficiency of the public ser
vice. Strange, isn't it that when Nebraska
democrats laud the name of Andrew
Jackson they think only of bis spoils
system and say nothing of his often
often expressed views on the subject of
"hard" money.
If the legislature will now consider
the number of employes to be allowed
each house a closed incident, the path
would be cleared for it to go ahead and
do something In the way of lawmaking
for Nebraska.
Just to keep in fashion, Lincoln is to
have a receivership for Its street rail
way system. This is not reinforcing
very strongly Its bid for the general
headquarters of the proposed new lnter
urban trolley lines.
The fact that tho United Mlue Work
ers of America is creating a large "strike
fund" should not cause unnecessary
alarm. Perhaps It is done, like the
creation of large navies by the nations
of the world, to insure peace.
Considering Impedimenta of tempera
ture aud snowfall, Omaha has gotten
through with .less Interference with
business than circumstances would war
rant any one to expect Omaha is learn
ing by experleuce bow to handle Itself
against a storm.
By passing 439 pension bills In 108
minutes the house of representatives
has gone a long way to prove that one
republic at least Is not ungrateful, espe
cially when It Is remembered that nono
of the 459 people affected were entitled
to pensions under the general laws.
The legislative delegation from Doug
las wants to knew where Omaha stands
on the railroad terminal tax issue.' Per
haps the temperature Is too low just now
for Omaha to warm up over that or
any other Issue. When spring comes
aud the legislature Is about to adjourn
Omaha may confidently be expected to
work Itself up to a white heat ou the
railroad tax Issue, and several other
Uso.ee.
so sort run peace
The rescript of Emperor Nicholas to
the army and navy sounds no note for
peace. On the contrary it carries the
assurance of a determination to main
tain hostilities indefinitely. lie tells the
soldiers and sailors of the empire not to
be dismayed by what has been lost, not
to let their souls be troubled by lack of
success, but to have confidence In Rus
sia's power and resources and to the
ability of their country to achieve final
success. "Russia's strength grows with
adversity," declares the czar and be
points In evidence of this to the heavier
trials and the worse and more threat
ening dangers of the past
Undoubtedly the army and navy will
receive this with a renewed pledge of
loyalty and devotion. The emperor has
nothing to fear from his soldiers. He
knows they are prepared to make any
sacrifices for the empire and willingly
give their lives to maintain Russian mil
itary traditions and prestige. The
danger Is at home, among the people
who are suffering from the effects of the
war and those who are hostile to the
bureaucratic system and believe the
time has come for a radical change in
tho policy of the government Ferhaps
there is no Immediate danger of a revo
lution In the empire, though some well
Informed observers believe it probable
In the not very remote future. What
seems to be unmistakable lathat the
spirit of nnrest and discontent which
has recently been so widely and ear
nestly manifested. Is steadily growing.
The promise of reforms had a momen
tarily quieting effect, but it did not
cheek the progress of the sentiment In
favor of giving the people a larger voice
In the affairs of the empire and tlAis
curtailing the power of the cabal of
grand dukes and others who exert ft
dominating Influence over the emperor
and In the administration of Imperial
affairs
This element will not tolerate any sug
gestion of peace and Nicholas will not
dnre oppose Its Judgment. Perhaps he
has no wish to. tt may be that he is
ns desirous ns the most wirtlke of his
advisers to go on with hostilities, feel
ing thnt this Is necessary In tho Interest
of Russia's prestlse and ns well for the
security of the nufoerney. Yet there
must be times when Nicholas doubts thf
wisdom of the men who provoked war
and wishes that the conflict nilcht be
brought to an honorable termination.
tub phiva te-ca r .vo.voroM.
Exposition of the character of the private-car
monopoly and its nttcudunt
abuses must Intensify the demand for a
remedy. One of the witnesses before the
Interstate commerce committee of the
house of representatives, an official of
the National League of Commission
Nlerchants, pointed out more dearly and
fully than hnd previously been done
the method of operating the private-car
business and Its oppressive character
upon the class of buslnes even he repre
sented. The men who control the system
are absolutely despotic. Shippers must
accept their terms and the railroads
have nothing to say about It The com
mission man has no way of knowing
whether the charges are fair and rea
sonable. "When we send our checks to
the railroad company to pay our freight
It takes out Its charges to Mr. Armour
and turns the rest of the money over
to him. We have no way of knowing
whether Armour is overcharging us or
not." He declared that the present situ
ation is unbearable and that unless
something be done many merchants will
be driven out of business. "Armour now
has the power to make or to break in
dividual merchants and localities, and
even states. Through his control of the
refrigerator cars he can bring untold
disaster upon any state or neighborhood
In which be might find It advantageous
to administer punishment."
