davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Omaha daily bee., 1891-01-01
MIR. STEEN'S SUGGESTION,

Land Commissioner Steen has caught
the reform spirit of the times and offers
an urgent suggestion to the incoming
Legislature. AS it concerns one of the
largest expenditures of public funds and
promises to effect a considerable saving
thereon, it is worthy of the prompt at
tention OF the people.
The last legislature appropriated
$415, ,958 for various public institutions,
to provide board and clothing, fuel,
lights, furniture, bedding, paints and
oils. Under the present system each in
stitution makes its own contracts for
supplies and buys largely of local deal
ers. Commissioner Steen states that
this arrangement causes loss of several
thousand dollars annually to the state.
First, the local dealers manipulate bids
so as to prevent the award of
contracts at low figures. Second,
they fill contracts with inferior
goods. Third, officials tako advantage
OF the looseness of the system to provide
themselves and families with luxuries at
the public expense. The commissioner
believes that a state purchasing agent
and "a central supply depot would remedy
these evils and save the state tens of
thousands of dollars annually.
The charges which the land commits
sioner, after two years. experience with
the matter, brings against the present
system, are certainly grave enough to
warrant Il thorough investigation of the
subject. 1t is doubtless true that local
dealers frequently pool their interests
in submitting bids, and that they have
sometimes cheated the state by sub
stituting goods inferior to those
the contract called for. A way should
be found to remedy the evil, but it is not
clear that Commissioner Steen suggests
the best one. The maintenance of a
central supply depot would be expensive
and would offer quite as favorable an
opening for fraud as exists under the
present system. The grossest public
frauds ever committed have occurred
vast scale. And the larger the scale
the bigger the frauds successfully con-
cealed from the public. That was New
York's experience with the Tweed ring
and other corrupt public servants. The
central depot would also involve addi-
tional expense in the handling of goods
and constant shipments by freight
Nebraska maintains eleven great
institutions, in various parts of
the state, which are principally
| supplied with the necessities
of life by direct purchase, paid for out
of the treasury. Why should not each one
of them be conducted precisely as they
would he if owned by private indi-
viduals2 ? In that case the coal, the gro-
ceries and provisions. the clothing, fur
niture and bedding would all be pur-
Omaha daily bee., 1891-01-01

chased OF the parties who could lay them
down at the designated points for the
lowest cash price. No private indi-
vidual would allow himself to be held up
by petty combination OF local dealers,
nor would hefepeipt for the delivery Of
any goods that did not equal the letter
Of the conttadt. He would throw his
business open to the bids of all dealers,
local and foreies, and would buy on the
closest margin at which the goods could
be laid down. And no man who is not
capable Of conducting business on that
basis should be.trusted to expend tens of
thousands of dollars OF the peoples
money.
How long must we recognize q differ
ence between private and public busi-
ness, and tamely submit to impositions
as a state that no one would dare TO offer
us as individuals ? We do not believe
II is necessary to burden the state with
another great public institution in the
shape of a.central supply depot. Honest
and business-like methods will remedy
the evils OF the present system, and If
the officials now in Office are not able to
furnish it they should make way for
men who are
Omaha daily bee., 1891-01-01

GERMANY long since dropped out of
the list of the ''effete monarchies of the
old world" From the moment its guns
Numbered at the gates of Paris, 20
years ago, its growth in population and
commerce has been no less marked than
the marvellous soldifcation of the en-
pire. The fact is strikingly shown in the
growth of it's leading cities. The CEN
sus just taken gives Berlin population
of !, ,573, ,4S5, an increase of 259, 900 in five
years. Hamburg ranks second with
715, 200, including the adjacent town of
Altoona, equal to an increase of 21 per
cent in five years. In per cent Of gain
Leipsic surpasses all cities in the en-
pire, having now 953,272 inhabitants,
against $50, 800 in 1885, an increase Of 50
per cent. Munich, Breslau, Cologne,
Magdeburg and Frantfort-on-the-Main
rank in population in the order named
and show like surprising expansion.
These figures prove that the leading
cities of Germany keep abreast of the
leading cities of America, and in some
instances distance them. New York
and Berlin are equal in popu-
lation, but Berlin advanced 250,-
600 in five years against New
Yorks 100000 in 10 wears
Hamburg shows an increase equal to
Berlin, and if permitted to extend it's
boundaries as literally as Chicago, its
growth in five years would equal that of
the Lake city in ten. Whatever strides
the leading cities of the United States
have made in other directions, it is evil
dent they are not advancing in popula-
tion at greater ratio than German
Omaha daily bee., 1891-01-01
THE BUSINESS OUTLOOK.

