Omaha Daily Bee Newspaper, December 21, 1890, Page 3

THE OMAHA DAILY BEE, SUNDAY. DECEMBER 21 THOSE OPPRESSED RAILROADS Condition of Nobraska Railways Analyzed by Attorney General Leese. HAD TO FIGHT THE BATTLE ALONE. The Stato Board Farce — Paying Dividends Watered Stock—An esting Docame of Transportation on Inters Liscony, Neb, Dee, 20.—|Special to Tae Bre,|—The aunual report of the attorney general to the governor is now in the hands of the printer and is probably the most im- portant document ever written by General Leese, His comments on the board of trans- portation are the result of his long connection with that body and may create something of @ sensation, The following extracts are made from the document: ““The subject of transportation is one of the most important questions that we are called on as state officers to meet, I have given this subject as much atten- tion as my other official duties would per- mitand I am free to say that the present sys tem is a complete failure, I am thoroughly convineed that the only true solution to the railroad problem must be worked out through a railroad commission, but any system such as ours that requires three men to do the work and make all reports pr recommenda- tions to the various companies ouly to be signed by certain state ofticers who puve not had a chance to ex- amine into the subject matter is to my mnd very unsatisfactory, especially so when the bourd alone is the responsible party and held to a strict account for the work by the peo- le of the state who Ylm'u them in office, xperience has fully demonstrated that the railroad corporations of the state are too powerful in their influence and too corrupt n their methods of defense for the people to expect much relief from extortionate rates or unjust discrimination under our present sys tem. Our bourd is too cumbersome, and I believe that the present law should be ve- pealed and a muximum schedule of rates be adopted by the legislature on a basis with other states similarly situated. That the governor be given the power to appoint three secretaries to see that the law is not violated, and [ feel safe in ing thatsuch a law will answer until a constitutional amendment could be submitted to the people to clect a commissioner and will certainly be an im- provement on our present system. ““This board has not acted in harmony on all matters, and yet [ donot claim that I” am entirely to blame for the discord, believing as Idofrom a conscious standpoint that the ralroad corporations have been and are now charging too great & rate for the transporta- tion of freight in this state. 1 have tried my best to so reduce the tariff or schedule of rates as to bring it down to something near an equality with the rates charged for simi- lar sery in the state of lowa. I do not claim that the rate in Nebraska should be the same as that charged in lowa, but did claim and claim now, that the basis of rate- making in the two states should be the same, and whatever the conditions might be that entitled lowa to a less rate than Ne- braska let her have it, and no good reason has ever been advanced to the board why a tax on every article of produce and merchan- dise a person uses should be placod on the same the moment it is placed on Nebraska soil. It i true that Towa has a greater mileage than Nebraska and has a gre tonnage than we have, still when we come to consider the advantages of constructing and maintain- ing the roads that this state has over tho: in Towa, T am not prepared to say that our rates should be much 1 excess of those charged in Towa, if any, in fact. The grades in Nebraska ave very light compared with those of Iowa, we have less bridging to do and less wash-outs and snow blockades, But the majority of the board could not or would not view the question as I did and stead- fastly refused to make any reduction what- ever. The question has agitated the public mind for some time, and at times has re- ceived public recognition in our party plat- forms, but all to no purpose. The result is found in the political revolution of November 4, 1500, "It seems to me that if the railroad com- panies could be made to understand that it was for their interests to lighten the (S —.burdens of the people and that the prosperity of this people was the prosperity of the cor- poration it would be a step in the right direc- tion. Butsuchis not the case, In fact it is directly opposite, for when the people pros- per the railroads prosper, and when the peo- plo suffer the rates go on and the railroads prosper just the same, “I'can” only ageount for this on one hypoth- esis and that is the necesssity of the muna- gers on the western lines making a large per cent, as dividends to the stockholders. This is where the great aificulty lies. The rates charged today are large enough to yield a dividend amounting in some cases to 8 per cent on stock that costs tho stockholders nothing whatever but for the printing, and the officers of these roads use every effort and strain every point to have tho stock- holders of their respective lines of road re- ceive their anuual dividend.” “How can this be remedied?” is the ques- tion we ask ourselyes, Railroad corporations are entitled toa fair returnon the money they have invested, and nothing more, *What then is the actual capital invested on which a corporation is entitled to have a dividend? Is it the money received from the sale of mortgage bonds or is it the amount in actual cash paid fu by the stockholders for the stock they have received? Or is it the actualcash put in the road and derived from the sale of bonds and for stock issued? Any other capital, either in bonds or stock, is fic- titious and expressly declared by section 5 of nrlfi-lu 11 of our constitution to be absolutely void. “It is @ notorious fact that the roads in Nebraska are openly violating this plain pro- vision of our fundaiental law andin man instances the only money invested in rail- roads 1s that derived from the sale of bonds, and then stock to the same amount is issued gratuitously to the shareholders upon which the people of this state are required to pay dividends by paying exorbitant rates of trans- portation, *‘The capital poration caunot legally cash, labor and property actually re- ceived and applied to build, operate and maintain a railroad, and yet it is an ad- mitted fact that the railroads in this state have outstanding bonds and stock to a very large amount that have not been issued for money, labor or property. 