Omaha Daily Bee Newspaper, January 3, 1895, Page 4

OMAHA DALY BEE = — PUBLISHED -— TERMS OF 8U Daifly Bee (Without & Dafly Bee and Sunday Bix Months Threa Months . Bunday Tiee, On Baturday Ttée, One ¥ Weekiy Dee, One Year OFF Dmaha, The Ree Building. Bouth Omaha, Singer Dk, Cor. N and 2th Sts Council Bluffa, 12 Pearl Sireet. Chicago Office, 317 Chamber of Commerce. New York, Rooms 13, 14 and 15, Tribune Bldg. Washington, 1407 F Street, N, W, CORRESPONDENC All eommunieations relating to news and edi- torial matter should be addressed: To the Editc BUSINESS LETTE| All business letters and remittances should be fddressed to The Iiee Publishing company, Omaha. Drafts, checks and postoffice orders 16 be made payable (0 the order of the company. PUBLISHING COMPANY. ETATEMENT OF CIRCULATION. George B, T retary of The Tee Pub- Nshing company, befng duly sworn, ys that the actual number of full and complete coples of the Dally Morning, Evening and Sunday Hee printed during the month of November, 150, was as follow: SERESemuananen Total Less deductions for 659,654 a 11,252 L8372 Sworn to before me an scribed in my prea- ence this 34 day of December, 1594, (Seal.) N. P. FEIL, Notary Public. —_— THE BEE'S LEGISL. Full, accurate and critical reports of the proceedings of the legislature will appear in the columns of The Bee from day to day All questions and measures will be discussed and treated from the standpoint of the ma- terial welfare of the state and for the promo- on of good government. The Bee will com- mend what it believes worthy of praise and condemn what it believes to be detrimental to the public good. It goes without saying that The Bee will print all the news worth reading and proposes to keep its patrons ad- vised of every movement at the state capital tnside and outside of the halls of legislation. In procuring the news and all the news The Beo will spare no expense. It will not be confined to one wire, but will have the use of as many wires as the telegraph companies can place at its command in any emergency. The anticipated senatorial contest has n who has “sworn off” Is just v much in evidence. The Barrett Scott tragedy is devel- oping into a dreadful mystery. ska changes rulers today. The king Is dead; long live the King! It is the year 1895, but people will Kkeep right on dating their letters 1804, Charley Mosher's name will be m fng on the new bond of State Treas- urer Bartley. No one else can point to a New Year's gift similar to that received by John M. Thurston. It is at once invaluable and unique. The chahber in the state house set apart for the lieutenant governor will not be used as an oil room during the present sesslon. Judge Scott ought to be satisfied witn the vindication received from his fellow Jjudges and send his resignation to the governor without further delay. Now that all the provisions of the new tariff are In force there Is no Jonger any excuse for further delay in sending on those promised good times. Omaha has now a new chief of its fire department. She expects a great deal from him and hopes sincerely that she will haye no cause for disappoint- ment. The United States senate makes up its own committees. The Nebrasks senate has for several years past pur- sued the same policy, and it should con- tinue to do so. It 18 to be noted that several prom- inent leaders of the democratic party were conspicuous by their absence from President Cleveland's official New Year's reception. Peter Schwenck for the State Board of Transportation! Why not? Peter Is just the kind of a man that would have the nerve to break all the com- mandments at a single bound. Why should the legislature of 1803 g0 back for its rules to 1889 instead of adopting the. rules of 1803 with such modifications as would suggest them- selves after mature consideration? A joint committee of both houses of the legislature on relief legislation to expedite the enactment into law of the most feasible measure for alleviating distress in the drouth-stricken section would be in order, — The council committees should not be organized on the partisan basis, but with a view to the promotion of good government and in the interest of the taxpayers. 'I'he citizens of Omaha care very little whether the chalvman of any committee is a republican or a demo- erat, but they want the assurance that & man is not a boodler, Nebraska opened the new year by furnishing the sensation of the day in the Barrett Scott tragedy. One incident of this kind in a year, however, will be more than an ample sufficiency, It will take an unlimited period of good behavior to wipe out the blot upon the reputation of her people as law-abiding and law-observing citizens, — One of the most successful evening newspapers in the country is the Chi- eago Mail. Having all the news fa- eilities which the Assoclated press af- fords, paying careful attention to local affairs, and being always bright, spicy and clean, the Mail enjoys a large and deserved popularity and a liberal meas- ure of prosperity. It occuples a firm Qlace In Chicago journalism, CONGRESS AGAIN. Congress