T ,
THE BEE: OMAHA, TUESDAY, MAY 10, 1921.
XheOmahaBee
DAILY (MORNING) EVENING SUNDAY
THE BGB PUBLISHING COMPANY
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The Bees Platform
1. New Union Passenger Station.
2. Continues! ' Improvement of the Ne
braska Highways, including tha pave
mant of Main Thoroughfares loading
into Omaha with a Brick Surface.
.3. A short, low-rate Waterway from tha
' Cora Bolt to tha Atlantic Ocean.
4. Homo Rulo Charter for Omaha, with
City Manager form of Government.
Between Now and Thursday.
Affairs in Europe arc approaching a very in
teresting situation. . If it were not for Germany,
the Polish revolt in Upper Silesia and the war
between the fascist! and the socialists in Italy
would afford ample topic for debate. The Ger
inan situation, however, overshadows the others
completely. By Thursday noon it is required
that the lf.bert government return a categorical
"yes or "no" to the terms submitted by the
Allies. On this v.-ifl turn the occupancy by
French troops oi the Ruhr valley.
"The. Simons cabinet resigned, because' the
doctor had lost in his little game of diplomacy.
He sought, as all good leaders do, to divide his
opponents. If he had met at Washington with
less of a' rebuff, he might have temporized still
further at Paris and London, r.nd maybe have
brought off better terms for his country. Failure
.to 'achieve this, he preferred resignation to sur
render. Dr. Mayer, who has represented Ger
in:.i:y n rr.iba-isador to France since peace was
restore'', reported to have informed President
EVcVt of his inab'l'ty to form a cabinet. Mayer
is" described as a thoughtful, tactful, persistent
.man, of the sort who expects to rehabilitate his
:otmtry through hard work and by regaining the
iwiridcnce and consideration of the world
through fair dcaliiiT. If this estimate of the man
is accurate, then it is to be regretted that he could
not' find' associates who. would with him accept
the responsibility of officially announcing the sur
render that seem inevitable.
Delay of the Knox resolution in the house is
interpreted to mean that President Harding
wishes it withheld, in order that the solidarity
ef the Allies be not disturbed until the crisis
over reparations has passed. The administra
tion has made plain to Germany the attitude of
the United States on the points involved, and will
take no further steps in the direction, of the
restoration of peace until such action will not
be "susceptible of disturbing the settlement which
hinges on the ultimatum served on Germany last
wedV. ,
Much may happen before noon on Thursday.
ThcT'only certainty is that, as matters stand, un
less the German government. assent? to the terms
now proposed, the French army will take over
control of the 'great Prussian manufacturing
region. What may occur before or after that
time', belongs "exclusively in the realm of con
jecture. However, the truth is slowly being
brought home lo the German people, that Ger
many really did lo.je in'Oie v.f.r.
About the City Health Department.
One job that has fairly well been looked
'after under the outgoing city commission has
been the care of the public health. This depart
ment has several vexed questions to deal with,
and the failure to solve them is in nowise ascrib
able to the m?n at the head. Dr. Edwards has
brought 'to the administration of his bureau an
understanding of what is needed in the man
agement of a health department. It is therefore
of interest to have Henry W. Dunn, prospective
superintendent of public safety, announce in ad
vance that Dr. Edwards will be retained in the
service of the city. This decision meets- approval
of medical practitioners, who come in contact
with, the city official in a professional way, a fact
that is a splendid recommendation for him.
V The Bee has no desire to anticipate any
"changes that may be made by the impending
administration. It does wish to express a hope
that the commissioners-elect will consider several
important questions of municipal housekeeping
that have not had the attention they deserve. One
of these will fall directly under the health depart
ment, as has to do with the collection and dis
posal of garbage. Existing regulations are ef
fective, so far as safeguarding public health is
concerned, but householders endure vexations of
various kinds, because the system is not as well
Be vised as might be wished. It may be neces
sary to revise the charter, but a more modern
method should be adopted. '
pi Promises made during the campaign were
numerous and .inclusive. The fact that four of
tha .commissioners are men of wide experience
in.iity government means that each has definite
ideas for the management of his department.
That augurs well for the future, and we hope
that they wilt give public health a prominent
place en their program.