1f a state officer endeavors to bring the corporations to an ac count forsuch open and notorious violations of our fundamental law, the ofiicer in charge of the road and the press of the state so far as he has subsidized it, turn loose on him and brand him as a demagogue. This is wrong. The day isnot far distant whent he people will be bound hand and foot if these monopolies are not checked, “I would recommend a law forbidding any railroad corporation from issuing any wort- gage bonds or stock until au itemized ac- count of the cash, labor or property duly sworn to, has been presented to some officer of the state for examnation, and if found to be a true account of the money, labor ov property received, to register and certify the samo as issued in pursuance of law, and as coustituting a part of the capital stock of such corporation. Such a law would strike out all fictitious increase of capital stock of all the roads now in operation, as well as all those to be formed hereafter, and with such a law the rates of transportition could be fixed so that an honest dividend could be made on an honest dollar invested. Such a law now governs all counties, cities, pro- cinets and school districts in this'state, fimit- ing the 1ssue to a per cent of the valuation. and [ know of no good reason why such a provision could not be carried ioto effect, imiting the indebtedness of railroad corpora: tion to au issue of stock or boads, or both to its full value, “T'wo years ago, in my biennial report, 1 called your excellency’s attention to the bill nding beforp cougress to extend the debt ue to the government from the Union Pa- cifio railway company. And while my views may not have been couched in the nicest lan- guige, your excellency criticised the samo aud refused to concur therein, The notico given to that part of my report in your mes- sage did, however, atiract the attention of congress, as well as the citizens of this state, and 26,000 people of Nebraska have petitioned congress w o vole of a railroad cor- exceed the | dent, amounting now to about, § against the bill to extend the debt due to the government, and praying that the gov- ernment mignt foreclose their lien and put the Union Pacific railway on a cash basis, On Januury 20, 1890, I called the attention of W. H. H. Miller, the attorney general of the Unitea States, to this company's many viola- tions of the laty, but all to o purpo The bill to extend the debt, I am happy to say, has not thus far become a law. “Iy is true that the government lien is inferior to the first mortgage of $33, 530,512, but by extending the government 5,000,000, it will bo inferior to £115,000,000 indebtedness, The nct of 1562 and 1573 secures the governs ment debt as follows: “First—By u second tien on 1,400 miles of road that net the company about 500,000,000 wnually, ““Second ~By a first lienon all Union Pacifie assots, surplus, net carnings und properties acquired since 1575, and thercfore, a first lien on all branch liens, purchased or built with such properties Third ~By a lien on _all the unsold land of the Union Pacitic road, amounting to over £10,000,000, “Fourth By a first lien for $,000,000 on the land, notes and cash in hand of the land trustees, valued at £12,000,000, “The Frye funding bill, the one now pend- ing, proposes that the government surren- der thislien, and accept o new licn due in fifty years, inferior to all the bonds and indebted- ness amounting to about $115,000,000. Such an unbusiness-like transaction has nevee been known before inany civilized country excepting the one tr stion made by the government with the Credit Mobilier “By the recent change in the affairs of the Union Pacific raily one man standiog in his office 1n New York city can, by raising his hand, advance the rates of transporta- tion over the routes that he con- trols, reaching from China to the Atlantic const. This transaction is only a part played in the formation of a gigantic lroad trust that is a menace to public rights, and unless something is done, and that, too, immediately, the day is not far dis- tant when the people of this country are bound hand and foot and condemned to per- vetual bondage, “The peoplo of this state are cognizant of the above facts, and their appeals year after vear for relief have been laughed to scorn, and it remaius only for some stronger means 10 be used, aud that is government control of 'his is a question that takes over many important ones that are now agi- ing the public mind. And the question ask ourselves is whether or not it is better t the people Lo submit themselves and their business to the tender mereies of the railroud trust or to the government of our country t ““I'he principal objections made against the government control and ownership is that competition will be destroyed aud that the vast increase of patronage of the government would be dangerous to our republican insti- tutions. The first ebjection is as untenable as the latter. With one man controlling the principal roads of this country competition will be as much destroyed as 1t is now be tween Seward and Lincoln, where the Chi- cago, Burlington & Quiney 1s the owner of both lines of railroad. Competition will be destroyed in cither case and it resolves itself down to the one question whetheror not the profits go into the pockets of the one man or go to the government. If the masses were to determine this ques- tion there would be one u imous voice in favor of government control. STl cond ar There is no corner of this union that from rail- road influence in all political matters. It enters the doors of the merchants, the sanc- tum sanctorum of the press, and the courts of our states und nation, always taking an active part—from the election of a chairman of a board of village tr to the clection of a president of the United States—savagely holding back in its ranks those who would break from its corrupting embrace and de- teriorating influence. If the government should take the coutrol, this growing danger to the people's rights would be forever re- me d. The civil service rules could be strictly carried out, where removals cannot take place without cause, and ability and per- sonal meriv alone, and not political influence, would be the test for alvancement. *“I'ne crowned heads of Europe have operated railroads in a very satisfactory manner, And can it be ‘said that a government of the people, for and by the people is so dishonest and c rupt that we cannot trust it with the same power, or must we continue to trust to the Jay Goulds and Vanderbilts and Rock- afellers. “I believe in the government control and also believe that a commencement