Testimony to the same effect Is given
by an official of the Western Fruit Job
bers' association, who states that all the
information that a .railroad company
possesses or can obtain is freely given
to the private car companies to be by
them used In murdering competition. He
declared that as long ns private car line
corporations are permitted to exist in
any form, operating upon our highways
of commerce, Independent industries will
be subject to their espionage and such
espionage is contrary to public interest
and demoralizing. Moreover under the
car line practice the avenues of rebates
are broadened and any and flll,sorts of
rebates may be run without fear of de
tection. Testimony of this character, and there
Is much more that might be cited, very
conclusively shows that the most pal
pable and unmistakable evil now pre
vailing in interstate railroad transporta
tion is in connection with the private-car
line system. Under the operation of this
system, which has existed for many
years, the intent, if not the actual pro
visions, of the Interstate commeVce law
has been grossly violated In allowing
discriminating rates or paying rebates
on the charges for the use of these
private cars. The evasion of the law Is
worked on the theory that the railroads
do not make the discriminating charges
or allow the rebates, and that the com
panies owning the csrs are not them
selves engaged in Interstate commerce.
The matter Is one that calls for the
prompt and most earnest consideration
of congress. In giving prominence to
It In bis annual message the president
performed a duty to the public of the
first Importance. It now remains for
congress to act and It should do so with
out unnecessary delay. The Stevens bill
proposes to amend the interstate com
merce law so as to bring tho private
car companies distinctly nnder the re
quirements of the net, making provision
that they shall file schedules of their
charges for any facilities or services
rendered or sets done. In short, all
these companies, as well as the railroads
using their cars, are brought definitely
under the requirements of the law with
reference to all parts of their service
and tbelr charges therefor, and msde
subject to the penalties for Its violation.
CESSVS OF MAXCFACTVBES
In mi.klng the census bureau perma
nent congress directed that It shoald
take a census of the manufacturing
business of the country In the present
year. That task the bureau is now
entering upon and hopes to have the
statistics in band within the next two
months. In order to do this the bureau
depends largely upon the co-operation
of the manufacturers and It is reason
ably assumed that this will be very
generally and willingly accorded, as the
work Is for their benefit A census of
the manufacturing Industries of the
United States every five years is un
doubtedly desirable and it Is believed
that the men engaged In the Industries
will so appreciate Its value and Impor
tance as to readily accord the census
bureau every facility for obtaining ac
curate Information.
According to the bureau's Information
640.000 establishments now manufacture
articles of one kind or another." Of this
number about 400.000 may be termed
factories In the full sense of the word.
The annual product of these establish
ments amounts to thousands of millions
of dollars, nearly all of which Is sold
In the home market They employ a
vast army of labor and utilize products
which give employment to another great
army of labor. The enormous growth
of the manufacturing Industries under
the American tariff policy has most
amply vindicated Its wisdom and those
who are urging a radical departure from
that policy are confronted by a mass of
facts In support of it which they will
find It difficult to combat. Our indus
tries generally are at this time doing
better than a year ago and the outlook
Is highly favorable, so that there is
good reason to expect that the census
returns for 100T will show gratifying
progress.
The unexpected does not often hap
pen. It was to have been expected that
the permanent location of the State fair
at Lincoln would be succeeded by pe
riodic appropriations for the construc
tion of state fair buildings without num
ber and regardless of expense. The
latest addition Is a bill to appropriate
$2.",(XH), or as much thereof ns may be
needed, for a live stock pavilion. It
goes without saying that the entire
$25,000 will be needed and It would not
be surprising If the "next legislature
were asked to appropriate a few thou
sands more for completing tho pavilion.
But are we not outliving state fairs,
anyhow, in this age of interstate and
International expositions?
Numerous amendments to the charter
of South Omaha ore being prepared and
will be presented for action to the Doug
las county delegation In the legislature.
A single amendment to the South Omaha
charter would bo sufficient, namely, a,
provision repealing the existing charter
and providing for a merger with
Greater Omaha, that would tend to
lessen materially the. taxes of property
owners in South Omaha and to give
them better police and fire protection
and better government generally than
they now enjoy. But that, of course,
would not suit political ple-blters and
sinecures on the municipal pay roll.
The trouble with our Omaha charter
making is that we always put the cart
before the horse. Instead of discussing
charter amendments before election and
pledging the candidates of all parties to
support specific reforms In municipal
government, the discussion is always
put off until after election and usually
drags along until after the legislature
has convened. The result Is that the
legislative delegations either do not
know what is wanted of them before
they are elected or do not care whether
reforms that are wanted are enacted
or defeated after they are elected.
