Omaha Daily Bee Newspaper, May 31, 1894, Page 4

2y eintne s A BN s Daily Dee Dally o Dalliing amee N Al Twenty-tourth Sta. T3 et Mreat, m:A 13, 13, Tribune Bldg. i comnn o ol o B To the EMtor, Fonh Omalia Council T, Chieas Oflics Vow Y. i Washington, e “os should be The Tec Publishing company, Omnha, Drafts, checks and posioffiee o be made payuble to the THE BEE PUBL NT OF CIRC! e Ty B 'Th‘! that th Hlea of Th Iy Tee printed 1604, was aw fol 105 ep¥es George Hehing co Actual numbe Daily Morning, during the month Fvening and of April, 2 emannanen BIEI2E. Total Less ded coples Total sold.... Dally average net cirenl *Sunday. enco this (Seal.) No six-year democrats need apply for ad- mission to the free silver democratic love fea Don't attempt to make the patriotism dis- played on one day of the year cover a lack of patriotism on the remaining 364 days. Some of our mossback money bags are like the Cripple Creek strikers. They won't do anything themselves and won't let anybody clse do anything. If there i+ a man in Omaha or out of Omaha who can get up a practieal device that will do away with the overhead trolley wire he is the man we have been looking for, A few years sgo Hascall and his gang tried to starve the police mto subjeetion. Now he proposes to starve out all ‘“‘objec- tionable” employes of the eity, which, of course, means offensive partisans. While congress is trying to prohibit the transmission of indecent and obscene litera- ture by express, why not go on and stop the transaction of lottery business by the aid of the express and telegraph companies? Keith county's experlence with Its frri- gation and water power canal should teach other communities to insist upon definite security for the fulfillment of all conditions before giving aid to cnterprises of this kind. That Senator Hill of New York knows upon which side his bread is buttered is conclusively shown by his rush to the de- Mwnfense of the newspaper correspondents who e " 18 bofore us. have been declared to be in contempt of the senate investigating committee. For a senator who is having his first ex- perlence with a regular session of congress, Senator Allen is taking an unusually prom- Inent part in the proceedings of the senate. It has been evident for a long time that Senator Allen does not propose to be a mere voting dummy on the floor of the senate. Po:tmaster General Bissell's opposition to the proposed government ownership of tele- graphs s iIn complete accord with the re- actionary policy inaugurated under demo- cratie bourbon rule. The attorney general and the postmaster general can be relied upon to uphold all the monopolies and trusts. The milk dealers may appeal their test case on the milk dealers’ license ordinance, but in the interval they will have to comply With the law. The deflant attitude which the milk dealers association has on several occasions assumed 13 not the move by which 4t can hope to arouse popular sympathy for its methods. Hascall proposes to starve out all objec- tlonabie employes by refusing to vote appro- priations for their_wages. Objectionable to whom and what for? Objectionable to Hascall because they committed the un- pardonable offense of refusing him support in the last clection. That is about the size of it, isn’t it, judge? General Weaver has finally succeeded in securing that much desired populist nomina- tion for congress. This Is rather a come- doyn from the presidency, but then the Allustrious example of John Quincy Adams Only there are still certain obstacles that may prevent General Weaver - from following this illustrious example. “Holland’ letters are appearing regu- larly with the usual signature and New York date line in. the Philadelphia Press, while their author is in Washington testify- ing before the senate bribery investigating committee. If any further evidence of that eorrespondent’s versatility were needed this would certainly be accepted as all-sufficient, Six-year democrats have been officlally notified that they must not expect to exert even the slightest influence upon the de- termination of the policy of their party. In matters of this kind they must defer to the editors of six-year-old mongrel news- papers. Mr. N. S. Harwood will please take notice and govern himself accordingly. ‘Why does the council vote §5,600 out of the general fund to pay a judgment when the general fund Is presumed to be re- served for paying the current expenses of the city government, and in the face of the fact that a judgment Is presumed to be pald out of the judgment fund? Is not this souttling of the general fund part of Has- call's scheme for starving and smoking out objectionable and offensive employes? Patriotism In the public schools Is a good thing, but when children are compelled to stand up huddled together in a small hall i ;‘«n listen to Memorial day orations a time * Mmit cught to be enforced aguinst the too i enthusiastic orator. In at least ome of ‘our publo schools the Memorial day oration was protracted to such a length that several of fho little girls fainted and had to be carried from the 1oom. There Is no neces- #ity for making a patriotic celebration an otcaslon for such barbarity. The school board should take it upon itself to see that such a thing s mot permitted to happen agatn. » STATE SOHOOL FUND FINANCES. The srtiele which we print today uncov- ering some of the methods of state school fAnanclering will be interesting reading for all who have the preservation of the heritage glven to our public schools at heart. The permanent school fund of the state derived | from tho grant by congress at the time of the organization of the commonwealth of § per cent of the proceeds of the sales of pub- lie lands within ita furisdiction