should be made by foreclosing the lien of the govern- ment against the Union Pucific railroad and taking possession of the same, and trust thut your excellency will bring the matter before our legislature so that they can send a memo- rial to congress and bring the question to an sue before the people of the country. “I believe that the government is even going to try the experiment. The time is now and the p is here in Nebraska, by foreclosing the lien of the government on the Union Pacific railroad. ‘The road is worth the first mortgage bond, which the govern- ment has to pay anyhow, and could lose noth- ing by taking the road. The trial could be made, and if the experi- ment was successful on this one road, the ways and means could be provided by the government to take charge of all other roads, and at the same time the most gigantic trust this world has ever seen will benipped in the bud. The government will settie a long- standing debt with an insolvent creditor, “The guestion should have a starting point from our state, through our state legislature. The cry of} individuals goes unheeded, braska through her chief our legislature to s presentatives will obey their only resolves itself down to one question ; the will of the corporations or the will of the people, “ will say in conclusion that I have men- tioned these facts because [ am about to re- tire from off where for si: ars [ have labored to restore some of the rights of the people of the state jthat have been stolen from them by the continued encroachments of the railroad corporations, but I am sorry to say that T have discovered that the people not obtain any relief under existing con- ditions and believe that the best way to lieve the people from the impending danger is for the government to take the absolute con- trol of the railroads of our country.” ———— Polleck and Patterson, Last Wednesday evening Mr. T. H. Pollock and Miss Lida Patterson were united in marriage in the pavlors of the bijou Hotel Riley of Plattsmouth. The ceremony was performed by rev, Mr. Baird of that city assisted by Rev. Mr. Kerr who, for some time past, has been conuected with Bellevue college. The parlors and the bay window in which the couple stood when the nuptial cer- emony was performed were banked with flowers, the effect of the whole being that of a parterie in the June time. The groom was attended by Mr. James Pollock of Platts- mouth and the bride by Miss Lucy Wolcoct of Weeping Water. the weddine march being performed by Miss Edith Patterson who, with artistic skill, presided at the pians, The groom is the son of Mr. and Mrs, Thomas Patterson, and the bride the daugh- ter of Mr. and Mrs. M. Pattterson of Plattsmouth and 4 cousin of Mr. Joseph Campbell of Tur Bee. The bride was attired in a cream colored brocaded silk, which but enbanced her rare personal charms. After the o ony the wedding party ad- journed to the dining room where Host Van- arnam had spread the most elaborate and appetizing tables ever set under similar cir- cumstances in that city. The groom is one of * the confidential clerks in the Frst National bank of Plattsmouth, and hundreds of friends congratulate him upon his nuptials, e High Five. The Premier high five club was enter- tained at the hospitable home of Mrs. Moritz Meyer last Wednesday evening. Eleven spirited games were played, after which de- lightful refreshments were served. Mrs, A, Haas was the lucky winuer of the high prize, apretty silver boubonniere, and Mrs, S, Katz won the consolation prize, a handsome sachet. Mr. Lobman carried off the gentle- men’s high prize while Mr. Aaron Cahn won the booby, & quaiut tobacco pouch. The members of the club are Mr. and Mrs, Moritz Me, Mr. and Mrs, Max M Mr. and Mrs. H. Polack, Mr, and Mrs, Katz, Mr, and Mrs. Martin Cahn, Mr. and Mes, Albert Cahn, Mr. and Mrs, 1. New, Mr. and Murs, Lobman, Mr, aud Mrs, Heyn, Mr, aud Mrs, H. Haas, precedence WHY CONTINUE THE FARCE? Futile Effores of Prohibitionists to Prove Outrages on Election Day. DENIALS MADE BY ALL PARTIES, Contestant’s Attorney's Fail to Show a Single Instance of Interfers ence with a Voter's Rights at the Pol Interest in the contest is waning rapidly, as spectators about the Boyd table can only hear of continued peace and good will on election day and other things that they al- ready knew. At the Powers table the stock of prohibitionists is apparently running low and the contestant's attorneys are now glad to offer the evidence of parties who have even heard that assaults were made,but know nothing of it personally. 5. R. Rush was the first witness examined yesterday morning in behalf of Mr. Powers, He said he was a lawyer, and had visited the polls on election day to see what was going on. Hesaw one or two drunken men a few blocks from the polls in the Third ward, and heard one of them say he was hungry for prohibitionists: did not see anything that was a menace to the life of ary probibitionist: based upon what he saw and heard, he could not say that a person ped- dling prohibition tickets would = be in _ danger -of even bodily harm; peddled tickets for Boyd atthe fourth pre- cinct of the Fourth ward the greater part of the day and saw many republicans voting for the democratic candidate for governor, James O. Allen, a colored man, was next sworn, Had lived in Omaha seventeen years, Voted the republican ticket and for th amendment at the first precinet of the Third ward. Peddled tickets and remained there all day. Was sure he voted for the amend- ment, Cross-Examined—The election passed very quietly, Had secn many rougher ones and some that were *lots peaceabler.” Could not tell how hie voted on the judgeship amens ment. I8 engaged inno business whate Reads the Lincoln Call and New York Voice. The man conducting the contest again inter- rupted to state that the official returns might show probibition votes,but they did not show as many us they had proven to have been voted, He was advised by Mr. Offut to g sworn evidence into the record and not ad- vance his unsupported statement, During the cross-examination of Allen, Mr, Offut stated that he liked to hear the witness talk, as he was born in the south himself and had a colored ‘*mammy.” WThe colored {diks are nice people, aren't they 2" he inquired of the witness, “Why, some of 'em is,” was the reply. some of 'em is as mean as any of the folks.” . The laugh which ensued was engaged in by everybody. At the noon hour an adjournment on this side of the case was taken until Monday morning at 9 o’clock, when Cashier Davis of the Flirst National bauk will again