Omaha Daily Bee Newspaper, August 20, 1893, Page 7

DOON. OF THE BOND SCHEMES General Condemnation of the Latest Invest- ment 8windla STATE OFFICIALS'. VIGOROUS OPINIONS Disguised Lotteries and False Frotanses to Bo Stamped Out by the Iron fleel of Law—Facts for Hond Promoters And Thelr Vietims. Bond investment companies have not at- tompted to retute or seriously dispute the allegations of Tnr Brer regarding their character and methods, The managers herd andelsewhere assume a lofty air of injured innocence, and while publicly professing in- difference, privately they taint the air with sulphurous exclamations and lamentations. And they have good reason for their condi- ton, Their game 1s up. State and federal authorities are on their trail, determined to squeich the bond scheme and punish the schemers, The managers of bond companies assert that opposition to them is prompted by jeal- ousy. ““We aro antagonized,” they say, “‘by insurance companies and building and loan associations, because we have a bettor thing and are taking business from them." This assumption is as transparent as their pretensions of honesty. Insurance companies are hedged in with rigorous laws and are subject to ofticial regulation and ex- amination. The moment they issue a policy they assume a risk ina given amount, pay- able if the holder of the policy dies the next moment: It requires an elastic imagination 10 place bond companies on a plane with in- surance companies. Bond companies assume no risk whatover, They cater to cupidity, are subject to no legal resteaints, and are at present wholly irresponsiblo. Nor are they o be compared in the samo breath with legitimate building_and loan nssocintions here or elsewhere. Building ana_loan asso- ciations are recognized as o most offective incentive to lome building. To that end stato legislation safoguaras them, eliminat- ing the element of speculation as far as prac- ticable, subjecting them to official supervi- aion and ibvariably prohibiting robbery under the guise of forfeitures. Specimen Hrick, Onoof the bond concerns which indig- nantly denies that it is a lottery is located in Council Bluffs—the Perpetual Maturity Bonding company. It announces with a flourish’ that it is incorporated under the laws of Towa. The certificate amounts to nothing as a guarantee. Itis simply a v ceipt for the fees required under ordinar incorporation laws. A company may be - corporated under the same law o build a railroad to the moon. The Perpotual announces that it has a snap and generously permits any person to come in_on payment of $10. The monthly payment is 8125, The 25 conts is taken for expenses. The balance, together with fines, €0 into a trust fund, and when 1,000 has ac- cumulated o bond is paid. There is to be no investment of the fund, therefore the only sourco of profit is that which comes {from the misfortune or disgust of the com- pany’s dup: ailure 1o pay monthly dues within thirty days after becoming due for- feits all payments previously made. But how aro the bonds paid? The Perpotual says thoe first 300 bonds be paid in consecutive ovder. That will_require an accumulation of 300,000 in blocks of §1,000. Subpose the company has 1,000 continuous investors paying #1,000 a month, or §12,000 a year. It would take the Tolder of bond 300 just twenty-five years to rench a divvy. Meanwhile, the managers will have pocketed $15,000 in cold cash. After bond #00 is disposed of the compauy Promises a little diversion for the victims, which it _cheerily insists is not a_lottery scheme. It will be noticed tho multiplo of three is strangely absent. This scheduie 8hows the plan: PAY. 801.. T Where Do tho Missing Ones ‘What becomes of numbers 315, , und a score of others omitted from orall that may leaves the world ess the company re 0? 817, 818, this, follow 412, the com- in the dark. Doubt- s there is no neces- ity for elavorating the scheme, and the manner in which the press and the authori- ties are going after like swindles justifies their foresiznt, Iu this as in ull boud schemes the great yelinnce for gain is on lupses. The statis- tics of o companics quoted to £how that vast sums are possible under this mothod. ‘This is ono of the allurements held out to the gullible. *Stick to your pay- ments,” the agent says 1o an investor, “and 'you will come out ahead. Per- pistenc is a winner.” Let us sunpose the advice is strictly followed by all holders of bonds. How long will it take the holder of say No. 815, omitted from tho lottery plan, to mature his bond? If he comes from B family of centenarians and possesses adequate grit and mind, the bond will reach the matured stage in eighty-three yoars and four months, provided his installients are ¥ot apart for that purpose. For the shadowy chance of §1,000 at the end of that period he will have paid $1,250. This is one of the lapses that may bo safely counted on. Manifestly the promoters utter a truth when they pronounce the scheme a snap— for themsol To quote an Irishism, there ain’t any lapses, we'll all lapse.” But this system of lapse is not only reprehen- siblo; it is robbery under a more genteel name 1u support of the promiscd fortunes the Perpetual furnishes guarantees as shallow ns its pretenses. 1t reports capital stock paid up #3,000, an_amazing sum surely, and supplements it with a guarded ceriificato sigued by robutavle business men, setting forth that hitherto the president of the con- seru has borne o #ood reputation, But the signors carefully avold an endorsement of nis present business scheme. ‘What Mussourl Is Doing. Tho setion of the federal authorities in Denver in arresting the promoters of bond sehemes has practically squelched the busi- ness there, The oftices of several have been closed and others are secking more congenial quarters in out of the way places. The suthorities of Missouri snd Kansas have been aroused to the magnitude of the swindle and other states will soon join in the work of annihilation, Missouri is accorded the questionable honor of being the parent of bond schemes. Nive of them have been incorporated in the tate. but is soon as their character became nown a law was passed requiring them to deposit with the state treasury $100,000 in cash as a protection for investors. But this provision is not considered suficient protect- Hon, nor does it reach the root of the ovil. In a recent published lotter Hon. A. A, Losueur, setretary of state, vigorously con- demns bond companies and says they should not be sanctioned by the state. Corporation privileges ave now denied to all bond com- panies, and the secretary