davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Omaha daily bee., 1896-05-03
THE METHODIST CONFERENCE

-Four years ago Omaha had the dis
tinguishcd honor of entertaining the
general conference of the Methodist
Episcopal church and recollection of
that great asscmblage is still fresh in
the minds of many of our citizens. This
conference is now in session in Cleve-
land and its deliberations will be re-
garded with interest throughout the
Christian world The delegates COM
posing 1t represent the greatest of
Protestant denominations in member
ship. number of churches and value of
church property in the United States.
The membership of the Methodist Epis-
copal church in this country is over
100000 and there are nearly or quite
as many adherents. The denomination
has 25,S61 church buildings and its
property is valued at over S96,OOO,OOO
This does not include the church south
and the fifteen other forms of Method
ism. The conference Is n cosmopolitan
body, there being delegates from Vari-
Gus conferences in South America, AT
RIGA, Europe and Asia, where the Meth
odist church now has 100000 communi-
cants. 1t is composed of 377 ministerial
and 200 lay delegates.
The general conference is the supreme
legislative and judicial body of the
church and the results of the present
meeting are expected to be of the great
est Importance to the future welfare of
the denomination. Among the questions
to be decided perhaps the one of most
immediate interest relates to the ad
mission of women to the conference.
This matter has been agitated for years
and very vigorous contest over it i'll
the present conference, before which it
Four women delegates were elected to
this conference and the question of Civ
ing them seats will come up at tomor-
rows session. According to the dis
patches majority of the committee to
which the question was submitted for
a report on it to the conference are in
favor of the women and if they should
be seated it would be a decisive victory
for the cause. they represent. The de-
fining and making of q constitution for
the church is, another matter of COM
manding Importance. Other questions
of great interest to the denomination
relate to equal representation in the
general conference, the admission of
lay representation into the various an
nual conferences the relation of for
eign conferences to the church in the
United States, the attitude of the church
toward the great reforms of the age
and toward worldly amusements. and
the relation of the Epworth league to-
ward the Society of Christian Endeavor
The Methodist Episcopal church is
the most aggressive as well as the most
extensive of the Protestant denomina-
tions and the decisions of its general
conference possess an interest for all
rhnrrhnS
Omaha daily bee., 1896-05-03


The criminal in this country has his
chance in protractions and delays of trials
which shrewd lawyers know so well how
to bring about. The sentiment that II is
"barbarous" to punish a murderer with
death is a sentiment simply prOmotiye Of
the darkest crimes. In England when a
murderer has had a fair trial and every
opportunity to clear himself Of the charge,
and is found guilty, that is considered con-
elusive and his execution follows in brief
period There is no reason why the same
system should not obtain in this country.
Ii is not once in thousands of times that
the wrong man is hanged Let the chill
dIen grow up with the notion that the death
penalty is an atrocity and "unciyilized" and
we will soon be a nation OF thugs. Already
there are bad symptoms OF the growth Of
crime culture. At public school In a Mich
igan town not long ago a boy who had been
reprimanded by his teacher drew a revolver
on her, and examination showed that thir-
teen Of the young pupils carried pistols in
their pockets! Is II any wonder that there
we're some AZ 900 persons murdered In this
country during the past seven years? Verify
reform Is necessary In this respect and all
true citizens should organize against the
propagation of maudlln. mushy sentiment
as 10 the death penalty, and as to child
criminals.
Omaha daily bee., 1896-05-03
SECULAR SHOTS AT TUE PULPIT.

