davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Omaha daily bee., 1896-02-13

The offer of the French government
to release ex-Consul Waller from i'm.
prisonment upon the condition that nc
| indemnity will be demanded and its
| acceptance by our government termi-
mates an incident which for a time
threatened to seriously disturb the
friendly relations between France and
the United States. In view of the facts
set forth in the report of Secretary
Olney it will have to be admitted that
the French government has acted in
this matter with notable consideration
and magnanimity, for it is clearly
shown that there was well-founded
case against Waller and that his con-
viction was justifiable, though perhaps
the punishment prescribed was eXces-
sve. Secretary Olney says that on all
the evidence and in view particularly
of his own evidence, Waller was un-
questionably guilty of an offense against
the French government of serious
character and fully justifying severe
punishment. 1t is impossible after
reading the statement of the secretary
of state to avoid the feeling that Waller
is really entitled to very little sym
pathy, for it is apparent that lie not
only gravely abused his privileges in
Madagascar, relying for immunity.
doubtless, upon the fact of his being
an American citizen, but that he at
thereby seeking to involve it in com
plication which might easily have be-
come serious. The representations
made by Waller and those who ap-
pealed to our government in his behalf
declared him to be the innocent victim
of French persecution, n martyr to the
greed of France for the possession of
the island of Madagascar, in which
Waller had secured from the Hova
government valuable privileges. The
evidence, according to Secretary
Oyney, shows the utter falsity of these
representations and condemns all con-
nected with them to the charge of de-
liberate deception.
In securing the release of Waller our
government has done all that can rea-
sonably be asked or expected of it. 1t
is obvious, as the secretary of state
says, that there Is no ground for de-
manding indemnity. If Waller is not
satisfied with regaining his liberty and
wants damages he has recourse to the
courts of France. but it is quite safe
to say that he will not take advantage
of this privilege The opportunity to
return to the United States he will un-
doubtedly accept without hesitation or
delay.
Omaha daily bee., 1896-02-13
pRESipENrINL TIMBER.

Chicago Record Mr. Shelby NJ CulIom
arises to remark that, however successful
ne may be, he Ia his own candidate and not
the advance agent OF some other boom
Globe Democrat: Governor Morton is a
good man who has outlivel his availability
Tor presidential purposes; but IL he wants
a complimentary vote from his own state
no harm will be done by giving II 10 him
Chicago News: Anything, of course, may
happen between this and convention time
The nominee may be some man CT whom
no man is thinking ct all Just now. But al
the present stage Of proceedings 1t must be
admitted that McKinlays boom is travelling
considerably In front Of its competitors and
getting over ground at a very respectable
rate of speed, too
Boston Globe Several of the more prob
able presidential candidates are mon who
look like other mon. The admirers OF Nc
kinley have long flattercd him by telling him
OF his resemblance to Napoleon: Senator
Cuilom looks like Lincoln, and Tom Reed
very much resembles the Stratford bust of
Shakespeare Senator Allison dues not par
ticulariy resemble any past notablity, but
sim he is, perhaps the handsomcst of all
the candidates yet brought forward.
Sioux City journal: Iowa thus will have a
delegation OF twenty-9'N delegates in the
national convention. A powerful delegation,
composed of the picked men Of the republi-
can party of Iowa Ia all the districts, rep
resentng its highest character. its best pur-
pose ana lts pontlcal sagaclty ana skill, as
well as its enthusiasm and devotion to Will
liam B. Alison-such delegation will be
tower of strength in the national convention
at st. Louis. The Journal hopes that such
a delegation will be chosen.
Denver News: We hardly think Tom
Reed is seriously thinking CT trying to secure
the nomination for the presidency. II he
was, 1t would be simple matter for him
to work up boom among the wheemen Of
this land and that he would hardly neglect the
grand opportunity. There are thousands and
thousands OF wheelmen. and whenever you
md man who wheels, ycu have an in
dividual who is rabid on the subject of good
roads. BY promising a few fine national
thoroughfares, to be built by the government
at day labor, Mr.. Reed could make himself |
solid with the cycler, the farmer and the |
workingman. OF course he would do 1t If |
he had presidential aspiratlons
Omaha daily bee., 1896-02-13

