TIIE OMAIXA DAILY REE: THURSDAY. FEHRUARY 23. 190.1
Tim Omaha Daily Bee
E. ROBEWATER. EDITOR.
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THE BEE Pl'BLIflHINO COMPANT.
STATEMENT OF CIRCULATION,
fat of Nekraika. Doug)" County, aa.:
Oore R. Txschiirk. secretary of Th Be.
Publishing Company. hlng duly sworn,
ay that th actual number of full and
complete copies of Th Dally. Morning.
Evening and Sunday Pea printed during th
month of January. 1M, waa a follows:
X 30.220 IT ST.TIO
t 29.040 II 27.030
t 3IN.47W It ST-lflO
4 , 24.21 0 to 27.R20
I .27,070 tl ao.om
I 147,00 tt SO.AftO
T ...110,430 a S2.10O
S0.140 . U 20.S7O
1 27.7S0 ' a 27.S10
10 S7.R20 M SH.1B0
II 27.8419 - 2S.070
li 27.6M . . 2 80.240
IS 27.S40 f ItO.WXt
14 80,300 10 27.870
i an, boo n 7,ooo
1 2l,?0O
Total SOS.SAO
Ls unsold copies..., 9,818)
Net total Mies 982.772
Dally average 29,476
GEO. B. TZSCHUCK.
Subicrlbed In my presence and aworn t
before m tula Slat day of January.
(Seal) M. it. HUNOATB,
Notary Public.
Between pipe line and pipe dreams
these are piping times In Kansas.
Perhaps (leorfre Washington could not
tell a He, but, If bo, be seems to have
been the last one of the species.
The legislature will have to pick Its
way carefully to avoid getting tangled
tip In the thread of those binding twine
bills.
The Russian peasant will have a much
better understanding of the scope of the
present war when the time comes to pay
the Indemnity.
(irand Duke Paul has arrived at Mos
cow. It la only fair that ho be given
an opportunity to outline his policy be
fore the bomb explodes.
With 4.000 men at work on the Pan
ama canal Onera! Yellow 'Fever sees
an opportunity for a King and desperate
engagement rtr-.tt summer.
That Polish political ; organization
whose slogan Is "no revolt" may be but
waiting for a unanimous agreement first
as (o the distribution of offices.
Doubtless It was because of his name
that Representative Ananias Baker
brought the boodle fund Into the Indiana
bouse Instead of telling about It.
Anyone who desires to see the reputed
effect of the fabled upas tree be should
watch a freight rate bill when It ap
proaches the United States senate.
In spending Washington's birthday at
work on the evidence in the "Beef trust"
ease Commissioner Garfield has demon
strated his willingness to show his faith
by his works.
Perhaps, , the Inactivity of General
Kouropatkln on the Shakhe Is due to a
desire to know before the buttle begins
If he Is fighting for the czar or for a
revolutionary junta.
Those revolutionists who would liber
ate the rr.ar might recall the Sablnes
who tried to rescue their daughters from
the hands of the Romans. Some prison
prefer not to be freed.
From the nature of the discussion one
unfamiliar with American affairs might
Imagine (Jeueral Miles to 1k occupying
In the house a position similar to that of
Judge Swayne iu the senate.
If Lewis Nixon's trip to Constantino
ple is successful the I'nlted States may
be as anxious as tire the European coun
tries te perpetuate the rule of the sultan
In a part of Kurope long enough at least
till claims of it citizens are paid.
Judges may never be Influenced by
reasons outside of the case at bar. but If
thla is so, It Is rather difficult to account
for the number of courts now upholding
anti-trust laws, while remembering the
treatment similar laws received a few
years ago.
Omaha la the natural point for division
headquarters of the rural free delivery
service In Nebraska. Iowa, South Da
kota and adjacent states. The depart
ment will not have to look for pretexts
to justify the restoration of Omaha as
a division headquarters.
' In the double shuffle In the city attor
ney' office It la barely possible that the
taxpayers may save part of the fee
which the new city attorney waa to hare
earned as special counsel In the railroad
tax cases. One man can hardly repre
sent the city as its regular law officer
and as Its special counsel at the same
tln'e.
The city council Is asklug for Informa
tion as to the mat of Installing au elec
tric lighting plant to Illuminate the city
hall. The lighting hills for the city lmll
are but a bagatelle In comparison with
the lighting Mils fur the city street.
If the city Is to go Into the lighting
business It should go the whole length
at otic .
