Omaha Daily Bee Newspaper, February 17, 1894, Page 4

1 THE OMAHA DAILY BEE. iditor. 15, ROSKEWATER, PUBLIEHED BEYERY MORNINC TERMS OF SUBSCRIPTION (without anday, Dafly ily_nni gix Mont Three Mon unday It One Year Wo 19 1) N and Tearl street Chamber fom Fribue uth On Twenty-fouth Sta Councll uf Chicagn Ofiice, 317 New York, roome 13, 14 and 15, Washington, 613 Fourteenti BSPOND) Al nleations relatin torial matter ghould be addres NESS LETTERS, 1 remittances should be Publishig company Hding. AV buainess be ma tors he checks to the ¢ PURL § F of the company HE BEE HING COMPANY. = STATEMENT OF CIRCULATION, B. Taschuck, secrctary of The Bee g Auly SWOrn, Says full and complete Morning, Evening and printed during the month of 18 a8 folows: 17 18 19... Publishing coples of Bunday A1 for the month cxs reductions for turned copies Total Daily averag *sunda et cirediation. . B, TZSCHUCK. befor Wd subscribed in my presence this 6th day of February, 184, (81SAL.) N. P. FEIL, Notary Public. [ ——— Zlow appropriat Goodnight to close the debate on the Bland Thursday's session of the IORG Sworn to to permit Congressman selgniorage bill house. prney with “‘a judicial te rd. References requir eland, white house, Was Wanted per.” Apply to ington, D. ( [ ————— an at Local retail merchants who advertise are gotting the business these days. If you are skeptical on this point, follow the crowds and be convinc e A general raflway rate war might enliven things a trifle, but it would be stretching it a little to call it a measure for the protec- tion of the stockholders. Proscribe the adoption of all political reso- Intions and the frequent transmississippl congresses will lose most of their attractive- ness for the men who usually attend them. —_— When the demand for a G-cent bridge motor fare becomes a plank in a party plat- form there are fair indications that persist- ence will not be relaxed until it is an ac- complished fact. / Why not a whale-back warship? The Monitor was more of a curiosity when It made its first appearance than would be an armed whale-back today. The United States fs bound to have the latest and the best. It is the purpose of the Towa legislature to pass laws to effectually shut out all bond in- vestment lottery concerns that have been preying upon the people. The next session of the Nebraska legislature will also have the same duty to perform. The rejection of Mr. Peckham for the supreme court vacancy emphasizes the de- mand for a full beneh for that tribunal. It is time to expedite the judicial business of tho country by the nomination of a man whose confirmation is foregone If that federal grand jury at Chicago can’t find a few instances of violations of the interstato commerce law by the officlals in charge of thie railroad systems centering in that city it ought to be set to work to seo if it can discover the hole in a mill stone. Hon. Charles H. Gere, who is watching tho waning days of his occupancy of the Lincoln postofiice, has had his titles supple- mented with that of A. M. by the courtesy of the State university. Mr. Gere s proba- bly the only man in Nebraska who can lay cliam to the honor of both A. M. and P. M. Henry D. Estabrook, who spoke at the Lincoln memorial meeting in New York, scored an oratorical triumph. The Tribune says “it was the best speech of the evenlng. Mr. Estabrook is a product of the wild, woolly west, but he has evidently given the Knicker- bockers points and beasen them out. Come west, young man! With the gove/nment's bill for infrequent and scanty cafle advices from the United States legatifn at Rio Janeiro of over §4,000 the gbneral public gets an ink- ling of the expense of the full Brazilian cable reports which the press serves up to its readers daily. It will also probably ap- preciate the Brazilian news more. Nebraska is to be congratulated over the fact that Senator Allen does not agree with his demo-populistic brethren in the house in regard to the policy of striking down a prominent industry in his own state. He will Insist that the sugar interests be pro- tected, and in this ho will havg the thanks of all Nebraskans without regard to party afliation. Headsman Maxwell boasts that he has decapitated 2,000 more first class postmas- ters during the past ten months than Heads- man Clarkson did in the corresponding ten months in the previous administration, Even this glves the Nebraska democrat but little comfort. The present headsman seems to have forgotten the existence of Nebraska. p— They say that Secretary Carlisle has been wishing that he had never given up his soat {n the senate to take hold of the thanks less task of trying to make the government's revenues approximate its expenditures. Mr, carlisle 1s not the first man who wished he hadu't. He ought, however, to find some compensation In the thought that things can't much worse than they are at present. Brow The Paxton & Vierling Iron works stand a good chance of getting contract work on the new government building. This is a matter upon which the city at large may be cons gratulated, for it will bo the means of dls- tributing & very large sum of money among the mechanies and tradesmen of this city, It also that one of our important home industries Is to recelve the benefits and prestige of a government contract and that Uncle Sam will get value recelved, means - expenses. A PARTISAN PROPOSITION. The efclency of the rallway mall service by a proposition which has been favorably