will resume work today. In the hovse debatoe on the currency bill will be continued, and it is ex- | peeted that a vote on the measure will be reached next week. Among those | best informed as to the prevailing sen- timent it is believed that it will not pass the house, but in the event of its adop- tion by that body it will certainly be | defeated in the senate. There has been some talk about an appeal to the re- publicans to present a enrrency bill, but it is not probable that this will be done, nor is it likely that the repub- licans will voluntarily offer a measure of their own, preferring to leave the party in power to deal with this sub Jeet, as it did with the tariff, without republican help. It is said that the president has about given up hope of getting any adequate financial legisla- tion from this congress, and there Is talk of an extra session of the Iifty- fourth congress, to be called early in the sprin, to consider the currency question. So far 3 the republican in congress are concerned, they will do nothing to force an extra sesison, but the exigencies of the treasury may necessitate it if nothing is done to re- lieve them at the present session. The situation is certainly such as to cause solicitude, and it is not at all surprising to learn that the continued excess of ex- (ditures over the receipts of the rnment and the continued depletion of the gold reserve are causing the ad- ministration great anxiety. The treas- ury gold is now down below $80,000,000, and with no prospect of any material change for the better during the next few months another issue of bonds seems inevitable. So far the demo- ts in congress have shown their utter incapacity to deal with this prob- lem, and there is no reason to expect that they will improve in the two months that remain of this congress. The Nicaragua canal bill s the vight of way in the senate and its con- sideration will be resumed, Senator Morgan, who has charge of it, having prepared a speech in reply to the op- position to the measure which it is understood he will deliver at once. The chairman of the committee on appro- priations, Senator Cockerill, is said to be very anxious to push forward the urgent deficiency bill, which contains the approprintion for putting into ef- feet the income tax, and it is quite possible this may displace the canal bill. It is clearly indicated that the income tax appropriation will encounter vigorous and determined opposition. A number of republican senators who are opposed to the tax on .principle will an- tagonize the appropriation, morve for the purpose, however, of explaining what they regard as the attitude of their party than to defeat action on the bill. The senate republicans did not discuss the income tax provision of the tariff bill when it was before that body, though with few exceptions they voted against it. They feel now that the time has come when it is due to themselves that the country should understand what their position is. On the democratic side the New York and New Jersey senators, with one or two others, are opposed to the tax and may vote against’ an appropriation to give it effect, but these will be offset by re- publicans who will vote for the appro- priation. It is not expected that the bill will be defeated, notwithstanding the announced determination of Sena- tor Quay and one or two others to “talk it to death,” but a protracted de- bate will precede final action on the bill. Besides the appropriation bills, most of which have not been acted upon by the house, and none of which have been considered by the senate, there are sev- eral subjects of importance embraced in the program of this congress which it seems probable wifl not be reached, or at any rate acted upon. Indeed, it is very likely that nothing more will be done than to pass the appropriation bills. WHAT BECOMES OF SCOTT'S INTUNCTION? Under the rules established by the district court, in conformity with statu- tory provisions which prohibit one dis- trict judge from reversing any decision rendered by another district judge, the Jjudges of this district were prohibited from adjudicating cases that had been passed upon by any one of their num- ber. It is also the established rule of this district that the judge to whom the criminal docket is assigned shall attend to eriminal court business only. The rules established by courts for their own guidance are just as binding upon each individual judge as they are upon members of the bar practising before their courts, and as are the rules es- tablished by national and state legisla- tures upon their members and officers. But Cunningham R. Scott has been a law unto himself ever since he has oc- cupied the district bench. While act- ing as judge of the criminal division of this district he has repeatedly usurped the powers vested in the other judges of the district in violation of the rules which were lawfully established for his guidance, One of the most flagrant of these vio- lations of the rules, as well as of the spirit of the law, that prohibits one dis- triet judge from arrogating