davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Omaha daily bee., 1902-02-16
AGRICULTURAL CONDITIONS.


Not the least interesting portion Of the
final report of the Industrial commits
sion is that dealing with agriculture.
1t Is pointed out that one great trouble
in farming at present is faulty distribu-
don and low efficiency of labor. These
two characteristics, the report states,
are partly due to ~irregularity of en-
ployment and the generally unattractive
character Of the occupation. To these
facts the commission attributes the flow
of the more efficient individuals from
the country into the cities. How largely
this has been going on is shown in the
statement Just made by the director of
the census, who says that counties
which actually decreased In population
during the past two decades are pre-
dominantly agricultural and usually
have lost through migration to more
favored localities the natural increase
Of their population by births over
deaths.
The Industrial commission's report
states that Notwithstanding a general
tendency to run into debt and to incur
undue burdens for the sake of buying
more land and unduly extending farm
capital over too great an area, the gem
eral tendency OF farm mortgages has
been downward. This is partly due TO
decrease In rates OF interest. 1t is noted
that a rise in the value of land has
gone hand In hand with decrease in
interest and indebtedness and contempt
raneously with these changes there has
ONE a decline In the number of indie
pendent owners Of land and an increase
In the number of tenants both abso-
lutely and relatively. Regarding agri-
cultural prosperity, the report says It
has been largely affected by the serious
variations in farm prices during the past
few years. while variations in freight
rates have been al important factor
with which the farmer was obliged to
deal, but whose influence he could sell
don anticipate. In the opinion Of the
commission the home market and not
the foreign is a price-determining factor.
'From the standpoint Of the advantage
to the producer" say the report. "the
home market is always the primary con.
sideration in agricultural policy. The
foreign market is necessarily more
irregular and therefore often a disturb.
ing factor in domestic prices rather than
a remedy in agricultural depression
This is interesting rs confutlng the
commonly accepted idea that 1t is the
foreign market which fixes the prices
of most of our crops.
The recommendations regarding leg
islatlOn In the interest of agriculture
made by the commission should com
mand the attention Of congress. 1t Il
probable that they will generally com
mend themselves to the approval of the
interests TO which they relate. since they
Omaha daily bee., 1902-02-16
AS TO A FRANCHISE TAX.

II was to be expected hat objections
would be raised to the recommendation
of the Industrial commission that an
annual franchise tax be imposed upon
all state corporations engaged in inter-
state commerce, the tax to be calculated
ton from its interstate business, the
minimum rate to be low but to be grad
ually increased with increases in earn
ings.
1t is objected to this proposition that
as the government does not need more
revenue a tax on the corporations is un-
necessary, that while a corporation is a
proper subject for taxation IL the gov
eminent is In need of revenue, 1t is
otherwise not expedient to tax corpora
lions. One objection is thus stated:
will a federal franchise tax upon all
corporations engaged in interstate COM
merce, calculated upon gross earnings
and increasing in rate as they increase,
help matters. even assuming 1t to be
just? Internal taxes for restraint and
regulation rather than for evenu are
Of doubtful expedlency at best, and on
such a scale as this they might work
very inequitably. A bureau Of the Treas
ury department to levy and collect such
a tax and exercise supervision would
have Its hands more than full"
The franchise tax recommendation of
the Industrial commission is part Of its
general plan of publicity aud supervision
for the corporations doing an interstate
business and is a very essential feature
Of that plan. We cannot see that the
revenue consideration is of any i'm
portance. The only question is as to
whether such q tax would be Just and
II can be confidently assumed that a
very large majority of the people would
SO regard 1t. There is certainly no good
reason why these great corporations
should not bear a share of the national
and state taxation proportionate to their
share of the national wealth, which the
Industrial commission calculates to be
one-hfth. The taxation OF the giant
combinations is smaller than that which
the individual owners pay and If a
graduated franchise tax on interstate
business will correct that inequality
such a tax should be imposed and col
lected. Moreover 1t would perhaps IN.
able the government to relieve the peo-
pie OF some other taxes that are more OF
less burdensome.
We can see nothing in the objections
noted that should have any weight
against he Industrial commissions rec
ommendaton. There is no doubt that
the franchise tax proposition will meet
with very general popular support and
It's ultimate adoption can, we believe, be
very confidently predicted.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-02-16
UNINJURED."
sample of Grim Humor from n Looted
Bank.
Cleveland Leader.

