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About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 19, 1908)
14 THE OMAIIA DAILY BEE: SATURDAY. DECEMBER 10, 1008. Tiie Omaha Daily Bee. FOUNDED BY EDWARD HOSE WATER. VICTOR ROSK WATER, EDITOR. Entered at Omaha postoffice as second class matter. TERM3 of srnacRtrTiON. rlljr hoe (without Sunday), one year.M.OO Dally lieu and Sunday, one year DELIVERED BY CARRIER. Tally Pea (Including Sunday), per week..1Vs Dally Bee (without Hundav). per week.. 10c Evening Bee (without Sunday), per week 6c Evening lice (with Sunday), per week. I1 Sunday Bee, one year Saturday Hue, one year IM Address all complaints of Irregularities In delivery to City circulation department OFFICE. Omaha The pee Building. South Omaha Twenty-fourth and N. Council Bluffs 16 8eitt Street. Lincoln filS Lifle Building. Chlcag-154S Marquette Building. New York Boom 1101-1102 No. 84 West Thirty-third Street. Washington 7a Fourteenth Ftreet. N. W. CORRESPONDENCE. Communications relating to news and edi torial matter should be addressed: Omaha Bee, Editorial Department. REMITTANCES. Remit by draft, express or postal order payable to The Bee Publishing Company. Only 2-cent stamps recplved In payment of mall accounts. Personal checks, except on Omaha or eastern exchanges, not accepted. STATEMENT OF CIRCULATION. State of Nebraska, Douglas County, ss. : George B. Tischuck, treasurer of The Bee Publishing company, being duly sworn, ays that the actual number of full and complete coplea of The Pally, Morning, Evening and Sunday Bee printed during the momn or isovemner, 1903, was as iomows: 1 44,000 It 37,860 17 37,190 It 36,870 It 36,890 JO 37,310 21 37.O00 ft .37.O60 It 37,010 S4 37,090 It .37,070 2f 36,940 11 37,140 tt 36,890 It 36,700 10 3710 I 38,100 .... 48,850 4 64,650 1 43,880 as.eao 7 88,380 87,400 87.S40 10 87310 11 ...87,780 It 37,880 If 37.890 14 87,680 II 38,600 Total 1,181,870 Less unsold and returned copies. 11.167 Net total 1,150,103 Dally average 38,338 OEORaa B. TZSCHUCK, Treasurer. Subscribed In my presence and aworn to before tne this 1st day of December. I'jOS. (Seal) M. P. WALKKR. Notary Puullo. WHEN OCT OP TOWIT. abaerlswra leaTlagT the city ( Btorarlly shoal aave The Bee Snalle to them. Address vrlll be mailed as often as requested. Actors on the kerosene circuit are making no complaint about the high price of eggs. Mr. Taft apparently has no desire to pose as a saint At least, he re fuses to be Cannonlzed. Whatever congress may think of it, the country will not care much for denatured presidential messages. The Commoner is still trying to solve "the mystery of 1808." Read the election figures now completely com piled. It does not help the situation any to recall the time when fresh eggs were plentiful in Omaha for 12 'cents a dozen. The person who failed to shop early In the month may still do the next best thing by shopping early in the morning. "America lacks poets," says M. Per rln of Paris. Perhaps, but America la not complaining nor asking that the lack be supplied. A New York artist is advertising for a "perfect man to pose as the Adonis of mythology." Pittsburg pa pers need not copy. Secretary Cortelyou's title, "The SI lent Factor," la threatened by compe tltlon from Senator Dick of Ohio and Senator Jeff Davis of Arkansas. The German kaiser has engaged a seat on the water wagon. That' enough to drive Milwaukee to seek annexation to the United States. The Mad Mullah is again on the warpath. He might be added to the list of big game which the president will be allowed to bag on his African trip. Poet Laureate Alfred Austin has done his share toward making the Christmas season merry and happy by refraining from writing until after the holidays. "Superior food, shelter and rafment Is all that the millionaire can get out of life," says John D. .Rockefeller. Fines and grand jury indictments might be added. Labor Commissioner Ryder reports that frog raising is a growing indus try in Nebraska. Let us hope that Nebraskans will allow the frogs to do all the croaking. i Mr. - Bryan will not dictate to the Nebraska legislature, but Its demo cratic members may expect to hear from him if they do not do as he wants them to do. Milwaukee' is planning the con struction of a big filtration plant. The city evidently wants pure water used in the manufacture of the product that made it famous. The sugar production of the world for 1908 is estimated at more than 14,000,000. tons. The consumption is estimated at 'about 1,000,000 tons a month, which will leave something ilk 2.000,000 tons for fudge and taffy. ' It is sus:ected that former Senator Burton of Kansas, Congressman