Omaha Daily Bee Newspaper, March 4, 1895, Page 4

THE OMAHA DAILY BEE E——— = B. ROSEWATER, Bditor. (e ——— PUBLISHED [C — EVERY MORNING. TERMS OF SUBSCRIPTION. Daily Bes (Without Sunday), One year.....$ § 0 Dally ee and Sunday, One Year..... 10 0 Bix Months .. . . 50 Three Months i 250 Bunday Hee, One Year 20 Baturday Bes, One Year. 19 Weekly Bee, One Year [ Omaha, The Tiee Bullding. Bouth Omahn, Singer Dik,, Corner N and 24th Sts. Council Blufts, 12_Pear] Street Chicago Office, 317 Chamber of Commerce. New York, Rooms 13, 14 and 15, Tribune Bidg. Washington, 1407 F_Street, N. W. CORRESPONDENC Al communications relating to news and edi- forial matter should be addressed: To the Editor. BUSINESS LETTERS, All business letters and remittances should be addressed | to e Publishing company, Omaha, Drafts, checks and postoflice orders to be made payable to the order of the company THE 1 PUBLISHING COMPANY. CIRCULATION, George . Tzschuck, secreary of The Bee Pub. lshing company, belng duly sworn, says that the actu: number of full and complete copies Of the Dally Morning, Evening and Sunday Iee printed during the month of Febr 1895, wis an follows ENT OF 19611 19518 Total . ‘ Less deductions for coples ... . returned 551,613 18,700 nalos. *Sunday. TZSCHUCK Sworn to before in my pres. ence this 24 d; Seal) . FRIL, Notary Public. S e It is still the legislative day of day at the national capitol. Straight democrats ate now to be iden- tified by means of the p. m. tag. One way to stop the outflow of gold— have American heires marry Ameri- can citizens Moral from the tragedy of Queen Lil —when plotting to overthrow the gov- ernment omit to keep a diary With the grand jury disbanded and congress adjourned the legislature is the only live topic that rew on the Dboards. Only sprigs of nobility, fashionable people, can have the influenza. Ordi- nary mortals - suffer from colds and spring fever. It is only a month since Wei-Hai-Wei has fallen. We must expect tliat little incident to furnish the chief war news from China and Japan for at least a few weeks longer. The Omaha charter is about to appear on the boards at the state house, but it Is doubtful whether any of its friends will recog: > it by the time it is taken off and placed on passage, The whirligig of time brings us once more to the crossing of the ways. This §8 the 4th of March. The Fifty-third gongress turns up its toes. But we have still two more years of Grover. Forty people are said to have frozen to death in London during the month of February. That is just forty more than died from freezing in Nebrask: despite the crop failure and widespread destitution resulting from it. Before the United States government shall finally conclude to annex the Ia- waiian islands it will be important that the people of this country inform them- selves of the advantages to be derived thereby as well as the drawbacks urged against annexation, When Mr. Wilson of West Virginia, who has just been raised to the presi- dent's cabinet, undertakes to sustain and defend the senate appropriation for the payment of the accrued sugar bounty, we may be sure that the proposition is regarded with favor by President Cleveland himself and that it stands in no danger of encountering a presidential veto, Senator Gorman seems to be about the only democratic leader who appre- clates the inconsistency of the demo- crats, who, after raising such a furore about the alleged billion dollar repub- lican congress, now proceed to make a record Ly outdoing their opponents many millions without regard to the constant deficit in the public revenues and the financial difficulties that beset the tax- payers. If the present couneil eannot cut down salarvies of deputies and subordinates during the terms for which they wer appointed, why cannot It pass an ordi- nance fixing the salaries after their terms expire? Ten chances to one the deputies and clerks that now fill these places will be out next year, and if any of them remain they will cheerfully a «ept such pay as is considered liberal in comparison with salaries paid for siwmi- lar work In private corcerns, The republican members of the legis- lature should not lose sight of the fact that the party will be held responsible for all pernicious laws and extravagant appropriations which will be enacted during the present session. They should bear in mind that the people of Ne- braska are not in a condition to bear Increased burdens of taxation when property values are shrinking and thou- sands arve obliged to live from hand to mouth in the struggle for subsistence, ‘What about that kindergarten school of agriculture and mechanic arts which the regents of the State university pro- pose to establish and maintain at the expense of the euntire body of taxpay- ers? Does the legislature intend to ap- propriate at this thne the money asked for this new departure in lower educa- tion? Is the legislature ready to en- dorse the pretense of the regents that they are abolishing the preparatory de- partment when they are really contem- Pplating nothing more than a change of name? Let the legislature put its foot down flat on this outrageous and wncalled for proposal. 