Omaha Daily Bee Newspaper, July 8, 1902, Page 6

6 THE OMAHA DALY BEE E. ROSEWATER, EDITOR. PUBLISHED EVERY, MORNING. TERMS OF SUBSCRIPTION Dally Bee (without Funday), One Yer ily Bee and Sundaz, One Year Dlustrated Bee, One Year Bunday Bee, One Year Baturaay Hee, One Year.. Twentleth Century Farme: B:Hy Bee (without Sunday), per copy ily Bee (without Bunday), per wee Dally Bee (Including Sunaay), per wes K..1e Bunday Bee, per copy..... oaus < be Evening Beé (without Sunday), per week 1o Evening Bee (Including sunaay), per Complaints of irregularities in delivery should be addressed to City Circulation Department. OFFICES. maha—The Bee Buliding. South OmanacCity Hail Building, Twen- ty-fitth and M Btreets. Councll Blufts—10 Pear] Street. Chicago—16# Unity Bullding. New York—Temple Court Washington—501 Fourteenth Street. CORRESPONDENCE - Communications relating to news an editorial matter should be addressed: Omaha Bee, Editorial Department. BUSINESS LETTERS. = usiness letters and remittances ghou be addressca: The e Pubishing Com- pany, Omaha. REMITTANCES. t, express or postal order, unls b5 The Bee Pupiishing Company: 3-cent stamps accepted in payment ot afl acoounts. Personal checks, except, on of eastern exchanges, nof pted. e BRE PUBLISHING COMPANY. STATEMENT OF CIRCULATION. te of Nebraska, Douglas County, se.: rge B, Tzschuck, secrotary of The Bee ‘Publisging Company, being ouly sworn that the actual number of full an mplete coples of The Dally, Morning, $vening and Bunday lee printed during &he month of June, 1902, was as follows: 16 guyuRRENNERS Total .. Net total Net datly a g GEO. B. TZSCHUCK. Bubscribed in my presenco and, sworn to re me this 0th day of June, A. D.. 1902, (Beal.) M. B, HUNGATE Notary Pubile. —_— ““Wnless the weather clerk turns off his water sprinkler prayers for a dry spell will be in order. This has been a bad season on the sprinkling cart man, but he will make up for it before the snow flies. The daring courage of that reckless Oregon convict enlisted In a worthy cause would have made a hero. Omaha has grown about as lusty a crop of base ball rooters this year as is £o be found in any town in the country. S ————— Rallroads that run harvest excursions to Nebraska this year will not have to make any explanations to thelr passen- gers. - - Fortunately for the strikers they can prove an alibi from the cave-in that destroyed the trackage leading to the Unlon Pacific bridg The Sons of Benjamin have held an sonual convention. The sons of Adam meet with each other all the year around without password, grip or ceremony. Agitation for a curfew ordinance has reached South Omaha. When South Omaha tucks all its boys in bed by 9 o'clock p.m. the millennium will be at band. If anyone entertains doubts that the i:nnbhcln candidate for governor Is a rmer who farms the soil, the photo- graphic pictures in The Bee will dispel ‘mm. " Parliament will hold an extra session |n.the fall. The late S8outh African war bas left a legacy that will keep the British lawmakers busy for some time to' come. And the World-Herald hasn't even peeped about the interest money pald .o deposits of state school funds which that great reform treasurer, Meserve, put into his own pockets. It seems to be hard for Aguinaldo to persuade himself that he is now nothing but a common, every-day Filipino, en- litled to no more privileges or attentions than the other pardoned insurrection- Ists. W . Epe—— Down in Oklahoma federal officers had ‘to intervene to;stop the Indians trom continuing a sun dance. Up, this way, the raln god would have shut off the .sun and 'saved the officers ~the trouble of coming to the front. .} It the Ohicago newspapers are al- lowed to have their way, there will be no stopplng point untll that oft-prom- lsed meat packers' trust is a reality, ab- wrbing -every packing, house at every mportant center in the country. As to & beef trust, these prophets will not be bappy till they get it. - -————— As 8 royal patient, King Edward can- aot be beat. ‘When the surgeons said an operation was necessary he sub- mitted at once to their demand and when they prescribed he took the medi- pine .without a whimper. Physiclans like patients who obey orders as much s moparchs like subjects who yleld un- Questioning obedlenc —_— Oampalgn committees, organized by both republican and democratic con- pressmen down at Washington, promise Figorous work for the coming elections. Pumplog out tons of dry speeches at long range under congressional franks tor 'which the people must pay, how- sver,, recalls the exclamation of a f mous French conqueror, *'Tis magnifi- sent! But It Is not war!” The real en- gagement will have to be fought out on the bome grounds in each state and s - Sistrict, . THE OMAHA DAILY BEE: TUESDAY, JULY 8, 1902 RAILROAD ASSESNMENTS SMOULD BE DOUBLED. Are the rallroads paying more than thelr just proportion of the taxes levied in this state? Or have they shifted a large share of the burden they should by rights have carried upon the shoul- ders of other taxpayers? That Is the only question with which the people of Nebraska are just now concerned. What the raflroads pay in other states, how much per mile they pay in Pennsyl- vania, Indiana or Massachusetts, or what proportion their taxes bear to the volume of property in those states 1s fmmaterial. The cold fact that the prop- erty of the rallroads in Nebraska