Chicago Times-Herald: Rev. W. N. Cleve.
land would not object to a nomination at the
hands OF some good nCu0partisan congrega-
tion.
Chicago Tribune: Chicago preacher ha,
just discovered that the Garden OF Eden was
at the north pole. We suppose the pole itself
was the tree OF knowledge and the serpent
got In through Semmes hole.
Chicago journal: Sometimes NOT even a
good name can save a town. The village OF
Epiphany, s. D., was destroyed by a cvclone
Tuesday, church wrecked, and a preacher
seriously injured, while the locality known as
Helrs Halt-Acre. over ia an adjoining county.
wasn't even touched.
Philadelphia Record: The Newark ~ j.,
pastor who recently accused a leading New
York pastor of plagiarism in the preparation
OF en- Easter sermon has himself apparently
been trans0Ned on the point Of the deadly
parallel column. The charge is made that
he palmed on on the Yale class of 1875
parting ode, ono verse Of which was written
twenty years earlier by Rev. DR.. Sylvanus
Phelps. The Newark pastor now has tho
floor; and he cannot take II any too socu to
satisfy an exacting public sentiment which
will rightly regard this as che of the cases
that demand the administration Of poetic
Justice
Boston Globe: Rev. DR.. John Hall OF New
York has showed Rev. Dr. Morgan, also OF
New York, the right way to do 1t. Ono sun
day afternoon recently he said TO his congre.
cation just before the sermon: "My church
duties during the last week have been very
numerous and eXaCting, and 1t was utterly
impossible for me to prepare more than one
sermon, which | preached to you this morn
ing | can serve you better and do better
justice to myself by giving you sermon
which have read during the last week and
which gained very deep hold upon me-"
He then proceeded to give the sermon no
had read, TO the great interest and apparent
satisfaction Of the large congregation.
Omaha daily bee., 1896-05-03

When arrangements were made by
the postoffice authorities for the trans
portation of the mails on the
electric street railways of the larger
cities. one of the principal Incentives
that urged the companies to offer liberal
terms was the desire to secure for
their lines the protection accorded mail
routes by the postal laws In conse-
quence all the rolling stock on the
mail lines were decorated with the sign
"U. S. Mail" and the impression was
assiduously spread that interference
with any of these street cars was inter
ference with the United States mails.
new ruling by the postollice officials
is to the effect that no car can have the
protection of the postal laws unless 1t
actually carries mail matter and that
cars not so used cannot lawfully be so
labelled. The signs therefore are being
taken off the greater number of street
cars in the different large cities which
hereafter will have to travel under it's
own cOlOrS
Omaha daily bee., 1896-05-03
THE PICKLER PENSION BILL.

Inquiries received by The Bee re-
| garding the provisions of the general
| pension bill passed by the house of
| representatives indicate widespread in
| terest in the measure among the old
| soldiers. AS stated in an editorial refer
ence to the bill some days ago, it does
| not add n single new class of pensioners
to the pension rolls, but seeks to es-
| tablish a more liberal construction of
existing laws. The first section of the
bill and the one which occaSiOned most
discussion provides that no person
otherwise entitled to a pension shall
be disqualified from receiving the same
by reason of any prior service in the
confederate army or navy during the
war of the rebellion, nor shall the
widow, children, or dependent relatives
of such person be deprived of a right to
pension by reason of such service; but
no pension shall be granted by virtue
of this section for disability contracted
or incurred while aiding or abetting the
late rebellion against the authority OF
the United States. This is intended to
remove the inhibition contained in sec
ton 4716 of the revised statutes, which
provides that no money on account of
pension shall be paid to any person, or
to the widow, children, or heirs of any
deceased person who in any manner
voluntarily engaged in or aided or
abetted the rebellion.
The second section forbids the reduc-
ton or discontinuance of n pension eX-
ceDt for fraud, clerical error, mistake of
fact, or recovery from disability. Other
provisions of the bill are that pensions
reduced or discontinued by reason of
the late Interpretation of the act of
June 81, 1890, shall, upon application, be
restored under the provisions of the
act; that all Investigations into the
merits of any pension previously al
lowed shall be conducted by question
and answer; that the oath of an enlisted
man shall be of equal weight with that
of Il commissioned officer and that no
claim shall be rejected because of
claimants inability to furnish the tes-
timony of more than one witness to any
ton of the pension laws an aftiant shall
be required only to make oath to having
read or heard read the subscribed affi-
davit and that the same was prepared
In his or her presence at his or her
dictation, is in atlantis own language
and that the matters and things therein
stated are true; that all notifications
from the bureau of pensions as to the
status of any case shall set forth each
and every fact upon which further evi-
dence is required to complete the same;
that everything relating to any pension
or claim shall be open to the inspection
of the claimant or his attorney; that
in all claims for pension or increase of
pension the records of the War or
Navy department showing disabilities
to have been incurred or contracted in
line of duty shall be conclusive of that
fact. The common law presumption Of
death and the common law as to mar
riage are to be observed In the admin
istration of the pension laws. 1t is pro
Omaha daily bee., 1896-05-03
POSTAL SAYINGS BANKS.