0 KBEPVIT BEFORE THE LEGISLATURE. Now that the leglslature is about to wrestle with the appropriation bills it Is pertinent for every member to keep in view the condition of the state's finances. The most comprehensive document dealing with this question Is the biennial report of Auditor Moore, but it is doubtful whether any member has taken the trouble to acquaint him- self. with its contents. Mr. Moore strikes the key note of the situation by the following declaration: Our present revenue laws are Inadequate and are practically suspended $0 far as the assessment of property is concerned. With the present agsregate valuation and the limit being 5 mills on the dollar fof the general fund, it is difficult to ralse sufficient revenue to meet current appropriations. With a floating debt draw- Ing 7 per cent Interest, it is especlally im- portant that the appropriations be reduced to a minimum. The lessons of the most rigld economy that are taught by the pres- ent times and are observed by our people as never before are worthy of emulation in all of the departments. * ¢ * The appropriations of the state have exceeded the amounts derived from the tax levies for the past cight years by the sum of §737,038.33, or an excess of $230,046.37 in appropriAtions over the total tax levies with- out the allowance for any delinquencies. * * & It Is evident that the most rigid economy must obtain in all appropriations in order that the revenues may pay the state’s current expenses and be of any ma- terial aid in reducing the floating indebt- edness under the present lax system of taxation, and I urge upon you the impor- tance of some speedy action by the legis- lature tending to an increase of our revenues. Mr. Moore dwells more especially upon the necessity for material redue- tions in the pay roll of state institu- tiong. On this score he makes the fol- lowing recommendations: Whilo unprecedented frugality has pre- vailed In all of the state's institutions in the past two years, the large and expensive pay roll would seem to justify the belief that materlal reductions might be brought about in the salaries without impairing the public service. The wages paid the state's servants aro better than any other class of employes receive during these times, and especlally is that true of those employed in the institutions which board the employes at the expense of the state. A conservative reduction of the pay when it can be done without injury to the service will result in an aggregate saving of thousands annually. The auestion is will the legislature heed these suggestions or will it plunge headlong into extravagance just be- ause members are importuned by tax- eaters and e beneficiaries to be liberal with the people's money? MNEEDLESS CHANGES. There is no good reason why the reg- ister's office should be merged in the county clerk's office. The office was created because the clerk had all he could attend to with efliciency and dis- patch. In fact, the clerk has been un- able to attend to the duties devolving on him, and the office of county auditor was created to relieve him from the re- sponsibility of checking up the various departments. We also fail to compre: hend why the clerk’s office should be changed from a two-year to a four-year term because the register of deeds and the clerk of the court each have four- year terms. The change, If any Is to be made, should be the other way. All the county offices, exceptiug that of com- missioner, should run two years. There will be no difficulty for a compctent clerk to get re-elected, and a wan who is incompetent or uncivil should be fived at the end of two yenss. Rotation in office is one of the safety valves of our form of government, and civil service rules are the check agaipst partisanship and personalism. With periodic elections, affording the oppor- tunity for the taxpayers to pass apon the etliciency of elect officers, every publie servant is constantly on trial, and the frequency of changes simply denotes popular discontent, or the general dis- position to pass the offices around in- stead of having them monopolized. grossly sta THE PROWESS OF THE JAPANESE. Yesterday's dispatches furnished addi- tional evidence of the military prowess of the Japanese. They gave an account of the easy capture of what was re garded as one of the most formidable of the Chinese defenses, demonstrating at once the fighting abilities of the Japanese and the utter lack of military qualitics on the part of their opponents. Whoever has carefully read the capture of one of the most important of the Chinese strongholds cannot but be con- vinced of the vast superiority of the Japanese military and naval establish- ments, or doubt for a minute that the smaller country can in time completely subdue the larger one, notwithstanding the fact that the latter has ten times the population. From the beginning of the struggle be- tween civilized Japan and barbarous China the superiority of the former has been steadil, demonstrated, but the world at large has not fully understood the real prowess of Jupan. It is one of the wonderful developments of modern times, of which the first nations of the world ought to take account. One of the ablest of the correspondents who has witnessed the progress of the war be- tweaen Japan and China is authority for the statewent that if any European power should land troops in Japan there would follow as pretty fighting as has ever been seen, This authority says that it would be found that the Japan- ese army would be found a mighty hard one to defeat, and that it would hold its own under ordinary circumstances, against the best troops of Burope. Of course there- will be sald against this view that the Japanese have been op- posed to a cowardly and feeble foe, and therefore that (he we'tle of the Japin se has not been thoroughly tested, but despite of this they have shown mili- tary qualities which entitle them to the vespeet of the world. Probably in a conflict with the well disciplined sol- diers of Lurope the armies of Japan would not appear to as good advantage as they now do, but there is no reaso to