Blnger Herman and a number of pub lic officials from the bnd states share the congressional iudlgnatlon over the activity of tho secret service depart ment of the government service. just what rntr wast. The announcement baa been made and reiterated that neither Mr. Bryan nor Governor Bhallerfberf er will take any hand In directing the organization j of the coming legislature with a view to promoting honest redemption of platform pledgee. Mr. Bryan's posi tion of noninterference follows from his assumed attitude of being too big to concern himself with the petty de tails of personal preferment among his followers and his blindly innocent con fidence that every democrat in the leg islature is consumed with an unselfish desire to fulfill every election promise. Governor Shallenberger. is likewise to keep his hands off the legislative frame-up because of the impropriety of overstepping the bounds of executive prerogatives and functions. But while the men wfco have gone good as guarantors of the democratlo legislature in Nebraska take seats in the spectators' gallery, we may be Bure that the representatives of the corpora tions and special interests and all the various agencies ordinarily voiced in the lobby will be in the thick of it and will be exerting their utmost influence to secure a friendly if not suppliant organization. The different candidates for speaker and for every Important office will all be card catalogued ac cording to their willingness to "listen to reason" and will be ranged in the order of their desirability from the standpoint of those who make a busi ness of manipulating legislation. If election promises are to be re deemed, the' lobby will prefer to have them redeemed In such a way as not to curtail any of the privileges now en Joyed by the interests that foot their bills. If either Mr. Bryan or Governor Shallenberger Imagines that after giv ing the corporations free rein to or ganize the legislature their stamp of approval will alone suffice to put a measure on the statute books, they are likely to discover later that they have been badly fooled. THE UPLIFT IN TVRKET. The opening of the new ' Turkish Parliament is epoch-making as the first pronounced forward step since the greatest crime against civilization was committed, in 14(53, when the Chris tian nations of Europe allowed Con stantinople to fall and Ottoman rule to be established in a large portion of three continents. After nearly 600 years civilization has again apparently caught step in the march of progress and Turkey has responded to demand for civil liberty and a modified form of personal gqvernment. However much his sincerity may be questioned, Abdul Hamld, the Turkish sultan, has discreetly entered with en thusiasm' into the reform forced upon him a few months ago by the Young Turks and has publicly endorsed their high alms and the daring of their ac complishments. He has thrown aside the veil of mystery which has for gen erations concealed the workings of his personal government and has come out openly for recognition of the rights of the people in representative govern ment, with promise of his co-operation with and support to the new Parlia ment The sultan's record in dealing with his own people and with other powers has not been such . as to inspire Im plicit confidence in the good faith of his present promises, but he is wily and shrewd and may recognize that he must either accept the reform movement or fall under it. What ever his reason, his attitude furnishes abundant proof that the Turkish em pire Is advancing and that the future has much In store for a long-oppressed people who have gone at their self- imposed task of governmental reform with earnestness and vigor. THE VENEZUELAN CRISIS. The opera bouffe war between Holt land and Venezuela pales Into lnsig nlflcence, bo far as its effect upon the future of Castro and his country is concerned, when compared with the disturbed condition of the internal af fairs of Venezuela, which have culmi nated in an open demonstration of hostility against Castro and his lieu tenants. The issue between Holland and Venezuela has now reached a phase which will probably secure ad justment soon, even if the United States should be compelled to hasten it, but the homo revolt against Cas tro's dictatorship la a problem he must solve without outside aid or interfer ence, and just now the cards appear to be running strongly against him. Holland has lent strong encourage ment to the insurrectionary movement by declaring that Its trouble is not with Venezuela, but with Castro. Of course, an attempt to discipline Castro would Injure Venezuela and the oppo nents of Castro at