Omaha Daily Bee Newspaper, March 11, 1894, Page 10

THE GROWTH OF DISCONTENT A Talk with Henry George on the Present Hard Times. STOUTLY OPPOSED TO AN INCOME TAX The Single Tax Idea Is Spreading In Al Parts of the World—The Work of Its Adherents—-What the Future May Bring Forth. [Copyrighted.) Content does not mean happiness. Doubt Is the mother of truth. Better a storm that destroys and at the same time brings health than the calm that stagnates, rots and brings death. A cyclone of discontent is shaking this country and other countries today. This means that the people are thinking and that they are fast coming to belleve that there 1s a remedy for the evils under which the masses suffer, and the hard conditions that grind the faces of the poor. Every beneficial soclety, every new party, every organization, whether political, re- liglous, social or ethical, that has for its purpose the improvement of the material condition of the masses, Is a means more or less effectual on which people seize in the hope that it will lift them out of the slough of despond and raise a barrier against the unproductive days of age, or save their de- pendents from the machine charity of the alms house In the event of the death of the bread winner. HENRY GEORG: Henry George has a remedy for the soclal and political evils of this and other civilized lands, and the time has gone by when his “theorles” can be dismissed with a sneer. Whether we believe in Mr. George's teach- tngs or not, those at all familiar with the subject must confess that he found political economy more than a “dismal science.” It was to most men a dry, rattling, repulsive skeleton, but he clothed the bones with flesh without weakening the structure, he covered this with an atractive epidermis, he gave Iife and beauty to the whole and he made a Qisagreeable subject not only attractive, but he brought it within the comprehension of every mind capable of gra sm. For this the world Is indebted to Mr. George more than it is at present willing to concede. Mr. George speaks well, but he writes bet- ter. To quote himself, “the secret of good writing is clear thinking” In the North American Review of recent date, he dis- cusses the existing depression and poverty with characteristic force and clearness. He asks, “Why is It that men able to work and willing toxwork cannot find work?” He points ‘out the' charitles that have been or- ganized by the well meaning, the contribu- tlons that have been made from their ubund- ance by the wealthy, and he shows that, no matter the motives of the charitable, the tendency of these eclemosinary organizations is to degrade morally the people it is pro- posed to help physically. There fs no sadder sight in all the world than that of an honest, sober, skillful man, able and eager to work, forced to accept the clothes cast oft by the rich, and the coal and bread purchased by their “kindly contribu- tions,” in order to keep his wife and chil- dren from famishing with cold or starving for food. Charity, according to Mr. George, can only palliate existing suffering; it can not right the wrong of which that suffering 18 the direct outcome. Charlty, he claims, is indeed futile, when it Is offered as. a substi- tute for justice. Every means is suggested to help the poor, excepting the one hinted at recently by the Russian Count Tolstol of get- ting off their backs. During this winter 1,400 men, the majority of them Americans by birth, and all of them more than eager for work, have been sleep- ing on the stone corridors of the city hall in Chicago. These poor fellows without a place to lay their heads, are the men who, if the republic were assalled tomorrow, would leap to her defence. From the hands of these men, and others like them ,has come every dollar of wealth In the republic, yet the pro- ducors of these fabulous riches are forced to slecp in a public building and compelled to ask alms to keep them from starving. The clvilization that has pauperized labor at the one extreme and boundless wealth at the other must have in it something so radically wrong that every man who loves his country ORGE GROWS THOUGHTFUL and his followmen must see that this Is the first great question to' solve, if we would save ourselves from horrors over which the starving and discontented are silently brood- ' bres Some radical philanthropists in New York and other cities, seeing how the station houses are overcrowded at night, have sug- eated that the thousands of large and com- fortable churches that stand ldle for most of the time might be utilized to give shelter to the famishing: but the thought Is repugnant to most good Christians, and 1t will hardly be acted on. Wo could not expect my Iady to worship God and exhibit her last new dress and bonnet in a pew where some greasy me- chanio had slept the night before. The poor of today are coming fo belleve more and more that the church, like the charity clubs, Is a necessity for the display of my lady's tollet, and incidentally for her sanctity. In the articlo referred to Mr. George says: “There Is but one remedy, and that is what 1a known as single tax, the abolition of all taxos upon capital and labor and of all taxes on the processes and products, and the tak- ing of economic rent, the unearned Incre- ment which now goes to the mere appropria- tor for the payment of public expenses. Charity