davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Omaha daily bee., 1902-11-28

quarters, all give this city peculiar EN-
phasis as an army base of supplies.
Although he does not say so outright,
General Ludington intimates that the
additional land required to erect n stor-
age warehouse Of the character he con
templates should be purchased by the
city or its business men and presented
to the government. 1t may be advisable
to pursue this plan, but why the people
OF Omaha should be expected to buy
land for the government. which 1t is
amply able to pay for itself, is not
quite clear.
The army storage warehouse will be
quite acceptable, but in the interval the
project for an army supply purchasing
depot should not be allowed to go by the
board. The storage warehouse will be of
comparatively little benefit to Omaha
jobbers and business men unless the
army supplies are also purchased here.
While the storage warehouse will give
employment to a few additional people,
the handling and distribution of army
supplies purchased here for the whole
department would add much more ma
terially to the working force, and indi-
rectly rebound to the benefit of u re-
tail trade.
If our people will only look to their
interests in that direction the Importance
of Omaha from a military standpoint is
destined to constant and steady growth.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-11-28
NOTES.

When the corporations raise wages the
consumer pays the freight.
Sir Charles Dixie says the United States
is slow. No one ever said that Of Dixie
when he was younger.
| DIR. Edward Steiner Of Richmond, Ind,
Is 20 go TO Russia to become biographer,
Of Count Leo Tolstoi. at the request OF the
author himself.
The captain Of the Harvard eleven is not
saying much, according TO the Boston pa
pers. But he will when the doctors remove
the bandages from his Jaw.
The famous law firm of Foraker, outcalt,
Granger & Prior of Cincinnati will dissolve
on December /. Senator Foraker wishes
to devote all his time to Washington.
The new Swiss minister. Mr.. Du Math-
cray, who has recently been appointed to
Washington, is said to be young and good
looking. His first post as minister was
at Vienna, where his excellent appearance
coupled with his many accomplishments,
not the least of which is grace in dancing,
won him much favor. So popular was he
that when he was transferred to Rome, II
is said, he found social life in the eternal
city too slow.
General Basil Duke is supposed to be
about the most absent-minded man in Ken
lucky. He has been known TO pass HE
wife In the street without recognizing her.
A short time ago the generals son, who
had been away for some time, returned to
Louisville and boarded a street car for
home. At the next corner the general got
on and the young man rose and extended
his hand. His father shook Il heartily and
said: "How are you this morning. and
how IL your fatherr"
Omaha daily bee., 1902-11-28
BIRD's-EYE REFLECTIONS.

The tower-clock Is ticking out
lnterminable seconds; ems.
Impatientiy turn about ,-'
Above the whirr Of wheels rishout, l
Move faster! but 1t beckons; ;, ~
N~ever-neYer.
Depressed, my eyes divert, when
They ma the tower windows. sss.
And as they Ger the house-tops then
THE slowly ticking thing goes: fl .-.r
N~ever-never.- r
My eyes are resting on the site
Our Auditorium should
Long since have graced. l ask: When might
1t be? Hear I the answer right
This wheezy clock-work cooed:
N~ever-never.
The much-disputed market hall
Makes quite as snail-llke progress;
l wonder, Will II come at all
To grace (0 our Av'nue Capitol7
Two ticks sum up the business:
N~ever-never. sF
The U. P. stacks in huge design
The question-mark are smoklng:.
Will Burt the strike-knot cut in time
To move the crops along his linef-
Q'm sure the clock is joking)-
N~ever-neVer.
I see the cleaning rails and smooth ID
90, on streets streets In all the city;
Our birthright, which they robbed in youth
OF equal rights. What pity?-
N~ever-never.
My eyes are blinded by the smoke
Which, belched from thousand chimneys,
Pollutes the air with fumes to choke
The sick. the well; its noxious stroke
Spares none. When end these mis- ries2 p
N~eVer-neVer.
Ak-Sar-Ben's den squats in the north.
Ashamed, ungainly. ugly,
Quite conscious of the jeers called forth
OF thoughtless ones at its poor worth:
Can't Samson house more snugly?-
N~eVer-neVer.
! see q wilderness of roof,
As far as visions span;
OF sturdy growth substantial proof;
OF teeming, throbbing streets the woof;
But ever a policeman
N~ever-never.
Lies battle wages hercely there.
Tho roar and din, ascending,
Are ~softened ere they reach my ear,
That vaguely discord I but hear.
Clock! will II have no ending?-
N~ever-never.
Omaha, Neb. A. Y. MARSCHNER.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-11-28

Facts About the Fraudulent OccupR-
tiOn Of Public Lands.
Chicago News.