doubt that they would exhibit brav- ery and patriotism and that upon equay terms they would show themselves quite as good fighters as the trained soldiers of Burope. It is to be presumed that in a conflict with any of the leading mili- tary powers of Burope they would be defeated, but it would not be a humili- ating defeat for the island empire. Japan s manifesting a disposition to increase her naval power and this fact is attracting the attention of the nations, Her evident purpose is to play a prom- inent part in the affairs of the north ern Pacific, and there can be no doubt of her ability to do this. Her policy is not necessarily aggressive, but she evidently means to make herself felt and respected in that portion of the world In which her interests lie. She is building up a navy that will enable her to compel consideration from other nations, so far as concerns the region in which her influence ean properly be exerted, and which will, moreover, place her in a position to exact from other countries a recognition of her power, Having demonstrated her military and naval prowess, Japan is in a position to make terms with any of the nations or with all of them which will permit her to have a great deal to say regard- ing the future policy and conditions of the countries most divectly identitied with her interests and future welfare, Japan is being governed by men who have thus far under the most trying conditions shown remarkable adminis- trative ability and there is every rea- son to expect that they will continue to manifest an admirable capacity for maintaining the supremacy of the em- pire in the eastern world. STRANGE POLITICAL BED FELLOWS, That politics makes strange bed fel- lows Is a trite saying of which we are daily having new proof. The situa- tion in South Dakota with reference to two fmportant measures brought before the present legislature is an illustration well in point. It shows us nothing le than the advocates of woman suffrage claiming to be in control of the vot nec ry to pass the bill for making the divorce law still more lax than it is and offering to assist in the enact- ment of that bill in return for support of the proposed submission of a woman suffrage constitutional amendment. They are appavently insisting that the encouragement of the divorce industry and woman suffrage must be linked to- gether and that only by a concession to the latter can the divorce pro- moters have the legislation that they are seeking. The humor of this political play lies in the complete repudiation on the part of the woman suffragists of the high moral standard which they have con- stantly claimed as their guide. The professional women agitators have al- ways proclaimed their staunch support of every alleged great moral reform. Although few of them have be per- mitted to enjoy the blessings of home life they have been careful to uphold the sanctity of marriage and the im- portance of the family and to deplore the laws of wicked men that enable the discontented spouse to break asunder the sacred bonds of wedlock. They have told about the stringent divorce laws they were going to enact so soon | as they were accorded a shave in the work of law-making. In fact, some of them have gone so far as to assert that the only way uniform and conservative divorce legislation can ever be obtained is by way of the woman suffrage route. Yet, what do we see now? To gain a slight political advantage all these good resolutions are suddenly cast to the winds! Far from spurning an al- linnce with the hotel-keepers, lawyers and court officials, who thrive upon the proceeds of the divorce industry, they even suggest a union of forces themselves. Of course it is very doubt- ful whether such an alliance will be effected, or if made, whether it could possibly accomplish its purpose. The spectacle, however, is an interesting s one, the woman suffragists and the divorce traders consoling one another in defeat. A great many thrifty housckeepers have been compelled to commence indi- vidual retrenchment by dismissing their servants and performing their own housework. Out at the county poor farm and hospital, however, they are celebrat- ing hard times by employing, in addi- tion to the superintendent and matron, an engineer, two firemen, an interne, an undertaker, an insane keeper, two mirses, a night watchman, a laundress, two cooks, two waltresses, a farmer and a coal driver, For a hard times estab- lishment this is setting a very illus- trious example. The house need not have wasted any time on the state fair removal bill out of courtesy to the committees. It re- verses-the judgment of its committees every day. It is beyond the jurisdiction of the legislature to interfere with the state fair site until after the expira- tion of five years. Any time devoted to this measure is just so much time stolen from the consideration of neces- sary and Important legisiation. You have to go away from home to he'r the ne vs, The Nat‘onal prohibition organ, the Voice, indulges in the follow- ing congratulatory comment: “Another straw: Hon, John M. Thurston, Ne- braska's republican Upited States sen- ator-ele refused to attend a banquet in his honor if wine was served. Re- sult, a total abstinence feast. Who says prohibition leaven is not working? Mr. Bryan's paper forgot to boost that democratic free silver manifesto to the top of its editorial column despite the fact that its authors make a special plea for such action by ail newspapers in sympathy with the movement. Is Mr. Bryan giving his fellow editors ad vice which his own paper does not think it wise to folloy Give Them » Te Washington Post. By paying