Omaha Daily Bee Newspaper, December 2, 1889, Page 3

CONDITION OF THE NAVY. The Aunual Report of Secrotary Tracy to Oongress. SHOWS A VIGOROUS GROWTH, he Ship Building Inlustry Shows a Very Gratifying tmprovement as ftesult of the Government's Liveral Poliey, ahe Naval Departn WasmixNToN, Dec. 1,—Seer his aunual report on the c navy, The effective force of the United States navy, when all the ships now authorizea are completed, excluding those which by the process of decay and the operation of law will by that date have been condemned, will comprise eleven armored vessels, of which only threo are designed for fighting at sea, and thirty-one unarmored vessels, making total of (orty-two. “The following statement shows the num- ber of war vesscls on the ive list of the princival foreign powers, built, building, ov projected, ut the present time, und exclusive of sailing and practice sips: | ! Armored M| = b 209 £ b i Germany ... ...l 0 W , Holiand J ] poain... L ] taly. ... I urkey W China . 6 Bweden Norway “ Austria “" ary Tracy, in ndition of the says Country. morea, o The table shows that even when the pres- ent buildi prozramme is combleted the United States canuot take rank asa naval power. ‘L'he purpose for which the United States maintaing a navy is not for conquest but de- fense. For reasons of oconomy and public policy, tho force should be us small as s con- sistent with this ovject. But it appears from the above comparison, that with all the additions wuthorized by the legislation of the Inst seven years, tho country, as far as its eapacity for defense 18 concerned, vill be ab- solutely avthe meroy of states having less than one-tenth of its population, one-thirtioth of its wealth and one-hunaredth of its area. While the clemeunt of defensive strencth is thus clearly deficient, the vulnerable nts open to an enemy’s attack, and the interests liable at sl times o injury, are numerous ana im- portant. A coast line of 13,000 miles upon which are situated more thau twenty great centers of population, weulth and commer- cinl activity, wholly unprotected ugainst wodern weapons, affords un inviting object of attuck, with & wido range of choice us to the points to be sclected. Any one of the powers named could, without serious difti- culty, even after the completionof our fleet a8 now authorized, secure in a single raid upon our coast, an amount of money . suffic- ient to meet the expenses of a naval war; an umount, one-half of which, if judiciously ex- yended over a series of years, would be suf- ficient to afford this country a guaranty of perpetual peace. ‘Ihe defense of the United States abso- lutely requires a fichting force. So far the increase hus been mainly in the direction of unarmored cruisers, ‘hese vessels, while useful in deterring commercial states from aggression and as an_auxiliory to secure celerity aud efficiency in Jarger operations, do not constitute a fighting force, oven whe: ftis intended exclusively for defens~. To mect the attack of 1wonclads, ironclads are indispensable. 1o carry on ven a defensive war with any hope 0f success we must huvo nrmored buttle snips. The capture or de- struction of iwo or thres dozen or two or three score of merchant vessels is not going to prevent a fleet of ironclads from shelling QU citics or exucting as the price of exemp- tion a contribution that would pay for their lost merchantmen ten times over, We must do more than this. We must have the force to rawse Dblockades, which are almost us disastrous to commercial cities as bomburdment. We must have a fleet of battle-ships that will beat off the encmy’s ticet on 118 approach, for 1t is not 1o be tofer. ated that the United States with its popula- tion, its revenue, and its trade, is to submit Yo attack upon the threshold of its harbors, Finally, we must be able to diyert an enemy’s forco from our coast by threatening his own, for a war though defensive in prin- ciple, may be conducted most effectively by being offensive in its operations, 11 the country is to have @ navy atall, 1t should have one that is sufficient for the completo and ample protection of its eoast in time of war. 1f we are to stop short of this, We might better slop whore we are, and abandon all claim to influence and control upon the sea. It is idle to spead our money in buildiog small, slow-going steamers, that Are unnecessary in veace and useless in war, It is little better than a repetition of the mis- taken policy that prevailed in our early his- tory, of building gunboats that were iaid up upor sold as s00n as war broke out. Tho country needs a navy thut will exempt it from war, but the only navy that will ac- complish this is a nuvy that can wage war. The policy of military uggrandizement is totally repugnant to American institutions, and is not likely ever to be entered upon. The present question has nothing to do with such u policy. It is & practical business question of insuring our property and our trade, in which the commergial cities of the coust, the ports on our lake Yrontier, and tho centers of productiou in the interior are alike interested. “I'he cost of building a navy casts no per- ceptible burden upon a country of our vast xresources, It is the premium paid by the United States for the insurance of its ac- quired wealth and its growing industries, Compared with the interests that are se- cured, the rate is low. It is a cheap price to pay for safety. We collect i duties in six nonths ut a single w)rn A greater susm than we could spend in buildiog a new navy in six yeurs, 1t is sometimes asserted that there nded be 10 haste about building ships, upon tho sup- position that our reserve stroength is sufliciont 10 improvise a forco in tine of war, ‘This is a fatal mistake, Naval wars in the futuro Will be snort and sharp, Under the most favorable circumstances, with the largest exporience and the best mechanical appli- ances, the construction of war ships takes a long time, In the United States much has been learned in whe last years and facilities tpwe been greatly enlarged, but much still rqmains to be done, and a longer time is re- ?ulrud here than in the shipyards of Burope, I congress were ready today to authorize tho construction of ail the ships that we need it would be a mochanical impossivility for the country, with its present applianc 2o furnish them within fifteen years; whily tho first six months of hostilitiés would not only see our exposed cities forced to submit to heavy contributions, but every shipyard in the cauntry, public or private, destroyed, and thus the last hope extinguished of oreat ing a navy to meet the emergency of war, THE NEW CLUISERS, ‘The new cruisers are eight in number, tho Chicago, Boston, Atlanta and Dolphin, con- :{rll:cl;:dllur\hlkl‘w\'l. ““&ll uml Baltimore, “hurleston, Yorktown and Ltetrel, cont, Tor i 1556 and 1887, hestraled In looking back at the work of naval