Omaha Daily Bee Newspaper, December 6, 1902, Page 6

s T ———— R S —— OMAHIA DAILY BEE: SATURDAY, DECKMBER Y, THE OMAHA DALY Elgt: E. ROSEWATER, EDITOR. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. TERMS OF SUB§CRIPTION. RAILROAD PROFITS AND CHARGES. The only ground alleged on behalf of the transportation companies in justifi- eation of a general advance of rates is what a prominent railroad president de. scribes as “the increased cost of living Daily Bee (without Sunday), One Year.$4.0 | for ‘railways” No doubt wages and ily Bee and Sunday, One Year SW| the price of materials have advanced, By Bae The Mot ; but the officially verified facts regarding | UG R AR R A )| rallrond earnings do not give warrant DELIVERED BY CARRIER. for a general advance of charges. The BT B o Tinent Gencay): Toe vk following figures taken from the reports Daily Bee (including Sunday week to the Interstate Commerce commission T e A show the gross and net earnings and o el 100/ net Income of the railroads of the E:-e:ph irregularities in delivery | 'nited States for five years preceding should be addressed to City Circulation De- tment. s 4 OFFIC Omaha—~The Bee Bulldin South Omaha—City Hall ty-fifth and M Streets. Council Bluffs—10 Pear] Street. Chicago—164) Unity Building. New York—2328 Park Row Bullding. Washington—01 Fourteenth Street. CORRESPONDENCE. catio ting to news and edi- Communications relating pd edi- torial matter sh Bee, Editorial L BUSINESS LETTERS. Business letters and remittanc be addressed: pany, Omaha. REMITTANC ayants 1 i ee "Pubiishink Company Baly "i-cent stamps accepted in payment o mail accounts. Persona d be addressed: THE BEE PUBLISHING COMPANY. STATEMENT OF CIRCULATION. State of Nebraska, Douglas County, 88.: George Bee Publishing Company, being dul. says that the actual number of complete coples of The Daily, Evening and Sunday Bee pri month of November, 1302, ‘Wi sworn, ull follow: FEERE S emuansnn. Total sovereriin Less unsoid and returned cople: Net total sales... Net average sale GEORGE B. TZSCHUCK. Subscribed in my before me this 30th 1902, (Beal) B, bt Publlc. Notary m——— The jokes at the Mark Twain banquet were evidently too much for Tom Reed. E—— No matter how late the first cold snap comes, it 18 always too early for im- provident people. [ — In the list of measures that are not likely to get through congress at this session, that subsidy bill can be placed near the top. SEEym————— Oongressman Littlefield has not an- nounced his withdrawal from the speak- ership contest, but it is not necessary that he should. Governor Cummins heartily approves the president’s message on the tariff question, although he notes that it does “some of us have gone.” not go as far A polnt for druggists and lquor deal- ers: No applicant for a liquor license who has advertised his notice in The Bee has ever been refused a license on account of defective publication. Governor Mickey has given it out that he will not remove present appointees in state institutions unless there is some reason for a change. Governor good Mickey bas the right idea in this, | r—— ‘We thought the World-Herald would finally come to the point of admitting that its chief objection to President Roosevelt's message comes from the fact that the message had elicited favorable comment from The Bee. r— Postmaster Hammond of Fremont cannot refrain from throwing himself a few bouquets in his letter of resignation. The fact that this is the season when cut flowers come high seems to be no deter to this plece of extravagauce on, his part. And now ft is proposed to cut off the graft of the clerk of the district court member of the insanity board. The law fixes the salary for this official at $5,000 a year, which ought to be ample to command the most competent service without side lines end perquisites. e Many holes have been found In the South Omaha city charter that want patching by the coming legislature. If our memory serves us correctly, when the South Omaha charter was originally enacted those who clalmed paternity for it insisted that it was perfection itself. On nut other polnt are regular army officers so unanimously agreed as that the abolition of the canteen has been in- jurious to the military service and to the morals of the men. So unanimous and emphatic 18 their judgment that it will surely modify public opinion to a con- siderable extent. Nebraska county commissioners will endeavor to have the legal requirements for full value assessment enforced on all property in the state subject to the jurisdiction of local assessors, When- ever the grand assessment roll is put on & full value basis make sure that the people will not stand for the railroads belng taxed on a mere fraction of their market worth. The old