be placed upon the stand. Christian Rosicker, a painter at the Union Pacific shops, was the first witness called on the Boyd side of the house. Ho was & canaidate for county commissioner on the independent ticket at the last general clection. He said that the election was very quiet and peaceable, He formerly lived in Utica and in Ne York city, and he found the eiection the most orderly that he ev: It was far more so than he ever witnes ork uuder the Tweed regime. saw nothing that would indicate that there was truth in the storvies told by the prohibitionists and he did not believe them. John T, Clarke was the next witness and he was still on thestand at the hour of ad- journment at noon. His examination was con- fined to what he saw on the day of election. He ropeated the same story of prevailing peace, Squict and good will, Atuoon he was excused until 2 o'clock. The cross-examination of Mr. Clarke was continued in the afternoon. He was certain that the great interest felt in the defeat of rohibition was what caused the unusually arge representation of business men about tne polls. Charles Wasner sworn—Have resided at Grand island for nineteen years. Voted there at the last general election in the S ond ward. Saw Mr. Whitney and Mr. Law- ton challenging for the prohibitionists, They challenged principally old residents of the ward, well known ¢ s, and delayed the vote so much that at 10:30 only about thirty or forty votes had been cast. The mayor, at the request of the judges, in- structed the myrshal to clear the room of the people standidg about. There was no at- tempt to prevent anyone from voting for Powers or any other candidate, or fo prohibitory amendment, The there was quiet and orderly. Lawton and Whitney detied Mr. Royce to have them arrested and he swore out & war- rant for them for havieg challenged him in order to obstruct the ballot, be being an old resident and well kuown citizen, Whituey lived in the ward and kunew the voters ther Lawton did not reside in the ward. Whitne; is in the real estato business and I am engaged in thesame busine: He has known me eight or nine years, yet he challenged my vote. He has lived within four blocks of me. Leeand Strong of the independent party ought a contest against Hall on account of alleged trouble in this ward, but the contest has been dropped. Cross-examined—Am a republican know Whitney's politics. he is a republican, ‘an! hite Don’t Don’t know that Know that his son is a democrat. A police officer was av the polls all day. Shoved Whitney aside when he challenged my vote. He gave no reason for his challenge. He knew thatI was a legal voter, Think that is a democratic ward. Was a member of the Bankers' and Business Men's association. Did not naturalize any citizens. A. P. Tukey, sworn—Have resided in Ne- braska twelve years. Was judge of election at the First precinct of the Fourth ward at the last general election. Was there all day, and saw no trouble, jostling or acts of violence, Have voted in Maine and Miunesota, and this was fully as orderly an election as I ever saw. Heurd no complaints of anyone about not be- ing allowed to vote, Am a real estate man, Saw probibition ticket peddlers about the polls. ~ Captain Lyous was one of them. Saw no one molest him. He was close to the win- dow several times during the day. No voters were challenged. About two-thirds of the vote was cast before 2 o'clock, and it was largely a vest pocket vote, ‘There was a larger ro resentution of the better element than I ever saw before at the polls, verum sworn—Was at the First t of the Third ward on the day of on and saw Rev. Mr. Shinn there. e challenged about every other voter for ¢ half an hour, About fifty voters com- 1 that Mr. Shinn was nota voter in that ward, and an oficer told him several times to getaway from the window., He was & large man and took up more of the window than was left for the voters. He said some- imes that he knew a vote id not live in the vard. He refused to leave the polls and an officer threw him away from the window, telling him that if he returned he would ar- rest him, Mr. Shinn acknowledged that he did not live in the ward, There was a little excitement over Shinn's conduct, but after he left everything was quiet, Cross-examined--Am a painter. The of- ficer led Mr. Shinn a few feet and told him to keep away from the polls, as he had no right to challenge in a ward where he did not live and obstruct voters, Saw uo drunken men about the polls, L. A, Goldsmith, sworn—Am a saloon keeper, Have resided in Omaha cight years, Voted at the last general election at the First precinet of the Third ward, and was there all day. Rev. Mr. Shinn was there aod we stood opposite each other as challengers. There were several challengers, and we agreed to keep back from the win- dow, Mr. Shion among the num- ber, “and we all stepped away. Mr. Shinn went back to the window, but finally was persuaded to leave again and an ofticer went to the corner with him, as he said he was willing to keep away from the window but did not want togo through the crowd. He challenged my vote, The crowd was good natured and Mr. Shinn gave me his card. The only trouble was between young Pat Ford and "O'Brien, Ford was a special policeman and be pulled O'Brien off the porch, They are hoth democrats, Cross-examined—Saloons were closed on election day, They opened in the evening 1890. TWENTY PAGES after the polls were closed-and gomo we re open in the morning befora. the polls opened Court adjourned at 4 o'cloek until 10 o'clock Monday morning. vice of the attorney general the treasury de- partment has decided that the provision in section 241 of the tarlff act for refining im- ported sugar in bond i3 applicavle only to sugars in solid form and not to molasses. a2 Hillside Pleasures, The entertainment given Friday n the Hillside Congregational church was well attended and was the best of the kind given for some time in this church, The selections were all well rendered, especially those of the Missos Evans, Leggett, Colby and Holi- day and Messrs. Fostuer, Fenton and Gellen- beck, Mr., Festner's zither playing was heartily applauded and he would have re- sponded to the second encore but for the late- ness of the hour, Messrs, Gellenbeck and Bumgardner miso gave some very fine selec- tions on the banjo P —— SOUTH OMAHA NE) Special Mall Service. Postmaster Glasgow states that he has let the contract for the special mail service to Lewis H. Potts, The maiis will be carried to the Union depot, Omaha, at S o'clock a. m. aud at 7 o'clock in the evening. Cudahy