The beginning OF new year invites
consideration of business prospects, par
ticularly when, as in the present in
stance, there has been for some time an
unsatisfactory financial condition and
the confidence of capital has been at n
low point. The new year brings with it
a general settlement of accounts, q thor
ough investigation of the results of the
last years business, q universal taking
Of stock, and the transfer of vast sum
OF money in payment OF dividends, in
terest on state and municipal bonds, and
in other ways At this time business
men consider the question whe ther they
shall restrict or enlarge their enter
prises, and within the next few weeks it
will be practically determined whether
the industrial and commercial interests
of the country are to remain stationary
or to expand.
1t is gratifying to note that the pros
poets appear favorable to expansion.
There seems to be a returning conf
dence, and this, II realized, is the best
possible assurance of a revival of bus-
eral prosperity. Very few intelligent
observers question that the real cause of
the financial stress of the past few
months was the loss of confidence. The
threats of Legislation that might effect
radical change in the financial system
OF the countr y made men app rehensive
and money, whose value no Legislation
could impair, was withdrawn from active
use, while there was general tendency
to curtail credits. The country was in
fact prosperous. It's foreign commerce
was never larger, farmers received
profitable prices for their products, there
was no complaint from manufacturers.
Ordinarily with such conditions capital
is found seeking investments and can be
had almost for the asking. But it got a
scare, and Notwithstanding the efforts of
the treasury to restore confidence, capi-
tai has remained extremely cautious for
several months There are indications,
however, of an improving tendency, and
there is reason to hope that it will
continue. OF course a great deal de-
pends upon what congress shall
do in the way of financial legislation, or
whether it does anything. AT present
the disposition appears to be to pursue a
conservative course, but the difficulty is
that few incorrigible extremists may
be able to defeat this, though there is
apparently little danger that they can
carry through the policy they desire.
But at any rate recent expressions of
prominent eastern merchants and finan-
ciers are very reassuring.
Locally there is every reason to expect
that the year 1891 will witness notable
expansion of Omahas prosperity. No city
in the west is in better condition to take
advantage of a renewal of confidence and
and revival or enlargement of business
activity. Her finances are in a per-
fectly sound condition and her CONNER
cial interests are equally so. The year
just entered upon ought to be one of not
able progress and prosperity for Omaha
and all the indications are that it will be-
Omaha daily bee., 1891-01-01
OMAHA. PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE.

Thirty.fve years ago ON December A.,
last, the first white pioneer made his
permanent home on the site now occu-
pied by the city of Omaha. Within one
generation the founders OF this town
have seen it grow from a little Indian
village to a metropolis-twenty.second
in population among the galaxy Of great
American cities.
In the race for supremacy between
Omaha, Kansas City, St Paul and Den
YER, Omaha has distanced these compet-
itors in population and substantial
growth.
While at least two OF the Big -Four
have been on the standstill or actually
retrograding, Omaha has forged ahead
steadily and maintained her reputation
as the most promising and progressive
city west Of Chicago.
The record Of the years development
which we present in this issue is extreme
ly gratifying AID satisfactory. The finan-
cial and commercial depression which
has prevailed everywhere east and west
has been scarcely felt by our merchants
and manufa cturers. The years bank
clearings show marked increase over
those of the preceding year. The live
stock and packing industry has nearly
doubled within the past IL months, and
Omaha bids fair to take the second rank
among American pork packing cities
within the next three years. While few
very large blocks of buildings were
erected during the past year, the num-
Der and value of perm anent structures
exceeds that of 1889.
Although Omaha can now truthfully
boast OF being the best paved city in
America, considering her area, she has
kept right on with her street improve
ments, extension and perfection of her
water supply, and her sewerage con-
struction has reached a point unsur-
passed by any city in the country.
Altogether, Omaha can look back
over the year 1890 with supreme salts
faction as one of the milestones in her
unparalleled record of growth and pros
perity.
1t is not extravagant to predict that
the population of Omaha by the year 1900
will exceed 100000.
Omaha daily bee., 1891-01-01
PxEASAETRIEs,

