Omaha Daily Bee Newspaper, March 10, 1895, Page 13

SPIKING FREE TRADE Britain's Ancient Hobby Forsaken by It Ardent Friends, LEVYING A DUTY ON CERTAIN GOODS Quaint Proteotionist Arguments by Con- spicnons Froe Traders, PERPLEXING PROBLEMS SEEKING SOLUTION ‘Tho Labor Question and Bimetallism Press- ing to the Front, NUMEROUS PITFALLS FOR THE MINISTRY Troublous Times for the Present Govern- ment, with Dissolution Imminent—Op- tlon Gambling Vigorously Condemned —Industrial and Agricultaral s, LONDON, March 2.—(Special Correspond- ence.)—These are indeed troublous times in England. Every day brings rumors of the dissolution of the present government, What with the uncmployed, bimetallism, protection, and, still more recently, the question of ex- cluding from Britlsh ports goods manufac- tured in the prisons and penitentiaries of other countries, the government's fight for existence s both incessant and severe. Some of the debates with which the session opened read more like our own discussions on silver and the tariff than the debates In the national legislature of a country which declares these questions as settled for all time to come, and that to dispute Eng- land's attitude thereon 1is equivalent to showing that the multiplication table is in- accurate and the Ten Commandments a false basis of morality. I was in the Strangers’ gallery the day Mr. Howard Vincent intro- duced Lis resolution demanding that her ma- Jesty's government at once take stepa looking toward the prohibition of prison made goods. In the course of the exceedingly interesting debate which followed Mr. Vincent pro- duced and exhibited to his colleagues sam- ples of prison made brushes, which, without intending a pun, fairly bristied with argu- ments against admitting this class of goods free of duty. The debate on this resolution surprised me more than anything I have heard in Eengland during this visit. Men whom I eupposed were as orthodox free traders as Mr., Leonard Courtney—who said in my hearing the other night that if free trade meant the ruin of England he would rather see her ruined than return to pro- tection—coolly arose and declared that the prohibition of prison made goods did not in- volvo in the slightest degree the question of free trade. John Morley took this ground, and so did Mr. Chamberlain. A FREE TRADE PROTECTIONIST. Read Rt. Hon. Joseph Chamberlain's speech and it will be found to contain pre- clsely the same arguments that our protec- tionists use in the United States. What will Mr. McKinley, for example, think of this? “‘Boglish prison work, as we know, s con- fined to two or three trades, but the Germans have actually sent over to this country for models of English manufactures, and they are making them in their prisons. At the present timo they are making about twenty different articles in various branches of in- dustry, so that, after they have contrived to Tuin the brush trade they will go Into many other trade q Mr. Chamberlain favored the motion. did" Mr. Morley, who remarked: “I am not for one moment bound, in the interests of free trade, or in order to be a consistent free trader, to admit into the markets of this country convict made goods made in this country or convict goods made elsewhere. That is not free trade.” It it is not, Mr. Morley, then you give away your entire argument. From prison labor it is only one step to the labor that is glrl{slly paid at a low rate and partially elped along by the poor rate, whether by old age pensions or direct relief—I mean pauper labor. From pauper labor it is only another step to the labor that is paid at a rate which keeps body and soul together. Here you have the American principle of a protective tariff, Me. Morley, however, went still further: “In my own constituency I have often been challenged on this question, and I have never sald that upon economic grounds, and with the strictest regard to economic principles, I ‘would allow prison made goods to come into competition with the products of free labor. 1 will go a step further. 1f I would not allow the products of prison industry in our own country to come Into competition with free laboz, still less should I be able to sacrifice that sensible maxim in deference to the con- wvenlence of any other country.” Boine few of the old school members would not depart from the theory that the cheaper goods were the better it was for the country. They argued that, in a sense, all German labor is at this moment subsidized, for every German workman is guaranteed by the state a pension for his old age and is thus able to work for less wages today. Are we to pro- hibit all German goods? they said. Far more important than any state subsidy, it was claimed, is the subsidy which nature gives to her favored lands. Why should England boggle at prison made goods that Germany sends us when she throws her ports wide open to shiploads of wheat ripened by richer sunshine than England can hope for? The fact is that the free trade doctrine must nd or fall as a whole. At least this would seem to be the logical outcome. There is, however, no logic just now in British legis- lation, which is as likely to drift Into pro- tection doctrines or bimetallism as socialism #0 long as the masses of the people demand it with sufficlent determination and vigor. THE FREE TRADE THEORY UPSET. The protectionists (the mover of the reso- lution, Mr. Vincent, being one) had no show in the debate, for, as I have said, Mr. Morley and