davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Omaha daily bee., 1899-01-24
RIVER AND HARBOR BILL.

There was some doubt at the begin
ming of the session whether there would
be an appropriation for rivers and har-
bors, but a bill has been reported and
Will of course be passed, regardless of
any question as to the immediate neces-
sity for the expenditure under it. 1t is
stated, however, that the present meas
ure is noticeable for the elimination in
large part of appropriations for the
smaller streams and harbors through
out the country. A large number of
localities which in previous river and
owing to the opportunities of their
representatives, are passed over in the
present bill, which is change in the
right direction. Credit for this, it ap-
pears, Is due to the new chairman of
the committee on rivers and harbors.
Representative Burton Of Ohio, who
recognizes the fact that much of the
antagonism to river and harbor legisla-
ton has arisen from the useless ex.
penditure of money upon creeks and
bayous.
1t will not be questioned that an enor-
nous amount of money has been
thrown away on so-called river and
harbor improvements that were not of
the slightest value and reform in this
respect is very much to be desired, but
we are not very confident of its early
attainment. Doubtless the committee
has done we'll in it's work of elimination
but it is to be apprehended that much
which 1t has omitted will get into the
bill on Its way to passage and that It
will go through the house not greatly
different in the character and amount
of its appropriations from previous river
and harbOr bills. The congressman who
have creeks in their districts are still
numerous
Omaha daily bee., 1899-01-24
Personal AND OTHERWISE.

Addison G.. Harris, the new minister to
Austria. besides having many accomplish
ments, is quite musician, and vioitnist
of considerable ability.
The proprietor of the only American cafe
in Havana says business is good there, as
he hears no complaints when he charges
40 cents for a cocktail or a bottle of beer.
Judge Peter S. Grosscup, who has been
nominated judge Of the Seventh United
States circuit court Of the Northern Illinois
district secured Major McKinley's first
nomination to congress and stumped the dis
trict in behalf of his candidate.
Senator John c. Spooner is known as the
young old man. of the senate. When he
recently told his friends that he was 56
years old most of them believed him jesting,
because he looks not day over 40.
Captain Richard p Leary, now governor
Of Guam, is the Baltimorean WHO, during the
Samoan dispute, commanded the Adams,
and when a German fleet of ironclads fired
upon the natives steamed his little wooden
hulk into the line of fire and threatened
to broadside the Teutons If they used the
Samoans as targets any longer.
The enormous transactions recorded in the
Stock exchanges during the last ten days
have resulted in the addition of thousands
ury from the operations of the internal reve-
nue. law. Inasmuch as the Dingley revenue
law imposes a tax of cents on each share of
stock transferred, both for buying and sell
ing, the receipts from that source alone were
5000 for one day.
Boston's city council having proposed to
name the square in front of the new South
station after Admiral Dewey, some one noti-
fed him of the fact and he, with that
prompt politeness which has always distin-
guished him, forwarded an expression of his
appreciation of the honor. But before he
was heard from a motion to reconsider the
naming OF the square was entertained, and
now Boston's city council is in predca-
ment.
A professional anti-liquor member OF the
New South Wales legislature Is Mr. Fegan.
who in the course of recent speech In the
legislative assembly said Whisky makes
men genial for a time" adding that this ef-
feet soon wore off and left the drnker in
a worse mood than ever. The official report
next day made him say: Whisky makes
me genial for time" and Mr.. Fegan was
subjected to so much chaf as a consequence
that he almost resigned his seat,
Omaha daily bee., 1899-01-24
PROTEST AGAINST EyPA NSioN.

The most notable popular protest
against expansion yet made is that of
the mass meeting held in New York on
Sunday. The meeting was largely at
tended, a number of men Of national
reputc being in attendance and the reso-
lutions adopted reflect the position anl
opinion of anti-expansionists through
out the country. These declared
against the annexation of the Philip
pines as a permanent portion of the
national domain. The obligation OF the
United States to help the people of the
Philippines to secure order and estab-
lish government is recognized but
the assumption that there Is any obliga-
ton other than this is denied. One of
the declarations is: That neither the
government nor the people of the
United States have incurred any re-
sponsibillty or obligation as to the re-
suit of the recent war with Spain which
requires any departure from or aban-
donment of the policies or principles
laid down for the guidance of the re-
public by Washington in his farewell
address to the American people. "Op-
position Is declared to any alliance with
any European power, the result Of
which might be to embroil us in Euro
pean controversies in which our real in
terests are not concerned. Strong
speeches were made denouncing I'M
perialism.
Anti-expansiOn meetings should be
held everywhere, so that the champions
of an imperialistic policy may learn
how extensive and earnest is the senti-
ment against that policy. The subject
will be freely discussed in the senate
this week and undoubtedly the oppo-
nents of expansion will give a good ac-
count Of themselves, but it is most i'm
portant that the people be heard from.
The exigency is most vital and ought to
arouse the keenest interest among all
classes of the people and elicit the full
est expression of public opinion.
Omaha daily bee., 1899-01-24
SAMOAN SQUABBLE.