A writer in the Philadelphia Press
makes the excellent suggestion that the
republican national convention could not
do n wiser or more popular thing than
to put the postal savings bank into its
platform. He presents cOgent argu-
ments in behalf of such a system and
cites its successful operation in other
countries. at is a mystery" says this
writer, "that the United States, claim
ing to be the most progressive of ma
tions, stands almost alone among civil
iZed countries in refusing to its people
the great blessing of a place for saw
ings, accessible and secure He says
he cannot conceive of anything which
would more promote the interests of
the great body Of the people than the
postal savings bank.
Every one must reach this view who
will give the subject intelligent and
unprejudiced consideration. In the
first place the necessary tendency of
such system is to encourage saving,
which is helpful to the individual, to
the family and to the state This has
been the experience in all countries
where postal savings banks have been
established. 1t has been found that
many more people saved money after
this system was instituted than before,
The British statistics are conclusive as
to this, as are those, also, of Holland
and some other countries. In the sec
ond place great many people who do
not have confidence In the ordinary
banks would avail themselves of postal
savings banks, knowing that in deposit
ing their money with the government
it would be absolutely secure, and thus
a considerable amount of money that
Is kept in hiding would become avail
able, to the benefit OF the owners and
the government. PostoiIices being every
where tens of thousands of people
would be provided with secure place
for their savings to whom the ordinary
banks are inaccessible.
The Bee has for years advocated pos
tai savings banks and it fully believes
that the establishment of the system
in this country would have most bene-
fetal results. 1t would insure the gov
ernment the possession at all times Of
perhaps not less than S5000O0,OO0 of
the peoples money, so that no conceiy-
able condition would arise, in time of
peace, that would compel the govern
ment to go into the market to borrow
money. With the deposits of the peo-
pie constantly pouring in treasury de-
hcits and geld reserve depletions would
not imperil the solyency or the credit
Omaha daily bee., 1896-05-03
ouag1 AS SHEEP MARKET

The announcement that the Cudahy
Packing company has closed it's Chi
cago sheep slaughtering house perma-
nently and will hereafter do all its
sheep slaughtering at its slaughtering
houses at South Omaha means much
for this city. Not only will it in
crease the volume of business trans
ment to more men, swelling the re-
ceipts and sales of animals and add
ing to the aggregate of bank clear
ances, but it will give that point an
impetus as u sheep market that will
send it up in the comparison with its
competitors and give it u rank not
hitherto enjoyed.
With steady demand for sheep for
slaughter and shipment at South
Omaha, the sheep industry in Ne
braska and the surrounding states
ought Immediately to take on new life.
Sheep raising and sheep feeding have
already attained notable proportions in
this state. A single stockman in JEFF
ferson county who has been devoting
himself exclusively to the breeding and
fattening of sheep has been handling
from $1,000 to 25,O0O sheep each sea-
son, and the industry in Dodge county
has also reached q magnitude not gen
orally appreciated by our citizens.
While the business has during the past
few years suffered from the depressed
markets and the removal Of the wool
duty, the prospects with an outlook
for a revised tariff are said to be most
promising.
Omaha can be made the point where
the product of this vast industry is
brought for sale and S-shipment.
1t can be made one of the principal,
if not the principal, sheep slaughter
ing point in the country. 1t can fur
ther be made the seat of Il great man
ufacturing plant consuming the prod
ucts of the sheep farm and converting
them into yarns, blankets, woolens.
hides, tallow, glue, shoes, leather
goods and so on. All that is needed
is to attract capital and labor to util-
ize the advantages that can be offered.
The removal of the Cudahy plant from
Chicago to South Omaha ought to set
an example in the way of influencing
other great business firms that will
rebound to the benefit of all con-
cerned.
Omaha daily bee., 1896-05-03

