Omaha Daily Bee Newspaper, December 10, 1894, Page 4

ROSEWATER, Editor. BLISHED EVERY MORNING, TERMS OF Daily Bee (Without Sunday), Daily_Hee and Sunday, One Bix Months Three Months Bunday Hee, One Year. | arday_Liee, One_Ye ™ Weekly Bee, One v seanene | SUBSCRIPTION, | One Year.....$8 Year. 10| Omaha, The Bee Bullding | Bouth Omahn, Corner N and Twenty-fourth Sta, Council Bluffs, 12 Pearl street Chicago Office, 317 Chamber of Commerce. New York, Rooms 13, 14 and 15, Tribune Bldg. Washington, 1407 F street, N. W CORRESPONDENC ANl communications relating to news and edi- | torlal matter should be addressed: To the Editor. BUSIN L All business letters and remittances should be addressed to The Bee Publishing mpany. Drafts, checks and postoffice orders (o o payable to the order of the E PUBLISHING COMPANY STATEMEN Taschuck, sec mpany, being duly s the actual number of full and of the Daily Morning, Evening printed during the month of Novemb as follows OF ClI tary of The n, says that te coples ndny Bee 159, was Mshing al e Geductions o 48,372 21,612 Total Yt it ; Daily av g it Z3CHU WEIL, " Notary Sworn to presence this (Seal.) Public Water pressure strong enough to burst a hydrant must have some little force after all. One experience with a $108 charity baby ought to be enough for our county commissioner The industry of manufacturing imagin- ary presidential states is gradually re- suming its old-time prosperity. The supreme court commission is a child of necessity. The legislature must take action to remove the necessity. Why should one pa upon by court commissioner Judges elected and answe peop! man 1 his suit spointive supreme wnd another his by ble to the ve sed If the United States grand jury now in session in this ity will do as well or half as well as the grand jury now in session at Sionx City there would be a rattling of bones among Mosher's old cronies and coj ner: If Tom Murray would be satisfied with ving a boulevard named after him, we should be inclined to favor the ancient purveyor of anchors, Noal's arks, stuffed bears, log chains, coffinsg and articles out of general use, If the Sugar trust does not soon re- sume operations in Washington some of the numerous candidates for United States senator in various states may be forced to conelude that a senatorship 18 not o attractive as it used to be. Well, even it President Cleveland didn't write all of his message, he did nothing worse than a great many con- gressmen and senators who are addicted to the delivery of speeclies carefully compiled for them at a stipulated pric Council Bluffs is to have its electric lighting operated on the Philadelphia schedule at $84 per lamp per year. We Delieve that reduced to an all night Dbasis this is even cheaper than what Omaha is to have under its new con- tract. Over §5,000,000 have been taken from New York banks in the past ten years Dby dishonest employes. That is defal- cation. The enormous amount taken from the people by the Sugar trust can- not be computed. That is commercial shrewdness. It is a very serious problem whether any more villages should be incorpor- ated within five miles of Omaha. The tendency everywhere else is for cities to annex suburban towns and villages and unite them under one municipal government. We are now approaching the period when public bodies and public officials are making quiet preparations for turn- ing over a mew leaf. The indications are that several new leaves will be turned over in the court house and city hall with the advent of the new year. Sioux City 15 to be congratulated upon the effective work of the grand jury that has just ran down the gross frands 80 long perpetrated by certain of its public officers. A few equally persistent and painstaking grand juries in some other western cities that we know of might perhaps earn the eternal gratitude of some fraud-ridden communities. The vegents of the State university ask for a special halt-mill tax for two years only. additional revenue now and they will present equally plausible arguments for the continuance of the extra half-mill tax by the legislature two years hence and every succeeding two years there- after, even if the grand assessment roll 18 doubled or trebled. — The action of the council in ordering one steam fire engine in addition to those already in use will be approved by the taxpayers. While three additional steamers were demanded by the |n- surance agents, the council is not in position to grant the request. If the contemplated improvement in the wate works system Is carried out, there may also be no necessity for purchasing ad ditional fire steamers, As has been clearly set forth in The Bee, the great flour makers of Minne- sota are undertaking to crush out the millers of this state. Since the home patronage sentiment spread throughount this state Nebraska millers have been able to sell their product at home and the industry has flourished as never before. We Lope the people of this clty and state will cont to give prefer- | was promptly declined with thanks. Let them succeed in getting this | MOSHER'S PENITENTIARY CONTRACT. Once upon a time Boss Stout, the bullder of the penitentiary and lessee of convict labor, offered to put the editor of The Bee on his pay roll as a matter of courtesy. but the generous tender To a man up a tree it would look as if a similar offer from Mosher to Congress- man Bryan's editorial substitute on the | World-Herald has not been spurned. | The