strict attention to their pri- vate affairs some of the members may be able to live down their connection with the Pifty-third congress. e — Playing to the Grand Stand. Des Moines Capltal Judge Scott of Omaha s once more in 1 THE OMATA DAILY BEL RISSELL AND WILSON. AW i Chicago Inthr™oean: As a scholarly the- orist Mr. Witdoh'kasily stands at the head of his class; he fsc a gentleman of faultless honor, and, moreover, s one of the few democrats whe are earnest in profession of civil service reform. St. Paul Glibets This official recognition of his services to hix country is out a feeble ex- pression, but 4t {4 the best that can now be given of the esteem in which he Is held by tha people of the pation and the official head of the party whiclj he almost saved from utter humiliation, St. Louis Republic: His disinterested de- votion to the party's principles has given him the aftection of all democrats. No honor is too exalted for 'h Mr. Cleveland's “ad- ministration willJbe stronger than before— not because Mr/ Bissell was not a successful offices, but beoause Congressman Wilson is an older soldier in the field of national de- mocracy. Chicago Tribune: iy v Mr. Bissell has been a fairly good exccutive officer. He 1s not a spolls politician and has been in favor of putting the postmasters of the country under civil service rules and taking many thousands of offices out of politics. That has not made him popular with those democrats who think the victors should have the spoils, but it has added to ‘the good opinfon of him enter- tained by those who are not politicians. Chicago Record: The piy of American cabinet officers is wholly inadequate for thelr exponses at tae national capital. Mr. Bissell s by no means the first cabinet officer who has had to resign and go hoste to earn money to support his family. He has been a most_acceptable postmaster general and the department under him has been economically and wisely administered. It is not to our credit as a nation that his retirement has become necessary by reason of the small compensation and heavy expenscs of cabinet officials, As an executive officer Wilson s without experience, but the samo Is true of many of tho strongest and most useful heads of departments since the adoption of the constitution. He Is a man of great intellectual ability, breadth of char- acter and moral strength, He cortainly will not convert his department into a mere party machine, and there is no reason to doubt that he will administer its affairs skillfully and wisely. In addition to that he will by a very valuable adviser in matters pertaining to ‘general administrative policy. He Is a man of extensive information in public af- fairs, and in soundness of juigment he will find 1o superior in the cabinet. — Sugar Bounties in Nebraskme Chicago Inter Ocean. The house of representatives of the gen- eral assembly of Nebraska has approved a bill granting a bounty to the manufac- turers of beet sugar in’ that state. We be- lieve that the action is wise. What is now the great industry of salt making in Mich- igan was nurtured through a feeble fancy by state bounties. immense be sugar industry of Germany, an industry that now not only supplies the empire with sugar, but that also furnishes yearly hundreds of millions of pounds for export, is the creation of a system of jud bounties. ‘We feel sure that by pe ance in the plan of bounties Neb become one of the great sugar region; Nebraska {8 a country periodically afilicted by drowth that is fatal to the sugar beet flourishes in a dry s The growth of wheat and corn has greatly increased in the southern state that what once was a profitable home mar- Ket now is of little more value to the grain growers of the northwest. The money that we have paid 1o Europe for goods that we ought to have manufactured for ourselves has been used, In’large part, for the devel. opment of KEast Indian wheat fields and for purchase of Mrgentine sccurities that have increased the wheat area of that coun- iry, and that have made its grain_ cheaply freightable to Firopean ports. Thus we have furnished Etrope with means to biy more cheaply from others that of which our own farmers profuce a surplus, The need of new agricultural industries 1s imminent. The manufacture of sugar opens new flelds to growers of cane, of beets, and of ‘sorghum, for we do not produce in_quantitics mearly adequate to our de- mand. We can produce enough sugar if we will nourish oue sygar industry by bountied. Under one year, of the operation of the Mo- Kinley = syStém . our sugar output was doubled. Tt would have increased three- fold by this t{mé if that system had con- tinued” in foree. - But as national bounties are in abeyance, it will be well If Nebraska and other states.make them parts of theif systems of legislation. e Speculative Dnmages, Chicago Record, One of the minor features of that brillfant blunder of American diplomacy—the Ber- ing sea tribunal—was the special finding by which the question of damages for the seizure by the United States of certain British sealing vessels was left open. No one belleves that there is any justice in the proposition to make this government pa. the proposed speculative damages. Sucl damages are expressly ruled out of con- sideration in the Gensva award on the ground that they depeided on contingen- cles entirely too uncertain. It is beyond the reach of human foresight to _ tell whether a vessel seized on its way to a gealing ground is golng to catch several thousand dollars’ worth of seals or none at all, or whether it is destined to spring a leak and sink. e Economio Conditlon of Cuba, New York Tribune. The