to himself powers, was committed last 'k by Judge Scott when he stepped from the eriminal bench into the equity court and granted a restraining order by which the decision of Judge Keysor in the Sherman avenue paving contract case was reversed. The judges of the district court, at their New Year's day session, have ordered that the case be taken away from Scott and remanded for hearing before one of the judges of the equity courts. Now, the question s, what becomes of the injunction by which the judicial usurper has tied the willing hands of the Board of Public Works, and thus prevented the letting of the contract for the Sherman avenue pavement to the lowest bidder? Judge Keysor had already decided that the letting of the contract was regular, and that the city and the property owners on Sherman avenue were entitled to the benefits of the lowest bid. Now, inasmuch as the court has remanded the case brought before Scott to the equity court, and no district judge can, under the rules, re- verse Judge Keysor, Is not the injune- tion practically dissolved, and is not the Board of Public Works absolved from any further restraint in doing its duty under the orders of the mayor and coun- cil? A PERN CIOUS PROPOSITION The anomalous condition of the na- tion's finances and the apparent help. lessness of the present administration to devise and apply the remedy have naturally called forth a considerable number of ingenious propositions which their authors feel confident would, if adopted, restore the national curreney to a normal condition. Of these proposi- tions none that we have seen is quite s0 bold and self-assertive as that which has recently been advanced by Mr. Bd- ward Atkinson of Boston. It is noth- ing less than that the moneyed men and bankers of the country should, without waiting for curative legislation of any kind, pursue a policy intended to so embarrass the sccretary of the treasury as to force him to fund all the outstanding legal tender notes into bonds similar to those he has been is- suing from time to time to replenish the gold reserve. He urges the bankers to ignore congress and the federal authorities, and taking the matter into their own hands to threaten the coun- try with a suspension of gold treasury payments until thelr demands shall have been met. Mr. Atkinson's idea, which, by the way, has received the qualified approval of one or two newspapers of influence, may be summarized thus: he greater part of the demand obligations of the government consist of $ 00,000 of the legal tender notes of 1861 and ap- proximately 0,000,000 of notes is- sued under the Bland and Sherman laws, Against the latter the treasury holds silyer bullion or coined silver dol- lars purchased in accordance with the law. Against the legal tender notes the treasury is supposed to hold a gold reserve of $100,000,000, but as the notes are r ted when redeemed this re- serve is really at the mercey of the note- holders. The mnotes can Dbe reissued only in payment of the legitimate and authorized expenditures of the federal government. F ident Cleveland has, moreover, publicly expressed his deter- mination to sell bonds as often and whenever the gold reserve approaches what he considers the danger point. If now the bank will gather together the legal tender notes and present them repeatedly and constantly for redemp- tion in gold they will force the con- tinued issue of bonds until the whole $356,000,000 in legal tender notes shall have Dbeen piled up in the treasury simply because the government has no legitimate object of expenditure through which ‘their reissue can be effected. When that result shall have been ob- tained the bonded debt of the United States will have been increased by a sum not much less than $500,000,000 and the currency will have been con- tracted to the extent of $356,000,000. “In the interval clearing house certifi- cates, checks and other forms of cur- rency which are not a legal tender, but which have often been used to a very great extent, will continue ‘to serve their purpose wherever theré is' suf- ficient call for them.” his is in point of fact a description of the precess which has been going on in a slow and moderate way for a year past. The gold which has been with- drawn from the treasury has for the most part been exported, but it has been used merely to preserve the gold which the banks have been holding in their vaults. Then by exchanging their gold for bonds they have sub- stantially funded the legal tender notes originally In their possession. The banks have not even stopped here. Since the iast issue of bonds, for which they announced their readiness to sup- ply the necessary gold without calling upon the treasury for a single dollar, there have been between ten and twelve millions of gold withdrawn from the federal treasury by the redemption of greenbacks more than have been exported to other countries. Should this continue a new bond issue before the present congress adjourns would not be a very great surprise, if it is not indeed expected by those who are fortifying themselves