can mekely demoralize and pauperize, while that indirect form of charity, the at- tempt to artificlally ‘make work' by increas- ing public expenses and by charlty wood- yards and sewing rooms is still more dange bus. If ln this sense work is to be made, it THE OMAHA DAILY BEE can be made more quickly by dynamite and kerosene. When physicians of the recognized schools fail to revive a patient who Is in a bad way, “IT I8 THE READER, NOT THE EDITOR." the friends are apt, as a last resort, to call In the man with the new-fangled notions. While the time Is past when Mr. George and his followers can be treated as cranks, yet his theories, in this country at least, are not so firmly established and have not such a fol- lowing as to make them factors which the old parties feel that they must consider for thelr own safety. A few years ago when the George idea was new, it led to no end of dis- cussion, principally by men who knew noth- Ing at all about it; then it appeared to die out, and If it were met for the appearance now and then of Mr. George as a writer or lecturer, we might believe that “the fad or fake” of eight years ago had lapsed into that condition which Mr. Cleveland describes as “Innocuous desuetude.” Anxious tolearn the present condition of the single tax party, I fortified myself, as indicated, by reading Mr. George's last arti- and called on him a day or two ago for further light on this subject. If Mr. George was very rich, and this he never will be while 80 many others are poor, the chances are he could live as quietly and unc tiously as he now does at No. 827 Nineteenth street, New York. Wh youth Henry George was a sailor, and & thing of the early calling is still suggested in his walk and bearing. Although the most approachable of men, there is a certain quiet dignity of manner that forbids fa- miliarity, and a certain something in the voice and the set of the splendid head that suggests reserved power and abllity of a high order. “Instead of being asleep, as you intimate, said Mr. George, in response to my que tion, “the growth of the single tax fdea has been wonderfully rapid. I recall, and it is not so very long ago, when I could count the adherents of the single tax on my fingers. Now its advocates are found all over this and other civilized lands, and these L) * “CHARITY DEGRADES LABOR.” men, having been converted through their reason and often against prejudices, inherited and personal, clipg to their new political faith with all the fervor of a religlous con- viction. Nor is thelr allegiance passive; they work for it, talk for it, and are ever ready to give a good reason for the truth that is in them. ~The discussion of the single tax has led to the study of political economy, and it has fostered reasonable political dis- cusslons as no other subject outside of abolition ever did in America. The reason the people who have not kept in touch with this matter believe that it flared up and dled out Is that they know nothing of what is going on beneath the surface; they are ignorant of the qulet, effective and per- sistent advance that is being made from day to day. “Believing as T do, I naturally court the discussion of this question, for it is only in this way that we can get at the truth. The day is not far distant when this will become a vital issue in practical politics. Then the strength, now out of sight, but by no means dormant, will surprise the people who have not kept up with our advance. The news- papers do not discuss this matter so much at present, simply because the papers discuss nothing that they do not believe the people want. It is the reader, not the editor, who dictates the matter In a paper, and,when it is seen that the readers want a fuller and freer discussion of this question, the period- icals will be ready and willing to take hold. “In the senate and house at Washington, there are a number of able men who believe strongly in the single tax idea, but the op- portunities for presenting their views have not been the best. When Judge Maguire of California and Mr. Tom L. Johnson of Ohlo have had an opportunity to declare themselves, they have not hesitated to show that they occupy no equivocal position on this_question.” ‘‘You are not personally in favor of an in- come tax?" I sald “No; T am no emphasis. “Then how happens it that the single tax men in congress recently voted for a meas- ure which thefr own good sense must have shown them was obnoxious?" I asked. “Judge Maguire, Mr. Johnson and other single tax men In congress, saw, as we all do, that there must be a tangible source of revenue in sight at this time. The single tax measure which would meet all the rey- enue needs in the best possible way would not be considered at present, and so these gentlemen voted for an income tax in prot- erence to a heavier tariff, It was with them not a question of the best measure, but simply a choice of evils.” “Granting that we had a single tax on land values tomorrow, Mr. George, how could the central government obtain through that means money to conduct its depart- ments?" “It could be done in one of two ways; the amount to be raised could be assessed on the states and collected In that way, or the central government has the power to assess the tax directly by levying the amount on the value of land, irrespective of improve- .ments. “Is it not true that the