davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Omaha daily bee., 1902-04-17
CfTF ASSESSMENT ROLLS.

City Comptroller Westberg has once
more projected himself into the public
eye by an appeal to the city council
against the practice Of assessing build
ings located on leased grounds as per-
sonal property. While the method Of
assessing property in no way concerns
the comptroller, excepting as 1t does any
other private citizen. his complaint
might have been justified II there was
anything in It.
Had the comptroller taken the trouble
to inform himself he might have discov-
cred that any other mode Of assessment
than that Of separating the realty from
the personal property tax on leased
ground would be a detriment to the tax
payers. He ought to know that it is not
uncommon for railroad companies to
lease their grounds for various purposes
such as warehouses, elevators, coal and
lumber yards.
The assessment of the railroad termi-
nails, including the depot buildings, are
all dumped into the general pool with
freight and passenger cars and other
equipments that are appraised by the
State Board of Equalization and cred
tied back at s much per mile to Doug
las county and incidentally to Omaha.
1t is a matter of record that several
warehouses adjacent to the Union Pa
cihc tracks are owned by private parties
as are the Omaha smelling works. The
plant Of the smelling works company is
assessed at $2S0,OO0 for city taxation,
but II the buildings of the smelling
works company had been assessed
against the Union Pacific railroad.
which owns the grounds, how much
would Omaha be able to collect for city
purDoses2
Omaha daily bee., 1902-04-17

he will increase the deposits of govern
ment funds with the banks. There Is
now held by national banks to the credit
OF the government over S112,OOO,OO0.
which is S~21,OOO.OOO in excess Of the
amount Of the government deposits n
year ago. This plan helps the money
market perhaps as much as the selling
of bonds, but the latter policy has the
advantage of reducing the public debt
and the interest charge. 1t seems, how
ever, that Secretary Shaw, while it is
understood that he is not opposed to sell
ing bonds, does not deem 1t e%xpedient to
do so at this time and should the de
cline in evenue after July 1 be as large
as expected there may be no more bond
selling. The course of the banks in re-
firing circulation was one potent reason
with the secretary for stopping the sale
of bonds and II is quite probable that
this is still operative.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-04-17
WILL KEEP ITS PLEDGES.

The Russian ambassador at Washing
ton has given assurance that his gov
eminent will keep its pledges In regard
to China and that the evacuation of
Manchuria by Russian troops will occur
within a comparatively short time. In
reference to the reports that his gov
eminent would fail to carry u its
promise, he pronounced them malicious
in design and character and circulated
for the purpose Of breeding trouble and
placing Russia in a false position in the
eyes Of the world He pointed out that
Russia from the inception of the trouble
In China had contemplated the restora-
ton Of the situation before the disturb
ance and had never desired to take per-
manent possession of Manchuria- He
also made the important declaration that
Russia has no intention of taking any
action contemplating the exclusion of
American interests from Manchuria or
any other section Of China.
Undoubtedly this fairly states the
present attitude OF the Russian govern
ment, but whether 1t would occupy this
position II there had been no alliance be-
tween Great Britain and Japan and no
expression on the part of the United
States regarding suspected Russian de-
signs in Manchuria may reasonably be
doubted. There is very good reason for
believing that the Anglo-Japanese treaty,
to which the United States virtually
gave It's support, had a decided infu-
ence upon Russian plans in China, which
up to that time seemed to be so GER
tainly aimed at securing possession Of
Manchuria as to warrant the American
government In taking notice of h sit
uatlon and addressing a note to China
and Russia. However. doubtless full
faith can be given to the present as
surances OF the Russian government,
which mean a good deal for American
interests in one Of the richest provinces
Of the Chinese empire.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-04-17
NOTES.