CONDtTtONZ MAKING fur peace.
It Is not neceasnry to glva credence to
the reports from abroad In regard to
peace movements In order to believe that
there are. conditions of great force mak
ing for peace In the orient. That Km
pcror Nicholas Is In a state of mind
which Inclines hltn to listen to those who
favor the termination of hostilities, on
terms honorable to Ittissta, or which at
least would not be utterly humiliating.
Is by no means Incredible. If he Is not
aware of all that Is taking place In .his
empire he doubtless knows enough to
enable him to realize that nearly all the
power of the government will le re
quired to preserve order at home and
repress the revolutlonsry agitation which
every day spreads and grows stronger.
To carry on a foreign war against a for
midable enemy, thus far successful, and
hold in check a rising tide of revolution.
Is a task greater than Iiussla has ever
before had to meet and which she Is not
now In a condition to successfully cope
with. That power has had many severe
tests of Its prowess and resources, but
never under circumstances quite like
those which now exist, when millions of
her own people are arrayed in deter
mined opposition to the government and
this hostility Is steadily growing more
general and more fierce.
Were the mar a man who did his own
thinking. Instead of being largely under
the Influence and direction of the grand
dukes and bureaucrats, he would
hardly hesitate In thrg crisis to bring
the war In the far east to an end and
promptly Institute such reforms as
would restore Internal peace and order.
At the great meeting of students in St.
Petersburg a few days ago the -emperor
was characterized as a dfipe and" the
term Is undoubtedly deserved. If " he
would release himself from the corrupt
and cowardly coterie that control him
the men who are now trembling with
apprehension In their palaces and give
the people such assurances of relief as
he alone can give, the menace to bis
throne would disappear and the fires of
revolution would die out.
But the first important step Is to ter
minate the war. I'ntll that Is done there
will be no cessation of the Internal troub
les that threaten the very existence of
the government. It is suggested that
there can be no peace until the armies
of Kouropatkln aud Oyama have fought
a decisive battle. This may come soon
and If it should result In a Ilusslan vic
tory that would not put an end. to the
disturbances within the empire, while
Russian defeat, to be expected from past
experience, would aggravate the Internal
troubles and stimulate the revolutionary
spirit. Nicholas should be able to see that
the security of his empire and bis throne
depends upon making an honorable peace
with Japan.
THE VENEZUELAN SITUATION.
Nothing' new has been disclosed for
several days In regard to the question
raised by the action of the supreme court
of Venezuela, presumably tinder orders
from the president of that coulit-, .di
recting the sequestration 'of property be
longing to the American Asphalt com
pany, but it Is understood that the mat
ter is receiving attention at Washington
and that sooner or later our government
may take some action regarding It. The
Asphalt company, which owns extensive
and valuable property In Venezuela, has
for some time been contending against a
demand of President Castro for a sum of
money as compensation for damages al
leged to have been sustained by him at
the hands of revolutionists whose canl
paign the company is alleged to have
financed.
The company appealed to the govern
ment of the United States and the mas
ter became a subject of diplomatic corre
spondence, with the result of an under
standing that It be referred to the Vene
zuelan supreme court. It was regarded,
however, as a foregone conclusion thnt
this tribunal would decide In favor of
the demand of Castro; whose dictator
ship is as complete over that as over
other departments of the government.
As the matter stands, the property of
the American company ' goes ' into the
hands of a receiver or administrator,
to be held by him until the claims
against It shall have been finally ad
justed. It appears extremely probable
that an Injustice has been done In. this
matter, from which Amertea,tjcltlzens
will suffer, but It Is a question whether
our government will be disposed to cull
In question the decree of the Venezuelan
court. That might lead to trouble which
we would find It difficult to Justify.
NO CONSULAR REFORM TKT
It was the expectation of the advo
cutea of reform lu the consular service,
wheu the present scsslou of congress
began, that something would be done
looking to reform. In his annual message
the president said that our consular sys
tem needs improvement aud ha sug
gested that salaries should be substi
tuted for feea and the proper classifica
tion, grading and transfer of consular
officers should be provided. He was not
prepared to say that a competitive sys
tem of examinations for ' nppolntment
would work well, "but by law It should
be provided that consuls should be fa
miliar, according to places for which
they apply, with the French, German or
Spanish languages, and should possess
acquaintance with the resources of the
United States." There have been bills
In congress for several sessions which
provide In whole or In part for these re
quirements, but they must wait for fu
ture consideration and action. The ap
pointing power, however, can apply the
conditions thought by Mr. Roosevelt to
tie essential.