line Insurance men would like to name the new deputy Insurance audi- tor for Auditor Weston. We presume the “Fraternals” would be willing to make a few suggestions, too. The in- surance auditor, however, {s really ex- pected to look after the interests of the policy holders rather than the policy writers, and, while he should have ex- perience In insurance matters, he should mina, to com- e & man known to have the stand up against the Insurafice panles whenever Becessary. $anding, Twen- should The Bee Publishing Com- exprese or postal ordef, checks, except on Omaha or eastern exchange, not accepted. Tzschuck, secretary of The and Morning, during the resence lndbl':fl;n l!)o ovem! s Dy B HUNGAT and including 1901: Gross Net Net Earnings. Earnings. Income. 1807....81,122,069,773 $369,665,000 § 81,257,608 1,247,325,621 42! 345 140,319,421 1,813,619,118 456,641,119 184,154,815 1,487,044 814 616,303 227,260,447 1,688,526,037 658,128,767 241,611,318 Thus the net income over and above fixed charges and taxes has increased within five years almost exactly 800 per cent. It is mowhere claimed that the average advance of wages to railroad employes during the same time has ex- | ceeded 15 per cent, including the ad- vances that have recently been made. But whatever the increase may have been, and whatever the advance of prices in all the elements comprising “cost of living for rallways,” they Lave not prevented the corporations from ac- tually trebling their net income—cer- tainly a rate of profit so magnificent that it ought to satisfy every legitimate demand. This statement, however, does not comprehend the entire profits on trans- portation, for in a very impoktant sense the amount of earnings invested in per- manent improvements may be consid- cred as profits since their effect s to increase profits for a long future period. The amount of earnings devoted to maintenance of way grew from $1105,- 000,000 in 1895, to §220,000,000 in 1901, and for maintenance of equipment from $108,000,000 in 1895 to $184,000,000 in 1901. Notwithstanding these and many other appropriations, the companies were able to declare devidends in 1901 $20,834,600 greater thau In the preceding year. The enormous profits demonstratéd by the reports of the roads come from gen- eral prosperity, from the increased ton- nage which active industry has pro- duced, and there should be a fair appor- tionment of the benefits. Certaiuly the employes of the roads should have their share In Increased wages, which upon the whole they have not yet secured. But they are not more entitled to such advance than the general public is en- titled to its share in decrease of rates. The astonishing result of a 300 per cent Increase of net income In five years is sufficient to provide both for increase in wages and decrease in charges, and yet leave a remainder of benefit to stock- holders many times greater than that of elther the employes or the patrons. St e— NOT ACCEPTABLE TO 6ERMANY. The proposition submitted to the Ger- man government by President Castro of Venezuela not proving acceptable, it is stated that steps will be Immediately taken by Germany to collect the debt claimed to be due German citizens by the southern republic. Tt is understood that Castro represented that it is im- possible for Venezuela to pay the debt now, no matter how much she may de- sire to satisfy immediately the clalms against her, and suggested an agreement providing for deferred payments. The proposition, it appears, the German gov- ernment regards as inadequate and being especially designed to gain further time. There is no doubt that Venezuela is not in a financial condition to at once pay this debt, said to be about $2,000,- 000. That country Is practically bank- rupt and its revenues are less than its expenditures. This Is undoubtedly well known to the German government, which there is reason to belleve would be disposed to be lenient were the Ven- ezuelan government to fully acknowl- edge the obligation and show an honest intention to settle it. This, however, ‘s not President Castro’s way, though per- haps he will change his tactics when he receives an ultimatum and finds Ger- man warships at the ports of Venezuela for the purpose of collecting customs if satisfactory arrangements are not made for the payment of the debt within a reasonable time. The coercive measures which Ger- many threatens to take will not be in terfered with, it is safe to eay, by the United States. President Roosevelt evi- dently had this mpatter in mind when he said In his message regarding the inde- pendent countries in this hemisphere: “It behooves each one to maintain order within its own borders and to discharge its just obligations to foreigners. When this s done they can rest