Certain senators and congressmen
who pretend to be In Sympathy with
President Roosevelt's railroad regula
tion recommendation now profess to be
highly incensed by the Intimation by
some of the president's friends that pop
ular pressure will be required on con
gress to counteract the influence pf the
railroads and they threaten to vent their
indignation by opposing the president's
proposals. This Is a pretty sure sign
that the railroads are already pulling
their strings and that their puppets are
grasping at straws to serve as excuses.
It seems that the Missouri law requir
ing treasurers of political committees
to file detailed statements of campaign
contributions and expenditures is as
much a farce as It Is In Nebraska. Ne
braska has yet to witness the first prose
cution for false exhibits of campaign
finances, although the evasion of the
law Is notorious.
Condolences In Order.
Washington Star.
W. J. Bryan has met with another de
feat In the Bennett will case and can
sympathise with Judge Parker, whose first
lawsuit after the election was decided
against him.
A Ceserom Combine.
Cleveland Plain Dealer.
It appears that th reduction on armor
plat Is 40 a ton. -
This would mean a good deal more to the
public if armor plat were some edible.
B-it If It were something edible th pries
wouldn't com down.
trivia ta Die Poor.
Washington Post.
Mr. Carnegie la apparently getting a
ong way toward th accomplishment of
his ambition to die poor. His return to
th tax assessor of New Tork shows that
he has but a measly I5.0u0.000 left, or just
double th amount confessed by Mr. Rock
efeller. Glv the Weevil at Show.
Philadelphia Record.
It Is a northern man. Instead of a south
ern man, as on would have expected, from
whom the suggestion come that If the
south be suffering from an excess of cot
ton It ought to abandon all efforts to sup
press the boll weevil and leave that "bull"
Insect free to creat a scarcity and send
up th price of cotton. But It might be
difficult to shut oft th weevil after It had
destroyed Just about enough cotton.
Boston Transcript.
It Is perhaps not so much that the pur
veyors of secret railroad rebates see the
prison house yawning before them as a re-
j suit of governmental Interference, aa that
tney tear It may cost them a great deal or.
money to discover new ways of getting
around the law.
Com West and Expand.
Philadelphia Press.
The eulogies of th president at th
cattlemen's convention are a reminder
that from th first th west has under
stood Mr. Roosevelt, even as he has un
derstood th west, and It has been his
most loyal defender and champion. It
would b a good thing for all America if
every national lawmaker could spend his
vacations west of the Mississippi.
Wlsslsg of th Moath.
New Orleans Times-Democrat.
President Roosevelt continues to address
himself to southern affairs In a way to In
spire confidence. The petty gam of poli
tics, played so often to the detriment of the
public service In the south. Is brushed aside
aa unworthy of attention, and larger views
of a more righteous policy are revealed ltt
each of his successive acts. He Is dealing
with th difficult question of appointments
In a direct and manly fashion. Ignoring tho
Intervention of the office-holding or offlce
hungry coteries who mak up the so-called
"organisation" In most of the southern
states, and whose advice has heretofore
been with an eye single to their own emolu
ment. KJndlr Word for Louise Michel.
Cleveland Leader.
In reading the history of the late Louise
Michel one finds so much for reprobation
that there Is a tendency to believe the
woman unmltlgatedly evil. This would be
unjust. She had among her adherents, dis
ciples and admirers many purely patriotic
men nnd women who believed with her that
tho times In France were- out of Joint In
many particulars and needed setting right.
Doubtless Michel could have passed a hap
pier and easier life had she been willing to
sacrifice what she deemed essential prin
ciples. She deserved her Imprisonments be
cause of her encouragement of the Com
mune, but jiow that she Is dead a kindly
word over her tomb Is not amiss.
O VIRTUE'S SIDE.
Western Governors Line t'p Against
Doodling and Grafting:.
Philadelphia Ledger.
Never before did a political party poll
so large a proportion of the populur vote
as was given for Mr. Roosevelt last
November; rarely have state officers been
carried Into office on so high a tide of
popular favor as were those elected- at that
time; never, apparently, were the faults
and errors of any party condoned with
such generosity as were those of the
dominant party In 1904. Now, If ever,
could the party leaders In the several
states tlnd In the elections a widespread
Indorsement of their policy of maintaining
the organization at whatever cost to politi
cal morality. Well might they look for
ward to a prolonged period of undisturbed
profit, fearless of public resentment.