con- stitutes one-fourth of all of the property values In the state cannot be gainsald. A conservative estimate of property values In Nebraska, based upon the cen- sus returns of 1900 and recent market values of raflroad stocks and bonds, jus- tifies the following figures: Value of property. City and town property. . Rallroad pProperty....... % farms and farm 625,000,000 260,000,000 315,000,000 . ++++$1,200,000,000 A moderate estimate of the actual value of Nebraska railroads is $314,- 870,220. The Union Pacific system of 1,020 miles, which is capitalized at over $120,000 per mile, but computed at only $100,000 per mile or $10,200,000, and equalized on the basis of one-sixth of its valuation, or $16,666 per mile, would aggregate for assessment $16,000,320. The Burlington system, with 2,674 miles, capitalized at §50,- 000 upon a computation of the double value of its stocks equalized at one-sixth, or $8,333 per mile, would make $21,440,342. The Fremont & Elkhorn system, with 985 miles, capital- ized at $40,000 per mile and equalized at one sixth of its value, $6,668 per mile, is worth for assessment $6,552,- 678. The 1,125 miles of all other Ne- braska raflroads computed at $40,000 per mile and equalized at one-sixth of their value, or $6,666 per mile, should be assessed for $7,477,080. This would give a total valuation for assessment of $52,478,370. On a total railway mileage of 5,703 miles and the average assessed valuation per mile should be $8,375, in- stead of $4,661 per mile. As the owners of more than 25 per cent of all property values in the state the railroads have for years been pay- ing less than 15 per cent of the taxes. How they have managed to evade their just proportion of the burdens of tax- ation may be seen at a glance at the following table: Assessed Raflway Grand assess- valuation. ment roll. $20,864,221 $184,770.804 29,265,917 183,138,236 20,339,631 186,432,376 28,574,138 104,733,124 27,939,178 183,717,498 25,425,308 171,468,207 26,424,708 167,078,270 26,561,720 165,193,736 26,108,956 167,810,764 26,106,450 169,105,905 26,346,735 171,747,608 26,422,732 174,439,095 26,589,592 180,000,000 Year. 1890 1891 1892 1893 1894 1895 1896 1897 1898 1889 1900 No. Miles. 5,309.65 5,418.15 5,465.74 < 5,635 5,642 5,542.50 . 5,542 5,641.95 65,543.47 5,642.37 5,662.33 1901 5,652 1902 ... 5,703.82 *Estimated. An exact comparison between the assessment of rallroad property and all other properd within the past twelve years affords conclusive proof not only that the rallroads have never borne their fair share of the burden of tax- ation, but that it has been gradually shifted by them upon the shoulders of the other property owners in the state: Assessed Raflway Valuation. $29,854,221 20,265,917 20,399,631 28,574,138 27,989,178 26,426,308 25,424,708 25,661,720 26,108,930 26,106,460 26,346,735 26,422,732 26,689,502 Assessment exclu- sive of Railroads. .$154,916,083 . 153,872,819 . 167,002,749 . 166,158,986 166,778,320 + 146,042,899 . 141,853,562 . 180,632,016 141,701,828 142,999,455 . 145,400,868 148,016,263 163,410,408 Year. 1890 1891 1892 18908 . 1894 . 1895 1896 1807 1898 1899 . 1900 1901 1902 . *Estimate It will be noted that the assessed val- uation of property, exclusive of railroads for 1902 is approximately the same as was the valuation for 1801, but the rail- road assessment for 1002 is $3,264,620 less than It was in 1800, while its mile- age is 400 miles greater. Assessed at $5,- 000 per mile the increased mileage would bave added $2,000,000 to the assessment of the rallroads as fixed in 1890, and made their assessment $31,854,221 In- stead of $26,580,502. But even railroad managers and tax commissioners must concede that the Nebraska railroads as a whole have doubled in value since 1890 and 1801 As compared with the assessments of 1800 and 1891 the depreclation of all property exclusive of rallroads will not exceed $2,000,000 in 1902, or 1% per cent, while during the same period the rallroad assessments have been reduced 14 per cent, notwithstanding their in- creased mileage. All the figures of speech of the rallroad attorneys and all the figures projected by the rallroad tax butreau charts cannot refute these stub- born facts. 4 e UNABLE TO STUP CUMPETITION. That the industrial combinations have failed in their efforts to suppress com- petition is a reassuring fact. That they are gradually succumbing to the eco- nomic penalties of over-capitalization glives promise of a reform in this direc- tion that will remove one of the most serlous objections to the combinations. Mr. Henry Clews, a conservative ob- server of financlal and business condi- tlons, s of the opinlon that many of the evils of the’ trust system cen be safely left to correct themselves, but he suggests that the public will not rest satisfied until some restraint is placed upon the power of these corporations and he thinks that among the proposi- tions thus far advanced those favoring reasonable publicity and a national cor- poration law must be the most accepia- ble. In his judgment a pational cor- poration law would avoid the radical measures of some states and at the same tlme prevent the abuse which permits the corporation of one state to break the laws of every state except its own, which very likely has granted it powers not permiseible within its own territory. Legislation of this kind has been urged by one of the leading corporation