acted upon by the democrats of the house judiciary committee. This is a measuce to 1,000 rallway mail clerks who were dismissed from the service in the spring of 1880 to thelr former posi- In the report submitted by the demo. cratic majority of the committee it is sald that on D 1888, President Cleve- land lssued an placing the rallway mail service under the regulations of the clvil service law on and after ch 15, 1880, On March 11, 1889, President Harrison fssued an order postponing the time until May 1. The report states that during the interim from March 15 to May 1 more than 1,000 removals were made In the rallway mall service and that they were made for political reasons. It is also claimed that the efficlency of the service was reduced In con- sequence. o more reckless disrogard of the inter- ests of the people and of the efficiency of a branch of the public service ever than that which characterized the course of Postmaster General Dickinson in the last year of Mr. Cleveland’s first admin- istration, In replacing republican with demo. cratic clerks in the raflway mail It was a bold and unscrupulous prostitution of t Hun- dreds of con- is threatened restors tions. mber 1, order was shown service, service for political purposes clerks who thoroughly versant with their duties and had performed them faithfully were dropped from the ser- because they were and their places filled with The effect was necessarily The efficiency of the service was destroyed and complaint universal. Taking hun- dreds of experienced men out of a service where experience i so essential and put- ting n their places others who had not the least knowledge of the difficult duties could not be otherwise than disastrous. This highly important branch of the postal ser- vice was utterly disorganized and got to be 50 bad as to become a matter of congres- sional Yet notwithstanding this lamentable condition of affairs Mr. Cloveland proposed to perpetuate it by signing an order near the close of his term putting the service under the civil service law. When the Harrison administration came in the railway mail service was in a more de- moralized and inefficient state than ever be- fore since it had been organized. The new administration had no more difficult or im- portant, task than that of restoring the use- fulness and efficiency of this service. The postmaster gencral addressed himself to this task promptly and vigorously. The order placing the service under the civil service law was postponed at the instance of the Civil Service commission, because it was ab- solutely Impossible for the commission to complete the classification by the first date. In the meantime the service was purged of the incompetents and many of the old and experienced men put back. It was both a proper and,a necessary thing to do, in the interest of tho public, and it resulted in ele- vating the railway mail service to the highest state of usefulness and efficiency It had ever reached. It ought to be impossible for the proposed measure to reinstate the clerks who were re- moved from the railway malil service be- tween March and May of 1889 to pass either branch of congress, but It is to be feared that it may be carried through both, so eager is the desire of the democrats to selze upon overything that is in sight. The success of this partisan proposition would agaip, de- moralize and disorganize the railway mail service, now In excellent condition, and In- evitably work great injury to the public. were vice republicans democrats. demoralizing. became consideration. AT THE CROSS ROADS. The Union Pacific managers, or rather the receivers, now find themselves at a point that may be termed the cross roads. The railroad has been insolvent for several years by reason of an enormous bonded debt and fictitious capitalization, For several months past it has been in the hands of receivers to keep it from going into the hands of preferred creditors. This has only been a temporary makeshift. The earnings of the road have fallen off nearly $200,000 a week, and there is nothing in sight to justify ex- pectations of a material improvement. The fact that all but one of the Pacific roads are bankrupt and in the hands of receivers, by reason of over-capitalization, ruinous compe- tition=and a collapse of traflic, snows beyond a doubt that there are too many overland roads for the population and commerce of the transmissouri country. The attempt to lighten its burdens by wage cutting has been frustrated by Judge Caldwell's order, and the Union Pacific managers must now grapple with the con- dition which forces itself upon them. It they cannot cut the pay roll they must cut the coupon-cutters. In other words, if wage reduction is not practicable they must apply the interest on the first mortgage bonds, which has been sacredly held in reserve all these years, and use it to meet running They have defaulted on (he government bonds for twenty years because Uncle Sam had more money than he knew what to do with. When they default on the first mortgage, as they must within the next six months, the wrecked concern will be foreclosed and put through the railroad Keeley cure. The water will be wrung out and so will the stimulants that have been injected from time to time to keep it on its legs. Once the road has gone through that process it will become strong and healthy again. Aaything else would bo quackery, with no material or permanent relief. The problem