ro- construction, begun seven years ago, the country has reason to be congratulated on the success of the undertaking, The building Of the first four ships was an oxperiment in # flold bitherto untried 1w this country, but they have fully sustained the high reputation of Awerican mechaaics, In 1852, when the: cruisers were designed, the departwmont wa Wwholly without experience in the coustrn. tion of modern war vessels. Nothing of the kind had been undertaken since 1574, wud but little then. Boards aud burcaus were without precise information as to progress ‘l':m»d, and without the meaus of sequiring Nntwllhllwdll"‘x these dificulties, the re- Bulls accomplished by the earliest cruisers compared fuvorably with those obtained by foreign shup-builders, INCREASE OF THE NAVY, To stop now in the work of reconstruction 18 to abandon everyihing we have gaiued. ‘We bave proved that at a time when war- ship construetion had seemed almost & lost art in this country, Awerican wechauics g:m create it anew and place the United tes where it was sevenLy yoars ago,whon the vossels of its navy wore the best of tueir cluas aflost. Wo have fostered and devel- (oped & branch of wdustey in Awerica which may, If kept up, attract to itself no inconsid- eraolo share of the profits that now go to ship-builders abroad, We have secured for our navy a certain number of excellent and useful veeseis of the unprotected cruiser type, at a fair and reasonablo cost. Wohave thus Iaid a solid foundation. But we must not for a moment deceive ourselves by sup posing that we have an effective navy. We have two distinet and widely separated ocoan fronticrs to protect, and there is only one way in which they can be protected,namely, by ‘two separate fleats of armored battle ships, with coast-de Ips suitobly dis tributed to cover the most exposed locali- t The necessities of our vulnerable position therefore demand the immediate croution of two fleets of battle ships, of which should be assigned to the Paciflc and tweive to the Atlantic and Gulf. They must be the best oftheir class in four leading charactor- istics: armament, armor, structural strongth, and speed. Tho v essentinl to the battle ship as it 18 to th 1t may safely be assumed that, other things being equai, the battle ship of the highest spoed will as a rule be the victor in_action, forsha can chioose her position and keep the enemy at a disadvantage, Not only must the speod of our battle ships be high, but it must be uniformly high, for the speed of the fleet is regulated by that of the slowaest vessel In addition to the battle ships, the situn- ton of the country requires at least twenty vessels for coast and harbor defense. These vessels, although restricted in their range of effcctiveness, are necessary components of a naval forco which has a sei const to defend. Their emplopment as floating fortresses quires that they should have w powerful bat- tery aud the heaviest armor, combined with moderate draft. At the present time e vessels of this type are under construc five of which are reconstructed monitors, The one vroblem before the government, in the matter of naval policy, is to get these forty vessels built at the oarliest possible moment. The stops nocessary to their com- pletion, namely, legislution, design wna con- struction, cannot take less than five years in tho case of each one. Unless the existing yards,public and private are enlarged and re- stocked with plant, not more than eight could be built at one time, and the construc- tion of the others would liave to wait for the Inunching of the first. Using the utmosy utmost promptness, the ships most essential to efficiont protection could not be supplied in twelve or fifteen years, 1t is therefore recommended that the con- struction of eight armored vessels be author- ized ab the coming session. and that they be of the type of battle-ships rather thun const- defense ships ; the former being more genor- ally serviceable, and there being only three of ‘them now in process of construction as against eight of the latter. In reference to fast cruisers, all modern experience goes to show that they are essen- tial adjuncts of an armored fleet, and the proportion of three cruisers to one battle- ship is believed to bo sound and reasonable, This would make the future navy consist of twenty battle-ships. twenty coast-defense ships und sixty:cruisers, or 100 vesscis in all, which is beliecved to be a moderate estimate of the fleat. Of the sixty cruisers required, thirty-one are now built or authorized. Ior an_increase in the number of cruisers, con- sidered simply as auxiliaries to the fighting forco of battle ships, we may wisely walt until the latter are in process of construc- tion. It must be remembered, however, thav cruisers have another and equally important function in the attack and detenso of com- worce. Any stanch vessel with a good conl capacity and the highest rate of sveed, armed with a fow rapid firig guns, though built and used principally for commercial purposes, may by certain adaptations in her construction bo made readily available for this form of warfare. The fast trousatlantic liners, nationalized in foreign countries, but supported and maintained by American trado and American passengers—many of them, even, owned by American citizens— avaapowerful factor in the ueyal force of the governments whose flag they boar and at whose disposal they must place themselves in time of war. Itis a matter for serious consideration whetlier steps may not be taken toward the creation of such a fleet of specially adapted steamers of American nationality, owned by American merchants, carrying thié American flag, and capable, under well-defined coudi- tions, of temporary incorporation in the American navy. The advantages of sucn an arrangement, which enlarges the mer- chant marive and makes it at the same time sclf-protecting, are overwnelm- ingly great. The difliculty is that American capital will not be drawn into the enterprise unless it can be sure of specitic compepsation for the concessions which it maked to the government, first, in the adaptation of its vessels to_the latlor's ncods, and secondly, in the surrendor of a privilege to use thom when the exigency arises. In the abserice of such an arrangement the naval policy of the United States cannot neglect to take account of the fleets of fast cruisers which foreign states maintain under the guise of passeneer and merchant steam- ers. They constitute an auxiliary navy, and must be reckoned as a part of the naval force of the governuients maintaining them, Our deficiency should be supplied either by a line of fast merchantmen, constructed with special reference to use in time of war, which will enablo the zoyernment to avail itself of their services at critical moments, or we should build a fleet of at least five first-class cruisers of the very highest rate of speed, certainly