lawyers of the country, Mr. James B. Dill, who argued that the business of the country demands uniform corporate legislation and not sectional legislation, state against state. He would have a law applying to corporatiops along the lines of the national banking act, not abridging the powers of the state to create local corporations, but affording an opportunity to organize corporations, national in extent, whose business re- lates to trade with foreign countries or between states, with the protection of the national government against con- flicting state legislation and local politi- cal enactments. He belleved that cor- porations now and hereafter organized would avall themselves of a national act for reasons of self-protection, finan- clal security and because no corporation engaged in interstate commerce and de- siring to do business throughout the length and breadth of the country could afford to be other than a national or- ganization. That there is soundness in this view we think will be generally admitted. The fallure of the combinations thus far to suppress competition gives very strong assurance that they will be un- able to stop it in the future, for it is not likely that the trusts will hereafter find conditions more favorable to the suppression of competition than- they have been. It is perhaps true that some of the evils of the trust system can safely be left to correct themselves, but in the meantime the question of trust regulation and supervision, by practicable methods that. would not be revolutionary in their operation, must not be dismissed from consideration. President Roosevelt in his Pittsburg ad- dress earnestly urged the necessity for national legislation for the supervision and regulation of the corporations en- gaged iu interstate commerce, and this subject should command, as it probably will, the serious attention of congress at the next session. The president has pointed out the duty and the majority in congress should find the way to its performance. e——— TRIBUTE TO THE ARMY. Every American citizen should bave read the tribute paid by the president, through the secretary of war, to the army. As a reply to those who have assalled our soldiers in the Philippines it commends itself to every fairminded person. Ae officlal testimony to thé courage, fortitude and devotion of the army it is just and will be approved by all whose minds are not warped by prejudice or partisanship. Few can realize how difficult and trying was the task of the army in the Philippines. As sald In the order of Secretary Root, our soldiers, themselves bound by the laws of war, ‘“were called upon to meet every device of un- scrupulous treachery and to con- template without reprisal the infliction of barbarous cruelties upon their com- rades' and friendly natives.” They en- gaged in more than 2,000 combats, great and small, and while none of them is to be classified as great battles they re- quired military skill and individual bravery, as well as fortitude and devo- tion. Hunting down guerrilla bands in mountains and jungles, through an un- known country and menaced on every hand by treacherous foes, demanded sol- dierly qualities of a superior order and the exhibition of these by the army in the Philippines has commanded univer- sal admiration. Those who have traduced our soldiers took little account of the difficulties of the tasks they had to perform. With political capital in view they exagger- ated the few mistakes and faults com- mitted and held the entire Philippine army responsible for these. Charges some of which have been shown to have had no foundation were proclaimed be- fore the world as evidence that our sol- dlers were cruel and brutal. Men in congress made the most sweeping de- nunciations of the army, seeking thereby to fortify thelr opposition to the Philippine policy of the government and to strengthen themselves politically. This most unjust and unwarranted course 18 rebuked by the tribute of the president and secretary of war to the army—a tribute in which the very great majority of our peaple, there can be no doubt, are in hearty accord. They feel that the soldiers in the Philippines have shown a loyalty and patriotism and per- formed & service that entitles them to the highest commendation that can be bestowed and they may be expected to record thelr resentment against those who for partisan purposes bave indis- criminately assailed the army and sought to bring upon the contempt and reproach of the world. On the oc- casion of the West Point centennial Lord Wolseley, formerly the commander- in-chief of the British army, said that in his opinion the American army was the best in the world. There is certainly none superior in bravery, in patriotism, in devotion to duty, in intelligence and in all the qualities and attributes of ter. e ‘Who owns the plans of Omaha public school buildings? Do they belong to the school district or fo the architect? Mem- bers of the school Doard yery properly claim that the plans belong to the school district, just as they belong to the owner of any other building after he has paid for them, but the architect Insists that he has their perpetual ownership. The question is, Wby should there be any difference in this respect between the owners of school houses and the owners of any other public or private building? The plans of the city ball and public Wbrary -bullding