home have taken advantage of this hint to arouse popu lar prejudice against "the wasp of the Andes," now sojourning in Europe. Viewed from any light. Castro's posi tion is unfortunate. Had he placed a strong man in charge of the govern ment when he started for Europe he would have invited, in keeping with the history of Latin-American nations, n attempt of his understudy to as sume the stellar role. He accepted the alternative of placing Vice Presi dent Gomes in charge admittedly a political lightweight whose inefficiency has encouraged the opponents of Cas tro tq make the dictator's return to Venezuela Impossible. Holland has allowed the insurgents against Castro to use the Dutch island of Curacao as a headquarters and the revolt has as sumed the form of a violent outbreak against the ruling powers in Venezu ela. Castro's lottery building, his newspaper and even the business houses of his friends have been de stroyed and bis pictures burned in the public parks. Encouragement is lent to the insur gents by the representation that the deposition of Castro would quickly bring a settlement with Holland and all the rest of Venezuela's enemies and restore the country to peace and re-establish it in the good graces of other powers. Such a solution of the existing difficulty would simplify the duty of the United States and would be very generally satisfactory to all the powers which have had more or less trouble with Castro in the past and have no hope of improvement of affairs during his rule. StKEPAO CAR RATES. The investigation before the Inter state Commerce commission to deter mine whether existing sleeping car rates are reasonable has developed some interesting facts concerning the Pullman company and the methods it employs in serving the traveling pub lic for profit. The hearings, which have Just been concluded, turned on a charge made by a citizen of St. Paul that the rates for sleeping car Bervlce are excessive and that it is a discrimi nation to make the same charge for upper and lower berths. Practically the only defense made by the Pullman company is in the tes timony of one of the auditors that in the ( last year the company had been compelled to discard cars valued at $332,000 because their condition was beyond repair. This authority in formed that commission that the life of a car 1b twenty years and that the company introduces 300 cars In serv ice as new every year. The poverty plea of the Pullman company docs not harmonize very well with the known facts concerning the company's capital stock and earnings. The Pullman company, until 189S, had a capital stock of $36,000,000. In July of that year the stock was in creased to $54,000,000 by declaring an extra dividend of 60 per cent out of the Burplus earnings. In 1899 the company bought the Wagner company for the fancy price of $20,000,000 and increased its stock to $74,000,000, its present capitalization. On this capi talization, of which at least $36,000, 000 represents the watered stock op eration of 1898, the company pays an nual dividends of 8 per cent, or $5,920,000 a year, and always has a handsome sum over for surplus. The general public will have wide interest in the decision of the Inter state Commerce commission on this complaint The commission waa given Jurisdiction over sleeping car companies only a few months ago and there is a question whether the powers of control conferred by congress are broad enough to cover the regulation of rates. The case in question will doubtless be used to test the extent of this power, and if the courts decide that the power to fix reasonable rates be lacking the congress will be asked to remedy the defect as speedily as possible. There is no doubt in the mind of the traveling public that, the complaint of the St. Paul man Is to an extent Justified. To the lay mind it appears to be as unreasonable to ex act the same price for upper and lower berths as it would be for a rooming house to charge the same price for beds as is secured by a first-class hotel. The report of the Joint commission on the postoffice recommends the geo graphical subdivision of the country into districts for the administration of the postoffice along the lines advo cated by The Bee some time ago when urging the location in Omaha of the division headquarters for the railway mail service. This divisional organiza tion of the postoffice is bound to come sooner or later, and when It does come Omaha should be ready to make a suc cessful pull for designation aa head quarters for this division. Visitors to the corn show from a dis tance who are at the same time visit ing Omaha for the first time are all expressing themselves greatly