Mr. Chamberlain were not to be outdone by any one on the question of prohibiting the entry of the prison made goods of for- gn countries into the United Kingdom, how- ever they might feel in relation to the goods made by pauper labor. Mr. Vincent was modesty itself, and he, In a way, made promi- nent his protection notions. He simply de- manded the passage of the resolution on the ground that 100,000 foreign prisoners were unfairly competing with British Industries and were preventing English workmen from earning a livellhood. He trusted that it ‘would recelve the support of both sides of the House, as it was not connected with any political party and it was framed with no party bias, Mr, James Lowther, a straight up and down protectionist, admitted that this was @ strong c but assumed that his free trade friends would contend that the import- ation of prison made goods conferred an fn- estimable advantage upon England by cheap- ening the price of commodities. He wished to know where the line was to be dra: whether the interests of the home producer were always to be sacrificed to the interests of the forelgner, whether the interests of the honest inhabitants of this country were slways to be sacrificed to those of the alien felon? Was such competition falr and rea- sonable?, He hoped this issue would be clearly recognized by the government, The ts were fully placed before the government y official reports, and the government would now be in a position to state whether it in- tended to stick to the principle of buying in the cheapest market under all conditions, or whether they thought that at last the line should be somewhere drawn. Parliament, when thus brought face to face with the practical question, and the government being unable to louger delay the matter by reference to committes or royal commission, decided to draw the llne on made by prison labor, and the resslu- jon passed. Thus has the entering wedge of prolection been driven in after a geuera- tion of free trade. THE UNEMPLOYED, It might be sald that bimetallism and the are always at hand. In & sense 18 50, but they knocked loud enough this So time for one of them to be heard, and an In- quiry as to the present condition of the un- employed has begun in earnest and will be prosecuted vigorously. Ever since last au- tumn there has been A squabble about the number of the unemployed. The Board of Trade issues volumes upon volumes of fig- ures to prove everything is all right and that wage earners are well fed, well paid, pros- perous and happy. With these figures some statesmen seem to be content. Meantime we hear of misery, and even starvation, which, during these cold winter months, has simply been sickening. The streets are filled with beggars, and hundreds of thousands tramp around unable to find work. Kelr Hardie, a labor member of Parliament, has made an estimate that over 1,000,000 people are at this time out of work in the United Kingdom. Add to this 1,800,000 paupers and it is a good deal like a dead hand resting on the popula- tion. The tabulated statements of the Board of Trade, however, show that wages are not decreasing. Hardie says this s not true, As a miner, twenty or more years ago, he was paid 8 shillings per day. Today the same labor is paid only 4 shillings 6 pence— a trifle over half. The working population, he contended, were no better off in England now than then. Employment today was most precarious. A man over middie age found it almost impossible to find employ- ment when from any cause he happened to be dismissed. The conditions under which industries were conducted compelled produc- tion to be carrled on quickly and cheaply, which led to the displacement of men no longer in the flush of youth. The confiict for existence here i3 simply terrible. The facts thus far developed by committee show that In some London parishes paupers have been increasing at the rate of G0 per cent during the winter months. In spite of the harshness of poor relief, which precludes all but the hardened poor, the army of paupers {8 increasing surely and steadily as the wants of England are more and more sup- plied by forelgn countries. One after an- other British industries succumb to the In- avitable. While this is true, it is neverthe- less a fact that If the wealth that was being produced was distributed fairly, want of em- ployment would be impossible. The trouble in England seems to be, as with us, the un- equal distribution of what 1s produced. A THORN IN THE GOVERNMENT'S SIDBE. Tho protectionists, while most discreet when engaged in passing such a resolution as that against prison labor, are nevertheless very much in evidence in debates in wilch a point can be scored against the free traders of the old school. During the debate on ag- ricultural depression the first week of the present session, Mr. Lowther, the protection- {st leader, - read the following reso- lution, which was passed at a recent meeting of farmers from all parts of the kingdom: “That the unfair com- petition of untaxed foreign imports with home produce and manufactures, which are subject to heavy Internal taxation, Is an anomaly and an injustice, and by causing the diminution of the demand for home labor and the contraction of the purchasing power of the community, adversely affects every trade In the country. And this conference is further of opoinfon that all competing im- ports should pay a duty not lees the rates and taxes levied on home