davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1897-01-04
WORK FOR THE LEGISLATURE.

| Adams County Democrat: The Omaha Bee
| says that several soft and useless political
berths should be done away with by the in
coming legislature. The Bee is right what
ever lis motives for saying so may be-
Creighton Courier: The incoming legs-
| lature can do more, for Nebraska by making
appropriations sufficient to cover the sugar
| bounty and running the state institutions
and then saw wood the remainder of the SEES
| sion.
Auburn Granger: At present there seems
| to be pressing demand for radical changes
| in our state game laws, but those who ask
| for the changes differ as widely as to the
| changes needed as do the people of Omaha
| relative to their city charter.
| York Times: There are seventy-five EN-
plOyes in and around the state capitol, who
| draw 1000 per year. Our populis. friends
| do not seem disposed to cut ii down very
| much. If they are in earnest about re-
| trenchment and reform they can set a good
example to the republicans. Do you have
| any idea they will do it?
Beatrice Democrat: 1t is said that
scheme will he presented to the legislature
this winter for protection of depositors in
state banks. The scheme is to tax deposits
| in all state banks and create a general fund
| to be placed in the hands OF the state treas
urer. No suggestion is made to how the
state treasurer is to be prevented from steal
| ing it.
Seward Reporter: A plan is strongly talked
of to create a guarantee fund for depoSitors
in state banks by levying a tax on the de-
posts. A tax of one-half of l per cent rs
suggested and it is stated that such a levy
would bring into the state treasury a sum
sufficient to guarantee all depOsitors. 1t
may be that the plan will find favor with the
legislature, but it is open to numerous obs
jectons and in the opinion of many good
business men and bankers it is impractical
BILE.
Blair Pilot: Regardless of what the popu-
list legislature, which Convenes next week
at Lincoln, should do this winter with ref
cronce to the beet sugar bounty law, one
thing is ceTtain-it Should make an appro-
pria,ion for the payment Of the bounty due
for the past seasons. Those to whom this
money is cwed have acted in good faith
and the good credit Of the citizens should
not be made to shake on account of the fail
uro Of the last legislature to make suill-
cient appropriation.
McCook Tribune: In tha interest of econ
omy the advisability of consolidating some OF
the judicial districts of southwestern Ne
braska is being considered >with some degree
OF seriousness. Doubtless such a course is
practical and desirable. 1t would save tho
people quite sum of money, and In no wise
cripple the ends of equity and justice. And
another office in which economy may well be
practced Is in the county attorneyship. IL
cannot ba questioned that the Old system
of district attorneys is more desirable than
the present plan Of having county attorneys,
so far as the poorer and more sparsely set
tied western counties are concerned. re-
turn to the system would also be in the
interest OF economy and better service.
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1897-01-04

must be passed with an emergency
clause, which requires the votes OF two
thirds of all the members elected to
each house. 1t Is exceedingly question
able whether any charter bill can secure
siNty-seven votes I'm the house even If 1t
were made Il caucus measure by the
fusionists. The margin of one or two
votes is Il very uncertain quantity.
There are always some men in every
party who refuse to be gagged and
bound when 1t comes to dealing with
questions of local government which
may set precedent FOR legislation that
would affect their own towns. If the
new charter does not take effect until
three calendar months after the adj
iournment of the legislature the propo-
sition for spring elections and three
year terms would mean an extension of
the present city administration until the
spring of 1898, and that is precisely
what the reform chartcr-makcrs do not
wnut
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1897-01-04
HAWAlIAN ANNEXATION.