surprised and favorably impressed with the fine appearance and business activity of the city. Omaha always wears well on in spection. If Omaha could go into the next census with all the people included in the Greater Omaha, it would not make much difference to us whether the counting were done by civil service tested enumerators or by enumerators possessed merely of political pull. The people of Nebraska adopted the constitutional amendment enlarging the supreme court for the express pur pose or getting ria oi tne supreme court commission. They will. not coun tenance any extension of the life of the commission beyond its present term. John D. Rockefeller, jr., has had some of Mr. Hearst's newspaper men arrested for printing an article tending to Injure his good name and reputa tion. John D. Rockefeller, Jr.'s mis- fortune came when he was given the same name as his father. Trolley cars are taking the place of rickshaws in Toklo and sake is being displaced by the American cocktail. Now, if the mikado will establish stock yards and a city council, Toklo will not be much better than Chicago The epistles to Santa Claus which find their way into the mall box are by official order to go to the dead let ter office. This leaves writing to Santa Claus still the easiest and cheap est way of amusing the children. At any rate, Governor Sheldon will be free while visiting Mississippi from the throng importuning him for eleventh-hour pardons and paroles for friends or relatives under penitentiary sentence. The secretary of state wants the Union Pacific to pay a $50,000 fee for filing amended articles of incorporation so that it may have the right of emi nent domain In Nebraska. We can see the Union Pacific paying up the $50, 000. It will continue to find a cheaper way of acquiring the right of eminent domain by organizing subsidiary cor porations with small capitalization to be absolved later. Mr. Taft is going to visit the Pan ama canal at least once a year. The muck raker is content to write all about the canal without ever visiting it or getting any accurate data about It. Two automobile drivers have been arrested and fined in the local police court for scaring people. This gives hope that automobile drivers may yet be arrested and fined for hurting peo ple. Evelyn Nesblt Thaw Is said to have visited the New York zoo and handled the deadliest snakes with bare hands. She Is apparently immune, by experi ence, from injury from snakes. The secret of the trouble seems to be that the president did not draw the distinction between congressmen and crooks close enough in his message reference to the secret service. "Unorganized Territory" has been eliminated from the map of Nebraska which once upon a time was also orna mented with the labels "Bad Lands" and "The Great American Desert." I'nmoTrd by Thrillers. Chicago Record-Herald. Some of the members of the most digni fied legislative body on earth positively refuse to count that day lost whose low descending sun brings no message hearer on the run. Where Opportunity Abides. St. Louis Globo-Democrat. It Is officially estimated that the farms of the United States this year produced crops worth $7,773,000,000. Tho boys who leave the farina are walking sway from more than they will find in the cities. A Gloomy Prospect. Indianapolis News. With fourth-class postmasters under the civil service law, and the congressional al lowance of free seeds reduced from 12,000 to 10,000 packages a head, thtTe is Just no telling what will happen at the next elec tion. Volunteer Helpers. Baltimore American. If Mr. Taft would like a brand-new. ready-made cabinet as a holiday gift, he has omV to say the word to receive speci mens by the dosen. For the erstwhile poli tical prophet, who knew beforehand, ex actly how everything was going to turn out. Is now sure of naming Just tho right man who ought to head the national de partments. The Sensible Middle Ground. Boston Herald. Those engaged in great enterprises of or ganized capital see nothing but benefit and good in corporations. Those who see the big profits in such enterprises, but get none of them, see noting but evil. Each views the situation from his own stand point of individual interest, and the mix ture of evil and good stands, from these one-sided views, the less chance of reduc ing the minimum of the one and reaching the maximum of the other. The falr-to-all view is the only working standpoint for practical reform. WHEN JtRIKS DISAGREE. Penalties of the System Cry Out (or Heller. Washington Post. Twelve jurors in New York are threat ened with punishment for contempt of court. The offense which has placed them in Jeopardy of the