zeal with which that person volun- teered to champion Mosher at the time the Douglas county jail scandals were the sensation of the hour left that fimpression, and this impression receives strong con- firmation by the alacrity with which lie jumps Into the breach on behalf of Mosher immediately on the heels of the | publication of the Stout contract and | the history of the transfer under which | Dorgan now represents Mosher's int ests In the penitentiary contract. It is still fresh in the memory of most people liereabouts how Mosher played the role of cuttlefish at the time his illicit rela- tions with women of ill repute and his visits to low dives while he was pre- | sumed to be in jail were the town talk | by writing libelous letters, in which he sought mirch the editor of The Bee by 1 ss inuendoes. It was at that time, also, that the World-Herald was favored by Mosher with a copy of alleged testimony n by B. Rose-| water before a legislative committee in | 1801, This testimony is again rehashed to make it appear that the editor of The Bee favored the Mosher contract origin- ally and volunteered to advocate Mosher's interests before the committee. Iven if this were literally true it would afford no justification for contin- uing the present contract. Mosher was presumed to be solvent in 1801 and was in position to fulfill the contract and exercise the supervision which is pre- requisite on the part of the contractor. A great change has taken place since 1891, Mosher is not only bankrupt, but he is confined in the Sioux Falls peni- tentiary and therefore beyond the reach of process to compel him to live up to the conditions of the compact, and will not be in position to resume his rela- tions with the state before the time for which the contract runs. Manifestly, therefore, something must be done by the state to meet existing conditions. The object of the publication by The Bee was to place the incoming legisla- ture and administration in possession of the facts and in position to deal with the problem when it comes up for solu- tion. The testimony of II. Rosewater was in no sense a defense of the contract or of Mosher. On the contrary, it is a candid and unbiased presentation of the facts as then known. The concluding part of the testimony throws sufficient light on this point. After discussing at some length the advantage and disad- vantage of conviet labor, Mr. Rosewater sald: The state penitentiary should have been at Weeping Water, Beatrice, or some place where there is power and material on which these men could work, where an ordinary laborer could be set at work, where there was work any laborer could do. It will be necessary some day to remove the peniten- tlary to some other place. As it is now, the 40 cents a day, and the 30 or 40 cents he gets for subletting the men, appears quite an amount. You could board a good many in a good hotel for that. And they had to be guarded. That is where the big expense comes in. You could not possibly make more than ,$25,000 a year if you tried, because there are only 350 or 360 convicts, and if it is figured at the rate of 50 cents a day for each man he would be getting $170 a day, and at the outside from $500 to $700 a week, and that, of course, would run all the way from $25,000 to $35,000 a year. It Is a good income, but the state might lose the whole amount, and lose more. That is the difficulty. One impro- priety is that it did not open the doors wide and invite other peopls to come in and compete for this extensfon. Q—The people had heard so much com- plaint in the past that they thought that there was a terrible steal in some place, and they got it from these papers, and we thought you could tell us all about it. A.—I charged that Stout monkeyed with the legislature every session to get his ap- propriation through and used up all the lands of the state given to the penitentiary and a great deal of other land, and gave a sccond rate lot of buildings when he had the contract to make improvements. I think since Mr. Mosher has been in that there has been a stoppage of that and they have got about all the water works they want. Since that testimony was given Mosher has blossomed out into a more danger- ous oil room lobbyist and boodle dis- tributor than Bill Stout ever was reputed to be. He engineered the $40,- 000 cell house job through the legisla- ture, tampered with the impeached state house officials, and finally brought on the smashup of the Capital National. It is just this deplorable state of affairs that forces itself upon the next legis- lature. Another point upon which new light has been shed since 1801 is the validity of the Mosher t sfer. It w: first assumed to be legal, but very eminent attorneys now assert that the act of the | legislature was null and void because it i was o usurpation of executive powers and did not provide for competing bids. HE FIRE CHIEF. The retirement cf Chief Galligan, after | fully twenty years' hard service, com- pels the fire and police commission to appoint a new fire chief. The council and business men's committee, which has had the question of better fire pro- teetion in hand, has reached the conclu- sion that the efficiency of the depart- ment will be best promoted by the s lection of a chief from among the ex- perienced and best disciplined fire de- partment officers in one of the larger citles. As might bave been expected, there is much opposition to the importa- tion