sloners. A dozen or more Offices are
abolished altogether.
When the levy ordinance was under
discussion before the Omaha city coun-
Gil our police commission. through its
chairman, insisted not only that the
police force could not be reduced with
safety. but that under existing strait.
cned circumstances of the people
/ the number of patrolmen ought to be
/ increased to prevent thieves from steal.
| ing the little that people had left. This
/ theory does not seem to have prevailed
in Salt Lake City. Under the new
regime there the chief of police, who
formerly received S2.IOO, is to get 81 800:
the one police captain who formerly re
ceived S1,440 is to get S1.320; scrgeants
who formerly received 81 300 are cut to
S1.0S0; mounted police are reduced to
the pay of patrolmen and the pay of
patrolmen, detectives and alarm oper-
ator generously cut. Not only this, but
the force is reduced from forty-one
patrolmen to thirty-one patrolmen. and
from three desk sergeants to two desk
scrgeants. And the people of Salt Lake
city hope to maintain their police force
in nearly the same efficiency as before.
The Omaha council must awaken to
the fact that its duty to economizc and
retrench in the arrangement of the
city's finances has not been exhausted
with the fixing of the tax levy With
legacy of deficits in many departments
the revenue of the coming year can be
made to hold out only by additional
pruning of the cumbersome municipal
machine and constant watching for
leaks. If city like Salt Lake City can
lop off almost Il third of its salary list
Omaha can go much further than II
has already gone.
Omaha daily bee., 1896-02-13
AN EXAMPLE FROM SALT LAKE CITY.

While the council Is taking so much
credit. to itself for the first step it has
made in the direction of economy and
declaring that retrenchment can be
carried no further, an example comes
from Salt Lake City showing what can
be done when the pruning knife is used
with energy and determination. Salt
Lake City, it is true, is smaller than
Omaha. According to the census OF
1890 it had II population of 44,4S3, but
1t has been growing steadily during the
last live years. 1t is not the size of the
city, however but the extent to which
retrenchment has been effected that Is
of Importance just now to property
owners and taxpayers.
AT last weeks meeting of the council
of Salt Lake City ordinances We're
enacted calculated to cut the expenses
of the city by nearly 30 per cent. The
changes reduce the monthly eXpend-
lures for salaries from S15073.G2 to
SlO,Sl6.5G n saving of $425T.06. The
annual expenditures, which last year
We're $50, ,SS3.50, are expected this year
to be not more than $129,70S.75, differ
ence of $51,0SI75. The whole plan Of
economy rests upon a general reduction
of salaries of city employees, the aboli-
tion of all needless offices and the con
solidation of offices whose functions can
be readily combined. The deputy
recorder, for example, must henceforth
serve also as clerk of the council COM
mittees The assistant city attorney is
to do the work of clerk of the police
court The mayors clerk is to serve
at the same time as clerk to the Board
of Public Works. The secretary of the
fire department. is to be clerk of the
Board OF Fire and Police Commits
Omaha daily bee., 1896-02-13
THE AMOUNT or IDLE CAPITAL.

| ihbS <'-hooANL cf fIIfy tlffIdL.
One of the most impressive facts dis
| closed by the enormous subscriptions
| to the new issue of government bonds
is the vast amount of idle CAPT
| tai in the country seeking permanent
investment. Although perhaps a major
| ity of those who put in bids did so with
the intention of making an immediate
profit through the sale of bonds, yet it
is evident that they must have been
aware that there would be a market
for the bonds at a price which would
bring the interest payments only IL little
above 31a per cent. The aggregate
shows that there was about $G00,O0O,000
of capital ready for such Investment.
either speculative or permanent, and
making every allowance for bogus or
duplicate bids there were more than
$i00,000,000 in offerings for these bonds.
That there should be such an enor-
nous amount of idle capital seeking in
vestment was revelation in itself and
is looked upon as an unhappy COM
mentary on the business condition for
the past three years. and that it should
have been offered in such vast amounts
for government bonds is regarded as
IL favorable augury for the future
This surplus capital, it was developed,
has not all concentrated at the great
financial centers, but was distributed
over the whole country, considerable
quantity Of it appearing in localities
where it would not have been looked for
OF this capital the treasury will absorb
about Sill, 100000, leaving more than
tlree-fourths of it still unemployed.
Practical men can understand what it
would mean for the prosperity of the
country If this idle capital were in
vested in new enterprises and in en-
Laying the scope of existing industries.
1t would give most decided impetus
to the material progress of the nation
Some improvement in financial conf
dence has been shown as the effect of
the extraordinary bond subscriptions.
Such a manifestation of public faith in
the stability of the national credit
would inevitably produce better feel
ing. 1t is predicted by intelligent
students of the situation that this i'm
provement will continue and there are
certainly valid reasons why it should do
so. But that complete restoration of
which is necessary to induce
idle capital to embark in enterprises
the success of which is to greater or
less degree dependent upon economic
policy Is not TO be expected under pres
ent conditions, or until there is a change
in the political administration of the |
government, which will assure for |
some years, through policy of judcions |
protection to American industries, Sc |
curity to capital invested in such indus
tries, and at the same time provide the
government with Il revenue that will
obyiate the necessity of periodical bor-
rowing. There is no immediate danger
of the American people permitting any
debasement of their currency. Strongly
lntrenched as the free silver element is
In the national senate its power is lin
tied to obstruction. 1t can do nothing
Omaha daily bee., 1896-02-13
IOWA PRESS COMMENT,