displeasure of the judge la that they agreed to bring in a verdict that they had disagreed. Tired, hungry, homesick, and generally uncomfortable after fruitless hours of endeavor to reach a verdict, they decided to bring in a sealed verdict showing their disagreement; after which they left the Juryroorn, presumably satisfied their hunger or thirst perhaps both and then departed to their respective homes. Think of it Instead of passing a night, half-starved, uncomfortable, crowded, and sleepless, In argument, only to report to the court their failure to agree, they broke all precedents, agreed to disagree, and went their ways early in the evening. Of course, it was an awful, awful thing to do; for what Is there in locking up twelve tired. hungry men in an effort to force them to agree to something If they are permitted simply to register their vote of disagree ment and skip out? We should have a per fect epidemic of disagreements. Jurors take the chance of being locked up over night when they serve. It is part of the citizen's sacrifice for the good of the community. But sometimes the Jurors who are confined for hours or days are punished much more severely than those whom they are disagreeing over. The Jury system has many serious de fects, and one of them undoubtedly is the unpleasantness, inconvenience, and want of consideration to which many good snd faithful Jurors seem to be unnecessarily subjected. The law must be maintained In its full dignity and integrity, but we do feel some sympathy for those New York Jurymen. I'EHSO.NAI, .NOTES. France made a profit of 176,000,000 last year out of $100,000,000 worth of tobacco consumed by that nation. "Divine Healer" Schlatter escaped a mob at Macomb, 111., after he had spoken ap provingly of the murder of McKlnley The good people of Macomb appear to be slow. The rubber stamp instruction, "Do Not Open Until Christmas," should relieve the strain on all those agencies which have to deliver holiday packages. It is a good idea. Push it along. Governor Crawford of South Dakota favors a voluntary scheme of bank deposits guarantee or insurance the state banking department to insure the payment of deposits of such banks as wish to come under the plan, and can prove their sol vency and pay the required tax. Rev. J. II. Sutherland, chaplain of the Twenty-third regiment, U. S. A., and editor of the Zamboanga Dantaka, does not share Dr. Edward Everett Hale's opinion that the entire disappearance of firearms would mean a peaceful world. "There have been more wars fought with clubs and stones than with firearms." he says. Mrs. Frances Hodgson Burnett Is once more sojourning under the Stars and Stripes. "I am going to remain in the United States a whole year this time," she told a New York reporter, "and hereafter will not divide my time equally between this side of the Atlantic and the other. I am building a home fur my son on Long Island, and 1 shall be Interested In garden ing. I have crowd ti e ocean fully fijTty times, and now I don't mind u at all." OTHER LAS DS THAX OUnS. The policy of ostracism to which Captain Boyoott of Mayo countyj Ireland, Involun tarily lent his name twenty-eight years ago, has advanced from an Individual to a national wrapon of defense, and has belted the world. It is "boycotter" In France, "bycotten" In Holland, "boycot tlren" In Germany and "bolkottlrovat" in Russia. China Invoked the boycott as a means of expressing public Indignation ngulnst tho conduct of Japan for Imposing on China humiliating terms for the selsure of a contraband vessel. Unwilling or un able to resent the Imposition by other means, the business men of China chose an equally effective way of plucking a tall feather from the game cock of tho east. Within six months Japanese trade fell off one-half, and Japanese traders, reduced to hard straits, prevailed on the authorities to compromise and restore commercial peace with China In a small way the na tives of some parts of India resent alfen rule by boycotting English goods. Turkey Is the latest nation to adopt the boycott as the best available means of protest against the disruption of the Balkan states. The boycott Is directed against Austro Hungary, the dual government being re garded as the chief promoter and bene ficiary of the disruption. The Balkan changes seriously affected the prestige of Turkey, but the liberals or young Turks party, only a few months in power, did not dare to risk an open rupture with Austria, choosing Instead the surer weapon of commercial ostracism. Already the boycott of Austrian goods has caused a marked change In the temper of Austria. The grasping ministers who flouted pro test at