davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Omaha daily bee., 1899-02-18
NOT UP TO EXPECTATION.

1t is noted that the number of steam
ship lines between this country and
Cuba and Porto Rico has increased and
that on old lines the service has been
improved by the addition of new ves-
sells, but the expected trade with those
islands Is not yet being realized. So
far as Cuba is concerned it Is perhaps
increase of trade with that island, but
Porto Rico was not devastated by war
as Cuba was and it is distinctly disap-
pointing to find that since American oc-
cupation of the former there has been
no considerable increase of our com
merce with it.
Recently a New York paper inter
viewed a number of shipping firms IN
regard to this West Indian trade and
the opinions expressed were not alto
gether encouraging. One steamship
man remarked that it Is no Use telling
people that the islands afford golden
opportunities now and another said in
reference to Porto Rico that he saw no
great opportunities on the island now
for money making and really nothing to
justify prediction of a remarkable busi
ness growth. A lot of Americans who
have gone there are begging their pas
sage back. 1t Is also fact that the
annexation of Hawaii has not materi-
ally If at all increased our trade with
that island, while the Americans who
went there looking for opportunities
found nothing.
There Is no doubt that in time there
will be a large commerce between the
United States and Cuba. When that
island shall have been fully pacilied
which as now indicated should be soon
accomplished, and the conditions are
such that capital will feel safe in max
ing investments in the island, Cuba can
hardly fail to experience rapid devel-
opment. The Island is capable of sup
| porting three or four times the present
population, Il large and fertile portion
of il is not now under cultivation, it
has large mineral resources and in due
time capital will undoubtedly flow in
there in great volume for investment
IL all sorts of improvements. When
this takes place our commerce with the
island will begin TO grow and this coun-
try will of course get the bulk Of the
trade, which in the course of the next
ten years may be expected TO attain
very large proportions. But as to Porto
Rico and Hawaii there does not appear
to be any very good reason to anticipate
any very great increase in our com
merce with either island, except, per
haps, in imports.
AS to the Philippines, it is still urged
by the eXpansionists that possession of
those Islands by the United States will
give us a greatly enlarged trade there,
| but how this is to be obtained with the
Omaha daily bee., 1899-02-18
WHY DIsTRUsT EXISTS.
The spoiIs System Applied to Colonial
Government

Detroit Journal rep)
Whitelaw Reid said at the Marquette club
banquet that hesitation to confirm the treaty
with Spain was due to distrust in our own
people, dstrust in the methods of admins
tration we may employ in the government
Of distant possessions. This is true, and
confirmation of the treaty has not wholly
removed that distrust The thoughtful citi
zen awaits with anxiety the first nominations
from civil life that may be made by this ad
ministration or its successor or the latters
successor to represent us in the Philippines.
There is now before the senate for con-
frmation or rejection judge nominated for
the federal bench whose record, proven be-
fore the judiciary committee, is so rank that
his party associates have found it impossible
to recommend the appointment. But the ar
gument is gravely advanced in secret ses-
sion that it Is impossible that his character
should be so bad since he has petitions
signed by hundreds of worthy men of both
parties. Now the question is, Are we going
to select men for the government OF the
Philippines in the same spirit that this judge
was put forth-the spirit of carelessly signed
petitions, without investigation or conscien-
tlous Withholding of approval where ap-
proval may seat an unworthy servant? And
are we going to treat the Philippines better
than we treat ourselves? To come to the
point, would Whitelaw Reid refuse his sig
nature to a good party man regardless, or
partly regardless, of his qualifications for
an important post in Porto Rico? The foun-
dation for the distrust he mentions is there
fore not far to seek nor is 1t to be wondered
at that it exists. We have yet to prove our
good intentions with respect to government,
not military, in our new colonies. Nor can
we turn to neglected Alaska as a sample TO
be approved We can, In short bring in
finite discredit on ourselves and infinite mis-
cry on subject colonies by the application
of the methods of partisan politics to their
government, The question is, How are we
to avoid that abuse? Mr. Reid did not tell
us, and We can only wait to see the new
seed planted and Judge of the tree by its
fruits.
Omaha daily bee., 1899-02-18