to the state has by the constitution been made a trust fund not to be diminished, the income there- from only to be applied to the support of the poblic schools. All losses that may in any man- ner accrue must be made good by the state by money obtained by the taxation of the people. It 1s therefore a matter of the high- est importance to the people of Nebraska that the constitutional guarantee shall he strictly observed, because every violation of ‘it subjects them to a liabllity to be called upon to pay In taxes the amount by which the fund may have been encroached upon. The State Board of Educational Lands and Funds, laboring under a legislative injunc- tion to keep the moneys at its command constantly Invested In Income-bearing prop- erty, finds it impossible to obtain securities of the kind to which it is limited by the state constitution without paying a pre- mium upon them. Under our system of bond financiering the rate of Interest of bonds issued by the varlous governmental author- ities s fixed, so that competition among purchasers takes the form not of offering to accept the lowest rate of interest, but of offer- ing to pay the highest lump sum as principal. When, then, the state board Invests the permanent school fund in securities at a premium It really advances the difference between the nominal and real rate of Inter- est to the credit of the temporary school fund, and when the bonds are finally paid the permanent school fund must find ftself the loser by just so much. It this money went directly into the treasuries of the vari- ous local governmental agencles it would simply mean a transfer of the premium from the taxpayers of the whole state to the taxpayers of that community. That would be bad enough. But the greater part of it in the tramsactions already completed has gone to Intermediaries and brokers, who have been almost the sole beneficfaries of this violation of the constitution. Governor Crounse, to whose attention this question had been brought, and who has devoted no little thought to the matter, sug- gests that the -invasion of the permanent school fund for the benefit of the temporary school fund is merely a shifting of money from one pocket to the other, and that the loss to the fermer, if any, should be made good from the latter. It 1s true, as Judge Lake has pointed out in the opinfon upon a law since repealed, rendered in 1883, that eyery investment of the permanent :chool fund must include a more or less consider- able risk of loss by default, but in these cases the investment in securities at a pre- mium is made with an absolute certainty of loss. The minimam amount which must be repaid to the permanent schoot fund is known in advance. The governor would have this indemnity made either by paying the pre- mium by means of the interest coupons or by transferring a proportionate amount of the interest as pald from the temporary to the permanent school fund. As the law stands at present this is of doubtful legality. We understand, moreover, that some of the bonds purchased at a premium may be re- deemed by the county issulng them at any time at its option, and on these there is a possibility of Interest befng stopped by repayment before the premium can be fe- couped. If the different county authorities could and would issue bonds with interest to be fixed by competition the state board could bid without running any risk of deplet- ing the permanent school fund. A general offer of a minimum rate of interest to the varlous counties might possibly effect this change. The lole already made in the per- manent school fund will have to be filled from some source. The whole intricate sit- uation only emphasizes the need of some natlonal constitutional revision which will put the management of the state school funds upon a sound business basis. Mean- time the state board should set Its face firmly agalnst buylng any securities through middlemen. THE CONTRACT LABOR LAW., The subcommittee of the house immigra- tion committee, to whom was referred the resolution asking for information from the Treasury department in relation to rules and regulations adopted by the immigration bureau for the enforcement of the contract labor law, submitted a favorable report on the resolutlon. The report states that from information derived from the newspapers and from other reliable sources it would appear that the authoritles have in some instances returned persons to Europe without proper proof that they were here in violation of law; that immigrants who have come to the United States at the Instances of their families have been returned for alleged viola- tion of law, while others who have come under similar circumstances have been ad- mitted; and that, although the law has been generally enforced as to immigrants arriv- ing, it appears that little effort has been made to enforce the penalties prescribed against employers of labor concermed in bringing to thls country immigrants in violation of law. It is not to be doubted that in enforcing this law there have been numerous instances of persons returned to Europe who were not violating the law. Accounts of several such cases, well ‘authenticated, were given not long since in eastern newspapers, and it s reasonable to assume that these were but a few of what have occurred. On the other hand, it is equally certain, though it might be Impossible to secure positive proof, that many who came here In violation of the law are probably now carrying out thelr contract to labor. The polnt In this report, however, which is deserving of particular attention by congress, it it is proposed to take any action regarding the matter, is the fact that the penalties of the law are not enforced agalnst the persons responsible for bringing tmmigrants here in violation of the law. This Is the weak spot in the whole business. Doubtless it is a difficult matter to ascertain who the persons are who contract for alien Iabor, but It ought not to be an altogether fmpossible task, and at any rate some more adequate effort should be made to enforce the penalties than It seems, according to the report of ‘the subcommittee, has been made, It will obviously be impossible to secure an absolutely thorough entorcement of the law so long as the great corporations and large employers of labor who may be disposed to fmport it are assured if Im- munity. 