economlc situation was never worse than it is today in Cuba. Sugar has never been lower in price, and the main crop of the Island is subjected to ruinous com- petition from beet sugar, of which Ger- many {s now producing an cnormous sur- plus. The purchasing power of sugar and tobacco is also heavily reduced by tariff discriminations in favor of Spain. Taxation was never more oppressive in the island; the return of good times never seemed equally remote and problematical. Discontent prealls so generally that the officials are frightened, and martial law is proclaimed as o safeguard; but the con- ditions are not yet favorable for a de- cisive revolution, ‘which will transform the fortunes of the island. R Hard Task Ahend. Globe-Democrat. If, in the slections for Parliament, which are’ generally expected to take place this year, the tories win, the bimetallic project in England will také practical shape at an early day. Great Britain was the original silver demonetizer, having been on the sin- gle gold standard since 1816, and conse- quently her traditions, prejudices °and financial habits of three-quarters of a cen- tury are against the restoration of the white metal, but the campaign of educa- tion which s under way on this question in the rest of the old world may soon over- come the conservatism and stolidity of the British islands. —— Eimetallle Speeniations. Denver Republican. In the event that England should refuse to enter into an agreement for full restora- tion of silver, the whole scheme for inter- national bimetallism probably would have to be abandoned. That would force the United States elther to suffer gold mono- metallism to be fastened upon It for an indefinite length of time or to open its minis to the unlimited coinage of silver ro. gardless of what other natio s might say or do. That our.government shouid pursue the latter. course Js the opinion of leading bimetallists in the west. It would settle the question fur the whole world, R —— producing ugar Eryan andl His Manifesto. A Louls¥lile” Courler-Journal, And so young Mr. Bryan of Nebraska fhe moxink spfHEIn getting up that mani- festo which 1#t0 commit the Semur‘rnlu in congress to silvermonometalllsm and mak silver monometallism the test of democ- racy throughoit the country. Hut when aid young Mr. Biyan of Nebraska return to the democratic” party, which he 5o in- dignantly leftoa few months ago? R — Cavinan's Mighty Load. Phitladelphia Press, lIn" t;m"‘wn ;‘;mu in whic been bullding! road (Canadian P its debt has wisen fro, $242. 030,00 "u“fififl 000,000 “This and the railroad debt fs can rled by a population as big as that of this state and essing nothing like the re- jources of Pennsylvania, Ultimate coliapse evitable, an will vi o Canadian Pacific. Deglii “with "the Canada has MONDAY, MA Cuban | i ! R CTE_4, 1895 VOIOE OF THE STATE PRESS. Dodge Criterfon: Tt only costs $1,000,000 per year to run the government of Nebraska, oll inspector, State Journal apd railroad passes being included Lyons Sun: The republican majority in the legislature at Lincoln are not making a record calculated to win the party very great fame or very many votes. West Point Progress: Desperate offorts are belng made by the insurance lobby to repeal the valued policy. We sincerely hope they will not be successful. Cuming county representatives are against the re- peal, thus volcing the sentiments of their constituents, Wisner Chroniele: County after Is defeating the proposition to lssue seed grain bonds. The plan of issuing bonds to run for ten years when the farmer who recelves the direct benefit fs required to repay his loan in one year should be con- sizned to obloquy and defeat. Aurora Sun: A supreme made to repeal the valued extermination mutual panies. work., The people whose interests are stake should leave no stone unturned prevent the attacks on public Interests. West Point Republican: While the Re- publican would like to see the capital re- moved to the center of the state, still n't afford the costly luxury of sp $1,000,000 on a new capitol at this time. As the present eapitol building Is crumbing al- ready, it will be time enough to talk of re moving the capital when a new bullding will bo_talked of. Columbus Telegram: A bill has been in- troduced in the legislature, which appears to have large support, to make Lincoln the permanent place for holding the state fair This, after Omaha has just been selected by the State Agricultural society as the city in which to hold the fair for the com- ing five years, s not right. The people generally ‘who patronize state fairs prefer Omaha to any other city in Nebraska Hastings Democrat: The Omaha Bee's statement rclative to the expense of a new constitution for Nebraska is timely. If the question is submitted it will undoubtedly be 1 down. The present constitution is a lit- tle out of date, but it can be amended by a vote of the clectors. The Bee thinks that $100,000 would not cover the expense of a uew constitution, and it is not worth that much Besides, we might get one that suited us less. Lincoln News: The appropriation bills must be cut down from their present fig- ures. It Is idle to say that this state can- not be run for less than a million and a third dollars a year. Governor Crounse's fare- well message advocated the paring of ex- penditures down to the lowest possible figures, but there is every evidence that an organized attempt will be made to increase the amounts reported upon by the com- mittee. One of the most vicious prin- ciples upon which legislative bodies very often act is that each member is supposed to look out for his own county or district first and