first, have been Induced by the pressure of lean business purses to listen to reason as trade expounds it. While the Austrian are retreating, the business ele ments of Turkey loyally upport the pol icies of the new government, and thre Is reason to believe the course pursued will be victorious in the end. The Russian millionaire, Peteroff of Mos cow, pulled off a remarkable conflagration to brighten his path through the valley of the shadows, and convey a lesson of more or less value to his heirs. Peteroff drew all his money out of the banks, piled the bank notes before him and set them on fire. With the affection which millionaires show when obliged to let go. Peteroff called in his loving heirs to witness the disposal of his property. Many of the lit tle details which give color and atmosphere to such a rare spectacle are omitted from the dispatches, but it is fair to assume that the heirs sprinkled the ashes with real tears. It was their turn to weep. The dying millionaire doubtless was impressed by affection's tribute to him and passed away with a subconscious idea of his own wisdom. Naturally the old skinflint Is being criticised harshly by relatives with airy anticipations, by the government, which loses Inheritance taxes, and by those who would cheerfully assist In the dis tribution of hla estate, but against these criticisms may be placed the assured safety of Peteroff's money. If he has a past, that past is secure. There Is nothing for the heirs to fight over and drag his old bones into the limelight to prove that he was Incompetent to dispose of his property. He took no chances on what might happen when he waa out of sight, for heirs are sometimes capricious In their respect for the memory of the deceased. Certainly old Peteroff went up and out in a blase of satlrlo glory and left to posterity an episode more enduring than his millions would be. Italy occupies a unique and enviable position among the nations of Europe at the present moment. Financially, the na tion Is on easy street, while all its neigh bors are confionted with decreased reve nues and Increased expenses. Recently the Italian minister of finance reported to Parliament that within a year the public debt had been reduced by $21,000,000. all current obligations met and a surplus of $7,500,000 remaired In the treasury. The contrast with neighboring nations Is strik ing. Great Britain is facing a deficit esti mated at $100,000,000, caused by decreased revenues and Increased expepses. Germany plans to raise by new taxes a total of $12S,000,000 annually to meet thecost of the emperor's navy plans. Russia 1b placing on the market a loan of $223,000,000, with which to meet pressing obligations, and France, having about exhausted all sources of local revenue, proposes to make tourists pay liberally for the privilege of seeing Paris. Blackmail Is not officially recognised as a profession In Europe. It is nevertheless an Institution rooted to the soil and be yond reach of existing law. What was formerly a business monopolized by sharp ers is now vastly enlarged by recruits from the servant class, who, having facilities for obtaining Inside Information, become invaluable as assistants and sharers in the spoils, A society composed of Britons who had been, at one time or another. In the clutches of the law, was formed some years ago for the purpose of protecting the members from extortioners. But the society's efforts have been fruitless, owing to the loopholes of the law, and twelve of Its members, within a year, have been hounded to suicides' graves. A volunteer commission of Englishmen is now engaged in drafting a bill for a law which will reach' the blackmailers without entailing public exposure on the victims. On tho continent the business Is beyond the hope of suppression, being fostered by the sys tems of the government spies, whereby favored officials secure compromising cor respondence and reports which place the victims at the mercy of the official and unofficial blackmailers. Results from the English law, passed in 1907, designed to compel foreign owners of patents to manufacture the article in the United Kingdom in return for the pro tection of the law, have not come tip to expectations. Statistics recently published Bhow that only a few German firms, mostly concerned with chemicals and colors, have opened ' branches In England. Several French manufacturers of automobiles have done the same, and a half dosun Amer lean companies have followed suit. The net result, however. Is admitted by the London Times to be disappointing. It add that experts still expect "there will be a considerable Increase of these branch manufactories' "in