belong to the city of Omaha. Why shouldn’t the plans of the High school bullding, or any other public school bullding erected with money taken from the school fund belong to the school district? Why should the school board be compelled to pay & sec- ond time for plane for school bulldings it desires to duplicate? The assessed valuation of all property in Douglas county for the year 1801 was § 81,702, In this grand total the property of the rallroads Is represented by 8% per cent. For the year 1002 the total assessment for Douglas county will reach $25,500,000, or an increase of more than $3,000,000, which equals an increase of 15 per cent over last year. But while the valuation of all classes of property has been ralsed by 15 per cent the as- sessment on the property of the rall- roads in Douglas county has been low- ered by over $2,000 by the state board, and the ratio of the rallroad assessment to all other property will be 3 per cent instead of 15 per cent, as has been the clalm by the rallroad tax bupeau. Popocratic papers have made the wonderful discovery that President Roosevelt has been doing nothing since he entered the White House except to shape up for a renomination. That President Roosevelt has been giving the country the best administration of na- tional affairs he knows how to give is readily admitted and that his purpose is to earn a full term as president Is not concealed. The president cannot please the democrats no matter what he does, but he can perform the dmles.of his office in a manner satlsfactory to the people who will express their appre- ’u:m in the proper way when occasion presents. According to the census returns, only 60 per cent of the total area of Ne- braska is included in the classification ot farms. There is unoccupled land enough in Nebraska to supply farms yet to many thousands of industrious people, who will find the royal route behind the plow that leads to a home and independence. Rumor has it that the democratic legislative ticket in the fleld in this county will have to be reorganized and reconstructed before active operations are undertaken. The populists may also want to have a say before they get through instead of letting the democrats pick populist candidates for them. e —— Not as Bad as Painted. Indianapolis News. Who says thirteen is an unlucky number? The public debt statement shows a decrease of $13,000,000 during the month of Jume, s Automobiling on Easy Street. St. Louls Globe-Democrat. With $600,000,000 of gold in the strong box, as much more in circulation, and $85,- 000,000 a year coming out of American mines. Uncle Sam feels easy as to the gold situation. e All Loot Looks Alike. Boston Transcript. Admiral Dewey says Aguinaldo w: money and loot in-his Fillpino campa! In this respect he i not unlike the ‘‘heroes who marched into Pekin a short while ago. But them, of course, they were edu- cated soldiery apd not savages. What a difference there is, to be sure, ‘“‘twixt tweedledee and tweedledum. Bryan’s Hoot at Hoosiers, Indianapolis Journal. Willlam J. Bryan seems to be getting madder every day. His double-barreled discharge at the Sentinel and ex-Mayor Taggert is the most viclous utterance he has made yet, though it is weakened by personalities. His expression of gratitude to “the uncorrupted and unterrified democ- racy of Indiana” is probably intended to call that element to the fronmt. Speaking of Real Estate Deals. Saturday Evening Post. John W. Gates predicts that the United States will be able to buy the rest of the world within twenty-five years and not miss the money. But Mr. Gates was talk- ing on the flood-tide. There is a lot of valu- able real estate which Uncle Sam does not own, and judging from the expense bills that have come from Cuba and the Philip- pines he will not want much more of it. News from the F' Chicago News. The slege is over. The bombardment which opened early Thursday evening and continued until late Saturday morning has ceased and the forces have withdrawn to their homes or to the hospitals. In Chi- cago the casualty list shows three killed In action and 111 wounded. The ca: ualties during the general engagement throughout the country, as reported by special war correspondents at the front, are as follows: Killed in action .ugx' Wounded As many centers where the firing is known to have been severe have not yet been heard from these figures are neces- rily incomplete and the number of the missing cannot be accurately estimated. NEW TS FOR OUR CITIES. Valuable Public Privileges as Revenue Producers. Saturday Evening Post. It can be set down as a safe rule that every popular agitation of a public ques- tion produces good results. A valuable il- lustration of the fact is found in important cases of late. Readers of this magazine recall numerous papers by mayors aof cities and other men elosely identified with mu- nicipal affairs, in which many references were made to public franchises freely given to corporations through -the operation of distressing and apparently irremediable in- fluences. Hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of city streets, for instance, have Reen voted from the people into private use, 80 far as rallways are concerned. But the constant references to these facts, despite the seeming hopelessness of good, have already brought forth wonderful As & single instance of the new dispensation, take