The prince of Wales says he has no in
~vitation to come to this country. but he
does not say he would not like one.
President Roosevelt has been invited to
address the great t~riennial Sunday school
convention to be held in Denver in June
next.
Legouve. the French author and play
wright, has Just completed his 95th year.
He is called the dean OF the academy, for
he has been a member for forty-seven
years.
When Senator Blackburn wants to tell a
man that what he says is not true he
goes about 1t In this fashion: at goes
without saying that the truth is innocent
Of any appearance in that statement"
Among the 1853 graduates OF the New
York Trade school at First avenue and
Sixty-seventh street on Wednesday, was
one negro boy from North Carolina. He
took honors and was heartily cheered by
his comrades.
The congressional directory is to be H.
Illustrated with full-page groups OF the sen
ators and member OF the house bY states.
and a Washington photographer is doing a
lively business in making these gentlemen
look their prettiest."
Mr.. Corthell, an American engineer, will
represent Argentine at a congress on mat
tiers affecting navigation which will be held
In Dusseldorf, Germany. shortly. and will
then come to this country and lecture in
the leading cities on Argentine.
Eugene +, Ware. the new commissioner
OF pensions, has published a volume OF
poems, and several years ago read one OF
his poems at Memorial day exercises at
Arlington. His lines addressed to Queen
Victoria, on the occasion OF her jubilee,
were extensively copied in England.
Lord Kelvin. the great English scientist.
who Is to be entertained by American
scientific societies in New York next week.
is entitled to use the following portentous
string OF initials after his name: G. @. v.
o., ID. c. L. LID, n. D., d. Sc, Pm. D.. NJ.
A, +. r. s.. F. R. S. Z. He has been
decorated By nearly all governments He
Il ! years old. but is still . very lively
man. fond OF a good dinner and a good
joke. and. unlike most scientific men. not
at all %sedsntAry In his habits. At college
he pulled q good oar and was EsckOned
. nrst-TEtS muduiaR.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-04-17
THE MAKING OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN.

-
Edwin Markham, in his new volume of
Poems" thus describes the Norn-Mother
when
She took the tried clay of the common
road
Clay warm yet with the genial heat of
Dashed through 1t all a strain of prophecy;
Then mixed a laughter with the serious
stuf.
It was a stuff to wear for centuries,
A man that matched the mountains and
The stars to look our way and honor us.
The color of the ground was in him. the
red earth;
The tang and odor of the primal things
The gladness of the wind that shakes the
corn;
The courage of the bird that dares the sea;
The Justice of the rain that loves all
The pity OF the snow that hides all scars:
The tolerance and equity OF light
That gives as freely to the shrinking
As to the great oak naring to the wind
the graves low hill as to the Matter
That shoulders out the sky.
And so he came,
From prairie cabin VI TO capitol,
One fair ideal led our chieftain on.
Forevermore he burned TO do his deed
With the fine stroke and gesture OF a king.
He built hat rail pile as he built the state,
his splendid strength through
every blow,
conscience OF him testing every stroke,
make his deed the measure of a man.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-04-17
Home Rule as a g
Chicago Post.

ferent spheres. Neither derives authority
from. nor acts as the agent of. the other.
Both derive authority directly from the
people-that Of the nation from the people
OF the nation, that Of the state from the
people OF the state. The line between ma
ton and state is clearly drawn. The gov
eminent Of the nation Is confined to those
matters which concern the entire people
OF the nation. The line between the state
and city should be as distinctly drawn.
why, It may be asked, did the founders
Of the American government fail to provide
in their splendidly constructive system for
true democracy, for popular control and
authority. in local affairs? Because, Mr..
Smith w large cities did not exist
in their time. The great public necessities
Of urban life we're unknown, and the amaz-
ing development OF cities could not be fore
seen. City government now overshadows
state and national government, for It con-
Germs the daily needs and activities OF the
citizen-his health, comfort and pocket. The
great franchise problem is essentially a
municipal problem.
To save cities from intermeddling and
despotic rule, to introduce democracy and
the consent Of the governed into municipal
affairs, to render the city independent In
his own proper sphere, is the crying need
Of the day. This desideratum csnnot be re-
allied without constitutional changes. In
llllnOle COnSllJuLlOndl TeNlSlOu 10 u EcCOb-
nIzed necessity. and It cannot be long de-
ferred. Intelligent citizens should study
Mr.. Smiths thoughtful article and prepare
to demand something more vital and funda-
mental than an increase of power In this or
that direction. Our motto should be. Gov
eminent by the people in the city as we'll
as in the state-local democracy instead Of
subsection to centralized and irresponsible
despotics.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-04-17

