davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The silver blade. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1895-1903, 1899-07-15
FUNNY STORIES DON'T 90.

dy SeuSWlCk, TAX agent loi TIC
Northern Pacific company paid
Rathdrum visit yesterday. Now
this was not Jays first visit to the
county seat of Kootenai county; in
fact. his visits are generally re-
corded, for he is business fellow
and always comes on business.
He lost no time in finding his way
to the court room where the COM
missioners were in session. After
telling few OF the latest funny
stories at which Dittemore winked
at Sisson and Tucker smiled a
knowing grin, as if to say, We
know what is coming next He
then placed before them an alb
stract of the company's land in
the county and argued forcibly for
a reduction in the assessed valua
ton of the same.
The board could not see it in the
same light as the loquacious agent
so his wishes we're not gratifed.
Curiosity led THE BLADE scribe
to examine the records of equali-
cation boards in previous years.
Referring to Journal c, page IT'S,
we found the following order;
"The application of the North
ern Pacific Railway company,
through Its agent, Jay Sedgwick,
for a reduction of its assessed val
uation on the land belonging to
said company for the year 1897,
having been heretofore taken un
der consideration, now at this time
it was ordered on motion of w. b.
Dishman, seconded by w. H.
Cable, that the assessed valuation
of the Northern Pacific company's
lands within the county of Koote-
mai, state of Idaho, for the year
1907, be reduced from $226, II7. oo
as originally assessed, to the sum
OF $I75, 8o7. 90, being reduction
of $50. a1o. 90 on said lands, w.
B. Dishman and w. II. Gable
voting in favor of said reduction
and Thomas J. Smith voting
against said reduction.
This was the first year of the
Gable Dishman administration
Mr.. Sedgwick had evidently struck
snap. We were anxious to see
if he paid them a visit the mex
year, so after turning the ponder
Gus pages of Journal c. for severa
minutes we stumbled on to the
proceedings of July 70, 1898
which are as follows:
Tuesday, July roth, 1898.
"On motion of w. b. Dishman
seconded by w. Fl. Cable, the
application of the N. P. r. r. Co
for reduction of assessed valua
ton on certain lands was granted
which motion was opposed by
Commissioner T. ]. Smith; sale
reduction amounting to the sun
of se,743. co."
Some said that it was voting
with Mr.. Cable on these reduc
tons that retired Mr.. Dishman tc
political oblivion, while other:
claim that it was accepting gold
bug bondsmen. But let this be a.
it may, Mr.. Sedgwick tells funny
story, but his company will have
to pay their full pro-rata of take:
The silver blade. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1895-1903, 1899-07-15

1t is hereby made the duty of the
board Of county commissioners at
such meetings to enforce and COM
pei an assessment of the property
within their respective counties at
a fair cash value, and in so doing
the board of county commission
ers shall examine such assessment
roll name by name, together with
the valuation Of property of each
taxpayer assessed, and shall raise
or caused to be raised any assess
ment of property which in the
Judgment of the board has not
been assessed at fair valuation"
1t will be seen by the commits
sioners' proceedings that in sever
al cases they have increased the
valuation of merchandise stocks,
and in few instances placed the
property of individuals on the as
sessment roll who were attempting
to evade taxation entirely. The
decrease in the rate of taxation
which will be in operation this
year for the first time necessitates
an increase in the assessed valua-
ton. Last year the levy for state
and county purposes was So 90 Q =
the hundred. This year the max
imum rate is $3.50 per hundred as
fixed by the Legislature, exclusive
of special school tax. In other
words the rate of taxation will be
less than half OF what it was last
year. The valuation of an indi
vidual's property can be doubled
and then his taxes will be less
than they were last year.
The assessed valuation of all
property in the county exclusive
of railroads, telegraph and tele-
phone lines, the valuation of which
are fixed by the state board of
equalization, for the various years
Since 1894 was as follows:
1885,. :. ........s 782, 1877. IS
1896. ............. 7I3, $50, 90
| 1897. ............. $50, $50. "a
1905. ...........- GIG, 275. IS
1899. ........ 1,I35,729. 90
Thus it will be seen that the as
sessed valuation this year over
that OF 1898 is but 2I6,453.65, or
a little less than rs per cent, while
the rate of taxation must be de-
creased more than SO per cent.
This decrease in the revenue of
the county is not unwelcome news
to the taxpayers. But the fact
must never be lost sight of that it
will require almost quarter of a
million of dollars to discharge the
bonded obligations of the county.
With bonds and interest becoming
due every six months, with a de-
creased income, strict economy
must be practiced in every depart
ment of county government from
the justice of the peace to the
Judge of the district court, lest the
county find difficulty in meeting
its obligations.
--------
Evening star., 1899-03-22
"Hiekory the Third"