production. Theso are the opinions of a large body of Englishmen today. They urge the imposition on all foreign imports that come into compe- tition with home industries duties based on the principle of a sliding scale, which would automatically cease to be levied on any commodity, including the necessaries of life, as soon as the market price exceeded the figure at which it could be produced at a profit in this country. As far as wheat was concerned, protection, If adopted, would have to be adopted all round. The price of bread now, with wheat at 20 shillings, was sub- stantially the same as it was when wheat stood at 40 shillings, and this proposal would simply restore matters to what they were when wheat was 40 shillings. One of the strongest points made in this debate—an old one, to be sure, in the United States— was the fact that even in England the home trade is ten or twelve times as much as the foreign trade. These facts seemed to strike some members with surprise. Never within the memory of this generation have doctrines directly or indirectly involving protective principles been listened to in Parliament with such respectful attenton. BIMETALLISM GAINING GROUND. The bimetallists, represented by Mr. Chap- lin, Sir W. Houldsworth, Mr. Everett and others, have given Indications of belng very much alive. From all I hear, it will be a matter of surprise if this session adjourns without authorizing some steps in the direc- tion of taking up this important question. The fall of prices, the continuation of a depres- slon now for nearly a quarter of a century, and the depreciation in value of fndustri profits, has alarmed all engaged in productive occupations. It may be true that the yolume of trade has been maintained. The profits of trade, however, are gone, both for capitalist and wage earner. The manufacturing dis- tricts of England are living to a great ex- tent out of capital and destroylng the store which was to provide for future generations. In Lancashire scarcely a new manufactory of any account has been erected in the last two or three years; and, although the num- ber of spindles and looms might remain the same, it is well known that one-third are be- coming totally ineffective, and will shortly be swept away. The investment of capital in England has fallen from $1,035,000,000 in 1889 to $245,000,000 in 1893, and nearly $180,000,000 of that sum was invested not in productive enterprises, but in loans to foreign and colo- nial governments. Indeed, of the remaining sum, about $5,000,000 are Invested In music halls and hotels. Thus no foundation is being laid for the future employment of the people, and the result will be that the kingdom will be landed in some overwhelming catastrophe. This, in brief, is the argument of the bi- metallist, who is just now carrying on a pretty active campalgn, with, possibly, re- sults which will have important bearing on the American currency problem. One of the most outspoken of the speakers was Mr. Everett, who said: “Our gold standard is the real cause of the depression. We are cursed with a stand- ard that is steadily appreciating. This con- tinued growth of the standard of gold has not been brought about by any natural cause. 1t is entirely an artificial work, the work of legislation. It is not a difference in the gold, but in the work that gold has to do, and whereas in 1873 the only countries that had a gold standard were England and her colonies and Portugal, containing a population of about 47,000,000, today no less than 320,000,000 of people had come under the gold standard. During the last twenty years gold has had a sevenfold work to do, Such a state of things could have no effect but to produce an enor- mous fall in prices.” THE PLIMSOLL OF AGRICULTURE. Meantime Mr. Smith of Liverpool, who is called the Plimsoll of Agriculture, has come to the front and secured, conslderable support for his anti-option legislation. This by some is regarded as a sure cure for depression. On this subject Admirable Field said: “Commercial gambling stood condemned by the common consent of all wino had any knowledge of the subject. 'The Centraj Chamber of Agriculture and the National Agricultural union had passed resiiutions condemnatory of the system. What wae wanted was a bill of a single clause which would compel a seller to deliver what he sold. By the passing of such a bill the whole business of gambling wauld be stcpped in forty-eight hours. Often nowadays (n:re was no intention on the part of The seller to deliver goods, and there was no intentiun on the part of the buyer to reccive them. Seventy-two million bushels of cora were sold in one day in New York. Such a stuck of corn did not exist within 1,000 miles of New York. One of the evil consequences of this system of gambling was that the un- fortunate farmers, when they went Into the market with their produce, were as helpic as turtles which were turned over on (helr backs by seamen who ran along the beach and then carried them off at lelsure to the shis. The prices for produce realized in the local markets were the prices that were de- termined by the gambling transactions at Liverpool and London. This thing was of American growth. It was imported in 1883 from America, where all the bad things came from, including the present bad weather. Here wo have In brief the several schemes brought forward up to date for the cure of present industrial and agricultural ills in England. They take a wide