Bolshevist Gold Coming Over.
i -According to schedule the Scandinavian
American line steamer. United States, is due to
arrive in New York tomorrow with seventy bags
oi gold on board, sent by the Lenine-Trotzky
geveramcnt from Sweden. This gold, said to be
worth several millions of dollars, is a portion of
tha ninety tons rcmelted and refined by the
Swedish mint for the bolshevists. To its posses
sion attaches the taint of questionable owner
ship. How it came into the hands of the "reds"
is net Stated, but surmise runs to the effect that
most of it is the loot seized from private homes
and banks by the usurpers. It was on this gold
that the trade relations were to rest. Advocates
of .the bolsheviki have contended that the United
States has no right to inquire as to the source of
the '.supply of wealth, but some of us are still a
litilf squeamish about handling money we know
jT the price of murder or has been seized by
rapine. The gold will very likely be brought
' ashore at New York, since it is coming as first-
class mail from a friendly government. How it
will be dealt with after it comes into the hands
of the American postoffice is yet to be disclosed.
The shipment will probably be the last for some
time, as the steamship lines from Scandinavian
ports are refusing to accept any more such
"mail"
Mr. Bryan and the Late Charles Darwin.
Although some years delayed, William Jen
nings Bryan valianily puts on the gloves and
proceeds to punch the stuffing out of Darwinism.
The great commoner holds that the theory of
evolution is responsible for all the present woes
of the earth. Men have, he asserts, through the
insidious teachings of science been led to dog
mas of the superman and all that sort of non
sense, and so he demands that everything per
taining to modern thought be tossed overboard,
and that we return to the simpler basis. It is
inferable that his way of life will be found be
tween Genesis and Revelations.
And this peculiar outburst from Mr. Bryan
excites some. wonder. He surely must be aware
that modern biology has gone far beyond Dar
win in its exploration of the mystery of life, and
has evolved and developed facts that are not
mere theories concerning the origin of sentient
beings on earth. This has been accomplished
without violence to the underlying truths of
religion. When men like Sir Oliver Lodge,
among the most eminent of scientists, not only
accept but insist they have proven the existence
of a soul and the life after death, it scarcely
becomes a layman to accuse modern learning of
being atheistic in its tendency. Unless we ac
cept a narrow definition of atheism, and set out
side the pale all who do not agree without ques
tion to the claims of theologians dead and gone
these many decades. When we recall the experi
ence of Copernicus, and the whisper of Galileo,
"Nevertheless, it does move," we wonder if Mr.
Bryan hopes to turn the tide of thought back to
the Seventeenth or the Fifteenth century.
Men may still believe in God and a future life,
holding fast to all the great truths of morality,
and devoutly worship Him who made us all, and
not insult-the intellect He has illumined by re
jecting the discoveries to which that intellect
leads in ite efforts to advance humanity.
Pershing's Plan for Defense.
Pershing, being a 'professional soldier and
head of the American army, may be assured in
advance of earnest opposition from the pacifist
element of our1 population, as wclj as from that
even greater number who are merely careless.
One of these groups relies on the prevalence of
the era of good will and neighborlincss engen
dered by resolutions that denounce war; the
other pins its faith on the Bryanitic picture of
"a million men springing to arms between sun
rise and sunset." Each of these is alluring, in
prospect, but neither has worked out well in
practice. Sad as the thought may be. the "war
to end war" did not do away with the possibility
of future war. Even should a million men spring
to arms, in event of their need, they will require"
to be trained in the use of those arms before they
can be considered effective.
General Pershing himself is opposed to w ar.
He has made this clear on many occasions. But
he understands the problems of war, knows the
difficulties that surround the improvisation of an
army, and has enough of sound judgment to
realize that a little preparation in advance is not
wasted. The Bryan policy, successfully sup
ported by Newton D. Baker, cost the people Of
the United States thousands of millions of dol
lars. That mistake may be repeated, if we will,
or it may be avoided by just being careful.
Militarism has nothing to do with the ques
tion, for the American people are not militaristic;
"the man on horseback" has no place in our
common life, save as a bugaboo to frighten timid
folks who do not look close enough to detect
the sham. A citizenship that is fit to enjoy the
blessings of liberty, and is safe to be entrusted
with the perpetuation of that boon, will ,be ready
to defend it. Pershing simply asks that to the
willingness be added the efficiency that comes
from proper training.
Are Husbands Property?
The inquiry of the suffragists used to be as
to whether or not women were people. That
question was answered in the affirmative by the
granting of the vote, and now it is time to ascer
tain the exact status of the other half of the
household.
Police in Chicago found William Sweeney
lying wounded in his home, and when his wife
was asked if it was she who shot him, her re
sentment was white hot. Such interference with
her family affairs she considered uncalled for.
She could run her household without the aid of
any police-. "Shoot him? What a silly question.
You understand me right here: Bill is my hus
band and I'll, do what I like with him."
There always have been, of course, differ
ences within the home with which the law does
not interfere it was once legal for a husband to
heat his wife, if the club were not more than a
certain thickness, and quarrels of considerable
bitterness are customarily considered nobody's
business. But isnt Mrs. Sweeney a little in ad
vance of the times?