assured that, be they strong or weak, they have noth- ing to dread from outside interference.” There have recently from expressions of opinlon abroad, elicited by the Ger- man and British clalms against Ven- ezuela, that in regard to the conduct of the varlous American republics the United States should accept the respon- sibllity. It Is argued that this country cannot properly enforce the command to European nations of hands off in re- gard to affairs in this hemisphere with- out holding itself ready to amswer for the good conduct of its wards—the other republics. The United States, however, has never interposed any obstacles to the collection of a just debt fyom any of its sister republics which were disposed to repudiate their obligations to the citi- zens of foreign powers. Our protection to the independent countries of this hemisphere applies to their territory, but does not assume to shield them from the payment of thelr just obligations. If Venezuela persists in her attitude regarding the German and Briush clalms she must take the consequences, her only guaranty sc far as the United States is concerned being that her terri- tory shall remain intact. The proba- bllity is, however, that President Cas- tro will conclude that the wiser and bet- ter way is to come to terms and effect an amicable settlement. R — EXEMPTION LAWS IN NEBRASKA. The retail dealers of Omaha and throughout the various Nebraska cities and towns will endeavor to secure from the coming legislature a modification of the present exemption laws in those pro vigions which they think unfair to them, The exemption laws are designed to protect the wage worker and salaried clerk upon whose earnings a family de- pends for support, but not to stimulate and encourage deadbeatism and impos- ture. The safeguards of the law should be thrown around extreme cases on both ides—the merchant who has been im- posed upon should be considered equally with the unfortunate customer who by stress of circumstances is unable to pay his bills promptly. The honest man should not force a merchant to take re- course to legal enforcement of a just and undisputed claim any more than an honest merchant should be compelled to suffer by dishonesty hiding behind legal exemptions. It is to be hoped that whatever changes may be made in the law as it now stands will look to both parties to the contention and that a solution falr to all may be arrived at. MERITSYSTEM FOIR CONSULS. The president said that it is much to be desired that our consular system be established by law on a basis providing for appointment and promotion only in consequence of proved fitness. Two bills are now in congress providing for re- form in the consular service and it is reported that the State department is engaged in drafting a new bill that will probably be presented during the pres- ent session. The measure now in the senate was framed by Senator Lodge and Is based largely on civil service regulations. It is apprehended that this would prevent its acceptance by the house of representatives, in which there is considerable oppotition to the classi- fled service. Another consular reform bill was introduced in the house at the last session which its author, Repre- sentative Adams of Pennsylvania, be- lieves will be more acceptable to that body than the senate measure. The civit service commission, In its last report, urged the application of the merit system to the comsular service. It pointed out the importance which that service has attained and sald that in order to maintain and increase our industrial pre-eminence we ought to have by far the best consular service in the world. “We should have the quick- est and most reliable information as to our opportunities, as well as business representatives who are able to improve them. This can only be done by a con- sular service which is uniformly in- structed and alert” After indicating some of the defects in the service at present constituted and which are in- evitable under the existing system, the report says: “Good men can be secured even for the smaller places when faith- ful service in those places becomes the appropriate portal for entrance to higher positions. The service will then be more uniformly filled by men of intelli- gence, while the further qualifications of Integrity, fidelity and energy will be enhanced by the prospect of promotion for good service. It s to the competitive system, which has so greatly improved the other parts of the service, that we must look for the permanent betterment of the consular branch.” Unquestionably the consular service of the United States Is now more effi- clent than ever before in our history. There are In it many capable and faith- ful men, as the consular reports attest. Our