not less than twenty-two knots. ‘The displucement of theso vessels should not be less than 4,000 tons, Even such a fleet will not supply the want of swift merchant steamers for coaling and transport service. Colliers and transports must alike be fast, for thay can not fight; and the collier can’ take no chances of cap- ture, for she carries the life of the fleet. ENLISTED MEN, Of equal importance with the construction of suitable vessels is the creation of an effl- cient personuel, A ship is worth what her captain and crew are worth, She is of no use unless her oficers aud men have the qualitics 1o fight her. To wsure the thor- ough efficiency of the corps of enlisted men i the navy, three things are necessary: first, that it should be composed of American citizens or of those who bave declared their iatention to become citizens; secondly, that thoy should have adequate training for their work: and, thirdly, that the system of enlist- ment and discharge should be 8o regulated as to secure the retention of good men 1 the service. * At the present times the crewsof our naval vessals are in large part composed of foreigners, or men whose nationality is un- cortain, and who are ready to scrve any gov- ernment that will pay them. It can not be exvected that crews so composed will be a sufe rellunce for tue country if their ser- vices should be needed in war. Such men are beld by nothing but their contract of enlistment. and subject at the first tempta- tion to desert the tlig of a country in which they have never resided, and to Which they are bound by no tics of birth or allegiance, To them the flag represents nothing, The American who deserts must expatriate him- self, but the foreigner who desert: American service goes to his home. For a mau 80 placed desertion Las no peualties, To meet the want of trained Awmerican sea- men, the naval appreatice systein was vstab- lished. The department, at <« 1a. labor and considerable expcnse, has stead:ly improved this system, until at the presont tiwe tie it turns out apprentices of excellout quulity. From all this, however, Uie w.vy derives littie benefit, All terms of ¢ . Lisument of ap- Prentices now expire uv bwenl,’ - o yoars of age. When they reach tili oiut the majority of them leave the servis forever, They have received an educalion &t great ex- pense to the goveruaeni, and yet have been oo short a time in the service 1o have tormed w0 enducing attach- ment toit. They carry off wiu their dis- charge the benelits of the governwuut's out- lay, avd apply them to the pursuit of other careers. ‘I'he government educates them as boys to lose their service as meu, and the re- sult is that while we have provided an elab- orate system of training, we are forced to depend for seauien on an untrained service largely composed of foreigners, ‘The pluin remedy lies in a statutory exten- on of the term of enlistment to twenty- four years of age. During the additionat three years, the formation of associstions @od mature judemeat will lessen the inclin- ation lor change, and the government will el the servicos of those whou it bus trained, or at least oue full cruise. In the English navy, the adoption of a rule retaining those who enlist as boys until the age of twenty eight or thirty has completely changed the clharactor of the ealisted foroe. 1t is further recommended that the num- of upparentices be increased from 750, as now allowed by law, to 1,500, makivg the total enlisted force ¥,000. Ihe lengtheuing of the terw of enlist- ment, although an important measure, will not secure & character of permanence in the corps of eulisted meun, In order to obtaia a body of trained American seamen upon which the navy and the country can rely, it 18 absolutely necessary that the whole & tem of tomporary enlistment should be re- placed by a continuous service system, the four yoars' term being retained only to meet necessary emergencics. This system shonld be based upon the principlevf retainng the a of the enlisted man for life, . We hall never get the crews that wo need until we make the navy a carcer for the seamen as well as for the officers. To avcom- plish this ~ the continnous service man should be permanently enlsted and bo entitled to retiromont on half pay after thirty s of service. No alien should be accepted for continuous service, and no man nbove the agoof thirty- five unless he has had provious naval ox- perience, At the ond of the first four yoars of service ho should have an option of taking his discharge or remaining., but failing to take it at that time his connection with the service sould thenceforth be permanent, unless the department_should, in its discre: tion, grant his application for 'discharge, or unleds he should be removed by sentouce of # court-martial, NAVAL RESERVE, The question of a naval reserve demands the early attention of congress. Tho reserve should bo composea of ships, officers and seamen. The numerical strength of our army 18 not measured by the stauding force, but by the trained militia behind_it. The samo should be truo of the navy. Theneces sity is even greater in this branch of the ser- vice, because a naval militia_must have a special training to rendor it cficient in case of emergenay, and it must bo drawn from o limited portion of the popuiation “Lho subject has already received consider- able attention, both in congress and in the stato legislaturos, Congress has ns vet failed to pase any law on the subject, but the legislatures of sevoral states, taking the in- iative, have made arrangements for the creation of o naval militia. In 80 faras theso measures require tho co-operation of the United States government, I am heartily in favor of giving it. Where stationary ves sols aro dos.red for purposes of gunne training, I recommend that the department bo authorized to furnish such vessels as are now laid up, unfit for sea scrvice, to states making provision for a naval militia, upon their request. Authority should also be given for the issue of arms, and such log- islation should bo adopted by congress as is necessary to give the new system vigor and eficiency. NAVY YARDS. On the broad question, which arose in the case of the two 000 ton cruisers of the com- parative advantages of the two systems of naval construction, the first in tho govern- ment yards and the second by contract with private firms, the department is firmlyof the opinion thattne latter is the best method. The importance of encouraging private enterprises in this direction and of creating and developing ono of the most valuable ana useful industries to which American labor and capital can be devoted i 100t to turn the scale, provided that ults obtained are equally good. The success of the experiments wade thus far in constructing modern ships by coniract proves conclusively that our private works and workmen have the skill and talent to give the navy, as good ships as the wosld af- fords. The recent growth and exten ship building industry is a dence of the benefits that have come from this encouragement by the government, The builders have met tho demauds of the dopart- ment 1 a large and enterprising spirit. Ad- ditional capital hus been invested, workmen have been trained, and materials have been improved to answer the requirements of the official inspectors, new processes have be- come familiur, aud one difliculty after an- otber has been overcome. 