Omaha Daily Bee Newspaper, May 21, 1902, Page 6

‘THE OMAHA DAILY BEE B. ROBEWATER, EDITOR. p— B PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. TERMS OF SUBSCRIPTION. without Bunday), One Yea: ily Bee and Sunday, On lustrated Bee, Une Year. nd. 154 Year. One Year. . tury Farmer, One Year. DELIVERED BY CARRIER. ly Bee (without Sunday), per copy ly Bee (without Bunday), per weex. iy Bee (Inciuding Sunaay), per week. Bunaay per copy. ing Beo (without Sunday), Evening Bee (including sunauy; Complal: of ould be addressed to partment. OFFICES. Omaha—The Bee Bullding. Bouth Umaha—City Haii sullding, Twen- ty-fifth and M streets. Council Blufts—lo Pearl Street. Chicago—140 Unity Building. ew York—Temple Court. ‘ashington—wl Kourteenth Street. CORRESPONDENCE. Communications relating to news and editoriai matter should be adaressed: Umahe Jaitorial Department. BUSINGSS LETLERS. Busizess letters and remittances should be addressed: 'he Hee Publishing Com- pany, Umaha. REMITTANCES. Remit by draft, express or postal order, gayasle to Tne Publishing Company. y 3-cent stamps accepted in payment of Wnnw Fersonai checks, except on naha or eastern exchange, not accepted. THE BEE PUBLIBHING COMFPANY. BTATEMENT OF CIRCHLATION. ng Company, being says that the actual number of full an complete coplés of The Dally, Morning, Evening and Bunday Bee printed auring ihe manth of April, 1%2 was us tollows: EURNEREERRPEELRS Net total eales........ 7,838 Net dally -nr-&n v, BORGE B. TZSCHUCK. Cobscribed in my presence and sworn to Deiore me this dth day of April, A. D. (Seal) M. B. HUNGATE, Notary publle. — The members of the State Board of Equalization now have an opportunity to tell the supreme court why. If a fight is to be waged on the bis- cuit trust we suppose doughnuts will be the most appropriate ammunition. Having reached the injunction stage, the war of Lancaster county repub- lican factions may be sald to be oun in earnest. The strike of the anthracite coal min- ers has already screwed up the price of bituminous coal, It's all ill wind that blows nobody good. 1 Em—— Reports from all over Nebraska are most promising for crop prospects. The Nebraska farmer will ride on the frout seat if favorable conditions hold out. . E—— It is noticeable that while we occa- sionally add to the number of republics that make up the nations of the world, the, monarchies show no Increase in number. Cuba would be happy if it could have & guaranty that all its future governors ‘would be as energetic and watchful of its Interests as General Wood, now re- tiring from duty in that island. Those Jacksonlan insurgents propose o have a hearing before consenting to \be made the victims of a political “water cure. Colonel Bryan's essay on /“The Philosophy of Bolting” should be called into requisition. ]} ‘A Massachusetts woman {s coming to Ne to be married to a man she ‘has never met. She can reassure her- self that she Is taking no greater chances in the wedlock lottery than is Ihnr prospective husband. If legal loopholes enable Nebraska railroads to escape paying taxes on the most valuable part of thelr property we might as well know now as later. If not the rallroads should pay their taxes on the same basls as other people. sengism——— Douglas county popullsts are volun- teering to write the platform on which thelr state ticket s to be . planted. Preswmnably they have selected this exacting task because there are not enough of them to do anything else. ———— Henry Wattérson will remain in ed- torial eharge of the Courler-Journal potwithstanding the change In the ownership of that property and pictur- esque warnings against the menace of the dread man on horseback will con- tinue to flow from his pen. S——— comes by pipe line to the local ratic organ all the way from ‘Wash! n that both Nebraska sen- ators afe known to be favorable to the The ne IDEAL EQUITY IN RAILROAD TAXATION. Dr. Willlam B. Ely of University Place, who claims to have grappled ‘with the problem of ‘railroad assesSment, ventures through the Lincoln Journal to assure the taxpayers of Nebraska that “a dispassionate consideration of the subject ought to convince any fair- minded man that the assessment of Ne- braska railroads jnet made is as good 2 | an approximation to ideal equity as is possible.” Dr. Ely has repched this conclusion by an examination of the records of several counties in the state, which he says show that the assessment varies all the way from one-thirteenth to one- twentleth of actual value. Taking the state altogether, Dr. Ely Insists he is entirely on the safe side In assuming the assessment to average one-thirteenth of actual market value, although in his Jjudgment one-twentieth would probably be nearer the truth. Taking one- thirteenth as the average assessed val- uation makes the following summary of the actual value of Nebraska's rail- roads: Per Mile. Unfon Paclfic Burlington & Ml Missourl Pacific Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific. Omaha & Southwestern.... Fremont, Elkhorn & Missouri Valk Total actual value of all rall- TOAAS .....iceniasaniinenes $345,664,696 This aggregate Dr. Ely computes to be the valuation of the “tangible, visible, material properties of the raflroads,” and while he admits that *the fran- chises have real value which perhaps are quite equal to that of their material property,” he excuses their exemption from taxation on the ground that “the statute for the assessment of rallroads contains no provision for assessing thelr invigible property in their franchises.” The trouble with Dr. Ely s that his mathematics are not as good as his sur- gery. In his calculations he seems un- willingly to adopt the logic of the State Board of Equalization, which enter- tained the confused notion that 15 per cent and one-fifteenth are the one and the same thing, when as a matter of fact there is as much difference as be- tween a horse chestnut and a chestnut horse. One-fifteenth, instead of belng 16 per cent, is less than 7 per cent. There is not a single county in Ne- braska that lists property at 7 per cent or anything near it. Only one county out of the ninety goes as low as 10 per cent, and the average will range from one-sixth to one-seventh, - instead of from one-thirteenth to one-twentieth. The Union Pacific is now assessed at $0,800 per mile. If this represents ome- seventh of the value of its tangible property its actual value would be $68,600 per mile. But the return of the Union Pacific is for 1,020 miles, while the assessment at $0,800 1s on only 467 miles of its main line, while the re- mainder of its mileage s assessed at $3,500 per mile. Where does the ideal equity come in? The same discrepancies between Dr. Ely's estimate and the real thing are found throughout his computations. Take, for example, the Fremont, Elk- horn & Migsouri Valley railroad, which he values on a standard of $46,800 per mile. At one-seventh of that amount the assessment would be $6,685 per mile, but it is assessed at only §8,500 a mile. In 1890 it was assessed at $5,000 per mile and that assessment seemed to be satisfactory to the managers of the road. The assumption that the franchises of the raiiroads are not to be essed for taxation because the statute makes no special provision is in flat contradiction to the express provision of the statute, which requires the roads to return with their list of tangible property an ex- hibit of their capitalization In stocks and bonds as well as their earnings. If the assessment was intended to cover only the tangible or material property it would not matter to the state board what they were capitalized for or what they were earning, any more than it would concern the assessor how much rent a man gets from tenants or how much the liveryman gets for the hire of his horses. Sm— GUVERNMENT SHIPBUILDING. After much discussion the house of representatives adopted an amendment to the naval appropriation bill which provides that one battleship, one armored criiser and one gunboat shall be constructed in government navy yards. This action has been urged by the labor unions of the country and by others who believe that the govern- ment should employ its navy yards in bullding its war ships, fnstead of main- taining the yards simply for the pur- pose of making repairs. The govern- ment investment in navy yards is about $100,000,000 and the annual cost of maintaining the yards is $10,000,000 and all the work now done in them is repair- ing, the annual cost of which is stated to be about $4,000,000, ‘While it is of course necessary to have navy yards, it has appeared to many that under existing conditions renomination of our non-resident con- gressman. But the successor to Our Dave will be nominated here at home and wot In Washington. Erm—— For the firsty year after the present charter was enacted the tax levy was 24 mills. While this rate would bot raise Sufficient revenue to weet the cur- rent demands for city and school gov- ernment for the coming year, the tax- payers of Omaha have a right to de- mand that the levy for 1002 should not exceed the amount absolutely necessary to meet the lowest estimate of current expenses. e The selection of Norrls Brown to be recommended to the coming republican state convention as temporary chalr- man §s & recognition of the younger ele- ment of ‘the party, which will doubt- less late the compliment. The young ' blicans of Nebraska could there 18 a great waste of public money and that these government plants, being well equipped for the bullding of ships, ought to be utilized by the government in constructing some of the gvar ves- sels. An advocate of this pelicy sald in the bouse of representatives a few days ago: “It has been estimated that the United States has up to the present time spent nearly $100,000,000 in the Lequipment of its navy yards and prac- tically the only use to which they are unow put is to keep its vessels In repair. ‘What an enormous investment and what a pitifully small return. Statistics show that it costs over $10,000,000 