manufacturers and merchants are kept well informed as to commercial conditions abroad and very generally the consular officials are attentive to their duties. There are some defects, how- ever, that need to be corrected and It is especially desirable that the efficiency which has been reached shall be main- tained. The country wants a consular service as nearly perfect as it Is possible to make such a service and In order to attain this it must be divorced from politics and proved fitness be made the basis and only test fo. appointment and promotion. That is the principle ob- served by European countries In regnrd to their consular service and there is no sound reason why it should not be ap- plied here, Opponents of the power canal project are trying to confuse the public mind by setting up contesting claims to the water rights. ‘This game is so trans- parent that anyone can see through it, its object being by delay to prevent any action on the franchise ordinance. The people of Omaha have been discussing a power canal so long that they will have no patience with mere obstruction- tsts. If Omaha is to have cheap power the sooner it comes the sooner will it be in position to bulld up its manufacturing enterprises and expand In every direc- tion. The hotel catastrophe at Chicago was obviously due to criminal disregaid of the simplest principles of safety in con- struction. The hotel was built of highly inflammable materials, the escapes de- fective and the general arrangement that of a fire trap. The responsible au- thorities utterly falled in their duty. It was a bullding In which fire was likely to occur and in which, If it did oceur, there was certain to be terrible loss of life Such carelessness is a high crime in fact, and it ought to be made so In law. Druggists and liquor dealers are dis- covering that the holdup practices of piratical newspapers have no limits when once encouraged. The Bee's posi- tion as the newspaper of largest circu- lation in Douglas county, entitled under the law to the publication of notices of liquor license applications, has been re- peatedly uphbeld by the courts against all competitors, but that does not stop other newspapers from trying to shake down license applicants by threats, savoring closely of blackmail. Instead of one holdup, liquor dealers are now threatened with two holdups. The only thing for them to do is to advertise in The Bee and refuse to be bled by the pretenders. Lot them remember that no applicant for a license who has adver- tised in The Bee has ever been refused a license on account of defective appli- catlon. If the object of President Stickney is to sell to competing companies his new Chicago-Omaha line, it looks as if be might secure a handsome price. How- ever, it is due him to say that he de- clares that the object is not to sell. eem————— One Wise Kloker, Philadelphia Press. The Pennsylvania rallroad management s wise in:opposing a general advance In freight rates. There has been no good rea- son presented for any such general in- crease and it is to be hoped that it will not take place. The Slogan of Optimists, Indlanapolis Journal. ‘When President Roosevelt wrote of Amer- fcans as “men with iron in their blood” he could not have intended to Jnclude those 1it- tle Americans who distrust the ability of the people to solve great and difficult prob- lems. He did not refer to calamityites and Indianapolis News. The representatives of 170,000 rallroad men, who are in session in Chicago. evi- dently belleve that the prosperity resulting trom increased freight rates should not be restricted In its beneficial effects!” and we who pay this tax, perforce, are rather in- clined to agree with them. ¥ Looking for Trouble, Buffalo Express. The sultan of Bacolod, who calls the American “hogs who eat hogs" and chal- lenges them to fight, is a great man of the island of Negros. Formally he was a friend of the American, but just now he has turned the light of his countenance away from them. There is a postoffice and money order office at Bacolod. and it {s easy to imagine the sultan going to the office within a few days and writing a new letter to the Americans, telling them that the last one was all a mistake. — May Become a Lost Art. Kansas City Star, One of the things in this changing world that ought to be preserved inviolate against the touch of innovation is apple ple. Properly cofistructed, with an ingen- fous regard for hygiene and for pleasing taste, an apple pie is the very apothesis of cookery and no token of modern de- generacy is more mournfully apparent than the great scarcity of the sort of in- telligence and discrimination necessary to the production of apple ple, pure and un- defiled and divested of all adjuncts and appurtenances which vitiate the pala impair the digestion. OfMceholding as a Business. Detroit Free Press. As a rule the officeholder works more hours for less money than almost any other private in the great army of the employed. For every hour that he spends in the per- formance of his' public duties he must spend at least another hour in keeping his fences in repair. 