the tunnel franchi which the Pennsylvania rallroad has se- cured from New York City. This will not interfere with any trafiic, inconvenience a single individual or disfigure any thorough- tar. But it is a privilege that is in- trinsically valuable and we find fhe city and ebrporations dealing frankly with it as ‘@ business proposition. The result? Well, the corporation will pay the city $2,660,000 in twenty-five years and agrees at the end of that time to a revaluation. No wonder the papers decl it too good to be trus The great, the incalculable blessing is that, however much bas been lost in the past through negligence and boodle poli- tics, we are coming to the time when no important public franchise can be granted in any American city unless liberal com- pensation be made to the public. This is one of the most valuable galns ever known in municipal government and it has been brought about by the constant work of public-spirited men, alded and encouraged by publications that are devoted to the best interests of the times. BITS OF WASHINGTON LIFE. nd Incldents Sketohed the Spot. It present plans of the congressional committees of the republican and demo- cratio parties are carried out congres- slonal speeches will be spread over the country mext fall as thick as leaves in the famed forest of Villambrosa. ‘‘Nearly every member of congress,” reports the Washington Star, “has one or more speeches delivered by him In the house and senate, which he desires to distribute among his constituents. They may be re- marks upon the great questions of the day or merely a spread upon some local sub- Ject, but the congressman does not think he has done his duty unless he plasters his district or state with speeches. 1 he did not his constituents probably would ask him apon his return what he had been doing down in Washington. “‘80 In every committee room at the capi- tol the clerks are busy inclosing and mail- ing the speeches of congressmen. Every senator and representative keeps a list of the people of his constituency whom he de- sires to reach and the envelopes are ad- dresed from these lists. The speeches go through the mails, free, of course, but it 1s quite a task to get them ready for ship- ment. They are taken from the capitol by wagonloads at a time and for the next two weeks the mall trains leaving Wash- ington will carry extra cars to accommo- date the Increased traffic. “In addition to the large volume of politi- cal literature sent out by individual sena- tors and representatives, the two campalgn committees will distribute this year mil- llons of documents. In the presidential campaign of 1896 the republican committee sent ‘out 23,000,000 documents. No such number will be distributed this year, but the total will probably reach several mil- lions and the democrats will do as well.” A long chapter of wrathful differences be- tween United States senators since last January had its ending in the row between Bailey and Beveridge. In the month named Senators Lodge, Tillman and Spooner met in animated debate, during which Senator Tillman gave way to some characteristic expletives. A month later Senators Till- man and McLaurin had a personal encoun- ter in the senate. Early in May there was a sensational moment when Senators Dolli- ver and Carmack exchanged angry wotds over the Philippine war. On May 21 Sena- tors Patterson and Dietrich exchanged warm words during a session of the'Phil- ippine investigation committee and a week later it looked for a moment as if Senators Rawlins and Dietrich would come to blows In the same committee. Senator Money's experience with a street car conductor oc- curred on April 24. Minor Scenes o To set at rest many inquiries, the Wash- ington correspondent of the New York Ev- ening Post says that the plans for the changes {n the exterlor appearance of the ‘White House are noteworthy, but in no- wise radical. The conservatories and greenhouses, which now stretch out from the side of the main bullding to the west but constitute no part of it, will give way to a marble terrace leading to the office bullding at the further end. This will be a restoration, to all Intents, of some- thing of which rudimentary relics and traces are found in the stratum of an earller presidential era—the office building itself for instance, being as nearly as pos- sible where Jefterson had his. The terrace, which will probably be decorated with palms and flowering plants, and to that extent continue the idea of a conservatory, will be upheld by pillars on the lower side, forming a covered way for reaching the basement of the office building from the basément of the White House. From the east side, to symmetrize this struc- ture, will run another marble terrace lead- ing to a portecochere, where guests may alight from their carriages and proceed to the assembly roomé on social occasions. A considerable sum Included in the gen- eral appropriation for, the White House was added for the two terraces, which ‘were, strictly speaking, an afterthought. Many a citizen from the interior has len a victim to the indigestible soft- shelled crab on going to live In Washing- ton. Pension Commissioner Ware early contracted the soft-shelled crab habit and indulged his appetite for the dainty until a physiclan ordered him to desist. A triend in Kansas heard that the commis- sloner was worn out by close attention to his duties and