anunually to run our navy yards to enable them to do about $4,000,000 worth of repair work. What business man of ordinary intelfigence could permit such condl- tlons to continue? It fs a wanton waste of public money for which there is no excuse.” On the other hand it is con- tended that the bullding of ships by the government will be more expensive than their construction in private THE OMAHA DAILY BEE: WEDNESDAY, MAY 21, ernment employes work only eight hours a day, while those in private yards work nine and ten hours. Another objection made to government construction is that the work would probably not be so well done as in pri- vate yards, It was also urged that con- struction would be much slower in the government than in private yards. This reasoning against government con- struction, however, had little influence on the house and doubtless will not have much upon the public. Most people will be unable to see why as good work cannot be done in the navy yards as in the private shipyards, or why ships cannot be constructed very nearly if not quite as rapidly in the former as in the latter. At any rate the difference of a few months in the time of constructing a battleship would not be a serious matter. The house acted wisely in providing that three of the new war vessels authorized in the naval appropriation bill shall be constructed in the navy yards. Let the experiment be given a falr trial, the work of this kind that has been done by the government not being sufficlent to determine whether or not the bullding of naval vessels in govern- ment yards is good policy. — INTERSTATE LAW AMENDMENTS. There appears to be small probability of anything being done at the present session of congresd to strengthen the interstate commerce law. Chairman Knapp of the commission has submit- ted a report to the chairman of the senate committee on interstate com- merce, Senator Elkins, in which he ar- gues for the Corliss-Nelson, 4 measure that is vigorously opposed by the rail- roads. It is stated that Benator El- kins is making a strong effort to ascer- tain the views of rallway managers on his bill, but It seems to be difficult to elicit definite responses. The senate committee on interstate commerce, it Is announced, will shortly begin the hear- ings upon the proposed amendments of the interstate commerce act, begin- ning with the members of the com- mission and continuing with such rail- way representatives as may be disposed to give the committee their opinious. It may be very well to have these hearings, but at this late date in the session they cause delay that may pre- clule action on the proposed amend- ments. And it would seem that they are not necessary to the enlightenment of congress, which certainly ought to be sufficiently well informed regarding both the public opinion on the question of .amending the law and the views of most railway managers. The demand for strengthening the interstate com- merce has an overwhelming pub- lic support and the necessity for it bas been most conclusively demon- strated. With few exceptions the rail- roads desire that the law shall remain as it is, unless it shall be amended so as to legalize pooling. The proposed hearings are not likely to throw any new light upon the situation, - i ! GENERAL LEONARD WOOD. . . The name of General Leonard Wood will be forever assoclated with the Cuban republic and will always be held in respect by the people of that country, who have just attested thelr gratitude for what he has done.’ He ' atcom- plished a great work in the island and made a most honorable record. When the war with Spain came General Wood was a surgeon in the army. He went into the war as a colopel of the rough riders and when the American oceu- pation commenced he was made gov- ernor of the province of Saptiago. ‘In this position he disclosed uncommon administrative ability and commended himseif to the confidence allke of the Cubans and the Washington au- thorities. When a successor to Gen- eral Brooke at Havana was to be chosen there was no thought of any one but Wood. The ability he had shown at Santiago greatly impressed President McKinley, 'publie ' sen t in this country favored his sel ] and the Cuban people wanted him. ‘How well the confidence reposed in him was justified is familiar history. It may fairly be said that be almost recreated Cuba. It was a great task that was devolved upon him, but he was equal to every demand and was able to say In departing from the 18- land that it is free from all contagious diseases, that facilitiés for education are more general than ever before, that public order prevalls throughout the country and that every@h\n; necessary for efficlently carrying on the new gov- ernment has been provided, For this most meritorious work General Wood's reward is a brigadier generalship in the regular army and no one will question that he deserves it. Of all who were connected with the fréeing and regen- eration of Cuba, nome achieved more honorablé distinction than General Leonard