1t is probable that no effort is now belng made to import contract labor and ther may not be for a loug time to come. The employers of such labor have had an expe- elence with it that ought to convince them of the mistake of bringing people here under such conditions and then subjecting them to a servitude of the most debasing kind, and it is to be presumed that many of them fully realize this. The violence in the coke ro- glons, where contract labor has been largely employed, has demonstrated, and not now for the first time, what mischief these people are capable of doing when exasperated, as they have been by twe reduction of wages to the starvation polnt and by the despotic treatment to which they have been subjected by brutal bosses. The employers of this fabor, it Is to be supposed, will not care to have a repetition of recent experience, and it they cannot wholly replace it with other labor will at any rate not be disposed to add to it. But there must be no cessation of vigilance in the enforcoment of the alien contract labor law, enacted to protect Amer- fean labor. NOT A TEMPTING OFFER. Another diversion in the electric lighting contest has been attempted. The Western Electric company of Chicago, which, we are informed, s a member of the electrical octopus that Includes also the Thomson- Houston company, has submitted, in sub- stance, the following proposition: The com- pany will erect a plain but substantial brick building in a suitable location, equip the same with a plant of 300 arc light capacity, and dofiate the building and plant to the city at the enfd of five years if the city will contract to pay the company $150 per year per lamp for 300 lamps during the perlod of five years. This would strike the uninitiated as a very gencrous offer. It is almost as tempting as was the late J. M. Pattec’s noble charity gift enterprise, by which the city secured 5,000 volumes of second-hand books for a public library on condition of granting the noble benefactor the privilege to run a lottery in Omaha under the auspices of the city government. A liberal estimate of the proposed cost of the donation of an electric lighting plant would include the following items: Cost of Iot... Cost of building. Cost of dynamos. Engines and fixtures. Boilers $ 3,000 15,000 25,000 12,000 5,000 Total... +.$60,000 This would be the first coat of ground, building and plant. At the end of five years the wear and tear on the buflding and ma- chinery, and the shrinkage in prico by rea- son of expired patents, could not be less than one-third of the total, or $20,000 in round figures. That would leave the actual value of the property donated to'the city at the expiration of the contract $10,000. We do not compute the cost of wiring or the value of the pole-lines for the reason that underground conduits are almost certain to take the place of overhead lines by the year 1900, and furthermore, because the company would recoup ftself in two years for the first cost of overhead lines in the profits derived upon a basis of the bld of Pardee & Co. Now, computing the cost of lighting with nominal 2,000-candle power lamps at the Pardee bld, $112 per lamp, which is $25 more than the lowest bid recently received, and we would find on the opposite side of the ledger the following: 300 lamps at $38 excess for b years $57,000 Interest at 6 per cent....... 6,840 Total <eee...$63,840 In this computation simple interest is fig- ured only for four years on each anuual pay- ment. At compound interest the interest charge would be considerably more. Summary: By paying $150 a year per lamp for 300 lamps the city would pay in princl- pal and,interest $63,840 for a plant worth $10,000. Computed on the basis of $90 per lamp the city would be paying $90,000 in excess, which, at 6 per cent, In five years, computed after the first year, would amount to $10,800, or an aggregate of $100,800. In other words, a contract for 300 lamps at $90 for five years as compared with a contract at $150 per lamp for the same period, with $40,000 of plant thrown in at the expiration, would leave the clty a margin of $60,800, which would be sufficient to buy an entirely new plant of larger capacity, with a saving to the city of a clean $40,000. It strikes us that the proposed Investment of the electric company would be a very profitable scheme for the company. Inferen- tially the fact also strikes us like a sledge hwer that the city of Omaha, by paying Wiley’s company $175 and $140 per lamp has paid for a very respectable plant within the last three years. We do not want to be un- derstood as saying that the Wiley plant only represonts $00,000 of invested capital. Mr. Wiley's first investment was $16,000 for a lot worth about $2,000 and a councillman worth $14,000, and his subsequent purchases have been on the same scale of reckless Iiberality. But even with his well-worn, back-number machinery and over-inflated capitalization of grounds and building Mr. Wiley fs sald to be willing to duplicate the offer of the Western Hlectric company. In fact, Mr. Wiley is willing to do almost any- thing to prevent the letting