of a man from the outside before the officer next in rank to Chief Galli- gan has been given a chance to show his capacity for running the department. All things being equal, there is no doubt that this should have been the policy in filing the vacancy. There is a good deal In holding out the prospect of pro- motion of men from the lowest rung in the ladder to the top. As against this view the advocates of a new man from outside point to the fuct that the Board of Education has ence to Nebraska-made flour, Imported superintendents from the out- { it the United § cancy, because the position requires ex- ecutive ability and experience of a high order, of which no public school man in Omaha was possessed. It Is also urged that we cannot afford to take chances in experimenting. Assuming that Mr. Salter is well qualified to handle an ordinary fire, it is urged that he lacks executive ability and has com- paratively no knowledge as to the discl pline which prevails in the large cities, There is much to be said on both sides of this controversy, and it remains for the commission to get the best solution of the problem. ANOTHER IMPORTANT RATE CASE} A rate case of but little less ims portance than the one which involved the enforcement of the Nebraska maxi- mum freight rate law is to come up for heaving next month before the judges of the federal circuit court for the dis- trict of southern Ohio. This case turns not upon the power of a state legisla- ture to enact measures for the control and regulation of railronds operating within their jurisdiction, but upon the correct interpretation of the provisions of the interstate commerce act. Com- plaint seems*to have been made some months ago through Commissioner Igle- hart of the Chicago freight bureau that the merchants of that city were, as com- pared with New York shippers, being subjected to flagrant discriminations in the matter of rates on goods trans- ported by the southern lines. The inter- te commerce commissioners listened to the evidence that was brought before them and eame to the conclusion that the Chicago merchants were justly en- titled to relief. The roads, as was naturally to have been expected, re- fused to obey the order of the commis- sion to reduce rates, and the present proceedings have been instituted in ac- cordance with the fede statute to compel obedience by the railroads. The suit is expected to open up the whole question of the powers of the commis- sioners to enforce their decrees, and 80 great is the importance attached to the result that the attorney general has engaged ex-Senator Edmunds to appear for him on behalf of the commissione in conjunction with the district attorney of the district and the attorneys for the Chicago and Cincinnati freight bureaus. while the interests of the railroads will of course be looked after by their regu- larly employed attorneys. The Southern rate case has more sig- nificance than the particular rates di rectly affected, although those are quite momentous enough. It is asserted that should the interstate commission make £ood Its claims to the authority exer- cised in making this order the gain in trade for Chicago would amount to not less than $15,000,000 annually. Cin- cinnati and the other distributing points for southern business would make pro- portionate gains and all these gains would be at the expense of New York, which now occupies the point of ad- vantage. We, furthermore, have a repetition of the cry that should this case be finally determined adversely to the interstate commission that body may as well disband for all the actual results that it ean accomplish. We have heard this cry so often In connection with former rate controversies that we must be excused for insisting on ac- cepting it at a discount. The commis- sion will certainly continue operations whatever the outcome, but its useful- ness would unquestionably be materi- ally impaired by a defeat in its con. tention. The decision will let us know Jjust where the interstate commission stands and at least indicate the direc- tion further congressional legislation ought to take, if such legislation is necessary. A TREATY WITH JAPAN. Japan has assumed a place of unques- tloned prominence among the nations and it is obviously her destiny to attain much greater importance and influence. Already the arbiter in the Orient there is every reason to expect that in the years to come the island empire will make itself felt over a wider area of the globe, exerting influence upon the affairs of western as well as eastern na- tions. No country has a larger interest than the United States in the develop- ment of Japanese power and in the ma- terial progress of the empire. The American people have peculiar reasons for sympathizing with the spirit and aims of the Japanese. The political in- stitutions of the eastern nation are to a large extent fashioned upon ours and that country has looked to the United States for precept and example. There has always been a strong feeling of friendship between the two countries and it is manifestly in the interest of both that it be maintained, and if that , made stronger. This country was a little slower than England in negotiating a treaty with Japan, but the one which has been con- cluded and now awalts ratification by the senate sufficiently timely as well as highly isfactory in its terms. By ates recognizes the posi- n among the nations and accords to her every consideration that