1t may reason- ably be expected that as ship building in America is gradually improved and _cheap- ened, additional privace business will be at- tracted to theso growing estavlishments, until in time the world’s mavket for ships will be divided between this country and Europe. All these advantages are lost by a policy that confines the construction of vessels ex- clusively to the nuvy yards, Still, it is ad- visable that the navy sboutd build some of its ships. ‘The number of private concerns 1 50 small that circumstances might readily arise which would placo the department st the mercy of combinations, To provent this it must itself enter the field and become at least a possible competitor with other bid- ders. Apart from this danger, and suppos- ing that there were room enongh at private yards, which there 1s not atthe present time, for them 1o undertake all the large vessels that we need, the government should have at its command the skill and the plant for building its vessels occasionally, and for re- pairing them at all times. Ior this purpose its own officers must have praciice in carry- ing out their designs through all the stages 10 the finished product, It is therefore believed 'that, while the great majority of our new vessels should be construction by private builders, the gov- ernment yavds stiould also be utilized to a L extent. The report of Rear-Admiral Kimberly, commanding the Pacific station, shows that nothing that skill or experience could sug- gest was left undone to avert the catastro- phe, but the vessels with old fashioned en- gincs and defective steam - power, were wholly unable to withstand tho fury of the hurricane. ‘The loss of the Trenton and Vandalia, two of the best of the old wooden fleet, is a serious blow to the navy n its present condition. The escape of the British ship Calliope, by steaming out to sea in safety during the hurricane, illustrates the value of high power engines it war, vessels, ‘The gallantry and fortitude displayed by Rear-Admiral “Kimberly, his officers and men, at tho time of the disaster, were such 83 to call forth the warmest commendations of the department. The heavy expense involved in tho trans- portation home of the wrecked crews, amonnting to about $50,000, should be made the subjectof a special appropriation, instead of being chargoa as a deficiency against the miscellaneous and contingent funds, ESTIMATES AND APPROPRIATIONS, As was predicted by the secretary in the aanual report for 1885, the policy adopted at that time of discontinuing repairs on the old wooden vessels, and removing them grad- ually from the list, has brought about a mg terial reduction in the ordinary expenses of the bureaus of construction and repair, steam engincering and equipment. The ex- tent of this reduction is reported by my pre- decessor, In furtherance of the policy of retrenchment thus initiated, it hLas been found possible to reduce the cstimates for the support of tho naval establishment $1,1608,023.95 below those presented by thede- partment last year, The practice of appropriating an amount 100 small to keep up the work of the depart- ment, and then working off in advauce the appropriations of the next year by a pro- vision in the annual bill that vhey *'shall be immediately available” to cover deficiencies in the current year, will place the depart- ment under the disagreeable uecessity of asking for a new deficiency appropriation be- fore the year is ended. 1t is now eight years since the navy entered upon its present course of development, The sixteen years thut proceded this period wers warked by the reaction and relaxation that naturally follow o costly and hard fonght war. ‘I'ne turning pomnt was reached with the beginning of the year 1552, and it 18 now possible to estimate at their true value the successive steps by which this eight years' development has been accomplished, The first was the rigoroas limitation of repairs on the old wooden ships to a small fracticn of their cost, and the removal from the list of those that could not be made serviceable within the limit. ~Without this bold and ju- dicious measure the new navy would not yet bave been commenced. The construction of eficient cruisers followed at ouce. ‘The clos- ing of uenecessary yards and the concentra- tion of work at those remaining in operation was acother act of retrenchment which opened the way for a more profitable outlay. Out of 1t has grown the Washington naval eun factory, a working establishmeat second 1o its way to no other o the world. Notwithstanding tho progress of the last eight years. it must not be forgotten that the fieet has still only anominal existence. Dur- tug the past year four ships have beeu added to the list, and seven have been or will shortly be removed, At no previous time in the present ceutury hias the country been re- latively 80 powerless at sea. The wooden ships are & makeshift, and will soon cease to be even that, ‘The old monitors are worse than uscless. The force aotually available @t the present time comprises eight wodern vessols, of no great fightiug power because of their weakn for dofense. The wmain foroe has yet to be authorized. Until the United States bas & flees of twenty battle- ships with coast-defenders, cruisers and tor- pedo-boats in suitable provortious for efticient defense, and an establishment in such work- lug order, asto administrative muchinery, on of the eratifying evi- THE OMAHA DAILY BI officers, men, rpse can bo broyght without delay effective actiom, ' the country consider that it pdkaceses a nav, it can never afferd o bio without. The true priueinle for us to follow is that laid down by Peoskdent dotin Adams in his mossage of 1800, whon ho sad: “Seasonable and systematic aFrangements, 8o far as our resources will Justify, for a navy adapted to defonsive war, ¥ hiich may in case of noces. sity be quickly broaght into use, seem to be o8 much recommendod by n wise and truo economy as by a just regard for our future tranquility, for thq safety of our shores, and for the protection of our property committed 0 the ocean.” C B. F. Tracy, 1 Secretary of the Navy. RN sl The perfume of violets, the purity of the lily, the glow of the rose, and the flush of Hube combin in Pozzoni's wonderful Fow- der, ves and vessels, that it into cannot and anavy - IS8 ASSEMBLYS, At Noon Today the Fifty-First gins Buosiness. WASHINGTON, Dee. 1.