Fire Company Dancre. The fire department of the Cudahy pack- ing company gave a social and dance Friday evening. Vennto's orchestra furnished the music, Twenty-five couples ned in the grand® march,” led by Captain John M. Ritchey and Mrs, Phillips, The office was used for aancing and & musical entertais meut was given in tho parlors, A sumptu- ous bunguet was se Clan Gordon Election. Clan Gordon, No. 63, Order of Scottish Clans, elected the following oficers Friday evening: A. C. Troup, C.; H. Lowrie, T.; J. French, chaplain; Frank H. Cautlie, recording i R A Me lund, financial Falconer, treasurer; Alexan! der Lyall, J. a4, .3 A Dunci, W.; wlord, S.: R, Me Donald, physician; George W. MeDonald, piper. Trustees—H. Brown, W. R. Drum’ mond and John Wilson. Notes About the City. Emil Strauss of the Cudahy ofice force is in Chicago. Mrs, C. W. Phelps has gone to Schuyler for a visit. Mr. and Mrs. Eli H. Doud have returned from Chicago. George H. Plainwell, Mic| Fre unders a painful absce Mrs. Albert Sloane has gone to Loup City to visit a daughter, Constable Andrew A. Donnelly is confined to his room with fever. J. P, and Michael Murphy will sojourn u fortnight with friends in McCook. A. V. Miller has removed to the Brandes y-fourth and N streets, V. W. Wells of the Cudahy fovce has gone to Baltimore, Md., to spend the holidays. Misses Ella Donnell, Letitia Scaulon and ary J. Kenuey will go to Denver to visit Masson has returned from confined to his room with Patrick C. Quinn of the Cudahy fire de- partment left last evening for Chicago for a ht's visit. m L. Gregson of the office force at ing houses of Swift & Co. bas re- turned from St. Lou Richard Fennesy and Michael McNamee will go east to spead the holidays. They vill spend New Years in Chicago. Superintendent A. C. Foster of the packing houses of Swift & Co. is in Ashiuand, assis ing in the construction of the new ice hou: soemiage The Pose Plastique. The pose plastique craze, and now the pose plastique fad. Those who saw Gene- vieve Thompson last season in her statue poses remember a very graceful and pretty woman whose Grecian draperies and attitudes mildly suggested certain famous statuary. This season the statue pose will be carried out with great atten- tion to detail, says the New York World. Dress, make-up, wigs, will be quite as important as the attitudes, and the pose plastique will have a run as a drawing- room entertainment. One, two or threé moving statues may be seon upon a par- lor stage, hung severely in folds of black cambric, The lights are all turned out save the lantern which illumines the stage, bringing out in sharp relief the poseur or poscure, as the case may be. We will take for granted that you are a Delsartian and accomplished in all lithe, supple turns of the hody and facial expressions conveying all the passions of the soul. If you ure of the feminine gender your costume must be a simple little gown of white cashmere or cheese- cloth, cut in Parthenia-like fashion, falling loose from the low neck and drawn in a bit at the waist with a loose- 1y knotted white cord. Your wig wust be white and the hair caught in a genu- ine Psyche knot at the base, Neck, arms, face and hands must b whitened, and then you are ready to pose. A man must wear a sort of Roman toga, white tights and buskins, and a white wig. All sorts of beautiful plas- tiques may be done by a graceful man and woman together, At a Sorosis en- tertainment at the Cordova the other evening Edith Chalmers, the young Canadian who does this sort of thing ad- mirably, created a sensation with her })lnstiqu 8. She was assisted by one of her pupils, a youth as graceful as a fawn and with the face of & young Au- gustus, **The Storm,” **Paul and Vir- ginia,” “The Carnival,” ave all suitable subjects for poses, besides hundreds. of others, including representatlons of jeal- ousy, consolation, temptation, protec- tion, in fact all sorts of subjects will easily suggest themselves to the poseur, Soft, low musie, accompanies the posing, changing from grave to gay, according to the subject of the plastique, and a very pretty and new enfertainment is provided. Dresden china effects are spe- cially attractive in these plastiques, -~ A Man's [dea. Here is a man’s idea of what the per- fect woman should be, for some sweet girl to cut and paste in her scrap book, says the New York Sun, First of all, because he is a man, he insists that the perfect woman shall always be well dressed, in as much taste as the silly fashion of the day will allow, and insucha way as' *to set off her beauty when she is young: to make her seem still beautiful when she is past her youth, and to hide the ravages of time when she is old.” She must be sympathetic, and not talk s0 ag to show how clever she is, but to bring out the best points of, the man she is talking to, She must be intelligent and gracious, as well as sfmm\!hnth-, and always a woman, of whom Other women think and speak well, She must love everything that is beautiful and good, and hate everything that is coarse and ugly. And the man who has set forth this comprehensive little gospel of woman- hood, which evepy girl would do well to rend, mark and inwardly digest, is none other than Walter Besant, Ruskin gives dressing, also, as one of the three cardinal virtues which every womanly woman must possess, and says that women should always *‘dress beau- tifully, not finely, unless on occasion, and_then very finely and beautifully, t00.” 1t would appear that, in con- sideration of refined men, true women are queens of the realm by right divine, and lose something of their high pre: rogative when their robes of stute are shabby and crumpled, LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE. A Buggestion for Saving the Time of the Supreme Court, TOO MANY DECISIONS IN WRITING. Liconse Money for the Support of Jaits and Poor Houses—Govern- ment Construction of Railronds —The Usury Question. McCoox, Neb., Dee. 19,—To the Editor of Tue Be 1 desire to take advantage of your liberal offer to express my ideas on the sub- ject of “necessary legislation,” and more es- pecially in regard to relieving our already overburdened supreme court. Had the amendment to the constitution, in- creasing the number of supremo judges, car- ried, it would have for the time being facili- tated business, and probably the docket would have been cleared up, but even this would have afforded but temporary relief, as in afew years even five judges would be overwhelmed with the number of cases that daily pour into the oftice of the clerk of the supreme court. If