Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, March 15, 1906, Page 4, Image 4
4 Tire OMAHA DAILY BEE: THUKSDAY MARCH 15, 190T. The Omaha Daily Bee. E. KOSEWATER, EPITOH. PUBLISHED EVERT MORNING. TERMS OF BUBBCRIPTION. Pally Hee (wlthmit Sunday), one yar...W Illy Hee and Sunday, on year l illustrated Bee, one year tiunday Bee, on year I H Haturday Bee, one year 1SJ DELIVERED BY CARRIER. Dally Bee (Including Sunday), per week,.17o Dsllv Bee (wlthnut Sunday). Mr week....i:(o Kvenlng Be (without Bunday), per week. o Hvenlng Beo (with Sunday), per week....wo Hunday Baa, per copy Address complaints of Irregularltlee In de livery to City Circulation Department. OFFICES. Omaha Tha Bee Building. Hc.uth Omaha City Hail Building. Council Bluff a-10 Pearl Street. I'hlrago 140 Unity Bulldinc. New York lb Home Ufa Ins. Building. Washington fOl Fourteenth Street. CORRESPONDENCE. Communications relating to news and ed itorial matter ahould be addressed: Omaha live. Editorial Department. REMITTANCES. Remit by draft, eipress or posts,! order Dayable to The Bee Publlahlnc Company. Duly 2-rent stamps received a payment of mall accounts. Personal checks, except on 'Jroaha or eastern exchange, not accepted, THE BEE PUBLISHING COMPANY. STATEMENT OF CIRCULATION. State of Nebraska, Douglas County, as: C. C. Rose water eecretary of The Bee Publishing company, being duly sworn, ays that the actual numnsr o( full and complete copies of The Dally, Morning, Evening and Bunday Bee printed during the month of February, UOi, waa as fol lows: 1 81,30 : 81.SOO I 113,000 4.. ae daWgfioW I... 81.TM IS 81.860 U 8,040 IT 8,80 It S,H 19 Sl.SOO 30 1 . 81,820 U. stjtno 2J 81,480 U 8H.090 2t 80,2(10 St 81,360 XI 81,430 a 1,3X0 , Sl.TIO 51. JUIO 81.4RO , ai,4M 52. TW , 8U,00 . 81.SSO . 81.SOO .... 7...., I.... I. ... U.... II. ... II.... 13.... t.... . ToUl i 8T(i.810 Less unsold coplea 0,103 Net total sales 8W,04 'Jally average 813T4 C. C. ROSEWATER Secretary. Subscribed In my presence and sworn to before me this fcth day of February, ISO. (Seal) M, B. nUNUAlB. Notary Public, WH9I OCT OF TOWN. Sabserlfcers leaving; the) elty tem porarily ahonld ksrs Th Be walled to then. Addresa will k Fifth dlHtrlct editor wbo denounce "ready ruude" editorials bare the sola tlou of the problem In their own hand No editor In compelled to print them. The new French cabinet baa an- nounced Itn program and the discordant opposition now knows where to begin work to accomplish Its downfall. ' Louisiana baa discovered that failure to plant cotton for one year on Infected land, will drive out the. bU weevil This ttliould increase diversified farming In the south. Senator Simmons evidently thinks the railroads hare nothing to fear from gov ernment rate regulation so long aa the roads are permitted to arrange the classification.' The Independent telephone people have now answered back. It would be rash, however, to undertake to say which side of the talking wire will hare the last word. The remarks of Becretnry Taft on po litical Independence is also In line with what- baa made the pePl forget party divisions In their approval of the present administration. Perhaps the Standard Oil company laid its pipe line along the railroad right-of-way in order to avoid local tax at Ion; at least that Is the effect it would have in Nebraska. Secretary Wilson' remarks regarding the advance In Nebraska land values show Mat bis conversion to the Idea of Nebraska being In the corn belt waa complete and lasting. Pes Moines retail dealers have ad vauced the price of bituminous coal be cause of fear of a strike; and still the people lay the blame for all high prices on (lie "big combinations." 1 Congressman Bennett's oplnlou of for elgn Immigration In New York comes from a man who knows what be Is talk Inrf at .out and for tkat reason may have little effect upon tho theorists. It is now announced that China Is to have ft constitution based on the British .model. As It took the British a thou sand years to develop Its constitution China will show remarkable ability If it can duplicate it In one generation. Public sentiment in faror of direct primary nomination Is steadily Increas ing throughout the state. People are gradually waking to the fact that they are entitled to hare something to say aa to who shall be the nominees of their respective parties for Important offices and that the right to hare a rolce In nominations is aa important aa the right to have a rote at the elections. While probing Into "petty politics" In the county court house, it might not be a bad Idea to look Into the county audi tor's "office, where the bead officer is said to find It difficult to distinguish be tween his work as county accountant and as secretary of the Font nolle ma t hipe. . If any petty politics la at lurge In the county bunding the moving cen ter will be found pretty close to the