with the treas- ury's gold. The trouble is that no such system was ever contemplated by the law. However desirable it may seem to some to retire the legal tender notes, the obliteration of $356,000,000 of cur- vency by an extra-legal proceeding without substituting anything for it would be a shock that the business of the country would with difficulty with- stand. The cry is that the greenbacks must go. If they must go, which is not yet universally conceded, let them go according to provision of law and not In violation of the intent and pur- poses of the law. THE "GREATE YORK." At the November election there was submitted to the voters of New York City, Brooklyn and a number of con- tignous towns the question of consoli- dating these separate municipalities into one, thereby creating the second city of the world in point of popula- tion. The proposition carvied, and it will be one of the duties of the legis- lature of New York to provide for carrying the will of the people into effect, iovernor Morton refers to this matter in his inaugural address and suggests the creation of a commission of capable citizens to be charged with the power and duty of framing a char- ter for the government of the new city. Undoubtedly the subject will receive the early attention of the legislature, for the people of New York City are very anxious to have consummated the work of ereating a “Greater New York" and will exert themselves to push it The electors of Brooklyn gave a small majority against the proposition, as did those of a few of the smaller towns, and it is possible that there may be some opposition from these quarters to legislation for giving effect to the popular will, but this will hardly be s0 formidable as to seriously interfere with the necessary legislation, so that the creation of u great municipality, having not less than 3,000,000 inhab- itants, can safely be regarded as only a question of time, When that is ac- complished Tarls awill be Toft well be- hind and the new eity will come within about 1.2001 Lur London, Ior morey) ! n ten years the second greatest center of population in the world has Béeh the group of munici- palities, whielr practically constitute one clty, siggated at the miouth of the Hudson river.. The greater size of Paris and the close rivalry of Berlin and Canton! khdwn in the tables of popu- lation of the avorld's foremost citie has been a fictign due to the entir ar- bitrary divisions between contiguous municipalitiess Now the United States and New Yerktare to obtain eredit for the true size of the metropolis of the new world. | The area that will be em- braced in the new municipality is B17.97 square miles, within a radius of sixteen miles of the pro Now York ecity hall. The limits of this Greater New York will include, be- sides the city proper and tie county of Kings, in which is the city of Brook- Iyn, the towns of Westchester, Flush- ing, Newtown and Jamaica, Long Island Clty and parts of the towns of Bast Chester, Pelham and Hempstead. There would thus be grouped under one Iministration what constitute at pres- ent three counties, parts of two coun- ties, three cities, fifteen tow parts of three towns and numerous villages. It is quite conceivable, in view of the rapid growth of American cities, that a city made up in this way might with- in a few decades rival the claims of London to the largest municipal popu- lation in the world. Whether this plan of consolidation will be to the Denefit of the several communities which now have independ- ent municipal government is perhaps a debatable question. Tt is possible that the sanitary and police as well as the economical interests of the great are concerned would be benefited, but a very great deal would depend upon the character of the city government. Cer- tainly the people would gain nothin if they were subjected to such an ac min of affairs as New Yor! City has suffered from during the p. twenty vears, nd this is a dang always to be apprehended. There will be a broader field in which to practice corruption, and there will be no lack of those willing to practice it. Nev theless the making of the second city of the world is an interesting fact of the times, and its consummation is to be hoped for. nt ns, Tt was certainly exceptional that among the New Year's honors bestowed by the British government not peerage is to 'be found. This is plained by the fact that Lord Rosebery would not indulge in that inconsistency involved in giving an honor which it is the policy ‘of his ministry to abolish. IFrom the American point of view, how- ever, such a procedure would be quite warranted by the circumstances. The prime ministér would be expected to take things as:he found them, and to follow established custom so long as the law rémains unchanged. The House of Lords will no doubt not feel the lack of new additions to its mem- bership, yet the :mere refusal to create new peerages ‘brings’'it no nearer jts end. one ‘Whenever it comes to any piece of news of the first magnitude you can rest assured that The Bee has no rival in tltese parts. The