The business Interests of the country
which for years have beeu urging legis
lation to reform the consular service
will be disapKinted at the persistent
neglect of this matter by congress. They
should not. however, be entirely discour
aged and abandon efforts to secure the
desired legislation. The administration
is committed In favor of It and can con
fidently be relied upon to urge the matter
i upon- the next congres't -While It Is' ad
mitted on all hands that our consular
system needs Improvement, It Is not eon
tended, of course, that the service Is
radically bad or inefficient The fact Is
conceded that the service baa on the
whole been very greatly Improved within
recent years and that generally It Is now
doing good work and proving a Tery uee
ful aid to the extension of our foreign
trade. What the ndvocates of reform
urge Is that the standard which has
been reached shall be maintained and
further Improved wherever there Is op
portunity for Improvement, to which end
It is necessary to take the service out of
polities and place It upon a merit basis.
The views already expressed by Presi
dent Roosevelt In regard to what be
deems necessary to the Improvement of
the consular system will undoubtedly be
carried out during his next administra
tion, so that it may be confidently as
sumed there will be no decline In the
character and efficiency of that service
during the next four years. Meanwhile
there may be secured legislation thnt
will free the system from political In
fluence and place It upon a basis satis
factory to the interests concerned In our
growing foreign trade.
L
THE C1TT A TTORNEYSMP-
The vacancy created by the resigna
tion of City Attorney Wright to accept
a more lucrative position with another
corporation has properly been tilled by
the council by the election of a repub
lican to fill the place. The people of
Omaha can hardly expect their officers
to sacrifice their personal Interests for
the public benefit and the rule has never
been established that accepting an elec
tion at the hands of the people carries
with It any obligation to serve out the
term for which the officer has been
chosen. That a great railroad corpora
tion has seen fit to take away from the
city the head of its legal department is
simply complimentary to the legal abili
ties of that officer. The incoming city
attorney, John P. Breen, stands well
among his associates at the bar and la in
touch with municipal affairs, having
been actively Identified with various im
portant movements, public and political.
He may be depended upon to do his best
to meet the exacting requirements of
the position.
The bad feature about this transfer
of the city attorneyship from the old to
the new is the manner In which It seems
to have been done. The resignation of
Mr. Wright and the selection of bis suc
cessor Is clearly the result of an agree
ment by which the new city attorney Is
to retain In office during the remainder
of the term the legal and clerical assist
ants appointed by Mr. Wright. In a
word, the action has been taken as If
the city attorneyship were a piece of
property placed at the disposal of the
outgoing city attorney for the three
years for which he was elected, and
that the patronage of the office should
continue In his control even after he has
left the city's service. Without respect
to the merits or claims of the subordi
nates in the city attorney's office, this
theory Is entirely untenable and should
not be recognized as In any way binding
tipon the other authorities of the city.
The new city attorney should be city
attorney in fact as well as in name.
Nothing elfe will satisfy our citizens
and taxpayers.
The suggestion advanced in the dis
cussion of the anti-pass bill, that a rail
road pass is the private property of the
railway, to be disposed of as it sees fit.
will hardly hold water. The railroad
is a public carrier, under obligations to
serve the public without discrimination,
and it cannot carry part of its passen
gers free without exacting an excess
rate from those who pay. The object of
pass distribution by the railroads is not
to give something away without return,
but to use such favors to secure valuable
privileges, through which the loss of
revenue Is recouped. If a railroad has a
moral right to give passes away as it
sees fit, it would hnve the same right
to pass freight traffic free or at reduced
rates but that is the esseuce of the
whole outcry against rate discrimina
tions and rebates.
The Commercial club's special com
mittee on conventions should imme
diately get busy in conjunction with the
Auditorium management to map out a
systematic campalgu for securing u con
slant succession of big meetings here
of associations and organizations of state
and national Importance. The use of
the Auditorium for entertainments aud
shows catering to local patronage is all
right in a way, but we will not get the
full benefit of that structure unless It
can be turned to account for affairs that
wlU bring large numbers of outsiders
to Omaha and through them help to
spread the city's name aud fame.
Omaha ought to entertain a big national
gathering at least once a month and It
can do so If Its claims are only properly
pushed.