1t is assumed in some quarters that the
next administration will certainly favor
the annexation of the Hawaiian islands.
There is no authority for this asSumD-
ton in anything the president-clect has
said. but the republican national plat
form declares that those islands should
be controlled by the United States and
the disposition shown by Major MclIin-
ley to conform his course to the party
platform is the ground for the belief
that he will favor anneXing Hawaii.
The platform declaration, however, does
not necessarily imply annexation. Con
troll" of those islands would be prac.
ticable without making them an integral
part of the republic, as by extending II
protectUrate over them and safeguard
ing them against foreign Interference.
1t NAV be that the next administration
will be disposed to do this. but it may
well be doubted whether it will yield to
the demand for annexation. which does
not represent the conservative sentiment
of the country and is not in accord With
the traditional policy of our government
! 1t is to he expected that as president
Major Mckinley will not be wholly
guided as to this matter by the utter
ance of political convention. 1t must
be presumed that he WIFI carefully and
thoroughly consider the question from all
points of view, giving due weight to The
fact that the absorption of territory 1000
miles distant would be Il most radical
departure from Il policy that has been
observed since the foundation of the
government. He will sound intelligent
public opinion on the subject and he will
not hesitate to give heed to those who
believe that the nation should adhere to
the established course. If he shall do
this he will find that there is Il very
strong opposition to the annexation of the
Hawaiian islands, although the Amer
lean people may be practically unani-
nous in favor of a policy on the part of
the United States toward Hawaii which
will conserve the maintenance of Il re-
publican form of government there and
prevent any interference by foreign ma
tons. 1t is highly probable that there
will be strong pressure for annexation.
Already preparations are making for
this. But it is quite possible that the
hopes of the anneXationists will be dis
appointed.
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1897-01-04
TIE THREE-YEAR TERM

Among the reforms proposed by the
| trainers of the new charter prepared by
the Douglas delegation is radical
change in the terms of city officers and
| the time of holding the city elections.
| Under the existing charter city officers
hold their offices for two years and the
| election of mayor and city officers takes
| place every two years on the day set
! for holding state elections. 1t is pro-
posed in the new charter that the term of
elective city officers shall extend over
| three years and the elections shall be
held in the month of April instead of
| the month of November. Some features
| of this proposed change may commend
| themselves to the public. but there are
also serious objections that in our judg
| ment outweigh the advantage to be de-
rived.
There is no doubt that we have too
many elections and we suffer much by
too frequent changes of public officers.
| 1t is also true that short terms make
| officers scheme for reelection from the
day they enter Office TO the detriment
of the public service. Executive Off
GERS scheming for reelection do many
| things they should not do and would not
do if they were ineligible for second
term. a limited three-ycars term would
in some respects be better than an I'M
| limited twO-years' term, and If the city
were sure of getting lilst-class men a
Lott, .,gF.
| ter still
While there is much to be said in
favor of separating city elections from
all other elections with Il view of di-
vorcing the municipal service from parti-
| sanship, separate elections involve
additional expenses, which under
| the Australian system involve an
outlay of about $4,000. The
| objectionable feature of triennal
city elections is that they fit in irregu-
larly with other elections. For exam
| pie, If we were to hold the first mu-
nicipal election in the spring of 1897
the next municipal election would occur
in the spring of 1900, in the midst of the
| excitement that precedes the presiden-
| tial nominating conventions. Instead
OF dvorcing city elections from state
| and county politics, we would entanglc
them with national politics, where party
lines are drawn most sharply.
From the present outlook, however,
we doubt very much whether we shall
hold n spring election In the year 1897.
In order to make the new charter eff
fectiye in time for such an election II
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1897-01-04
CURRENCY BEARINGS,