exhaustive report of the Barrett Scott tragedy published ex- clusively in The Bee was transmitted by one of its reportorial staff, who left Omaha within an hour after the first report of the work of the vigilantes had been flashed over the wires. The Bee's representative held the wires between Omaha and O'Neill for three hours last night and kept at his post until 2 o'clock in the morning. Further par- ticulars will be published just as rapidly as authentic information reaches O'Neill from the sheriff and his posse, who are in pursuit of the vigilantes. Mayor Bemis scores a good point in his insistence upon economy and re- trenchment by the new city council. Every corporation and every individual is curtailing expenditures wherever pos- sible. Of course there should be no unnecessary crippling of the publie service by a penny wise and pound fool- ish policy, but eve proposition for extravagant or uncalled for outlays of the public money must be frowned down from the start. Economy must be the watchword in every department of local government during the coming year. The keynote for the republican ban- quet: Nominate clean men for office and elevate the standard of the party so that it can truthfully boast of the high character, unselfish devotion to principle and unbending integrity of its leaders and every man who holds a position of honor and trust. Do not hip strange idols, but keep on the vght and narrow path of true re publicanism, as laid out by the found of the party, and the party will be in- vineible. For embezzlements the year which ha and defalcations Just concluded was a ord breaker, , The aggregate ex- ceeds $25,000,000, which is about $10,- 000,000 more than was stolen and mis- appropriated by the defaulters and en bezzlers during the year 18! which surpassed In volume the losses by de- falcation and embezzlement of any single year since 1878, This is a most striking proof of the lamentable decline of business integeity in this country, The legislaturd ghould inaugurate a radical change k' the printing of bills, There is no reason why the state should forever continue fhe same old form of spreading the titde of a bill on a whole pa and printing two or three lines on 8, 1895. another page and then have the bill certified to as measuring two full pages. This is not merely a cheat upon the state for type-setting charges, but also in the quantity of paper consumed, be- sldes being very inconvenient in the reading of the bills and in their filing. In other states the form and style of l(‘mlgr sional bills has been adopted as 1a model. Is it not about time for Ne- | braska to follow the examplo? | Congressman Springer of Illinols s another eminent statesman about to be retired from congressional service | who expects to be provided for by | President Cleveland. It might not be 4 bad idea for the present democratic congress to pass a law doubling the | number of federal appointive offices so that there will be enough places to go around after the 4th day of March [ next. The alacrity with Crounse fceepted the resignation of | Jndge Holcomb and the promptness | With which he named his successor must have made cold shivers run down |the backs of several gentlemen who were figuring on holding down a place on the district bench until the expira- tion of the original term. Mr. Bryan got a large majority of the votes cast for popular cloice of United tes senator at the last November, but that is all the faction that he will be able to s Mr. Thurston got the votes of the mem- Dbers of the legislature, and it is legis- lative votes that count. which Governor Nebraskn and Her Yoor, New York World, It is welcome news that the distress in Nebraska is not ag gi to hear that of her own 1 American spir is the true Will We ¥ xtra Sesslon? Globe-Democrat. naturally dislike to call in extra session a congress which is opposed to them in politics, but Mr. Cleveland may have to do this very thing next spring or summer. This congre t any rate, will enact no financial ation, however urgently it be den Presidents nded. g iy Better for All Concerned. Indianapolis Journal. It cannot be regarded as a misfortune that only 2,00 miles of railroad have been built in the United States the past year when it is considered that there are thousands of miles that cannot earn more than running expenses, lcaving the money invested in on @ dead loss. If hereafter rail- ard to their value estments it will be better for all con For branch lines and for the open ing of mew territory it looks as if the eclec- tric railway would” soon take the place of the more expensiv eam railroad, T O The Remedy Minneapolis Times. As to lynching, the only remedy for it Is to be found in holding sheriffs to their duty. Whenever a sheriff can be relied upon to shoot to Kill in defense of a prisoner or of a public building under his charge, the num- ber of lynchings will begin to deciine as the respect for law {8 thus Increased by the demonstration of its power to protect men who are in its custody. It should be made the duty of the governor to remove every sheriff