Wood. e——— Many commentators are discussing in serlousness or levity recent rulings of various judges to the effect that a wife has a right to protect herself against an abusive husband even to the extent of using firearms If necessary. It this right belongs to the wife, it follows, of course, that it belongs equally to the husband, who ought to be privileged to reslst when an aungry wife comes at him with a rolling pin or & tea kettle. ‘Where is the courageous judge who will deliver an edict in favor of the poor renpecked husband? —— The most conservative estimate of the value of rallroad property in Omaha, represented by depots, depot grounds and terminal facilities, that have beed dumped into the general appraisement of rallroad assessment without showing a ripple on the surface, ls from $7,000,- 000 to $10,000,000. If this property were taxed for its due proportion for municipsl tuxation the city tax levy readily be reduced by 2 wills and amount the highest recorded distribu- tlon. When the school apportionment went up under fusion administration every suggestion that it was due to the unexampled prosperity spread over Ne- braska with the presidency of McKin- lay was resented as detracting from the credit of the fusion politiclans. Inasmuch as the school funds are now under republican care, the prosperity explanation will doubtiess be more warmly recelved by our fusion friends. With the repudiaticn of the agree- ment of the Chicago-Omaha lines not to compete with one another in speed, passengers may get the benefit of some of the improvements In roadbed and equipment made by all the railroads. There is no good reason why the time between Omaha and Chicago should ex- ceed twelve hours on the longest route for the fast trains. It can be cut lower than that, but under present conditions a twelve hour run would be perfectly feasible without overstepping the limits of safety in any way. te——— Expert 0 ‘Washington Post. Mr. Cleveland loosened up the other day to the extent of observing that the beet trust bit off more than it could chew. And Mr. Cleveland is quits an authority on chewing. Preparing for Emergencies, Philadelphia Record. It has been decided that the house of representatives at Washington shall have a medicine case, with emergency drugs, and & case of instruments for minor surgical operations. Occasionally a member, an employe or a visitor suddenly becomes ill, and while there are physiclans among the members, they do not carry medicines. Then, too, the Tillman-McLaurin affair in the senate suggests that the personal col- lisions of members may become violent enough to require medical or surgical at- tentlon, The World Do Move. Chicago Chronicle. A Chlcago judge mot long ago advised women who were beaten by their husbands to protect themselves with firearms, it ne- cessary, and 4 New York judge has just decided that a lady may with propriety hammer her husband with & poker and not be deemed gulity of cruelty. Thus have we advanced from the time when, under British law, it was declared that a husband was privileged “modlcum castigationem ad- hibere,” provided the chastisement was in- flicted with a stick of no greater thickness than two thumbs. The world do move. Folly of Oversensitiveness. Success. Oversensitive people are usually very fine grained, highly organized and Intelll- gent, and, If they could overcome this weakness, would become capable, con- sclentious workers. This falling—for it is failing, and a very serlous one, too—is an exaggerated form of self-consclousness, which, while entirely different from egotism or conceit, causes self to loom up in such large proportions on the mental retina as to overshadow everything el The vie- tim of it feels that, wherever he goes, whatever he does, he is the center of ob servation, and that all eyes, all thoughts are focused upon him. He imagines that people are criticlslug his movements and his person, and making fun at his expense; ‘whea, in reality, they are not thinking of him,-and:perhape did not see him. — Trapping of Two Crooks. Springfleld Republican. The kidnaping of Gaynor and Greene at Quebec by United States detectives is much enjoyed by our people. Those preclous r: cals, who are wanted in Georgla for trial on charges of conspiracy and fraud agalnst the United States government in connec- tion with the Oberlin M. Carter case, had fled the country—thus virtually confessing their guilt—and as they thought, in their Quebec hotel, bad insolently wiggled their fingers from their noses at Uncle Sam, taunting him with inability to catch them. The kidnaping consists simply in getting the men to Montreal, where it is believed the courts will be more disposed to listen to the request for extradition than those of Quebec. Whether the extradition is accomplished’ or not the experience Gay- nor and Greeme have now had with the United States detectives will make them less impudent. There ought to be law enough in the extradition treaties of America and Great Britain to bring them to