It is no ordinary plea for home rule in
our municipalities which Mr.. Edwin Bur-
rift Smith has made in the Atlantic. His
admirable paper on Municipal Self-Gov-
eminent" has already been discussed in
these columns. but the fundamental propo-
sition therein advanced and defended will
bear iteration and emphasis. II Is, in a
nutshell. this-that our theory Of munich
pal government is erroneous and inconsist-
emit with the philosophy Of popular rule.
Courts have repeatedly told us that
home rule is a privilege, q benevolent
concession. not a right. The city Is
merely the agent OF the state. and this
agency may be terminated at the will OF
the principal. The legislature, It has been
stated. has the right TO revoke the charter
Of a municipality and reduce II to abJect
dependence and helplessness. This power
Is not likely to be exercised In the case OF
a city like Chicago or New York, but politi-
cal tyranny and narrow partisanship have
not hesitated to impose outrageous and
CALLING restrictions lin the shape Of state
police commissions. state park boards, etc.)
upon the leading and most progressive mu-
inequalities.
The theory itself should be sssailed and
radically revised. Cities should demand
rights as distinguished from privileges, and
these rights should be secured by the or
ganio law. In Mr.. Smiths words:
Democratic government is an expression.
not a source, of authority. The people
governed is the source of its powers. The
government OF the United States derives
Its powers from the people OF the United
States. The government of the state de-
rives its powers from the people of the
state. The government of the city should
obtain it's powers from the people OF the
city.
Our national and state governments were
created by the people to serve them in DIFF
Omaha daily bee., 1902-04-17
TIE cRUELr1Es TO r1LIprNoA.

The prompt action Of the Wal depart
ment in ordering an inquiry into the al
legged cruelties TO F!llpinos on the part
Of American soldiers will have the un-
qualified approval Of the country and the
wish will be general that If the allega-
tiOns are found to be true the guilty, no
matter what their rank or the merit Of
their service may be, will be punished
as they deserve. The charges made by
Governor Gardener Of Tayabas province,
in the case of Major Waller and by wit
nesses before the senate Philippine COM
mittee cast a reproach upon the army
and upon the country and call for the
most searching and thorough investiga-
ton.
Every American citizen who is proud
Of the record our army has made In re-
cent years Will sincerely hope that the
allegations of cruelty in the Philippines
will be found to be exaggerated and
that there is good ground for the belief,
as expressed by Secretary Root, that the
violations Of law and humanity charged
will prove to be few and occasional land
not to characterize the conduct Of the
army generally in the Philippines"
Considering the high character Of the
American soldier for intelligence and the
better human attributes, it is not easy to
think that the men In the Philippines
have generally practiced the cruelties
and b~rutalities charged against some of
them. 1t has been the boast of Aneri-
cans that our soldiers, while bravest
among the brave, were not cruel Or
brutal, and therefore the allegations now
made, some of them on high authority,
are peculiarly painful and humiliating.
If true, as 1t must be admitted there
seems no reason to doubt, they will sert-
ously tarnish the fame Of the army.
The demoralizing effect of war, par
ticularly such a war as that In the Phil
ippines. everybody understands. Sol
diers thousands of miles from their
country fighting an enemy VIGOROUSLY
t%reacherous, that disregarus wholly the
rules Of civilized warfare and freely
practices cruelties and barbarities, are
apt to become reckless and relentless in
their treatment of such a foe. There is
no question that the American soldiers
in the Philippines have had great provo
cation to treat the natives in arms with
the utmost severity, but as Secretary
Root well says. this cannot justify the
use Of torture of any kind on the part
Of the American army. Our soldiers
cannot be permitted, however strong the
provocation, to follow the example of
the FIlipinos in making war.
The instructions Of the secretary Of
war to General Chaffee are clear and
explicit. He is to institute an inquiry
that will probe the charges to the core
and spare no one who is involved In
them. Those found to be amenable to
the allegations will be tried by court
martial, whether here or in the Philip
pines, and If they are proven guilty they
will be duly punished. There is to be
no delay or temporizing in carrying out
these instructions and Secretary Root
informs General Chaffee that "the pres
ident desires to know in the fullest
and most circumstantial all the
facts, nothing being concealed and no
man being for any reason favored or
shielded"
Omaha daily bee., 1902-04-17

than those OF war. He would not have a
peace that makes no preparation for war:
a peace that will never fight for national
honor and self-respect. To such a peace
he would prefer a warlike episode, like our
stormy past, discordant with guns and
drums; disngured by battle, by waste of
blood and treasure. The argument OF the
president is that II our peace to come is
guaranteed to be a peace with honor, as
serted, defended and secured by a willing
ness and ability to wage war upon just
occasions, then neither the north nor the
south need regret that the heroes and the
statesmen and other object lessons Of our
great war for nationality are no longer
with US visible or voiceful shapes. o.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-04-17
SHALL M1NoRlrIEs Rule,