0~0ANA
There is grim humor In the statement
Issued by the directors Of the savings bank
in Detroit which has been wrecked by an
INSCRIPTIONS cashier who lent half Of it's
entire resources to its more INSCRIPTIONS
vice president. They say that outside of
these transactions the institution was never
in better shape!
1t happens that the single item of over
drafts by one man, the vice president OF the
bank, represents about four times its total
capital, surplus and undivided profits. The
checks certified for him and used in other
banks are equal to nearly three times the
whole capital, surplus and profits. But ex-
eept for the fact that one person has been
permitted to use the institutions credit and
resources to seven times the total amount
Of tts capital, surplus and prohts, the Sc
curtty given by this Spectator being very
dubious and inadequate. the a is all
right
What sort Of opera bopffe nonsense is
this7 The directors OF ~a/sayings bank so
monstrously mismanaged ought to confess
their shame and guilty responsibility for
negligence and do no ridiculous Boosting
about it's condition aside from the opera
lions which have ruined It.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-02-16
PERSONAL AND OTHERWISE.

Mr.. schwab has three kings in hand II
he draws another he can safely stay in
the game.
Should Uncle Sam take In the Danish
West Indies the deal will offset the Philip
pines. There is q Flanagan island In the
bunch.
Mlnnesota's board Of fair managers at the
Buffalo exposition has a stack OF compli-
ments coming. II came out Of the deaelt
with a balance Of 80 cents.
The brown tail moth has worked the
Massachusetts, legislature for another APP
preparation. Propagation OF moths seems
to be . paying investment.
Reform Is doing some sprightly stunts
these days. A Massachusetts, street rail-
way was fined s25 each for seven cars the
company failed to heat properly.
siow-paced thrift often prospers regard
less OF surroundings. A woman who ped
died matches on Wall street saved a large
roll Of money for her heirs to scrap over.
The Standard OIL company has made
a quarterly divvy OF 20 per cent. A bunch
OF stock in that company. II rightly placed,
would demoraliEe the Chicago platform.
Taxpayers in a Chicago suburb are hand
Ing In CHEEKY compliments with their money
to the city officials. They are enjoying the
rare experience OF a cut In taxes amount
ing to 40 per cent.
The police Of Indianapolis have been
shorn Of their belts and clubs. Instead
they will wear an additional row OF shin
Ing buttons and carry a leather covered
knocker In their pockets.
Mrs. Mary Smith Of PHILADELPHIA claims
to be 100 years old. There is no reason
why she should give It away. unless she
desires to show the effect Of renewing
husbands. She had four in her day.
The saddest dirge of the new century Is
that played over the remains Of the bicycle.
The League Of American wheelmen has
dwindled from 100, 900 in 1897 to a corporals
guard. A Toledo bicycle plant. employing
700 hands. has Just closed up shop. There
are others lying mute and smokeless. The
scorcher has ceased to be. Truly the revo-
lutions OF yesterday are today o memory
After all. habits and associations are not
safe guides of mems trustworthiness. The
Detroit bank wreoker played every game
that came his way and acquired a reputa-
ton as a rounder. Now the wiseacres say
81 told you So" Down In Ohio. a bank
official who never touched tobacco, couldn't
shuhie q deck Of cards and never played
the races is short In his accounts. These
contradictions furnish the variety that
spices life.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-02-16
II LATER REST.


Frank L. Stanton in Atlanta Constitution.
/.
He toiled, forever faithful. IN the vava
where Duty led,
When earth seemed like a desert, and dark
clouds overhead;
And, Amt you feelin' weary" But
stu his word would be-: "
on the other side OF Jordan there'u he
rest for mel
The black storms beat above him: He saw.
with saddened heart,
Inc laDorers In the vineyard, one after one.
depart; ~
oh n Fsi i1vS Sqq p from 70. the tO!linsI There is
o the other side Of Jordan thererI be
REST, from the toll and troubie, tired
hands and Dropping head
you 90 but gatheT roses for graves that
But evermore that answer. cIear-rinsing,
"on the other side OF Jordan thers'u be
rest for MEL
And 80 sss he tS SRss and toilins' gave earth a
AS the Love OF God that showered loves
lilies at his feet.
No earthly, light could lure him-no dark
his faith could dim
On the other side Of Jordan there was light
for himl
Omaha daily bee., 1902-02-16