just now is whether the receivers shall steer the wrecked con- cern fnto foreclosure or whether they shall make another desperate effort by getting voluntary concessions of reductions from em- ployes or endeavoring to make reductions through legal process, which at best, is a questionable proceeding. MMMIGRATION LAWS WORKING WELL. It s the disposition of the house commit- toe on Immigration not to make any mate- rlal changes in the statutes relating to im- migration, and it 1s belleved that none will be made. It appears to be the opinion of the committee, according to the reported statement of Its chairman, that the existing laws ought to be given a full and fair trial before any changes are made, and Inasmuch as they are working satisfactorily there can bo no question as to the soundness of this view. It Is announced that the house im- migration committee will oppose the propo- sition to require a consular inspection of persons coming to this country, on the gvound, In the first place, that there is no necessity for a departure from the system now belng pursued, and in the second place that It is impracticable to put this gddi- tional work upon consuls without increastng their compensation so as to enable them to employ whatever additional help might be required. Our understanding of this propos sition 1s that it simply provides for an in- vestigation by consuls as to whether alions coming to this country are under contract to labor, the Iidea being to establish a | stronger safeguard against violations of the alien contract labor law. It is important to the interests of American labor that this w shall be rigidly enforced, and it Lias been charged that such is not the case. If this charge unfounded thero s, of course, no necessity for consular inspection, and if there were necessity for it, obviously it would be impracticable to have an efficient inspection without increasing the force, and the prineipal There Is a very valld objection was consequently the expense, at consulates, to deing this at present, and it could not be Justifie v It is gratifying to learn ftative source that the immigration laws are accomplishing the desired end of Keoping out immigrants and increasing the number of desirable immigrants, for the probability is that for the next few years the addition to population from this sourco will be small, and it Is to be desired that those who come shall be of the best class. The industrial conditions which are likely to prevail in this country for a time— how long it would be hazardous to predict— will not encoura, immigration. As a mat- ter of fact, the probability fs that the gain and loss will pretty nearly balance, as has been the case for some months past. It Is an Interesting fact that the steamship lines report that for a considerable time they have been taking back to Europe about as many of the class coming under the general designation of immigrants they brought over, and the continuance of movement for a time is to Manifestly, it the industries of Europe are stimulated greater activity by our new economic policy, the surplus labor here will be drawn in that direction and this Is what is already taking place. It is obviously, therefore, not a time for chang- ing immigration laws with a view to rendering them more rigid or for imposing any new There need be no apprehension of an excessive influx of people from Europe during the next year or two, and we shall be fortunate if we acquire any increase of population from this source. INSURANCE IN 10WA. Tnsurance men in Iowa are in a fair way to gather the crop that is the natural result of their injudicious sceding. Having sown the wind of advance in rates and the 80 per cent with a lapse of ninety days between the occurrence of a fire and the scttlement of the policy, they are now reaping the whirlwind of legislation. Bills are pending In the legislature which pro- pose many alterations in the present insur- fws. One of these is to increase the tax levied on the gross business transacted by the companies in the state. Another prposes to reduce to thirty days the time in which losses from fire must be settled by the companies carrying risks on the property destroyed. Another bill, and the one which the insurance men find the most distastetul, is -the valued policy bill, similar in many respects to that now in force in Nebraska. There has gathered at Des Moines a lobby of insurance men, said to be the most power- ful of any ever assembled in the state, its avowed purpose being to influence members of the legislature in favor of the companies and to secure the defeat of the measures which tend to any restriction of the priv- ileges now accorded the companies. For months the insurance companies have been putting the screws on the Towa property owners, the evident intention belng to make the rate “all the trafic would bear.” Pro- tests loud and long have been sent up from the business communities affected by the ad- vances, but no relief has been given. In- variably the answer from the Insurance com- panies, through the manager of the Iowa Dool, has been that rates were too low; that the companies were not securing the proper returns for the risks assumed, and other equally cogent reasons. In addition the 80 per cent clause was insisted upon. This simply provides that mo matter how great the sum named in the policy, the assured shall not be entitled to recover in a greater amount than 80 per cent of the