1f he is elected by the people he must begin his work for a re- nomination as soon as he is elected. If he holds a subordinate ition he must retain his influence in his precinct or his services will not be in demand at the city hall, It s flard work and expensive work and the glory of it all is sadly tarnished. Hands O a Good Polley. Detroit Free Press. President Roosevelt is right in refusing |/ to recommend that this government mix up in any way with Venezuela and its Eng- lish, German and other foreign creditors. It the moneyed men of Wall street want to diecharge the obligations and accept pledges of future payment from Venezuela they will be doing a favor to the country, and probably a greater one to themselves, for it is disturbing to have foreign war- ships in western waters and forelgn offi- cials in charge of western customs offices, There s slight chance for permanent harm, but it has a perceptible effect upon timid capital, which is absolutely essential to speculative operations, particularly when they are carried on at the present stu- pendous scale. ONE FOR THE BEEF TRUST, Downtall of Popullsm Traced to the Packers. ‘Washington Post. Probably no man who pays so much for his beefsteak that he feels he is gullty of extravagance every time he buys a porter- house will admit that the beef trust can give any good reason for existing, except that it persists in doing so. We are Inclined to view every doughty “trust buster” as a champion of the plain people and an eco- nomic hero. We could view the slons of the vast combinations of with equanimity so long as they confined their operations to making steel ralls, or carried terror to the other side of the At- lantic by the vaunted “American invasion.” But It Is different when the American citi- zen is forced to pay as much for a lump of liver as he used to expend for a juley sirloin, But the fact remains that the beef trust can be accused of one public-spirited deed, although, perhaps, the motive was not purely philanthropic. Ever since the settlement of Nebraska and Kansas these states have been af- fiicted with lean years in crops and favored by others equally fat. But the trouble was that during the lean years. when the hot winds had scorched the fields and destroyed the crops, the farmers disposed of their stock at famine prices, gave away their cattle or allowed them to starve, If bounteous crops came in the following year they found the price of corn so low that they burned it for fuel, and the sum realized on one-half the produot would not build a good erib around the nther half. To feed the corn to stock was out of the question, for the output of five acres would not buy a calf. This state of affairs re- sulted in poverty and populism. Here s where the beef trust came to the front. Three or four years ago the Ar- mours and their brethren in business of- fered to sell cattle on credit to farmers who gave evidence of having sufcient ability to feed them. A mortgage was taken on the cattle, which were to be delivered at the stock yards at Omaba and Kan: City when fattened. The farmer ran no risk, and his investment was merely the corn he could not sell. The beef trust likewise ran no risk, barring exceptional dishon- esty on the part of the farmer. In this way the farmers west of the Mis- souri river have been aided in playing the lean years against the fat years. It Is re- sponsible for much of the prosperity for which the republican party has taken am- ple credit. Popullsm has practically died out—and largely on account of the beef trust. In the mines, upon the ranch, in the woods, Dr. Price’s Cream Baking Powder can be trusted. Keeps fresh and of full strength through rough usage, in damp and heat, until used, and always turns the food out just right. renders the food more eatable, nutritious. Dr. Price’s Baking Powder wholesome and These great qualities are peculiar to Dr. Prige’s ‘Baking Powder and make it valuable and best for use in the household everywhere. PRICE BAKING POWDER, CHICAGO, U. 8. A, POLITICAL DRIFT. y— The prife puzzle in Chicago is to tell whether Mayor Harrison or Bob Burke runs the city machine. Perry Belmont is willin, other run for congress in a New York dis- trict two years hence. Perry needs the ex- ercise and the district needs the money. Kansas republicans paid out $13,136 to elect thelr ticket in November, according to a statement