the coming legislature section 18 of chapter 190 of the revised statutes, which now provides that the supreme court must file a written opinion in all questions that come before it, and sub- stitute in its place a section with some pro- vision similar to the following: “Phe opinions of the supreme court on all questions brought before it shall be rendered orally, and no opinion shall bo written for publication unless a majority of the judges of the supreme court determine that tho points involved are new and that such opinion will add something of import- ance to the jurisprudence of the state which case the judges shall oMcially certify to said fact before same shall be printed in the official reports.” As itis now the time of the supreme court is to a considerable extent taken with writing opinions in cases which are neithor new or novel, and an oral opinion would sufice as well as one written out at great length, In a great majority of cases where theroe is an_oral agrecment by the attorneys, the judges of the supreme court would have 1o dificulty in reaching a conclusion and imme- diately passing on the questions involved, and as there would be no opinion to prepare could pass on to another case. And in cafes whero the issue is submitted on briefs, but a few minutes of examination woud be required m a majority of the cases to determine whether there were any “novel” questions presented, An amendment to section 18 would per: haps cut off a part of the *‘perquisites” of the supreme court reporter, but his loss would be the gain of the Ycupl(‘, of the state at large, and instead of the supreme court bemng **two 3 behind,” in a short time would bo caught up and there would be some hope of gotting a decision in matters where the do- cision of the highest court in the state is de- ired on the questions at issu As it is now, it is possible to wear out or practically bankrupta poor litigant, and in a measure defeat justice, as it takes about five vears from the time of the commencement of would amend And now as the awmendwment providing for additional judges was defeated, and as I think through an honest but mistaken desive to re- dnce expenditures, let the coming legislaturo adopt a measure substantially as above out- lined and in this way relieve our overbur- dened supreme court. Huan W. CoL, License Money and the Schools. WitsosviLLe, Neb,, Dec. 18.—To the Edi- tor of Tuk Bee: You will not find my name in your list of subscribers, but for all that T read several copies of Tt Brk during the last campaign. I conclude that you are sin- cerely in favor of auy means that will lessen the evils of intemperance but that you be- lieve, as I do, that more can be done under the present laws than with a nominally prohi- bitory law aud joints. But, Mr. Editor, T think there might be's change made in the use of the license money that would have a better moral effect than to apply it to the school fund. We do not need saloon licenses to educate our children. But if such money could be used to support jails and poorhous and to prosecute criminads, I think prohibi- tion might see how just it was for the saloon keeper to pay for thedamage he doc write to you because I know that if the idea strikes you favorably you will know how to present it and can seeure the change. Mus. G. C. Bunys. The Construction of Railroads, Oscrora, Neb,, Dec. 20.—To the Editor of Tug Bee: The railroad question in Nebraska is certainly a leading question, in which the cry of class legislation will not cease till the government considers the interests of the people, in preference to beiny the collecting agent ana guardian of the present system of railroadism. . I believe the best way to solve the railroad question is for the government to build rail- roads, issuing guaranteed currency for the same, pnf‘nblu twenty years, or more, after date; and like the “grecnbacks,” a logal ten- der for all debts, public and private. The earnings of the coads may ve used to redeem the same. The greatest benefit to be gained from this system would be: 1. Increase m volume of currency, 2. Labor for the unemployed. 8. Cheap rates of transportation, With a railroad between New York and Omaha constructed on this plan, Nebraska farmers would get their produce to New York for less than it now costs to get it to Chicago. JouN H. ANDERSON, The Usury Question. PALMYRA, Neb., Dec. 20.—To the Editor of Tue Be Your invitation to the readers of Tur Bee to send 1n their respective views of the leading issues of the day meets with my approval, and 1 will lay before your readers my opinions of the usury laws and their cure, Itis a well known fact that all the usury laws of our several states are failures. Now the question arises, can this evilnot be met? 1 answer unhesitatingly that it can—by the homeopathie principle of “similia similibus curanter” — like evils cure like evils, Let the general government loan to the several states, taking their bonds at 1 per cent, the stad loaning the money borrowed to the citizens at 3 per cent, under the same laws that regulate our school laws. It may be said that this would create a redundancy of currency, or in other words inflation, but when we reflect that the loaning fraternity would at once find their loans paid up, and of course would be com- pelled to come down to the level of the gen- eral government, and instead of an increase it would only unlock the treasuries imov of Uncle Sam but of the shylocks. Now in this idea we would solve two prob- lems first, we .would supply the volume of currency needed, secondly usury would be abohished, and all violators of the law dis- posed of at one fell swoop. This plan need not interfere with our beautiful national elas- tic banking system, for if the business men would rather borrow of the national bank at 10 per cent, who is to say nay ! Joux 8, Maie e L Lanning Pleads Guilty, Cnief Seavey received word from Kirk- wood, 111, yesterday to the effect that Frank Morris, alias Lanning, who was arrested in Omaha some time ago with a large amount of money 1n his pockets, had pleaded guilty to the charge of grand larceny, He was sent to the reform scnool. The #i5 that had been lying here since it was taken from Launing was forwarded to the owner. e Your Last Chance, This evening will be the last chance to see Donnelly and Girard in their funny comedy, “Natural Gas,” in a new meter. Since seen here last season mauy important changes have taken place, both in the piece and the company. The present company in the main is the strongest Donnelly and Girard have ever had, S Open Tod vy, In some way the impression has gained currency that the Omaha art exbibition would be closed on Sunday. This is a mistake. The exhibition will be open today, both afternoon and evening, just tho same as on weck days, - - Postofice Grades Raised. Wasnisxaroy, Dee. 20.