wrote him a solicitous letter. He recelved the following reply by wire: “It's mot work that's breaking down my constitution—it's soft-shelled crabs.” The McCall bill, which was used as a means of getting through the amendment remitting the stock taxes, provides for the refunding of more than $500,000 that have been collected on legacies and bequests to varlous charitable institutions. When the tax on such bequests was originally drafted congress had no idea that its en- forcement would take so much money from religlous, literary, charitable and educa- tional socletles and associations. The taxes, however, were lovied according to the highest rate imposed under the law, and in eome instances it was as high as 15 per cent of the entire legacy. The total amount collected under the act was $643,- 189, and it is now proposed to refund the entire sum. One of the finest bulldings that have ever graced Washington, aside from the govern- ment structures, will be the new apart- ment house about to be erected by Secre- tary of State John Hay. A row of very £00d houses belonging to Mr. Hay on fash- ionable Connecticut avenue are being torn down to make room for it, amd a much- used alley in the square will be closed, as he s the owner of all the abutting prop- erty. BEach suite of rooms in such a swell rtment house rents fof more per annum than the full amount of the ayerage man's ealary. It does mot require the brain of a mathematiclan to guess at Mr. Hay's future income from this buflding alome, with its elghty-four sultes, to eay nothing of the cafe. Senators Allison, McMillan and Platt of Connecticut met at th day last week, and after exchanging bows each walted for the other to precede him. While they were still e courteous rivalry Senator M ing along, stepped into the tor and sald sharply please.”” Up went the elevator, leaving the other three statesmen looking at each other som foolishly. Amie in. Philadelphia Record. The new treaty of commerce and friend- ship with Spain entirely restores amicable relations with that country. It provides that the citizens of each country shall en- joy equal rights in the other to dence, travel, protection of person and property, the administration of justice and tazation, and exemption from military service and forced loans. Spain is willing to go even further in the establishment of reciprocel trade than the United Sta are prepared to go until there shall be some abatement of our bristiing tarift This is & happy and a rapid end- ing of the late unpleasantn 1t s cer- taln that with the return of amity there will follow & return of profitable trading between the two countries. THE POPOCRATIO MESS. Norfolk News: Since W. H. Thompson, the fusion candidate for governor, is & leading attorney for the Burlington rail- road, it is probable that the fusionists will not make much ado about what they term the rallroad influence in republican con- ventions. They will experience sufficient difficulty in keeping the pronounced anti- corporationists of the fusion parties in line for their rallroad candidate for governor. Falls City Journal: W. J. Bryan did not win a victory for the fusion forces by ap- pearing personally at the Grand Island con- vention. He simply succeeded In getting the contending forces to recognize his flag of truce and suspend hostilities for the time being. To use own words, “the battle has just begu and is not due to end until next November. And the fight will not present the spectacle of the united forces of fusion presenting a solld front to A& common ‘enemy, but will partake of the nature of a civil war more desperate be- cause of wrongs that were done and ad- vantages taken under the cover of the flag of truce that Bryan caused to he displayed. St, Paul Republican: The nomination ot W. H. Thompson as the fusion candidate for governor seals the death warrant of popullsm In Nebraska. The overwhelming defeat suffered last year by Conrad Hollen- beck, who was nominated under much more tavorable condltions, bodes no good for the minfature glant of Hall county. The elec- tlon of Mickey and the entirs republican state ticket is almost as certain as if the ballots had already been counted and a clean majority found in their favor. ' Defeat for the fusion candidates being practically assyred, there fs little left in lite to cheer the drooping spirits of the average populist. With all his theories of government ex- ploded, his calamity wail abandoned and the hope of office extinguished from his heart by the sacrificial nomination of a democrat, he is in a badly demoralized con- dition and will ecarcely be able to mac- complish the results in next fall's election to which he was accustomed in his days of pride and power. Holdrege Citizen: that some of the populists are wondering where “they are at" since the Grand Island con- ventlon. When the populist party was founded the men in it sald they were found- ing & new party because both the two old parties were rotfen and corrupt. A few years later they joined forces with the democrata and silver republicans under the head of fusion and styled themselves the allled forces of reform. Their excuse was that the democrats had promised them halt & loaf and that was better than nothing. Since then silver republicans have dropped by the wayside. The democratic party s being reorganized by the eastern demo- It 18 probable crats and the