auditor-secretary. Omaha republican are to choose be- twtvu three candidate for mayor. Ben son represents the extreme of puritan! ciil law euforvetnent and Broatch the extreme of wide open vice and IUn llousn.'H, while Ilennlngs stands for I be application of common seuse In rational enforcement of the laws, with a vlew to maintaining decency and good order and promoting the growth and prowrH-rity of a cosmopolitan city. Keep la the Uilddl of the road. KAN8A8 CITY OIL HE.4Bf.VJ. Vbile there has been no doubt that the weetern railroads hare been guilty of unlawful discriminations In favor of the Standard OJI company, the definite proofs hare Just been put on public record before committee of the Inter state Commerce commission slttlfig at Kansas City. The testimony, before It establishes beyond a peradrenture that the roads operating In the new south western oil fields hare maintained 8 lawless and outrageous league with the Rockefeller octopus In Its purpose to monopolize the product of that region, In pursuance of which a most Intolerable system of rate and other gross dis criminations has been mercilessly en forced against Independent producers nd shippers. In nowise sare so far aa the forma under which It was carried on had to be rarled does the system exposed afresh differ from that by which the giant monopoly earlier crushed competition In the Pennsylvania anjd Ohio oil regions and has aince main tained Itself. If anything were needed to deepen the Impression of its criminal character aa shown by the documentary evidence and the testimony of witnesses who bare come forward to tell the facts, that would be aupplled by the preposterous eraslons and disclaimers by Standard CHI officers and agents summoned before the commission aa to trutb obrlously and necessarily within their knowledge. The disclosures at the Kansas City hearing emphasize here In the heart of the west the vital connection between unrestrained railroad rate discrimina tions and monopoly tyranny. But the most startling feature la tho extent to which such practices hare been carried. In the rery teeth of the existing federal laws prohibiting them, for the purpose of dominating the newly dlscorered rich oil district in the southwest on the one hand and the general consuming public on the other. In the light of such revelations It la no wonder the people of Kansas revolted and put forth great effort for relief through their legislature last winter. But that legislation, although it has ac complished not a little, within the Juris diction of the state Is demonstrated to bare fallen far short of a full measure of relief, because the Interstate charges on which the oil producers depend for an outside market are still subject to manipulation, thus reinforcing the de mand for congressional action In con formity with the Rooserelt program. TRYING TO "QUEER" INSURANCE REFORM. The Insurance officials, even the top most ones of the big life companies, who hare been flocking to the hearing on the ten bills recommended by the Armstrong committee, embodying the reforms in the New York law indicated a necessary by It elaborate Investiga tion, present the curious spectacle first of eulogizing the committee's work and then imploring not to have the result carried out In legislation. Precisely this is the substance of the labored arguments made by President Morton of the Equitable and 8 score of other high officials of the various com panies. Their arguments were especially directed against the. bills requiring the companies 'within five years to dispose of their Investments In railroad stocks and collateral bonds and the stocks of subsidiary banks and trust companies, against legally prescribed forms of policies, and against abolition Of de ferred dividends. If the officers ar strenuous In opposition to reform touch Ing these capital points, the Insurance agents from all orer the country now warming about the New York leglsla ture are frantic In outcry against a maximum' percentage of - premium which la to be paid them as compensa tion for their services and which Is one of the chief item of expense loaded upon policies. The sum and substance of this be lated scheme In the Insurance company Interest Is simply an effort to rob the Investigation of Its fruit, and it could proceed only from the egregious blunder of Its promoters In supposing that the public outbreak against Insurance abuses was merely a riot and not revolution. REPORT ON HAZING. In the light of the report of the sub committee of the house committee on naval affairs on the Inquiry into hazing at 'Annapolis the pleasant notion so gen erally entertained that that abuse bad auhatantially disappeared at the naval academy must be given up. Durliig the very years when the public was content in the belief that hazing w-as a thing of the past the brutal custom, as the evidence indisputably establishes, was