the state afterward. There will therefore be the usual scramble between representatives to hog a big appropriation for their locality, regardless of the sum total of the tax levy. This ought not to be the case, but it will be. And yet the re- publicanism of the newspapers will be ques- tioned if during the next legislative cam- paign they do not constantly insist that the party representatives in the legislature always sat up nights studying where they could save the state money. Kearney Hub: The most practical move- ment for supplying the destitute farmers of Nebraska with seed grain for this year's crop is that inaugurated by the Chicago Board of Trade, of which The Hub has already made mention. It is a simple proposition to supply seed grain at actual cost to Nebraska farmers on exactly the same terms that would be exacted in the case of an ordinary loan. It is not of course understood or supposed that there is any philanthropy in the proposition or that it runs the least bit in the line of charity. Chicago is in the business of buying western products and exchanging therefor the output of her wholesale houses and factories. If western production is cut off in any state or section Chicago's commercial interests suf- fer correspondingly, hence Chicago is directly Interested right now in the problem of seed- Ing Nebraska farms and the future movement of a large and profitable crop. The proposi- tion that has been made does not apply. to any particular locality, but to any portion of the state where seed grain is needed, therefore it there s a general acceptance the seed question 1s as good as settled. The matter of feed Is also of great importance, but that ought to be reached by the state legislature. e PEOPLE AND THINGS. Lord Rosebery is suffering’ from influenza and a menacing majority. After a brief season of reform street clean- ing, New Yorkers have f(ost faith in the maxim: “A new broom sweeps clean.” The New York court of appeals decides that the great charitable Trinity corpora- tion must supply water on all floors. of its tenements. Mr. Gasman Addicks persists in . hanging up the Delaware senatorship. His contribu- tion to the state redemption fund had a large string to it. Mrs, Hannah Chord s the oldest woman in New Jersey, having passed her 107th birthday. She has been a zealous smoker of tobacco for half a century. Senatorial courtesy secured the passage of an appropriation of $150,000 to prevent a threatened obstruction to the view of Penn- sylvania avenue from a senator’s house. A shower of “opulent dye pots from angel studios” could not restore the vanished rain- bow tints of harmony which formerly haloed the beetling brows of New York bosses. The Rocky Mountain News plucks the peacock feathers of New York, Philadelphia and Chicago, and sticks them in the matted locks of Denver—‘The worst governed city on earth.” General Lloyd E. Baldwin of Willimantic, Conn., now 85 years of age, Is said to be the only surviving brigadier general of the old Connecticut. militia ‘which was disbanded nearly fifty years ago. A Chicago judge had nerve enough to de- clare that the city counci! cannot suspend an ordinance by resolution. In the opinion of the councll the decision is a dangerous symptom of judicial usurpation, Sioux City papers are responsible for the statement that Senator Manderson's accept- ance of the post of general solicltor of the B. & M. was conditional on the removal ot the law department from Lincoln to Omaha. Had Diogenes been abroad in our time, he would have found the long-sought-for in- dividual in the person of the late Oliver Wendell Holmes. The doctor paid taxes on 70,000 0f personal property, that being-his own appralsement. A recent appraisement shows the property to be worth only $67,000. Miss Anna Gould at one time attended the fashionable ladies' school at Ogontz, near Philadelphia, and was g0 noted for her pranks and violation of the rules that only her “pull” saved her from expulsion. Among her many misdeeds she had a marked par- tiality for flirtation through the fence rails with the youths who attended the military academy at Cheltenham. Henry Labouchere s in luck. He recently received a letter from Barcelona, Spain, writ- ten by a merchant in that city, who asks that, as an opportunity of testifying to his admiration of the public career of the mem- ber for Northampton, he may be permitted to pay Mr. Labouchere's expenses at the next election, Mr. Labouchere has acknowl- edged the kind offer, but not his intention of accepting it. The late Medical Inspector Frank L. Dubois was nearly thirty-three years in the service of the United States navy, and had he lived a few months longer would have reached the highest grade in the corps. When a great tidal wave swept into the harbor of Callao, about thirty years ago, Inspector Dubois was on one of the ships which were engulfel by the rush of waters, and barely escaped with his life, iiicon county will and be the com- effort policy of insurance at to Highest of all in Leavening Power.— Latest U. evidence. A well known gambler went be- fire the grand jury and swore to paying $1800 for “officlal protection. Judge Scot demanded that he give the name of the officlal. He refused, whereupon the judge sent him to jail, with an assurance that would stay there forever, Reo al ] Baking Powder OCBSOLUTELY PURE wo | ding | REALM OF PORFIRI0O DIAZ @lance at the Poitioal and Physical Oondi- tions of Old Mexico. A REPUBLIC IN NAME, NOT IN FACT Rich in Natural Resources, it Depopulating, Holding out to the World Opportunities for Miner, Artisan and Husbandman, Gradually CITY OF MEXICO, Feb, 25.