populist half loaf of bread’ has developed into a stone. The late popu- list party has developed into a “democratic annex.” If the populists were sincere twelve years ago when they soundly de- nounced both old parties, are they sincere now when they follow the democrats in an “annex?” We fail to see how the old time pdpulist can eay he was honest then and honest now if he follows his party leaders. It he follows his leaders into the demo- cratic camp he must admit that he was in- sincere in his earlier position or mistaken. If'he was mistaken in his earlier position, what assurance can he have that he is right now? No wonder 80 many are hesi- tating to accept the democratic party with all the mistakes it has made during the last fifty years. The wonder s that when the popullsts see how they have been be- trayed into the democratic camp by leaders anxious for office, some still continue to follow those leaders and expect people to respect them politicall; — PERSONAL NOTES. F. Lewls Marshall, who was the oldest living descendant of Chief Justice John Marshall, died at Orange, Va., on Monday of last week. Rear Admiral George W. Melville has caused much comment in Washington by putting up a tomb, with an epitaph, for his future use in Arlington cemetery, with the date of death left blank. A memorial® tablet in bronze of the martyred presidents—Lincoln, Garfleld and McKinley—was unvefled on July 4 by a New York branch of the Young Men's Christian association. The tablet is the work of Sculptor E. St. John and was pre- sented to the assoclation by Peter Win- chester Rouse. Thousands of residents in Chicago and vicinity, including a Jarge number of po- licemen, are sald to have lost money In the Model Gold Mining company, a receiver for which has just been appointed by Judge Tuthill. It is reported that the total of cash that has fled from weekly pay envel- opes and from snug bank accounts may Tun up to $1,000,000. Baltimore newspaper men have just been treated to the sight of a reporter who “covered” his assignments in a carrlage and had & footman follow him into the houses whither he was sent. He was Frank Brown, jr., son of former Governor Brown of Maryland, and took up the work rather than go abroad, but after two weeks of it he recanted and is now about to sail for Europe. Congressman Ruppert of New York, s brewer in a large way of business, was traveling on the New York Central one day recegtly when he noticed some vines grow- ing ‘in great profusion. “What kind of vines are those?"' he asked the conductor. “Them's hops,” was the laconic reply, and a city triend who was with the congress- man said: “What do you make your beer of, Jake, if you don’t know hops when you see them?" Hilaire Belloc, whose pecullarly vivid method of presenting history has made his “Robesplerre” so talked about this spring, was once a French artilleryman. He be- longed to the Eighth regiment and his post of duty was the driver's seat of a gun carriage, where be is sald to have handled the reins with conspicuous ability. What this means in point of nerve and skill will be apparent to everyons who has seen rapld artillery maneuvers. STATISTICS OF THE BOER WAR. Revi: Figu Cost of Con- est in South Africa. American Medicine. According to the Hospital 6,776 officers and men were killed in action and 2,019 died ot the wounds which they received. The deaths from disease amounted to 13,272, and these figures, large as they are, compare tavorably with those of preceding wars. There was a high proportion of officers killed and wounded and a high death rate from disease among privates. In action one officer was killed to every 10.15 men and one officer was wounded to every 11.34 men. But of those who died from disease only one in every 38.5 men was an officer. This is partly sccounted for by the recklessness with which the men drank polluted water. The number of invalids sent home during the war was about 70,000 and of these more than 6,000 dled or left the service. The vast majority, of course, were restored to health. The financial cost of the war will foot up about $1,100,000,000. This, scoording to the Cobden Club, is sufficient to establish fifty universities, while Oxford and Cambridge are in desperate need of money. If one- tenth of this amount were asked for the en- dowment of laboratories, ete., to prevent death and disease and suffering, with what contempt would the uest be met by both government and people! 8o tar is our “poor best” trom true civilization. PROSPERITY AMONG RAILROADS. Transportation Lines Getting a Goodlv Share of the “Velvet.” Washington Star. Some economists gauge the financlal con- ditions of the country according to the fiscal health of the rallroads. When the great transportation lines show signs of treasury weakness there ls something wrong with the centers of industry. A panie, such as that which occurred in 1803, precipitates embarrassments in such rapld succession that it is difficult to trace the laws of cause and effect. The affairs of the great rall- roads, however, are guarded so jealously from the public notice that often grave conditions are known only to the directors, who, hoping for & betterment, preserve si- lence until the orash becomes inevitable and the appolntment of a receiver betrays the situation. During the panic year 1893 seventy-four roads went thus into bank- ruptey, with a mileage of 29,340 