st. Louis Republic: Kaiser Blly's idea OF
the right sort OF a king for Samoa seems to
consist of a mahogany monarch with Ger
man silver trimmings.
Springfield Republican, No one expects
the Samoan troubles to lead to war between
any one except the natives, who have been
butchering each other in lively style while
three great powers looked on 1t may be
pertinent to inquire what the net result
Of the civilizing mission OF England, Ger
many and the United States has been in
Samoa.
Chicago Times Herald: AS it is now,
three powerful nations are subjected to ever
recurring Irritation because of the personal
wrangles Of men who are beyond the reach
of the telegraph and who get we'll along
with their blunders before there is any
chance to rectify them. This is provocative
of many msunderstandlngs, but 1t would be
wretched reason for involving millions in
a destructive war All Samoa is not worth
such a sacrifice.
New York Mail and Express: There will
be no grabbing nor any arbitrary assertion
of European sovereignty over a square foot
of Samoan soil. Any attempt by Germany
to seize the islands or to acquire sole con-
troll Of them by intrigue and deceit would
be far more disastrous to herself than either
to the United States or Great Britain. New
ertheless, We do not hesitate to say that
Samoa is today danger spot on the map of
the world.
New York Post: Now it was Mr.. Blaine
himself, an expansionist before the expan-
sionists, who on April IL, 1889, pointed out,
in his instructions to our negotiators at
Berlin. that the plan of governing natives
without their consent was mot in harmony
with the established policy of this govern
ment." 1t is not. Vice-kings and judges
and councils forced upon people half
round the globe are no more an American
institution than they would be in darkest
Pennsylvania. Samoa Is giving us a fore
taste of what awaits us in the Philippines.
1t would be warning to congress, If con-
gress were in mood to see warning N
anything. A man does not break his leg
twice over the same stone; but congress has
way Of doing it not twice but twenty
times. Having scourged us with Samoan
whips, 1t Is anxious to try the effect OF
Philippine scorpions.
Omaha daily bee., 1899-01-24
BUSINESS GROWTH.
Remarkable Increase In All Lines Of
Productive Activity.
Chicago Times-Herald.


That the spirit OF expansion has seized
the business world is shown by the wonder
full increase in all lines OF productive activ-
ity and the extraordinary volume OF pay
ments through clearings that mark the first
weeks of the new year.
Fortunately there are no anti-expansion-
lists in the trading world to hold back in
vestment and production. Industrial forces
are not to be hindered by senatorial OBJ
structionsts. We have entered upon an era
of commercial expansion that promises to
surpass in volume of traffic and manufactur-
ing activity all trade records of the past.
Proof Of this is furnished by the extra
ordinary increase in bank clearings and by
the heavy demand upon the producing capac-
ity Of all branches of manufacturing indus
try. The volume of payments through
clearing houses for the week closed was AZ. Z
per cent larger than for corresponding week
of last year, 96.9 per cent larger than in
1897 and 51.5 per cent larger than the pros
porous year of 1892. A significant feature
OF this remarkable showing is the fact that
the transactions outside OF New York show
a gain Of 44.6 per cent over the correspond
ing week in 1892.
In productive activity the iron and steel
branches, as usual, lead all others in the
volume of new business. although cotton
manufacturers have large demand for
goods. In iron and steel the manufacturers
have been compelled by the extraordinary
demand to quote prohibtory prices in order
to check orders which they cannot fill for
months to come. Notwithstanding the fact
that many Of the works are withdrawing
quotations. the production Is much the larg-
est ever known. The heaviest demand in
this line is for finished products, especially
for car building and for special works in the
west.
Equally strong evidences of continued ex-
pansion are furnished by the volume of our
export trade in cereals. Our wheat exports
for the first three weeks in January were
15,0IS,017 bushels from both coasts, against
ll,S99,9 ,952 bushels last year. 1t is easy to
see that the figures for January indicate the
continuance of the foreign trade that re-
suited in 1898 in the greatest trade balance
in our favor ever known.
Omaha daily bee., 1899-01-24