who allows a prisoner to be taken from him or a public building under _his charge. If every state will enact such a law there will be a large increase in the number of mobocrats shot by sheriffs, and with it a marked decrease in the number of juils taken by storm for the purpose of murdering defenseless prisoners. et ki California’s Bonanza Kings. Chicago Post. The death of ex-Senator Fair Mackay the only survivor of the famous owners of the Bonanza mines. The rise of these men to splondid fortune was phenomenal In its day, although the east has furnished examples of _sudden riches far exceeding theirs in the last few years. Fair was the best equipped of the Quartet in the beginning. He was a clvil engineer of uncommon ability. Mackay ran a boarding house. Flood and O'Brien were saloon. Keepers. But once in business, all four developed extraordinary business acu- men. It is estimated that their mines yielded not less than $200,000,000, How it was spent the gossip papers of San Fran- clsco, the records of divorce courts and the scandal mongers of Paris can attest. -— Let Nebraska Care for Her Gwn. Norfolk Journal. is abundantly able to take such of her own people want as_a_result of the drouth_and partial crop failure last sum- mer. Such frantic appeals for aid as are belng trumpeted all over the east can only result in irreparable injury to the state and should be stopped. The Journal cannot speak for other sectlons, but it knows that northeast Nebraska has enough and to spare and needs no aid, but must suffer along with the rest of the state because of the unwarranted and_ sensational appeals for charity that are being made. In the eyes of eastern people any part of Nebraska 1§ all Nebraska, and they will naturally con- clude from what they hear that the entire population of the State is on the verge of. starvation. For the good name of Nebraska this extremely poor kind of advertising should be stopped PEE o e The College Junketing Tour. Chicago Record. | The presidents of the Indiana colleges would have done wisely to incorporate in their new rules regulating athletics an- other rule respecting the growing practice of sending college students out through the country on foot ball or glee club tours. The new regulations do, to a certain extent, tend to restrict exhibition games, but the offer no abatement of the abuse in general. ‘Apparently it has yet to be brought home to the college professors that the custom of Sonding colleié students forth on' foot ball and glee singing expeditions s both undig- nified 2nd_injurious. Unless the abuse is done away with the time is coming when parents, on their own behalf, will come forward with a protest. It may be a good thing for a young man to take his interest away from his studies, put him in a sleeping car with a number of his comrades and let him go traveling over the country to secure adulation and extensive advertising for his college. But sober-minded people who know the re- sults in individual cases will not be likely 10 think 50, —— THE NOW AND THEN, leaves four Nebraska care of as are in Minneapolis Times. The globe, like all the universe, That fllls the niche profound, Whirls on, as endless cycles tick \-appointed rou of ‘ecd. 1s 1aid on Man. He meets it with a Will, Their contact brings forth I “And Jill went up the hill ; and Jack Oh, baseless fabrics of the air! Oh, youth's enchanted lands! made of dreams are reared cy's shifting sands! A while an ¥den is the lot Of every son and daughter Eve gives unto the world “To fetch a pail of wate They went What are we but the tovs of Fate? Dark courses in the sky, Map out to Erudition’s gaze, Where suns lived but (o die; Volcanoes yawn and jibe at Man, His mock's the earthquake's laughter, Then “Jack fell down and breke his crown And Jill came tumbling =cer. Each heart some trace of Egypt has, Where ruins, deserts, lie; And o'er them all the ‘Sphynx looms up With its eternal Why Perhaps the hill the pair went up Was a tank built by the town, And, scared to d_ath, they feared its banks Might break ere they walked down. Ro Highest of all in Leavening Power.— Latest U. S, Gov't Report (2= =] ABSOLUTELY PURE Baking Powder THE LEXOW INVESTIGATION. Globe-Democrat: The Lexow inquiry is ended, for the time beihg at any rate, but an epklemic of such investigations all over the country might be a good thing. Philadelphia Times: The hopeful feature of the outlook is that the committee was pa- triotic enough to investigate honestly and without partisan blas. This furnishes ground for the hope that an aroused public opinion will_compel legislation as honest and non- partisan as the investigation has been. Philadelphla Record: When it is considered that this condition of things has existed for | moro than twenty years, and that it would probably still be undisturbed but for the energy of one man, it may well be thought that the inhabitants of New York City care for little except their own individual comfort and profit. The source of the boss' power is no longer a mystery; it les In the truth of the old saw: “What's everybody's