the course of two or three years. .TiiatlcA AS administered abroad In some h down to the tap root of public evils. In Rusala the millionaire owner of a ferryboat which sank at St. Petersburg ana carried thirty-nine persons to death, was convicted and sent to prison. He was charged with allowing nu Doat 10 De operated when he knew, or should have known, that It was ungate, in r.ngiana haiiffaiir ha. during a "Joy ride." ran the car Into and Injured a pedestrian, was sent to prison for six months. The titled owner of the machine was condtmned to pay a fine of $250, although the machine was put on the road without his consent or knowledge. Both cases place the re sponsibility where It rightly belongs. The Italian government shows its con fidence in concrete ties by ordering 300.000 tor use on state railroads. Experimental tests of concrete tits havu ixvn made on two railroads for a K'W years, past and the rulU w an .tut more esU-ualvs use of B km FdDWdfleir Made of Pure Orape Cream of Tartar. Safeguards the food against alum BOVai SAKMS WWOt a permanent substitute for wood. The new design will have a larger number of metalllo bars and the dlamoter will be de creased. A consular report puts the cost of the new tie at $1.20. The durability Is estimated at four times that of a wood tie. Each will weigh, with Its metalllo re- enforcement, 288 pounds. NEED OP AKM Y OFFICERS. Yarloaa Commands Short Nearly One Fifth of Proper IS amber. New York Sun." In his annual report the secretary of war comments on the need of an increase In the number of commissioned officers In the regular army. For its proper com mand and discipline an infantry or cavalry regiment requires one colonel, one lieu tenant colonel, three majors and fifteen captains, first lieutenants and second lieu tenants. Then there is the field artillery and the coast artillery, the engineer corps and the signal corps, and the various de partments, ordnance, transportation, sub sistence and medical. The staff officers are as necessary as the field officers, and ex perience In the line Is an almost Indis pensable training for service on the staff. The authorized strength of the commis sioned force Is 4,278 officers. Out of that number Secretary Wright reports 6fll on de tached service and 157 absent on leave or on account of sickness. As draft for de tached service is made from, the line, it Is evident that the various commands are short nearly one-fifth of their proper num ber of officers. This detached service em braces assignments to the general staff, recruiting duty, the military academy and the various schools at Leavenworth, Fort Monroe, Fort Riley and elsewhere. It in cludes military attaches, the instructors at state educational Institutions and the Panama canal detail. The effect of- these assignments may be Illustrated by a recent regimental report taken at random from the files. Of the First Infantry, stationed at Vancouver, the colonel, the lieutenant colonel, one major and eight captains out of the required twelve are absent. There are also many vacancies among the lieu tenants. Of 170 companies of coast ar tillery only thirteen have their full num ber of officers. The line suffers serious loss by reason of the necessary draft on It. The call for an addition to the commis sioned force is old, and each year of delay makes the situation worse. The country Is generally, and doubtless properly, op posed to a large standing army, but such force aa it has should be complete and equipped for such demands as may at any time be made on it. Anything short of that Is a dangerous negligence. PLEASANTLY PUT. "Cltronella," faltered the young man, you love another!" "You have Kuessed it. Percy." answered the beautiful maiden. "I don't like your new automobile. I prefer one of a different make." Chicago Tribune. "Going to make any resolutions New Vear's7,T "I have already made one resolution." "What's that?'' "If my wife gives me' any Christmas cigars I am going to smoke them at home." Houston Post. "Here's a Job for Burbank." "What?" "Training a Christmas tree to sprout Its own presents." Louisville Courier-Journal. Mrs. O'Toole She's takln' on awful. Her husband -ot three years but he kin git twelve months off for good behavior. Mrs. iooiey Tell ner to rest aisy. mire an' he may not behave himself. Brooklyn Life. Caller Sir. I am collecting for the Poets' hosnltal. Will you contribute anything? Editor With pleasure. Call tonight with the ambulance and I will have some poets ready. Judge. "Tori aav von never touched a penny that yon did not actually earn!" said the In vestigator. "That." replied Mr. Dnstln Stax, "Is nreolselv what I said. And