There can be no reasonable objection
| on banking and currency to commence
| this week Il series of hearings, prepare
tory to the formulation of n currency
bill. If the committee can in this way
obtain any new light on the subject
which may contribute to n practical re
suit. it is certainly most desirable that
it should get it, for it would seem that
the committee is in need of information
of practical kind. At the last session
the chairman, Mr.. Walker of MasSa-
chuSetts, was anxious to report bill
to the house, but was unable to do so
owing to Emergencies of opinion among
the members of the committee, one of
whom recently said that the trouble
was no two men anywhere seemed to
be agreed upon what steps We're neces.
Sary to be taken to remedy the common
complaint against the present system of
banking and currency. If getting the
opinions of bankers and business men
who may be disposed to submit them
will enable the committee to formulate
bill and bring it forward for public
discussion the hearings will not be al
together prottless.
Meanwhile members of the commit
tee have their plans. Chairman Walker
submitted his ut the last session and it
encountered pretty general disfavor.
He still has remedies to propose, how
Ia i,
and that being the case it may be
doubted whether the hearings will have
any influence except rs they shall agree
with the preconceved ideas of the com
mittee. Mr.. Walker would make some
radical changes. He would put the cur
rent redemption of the greenbacks upon
the banks pro rata to their capital and
compensate the banks for this service
by allowing them to issue an amount
of currency equal to the sum of the
greenbacks of which they assume the
current redemption. He would also re-
lease the banks from an obligation To
secure their currency by the use OF
United States bonds on the ground that
the use of bonds violates every princi-
pie of banking as ii is understood in
every other country except the United
States. He says that his plan would
make n profit TO the banks rs II whole
of three times what they can make I'M
der existing conditions and if this be
demonstrable he can hardly expect the
plan to be popular. 1t is to be noted
that the chairman Of the banking and
currency committee has not fallen in
with the idea that the first condition
to currency reform is the elimination
OF the greenbacks but it is safe to say
that there will be practical unanimity
among the bankers who shall submit
their views TO the committee that this
is absolutely essential. Nevertheless, 1t
is just rs well to have the hearings,
which can do no harm ii no good comes
of them,
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1897-01-04
rnE STATE TREASURY SITUATION


Central City Nonpareil. All parties have
~ last found one thing on which they can
agree-the state treasurers report. The uni
versal sentiment is one OF condemnation,
| and Treasurer BARLEY must be possessed
OF a most unusual pair OF cars II they do
not burn at the comment Of the state press
Bradshaw Republican: The Bees ar
ralgnment OF State Treasurer BARLEY for
placing state funds In concerns whose sol
vency It claims is questionable is hardly
justifablc until a demand on said deposito-
rios by the new treasurer reveals as the
truth that which at present Is only sur
mise.
Dodge Criterion: We shall be very sorry
II poor old Holt county Is called upon to pass
through the disgrace of having furnished a
dcfaulting state treasurer and sincerely hope
she will be spared that with all her
faults, we love her still and wish that with
the new year she may begin life anew
and again royel in her old-time prosperity
Cedar Bluffs Standards 1t is now as
serted that Treasurer BARLEY will not turn
over the cash to the incoming treasurer on
the ground that he don't have to-" He
will merely hand over Mr.. Meservc cortii-
Gates OF deposit or certified checks and II
that don't suit him he will just tell him
where IL is and let that settle 1t. Mr. Bart
ley may be short on cash; he is also long
on gall.
urer's report to the governor contains
reference to the state depository law, and the
treasurer can see no good resulting from
the operations of state repositories. Like
the last republican legislature, he lays the
blame OF all loss of state money to the oper-
ations of the law. The Omaha Bee points
out where the state has lost $4,000 Of its
deposits in the Globe Loan and Trust com
rany of Omaha, supposed to have been de-
posted under the provisions of the law.
But The Bee, like a good many others who
have been studying the operations of the
law, believes that the defects are not in the
law at all, but in the manner in which its
provisions are enforced
Fremont Tribune: There ought not to be
single dollar of the states general fund
in state repositories, or any other place,
when there are outstanding warrants against
this fund, amounting to $l,4OOOOO
in excess of the money in such fund
How comes it that Treasurer BARLEY has
placed S5SOOOO Of general fund
money in these repositories? What
kind of business policy is it to place
the money in such shaky institutions, where
it draws only per cent interest, when the
%a variant, outstanding against %,, it arr, are
money has been deposited in banks
of questionable solidity, warrant hold
ers have hawked their securities about the
state until the states credit has suffered
and the warrants would bring only 50 cents
on the dollar in the market. These
are asking, and they have not
been answered by Treasurer BARLEY.
The Tribune confeSses to having a touch
Of that tired feeling" after continually
working for its party year in and year out
and having the effects of that work kicked
over by such indefensible official action as
this appears to be. 1t is a party betrayal
1t doesn't like.
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1897-01-04
Personal AND OTHERWISE.