Misunderstanding America. .
The outbursts of Japanese jingoes against
General Wood are not surprising. It is the object,
in life of jingoes, in whatever land they may be,
to sow suspicion and rouse nationalistic hate. It
is noteworthy that among the arguments pre
sented in Japan against America is the baseless
one that President Harding has declared his
opposition to a limitation of armament. Lack
of information on American policy is clearly in
dicated in many other ways.
The belief is being built up in Asia, and in
South America, too, that Uncle Sam is a
hypocrite, secretly bent on economic imperial
ism. The selection of General Wood to study
the proper disposition of the Philippine Islands
has also been misunderstood. According to the
super-patriotic Japanese jingoes, his main mis
sion is to determine whether or not the islands
can be defended, and how. The fact that in his
service in Cuba he proved himself an admirable
colonial administrator, and that it was as such
and not as a military leader that he was sent
aeross the Pacific to investigate the possibili
ties of freeing the islands, is either unknown or
concealed by the Oriental critics.
About 500 Amerian soldiers stationed on the
Rhine, who have married German girls, are com
ing home, and perhaps we will learn something
new about home brewing.
Secretary Mellon' s Warning
Congress Notified That a Halt
Must Be Called on Spending
(From the Boston Transcript.)
The secretary of the treasury has written a
letter to the chairman of the house committee on
ways and means and the chairman of the senate
committee on finance that calls to mind the state
papers of Alexander Hamilton, It is firm in
tone, straightforward and clear in terms and
deals with the all-important question of federal
finances in a way that the average citizen can
understand, and with a soundness of reasoning
that the expert in finance will be quick to ap
preciate and applaud.
Secretary Mellon makes a series of recom
mendations for the revision of the revenue laws
to meet governmental expenditures for 1921 and
1922. But he precedes his recommendation with
a stern warning to the executive and legislative
branches of the government that is certain to
evoke an echo of endorsement from the country
at large.' This warning is based upon this find
ing of facts, to wit: That the nation has been
spending, during the first three-quarters of the
current fiscal year, at the rate of about five bil
lions a year.- He estimates that the ordinary ex
penditures for the next fiscal year will be in the
neighborhood of $4,000,000,000. Fronted, with
these stupendous figures, he is forced to the logi
cal conclusion, and prompted to sound the timely
warning alike to his colleagues in the cabinet and
to the republican leaders in both houses of con
gress, that "the nation cannot continue to spend
at this shocking rate." Why? Because the bur
den is "unbearable by the people why pay the
taxes." Secretary Mellon sees only two avenues
of escape from the present conditions: Reduc
tion by the appropriating, and economy by the
spending, branches of the government. He pro
poses that both avenues of escape shall be
simultaneously employed, and his recommenda
tions for revision in the revenue laws are made
upon the assumption that congress intends to re
trench, and the spending branches of the gov
ernment intend to economize, at every point in
the use of each appropriation.- He bluntly tells
the republican leaders that "this is no time for
extravagance or for entering upon new fields of
expenditure." The fact that the nation's inances
are sound and its credit the best in the world
only means to him that "the nation thus blessed
cannot afford reckless or wasteful expenditures",
if its finances are to continue in health and its
credit to be protected against impairment.
Among the rctdjustments recommended are
the repeal of the excess profits tax and the sub
stitution of a modified tax on corporations, and
the repeal of the existing $2,000 exemption ap
plicable to corporations, to yield an aggregate
revenue of between four and five hundred mil
lion; changes in the income tax rate to a maxi
mum combined normal tax and surtax of 40 per
cent for the taxation year 1921, and of about 33
per cent thereafter; the repeal of the so-called
"nuisance" taxes, including those on soda water
and other soft drinks, and the retention of the
miscellaneous specific sales taxes, excise tax, in
cluding transportation, tobacco, and admission
taxes, and a levy of new taxes of "wide appli
cation," including a new stamp act, and licenses
on automobiles.
The failure to recommend at this time any
general sales tax will not surprise those who
have come in contact with recent sentiment on
Capitol Hill. The truth is that the republican
leaders in both houses are suffering from a bad
case of "cold feet;" they fear that the imposition
of a sales tax -at this time may cost the repub
lican party the control of the house of repre
sentatives two years hence. Secretary Mellon is
believed to favor in principle a general sales
tax, but he is evidently willing to withhold his
recommendation until congress shall have tried
and failed to find elsewhere the revenue neces
sary to run the government this year and next.
Of course congress will not adopt the sweep
ing recommendations of Secretary Mellon without
the co-operation and support of the country.