Yet the expressions of various western
governors newly Inaugurated are signifi
cant of a change. It was a matter o'f
course that Governor Folk of Missouri,
should sound a clarion note for purity, for
he had waded through a sea of scandals
to his seat. But he Is not alone. The
new governors of Indiana, Illinois. Min
nesota, Nebraska and other states nre
not less clear In their call for measures
to defeat election frauds and to throttle
"boodllng" and "grafting," even within the
party organization. They warn the legis
lators of their states against the blandish
ments of corporation lobbies, and speci
fically appeal to them to refuse even the
favor of railway nasses.
These messages at this time suggest a
cleaner political atmosphere in the west,
for there can be no doubt that the pnpl
ular sentiment is well In advance of them.
Though virtuous politics cannot be in
stituted In. a day, there Is encouragement
In tho unanimity with which these gov
ernors range themselves boldly on the
side of political purity without concdrn for
the practices of the party leaders.
A COXSTITVTIOXAL PUZZLE.
Proposed Limitation of legislative
Powers of Kew States.
New York Tribune.1
The amendment offered by Senator Du
bois to the statehood bill. reservw
' "n - -
gresa the right to legislate concerning poly
gamy In the new states, raises an Interest
ing question or constitutional law. The pur
pose of the amendment Is clear and admir
able. But can congress create a state
which is not a complete stats by reserving
to itself any power as a local legislature
within Its limits? The theory of our gov
ernment Is a union of equal common
wealths, the new states having equal pow
ers and privileges with the old, even the
original thirteen, with their antecedent
sovereignty. In the territories congress has
a free hand and can act aa a domestic
legislature, but can It in effect amend tho
constitution so far as new states are con
cerned by Inserting n their fundamental
law grants of power to It which It does not
possess In dealing with other states?
We are not disposed to answer that ques
tion offhand. It Is a difficult one. which
has come up on more than one occasion in
our history. It may perhaps be said that
it came up and was settled In the admis
sion of states with free or slave constitu
tions. Yet while congress could undoubt
edly refuse to make a state whose consti
tution did not suit it, its ability to prevent
modification may be doubted. Illinois,
though admitted as a free state, was years
after agitated by the question of introduc
ing slavery. The constitutional amendment
was defeated by a narrow vote, but If It
had been carried we do not see Just how
th United States could hav constrained
the commonwealth to adhere to Its old
law. Stipulations concerning federal prop
erty In new states do not Involve th ques
tion of governmental equality. That la
partly, though not entirely, tru of the
old arrangement by which Texas la bound
to permit Its own subdivision at the dis
cretion of congress. That In no sens In
terferes with the natur and balance of
tho federal system. The constraint of th
law and constitution making power of a
state after it Is once admitted. In other
ways than those prescribed in the federal
constitution for all th states, Is, however,
quit a different matter.
When Vtah was admitted It was put
under solemn obligations concerning poly
gamy, which everybody knows, have been
disregarded. What guarantee Is there that
any stipulation of th neighboring state
would be more sacred? Congress aeems to
havo no way of getting at recalcitrant
states. It cannot send an army to fore a
change of local law t conform to an old
promise. The Dubois plan. If valid, re
serves on Initiative In legislation to con
gress, but would th United States courts
enforce such legislation . within a state
against Its will, or regard as effective any
overruling under which a reservation t of
laws of on state which would be perfectly
valid If passed by some other state? We
do not attempt to decide. It is on of th
fascinating puszlea of our highly compli
cated system, in which logical theory and
hard facts of national life frequently clash,
clash.
STATE, FHF.SS COMMENT,
Norfolk News: If the republican legis
lature of Nebraska carries through the
present program and continues as It has
started out at Lincoln there is no doubt
but that It will make many additional re
publican votes In the state. Th work thus
far has been very pretty and the program
for the balance of the session seems sub
ject to approval.
Wayne Herald: The legislature ought to
know how th United States senator It is
to elect stands on the railroad and trust
questiorfbefore It casts Its vote for him.
These are the questions now uppermost In
the minds of th American people and Ne
braska should not send a man to represent
It In the senate who Is not In accord with
Nebraska sentiment on these questions.
Beatrice Sun: In recording the event In
his paper, Ross Hammond says that "Bom
old-time political bosses Jumped Into the
ring at the last moment and organised the
lower house of the legislature against what
waa generally conceded to be a foregone
conclusion." It appears that the older
"old-time political bosses," who had or
ganised the "foregone conclusion," were
caught napping. Such Is life, among pro
fessional statesmen.'
Wayne Herald: They say that the rail
roads do not control the present legisla
ture and that th organisation of the house
was a complete overthrow of th plans of
th corporation managers. W sincerely
hope that it la and will remain free from
every entanglement or semblance of con
trol. Nebraskans will be proud of the men
comprising th legislature if time demon
strates Its entire independence of any and
all special Interests.