Sioux City Journal: The Journal prints the
o1ncial calls for the state convention and the
Eleventh district convention, to be held in
De9 Moines March IL, to select delegates tc
me republican national convention. which
viii be held in st. Louis June 16 1896 The
sole business of these conventions is to select
delegates to the national convention The
llth or March is an early date for holding a
state convention, but it Is not earlier than
the state conventions are being called in some
Of the states this year because the national
election is held this year.
Dubuque Telegraph An opportunity to
learn what members of the legislature prefer
the interests of the corporations to those Of
the public will soon be afforded for the SEN
ate committee has favorably reported the
Blanchard bill declaring fire insurance com
bines unlawful and providing for the punish
ment of companies. officers and agents con-
victed Of violating the act. The bill not only
prohibits agreements as to rates; 1t also for
bids agreements as to the amount to be al
lowed agents for commissions, and as to the
manner of conducting the fire insurance b,si-
ness.
Sioux City Times: Iowa can furnish all the
presidential candidates this year and throw
In an emergency financer for full measure If
needed. Amos Steckel of Bloomfield would
be available for the latter In letter to the
president and secretary of the treasury, he
says: II you cannot do it yourselves and
will let me have S105,000 900 of the green
backo now lying idle in the United States
treasury, l will procure 500 100000 Of gold
to put in the place thereof by February Is,
1895, and save you borrowing $780, 900 900 in
gold for thirty years at A per cent interest,
payable quarterly. | will give security to
perform this If am notified that the offer is
accepted by February 1, 1885,
Des Moines Capital: Senator N. NJ. Pusey
Of Council Bluffs made discovery the other
day which he revealed to the ways and means
committee yesterday. 1t was in regard to the
taxation Of railway bridges over the Mssis-
s!ppi and Missouri rivers The law provides
that these bridges shall be taxed separately
according to their value; the code commits
soners had changed the law so that these
bridges are simply counted in with the regu-
lar mileage of the roads, thus relieving the
companies Of considerable taxation. The COM
mittee restored the old law. Had the change
remained as the commissioners fixed it, the
cities of Sious City, Counc Bluffs. Keokult
Burlington, Clinton, Davenport and Dubuque
would have been deprived Of large amount
of revenue.
Omaha daily bee., 1896-02-13
nIe DEAL IN STREET RAILWAYS.
All the Roads In Cleveland May lie
Unitcd In One SNStrm

CLEVELAND Feb. 12.-An evening pa
per says; There is well defined belief in
financial circles that gigantic deal is brew
ing In local street railway circles and that
within six months the biggest street rail-
way deal ever known in Ohio will have been
cousummated in Cleveland. The belief Is
that the two competing companies. which
now control every street railway in this city,
will be consolidated before summer ends
and that Henry a. Everett who for several
months past has been fighting to obtain a
franchise for a system Of electric roads in
the city on the 3 cent basis as against s
cents charged by the old companies, will be
one Of the principal parties TO the censolida-
ton.
Well posted men say that Everett has been
convinced that 1t will be a good tAmg tor
his country roads to arbitrate the Q cent
fare matter.
The talk Of these men has even gone 50
far as to declare with seemingly good au-
thority that NJ. A. Hanna. president Of the
Cleveland Electric and Cable Railway COM
pany, will be at the head of the new cor
poration and that Henry A. Everett will
be the vice president. Further than this
II is alleged that the two roads will, when
consolidated, give a colt fare, or six tickets
Tor quarter, and that universal transfers
will be a feature
Omaha daily bee., 1896-02-13

