davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Omaha daily bee., 1896-12-13
ANOTHER GREAT CONSPIRACY.

This is an age of plots and conSpira-
cies as we all know to our sorrow. Way
back in the TOs there was Il conspiracy
from which the people of the whole
world will not recover until sixteen
ounces of standard silver can be again
swapped for one ounce of pure gold.
Since then conspiracics without number
have raclled the inhabitants of this sub
lunary planet. There have been CON
Spiracips to demonctizr the horse and
the mule. There have been conspiracies
to abolish the free lunch counters in
cities of more than 100000 population
There have been conspiracies to make
tramps pay for their meals by involun-
tary labor. There have been conspira-
cies to prevent the city dog catcher
from collecting two fees on one dog tail
To all this and sundry other grievances
n long-sulfcring people has submitted
But it is the last straw that breaks
the Camel's hump. For months this
gOodly town has enjoyed the blessings
OF medieval quietude in the shape of
II curfew ordinance forbidding boys and
girls the freedom of the public highways
after dusk. SO generally was this ordi-
nance enforced that only one arrest
has been reported since it went into eff
feet. Notwithstanding the terrible strain
upon our already overworked police and
lynX-eyed detectives no word of COM
plaint even passed their lips. Words.
therefore, are inadequate to express the
pent-up Indignation that has been
aroused by the declaration of Judge
Baker that the curfew ordinance is un-
constitutional and consequently null
and void. In spite of this ju-
dical deSpot infants will not
cease to cry for it and fond parents
will. like Rachel weeping over her chill
drcn, refuse to be cOmfOrtCd. is it not
time that new political party he called
into life that will inscribe upon the ban
ncrs, "The restoration of the curfcw by
1900 without waiting for the aid or CON
sent of any other town on carth?"
Omaha daily bee., 1896-12-13

moved. More than six years have
passed since the eleventh census was
taken and all the volumes are not yet
in print II Is true that much of this
matter has been given to the public
but still there was delay that impaired
its value and undoubtedly this will con.
tinuc to be the case SO long as the old
method Is adhered to. The worth of
census statistics very largely depends
upon their freshness and this is par.
ticularly so In growing and
developing country like the United
States With permanent cen.
sus bureau organized on the plan
proposed by Labor Commissioner
Wright the statistics most valuable to
congress and the public would he new
from year to year and there is every
reason to believe that they would also
be more trustworthy than under the old
method. Putting these very important
considerations with that of consider
able saving of expense, Mr.. Wright
estimating the cost of conducting
n permanent census bureau and taking
the dCcCnninl census at an average Of
SSOO.O0O Il year and it would seem
that there ought to be no hesitation on
the part of congress in establishing
that in the gathering of statistics most
European countries are far in advance
of the United States.
Omaha daily bee., 1896-12-13
TIE CONSrLtR SERrICE.

If the order of President Cleveland
which brought under civil service rules,
consular offices with salaries not eX-
ceeding $1,000 nor falling below $1,000
shall remain in effect under the sue
Ceeding administration. the matter of
making consular appointments will not
BE- particularly burdensome. 1t will be
| remembered that there was Il sweeping
change in the consular service at the be
| ginning of the present administration
| Since March /, 1893, fully 50 per cent of
| the incumbentS at that date have been
| replaced and of the 20 per cent re
! tanned many Of them We're appointed
| during Mr.. Clevelands first term and
remained in Office throughout the admin
istration of President Harrison. Thus
nearly all the consular positions are held
by men who We're appointed as demo-
crafts some of them having this fact as
their chief recommendation. 1t was not
until this change had been accomplished
that the application of civil service rules
to the service was made. In view of
this and of the fact that there has been
much complaint regarding the character
of the service during the past two or
three years ii is quite possible that the
next administration will have pressed
upon it the question whether it is deSir-
able to adhere to the civil service order
respecting consular offices. UndOubt-
edly there will be many applications for
these positions, with more or less nhu-
entail backing, which cannot fail TO
create discussion of the course of the
present administration and the duty of
the new administration.
1t is very generally admitted that the
old practice of making consular appoint
with little regard, for the most part. as
to the qualifications of the appointees.
ought to be done away with. Making
this service Il refuge for politicians who
could not conveniently be otherwise dis
posed Of or who wanted to live abroad
for n time at government expense, has
too long been an injury and reproach
to the country. With such men i'm II,
knowing nothing and caring nothing
about practical affairs, She service has
been of little good in promoting our
commercial interests, for which it Is
chiefly intended. Everybody at all IA
miliar with the requirements of the sely-
ice understands that our consular repre-
sentatives should be men more or less
familiar with practical business and in
clined 10 study commercial methods and
occupy consular positions under the gov
ernments of other commercial nations
and their example should not be disre-
garded by us. Having filled the service
with this class OF men their tenure
should be made secure so long as their
duties were efficiently and faithfully per-
Omaha daily bee., 1896-12-13
4 PERMANENT CENSUS BUREAr.


