davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1902-05-01
THE FRISCO MILLIONS.

But still there were other promot-
ers and political favorites to be
taken are of. The Frisco owed the
state six and a half millions of dol.
lars. Another mock sale was held,
and the road, with over a million
acres OF land, knocked off at 81, 300,-
900.
After the purchasers paid $685.
600 they concluded the state could
be beaten out OF the remainder and
this same legislature generously
passed an act relieving the purchas-
ers OF the payment OF the remainder
OF their bill,
By this last act the state had fas-
tened upon it an additional debt of
81, 19S,77e
These are all matters of record.
They constitute one of the darkest
chapters in the history of the CON-
monwealth.
Riotous corruption held high car
nival in the Legislative halls of the
state, q condition more appalling,
if possible, than that which has so
recently aroused the honest citizens
OF st. Louis to the need for heroic
action in dealing with official bood-
lers.
THE HANNIBAL & ST. JOE PAID.
For some unknown reason, the
Hannibal & st. Joseph railroad did
not take advantage Of the prevailing
corruption to rid themselves OF their
three million Indebtedness at the ex.
pense Of the taxpayers of the state.
This road, after the democrats came
into power, paid the entire amount
OF it's Indebtedness, with interest.
In the face OF these record facts,
can there be any question as to who
is responsible for this debt of twenty.
five millions OF dollars?
In the face of the inaugural mes.
sage Of the republican governor
"that the roads ara ample security
for the amounts advanced to them
'cs, ectively," can any honest repub
lican to-day hold that his party did
not put debt OF 6,760,0OO on the
The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1902-05-01

pany to aid in the construction OF
their road amounting to four mil
lion three hundred and fifty thous-
and dOllarsl, and for interest paid
on said bonds by the state, is hereby
sold ana assigned to Henry I. Blow.
and their associates for the
sum of two hundred thousand dol
lars, which sum may be paid in any
outstanding state bonds. and shall
be paid into the state treasury on or
before the fourth day of July next.
by this act there was fastened on
the state direct debt of Sc, T6O,O 900.
THE IRON MOUNTAIN DEAL.
This republican legislature did not
by any means limit its corporation
debt-releasing and state-debt-creat'
ing tactics to the Wabash.
The Iron Mountain went through
the farce Of n public sale. The high
est bid was rejected and the road,
which owed the state six millions OF
dollars, was awarded by the COM
missioners to a firm by the name OF
"A. J. Mckay and others" for the
ann, IS SE-a ann
The commissioners rejected bids
for over million dollars.
Evidence taken before the McGiunis
legislative committee developed the
fact that Mckay's visible property
consisted of a span of Arkansas
mules and an open spring wagon and
that the Others associated with
him as purchasers included three
brothers of one of the commissioners
who voted to reject the higher bid,
BY this Iron Mountain transaction
an additional debt of S6,0G1, 145
was fastened upon the state.
TIE MISSOURI PACIFIC STEAL.
But still the ravenous maws Of the
political blood suckers of that cor
ruption-breeding period were not
satisfied. The Missouri Pacific owed
the state S1o,7SO,000. At this same
session n legislative committee re-
ported to that body that after thor
ough investigation, they found the
Missouri Pacific road to be worth
The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1902-05-01

Most women with female weakness
suffer dreadfully from piles in addi-
tio- N their other pains. They may
be-, red by using Fathers Buckeye
Pr. Ointment. Price SOC in bottles,
tuues 75c.-n. L. fuckers drugstore
The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1902-05-01
K. G. Pittsburg & Gulf Time Table
Arrival and departure OF trains at worlant

Arrival and departure OF trains at worland Z.
NORTH BOUND
No. Kansas City daily Express -. l2:l9p. m.
Nos " Mail See. SAT- Q m
SOUTH BOUND.
No. 2 Through Port Arthur Express, 2;4lp. N
No. SLOAN Springs Express. l2:26p m
Remember this 10 the popular short line be-
tween Kansas City, Mo. ana Pittsburg, Kan. 4,
Joplin. Mo-, Neosho, Mo-, Sulphur springs /,
Ark. SLOAN Springs, Ark, and the direct
route from the south to St Louis, Chicago
and points north and northeast and 10 Denver /,
Ogden, San Francisco, Portland and pointa
west and northwest No expense has been
spared to make the passenger equipment o
this line second tn none In the west Trave
via tho new line he. ORa
GenpPass. Agt. Kansas City MO.
The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1902-05-01
STATE AMPLY SECURED.