1t is to be noticed that while the
queens speech to Parliament is full of
assurances of the most friendly feeling
for all nations it nevertheless asks for
increased appropriations on the ground
that they are demanded by the eX-
igencies of the times. What these eX-
igencies are is indicated by the eyplana-
tion that the extension and improve
ment of the naval defenses of the empire
is the most Important subject to which
the efforts of the two houses can be
directed. In other words, the English
policy is to be to continue to preserve
peace by preparing for war.
Omaha daily bee., 1896-02-13

The efforts of, the local Grand Army
of the Republic reception committees
should be directed toward making the
visitors feel perfectly at home in
Omaha. They should know that they
are free to enjoy themselves precisely
as they think best, and that all kinds
of entertainment have been provided
for their benefit. If there is anything
the visitors want that they do not see
they must be encouraged to make their
wants known.
Omaha daily bee., 1896-02-13
LAUNCHED a BooM ron pATTIsoN.
PcnnsyIyRnia's Ex-Govcrnor opcnIy
in the Presidential Race.


HARRISBURG, Pa, Feb. 12.--The Pattiscn
boom for the presidency was launched with
much enthusiasm today at the meeting of the
State democratic committee to arrange for
the next state convention. The meeting was
largely attended and the sentiment was over
whelmingly in favor OF the nomination of ex.
Governor Robert Il. Pattison for president
by the national convention at Chicago.
resolution endorsing his candidacy was offered
by John NJ. Carman of Luzerne and unani-
mously adopted. as follows:
Resolved, That the democratic state CEN
tral committee recommends that the democ-
racy of Pennsylvania present to the demo-
cratic national convention the name of ex-
Governor Robert Il. Pattson as that of
strong and available candidate for the pres
dency. In character, in ability, in official
experience, in the fearless discharge of pub
lie duties, Mr. Pattison is well equipped fer
the high office for which we recommend him;
enjoying to the fullest extent the confidence
of the people because of his steadfast adher-
ence to the cause Of good government his
selection as the standard bearer of the demo-
cratic party would be met by generous and
enthusiastic approval Sound in principles,
his leadership would be such that at all times
democrats might safely follow.
Omaha daily bee., 1896-02-13

Brigadier General John Gibbon, who died
Thursday at Baltimore, was a soldier of
distinction who served both in the Mexican
and civil wars. fie was graduated from
West Point in lS47 and served In the ar
tillery. lie was brevetted major in the
regular army for services at Antietam, lieu
tenant colonel at Fredericksburg and colonel
at Gettysburg. where he was severely
wounded while commanding the Second army
corps In June, 1864, he rejoined the army
as major general of volunteers, and served
during the Wilderness campaign and the
subsequent battles. He was one OF the
commissioners appointed to carry into effect
the conditions for Lees surrender. He was
retired April 20. 1884, at the age of GA.
Omaha daily bee., 1896-02-13
WORTH A CENTURY.
WAR TIME MEMORIES.

I hear again the fife and drum,
AS back in 'siXty-two;
! guess the soldier boys have come
The soldier boys in blue.
i seem to hear the bugle notes.
That pierced the air at dawn,
The cheering of a thousand throats
AS in the days Iong gone.
The soldier boys were younger then,
Many have passed away,
And all are old, gray-headed men
Who march the streets today
They saved the flag when treason tried
To rend its stripes in twain,
And many thousands fell and died
On southern battle plain.
The broken remnants of that host
Are with us-let us raise
Enough to give them quail on toast
AS well as words of praise.
Omaha daily bee., 1896-02-13
Chicago News.

1t Is discouraging to consider that gold
brick will always catch some men, no matter
how old and learned they may be. There S
Gladstone, for instance. magazine pub
Usher wrote him an offer Of 81 word for an
article purely for advertising purposes. Mr..
Gladstone writes a courteous note declining
the offer and the publisher thereupon gives
the note to the newspapers and gets more ad-
vertising out of the incident gratis than he
could have got for $4,000 if his offer had
been accepted.
Omaha daily bee., 1896-02-13
GREETING no THE q. A. r.