—The Fifty-first con- aress assemblos at noon tomorrow. Owing to the entire day being occupied in the or- anization of the new house of representa- tives, the president,s message will mot be sent to congress until Tuesday. The annual report of the secretary of the treasury will be transmitted Weduesday noon, The com- ings congress will have brought to its atten- tion a number of matters upon which tho public has bocome woll informed by reason of previous discussion. Among them ure the Blair educational bill, bills to forfeit land erants, goneral and special to declare trusts unlawful, the dependent bension bill, bills to repeal tha civil service and the oledmarga- rine tax Inws and various measures relating to the tarif], internal and the general finan- cinl system. There will also be presented to tho senate the results of the investigations made during tho recess by the several com- mittees upon tho dressed boef business, tho subjoct of irrigating arid lands, tho relation of Canadian railroads to the interstite com- merco law and tho commercinl relutions ex- isting between the Unitod States and C ada, including the Alaskan seal fisheri “Che silver question will speedily come up in some shape, The tripartite treaty with Great Britain and Germany respecting the coutrol and di- rection of affairs in Samoa is the princip: topic to ba discussed under the head of for- cign affairs; the proposed scheme to promote a commercial union with Canada with o view 10 its ultimate annexation and the settle- ment of the Mexican and Alaskan borders by the appointment of commissions or by treaty. The house of representatives will present a decided change iu political complexion as comparod with its prodecessors, Besidos the addition of five representatives from the new states to tho roll extensive changes have resulted from the last clection, so that out of a total of 330 members only 190 occu- vied seats in the lnst congress and the demo- cratic majority of twelve in the Iiftieth congress has been replaced by a repuplican majority of eight, as shown by tke unoMicial list prepered by the clerk. In view of the proposed modifications of the rules it is probable that the old rules of the last house will ve aceepted for a week or ten days, thus giving the committee on rules an opportunity to form a new code, It is not likely, however, that the new code will be radically differédit from the old code so far as restricting the power of the minority is con- carned. Some mod ifications will uadoubtedly be attempted in order to provent a_small mi nority (for instauee one-fifth of the mem- bers present who may now compel the roll to be called ad libitum " upon fiiibustering mo- tions) from contfolling a very lurge majority. Following numerous precodents the house will probably permit the introduction of bills for printingand their roferonce to tho approvriate committecs when aprointed, and of these bills and resolutions,. new and old, there are vast nymbers now ready for intro® duction. CONGR Bo- The Denver Stato lottery company wants agents. “Tickets 50 cents. Ad- dress A. C. Ross & Co., Denver, Colo. sl ol Swtsly The Bourbon' Blight, Des MoiNes, Ta., Dée. 1.—{Spocial to Tug —Some interesting comparisons have recently been made that neither with nor without special significanca are Interesting to say the least. ‘Twenty-six countics wero salected from all parts of the state, half democratic and haif republican. It wa found that in the thirteen aemocratic coun- ties the lands are nssessed at an average val- uation per acre of $7.00. In the thirteen ro- publican countics tho ussessed value per acro is £0.41, & difference of $2.33 in favor o1 the republican counties. As the counties com- pared adjoin cach other in muny instan the actual coudition of the land onght not to muke that difference in valuation. The la may be bettor cultivated and have better im- provements in the republican thau in tho democratic counties, and these fizures sug- gest that they are. The assessed valuation of cattle in the thirteen democratic counties 18 $6.78 per head. In the thirteen re- puvlican “counties 1t is $3.01 per head. In the thirteen democratic couuties horses have an assessed valvation of $28.34 per head and in the republican counties they are assessed at $25.70 per head. But the_ differ doesn't stop with the stock. In the thirteen democratic counties thero are 102,415 persons of school age, and in the thirteen republican counties there are 88,070. The total school tuxes levied last yeur in the thirteen democratic counties was $515,786, or $3 per capita of school popula- tion. Butin the thirteen republican coun- tios th total amount of taxes for school pur- poses was $325,842, or §0.35 per capita. So ihe comparison wmight be extended almost indefinitely, aud 1t shows thut there is very much the same difference between the re- publican and democratic countics of Jown that there 1s between the republican state of Towa and & democratic state like Missours, about the same size. St Sleepless, nervous prostration, nervous dysyepsia, dullness, blues,cured by Dr, Miles' Nervine, Samales free at Kuln & Co,'s, 15th and Douglas. ————— They Thrashed the Editor. CrATTAN0O®A, Tenn,, Nov. 30.—The little viliage of Ringgold, Ga., a few miles from here, had as its ouly observance of Th 8- giving day an indignation meeting, called to protest against an articlg in the local paper saying that ‘*‘for aissension, tattlivg, med. dling, loitering, whittling and dissipation the town had no equal.” This wastaken asa reflection on the citizens. A large crowd of men and women were present at tho meet. ing. Flint Murdock, the editor, avowed the authorshiv of the article. R. A. Whiteside struck him and § general free fight ensued, in whicn both ln&r\Yura severely handled, Asthe sense or the'theoting it “proclaimed the authorand composer of tha lying tirade a villain of mastodonic parys and o falsitier of wonderful willingness, only lacking the sense und tact 1o bfeome u liar of note and distiuction,” - el am sorry to disap- point you about te pienic, but my trotter bas a lame foot.” That's nothing! We've got. plenty of Salvation Oil, ‘The Detroit Koeo Press fiond has been punniog on Dr. Bull's Cough Syrup. His is only gratltuae, for,all thinkiog men know its merits. -—leb(mnkm stofice Clerk's Convention, KANsAS Criy, Mo, Dec, 1.—The postofiice clerks of this city issued an address to the fellow clerks thé¥#¥out the country asking their co-operation in arranging for the hold- ing of a national convention to demand of coogress ‘‘more respectful consideration for clerks’ complaints, an annual vacation, the Bt;lt:l enforcement of the civil service rules, eto." v, Ho sald: “)l;—'lfl — All the rage, Red Cross Cough Droj five cents per l‘mx. 6ol uvnrnghere. ) Killed and Incinerated His Son, Liya, O, Dee, 1.