The convention called to revise the
constitution Of Connecticut Is up against
a hard proposition in the reform Of leg
lslative representation. Up to this time
representation has been by towns with
out reference to population, with the re-
suit that the smaller towns with
tenth the number OF people have the
same voice as the larger towns and are
besides in position by a united stand to
block Any change looking to a more
equitable distribution. OF course this is
the same problem, only In a more ag-
gravated form, that besets everybody
that is charged with r~eadjusting legis-
lative apportionment according to the
unequal growth Of population. The con-
stituencies that are to lose by readjust-
ment nearly always oppose reform,
while those which are victims Of the
obsolete system are often powerless to
secure the relief that justice would ac-
cord. If some self-acting re%apportion-
ment measure that would put itself into
effect with each recurring census emu
meration could be devised, the unseemly
contention might be obviated and some
thing arrived at more nearly conforming
to our sense Of right.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-02-16
SPECULATION VERSUS THRIFT.
Rise, spIuFge and Fall of DetFoits
Financial Napoleon.

chicago news.
As an exemplar OF the destiny OF those
who embrace "get-rich-quick' schemes and
scorn the old-fashioned methods OF industry
and thrift one Frank @, Andrews OF De-
troit cannot be said to have spent his life
In vain. Mr.. Andrews is a young man who
arrived in Detroit a few years ago with a
capital OF 81. 25. BY dint Of nerve and quick
ness in taking advantage OF opportunities
he secured a foothold In the speculative
world and from that time on made money
rapidly, becoming a millionaire. Always q
blatant advocate Of the lucky throw as
opposed to caution, sound methods and
economy he has done what he could to
imperil the general prosperity OF the public.
Having been lucky, Andrews, like other
young Napoleons Of finance seems TO have
/ concluded that he was tnvtncible. He In
vented severai maxims which probably he
himself believed at the time. He openly
approved speculation and declared that
"human life is too short for the slow
processes OF thrift" II was his theory that
mo man should work after he IL 49," and
he believed that all his good fortune came
as "the result OF taking chances" He
found success consisted "in an tndomitabie
faith in your OWL proposition" Probably
his philosophical view Of gambling seemed
correct at the time his DoestIui sayings
doubtless IN no way oyerstated his faith In
himself.
That he should have dipped into ~spseula-
tion once too often and brought himself into
a predicament In which not even his Gin.
domitable faith could save him was in
evitable. He has succeeded In wiping out
his fortune In a hurry. Not being an Garner
OF a saver. but having been trained through
out his life to the idea Of getting money
without labor. II is not surprising that he
should have embezIled funds intrusted to
his keeping. From the bank Of which he
was vice president he took 1880, 900. leay-
ing absolutely no security. His fortune IL
gone and so is his credit. Any clerk
who manages 70 set aside 81 Of his earnings
weekly is now better on than the erstwhile
rich and boAstful Spectator. Youths who
may be tempted into speculation would do
well 70 note his example.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-02-16

this country from any soiicitude respect
ing the maintenance Of the open door TO
trade In China, which is Its chief on
Germ and which was endangered only
by the designs Of Russia In Manchuria.
The general effect of the Anglo-Japan-
csc alliance viii doubtless be highly ben
eicial. 1t will free China from the sell
fish pressure Of Russia, which has been
a serious embarrassment to the develop
ment Of the empire. and It will slim
ulate commercial intercourse in which
all countries will have an equal oppor-
tunity to share. 1t is unquestionably
a diplomatic event Of the very highest
Importance.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-02-16
Hot Air Aftermath.
Philadelnhia Times.

What with the conflict now raging among
the European chancelleries as to who was
the next friend Of Uncle Sam during the
war with Spain and ex-senator Chambers
effort to stir up strife at home 1t begins 10
look as II the war were to be fought over
again with q virulence that threatens to
upset all the rocking-chair critics Of events
and knock the knitting needle Of the would
be history makers out Of their excited
hands. 1t is 9 great day for the diplomat
who has a few cats to let out Of the bag
and for publicists who have time IN their
hands.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-02-16
THE COST OF LIVING.
A Phase of Prosperity which COnsti-
tutes a Burden.