The effort to use the Kansas oil fight
as a wedge to reopen a controversy over
the Rockefeller donation to the Nebraska
State university will hardly succeed at
this late day. The Rockefeller donation
has been made and accepted and steps
are under way to erect the building for
which it was Intended. Referring to It
now as a "degrading" gift worn as a
"badge of servility" will not alter the
esse, nor lias the acceptance of the do
nation by the university regents estopped
the legislature from co-operating with
Kansas in the fight against oil monopoly
and discrimination. It la too much, how
ever, to expect the popoeratlc organs to
let pass any opportunity to make po
litical capital out of thla episode.
The World-Herald has gone back into
the ditch again as champion of direct
primary legislation, Just as predicted by
The Bee, but it has not yet answered
The Bee's questions why the democrats
In Nebraska have taken no steps what
ever toward direct primary nominations
when the republicans have, through
their. . committee rules, worked out a
practical plan of direct' nomination
without waiting for the compulsion of
law. Will the World Herald advocate
and Insist upon direct primaries to nom
inate the candidates on the next demo
cratic ticket. Irrespective of the fate of
the primary bill, at Lincoln?
Efficacy of I,a;lalatle Bomb.
Chicago News.
Some of the Standard Oil bureaucrats are
reluctantly coming to the view that It may
b necessary to grant the people a larger
measure of representative government.
Knlarared t derdaiullng,
New York Tribune.
When the Chinese crusade agnlnst small
feet becomes effective and big feet are once
more the fanhlon In far Cathay, perhaps
China will then be able to put her foot
down effectively upon such aggresclons as
those which led to the present war.
Pa tbe Medal. Plce.
Washington Poet.
Congress has passed a bill providing med
als for men who perform heroic deed in
the railway service. Borne of the senators
who have bravely nved the railway rats
bill from running Into the White Hone
will probably feel they are entitled to th
medals.
Can't Ie Hamhtis.
Philadelphia Record.
Senator Lodge linn dednred ntice mere
In the debate on the agricultural appor
tionment bill that the sending of seeds bv
members of congress Is a humbug. Most
membera of congress tacitly agree with
the distinguished senator In this respect,
and still th humbug Is as lively as ever.
Too Many Canal Cooks.
Cleveland Plain Dealer.
What business men and people interested
In the canal project want Is a single
headed control of the enterprise. The com
mission thus far haa done little save to
foster jealousies among its members. The
recent disclosures concerning the relations
between members and the Panama railway,
while not of greHt moment, will tend fur
ther to discredit the commission In tho
yes of the country.
Secrecy of the Trnats.
Philadelphia Record.
Recently the domestic affairs of a couple
who possessed a large amount of Steel
corporation stock were very much In the
public eye, and It was said that the uncle
of the husband had insisted upon his
nephew coming to some arrangement with
his wife because If the case went to the
courts there might be more disclosures than
the managers of the trust cared to have.
The other day one of the founders of the
Standard OH died and left an estate worth
a great deal more than a hundred million
dollars. One daughter was practically dis
inherited, but It In reported thnt she will
get one-fifth of the estate, not so much be
cause the family fear litigation as because
th trust fears exposure.
HOW THK THICK, IS TIHNKI).
Aa Explanation of the Methods of
Colorado Staffer.'
Minneapolis Tribune.
Every body Is interested to know how
the monstrous election frauds in Colorado
were managed under a ballot law thut
professes to be modeled upon that of
Massachusetts. This is not mere idle cur
iosity, because every reflecting community
wishes to know hoVy to anticipate and deal
with similar frauds, should they be under
taken against Itself.
A certain Judge I.lndsey of Denver has
been talking pretty, frankly to the City
club of Chicago about the methods of tho
Colorado frauds.. M puts the blame upon
the registration !', though It appears
from his relation that the Colorado judges
of election would hnve perverted almost
any law. There are no safeguards to reg
istration In Colorado.. Any citizen can reg
ister at any time .under any name with
only two vouchors and the registration is
permanent. In thla way the lists have
been filled year after year with thousands
of fictitious names, through which the
Judges of election packed tho boxes with
fraudulent ballots.
There are three judges of election nt
every polling place, appointed by tho
party In power In the county, two of its
own party and one from the opposition.
In Denver the two knock down and drag
out the third; or if he is a husky person,
put their watrhes forward, meet half an
hour before the legal, time and elect a
dummy In his place In his absence. Then
they stuft the boxes with fraudulent bal
lots for their party corresponding to the
fictitious registration.