General Jackson was odd Hickory.
Mr.. Polk was Young Hickory Mr.
Bryan. there seems reason to believe. is
playing for the sobriquet of Hickory the
Third Is il possible for him to win it,
and with 1t the presidency?
The. Nebraska leader has gone now dis
tinctly on the Jacksonian tack. He has
begun to lay down the law. He defines
democracy, and draws the dead line. The
man who calls himself a democrat must
train under the Bryan banner, or go over
% the enemy. The letter to Mr.. Belmont
has a ring to it seldom heard in an ante
convention deliverance of a man who as
I,ires to presidential nomination. One
might almost persuade himself that 1900
was already here, Mr.. Bryan already re-
nominated. and the great battle before the
people already formally begun.
Mr.. Bryan has been helped TO his present
attitude by the eulogies of all his friends.
They have noted, and at banquets and else
where feryentiy pointed out to him, charac-
teristics strongly reminding them of Cen
eral jackson. They do not refer to elo-
quence. because General Jackson was not
eloquent. They do not refer to a genius for
military command. because they would not
Of course guy Mr.. Bryan. Precisely to
praises are clothed in pleasing generalities.
and Mr.. Bryan is excusable for not sub
jecting them to too close inspection. He
accepts them with thanks and assumes the
role assigned him.
And he shrewdly enough keeps the money
issue in the foreground. General Jackson
won distinction as a soldier. and his name
IS associated with several important mat
ters which were determined while he occu-
pied the White House. But his fame rests
chiefly on his contest with. and his defeat
of, the United States bank. The popular
reading of that transaction represents that
institution an enemy of the government,
although its creature, and General Jackson
as the man who saved the government by
crushing the bank. 1t is unnecessary to
say that this is an extreme reading of the
transaction so far as the bank is concerned,
but it is too firmly rooted in what may be
called the traditions of politics ever to lose
where money is the issue upon which the
people divided.
Mr. Bryan, therefore, with money as the
issue now, essays the role of the defender
of the government against the machina-
lions of capital He insists that the gov
ernment is in danger from the money
power. One or the other must go down.
No compromise. No quarter. He makes
Of Perry Belmont sort of Nick Biddle-
and MIR. Belmont is probably as much like
Bidd,e as Mr.. Bryan himself is like jack
son-and issues a cali TO battle. We shall
have a lively time of it next year, unless
all the signs fail.
Evening star., 1899-03-22
Mr. sherman Lives.

II Is never pleasant for a conscientious
newspaper 10 print news, or that which
appears at the time 10 be news, and after
ward to be Obliged to explain that its in
formation was inaccurate, that its news
was untrue. Yet this task was never less
irksOme than today, when it becomes the
privilege of The Star to note that its an
nOuncement in last evenings issue of the
death Of John Sherman was unfounded in
fact and that Mr.. Sherman is. as far as
present accounts go, alive and apparently
holding his own against the disease which
mas overtaken him. The mistaken notice
f his death came with all semblance of
accuracy. and was later confirmed by what
appeared 10 be semi-officiaI confederation.
There was every reason for publication and
none for hesitation. for Mr.. ShermaD's $
."nditiOn for the past few days has been
such TO justify the worst apprehensions.
II was unfortunate that The Star should
,hus be made to misinform its readers of
,he death of one OF the foremost Ameri-
cans. for whose recovery there are doubt
.ess many fervent prayers from thousands
who never saw his face, but who respect
the record which he has written upon the
pages of American history. However, The
Star does not feel the contrition over its
innocent error which ought to be the lot
u that enterprising New York newspaper
which. undaunted by the meagerness Of
the tidings from the steamer Paris, sent
Itself special cablegram describing with
jouching minuteness the scene at the
>eathbed Of the veteran statesman, to-
5cther with a rendition of his dying words
md thereupon issued an extra edition, with
its exclusive information paraded in its
biggest job type and most stunning head
lines.
Evening star., 1899-03-22
What AhOut the TruAtas