Columbus Journal: It Is a victory for
public opinion In Nebraska that Mr. Bur
kett has been forced by a resolution of the
legislature to pledge his support to the
policies of President Roosevelt in advance
of his nomination to the senate. Th fact
that a republican legislature passed this
resolution gives the He to the charge made
by the opposition press that the repub
lican party of Nebraska Is a railroad party.
It also proves the efficiency of the repub
lican press of Nebraska In holding repub
lican officials In check. The Influential re
publican papers of Nebraska' are independ
ent. They speak out against corruption In
their own party as fearlessly as they do
against corruption In the opposition party
and that is why the republican party has
continued to bo the safest public servant
in whose hands to entrust the people's
business. Had Mr. Burkett enjoyed the
fullest confidence of Nebraska republicans
he would not have been asked to pledge
himself on any question. However, his as
surance of support to Roosevelt will in
crease the people's confidence In him. It
Is too bad our strong men cannot be per
mitted to represent us In the senate.
NOTAIH.i; RAILROAD YEAR.
Great Lines of the Country Owned by
Eight Ranking Interests.
New York Commercial.
The present year promises to bo a nota
ble one in the history of railroads. The
year opens with the great roaila of the
country absolutely controlled by eight
banking interests the Gould, Hill, Harrl
man, Rockefeller, Moore, Vanderbllt, Mor
gan nnd Pennsylvania. These Interests
control more than 80 per cent of tho rail
road mileage. The relations between sev
eral of these different Interests are ex
tremely close, so that as a matter of fact
the railroad Industry of th country Is
controlled by lsj than eight groups of
capitalists. The Hill-Morgan Interests
might almost be clussed ns one group,
while the Rockefeller-Hnrrlman Interests
might also be classed as one group. If It
Is true, as Wall street believes, that the
Rockefellcr-IIarrlman Interests now con
trol the New York Central, the number of
banking Interests controlling Is still further
reduced. It Is the opinion of one of the
ablest railroad financiers that within five
years the railroads of the United1 States
will be absolutely controlled by five bank
ing Interests. In the light of the develop
ments during the last few years such an
outcome does not seem at all unlikely.
The entrance of A. J. Cassatt In the
directory of the New York, New Haven
& Hartford brings out forcibly the extent
to which the railroads In the east are con
solidating into a few groups. Six years
ago there were more than fifteen Inde
pendent railroads In the eastern territory.
Since 1S9S no less than ten large roads have
been absorbed, with the result that Penn
sylvania and New York Central now abso
lutely control the trunk line territory. The
railroads which have been absorbed by
Pennsylvania and the New York Central
Include such prominent railroads as the
Baltimore & Ohio, Chesapeake & Ohio,
Norfolk & Western, Boston & Albany,
Reading, Jersey Central, Hocking Valley,
Big Four and Lake Shore. In addition,
the Ontario & Western has been absorbed
by the New York, New Haven & Hartford,
and it Is believed In Wall street that this
absorption was In accordance with a plan
to lease the New Haven to the Pennsyl
vania. Aa a matter -of fact, practically
the only remaining Independent systems
are th Erie, the Delaware & Hudson and
th Delaware, Lackawanna & Western. It
Is highly probable that before the close
of the year at least one, and possibly two,
of these will be disposed of In accordance
with a comprehensive plan which th larg
est financial interests In the country hav
mapped out.
A GROWING STORM.
Irresistible Movement for Relief from
Railroad Discrimination.
Chicago Record-Herald.
In an Interview which was printed in th
Record-Herald, Charles A. Prout, Inter
state commerce commissioner, said that
when the Santa Fe and Southern Pacific
were competing for business In California
cars were furnished promptly and fruit was
transported to Chicago In seven days.
"Then," he added, "cam a practical divis
ion of the business with the exclusive car
contract between Armour and the Southern
Pacific and the exclusive use of Santa F
refrigerator cars on that line, and what
waa the result? It now takes the fruit
anywhere from eight to twelve days to ar.
rive In Chicago, and It frequently gets here
In bad shape."
Turning to a different territory we find
George F. Mead, a Boston member of the
National League of Commission Merchants,
declaring that 1100 la charged by Armour &
Co, for Icing a refrigerator car from the
Missouri river to the eastern seaboard,
when In hU Judgment 6 would be ample.
In Mr. Mead's opinion th private car lines
can ruin men and even states by their traf
fic rates. H says that th car Una com
pany known aa Armour Co. virtually
control th price of perishable food prod
ucts in this country.