The national government had
granted these lines 1874, 434 acres
of land to aid in their construction,
and this valuable property was also
included in the mortgage held by the
state.
Under the conditions imposed by
the Legislature, the state was amply
secured against loss. If, however,
any OF our republican friends are
skeptical on this point, they are re-
specially referred to the inaugural
address Of the republican governor
in 1865, in reviewing the conditions
of the railroads, concluded with this
statement:
"The roads are ample security for
the amounts advanced by the state
to them respectively"
So much for the creation of the
debt and the security provided.
HOW SECURITIES WERE sQUANDERED.
Now let us see IL the securities were
squandered and the debt thereby i'm.
posed on the people through corrupt
and fraudulent methods.
The Wabash owed the state in
principal and interest $6,s60,OO0.
The legislature, which was over
whelmingly republican in both
branches, in the session of1s6Spass
ed this act:
"That the debt due or to become
due, from tho North Pacific railroad
company to the state oil Missouri for
bonds Of the state loaned said com
The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1902-05-01


This was 20 per cent above the
amount due the state. Yet within n
month from the date OF this report
this legislature passed an act fasten-
ing upon the state $5,7S0,000 OF the
Missouri Pacific Indebtedness and re-
lieving the railroad company of this
sum.
Naturally the question would arise
as to the cause which led the legisla-
ture to add over five millions q! dol
lars to the burdens OF the people.
The facts came out in a suit in the
United States court in the case Of
James NJ. Lamb ct al VS.. the Mis-,
souri, Pacific railroad company, in
which the evidence established the
fact that corruption fund OF $193,-
64S, so had been used by the man
ayers of the Missouri Pacific to pass
the bill releasing theroad of S., $780,
600 and fastening that sum on the
people,
The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1902-05-01
A DARK CHAPTER.
Official History of the Squan-
dering of the States
Securities.
How Twenty-Five Millions Indebted
ness Was Taken OFF the Rail-
roads and Fastened on the
People.

feOple.
Secretary of state Sam b. Cook in
the latest chapter of his political
hand book makes an exceedingly I'M
teresting subject of the origin and re-
duction of the state debt. In this
chapter given to thepress Thursday,
Mr. Cook saws:
So much that is wholly at variance
with tile official records has been pub
lished by "A partisan republican press
concerning the creation and reduc-
ton of the state debt that brief re-
cital OF the facts will not be out OF
place at this time.
The republicans make two specific
allegations regarding the state debt
which ii both be true would relieve
that party OF any responsibility Tor
the more than forty millions OF dol
lars, principal and interest, which the
people of Missouri have been required
to pay since the republicans were in
control Of the state.
First-They assert that the state
debt originated before the repubh-
cans came into power.
Second-That the railroads, to aid
in the construction oiwhich the state
bonds were issued. we're not corrupt
" or improperly relieved OF their
financial obligations to the state
while the republicans were in control.
CREDIT LOANED THE RAILROADS.
Prior to the civil wary when million
aires were few and private capltalior
the construction of RAILWAYS was as
scarce as it is now plentiful for that
purpose, both the national and the
state governments were lending their
credit to aid in the building OF these
great enterprises, demonstration OF
which was admittedly essential to the
development of the country.
The national government, IN addi-
ton to loaning its credit, made large
grants of public lands to aid these
enterprises,
Missouri from 1851 to 1857 loan
ed her credit to these enterprises
takingas security for the.bonds ISSUED
n first mortgage lien Onthe property
of the roads, including not only theiI
right of way, superstructure, build
ings, equipment, etc, bat also the
lands granted them by the natisnaI
government. Counties, towns and
inviduals made liberal subscriptions
to these enterprises and these sub
scriptions, VII h the money advance
by the parties constructing the road
all went to secure the state.
Governor Sterling Price was op
posed to the policy of the state aid
inc in the construction of railroads
and vetoed the measure, but the gen
eral assembly passed a bill over hi'
veto by the constitutional majority
1t should DO borne in mind that thu
aid loaned by the state was Tor TIN
construction OF the main lines OF TIN
Missouri Pacific, Wabash( then Nortl
Missouri). Hannibal x st. Joseph
Iron Mountain and Southern Paclti
(now Frisco.)
STATE AMPLY SECURED.
New-York tribune., 1902-04-24
BOPEFTL SYMPTOMS IN THE SENATE.