Boston Transcript
Figures can be made to do all sorts Of
service, according to the use that is made
OF them. According to a recent trade re-
view opinion, the price OF those articles
which furnish the staple OF living to rich
and poor alike has advanced on an aver
age about 40 per cent. The latest issue Of
Bradstreet's, however, goes a little more
into detail, aud says that Considerable
loose writing on the subject OF high prices
seems to have been INDUCED in during the
last few months. owing to the high prices
OF food products, and the impression has
gone abroad that prices as a whole have
been Tremendously advanced" This, II
claims, lie not the case IN the great mass
OF material outside food products, IL
gives lists Of articles that are higher.
lower and stationary. From this II an
pears that hfty-ive products, or one-half
OF all quoted. were higher upon the hrst OF
the present month as compared with Feb
ruary l., 1891, thirty-nine we're lower and
thirteen remaiHed unchanged.
But the probIen. Of existence demands
differentiation. II makes q difference in
the equation whether II is butter or borax.
goldfish or carbolio acid that is increasing
or decreasing. In the Bradstreet lists the
advances have been largely in food prod
ucts' and especially those food products
tnat are classed among the more indispen-
SABLE factors Of existence. Luxuries are as
cheap now as previously, perhaps. The
necessaries Of life have been on the ascend
ing plane and the movement has not vet
been checked. Thus, according to Brad
streets showing, which is testimony in
confirmation Of the monthly bills for the
household, butter. tea, mackerel, molasses.
potatoes. apples, beef, pork, -four, eggs,
milk bacon, ham and lard, not to men
tion a number OF other articles, have in
creased. Castor oil, tar, nails, opium.
quinine. rubber and peanuts have decreased.
while anthracite coal, ginghams, tinplate,
hemlock timber and caustic soda are un-
changed.
But 1t lie not easy to derive CONSOLE
ton from the columns Of decrease and un-
cnangeabieness In prices. The consumer
does not seem to get much benefit from
them. while the additions to the other
column are visible without the help of a stat
i~sticisn. A box of quinine pills costs as
much as It did a year ago. Some may be
able to purchase anthracite coal at the
same figures as a year ago, but 1t is not
the small consumer. But we are a patient
people. We realize that the last year was
not favorable to a full supply of the lead
Ing crop staples and We are willing TO wait
Tor the abundance which hope always sug-
gests 10 In store for US In the seasons Just
ahead. We cannot get around the law of
supply n demand very well, or at least
the average consumer does not find II easy
to DO 30. That art is reserved for the
manipulation, who always does his cleverest
work when there is the greatest scarcity
In the necessaries Of life. Hence we imagine
he has had a hand in the extra burdens we
are ompelled to carry.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-02-16

The seniors Of the Nebraska university
have decided to cheerfully accept Booker
L. Washington as commencement orator.
1t would have been in extreme bad taste
to do otherwise. He is in every way
worthy Of the honor and Nebraska uni
versity several years ago took an ad-
vanced stand on this question by in
sistlng upon playing a eolored student
on its foot ball team.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-02-16
Checking the divorce scandal.
Chicago Chronicle.

Chicago Chronicle.
The Iowa legislature. which Is 10Y in
session, will pass a divorce law intended to
prevent the easy and cheap destruction Of
such marriage relations as are protected by
other states. A pending bill. which will
become a law, provides that citizens coming
from other states shall not secure q d.
vorce In Iowa except for causes which
would authorize q divorce In the state from
which the applicant removed. 1t is also
provided that no divorce shall be granted
for causes originating before the applicants
became residents of Iowa and qualified TO
sue in its courts. All restrictions on the
system Of easy and cheap divorces are In
the interest Of public morality and decency.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-02-16

The hottest senatorial contest In sight
Is already on over in Illinois, where the
forces are being marshalled by the re-
spective candidates for the control Of
the machinery OF the republican organ
iEation. AS yet the struggle is only in
incubation, but It is sure to blossom out
soon into a full-nedged object lesson In
support Of the demand for the election
OF United States senators by direct vote
of the people.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-02-16

In a recent speech Lord Roseb4ry GER
tainly showed the grasp OF a statesman
when he said that In graphing with the
South African question he looked to the
future rather than the present, for Boer
and Briton will have TO live together
in South Africa. The United States Is
facing a similar problem in the Philip
pines and those who. for political cap
ital. seek to prolong strife there are
neither statesmen nor patriotic citizens.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-02-16
Dreams from the Pie Belt.
Brooklyn Eagle.