This Is easy under the modifications cf
the Australian ballot law in Colorado, by
which a man may vote a straight party
ticket by merely writing In a party name.
Finally, to make these proceedings en
tirely safe, there i no law In Colorado
for punishment of election frauds. The
men Imprisoned by the supreme court can
be punished only for; contempt.
A POLITICAL THAOKDV.
Pension Hill Heealls Impeachment of
President Johnaon.
St. I.ouls Olobe-Democrat.
The bill before congress to increase Ed
mund O. Ross' civil war pension from $12
a month to $30 will recall a name, now
forgotten, which was once familiar to
every person In the United State. Ross
was one of the republican senutors who,
Joining with the democrats, saved Presi
dent Johnson from conviction on the
charges presented against him by the
house. The house Impeached Johnson,
and appointed Stevens .of Pennsylvania,
Butler and Boutwell of Massachusetts,
Logan of Illinois and a few others as man
agers of the prosecution In the trial be
fore the senate. Both house and senata
were overwhelmingly republican.
As the republican had forty-two votes In
the senate to the democrats twelve, the
Inipeacher expected to secure a prompt
conviction under the two-third vote re
quirement. They believed that they would
lose one or two votes on the division In
the senate, but they could give up more
than that and still win. The defection
when the crisis came, however, was much
greater than they looked for. Tho voto
stood thltty-flv "guilty" and nineteen "not
guilty" of the charge presented. On vote
transferred from the smaller to the
larger side would have given . that side
th ncesary two-thirds and would have
resulted In conviction 'and. removal. The
thirty-five votea wer all republicans. Th
nineteen consisted of twelve democrats and
seven republicans.' The latter were Fe
senden of Maine, Fowler of Tennessee,
Grimes of Iowa. Trumbull of Illinois. Van
Winkle of West Virginia, Ross of Kansas
and Henderson of Missouri. '
Every on of these seven, some of whom
Fessendw and Trumbull were men of
the first rsnk In ability, were killed politi
cally, and two or three of them socially, by
thla act. None of them received any fur
ther favors from the republicans. Hobs'
fate was th most pathetic of all. He was
ostracised In his state, burned In fflgy, te
cum hii exit In New Mexico, was forced
Into the democratic party, whs governor
of that territory four yeara under apixilnt
ment by Cleveland, did some edi
torial work. drifted ' bark to his
original trade aa a typesetter, and now, TH
years of sg and liuapai-ltated for work,
Is In ahjrct poverty. Not often ln urh
striking it-fhitii(lu of fortune come to
any peron s have com lo Kansas' old
time editor. vontit.utlon framer and
I'niud Slate senator, Edmund G. ftns.
mitsn BOIT SEW YORK.
How Solon of the State Serare Hall
road Coartealea.
Report from the $20.i0.onrt capltol build
ing of the Empire state lend local color
and force to the Clevelandesque saying, "A
public office Is a prlvste snap." For the
moment serious questions of state are over
shadowed by the more Important one of
how to use their railroad passes and avoid
prosecution by District Attorney Jerome.
"I tell you," said one agitated states
man, quoted by th New Tork Sun, "If this
thing of paying as you go keeps up another
week or two there will be the biggest kind
of a deficiency In Ihe pocketbooks of many
members of the legislature. It costs mn
KL"0 to go to and from New York, and that
is a lot of money for me. It may result
In many members coming to the conclusion
that they have more urgent business In
Albany than at home, and thereby they will
get even with the railroads."
While It Is known that there Is such a
thing ss a provision In the state constitu
tion which prohibits a member of the legis
lature or a public official from using a
pass, still somehow or othrr members of
the legislature have been seen on railroad
trains with pieces of paper which looked
much like railroad passe. The pass ques
tion has been ono of grrat importance
every year.
A few years ago a member from New
York city who whs known as a straight
forward and honest man at least, he was
always telling his friends that he was and
took every occasion to have that fact con
veyed to the other members of the legis
laturereceived a Pullman pass. One day
the quextion of Pullman pasnos came up
and this honest member resented the Im
putation that he had one.
"NO, sir; I recelvfd, a pass from the Pull
man people, but I never used It." he said.
"Whafd you do with it? Bend it back?"
asked a member who had no scruples about
accepting such emoluments.
"No, not exactly that; I handed It over
to my clerk and he Is using it. I don't
propose to let any corporation say that :t
has ever granted me a favor," waa the
reply.