most prevalent among the mUlshtpmeu. It 1 an astonishing and deplorable state of affairs when the aubcomnitttee, after painstaking Investigation, declares that 281 members of the three tipper classes, Including the class which was recently graduated, hare been guilty of hazing and on trial could, be legally expelled from the academy and the naval ser vice. It will strike the public as an inex cuxable anomaly that a custom so ob noxious and defiant of the law could per sist without being promptly exposed and punished by the naval authorities on their own motion. For nothing but the circumstance that a midHhipman hap pened to die as the result of injuries tu oue of tlie numerous fight brought the truth to public notice. These of fenses, except iu rare caws, have not been reported or even taken cognizance of by the academy officers, and they acted at last only when comielltl by outxIUe iircuniiiancrs. The sulcommittce's roncliiKions. while they deal gingerly with this phase, nevertheless Implicate the officers In charge of the naval school In gros In- difference and some of them In the act- i "al oouuivauce with the offending bar era. It Is Impossible that the violation oouKI go on without the knowledge of the officers In Immediate charge and especially the surgeons who have failed In their duty to report the obrloua truth. ' The showing puts In roost unfavor able light, not merely the conduct of the young midshipmen In whom a cer tain tendency to excesses Is to be ex pected, but also the whole array of na val officers In charge of the Annapolis academy. A DEPLORABLE CATASTROPHE. The collision of street railway cars at South Omnba, inflicting death and serious Injury upon the passengers, Is a most deplorable catastrophe and the sympathy of the public goes out to the unfortunate victims. Whether the ac cident was avoidable or not may never be determined, but, irrespective of this, It emphasizes the need of greater cau tion In the operation of the street rail way service and Impresses the public with the great responsibilities resting upon the motormen and conductors. That the car crews on the street railway must be constantly alive to the protec tion of passengers against passing dan gers is too often taken as a matter of course. The comparative freedom of Omaha from bad street railway acci dents in contrast with many other cities of Its size attest the carefulness In gen eral of Omaha motormen and supports the assertion that on the whole they will measure up well above the average. In this particular case, however, there should be a thorough Investigation thr.t will disclose all the facts. Such an Investigation is due to the street rail way company, as well as to the poor people who were Innocently caught In the accident ADVICE FROM A HIGH SOURCE. The letter written by Secretary of War Taft in acknowledgement of the complimentary election of President Roosevelt and himself to honorary mem bership In a republican club organized to promote reform within the party in' Cincinnati, contains pert advice, which applies also in some other cities. In the first place, Secretary Taft says that theoretical reform, while all right lu its way, will not accomplish results ex cept through practical politics, and that practical politics Involve co-operation with all those who have the same ends In view. "The members of such a club as the Roosevelt club," he continues, "al though an orthodox republican organiza tion, may very well decline to support the candidates of It own party if such can didates are plainly lacking in the qual ifications, according to the standard they may properly set for the selection of public officers. Still, It Is well to use a wise discretion In bolting. The Impor tant question will always be, what you can secure and exercise the greatest In fluence for good and you cannot af ford in practical politics (and there are no other politics), to ignore the strength which adheres to regularity given you a a club in working reforms within the party. The conduct of muni cipal affairs has no natural relation to the conduct of national affairs, and while it doe not seem possible to elintl nate from municipal elections the ays tern of nominating party tickets, there ought certainly to be cultivated a much wider spirit of independence at munlci pal elections In the scratching of im proper candidates selected by either party than is likely ever to be exer cised with reference to state or national electlona. We may safely say that Secretary Taft voices the sentiment of a growing number of republicans everywhere. The mission of the republican party Is to secure good government, and if bad men are to be put into office, it Is better to let the other party have the odium. Private advices tThe Bee two weeks ago announced that the reactionary officeholders at St. Petersburg were using the "Black Hundred" to