justice. PRODDING THE COAL TRUST, Washington Post: Eventually the coal consumer will be driven to organization and then the struggle will assume the shape of a triangle. Indianapolis Journal: The anthracite coal strike affords a case where a system of compulsory arbitration might be defended by the most cogent argument, namely, the well being of the public. Kansas City Journal: It is sald that the national administration is directing its at- tention to the anthracite trust and that the attorney gemeral may conclude to in. stitute proceedings against it. If the anti- trust law can be made effective in any c: it certainly ought to be applicable to this monopoly, which fills all the conditions necessary to constitute a harmful and viclous trust. It may be added, to refresh tho memories of our free trade friends, that there is not and hasn't been any tariy protection on hard coal. Chicago Inter Ocean: The dealer and the consumer, it will be observed, are put ex- actly in the position of the buyer of postage or revenue stamps from the national gov- ernment. They can buy nowhere else, and they must buy at the trust's prices and terms, just as they must buy at the gov- ernment’s. In fact, six or seven men in New York have put themselves, so far as anthracite coal 1s eoncerned. in the exact position of a government. As respects this necessary of life they have a monopoly like the government's monopoly of the postal service. Such are some of the results of a real trust as displayed in practice. They certalnly are worthy of consideration, and most serious consideration, on the face of the facts. Springfield Republican: Of the total yearly production of anthracite coal, amounting to about 54,000,000 tons, the three states of Penusylvania, New York and New Jersey consume about 65 per cent, or 35,000,000 tons. The New England states take 16 per cent, or a little over 8,000,000 and the western states about 12 per or 6,500,000 tons. Canada and the TD states each take about 2.000,000 Years ago anthracite coal was ex- tensively used in manufacturing and tri portation, but now such use is largely con- fined to districts no more remote from the coal flelds than New York City. Beyond that limited area the consumption of hard coal is almost entirely confined to the stoves and furnaces in the dwellings of the people. A suspensfon of production in the summer season, accordingly, will not d rectly affect manufacturing to any great extent, except in the country adjacent to the mines, and bituminous coal will be avallable there as elsewhere. A strike of the soft coal miners would be vastly more this of the hard con} men. serious from an industrial stasdpoiat m-l 1902, Live Nebraska Towns Broken Bow— Custer County’s Capital. Broken Bow is the county seat of Custer county, oneof the largest counties In the state. It is near the center of the county and nearly In the geographical center of the state. The town site was platted in June, 1882, and in the following fall elec- tion was designated as the county eeat, The town was without rallroad accommo- dations until August, 1886, when the B. & M. was buflt through. The greater growth was made within the four years following the advent of the rallroad and has ever eince held its reputation of being the largest and most important city in Cen- tral Nebraska. The hard times of 1804 and 1805 gave it quite a setback, when the population and business were materially diminished. Since 1896 the population and business of the city has steadily Increased. We question whether there is a city In the state of its population that is ‘ependent wholly upon an agricultural distriot for its support that does anywhere near the business of Broken Bow. The present population of the town will reach fully 1,600, over two hundred more than when the census was taken in 1900. It has more than sixty business bouses, besides lawyers, doctors snd real tate offices. All of these houses are en- Joying good trade and are doing a pros- perous business. 1In the last few years better dwelling and businesshouses have taken the place of the ploneer bulldings, and today the city can boast of some as fine business blocks and residence bulld- Ings 8s can be found in any city of the state with double its population. Broken Bow has four exclusive dry goods stores, three general stores, four exclusive grocery stores, three drug stores, three Jewelers, two millinery stores, four hard- ware and furniture stores, one harness shop, two second-hand stores, one ex- clusive clothing store, four blackemith shops, one wagon shop, two implement stores, one windmill and tank factory, one marble works, three meat markets, two egg, butter and poultry dealers, three banks, three hotels, one candy factory, seven restaurants and boardinghouses, one tin and repair ship, three printing offices, two clgar factories, six real estate firms, one abstract office, two insurance offices, one book and music store, three dressmak- ers’ establishments, one tallor shop, two billlard halls, two