| There are signs of good cheer in the Senate.
| A rational Republican bill for reciprocity with
| Cuba is TO be prepared and adopted by that
body Such is the assurance that comes 10
hand as expressed in our special washington
dispatches of yesterday. The thing OF shreuS
and patches which the House of Representa-
tiyes adopted last week seems likely to be prac-
ticalIy ignored. To amend 1t into decent shaie
would be almost entirely TO recreate 1t. III
would be far easier and safer to draw up an en-
tirelv new measure In accord with the dictates
of interest and honor If the Senate will do
that If will have the overwhelming support of
the American people. who are tired of the delay
and trimming and petty intrigues which nave
marked the action of the House upon the mat
ter.
One feature Of the Senate's bill is likely
tn he the omission of the prescriptions concern
ing Cuba's domestic economy which the House
bill contains. That will be commendable- If
we are going TO negotiate treaty with Cupa
it must be with Cuba as a sovereign State. We
musf act toward her as we would toward any
other nation In making commercial treaties
with European lands we do not attempt to die
tate labor legislation 10 them. We put special
duty upon German sugar becaUse of Germanys
EXPORT bounties but do not insist that Ger
man workmen i'll sugar factories shall get such
or such wages. or work not more than so many
hours a day We have no business thus to med
die with the domestic concerns of other States
We shall do well not to attempt such meddling
with Cuba beyond the limits set down in the
PIatt amendment to the Cuban constitution.
II is also intimated that the Senate may
do what The Tribune suggested on Monday as
among the possibilities. II may take the House
st IFS word and vote TO abolish the dfferential
duty on refined sugar. As The Tribune has
argued. that is a matter to be determined upon
the simple basis of Industrial and fiscal need.
If the United States Treasury can get along
without that revenue. and if the sugar refining
industry in the United States no longer Deeds
that protection. why by all means let us have
the dffferential abolished. Nobody wants that
or any other tariff just for the sake of tariff
Duties are levied for either revenue or protec-
ton. or both If any particular duty is not
needed for either of these purposes it has no
reason for existence
The Senate will doubtless give this last feat
ure of the case careful consideration, as indeed
it will the whole subject But such considera-
ton need not occupy much time. The subject
has been so we'll thrashed out already that there
is little more to be learned or said about II.
Action is what is now needed. The Senate
seems to be ready for action and intent upon it.
1t is to be hoped and expected that these pres
ent favorable indications and promises will be
promptly fulfilled. 1t would be shameful for
this country to meet the new republic of Cuba
on Nav 20 with duty unfulfled and honor
under cloud.
New-York tribune., 1902-04-24