AVhen the Pullman company wanted to
get a bill through the legislature authoris
ing It to sell liquors on Its cars there was
apparently no opposition to it until It came
up on the order of final passage In the
assembly. The chairman of the assembly
excise committee was dumfounded at the
display of opposition that, thereupon oc
curred.
"What reason Is there that this bill
should not pass?" ho demanded.
"There are 150 reasons why this bill
should not paps," spoke up Hon. Paddy
Roche, then a member of the lower house.
The bill was laid over. A couple of days
later envelopes bearing the Imprint of the
Pullman company were lnld on the differ
ent desks. The bill went through thnt day
without a murmur of opposition to it.
Two years ago Assemblyman Ixndon of
Dutchess county, whom President Roose
velt has appointed to a Berlin consulship,
stirred up a hornet's nest by asking tho
attorney general If he had n right to ac
cept a Pullman pass. Mr. Iandon found
later that it was a very Inexpedient thing
to do. Every one of his pet bills was de
feated or permitted to die In committee.
Thut same year a New York member re
ceived a Pullman pass and traveled from
New York to Albany on It. When he
reached Albany his conscience troubled him
to such an extent that he sent back the
pass to the company with a check for the
trip from New York to Albany. That man
Is now In an Institution for the care of the
inpane. One member said he showed his
first symptom of brain disorder In sending
Ills check in addition to the pass.
It is a. fact that while there are many
members of the legislature who, while they
will not accept passes for themselves per
sonally, will listen to the entreaties of con
stituents and secure passes for hungry peo
ple who don't want to pay fare. A pass
cuts a lot of Ice with some constituents.
One well known senator who had long re
fused to do anything In this respect finally
yielded to the persistent and pitiful appeals
of a constituent and secured a pass for him.
When he handed It to him he said:
"Now, be sure, don't let any one see that
pass, as I don't want to be bothered by
other constituents."
The man promised to do as directed, but
when he met the senator again he was
much cant down.
"Senator," said he, "I had to let on man
see that pass. I got on the train and when
the conductor came along he asked for my
ticket. I told him I didn't have a ticket,
that I was riding on a pas. He asked to
see It, and I refused, as I said I had been
told not to let any one see It. He got mad
at me and said. 'Show me that pass or
you'll pay your fare or get off the train,'
and, senator, I had to let him see It. But
he Was the only one who did see it."
Thursday Is the most important day In
the week for members of the legislature.
Every second Thursday Is pay day, and
furthermore every Thursday a trusted mes
senger goes about delivering little en
velopes. But those envelopes didn't make
their appearance a week ago until late In
the afternoon, and then there were but a
few, and there waa much woe over that
fact.
When the time to go away came and th
usual numlter of envelopes were not In
sighf there were a number of members who
wanted to go home who became almost
frantic over the thought of having to pay
railroad fare. Summoning messengers about
them as quickly as possible, they beat up
the town looking for the man who looked
after their welfare. They didn't find him.
Some waited here until Friday, expecting
to find him, but they didn't. They even tele
graphed him at his expense shout It, but
It didn't do any good.
And now there are some members who are
asking If It Is really a permanent anti-pas
crusade on the part of District Attorney
Jerome.
"Jerome will want some legislation, and
then mnybe he'll not be so active In med
dling with things that don't concern him."
ruefully remarked a member of the lower
house.
PRRSOVIL MOTK8.
The I'nlted States la going to make San
Domingo get along on 46 per cent of it In
come. The I'nlted States Is a good deal
more expert In preaching thla sort of econ
omy than In practicing It.
David Wark. member of the Canadian
enata from Frederlcton, N. B., wa 101
yeHM old on Sunday. This venerable legis
lator, oldeot In the world beyond doubt, I
enjoying good health, but has not yet at
tended th present session of th enate.
Captain George W. Byron of Washington
la inventing an airship which, be ay. will
discount that of gantos-Dumont. H will
shortly make an ascent lu Washington. II
will tmplny nine separate gas bag to mak
the aerial sldp for long-dls'ance traffic.
On Lieutenant General Chaffee's staff at
the Inauguration parade In Washington will
be four cadets from West Point and four
midshipmen from Annapoll. Among thewe
ar ons of Generals Miles and Chaffee,
Roar Admiral Mavis and General Jubal A.
Early, a descendant of Commodore Decatur
and a grandson of General Beauregard.