II this flibuster business keeps up. Key
West will soon be one of the most prosper
Gus ports in the United States.
Joseph Juneau. the founder of the Alas
kan city which bears his name, has just
returned to San Francisco. after an absence
of thirty years. He first went to California
by the old overland trail in 1851.
Ex-Speakcr Reed, referring to his 50, 900
fee as referee for some Massachusetts, in
surance companies recently remarked: ut
Is only when a man is drawing a salary for
doing nothing that he feels he is at last
receiving what he really deserves"
The discussion about the origin of the
fountain pen has led to the discovery that
the Danish countess Ulfeldt had one in
1868 In her account of her prison life
she speaks of her SILVER pen filled with
ink which it can send forth"
If the extraordinary beg slides in Kerry
spoil the Lakes CT Killarney. Ireland will
lose some of the most beautiful scenery in
the world and the world viii lose the charm
of verify in what Is perhaps the most beau
tiful nature lyric in the English language.
Gerald Du Maurier is quoted as saying
that his father invariably pronounced the
name Svengali with the accent on the first
syllable" The learned editor OF tho New
York Sun, fresh from his summer in Rus
sia says that this is in accordance with
the usual method OF pronouncing Slavic
names
II plan now on foot is carried out Vice
President-elect Hobart will call the next
United States senate to order with gaYel
made from a limb Of one Of the old apple
trees standing on the farm where he was
born. The gayel will be highly embelllshed
and will bear an appropriate inscription on
gold plate,
Dining cars have just been placed on the
Midland railroad In England, and they eX-
cite wondering inquiries among the people
Of what next. A London paper becomes
quite agitated In relating how now tray
oler "can have his dinner cooked on the very
vehicle no travels In and dine in luxury
while running at the rate OF seyenty-iye
miles an hour without splitting drop OF wine
out Of a glass filled 10 the brim."
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1897-01-04
WILL IGNORE FACTIONS.

| 1t Is said upon what appears to be
good authority that Major Mckinley
will not recognize any factions i'll the
| republican party. Reports to the effect
| that the president-elect would give his
| influence to one of the factions in the
| senatorial contests in Kentucky and
Pennsylvania are declared to be wholly
| Enthusiastically. The Washington cores
| pendent of the Philadelphia Ledger
quotes n gentleman who recently visited
Major Mckinley and conversed with him
regarding senatorial elections i'm various
states rs declaring that the president.
elect will not under any circumstances
| interfere in any manner with the choice
of senators. According to this authority,
it is the purpose of Major Mckinley to
keep aloof from all fractional conflicts.
| when confronted by fractional lines it
| will be the aim of President Mckinley
| TO obliterate and not to deepen them
This is entirely credible, because it is
entirely consistent with the political
career of Major Mckinley. He has
never countenanced fractional warfare,
but has always endcavOred to avert it
and when that could not be done TO put
an end to it Us soon as possible. Fac
tiOnal conflicts of Ohio republicans have
never had any ENCOURAGEMENT from him.
Major Mckinley will seek to strengthen
the republican party in the nation and
in order to do this he must ignore the
quarrels of factions.
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1897-01-04
Wnnteh-A Railway Outlet.

According to an extended article in The
Omaha Bee of Sunday. the time will soon
arrive when this territory will have a
north and south line of connection to the
gulf. 1t is the Kansas City Pittsburg &
Gulf railroad and it will be of incalculable
value to the farming interests of the ccun-
try, as it will afford a much cheaper freight
rate to market, which is the one great
necessity if the farmers of Nebraska are
to realize any profit from the products of
the farm other than in the raising of sugar
beets. All hail the day when such glad
tdings can be heralded throughout north
east Nebraska
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1897-01-04

The attitude of the railroads toward
the TransmissiSsippi Exposition is most
encouraging. There is no doubt that
every one of them will make generous
contribution to the enterprise. In the
meantime nothing is to be gained and
possibly something is to be lost by I'M
duly crowding the roads
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1897-01-04
Envious of Nebraska.