proportion the valueof the goods destroyed bear to the total value of the goods insured, without regard to the amount on which premium was pald. It was this that roused the re- sentment of the Iowa business men. Their demand for the valued policy law, which requires that the sum named on the face of the policy shall be the basis of settlement, is just and reasonable, and in all human probability will be granted by the legisla- ture. As to whether the companies are doing business at a loss in Towa, the figures gath- ered from the books In the state auditor's office afford the best answer.. In 1890 the premiums collected in the state amounted to $3,475,910.60; in 1891 to $3,760,302.77, and in 1802 to $4,268,900.55, a total for the three yoars of $11,795,212.92. During this time Josses were incurred as follows: In 1890, $1,470/674.52; in 1891, $1,798,55147, and in 1862, $1,008,474.94; a total of $5,067,701.23, Losses paid were: In 1890, $1,5680,710.23 in 1801, $1,741,474.19; in 1892, $1,734,312.39; a total of $5,05 81, In these three y 8 except as an absolute necessi from an author- undesirable our have this expected. as be into to be be our restrictions. clause ance laws. the insurance companies have collected in Towa premiums in excess of the losses paid in the state money to the amount of §6,739,~ 707.11. That is, the gross profit from as- suming the risks has been greater by $1,683,201,30 than the entire sum of all losses paid in the state. In the light of these figures it will be difficult to convinc an Towa man that the insurance companies have not had a pretty gool thing of it in the state. e MR. PECKHAM REJECTED, The rejection of the nomination of Mr. Wheeler H, Peckham for associate justice of the supreme court of the United States in the senate yesterday by the decisive vote of 40 to 31—a majority against confirmation even greatey than had been claimed by the active opponents of the nominee—is a sting- ing rebuke to President Cleveland, view it in whatever light we will. It would no doubt be wrong to interpret the decision of the senate solely as an endorsement of the posi- tion of Senator Hill In his personal warfare with the president, although the senator's partisans may be expected to regard it as such, There were several objections urged against the fitness of Mr. Peckham for the place to which he had been nominated, the most weighty being his advanced age. It was reported not long ago that there was a mutual understanding among the members of the senate that no one who had passed his G0th year should be elevated to the supreme bench. The practice of over a century has been found to conform to the principle upon which this agreement was based, but four appolntments in the whole long list having been made of men vlder than 60 years, The greatest names in that galaxy that has graced the bench of our highest tribunal are those of men Who as- sumed the robe still. comparatively young and who were thus enabled to give thelr country the advantages of a long career in its servicoe. A man who has turned his 60th year is in danger of soon having his mental faculties impaired and can at best when THE OMAHA DAILY BEE: SATURDAY., FEBRUARY 1 remain on the bench but a short time. This argument must have appealed strongly to those republican wpnators who viewed the situation impartialfy and to whose votes the decision adverse td dofifirmation was due. The populists voted, in a body to reject the nomination of MrizPeokham. Their deter- mination to act in“#offunction with Senator Hill and against thy wishes of the president are due doubtless .to. the representations made to them thAt'Mr, Peckham was in close touch with ‘corpdration Interests and backed by the drend, money power of Wall street. It is also ty be noticed that nearly all the free silvet’ fenators them- selves in line with the populists and with Senator Hill. \Whether they in- fluenced in their attitudes by the recollection of the president's fight for the unconditional repeal of the Sherman silver purchase law which the curious are free ranged were 15 a point upon to speculate As for S compatriots they have nothing more than a voico in the distribution of federal patronage states. Hide It as guise of “'senatorial his actuated democratic by oure a and been desire to s nator Hill within their respective they may behind the courtesy” or the charge that the lacks “a judicial temper,” they have been fighting for the spoils and the spoils alone. by thelr victories over Horn- Peckham they will probably stand ready to continue the fight so long as they command the the necessary majority of their fellow senators, The well known stubbornness of President Cleveland precludes the assumption that he will yield casily to the show of force on the part of The rejection of Mr. Peckham only deepen the chasm tween the Hill and Cleveland factions and leave the final outcome of the controversy still in doubt. nominee Emboldened blower and can assistance of the senate. can be- Sioux City states of Sioux A dispatch from South that the short-haired fraternity City, Ta., are making of Covington, a little dezvous for thugs ind would-be prize fighters. It is implied that while Sioux City will not tolerate this clal excrement the law officers on the west of the river are not averse to their contests, However this may be, the laws of Nebraska speak in no uncertain terms on the subject. Chapter iil, section 5,583, of the criminal code provides a penalty