incite riot throughout the empire with the object of proving that the Russian peo pie are unfit for self-government To day' press dispatches state that Count Wltte has discovered the plot and de mands the abolition of the "Black Hun dred." This will probably be the real test of strength before the meeting of the "Douma" as despite Imperial decrees the representatives of the reactionaries In the provinces, relying upon the power of the local representatives of the "Black Hundred," have felt able to con tinue repressive measures, and the loss of their secret assistants might comixd them to fall into line with the pro gresslves.' The United States court has acceded to the motion to advance the Nebraska rail road tax cases to the extent of setting them for bearing at the first of the October term. That is a considerable concession, particularly as it Is a recog nltion of the great public Importance of the issues Involved. A Speedy and final decision on the question whether the railroads are subject to taxatiou on their property the same as other prop erty owners, or whether they have a right to pay or refuse to pay their taxes as they please, will clear up the sltua tion materially and give the next leglsla ture a chance to fortify the law In case the railroad should succeed In picking flaws In It. What tranchlat may be worth on the market la Indicated anew by the consequences of the supreme court de cision against the contentions 'of the Chicago street railways with reference to the expiration of their franchise right in the streets of that city, the decision having been followed by slump In the stock quotations of unit Ing proportions. According to Chicago dispatches, local financiers estimate the franchise value wiped off the slate by the supreme court at lietween $W.000. 000 and f SjAMVW. If the street rail way franchises In 8 single city like Chi cago could be worth that much, how much are the steam railway franchises worth for the whole state of Nebraska? But when the State Board of Assess ment meets shortly to fix the valuation of railroad property for taxation, we will have representatives of the rail roads reappearing with an attempt to make the board believe that franchise rights, worth millions upon millions for capitalization purposes, are worth little or nothing as property subject to taxation. Evidence Is accumulating that the po lice club Is being swung with a ven geance In the Interest of Tolice Com missioner Broatch upon denizens of the Third wardAwho are being arrested or released from arrest according as their political activity are exerted against or for the Dennison-Molse candidate. From what Is being done now In this direction, they can Judge what they may expect in case Broatch should by ac cident reach the mayor's chair and naugurate a reign of terror as of old In the whole police court Jurisdiction. Senator Rayner Of Maryland sounds a new note In the debate on the Hep burn bill, but his mild sarcasm will ap pear as commendation If Senator Till man really "turns himself loose" when he makes his formal speech. Pall Dowa Your Fate. Cleveland Plain Dealer. To laugh at the United States senate would seem to be almost as Irreverent as to poke fun at the pyramids. Sleeping; on Doty. New York Tribune. The continued agitation of schemes for putting to death the hopelessly 111, the de formed and the Idiotic suggests that there s work for the fool killer which he Is not performing;. Jaat the Thlna; for Spring. Pittsburg Dispatch. The arrival of Admiral Slgsbee's fleet in Turkish waters is an Indication that the United States will soon be In receipt of an other Invoice of fresh and charming prom' laea from the sultan. The Tap Root of Evil. Philadelphia Record. President Eliot of Harvard university, makes a safe and aage observation when he declares that if corporations were not ob liged to pay dividends on watered stock they could afford at one to give cheaper service to the public and higher wages to their employes. The problem for statesmen and financiers Is to find a method of squeezing out tha water. Senatorial "Innocence" on Kzhlhltlon. Springfield Republican. Senator ScOtt of West Virginia seems to have been Indulging In a Rip Van Winkle sleep. Ho takes the railroad aide In tha rate control controversy, but Bald In his speech In the senate: "Should railroads by merger attempt to limit competition and thereby lesson the opportunities for commerce, I, for one, would insist on radi cal action." He affects to be blissfully Ignorant of any developments among rail roads during tha last twenty years or so, through mergers, common ownership, com munity of Interest and other consolidating devices, to limit tha play of competitive forces In transportation. When be does wake up to tha situation, he says ha will insist on radical action," But we doubt It Sad Injustice of Snaplclon. Chicago