—(Special Cor- respondence.)—The young men of today read with thrilling interest the adventures of the ploneers who laid the foundation for civiliza- tion in the United States, and feel a spirit of lost opportunities, There are men the The insurance lobby Is hard at| WOrld over who would like to experience the [finds time aside from adventures of Daniel Boone, Peg Leg Smith, Isanc Graham, Bill Williams, Lewls and Clark, Captain Bonneville, Davy Abel Stearns, Henry Fitch, Kit Carson and | others who went first into the Mississippl basin and on the Pacific slope, who do not | know that the grandest of all frontiers awaits the ploneer in Mexico. Hefore them here lie the broad acres of the great can plateau, the wooded valleys of the Cen- tral ‘American isthmus, and, when those flelds have been fully exploited, beyond lies the great and comparatively unknown and undeveloped continent of South America Let no one suppose for a moment civilization exists in these countries. and there, it {8 true, shine a few rays they are very feeble. Mexico is commonly termed a republic. A greater untruth was never uttered. It is a monarchy, absolute, pure and simple. The czar of Russia mor the shah of Persia possess no greater power politically than does the president of | Mexico. Sovercignty fs vested in his person, and his will is the supreme law. He has a life tenure of office. There is a fiction, of | course, that Mexico is a republic; that it has a’ national constitution almost exactly Iike that of the United States; that its presi- dent is elected for limited terms, to exes cute laws enacted by a representative na- tional legislature and confirmed by a su- preme court, and so on to the end of the Jikeness; but it is all a figment of the im- agination. Mexico has an area of about 750,000 square miles and a population of 10,000,000, of which 8,000,000 are full-blooded Indians and wholly illiterate. ~ More than half of the remainder are of mixed blood, the poorest kind of race in the world. The masses are poor and ignorant, have no care or knowl- edge of their polifical rights, and drag out a miserable existence. The wealth of the country is concentrated in the hands of a | few. The political power Is wielded by a secret soclety, perverted from its original aim as the defender of a sacred Christian shrine. The army, which does nearly all the police work, 18 made up almost wholly from the criminal ranks. A felon, instead of being put in jail, is put in the arm: THE ELECTIONS ARE A FARCE A few days prior to an election each voter recelves a ticket through the mails on which is printed the names of candidates agreeable to the powers that be. He can vote for any one he pleases, but the soldiers, who conduct the polls, do not bother with useless attempts to read written names, and only the regular tickets are printed. The results are that it is unsafe to openly take the side of any but the party In power. When a man has oppesed it, a government spy walts upon him with the information that his presence on Mexican soil is offensive. The wise man emigrates, and lives. The fool stays—and dies. Thus the congressmen and judiciary are only tools in the hands of the president, All tickets, even down to the small muni- cipalities, are first made up and submitted to the president for his approval. Thelr sub- sequent election by the people is merely a matter of form. The president of Mexico, Porfirio Diaz, s a truly great man, in the widest and fuliest sense of the term. He Is a full-blooded Aztec Indian, of strong mental and physical powers, a freethinker, devold of all super- stition, and a believer in progression. Per- haps, after all things are duly considered, it 18y best for Mexico in its present condition that it has an autocratic ruler. The ig- norance and poverty of the masses forbid a republican form of government. Left to themselves, anarchy would prevail. Presi- dent Diaz manifests a desire to improve the country, hence he has enacted liberal immi- gration ‘laws. Americans are cordially wel- comed so long a they eschew politics. Under the Mexican immigration laws, colonists are given a large number of extraordinary privi- leges. Their household goods, agricultural, manufacturing or mining implements are not subject to tariff for ten years. Kertile, well watered lands are conceded at very low rates. Colonists are for a certain number of years exempt from taxation, military or civil duties, and may make the exemptions perma- nent by publishing their citizen intentions in the official newspaper. TAXES AND NATURAL RESOURCES. No land is taxed In Mexico. The entire revenues of the government are derived from a tariff law, beside which the McKinley bill pales into insignificance, and an internal rev- enue law literally run to seed. Everything must have a stamp on it—bills, receipts, deeds, bonds, mortgages, notes, statements, contracts, advertisements, every page in an account book—in fact, any and every kind of writing Involving a consideration. , The natural resources of Mexico place it among the great countries of the ecarth. It produces abundantly the noble metals, gold and silver. Salt, sulphur, guano, copper, lead, that Here but Crockett, | Mexi- | emeralds, onyx and pearls ars aleo among Its exports. Its troplcal woods, mahogany, ehong, and prima vera, are unsurpassed. No couns try excels its eitrus and deciduous frults. It siik, wool, cotton and dyo stufts are without rivale. Tho climate includes the extremes of Arctic and tropio temperatures, with all tho delightful intermediates, Mexican topography is grand and impressive, A broad, high table land comes southward from | the United States, with its