range, and In- clude the establishment of light rallways, the abolition of commercial gambling, the monetization of silver and the re-enactment of a protective tariff. Surely these are in- teresting problems for the old country to grapple with. LANCASHIRE IN ARMS. With these questions in the front, Lanca- shire made the other day a flank movement on the government of such force that the THE OMAHA DAILY BEE: SUNDAY, MARCH 10, 1895. Boston Store___. Furniture Sale. Our great March sale of Furniture and Carpets continues all this week. Furniture of all kinds is 28 per cent cheaper than last year, and carpets, 10 per cent cheapar. For months we have been preparing for this sale, beginning with the country’s lar- “knowing ones” predicted immedlate disso- lution. The result was, though Lancashire tried to raise the cry of protection to the Indian cotton manufacturers against Man- chester, she was obliged to go down, as they say in the prize ring, to avold punishment. The vote, which sustained the government by a large majority, does not indicate such an antagonism to what the Manchester men call a protective duty, but which Is in fact nothing but a 6 per cent revenue tariff. The fact is, aside from this particular matter, India is rubbing Lancashire severely in the manufacture of cotton yarns, and the next thing we shall hear is a howl from that free trade stronghold for a protective duty on Indian yarns. Indla has been progressing, and progressing with great power, and has arrived at a wonderful result. From the day when the first coton mills were erected in Bombay (in 1855) mills have continued to spring into ex- istence, till now there are 141 cotton mills in India. In 1882 there were 1,656,000 spindles in India, and now there are 3,500,000 spindles, The result is that Indla Is pro- ducing 170,000,000 pounds of yarn, against 40,000,000 pounds of British yarns which go into India. What with her cheap labor, paid in silver; her dextrous operatives, who are wlilling to work any number of hours; her nearness to the cotton fields, and the ad- vantage of importation of British machinery free, there is no reason why Indla should not In time do at least the cotton spinning for the world. The worst of it all, from a Lancashire point of view, Is the fact that with this duty India can purchase the finer grades of American cotton, in addition to working up her own cotton, and then under- sell Manchester in England or in the world's markets. If this be true to any great ex- tent, I fear there is nothing left for our Manchester friends to do but to follow the advice they were so fond of glving others in the good old days when free trade was the mighty “cure-all"—try something else. ROBERT P. PORTER. i LINCOLN’S RENOMINATION. Seenes at the Palt ore Convention on the Finul Koll Call. That was a business convention, and when tho roll call began, Maine simply announced its sixteen votes for Abraham Lincoln, writes Noah Brooks in the Century. New Hamp- shire, coming next, ‘atfempted to ring In a little spesch with its vote, but was summarily choked off with cries of “No speeches,” and the call proceeded in an orderly manner, no delegation venturing to make any other an- nouncement than that of its vote. The con- vention struck a snag when Missouri was reached, and the chairman of the united del- egations made a_brief speech, In which he said that the delegation was under positive instructions to cast its twenty-two votes for U. 8. Grant; that he and his assoclates would support any nominee of the convention, but they must obey orders from home. This caused a sensation, and growls of di; approval arose from all parts of the conven- tion; for it was evident that this unfortunate complication might prevent a unanimous vote for Lincoln. The Missourl delegates, it should bo understood, had been chosen many weeks before the nomination of Lincoln became in- evitable, There never was any recall of the instructions given at a time when it was ap- parently among the possibilities that another than Lincoln might be the nominee of the national convention, When the clerk of the convention an- nounced the result of the roll call it was found that Abraham Lincoln had 507 votes and U. S. Grant twenty-two votes. There- upon Mr. Hume, chairman of the Missouri delegation, immediately moved that the nom- ination bo declared unanimous. This was done. Stralghtway the long pent-up en- thusiasm burst forth in a scene of the wild- est confusion. Men hurrahed, embraced one another, threw up their hats, danced In the aisles or on the platform, jumped on_ the benches, waved flags, yelled, and committed every possible extravagance to demonstrate the exuberance of thelr joy. Onme of the most comical sights which I beheld was that of Horace Maynard and Henry J. Raymond alternately hugging each other and shaking hands, apparently unable to utter a word, s0 full of emotion were they. And when the big brass band burst out with ‘Hail Co- lumbia!” the racket was so intolerable that I involuntarily looked up to see if the roof of the theater were not lifted by the vol- ume of sound. When quiet was restored and other business was about to be re- sumed, the band again struck up “Yankee Doodle” in its liveliest manner, and another torrent of enthusiasm broke forth; and it was a long time before the excited and jubi- lant assemblage could be quieted down and order restored. In those days the mere sight of the American flag, or the sound of a national