of impris- onment in the penitentiary for not less than year nor more than ten years for any convicted of prize fighting. This law has been rigidly enforced and therc is no reason to think that it will not be hereafter. It the Covington authorities will not do their Nebraska hamlet, a re bank one one | Willlam_also w luty the sheriff of Dakota county may step in and clear the deck. Should he ignore the law and neglect his duty he can be removed and a man appointed to his place who will stamp out the human vermin that has here- tofore disgraced and debauched the little town of Covington. There have been ‘altogether too many at- tempts at jury fixing discovered in this dis- trict of late and how many such attempts have been successfully kept secret no one will ever be able 'to know. Nothing short of radical measures will suffice to repress this flagrang abuse. It is to be feared that the professional jury fixers in attendance upon the courts are bopoming bold in their operations, which in gome instances may possibly be invited by individual jurors who are not averse to turnihig a dishonest penny now and then. The latest instance of al- leged Jury fixing should be made the oc- casion of a thorough and searching investi- gation. Not only should any one found to be implicated in the practice be subjected to severe penalties under the law, but any attorney who connives at the work should be promptly disbarred. The right of every itizen to have strict justice meted out to him must not be endangered by the con- tinuance of this abuse. The arrest of four men charged with ob- taining money under false representations that they were arranging for a charity ball for the benefit of a fictitious lodge empha- sizes the necessity of having all relief move- ments under the control of responsible or- ganizations. Indiscriminate purchases of charity entertainment tickets is almost as dangerous as the indiscriminate giving of alms. Every dollar diverted to the use of irresponsible swindlers means just so much taken from the funds devoted to the de- serving poor. We do not pretend to be the keeper of the democratic conscience, but we can give the alleged leaders of that benighted party a tip that may be taken for what it is worth, towit: That the long-delayed federal appoint- ments will all go to men who have rendered the party little or no service unless opposing factions get together and agree upon men who are really deserving of the official plum: Retiring tho Bosses. Buffalo Courier Hven the bosses are gradually dimin- ishing their indul h-poohing as to the strength and importance of the inde- pendent elements in both parties state e American spirit of resista to dictation i asserting itself all along the line, Keep the ball roiling. The Era of Concilintion. St. Louls tepublic When Mr. Cleveland conciliates he ciliates in earnest. The kaiser sent marck_a bottle of wine, but the p sends or Cockrell an attorney or Vest a marshalship. — Bism ‘oughly conciliated with a bottle. senators want a hogshead? THOSE BALLOON SLEE con- Bis- ident hip and Arkansaw Traveler, men are angels—the poets have sald it Over and over and over again; Fashion's in league with them—much to her credit— 8o insist all but the horrible men, Look at a fashion plate, all ye who doubt it 13 Guze at the sleeves which are growing Immense; Then think of fashion, and murmur about it; Look at its future, and cry out, “Oh, whence?" Half of the them— These mammoth sle are boons— W It ‘twere instead._fderely them, { Wouldiy't they make most exquisite bal- oons T Then when the women came ambling airylike round eyes, gas pufl is said to deride es that to fashion prisoned inside who wore them us, before our dazed We, would imagine that angels were ram- bling Far from their dgmiciles up In the skies 189 e t— e ———— ey OTHER LANDS THAN OURS. Thera are good business reasons why Ger- man manufactures should go fnto Russia and Russian wheat come fnto Germany un- hiridered by tariff barriers. German manu facturers demand the wider market, and Russian consumers of German goods clamor for the lower prices which the proeity treaty will make possible true of German goods in Russia Russian food products in Germany. German workmen need them, and are likely to get thom In spite of the Intense opposition of the agrarian party—and large land and the farmers—to this treaty. agrarians Lave gone to the extreme of oppo- sition in_antagonizing this treaty, and re fused to be moved by the appeal of the Ger man emperor for thefr assent. Neverthe 8, they must give W for Caprivi has pmounced that if the present Reichstag re fuses to confirm It, dissolution and an ap peal to the country will follow at onc Emperor Willlam goes further and gives the treaty the highest political importance. At the dinner to Caprivi he sald that the rejec tion of this treaty would lead to a war with Russia, while its ratification would cement a bond of friendship between the two coun tries. Czar Alexander, Willlam said, wanted peace, and to that end urged the treaty nts peace, and so 100 urges the treaty. This Is an in ting statement, and glves warrant for neh uncasiness, If it be true that there | romise of a_closer understanding between Germany and Russia, what becomes of French hopes of Russian assistance to re possess Alsace and Lorraine? Or how is th power of the Triple Alliance to be broken? To every country in Europe but France these signs of amity between Germany and Russin will be welcome. To Italy, with her tremendous burdens of debt, and her inter- nal disturbances, the prospect of prolonged peace is worth everything. So with Austria, and so with Germany herself, which is in poor condition for war, in spite of her enor- mous armament. 