anuounces that Quo warranto proceedings will be instituted by the attorney general bofore the state su- prouie court in Octover for tho purpose of sunuling the charters of those now in exist- ence. Puarely w Lottery, Speakitg of their character generally, Becretary Lesueur says: *'No person can hold that the lottery prin- ;lpli ‘does not underlle the mannor of doing usiness. in vogue with these bond invest- ment companies. Thut they are uusound, considered from a scientific basis, is unques- tionable. It has grown into an axiom in business circles that wherever something is ln'nmhud for nothing the promise covers a raud, and yot these companies brazemly ad- vertise that for an expenditure of $25 or $30 BU luvestor may receive $1,000, concealing tho fuct by {rrelevaut comparisons with mortuary and osher insurance tables that tho excess roceived by this person is paid by pher iuvestors in the so-called bouds. As w wuller of fact, there s uothing HE OMATA DAILY BEE which can honoestly of fairly be compared as between the business done by these bond investment companies and that transacted by logitimate life insurance companies. The former are unscientific, depend entirely unon a continuation of investors for the payment of previously subscribed-for bonds. without any accumulative feature to enable all in- vestors to be legitimately paid, whereas the y reverso is true in regard to life insur- ance companies, In the bond investment company the member who pays has no pro- tection ; his money is taken to pay off bonds of earlier numbers than his own, and he must trust to chance only that porsons will continue to bo gullible and to purchase bonds in order to provide money to pay him. This is purely a lottery and the moment thata lack of confidence in the companies arrives the whole thing goes to smash and the more recent investors loso their money. 'This has been the experionce of othor states where tho experiment has been tried. Mussachusetts Sentiment. Secretary Lesueur quotes the following from reports made by Hon. George S. Mer- rill to the logislature of Massachusetts in 1891-02, respoctively “It ia doubtful, if, since the famous South Sea bubble, such a gambling mania has seized an intelligent people as that devel- oped in the sproad of the assessment endow- ment and its natural and lemtimate off- spring, the bond jnvestment insanity. “We hold mass meetings in Boston at which the governor and our_chief are present to condemn_with warm words the Louisiana Lottery. From my experience in the insurance department the past cight months, 1 belieye that the commonwealth of Massachusetts had better four years ago have passed o statuto legalizing the Louisi- ana Lottery and authorizing it to open.a branch office in the front corner of the Old South shurch, or here under this dome, than to have enacted the statute that allowed this class of corporations to do business, with the wreck and ruin which has already come and which 1n a large measuro is to follow, if this Business goes on as at present.” Blast from Kansas. State officers of Kansas have 1ssued a cir- cular showing up the methods of bond com- panies. The document is to bo given the widest possible circulation and is signed by R, S. Osborne, sccrotary of state; John T\ Little, attorney general, and L. H. Snyder, superintendent of insurance. It is headed: “Official Notice—Fraud! A Swindle!” and begins as follows: ““As officers of the state of Kansas it be- comes our duty to warn the people of & cei tain fraud and swindle which has sprung up within the last three or four years to which the proper attention ot our state legisiature hasnot yot been called. Wo refer to the many so-called bond_investment companices, is, companios that 1ssue and sell their own bouds, collecting & monthly payment from each purchaser until the bond is said to mature, when the company promises to pay the face of the bond, which is usually $1,000.7 “Ihen follows some extracts from the pros- pectus of one of the companies, showing its plan and holding ou! inducements to investors, closing “Our former attorney general, Hon, John N. Ives, gave & written opinion strongly con- demning these so-called bond investment companies, which opinion is fully concurred in by the present attorney geaeral. The |l:|mmg sentence of that opinion is as fol- o0 Until the legisiature shall, by some ad- ditional legislation, provide that such cor- porations may be formed in the state, and proviao for the protection of the partics who may be induced to invest in their so-called bonds, Tam clearly of the opinion that the business which they contewmplate doing is illegitimate and should not be tolerated in the state, much less sanctioned by any of the state officials.’ “Hureafter all companies, officers or agents of bond investment companies. ~whether home or foreign, found operating in the state of Kansas will be prosecated for swindling, In conclusion we hereby ask the assist- ance of all good citizens in stamping out this fraud and swindle by reporting to the secre- tary of state the names of companies, ofi- cors or agents doing business within the Limits of the state of Kansas.” Nebraska Moving, The example of neighboriug states will probably be followea by the authorities of Nebraska, The attention of the State Banking department has been called 1o the bond schemes by State Bank Examiner Mec- Grew in the following letter, filed afew days ago: To TiE HONORABLE STATE BANKING BOARD, LixcoLy: Gentlemen—My attention has been called to the fact that there are a num. ber of so-called *‘bond investment compa- nies” who are operatng withim the state. ‘The common plan of advertising adopted by the conceras is printed cireulars distributed by mail and i person, butsome of them even have the temerity to advertise in leading newspapers the iocation of their of- fic Several of these circular advertise- ments have been placed in my hands and are cuclosed herowith. They contain a sense- less conglomeration of life insuranuce and building and loan statistics intended to d ceive tho unwary into the belief that they are making an investment in an institution operated upon a similar plan, when, in fact, it is a lottery pure and simple, with tho ex- cepion that the managers name in advance who shall draw the lucky number. They usually print a series of numbers which run something like this: 1 then4 then 16; 2 then 8 then 32; 3 then 12 then 48, and so ou. Buta glance at the plan will show that whoever has been favored with bond No. 1will receive 800 or $1,000, as the case may be, as soon as there have been suflicient suckers induced to pay into the treasury an amount of monoy-equal to the face of the bond. aftor deducting the sum retained by the managing ofticers for expensos, which is usually a very large per cent of the amount contributed. ‘Then, next, the person who holds No. 10 in’ the series comes in for the payment of his bond us soon as enough victims have re- sponded. 