Still another witness is Charles B. Ay res,
president of th National League of Com
mission Merchants. In an address at New
Orleans h said: "W will continue to
charge th limit w think ths public will
stand, and if you are not satisfied to pay
our to.i for th privilege of living you can
let your goods rot, as you must do busi
ness with us or quit. Is what th Armour
vcluslv contracts mean."
Reader who are not directly concerned In
shipping may get some Idea of th Inten
sity of th feeling against th private car
lines from this comment, and they should
know that It represents the sentiment of
thousands who are Immediately and con
sciously affected. That Is why th storm ti
rising so high, and It is a saf prediction
that It will never be quelled until there Is
a marked change In conditions
BITS or WA8HHGTO LIFK.
Miner Seeaea and laeldeats Sketched
oa ths Spot.
For artistic work In legal hairsplitting
th Judiciary committee of th senat U
conceded th congressional championship.
An instance related by th Washington
Post Illustrate this talent. A man named
AbboU was nominated for circuit Judg In
New Mexico territory not a long time
ago, "vice Benjamin 8. Baker, removed.
It Is worth while to note the quotation
marks, for with those words the legal con
troversy started. But somewhere between
Christmas and New Tear's, after Baker
had been removed, the announcement was
made from the White House offices that
Baker had resigned, to take effect when
his successor qualified.
That is what has made the senate lawyers
of th Judiciary committee adjust their
spectacles. They want their own records
correct and also In accord with th Whit
House records. But the White House rec
ords now apparently recite that Baker re
signed, the Inference being, of course, that
he was reinstated after the president had
removed him. But having been removed
It was Impossible for the president to re
Instate Baker, while congress was still In
session, without the consent of the senate,
Abbott has Just been confirmed, but the
perplexing question of how to keep the
records straight la still unsettled.
A number of publlo men In Washington,
Including all Kansas senators and repre
sentatlves, are carrying pedometers and are
doing immense walking stunts for their
health. Senator Long and Fourth Assistant
Postmaster General Brlstow ar respon
sible for the new fad. Both had stomach
trouble and they landed In a sanitarium
They chased about the hills and plains for
a month. While they lost flesh, their
stomachs improved and they even learned
to eat five or six kinds of breakfast food.
"Get a pedometer and walk," waa th
advice they gave upon returning. Within
two days every pedometer In town was
bought up. Statesmen may be seen rush
ing' about as though engaged In a six-day
walking match. In order to get th full
benefit of the new "cure" each lawmaker
must walk at least thirty-five miles a
week ten mile on Sunday and the other
twenty-live during the other six days.
"In the interest of the general public,"
says the Washington Post, "we confide to
the authorities a suggestion which has long
been harbored In a reverent breast. We
refer to the matter of the privileged classes
here In Washington, and the importHnce
of distinguishing them, their coachmen,
chauffeurs and flunkeys by some conspicu
ous designation. Our people know, In a
general way, of course, that diplomats, mil
lionaires and perhaps certain officials of
the more illustrious kind, have the right
of way everywhere, unlimited discretion as
regards their personal conduct and total
Immunity In the case of what might other
wise come under the head of dlsturb'incn
of the peace. What troubles the peopl",
however, even the most reverent and hum
ble of them, Is their Inability to differenti
ate a licensed favorite from a plain, ordi
nary ruffian, and It is here that our solici
tude comes In.
"Naturally, no right-minded American ob
jects to being run down and mangled upon
the so-called public thoroughfares, provided
the destroyer does It by virtue of his wealth
or his official position. They expect that,
as part of the price they must pay for
dwelling in this beautiful nnd blessed cap
ital, where they can dally behold the power
ful, the great, the cultured and the opu
lent. There are some things which come
high, but reasonable persons do not grum
ble at the price. Here In Washington, we
enjoy advantages not to be had ai twice
tho money eluewhere In this happy lund.
We know It, and we blush accordingly. It
seems to us. however, that the Individual
who hourly exposes lifo and limb In grate
ful tribute to the favors showered on him
should have some certain knowledge In the
premises. He should be assured, for In
stance, that the vehicle which bowls him
over on the street belongs In good faith to
a foreign or domestic magnate duly char
tered for that purpose. He should know,
by some familiar token, that the pedestrian
who pushes him off the sidewalk or other
wise keeps him In his proper place Is one
of the anointed of the earth. This much
the common herd of Washington have a
right to ask, and no one can deny it.