Imperialism, Trusts, Money. We shall
hear great deal of discussion on those
three questions next year. Mr.. Bryan
places the money issue first. Jerry Simpson
places it third. Mr.. Watterson would elm
mate it altogether. Here We have the sill
Yer democratic view, the populistic view,
and the sound money democratic view. But,
regardless of these divisions of opinion, the
three issues will come up, and opposition to
the administration will organize on those
lines. How will the administration meet
this?
The republicans need not fear the cry of
Imperialism. That is thoroughly hollow
and misleading. The country, which ap-
proved of the war with Spain, and rejoiced
in the victories achieved by the army and
and the navy, will not be likely to decide
against the utilization of the fruits of those
victories. Sounding pronunciamentos
against militarism will not alright or de-
ceive the people.
As to the money issue the republican posi-
ton is strong. The return to the policy of
protection and the revival of business have
relieved the strain that was so severely felt
a few years ago, and money now is both
abundant and fairly we'll distributed. The
treasury's condition has not been 50 salts
factory in many years. There are today
questions more pressing than that of
finance. There is plenty of money for all
legitimate business and all of it is a. good
gold; prices are high and wages are ad-
yancing. That answers the argument Of
fered by the silver men in 1896, and will
answer it again next year unless 1t is i'm
proved upon meanwhile in some way.
But what about the Trusts? What will
be the delverance of the republicans ON
that issue? They will find 1t necessary to
make one, and it ought to be clear and un-
equivOcal. Trusts are a menace, and that
menace is increasing. 1t Is no answer 10
say that Trusts cheaper the price of art
cies to consumers. Cheapness at the cost
of individual opportunity for business, at
the cost of wholesome competition, at the
cost of increased Hobbies here in Washing
ton and at state capitals for the purpose of
corruptly seeking legislative favors-that
sort of cheapness is exceedingly expensive.
The question is difficult one to handle,
but it is now so important that it cannot be
evaded. The republicans are in power. and
something of a definite nature will justly
be expected of them on the subject.
Evening star., 1899-03-22
Canned Beef and Beef Extrurt.

The truth about the army beef has taken
= tOrtuOus course to reach the light but il
= coming out just the same. We have
heard about the canning of maggotty beef
and the rotting of refrigerated beef We
Daye been told about direct purchases from
Washington over the head of the purchas-
,ns agent in the field. We have learned
That very large percentage of the canned
stun thus bought by the cOmmissary gem
vral was sent TO the camp dump and that
that which was by Comparison fit to be
eaten stCkened the men. We have found
Out that despite the denial of the contrac-
tors and their official friends d certain ma
.erial technically called ''preservatine" was
-sed as coating on at least some of the
oeef shipped In bulk. These facts stand to
demonstrate as far as they go that there
was mal-administration in the furnishing of
meat supplies to the army in camp and in
The field
Just now An interesting side issue has
sprung out Of the canned beef matter which
has put ii up to the Gamers to choose be-
tween two evils, either of which is decid-
edly embarrassing One OF the managers of
d large packing house which produces this
choice article Of military diet testified be-
fore the court Of inquiry the other day
when pressed by the officer serving as coun-
sci for General Miles - that the canned
roast" beef was none other than canned
boiled beef. In the process of boiling, he
explained. the water used became tinctured
with a so-callsd extract of beef. This ex-
tract was not thrown away, but used In the
market as food. particularly intended for
and recommended to invaIIds.
Here. then. was a dilemma II the canned
beef retained its nutritive properties
throughout The process Of boiling and can
Evening star., 1899-03-22
Harping ON an Old String.