is shown to the most favored nations. The citizen of Japan visiting or residing in the United States will enjoy equal privileges and protection with the eiti- zens of any European country. No re- strictions of any Kkind are imposed and no conditions required dif- ferent from those in the case of the people of the most favored nations. In the matter of commercial relations pro- vision is made for the utmost reciprocal freedom consistent with existing laws. The citizens or subjects of the contract- ing parties have liberty to come with their ships and cargoes to all places, ports and rivers in the territory of the other open to foreign commerce, and shall enjoy, respectively, the same treat- ment in matters of commerce and nayi- gation as native citizens or subjects, or citizens or subjects of the most favored nation. All the possessions of citizens of each of the contracting parties in the territory of the other shall be re- spected, and the citizens and subjects of the contracting parties are to enjoy in the territory of the other exemption from all transit duties and a perfect equality of treatment with native citi- zens or subjects in all that relates to warehousing, bounties, facilities and drawbacks. Neither country will make tion of Jay side every time there has been a va- any discrimination against the other In the matter of shipping, or, Indeed, In any other respect. An lmportant pro- vision of theiew treaty fs that which | says that ghe, citizens or subjects of | leach of the titgh contracting partles shall ¢ In I Hirritorles of the other the same proteeton s native citizens or | subjects i pegard to patents, trade s andy 1ékigns upon fulfillment of formaliies prescribed by the law. treaty i 'to go into operation in ), "and remain in force twelve ars, ‘ The friendly’ relations subsisting be- tween the [inited States and Japan are assured continuance, and there is every | reason to expeot that the commerce b tween the twe eountries will steadily in- | crease. Whe 'the war in which Japan | is engaged is ended and the government of that country can again address itself to the work of material development there is every reason to believe that the trade of the empire will rapidly expand. Coming out of the conflict with China splendidly triumphant, as it now ap- '8 certain Japan will do, with all people united in a patriotic determi- nation to advance along the lines of the highest civilization, the island empire will make an effort to enlarge its com- merce, and there can be no doubt that the effort will be successful. In that case the United States ought to secure, and probably will, a very gerenous share of the increasing Japanese trade. The market of a country having 50,000,- 000 of industrious, thrifty, progressive people s worth looking after, and there is obvious wisdom in cultivating the | most intimate business relations with such a countr, Chairman Babcock of the republican congressional campaign committee de- nies that the committee is advising would-be contestants for seats in the next house of representatives that the house will consider all cases of this kind on their merits, pure and simple. This does not mean, however, that the re- publican majority is going to follow the example of its democratic predecessors in unsenting members honestly elected merely to give their places to partisan claimants. The next louse of repre sntatives ought to set o new precedent by discouraging contests that are not supported by reasonable evidence of fraud or trickery. It Is high time to stop the practice of stealing congres- sional seats that has so long been in- trenched in the capitol at Washington. O1d Fort Omaha must by all means be preserved intact and set apart to some public use. When the garrison shall have been removed to the new fort below tHe city steps must at once be taken to-protect the old fort from andalism uptil such time as the gov- crnment may cede the property to the state. This" protection will doubtless have to be provided by the state, and the subject will claim the attention of the Douglasicounty delegation in the coming legislature. The matter should be thoroughly' chnvassed, and not be permitted to go by default. Among the first things which the state organization of chiefs of police proposes to do is to bring pr upon the legis- lature to provide: for an increase in the salaries of the heads of the police de- partments ' ¢ities of the first and sec- ond class, This is, of course, a laudable purpose from the standpoint of the men who hope to profit by such a change in the law, but the taxpayers in these towns may insist on having a word or two to say on the subject. The times are not very propitious for increasing the pay of public officer: There is nothing on the statutes or in the constitution to compel congress to remain in session until March 4, It can, if it wishes, pass the appropriation bills and then go home without dabbling in other business, nor would such a lauda- ble determination encounter any objec- tion on the part of the publie, while we are sure the president would soon re- cover from his grief. But, of course, congress will do nothing of the kind. THE CONGRESSIONAL ROLL CALL. New York Sun. “Benton McMillin!" the house clerk cried, Here!" was the answer loud and clear, From the lips of the member standing near; And_“Here!” plied. was the answer the next re- “willlam Springer!” Then silence fell; This time no answer followed the