"We UKgest, therefore, a system of tags
or decorations whereby the proletariat may ,
recognize the classes set apart. It Is not i
enough that the auto or the carriage be
beautiful end gaudy, or that the minion
driving It be arrayed like a drum major at
a county fair. Neither will It answer the
full demand of the lower orders If thos
who hustle and revile them be miracles of
grace and loveliness. One cannot always
tell the real thing from the counterfeit. In
the course of our long experience of great
ness, we have seen diplomats In baggy
trousers and bad hats, statesmen who could
easily be mistaken for tramps, and mil
lionaires with dirty faces. What Is needed
here, and what th masses are justified in
asking, Is a system of labels, signs and
brands whereby they may order their hu
mility, assuage their pains and regulate
their reverenci."
President Roosevelt has received a letter
from Thomas J. Farthltig of Deweyville.
O., who says he has been informed that
the government will give ISO acres of land
to any man who has twelve living children.
Mr. Farthing says:
"I am 42 years old and my wife Is 40.
We have twelve children living and two
dead. W hav been renters all our Uvea,
and have no prospect of ever getting a
horn of our own unless w can get on
from th government. We have tried to
give our children the very best education
w possibly could, but we hav a hard
time getting along."
Mr. Farthing then says that If It Is true
that th government gives land to parents
of large families he would like to be In
formed aa to how to proceed to get it. Of
course th president's correspondent was
told that he had been misinformed.
Even In th United States senat ghosts
come up out of the past to vex. At ths
Smoot hearing th other day former Gov
ernor McConnell of Idaho was on the stand
defending th Mormons and doing what he
could to bolster up th cause of Smoot.
"I hav here," he said, "a newspaper ar
ticle which tells of the Mormons. I will
read It, It coincides with my views."
He then read a statement which told of
the virtues of th Mormons.
"From what do you read?" asked Sena
tor Dubois of Idaho, the leader of th
anti-Mormon crusade.
"I read," said McConnell, looking at Du
bois with a grin that was maddening,
"from an Interview given In 181 with the
Hon. Fred T. Dubois, now senator from
Idaho."
Senator Fry, president pro tempore of
the senate, is confined to bis room with
an attack of shingles.
"Dear Frye," wrote his colleage. Senator
Hale, In inquiring after his health, "I hop
you ar better. By th way, referring to
th question of tariff revision, what Is
your attitude toward shingles?"
"Dear Hal," Mr. Fry wrot in reply,
"I am getting better. As to my attitude
toward shingles, I am In favor of free trade
to my enemies and a high protective wall
for my friends."
The president gets a good many letters
from th men who served under him In th
rough riders. This one came recently from
New Mtxloo: "Dear Colonel: I am In a
heap of trouble, and I writ to see If you
can help me out. Lest week when I was
shooting at my wife another lady stepped
In range and I hit her. It was an accident.
I wasn't shooting at her at all. I b"r you
will write to the judge and tell him to let
m go."
SUPPORT FOR TH R PRESIDENT.
Nebraska aad Kansas ' lgslatare
Voice Pablle Sentiment.
Kansas City Star.
Th Nebraska legislature has made sup
port of President Roosevelt's railroad
recommendntlons a test of eligibility to
election to the United States senate Th
Kansas bouss has adopted a resolution
calling upon th state's delegation In con
gress to uphold ths president In his pro
posed regulations for corporations engaged
In Interstate commerce.
This action by legislative bodies at Lin
coln and Topeka Is further evidence If
that were needed of popular approval of
Mr. Roosevelt s attitude toward the ques
tion of government regulation of freight
rates. The country has felt strongly re
garding this matter for many years. But
for lack of effective leadership nothing has
been done. It only needed the president's
message to focus attention on the Issue,
and public sentiment was at one thor
ourhly aroused.
On this as on other subjects the prei.
dent speaks with authority because he rep
resents tho people. If congress should
finally ignore his recommendations for gov
ernment supervision of rates. It would find
that It had the people to deal with.
PERSONAL ftOTES.
Th physician who has started the cru
sade against the waistcoat ought to wait
until August.
A dispatch from the distillery district of
Illinois ssys, "Whisky is still going down."
That's the Intention.
Persons obliged to stay at home and hug
the radiator can extract dreamy diversion
from railroad advertisements of trips to
sunny lands. The Joy of anticipation can
be extracted at little expense.
Rodman, son of John Wanamaker of Phil
adelphia, is said to he the heaviest Insured
man In the United States, carrying policies
for K.OOO.OOO. When a man of such worth
dies one can readily appreciate the pain and
sorrow that envelopes Insurance offices.
Albert M. Bradshaw, recently reappointed
postmaster In Lakewood. N. J., has prob
ably the richest bondsmen of any post
master In the country. George W. Oould
heads the list of sureties and another mil
lionaire on the list Is Samuel S. Heard.'