In an address delivered on St. Patrick's
day in Savannah Senator Bacon Of Georgia
is quoted as saying:
I'VE are today formulating a war in Asia
under the protection of the guns of the
British navy With that protection with
drawn the government of the United States
would be at the mercy of any two of the
smallest of European nations.
England. for her own selfish purposes
is encouraging us to this policy, which will
place US absolutely in her power. When
are committed to that policy beyond the
power of retraction, then England will be
In position to dictate such terms as will
be necessary for us to accept to maintain
the policy which we have undertaken.
To-day the great power of the United
States is being exercised to overthrow the
only republican government that has ever
been organized on the continent of Asia
The results of the war thus far have been
to revolutionize the fundamental principles
of republican government.
These sentiments reflect no credit on
either Mr.. Bacon's Judgment or his patriot
ism. They are at variance with the record
and in attempted belittiement of his coun-
try. AS they were uttered before a society
OF irishmen. a fair inference is that Mr.
Bacon was playing politics in an old fash
ioned way. happily no longer effective.
There is good reason to believe, indeed, that
no votes are now to be obtained in any Sec
ton by mere abuse of England. American
citizens of Irish birth are as well aware as
native citizens of what England's attitude
was toward the United States during the
war with SPAIN and are apprecative of it.
They well understand that 1t was a time
when friendship counted, and that what
was done for their adopted country was
done also for them.
Moreover. 1t is palmer now than ever be-
fore that Ireland's fortunes are wrapped
up with those of the Angio-Saxon race She
has never had better friend than America.
and cannot hope for better. As America
prospers she viii prosper Should America
sufer she would suffer. America has never
made her cause aVowedly its own, but it
has sympathized with her and assisted her,
and 1t is no stretch of fancy to believe that
the closer relations now existing between
Evening star., 1899-03-22

America and England will in time enable
America, through the good offices of SYM
pathy, to serve Ireland in even a greater
degree than ever before.
Mr.. Bacon may entertain a very poor
opinion of his countrymen. He may regard
them as dupes of England, and wlthai very
poor creatures. But there can be no profit
or credit for him In any such talk. The
flag OF the United States is flying in the
Philippines as the result of American valor
unassisted, and it will stay there despite
the efforts of men like himself to haul 1t
down. The republican government In Asia
now being assailed by the United States is
figment of vivid cracker Imagination.
Evening star., 1899-03-22

ming of what nutritive value was the re-
sultant combination of water and extracted
juice? In proportion as the solid beef loses
its value as food in the preparatory process
the extract takes on value. and vice versa.
The manager of the packing house natur-
ally hesitated when confronted with this
perplexing problem. He had to condemn
one or the other of the products. He finally
decided to condemn the beef extract and
accordingly he declared that there was
scarcely trace of nutriment in the extract.
but merely a stimulating element. This
statement does not read evenly with the
claims glowingly put forth by the beef eX-
tract producers describing it's properties for
bone and flesh and muscle making. Yet it
is corroborated by physicians and chemists,
who declare that there is practically no
nutriment in these preparations Merely
the flavor. 1t is claimed goes into the eX
tract.
The question now arises: Why should
the flavor be taken away from the ques-
tionable canned meat which was sold to the
government for the soldiers in order to pro-
duce yalueless, unnutritive extract her.
aided the essence of body sustenance?
Is this not double fraud? Were the
canned meat an acceptable ration the COM
plaint against it would not be material.
But it is shown that this flavorless meat
when actually used as food was repulsive
in appearance and taste and sickened the
men who ate it Does not this admission
by the canning company open the way to
some legislative process whereby a stop can
be put to these frauds? The case affects
all classes of people now. in and out of the
army. 1t is no longer issue as to the
treatment of the men in the ranks, for it
brings the fraud down to every grocery
store and every kitchen.
Evening star., 1899-03-22
Rural I'm IN unity.

The pigs are, fat and smiling,
And the corn is bright and sweet;
We are the folks that raised 'em
And we know they're good TO eat.
The horse is in the traces
And to have him in control
We don't need any engineer
To shovel In the coal.
The earth with bloom is cleaning,
Or perhaps tits white with snow;
But there's entertainment waiting
Howsoe'er the seasons CO.
And were sorry for the people
Whom monopolies abuse
Wouldn't know that trusts existed
If We didn't read the news.
Evening star., 1899-03-22
Her Opinion.

do you think this government ought to
drift into a colonial policy?" asked the
thin young man with Prince Albert coat.
Yes, indeed" answered the young wo-
man, vivaciously. II should think that
would be Just the thing for the White
House. My aunt has home in the coun-
try, and she had nothing but colonial
architecture and colonial furniture. and 1t
was too sweetly old-fashioned for any
thing
Evening star., 1899-03-22
A Pertinent Suggestion.
From the Philadelphia Public Ledger.

from tue iHiiaueiphia TubHc leuSeF
Before our government wastes much SYM
pathy on the Spanish prisoners in Filipino
hands, would it not be well to ascertain
whether all the Cubans deported to Ceuta
and other prison dens during the domina-
ton of thei. island by the Spanish for po-
fitical offenses, and who still survive the
torments of those places, have been return
ed to their homes? If not it might be in
order to send to Madrid an Iberian trans
iation of Noah Websters immortal fable of
the OK that was gored.
Evening star., 1899-03-22
The Georgia Mob Rebuked.
From the Atlanta Constitution.