The question of establishing Il pprma
nent census bureau has been discussed
| for some years and ut the last session
| of congress Commissioner of Labor
! Wright was directed TO report n plan
| for such Il bureau. He has done this
| in the form of Il bill which provides
for the establishment of Il permanent
! organization, independent of any de
partment, the duties of which shall br
the taking of the twelfth and succeed
ing ccnSuScs and the collection of other
information provided for. The labor
commissioner presents very cOgcnt
arguments in support of the plan. lie
would have the entire force of the pro
posed bureau brought into the classified
service observing that had this been
the rule in the eleventh census there
would have been large saving in
both expense ana time. Mr. Wright
says that with n force of 200 to 800
people for the regular work of n perma-
nent census Office, with tenure secure
under the civil service law. so that
clerks could become skilled and eXpe-
rIonced, there would be the nucleus
sary during the deccnnal enumera-
ton.
Mr.. Wright urges that the date of
taking the regular census should be
changed from June to April October
would be preferable but for the fact that
IL .t I'm ,1.,t 4
come at the time of n presidential elcc-
ton. The bill provides for ii census of
population every five years and it is
suggested by the commissioner that the
dcconnial census Of agricultural prod
ucts should be full and complete, but
there should be, in addition, an annual
accounting on five or six points cover
ing crops and values, n biennial ac-
count of manufactures and an annual
collection of vital statistics. These are
practical suggestions which if put into
effect would unquestionably very
greatly increase the value of the cen
sus, besides materially reducing the
cost of obtaining needed information.
The census method that has prevailed
since the beginning of the government
the first census was taken in 1890
has never been entirely satisfactory
and the efforts made to render it so
have been unavailing. The provisions
made for the last census We're expected
TO work great improvement, but
while there was perhaps greater thor
oughness than ever before, the old
trouble of delay in the compilation and
publication of the statistics was not re-
Omaha daily bee., 1896-12-13
THE COST or GoVERNMENr.

The estimates submitted to congress
by the secretary of the treasury for the
next fiscal year are a few millions of
dollars in excess of those of year ago,
though more than S1O0O0OOO less than
the appropriate for the current fiscal
year. 1t is not the rule with congress
to be strictly governed by the depart
ment estimates, so that it Is quite posi-
BILE that there may be n reduction from
the estimates submitted, and this is
rather to be expected in view of the an
nouncemeut by the chairman of the
house appropriations committee that the
intention Is TO keep expenditures down
TO the lowest point consistent with the
efficiency Of the public service. The ne.
ceSsity for doing this has never been
more urgent and 1t is well that the re-
publicans of the house realize their duty
In this respect The tendency of the
senate Is generally toward extravaganza
Omaha daily bee., 1896-12-13

! and that body did not at the first ses-
sion keep within the limits set by the
house, but there is reason to expect that
IL will be more disposed to do so at the
present session.
The grand total of regular and pcrma-
nent annual appropriations at the first
session Of the present congress was in
round numbers S515,oO0.0O0. which with
the exception of the second sessions of
the Fifty-first and Fifty-sccond con
crosses is the largest amount every ap-
propriated at one session. If the appro-
priations of the present session shall
equal those Of the first the Fifty-fourth
congress will break the record for heavy
appropriations made by the Fifty-second,
the grand total of which was S1,021 ,OO0,-
O0O. The probability Is. however that
those high figures will not be exceeded,
though they will certainly be approXi-
mated.
It takes n great deal of money to keep
the machinery of this great government
in proper operation and yet whoever
will take the trouble to intelligently
study the expenditure account must be
persuaded that there is really not so
much extravaganza and waste as is com
monty supposed. There are directions,
unqucstionably, in which greater econ
omy could be exercised without any
detriment to the public service, but there
are also directions in which moro money
might be advantageously used. a great
and progressive people should not be
niggardly, but at present there is an i'm
perativc demand for the practice of n
judicious economy in public eXpendi-
tIirns
Omaha daily bee., 1896-12-13
TIME TO STOP 1T,
Dangerous Methods of Initiation in
Secret Societies.