and an fn- volved capital and bonded Indebtedness of $1,781,000,000. This represented the high- water mark of that inundation of distress, and from this point onward, according to figures which have been collected by the Rallway Age and recently published, thers has been a steady diminution in the annual number of recelverships and in the mileage and capital involved. Year by year the total of roads still under receiverships h decreased, despite annual additions, as the affairs of the corporations have been straightened out, with an increasing publio confidence and a betterment of the general financial conditions. From a total of 103 roads, with a mileage of 40,819 and an in- volved capital of $2,500,000,000 in 1804, the record has shrunk until in the current year there are only twenty-two roads in re- celvership, mileage 1,810 and capital in- volved $61,085,000. During the current year only one road has failed, a small one of fifty-two miles, and the receiver has al- ready been discharged and the road reor- ganized. It {s noteworthy that all of the roads now In this condition are small ones, with less than 100 miles, save three—the Bellaire, Zanesville & Cincinnatl, of 111 the Terre Haute & Indianapolls, of 432 miles, and the Columbus, Sandusky & Hocking, of 219 miles—and the largest of these Is in good health, but, owing to fao- tional differences among stockholders, it cannot yet be freed from receivership. Thus it conclusively appears that the railroads are again in excellent financial health, with every prospect, under a strong management, of remalning s0. The Rallway Age, however, belleves that a period of trouble Is opening for electric lines, thou- sands of miles of which have been spread out over the middle west connecting small towns and cities. Their construction was undoubtedly due in some measure to the freeing of capital after the '93 panic and the inability of the steam roads just then to en- ge to meet the growing trafic demands. Now that the steam lines are in good con- dition again and are expanding they are competing with the interurban electrio lines, and in this rivalry the electric roads, haviog no freight business, Are suftering from a handicap. LINES TO A LAUGH. Chicago Tribune: “I understand you said I wasn't worth powder to blow me up. I Want you to take that back!" "I will. You are worth just about enough powder to blow you up.” Detroit Free Press: “I think it was a ghame for the Indlans to bury their chets!" y? ust think how loyely they would be for decorative purposes. Chicago News: Husband—DId that novel 1 brought you end happily? ‘Wife—I don’t kpow. It concluded by say- ing the hero andlheroine were married. : “They used fo go rowing very often before they were married. They seemed very happy then.' ““They don't get llnnfl at all now." “Indeed? Who 18 rocking the matrimonial boat?" Phifladelphia_Press: Slopay—The idea! I promised to pay that tailor on the 15th this month. ere he's sent me a bill an it's only the 1st Newltt—Probably he wants to get in early to avold the rush. Philadelphia Press: He (reproachfully)— Perhaps you forget what happened yester- day. 1 was cut by my dearest acquaint- ance, the one I love best n all the world, n_fa She (coolly)—The idea! shave yourself? Do you really Indianapolis Ne Ty, sald Flabe erty, *why s It ye're gittin" 4o proud since ye're gittin' a bit of money ahead?" “‘Me b'y, ‘tis loike that wid all th' rich,” {d Jerry. “'Tis a measure of protiction in' me poor relations.” Detrolt Free Press: *“John never has on & collar that isn't broken down in front." ‘No. He does it looking at the fraternity pins on his waistcoat.” Cleveland Plain Dealer: “Yes, just rune ning down to the country for a few days.” “Taking a dre it afong?" “Dress suit? not. I've got a mackinto a palr of rubber THE DESERTED ROAD, Thomas Buchanan Read. Anclent road, that wind’'st deserted Through the level of the val Bweeping toward the crowded market Like a stream without a sall Standing b?r And, as in the 'light of dreams. Bee the years descend and vanish Like thy whitely-tented teams, 1 stroll As In y And the driver's bugle-horn— Misg the crowd of jovial teamsters illing buckets at the well toga, thee, T look backward, With thelr wains from Con And thelr orchestras of bells. To_the merry wayside tavern Comes the nolsy throng no more; And the faded sign, complaining, Bwings unnoticed at the A0OF While the old decrepit toliman, ‘Waliting for the few who pass, Reads the melancholy story In the thickly springing srass. Anclent highway, thou art vagish'd; The usurper of the vale Rolls in flery, iron rattle, Exultations on the gale. Thou art_vanish'd and-neglected; But the good which thou hast Though by man i¢ be forgotten, Bhall be deathless as the sun. “or Though neglected, gray and grassy, Bhall 1 pray that my decine o May be through as vernal valleys, And as blest a calm as thine. HairEscaping? No wonder. Your hair is starving. Feed it before it all leaves you. Thenyou can koep what you have and add greatly to it. Ayer's Hair Vigor is a hair-food. It stops falling of the hair, makes the hair grow, and always re- stores color to gray hair. ““One year ago today I had not one single hair on my head, and today I fine a growth of hair as any man in my town, and just three s of Ayer’s Hair Vigor did it.” —Arthur B. Ackley, E. Machias, Me, S0 Al droggists. J. C. AVER CO., Lowel, Mass.