of the contract to the lowest bidder. Reversing Judge Gresham’s decision, which declared the twelfth section of the interstate commerce act unconstitutional, and afirming the power of the Interstate commission to compel the attendance and testimony of witnesses upon - matters per- tinent to its investigations, while strength- ening the commission considerably, does not restore to it the authority ‘with which congress supposed It was investing it. There is still the decision exempting wit- nesses ffom the necessity of testifying whenever their evidence might tend to criminate themselves, and this will be a convenient loophole for unwilling railroad officials. This obstacle, however, can be removed by making the penalties for viola- tions of the law consist for the most part In fines to be assessed against the corpora- tion conducting the road in default. There 1s much testimony to be had that can in no way tend to criminate the witness. The commission need not wait for work on ac- count of this limitation. The Brazillan government s going to celebrate Independence day. In order to glve & public demonstration of its gratitude to the United States for the support recelved trom American people during the civil war in Brazil. Such a celebration will be re- colved as a manifestation of the friendly feeling and sympathy that ought to and does oxist between two great republics of the western hemisphere, and will do much to cement the friendship that already ex- tends between both the people and the gov- ernments. What the United States did in connection with the Brazilian war, however, was done strictly in pursuance of the duties demanded of a neutral power. ‘While the Unitod States could doubtless have done various things to encourage the rebeliion without overstepping the bounds prescribed by international law, It cannot expect g itude for simply doing its duty, The decision in the milk dealers license case 1s In accord with the decision in the coal dealers Meense case insofar as it denles the power of the city to impose a license tax except for the purpose of indemnifying THE OMAHA DAILY BEF: e e gt Itselt for the expenge Ineurred In regulating the particular busipegs liconsed. The court in the coal licenseialecision sald that a $100 HNeense was imposdl for purposes of ralsiug revenue and of yigiding moro than the et of regulating theribusiness, and therefors was fllegal and unfiitiorized by the charter, In the judgment ofthe court a $10 liconse Is not more than I necessary to defray the expenses of reguMting If it had been o $100 milk license, it would doubtless have Bbpn'*declared Invalid. In other words, the coyrt assumes to draw the dividing line between what is a license tax for regulation and what is a license tax for revenue. It practfeally sets up a judge- made limit, beyond which the council, al- though empowered: hy; the charier to ‘“tax, license and regulate” certain businesses, cannot go. We aré still of the opinfon that under the act governing cities of the metro- politan class, the legislature intended to make the eity council the sole judge whether license taxes should be imposed upon the dosignated businesses, and It Imposed, whether or not they should yleld more or less than is expended in inspecting and su- pervising them. One of the contracts for electric lighting is about to expire and the city council has accomplished practically nothing in the di- rection of making a new agreement. This Is what The Bee predicted all along. Mr. Wiley is quite as willing to exact extortion- ate prices for electric lighting without a con- tract as with a contract. 8o long as he has his claims honored by the ity council it fs immaterial to him how long the matter Is delayed. Proof of Bryan's Ambition. ston Post. Congressm| yan is undoubtedly deter- mined to secure that senatorial seat. He 18 having himself Industriously chased by the Wall street monsters. St L, Season of Great Opening. New York Sun. This Is a great spring for the mouthers. Mr. Voorhees i3 one. Mr. Vest is another. On’ every available occasion they mouth their devotion to democratie principles and call God to witness that they are doing thelr duty as democrat R Btrides of Democracy. P New York Recorder, What immense strides democracy 1s mak- Ing in Bngland! Think of a British premier offering the labor representatives cabinet offices in exchange for thelr support! It it almost incredible, but that is what Lord Rosebery is sald to be doing. ———— ‘The Lootinz of the Treasury. Indlanapolls Journal. In spite of the fact that pension appropri- ations have been cut down and (hat no new public buildings will be begun by the Dresent congress, the aggregate of its ap- propriation hills, when finally passed, whi be as large as those of the billion-dollar congress. wsary Move. o Globe-Democrat, - t is all right, of course, for General Weayer of Towa to remove from Des Moines to Council Bluffs in order to become a resident of a district where the popullsts wish to nominate him for congress; but such a step it not necessary so fur as the question of eligibility is concerned. A mem- ber of congress is not required to be a resi- dent of the district that he represents, but only “an inhabitant of, the state from which he is chosen.” — gl Electing Senators by Direct Vote. et New ‘York World, e idea which the ‘makers of the consti- tution had that legislatures would exercise a wiser discretion than the people is no longer tenable, Th, 3 B et ™ o people know thelr own e nomination, by 'state conventlons of party candidates for United States senator will do away with a vast amount of cor- ruption and intrigue. It will tend to secure abler men in the senate. It will tend to {he henesty ‘and ‘peage ‘of the