That' assistance will not be forthcoming unless
the activity of organized minorities that are sup
porting the creation of new departments is over
come. We believe that the country will agree
with Mr. Mellon that the present tax burden is
"unbearable;" that the nation is spending today
at "a shocking rate," and that the only relief
from this condition is to be found in letting old
economies precede new taxes. So believing, we
cannot regard the creation of a new Department
of Public Welfare as warranted, much less nec
essary, at the present session, or the creation of
a Department of Education or a Department of
Medicine or Transportation. The time may come
when new departments may be desirable, but this
year is not the time. The politicians may think
they can escape the necessity of general retrench
ment and general economy by paralyzing the
military establishment and dumping the few mil
lions thus saved into various uplift ventures that
are temporarily the fads of well organized
minorities. But the politicians have not suc
ceeded in fooling the able gentleman who is at
fhe head of the Treasury department today, and
his stern warning will be taken to heart the
country over by those who pay the taxes, and
who will not . hesitate to rebuke at the polls the
party in power unless its leaders in congress
develop the gumption and the grit to face the
facts so clearly set forth by Secretary Mellon
and to legislate and compel the executives to
comply with the public need.
The way to retrench is to retrench; the way
to economize is to economize, and the retrench
ment and the economies must be both general
and immediate. The-secretary of the treasury
deserves both the support of the president and
the co-operation of the congress in putting
through his program, for it deals with the over
shadowing issue today and deals with it wisely
and fearlessly and without regard to partisan
politics. His letter is a document that may well
serve as a model for state legislatures and city
councils. Secretary Mellon sees the handwriting
on the wall. '
Then and Now.
A Philadelphia connoisseur has returned from
England with a manuscript of Shelley's for which
he paid 17001
It is said that the total amount Shelley received
in his lifetime from the publishers of his poetry
was about $250.
As one reads of the fantastic sums that change
hands in the auction room today for books,
manuscripts, pictures and other works of art, one
is moved to moralize upon the difference a small
part of the price would have made to the artist
in his lifetime. (
Chatterton poisoned himself ere he was eight
een to escape "slow starvation, since he was too
proud to disclose his utter penury; and now a
few words from his hand would bring enough, to
support him for years!
In the last year of Schubert's life six of his
songs were sold to a publisher for 20 cents
apiece. 'When he died, not 3? years old, his un
published music was valued at $2 and his whole
estate tvas appraised at about $12.
Septimius Winner, of Philadelphia, sold "Listen
to the Mocking Bird" to the publishers for $.15.
They are said to have made $3,000,000 out of it I
"Lives of great men all remind us" that pos
terity has succeeded in capitalizing patriarchs
who in their time found it hard to live.
Seven cities claimed great Homer dead ,
Through which the living Homer begged his
bread. Philadelphia Ledger. i
An Every-Day Demonstration.
Leaving home at 8:30, brisk walk takes the
commuter to the station in time to catch the
7:44. This gives him some faint notion of what
the professors mean when they talk ab6ut time
being only relative. New York Herald.'
With all the muckraking, no one has yet
been found who is ashamed to be rich. c
George Is Found.
At 'last the possible origin for -the expres
sion "Let George do it," has been found. His
other name is Lloyd George of Great Britain,
whose people are letting him "do it" to an un
limited extent. Florida Times-Union.
.... f
How to Keep Well
By DR. W. A. EVANS
Questions concerning hygiene, Italia
tion and prevention of disease, sub
mitted ta Or. Evan by readers ot
Tha Baa, will ba answered personally,
aubjact to proper limitation, whsre a
stamped, addressed envalepe ia ea
cloeed. Dr. Evana will nat aiaka
diagnosis ar prescribe far individual
dlaaataa. Address latttra ia care ef
The Baa.
Copyright. 1921, by Dr. W. A. Evan.
PROGRESS SINCE NAPOLEON'S
DEATH.
Napoleon Bonaparte died May 5.
1 SSI. at 5:49 p. m., on the island of
St. Helena. The cause of death was
cancer of the .stomach and, in all
probability, of the liver as well. Tho
record Is not so illuminating as it
might be.
As a royal personage, he was en
titled to his own medical attendant
and spiritual adviser. lie asked his
mother to send him a good physician
and a priest sutllelently learned to
discuss theological questions with
him. This good old. Ignorant, super
stitious Corsican mother was not
equal to tho task of making a proper
selection, and she sent a priest not
capable of talking on Napoleon's
plane and a physician who was
poorly trained and otherwise incapa
ble. The British army surgeons were
called in at the end, but they could
not do much to clear up the situa
tion, A mask was not made until
several days after his death, and the
art of preservation of bodies was not
well developed at that time.