shoe shops, eight feed, livery and breeding barns, two photograph gallerfes, two paint shops, three barber shops, one bakery, two graln elevators, two lumber yards, one large flouring mill, two feed mills, two dentists, United Staies land office. Two large school buildings, one in the north, the other in the south part of the city, provide for the school accommoda- tions of nearly 600’ school children and a most excellent High school. Seven church buildings, representing as many different denominations, vl Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian, Christian, United Brethren. Eplscopalian and Catholic. All except the latter have resident pastors. The town and vicinity are English speaking people and fully 75 per cent of the popu- lation of the county, which is about 20,000, are native Americans. The town has a splendid opera house, a largely attended business and normal college, a state mi- litla company, an excellent brass band and several large fraternal socleties and in- surance orders, among which are the Masons, Odd Fellows, Workmen, Woodmen, Modern Brotherhood of America, Ben Hur, Foresters and Bankers' unions. We have a most excellent local telephofie aystem that extends to the eeveral towns of the county, many neighborhoods, and into the countlos of Sherman, Valley Blaine, Loup and' Logan. Two parks adorn the eity, one which is provided with a small artificial lake. The other Is located in the center of the busi- ness part of the city. It is well set in grass and trees and is the pride of the clty. A small stream courses through the city from west to east, which, by means of dams, provides an abundance of ice for the summer season. A large per cent of the people own their homes and & number of them the bulldings in which they do business. We have no old empty dwell- ings, but on the other hand a number of office rooms .are occupled by familles for want of more dwellings. Good houses are constantly in demand. The oity draws trade from a long distance in every direc- tion. The stock markets are exceptionally good as a rule, which materially helps the trade and makes Broken Bow one of the best stock and grain shipping points on the B. & M. Four passenger trains, two each way, dally affords ample accom- modations for mall and the traveling pub- lle. Farming and stockralsing is the great industry of the vicinity, with hogs and cattle largely on the increase. The corn crop was generally good in this vi- cinity last year, and with the high price for corn, hogs and cattle our farmers are on the high road of prosperity, and as a rule the price of city and farm property are on the increase, Only the location of the rallroad division here, which is con- fidently expected in the near future, Is needed to make Broken Bow the best town in the state for its size. It is strictly a temperance town. It has not had a licensed saloon for three years and the increased population {s made up from substantial eft- izens from the farms and other places who desire to Jocate here to educate thelr ohil- dren free from the town of saloon vices. D. M. AMSBERRY. BITS OF WASHINGTON LIFE. Minor Scenes and Incidents Sketched on the Spot. Considerable interest has been caused by the action of congress in ordering the print- ing in facsimile of 5,000 copies of what is known ‘Jofterson’s Bible.” This is one of the Jeffersonian works purchased by the national government and the so- called bible is the only one that has not been reprinted. The book, which Is a col- lection of the teachings of Christ, was originally bought for $400 by the Natlonal museum and s kept under lock and key. It is a duodecimo volume of elghty-two double pages, or 164 pages, though Jefterson paged ‘only the left-hand page. He used four testaments in as many languages. On the left-hand page he pastéd the clippings in two columns, first In Greek and Latin. On the right-hand he put the French and the English version, making four finely printed columns in Greek, Latin, French and English. There are marginial notes In Jefterson's own handwriting, with a table in front giving the pages and citing the chapters and verses from which the clip- pings are taken. He omitted everything of a miraculous nature, confining the clippings to the teachings of Jesus. In the concluding verse of the work, cording to Representative Lacey, who has made a study of the volume, Jefferson com- bined two verses, as follows: John, xix:42: There lald Jes: Matthew, xxvii:60: +*¢ and *¢ 8 great stone to ihe door of the sepulcher, and departed. Jefterson, being a free-thinker, buried Jesus forever in the grave and gave no hope of “the resurrection and the lite.”" Ex-Senator Manderson of Nebraska has not lost the urt of story telling, says the ‘Washington Post, and, being in Washington to look after the interests of the sugar beet growers, he spends some time at the cap- itol, where his company in the cloak room is always sought. Yesterday General Man- derson made thie contribution to the sym- um: jome years ago,” he said, “I had oc- casion to make a trip across the plains and we camped out as we went along. The first night out I watched a cowboy cooking sup- quite interested, mot only be- hungry, but also because I imagined that the cowboy was some ‘finely educated fellow, who knew how to enjoy good eating and who would cook to per- fection. The supper, however, was simply vile. It could not be eaten. There was plenty of good stuff, but it had been spoiled. “‘Willlam,’ T sald to the man, ‘what are your qualifications for ceoking? “‘I haven't any,’ was tn: frank reply. ‘I simply have a swo.en leg and I can't ride.’ " The statement was printed a few da; that the action of Speaker Hena in trying to get Secretary Shaw to make the speaker's private secretary, Jullan Richards, first sistant secretary of the Lre ry, Was crafty move on the speak- er's part to promote his own presidential boom for 1904. Secretary Shaw was asked about it and sald seriously: “I regret to say that Henderson can never be president. I have known him long and like him well, but I must cay in all serious- ness that Dave can never be president.” Secretary Shaw and Speaker Henderson both come from Iowa and the visitor scented a row between the two. Mr. Shaw talked this way for two minutes. It looked as if he and the speaker had parted company for good. Then the secretary sald: “I'll tell you the reason in strict con- fidence. Speaker Henderson was born ia Scotland.” Some 300 ideal berths for ambitious young Americans will be worth studying for and studying for hard. in the event that Sena- tor Lodge succeeds in reorganizing the consular service and putting it on a per- manent life tenure basis, as he is now en- deavoring to do. He proposes to divide our various consular offices Into ten uni- form grades, ranging from consul general of the first-class. with a salary of $10,000 a year, to consul of the sixth class, recelviog $1,800 & year. Applicants must be between the ages of 21 and 65 and must pass an ex- amination in French, German or Spanish; also in various commercial subjects. Life positions are to be made of the comsular berths, great and small, which have been emptied and refilled since the administra- % i rolled tlon of Washington at the will of changing administrations. “‘Such a reorganized establishment will offer its personnel the delights and ad- vantages of foreign travel,” says the Brooklyn Eagle. “Anyone ripening in the service will haye seen pretty much all of the world. Many ‘congressmen recognize the necessity for reform, and it now seems to be only a question of time before the necessary leg! lon which the State de- partment, the various chambers of com- merce and boards of trade are asking for will be passed. What these patrons of the reform want is a lifetime of usefulness, storing up experience as potential energy for Uncle Sam's benefit. Today a man in the service loses his job as soon as his ap- prenticeship has been nmerved.” A man named Johnson was a candidate for a consulshiv and the lowa delegation were backing him for the place. They finally found a vacancy to which the presi- dent promised to appoint their candidate. Thereupon Mr. Johnson went to the State department to undergo the usual examina- tion as to his fitness. He had no trouble until he reached the sixth question: ‘“How many Hesslans came to this coun- try to fight for the English?" Johnson didn't know, but he did not pro- pose to be left entirely. This is what he wrote for an answer: “A great many more than ever went back." Everybody knows that the late Repre- sentative Amos Cummings used to be & printer. When the New York Sun moved iuto its new bullding years ago, relates the Wash- ington Post, the compositors were lined up before J called. Each man slon from the old to the new office. top of each ‘“cap case’’ was a palr of old shoes, in which the typos had shuffled about in «working hours through untold years. The aggregation of mangled foot- wear made a hit with the people outside and was the talk of New York for a day. The humor of the thing etruck Cum- mings, and every old printer will apprect- ate the lines which Cummings dashed off to meet the occasion: Dear to the heart of the soldier his honor, And dear 10 the heart of the drunkard his bo oze, But nothing compared to the love of the printe: ary printer for a pair of old The cockroaches haunt them where'er he may plant them, They're half-filled with type, display type and news, He may never wear them, but miles he will carry them, % Ana throw up his “sit’ ere he'll part from those shoes. PERSONAL NOTES, Thomae A. Morris, the first brigadfer gen. eral appointed from Indians in the clvil | war, is still living in Indlasapolls at the | ame ot 90. The latest quotation for & seat in the New York Stock exchange is $75,000, yet |eome mav purchase at that price whe wouldn’t buy a seat in church at a thous sandth part of the sum. David McLean Parry of Indianapolis, pres. Ident of the Nattonal Association of Manu- tacturers, was born on a farm near