legisiature, ent its _pr ve It Wil eive _Droper advantage THE Suean b L Kansas City Times: As eoxpected, the senate investigating committee, instead of locating the guilty members, has resolved itself into a soul-searching Inquiry for the fellow who peached. Courfer-Journal: Query: If a few weeks 2go the people who were offering United States senators big sums to ‘vote against the tarift bill had known that the tariff bill was to evolve into the Gorman bill, would they have thought it worth while to organize a bribery lobby? Boston Globe: It was a great mistake for the committee to adopt a star chamber method of inquiry when dealing with the “boodle” accusations. It will be a most absurd procedure, and one calculated to bring senatorial “dignity” into greater dis- repute than ever, if any serlous attempt is made to comper n paper correspondents to divulge the sourc.s of their information regarding attempts Lo buy votes In the senate. New York Herald: The attempt to force these witnesses to violate their pledges of confidence is needless, and cannot serve to divert public attentlon from the main issue. Let the committee call Secretary Carlisle. Let it call every democratic member of the senate finance committee. Let It call others whose names have been mentioned in co nection with the scandal. Such witnesses should not only be called, but gestioned and cross-questioned thoroughly and publicly. New York World: It is probable that be- fore the week is out sundry newspaper cor- respondents will be “In the custody of the sergeant-at-arms of the senate” for refusing to furnish Senator Gray’s committee with the names of certain persons from whom they claim to have got the information used in their published dispatches. It is per- fectly well known that these names are quite unnecessary to the committee's pur- poses if its object Is to reach facts, and not simply to worry and discredit the corre- spondents. The truth or falsity of the pub- lished charges can be proved by witnesses whose names are known to the committee, and who are within easy reach of its sum- mons. This being true, why force an Issue with the newspaper men that has no bear- ing upon the success or fallure of the com- mittee’s Investigation, and that is sure to eoxasperate feeling? .o PEOPLE AND THINGS, The martyrdom of Mr. Buttz has not yet provoked a nomination for congress. Bullet-proof clothing would not protect the senate from shots of contempt. Governor Waite's consuming desire to wade in gore is llmited to agitated breath- ings at a safe distance. Editor Medill of the Chicago Tribune is being strongly urged to enter the race for the United States, yenate. Genral Kelly's arriyal in St. Louls has not provoked a surfeit of enthusiasm. Na- tiva colonels strepuoudly object to the per- nicious 1)\!r|ulnln§q f unearned titles. Doctors are now,wrangling over the proper manner of treating. Mys. Lease, The rumor that the feminine cyglone was pursued by cranks seems to have some foundation. Mr. Bland of Missourl was presented the other day with @ buhch of roses addressed “To the next president.” The flowers that bloom in the sprivg/ two years before the mational convention rarely have anything to do with the case, ., The impending wmenace to Kentucky morals has reached a polut,where organizations for the defense of soelal purity are deemed nec- essary. The first duty of those organizations is the protcction of Kentucky's public men trom the wiles of Tiie opposite sex. Lillian Russell acquaints the public of her sad matrimonial experiences. She married No. 1 at 16, but he proved an Intellectual millstone and was discarded. No. 2 was outwardly an ideal, inwardly a wretch of darkest hue and two wives. After his ar- rest for bigamy Lilllan cast him off. Then followed elght years of single repose, when Sig. Perugini touched the chords of her heart, and marriage followed. The signor was out for stuff. He began bosging the ranch the morning after the wedding, bounc- ing favorite servants and working the blue pencil on her visiting list, From a domes- tie tyrant he descended to pugilism, Separa- tion was the tonly alternative. Notwith- standing her discouraging experience, Mis Russell insinuates between the lines of her recital that operatic art Is not incompatible with & happy home and wifely devotion, | the milk business. | BRYAN AND RIS SILVER ROOSTE Dryan, as a_candidate for governor, would raly all the bimetallist votes In the state, democratic, republican, populist and prohibition. Tilden Citizen aska (s a free silver state and the domocratlc party had better go of business altogether than to sail under false colors at the behest of a few mercenary leaders, Hastings Nebraskan: For a man who s oxtremely anxjous to retire to private life Mr. Bryan is stirring up quite A fuss among the democrats and popullsts. Dryan is not Aurora Sun: | moing to retire unless he has to. Norfolk News: Every democrat who signed the call for the silver league convention at Omaha on the 21st of June indirectly con- demned the administration of Grover Cleve- land. They were the tariff reformers of two years ago, but just at present are not troubling themselves about the promises thelr party made which have never heen fulfilled. It fs the political future of Mr. Bryan that is engaging thelr attention now Platte County Argus: The formal dissolu- tion of Congressman Bryan from the demo- cratic party, published” elsewbere fin this paper, is tantamofint to declaring himsell a populist, so far as openly advocating the principles of the new party. In due course of time the brilliant young congressman will take the pains to formally announce him- self a_populist in name as well as in works. The flower of the two old worn-out polit- feal