Wlnthron Murray Crane, the new senator
from Mae'achusetts, has been Httendlng to
his duties in Washington only a couple of
months, hilt slready be receive more beg
ging letters than any of hi colleagues The
"panhandler" of the capital found him to
he "an cany mark " ftilly justifying th
reputation f"t generoiy which preceded
him from the Hay Ute.
MV1G M AGAR 4.
Rfforta Cheek the Paw of rel
on tit Hat q nt of GrftBwtvfi
Philadelphia Ledger.
Th effort to secure International control
of Niagara Falls ha been renewed In th
New York legislature. In th f.rm of a
resolution memorialising the president and
congress of the I'nlted States for the ne
gotiation of a treaty with Great Britain
contemplating Joint action for the preserva
tion of the fall from further w:istn of Its
waters for manufacturing or other pur
poses. The resolution Is practically the
same as one passed by both houses last
year. The power companies are again
scheming to take large quantities of water
from above the falls for commercial pur
poses, threatening. In the language of the
resolution, "not alone to despoil this nat
ural scenic wonder of Its beauty and
grandeur, but to Imperil the very existence
of the Amerlcnl falls."
Protests against the artificial exhaustion
of the water supply of the foils are ag.t'.n
coming from all parts of the country. Thl
great work of nature Is regnrded as a na
tlonal possession which etvitild not be de
spoiled by state legislation in the Interest
of power companies, to which no senti
mental appeal can be successfully mad.
That the danger which Imperils the fall
by commercial projects Is real was shown
very convincingly by the report made In
1903 by the commissioners of the New York
state reservation at Niagara. The com
mission declared that the construction of
commercial and drainage canals at the falls
threatens to diminish the overflow to a se
rious extent. The danger was characterised
as measurable and substantial. The Amer
ican companies now take from Niagara
river t per cent of the total flow over tho
cataract. The commissioners reported that
th diversion of th waters from their nat
ural outlet, the Pt. Lawrence system, by
the Chicago drainage canal, by th
projected cnnal from Lake Michigan to
the Mississippi, across Wisconsin, and by
certain Canadian water power projects,
must contribute very materially to the Im
pairment of the falls.
The commissioners reported that the New
York legislature and the Canadian govern
ment have granted lights to take a great
volume of water from th falls. It la too
late to restrain companies whose rights
have become vested, but something should
be done to preserve th falls from further
spoliation. The commissioners mid that th
Niagara reservation has been a pz-ofltable
investment for New Tork, and has demon
strated a principle "long acknowledged In
European countries, that tlie preservation
of the beautiful, the picturesque and the
historic pays." Niagara Falla may also be
regarded aa a national asset and a proper
object of national control.
A MATTER OF HEALTH
WHERIi HATE 3a AKIVG GOES.
Government Control of Railroad But
In In Canadn.
Springfield (Mass.) Republican.
Government control of railroad rates Is
being referred to In the preaent discussion
as if it were a novel and dangerously rad
ical undertaking peculiar to a democracy
In which private property is subject to
predatory popular assaults. It Is there
for worth nothing that In England and
England's American colony "rate-fixing"
by the government is an accepted public
policy.
The Boston Transcript prints a full ac
count by E. W. Thomson of the Canadian
railway law and commission created In
190S to regulate the operations and charges
of these public service corporations. This
law was framed after close study of the
Eng!!sh practice and the interstate com
merce law of the I'nlted States, together
with th workings of this law through the
federal commiaslon. The defects which
Dominion statesmen found in United States
practice are principally a failure to confer
upon the commission Judicial power, and
a failure to make the tenure In office of
the commissioners sufficiently secure. Ac
cordingly a commission was created com
posed of only .three members; their term
of office Is made ten years. Instead of six;
they sre removable by the ministry for
cause; they are paid from $8,000 to $10,0(i0
a year each; they ar prohibited from hold
ing any Interest In the railroads; and they
ar constituted a court of record, having
all the powers of a superior or trial court
here In the states, whose findings of fact
ar final and binding on the courts of law.
whose Judgments are subject to review only
on appeal to the supreme court, and whose
acts may be passed upon by the ministry.
The scope of the powers of thla railroad
court are best described by the Canadian
minister of Justice, aa follows:
They control all the railways in Canada
with the exception of government railways.