1f Emperor William s right in his interpretation of the czar's motives in urging this treaty, the menace of war is lifted for a while, and all Europe will breathe easier. new rect What is is true of owners France has met at Timbuctoo the reverse which has always been confidently antici- pated whenever the French advance either south from Algeria or east from Senegal met the great Touareg tribes of Berger origin who extend for 1,000 miles along the comparatively elevated region which con- stitutes the southern edge of what ‘is still called on our maps the Sahara. Yet France must hold and occupy Timbuctoo and the on for 500 miles beyond if the ambitious t of making northwest Africa French carried out. This plan looks to a great band of French territory extending south from Algeria until it meets another coming east from Senegal, and Timbuctoo {s near the angle where these will Jjoin. Once joined Morocco and the region about it will be hemmed in by French territory. The progress from the coast of Senegal inland has been hitherto comparatively easy be- cause there are only negro tribes. The pro- south from Algeria is harder because louaregs are met e r. In neither direction has France desired to bring on a conflict, but the praise lavished on Licu- tenant ‘Caron when he ran his gunboat up mbuctoo years ago has rendered rench ofiicer willing to risk much to enter the city. Now that It is entered it will be held and the river Niger makes this casy. But the city itself is not what it once was. Dismantied in 1826, when it was captured by the Touaregs, it has since been not a capital, but a trading city, through which pass the most important caravan routes of the western Soudan. ..r Glowing accounts are given of the destruc- tive capabilities of the mew Salavator mi- trailleuse which has been adopted by the Austrian military authorities. The weapon is not intended for use in the field, as in the case of the English Maxim and Nordenfelt machine gun, but will be mounted on the outworks encircling important fortresses. Tt is only half the weight of the Maxim, and its average rate of discharge is about the me—300 rounds per minute, with a maxi~ mum of 320. The diameter of the bore Is eight millimetres, being similar to that of the Mannlicher repeating rifle now in use in the Austrian service. The barrel is not en- cased in a water jacket, but it is said that 1,200 continuous rounds can be fired before it shows the effects of excessive heat. The cartridges are supplied as in the Nordenfelt, from a large “‘hopper” fixed above the firing chamber. ~ The piece is fired by means of an ordinary trigger with trigger-grip, and a recoll spring supplies the automatic action. But the principal point of interest, in which the new gun differs entirely from similar weapons In use in other countries, is an oss cillating pendulum regulating the speed of fire. By this device a moderately heavy dis- charge of thirty, fifty, to 100 rounds per min ute can be maintained to 300 and increased at will. The saving of ammunition is enor~ mous, and the mechanism is said to be very shmple. Altogether it seems to make a long forward stride in the gentle art of wholesale slaughter. A law, the influence of which may be felt far beyond the dominions of the emperor of China, is now under consideratin by the ofi- clals of the Celestial empire. It is nothing less than a repeal of the old statute which forbids the Chinese to emigrate under pain of decapitation. Although obselete, this an- clent enactment is used by informers and the local mandarins as a means of extorting heavy tribute from returned emigrants in order that they may secure immunity from its penalties, The exactions and blackmail levied on these returning Chinese seem al- most incredible, but there are several well attested instances in which wealthy Chinese from Singapore have been stripped of their entire personal possessions before having reached their homes. It is estimated by the Chinese consul general at Singapore that of the 1,000,000 Chinese residing at the Straits Settlement at least one-half of them would immediately return home but for fear of these exactions. The new law might go far toward solving the Chin immigr question. It is the wish of every Chinaman to go home to die, and many would doubt- less depart each year if they could bo pro- tected against the official rapacity which is fostered by the existing law. According to a report In a Russian mili- tary paper the German military authorities have decided upon a new smokeless powder, which will be furnished to the troops as quickly as possible. The existing brand will be discarded and the cartridges already in store will either be used in maneuvers or sold to less particular nations. The same authority declares that machinery for the manufacture of the new powder Is now in process of construction at Spandau and that a sufficlent supply cannot be made In less than two years. The story is important, if true, as such a condition of affairs would be conducive to peace. It is also reported that an excollent type of smokeless powder, apir- ite, has been perfected at Stockholm; it evolves but little heat and no flame, and can be transported without risk, and it is not susceptible of damp or heat. Comparative trials between ten rounds of a nitre powder and fifteen each of ordinary Swedish powder and apirite, fired from a small calibre magazine rifle, showed that apirite heated the barrel less than either of the others. 