The affair at Palmetto is another of those
lawless and criminal episodes which we had
hoped would find no repetition in Georgia.
There seems to have been no reason what
ever for the gathering of mob or for the
summary and murderous proceedings that
followed. 1t is about time for the public
sentiment of the state to take firm and
unInis taxable stand on the side of law and
order. and Governor Gambler is to be warm
ly commended for the prompt and positive
manner in which he has proceeded to locate
and punish the Palmetto lynchers.
Evening star., 1899-03-22
Sensible Reasoning,
From the Times of Cuba.

1t is gratifying to know that General
Brooke is not going to dissolve the Cuban
assembly and is only going to let it alone
to dissolve in its own juice. There are two
ways of suppressing oratorical agitators.
One way is by force. the other is the re-
fusai of the newspapers to publish any
thing of what they say or do. The former
method is not American and the latter
would deprive the public of more or less
amusement. So in the case of the assem-
bly, 1t is perhaps better to prescribe moth
ing. but just simply allow nature to take
its course.
Evening star., 1899-03-22
SHOOTING STARS.
Particular.

Did any of your ancestors come over In
the Mayflower?' asked the lady who is
sometimes disag agreeabie.
"Oh, dear. no." answered Mrs. Cumrox,
quite undisturbed II understand that the
accommodations on the Mayfower were
rather poor. and our folks would rather
stay at home than not travel first class"
Evening star., 1899-03-22
Sure of Popular support.

FTUH IHt bUlIdIU ENpTtss
The California Legislature, like that of
Delaware, has adjourned without electing a
United States senator OF all the various
amendments to the Constitution that are
from time to time suggested, there is none
that would meet with more popular support
than the authorization of some other
method than the present for electing United
States senator's
Evening star., 1899-03-22

Governor Stone of Pennsylvania in ap-
proving the arrangements for a Dewey
iay' states that he would not consent TO
establishing it as an anniversary holiday
hereby adding TO the already great num-
GER Of occasions when idleness is enforced.
This is a practical view of the case, which
Admiral Dewey himself would probably in
lorSe.
Evening star., 1899-03-22
Instinctfye SOlace.

Il wonder If Liliuokalam still laments
her CROWN" said Willie Washington.
Il don't think So" answered Miss Cay
enne; she has probably gotten her mind
off that by this time and is worrying over
her Easter bonnet like every other sensible
woman"
Evening star., 1899-03-22
Sex and Criminal Responsibility.

II would be within the power of a legisla-
ture to enact, II it chose that d man should
be punished for murder by death and a
woman by Imprisonment But the tenderest
sentimcntalists would hardly advocate this
discrimination in the statutes. They would
rather appeaN to the tenderness of the ex-
ecutlve 1T Is only on the assumption that
a woman is not a responsible member of So
clety that she can be exempted from the or
dinary penalties of crime. This theory Is
no longer practicable, whether it ever was
reasonable or not
Evening star., 1899-03-22

Aguinaldo's representations that the
Americans would torture prisoners have
kept a number OF his followers in line. If
they had only learned to read the news
papers they would know how completely
this canard was exploded during the war
with Spain.
Evening star., 1899-03-22
AEuinaldO In q Bad Way.
From tho philadetnhja Record

II it be true, as reported. that Aguinaido
is beginning to kill his generals who ad-
wise him to surrender, 1t furnishes a strong
confirmation of the previous reports of the
probable collapse of the Filipino struggle
against American domination. There could
be no stronger evidence of the desperate
fortunes of the insurgent leader.
Evening star., 1899-03-22

The Emperor of Corea has had his cue
cut and wears suit of clothes made in
American style. The admirers of the pic
turesque will be justified In hoping that his
example need not be followed by the MEN,
bers of his legation in Washington.
Evening star., 1899-03-22

Aguinaldo has made himself quite as
troublesome as Spain predicted he would
be. Mr.. Reeds mathematics may be de-
pended on to show that this country Is
paying too much for its prophecy.