sonable in their requirements as 70 WhaI coi-
stituted evidence of liquor selling and gambling
there would be less need of such expenditures
But under ruling that liquor selling is not
proved unless the witness tastes the liquor
and can testify that it is not something else
than what it appears to be, there is no otheI
way to prevent wholesale lawbreaking- A rev
DAYS ago one magistrate discharged liquor
dealer for the absurd reason that the law LOT
bade the sale of malt liquors and there was
no evidence that the beer sold was maze OIL
malt and not an adulterated concoctlon- 1nls'
of course was mere bubble, for which mag
istrate ought TO be removed from the bench'
but faced with such difficulties there is nothing
for officers of the law TO do but spend money
for evidence.
1t is not a crime to buy liquor at forbidden
hours though it is to sell it. There is no moral
degradation involved. any more than there Is
in sending marked bills through the mails Tor
a thief TO take 1t is disgrace 10 this cou-
munity that hundreds Of saloons and gampllng
houses are in illegal operation, not quietly anu
under cover but in open and blatant dehance
of the law Yet they cannot he prosecuted ana
kept within decent limits on hearsay evidence.
The people who patronize them will not testlIy
against Them and if they are not 10 have 1ree
swing money must be spent by detectives III
them 1t is a narrow and captious spirit Whlch
would tie the hands of law enforcing ofllclals
by forbidding moderate expenditures OF that
sort,
New-York tribune., 1902-04-24
NOT IN THE PTLLORT.
Reason is lacking and hysteria abounds in
this outcry Of THE Boston Herald:

Reason is lacking and hysteria abounds in
this outcry Of THE Boston Herald:
How long IS the American people going to
endure the disgrace of standing pilloried in the
sight of the whole civilized world a con-
tributor to the at best. hell of of this form
of barbaric torture2 There brutes in every
army, but the higher name and fame OF an
army turns the stern and wrathful spirit in
which it eliminates its brutes. This England
has noby done in South Africa in repudfating
with bullets and dishonored graves her own
brutes Thus has she cleared her skirts from
the taint Of them and expressed her revolt of
sccrn and wrath at their ways. And America
must do likewise If she would not become
byword and a kissing among the nations of the
earth.
The American people are not standing pilloried
in the sight of the whole civilized world any
part of it on account of accusations brought
against officers of the United States Army in
the Philippines. Sentence first, facts afterward.
Off with his head That was the system of
judicial procedure in Alice's Wonderland. But
1t is not our system. On charges Of cruelty
contrary to the rules of Major Waller has
been tried by court martial. Why he was
acquitted is not positively known, but the pre-
sumption Is that the court accepted his evil
dence that he had acted under orders. At all
events that evidence was instantly made
charge against his superior officer. General
Smith who is about TO undergo the ordeal of
court martial. Moreover. determined is the
President to have full and exact justice done
that he has himself constituted the court which
is to try General Smith, in order that he may
be able to review the findings.
Notwithstanding these official proceedings the
American people would be open to the re-
proaches of mankind and might be said to stand
ptlloried in the sight of the world if they had
heard the charges with Indifference and forgot
ten all about them the moment they were
known to be under consideration by the mill
tary authorities But the precise contrary is
the fact The charges produced q profound i'm
preston in every part of the country and evoked
a perfectly suitable expression of public feeling.
There is not the faintest suggestion anywhere
of tenderness toward American soldiers
victed of hideous atrocities, but stern punish
rnent of such criminals is universally demanded.
Thus the American people have cleared their
skirts so far as they possibly could up to this
time and there is no reason to doubt that the
process VIII be completed rapidly as the
course of events permits. But our way is to
get the facts before passing sentence on indi-
viduals, precisely it is England's way. The
revolt of scorn and shame will fit the case il the
case is proved. Meanwhile all that is required
Is the resolve to know the truth and the mood
to condemn il condemnation Is deserved Gov
ernment and public are of one mind in this
matter. Her conduct does England honor, but
1t exhibits no contrast to ours. If the army Of
New-York tribune., 1902-04-24
PERSONAL NOTES.