Chronicle. In the death of former Speaker D. B. Henderaon we are reminded of the sad in justice there may be in a suspicion. When Mr. Henderson, at the height of his popu larity, refused re-election to congress and. of course, sacrificed the speakership and de clined to give any reason for it, hia decision was generally suspected to be due to some sort of scandal. "His enemies," It was said, 'have required him to resign as the price of concealment." It looked quite natural, but the real explanation was that Mr. Hen derson's mind and memory were failing. Sometimes when he was in the speaker's cnair ne would rorget -wno or wnere ne waa, Hia reasons for concealing it were that it would hurt him In his profession and that he had hopes of reoovery. VERY MICH ALIVE. Bryan Men Most Hnatle If They Wonld Head OS? Hearst. Washington Star. This Is the latest from Lincoln: "Four hundred and fifty of the flower of Nebraska democracy, including practically all of the state leaders save Mr. Bryan, participated In a - dollar - dinner -here to night. The object of the gathering was to organise for what the leaders insist is certain to be a victorious campaign, and incidentally, the speakers boosted William Jennings Bryan as the proper man for the democrats to nominate for president two years hence." Here Is the right spirit. Mr. Bryan's neighbors are watchful of his interests. He Is far, far from home, and giving his at tention to Oriental peoples and their cus toms. He Is not, it is true, entirely out of touch with his country, and probably fol lows by letter and newspaper, what is going on here In his absence. But such Intelligence is meager, and necessarily old when he receives it, and hence, In a sense he Is at a disadvantage when we consider what la going on In the field of politics and president making for 1908. It la pleasant, therefore, to observe that his faithful supporters' In his own neck of woods are thoroughly alive and resolved to keep his flag flying. That la right. . Is the contest within the democratic party narrowing down between Mr. Bryan and Hn Hearst? It looks that way. They have never1 fought each other. Mr. Hearst did not Inaugurate his campaign for the nomlnutlon In 1904 until it waa well un derstood everywhere that Mr. Bryan would not aeek it. The field waa clear so far as Mr. Bryan waa concerned, and Mr. Hearst In his canvass for delegates antagonised the influences In the east which In the two prevtoua campaigns had opposed Mr. Bryan. While he did not support him, Mr. Bryan did not oppose Mr. Hearst; and what he did In pleading for a platform which should bold the party measurably close to the Chicago and Kansas City platforms was In line with ' what Mr. Hearst aa a candidate was standing for. Things, however, have changed some what. Mr. Hearst baa been making no lit tle headway In the last few months, and la no longer a Jest' In public affairs. His wallet may attll be In evidence, but It Is not the cry of his enemies aa It once waa. He has gathered around him a coterie of experienced workers and organiiera, and they are all very active. The have not waited to hear what might be Mr. Bryan's purposes for 1. They are for their chief and employer, and In every section of the country are busy In his behalf. This Mr. Bryan's pelghbora seem to have noticed, and hence the dollar dinner at Lincoln and the oratorical trimmings. It them. then, he up and doing. With a hrart for any doom; ftlll achlevlriK. still pursuing, iveep inflating Willie's boom. BIT OF WAIHIIGTOI LIFE. Minor See nee and Incidents Sketched on the loot. Elderly clerk In the government service in Washington are threatened by a com mittee of the house of representatives with a reduction of salaries aa a penalty for the offense, of being burdened with years. They are not charged with incom petency or Inability to do their day's stunt, but they are guilty of hanging on to their Jobs and thus obstruct the' admission of new material In the departments. The committee Insists there Is a superabund ance of old men in the departments and something must be dona to secure new blood. Hence tha committee has formu lated a plan for enforced retirement at the age of 65 years. It Is calculated that it now costs the govenjnent about 12.0no.ooo annually to keep on the pay rolls clerks who have attained to the ages of more than 70. It Is to make this saving in pub lic expenditure, and also to Increase the efficiency of the departmental service that the new plan Is being worked out. There will be no pensions, for the aged depart ment clerks unless the clerks themselves provide such pension by voluntary annual contributions to a fund for that purpoee. The new polity is not to be put In force against the aged clerks now m the service, but a date Is set a few years hence for the new law to be put In operation and all clerks who enter the public service after