Davenport Democrat.
Within about month four deaths have
been reported in the daily papers from the
same unusual cause, that of secret society
initiation ceremonies. This record of accl.
dental deaths his attracted general attention
The most conspicuous OF these deadly acct
dents happened to take place in Des Moines
and the readers of the Democrat are familiar
with the particulars. The last one Of the
series up to the time of this writing found
it's victim in a little Minnesota town. The
candidate who was in the act OF undergoing
the ceremony fell dead and the physicians
who were summoned called the trouble
yalyular disease of the heart.
These ceremonies are common to all. or
nearly all, secret societies. though they
are by no means the same. Those who have
survived the mysteries say that the method
adopted by college societies are the toughest
OF all. The principal object seems to be to
give the initiated ones all the "fun" possible
and to make tho situation for the candidate
as uncomfortable and miserable as II can be
made short Of personal injury. II is on a
par with the freshman rush, little higher
up the scale come what are known as the
secret societies. Sometimes these exist for
political purposes, at other times for social
objects. Their number is almost unlimited
and we hear OF new ones with mysterious
names frequently No matter what the
organization this horse play" has gone too
far, and 1t ought to be checked by public
Indignation II there is no legal means
through which 1t can be reached.
OF course there IL limit of reason. In
nearly all reputable societies the object in
view Is the teaching of an impreD9lye lesson.
There are ways OF doing this without break
ing limbs to say nothing Of the taking OF
life. These are not the Ceremonies" to
which objection is made. But as the list
OF recent fatal accidents shows the time
has come when q halt ought TO be called.
Omaha daily bee., 1896-12-13
POSTAL SAVINGS BANKS.
Decided Advantages of the System
shown by Experience.


Philadelphia Inquirer
A good deal had been said for and against
the adoption of the plan Of establishing say.
ing1 hanks in connection with the Post.
office department and various public official.
have urged upon congress consideration o
the matter, but so far II has not taken VI
the subject. France England, Belgium
Sweden, Holland, Austria, Russia. Hungary
Canada and Australia are countries with pos.
tai savings banks, and their experience is
said to be that the masses of the people
derive decided advantages from having these
repositories for their savings.
The conditions of life among the great
masses of the people are, of course. different
in the old world than they are with u.s. and
there are not so many institutions for the
savings of the wOrkingmen as we-have. But
it may be of interest to note the growth of
the postal savings bank in Great Britain and
to realize what a faCtcr IL has been in help
ing people who would not be reached by
other savings banks.
The figures that are given in a recent re-
port as to the postal savings banks in Eng
land, Scotland and Ireland are startling.
There are 1000 postoflices at which depos-
its are received daily, and any sum from %
cents to $3.50 may be deposited in one year,
interest being paid on all sums that are a
multiple of S. and is compounded. Deposl-
tors may if they choose, have their acCumu-
lated deposits invested in government bonds,
and small savings can lie made by the pur
chase Of postage stamps which, when they
reach certain amount, are recorded as de-
posits. There are 5000 schools in which
the children are encouraged TO save in this
way, and a postofllce clerk comes to the
school at intervals to receive the stamps and
furnish pass books In 1898 there were
nearly lO,OOOOOO deposits made, aggregatng
S123 600, 900, and at the end of that year the
aggregate deposits in postal savings banks
was $4O2 500 600, while, besides this, 693l1
depo9itors held $31 100000 OF government
bonds.
Increase of facilities for saving and ob-
tanning a small interest on accumulations
must have an effect on the character as well
as the wealth of the people.
Omaha daily bee., 1896-12-13

President Cleveland makes n plea in
his message for congress to save the
Indian from his profcsscd friends who
civilization. There is no question that
the majority of our costly Indian wars
have arisen solely because of the
trickcry ana dishonesty of the white
men who have tried to impose upon
government or as contractors or inter
mediarics. The expense of the nations
Indian wards can be materially re
drced Ivy conducting all transactions
With them upon Il strictly honest bust
ness hnSiS.
Omaha daily bee., 1896-12-13
DOMESTIC IDlLS.