southern point broken at Guatemala. The averago elovation of the plateau is 3,000 to 5,000 feet above the sea level. Its western rim is lined with tall mountain ranges and transverse ranges cover its face, dividing it Into many valleys, The western slope of the plateau fs short and steep down to the Pacific ocean. The easts ern slope Is long and gradual to the Quit ot Mexico. MEXICO'S DESTINY, Hero Is something over which the student | ot history may ponder: When Europeans | first exploited the new world, the highest | elvilization on the continent of North Amer= |lea was found on the Mexican plateaun. In | other words, ‘the material conditions were here the most favorable for that lite which food getting to culti: vato the higher faculties. The stories Of Spanish conquerors concerning Azteo elvils | ization, its cities, temples, schools, agricul- 1t those produced re- this duy the civilized world inferior race, as iwere what will the results of be when thrown around a superior race? The same conditions which gave birth to the grand Aztec clvillzation still exist. There Is the same equable cli- mate of the plateau, the same fertile sofl, the same abundant streams of water, the samo ozonic-electric atmosphere, the same life-glving sun with its genial rays. The mind s almost lost in contemplation be- foro it can reach the vanishing point In the perspective of the glorious picture. The Indian race of Mexico, according to official reports, is rapidly dying out, although 1o causes are given. The depopulation of one of the greatest countries on earth is steadily golng on. What race is to ocoupy. the lands of the Mexican Indians? It is & question for those in whose breasts exist the latent fires of the pioneer. In Mexico today there exlsts the best opportunity the world has ever known to lay the foundation of a great clvilization, RICHARD 8. GRAVES. [ S—— L coar TIONS. Somerville Journal: The first thini does, usually, after buying a finished Is to go and’ hire a carpenter. | ture and mining are like fairy tales | favorable physical conditions sults that are to | the wonder of | among a naturally the aborigines, the sumo conditio a man house, Boston Transcrip Mrs. Marketmade (pat- ronizingly)—And you not married yet, Hulda? Really, I think the men must be blind. Hulda—That's what Aunt Marla sald when you were married Iixchange: Whatever troubles Adam had, no ‘man could make him sore by saying, hen he told a jest, “I've heard that joke | before. Washington think she matters?" “She has the other, Star: “What makes you has such good taste in artistic said one girl. given up trying to draw,” sald mmany friend quarter, Times: A friend In need is a who generally strikes you for a Chicago Tribune: Chance visitor (in coun- cfl chamber)—And this is your city council, is it? Are there any business men in {t? | . Resident—Business men? Great Scott! | They're all here for business! Waterloo Courler: The man who boasts that he works with his head instead of his hands is respectfully reminded that the woodpecker “does the same and is the biggest kind of a lore at that. New York Recorder: “Thought plowin® vuz putty hard work,” grunted Uncle Zeke, but dinged if this 'ere ridin' in street cars an’ holdin’ on t' th’ straps hain’t made my arms lamer than they've been sence I wus vaccinated.” Town Toplcs: Mabel (blushingly)—Papa, did the count call upon you today on & rather important matter? Papa—Yes. Mabel (still more blushfully)—You con- sented? Papa—Well, not until he had given me a note for sixty days to show for the amount, A CHANGE OF HEART, Judge, When she was young she spent near all her time. In carnest study—books profound she rea | She loved high art, philosophy and rhyme, And had no time to waste on men, she sald, But now that she's a prim old mald, she leads A life lald out upon another plan. She organizes women's clubs and reads Deep essays to them on the coming man. —————— A REALISTIC FAD. Chicago Post. The grip! Why, bosh! That's foolishnessy Tt's nothing but a fad. You'cough, feel mean, growl more or lessy And think you have it bad. You wilt, glve in, and take to bed— A great ado you make. It's wrong, a farce—Oh, dear, my head! And how my back does ache! You're weak, a child, you're nothing more= Why don't’ you fight it out? A cold, that's all, as oft before, And soon you'll'be about. Just laugh, be gay; It's in your mind. Be comforted, T beg! Forget, be calm—Oh, dear, T find The pain is in my’ leg. You brood, despair—there's naught to fear What trouble fancy makes! Brace up, show nerve. And yet—Oh, dear Why every muscle aches! My throat, 'my eyes, they trouble so, And hot ‘and parched ip. my | “iia strong, 1s naught,” 1 say, but no— 1, too, have got the grip. . Will it be Warmer? light are al hat— King Special” for 3. 50. few ‘‘Star” shirt waists, of t 75¢c. Better buy one for th a purchase in our children’s hard wood stilts free, Reliable Clothicrs, S. W, oWNINC. /75, heusie emm:fi"o Your Money's TVu—rth or Your Monzy B If it is, what are you going to do with that big over- coat--shed it—shed it for a new We've spring overcoat, got some pretty hot styles—We ways the first to show the proper styles anyway—A spring want to pay $5 for a hat— then don't for you can get it for $4. 50 this year—the “Stetson Special,” or the “Browning- That's a good hat too; we guarantee it; give you another if it's not perfect, These are in the new spring styles, for early spring are in—some of the nobbiest things in the way of ties and shirts ever shown, Men's furnishing goods We also have a he g1.00 quality, to go at e boy. Every boy making department, gets a pair of Cor. 15th and Douglas Sts.