1o matter of fairness, the old-fashioned lotteries, diven out of existence by stringent postal laws, were models of honesty com- pared with these disreputable concerns. In those it was at least presumed that after deducting all exponses of the promoters the balance was fairly distributed by among its victims, but these concerns do not even make a pretense of this, but select themselves in advance who among their shall bo permitted to reccive the contributions of the vietimized. Bond No. 1 is usually held by some promi- nent personage in the vicinity where he resides, who at once rushes into a printed testimonial of the *high character” of the promotors of the concern and that he is *well satistied with his investment.” Some months agoonoof these concerns had the impudence to apply to this board for a certificate of wuthority under the building and loan association actof 1501 to transact business in this state. The application was relectod without ceremony. But it seems that they are still carrying on the business within the state, and as thoy attempt to de- ceive the public by endeavoring to make people beliove that they are operating under the plan of building loan associations, I am of tho opinion that it is propor that this de- partment should make an investigation of the matter. Missourl's Adverse Action, The following forcible and truthful edi- torial comment appeared in the August num- ber of the American Investments : numbe: "B{ the action of the Missouri legislature, which requires a deposit of $100,000 from bond nvestment compani nearly all of these devilish deceiving institutions will be shut out from doing business in that state. But one, the gigiutic Guaranty Investment company of Nevada, wiil be entitled to do business. Tt is only a question of time when its sins will be found out and its wicked heels turn heavenward. We hang our heads for shame for the want of the commonest sort of judgment displayed by the suckers that invest in this concern. The tricks put up to entrap the people who desire to get rich on the mile-a-minute system are worthy of & botter cause. 1t is disgraceful, too, that for an early maturing bond of a thousand or 50 dollars, even some reputable men will not hesitato to endorse publicly the fraud. Mas- sachusotts has stamped "them out entirely and it is to be commended for its good work. Missouri has done well but should do better. Colorado and other states can serve their citizens no betier than by pounding the life out of the fraudulent concerns. We boldly advise no investments in these numerical bond investment companies " From the above it will be seen that vig- orous steps have boen taken by other states to drive theso concerns out of existence. It is evident that the oficers of some of these institutions are in foar of prosecution by the posial sutborities from the fact that tho following appears fn Targe type and rod ink upon the oirculdrs they have issuod: “How to send montly. Send only bank arafts, expross money orders o cash by oxpross. Money sent in any othor way will be returnea.” T would respoctfully recommend that the attorney general be requested to advise tho county attorneys in the several counties whero thess companies are operating to enforce the law relating to lottery schemes in its usmost rigor and that the attention of the postal authorities be called to the fact that the mails are being used for fravdulent purposes, to tho end that all institutions of this character can be driven out of the state. Respectfully submittod, C. ¥. MoGrrw, State Bank Examiner, ‘The Nebraska law relating to lotteries (section 5,820, statutes of 1801) provides that “if any person shall open, set on foot, carry on, promote, make, or draw, public or privately, any lottory, or scheme of chance, of any kind or description, by what- ever name, style or title the same may be de- nominated or known," is liable to a fine not exceeding $500, The Good wnd the Bad. Owmana, Aug. 19.—~To the Editor of Tue Ber: [nregard to the recent criticisms and strictures of tho press on bond companies, we have this to say; that we make no de- fense, nor have we any desive to defend irresponsible and unlawful concerns that issue bonds to the credulous and unwary, any more than we have to defend so-called insurance companies and building and loan associations, that like mushrooms have grown up in a night, we leave the merits of each of those institutions to the judgment of o discriminating public. Itis the business of Jur company to presentoucsystem of dolng business to the public in & business way anc 10 give them all we promise. We aro legally incorporated under the laws of this state, have not been interfered with by anybody, and have no fearsof being disturbed by eithor the state or federal authorities The abuse recently heaped upon bond com panies, emanates from persons whose love for the dear people is not so_great as their fear of formidable rivals, with whom they are unable too compete. A failure of argu- ment too frequently results in abuse, but it Dnever convinces anyone. We are willing, at all times, to compare our methods or our system with any of our rivals. There are, unfortunately, in overy com- munity some persons who are constitutional negatives. They seem to deem it their duty 0 0pposo every new theory advanced, and every public measure proposed. Thoy are clogs in tho wheols of progress. hindrances to the dovelopment ana advance of new principles and enterprise. To decry everything that does not emenate from themselves or belong to their narrow range of thought, seems to be the principal object of their existence. Thatsuch com- mand attention is fortunately no evidence of their merit. That a thing 18 new is no reason why it lacks merit. “Such s the rule of the unreas- oning. All the institutions around us were oncenew and untried. Yet lapseof time has proved them founded in wisdom. Life insurance was once not ouly new, but was denounced in_strongest terms, and pro- nounced sacrilegious and wicked. It was charged with being an incentive to con- spiracy, fraud and murder; it was denounced by the press and preached against from the it. Yet it survived, and the nations of y rise to call its workings blessed. ~Mil- ns have