this year will do so with the full knowl edge that they must retire without pay on reaching the age of tS. It Is expected there will be a lively contest over the ques tion when It is brought Into the house as an amendment to the legislative appro priation bill. It requires a great deal of perseverance on the part of the experts employed In the redemption division of the treasury depart ment to' ascertain the original value and genuineness of the badly disfigured bills sent In for redemption. But they are well posted In the business and are seldom If ever Imposed upon. The regulations of the department require that before a mutilated bll can lie redeemed at leaat three-fifths of the bill shall be delivered to the treasury. The ex-pert hns a piece of glass the Blie of the bill. This la divided Into forty squares, and Is laid over the bill to be redeemed if the remnants fill twenty-five squares. Burned money, and bills that have been gnawed by mice are the hardest to work on. The mice-chewed bills require great patience and care. Each of .the pieces is carefully laid out on a flat, hard surface, and then with the assistance of strong glasses magnified so that If, can be placed In a proper position with regard to the others. The experts have a copy of every bill that has ever been Issued by the gov ernment. These are used as models as soon as enough of the bill has been laid out tq establish the Issue. No bill has ever been received at the treasury department In a condition which has made It Impossible to straighten It' out and establish Its charac ter beyond doubt. Nor have the experts ever been obliged to work on a bill longer than the eight hours of the working day. Some years ago General Grosvenor was a member of the committee on rivers and har bors of the house, and this story Is told of how he accommodated a newspaper friend. In those days there was a stronger pressure than at present among the correspondents to get the advance Items. In the river and harbor bill, so that every man who had a friend on the committee waa expected to "lay down" on him and get the different items. The year of which this story is told the committee as usual tied Itself up and agreed that it would not make any features public until the bill was reported to the house. But as usual some members .'leaked." A man from the far west pro cured the Pacific coast Itema and one or two other large Items enough to make It appear that the bill was getting out. These items were turned over to a man who knew General Grosvenor well and the battle be gan. The general did not want to "give up," but the newspaper man was persistent. pointing out how nearly every other man on the committee had "taken care or his friends," and that It was not right for the general to allow his friends to get left. The outcome was that the young man got his Items In the bill and enough to help out all his friends who were in the plot; The next morning there was' a stormy meeting in the committee on rivers and harbors. General Grosvenor opened the ball with a denunciation of those who mado much of a pretense of secrecy and yet gave out everything pertaining to their sections. He said that the main features of the bill, as well as whole sections had been made public, and he knew they were accurate because the newspaper men had shown him the figures. The committee had seldom re ceived such a lecture as General Grosvenor gave them, and a few who had been guilty of "tipping off' a few Items to friends re gretted that they were not as faithful and virtuous aa the Ohio representative. They resolved to follow in his footsteps In the future, and many of them did so. When ever there Is trouble over a "leak" in the committee every member now tries to get his Indignant protest in first. General Gros venor will be missed by the newspaper men nf Washington, as well as by his colleagues, for he was a good "news" man. The library, of congress now contains 1.3,fls books, 410,332 pieces of music, 183,724 prints and fff.744 maps and charts, accord ing to' the annual report of the librarian Herbert Putnam, just presented to eon gress. The library gained 68,961 books and about 60.000 pictures and pieces of music during the last year; There were bouaht 22.698 books, 16.848 were received by gift, 11.783 by copyright and 6,474 gained by exchange with foreign governments. Representative Longworth visited the senate one day this week. Fearing the ordeal of congratulations likely to -occur he came In very quietly and was wen within the chamber before he was aen Benator Kean waa quick to offer his eon. gratulatiuhs and after him came a dozen more senators. Longworth got red under the volley of remarks that fell upon Mm. Just as the Incident was at the height of Its Interest the door opened again and In came Prince Cupid of Hawaii. "Long worth Is here," said Kean, "and Cupid came also." The