Chicago Tribune: An Indian baker is a
Lo bread man.
Indianapolis journal: You needn't help TO
raise laugh but you can have a sigh alone.
st. Joseph News; There is only one man
around newspaper office whose works. ever
uun the collector.
Binghampton Leader: We hate 10 SEQ
girls throw kisses. The average girl is such
q laundering bad shot.
Atchisou Globe; The Lord knew what
was best for mans peace OF mind when He
failed to put eyes in the back of his head
New Orleans Picayuno: The man who said,
"All's fair in love or war" is undoubtedly
the man who got the best of it in both cases.
New Haven Register: 1t has been asccr-
tanned at last why DIR. Kochs lymph should
pay duty. IL interferes with home con-
sumption.
Philadelphia Times: "Many at the Christ
mas table," Eight of us. Father, mother
and the five children" "Thats only seven"
"Yes, but the turkey was ate.'
New York Herald: "I must go to see that
performance" "Whyrr ut must be Won
derful The star actress, according to the
bill, is supported by her husband"
st. Joseph News: When Shakespeare said
that the apparel oft proclair.s the man, he
must have been thinking of those who wear
clothes so loud that you can hear them
High in the basement the gas-meter stands,
Counting its feet with its thin taper hands,
Fast, fast they spin, as by some magic spell,
While in dim-lit room o'erhead some beau
rings the belle. Chicago Tribune.
Boston Transcript: Brown-Tell me, do
you think that Hobbs ever says what isn't
exactly truel' Fogg--Well, l should not
like to charge Hobbs with untruthfulness;
but If he himself believes oue-hundredth part
of the stories he tells he must be the most
credulous man alive.
And now the little children in their innocent
delight
Crack hazel nuts upon the steps and oranges
do bite
When homcward comes their weary dad, en-
crossed with worldly cares
II will not make him pappier to
Fall
Down
Stairs.
st. Joseph Herald.
Omaha daily bee., 1891-01-01

quiring that all mortgage records and
blanks shall be OF certain established
form as TO the matter printed thereon,
and also that certain length Of time
should be specified in which the release
Of n mortgage should be recorded and
notice of release delivered or forwarded
to the mortgagor by the mortgagec. He
suggests legislation to provide for boiler
inspection, renews the recommendation
of.his first report regarding the employ
ment of children in shops, submitting a
substitute for the existing law, which Is
practically valueless, and urges suitable
factory legislation to secure greater
safety and comfort to employees
Omaha daily bee., 1891-01-01

STATISTICS of defaications during the
year, compiled by the Chicago Tribune,
place Pennsylvania easily at the head
of the list, with an aggregate loss of
So, 326, ,S37. New York ranks second with
1929, ,270. Among the western states
Nebraska shows top total of $l6O, 253;
Iowa, $9,6l5; Kansas, $112, AT; Colorado,
S74, 900; South Dakota, $l2, 900, and North
Dakota, $4,000. The total recorded de-
falcations reach the splendid sum of
$S,622, ,956, or the second largest aggre-
gate reported in II years. And 1t was
not very profitable year for trusted
crooks either.
Omaha daily bee., 1891-01-01
THE CLOSING YEAR.

The following poem from the inspired pen
Of the late George ID. Prentice. one of the
most brilliant editors of the ante-war period,
will he read with great INTEREST,"
'Tis mdnight's holy hour-and silence now
Is brooding like gentle spirit DER
The still and pulseiess world. Hark On the
winds
The bells deep tones are swelling,-'tis the
knel
OF the departed year. No funeral train
Is sweeping past; yet on the stream and
With melancholy light the moon beams rest
Like pale, sDOtlesS shroud; the air is stirred
As by mourners sigh; ana on yOn cloud
That floats so still and placidly through
heaven,
The spirits of the seasons seem to stand
Young spring, bright summer, autumn's
solemn form,
And winter with his aged locks,-and breath
In mournful cadences that come abroad
Like the, far wind -harps wild and touching
melancholy dirge DER the dead year,
Gone from the earth forever.
For memory and for tears. Within the deep,
Still chambers of the heart a specter dim,
Whose tones are like the wizards voice of
Heard from the tomb of ages, points It's cold
And solemn finger to the beautiful
And holy visions that have passed away,
And left no shadow of their loveliness
On the dead waste of life. That specter lifts
The cofiin-lid of Hope and JOY and Love
sweet forms that siumber there. scatters dead
flowers
Der what has passed to nothinfiness.
The year
Has gone and with it, many glorious tnrOnr
OF happy dreams. Its mark is on each brow,
Its shadow in each heart. In its SWIFT course
IL waved its scepter DER the beautiful
And they are not 1t laid its pallid hand
UDon the strOng @ man and the naughty form
Is fallen and the II a shing eve is dim
IL trOd the hall of reyelry, where Jhronred
The bright and toyous and the fearful wall
or stricken ones is heard where erst the song
And reckless shout resounded.
1t passed DER
The battle Dlain where sword and smear and
shield
Flashed i'm the light of midday and the
strength
OF scrried hosts is shivered, and the grass
Green from the soil of carnage, waves above
The crushed and u,dering SIX leeton, IL came
And faded like a wreath of mist at eve;
Yet ere il melted in yieWlpsS air
IL heraIded its millions to their home
In the dim land of dreams.
Remorseless timei
Fierce spirit of the glass and scythei what
power
Can stay him in his solemn course or melt
Omaha daily bee., 1891-01-01