For a time it was thought that his
illness was feigned as a part of In
trigue. A part of the supposed in
trigue was a demand for removal
from St. Helena on the ground that
the climate was unhealthful, since it
begot liver trouble. Bo strong was
the belief that the liver climate ar
gument was being worked for a pur
pose that no one would admit that
he had liver trouble before his death
or for 10 years afterward,
Xapoleon knew he was a sick man.
His father had died of cancer of the
stomach at SS years of age, and
Xapoleon recognized the symptoms
early in the course of the disease.
At the present time a man with
the alert mind of Napoleon, sur
rounded by skillful physicians,
would have an operation, and the
changes are good that it would save
his life. Knowing the symptoms of
the disease and being keen minded,
he would have suspected the trou
ble and sought for further informa
tion. Physical examination, chemical
and microscopic tests, and X-ray exs
animation would reveal the presence
of a small cancer. Removal results
in permanent cure of a certain pro
portion of these early cases.
Xapoleon kept on telling his physi
cian what the trouble was. The
physician made no examination.
Cancer of the stomach and liver is
not always easy .to diagnose. I have
known an intelligent business man
of large affairs ' to go within one
month of death without consulting
a physician or suspecting anything
to be seriously wrong, and to bo
within 10 days of' death before a
diagnosis was made. But there is
no excuse for Napoleon's physician,
for the patient more than once told
his physician the meaning of his
stomach pains, nausea, vomiting, loss
of flesh, and Jaundice.
The treatment given for relief ot
symptoms was abominable, and
Xapoleon was justified in being bitter
toward his physician. His pain and
nr.usea were characteristic. The
death mask showed that he had wast
ed as cases of cancer of the upper
digestive tract do.
We sometimes despair of solving
the cancer, problem. Beading tho
history of Napoleon's last illnesi
shows that we have made consid
erable gain in the last 100 years,
even in this difficult field.
You Need More Sleep.
W. M. B. writes: "I am 22 years
o? age, 6 feet 6 inches tall, and
weigh 140 pounds. I am and have
been for the last six months work
ing evenings and attending school,
also averaging only six hours' sleep.
My friends say I am failing in health,
which I am inclined- to doubt. I ex
pect to continue this for four months
to come. Am I getting enough sleep
to do so? Occasionally my eyes feel
trained. If I get glasses to relieve
me would same weaken my eyes,
making necessary the use of glasses
in the future?"
REPLY.
1. Tou need eight hours' sleep. If
you get only six you will have to pay
for robbing yourself at some time jn
your life. The sins against the laws
of hygiene committeed tn youth un
fortunately are not paid for until
after the years of rnaximum vigor.
During the years of, maximum vigor
one's reserve power is so great that
the threshold of symptoms is not
often passed.
2. If you start wearing glasses it
Is probable you will have to continue.
However, that does not mean you
should delay putting on glasses if
you Buffer from eyestrain.
Causes Arc Various.
Inquisitive writes: "Will you tell
me why the pupils in the eyes vary
ro much in size? Some are so very
large, while others are extremely
small. Has it anything to do with
the state of one's health?"
REPLY.
One factor is the amount of light.
The iris Is an adjustable curtain ar
ranged for the purpose of shutting
out excess light. When more is
needed the pupil enlarges; when
less it contracts. Another is the
amount of light required by the back
of the eye for ' purposes of sight.
Some eyes require more, some less.
There are certain drugs on the mar
ket which affect the size of the pupil
belladonna, morphine. People of
certain temperaments have large
pupils. Nervous, blushing, mobile
faced people are apt to show large
pupils. Albinos are apt to have very
large pupils. Certain brain and cord
diseases manifest' themselves by
large pupils, email pupils, unequal
pupils, and other pupil peculiarities.
Certain eye diseases cause large pu
pil, small pupil, fixed pupil, uneven
pupil, irregular pupil.
Sherry Disguises the Kgg.
Mrs. V. D. writes: "What effect
does sherry and egg have on a run
down person? I am taking one a
day. I do not drink any other liquor.
Is it a builder, or is it harmful to
the body?"
REPLY.
Raw egg is a very wholesome food,
?ood for people who are rundown if
there Is no organic basis for the
"run do.wn" condition. The sherry
merely serves as a capsule for the
egg. There is no particular advan
tage in taking the egg in sherry,
except it appeals to the taste of some
people.
Uiiwafe to Procrastinate.
Mrs. B. "W. write: "I have a
nervous goiter which chokes and
makes me very weak and has lately
caused my heart to beat fast and
ometlmes stop. My physician told
be to have it taken out. Is there
Sanger in such an operation? Would
It lay me up long? Is there not
something to stop the ehoking and
heart beating? It has bothered me
more lately."