recently filed. Two years ago the same kind of an undertaking cost them | $26,369.79. Senator Clark of Montana is slated to succeed Senalor Jones as chairman of the democratic mational committee. Senator Clark is well heeled and the committee needs the money. Congressman Grosvenor of Ohio, the emi- nent political prophet, s exercising his prophetic talents on the ship subsidy bill The weather bureau looks with envious eyes on the Ohioan’s marvelous prescience. Prince Jonah Kunis Kalaulauole, who represents Hawail in the next house of rep- resentatives, i the first royal person to en- ter the congress of the United States. Al- ready there is much speculation as to just to make an- how h will be addressed. In the course of his prayer the other| morning Chaplain Couden of the house be- | sought the divine blessing on “the depart- | Congressman Shattuc of Oblo sald: chaplain probably meant to say the supreme court, or else he remem- | bered that the attorney general is from Pennsylvania and needs all the help he can | get.” Negroes of Alabama have called a mee(-! ing, to be held in Selma, December 11, to or- | ganize, it is declared, a new republican party, into which they hope to attract some | of the white men of the state. The negro leaders say that the 3,000 registered negroes | suggested Mr. Crittick men who do not beleve the negro should be | ica, now fast receding from his view, “I discarded entirely after so many years of affiliation will help. At the opening of congress last Monday the man who recelved the most floral atten- tion was Senator Platt of New York. His desk was smothered with floral remem- brances, while that of his colleague, Senator Depew, was conspicuously flowerless. It was Platt’s talent at the ple counter. Speaking of the question of presidential candidates in 1904 the St. Louis Republic (dem.) says that “this is the year for dis- cussing the impossible possibilities.” And it adds: “Old Missouri is calmly, modestly, waliting for the ripeness of time. Out here we have two or three possibilities war- ranted to stand any kind of weathe: LINES TO A LAUGH. Cleveland Plain Dealer: ‘‘Here's more trouble. There's been an overproduction of 7.000,000 barrels of salt.” p “Well, you can't call that fresh trouble.” New York Bun: Jinks—Who was Walt Whitman? Blinks—I think he was the fellow that said, “I'll write it out in this line if it takes all the paper. Philadelphia Pre 1 was_thinkin, offer my picture for sale say, sald the conceited acto Why not sell them at their face valu Washington Star: “Dar is two kin's o' triends,” said Uncle Eben; “dem dat wants to do you favors and dem dat expects you to do favors foh dem. I kin tell you in one guess which kin' you has de mos’ of." New York Sun: Miss de Style—He bet her a kiss Yale would win, Miss Gunbusta—And how id it come out? Miss de Btyle—A tle. Miss Gunbusta—Is that so? Miss de Btyle—Yes; I was at the wedding. o Tribune; *No, Wu, sald Mr. ing the deck of the ja the state will be the Busleus, and white | SndSumeid 5a SASPE. 100K OF the Yonael delicate way of testifying to Senator | t say I wae really a popular man i c that country. No brand of clgi has ever | been named after me.” * | ——— Philadelphia Press: Casey (the stone- mason)—Fhwat's the row below? Cassldy (the hodcarrier)—8hure, English | | | Jim Just fell from the second flure t' the | basemint. | glaseyThat's an Englishman fur = ye | Shure,” it ‘was two hours ago I told him & | Joke, ‘an’ i:'s took him all this tolme to tumble. “THE TOP OF THE MORNIN'.” Oh, Gentle Reader, kind and good, The while you museh your Breakfas ‘00— Just when the sun corss to The world with joy fu ihe &, m.— While you begulie your uppetite By reading who was kilied last This Dard of aiabhater orow e And streaming locks—he makes his bow And bids you top o' the mornin'." He takes the strap from off his L ad And shows his line of jest and quip, And bits of nonSense, such as men Are said to relish now and then; A song, perchan d sermons, t0o; And divers other stunts to do— But, first of all, as has been He bows his deferential head, And bids you *“The top o' the mornin'." The morning has a top. you know== Tis where the best Impulses grow— Where goldenest of sunbeams slant Across the gorgeous good-luck plllntz And if you're at the morning's top Then you may pluck that lucky crop. 8o, first of all, and from the heart, Permit him, at the very start, To wish you ““The top o' the mornin’. Oh, Gentle Reader, good and kind, To brave an ante-break: mind— That mind cold, calm, dispassionate, With which you view your cup and plate— Requires a courage without .fl Requires an oozeless finger tip. = Your humble servant hasn't \gll, But begs you'll note his lifted hat, And you tan o' the mornia'dt .