reaped its benefits, and millions yet unborn will spring to lifeand joy to sound its praise. Building associations which dot the broad land with their thousands of organizations, and tens of thousands of upbuilt homes. had their birth in newness. Their history proves their worth and calls for trumpet sounds of praise wherever honest industry strives for sturdy g No intelligent per- son of today even attempts to dispute the facts that a review of the history of theso two great financial euterprises -develops. For nearly every city, town and viltage n the broad land have within their borders evidence of the beneficence of one or the other of these two systems, 1o which they point with pride and satisfaction, If the investigation shall prove that there is within our borders a better than they, let us not forget that this is the age of progress and practiéal materialisn, and that, 0, 100 prove upon the .old is not to rob it of the honor it has won, nor todecry the good of its particular sphere. And let us not forget that the humbugs that have arisen in those institutions do not argue against the system on which they are founded. E. P. EvaNs, Secretary People’s Investment Co. e et Leuvenmark dives today atCourtland, 3:30 and T:45. At 3:30 he gives his:first and only fancy and trick swimming. Lo POLICE PARAGRAFHS, People Whose Names Adurned the Register at the Station, Two vagrants, Moore and Hill, have been sentenced to thirty days on the streets by the police judge. ‘Sentence was suspend upon their promise toleave town at once. Complaint has reached Chief Seavoy from C. B. Blackburn, 1305 Park avenue, that a gang of boys congregate around that corner, and that he wants them dispersed by the police. Chief of Police Speers of Kansas City shipped the Kountze Memorial silver service to Theodore Olesen. The property, which was stolen a couple of weeks ago from the church, was found in the weeds in the suburbs of Kansas City. 7 Chief Seavey is in receipt of a telegram from Syracuse, N. Y., which says that Charles Wilson has been positively identified as the murderer of Detective Harvey and thanking the chief for valuable information regarding the career of Wilson. “The Chicago police want the Omaha ofti- cials to look out forand arrest Goorge Stone, who is wanted for the murder of Robert son. and Frank Graham, who killed a 17- yesr-old boy named Ryan. Both crimes Were committed about the 1st of the month. Chief Kain of the Saginaw, Mich., police forco has written Chief Seavey for an opinion regarding the eficiency of the fire and police signal system here, saying that the Sagivaw department is going to put such a4 sysiom in service and that they want to buy the best. The system used here 1s known as the Chicago signal box system and is probably the best that can be bought. August J. Ulrich is a man the police would like to find. He is wanted for obtaining §285 worth of goods, a bicycle and u buggy from Parlin, Orendorf & Co. of Peoria under false pretenses. He represented to the firh that he was a partner in the firm of J, I. Ulrich & Son of Kl Creek, Neb. The goods wore shipped, after which it was found that the representations of Ulrich were false. The police judge had his fiehting clothes on yesterduy morning, and he gave some of “the old chronics a good lesson. Wilson and Queal, vagrants and gamblers, were given & sixty days suspended sentence. “1f you are not out of town by 4 o'clock this afternoon,” said the judge, *'I will compel you to serve out your full sentence. The gams" were glad to get away and struck vight out for the fowa side of the river, Mose Silverstien is a peddler and lives on Jackson street between Ninth and Tenth streets. He is jealous of his wifeand pa; ticularly so of a boarder named Tally, Yes. terday noon tho peddler went home und boat his wife uumercifully, alleging that she had been unduly intimate with the boarder. The police were notified and Dr. Somers was sent for to dress the woman's bruises, whick fortunately were not serious, Sllverstein was arrested for disturbing the peace. ‘Sleepy”’ Hewitt was up again yesterday morning for disturbing the peace. * He was backed by William Carson, Frank Brown and William Brewer. Tho quarter was drinking beer down on the bottoms pear Fifteenth and Burdette sireets yesterday afternoon and got intoa fight. Carson hit “Sleepy” with » board » d then when called ‘on in police court tried tq explain that 1t was all a joke. of a joke, wasn't it, to hit me over thu head with a board?" remarked Hewitt contemp- tuously. “Sleepy” and Carson were givén twenty days in the county jall, thie first and last two on bread and water. The other lads will have to pay $12,50 upiece before hey regain their liberty. —_— Bullding Permits. The following permits to bulld were issued yesterday : 8. Jacobs, 1204 Faroam, recofstrue- tlon of store and fiat.. g Appote Three wiROF permits.. 6,000 260 8 5,250 PR o The Bicketts, 4 aad 8, Courtland beach. Four permlits, aggregating... “Yeos, it was 3 h—] | MERIT OF AN INDIAN;FOLDIEH REWARDED Some Splendid Shots —Cavalry Competition roficlency with Ritle and Revolver ~Society PeopM-Attended the Afmair In Large Numbers, Along with the blare of social trumpets and the beat of social drums the citizenry and soldiery of Omaha and the Department of the Platte gathored on the parade ground at Bellovue rifle range yesterday to witness the revolver practice and presontation of medals to the cavalrymen who had distin- guished themselves in their deparimental shoot. Bellevue, in its garbof green, never looked more inviting than yesterday, after the rain of the morning. The river at the foot of the high bluffs looked like a broad bana of silver running away to the horizon, here and there flecked with narrow bars of sand, making the water more like the metal which is so loved, and withal, despised by sections of mankind, “There is & plcturesqueness about the rango which lifts one above the dull commonplace and makes one long that such pastoral love- liness might be given over to the sweet, com- muner of nature rather than to gaze upon the entless possibilities of war that ®o on there yearly. The face of the country round about Bellevue is full of expression— undulating hills, long sweeps of vallev, with a foilage that has an airy grace, a spirituclle look, und an atmosphere that is full of sun- shine. These beauties in which nature has been the great artist were enhanced yester- day by ths flower of Omaha, who in grace- ful summer colors completed an ensemble perfect in every part. The Burlington yesterday rana special train to the ritle