49,
The facts regarding the fraudulent occu-
patton Of public lands which Secretary
Hitchcock Of the Interior department pre-
sents in his annual report are interesting
and suggestive. The magnitude Of the ter
ritory which they show to be involved would
itself strike the Imagination, but still more
curious is the peculiarly helpless attitude
which they disclose the United States gov
eminent to be occupying in its relation to
unlimited tenants of the public domain. 1t
would seem that Uncle Sam has been the
victim Of predatory excursions planned on a
majestic scale and executed with unprece-
dented impudence. In a single year an area
embracing 1852, S44 acres has been fenced
in by land-grabbers who have camped on
the public domain and made 1t useful for
their own purposes. One modest gentleman
with a taste for ranching fenced in more
than 60, 900 acres and has held II in defiance
of law and authority. In New Mexico alone
a private corporation with an evident APP
probation of the splendid opportunities for
encrcaching on public ground inclosed
1,079.0 900 acres and hus refused to quit the
premises or remove its fences.
II It we're not for the fact that the seizure
Of land is really a gigantic swindle there
would be something ludicrous in the spec
tacle OF a powerful government being held
up in this free-and-easy manner by greedy
trespassers. The remarkable thing about
II is that these persons would Hesitate a
long time before undertaking to despoil
individual property owners in this way and
II they should attempt to do so would be
brought speedily to justice. It would seem
to be high time for the authorities at Wash
ington to take such action as will make
land-grabbing a less popular and profitable
undertaking. Although more than 19,4ss,-
900 acres Of public lands were disposed Of
last year there remains an area OF 525, 000,-
600 acres OF public domain west OF the Mis-
sissippi. Doubtless the temptation afforded
by this vast territory will lead to further
encroachments. Secretary Hitchcock points
out that the pending bill providing for the
lease Of lands at 2 cents an acre for ten
years, with the privilege of renewal, is but
a scheme to turn the land to the uses Of
private monopoly. 1t is time for Uncle
Sam to stop playing the role Of simple
minded victim of hold-up men.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-11-28
LNrLrRrsr LEnsLIrlnN.

While Il appears to be the general i'm
preston that there will be no legislation
at the coming session Of congress deal
ing with the combinations, there are re-
publlcans in both branches who believe
that there will be action on the recon-
mendations the president is expected to
make in his annual message. 1t Is under
stood that a number of antitrust meas
ures will be introduced early In the SEES
sion. which will of course be referred
to committees, where they may be IN
sidered or not, but the expectation is
that there will be n distinctively admin
istrstion bill which the judiciary com
mittees Of the senate and house will feel
called upon to give prompt consideration
to and report upon without unnecessary
delay.
1t is recognized that legislation on this
subject by the present congress will de-
pend a good deal upon the attitude of
the administration. AS to the earnest
lation there is no doubt, but as he said
in his speech before the Union League
of Philadelphia, there will be no hasty
or reckless action. 1t is therefore posi-
bic that he will not urge legislation at
the coming session, though there would
seem to be ample time in the ten or
eleven weeks to strengthen the Sherman
act and at least enact legislation requir-
ing publicity or the part of the combi-
nations engaged in Interstate business.
This subject has been SO thoroughly
discussed and the position of the country
in regard to it is so fully defined that
if the majority in congress is willing to
enact antitrust legislation it should be
able to do so before the close of the
Fifty-seventh congress. .
The republican leaders must certainly
understand hat public sentiment on this
question will not brook unjustidable de-
very strong that the lawless combina-
lions should not be given another year
of exploitation and exaction If it be in
the power of congress, as asserted by At
NSAASJ NNhNAH ~ ~ OlIGl dDlC
lawyers, to restrain them. "Time may
be needed for making the solution per-
feet" said Mr.. Roosevelt, "but it is idle
to tell the people that we have not the
power to solve such a problem as that of
exercising adequate supervision over the
great Industrial combinations Of today.
We have the power and we shall find
out the way. We have firmly made up
our minds that a solution, and a right
solution, shall be found, and found it
will be-" If the republican leaders in
congress will in this spirit address them
selves to the consideration of the prob
lem there will be legislation at the COM
ing session which will satisfy the people
of the sincerity Of the party promise to
regulate and restrain the great COM
binations.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-11-28
ON the RIEht Track.
Minneapolis Times.