business is nobody's business.” Courier-Journal: The effects of this investi gation will be felt more or less in every city in the union. It thus becomes an affair of national importance, and its influence in bullding up a just public sentiment will be powerful for many years to come. The out- come In New York will be awaited with un- diminished Interest, but it the whole police force be not purified from top to bottom it is very sure that half the fruits of a tre- mendous victory for good government will be lost. And the top should first receive at- tentlon. New York Times: The adjournment of the Lexow committee marks the close of an in- vestigation that ought to make an epoch in the annals of this city. It will be the fault of the people of this city if it does not. The specific and tangible results thus far reached are not epoch making. They consist in the conviction of aptain Stephenson and the elevation of Mr. Goff to the recordership. These are really the only tangible results that have been attained. If no further re- sults have been attained than these, with all due respect to Mr. Goff and all die dis- respect to Captain Stephenson, they will con- tinue a lame and impotent conclusion to the work of the committee, Chicago Herald: Last night, according to his announcement, John W. Goft ceased to be special counsel or the Lexow committee. The total non-political results of the Lexow investigation thus far—and probably it Is closed—are one police captain named Stephen- son sent to state's prison for three years, with $1,000 fine for accepting a present of eight baskets of peaches, and the police cap- tain named Creedon kept on the force, who confessed that he paid $15,000 for his ap- pointment, but swore at the time that he had paid nothing. A great many characters were ruined or smirched badly, and Special Counsel Goff, who was a poor attorney look- ing for clients six months ago, becomes judge of the recorder’s court for a term of fourteen years, with a salary of $14,000 a year. Washington Star: Taken altogether, it is safe to say that the exposures made by the Lexow investigating committee in New York are the most disgraceful and discouraging that the whole history of municipal cor- ruption can show. Where all is bad, and much of it very bad, as appears to be the case with the police department of that city, it is a little difficult to indicate exact de- grees of turpitude and criminality; but, judged by his own testimony alone, Inspector Williams must be regarded as about the very worst of the lot. In short, it begins to look as though the biggest rascals on the force were promoted to the highest places, and that increased capacity for usefulness was ex- creised wholly in squeezing and protecting criminals, instead of bringing them to pun- ishment, e THE LATE JOHN FITZGERALD. Sioux City Journal: John Fitzgerald, whose death occurred last Sunday in Lincoln, Neb., was a prominent figure in the development of Nebraska. He was a builder of railroads and came to Nebraska with the Chicago, Burling- ton & Quincy road, which he constructed through a large part of Iowa. He also built larger parts of the same road in Nebraska under contracts, and a number of branch lines and smaller roads. Mr. Fitzgerald was better known to the world as a prominent leader in the Irish National League of Amer- ica, of which he was president for two years. He gave liberally of his- time and his mcney to the cause of his native dountry. He was a good example of what pluck and energy will accomplish for a poor boy in America, and his Irish friends will long hold his mem- ory dear. Chicago Herald: John Fitzgerald, who passed away Sunday at his Nebraska home, like the late Eugene Kelly, was a typical Amerlcan of foreign birth, in many respects the careers of the two men are alike. Bach came from Ireland to this country, young and poor. Kelly entered trade, and built up from that exclusively. John Fitzgerald sought larger opportunities in a somewhat different way. He possessed much of the spirit of the ploneer. He carried railroads westward. He opened up great farming areas. Without capital in the beginning, he knew how to save money and how to Invest it. Like Kelly, he retained for his natlve land an intense affection. He did not hesitate to engage in an attempt at revolution when hope appeared in that movement to a san- guine few, and he was willing to take the chances. In later life he upheld, like so many more who belleved in the right of a people to resort to revolution if necessary, the land league movement, and was third president of the organization in this country. He was a man of rugged simplicity, scrupu- lously honest, and of tireless vigor in his youth and prime. PEOPLE AND THINGS. Governor Morrill of Kansas has appointed Miss Kate Adams as his private secretary, According to Superintendent Byrnes of the New York police, it is not fair to judge & man by his subordinates. It Is reported Mr. Cleveland Is preparing A special currency roast for congress. It will have a fly blister i every line. Newspaper gossip has it that