range, leaving at 1 o’clock, with five coaches comfortably filled with many of Omaha's leading citizens, who at- tended, to give interest to the ocoasion. Fiuish of Cavalry Competition. The guests of the camp were permitted to seo the finish of the cavalry competition, the soldiers firing at the silhouettes, which were placed at 25, 20, 15, 10 and 5 yards, the marksmen shooting in squads of fifteen. To the great majority of the guests it was a novel and interesting sight, the horsemen suggesting in their movements somewhat rough riders scen near Midway plai- but usually showing on the dark fig- ure of the horse and rider that they had “their good eye” with them, After the mounted firings, five shots to the right and the same number to the left, the de grounds assumed an anmated appear- nce, waiting for the presentation of the medals. The band defiled from the band stand, and taking position at the head of the campus played an_enlivening quickstep, while the squad of thirty men took position in front of the general command- ing, John R. Brookd, Colonel Benham, inspector of small arms ' practice, and the ofMcers of the Departhivent of the Platte, who in full uniform ga¥e’ brillancy to the slowly descending aftetnoon sun. Lieutenant Prinoe, nifjutant of the camp then read the foliowing order: Y RTERS DEPARTSENT OF THE PLATTE, OMAHA, Neb, Aug. 19, ¥803.—Genoral Orders, No. 14.--At the fitth annaal cavalry compo- titon for the Dopartmeits of tho East, tho Platto and Callfornia, field at Bellovue ‘rifio rango August 14 to 19, under genoral order No. 48, currant series, beadquartors of the army, and generat ordeld No. 9, Juno 20, 1892, Depittment of the Platte, tho following tions were niade and ary liercby announced: Revolve¥ Toam. B8 M oot it LSIRIDIW UKV JQOUL 'LV 'TINVX| = e 181 The followlng named onlisted men being the five highesy participants in the eavairy com- petition for the deparuments of tho Eust, tho Plateo and Calitornia for 1893, using the ' cur- bine, are in accordance with hurmlrnrh 7, general orders No. 1 heudquarters of the army, series 1890, selected as potitors for pl y earbine toum, ordered to assomble at Fort Shoridan, 11L, Soptwmver 11, by paragraph 2, general ordérs, ‘ete.: E. O, Poriing, "oy o, M. I, Davis, L A Fullor and G. J. Hassen, while the following dis: tinzuished marksmen were solected to ropre- sent the department at the competition of district murksmen Septembor 13 Jack- son and J. Garrard. Skl of an Indian Soldier. The fourth paragraph caused considerable interest, referring as itdid, to Sergeant Fast Dog of the Sixth cavalry, who through some misunderstanding was sent to repre- sent his troop in the tri-department cavalry compotetion, Though barred, General Brooke allowed him to enter the school with the astonishing result that he stood No. 2la out of a list of 37T competitors with the carbine und second yesterday with the revolver, a very remarkable record, which goes largely to disprove the present ' theory of the War department that the Indian will not make a good soldior. After the reading of the orders General Brooke took position in front of his support- ing officers and addressed himselt to the soldiers drawn up at a present avms. He spoke of the esprit'*de corps and re- marked that in no otHer*army in the world could whites, colored and’indians be found competing for medals upep the same grounds of absolute equality. alluded enpas: to the animating ulrn?nf the soldier how these lessons in tifite' of peace might come useful in time of War, which said the genoral: 1 hope will’ipver dawn upon this fair land .’ There was & patriotic sentiment phtbughout the short address, his allusion 1 tho graying hairs of the men about him 6 represented the spirit_of the army A particular, ful. Then eac s name wa he came forward, dlp. General Brooke pinued the medal upo breast. The officers of the c¢f had clubbed to- gether to purchase thant Fast Dog a medal and when Genefdd ‘Brooke presented the unexpected troph! the statucsque aborigine he said: “WHIlH you do not speak our language I ani told ybli understand it. 1 want you to wear this medal as a symbol of what the Indian can do under proper sur- roundings. Let it be a talisman of priceless value because you huve won it against white and colored alike. Ideeply regret that you could not have been per- m mitted to wear o medal made by the nation, but nevertheless it will ‘stand for much to you iu the years tocome.” Aud the ap- plauso that went up profoundly toushed the andsome spocimen of his race. Eutertalued by the Ofoers, After the presentation the guests were en- tertained in thé various teuts, where good drlnklb‘u and eatables were to be had. AL 0 o'clock the guests returned to Omaha by llpoulll train, Of the military present there were: Gen- eral Brogke snd his aides, utenants %uu and Dean; Genera) ndy, Colo- nel Benham, Captain Worden, Captain Crowder, Major Cushing, Major Worth, Cap tain Keller, Captain Kinzie, Captain War ing, Captain Waebster, Among the othor griests woro Mrs. Brooke, Mrs, Worth, Mrs. Humphrey, Mrs, Moxin, Mr. and Mrs. Riall, Oaptain and Mrs. Broateh, Mrand Mrs, J. N. H; Patrick, Mr. and Mrs. Cowin, M John L. Webstor, Miss Stoarns, Mrs Ifibbard, Miss Moxia, Misses ' Gotrio Kountze, Dund, Webster, Dandy, Loughton of _ Washington, Wool' worth, Emily Wakeloy, Fritza Barnard, McKenny, Yates. Florence Yates, Jentia Yates, Anua Millard, Helen Millard, E Cowin, Mae Burnes, Helen Smith, Burton, Nellie Moore, Kinzie, Worth, War ing and eMesses. Al Patrick, H.J.'Davis, Horvert and_Will Rogers, Clark iRRedick. Art Guigu, Bd Fairfierd, ' Will and Guy Doane, Net Hall, Herman and Luther Kountzo, (ieorge Mercer, Earl Gannett. Zug Vietor White, Martin Johnson and Charles Wilson, — Leuvenmark dives today at Courtland, 0 and 7:45. At D he gives his first and only fancy and trick swimming. polbesiin-Sadniy MUTUAL MISTAKE. Lively Experience of R. L. Ketchum and Several Others on Friday Nigh R. L. Ketchum, a Beg reporter, was sud- denly called to Blair about 11 o'clock Friday night. Asno trains wore running at that hour, Mr. Ketctium hired a horse and buggy Stephe s livery stablo. Accompanied by a driver named Hansen, he at once started on his journey over the dark and lonely road. About a mile beyond Fort Omaha Ketchum and the driver met four men, whom they, at that time and under the circumstances, re- gacded as highwaymen. Subsequent dovel- opments prove that the supposed high men were bicyclists on a ramble at o rath late hour. Prompted by ciroumstancos. mentioned olsewhere, Ketchum fired at the men, and the latter, not