Those Nebraska Indians who want the
exclusive Indian schools abolished and their
children sent TO the regular public schools
to mingle with white children are on the
right track. Their complaint that their
children cannot acquire the proper spirit OF
civilization when segregated, and that such
segregation makes them feel as IL they were
regarded as an inferior race, is we'll taken.
Possibly the white children would object
to mingling in school with the reds, but
such objection is not likely to be very
general. There is less objection among
whites to personal association with Indians
If the latter are reasonably clean-than to
negroes; and yet negro children are re-
ceived in the public schools OF the great
majority of the northern states.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-11-28
Vermont Weary of BootIegEing.
PHILADELPHIA Press.

Vermont goes ahead carefully in the
matter OF granting licenses to sell liquor.
1t can only be done after the people have
voted on the subjectztfA bill has already
passed the legislature which will be sub
mitted TO a popular vote during the
winter. The bill provides for an annual
referendum on the licensing Of saloons,
sets a minimum fee OF $500 fCf a general
license and a maximum fee of 81, 200, and
provides for a $3.50 license to sell fer
mented liquors. There is an anti-treating
clause. II the bill is approved by the
people It's operation will be watched with
great interest, as some Of its features have
not worked we'll elsewhere, particularly
the clause providing for two classes Of
licenses.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-11-28
DEFECT OF CIVIL SERVIcE TESTS

OArbC Oc CIFII SEHVICB TESTS,
The annual report of the examining
department of the Civil Service COM
mission shows the vast extent to which
the competitive system has been APP
piled to the federal patronage, compris-
ing now the overwhelming majority of
clerical places of Importance. That the
change from the old unmitigated spoils
system, a change so great as to amount
to a revolution, has been of lncalculable
benefit to the public service and to pub
lie morals is beyond dispute.
Nevertheless, complaint is. made, APP
parently with justice, that methods of
examination on the classified service fall
far short of being satisfactory tests Of
the efficiency and merit of the compet-
ing candidates. One of the chief faults
is the disproportionate value credited to
mere scholastic attachments In COM
parison with practical experience in the
line of the particular functions to be
performed. 1t actually happens in in
Vulnerable instances that the less fit can
didates will receive, because of superior
book knowledge, the higher markings
on the eligible list and thus have
precedence for appointment.
For the numerous class OF junior
clerkships in postoffiees scholastic at
tainments beyond a certain minimum of
fair English. education are not the most
important qualification, and yet in the
examinations they are given first con-
sideration, when quickness of eye, man
ual dexterity and many other gdalifica-
tions, for which the civil service exam
nations provide no adequate tests, are
really more important.
The competitive system, defective as
it may be. is still to be counted an
inestimabie boon in having sent The
political heeler and spokesman to the
rear. No good citizen would dream of
cutting the dyke which has stemmed
the tide Of fayorltism and arbitrary
s~poliatlon. But it is susceptible Of fur
ther Improvement by reform of exami-
nation tests. The beginning has indeed
already been made in those branches
which, like the patent office work, re-
qulre special or expert skiIl and for
which the examinations disregard mere
general book knowledge. When this prin
ciple is applied generally to the tests for
clerical work in the classified service,
there will be little room for complaint
Omaha daily bee., 1902-11-28
LONG REPUBLICAN LEAD.
Start for 1904 Gives Reasonable As
uranc of victory.