melody, would stir an assembly to fever-heat. —_——— A DUET. Yankee Blade, Baritone—Now we're engaged, if you have any brothers, By that I mean the men whom you've refused. Theéy must be on a footing with the others; I won't have any mild endear- ments used, Now we're engaged. Soprano-If you had any sister and I knew it, I mean a’girl who said she'd be your sister, She should be’ taught how not to o it And comprehend that you can quite resist her, Now we're engaged. Barltone—As If T wished to look at other beauties, Now you are mine, Soprano— _ As though I cared for men Compared to you! I hope I know my dutie . Of course we used to flirt, but that was then; Now we're engaged. Baritone—Who was the man with topcoat lined with sable? Soprano— Who was the girl with bonnet trimmed with pink? Baritone—I would inform you, unable. Soprano— I'd tell his name, but really I can’t think, Now we're engaged. but I am Baritone—Now no more lingering in con- servatories, Under dim colored lights and tropie bowers, Soprano— Now no more reading sentimental stories To girls and giving them bonbons and_flowers; Now we're engaged. Baritone—T s.l‘?“ not tolerate the least flirta- on, 1 warn’ you fairly. Soprano— Please don’t be enraged; But might we sometimes take a brief vacation, Now we're engaged? el Ready for Emergencies. San Francisco Post: “Say, what does that mean?" inquired a stranger of a Montgomery street clothing dealer, as the interrogator drew attention to the weather signals flut- tering over the Mills bullding. ““What color are they? My eyes are bad." ““Well, there is a red flag, with a black square in the center, and—"" ““That means a storm, -, and underneath it s a white flag.” hat means fair weather.” ‘Well, what do both together mean? fair weather storm?" “No. sir! the man who handles them is a weather prophet, and is compelled to be care- ful in his predictions, so as to make no mi takes. Those signals mean ‘either fair or foul weather. “Oh,” and the stranger bought an umbrella and duster. A sre———— Frighttal to Sailors on the Ram. The sailors on the Ammen ram are very wary about going into the manholes that lead to the water-tight compartments be- tween the outer and inner shells. The space between the two hulls is barely two feet high d the manholes admit only a small man, But If a fellow gets away in there and be- comes scares sald a workman the other day, as he screwed on the manhole cover, “he will swell up and he can't crawl back through the hole to save his neck. I was in the third compartment the other day and when I thought how awful it would be to have the outer cover screwed on while 1 was there I got panicky and tried to erawl back. I couldn’t get through anyway, although I had gone in easily enough. The harder I tried the bigger I swelled and the men finally had to pull me out. When they got me through the clothes were torn off my back, 80 tightly had I been squeezed.” ——— ‘The shirt walst is once again to the fore, in anticipation of the warm season. The sleeves are larger than they were last year, and the turn-over collars are deeper. gest factories, Many of the goods offered in this sale are less than then can be pro= duced. Our prices on everything, from the cheap, reliable to the finest goods made, will be a revelation. with values. frames, all complete, 28c. All hard wood, cane seat, Sale price 1,00 Parlor Rockers—in dark manogo- ished—worth $5.00. “Ma¥ch sale price, oak, embossea ieather seat, finely fin- ished—worth $5, March Sale price, $2.69 BOSTON STORE Itis a great big unprecendented chance. Space will allow us to show only a few, Note prices on Tribune picture We have enough to supply all Omaha. polish fir rass feet—regular price $4— o bd et , also Immitation ma 3-piece Bed Room suit, antigne finish, ror; regular price $24 Sale price, Water Colors, white and gold frame, size 16x22. Sale price, $1.50 Furniture and Carpet Department. 3d Floor N, W, Cor. Enameled white trimmed. Price, $4-50 Iron Bed—brass 24x20 mir* Our floor is teeming Combination Desk, regular $2 mirror, reg price Bolid oak Sideboard, beveled mirror on top, polish finish, worth §25.00. Sale price, $12.00 White and Cold Frames, with glassfor T 16th and Douglas Sts une Picture, 25c. BOSTON STORE COOPERATIVE HOME BUILDIN — Additional Safeguards Proposed by Bepre- sentative Rouse of Hall County, IMPORTANCE OF A RESERVE FUND Pennsylvania Restricting Assoclation Busl- noss to the Counties Where Organized— Late Developments in the Des Molnes Tangle- Notes. The bill introduced by Representative Rouse of Hall county and known as House Roll 511 proposes an important reform in the management of building and loan associa- tlons in Nebraska. A similar measure was introduced two years ago, but was stranded in the snarl at the close of the session. The present measure is now on the house calendar and may possibly pull through. The bill provides that associations ‘‘organ- ized on what is known as the terminating plan shall fix and determine periods for declaring dividends, which dividend periods shall not be longer than twelve months, and at the end of each such period shall deduct from its gross profits all losses and expenses, and from the net profits, if any, remaining shall set apart and place to the credit of a reserve fund at least 5 per centum of such net profits before any dividend is made, until such time as such reserve fund shall be equal to at least § per centum of the total amount due its