exactly understanding mat- ters clearly, resumed their journey to Omaha on their wheels with a mistaken idea of the identity of tho occupants of the buggy. No- body was hurt. It was evidently a mutual mistake. Mr. Kotehum proceeded to his destination and the bicyclists reached the o The affair was telophoned to the city Fri- day night and tho supposition, at that time, was that Ketchum had experienced a brush with road agents. Speaking of the matter yesterday, Kotchum said: “We were driving along at a fair gait when a man suddenly came out of the high weeas which borders both sides of the road and blew a whistle. Threo other men then jumped out and, as it looked to me, two of them started for the heads of the horses. There were two men on each side of the bugey. and thinking they were going to at- tempt to hold us up, I pulled my revolver. Before I could fire three of the men ran back into the weeds. One of them stood his ground and I shot twice at him over the driver's shoulders. I'he horses plunged and then ran away, for at least half a mile of road was cove fore we could get the animals under control. 1 met the superin- tendent of the water works company, and as I still had a long trip before me, he loaned me another revolver and said that the piace where we had the ‘experience’ was a dan- geroug locality and that he always goes urmed when he has to travel that rord at night. “I was not frightened but was ina great hurry. When the men attempted to stop us, as I thought, I concluded that it was time to take prompt action and did so. *1 thought some of that crowd fired at us. I fired .twice. The superintendent of the water works telophoned tho affair to the police at my request and I went on to Blair where I was urgently called. “'None of theso men hud bicycles in sight and they certainly made a very foolish break in monkeying the way they did at that hour of the night. Mr. Hansen, who drove tho rig, corrobo- rates Mr. Kete tory in a'l particulars and 8 quite sure that soveral shots were fired by some one of the men on the road. Mr. Rhodes, a clerk at Union Pacitle head- quarters, said that he was one of the men who was shot at and that ho had o narrow escape from tho flying bullets. He said that he and three friends made a trip to Caihoun and wero re- turning home ou bicycles. Thoy met a buggy with two men in if, and ke clains that one of the men fired five shots at them. ‘Ihey supposed that the men 1 the buggy were grave robbers. He professed great_indigna- tion over the affair and alleged to have threatencd to have Mr. Ketchum arrested. e e SILVERITES WILL MEET, Call Issued for o Mass Meeting at Jefforson Square, 8 The committee of arrangements for the silver mass meeting to be held at”Jefferson square Thursday night, August 24, have pre- pared the following program. Mayor Bemis will pre: The following will bo the vico presidents: General C. H. Frederick, Dr. T. R. Conkling, Hon. W. J. Connell, Hon, Georgo W. Ames, W. F. Gurley, ex-Governor Alvin Saunders, John Rush, J. B. Schupp, J. B. Kitchen, Judge J. J. Points, Judge D. D. Gregory, D. Clem Deaver, William J. Welshans, Frauk Barrett, . D, Meadimber, William N. Whit- ney, Joseph P, Frenzer, Judge George W. Doane, Wilham Gentteman, all of Omaha; Judge J. M. Fowler of South Omaha, Judge J. H. Broady of Lincoln, Hon. George Abbott of Falls City, Dr. J. N. ‘Abbott of b Hon. C. J. Bowlby of Crete, ex-S dock of Beatrice, Dantel Freoman of e trice, Captain H. B. McGaw of Hastings, L, R. Fietcher of Blair, Hon. C. Sherman of Plattsmouth, The foliowing gentlemen will address tho gathering: Mayor George P. Bemis, Judge Joseph Oug of Geneva,” Paul Vandervort, Ed P. Smith, Josoph W. Edgerton, Colonel C. 8. Chase, Isaac S. Hascall and V. O. Strickler, Invitations to speuk at this meeting have been sent to ex-Congressman Walt H. But- ler of lowa, Hon. Thomas M. Patterson of Denver and Goverzor, Lewelling of Kansus. The meeting will ‘bo called to order promptly at8 p. m. Tho speaking will be from the south side of the square and the speeches will be limited to fifteen-minute talks. Everybody is cordially invitea to attend. ANEY EN Experim Hartford, an Accident. Hantrorp, Coun,, Aug. 19.—~The first ex- periment in rain making in New England was tried at Bloomfield this morning, when several half-pound dynamite cartridges were sent up attached to fire balloons. After several balloons had been successfully sent up and exploded as preliminary tests, orders were given to the experts to send up the re- mainder of the fifty balloons and cartridges as quickly in succession as possiple. The next balloon was prepared and releused. It rose & dozen feet when it was caught in & current of air and sagged. The paper near the base took fire and in a moment the bal- loon began to descend while the flames began to envelop it from bottom to top. The mass of fire with the dynamite cartridge daugling from it created a panic and scattered the crowd in all divections, The long fuse kept eating its way toward the bomb and it would be av least four minutes before the cartridge would be touched off in theregular way, but there was danger that the fire from the bal- loon would ignite the fuse close to the cartridge. - Mr, Stephens_and Mr. Chappel, the experts ‘in charge of the experiment, kept their wits about them and, as soou as the fuso could be reached, tore the cartridge from the flames and the balloon suuk to the ground & crumbled mass. It was decided that it would be too risky to have a reveti- vion of th® aceident with people standing around in danger and the experiments were cut short. No rain has fallen, but it is ex- pected the results of the experiment will be wuade wapifest within twenty-four hours. Held Hon ‘The comimittee on men sud discipline from the fire and police commissioners held a meeting in Commissioner Hartmann’s oftice yesterday afternoon. Comumissioner Smith was not present, They considered the evidence in Ofiicer Bur- rows case, and will report at the regular weeting of the commission on Monday night, when it is expected that the *‘weeding’’ out of the torce of incompetent men will take place. Suspension of » Havans Bank, Havana, Aug. 19.