single tax theory has a stronger hold on the people of Aus- tralasia than In Amerjca?" “I am not prepared to say that,”” replied Mr. George. “The seven colonies of Austra- lasia have, all told, only about 4,000,000 of people, and then It is a newer land, with conditions somewhat different from those we find’ here. But it Is a fact that in Austra- lasia the single tax s a more vital issue than with us. Sir Henry Parkes of New South Wales fs a man of marked ability and a pronounced free-trader. Through his in- fluence largely the single tax has become a vital issue In the politics of that colony. The landholders have become alarmed, have formed a ‘Land Owners Defense league,’ and have issued a protest, on which they propose to get the next Parliament to act. “In Victoria and other colonies of Australia the single tax s a live issue, and it will re- main a lving lssue till it 15 settled in the right way. But It 1s In New Zealand that the greatest progress has been made, along the lines with which my name is assoclated. The Ballance act in New Zealand has been a aonderful advance. It has not abolished all other taxes retalning only that on land values, but it comes near it, and in the near future the single tax will be the only one collected o New Zealand. There Is no tax on improvements, the tax Is on land values, and although it has only been In existence & short time, the effect for good Is already perceptible. While there is poverty and de- pression over all the rest of the commerelal world, and New Zealand, by reason of her replied Mr. George with business relations, fs not entirely freo from it, yet there are no tramps not paupers in that land, and soon poverty will exist there only as ‘a name. The conservative New Zealanders, knowing that women were naturally conservative, recently gave them the right of suffrage, under the impression that this vote would increase thelr strength. But the very first election under this act showed them they had made a mistake in counting on the conservatism of the woman vote, for it arrayed ftself from the start on the side of progress and in opposition to the monopolization of land. Speculation in land has practically ceased In New Zealand, and, a8 a consequence, poverty and its attendant evils will be banished. “Do you know that the county council of London, England, has just insisted on pre- senting to Parliament a potition asking that the local revenues be raised entirely by a tax on land values? Even in Europe, where the same curse of land tenures exists, the people are forgetting that they are living In th midst of armed camps, and are seriously dis- cussing the question of a single tax on land values. 1 forgot to say in speaking of New Zealand that, while the other colonies of Australasia are decreasing in population, since the recent change in the laws 6,000 familles have gone there to find hom “The first effort of the landed interest in England, the United States and Australia has been to kill the single tax by the con- spiracy of silonce. But the Australian de- fence petition shows that silence has not won, and so they are driven into an open flght. The significance of this New South Wales document, to my mind, lles in the fact, as I have from the first declared, that when- ever this movement got 5o far as to compel the present owners of land to come out openly and defend the system which gives to a few the exclusive ownership of the natural element on which and from which all must live, our work will be practically done and we can safely leave the rest to them. So preposterously unjust fs the present system that it cannot stand discussion. “'As to the work of propaganda, I may say that it goes steadily and ceaselessly on. All over the country we have single tax leagues, in which women as well as men are inter- ested. The cause has many able writers and speakers, and people are reading on this question as never before. Tom L. Johnson recently distributed 1,200,000 coples of my work, ‘Protection and Free Trade,’ and he is about to issue 1,000,000 coples of his recent speech in congres: The day has gone by when the single taxer was regarded as a crank. He is treated with raspect, and men who are always ready to cry down a new thought or to sneer at what " they cannot comprehend have learned to treat the single taxer with respect, even where they do not accept his theories. What we want is a full, fair and free discussion of this as of all other questions that concern the people, and the truth will win in the end. “Not the least promising sign of advance to me is shown in the fact that professors and students in colleges are studying and discussing this question, and amongst such men we have our warmest adherents and strongest friends. “I appreciate the kind hearts of the char- itable, but they are degrading labor. When Justice is done there will no longer be need of this kind of charity,” said Mr. George in conclusion, and he spoke with the earnestness of a man who has faith in what he says. w. J. Rt e THE WINTER ROSES. Maur'ca Francis Fgiiin Vi Vork Sun. The sky Is llke the water, Gray as the hue of lead, The fisher's little daughter Weareth black upon her head; The boughs that wave above her Are gray with winter frost, And all the hearts that love her The bridge of death have crossed. I hegr no children's volces; Siltnt the fisher's mald; No_gladsome