A NOTABLE figure, if not a combina-
tion Of figures, is removed from active
affairs by the death of M. A. Dauphin.
Essentially promising man, he scat
tered his principles broadcast, touched
the pockets of rich and poor, and made
Louisiana the Mecca of the votaries of
chance. Few men in private life levied
tribute so effectively and returned so
little. While the multitude may not
bedew his memory with tears, it is quite
certain they will cherish those two by
six certificates OF misplaced confidence
and cash.
Omaha daily bee., 1891-01-01
The New Rnilrnad Combin ton

PHtSburO Dispdtch.
The contempt shown for tho spirit Of the
law on the part of the railroad presidents is
the CHER element of strength in the demands
for more and stronger laws to control the
railroads. The presidents may be able to
run things to suit themselves for time, but
the more arbitrary they are the sooner will
they be shorn of their power. And this is
about the only consolation the average citi-
zen may have in the contemplation of such
movements as that of the Gould party.
Omaha daily bee., 1891-01-01

THE time has not yet come to pass
judgment on the exciting events of the
past few days in the Indian country.
Doubtless the bloody conflict will be the
subject Of much discussion and of con-
gressional investigation. 1t would be
strange, indeed, If somebody did not
claim that the war is simply IA slaughter
of the innocents. Whatever is thought
when all the facts are known, it can now
be said that the course Of General
Brooke in exhausting all peaceful mean S
to get the hostiles back on the reserva-
ations, and avert the horrors OF an
Indian war against the settlers, has de-
served and received the highest com
mendation of the press throughout the
country v. For six weeks he waited pa
tlently for the Indians to respond to the
call OF reason and docency. Then he
took decisive steps to enforce obedience.
Beyond that point it is not proper to
criticise from any facts at hand.
Omaha daily bee., 1891-01-01

The exhibit which we make in this
edition of the extensive and substantial
improvements made in Council Bluffs
the past year cannot fail to be gratify-
ing TO the citizens of our sister city. In
view of the business depression through
which the country has gone and the
many drawbacks that have been en-
countered during the past year, the
marked and steady growth of Council
Bluffs is astriking proof of the resources
of the Missouri valley.
Omaha daily bee., 1891-01-01
THE CALL OF FRONTIER SETTLERS

THE CALL OF FRONTIER SETTLERS.
THE BEE received yesterday the fol-
lowing dispatch from Hay Springs,
Sheridan county, one of the points on
the Nebraska frontier that is most ex-
posed to Indian depre dation:
The state authorities have seen fit to rec
ognize the drouth sufferers in the south
western part of the state, but ignore the
mental and physical suffering OF the $4,000
unarmed and unprotected citizens of this
section. If our appeals to the state are with
out avail Omahas business interest should
make themselves felt in our behalf.
1t is stated that the adjutant general
has made no reply to frequent and ur-
gent appeals sent him during the last
few days. Several weeks since Gov
ernor Thayer forwarded to the front all
the arms and ammunition available at
that time. 1t is doubtful whether
it is now within the power of the
state government to furnish more relief
to meet this new emergency.
But this fact should not prevent the
adjutant general from giving prompt at
tention to the letters and kilograms he
receives. The least he can do is to i'm
mediately advise the distressed settlers
OF the fact. If he can help them he
should do so without delay. If he can
| not he should inform them to that effect,
that they may not ignorantly trust their
safety to a vain hope.
This is indeed a time when every pub
lie official should be at his post of duty,
uh ho Al x~f+
ern portion of the state should receive
the same attention as that given to the
citizens OF any other locality.
Omaha daily bee., 1891-01-01
ABOUT IUOMEN.