votlon Of his time. his entire energy his for
tune--in fact. his life--to the Advancement
OF the single tax idea. This was said day be-
fore yesterday. and the profound sensation
It is expected TO create is In course OF prepa-
ration.
The youngest member OF the next con-
gress will be Martin IA. Glyun, editor OF the
Albany Times Union. who is &c years old
and sprung from the same soil In the town
of Kinderhook n. Y. which produced Mar
tin Van Buren and Samuel J. Tilden.
After March the following states. here
tofore strongly democratic, will be repre-
sented in Washington by two republican
United States senators each West Vir-
ginia, Maryland and New Jersey. Ken
tucky and Delaware have each one repub-
lican senator
The formal initiation OF Senator elect
Depew into Washington life last Saturday
was the warmest thing he went against in
forty years. Four hundred members of off,
cialdom were at the banquet and every
one stood UP and took his medicine No
seats were provided TO rest the loads.
Speechmakers were guyed into silence: even
Chauncey was not permitted to expose his
stories.
The proposed amendments to the consti-
tuition of North Carolina provide that all
persons claiming the right to vote shall be
able to read and write any part of the coOsti-
tuition in the English language. That dis
franchises all llliterates. Then it provides
that all males who on January 1, 1867, were
entitled to vote, and their descendants, shall
be exempt from the reading and writing
qualification. And that let's in all lliterate
whites.
The Alabama Legislature has provided for
the submission to the voters of that state
of a proposition for the holding of con
stitutional convention intended radically to
alter the present system of voting by the
establishment of an educational qualification
such as now exists in South Carolina
Louisiana and Mississippi The suffrage in
Alabama Is now practically free, one years
residence in the state, three months in the
county and thirty days in the voting pre-
cinct being required only
Omaha daily bee., 1899-02-18
POLITICAL DRIFT.

Senator Quay clings inyoluntarily to his
thirteen deficit.
The senate of Kansas passed a bill giving
the right of eminent domain to irrigation
companies
The estimated expenses of the city OF
Philadelphia for the year 1899 are $3l 400 goo.
the chief item OF which is for education,
the police expenses being S310O,O0O and the
fire department 81 100000
After March 4 New York will have three
resident members in the United States sem
ate-Depew, Plat and Cark of Montana
Senator Clark's palatial home in New York
City is ready for occupancy.
Missouri statesman has introduced in
the legislature a bill requiring saloon keep
ers 10 establish and maintain home for
He is a wise law maker who
makes provision for the rainy day"
Tom l.. Johnson, the wealthy street car
magnate OF Cleveland, o., and New York,
who helped to manage the campaign of
Henry George for mayor of New York, has
declared in a public speech that he has with
drawn from all his business enterprises. has
disposed OF every conflicting interest and of
every duty that would interfere with the de-
Omaha daily bee., 1899-02-18
ELEcyiNG A FPEYCY PRESIDE

! ELECTiNG 4 FRENCH PRESIDENT
The summons issued for a meeting to-.
day of the two houses of the French leg
slature in joint session for the purpose
of electing a new president to succeed to
the vacancy created by the death of
President Faure draws attention again
to the differences that distinguish the
choice of a president in France from that
of Il president in the United States. The
French legislature possesses not only
legislative but electoral powers and is
therefore the body from which the ex.
ecutive derives his authority.
Under the French constitution the cleo
ton of a president is vested in joint
session of the senate and deputies under
the presidency of the president of the
senate. To constitute an election a ma.
iority of the whole legal number of mem
bers is requisite. While the constitution
makes no further provision as to the pro-
cedure within the electoral college it
has determined it largely for itself The
precedentS established are no debate and
immediate transmission OF the result of
an election to the newly elected presi-
dent by the ministers of his predecessor.
While the legislature usually meets at
Paris, when sitting as an electoral col
legc, it holds its sessions at Versailles.
In it's choice of president it is unre-
stricted so far as the constitution is con-
cerned, with the exception that all men,
bers of the former royal families of
Ern Jicy,,nliGnI 20, t1,n
Ordinarily the term of French presi-
dent Is seven years, yet few presidents
of the republic have served the full
term. In case of a vacancy the eXecu-
tive power during the interregnum pend
ing the choice of the electoral college is
vested in the council of ministers who
happen to be in office. Their power,
however, extends only to convening the
senate and deputies and maintaining the
government temporarily.
The election of French president is
therefore even further removed from the
popular choice than the election of q
president of the United States by the
American electoral college. The French
president is practically dependent upon
the legislature instead of being inde-
pendent of it as in this country. In fact
the French constitution guards against
the presidency claiming any responsible
ity to the people, the intention being to
create an executive substantially ire
sponsible, leaving the responsible gov
ernment to his ministry, which changes
according to the varying political COM
pleXion of the majority in the house of
deputies. The infrequent Use of this
delicate machinery will, therefore, in
vest today's election of a president of
even though it was last exercised only
four years ago.
Omaha daily bee., 1899-02-18
POINTS NOT TO BE OVERLOOKED