soul rejoices Where bold boys used to wade In summer, in the sunlight, When days were sweet with song, The beach was smooth and white, Not strewn with wrecks along. Ah! see the winter roses Hedged round with greenest moss, Fach curling leaf encloses A_fragrant balm for loss; And though there is no breaking Of grayness overhead, They teach of an awaking Of life that is not dead. See how they glow and quiver, See how they nod and bend, While all the world's a-shiver They sparks of ruby send Like firelight in the window, Heart-shaped and red as flame. They speak of love's sweet pardon From out their mossy frame, Ah, gray and winter weather, I'wish veur days were doné, My heart and hopes together Would open to the sun; O roses, winter roses, I feel your lessons deep; No gray day ever close But leaves us joy to keep. —— MUSICAL AND DRAMATIC. Wilson Barrett {s playing to immense busi- ness at all points. 5 Frank Danlels, it is said, will next year appear in comic opera. The Boston Symphony orchestra will not make a tour west this season. Sixty-two opera houses are open in Ttaly this season. The number of new operas and operettas produced in that country last year was elghty, only_three of which attracted general attention. Charles A. Byrne's royalties on the plays and operas he Is interested in now playing in New York amount to over $400 per week, and he draws a good, fat salary as dra- matic editor of the New York Journal. Rose Coghlan first made the mistake that many actresses do of marrying out of her profession. Her first husband was Clinton B. Edgerly, an insurance man. She Is now happily marrled to John T. Sullivan, the actor. The San Franclsco Examiner says that not since the days of John McCullough has there been such a performance of “Virginius” in tho Golden Gato City as was given by Mr. James O'Nelll last Sunday, when he pre- sented Sheridan Knowles' tragedy for tho first time In San Francisco. The committee formed in Wurtzburg for the purchase of the Wagner collection in the possession of Mr. Osterlein of Vienna has been given until the 1st of April to redeem the right of purchase. Should the sum of 90,000 marks not be raised by that time the collection will doubtless be &0ld piecemeal. Among the novelties played at a recent Gewandhaus concert in Leipsic were three orchestra pleces by Grieg, intended as in- cidental music to a play by Bjornson, en- titled “Igurd Torasalfar.’ . The numbers are respectively Vorsplel, Intermezzo and Triumphal March. The melody Is noted as original, the harmonies striking and the in- strumentation brilliant. Mrs. John Drew has been thrice married. Her first husband was Henry Hunt, an Eng- lish opera singer, whom she married in 1836, and from whom'she was subsequently sep- arated. In 1848 she married George Mos- sop, & young Irish comedian, who died in 1849, and in 1850 she became the wife of John Drew, the celebrated impersonator of Irish characters, with whom she acted for many years. Mr. Drew died In 18 “‘A great fault with the American theater- golng public,” says Major Pond, the mana- ger of lectures, *ls that they want too much. If a song or recitation pleases especially, they encore again and again until they are surfeited. You can gorge the mind as well as the stomach, and there 18 the glutton as distinct from the gourmand at the theater as well as at the table. What's the remedy? None! We must take the public as we find it.” The manager of a Chicago theater re- cently received the following letter from one aspirant to dramatic fame, which ran thus: “Venered Sir: I wish to go on the stage, and I would like to join your valu- able theater. I have been a bricklayer for five years, but, having falled in this branch, I declded to take on acting—it helng easier work. I am not young, but I am six feet without any boots; I have studied Bell's system of elocution, and am fond of late hours.” i Mrs, Lucy Gibbons Morse, the authoress, 1s a granddaughter of the Quaker philan- thropist, Isaac T, Hopper, and a daughter of James S. Gibbons, who wrote the “Father Abra‘am” hymn. ' Her realistic pen pictures of anti-slavery struggles are taken from the word of mouth of actual participants among her own family In similar scenes. One word describes it, “perfection,” We r for to De Witt's Witch Hasel Baive, cur Plles. NDAY, MARCH 11 AMONG THE-INSURANCE MEN Valued Policy Lavh as Regarded by an Un- dotwriter. SECRETARY BALDRIGE ON THE SUBJECT Traces the Origin to Marine Insurance— Events of the Week In the World of Hazards— Life, Fire and . Chsunity. J. M. Baldrige, secretary of the Crelgh- Baldridge company, was interviewed yes day upon the subject of valued policy laws and expressed himself as ' follows: “In March, 1889, the legislature of Ne- braska passed a law regulating the liability of Insurance companfes against loss or dam- age by fire, which is ‘famillar to under- writers as the valued policy law. Several other states are burdened with such a law, and the legislature of Towa now in session is considering the same Kind of a bill. The bill being pushed forward by the originators, however, in Towa, is more erratic than the Nebraska law, for the former applies to personal property and farm buildings, while the latter applies only to real property. “The idea embodied in the valued policy laws doubtless had its origin in marine in- surance. It has long been