call; Only his people had seen him fall, Killed or wounded they could not tell ere they stood In the fading light, T s mmembers Gf congress, with grave, dark 1ooks, As plain to read as open books, While slowly gathered the shades of night. The fern on the hillside was splashed with blood, And down in the corn, where the popples srew, Were redder stains than the popples knew, And crimson dyed was the river's flood. For these men had crossed from the other side, That day, all in the face of a Tariffic fire swept them down in its terrible ire, And their life-blood went to color the tige. “Aleck Dockery!" Quick there came Two stalwart members carrying in This one from old Mizzoura's din, Wounded and bleeding, to answer his name, “James and he answered Her Aleck Montgomery!"” no man replied, Tom the same state these two; the sad winds sighed, And a shudder crept through those st ing near. “William Wilson! then a member spoke: “Wilson carried our colors,” he sald; “Where our ensign was shot 1 left’ him dead, Just after the party wavered and broke, “Close to the white house his body lies; 1 paused & moment to glye him a drinks He murmured the president's name, think, And_death with it and eyes."” “Wheeler! “Crane And “‘Here!" “Cockran!" “Rland!" . But the roll wag cafled on these in vain. 'Twas a dreadfub thing, and It cost them dear; ) When 'the company's roll was called that night, Of all the host' who went into the figh Not a handful was left to answer “Here 1 came closed his “Catchings!” “Crisp!” and rephed the little band. “Cummings!” Holman!" Highest of all in Leavening Pow: Royal YEZTEHB ABSOLUTELY PURE A "III:NFI MOORE'S REVELATIONS, Why not check up the office of the secretary of Fremont Herald: books In the state? Western Wave: The auditor of state, Hon. | Bugene Moore, Is winning the plaudts of an appreciative constituency by his fearless ex- | posure of reckless and wanton expenditure | of public funds by some of our. so-calied hon- est and trusted state officials and legislative members. Auditor Moore very sensibly | recommends reform in several instances where 13 seems to be sadly wanting. Blair Pilot: © All eyes are now turn towards the coming session of the legislature, and the people are wondering It there will| he as much waste and extravagance as there has been in the past several sessions. When It comes to each member using six jack- | knives, two pairs of shears, 118 pencils, six- teen penholders, one gallon of ink and nearly two cuspidors, {t seems time to call a halt. Blalr Pilot: It is well for Nebraska that one state official has the nerve and independ- ence to “speak out in meeting.” The report of State Auditor Eugene Moore, which ap- pears in full in The Bee, should be an eye opener to the people. They should ndt only study its disclosures, but they should insist that their members-elect to the legislature make themselves famillar with it and give heed to its teachings. Seward Reporter: Auditor Moore, In his report to the governor, shows numerous places where the money of the state might be han- died with more care, and calls especial at- tention to the expenses of the legislative ses- sion. He has compiled a table of incidental expenses of the sessions of 1891 and 1893, which contains some rather startling facts Dozens of items are specified in which it seems that state funds have been recklessly wasted, and the auditor very properly recom- mends that such matters be held a little more in check. York Republican: The biennial report of Eugene Moore, auditor of public accounts, dis- closes a ‘growing deficiency in the revenues of the state under our present recklessly rascally method of assessing property, in many cases not § per cent of its actual value He points out the rigid economy necessary to ba pract.ced in the state institutions and the lavish expenditures of legislatures, notably those of popullst persuasion, which crippled the state Institutions in the name of economy, while indulging in $20 gavels, $18 ink stands, and running up the incidental and clerical ex- penses for each member to $685, exclusive of salary and mileage. Reforms are necessary, and Mr. Moore knows how to point them out. Grand Island Independent: State Auditor Moore has done a good service to the people, drawing in his report attention to the abominable extravagance of furnishing to the members of the legislature large amounts of “Jack-knives, inkstands (some of them at $18 each), gavels at $20 each, safes, step- ladders, barerls of ofl, dictionaries, hammers, bolts, boxes of soap, leather valises, rope, chains, hinges, plate glass, thermometers, mirrors and other similar purchases, which tends to the belief that the public funds are not being used to the best purposes, and these seem to be largely contracted for and bought prior to the convening of the session of the legislature and without any special authority thereof being provided by statute.” And the auditor might have added that a great many of these things, if not most of them, are carried away (to use a polite ex- pression) at the end of the session by many legislators of a grasping disposition. This annexation fever our statesmen have prob- ably caught from the great European states- men, who at thelr pleasure annex whole countries, doing it though for the benefit of their country and not for their personal gain. Our representatives ought to give up this dirty habit. Geneva Journal: The worst leak In the legislative