organizations will in due course of time rally under the populist banner. Albfon Argus: Hon. W. J. Bryan has an- nounced that he will not be a candidate for re-election to congress again this year, and the tiresome young man who edits the Omaha World-Herald from a populist stand- point while ‘clinging to the democratic party by his prehensile feet moans and groans about Tobe Castorism and the lack of ap- preciation of Mr. Bryan's pecullar interpreta- tlon of democracy. Mr. Hitchcock made a speech at the Jacksonian club banquet held in Omaha last January and chose for his subject “Democracy and the Dragon.”” He was glven a respectful hearing, but every one knew the dragon that democracy is suf- fering from is the half-baked class of mug- wumps like the World-Herald editor who would do democracy better service were they in the populist party. Crete Democrat: Bryan has declined to_be a candidate for re-election to congress in his district. But we have not sized up the peo- ple of this state correctly if they permit him to remain long in private life. The First district will now he misrepresented by a protectionist, a gold bug and an advo- cate of about any or everything that is of Interest to the eastern wing of that party and antagonistic to the people of the west. The green-eyed crowd of ‘“straights”: will now find great pleasure, as they have In the past, of running as candidates for the fun and honor of being on the ticket, while the machine continues to grind and the cuckoos to announce the election of republicans, get their feed and retire for use again. But for the treachery and well known perfidy of the ambitious little crowd of political bushwhackers, Mr. Bryan might have been Kept in congress. The people will now have a chance to size up the fellows who, when the wheels turn to a certarn point, pop out their little heads and sing out “‘cuckoo.” Lincoln Courier: Mr, Bryan's letter was the first move toward the formation of the projected new party iIn this state, a party to be composed of bellevers in free trade, froe silver and Mr. Bryan, and which, it is hoped, will be recruited from all three par- ties. ~ Mr. Bryan's future is closely coA- nected with the condition of the barometer. Favorable atmospheric conditions will de- press populist enthusiasm and the congress- man will find his adherents greatly roduced in number. On the other hand, unfavor- able manifestations, dry weather and hot winds will marshal the Bryan cohorts, and it is possible that under these clrcum- stances further success may yet awalt the boy orator of the Platte. If Mr. Bryan's letter was the first move in the new party scheme the call Issued from Omaha Wednesday by C. J. Smyth, for a state con- ference of free silver democrats, was the second. The people back of this confer- ence scheme are determined to give Mr. Bryan_an opportunity to run for something on’a distinctly free silver platform. ———— LEADING 170 A LAVGH. Plain _Dealer: ‘armer—Why don't you fellers do sumthin’? Commonweal Genéral —Lack of a workin' majority. ‘Washington Star: It Is announced that in the June graduation exercises Miss Polly Syliable will play a conspicuous part. Detroit Free Press: Bixe—Why did you name that horse “Pepper Sauce?”’ Jack—Because he is a hot favorite. Philadelphla _Record: A Kensington woman who suffers from kleptomania says she has taken about everything for it. Somerville Journal: Considering how low the price of collar buttons is, it IS aston- ishing how high a value a man seems to set on one at times. Philadelphin Ledger: A squad of police in San Francisco will try bicycles as an article of department equipment. The offi- cers and wheels will make their rounds together. Atlanta Constitution: *“Bright boy o “You bet!” *“Be president Some y.” “Shouldn’t be surprised—he's mighty good at fishin'. Chicago Tribune: Businesslike Young Man: “Is this where you issue licenses?"’ Official: “Tt 1s.” “How much will T have to pay for a peddler's license?" “Five dol- lars.”” “Seems to me that's pretty steep. What does a marriage license cost?' “Two dellars.”” “That's more like it. Give me a marriage lcense. THE OLD STORY. Judge. Tonight T met Rose, So 1U's all up with Polly. She bewitches the beaux, And tonlght I met Rose; Now, would you suppose T'd’ be caught by such folly? But tonight I met Rose, So it's all up with Polly. —— Judiclal Interpretation of Libel. Chicago Journal. Tn his opinion granting a new trial in the case of Smith against the Chicago Her- ald, Judge Dunne has rendered a distinct service in the Interpretation of the law of libel as applied to the modern newspaper. He recognizes that the rule of responsibility and the implication of malice that formerly attached to the publication of a false and scandalous statement must be modified by a consideration of the circumstances sur- rounding the issue of a great daily news- paper. “That it is absolutely Impossible,” says Judge Dunne, “for this modern engine of information to do the work which the times and the people expect and demand, and at the same time to verify every item and _explore for possible falsity in” what seems true,” is Information common to all intelligent persons. And persons wronged by the publication of libelous statements are bound to seek its contradiction to the end that its further circulation may be stopped and the evil resulting from its publication diminished. -If they fail to do this they fail tosexereise ordinary vigilance to_protect themdelves from the effects of defamatory publication, Such neglect does not relieve the newspaper from responsibil- ity for the orlginal wrong, but it should be considered In limiting the exemplary or punitive damag A Rocky Road in Mlinols. Chicago Herald. Democracy has a hard