Colonel John A. Cockerfll will assist Perry Heath in building up the Cincinnati Commerelal, Since 1802 the trolley cars of Brooklyn have killed eighty-nine men, women and children. That crowds foot ball pretty close, The queen of Madagascar has sent an ap- peal to the United States to prevent France from annexing her island. The fear now arises that she may come here to lecture, Russell Harrison is living at Terre Haute, Strange to say, in a recent deal with the city council his chief supporters wore demos crats, while the republican members opposed him Dbitterly, Mrs. Charles Fechter, widow of the cele- brated actor, Charles Fechter, died In Parls last week, aged She was his lawful French wife. His American wife, Lizzie Price, died about twelve years ago. Fochter himself died in 1879 Beatrice Harraden thinks that the women of the United have few things to complain of, and admires thelr frankness, honesty, clevernoss, and lack of aftectation. She particularly “likes the way American girls behave about men.'” cording to the statistician of the Chicago Tribune, embezzlements in this country last year aggregated $25,234,112, being 26 per cent greater than last year, and the largest re- ported since 1878.° It s a significant fact that outside of congress 620 attacks on the currency were successful. Washington's camping ground at Valley Forge will become a state park before long. The state of Pennsylvania has already pur- chased 217 acres and Is negotiating for 250 acres more, which will make the park in extent as well as in historic and patriotio assoclations second to none In the country. DAM UP THE GULCHES. CHICAGO, Dec. 81.—To the Editor of The Bee: Having a large interest in Nebraska and its future success, 1 would like to state what T am doing in Boone county, which, I think, it followed by others, would be a great advantage to the state. About three years ago 1 constructed a large dirt dam across one of the gulches of my p which has furnished water for my own and my neighbors’ cattle for two years. The water scems to keep pure and good. I helieve it the farmers all over the state would dam up their gulches with a dirt dam higher than the sides of the gulch, the water, when reach- ing the top of the guleh, would overflow on the land. In this way a vast amount of water would be confined within tho state, making thousands of little lakes. All this n be done very cheaply with horses and scrapers, requiring no material excopt the dirt, no expense outside of the labor. Yours truly, SAMUEL W. ALLERTON. o PASSING PLEASANTRIS. Atchison Globe: An Atchison woman has driven her husband to drink by praying for him, Siftings: New Policem: is your permit to peddle? ¥ I have a’verbal permit. Policeman—Show it to me. Indianapolls Journal: Oklahoma Bill— How do vou stand on the irrigation quess tion? Dryneck Johnson—Till I fall down, Then they irrigated. Cleveland Plaindealer: is like renewing a note. all the time. Truth: *I like your cheek,” said the in- dignant maiden to the youth who kissed her. “And I like yours,” said he, as he kissed her again. Renewing a pledge It requires hustling Philadelphia Herald: Jagwell—You can’t get the truth out of a woman when you ask her how old she is. Wigwag—Oh, yes, you can. She usually tells you it's none of your business. Cincinnati Tribune: “Can’t you recall the date of the paper you want?’ asked the business manager of the Bugle. “No, I said the gentleman from Plunkviile, “AN'T remember is that it had something in it about Napoleon.” Philadelphia Record: “You have to use an axe on some undesirable acquaintances,’” says the Manayunk philosopher, *to make them understand “that you' desire. tosiout them,” Duftalo Courler: “T've always felt rellg: fously inclined,” remarked the oyster, as it disappeared down the minister's throat, “but I don’t know that I ever had an ides that I would finally enter the clergy.” Chicago Inter-Ocean: “So the doctor has ordered’ your wife to go south for her health? “Will “the climate agree Well, It it does it will be & Journal: ““This win sald urely belongs in the citegory ed.” sald the hotels to hear it r, rubbing his hands together. it belongs there, because ‘blessed are the poor in spirit, you know LIFE IN THE BLIZZARD BEL Chicago Inter Ocean. He hired a neat little slelgh, And rode about feeling quite gelgh, But when the bill came, He called it a shame, And very near fainted’awelgh. P EE— Your Money’s Worth or Your Money Back, After the Year Is Over— Then comes January and with January comes just as regular as a clock the clearing out of odds and ends—a suil—only one like it in the store—possi- bly another— or perhaps an overcoat—the last of a line of elegant sellers—just such bargains are to be had now—The price is 'way belcw the usual figure—To close them out quick—the quicker the better—we are full of styles— assertment in the west the most complete -But there are some broken lots on which we will give you an interesting price—A mighty good suit or overcoat for $7.50 now. BROWNING, KING & CO., Reliable Clothicrs, 8. W, Co Fifteenth and Douglas Sts.