customary to provide in marine policies that the value of the subject insured at the time of the loss shall be determined by the face of the policy, where there was a total loss. The reason for such a provision is based upon the short term of insurance—the vessel and cargo being finsured, usually, during the continuance of a single trip, during which short duration neither the vessel nor the cargo is liable to depreciate in value. “The injustice of the provision of the law stating that the amount of the insurance written in the policy shall be taken and deemed a true value of the property at time of loss and shall be the measure of damage when applied to personal property i8 apparent to every fair-minded business man. Value of personal property may be constantly changing. Today an insurance agent may write up a policy for $10,000 covering a stock of merchandise. He may satisfy himself the merchandise is worth $10,000 or more; tomorrow the assured may sell half the stock and the following day a fire occur. Should the insurer pay the full face of the policy? If such a law is enacted all the insurance companies will be driven out of the state. “But It is often argued by the insured that a building has a fixed value and the un- derwriter should learn the value of the build- ing to be insured before accepting the risk To put a value when the policy is Issued on each of the more than 00,000 buildings in this country, located everywhere, dissimi- lar in construction ‘would be a very difficult problem and a heavy expense upon the owners. The value of the few buildings that are destroyed by fire can readily be determined, andj the expense of appraise- ment falls equally upon the insuring com- pany and the ownen who is saved from loss. “Again, buildings are often insured for a long term of years. The building may be worth $10,000 at the time of writing the policy; it is Impossible to say what would be the value of that bullding three or five years from that time. During the term of the policy various causes, location or use may greatly depreciate the value of the building. The chntract of insurance com- panies provides that in the event of a fire, if an agreement cannot be reahed between the assured and the company, they shall each select a disinterested party, and in case they cannot agree upon the damage, then the two 8o chosen shall select a third party, and their award shall bé binding. Is this not a fair condition? Pheface of the policy should not be what a company should be compelled to pay. - It ought'to be a limit of liability. The man who pays for insurance .and lives up.to his contrabt should be fairly dealt with and he is entitled to every dollar which he has lost by fire—no-more, no less. A law which requires a fire Insurance company to pay more than the actual value s wrong. The effect of such laws increases incendiar- ism, and they were born of o feeling of re- taliation. Valued policy laws are not only unwise, but are thay constitutional? I know little of law, but I don't believe a legisla- ture has power to “fix values on private property or impair the obligation of con- tracts ‘made voluntarily between Individ- uals.” Insurance Iter The Prudential has applied for license to do business in Massachusetts. Louisiana sugar planters think they can save money by organizing a mutual fire in- surance company. President Neely of the Omaha Life Under- writers' assoclation will call a meeting of that organization next week. Waco, Tex., Is moving in the direction of a paid fire department. The chief has just been allowed an annual salary of $1,800. Sanitary statistics for the past thirty years in England show a great increase in the duration of life among the working classes, Word comes from the Pacific coast that 0. H. Jeffries is centemplating taking a typewriter agency for California and Oregon. The Connecticut Mutual Life has asked for a new trial in the McWhirter case recently tried at Fresno, Cal. The jury gave the plaintift a verdict for over $16,000. W. H. Marvin has been appointed gen- eral agent of the Nederland Life insurance in New York. For twenty years Mr. Mar- vin has been with the New York Life. The Northwestern Endowment and Legacy association of Redwing, Minn., will quit business. Its risks will be transferred to the Union Insurance association of Min- neapolis. The executive committee of the Texas Fire Underwriters association has called upon the companies to send out the new forms adopted, to take effect on May 1. The date was left open at the January meeting. There is still trouble in the air at Bur- lington, Ia., where the agents refuse to act according to the instructions of the compa- nies in co-operation for certain reforms. There is talk of strong measures being taken to bring about a change. A proposition to allow Boston firemen leave of absence one day in seven, in addi- tion to the leaves now enjoyed, is not meet- ing with favor from fire underwriters. The firemen now get practically one day in seven, and the proposed law would give them about two days out of the week. The Ohio senaté Hiis fiassed a bilk provid- ing that companiel’ of other states incor- porated to insure; against loss of live stock by theft or accidgptgl damage may do busi- ness in that state ypon depositing with the superintendent of Yisurance & sum equal to one-fourth the ‘wmount of their capital