Anti-option legislation seems to have
found favor with the German Reichstag,
which has just voted TO prohibit dealing
in grain and produce options on the eX-
change. The agrarians in Germany are
reputed to have their own way in pretty
nearly everything pertaining to them
selves as a class and this act is in re-
sponsc to one Of their persistent de-
mands. The result of the experiment in
Germany will be watched with no little
interest ON this side of the Atlantic.
Omaha daily bee., 1896-05-03

medicine In Illinois. Illinois Is not the
first state that has taken this step, but
1t is the first great western state to do
so and its action win no doubt have
great influence upon its nelghbors,
which will eventually come to the same
thing. Here In Nebraska it Is scarcely
possible and certainly not advisable to
adopt so radical n rule. but the trend
toward a higher standard in the medi-
cal profession is plainly visible. What
ever legislation is enacted and what
ever rules of practice are established,
they should be and will be in the dircc-
ton of exacting more stringent quail
fications from practitioners.
Omaha daily bee., 1896-05-03

The conflagration at Cripple Creek un-
fortunately destroyed n large number
of buildings and stocks of merchandise
contained in them. Had it only con-
sumed a few thousand or hundred
thousand shares of mining stocks it
would have been comparatively harm
less. The shares might have been
easily replaced by the printing press in
a very few days and at best would have
been worth only few cents each.
Omaha daily bee., 1896-05-03
NO FINANCIAL LEGLSL1r rlOM

1t may be regarded as practically set
tied that there will be no financial legis-
lation by this congress. The house com
mttee on banking is reported to be
still considering the several measures
that have been referred to it, including
the bill of the chairman, Mr.. Walker,
which appears to have no other sup
port than that of its author, but there
is no promise or probability that the
committee will agree upon anything of
a comprehensive character. There are
two measures on the house calendar,
one to allow national banks to issue
notes to the par value of bonds de-
posted as security and the other author
iZing the establishment of banks with
n capital as low as $4,000 in small
towns, which may be acted upon by the
house at this session, but even this is
doubtful so apparently Indifferent are
members generally to any legislation
relating to the finances or to banking
1t is undoubtedly just as well that such
is the case, for under present conditions
it would be almost impossible to bring
the two houses together on any meas
ure and to propose financial legislation
would simply inaugurate long and
proftleSs debate. AS the senate IS now
dominated nothing can get any standing
or serious consideration in that body
which does not look toward free silver
and this situation will continue during
the present congress. There will be a
change in the next congress if the cause
of honest money triumphs in the gen
eral election of this year and reDub-
lican president and house of representa-
tives are elected, as now seems certain
In that case the republican party can
take up the question of currency re-
form and solve it with reference to the
maintenance of the national credit and
the conservation of the general welfare.
At present it is useless for the repub-
lican house to attempt to do anything.
Omaha daily bee., 1896-05-03

More of our people ought to show their
interest in the work of stimulating the
art of ready debate and platform ora
tory among the pupils of the public
schools by attending the oratorical CON
tests In which these pupils compete an
nually for prizes. The contest this year
was credit to the schools and the par
Elephants in every respect, The benefits
of these exercises will of course be
reaped largely in later years, when the
young people come TO take part in pub
lie affairs, but they are none the less
on that account important features of
the educational system.
Omaha daily bee., 1896-05-03
Brewers and Saloons.


1t has been the condition of the liquor
trade in England for centuries past, and
it is becoming the condition in the United
States that the brewers own the saloons.
The methods by which control is gained
differ, but the result is the same in each
country. The saloon Of which the brewery
is not the controlling factor is getting to
be as rare in Chicago as in London.
The change may be for the better The
brewery must be conservative to a certain
extent, for it is the creature Of a large
capital. 1t therefore is likely to be hostile
to the mere "doggery," the barrel house"
the "bOozng KEN" where thieves and har-
lots congregate, and 10 all the drinking dens
that, being wholly vicious. are likely to
intensity the hostility of the people TO the
trade in general. The movement Of the
brewers toward elimination of the lower
class of saloons is in the nature of things,
and the nature Of things is beneficial to
society.
Omaha daily bee., 1896-05-03