3ight hundred rounds of apirite were fired from a rifle left uncleaned for a week, after Which the bore—so it is sald—was found to be as clean and fit for use as if just pre- pared for firing. Highest of all in Leaveningl’o‘wet.—Lalcst U. S. Gov't Report, LIS Roval Baking Powder ABSOLUTELY PURE TRYING TO PATCH UP PEACE. Liberal-Unlonists Hope to Stay the Agalnst the Lor LONDON, Feb, 16.~The duke of Dovon- shire, Sir Henry James, Mr. Josse Collings and Mr. Josoph Chamberlain were the prin- clpal speakers at a meeting held last night Sir Henry Jamos and Mr. Collings both inwisted strongly against any action which would prove a conflict betwoen the House of Lords and the House of Commons. They sald that it must not be taken for granted that the House of Lords will acquiesce in the refoction of thelr amendments to the parish councils bill, and added that as far as could be ascertained the bill would again be returned to the House of Commons, or that o conference between the representas tives of the two houses would be held to settle the terms of a compromise. Th t saya: At @ meeting ut the resi. dence the duke of Devonshire recently the duke and other people present agreed in the opinion that the House of Lords had ne too far in thelr amendments to the parish councils bill. The duke of Devonshire promised that he would communicate with Lord Salisbury on the subject. Other gentles men at the conference expressed the hopo that the peers wonld act consistently in re gard to the employ Hability bill, and would firmly support the earl of Dudley's con tracting-out amendmont fon of the Ho s bill is Storm undortake to > of Lords turned to House of Commons, but ft they will offer important the changes which thoy upon. We doubt ver: much whetlier the amendments to which they will adhere can be so misrepresented as to furnish any plausible grounds for manufacturing an outery against the upper house. In the rejected night voting. Arthur Balfour did not challenge a division on the proposal to disagree to the House of Lord's amendment, requiring pars ish councilors to be personally related to the poor rate, which, according to the libers als, means disfranchisement of the agri- cultural labor The government party attaches importance (o Mr. Balfour's attis tude as an indication the peers will yield on compounding the question. It is expected Parliament will be prorogued February 23, and a new session hegin February anticipate the when the pari them from the is probable that modifications of originally insisted the Commons the Lords last abstained from division by which the amendment ' of Mr. Chamberlain ARE ON THEIR GUARD, Further Outrages in Paris Feared—Anarch- ists Called to Meet in a Bank. LONDON, Feb. 16.—A dispatch to the Standard from Paris says: The Roths- child’s bank In this city is guarded by an extra force of police as the result of an an- archist placard that was posted upon the door of the bank announcing that a meeting of the society would be held inside the building and requesting the brethren who we skilful in the locksmith trade to bring wi them skeleton keys and crowbars in case of the safes being locked. A dispatch to the Chronicle from Parls o palace of the Elysce was. well night. The guests who at- sident’s ball had to show their could gain admit- T guarded la tended the pr tickets twice before they tanc The anarchists of a certain group, upon hearing of the arrest of Henry, the bomb thrower of the Hotel Terminus, raided his lodgings at Belleville the same night burned all his papers and departed, taking with them, it is believed, one or more bombs. The police, it would seem, were very negli- ent in the matter of the arrest of Henry, as their search of his lodgings scems only to have been an afterthought. They only found some chlorate powder, picric acid and some copper tubes, evidently intended for use in the manufacture of bombs similar to those used by Vaillant and Henry himself. At the anarchist’s lodgings the people of the house sald that they recognized the photograph of Henry as that of a man whom they knew as Dubois. Examining Maglistrate Meyer has elicited statements from Henry, the bomb thrower, which will lead to serious ralds upon houses in which anarchists are supposed to reside and to many arrests, both in Paris and the provinces. The Gaulois says that a well known and desperate anarchist has left London for Paris on a mission which involves the per- petration of another outrage. HOIST BY HIS OWN PETARD. One Suspected Anarchist Sue eded In Blow- ing HI elf Up. LONDON, Feb. 16.