—John Tugar, a tramp, yesterday killed his $ou Jake because he aid not get something to 6at when he sent him out for'it. ke thon placed the body in & fire which he built of branches, where it was consumed. Soon after, being overcome Wwith remorse, he attempted to kill himself by shooting, but will recover, ——— Rheumatism is caused by lactic acid in the blood, which Hood’s Sarsaparilla neutralizes, and thus cures rheumutism, THE LOCAL WORLD OF SPORT How a Crowd of the Dead Game Put ia Sunday. A RATHER SAVAGE DOG FIGHT. Organization of a Hand Ball —Great Interest Centered Wright's Polo Game—1The Athenenm's Programmo, Club in A Savage Dog Just outside the county tauce from South Omahn, game sports,” including a b delegation from Omata, witnessed a grost dog fight yosterday ufternoon botween Bd Rothery's “Bob,” and “Daisy,” belonging to South Omaha partics, The fight was for $50 a side. Bob is a brindle weighing thirty-thres pounds, and Daisy pure white weighing thirty-seven. Prof. Ba Miller was chosen roferee, and timo was called at 4 o'clock, boti doga coming togothor with a rush. The first scrateh lasted nine minutes and the brindle was badly winded, but the white re- coived the groatest punishment. One minute was ullowed for rest, whon ume was called and Daisy flew into Bob's corner like a whirl wind and the fighting for several moments was terrific, Bob having rather the pest of it After tho iapse of soven minutes the dogs were separated, and whilo the white dog was much stronger and the bettor wrestler, the brindle was the better fighter, and had in- flicted much the most punishment. When time was catled for the third scrateh both purps stood perfectly still for a mo- ment. when Bob weat over to Dafsy and re- sumed hostilities, He secured an ugly nose nold and brought Daisy to a_standstill. Fiually, however, the white broke the hold, and bad considerably the best of the combat from there on to tho close of the scratch, which Iastoa just 0'¢ minutes. In the fourth pitting the dogs ndulged in some desperate fighting. Daisy was much the frestier and chewed Bob up in great shave. At the expiration of three minutes they were again separated. On the call of time for the fifth rub Bob refused t scrateh, the fight was awarded to Daisy, “and the crowd quietly dispersed under’ the delusion that they liad had an bour's great sport. ‘The fight was a hard one, and really the best seen in this vielity in a long time. 1ght. line, a short dis- about 100 ‘“‘dead Atthe Antheneum Tonight. A good programme has been arranged for the Atbeneum club this cvemmng. P. J. Kirby and Harry Gilroy will appear o the mattress in o catch-as-catch-can contest; Frank Murray and Billy Crockett will set to with the glovos, and the club members will participate 1n other athietic performances. mation of a Hand Ball Club, A hand ball club was organized last even- ing at Hart & Kilgallon’s place, corner of Twelfth and Chicago strects. The follow- ing oficers were elected: J. J, Byrne, presi- dent; P. J. Kirby, secretary N. Nagle, treasurer, and Michael K ager. Plie next meeting will be held on Saturduy cveniug next. Polo Game Tois bve . The second polo championship game takes placo this evening at the Coliseam between the Council Riuffs and the S. P. Morse tenms, The game is being most favorably received by the lovers of exciting sport and a rire crowd is certain to be in attendance this evening. Jokinz With the Sluzger. Nov. 80.—|Special Tele- |—Jokers who have a dol- laror soto waste in giving tolls to J Gould's telegraph monopoly are having lots of fun with John L. Sullivan. The dispate from the east received by the press, to the effect that the big slugger h een offered $35,000 by Pascheco of the Cali- fornia Athletic clnb or the Pascheco Athletic elub of California, are the result of some San I'rancisco Joe Mulhatton, There’s no mem- ber named Pascheco in the California Ath- letic club and no ataletic club in the little town of Pascheco. ‘I'he same is true of that allezed offer of San Jose. It was never authorized by the organization in the Garden Cit, 13y the way, Johu Sax Fraxcrsco, gram to Tue B better accept thay 810,000 offer from 'i°risco’s crack organiza- tion. ‘There’s bezinning to be s feoling umong the members that’ the purso is too high, and the dircetors won't offer o large pur'se without letting the members vote on the proposition, Mrs. Winslow’s Soothing Syrup is the best of all remedies for children teeth- ing. 25 cents abottle. Lo Another Britisn Enterprise, Cricaao, Dec. 1.—Georgo Broughan, ons of Chicugo's prominent meat packers, stated tonight that he had disposed of all his po- cuniary interests m Chicago and would sail from New York soon for Buenos Ayres for the purpose of establishing u monster meat packing and beef extract concern 10 com- pete with Licbez's enormous works in the Argentino Republic. Broughan will act as manager of the busmess for an English syndicate of capitalists. He has arranged for a large forco of skilled American em- ployes. eyt A Kanszas County Seat War, Torexs, Kan., Dee. 1.—A new county seat war is on in Wallace county. Sharon Springs has been the temporary county seat for five years, but Wallace received the ma- jority of votes at the recent election, When the attempt made tu move the records from Sharon Springs it was found thal the court house was guarded by armed men, who would not allow the removal. The case has been taken before the supreme court, and pending the decision the guard at Sharon Springs is maintained. e Dissipation’s Sad Ending. WASHINGTON, Dec, 1,—Frank MacArthur, a yolog luwyer of New York City, a son of Judge MacArthur of this eity, committed suicide this evening by jumping from the limitea express on, the Pennsylvania road between Baltimore'sud Washington, Judge MacArthur was traveling with him. He has been somewhat dissipated latoly, and bis father was bringing bim to his homo in Washingtou, in hopes of reforming him, e s The Iowa Does Some Bumping. Livesroor, Dee. 1.—The steamer lowa, bound hence for Boston with freight and passengers, collided in the Mersey last night with.the steamer Ligurian, from Alex- auidria, and also with the Spanish steamer Munin. The Ligurian was abandoned, but her cargo of cotton kept her afloat and she waus subsequently beached, The lowa and Munin were docked, B Broke forough the lee, Avgusta, Me,, Dec. 1.—Frances and Mar- earet, aged twelve and eleven, children of Major Michaelis of the United States arsealn while playing playing on the ice in the ar- senal grounds today broke through, The girl was arowned, but the boy was saved. Major Michaelis was nearly drowned while trying to save his children and is still in & dangerous condition. — Harrison W Hear Patti. ‘WasuINGTON, Doc. 1.—~The president and Mrs, Harrison will leave Washington Friday or Saturday to attend the opeming of the Chicago auditorium Monday, It is under- stook the vice president and Mrs Morton and some members of the cabinet will ac- company them, B — Jeff Davis Very Weak, New Onveaxs, Deo. 1.