In discussing proposed measures to
raise revenue by taxing insurance com
panies, the substantial points of differ
ence between life and fire companies are
too apt to be overlooked. AS the only
income of an insurance company is that
derived from its policy holders, the
question presented by every insurance
bill is whether 1t imposes burdens on
the companies or on their patrons.
The answer is not necessarily the same
for all insurance concerns. While life
companies are compelled to charge uni
form rates to all policy holders i'll the
same class, whether they live in Ne
braska or New England, fire companies
can usually recoup themselves at once
by raising their rates on Nebraska bust
ness without in any way affecting their
business in other states.
Increased rates for fire risks may be
expected to produce two effects. In the
first place, it would reduce the total of
fire insurance policies taken out on Ne
braska risks on the same principle that
an enhanced price Tor any article les
SenS lne demand Tor III. InlS tendency,
however, could not operate in full force
because fire policies must be carried in
many instances as the condition of other
| obligations by which merchants discount
their bills or loans are negotiated on real
property. Secondly, higher rates would
multiply the incentive to insurers to
procure policies through agencies outside
of Nebraska not subject to our laws,
thus transferring the whole business to
other states.
The need of care in legislating on in
surance matters is therefore plain.
Whatever special fees or taxes are pre-
scrlbed should be so arrang that they
cannot be arbitrarily shifted from the
companies to the policy holders, who are
already sufficiently taxed in this state
without additional loads 10 carry. Hap
hazard ht-or-miss legislation may be
relied on to work more injury than good
upon Nebraska policy holders without
any adequate compensatory benefits in
the way of new income for the state
treasury,
Omaha daily bee., 1899-02-18
The Pace That CrippIes.

No wonder some of the representatives
in congress who look a little beyond their
noses are beginning to feel apprehension of
the weight of the load they are piling on
the back OF the taxpayer. A footing of the
appropriations of congress already prac-
tically agreed upon shows total Of over
5000 900 600 This leaves out of considera-
tion the Nicaragua canal bill, the shipping
subsidy bill, Cuban claims, Pacific cable
and other treasury bleeding schemes which
would call for between 5000, 900, 900 and $780,
600 900 of eventual expenditures. 1t is pro-
posed to spend 50 for every 81 of the federal
revenue The richest nation could not
travel far at that financial gait without be-
ing overtaken by disaster.
Omaha daily bee., 1899-02-18

The payment of SLIP out of the city
treasury to the eX-poliCe officers who
secured reinstatement after dismissal
by order of the court represents neat
nest egg for the hold-up lawyers who
instigated and managed this raid upon
the taxpayers. The agreement with the
attorneys Is said to have been the pay
ment of 40 per cent of the proceeds as
their fees. OF course neither the eX-
policemen nor the lawyers did anything
to earn this money, which is palpable
robbery of the people, but as long as
the courts can be used for such pur-
poses the taxpayers may expect to sulfer
periodically in the same manner.
Omaha daily bee., 1899-02-18
DON'T WORRY A BIT.
Denver Post.

DenVer Post.
If your plans should fail and your schemeS
go wrong,
Don't you worry a bit
Face every care with defiant song,
Don't you worry a bit.
Don't list to the whisperngs of despair,
But have the courage to do and dare,
And you'll distance Eli in getting there
Don't you worry a bit.
If you spring a pop and the girl says no,
Don't you worry a bit,
Just laugh and say you had reckoned so,
Don't you worry a bit.
She'll soon relent and will call you back,
Your hat will hang on the same old rack,
And your lips will meet in the same old
smack
Don't you worry a bit.
If your wife is grabbed and sour and cross,
Don't you worry bit,
If she even sets herself up as boss,
Don't you worry a bit.
She'll soon be needing a new spring hat,
A new sulrt waist and a new dress pat,
And II b. demure as a pussy cat
Don't you worry a bit.
View life with a philosophc eye
Don't YOU worry a bit,
II your cards are low try to play them high,
Don't you worry bit.
Keep Your Gun OF energy hrimming full
And youll some day have the old fortune
Ry tho shaggy tail. with down hill pull
Don't you worry bit.
Omaha daily bee., 1899-02-18
Must Not he Overworked.