next moment the young son-in-lnw of the president waa making a hasty flight back toward the south end of the rapitol. Down In South Carolina they are un usually solicitous for the personal comfort of Uncle Jo Cannon. Several articles of personal use and adornment have recently come to the speaker from that atate. and yet South Carolina la not satisfied. That the outfit of clothing, which began with a homespun ault and has been steadily growing, may be complete,' Editor Hemp hill of the Charleston News and Courier has decided to send Uncle Joe a pair nf real old-faahloned fancy calfskin boots. And to make the preLent the more thoroughly rep resentative he has asked for titmtrlhutliins of 1 cent. He has llmltvd the subscription list to republicans, and his fintlflcatlon to Uncle Joe of what ha Is doing says that by that means the hoots will he a gtft from the entire republican party of the state. . In fact. Mr. Hemphill la a lit Vie doubtful of there being enough republicans In South Carolina at 1 cent apiece to mnke up 1.700 necessary to raise the price of the boots, but he says that If that lamentable suspi cion of hi proves to be well founded he mill theerfully make uy the diftclu WALTHAM WATCHES. Ask your jeweler for a watch with a Waltham movement, and insist on it. "The Perfected American Witch,' n ItlastrtleJ book of interesting information aboat nuatches, free epon request. AMERICAN WALTHAM WATCH COMPANY, WALTHAM, MASS. PERSONAL AXD OTHERWISE. Considering his finish the ground hog Is not a discredited prophet. The ' Icemen will cut some more Ice all right, all right next summer. Richard Olney has been appointed re gent of the Smithsonian Institution In Washington for a term of six years. The Indianapolis confectioner's clerk who dislocated his right arm In the course of a series of paroxyamic sneeses probably holds the record. It la by a vote of 80 to I that the lower branch of the, Ohio legislature passes a bill creating a stat railroad commission, and giving this commission power to fix rates on steam and interurban street rail ways and power to enforce Its decrees In mandamus proceedings. Dr. J. W. Beede of Indiana university, who has studied (he upper carboniferous and permlan formations from Nebraska to Texas, has been engaged to take charge of the detailed mapping of the permlan formations of Kansas next summer for the university geological survey of Kansas. Because the men who make the Chicago directory employ nonunion printers, the Chicago Federation of Labor Is said to have instructed 200,000 union men In that city to describe themselves as "John Smith, promoter," when the agents of the direc tory company come round for Informa tion, In Italy the woman voter ha made bar appearance and, aa there la no law pro hibiting women from voting, the authori ties have admitted her claim that she has a right to enter a polling booth. The woman Is Beatrice Sacchl, holder of a doctor's degree and a professorship at Mantau. She Is the first woman to obtain political rights in Italy. Earl Grey, governor general of Canada, will tie the guest of honor at the pilgrims' dinner to be given In New York on Satur day, March SI. This will be the first public entertainment of a governor general of the Dominion anywhere In this country. Secretary Root and other members of the administration, as well as Sir Mortimer Durand, tha British ambassador, will also attend the dinner. RECLAIMING DESERT LAND. Immediate and Satisfactory Retnrns from Canals Conatrnoted. Leslie's Weekly. According to an official of the geological survey, In the three years since the federal government organised Its reclamation ser vice seventy-seven miles of main Irrigation canals pf river site have been built, which, with others of smaller dimensions, con structed within the last twenty-five years, make a total of Irrigation canals in the United States long enough to span the earth twice and representing an outlay of I90.OJ0.000. "Every year," wa are told, "tha area reached by these canals returns a harvest valued at more than $160,000,000, with a population of 1,000,000, dwelling In harmony and content, where only a short time ago a wilderness or a desert reigned." It is beyond question that no investment of government funds has yielded such large, immodlate and satisfactory returns aa the money expended for irrigation purposes in the far weat. No one except those who have visited such sections of the union as Colorado, New Mexico, Arlsona and south ern California can realise what Irrigation haa already done and what its extension means tor th future of these regions, where often for eight months of the year not a drop of rain falls. Southern California-now one of the richest, most fertile and populous sections of the United States would still be, for the most part, an arid and uninhabitable country war It not for Its vast systems of