expenses has heen in the employ- ment of high-priced clerks, typewriters, proot readers, etc. Generally mot more than half of these pretend to do much work and often many of them are utterly incompetent to perform the class of work required if they had the Inclination. A few male hangers-on get places in payment for political services of one kind and another, but a majority of these idlers are generally women who are provided with places without any expectation that they will perform much labor for the benefit of the state. This is a serious thing to say, but it is absolutely true. At every session there are hard-working, intelligent and able women doing the necessary work of the ses- sion as clerks, typewriters, etc., and a woman has as much right to work for the state as anybody, but their presence does not alter the fact stated above. Now what the people of Nebraska hope to see this winter is a strict compliance with the law prescrib- ing the number of employes and the selec- tion of men and women who are expected to earn their salaries, and a refusal to purchase or audit claims for thousands of dollars worth of stuft that the members cannot possibly use legitimately as the state’s law makers. So far as this paper is concerned, it proposes to inform its readers of every deviation from correct business principles that it learns of. The last two sessions were controlled by the populists, but the politics of the members should make no difference in the treatment of the people of them, and previous sessions, controlled by republicans, were some of them bad enough in all conscience. L JEST NONSENSE. Siftings: It {s common for a man to bring up his niece, but what do you think of a fellow who raises his ante? Buffalo Courler: Bangs—I'd give a good deal to know how it feels to be drugged and robbed. Binthere—Why don’t you go and get a prescription filled, then? Syracuse Post: Voice -at the head of the stairs—George, have you been drinking? George—No'm. Voice—Say chrysanthemum. ieorge (silent for a moment)—I'm drunksh, my dear! Boston Courier: New Yorker (sneer- ingly)—I thought 'you were going to have an ‘elevated road in Boston? Hubb True Blue—We have lots of them; in fact, every- thing about Boston Is elevated. Cincinnatl Tribun Mrs. Wickwire—Do you know that the doctors say that too con- stant plano practice is likely to produce curvature of the spine? Mr. Wickwire—I didn’t know it before, but T don’t doubt it. At least, it makes the nelghbors get their backs up. Syracuse Courler: Mrs. Youngwedin—But George Is 80 good to his workmen. Mrs, Beenthere—How do you know? “Why, he talking In his sleep last night, and he Jim, I'll raise you ten! ' And in these hard’ times, too!" Puck: Mrs. Tidgets—O, John, did you hear the awful thing that happened to that young man next dcor who practices on the flute? Well, he was crossing the track of a trolley car, and—O! it's too horrible to tell the rest. Mr. Fidgets (excitedly)~What! Wasn't he killed? T A HUSTLE ON. New York Press Pluck brings its reward; Reverses don't kill If_fate hits you hard Strike back with a will; Let it do what it can, Still hold up your chin, For the world foves a man Who never gives in. e Hurrah for Jay snd Fritz., Kansas City Times. The recent election in Nebraska has brought to the front two statesmen whose names will go down In history side by side with such political celebrities as Pod Dis- muke and Colonel Ratio Rose. In Thurston county Mel Jay, the defeated republican candidate for the legislature, is contesting the election of Nick Fritz, the successful democrat. Georgla may have her Pod Dis- muke and Missourl her Ratio Rose, but Thurston county is satisfled to emblazon on the banners of fame her two favorite sons—Mel Jay and Nick Fritz. —— Stick a Pog There. Indianapolis Journal It s worth while to note the fact that, even with Mr. Bryan for leader, the ma" Jority of the Nebraska delegation in the Transmississippl congress was opposed to the free colnage of silver. Baking Powder | commenced HELP FOR THE NEEDY. Hastings Nebraskan: The mayor Informed the Nebraskan that the city had been paying out at the rate of $300 to $400 per month for rellef purposes, and as winter has hardly yet it will readily bo seen to what extent this charity dispensing business would run before spring if continued, The people of this city should co to the assistance of the council this matter so that a thorough Investigation of the circam- stances of those who have be gotting assistance from the city may be made, and that the aid extended in the future may be given in the right place. Stromsburg News: When the legislatur meets its first business should be to consider the means whoreby the farmers of Nebraska can be relieved. The crop of the past season was almost a complete faflure all over the state, and the only thing saved In most cases was corn stalks, and in many instances not even that. Rellef committees are organized In all localities and will have plenty to do this winter. The hardest times will b next spring when fodder is exhausted and the farmer, when he has fed his stock the last grain in the bin—if he has any—or the last corn stalk and bunch of straw, stands without means to put in his next crop, legislature should see to it that the farmer has the means to plant his next year's crop. The future of the state of Nebraska' depends upon this move, Greeley Citizen: alarmed Once at the situation county. A long and continuous