ST. Louis Globe-Democrat.
The disputed counts In the few doubtful
congressional districts are now shaping
themselves In such a way that the house
leaders can make their figures with some
confidence. There will be 2O8 republicans
In the house which was recently elected.
and which will come into existence next
year, as compared with 17S democrats.
The republican majority will thus be thirty.
Majority and plurality in this case Is the
same, because all the members will be
classified as republicans or democrats.
This is the way that all of them classify
themselves.
In the present house the republicans
have a majority of forty. This is the house
which was elected with Mckinley and
Roosevelt in 1900. The house elected in
the presidential year always has a larger
majority for the presidents party than
does the one which is chosen two years
later. Sometimes the second house goes
against the presidents party. In all cases
that party loses many votes in the mid
presidential term congressional election.
1t will be noticed that the loss this time
was very small. The republicans are to be
congratulated on the fine exhibit which
they made in the recent election.
AHS NAhAheAAOh VI tue popullbNSs tue
silverites. the independents and the nom
deseripts in general from the house of
representatives will be satisfactory 10
the people as a whole, and will remove
an element OF confusion from the cleo
tion figures. Henceforth, for a short time,
at least, there will be only two parties In
elections. A person will have to call him
self a republican or a democrat. True, in
1904 there may be two or three sorts OF
democrats running for ONCE. but that is an
embarrassment which is two years on at
least. Fer the time, at any rate. there
will be only two parties in the country
and the country can readily place" every
body. The long lead which the republicans
have gained in an election in which there
was a good deal Of apathy on the repub-
liean side shows the strength Of the party
with the American people. The outlook foI
1904 is bright enough to suit the mos
sanguine as well a. the most pessimistic o.
republicans, II there be any republicans &
the latter sort
Omaha daily bee., 1902-11-28

Of the State university who maintain
constant interest in the athletic fortunes
of that institution. Since the annexation
Of the medical school Omaha can also
claim to furnish part of the site for the
State university and to have acquired
the right to be considered in the distri-
button Of athletic events. 1t is to be
hoped that the managers Of the intercol-
legiate contests will not overlook these
facts when they make up their schedules
in the future.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-11-28
THE DECLINE IN SILVER.

The steady fall In the price of silver
presents a situation that may consider
ably disturb international exchange, I'M
less the decline should be arrested. OF
course the countries chiefly affected are
those having a silver currency, as Mex
leo and the Philippines, for example, in
both of which the decline of the white
metal has unsettled values and produced
~unfavorable business conditions. All
countries having trade with China must
experience more or less disturbance of
that trade If silver continues to decline,
though it will have no effect financially
upon the gold standard countries. Thus
the United States not being a purchaser
of silver the price of the metal as a com
modify will have no effect upon the gen.
eral financial situation here.
1t is a condition that appeals strongly
to the silver-standard countries to change
the basis of their monetary system.
Siam has just adopted the gold standard
and closed its minis to the free coinage
of silver. The Mexican government has
for some time been considering the ex-
pediency Of adopting the gold standard,
but there is a good deal Of popular OPP
position to doing this. As a large pro-
Queer of silver, Mexico has a reason for
clinging to the silver standard some of
the other countries had not, but under
existing circumstances it is manifestly
to the disadvantage of that country to
maintain the silver standard. AS the Mex
lean dollar, declines all imported goods
become more expensive, more slowly
the prices Of domestic goods rise and
most slowly of ali the wages Of
labor rise and the working pop
ulatlon suffers in the meantime. A good
deal of the Mexican debt is held abroad
and the more silver drops the more dol
lars are required to meet the obligations.
A hu~ctuatihg rate of exchange intro
duces additional risk in foreign business,
which necessarily operates unfavorably
to the foreign commerce of the country.
The concern of the United States in
the situation has reference to the Phil
lppines and should strongly impress
upon congress the urgent necessity for
a change there to a stable currency. a
recent report states that silver from
China Is pouring into Manila and 'the
rapidly changing rates embarrass the
business houses, making IL almost i'm
possible to fix prices. The native off
Gals are MENTIONING for the pa yment of
their salaries in gold and the demand for
n liked stable currency is universal" II
is expected there will be a reaction and
silver will rise once more, but 1t is un
likely that it will o its former value
or rise permanently. 1t all events con-
gress should lose no time in providing
remedial financial legislation for the
Philippines and the only safe policy is
to give the islands the gold standard, as
was proposed by the house of representa-.
tives and rejected by the senate.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-11-28