—Jefterson Davis is wvery weak and cannot take nourishment, but his physicians think bhim somewhat better thau last night. Beware of frauds. Red Cross Cough Drops will cure yaur cold, STATE NEWS, The B. & M. Engine House at Faire mont Burns. Furrmorsr, Neb., Deo. 1.—[Spocial Tele- £ram to Tik Brr.]—The engine houso of the Fairmount & Chester branch of the B, & M at this place cavgnt fire this evening botweon 7andSo'clock and burned to the ground, Engine No. 25 was in the house at the time, but nothing except the wood work wns de=~ stroyed. The origin of tho fire is unknown, but it undoubtedly caught from the engine, as thero was a fire in it at the time. Plattsmouth Items. Pratrsvovrin, Nob., Dec. 1L.—[Special to Tnx Bee. | —Iu compliance with an ordinance passed by tho eity council at a recent meot- ing, whereby all houses shall be numbered, Messrs, Simpson & Fulton have undertaken the work, aud at presont aro about one-third done. The same gontlemen aro taking tho census for a new city directory, which will be published about January 3, 130 Work on the mew Presbyterian church building 18 being pushod rapidly, and the contractors hope to have it enciosed by the last of December. The new Riley hotel is rapidly nearing completion under tho care of u large force of workmen, and promises o bo o magnificent structure when finished. Tho citizens ate anxiously awaiting Tndga Flield’s decision in the injunction case against the electric Light company, and w great jority are in hopes thatn permanent i junction will bo granted te prevent tho are lighta from being located in tho brush in the outskirts of the city Anothor Blaze, FATRMONT, Neb.,, Doc. L—[Spocial Telo gram o Tue Bee. | —Fairmort had another bluze this morning. A little before § o'clock o small wooden building in tho center of u ousiness block, owned by . G. Stiles and occupied by Mr. Persinger as a millinery store, was totally destroyed, together with its contents, The frame building of K. G. Stilea on ono side and the brick Reiser block on the other wero considerably dam. aged. The fire originated in a dofoctive flue. The loss is partly coverod by insur- ance. Prowpt and onorgetic work alono suved the entire town from destruction. Disturbad n Religious Prarrssovtn, Neb., Dec. L—[Special to Brr.]—In the May term of the district court, Gid Archer and Charles Wheeler were tried for disturbing a religious meeting ot a colored Baptist church in this ey, They were found guilty and fined a small” amount wiiich they wi ble to pay. They gave bonds for an appoal, but failine to perfect them theit boudsmen were held for the vosts and fines. Archer and Whaoler were again arrested Eriday night on complaint of their bondsmen and will be forced to sottle. ceting. A Bad Boy Prattsmovi, Neb., Dec. 1.—[Special to Tug Bee. | —Deputy Sheriff Miller departed for the state reform school at IKearney this morning with Joseph Carriean, a lad of tiwelve years, in charge. Tho boy was un- controliable and application was made by his parents for his admittance to the school, which was granted ——— Cholera Feared in St. ST. PErerssine, Dee. 1. the leading Russ 1 medical authonty, de- clares his belief that the influenza now vre s the forerunner of choler s, vs, preceded the lust five choler epidemics bere, Petershurg. Prof. Zedkaner, e REPUBLICAN © Briographical Sketches of the Nominated tor City Ofticers. Hon. George W. Lininger, the Republican candidate for nuyor, came to Nebras- ka in 1874, ‘For six ) he bad engaged in businessin Council Bluffs. He was born in Chambersburg, %rank county, Pa., in 1885, Up to 1868 he resiaed most of the time av Pery, 11L, where be mar- ried Caroline M. Newman, of Knoxvilleg Ill., in 1858, Mr, Lininger has been a ver, cessful business man. His firin has eighteen brauch houses in the state employing about one hundred men., He has been the architect of his own fortune, naving gained his wealth by hard, persistent 11 dirceted effort. Mr. Limogor was ime a member of the city coun cil and was clected to the state senatc, session of 1887, running 700 ahead of his ticket. Inthe senate he was one of those who stayed by Van Wyck trom tirst to last. He had charge of the” Omana city charter and persistent] voted against cutting out the provision for & park commission. He was in favor of the taxation of railrond property the same us all otker property, and also_against the curtail- ing of the city limits. He succeeded in get- ting the charter through the scnate with those provisions included but was compelled, finally, near the conclusion of the session, to yield these points, which at a later session had to beenucted. He was a very decided opponent of tha penitentiary contract and voted against it. Ile voted for railroad reg- ulation steadily wod in favor of reduced railway tolls, ‘In the scnate he made a very active und persistent fight against the sub- mission of brohibition und voted against it oun its final passage, After the bill had passed tho house the first time ho succoeded in defeating it in the senate, Mr. Lininger has alw been a republican, with liberal views on the live issues of the day. He will fight for the best interests of Omaha, He has managed a great and successful business on a straightforward, honorable and liberal policy, and if ‘elected will adopt the same policy in the admmistration of city affairs.” He belicves in treating everyvody fairly and alike, Mr. Lininger has made two ‘tours through Europe and Asia; he has traveled through Egypr and the Holy Land and is one of the most widely traveled men in Omaba, He is onc of the most prominent patrons of artin the west. His extensive art gallery is not only open to the rich, but to all classes of people. He has set apart Sunday as a day when the la- boring people may visit his gallery. 1t is his design to do for Omaha what W, W. Corco- ran did for Washington in tho way ot au art gallery. Ho has planned to spend over §100,000 more on his gallery 1n this city, extending the building around to an east front on Kighteenth stroot. Mo ' will also add many striking features to the collection and wheu the proper time comes bo will under proper conditions donate to this city the finest and rarest collection of art that has ever been seen west of the lakes. Ho proposes to make Omaha an art center and to encourage in every possible manner the art school recently started, Mr. Lininger is a member of the park commission and in that ofice ho NDIDATES. Men rs prior to that date | POWDER Absolutely Pure, This powder nover vavies. A marvel of putfty, strength and wholesomoness. More economis cal than tie ordinary kinds, und cannot be sold in competition with the muititude, of low test short welght alum or old onty in cans. ROYAT, 103 Wall 8t., N. V., nER COv lic improvements he 18 conservative gard to ineurring overlaps Joln Rush, candidate for county treasurer, has