Princess Beatrice of England is writing a
book on lace, to be illustrated by herself
Mrs. j. Ellen Foster and Miss Willard are
resting on their honors while Mrs. Mary "a.
Livermore and Mrs. Beecher take a turn at
invective IN the newspapers.
Can it be possible that Miss Willard is
growing sentimental! 1t is said that she has
suggested that the woman's building at the
worlds fair be made in the form Of womans
heart. 1t IS now in order for Miss Willard
to map out the difference in shape between
the male and female heart.
Fanny Kemble (now Mrs Butler) is living
with her daughter, Mrs. Leigh, in Surrey,
England. She Is in her eighty-second year
aud in feeble health.
Mrs. Letitia Tyler Semple, granddaughter r
of ex-President Tyler, has given a collection
of old oil paintings which belonged to the
Tyler family to William and Marry college.
Miss Frances E. Willard calls it ''the
frothiest of tolderol," the talk that she would
like to be made a bishop. Perhaps she pre-
fers to have it called ''bishopess."
Nine. Barrios, widow of the late Central
American dictator, has a magnificent collec-
tion of diamonds The greatest part of the
Jewels were heirlooms of the kingdom of
Guatemala.
Mrs. John u. Rockefeller, wife of the rich
est man in America, is a model housekeeper,
unpretentious and exact, looking after every
thlhg and keeping a book account of all ex-
penditures The ladies should found Mrs.
Rockefeller housekeeping societies.
Kate Field is authority for the statement
that women spend SGOOO,OOO a year for cos
metlcs to make themselves beautiful. Men
spend great many times as much as that
painting their noses, which makes them
'ugly as SIM both in complexion and temper.
Omaha daily bee., 1891-01-01
simply n Gould Organ.

JNItWUD TTIDN1le.
The Dcs Moines Register of course, is not
anewspaper; never has been newspaper
and never will be one. It is what its name
implies, a register OF the DEGREES Of Jay
Gould-his Iowa organ--and hand in glove
with him in all his schemes to plumber the
people of Iowa. Why need honest men pay
any attention to its subsidized howls of an
guish when its master is in trouble
Omaha daily bee., 1891-01-01

GOVERNOR HILL persistently declines
to be shelved with a senatorship, The
people will doubtless be compelled to
furnish David a large, well seasoned
presidential shelf.
Omaha daily bee., 1891-01-01

POLK county, Iowa, is the paradise of
prohibition. Here the code of total alb
stinence blooms in rank luxuriance. 1t
Is pointed to with pride as a model of
sobriety and good order. A compa rison
of the cost of criminal prosecutions in
peaceful Polk with that of the counties
Oh the Mississippi and Missouri affords
Il most remarkable contrast. During
the year ending last June criminal costs
in Polk county were 800, Ill, against a
total of S352, 1873 in the remaining 9S
counties of the state of Iowa. Ex-Gov-
ernor Larrabee may have to come to the
front with another explanation.
Omaha daily bee., 1891-01-01

blanks which later turn up in the form OF
promissory notes.
Henry Watterson, editor Of the Louisville
Courier-Journal, will lecture at Des Moines
January 9 on "Money and Morals" He will
also speak at Winterset Grinnell and
keokuk
Rosetta Watson, colored, has returned 10
Muscatine from visit Of exploration TO
Batosville, Ark, her old home, which sho
left thirty years ago In the days OF slavery
She found brother and host Of her rea
tivcs there.
Mayor Duncan of Burlington carries n min
iature paving brick made OF Burlington clay
as a watch charm He intends 10 have 900
made for distribution among his friends.
Ihey VIII bear his famous utterance: "Tho
way to pave is TO pave"
Andrew Spencer and wife celebrated their
golden wedding at Mt Pleasant on Christ
mas DAY. They were married at Denmark
Lee county, by Father Turner, and they
nave remained within twenty miles OF their
hrst home all these fifty years.
William Richardson, boy OF seventeen,
fell while skating at Clinton, struck on
the back of his head, but was apparently not
much hurt, being abou, for several hours
afterward. After he had gone to bed no was
seized with cramps and died In an hour.
Omaha daily bee., 1891-01-01
Applies to All.
Chicnnn Tril1lLne.

The strongest candidate the democrats
could nominate for president would be Mrs.
Cleveland. 1t is true she might be prevented
from serving, If elected, by a strict construc-
ton of the constitution of the United States,
but the trouble with all the eligible cand-
dates of the democracy is that none of them
can be elected.