come so accustomed to our certificates, and
have have such faith in their undoubted
value. as In many instances to decline ac-
cepting a property unless the title is
registered under what is universally called
Torrens system"
Another New South Wales man says:
"The workingmen are almost universally
becoming landed proprietos but hardly one
OF them would ever attend a sale OF land X
1t were not announced that the title was
that of Torrens act. "
AS to the causes which lead persons to
oppose the system, 1t is no secret that
lawyers are human and have grocery bills
like the rest OF us; aud we have a statement
OF the agent general for South Australia. In
regard to land transfers and mortgages that
there is no necessity for the intervention
of a lawyer; such thing is never heard Of"
Moreover, IL the people Of Illinois are to
save so, 1000, 900 that they are said to spend
every year for abstracts and examinations,
it is evident that somebody who is now earn
ing that money will have to go without.
Omaha daily bee., 1899-01-24
THE COST IN MEN.

The war with Spain has cost the
United States the lives of more than
5000 men. The War department records
showed that at the end of last year 2S3
officers and privatcs had been killed in
battle. OF the wounded about eighty
afterward died of their injuries. The
number who died from disease was
1865. Thus the total loss of life, as far
as shown by department records, was
about 5.325, but doubtless several hun
dred men have died as the result of
army service after they We're mustered
out and the war records could take no
further notice of them.
OF course this will not be the final
reckoning. remarks the Cleveland
Leader. The war is still technically in
progress and for long time to come
conditions created by the war which
would not otherwise have existed will
require deadly military service in the
tropics by many thousands of American
soldiers. The death rate, says that paper,
from disease is not likely to average less
than 100 month in Cuba alone, dur
ing the next six or eight months. In
the Philippines the future is uncertain.
Anything is possible from death list
of twenty-five or thirty month up to
the loss of many hundreds of lives in
war with the natives. The certain thing
is that probably 1000 more Americans
will die, within the next year, as the
result of the war; The extra mortality
due to the war is likely to be 1000 or
5000 this year instead of Il smaller num-
ber, so that altogether we shall have to
count from 1000 Americans upward as
the sorriest feature OF the sacrifices
made for the sake of ending Spanish
rule in Cuba-a consummation the price
of which Is not too great If the sacrifice
of American lives Is not to be continued
elsewhere.
But this is just what the policy of
expansion, II carried out contemplates.
1t means that we shall have to subju-
gate the people of the Philippines by
military force and that in order to keep
them obedient to our authority we shall
have to maintain an army, largely com
posed Of Americans, in the islands
What 1t will cost in lives of our soldiers
TO compel the Filipinos who are demand
| ing independence to submit to our rule
1t Is impossible to say. We do not yet
fully know the character of those peo-
pie as fighters or how determined they
are to battle against American sover-
eighty. We know they have numer-
Gus army and they seem to be pro-
foundly in earnest. Their country is
perfectly suited for carrying on Il
guerrilla warfare and while they can live
Omaha daily bee., 1899-01-24
A Profitable Speculation.

THlIdutTpn1a RECORD.
Navy officers at Havana are again directing
attention to the brand new floating dry dock
in that harbor which belongs to Spain, and
which that country is very anxious to sell.
The dock was towed over from England not
year ago and cost $1,000, 900. 1t could
probably be bought at considerably less and
there has been some lively bidding for 1t by
private parties-at a lower range Of prices,
however, than Spain is willing to accept
The dock would be worth to this govern
ment all 1t cost, and ultimately no doubt 1t
will become ours but in the usual way
some favored speculator will buy it for
100000 and sell it to the United States at
80 per cent profit.
Omaha daily bee., 1899-01-24
THE TORRENS LAW,
Cheap and Simple Method of Land
Transfer.