REPLY.
It Is never safe to nrglcct a goiter
which causes rapid pulse and chok
ing. You are liabln to put off treat
ment' too long and have somo one
tell you that nothing can be lone
for you.
Why Central City Complaint.
Central City. Nob., May 7. To the
Editor of The Bee: It seems even
to the casual observer that Central
City ha had more than her share
of cases of charity, and the city and
county offleials feel that this locality
is being made a sort of dumping
ground for those in need of charity.
They seem to think that they are be
ing taken advantage of, and that the
burden is becoming almost unbear
able. It is a fact that nearly every
transient case requiring assistance
from city or county has come almost
directly from a large city. The
county is now supporting patients in
the insane hospitals, dements and
widows as well as others who rightly
belong elsewhere and, it may be, ad
vantage Is being taken of our charitably-inclined
people. We learned
only a few days ago of a family who
came here some time ago, who would
not send their children to school be
cause they did not have clothes; the
good people furnished the clothing.
Since they have been accepting
charity form the Red Cross and
others. The facts are their family
owns a farm and they are receiving
a cash income besides of nearly $200
per month. While this latter case
does not come under the city or
county charity class, still it shows
that there are those who are unde
serving, who will accept charity,
When the sometimes needy wrho have
sient their lives in this county will
live in almost abject poverty rather
than ask for help.
Every case of transient quaran-
tineable disease in our city during
the last year has come from a large
city.
It seems to the city and county of
ficials that these cases either come
to us through intent or through the
carelessness of the health officials of
theteity from which they came. Just
a short time ago a case of smallpox
came to us direct from a large city.
According to the story of the victim,
he called a physician who told him
he had some form of blood dysera-
sia. When he came here his face,
hands and feet were covered with
fustules as big as the end of your
little finger. He had no money; the
county and city had to care for him.
A few days later a lady came out
from Omaha and the diagnosis of
smallpox could not be questioned
when she reached here.
Within the last week our city
physician was called upon to take
care of a confinement case: parties
were from a city, in fact had a home
there, but they were destitute and
tho county had to foot the bill.
These are only a few of the cases
that have come to us and are making
our board of supervisors wrathy. and
is only one of the many things that
is causing our taxes to mount higher
and higher. Taxpayers are register
ing a kick, and rightly so, but while
they are kicking they want to tavel
back in imagination a few years and
ask themselves whether they want to
go back to the old order of things,
with its inconveniences and less ex
pense, rather than the present order
with all its .conveniences, etc.,1 and
Increased expenses.
I believe that most of us would not
give up present conveniences, etc.,
even though the burden is hard to
carry, if we had a chance to retro
grade to old times with less taxation.
I do not believe the taxpayer ob
jects so much to the high rate of
taxation as he does to the manner in
which his money is spent. They ar
gue that there is no system in the
use of their money, and state that
if they would conduct their affairs as
does the state in the management of
its road fund, they would soon be
compelled to go into bankruptcy.
Our city officials have been severe
ly criticized and some of them turned
down at the spring election because
Two Peaks of Graft
(From the New York Times.)
The major significance of the sta
tistics as to building costs which
have been published by the Depart
ment of Labor is that, having leaped
suddenly upward during the winter
of 1919-20, they have, in the simi
lar period since then, declined al
most as suddenly and quite as far.
The present index figures range be
tween 165 and 315 per cent of the
figures at .the beginning of the war.
Incidentally it may be noted that the
maximum rise in wages waa small
as compared with the maximum rise
in building materials 180 as against
345. The firm of architects which
prepared a chart of figures for last
Sunday's Times was asked for an ex
planation of this difference. The
laconlo answer was: "Profiteering!"
In this profiteering, as we know
well, the Brindells of labor played
hand in glove with the Hettricks of
tho employers. We also know that
the labor leader individually profited
mightily in the adventure. What we
did not realize was that the rank and
file of laborers came out at the little
end of that ignominious horn of
plenty. Some deduction must of
course be made for the fact that in
the cost of materials are included
items for the labor of manufacture
and the labor of transportation; but
at most this can account for only a
mail part of the difference between
345 and 1SS. In point of fact, the
rise in wages of labor lagged con
siderably behind the rise in the cost
of living which, in turn, during the
bulge of 1919-21. rose a mere frac
tion of the rise In the cost of materi
als. It wa only last January that
the line of the cost of living curved
below th line of wages. I
Another factor, enters into the
reckoning. Leaders of the Brindell
type levied ceaseless tribute from
their union members and intermit
tently pulled them off their Jobs.