-The following fourth class postofiices will be raised to the third or presidential class January 1: Hay Springs, Neb.: Dundep, Harrisburg, Keithsburg, Rosabud, Augusta, Hamilton, 1113 Dexter and Elkader, la.; Lake Mills and Bayfield, Wis, - PP THE EVOLUTION O OMAN, Man Has Led, But Sho Has Followed Closely in His Footsteps. Wa can notice everywhero that man has taken the lead, on the whole, in the process of social evolution, but that sooner or later woman has followed in each step, write W. Higginson in Harper's Bazar, Thus a woman can now go about the streets with a freedom which an unarmed man did not alw: enjoy. It isnot three hundred years since the toilettes of man implied as much elaboration, as much exvense, and as much time as did those of woman at the same period, and far more than the toilettes even of refined women now con- sume. Men have reduced all that magnificence toa simple working cos- tume, varied by an evening dress suit of plain black, and the great mass of women now tend in the same retion. Even the daughter of luxury lays aside splendor for her tennis dress, Any great change, within the limits of mor- ality, that comes over the social habits of men is sure to ba reflocted o century ortwo laterin those of women, [t is a curious fact pointed out by philologists that many of the terms now most often applied to women were once applied with equal froedom to men, as girl, hoyden, shrew, coquette, witch, terma- gant, jade, all of which have now passed out of use except for women. Itis, I believe, the same in French h the word dame, Now the same thing that has gradually happened to these words has taken pliace with many socinl usagos that have been wholly changed for men, and only partially changed for women; but they are undergoing the alteration neverthel Women are no longer expected to be wholly absorbed in their home duties any more than they are expected to go veiled on the street. Indecd, a larger part of those home du- ties have been taken from them; th ave not expeeted to do any more spin- ning or weaving, for instance, and the time which that once cost, if it is not to be wholly wasted, may well go to the cultivation of their own minds and the healing of the world’s sorrows. They have ceased to be mera dependents or appendagoes, and there is nothing left orthem butto go on and be individua The Management of {Children, If you would see u woman or a child graceful, beautiful and charming, you must find one thatis loved, says Har- per’s Bazar. The child that dreads to be corrected or eriticised for e word or movement never has a manner of e'e- gance or an expression of 'm, Fill your child’s soul with an ideal of good manners, of benevolence and beauty: teach it avstractly to dislile vulgarity, selfishness, rudenc and to feel th you love and admire it, and expect of it charming manners, and the work is ac- complished. Tt is impossible for a slave to have any style. 1f you would have your child Qignified, you must treat it with dignity. Tt is wrong to correct a child in public, Any proud child feels degraded by it. It should be a case of dire necessity when you find fault with a child Strangers, and to destroy a child’s pi is to do him an irveparable injury. Take advantage of some intimate hour when parent and child are alone together, and then let the parent tenderly explain how the child has behaved ill the day before or that morning, and why the child’s conduct was wrong, and how it should have behaved, and show the child that the parent respects it and loves it, and believes in its eapacity to do all good things. This will have the offect of punishment, wi the child is in astate of excitement and the parent usually angry. Get in the habit of explaining the reason of things to your child, Let there be as little confusion in its mind as possible, Above all, keep the fact of your love' uppermost’ in the child’s mind, and let it understand that you have no wish to domineer over it. only that being older and wiser, and loving the child so much, you would save it from its inexperience, that this is your duty, that you are teaching it to be its own maste! If your child is cross, do not punish him, but distract his mind from the eubject that aunnoys him. If he con- tinues to be cross, suspect his stomach, and assure yoursell that this is in per- fect order; a troubled digestion is the rootof bad temper. - A Minute With Ouida. Mme. Ouida, asshe is familiarly called, is the most sought after and at the same time the most acrimonious woman in European society. As a hostess she is said to be most charming, says the New York World; us a guest she is both feared and dreaded. Not long ago she wasone of a dinner party in a London house, the other Fucnts being M Campbell-Praed, author of “Aflinities; Mrs Lynn Lynton, Mrs, Hlerman Meri- vale, Rider Haggard, George Manville- Fenn, Justin McCarthy and Mr. and Mrs. Edmund Russell. When Mrs. Rus- sell was being presented she anticipated her hos and with irresistible gra- ciousne to the erratic write saying: E duction to Mme. Ouida, whom everybody knows,” ¢ “Humph!” ejaculated the author of “Puck.” I pity Mme, Ouida if she had to know everybody,” and settled back behind the big black fan she always carric Mvs, Lynn Lynton quietly remarked, Now are you not disenchanted?” *No,” was the repl) *I will not be disenchanted. She (Ouida) who wrote *Under Two Flags,” is the Ouida I know and adore.” “Oh, ) de you come from New Fng- land, I see,” 'said Mrs. Lynton, to which Mrs. Russell replied “Yes, where she her mannerisms, Mme, swim in the tears that New England alone has shed over her books,” Ouidu in society is, to say the least, queer, her indifferenco to the conven: tionalities amounting to audacity. She wears her hair cropped off in a ' jugged way as nearly on a line with her ears as a Bleecker street mother trims the wig of her small boy. She is never on her fect. As soon as she entersa drawing- room she starts for a conversational or round-frar corner chair, into which she falls in an attitude best described as sitting on her hip, She is never with- out & big black fan, Any one who cares to meet the lady must go to her, and it makes no difference who the lion hunter muy be she never rises or inany way changes her position. If the new comer is uninteresting up goes the