Somervillc Journal: Smith-So, you were
married on election day, were you? You
didn't vote then?
Brown-No, l was paired.
indianapolis journal: "My dear" Mrs.
Chatt's husband finally dared to remark.
there seems to he but one end to your
conversation, and that is the beginning"
Brooklyn Life: He-Its hard to be re-
icCtcd all around. | spoke to your father
first, and he sworc l could never marry
you.
Shc-Thcn why didn't YOU say so? I'm be-
ginning to love you already.
Philadelphia Record: "Ruffcrton married
n highly intellectual woman" she
doesn't ever have much to say" mo. but
she sees that the carving knife is always
Kept sharp
Detroit Tribune: When they told her that
the young man whose suit she had rejected
the previous evening had hanged himself
to the gate post directly he left her. the
beautiful girl shrugged her shoulders "It
isn't my fault she said coldly. 81 spc-
officially told him he mustn't think of hang
ing around here any more"
Chicago Record: my husband has gone
out of town, to be gone two weeks" said
the lady
TOO bad" said the grocer.
And l want you to put me up n half
bushcl of the best onions you have and
send them right up to the house"
Indianapolis Journal: II think shall have
to get Johnny box of lead soldiers" said
MIR. Blether II had great enjoyment out
of them when | was his age"
Johnny" said the lady whose money
Mr.. Blether had married Shall have a
box of gold soldiers Lcad Please to re-
member that his position in life is much
better than yours was"
Omaha daily bee., 1896-12-13

Py request The Bee rcpublshes on
another page the address of its editor
Edward Rosewatcr. on woman suffrage
delivered in his debate with Miss Susan
Il. Anthony during the campaign of
1852. when an equal suffrage amend,
mGnt to the constitution of Nebraska
was submitted to the voters of this
state. While this speech was made
over fourteen years ago. the arguments
are pertinent to many of the questions
still agitating the people and will prove
suggestive and instructing to our read
prS
Omaha daily bee., 1896-12-13
virgin Land A,vniting TiiIers.

That Uncle Sam Is rich enough to give
US al a farm" is scarcely less true today
than it wa9 when the song was first sung.
He still owns mere than GOO0OO,O00 acres Of
vacant land, not counting Alaska, with its
1863 900 900 acres and there Is a great deal
OF this vast area that would yield frst-rate
crops il properly cultivated II i2 too bad
that tho timid patriots who stood on street
corners during the recent cam
paign trembling in terror Of the awful
money power"-it 10 too bad that these
tmid patriots don't go west and tickle this
free soil until it chuckles with harvest
Omaha daily bee., 1896-12-13
WHERE'S MOTHER.

London Mail.
Bursting In from school or play,
This Is what the children say;
Trooping, crowding. big and small,
ON the threshold i'm the hall
Joining in the constant cry,
Ever as the days go by.
Where's mothcr?"
From the weary bed of pain
This same question comes again;
From the boy with sparkling eyes,
Fearing home his earliest prize;
From the bronzed and bearded son
Pcrils past and honors won
where's mother?"
Rurdened with n lonely task,
One day we may vainly ask
For the comfort OF her face,
For the rest of her embrace:
Let us love her while we may,
Well for us that we can say,
where's mother?"
Omaha daily bee., 1896-12-13

Chicago barber schools are advertis-
ing to turn out graduates completely
fitted to experiment on the hirsute at
taChmcnts of the most eXacting patron
after an eight weeks course of study.
practice and laboratory work. The only
thing lacking is II guaranty that each
diploma-ho!dcr will be able to restore
live hair on bald heads and encase
whiskerleSS men in hair mattresses with
ont pOstgradunte instruction.
Omaha daily bee., 1896-12-13
Exports of American Apples.