shareholders. Such reserve fund shall be maintained and used for the purpose of protecting the members of the association against unusual and extra- ordinary losses. v ““Out of the profits ramaining, if any, after deducting expenses and losses and the amount transferred to the rederve fund as herein- above provided, dividends shall be made, which shall in all cases be made ratably on all shares in proportion to the book value of sald shares at the beginning of the dividend period; provided, however, that as- soclations may declare such dividends on dues pald during the current dividend period as may be provided in their constitutions or by-laws; and, provided further, that nothing in this section shall be so construed as to require an association to pay such dividends in cash or to pay members withdrawing be- fore maturity the full amount of the dividends declared before such withdrawal. No association incorporated for the pur- poses named In the first section shall collect from its members any special fund for the purpose of paying expenses, excepting that it may charge a membership fee of not to exceed one-half of 1 'per cent of the par value of its shares; but.all expenses shall be deducted from its prefits as hereinabove pro- vided.” The law of 1891 attempts to regulate the questions of forfeitures, gancellations and pre- payment of loans, but s silent on the ques- tion of preferred stoek and distribution of profits and assessment!bf expenses. These the measure seeks to-remedy. Where a bullding asgoclation is organized for the benefit of the few who manipulate it, rather than for the benefit of its members as a whole, an attempt is generally made to introduce into its constitution or by-laws provisions that will My the burden of ex- pense more heavily uponjthe class that is to be exploited, and diverg, the profits largely to the class that is manipulating the associa- ton. This is attenipted in several ways: First, By creating different classes of shares and providing that 'uwn shares shall be Gxempt from the duf) o contributing o losses and expenses, and, second, by impos- ing excessive membership and cancellation fees, so that the withdrawing member Is compelled to make a disproportionately large contribution to the assoclation's expenses. Besides providing for an equitable and proportionate distribution of profits, the bill requires the formation of a reserve fund. This fund is created by the setting aside of a small part of each year's profits before a dividend is made; this ls a precautionary measure that experience hLas shown (o be necessary, and that is voluntarily adopted by many of the most conservative building assoclations. It Is intended to protect the persistent member against unexpected losses. While justice demands that profits in these associations should be divided equita- bly and proportionately, it also demands that persistent members should in some way be protected agalnst the possibility of bear- ing more than their share of losses on old business, and the reserve fund is created for the purpose of accomplishing this result. It institutions of the kind went before the public under any other guise than that ot co-operation, it might, perhaps, be doubted whether. legislation -was. needed to control them; but so long as associations are or- ganized and solicit business under the guise and fn the name of co-operation, it behooves the legislature to see to it that such asso- ciations are actually co-operative in their character and are organized on an equitable basils, to the end that the wage-earning classes of the community may not be de- ceived or be led into investing their funds in what purports to be co-operative socleties, but which, in fact, are really corporations organized for the benefit of a few stock- holders at the expense of the many. Nearly all the older assoclations in the state have started reserve funds asa precau- tion against losses incurred in business, but it is desirable that the law fix the amount. Otherwise, the temptation to limit it to a meager sum will operate to destroy its pur- pose. To make it a reserve fund In fact, as well as in name, it should be increased in proportion to the Increase in the assoca- tion’s business. The necessity for such provision is felt by all assoclation managers. The experience of all was voiced by Presi- dent Meyer of the Mutual of Omaha, who, in his annual address last week, expressed regret that the association did not create a reserve fund sooner. CONFINED TO COUNTIES. A measure introduced n the Pennsylvania legislature proposes to apply the knife to the root of national associations in that state. It provides “that hereafter it shall be un- lawful for any person or persons to solicit or receive subscriptions to the capital stock of any assoclation or company authorized and empowered to do, perform and transact such business as building and loan associa- tions are by the laws of the Commonwealth authorized and empowered to do, perform and transact, except within the county where the principal office of such assocla- tion or company shall be located as afore- said, “Any officer, shareholder, member or agent of any such association or company violating any of the provisions of this act shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon con- viction thereof shall be sentenced to pay a fine not exceeding $1,000, and to undergo imprisonment not exceeding three years. “"Any person hereafter violating any of the