system of robbery, followed by two partial and one | entire failure of crops, has made things look | very serious to us. The winter is at hand, | and the hungry of our county must be fed | and the poor clothed. With the present | condition of things it seems to us that it | wili be a difficult thing to do. The treasury Is as empty as the farmers' granaries, | Warrants_issued for food and clothing will not bring over 50 cents on the dollar, or a man with a $10 order can get $5 worth of | goods. If It requires $10,000 to keep the poor | this winter and buy seed in the spring it | will cost the county $20,000 and interest to| pay the same. Now we do not want to say to the commissioners, do this or do that, | for we do not know what is best, but we | earnestly ask them to do something that will save the taxpayers $10,000. Do some- thing with our present indebtedness if you | can. Float it in some manner and the people will call you blessed. God knows it will be hard enough for us to pull through | another year without this great expense | mentioned above, [ Superior Journal: Over the perplexing | question as to what to do to help the destitute | people of our county, the county commission- more we of things in grow our the various funds raised the of 1892 there was some $5,100 unexpended and lying idle, subject to draft: They de cided to expend this sum on the public high- ways. vision over his respective district. is distributed over the county as equally as clrcumstances will permit, the greater part | being done where people are most in need of help. Only such as are sorely in of money for the support of their familie and who have no other means of gaining & livelihood, are allowed to work. The limit has been placed at five days to each man, except in very extreme cases of poverty. They will be allowed 25 cents per hour for man and team. About $2,100 was paid out at the last session of the board and there is cash enough on hand to pay off all the warrants. This is a good scheme, as it not only assists those who sorely nced it, but puts them, not in the position of mendicants, but gives them a chance to earn what they recelve. It is false charity to ald any ono except with work, if the parties are able to work. from Broken Bow Republican: At the recent meeting of the county board the members joined in a petition to the legislature to pass a law authorizing countles to vote bonds for relief. This s a question of great impor- tance to Custer county. Without some pro- visions by which farmers can be provided with feed and seed next spring there can be but very little farming done in Custer county. It is estimated that not more than one farmer out of ten will be able by spring to provide feed and seed unless some provisions are made by which they can purchase the necessary feed for their teams and seed for planting on time, and they will be compelled to go where they can. We do not favor donating the feed and seed to any, and we doubt whether there are any who are tax- payers that want to become objects of char- ity to that degree that they would accept ald from the county as a donation. There are thousands of good citizens who have struggled hard and in ordinary circumstanc:s | that were well-to-do that have been reduced | to want by the past two years of drouth and the depressed condition of finance. They been compelled to sell off cattle and horses for little or nothing. Their hogs, on which they were calculating to realize, had to be sold while pigs for a song. There is no one in shape, as was formerly the case under days of protection and republican ru'e, that can sell their sced and feed on credit. The whole county and everybody has reached bottom. A very few can provide for them- selves, The state or county has not only got to provide for a very large number dur- ing the winter, but seed and feed will haye to be furnished for them in the spring. If they raise a crop they can repay the county, and they and the county will gain by the transaction. Under the present law bonds cannot be voted for relief, and it will re- quire special legislation before it can be The | | former ers have wisely hit upon the following plan— | a plan that is made possible by the fact that | levy | | boards Bach member of the board has super- | The =vork | HINTS FOR LEGISLATORS. Stanton Register: The people of Nebraska expect the leglslature to pass some kind {of a railrond Bill. They should give us & law that can be justly enforced. O'Nelll Sun: The loglslature ought to try and devise some method of counting the | ballots at elections. It is exasperating to have to wait for nearly a whole week bafore we can half learn who has been elected, Fullerton News: The fidea of publishing the session laws of the legislature In two newspapers of each county is being strongly advocated throughout the state. This would be a good plan to keep the people Informed on the doings of the legislature. In no other way could the same money bo expended to do as much good. Fremont Tribune: Whatever* the legisla- ture does this winter it must always keep in mind the nocessity of strict economy and see to it that if a wise economy makes it ¥ necessary to raise a larger fund than is possi= ble under our present revenue law, then the auditor's suggestion that it be amended 80 as to provide for a larger fund should be ‘lll'l‘lh”L The state should not run in debt. | Lincoln News: There is good food for thought in the very