Furthermore, the mountainous rise
in the cost of materials eventually
paralyzed building, so that consider
able unemployment ensued. Inci
dentally the shortage of housing fell,
and still falls, most severely upon
the class of laborers. Members of
the unions that permitted themselves
to be led by crooks and grafters
w ere . pretty thoroughly "whip
sawed." This is no copy-book
preachment about honesty and poli
cy a lowly strain of morality at
best. Unquestionably the vast ma
jority of trade unionists would pre
fer honorable, dealing. Their fault
lies in blindness or Indifference as to
the character of their leaders. Trade
unionism can never fulfill Its high
destiny until it produces and gives
full scope to men who are as intelli
gent and far-sighted as they are ac
tive and able.
For the immediate future of bulld
inir the prognostications are nlxeii.
Borough President Curran, who
watch-! with paternal tenderness
over the Infantile "boom" 'in build-
j ing low-priced dwellings, reports
mat it has rut a new tootn. An in
crease of 450 per Cent is less Impres
sive, however, when one remembers
how nearly building was at a stand
still when the tax exemption ordi
nance went Into effect. Yet It is
much thnt the corner is turned.
Equally significant, but to the op
posite effect, is the fact that manu
facture of bricks and other materials
has been brought dangerously near
a standstill by the chaos into which
both wages and prices have fallen.
Commenting on their chart of the
labor bureau statistics, the firm of
Monk & Parsons predicts some fur
ther lowering of both wages and
i prices for materials, hut only "of a
very brief period. Thoy foresee in
tho near future a general stabliza
tlon in business at about the present
Ivel of prices and a greatly 'in
creased activity in building.
It was thought they were spending
too much on the streets of Central
City in helping to make it one of the
best towns of its size in the state, but
It cannot be eaid that they sent the
money outside the city to get help
a ooes tne nignway management
Every dollar that possibly could be
kept In Central City waa kept here
when work was done on our streets,
and many a poor man got work and
was able to make a living who other
wise would not have been able to
get anything to do. A party went
out west of town and asked for a
Job but was turned down by high
way boss; all their employes being
foreigners, that is, nonresidents of
Merrick county. County officials are
being censored because they are
spending so much money. They come
back at you and ask you what you
are going to do about it when you
are not able to help yourselves. They
state that the state engineer sits
down at Lincoln as a sort of auto
crat and that he has not the time or
doee not care whether he gives them
any advice or instructions or not. It
seeme that everything tronnected
with the state engineer's office and
the counties Is in a state of chaos;
that no instruction nor any contracts
are given, nor any notice sent as to
when the road is ready or when the
high-salaried state employe will
come. Recently several of these em
ployes came to Central City to gravel
a portion of Lincoln highway. They
brought their machinery and gravel,
and the only thing the board of su
pervisors know about it was what
they obtained from the boss of the
gang.
When they looked over the road
there were several holes in the road
bed made by automobiles, and it had
to be level; so the county put teams
to work to fill these holes, but the
foreman, instead of closing the road,
left It open, consequently the heavy
automobile traffic dug the dirt out
of the holes as fast as it could be
put In. Of course, the county Is able
to pay for It.
Our people pay a good many
thousands of dollars into the state
treasurer as automobile license to
help keep up the work, and do it
willingly and freely. But the state
is keeping that money in Lincoln to
help swell the bank deposits ot Lin
coln when it rightly belongs In Cen
tral City.
We don't object to paying the
money for this work but we do want
our money kept at home and used to
give employment to people or Mer
rick county and not those of Lincoln
or some other place.
This article is written not to xriti
eize anyone but to point out some of
the many defects in our state road
work. The county officials and state
officials should get together and work
together for the greatest efficiency.
If the taxes we pay were economical
ly used every road in Merrick county
could be macadamized inside of five
years, but if the state is going to em
ploy so many high-salaried officials
when cheaper ones just as efficient
could be had at home it is doubtful
If even Lincoln highway will be
graveled. Nothing but Sherman kill
gravel will stick in this soil and the
opinion of most people is that the
rTwiN
y Eight
CHOCOLATES
INNER-CIRCIX
CANDIES'
graveling being done now and a it
Is, is like throwing money to tne
birds. Therefore, it Is up to the
state engineer to get in touch and
keep In touch with every county be
fore and during the time work is be
ing done on state roads in that
county. ' X. .
That's No Joke, Klther.
Say, congreas, cut down every
body's Income tax about one-half and
you will be cheerfully allowed to do
almost anything else you like. St.
'xuia Globe-Democrat.
When the Heart lieaps.
Those who can take no special In
terest in the regular news may get
a big thrill out of reading over the
moves in the latest chess game.
Montreal Ri--.
Bowen's
haVaAai
DEI
isai
Grand Rapids
Refrigerators
will preserve your food
longer and materially re
duce your ice bills.