—The Bank of Commerce of this cliy has suspended. Conn,—Almost HAPPY IN A" HAUNTED HOUSE After Looking in Vain for a Desirable Mod- ern Oottage at Reasonable Rent. TALE OF WOE OF A YOUNG MARRIED MAN Omaha Has Few Empty ouses with Al Modern Conveniences — High Rents Where Such Are Found—Chance for Judictous Invos t of Capital. ‘‘Love laughs at locksmiths, lays the shep herd's crook beside the scepter and all that, but when it comes to looking for an unfur- nished house to rent, with all modern con- veniences, at $3) per month, in Omaha—then comes the crucial test of devotion botween husband and wite. Oh! its such a bed of roses.” The speaker turned to a Bee reporter and gave utterance to theso pessimistio viows with biting sarcasm. that evidently had a full, well developed sot of teeth. Ho wasa young man whose face is a familiar picture in the flecting panorama of humanity daily witnessed on the streets of Omaha. While young in years he bore evidence of the cares of married life. Father Time's fingers had chalkod his hair with slender streaks of white. These silvor threads were scatiered among the auburn i profusion for one so young. Only & fow years ago this young man walked down a church aisle with a majestic, bridegroom-clect stride, accompanied by one of Omaha's fairest widows. As he stood benoath u floral horseshoe on that occasion and placed a plain gold ring upon the bride’s finger, his picture of the world was a beautiful Florentine study framed in sections of an iridescent rainbow of romanc That picture of the past is now supplanted by a plain, rough ‘‘otching™ of ent, lined in’ a prosaic frame of reality Why He Is Sad and Weary, “Marriago is not a failure in_my case, you underst: pullod to explain his sol o far as dome it exists to a ver hold of which sional hes * continued the aker, as ho iments mor o hay y large extent in the house- um the head—or rather tho my wife takes a periodical notion to wear the trousers, you know, and run_things. Of course we love one another. "Thero is a beautiful motto of ‘Home, Sweot Home' in tho parlor, and 1 al- low ‘her frst husband’s full, life sized crayon to adorn the wall of the dining room. We havou sweot ray of sunshine in the way of a cute little, goliden-haired child We patiently bear the burdens of calls from the plumber—the yell of the ice wman is swoet music—answering the door bell and holding a recoption for peddlers isa pleas- uco—putting up stove pipes is redolont with entrancing joys—chasing _the neighbors' chickens out of the flower beds is a pastime fraught with enjoyment—but when it come to looking for a house to rent that will meet the mutual approval of my wife and self, then comes the red fira and slow curtain on the stage of harmony. Demand Excecds the Supply. “You see, I work on a salary, like thou- sands of other men. I am neither p nor pauper. This is an age of progress o and lot-Liv wose home is. his fortune, wants to live ina house with all modern conveniences; such as bath, furnace, gas or eleetric light, eity and torn water, good collar, yard for the children and at least one shade tree to sit beneath on a hot day and drink a glass of lemonade or put up a swing for the Now, all men working on have uot tho money to sparc to buy & home of their own. Besiles, a man on a sal does not_cnjoy 4 life lease on his position and may get the grand run at_any minute. So, an investment in a home s not always looked upon with favor by such 4 man. Con- sequently he pays rent. “It is a fact, and I speak from experienco, that while Omaha has many large basement, houses with modern conveniences, for rent, there is an_nppalling scarcity of modern six, seven and eight-room houses at such prices as £25, ®0 and $35 per month—such rent as a sularied man in a gooa position would be glad to pay and pay promptly. Detached houses of this class are scarcely vacated ere they are gobbled by eager houso scekers. 1t is a splendid_opportunity for home capital- ists 10 avail themselves of. Chasing » Rainbow. “1t is this scareity of desirable houses that causes a man and wife seeking a house to rent to tramp the cily over and contract several spasms of disappointment, jaw each other with fren: nd gnaw at the h strings of devotion. I moved a few months F After wearing out considerable shoo leather and an immenso amount of patience, 1 ftinally founi a house. They said it was haunted, and that is why it was vacant so long. Notwithstunding the fact that the house was pictured to me by trembling neighbors, as a rendezyous for hobgoblins and weird incantations. 1 looke the place oyer., 1 found all modern con- veniences, including a place in the concrete ar to keep beer cool over Sunday, and so, in a paroxysm of delight, 1 took it. Prefors Ghosts to Nightmare, “The fear of ghosts is nothing comparea with the nightmare I formerly suffered, when T would return home nights after vainly look- ing all day for a modern house, One night I dreamt I had found a beautiful eight-room cottage, with bath, gas, cellar, ete., within walking distance of the New York Life building—lovely shade trees, lurge yard- rent $30 to a good ‘tenant, ete. 1awoke to find it but a dream, and in a fow moments more, Morpheus had lulled me back to sleep and puta horrible night- mare in the shapeof a row of flats anda basement house, on my stomach. I screamed outin terror,as 1 struggled beneath the weight, and awoke just in time to hear my wife saying, in her sleep, ‘Pshaw! there 1s0’t any bath room in the house," *The result of my experiences 1 chusing after reutal agencies and staring at big bright cards of ‘For Rent’ on the sides of houses, is onty onoe of many cuses in_Omaha. It develops the fact that Omaha has fow vacant modern houses, with the possible ex- ception of basement houses and flats. ‘Women as a rule do not like tolive in a base- ment house. There are too many stairs to climb, Men, too, especially when they come homo with an imposing ‘Jag’ on, would prefer a less number of steps to surmount in ching their bedroon Puysicians will agree that it is better for a woman's health not to wear herself out running up and down several flights of stairs a dozen times a day. Henco the demand for cottuges. Something is Lacking. “In searching for s modern house, a per- son, oven one easily suited, invariably cn- counters somo objection. Where there is a bath, cellar and lawn, there frequently is no gas, and, during warm westhor, gas sloves arc'looked upon with favor by qlieeus of tho household. Again, some houses have all conveniences except & furnace, or they are short on yard, good location, or something. Where you do find a house, complete 1n all its appoint ments, the real estate agent smiles sweetly over his ciuch and taxes you $40 or $50 for the privilege of breathing behind the four walls of that section of domestic paradise for one month, A mau is more easily suited than a woman us a rule, and there is where Cupid’s mouth is drawn into the shupe of an inverted crescent and great big tears of trouble roll