resided in Omaha for twenty-four years. Ho scrved as county superintendent of edu- cation for four yoars. Ho then became dep. uty county treranrer under William I, Heins and served with Lim for four years. Upon Heins nent, Mr. Rush was nominated and as his successor. e was clected two years later ana vacated tho of- fico with the present incumbent, Honry Bolln, as his successor. Ho then entered the real ostate business and also fillod a po- sition in - connection with one of our local loan and trust companies. Two years ago he was elected city treasurer, the' first ity oftice lie has filled, his first term now cowming 10 & close. Robert Armstrong, the nomince for comp- troller, is an Omatia boy. His father, Georgo Armstrong, was one of the first settlers. and sorved o term as mayor carly in the sixties, Robert is now agent at the Council Blufs transfor for tho quartermaster's department of the army. Lee Helsloy,the candidate for volice judge, has been in Omaba for ten years. ko came hera from Ohio, where he had been admitted to the . At different times he has been conneeted with Tue Bre, Republican and World. Iour years ago he was elected jus- tice of the peace, and after u stort poriod r turned to journalism, maintaining the posi- tion of court reporter on the World-Herald. CANDIDATES FOR COUNCILMEN. KErnest Stulit, of the First ward, has lived in Omaha for twenty voars. He 'was co nected us waggoner with the quartermaster department of the army until six years ago, when he beeame n contractor, devoting him- elf mainly to grading. In this line he bas done a great deal of the work which has given Omaha lovel streets, the most notable featurs of which was the' cutting of South Cloventh street from the viaduct to Dorens. Damel O'Keeffe of the Second ward has beoen a resident of Ox for twenty year: He las always been identified with the brick- laying busincss, and at different times has held oftices in the brotherhood of that call- ing. He has worked on all the principal structures in this city. and 18 now the con- tractor for the county in some of its outlying improvements. Arthur S, Briggs of the Third ward h just passed his thirty-first year, o is in th bt business at 219 South Fourteenth str He came to Omana at the age of ten years. He commenced his caveer as a newsboy, and helped Archie Richwond to_turn the press that priuted the first copy of Tur Brz, He later became a fruit vender, sub- sequently rk for soven years for I'run ige, then went with George S, Doane into' the hat and cap busi- after the latter sold out to Georgy , bie beeame munager for that gentl man, which position he retained six ycars and until going into the same line of business for himself two years ago William I Becliel of the Fourth ward, has becn a continnous resident of Omaha sinco 1878, He came from Kansas City to becomo the auditor of the Pacific express company, which position he still occupies, He was bere, however, in 1569 and 1570 a8 manager aud treasurer of the local office. Mr. Bechel is un Ohioun and forty-cight years of age. He served in the eity council four years and eight months, his lust term expiring January , 1850. For three years he was the vresid- ng officer of that body. Jacob Connsman of the Fifth ward has been in Omaba for twenty-five vears. He has been in the building busiaess, and is now bringing to a close his first térm as a member of the city council. John McLeario “of the Sixth ward is the proprietor of the Bedford foundry. Fora number of years he was employed as foro- man in the foundry at the Union Pacific shops, Ho is of Scotch parentage and has lived in Omaha for fifteen years. He has never beld a public ofiice, and is a member of the K. of L. Max J. Bachr, of the Seventh ward, 18 the senior member of the jowelry firm of M. J. Buehr & Co. He has been a resident of this city for nine years. For five years he acted as traveling salcsman for Max Meyer & Co., subsequently becom ing buyer and manager of both the jewelry and musical departments of that firm, 1'wo years ago hie opened 1 the diawond busi ness in the First National bank, subsequent- 1y moving to the present location, Theodore Olsen, of the Iighth, is an in- surance man, He is about forty years of age and a native of Denmark. He has been 1 Omaha about ten yoars, and occupies the position of Danish consul. Fred Blumer is a nauve of Switzerland. He has been in America twenty years, thirteen of which have been speut in Ne- braska. He was a farmer for a number of years, Seven years ago he entered the real estate, loan and insurance business in How- ard count and was elected recorder of deeds. Five years ago he was nominated as the republican candidate for the legislature, but withdrew to como to Omal He isa partner of P. W. Birkhauser. He is secre- tary of the Mt. Hope cemotery associution. in re First Wa ocrats, The democrats of the First ward met in Forest hal, corner of Sixth and Pierce streots, Inst night, About forty were present, and John Olssn was elected to fill the chuir'during ihe even- mg. I’ J. Mahonoy and Mr. Gustofc:s01 ad- dressad the meoting, udvocatin~ the sapport of the democratie ticket us belug th only means of saving the county from 1u v, S - A Council Bluffs Man Arrested Fravk Roberts, a young man who has boen wanted at Council Bluffs for some timo on the charg: of stealing & gold watch and chain und $) In monoy, was urrosted in Omaha yesterday, and will bo taken across has displayed liberal ideas with reference to the park system. While he believes in pub- 1 uhe river s s00n s a requisition can Lo ob- taived . Is a constitutional and not a local disease, and therefore it cannot be cured by local ap plications, 1t requires a constitutional rem- edy like Hood's Sarsaparilla, which, working through the blood, eradiea,es the tmpurity which causes and promotes the disease, and effects & permanent cure, Thousands of people testify to the success of Hood's Sarsa- parilla as a remedy for eatarth when other preparations Liad falled. Hood's Barsaparilla also bullds up the whole system, and makes | you feel renewed L health aud strength, | “I used Hood's Barsaparilla for eatarrh, and received great relief and benefit from it ‘The catarrh was very disagreeable, especi ally in the winter, causing constant dischargo from my nose, Finging nolses In wy ears, and paing inthe back of my head. The eflect to clear my bead i the morning by bawking and spit- ting was painful. Hood's Sarsaparilla gave wme rellet tmmediately, while in time 1 was entirely eured. 1 think lood's Sarsaparilla 1s worth its weight in gold.” Muns. G, B, Gisn, 1029 Elghith Street, N, W., Washington, D, O, Hood’s Sarsaparilla Bold by all drugglats. §1; six for 5. Prepared only by C. LHOOD & €O, Apothecaries, Lowell, Mass. ‘ +. 100 Doses One Dollar Bold by ull druggists. §1; aix for g5, Prepared only by €. L HOOD & CO., Apothiecarios, Lowoll, Mass 100 Doses One Dollar