Sheap ohu simple Method of Land
Transfer.
j. Sterling Mortons Conservative
A gentleman named Pence, living in Chi
cago, gives warning that he believes that
the Torrens land act, which has been up
held by the supreme court of Illinois, will
shortly be dead letter. Not over 100 per-
sons Will register their titles in the first
year, MI Pence declares, and then the num-
per VIII rapidly decrease until nothing is
ielt Tor the examiner to do but to play gof
Ihe utterances Of him that girdeth on
his harness have never carried the same
weight as those of him that putteth 1t of.
An Englishman who has held a high DO.
ntical and commercial position for twenty
years in Australia, where the Torrens sys-
tenn originated, testiies thus before the
House of Commons: Registration OF title
is almost universal; for one transaction
under deeds there are 1000 under the real
property act; it is a curiosity if you get a
person with deeds. To person wanting to
borrow money OF me Ton real estate Sc.
curlty) / should say first, real property
act, ! suppose Further along he says,
The Torrens act Is just as popular in the
other colonies as it Is in ours. notice In
the Sidney papers that at the bottom OF
advertisements for sales OF land 'Torrens
title is always put"
The examiner of titles at Adelaide SAYS:
up to the present time twenty years. no
difficulty whatever has occurred; there can
be no question that the Torrens system is
complete success"
The register general OF New South Wales
says: THE popularity Of the act is SO we'll
assured, and the public generally have be-
Omaha daily bee., 1899-01-24
A peace protocol has been arranged

between the Wrangel and Chilcat In
dams and there is to be lull in the
scalping program which is said to have
extended over six centuries. The Hon.
Old Smokes of the Chilcats, who says
that he was actuated in his humane de-
sign by the example of the United
States treatment of Spain, is RESPONSE
BILE for the termination of hostilities, but
instead of demanding batch of the
WrangelS' canoes as Il war indemnity
he proposes to hold grand potlach, at
which the plenipotentiaries are to get
thoroughly but fraternally drunk.
Omaha daily bee., 1899-01-24
GIVE THE STOCKHOLDERS A SHOW

GIVE The SIOCkHOLDERS a SHOW.
The Board of Directors of the Trans
mississippi Exposition has by Il vote Of
10 to IL voted down a resolution decar-
ing an additional distribution of 10 per
pretext under which this was done Is
that the directors would become indi-
vidually liable for any amount of debt
or for claims in excess of the funds now
in its treasury, and in order to avoid
this liability they consider themselves
stockholders until all claims and liabil-
tiles are settled. If this course shall be
adhered to it means simply that from
$4,000 to $4,000 belonging to the stock
holders shall remain tied up in the
banks for not less than two years and
possibly as long as five years.
To this the great majority of stock
holders will most decidedly demur. Ac-
cording to the latest financial statement
submitted to the board the total amount
now on deposit in three banks is about
$95 600. The estimate of liabilities and
amount necessary to pay claims
outstanding will aggregate S34,-
800. This includes all disputed bills,
claims pending. in the courts, prospective
expense of closing up the business of
the corporation, future attorneys fees
and several thousand dollars for the eX-
position history. This estimated outlay
can be fully liquidated by the $4,000
deposited in one of the banks, while the
disputed $4,000 claim for dividends to
the Rock Island road Is covered by a
deposit in another bank, leaving $4,000
in the treasury awaiting distribution
among the stockholders, or about 10 per
cent available for dividend. With
this per cent held back in addition to
the estimated possible debts and claims
no director voting the 10 per cent dis
tribution is in the least danger of be-
coming personally liable for single
dollar. Why, then, should this money
belonging to the stakeholder drawing no
interest, be left dead in the bank vaults
in view of the fact that several thou
sands of wageworkers and people of
moderate means who nave contributed
whatever their means would allow to
last years exposition are in need of the
money? Manifestly the fact that there
is Il surplus still held back encourages
the trumping up of bogus claims and
discourages fair settlements with parties
who would otherwise be glad to accept
reasonable concessions.
Omaha daily bee., 1899-01-24

New York Truth.
It's Sweet, good-by," when pennants fly
And ships put out to sea:
It's a loving kiss and tear or two,
In an eye of brown or an eye Of blue
And you'll remember me,
Sweetheart
And you'll remember me.
It's "FrieEd or foe?" when signals blow
And ships sight ships at sea;
It's clear for action and man the guns
AS the battle nears or the battle runs
And you'll remember me,
Sweetheart,
And you'll remember me-
It's deck to deck and wrath and wreck
When ships meet ships at sea;
It's scream OF shot and shrek OF shell,
And hull and turret roaring hell
And you'll remember me,
Sweetheart,
And you'll remember me-
It's doom and death and pause a breath
When ships go down at sea:
It's hate is over and love begins,
And war is cruel whoever wins
And you'll remember me,
Sweetheart,
And you'll remember me.
Omaha daily bee., 1899-01-24
Sickness in the Cuban Army.