provisions of the act shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof shall be sentenced to pay a fine of not ex- ceeding $500, and to undergo imprisonment not. exceeding two years," THE DES MOINES COLLAPSE. The affalrs of the collapsed Des Moines associations, the Union and Towa Deposit, are not improving with the lapse of time. It anything, they are drifting from bad to worse. Manager Richmond has been re- leased by the courts and the orders to pro- duce the missing books revoked, Without these books it will be impossible for the receivers to determine the extent of the losses or the manner In which the recelpts were disposed of. The purpose of Richmond evidently is to harass the receivers, and by delay effect a settlement with the share- holders, The Des Moines Register, referring to the release of Richmond, says: ‘‘When this matter was first brought to the atten- tion of the court, and when the judge issued his famous ‘scare’ order, that Mr. Richmond must produce the books or go to jall, one of the judges, who was not on the bench at that time, was heard to say that if he was presiding hie would make Richmond produce the books within three hours or send him to jail. We are not criticising the judge who rendered the decision last Saturday, rele ing this man from all responsibility, but we are saying that there is something wrong in the laws or the courts when such things as this are possible, when sharp managers can ‘lose’ or steal thousands of dollars which depositors have placed with them, and the every evidence of such deposits can be ‘lost’ without anyone being held responsible! The treatment which the depositors of irregular banking concerns have been subjected (o in this city during the last few weeks must convince them that for them there are neither laws nor courts." Messrs. Beeson and McHugh, managers of the Iowa Deposit, are con- fronted with a difficult task. Dr. Spinney left the concern a deficit of $16,000, and when this was made good a new difficulty arose. The friends of the retired doctor rallied to his support, and are showing their con- tempt for the manner of his taking off by withdrawing In droves. During the past two months withdrawals the new $60,000 are on flle. The managers are now enforcing the clause limiting payments on withdrawals to one-half the monthly re- ceipts. to the extent of | $66,000 have been paid, and applications for | making the book cost not more than 15 cents THE SCHOOLS OF THE PEOPLE Plans and Projeots for Improved Educational Facilities, THE NATIONAL CONVENTION OF TEACHERS Vigorous Blasts Against the Spirit of Mili- tary Training—An Inquiry Into the Cost of School Books—Notes of Schools and Collegos, Reports recelved by the committees in charge of arrangements for the annual convention of the National Teachers’ association, which meets in Denver next July, indlcate an im- mense attendance. ‘““All advices,” says the Rocky Mountain News, “‘are to the effect that the teachers are coming by hundreds and by thousands from all the states of the union, and that they will crowd the city to its full capacity for successful entertainment, “The sessions of the convention will consume a week, and then the visitors will scatter over the state to the various mountain resorts, and havo a full month in which to enjoy the air and scenery of Colorado before the limit on their railway tickets expires. This fact makes the-event one of state importance, and will contribute materially to the bustle of the re- sorts during the next month of August. Preparations for the proper reception and en- tertainment of a crowd of visitors should therefore be made at all points which invite tourlst travel."” MILITARY DRILL. The school directors of Chester county, Pennsylvania, unanimously adopted a resolu- tlon expressing regret and apprehension ‘‘at the growth of the spirit of militarism in our midst, as seen In the recent attempts to Introduce military training into our public school system, belleving such training to be highly detrimental to the youth of our land as tending to encourage a love of war and bloodshed, rather than the preservation of peace, as well as to be undemocratic and unameérican In principle and dangerous to the stability of republican institutions.” Commenting on this declaration, Springfleld (Mass.) Republican says: “It Is one thing to subject school boys to such physical drill as will improve their carriage and afford healthful and helpful exercise, and another thing to bring army officers into the schools and put the pupils into a regular course of military training. There exists enough of the spirit of war in the youth of the day without thus Invoking special means for 1ts cultivation and organization. This idea that preparation for war is the best means of averting war is utterly wrong and proved to be such by all history, It has turned Europe into an army camp as costly and as much of a drain upon the strength and resources and prosperity of the people as the war would be against which the prep- aration Is made. We want none of it in this part of the world.” COST OF SCHOOL BOOKS. The cost of school books Is a matter which interests every family, and yet comparatively few realize the difference between cost of production and the retall price. It iy claimed the profits of the retailer are very nall, and therefors the bulk of the profits B0 to the trust which controls the publica- tion. A change of text books proposed in Cedar