Omaha daily bee., 1889-10-30
new YORK'S POWER WANING.
The Four New States Will Smash
the Old Combination.
TWAS ONLY THoMpsoN's BLUFF
Nobody Believes the Civil Service
Commission Will Prosecute the
Virginia Campaign Fund So
-Miscelianeous.


II for any reason the Fifty first congress
should not confirm the reapportionment of
the congressional districts according to the
census of 1890, the electoral votes in the next
presidential year, counting the thirteen cast
by the new states will number Ala The num-
ber necessary to elect would therefore be
20S. The 'solid SOUTH" 80 called, would
furnish 1856 including West virgina's six,
so that the democrats might reasonably ex-
pect TO have to find 55 votes somewhere In
order to insure success. New York, If won
over would furnish SO of these, leaving 10
still to get The other states reckoned on as
possibilities are Indiana with Is, New Jersey
with Q, Connecticut with 9, and
Montana with 8. 1t will be seen
that Indiana must be included in any
winning combination, for New Jersey,
Connecticut sand Montana together could
muster only 1S votes. Indiana and New Jer-
sey would answer, or Indiana and Connecti-
cut. Montana would be of no account IN
any calculation except rs make weight.
Commenting on the fine outlook for the re-
publican party on this basis this evenings
Star independently says:
"Should Delaware desert the party col
umn as she did when she elected the legis-
lature that choose Mr.. Higgins senator, Mon
tana would do very well as acouuterbalance,
or should West Virginia or Florida carry
her lean majority over to the otner side,
causing deficit of % or 25, Indiana, Con
necticnt and Montana would be q competent
trio in the latter case and Indiana, New Jer-
sey and Montana IN the former"
The interest attaching to this survey of the
field rests upon the relief which the repub:
lcans experience through the admission OF
the new states IN the northwest, from fur
ther anxiety about New York. Any one of q
number of combinations could be made from
which that state might be excluded which
would give the presidency TO the republicans,
always supposing, of course, that the north
held generally as firm to the republican faith
as the south TO the democratic.
The effect of the admission of the new
states may be summoned up therefore, as
roboing New York of her former prestige as
arblter of the political fortunes of the whole
country. The battle field of the future. for
a considerable period at least. will be located
in one of the lesser states, such as Indiana or
New Jersey, whose loss would probably be
irreparable to the democrats.
THoMPsoN's BLUFF.
Very few persons believe that any prose-
cutions will ensue from the assurance of the
circulars by the Virginia republicans solicit
ing contributions for the campaign from the
Old Dominion republicans in the depart
ments. The drift of opinion is that Com
missioner Thompson, whose reconstruction
is not thorough, is simply bent upon fright
ening the republicans holding offices who
would like to assist General Malone to Sc
cure success at the election next week. The
commission does not undertake to pass upon
questions of law, and will therefore turn the
whole matter over to the district attorney
for investigation. If that officer finds that
the law has been violated he will lay the
matter before the grand jury and ask that
indictments be returned.
There Is no likelihood either that the re-
publican collectors for the Ohio campaign
A.
These men have not violated the law and
have committed no wrong. They did not
go half as far as the democrats did in the
campaigns OF 1886 and 1888, and there was
no talk OF accusing those men:
THE CONTRACT LABOR LAW.
The bad effect OF hasty congressional ac-
Iion is shown again in connection with the
working of the contract labor law.
Vigorous efforts are being made on the
part of many people interested in building up
Norfolk, Va, as shipping point for cotton
both to European and the Northern Atlantic
ports os the United States. A gentleman
from England, cotton spinner, who was In
vited to Norfolk to witness the facilities for
shipping, and who was favorably impressed
with the idea of that port as port of de-
parture for raw cotton, reports that his visit
has convinced him that for the present at
least the contract labor law will prevent the
effectual carrying out of the scheme, and the
whole thing Is summed up in sentence
thus:
SIN buying cotton we want to know just
what we get, and consequently have our own
sorters and graders to look at the stock Of
fered. In New York our men have been
there for years They came before the con-
tract labor law went Into effect. We tried
to have our own graders go to Norfolk, but
they are barred out by this law, and l expect
the law will be exceedingly detrimental to
the interests of Norfolk as a shipping port"
NOBLE AND RAUM CONFER.
There was conference to-day between
Pension Commissioner Raum and Secretary
Noble relative to the dismissal of the en-
ployes of the pension office whose pensions
have been rerated. No final direction has
yet been given by either the secretary or the
commissioner by which these employees,
about forty-two In number, are to go out.
Another question Is being discussed by
these officials and it is to be disposed of at
the same time that final action as to the re-
rated employees is taken. II is in regard to
Illegally allowed rerated pensions and the
means to be pursued in compelling the bene-
iciaries to disgorge the money.
Anticipating the removal of two score or
more employees, embracing members of the
board OF appeals, special examiners and
clerks, Secretary Noble Is daily receiving
flood Of applications for the positions which
are to be made vacant.
Trouble will arise over the removal Of the
employees whose pensions were rerated, as
some Of them will attempt and probably will
prove that they secured their increase and
retroactive pensions regularly and they will
try to show that they did not exercise their
official influence to secure early action.
Several employees are known to have re-
turned their retroactive pensions, but it is
not probable that they will escape punish
ment by such action. 1t IS held by the en-
ployes who are TO be dismissed that there
should be some punishment inflicted upon
the rerated employees under Commissioner
Blacks administration. Secretary Noble
Intends to look up the facts on the subject
and 1t is likely he will extend his punish
ment back to the Black period.
OBJECT TO THE sANTRES.
The people up in Knox county, Neb., have
protested through Hon. A. l.. Towle against
locating any Santee Indians on the old Ponca
reserve.
1t appears that under an executive order
of 1885 the lands of the old Santee- Sioux
reserve, not then allotted TO the Santees.
were thrown open to the whites as public
domain. The recent Sioux commission
discovered that the Indians objected to sec
tian Of the Sioux bill, and the commission,
In order 10 get the Indians 10 sign, agreed to
recommend TO congress to either give the
Santees land elsewhere or pay them the
value in money, and whether the recommen-
dation will be adopted no one now knows.
Section Z, however gives the Santees not
already allotted lands allotments upon the