1t is a pleasure to see that the United
States army takes the right view of in
dustry. Unrestricted industry Is most in
furious. If permitted, things will be done
in five minutes to which ten or fifteen
might be just as well devoted. Therefore
1t is we'll that the sentence OF Seventh
cavalry trooper who was tried by court
martial should be set aside on the ground
that the members of the court worked
overtime, actually considering the case
after o'clock in the afternoon without
first securing the consent of the War de-
partment. Otis at Manila wants to look
out that he doesn't let his men fight except
during recognized union hours or the first
thing he knows Aguinaldo Will file
protest and he will have to begin all over
again
Omaha daily bee., 1899-02-18
Some burdens Nearer Home.


Has our own treatment OF native popula-
tion at home been of kind to encourage
US in the belief that we will effectively do
much for the hybrids in the Philippines;
that we can aid them except as we have
aided the Indians where we had the oppor-
tunity at home? For every Indian that has
been civilized by all the methods employed
by education, by grants of land and by
intermingling of blood the rifle has removed
ten from that field of effort, and there are
reasons to believe that this proportion Is
too small. What, then, is the white mans
burden? Let him not forget 1t is his own
and that it is heavy. and while he bears 1t
to the Orient let him also remember on to
whose shoulders he has shifted 1t when the
negro slave and the Indian was the other
fellow.
Omaha daily bee., 1899-02-18

The man who sawed off the limb on
which he was sitting in the county court
house is out again in public print, this
time trying to stick pins into his former
bcnefactor and employer, the present
city tax commissioner, by accusing him
of favoritism in fixing the assessments
of property in the city tax list. The
city assessment is not all that could
be desired but the source of this attack
will discredit it with intelligent people.
Omaha daily bee., 1899-02-18

South Omaha officcholders, present
and prospective, are said to be moving
against any proposal to eliminate the
spoils by consolidating Omaha and South
Omaha into one municipal corporation
Those who have personal interest in
continuing the present expensive system
may be depended on to put up lively
opposition to every plan for retrench-
ment and economy. The great body of
people who are not only concerned in
having Omaha maintain it's relative po-
sition among other progressive cities, but
also pay the taxes to run both govern
ments, will have to assert themselves If
they want the public interests subserved.
Omaha daily bee., 1899-02-18

open door policy, under which the
United states will have no advantage
over commercial competitors for the
market of the islands, we are quite un-
able to see. II is assumed that produc.
ton in the Philippines will be enor.
mously increased under American domi-
nation and possibly it would be, but it
is not shown how this would materially
benefit the United States, which is not
in pressing need of Philippine products
in exchange for those of the United
states. The commercial phase of eX-
pansion is as yet not very promising.
Omaha daily bee., 1899-02-18
TART AND THRILLING.


Brooklyn Life: THAT clairvoyant said
she would show me some ghosts of the
past"
"Wsll-what of it?"
81 told her | had come there and plankcd
down good money to find out whether had
ghost of future"
Somervile Journal: good deal of the
poetry describing the luxurious delight of
an OPEN fire is written by versifers who
never sat up to anything more poetic than
Cleveland Plain Dealer: "Yes, he had it
bad. Went round arguing that there was
no such thing as disease, and sneerin' at
What's he doin' now?"
THE last l seen of him he was drivin' a
hearse."
Indianapolis Journal: "Do you believe
there can be love without confdence?"
worked my Wife for $50 'bypT by representSs pr e4M
themselves to be detectives on the hunt for
me- but willing to compromise"
Chicago Tribune: Irene-Tsn't 1t
ridiculous in Fan Billiwink to wear those
short skirts to make people think she's stil
a miss IN her teens when she's 49, If she's
day?
Maud don't know. ! think she shows
good judgment When she walks out no
body looks at her face
Chicago Post: mo, sirr he exclaimed
proudly, there isn't a dishonest drop OF
blood in my veins"
rs that so?" returned the other. "Well,
why don't you try to get an engagement in
a dime museum"
"As what?"
"As bloodless man. I never heard of
one BEFORE
Pittsburg Chronicle: "T don't think that
Russia has any diplomatic representatives
in the South American republics said
Squildig to McSwlligen.
Don't you?"
mo, / don't, or else the revolutionists
down there haven't had time to read the
cars little essay on peace"
Omaha daily bee., 1899-02-18
They
Are in
Our Windows