General Woods explanation of his esti-
mate of $4,000 soldiers as necessary to gar
rison Cuba is welcome. 1t was impossible
to believe that so large a number could be
required in policing the island. But it seems
that in Cuba not more than 40 per cent of
the men can be depended upon at any time
for active service, the other 60 per cent
being incapacitated by malarial poisoning
due to the climate. Out of $4,000 men only
about 10000 can be used at any one time.
General Wood is also an accomplished ply
sician and what he says OF the climate will
have weight. The sooner Cuba is "pacified"
the better for American soldiers.
Omaha daily bee., 1899-01-24

There is a marked renewal of activity
among the Klondike boomers. Every
late conner from the frozen gold fields
brings reports of wonderful new dis
coveries and the increased richness of
the old fields. The disappointing re-
turns from last years operations will
probably have no effect on the ever-san-
guine gold seeker and if industrious
coming spring will witness a renewal of
the stampede, which means disappoint-
ment and misery to all but small frac-
ton OF the Adventures.
Omaha daily bee., 1899-01-24

Every city whose growth has been
rapid and permanent must of necessity
tax itself to pay for extensive internal
improvements. Omaha delved pretty
deeply into the pockets of the taxpayers
ten and twelve years ago for this laud-
able purpose and obligations then as
sumed have been gradually met. With
an economical administration Of gov
ernment the tax levy ought to be re-
duced from this time on, in which case
Omaha will continue to hold out more
inviting field for the investor.
Omaha daily bee., 1899-01-24

Some of the Cubans at Santiago
threaten to take to the hills If they can
not have their way at Santiago. Judg-
ing from the past, such threat is
destined to have little effect unless it
should be to defeat the very thing which
they pretend to desire. So far all that
has been secured in the way of con-
cessions has been through a showing of
the reasonableness of the request and
not through imperious demands, and if
they are wise they will profit by ex-
ppripncp
Omaha daily bee., 1899-01-24

makes a similar recommendation as ap-
piled to South Dakota. The need of
consolidation may be felt only in the
larger cities and one reason for this is
the prevalence of the electric car lines,
enabling suburbanites to attend the
down town churches conveniently. 1t Is
Il noteworthy fact that since the advent
of the electric cars in Omaha the sub.
urban church organizations have shown
little or no growth.
Omaha daily bee., 1899-01-24
After all of these years of expectation

After all of these years of expectation
that eighth wonder of the world, the
Keely motor, which grave scientists
visited, studied, wondered about
dreamed over and understood not, is to
be relegated as another shining example
of imposition to the limbo of frauds.
The secret of this wonderful motor,
which would mote without motive, WAS
Il gas pipe ingeniously concealed, which
furnished the compressed air or gas to
the machine, enabling it to perform the
antics which secured Kecly fame and
several hundred thousand dollars of the
cash of credulous admirers. But the
funny part of it is that SO many gray
boards of science should have been
taken in by so simple a fraud. and the
whole thing rather reminds one of the
Pickwickians' session over the Bill
Stumps stone.
Omaha daily bee., 1899-01-24

The man who knows all about the SEN
Rtorial situation at Lincoln can be found
almost anywhere before noon, but after
that hour he is kept busy until evening
revising his estimate. Between telling
what he thinks he knows and figuring
out the next days ballot he is about as
busy as man with Waterbury watch
and the itch.
Omaha daily bee., 1899-01-24

The English tinancicrs who were
caught to the tune of thousands in un-
loading American stocks, contemplating
what they called Il collapse of the Yam
kee boom, Is another illustration of the
have of knowing too much about our
pffnirS
Omaha daily bee., 1899-01-24

The members Of the legislature have
passed the salary appropriation and are
now in position to square up with the
boarding house. The present session.
however delayed the passage of this
Allimportant measure much beyond the
usual time.