Rapids, Ia., induced the Gazette of that city to investigate the matter, and here is the result: Here 1s an “Independent Third Reader," published by A. 8. Barnes & Co., New York and elsewhere. There may be 240,000 ems in the composition of this book. The cuts are cheap stock and without merit, and under present conditions are not to bs considered as items of the cost of production, The text matter has no merit of any extraordinary kind, and was possibly prepared by people working on monthly salary. The composition of this book at 25 cents per 1,000 ems would amount to say $80, not more than $100, in- cluding index, preface, cover, etc. On an edition of 10,000 volumes that would be 1 cent per book for composition. The paper in one book should be bought for 6 cents and 8 cents would be enough to pay for the binding, the It 18 s0ld.at about 45 cents, 8o that the people pay directly and indirectly 30 cents profit on & 15-cent article, Standard works, contain- log four times the amount of matier and Dbound in cloth, are sold at retail for 18 centa It will thus be seen how the book concern aro enabled by some means, partly through the national copyright laws, to rob the people, for robbery is the exact offense in this casa The above Is only an example. In few in: stances are the profits less. In a great many they ara greater. Let the matter be considered with referenct to the total. It is probably a very modesl estimate to say that on the average each oni of tho 4,000 sehool children in Codar Rapidl requires $2 worth of books per year, makin a total expendituro of $8,000. By the abovi calculation $5,000 of this amount is an uns just charge. This district every second year must build a school house at a cost of about $18,000, or an expenditure of $9,000 per year, 50 that the book concerns actually secui through unnecessary profits from our peoplt more than half enough to pay for erecting the school buildings and altogether enough te keep the school buildings in repair. Think of it and then wonder why the leglslature of Towa has not stopped the abuge. EDUCATIONAL NOTES. It is proposed to lssue $5,000,000 in bonds in New York City, the proceeds to be de- voted to the erection of school buildings. The school savings fund system organized in a number of cities of Pennsylvania five years ago has been the means of much good, and its success ls gratifying to the originat- ors. An excellent example of the operation of this individual banking scheme is pro- vided in Chester, where the boys and girls in the public schools have the sum of $31,771 to their credit, and with the districts of South Chester, Upland, Eddystone and Mar« cus Hook Included the aggregate s $40,623. Six years ago the current yearly expenses of the Kansas university was $76,000. Since then the attendance has doubled, yet the ane nual expenses now do not exceed $100,000. Beloit college is the latest institution for higher education to open its classes to women, The capital of the school fund of the state of Minnesota amounts to $10,712,219.60. The recelpts from sales of land are invested in the securities of the state of Minnesota, The most valuable collection of books de- voted to transportation and kindred indus tries in this country has been added to the library of the Leland Stanford university, The collection will be known as the Hop= kins rallway library, and contains 4,000 books and 5,000 pamphlets. Cornell has a short course in agriculture extending through the winter, which is at- tended by eighty farmers’ boys who would otherwise never learn sclentific methods, as they cannot afford to spend four years at the university, Most of the boys are, of course, residents of New York state, but there are also representatives from Pennsylvania, Michigan, Indiana, etc., and even one Jap- anese student, Ex-President Andrew D. White of Cornell university, who recently resigned the posi tion of United States minister to Russia, 18 spending the winter in Italy and Bavarla. Among the gifts which he is constantly send- ing to Cornell Is a series of handsome ofl portraits of famous jurists for the law li- brary. The latest portrait sent by Mr. White is a painting of Chancellor Kent, one of America's greatest legal writers, ———————— Very Absent-minded. Probably one of the most humorous cases of absent-mindedness occurred in one of the office buildings, says the Cincinnati Tribune, For at least half an hour the elevator boy had noticed an old tenant of the bullding sits ting upon the stairs outside his office. Thinks ing the man was sick the boy asked him why he was sitting there o long, “Just read that card I tacked upon the door,” he sald, ‘The boy did so and read: o'clock.” Not understanding the boy said: “Have you lost your key?'" ““No, you idiot!"" roared the man. *“Don't you know that it is only 2:30 and I have still another half hour to walt?” — A Rare Thing, February, 1866, is referred to by astronos mers as ‘“‘the month without & full mooon.” January and March of that year had each two full moons, while the intermediate month did not have one. Says a writer in an astron- omical journal, referri; this fact: “Do you realize what a rare’ 1o pature it was? It has not happene fore eince the beginniog of the Christian era, or.probably since the creation of the world! It will not occur again, according to the computations of the astronomer royal of England, for— how long do you think? Not until aftes 2,600,000 years from 1866 ““WIII return at 8