Omaha extends its best greeting to
the veterans of the Grand Army of the
Republic who have assembled in this
city for their annual winter encamp-
mcnt. The invitation to have the meet
ing take place here this year was offered
with full realization of the rosponsi.
bility involved and the acceptance was
hailed with joy as promising another
opportunity for the display of Omaha's
proverbial hospitality. None of our
visiting friends must be permitted TO go
away disappointed for lack of cordial
welcome and proper entertainment.
The present encampment is in reality
the annual business meeting of the
Grand Army of the Republic organiza-
tion and the proceedings of its sessions
will give the best insight into the praise
worthy work which it is doing. In the
main founded upon comradeship in the
union armies during the war, the
benevolent and charitable features of
the organization are becoming year by
year more important and would in
themselves commend it to the esteem
and respect of the younger generation.
The encampment illustrates nothing
more vividly than the permanence of
the ties formed during the war period
Omaha daily bee., 1896-02-13

While diphtheria this winter in Omaha
Is not as malignant as has been the
case In former years, the general use of
anti-toxine has produced most crafty.
Ing results. High medical authority
has II that no distinguished physician
IN the east will risk case of diphtheria
without using the wonderful serum
which has reduced the mortality in
diphtheria cases from 60 per cent to 10.
Men who have given the subject close
study say that not single case In
which the serum was applied in time
IN this city has proved fatal
Omaha daily bee., 1896-02-13
Secretary Morton need not apologize

Secretary Morton need not apologize
seeds to Nebraska year ago for dis
tribution among the farmers who had
been severely taxed by the drouth.
That was one of the few instances
where the free seeds did some good.
Had the distribution been prompted by
political motives or had discrimination
been practiced between equally worthy
applicants there might have been some
color Of cause for complaint.
Omaha daily bee., 1896-02-13
A Nebraska RiseHomenon Explained.

The fire near Butte, Neb., is probably
in one of the bedsl of Ignite in that sec
on.-Philadelphla Ledger.
This is the usual materlalistic attempt
to find matter Of fact explanation for a
surprising psychicai and mental phenomenon.
On "Wednesday H0E William Jennings Bryan,
the Boy Orator of the Platte, made his
usual sxteen-hour speech on silver at Butte
On Thursday morning all northeastern Ne
braska, not merely the Ignite beds, but the
snow on the surface and the immemoral
bowels Of the earth, was burning with a
Omaha daily bee., 1896-02-13

The Society for the Prevention of
Cruelty to Animals has secured con-
viction in case whore a tcamster mis-
used n disabled mule. Members of
THIS society have a thankless task in
the work they have undertaken and
deserve every encouragement. Cruelty
TO animals can be prevented If the laws
are rigidly enforced.
Omaha daily bee., 1896-02-13
The Cuban Leaders,

Generals Gomez and MaceO will go down in
history as not only great generals, but as pa
triots. They head an army that is poorly
paid, half fed badly clothed, and half way
armed, and which confronts the army of one
of the oldest nations of Europe. It's greatest
general has been retired as unequal to the
task and butcher substituted The change
may inaugurate great changes-possibly re-
verses to the patriot cause.
Omaha daily bee., 1896-02-13
RInstcrinm Thrents.
Buffalo Express. v

The chiefs Of the A. p. A. in Connecticut
send out word that Senator Hawlcy's days in
the senate are numbered because he voted
for the confirmation of Colonel Coppinger as
a brigadier general The A. p. A., it will be
remembered, decreed that Senator Hoar of
should not go to the republican
state convention last fall. Threats and their
execution sometimes do not connect
Omaha daily bee., 1896-02-13

Ihere Is no good reason why the
Board of Public Works should sublet
the task of selecting men for street
work to members of the council. The
moment that Is done ward hustlers will
jump In and deprive honest working
men of employment. There is no occa-
sion for making political recruiting
oiiice out of the Board of Public Works.
Omaha daily bee., 1896-02-13

1t Is proposed by certain councilmen
to pass an ordinance prescribing fine
for any person caught walking rail
road track. If this prove a success we
may expect to see it extended to cover
street railway tracks, with n proviso re-
quiring every pedestrian to get permit
to walk the streets of the city.
Omaha daily bee., 1896-02-13

The men who are already preparing
tables of the vote on the first ballot at
the st. Louis convention have about as
much political horse sense as they have
talent for mathematics and that is not
saying much for their attainments in
either direction.