And our store-Hats we
are talking about. All our
spring styles are here and
ready for your selection.
The many new and novel
shapes are Oh display in
our hat window.
Look them over and come
in and try on any one
you may fancy. You
don't have to buy unless
you want to-all we want
is the privilege of proving
how good our Hats are
and how reasonable the
price. We have them at
81. 90 and S4.00, with
plenty of intermediate
grades. Our speciality is
So. 90. New caps, as well,
for men and boys.
Omaha daily bee., 1899-02-18

State Treasurer Meserve announces
publicly that he rides on railroad passes
and does not care who knows it. Slowly,
but surely, the populist who regards the
free railroad pass as a bribe is discov-
ering that he has been buncoed by the
men who secured his support for office
on pledges to uphold populist principles.
Omaha daily bee., 1899-02-18

The only explanation so far made of
the hold-up charges against the insur-
ance department of the state auditors
office is contained in countercharge
that the ex-insurance deputy also wrote
questionable letters.
Omaha daily bee., 1899-02-18

The old adage that few die and none
resign is again aptly illustrated in the
squabble at the Kearney Industrial
school. Governor Poynter is also learn
ing by experience that the only way to
separate popocrat from paying public
job Is to do 1t by removal.
Omaha daily bee., 1899-02-18

AS the closing days of congress ap-
proach nearer the danger becomes
greater that no legislation may be
passed for Hawaii and Alaska. Bins for
both purposes are before the house, but
SO many measures of the greatest i'm
portance remain to be acted upon and
the time is so limited that the chances
for legislation in this direction are be-
coming poorer every day. That this is
unfortunate is attested by the fact that
in Hawaii the Chinese labor question
and many others of equal Importance
are in a chaotic condition, while our
neglect of Alaska will leave matters
there little better. 1t is not TO be under
stood from this that anarchy will pre-
vail in Alaska from such failure, for
the Americans genius for regulation and
order is such that he will maintain the
essential principles of justice wherever
he may be placed, even without writ
ten codes for his guidance. But at
present mining and other property
rights are so dim and shadOwy in that
country as to be prolific source OF
Omaha daily bee., 1899-02-18

The school board can certainly get
along comfortably upon its revenues sup
plemented with the 3-mill school levy.
The way to do it, however is by setting
it's face firmly against fads and foibles
and keeping the expenses in each de-
partment down to the actual necessities
of an efficient school system econom-
ically administered.
Omaha daily bee., 1899-02-18

Popocratic opposition to trusts is con-
fined to those which do not affect them.
The voting trust formed by the tri-
partite amalgamation of two parties
and name behind which is no organi-
Zation is certified as all right. Like
all other combinations this voting trust
is heralded as being for the benefit of
the public, but there are some who have
doubts on that point.
Omaha daily bee., 1899-02-18

The mayor of Macon, Ga, is a firm
believer in the educational influence of
the newspaper, and is demonstrating
his faith by taking up collection for
the purpose of furnishing Il free paper
to every resident of the city not al
ready Il subscriber. In this laudable
work it is unnecessary, of course, to
say that he has the enthusiastic sup
part of every paper in Macon.
Omaha daily bee., 1899-02-18
Disnppointing His Enemies.

Governor Roosevelt is a great disappoint-
ment to his enemies. He is neither going
back ON his pledges nor doing impTacticable
things. He is making excellent appoint
ments, securing to the state good govern
ment, and strengthening himself and his
party He is playing the best and highest
kind of politics by not playing politics at all
Omaha daily bee., 1899-02-18

Missourans must have in contempla-
ton the abandonment of 'long green
and the adoption of 'store terbacker,"
since its attorney general has COM
menced an action to break up the To-
bacco trust.