They control the Incorporation and organi
sation of th company, the location of the
line, the construction. ' the management
after operation beglna. They have super
vision over all plans, profiles and books or
reference; responsibility for the location
and construction being In accordance with
th special act. They are called on to deal
with quetlona of expropriation of land,
with the construction of branch lines, the
control of crossings and Junctions. Inter
ference with navigable waters, or other
crossings or Junctions; construction and op
eration of telegraph and telephone lines,
drainage, farm crossings, gates, cattle
guards, Bridges, tunnels, stations and In
spection. "Their supervision of telegraphs and tele
phone extends mi far as those appliances
run along railways; they have supervision
in
t?0t7Hft
Absolutely Puro
IAS 110 SUBSTITUTE
over the rates and charge to be made for
the transmission of messages by such lines,
and supervision of sgreements for the us
of such lines by other companies; super
vision over the placing of wires across rail
ways, ovtr the construction, operation snd
maintenance of telegraph and telephone
lines, over the construction of Hsht, heat
and power appliances along, upon, under
or ever highways or other public places,
through power granted by Parliament, If
the company cannot get the consent of th
municipality in that regard. That Is to ssy.
the board haa power to act In dispute be
tween railways and municipalities.
"In respect of the operation of railways
the hosrd has a duty to be familiar with
nil apparatus, equipment and appliances,
with the accommodation and operation of
trains, with the cause and prevention of
accidents, fires, etc. It Is obligatory on alt
railways to submit their tolla to the board
for approval before thy ran collect either
freight or paswetiger rate. The board la
entitled and bound to See to the enforce
ment of all penalties charged. It haa charge
of the supervision and approval of all
amalgamation and trafllc agreements."
The commission, adds the minister of
Justice, is clothed with the largest author
ity known to any altnllar tribunal la th
world.
WHITTLLD TO A POIJIT.
"Sometimes," said I'ncie Eben, "wat
passes fur a philosopher Is slmplv a man
dat kin stsnd beln' hurt without hoiu-rln'."
Washington Star.
"Say, old man," began Bracer, preparing
for a touch, "you know that flv r 1 bor
rowed of you last summer''
"I'm at raid not." interrupted Welser;
"suppose you introduce ma to it again."
Philadelphia Iedger.
Did you ever throw away an old pocket
book without saying to somebody, "I wish
X hud all the money that ha passed
through that?" Soniervllle Journal.
Mrs. Ascum What makes you think jour
husband Is seriously 111? He doesn't com
plain, does he?
Mrs. Wise No. that' why I think h
must bo sick. Philadelphia Pr.
Willie Pa, is politics a profession or a
buslnuss?
Pa Well, that depends upon circum
stances. If you're on the winning aid it's
a business. Philadelphia Press.
you, young man?" asked' th grouty father.
e-s, s-i-r, stammered th young man.
"Well, can you support a family?
"How many are there of you, sir?"
Yonkers Statesman.
"Why do so many pianists war lonaY
halrT"
"I suppose," answered" Ml Csyenn.
"that some of them let their hair hang
over their ears so as not to be so much
disturbed by the surrounding conversa
tion." Washington Star.
Mrs. Ascum t see you'r advertising for
a greenhorn servant girl.
Mrs. Newman Yes, I thought I'd get on
and train her up In the way she should go.
Mrs. Ascum Ves. and when you get her
trained she'll go. Philadelphia Press.
THK WESTER Ml E.
Eugene Geary In New York Sun.
It floats around ua merrily, tricked out In
dainty trope,
And the crop increases dally from Chicago
to the slope.
By friendly breezes wafted to the aast In
steady flow,
There good nature In Ita style and ring
ing laughter in Its glow.
Sometimes In paragraphs and then in
poetry 'tis dressed,
Than rare, delicious humor flouting east
ward from the west.
i
The Jokes they're rich and racy and thjr
clrcl far and wide,
To understand them there a no need oi
surgery applied.
They frolic round the faahlona and the
foibles of today.
And the youngsters who Indite them cer
tainly deserve their pay;
The klda and laureled veterans are putting
forth their best
In that easy, breesy humor floating east
ward from the west.
We glory In Its beauties as It dully comes
alonz
This gay, luxuriant daisy from th field of
western Hon.
'TIb quoted, Illustrated, in the newspapers
galore,
Till one long, never-ending laugh resound
from shore to shore.
Long may li reign our is the gain to
read with growing seat.
That lightsome, lilting humor flowing east
ward from the west.
Jap Mos
Soap
is exquisite and delightful.
These qualities are the
result of simple purity and
extreme care in manufacture.
It has the delicate odor of
spring-time flowers.
Soothing to an irritated skin;
it makes bathing a pleasure.
a JAMES S. KIRK Sc COMPANY