Pitts- burg. He rises at 5:30 a. m. and s at his office deck at 6:45 every morning The Cook County (IIl.) Democracy has Invited David B. Hill to attend ite annual plenic on June 7 as the guest of honmor. Mayor Tom Johnson of Cleveland has ac- cepted an Invitation to be present. It is understood that the president will designate Adjutant General H. C. Corbin and General Wood as representatives of this government to witness the military maneuvers in Burope during the coming summer. A new mechanical genius has appeared in Chicago, who claims to have evolved a horseless, dustiess street sweeper. The ma- chine is to be run by a gasoline motor and he says that a system of fans, which operate with suction tubes, will take up all the dust. Don Prospero Colonna, the mayor of Rome, who will, it is sald, soon visit Amer- fca, is the twelfth prince of Sonnino and younger brother of Prince Antonlo Colonna, twelfth prince of the name and head of the famous family, Don Prospero was born in 1850. Kansas City utters a loud protest against the assertion of a shos drummer that more number oight women's shoes are sold there than in any town in the country, The rude slander originated in a typo- graphical blunder. The figure should have been eighteen. Congressman Mahon of Pennsylvania rose to a auestion of versonal privilege a day or two ago and In the course of his re- marks d that the men who had been cireul A certaln report about him had hearts “‘as black ms the soot in the inner- most flues of hell.” The town of South Elgin, I11,, has a fire chief only 19 yeats oldi—Edward Tracey by name. Two years ago he saved the lives of two persons who were caught in a burning bullding and . Mayor Doxey has just ap- pointed "him chief in recognition of his bravery and efficlency at that time. About the time Frank R. Stockton's ““The Lady or the Tiger?" was at the height of its vogue and when the author was belng deluged dally with letters asking for an answer to the question, he was entertained at dinner by a literary woman whom he numbered among his warmest friends. She had ices molded in two shapes—a lady and a tiger. ‘“Now, Mr. Stockton,” sald she, “which will you have—a lady or a tiger?" Without & moment’s hesitation the author replied: ‘“Both, if you please.” POINTED REMARKS. Detroit Free Press: “Pullem, the dentist, ought to make & good poker player.” “He draws and fllls so well.” Chicago Tribune: at started the fuss at_the milkmen's ball *‘Some blamed fool asked one of the men if he had brought his pumps along.” Philedalphia _Press: The foreign nobility, having nothing to do, must lead awfully monotonous liyes. Miss Peppey—Yes, I notice those that Miss Romantique— come over here never seem to have any change. Washington Star: “Have you a good ear for music?” asked the Inquisitive gu 5 answered Mr. Cumro: not unpopular In artletic circles. My may be deficlent, but T have a good pocket- book for musie.” Cleveland Plain Dealer: “Our daughter has dear.” at last met her fate, my ow do you know?'" “She recelved several letters from her admirers this morning, but his was the only one she didn’t fumigate and sterilize.” Somerville Journal: Banks—I wouldn't marry the best woman in_the world. Binks—You couldn’t. She married me thirteen years ago. Ohlo State Journal: “Think of the tlence Job had,” said the mother to small son who had a boll on his neck. “Job was covered with bolls." ‘Gee whiz,” exclaimed the offspring, *you oughtn't t' blame him fer havin' lots ov pashence; he needed it." Chicago Post: “He's an excoedingly gal- lant and se le young man. I heard ghn say that & man is as old as he feels and & woman—" h, that's anclent!" “Wait till I'm throu woman is half as old ai Philadelphia Record the heavy villain, ving perfected our gonspiracy, we must take care that it doesn't leak ouf “Why not let the plot thicken?" sug- gested the low comedian from his place of concealmen! a- er she lool TWENTY YEARS AFTER. Somerville Journal. This lock of dark halr, curling, soft and \__ brown See how it twines around my finger now Affectionately, with clinging clasp, A mute reminder of a youthful vow. Tied with a dainty bow of ribbon blue, What dt'hrvnlin‘ memories it calls to mind! Ah, If the future we could only oo But Ynulh, and youth in love, is always blind. How soft and fine its curling tendrils are! Bweet Kate—no, come to think, her hair was light. Could it have been her little cousin Nell e it to me that October night? E ‘s was auburn, I remember now. ‘Was this from Fan, or Dot, or Eve!rn’ Or was it Grace who clipped it oft? By Jove, I wonder who the deuce it could have been! SPEAKING AS WE DO, Day after day, about our clothing, we may have neglected our hats—especially the straw variety—largest, best and most com- plete shown in Omaha—beautiful braids and shapes. Genuine Panama Hat Porto Rico Panama Ha French Palm, Milan, Split. etc., $5.00 to $12.00 - $2.00 to $4.50 $1.00, $1.25, $1.50, $2.00 and up to $6.00. NO CLOTHING FITS LIKE OURS kg 5@ Exclusive Clothiers and Furnishers.