Irrigation. The saying Food Purity roaches perfection In Lleblff Company' Extract of Beef. It I prepared from the finest cattle, under th strictest solentlflo supervision, by special prooee which ensure the conden sation of all the rich strengthening Juloe of beet. Don't expect th cheap meat extract to be pure. They could not be at their price they are usually adulterated with glucose, glue or yeast. There I more beef and bettor beef In Lloblg Company' Extract than In any of th Imitation. That I why It I so effloaolou In the kltohen o strengthening In th sick room. tl MUST kav THIS If'Utur, 'a blue, or It's sot rea1 Famous lor 40 yeara as th most i The Knabe Piano You Can Afford to Buy It Your piano Indicates th standard of your musical taste, re flects th degree of your musical ability, controls your musical ac . compllshmenta, molds the musical future of your household. Th best music requires th best medium for It Interpretation. You buy a piano as you build home-once fr all. It la something from which you hav a rlg.nt to expect eiqulslte delight long as you live, and which should be a precious legacy to your children. The best musical qualities and the beat construction go together one is the result of the other. Com In and listen to the Knabe or try them at your pleasure. The marvelous Cabinet grand the effect of a grand piano lu an upright case $450 upward; real grand pianos from $750 on to where space or fancy of decoration fixes the limit. After a trial you will realize why the Knabe 1 the piano you can afford to buy. A. Hospe Co., IS I J Douglas SL We tune planus, $2.5. Join Saeet Music Club, 10c. In all these regions that "water Is life" has a significance elsewhere unknown. The federal government has adopted a generous and far-sighted policy In regard to re clamation projects, but It might expend ten times the amount thus far appropriated with a sdrety of getting at least II back within few years In permanent additions to the nation's wealth. LIUIIT AND BRIGHT. "Ha talks a great deal about his family tree." "That may account for the tales I'vs heard about his shady paet." Philadelphia Lodger. At his bold words the maiden flushed. "You are positively awful," she mur mured. "It appears to me," he said, "that you yourself are awfully positive," Cleveland Leader. "What did that new arrival want?" asked St. Peter. "He asked me If I knew where hn covld' get hold of four old haloes," replied the attendant angel. "He says he wants to try and build an auto." Philadelphia Press. Eve There's no use talking, Adam. 1 can't take care of the children and do the housework, too. You've got to t a girl. Adam (with resignation) Oh, very well. I suppose this Is where I lose another rib. Puck. "You sny your first speech made several converts 7" "Yes," answered Senator- Sorghum, re gretfully: "from my side of the question to the opposition." Washington Star. Misa Ascum Is Fteudy Fathedd working for a living? Miss Trillion Oh, my. yes! The poor boy has been trying for six months to gain papa's consent. New York Press. "How does the rasor feel, sir?" asked the barber. "I'm sure I don't know," replied the vic tim, "but If It has any feeling at all It should be a sense of shame." Philadelphia Press. Bourke Cockran, apropos of SL Patrick's day. told an Irish story. "There waa an Irish schoolmaster," he said, "who was examining a class .In geography one day. " Now, my lad,' he said to a clever little chap, 'tell ua what latitude Is.' "Tha clever little chap smiled and winked. " 'Latlude? he said. 'Oh, air, there none of that Irt Ireland. Sure, the Engllah don't allow us any, sir.' "New York Tribune. SYMPTOMS. W. D. Nesblt In Chicago Tribune, If your wife Is growing restless; if she tentatively tuga A fhe dingy window curtains; If she studie all the. rugs; If she talks about wall paper; If She views the window panes With an eye that sees them tarnished by a lot of streaka and stains. Then you may as well be patient and as quiet as a mouse. For no feeble man can stop her she will soon clean - houne. You had better plan for boarding some where else a day or two, For the chances are she'll atart it with a rustling, bustling crew Of scrub women and of dusters, and the chairs will block the hall And a lot of dainty china will be put where It will fall And an aproned, towsled, draggled aight will say ahe la your spouse. For the signs of spring are potent ahe will soon clean . house. You will eat upon the Ice box, you will sleep upon the stove. You will slip upon a box of soap and down the stairs will rove; You will find your valued volumes mLa-ed with kitchen pans and pots: For the time ynu'U be an alien you and all your little tots And there'll be a time of trouble, time of shake, and dust, and douae, Till the fever haa subsided she will soon clean houe. mm CO.MPAIIYS EXTRACT OF DECF aeneantrated form of fceaf goodness. 1 1