These are only two of
the many better features
of Grand Rapids Refrig
erators, and these two
will soon return to you in
saving the purchase price
of your Grand Rapids
Refrigerator.
They are so designed,
constructed and finished
they have become nation
ally known as ice savers
and food keepers.
Refrigerators$1 750
priced up from I
. We have a size for
every home, be it the
small apartment or the
large residence.
Select your Refriger
ators from the large
stock we are now show
ing. jfh'Bowen (6
QftAMAS VAUft CMIM JTOM
Howard St., bet. 15th and 16tb
"ri ii'ii' ii'Mranr rif i n n r ruin. -
Phone Douglaa 2793
Ml I Ll
OMAHAjtfA I &
til ( PRINTING ff g f
f J COMPANY J lf
?wasj",c11
CONNCKtAl PRIHTERS-LfTHOCfUrHtRS STULDlCCKSd$SX3
loosc icAr ocviecs
Charter Number 1683
BANK STATEMENT.
Reiarve District Number 10
REPORT OF THE CONDITION OF THE
OMAHA NATIONAL, RANIf
AT OMAHA,' IN THE STATE OP NEBRASKA, AT THE CLOSE OF BUSINESS ON
A0D1T 4 tA(i
. RESOURCES
Loans and discounts, including rdninnnta. . ' lllltnilu
Deduct: - .-"
Notet and bills redlaeounted with Federal Keierve Bank. .
Overdraf ti, unsecured ,
U. S. Government aecuritiee owned:
Deposited to secure circulation (U. S. bond, par value) .
All other United States Government Saeuritiet ,., .
Total :
Other bonds, stocks, securities, ate ,
Banking Hour ,
Cash in vault ,
Lawful reserve with Federal Reserve Bank
Items with Federal Reserve Bank in process of col-
lection (not available as rraervet
Net amounts due from national hunki
Net amounts due from banks, bankers, and trust com
panies in ine united Slates
Exchangee for clearing house.....
Checks on other banks in the same city or town as
reporting bank
Cheeks on banks located outside of eity or town of
reporting bank and other rash items
Redemption fund with U. S. Treasurer and du from U.
S. Treasurer ,
Interest earned, but not collected
8,749,002. 2 114,(71.112 24
4,al.t
1,000,000.09
968,800.00
432,HT.IU
1,824.868.06
1.002.684.94
l,234,24o.8
2,220.402.66
206,450.(0
88,088.14
162,081.16
868.800.90
863,048.81
800,000.00
50,000.00 6,868, 206. OS"
28.04t.88
Total
Capital stock paid in
Surplus fund
Undivided profits
Reserved for taxes accrued
LIABILITIES
600,688.87
26.247.08
626.830.46
106,681.86-
2,550,062.48
4,669.212.14
81.241.69
168.637.36
25,441,168.3$
I 1.000.000.00
1,000,000.00
820.M8 M
98,760.00
Total
Less current expenses, interest and taxes paid
Circulating notes outstanding
Net amounts due to national hanks
Net amounts due to State banks, bankers, and trust
companies in the United States and foreign countries.
Certified checks outstanding
Cashier's checks on own bank outstanding
Demand deposits (other than bank deposits) subject to
Reserve (deposits payable within 30 days):
Individual deposits subject to check
Certificates of deposit due in less than 80 days (other
than for money borrowed)
Dividends unpaid .'
Time deposits subject to Reserve (payable after 3D
' days or more notice):
Certificates of deposit (other than for money borrowed) .
Other time deposits ,
United States deposits (other than postal savings in.
eluding War Loan deposit account and deposits ef
United States Disbursing officers
U. S. Government Securities borrowed
Bills payable, other than with Federal Reserve Bank (In
cluding all obligations representing money borrowed
other than rediscounts)
Rills payable with Federal Reserve Bank
Letters of Credit and Travelers' Checks sold for
cash and outstanding ,
Total ..;
State of Nebraska. Count v of Doufi-1as-ss :
I. O. T. Alvison, esshter of the above named bank, do solemnly swear that the
above statement is true to the best of my knowledc and belief.
O. T. ALVISON. Cashier.
Correct Attest:
Rf RT A. WtLCOX.
RANDALL K. BROWN.'
i. w. IAKFEJNTEK,
9.670.051.10
166,706.18
300.00
7S6.244.67
986,(43 65
31,136.88
1,010,0!4.8J
818,400.00
1,800.000.00
796,646.00
MOO.tO
25.441.168.3S
Subscribed and sworn to before me this 7h day of May. 1921.
(SEAL) H. U. HAWKINS. Notarr rublie,
Directors,
t)