Other states are catching the beet sugar
craze and are preparing to test their soil
Tor the production Of that useful and profit
able root crop. Nebraska has passed
through the experimental stage in that in
dustry and needs only a broad gagged
business policy to easily keep her in the
front rank as a sugar producing and manu-
featuring state. There's a mine of wealth
in it for Nebraska If only the right course
is pursued stand up for Nebraska.
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1897-01-04
Nebraslzn's Champion Husi< crcss.

An unmarried woman in Nebraska Is an
nounced as having husked seventy-five bush
els of corn in one day recently. We do not
understand whether or not this is intended
as matrimonial advertisement, but if so,
we would suggest that the only man who
would be willing to lay himself at the feet
of so much energy would be open to the
suspicion of lcziness. Men still like the
privilege Of doing little of the husking
Themselves
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1897-01-04

The Corn islands, for the possession of
which two little Central American ma
tons are striving, are said to be gar
risoned only by three policemen and a
governor. This would seem to be a good
place for Great Britain to extend its in
nnnnnn
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1897-01-04

Utah's mineral production for the year
1896 is estimated by the most reliable
authorities to have been $15,S97, 266, or
$1,37T,30T more than it was the proceed
ing year. And this Notwithstanding the
refusal of the people to try the expert
ment of boosting 30 cents worth of sill
yer up to the dollar notch.
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1897-01-04

BY the watch of the official timekeeper
Il took Mayor Pingree just two minutes
to take his oath of office and be in
Quoted as governor of Michigan. This
may establish the record for assuming
office, but we have known governors to
make their exits from official life in less
time than two minutes.
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1897-01-04

The eccentric Pennoyer of Oregon has
made another gallery play by refusing
to accept half of the salary due him rs
mayor Of Portland, on the ground that
his services are not worth the money,
Pennoyer's reason for his action may be
good, but the publicity which he courts
by II must give rise to suspicious of other
motives
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1897-01-04

Although the fire loss for the year just
closed has not yet been promulgated for
the whole country. the reports so far had
from different cities Indicate that it will
be the smallest in recent years. But fire
insurance rates will remain unchanged
so long as the policyholders enter no
effective complaint.
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1897-01-04
Mercer at it Again.
Blair Pilot.

Dave Mercer is at it again. He never
sees an opportunity to favor Nebraska with
out making the best of it. For some time
the depot for the distribution of Indian
supplies has been at Chicago and Dave
thinks it properly belongs to Omaha. He
is now at work bringing about what he
thinks to be right. and since he usually
gets what he gees after we may expect
the depot headquarters at Omaha soon.
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1897-01-04

Omaha will have to make good
progress ut repaving the coming season
and property owners may rs well make
up their minds on this point mt once. A
continuance of the present wretched con
dition of the streets would do more harm
stored in Il year of active enterprise.
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1897-01-04

There Is no lack of inventions to dimin-
ish the cost of production or to save labor,
but inventions which protect human life
and limb are slower in forthcoming and in
adoption. Yet in a progressive age hu-
manity should rank before gain Every
movement for the ameioration of the con-
dition of the masses and the lessening of
their danger marks more truly than man
ners or monuments the advance of civiliza-
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1897-01-04

Among the first legacies of the new
council that. will demand immediate at
tcntion is the hole in the treasury created
by the Bolln Shortage. The transfer of
this void from fund to fund must be
stopped and some definite apportionment
of it agreed upon.
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1897-01-04

Mayor Broatch is entitled TO credit for
serving notice upon the promoters of
the Barber asphalt repair bill job that
1t would have to pass over his veto,
Now let the mayor stick his veto pen
into the Jail job and he will win the
plaudits Of the taxpayers. The two
propositions We're linked together, and
one is just as Ubiquitous as the other
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1897-01-04

1t is really too bad that the speaker
ship cannot be passed around the house
and be enjoyed on the instalment plan
by every one elected to the legislature.