down the dimpled checks of that god of love, when husband and wife quarrel over the selection of a rented house. + ‘Romeo and Juliet' is a pretty, rose tinted romance, ‘Paul and Virginia'is a picture from the album of devotion that is sweet to look upon, and ‘Mary and John'is a whistling success, but none of those heroes and hero- ines ever lived in Omaha and had to chase around after an unoccupied modern cottage, otherwise they would be shattered idols of fiction.” ————i Eplscopal Parochial Sohool. ‘The priests of the Associate Mission have decided to open a parochial school in thewr clergy house, 1420 North Twenty-seventh street, on September 1. The subjects to be taught will be those of a first class grammar school, with the addition of nite re- liglous instruction. The sessions of the school are W be short, from 5:4b a. w. to | p.m. The priests of the Assoclate Mission are university men and ved teachers, There will also bo a tady teacher trom New York. A nominal fooof & a torm will be éharged. Further partioulars as to_subjects, ote.. may bo ob tained from Rev. lrving Johnson, 1420 North Twenty-soventh steeot, Omaha. St And Episcopal Mission, which has been removed from Nicholas and Forty second to Charles and Forty-first, will open for services this Sunday. The church has been closed for some time, undergoing | repairs incidental to removal, but the work is 80 nearly comploted as to enable the cons ion o have service, - D Balloon, 3 and 7:30, Courtland beach, - NUISANCE LOTS, Board of Public Works Will Not Grado the Condemned Properties. The nuisance lot question has been taken hold of by the Board of Public Works in earnest, and as a result ovor 300 of the con- demned lots will not bo graded until a per. sonal inspection by Chatrman Winspear and City Engineer Rosewater is made. T'his is the carrying out of the plan mapped out hy tho council and board and printed in Tite Bre two wooks ago. In the past tho declaring of nuisances of lots was very promiscuous and wero acted upon by tho council and condemned without any regard a8 to whether there was merit in the case or not. As a result of this procooding the city one d ast winter found that it had under enntract nearly 400 of these lots. Some ono objected to lot being filled and this led to an investigation, which rosulted in Attornoy Connell giving it _as opinfon that the procecdings had rre roand that jn the future ¢ and caution should be ob- d in declaring & 1ot & nuisance, The attorney said that before a lot could be de- clarod a nuisance thero must oxist stagnant wateron thesame or there must be good and sufficient proof that there is danger of stag- nant water oxisting, aud that whero lots were to be brought to grade the bank of earth must be dangerous to life and limb upon the stroot or alloy the s huts upon As soon as this opinion cndered the board stopped the contractors who were ac- tively engagod in filling or bringing to grade tho lots that had been declared nuisanc Since that time work of this navure has boes ata standstill. Under tho provisions of tho now charter, before tho couneil can pass an ring a lot to bea nusance hof the Board of Public Wor and the city engineer must make a perso inspection ind certify that tho ot is a nui- sanceo as it oxists With these facts staring them in the faco the councilmen concluded thay new were necessary. The committeeon judiciary recommendod, inaccordance with vhe opinion of Chairman Winsjear, that new proceed- ings should be instituted. This will be done and the contractors who had the lots in question under contract have signed a release of their contracts, freving tho city from all obligations . his been With the field no aivman Win- spear and City Engineer Rosewater will im- mediately make a persoual inspection of the lots, and they hope to have their report, ready within ten days. New ordinances will be prepared repealing the former ones and declaring such lots as they find the conditions to warrant to be nuisances, These will immediately go bofore the coun- cil, and ivis expected that within the next six weoks several contracts will bo awarded and employment given to a large number of men on this elass of work. SRR Wood WL Plonte, “The Woodmen of the World have a plan on foot by which they hope to replenish the coffers of the Creche and the Woman's Christian Association and at the same time furnish several thousand peoploan enjoyable evening next Saturday, August 26, at Court- land beach. “The beach management has donated the gate recoipts to tho Woodmen and every vis- itor who purchases aticket to the pienie to be given by the Woodmen will be adding his mite to the troasury of theso deserving charitable institutions. There will be no expense attached th the event. The Wood- men are donating their services and have ar- ranged a program of attractions that will bo very entortaining. There will be an addvess by General Cowin and a musical program in addition to the balloon ascension, fireworks and other regular and special features pro- vided by the beach managoment, There aro over 1000 Woodmen of the World in Omuha and every one of them 15 a committee to sell tickets for the enter- tainment. AMUSEMBENTS. BOYD’S rexatrs RiAepan) Priday and Saturday, Augnst 25 and %6 Spocial Matinoo Saturday. G.B. delerson’s, Kiow & Erlanger's Greal Produclion THE SOUDAN Presented e with a superior co the orlginal seenle efe 100 English Soldiers, 100 Arablan Warriors, in The Battle of the Des»rt City. 300 Men, Women and Chtldron n The Trafalgar Square Scene, s bands, fife and drum corps, horses and . Usual prices FARNAM ST.THEATER | bk Four Nights, Comm ng With Matinee pany and all E3 ) RICHARDS & PRINGLE'S FAMOUS GEORGIA MINSTRELS Hended by the greatand only Billy Kersands, Speciul mutinee Tuesday Instead of Wednosduy. any seat. PATHONGE HOME INDUSTRIES A AWNINGS. | Omaha Tent-Awning: _ FURNITURE, Chas. Shiverict & Co Furniture, carpots and araperios. 1203 Karnam st. Omiha Brewing Assn Fred Krug Brewing | COMUANY, 0| our ‘Vottiod. Cavtuoy gt o ey 1ok Guaranteed to equal 5. Vieons export bottlad boor de- livered Lo families, Paxton & Yierling | Tudustrial Tron Works. TRON WORKS. Manufacturlog sud re Wrought and cast tron | patring of all wullding work, engines, | machinery. 714 brass work. of st i " FLOUR. §, F, Gilman, 10181517 N. Joth 8 Biack, Manngor. Omaha Milling Co. Oftice and Mill, | 181N Gt st __PRINTING. | BOAP. Reed Job Printing | Page Soap Co. CUMPANY Manufaeturers of U, Beo Hullding. somp. 115 Hickory st " WHITE LEAD. | Carler White Lead Co Corroded, warranted Strletly pure white lead East Omabs.