"a quaint memory OF old days, when New
York was a much smaller own than at
present, Is kept alive at st. Johns chapel
in Varick street" says the New York
Evening Post. This is the Leake Dole Of
Bread. an example OF old fashioned aims
giving at the church door, never seen in
these days Of organized charities. The dole
dates back to 1892. when John Leake. the
wealthy philanthropist. who was one of the
founders Of the Leake & Watts Orphan
asylum, died, leaving among other requests
the sum OF e1.0OO at interest. to be laid
out in sixpenny wheaton loaves OF bread and
distributed to such poor OF Trinity parish
as appear most deserving The distribu-
Omaha daily bee., 1902-11-28
LuDINGT0N'S WAREHOUSES Plan

Quartermaster General Ludlngton's
recommendation that before erecting the
new quartermaster's storage warehouse
at Omaha, for which congress made an
appropriation at it's last session, a com
p%rehensiye plan should be adopted for
a series OF army storage warehouses
at strategic points stretching across the
country, should appeal to the business
sense Of the community. What General
LudingtOn says about the necessity for
such storage warehouses, as demon
strated by the difficulties encountered
in gathering supplies at the outbreak
Of the Spanish-American war, is re-
enforced by the demands of the army
as distributed through the country on
its present peace footing. That Omaha
must be an important link I'm the chain
when this plan is carried u goes
without saying. Its location midway
between the lakes and the Rockies and
It's special advantages as a railway dis
tributing center. together with the fact
that 1t Is the military department head.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-11-28

The dearth of competent school teach
ers in Iowa is easily explainable. The
average wage for country school teach
ers, which is only about $31. is INSULT
cient to command competent persons.
When a farm laborer receives a larger
wage than those who are entrusted with
the public education it is nc wonder
that the ranks of the school teachers
are thinning. The public will simply
have to submit TO a lower standard Of
talent or advance the scale of eompen-
sation.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-11-28
Words Fun of Truth.
Baltimore American.

Baltimore American.
1.-THE man who neglects his political du-
ties because politics is too dirty for him is
Just az much a criminal as the man who
neglects to drain a cesspool that has
threatened his family, because it is ILL
smelling" These words of the National
Grange are full Of truth. If politics is
dirty, 1t is the duty of every. good citizen
to try to cleanse It. not to stand aloof and
allow It to get dirtier than It was before.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-11-28

1t is refreshing to find that out in
COlfax county the usual tactics of the
railroads to beat their taxes in Nebraska
has run amuck in the district court.
where a petition on behalf of the Union
Pacific for an injunction to prevent the
collection of taxes on its property there
has been refused. The courts have alto
gether too often been accessories to the
railroad tax Sinking and where they
stand up for the rights of the ordinary
property owner they deserve common
dalton.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-11-28

II Is certain that the receipts OF cattle
at South Omaha during the calendar
year will not be far from ], 0OO,O 900 head,
thus establishing a new high record.
Not only are the transactions OF the live
stock market here reaching out into
a wider field. but more cattle are being
produced within the region naturally
tributary, and a steadily increasing pro-
portion OF them are being shipped here.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-11-28

The report of the auditor Of the Post
office department makes a poor showing
for the money order branch. Its busi-
ness is lone at a net loss certain to in
crease In the future unless methods are
changed. The banks and express com
panies are taking the patronage because
they give better service than the gov
eminent. The methods in vogue in the
money order department are antiquated.
It will be necessary to assimilate money
orders more to commercial paper if they
are not to lose popularity entirely.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-11-28

The Chicago professors theory Of get
ting rich out Of savings from n $500
salary has a very academic flavor. 1t
will hardly stand the hard knocks of the
world of fact.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-11-28
Expecting Too Much.
Brooklyn Eagle.

oAOOhiyh EdHiVs
Perhaps our postal authorities are right
in refusing to extend the rural free deliv-
cry. 1t is as easy for John Jones to come
from his cabin in the mountains when
he wants his mail as it is for the postman
to ride a dozen miles to Jones' cabin. When
people run of to the woods they mustn't
expect theaters.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-11-28
Ornamental, If Not Useful.
I~ndIananolis News.

That highly important part of the ma
tional armament, officers swords, have
been provided by the War department in
three lengths, to suit the various official
statures. So any nation whose kennels
contain dogs of war had better be careful
about letting them slip or there may be
trouble.