The statistics show that since last July
tho shipments Of apples to Europe have been
from 10000 to 175,OOO barrels u week, the
total up to December l exceeding 1,750 900
barrels. which surDasse9 all previous rec
ords. This 10 one of the American products
Cor which the foreign demand is constantly
increasing, with but little competition from
other countries
Omaha daily bee., 1896-12-13

There is no more need of three paid
secretaries to the State Board of Trans
portation than there is of five wheels to
n wagon. But it is n question whether
the reform party which is about to
secure control of the state government
is willing to reform away any salaried
places within its gift
Omaha daily bee., 1896-12-13

A convention has just been held at
Fort Smith to make, with the assist
ance of congress, the Arkansas river
more navigablc. If we do not Offset
this with a convention to work an addi-
tional appropriation To make the Mis-
souri, more navigable and less obstrep-
erous We will not he holding up our
end of the line
Omaha daily bee., 1896-12-13

Attorney General Harmon is said TO
be going after the CaStiron Pipe trust
are, however. that the remainder of Mr..
IIarmon's official term will not be long
enough to enable him to perfect lead
pipe cinch on conviction.
Omaha daily bee., 1896-12-13

If the Baltic canal earned operating
expenses and 10000 marks besides dur
ing the first year that it was opened,
why would not Nicaragua canal earn
operating expenses and also contribute
toward an interest and sinking fund to
apply on the Investment?
Omaha daily bee., 1896-12-13
signiiicnnce of Church Maps.

The erudite John Bgelow has written a
highly interesting book upon THE Mystery
Of Sleep" in which he contends that the sole
object of sleep is not to repair the wasted
tissues of the body, but to aid in the spir-
itual development of man. This, if true, may
account for the tendency of certain persons
to slumber in church.
Omaha daily bee., 1896-12-13
Glowing American Fortunes Abroad

The social game between the Vanderbilts
and the Astors in London ig growing eXcit-
ing. The former led Of with two princes
and a princess. and the latter have now
played a duke. a marquis. a princess and a
few viscounts thrown in for good measure.
All this does no HARM while 1t amuses a
good many people and makes business good
for London tradesmen
Omaha daily bee., 1896-12-13

Attention is called to the communica-
tlon in this issue of The Bee dealing
with the order of Jesuits and it's worl,
In answer to some of the indiscriminate
charges that have been made recently
against that organization. The com
munication contains much interesting
information which throws flood OF
Light upon the subject treated.
Omaha daily bee., 1896-12-13

The attitude of the Treasury depart
ment toward the Transmississippi EX
position is entirely creditable to its
intelligence The government cannot
afford to pursue a policy which will in
any way SAVIOR of niggardlness in deal
ing with an enterprise of such magni-
fnnn
Omaha daily bee., 1896-12-13

The Irrigation congress meets M
Phoenix, Ari2., this week ana will have
n futl representation from Nebraska
Nebraska has almost as much to look
for from successful irrigation as any
other state in the union and will. there
fore, welcome anything that will con
tribute to this end. The congress this
year ought to be most fruitful of re-
suits.
Omaha daily bee., 1896-12-13

There are said to be people in the south
who do not yet know that the war Is
over. The Bryanites who do not yet
know that the 50-ccnt silver dollar has
been repudiated by the people of the
United States ought TO go and keep these
people company.
Omaha daily bee., 1896-12-13

The popocrats who are Just spelling
for Il chance to witness a rupture in the
relations OF President Mckinley and
Speaker Reed are likely to be most sadly
disappointed.
Omaha daily bee., 1896-12-13

One way TO reduce the deficit in pos
tai revenues to which President Cleve-
land forgot to allude lies in making
Christmas come about twelve times a
year and multiplying Valentine day SO
as to celebrate it weekly at the fur
tbnct
Omaha daily bee., 1896-12-13

What will the boiling republican
senator's call themselves when they
come to write their biographies for the
new edition of the Congressional Di-
rectory? Do they expect to form Il
new senatorial party all by them
splyeSp
Omaha daily bee., 1896-12-13

If the anti-toXine treatment proves to
be eflicacious in the cure of mcmbra-
nous Group one of the most deadly
scourges of childhood will be removed
from the list of incurable diseases.
Omaha daily bee., 1896-12-13

The gerrymandcr, wild, is one of the
most fcrocious and dangerous animals
In the North American fauna. Do
mesticated and properly trained it is
well adapted to the service of man
kind
Omaha daily bee., 1896-12-13
UscIrss Mchitntions.


After a man gets to be 40 years old, he
generally sits down and looks around, at
least once week. and wishes that he had
about half as many things in his house as
he has and the money that he paid for them
drawing interest in a bank.
Omaha daily bee., 1896-12-13

The United States army has had little
to do in the way of military operations
during the past year, but none of the
officers or privatcs are complaining
very loudly.