—A Frenchman, who Is supposed to have been an anarchist, was blown almost to pieces last night in Green- wich park. Near by were found fragments of a bottle which evidently had contained oxplosive material. His hand and wrist were blown away, his face and body were covered with wounds and there was a gaping wound in his stomach, a portion of the in- testines protruding. When found he was only able to say, “Take me home.” He died within half an hour after reach- ing the hospital. His identity is unknown. The conjecture is that he stumbled and fell, thus causing the explosion, The man was about 30 years old. ‘According to a report current here the man has been a trusted leader of the an- archists, Judging from documents written in French and English which were found on him this supposition appears to be justified. We announce a serfes of articles on the political problems of the day that for bril- liancy and genulne value eclipse anything heretofore presented by The Sunday Boe. The serios will begin in our lssue of tomor- row. Dr. Bdward Everett Hale contributes an article under the caption, “The Coming Fifty Years—Signs of Promise in Our Po- litical Future.”” Dr. Hale has devoted his life to a close and thorough study of Amer- fean lifo and fnstitutions, and no one fs botter qualified to speak impartially and dispassionately on the subject. This ex- clusive and attractive feature will be fol- lowed a week later by a paper by Major General 0. 0. Howard of the army, person- ally well known in Omaha, on “Young Men in tho Public Service.” The general s deeply interested in all that pertains to America and Americans, and the advice he has to glve to young men who aspire to positions in the public service is worthy of careful consideration. Other notable papers in this extraordinary series will be an- nounced later A no less Important lite e Sunday Hee will be chapters of Bret Harte's The Sheriff of tors of which created so mment early this week An article prepared by Mr. Erle Johnson ‘The Swedes of Nebraska™ 1s not only Interesting but very Instructive, weighted as it is with facts about one of the most In- Qustrious and thrifty classes of immigrants that have assisted in the development of Ne- braska, A puzzle, contributed by one of the editors of Harper's Young People, will prove atirac- tvo to tho younger readers, along with which Is presented a department of reading deslgned especially for the ladies. It s fresh and up to date. Read it. Mo spectal fof cable service of Tho Sunday Bee is a standard feature. It fis excelled nowhere in the west. As to Asso- simply cover every the Com- ary feature of the concluding thrilling story, the opening chap- much favorable on clated fmportant parisons fnvited, Above are noted but a few of the attrac- tive features of The Sunday Bee. The Issue will be a newspaper in the strictest sense. S geeaiy FIND THE NEW Press news, w news event of world. WHERE T0 pers Printod Yoster Rivals, mount ison Tetw day by The Bee and Would-1e The daily comparison between the of reading matter, cxclusive of commercial news and advertisements, printed in The Bee, World-Herald and Lincoln Journal, gives the following figures for yesterd Morning Bee, long, wide columns Morning W .-H., short, narrow colt Lincoln Journal, short, narrow colun COMICS FROM THE DRIFTS. 2014 To enjoy a warm spring sit on on a chair by your Siftings a hot flat-iron placed “T alwd said the Bra enjoy an fntellectual fea: ate the Yale man. What g Man." they Philadelphia Rec I reading? Bele Model dreadfully stupld. Nell—Ye are. s ° 108 usually Lowell Courier: One reason why it Is offen difficult to find a runaway team is that the horse usually ta the traces with him. New Orleans Picayune: The wholg money-getting world {8 running a race for a dollar whiclr may be counterfeit when It is caught. Milwaukee Journal: People who think funny things without expressing them are unconscious enemies of the human race. “You look pale this es,” replied the feel very much out of there's a_girl living in practices her vocal lesson cont I guess I've gotten high C sick. young man; T condition. You see, our house who ually, and Mrs. Oldtime—T do think might teach boys a little genge, Neighbor—Don't they? " Mrs. Old- time—No, they don't. I sent my grandson a nice, big, soft, warm feather hed for him to use this winter, and what do you think he wrote back? He said he was much obliged for that foot ball suit, but it didn't quite fit. Good these News: colleges Philadelphia Record: Hoax—The doctor told young Saphead that he had incipient paresis, Joax—Of course, Suphead took that as a compliment. Hoax—No. Why should he? Joax—Well, a man must have Some brains to be affticted with paresis. Town Topics: Wido Ject the insurance upon my icy. Manager L. T. Company—Ts he dead? Widow—No, but he has moved to Phila= delphia. Manager—Step up to_the and get your check, madam. REVISED EDITION. indianapolis wowrnal “It snows!” cried the widow wept not a_ weep, But smiled in a satisfled way, Tor the widow was wealthy and handsome, you see, And she knew, sure thing that “he Would soon come around with a sleigh. —Sir, T want to col- husband’s pol- next window though she when [t snowed, 'twas a ROWNING,KING sellers of At The larg! t makers and fine clothes on Your money’s worth or your money bac Good old stock [s all very well in everything but clothing. the wearers of good clothes to buy. Others can carry all they want to of it, bug as for us we'll have none of it—not any, ‘at least, if prices will be any inducement to It is imperative that we get rid of our present stock and we have made some astonishing cuts all over the store. The cut is awful in the children’s department and in the furnishing goods, and the hats, but nowhere is the cut so deep as it is on the suits. A whole suit of clothes for $8.60 of our own make, is something you can't duplicate for nearly twice the money, Just like that all the way through. BROWNING, | S. W. Cor.15th and Douglas Sts, Will pay the express If you send themosey for $20 wortk or more KING & CO.,