I repeat tt. I have numerous people in my emnloy whose rttv It Is to receive all the small change," Washington Star. Get Mew Glasses If you are thinking of new glasses, you will gain advantage from consulting us. You will find us to be masters of our profession able, educated, and experienced. Glasses obtained from us will fit your eyes. You will enjoy greater optical comfort than you have ever known in the past. Call and see our new "Kryptok" invisible, bifocal lenses, and you will never again wear ugly, two-piece bifo cals. We are exclusive eye-sight specialists. Consult us about your eyes. Iluteson Optical, Co. 2 IS SOUTH I8TH 8THEET. Opposite the Peoples Store. SO SIW TOSS. ritOGRESS 0' TIIH KAIIM. Intelligent Cultivation Produces Ample Reward. St. Paul Pioneer Press. The Omaha Bee quotes the remark miil by James J. Hill, that thirty years from now the population of this nation will ! 200,000,000, and "the present methods of agriculture will be Inadequate;" an. I tt suggests that Mr. HIU should attend thn Omaha corn show "and become convinced that the methods of agriculture are b Intr improved to meet all needs." A pretty good guarantee that such improvement will take place la found In tho fact that 200,000,000 people will not submit to go hun gry while farmers dally with Blow anil un productive methods. The farmer who doesn't make his fields produce from two to ten times as much per acre as they do now will be routed off his land. Such pro ductivity is scon In other countries and it Is equally easy of attainment here. "I'LL LOOK AltOlSI).' Detroit Free Press. When a woman Christmas shopping goes It's seldom that sho knows Just what she wants or where It will be found. Hence this speech Is so very maddening, Disheartening and saddening: "I don't know what 1 want I'll look around." Into many a store we wandered. Wife and I, and gravely pondered Over tho things that would have suited, I'll be bound. There were gifts in great profusion, But she reached this sad conclusion: "I don't Bee what I wunt I'll look around." , "Here's a very lovelv tr'-"-t. But, my d a , I hur ly think It Really suitanle for ,..y." then she frowned. "No, 1 guess I will not tnke It. For the dear child's apt to break It; It Isn't what I want I'll look around." Do you wonder I am leary Of these shopping tours, and weary? Do you wonder that my teeth I've nvully ground? When I thnuwh she'd buy a present. She remarked. In mariner pleasant, "No. it len't what I want I'll look around." IHlospe's CHRISTMAS ART and MUSIC ALTERATION PIANO SALE The Christmas Shopper Is taking ad vantage of the Hospe Piano sale. The great stock of fine pianos, play er pianos, grand pianos, parlor organs, ohapel organs and player organs is thrown on the market at prloas which forces the baying. Just a little money down, a small amount every month and your new mahogany, oak or walnut piano is paid When yon can buy a $350, $278, $300, or $335 piano for $139 $187 $159 $198 On 16.00 monthly payments, It looks easy, is easy and you can't realm it. Do you know the world's host? They are the Kntnlch & Bach. Kruk auer, Kimball, Bush-Lane, Hallett Davls, Cable-Nelson, Burton, Cramer & Weser pianos. Player Pianos from 129.00 up. Parlor Organs, t-0.00 up. KRANICH & OACH Supreme In that class of highest grade.. The Kranlch ft Bach costs more to manufacture than any piano iiia'le In the world, on account of Its hlphutr quality of selected materials uml high est grado of scientific and artisile workmanship. We have a fine a.- ort ment of Grands and Uprights. KIMBALL The product of the Klmhn.ll factories is more than double In volume tliut of any similar institution in the wmil. Every year more than thirty thousand homes rejoice In the acquisition of Kimball Instruments. The Kimball Pianos and Organs wore equally honored at the Traiis-MISMls-slppl Exposition at Omaha, receiving the only gold medal awarded any piano. There are six vital and distinctive points of superiority in the Apollo Player Paino that give it commanding position In the trade and In the esteem of the musical people. Dally demonstrations at our store. Piano Players from $375 up to $1,000 EASY PAYMENTS OLD PIANOS TAKEN IN TRADIS PIANO SCARFS ch-Tma. rinest and most oomplsts 11ns la the city. Telour ) nn s9 nfl calls sjfc.uw ill 4il.UU sua ? en o nn Boarts u.uu iu o.uu Plash (Con I. tlftnn Scarfs "' iu siu.UU Damask SC (1(1 in tlR fln carls iw iw.uj Musical Instruments Tletor Talking Maohlnss, Outtars, Tlollns, Mandolins, Banjos, Brass In struments, aCuslo Bolls, Strings. ART GOODS Art Ooods, Pictures, Frames, Paint ing Materials, Vyrographj, aut Muslo, Muslo Books. A. HOSPE CO. 1513 Dougals St.