NJ Alcfds Ebrey one Of the best known Euroeeah
writer's on international questions. was recently
decorated Knight of the Legion of Honor WINE
renainine one of the editors of the Journal aes
Dsbats'' he has taken up again in the Memorial
Diponua tique'' his weekly articles, which had ces
interrupted for a year for family reasons "
urbrav,s return to the editorial rooms OF 70
NA,,oriaI" now under the direction of NJ Aloefl
Saruent will contribute to the continuous success
of THAT weekly paper. which has been for loI'
,,aars the recognized organ of international dlpt
macy in Europe. Some years ago IL eolnteu ". ,r
adifortaI STAFF Henry Vignaud. now nrst
Of the United States Embassy IN PARIS anu Tich
of the book ON the Letters OF COLUMBUS. ~na @nsr
raised such a seneral controversy fesaiA-''S ~
ica's discoverers.
NJ Blenvenu chief engineer Of the Paris Meuo
nolitan Underground Railway. is about TO WISH 'io
United States TO study the American system OF g
saneer handling, well as various projected uiNe
ground roads in the larger cities.
The Italian poet Giosue Carducci, who Is IN PO
health and who. like many other authors haS
found literature in Italy not to be lucrative So
fessiou was troubled by the thought tnat dt ~
death the library which he has collected Win -
much care would be dispersed and sold pleceaA me
Oueen Margherta to whose personal in1lueneT ,or1-
conversion of Carducc from republicanlSfn ~ huy-
ing his library for 5000 francs. the coneiTSs TSs
that he retain the Of 1t during his n Is
Queens act has been much applauded. anu will
practically certain that Carduccls HordlH,; az
eyentually be handed over to the nlunicipai''
Bologna where Carducci has always lived.
New-York tribune., 1902-04-24
WHAT AROTT SK{DS2

The recent publication of the Merchants AS
socation on the subject Of blackmalnng, as re-
lated TO the lawful use of sidewalks IN the
transaction of business, quotes various ordl-
nances for the information of those concerned.
with more or less valuable comments thereon.
Thus, Section Of the associations instructions
to merchants Is follows:
Sidewalks in front of premises may be used
by occupants for the usual purposes OF thelr
business when such use occasions only tenn
porary obstruction. This applies specifically to
goods, merchandise in process OF
leading, unloading, shipment or being received
from shipment; but at all times there @ shaii
"be maintained a free passageway for peoeS-
"trians in the centre of the sidewalk.
careful perusal of the words which are
bounded by quotation marks in the foregoing
paragraph. and which are doubtless accurately
copied from the ordinance, raises grave doubt
as to the status of that ancient implement of
commerce known as the skid. We have the
skid. like the poor. always with us here in New
York: nor in view of the hopeless folly with
which the city was laid out in the beginning, is
there any reasonable prospect of its extinction.
Having been built without alleys, the metrop-
oils of the New World must apparently con-
tinue Indefinitely to receive and dispatch mer-
chandise across its sidewalks, and for that pur-
pose the skid has no rivals. Yet the Merchants
Association in acQuainting it's members with
their rights produces no Justihcauon Tor theT
employment of an Indispensable article. If the
quoted ordinance is their sole reliance they are
in perpetual contempt Of the law. for II declares
that at all times there shall be maintained
free passageway for pedestrians in the centre
of the sidewalk. and argument IS needed 10
prove that whenever and wherever a skid Is
stretched from a doorway to a truck at the
curb the passageway for pedestrians is effect
Al
chants have to bribe the Bureau Of Incum-
brances in order to obtain the privilege Of using
skids? If so, what would happen If the bureau
should become vrtuous and prohibit their use?
We confess to a mild curiosity concerning
skids In general. They were formerly subject
of perennial song and jest as well as cause Of
Indignation and an Indictment to profanity. But
we have not heard much about them lately.
Have they become so utterly familiar that the
public has lost the consciousness of their exist
ence and rasps its shins without rejecting how
and why it suffers? Or are they used with a
less audacious contempt for the comfort OF clti-
zens. not being left to span the sidewalk idly
for an hour or more at a time while the persons
in nominal charge of them are doing something
elsewhere? Let US hope that there is An increas-
ing dfsposition to abate the nuisance as far as
possible But what is the fact of law! The
TO have shown that the skid actually has no
rights which the Bureau Of Membranes is
hound to respect.