fact that = Omaha | proposes to change its method of assessment*™ " | by “assessing all property at about one-halt Its actual value instead of one-tenth will compel Lincoln to follow suit. This plan will reduce the tax rate to 10 mills, and the good results that will certainty follow should in- duce Lincoln to join hands with Omaha and secure the benefits at the same time. Hastings Tribune: It is probable that the next Nebraska legislature will in a measuro restore the bounty upon beet sugar, If so, provision should be made by which the largest share of the bounty would be paid to the farmer who raises the beets. The grow- ing of sugar beets needs more encouragement than the manufacture of the sugar. The is a comparatively new and experi- mental industry, while the manufacture of beet sugar is thoroughly understood and Is 1o longer an experiment. Geneva Journal: We hope the legislature to convene the first of next month will go at the business of the session as they would t thelr own private business. It is truly ald that custom makes law in some in- stances, but the custom of making the legisla- ture a disgrace to the state and to every principle of sound business economy should be abandoned, and the large republican majority in the next legislature can firmly intrench the republican party in its control of the ‘state government by being honest, economic and sawing wood instead of play- ing horse for two-thirds of the session. Chadron Signal: This paper cordially sec- {onds the motlon of Brother Paradis of the Hemingford Guide for an amendment to our election laws providing for representas tion of all political parties on _election Perhaps the outline of a bill pre- sented two years ago by the Signal will be of interest now. It is this: Abolish the election of Jjudges and clerks of election. Divide the election board as nearly as pos- sible pro rata among the different parties according to the average vote at the last election, requiring a party to vote 20 per cent of the precinct vote in order to entitle it to one representative on the election board. Let the party caucus elect the party repres sentatives on the election board and certify them to the county clerk as they do other nominations. Grand Island Independent: The members of the coming legislature are keeping an eys on the Hall county delegation, regarding any legislation which may affect the future of the beet sugar industry in Nebraska. So vociferously did the former members of this county fight measures before the last two legislatures that the remainder of the state had begun to believe that sugar beet raising was a fake and all connected with the fac- tory were cut-throats and robbers. The gen- eral impression seems to have gone abroad that in order to victimize the balance of the state the farmers hereabouts were quietly on the side paid a little extra to ralse beets above what was paid in other communities, and many similar and absurd stories have been circu- lated to the detriment of the industry, which have placed Hall county in a questionable attitude as regards its standing on the sugar beet question. In Dodge county, where more beets have been raised than in any county not in close proximity to the factory, an en- tirely different sentiment exists. The Stand- are Cattle company at Ames alone Has had from 700 to 1,000 acres each year, and has fifty teams at' work now in their immense flelds cultivating the soil and fertilizing, pres paratory for another season. It Is also learned from one of the exchanges that a bill is being prepared in that county, to be pre= sented at the next session, that will give $1 per ton bounty to the farmer—which, with the $4 per ton the Oxnards are paying, would make the same price as paid last year. How= ever, whilo the Independent is not informed as to the attitude of all the memlers of the Hall county contingent in this matter, it is to be hoped that while a large majority of Hall county's citizens favor encouraging the farmers In their efforts to permanently estab- lish the beet sugar industry our senators and representatives will earnestly support all mea; ures for upbuilding and encouraging an industry which promises so great returns for Grand Island and Hall county. e The Evil of Senu 1 Auoctions. New York World, The senate resolution in favor of the pop- ular election of senators ought to be called up and debated with a speclal view to the prospective sale of senatorships in West Virginia, New Jersey and Delaware. The seoatorships belong to the people, and if they are to be auctioned off the people have a right to manage the auctions, done, He's going to wait till [Eve. The Santa’s the ¢him and hous of them. clothing stook in the west a suit or five times two. Reliable Clothiers, S. W, “Money’s Worth or Money Back,” Watching You. you go to sleep Christmas n he's going to sneak down ney and find your clothes, and if they've got the “B., K. & Co.” label on them he will think you are a pretty good fellew and will pro- ceed at once to fill your old sock full of snare drums, peanuts, pianos es and lots. Let him see one of our new overcoats or suits in your room, They are an orna- ment to any back and it takes as little as $7.50 to secure either one Little boys, big boys and grown boys all receive special attention at our hands —the largest boys and the choicest goods— all first class in quality, no matter if you pay $2 for Browning, King & Co., Cor, 15th and Douglas. | f