The Carnegie hero fund commission Is
Slid to be overwhelmed with applications
for rewards. Heroes, whoso deeds an
well vouched for, turn up from every n 'mis
ter of the land and sea. Apparently hero
Ism Is one of the commonest of occupations
and one of the worst paid.
Alva Adams, who hns Just been Inaugu
rated governor of Colorado, was horn In
lowa county, Wisconsin, May 14, 1K,Y, and
spent his boyhood days In Dane county. He
and Knute Nelson, now senolr senator
from Minnesota, were fellow students at
Albion academy, Wisconsin.
Martin W. Littleton, the well known
democrat, in a speech In Boston this week,
referring to the recent democratic disnster.
said: "We do not know. or. knowlnr. tM
not heed, the fact that we were making a
nomination and adopting a platform suit
able to 1H7 upon which we attempted to
make a fight In 1!XM."
Senator Cockrell of Missouri has com
pleted plans for the distribution of his
library, the largest and most valuable col
lection of public documents possessed by
any congressman. It comprises from 30.00s
to 35.000 volumes, covering practically every
subject of public Interest. The senator will
give It to libraries In Missouri and to his
friends In that state.
An agent for one of the popular maga
zines went Into the speaker's room one diy
and nsked Speaker Cannon If he would con.
tribute an article on some subject relating
to national legislation. "I've about all I
can do, responded Uncle Joe, "to holot
down this Job. I am trying hard and I
haven't much time for anything else. Be
sides, I am neither a llterorium nor a
Journalist."
Doing the Riant Phi nr.
Indianapolis News.
President Roosevelt seems to be deter
mined that his party shall get things done.
It Is announced that there will be an extra
session of congress to revise the tariff, and
there Is no relaxation In regard to regula
ting rsllroad mtes. And yet It might be
argued, and politicians would be prone to
argue, that If ever a party had leave to do
as It pleases, the republican party his now,
since after eight years of Increasing ma
jorities it Is returned to power by a "land
slide." President Roosevelt wisely does not
Interpret it so, or else he Is simply stimu
lated by a sense of duty without regard to
the possibilities of wrath to come. In any
case, hs la doing the thing that he ought
to do.
PASSING PLEASANTRIES.
Young Wife My husband says these are
cold storage eggs.
Honest Grocer Your husband ought to
know, ma'am, that the bens don't lay any
other kind In winter. Chicago Tribune.
Fortune Teller You will meet a tall, dark
won ia n.
Pittsburg Millionaire Not much. I've
given orders for no Caasles to be admitted.
New York Sun.
"He's a regular fish for drinking."
"Well, I never saw a fish that look noth
ing but whisky straight." Cleveland Plain
Dealer.
"Do you think that perfection Is ever
possible?"
"No," answered th statesman. "I am
convinced to the contrary. 1 have been
studying the tariff for years." Washington
"Why did you recommend the Backvlew
house to that rich old undo of yours? It's
una of the cheapest and poorest houses at
the beach."
"Well, I want to save my money."
"Your money? Are you going with him?"
"No, but I'm his heir." Philadelphia
Press.
Reporter (to distinguished military man
after Interview) Muy you some time wear
the stars of your country's Mug, sir.
D. M. M. (somewhat embarrassed) Er
thank you and may you some time or
wear its stripes. Naw York Times.
Samson had slain the 1,000 Philistines with
the Jawbone of an ass.
"I could Just aa easily have made It ten
times aa many," he said, "but It Is unneces
sary. The Chefoo liar will kill the other
,ow for me."
Casting away the Jawbone, he strode from
th presence of the cowering survivors and
went In search of Deliliih. Chicago Tri
bune. "TEARS, IDLE TEARS."
Alfred Tennyson.
Tears, Idle tears, I know not what they
mean.
Tear from th depth of some divine de
spair Rise In th heart, and gather to th eyes,
In looking on th happy autumn fields,
And thinking of th days that ar no more.
Fresh as th first beam glittering on a
sail.
That brings our friends up from th under
world, Sad aa th last which reddens over on
That sinks with all wa love below th
verge;
So sad, so fresh, th days that ar no mors.
Ab, sad and Strang a in dark summer
dawns
Th earliest pip of half-awakened birds
To dying tuts: when unto dying eyes
Tha casement slowly grows a glimmering
square;
Bo sad, so strange, th days that sr no
mors.
Dear as remembered kisses after death,
And sweet as thus by hopeless fultcy
felg nod
ftn Hps that ar for others: deep as lov.
Deep as first love, and wild with all rgrt
O Death In Live, th day that ar no more,