of the government and no conspiracy
OF bankers or spectators could en-
barrass the national treasury. 1t was
hoped that this. matter would have re-
ccived the attention It merits at the
present session of congress, measures
having been introduced in relation to
it, 1t is prob1ble that it will be heard
of at the next session, and this will be
assured If the republican national con
vention shall declare in favor of postal
savings banks. IT is not to be doubted
that the party could gain many thou
sands of votes by such a declaration.
Omaha daily bee., 1896-05-03

vided that In the administration of the
pension laws the war OF the rebellion
shall be deemed to have closed July I,
1865. The former practice of ratings of
fixed disabilities is restored In case
of the rejection of claim for pension
under the act of 1890, on the ground of
no pensionable degree of disability, the
applicant shall not be required to file
new declaration, but on the sworn
statement of reputable physician that
a pensionable degree of disability does
in fact exist, the applicant may have
another examination. The phrase in
the act of 1890, "Without other means
of support than her daily labor" ap-
plying to widows income is construed
to mean "Without net income of $500
per annum," 1t being now held to mean
without an income of 500 per annum.
A pensionable status under the act of
1890 is given to certain classes of per-
sons who were formerly held to be
within the letter and spirit of that law,
but have lately been denied this
right
The enactment of this measure would
be very greatly to the advantage of
those who have just claim to the
bounty of the government and would
add little to the pension account AS
was said by one of the advocates of the
measure: at brides n hostile com
missioner and rolls away many of the
obstacles that hinder the worthy appli-
cant and makes his pathway to the pen
sion Office plain"
Omaha daily bee., 1896-05-03

Fire Chief Redell has repeatedly rec
commended the formation of a salvage
corps in this city. There can be no
doubt that such step would save many
dollars, both TO insurer and insured, and
would more than compensate property
owners for the expense of maintenance.
1t would afford means by which policy
holders could reach more equitable ad-
tustments with insurance companies,
which means in the long run many dol
lars saved, while 1t would still be of
great benefit to insurance companies.
No fire department is fully equipped
without salvage corps.
Omaha daily bee., 1896-05-03
BLASTS FROM RAMS HORN.

1t is hard to please people who never know
what they want.
No man ever broke his back by trying to
lift the load God gave him.
Using the rod will do no good, unless the
hand that holds 1t is moved by love.
There are too many people In the church
who would rather be comets than suns.
A revival meeting is sure to drag when tho
leading members feel most comfortable in the
back seats.
The devil is not throwing any darts at the
mgn who thinks he can be Christian with
out going to church.
A great many weak disciples take refuge
in Timothy's stomach. and behind his oft
repeated inflrmities"
There Is too much singing Take my sill
yer and gold" and putting nothing but cop
per and nickel in the basket.
Omaha daily bee., 1896-05-03
Chicago,s Battle of the Metals.

The threats of bolts in the Chicago con-
venton made by gold and silver men are
disturbing to the democracy. Still, the
chances are that no bolt will take place.
The silver men have chosen a large ma
jorlty of the delegates to Chicago thus far
selected, but this is because more states in
the west than in the east have held con-
ventions. A month hence the prepOnder
ance is likely to be on the gold side. In all
probability that side will have a majority
in the convention. But if the gold demo-
Gratis in the rest of the country show the
apathy and timidity they displayed in Mis-
souri, the 16 to l men will have long lead
in Chicago.
Omaha daily bee., 1896-05-03

In the Illinois republican state con-
ventiOn the roll call for Cook county is
by wards and precincts. The Cook
county delegation therefore is practi-
cally split up into, as many sub-delega-
tions as there are wards in Chicago and
precincts in the outlying districts. The
result is that the people represented
have a much better opportunity to keep
tab upon their representatives. The sys-
TEN, however. is not to be compared for
effectiveness with the Crawford county
plan of direct selection.
Omaha daily bee., 1896-05-03

The Chicago Inter Ocean is trying to
make out that the Nebraska free silver
democrats are working for the nomina-
tion OF Ex-Governor Horace Boes at the
Chicago convention. This will be news
to the free silver democrats Of Ne
braska. The delegation which they put
up under the leadership of Bryan is un-
instructed, although understood to be
for every free silver candidate In gen
eral and Mr.. Bryan in particular.