stock. w9 The Masonic Benevolent assoclation of Cen- tral Illinois, headwarters at Mattoon, has failed, and a recei¥ér will be appointed. The concern has cash ‘and available assets amounting to $¥9,301.38, and death losses adjusted, but nof ‘peid, of $54,981.35, unad- Justed losses of $37,600 and resisted losses of $2,350, Last Dedéimber a per capita assess- ment of $46.20 whs made on the members, but it has not beétf paid. At Minneapolis”the circuit court has or- dered that an agsekdment of 100 per cent bo levied again: ockholders and policy holders of the In¥fiYent Minneapolis Mutual Fire Insurance 'défipany of that city to meet unpald clains aggregating $62,000 According to the ordér of the court, the as- sessment must be paid within thirty days. The company has been'In the hands of a re- celver for, two ré or more, The life Insurance agents of Texas held & meeting last Monday at Waco for the purpose of forming ‘an assoclation to elimi- nate from the business all unscrupulous agents and incompetent physicians, to pro- tect the business against unprincipled men who seck lifo Insurance with the deter- mination of never paying their notes, and the establishment of a bureau of information for those who come into the association. There is trouble at Wilmington, N. C., because some of the agents flatly refuse to sign the local board agreement. ~ Regarding the matter, a prominent southern general agent says ‘“The agents at Wilmington, N C,, decline to be governed by the rule of the S. E. F. A, and the special agent of the assoclation has been compelled to retire TY PAGE FFERINGS Mughty Strides=5 Nicoll the Tailoyr— —with large and busy stores in=——- New York, St. Paul, Los Angeles, —Our Spring and Summ:»y Woolens represent the new- est thoughts from the bright est thinkers and makers— on both sides of the occan. PRING. made the Business — and chiefly by one house— been in Chicago, Minneapolis, LPortlang St. Lonis, Kansas Cily, Omala. Indianapolis, Derver, San Francisco. We have earned our big business by simply making—splendid made-to-measure garments, By pleasing our trade it returns to us—and multiplies—as it ought. Like all successful originators, we have many imitators, but thus far we stand alone and distinct 4 g The Leaders and Prom oters of Men’s Fashions, ‘We copy after no one; year after year we have raised the standard for tailoring—higher and higher—with lower and lower prices. ’'till we’ve brought the prices for superior made garments within reach of all. OUR SPRING AND SUMMER WOOLENS FOR '94. represent the cream of all that is desirable in gentlemen’s apparel. You’ve heard of our novel prices Trousers $5-$6-$7-$8. Yovr Name and Address JSor Samples, Please. Better see the fabrics. —SPRING— Overcoats > $20-$25~$30-835 Suits $20-$25-$30-$35. and like prices for the finest garments made,———— We do the Largest Tailoring Business in the World, 207 South 15th St. < N@‘ ‘ The Special March Sale This is the Month to Buy Furniture, There are two reasons why it wlll pay to buy furniture this month. In the first place, our stock is more com- pletely filled than any other month of the year. Secondly, We are quoting special prices this month that must sell the large quantity of furniture just bought at a great discount from former figures. The sale includes all kinds of furniture in Mahogony, White Maple, Curly Birch and Oak, all finished in the highest degree. Also a full line of Brass and White Iron Beds, These goods are from the best factories only. Absolutely one price. Charles Shiverick & Co. TEMPORARY LOOATION. . Cor.12th and Douglas Sts, NEXT TO MILLARD HOTEL. before the victorious locals. while quarreling about a petty section of the rule of $50 accepting heretofore in much conciliation has spolled these agents and it is about time for some For nearly four hours one day in ¥ Buffalo was completely without water and at and had one broken out this is that fine are rates involving a companies ridieulous the merc the re cause supply, at the the was the which of fire, ult might have fallure of is us pumping station gas suddenly gave = e 1 i, sald the caller, “ but to settle a little dispute will you please tell me when' Ground hog day," sald the answer-to- | queries man in the office of the DailyBread in monotonous tone and without looking up, comes on the 2d day of February,” Ho pressed a spring with his foot and re- sumed his work And the turnstile at chuto down which the lghtning speed into tho back alley regis- tered him as the 397th person who had called in during the day to ask the question, - and the gas sheets had to be ripped o®and the furnaces put in condition to burn coal. The task occupled over an hour and a half, | during which time the engines were idle an no water sent throuzh the mains. The same thing happened about three weeks before, and, as a onsequence, the water ‘ department will at ¢ begin the entire | substitution of coal for gas, as the latter has become too uncertain to risk its con- tinuance as a fuel, The result of | the kicking agents are ‘ the the | Too : | for violations, business at force sults. the bottom of visitor shot the with bruary - DeWitt's Witch Hazel Salve nures sores. A Dispute Settlod. Tribune: I beg your pardon, The gas been disastrous. the natural d to run the engines About 8:30 o’clock out without warning, De Witt's Hazel salve cures olles Chicago