flght ahead in Illinois. Petty bickerings among faction captains, together with popular disgust over the failure of a democratic congr 1o carry out the promises of the pasty to the country, constitute a mixed political out- Took which is not on its face enc ing. Chicago Journal. O, writers realistic, ‘Won't you, just to please a friend, Be not 80 pessimistic In the way your stories end? And can't you now and then contrive "To let the lovers wed; Nor have the herofne arrive To find the hero dead? The falr appearing things of life Are not forever bad; And even in this vale of strife Are moments that are glad. 0, can’t you to your world of doubt ‘Admit a little flash Of sunshine now and then, without 1t's going all to smash? Quit blasting every happy bud, Quit clouding every hour, Quit plastering our gods with mud, Quit making sweet things sour. We're tired of repiners who Embitter every cup. Ring off! ye bilious whisers, do For pity’s sake let uph STATE POLITICAL POINTS, Tt s evident that Hon. Sam Wolbaelr of Grand Island has determined to withdraw from politics. e Is learning to ride a bis eyele, The latest cariidate in the fleld for the nomination of superintendont of public in- ruction by the requblicans is Prof. Charles 8. Coney of Stanton, Tablo Rock Argus: The state contral com- mittee meeting at Omaha was harmonious and enthusiasm high, indicating that nest fall Nebraska will go republican by an in- crease over the old-time majoritios, Dawes county will again present the name of I'. M. Dorrington to the Sisth distriet congressicnal eonvention, F 1 was a candi date two years ago, but his pass fates ran out at the eritical per Lincoln News: Hon. W. . A pears to have already started Nls campalgn in the Fifth. Mr. Andrews made matters very uncomfortable for MeKelghan two yoars ago, and his friends have every confiden of his ability to d At him this year Two Shetman county men want to go to congress In place of Kem and will make an effort to Lave the repubiicans place them on the track. Aaron Wall 1s trafning hard for the place, but A. P. Culley, cashier of the First bank of Loup City, thinks he wili be the winner. Wahoo New Era: There Is a sentiment throughout the state strongly in favor of J N. Gaffin as the people’s party nomince for wovernor, The New Era has studied this matter over carefully and thoughtfully, The publishers were afraid thelr personal friend- ship for Mr. GaMin might overshadow their better Judgment, and they would, by sup- porting” him for the nominee, do something that would cause dissension or tend to weaken the cause in this county. In view of this we have taken the trouble to question leading popullsts in the county, we have watclied the state press and we have come to the conclusion that the time has arrived to declare onr position. We know Mr. Gaffin as a neighbor, we know him as a cit- izen and as a public servant, we know how he stands in the estimation of Saunders county people and we do not hesitate to unqualifiedly assert that oun cholce for gov- ernor is Hon. J. N. Gaffin, Personally this paper the Kindest feelings in the world for He is a man caleulated to ndship wherever he goes by his genfal and off-hand manners. And when it comes to political debts, Norfolk owes to Tom Majors more than to any man w has been mentioned in connection with the republican nomination for governor. This much is true, and the Jonrnal meant to as much Tast week, but fear that the visit of the llentenant governor on publiea- tion day might be taken as the inspiration for saying so canced the article to be with- held at the time. This paper is not given to dishing up taffy to people simply because they call_around, incldentaily, of course, in a political campalgn, and 1t doesn’t care to acquire a reputation for doing so. It wants to deal honestly with its readers and look every question fairly in the face. It remem- bers” with gratitude the efforts of Tom Ma- Jors in behalf of Norfoll at the time the appropriation for the two wings and the subsidiary buildings at the asylum was se- cured in the legislature of 1887, and if that were the only question to be considered in the selection of a candidate for governor it would say to the republicans of Norfolk: “Glve your votes to Tom Majors and pay your political debts” But there is a larger and deeper question back of all this, and that is the question of the welfare and fu- ture success of the republican party. Can the party afford to nominate Tom Majors? Will_nothis nomination inevitably bring on a defensive campaign that may end in disas- ter? of reform in party methods and manage- ment? These are the questions that every republican must answer for himself, and the Journal believes that tne answer must be unfavorable to Tom Majors' candidacy. And when they are thus answered, Norfolk republicans must further deeide whether they can afford to pay political debts at the expense of the future welfare of the republl- can party. This is a very large question, worthy of a good deal of thought. ———— NEBRASKA AND NEBR. Tom win KANS. John Baughn of Randolph is about to erect a 60,000 bushel elevator. The cigar makers employed by Weber & Kroechler of Plattsmouth have struck, and are out of a job for the present at least. The annual meeting of the Women's Christian Temperance union of Gage county was held at Blue Springs with a large at- tendance. A Massachusetts man has been at Norfolk looking over the ground with the idea of building a paper mill. He was favorably impressed with the available water power A youthful Superfor hunter named Culp cocked his gun so as to be ready for emorgencies _and then walked rapidly be- hind Wil Horne, The emergency arose and now Horne Is lald up with a bullet in through his