Som woman has figured out that 2o,oOo,-
900 mince pies placed on top Of one another
will make a monume Of Indigestion 315
miles high. What an absurd thing to do
with pie. II the monument we're built IL
would not be three minutes before the base
were undermined by boys who would bring
the fabric crashing to the earth. thus dis
tributing stomach aches and plenty to alb
miles of the pie belt. Glorious dreami
Useless calculation!
Omaha daily bee., 1902-02-16

The Russian bear Is certainly the most
complacent animal in the European men
agerie when II serves his purpose to be
. Q. He smiles and says the British
japanese treaty is just to his liking.
But II either party to the agreement
syer sticks his head in the bears mouth
"the undertaken viii have To do the
rest"
Omaha daily bee., 1902-02-16

tons in the Grand Rapids bribery cases,
where 1t was shown 100000 was paid
out in the preliminary steps to secure
a franchise for furnishing the city with
water. and Grand Rapids is not such
a large place either. Neither is 1t TO be
supposed the promoters were giving
away all they thought there was in It.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-02-16

According to accounts Of the national
convention Of woman ~suffragists, the
women chasing the ballot phantom are
more confident than aver that their po-
litical acknowledgements is close at baud.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-02-16

The only rational inference is that
Frank James wal imbued more with a
desire to work a free advertising racket
than to purge the stage Of his question
able exploits.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-02-16

Postofice reports from most OF the
large cities are TO the effect that the
number OF valentine misslves handled In
the mails this year Is greater than ever
before. Prosperity stimulates sentiment
as well as business.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-02-16

The German agrarian party continues
its fight on the American hog. Expert
ence with the animal will soon teach
agrarians that it is harder to drive
the American hog into a pen than any
thing they ever had anything to do
with
Omaha daily bee., 1902-02-16

Special cablegrams inform us that
Prince Henry slid down hill on his
stomach when he went coasting with
the children. The American youth has
8 much more expressive way of describ-
ing the act.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-02-16

The men who are just now putting
pins in the chair Prince Henry ID ex-
pected to occupy during his visit to this
country, just to make political capital,
may be disappointed In the result.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-02-16

Whatever else people may think Of
Miss Susan b. Anthony, all admit that
she has always been O~utspokeniy frank
and never o 80 than In coming before
the suffragist convention and accepting
congratulations on her e~ighty-frst birth
day.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-02-16
Royalty Playing Politics.
Saturday Evening Post.

Saturday Evening Post.
King Edward VII. would succeed as q
politician. The new postage stamps will
his features familiar even to those
people who do not take American
papers. and the penny stamps
are red to please the English and the half
penny ones are green to please the Irish.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-02-16

Chicago's city, council proposes now to
equalize the telephone charges. If the
services Of an experienced board Of
equalization is wanted, 1t might call in
the members Of the Omaha city council.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-02-16

The man who has looked longingly for
the ball under the shell can appreciate
how General Kitchener felt when he
found the Beers had slipped through his
last circle drive"
Omaha daily bee., 1902-02-16

Weather bureau records show that the
average temperature for the first half
OF February has been below the normal.
The coal pile fully c~orroborates the Their
nnnmafaR
Omaha daily bee., 1902-02-16
Revelations Jar spain.
Philadelnhia Record

Philadelphia Record.
It must somewhat Jar the sensibilities OF
Spanish statesmen when they observe the
evident anxiety Of the great European
powers to demonstrate to the people OF the
United States that Spain had but one sim
cere friend among them all in her extrem-
ity
Omaha daily bee., 1902-02-16

1t should be distinctly understood that
the headline in various papers Ransom
Has Been PAID has no local signin-
canoe.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-02-16

What brought young Roosevelt around
90 quickly is the fact that he is a chip
Of the old block.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-02-16
STATEMENT OF CIRCULATION.

State OF Nebraska, Douglas County, ss.:
George b. Tzschuck. secretary OF The Bee
fnblhshing Company, being duly sworn
complete copies OF The Daily, Morning.
Evening and Sunday Bee printed during
tbs month of January, 1909, was as fol-