huge fan like a serecn, and to make the cut doubly fatal she will earry on an audible and effusive conversation with some lady on the othe s loved in spite of Ouida could HORSE'S. Dolls, Toys, Fancy Goods—New Art Des partment, Opsn Monday Night till 10 O'Clock= Men Especially Invited New Dolls Opened very Day. Mimos may bo hard with some,but cern tainly the majority of people have plenty of money to spend. k‘--\or in the his-" tory of our business have weo handled the quantity of goods that we are now selling, ART DEPARTMENT. Tamps, bronzes, toa kettles, bri 1, staty ote., inour new art room » lovel iey e all new and withe out doubi have boeon the greatest attrace tions to the THOUSANDS who visit us cach day. STORE DIRECTORY. Basement or 18t floor Lovely presy ents, bronzes, clocks, china, vasos and all kinas of lamps, housckeeping goods, ote, Main or 20d floor, reached from 16th or Parnam street: Silks, dress goods, pocket books, men’s furnishin goods, boys’ clothing, holiday books an ourcelebrated art room with cut glass, silverware, statuary, bronzes, ete. drd floor, reached from Farnam stroots Ladies’ silk hosiery, underwear, art dos rtment, sofa pillows, ¢ ushions, ribe bong, handkerchiefs, shoes, ete, 4th tloor: Sealskin garments, cloaks, furs, corsets, muslin underwear, chils dren’s elonks, ete, 5th floor: Rugs, wperies, fane, try, table cover Sth floor: mes, &c. Gth floor: mail order departmenty storerooms and manufacturing rooms, The largest and best retail store in the whole west. Open tonight. Coma and sea our Dolly’s Dream and Bu flale Bill's reception on toy floos THE MORSE DRY GOODS CO, — GEN, CUSTER' carpets, portieves, China silks, silk tapese , fire screens, brass beds, oys, dolls, guns, horse LAST RALLY, The Massacre of the feventh Cavalry at the Little Big Horn, The massacre of ( his command in the valley of the Little Big Horn June 25, 1876, and Sittin Bull’s part in it are part of the histery of the border. T'he atfaiv has been kept freshy in the public mind for over fourtcen yveurs, and there is necessity for ng the details at length of the v at this juncture. Of the entir command but one n - Indian scou known as Curly—alone escaped. Curly’ account of the fight, which wa fivs! not wholly credited, was subscquently confirmed by Chief Gall, says the Chi- cago T The story, b ! five companics, sepe ed from Reno's soven, nccording to Terry's or and moved around the base of o hill through a ravine to o point where the Indian villyze in the valley of the river could be seen. No signs of Indians had heen noted. Upon getting sight of the camp Custer ordered a chargo and moved at the head of his column. As the cavalry came to the river the In= dians, concealed in the underbrush, opened fire, Warriors came from the village in hundveds upon the first shoot= ing. Finding it impracticablo to cross the river in the fuce of the fire, Custor took his men diagonally into the hills, bearing down stream. The hostiles crossed the river confident in their num- bors, and Custer, arranging his men in & sort of a rude circle, prepared for the inevitable. As long as their ammunition held out, the troops, though losing heavily, maintaine their position in spite of repeated charges by the Sioux. The battle cons tinued trom ) in the afternoon, as could be ascertained until shortly before sundown. From the lessening of the fire the Indians concluded that the amse munition was exhausted, and with a final grand sortie killed the last of the bund. The gallant Custer was killed in the last onslaught. During the entire slaughter Sitting Bull was with the women and children, Chief Gall being at the head of the wars riors. The finding of the 315 mutilated bodies of the unfortunates and their Lurial b; General Gibbon has also bsen annalize by the newspapers. Along the Rosebud and Yellowstone, on the Tongue und Little Missour orals Morritt, Terry and Miles found no end of fighting. The running series of battles was ulso a series of de- feats for Sitting Bull’s hostiles, although the government troops suffered consid erable loss, and by their rapid marches and insuflicient food were made to suffer much ill and telt that they earncd their full pay. The Indians receded from one point to another, until they at last made a break for British America, where Site ting Bull, who well knew the geographs ical boundaries, knew he was safe. eI The Right Sort of a Wife, Rev. Dr. A. J. Rowland of the Frank. lin Square Baptist church, lectured to the young people last night on *“The Right Sort of a Wife,” says the Baltis mere Sun, **Almost all young people,” he said, “expect at some fime to marry." It is not absolutely necessary that they should ms but, as a matter of fact. they almost all do. It is ime portant, = then, that they should consider such a subject as this, The trovble nowadays with marriage is that it is too often based on mere sentis ment. If it were made, as it ought to be, asubject of reflection, and proper wisdom were exercised, the number of ill-assorted murringes would be greatly reduced and wedlock would become what God meant it to be—the spring of perpetual comfort and joy. 1? adies value their present interests as they ought, the, 1o be, when murringe comes, the right sort of wives, If young men would save themselves from life’s worst burdeng and troubles, they will be careful to soe cure the right sort of wives, “It is to be feared that a great man; people regard as the right sort of a wife a woman who possesses beauty or accome plishments or money. Now, these thing are well cnough as far as they go. Buf if they form the only qualitications, there will likely be disappointment and sutisfaction before many years have ed away. Beauty is apt to fuae and mplishments to” be forgotten, and money to to either take wings or bring with it a spoiled and selfish nature, Real wifehood must found itself in deeper and more internal qualities, The marriage relation, to be the source and snpport of 1ife’s best blessings, must call into nctivity the nobler powers and feels ings of the mind and heart. “To be more specitic, the right sort of a wife will know something of the duties of the home over which she is to pres side, She will have tact to manage itg affairs so that it will be the n\\'uulllg place in the world for her husband an hildren, She will be a woman of intels ligence, who will be able to understand and sympathize with her husband in his business or studies, She will be of an amiable disposition, She will bring to her husband an undivided h apt heart filled with unselfish allec th and neral Custer