hip. Oscar Callahan and L. Morse, Dundy County Irrigation company, have served an Injunction upon parties’ using water for, irrigation purposes out of Rock creck, a tributary of the Republican, which empties into the latter stream just above the big ditch, situated west of Benkelman. This lessened their water supply and the question involved the right of parties to use water out of tributaries that emply into streams above and near where ditches are taken out when the use of such water Interferes with the operation of the ditch. It 1s a question of Importance, and its final decision will be awaited with much Interest by irrigationists in Nebraska. of the Would his nomination give any promise | CEREMONIES AT THE CAPITAL tal Exercites Held at the National Cometery at Arlirg’:n, Fr CLEVELAND AND HIS CABINET PRESENT Coxeyltos Take Advantage of the Vooation of a Monument Capltal Grounds to Galn an Entrance to the Forbidden Soction. on the WASHINGTON, May preparations had been mado here for the celebration of Memorial day, and in spite of advers athor the observance of the day was general At Arlington, the great national.cometery, at the various private comoterlos, and whers ever in one of the parks stands a marble, or bronze representative of one of the he- roes of our civil war, there were beautiful floral decorations and displays ef the na- tonal colors. The floral display was pare teularly striking, for tn addition to the ributions of individuals and societies by order of President Cleveland the whole of the floral wealth of the white house grounds were culled by the gardeners and used for the decorations of soldiers’ graves. Colonel Wilson, the superintendent of public build- ings and grounds, had also done his part in selecting the choicest blossoms in the parks for the beautification of the soldiers® monuments, with which the city abounds. The public ceromonies, as in the past, were entrusted to the Grand Army Republic, and were at once impressi successful at all points, The Coxeyites selzed the opportunity to exploit themselves in public under cover of a patriotic desire to decorate the monuments on the western edge of that forbidden spot, the capitol grounds. Last evening they werh Creintorced by Galvin's army, /150 strong, and after formal welcome by Okla- homa Sam, representing the leader of the movement who is now In prison, the new= comers, who were very hungry and forlorn after their long tramp from Lansdale, near Bultimore, found quarters in some rude shelters on the extreme right of the Coxey camp. Yesterday cvening the men spent their time in gathering evergreen and wild flowers, and today they marched to town and deposited thelr offerings on the peace monu- ment. The chief event of the day about Washing= ton was the celebration at Arlington, where countless thousands of the nation’s defend- ers lie at rest, some beneath marble slabs and very many in the shadow of the monu- ment to the “Unknown Dead.”” To this great cemetery the Grand Army repaired in force. They formed mnear their hall on Pennsylvania avenue about 10:30 under a Eluborate “threatening sky. They started on thelr march for Arlington, headed by a considerable body of the district militia. The old vet- erans stepped out bravely to the notes of the bugles on the march that is getting to be more arduous as the years roll by. C President Cleveland arrived shortly after 12 o'clock, accompanied by Secretaries Gresham and Morton. The party took seats at the front of the speakers’ stand and was applauded. General Black and Corporal Tanner, both ex-commissioners of the pen- sion burean, were in the stand, and later Secretaries Carlisle and Hoke Smith arrived. Hon. A. L. Martin of Indiana, chairman of the committee on pensions, delivered an eloquent oration, and Colonel John A. Joyce read a poem. Representative Dryan aroused much en- thusiasm by his speech. He began: “The only excuse one of my generation can offer for speaking here Is to assure the veterans that this day shall not dic with them. When the nation has forgotten the battlefields where were won Its greatest victories it will not forget the burial places where its greatest dead rest.” Speaking of the re- sults of the war, he said: “It would have been defeat to have held together in fron bands two estranged sections, but it s glorious victory to have been able to bring back an unwilling brother and make him a happy brother.” President Cleveland sat through the entire program, which lasted several hours, but did not speak. There were also ceremonies at the Soldiers Home, where an oration was delivered by Representative Cousins of lowa and a poem was read by Representative English of New Jersey. Representative Lare Pence of Col- orado was the orator at the Congressional cemetory. Colonel Thomas Calver delivered the poem and Past Grand Commander S. S. Yoder of the Union Veterans union delivered ddress. lhj\l“‘(}rucelnnd cemetery the ceremonies comprised an oration by Representative Pickler of South Dakota, poem by Comrade W. W. Granger and addresses by A. N. Dodson of the Sons of Veterans and Chap- lain W. H. Honn of Thomas post. The Unlon Veterans union conducted services at Battle Creek cemetery, the first time they have so acted as an independent organiza- tion. resentative Brosius of Pennsylva unflh‘l:\nnlatnnt Secretary Reynolds of the Department of the Interior delivered ap- propriate addresses. ~ Many soldiers of the war lie interred at St. Blizabeth Insane asylum, and they were not forgotten by the Grand Army, for at that place the ora- tion was delivered by Past Department Com- mander S. E. Farence, the poem by Prof. Nel:on and an address by Comrade Robert your money's worth. 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