The republicans Of Omaha and Doug
las county are confronted by In issue
that cannot be postponed or brushed
aside. The question they must meet
squarely at the coming primaries is
whether a faction representing a very
troll the nomination of candidates and
m~isrepresent the party in conventions.
At the general election of 1900 the
total vote polled in Nebraska for McKin-
ley was 1885, to which Douglas
county contributed 1926, or Tx per
cent of the total. Out of the 14,266
votes polled for Mckinley and Roosevelt
in Douglas county 11,134 were cast by
the republicans residing in the city of
Omaha, 1873 by republicans residing in
licans Of the country precincts. In other
words, of the 11& per cent credited as
Douglas county's proportion of the total
republican vote polled for Mckinley and
Roosevelt in the state 0 1-5 per cent VAS
cast in Omaha, III per cent in South
Omaha and about rs per cent in the
country precincts.
Under the apportionment made by the
old committee, or the much decried ma
chine, Omaha was given fifteen dele
Omaha four delegates for each OF its
six wards and the country precincts five
delegates for each of the fourteen pre-
cincts. This gave Omaha 1876 delegates,
South Omaha t~wenty-four delegates and
the country precincts seventy delegates.
making In all 229. Apportioned accord
ing to the number OF votes cast for Nc
Kinley, Omaha would have been emit
tied to Ill delegates, South Omaha to
thirty-six delegates and the country pre-
cincts to twenty-five delegates. This
shows ~conclusively that the old county
committee was disposed to be very lib
eral toward the country precincts and
much fairer to South Omaha than has
been the arbitrary apportionment fixed
by the schemers, who in order to foist
Congressman Mercer for a sixth term
upon this district have arranged for the
practical Acknowledgement Of Omaha
republicans.
Under the new apportionment the
number Of delegates is fixed at 17S, out
Of which Omaha only received ninety
delegates, South Omaha eighteen and
the country precincts seventy delegates.
This scheme OF Acknowledgement inhicts
almost as great an injustice upon repub-
Ilcans OF South Omaha as it does upon
Omaha. While South Omaha casts
more than 40 per cent more votes than
the country precincts, 1t is credited with
only one-fourth as many delegates as
the country precincts. If seventy dele
gates was the proper ratio for the coun.
try, South Omaha should have by rights
ninety-seven delegates and Omaha
would be entitled to $40 delegates.
Gan Congressman Mercer or his chief
fugler, Blackburn, face the republicans
OF Omaha and South Omaha and justify
such an Infamous scheme OF disfran-
chisement on any ground2
Omaha daily bee., 1902-04-17
.,ARqrTRpASURY SURPLUS.

AS now indicated, the surplus in the
national treasury al the close of the
fiscal year, June 80, may be $1O0.0O0,O00.
1t is at present about 1853, 1000. which
is S~1s,OOO.OO0 in excess of the surplus at
this time last year. The increase in the
available cash as compared with this
time last year is stated to be S26,OOO,OO0.
The act repeating the war revenue taxes
goes into effect July l. after which time
the receipts of the government viii fall
on, but in the meantime the surplus will
continue to grow.
According TO Washington dispatches
this accumulation OF money in the treas
ury is giving some concern to financial
and business interests and the only way
to reduce the surplus being by the sale
Of bonds the secretary Of the treasury Is
being urged 10 resume this policy, which
was suspended soon after Mr.. Shaw
took ONCE. 1t has not transpired what
he will do In the matter. but he does
not appear to be disposed at present to
sell bonds. though Il H. annOuncsd that
Omaha daily bee., 1902-04-17
POLITICAL Fakirs In other states.


IHuIdIIdpUIIu JUuIHdIs
The publication Of the story that there is
a contest between Senators Fairbanks and
Beverage over the Craftsmanship OF the
next republican state convention In the
Wheeling wv. Val Intelligencer shows that
this stupid and often repudiated falsehood
is yet being circulated by newspapers under
the impression that such a story Is news.
II 1t were a fact it should not interest
grown people outside Of Indiana, but, be-
ing a repudiated lie. it should not be
printed by a newspaper. Senator Fair
banks, the Journal can say. has no desire to
preside over the convention and has never
been an aspirant.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-04-17

An ~aristoeratic Vienna club has been
broken up because OF the prosecution Of
some OF its members for gambling at
the club. If all of the swell American
clubs that tolerate gambling were dIsci-
plined In the Austrian fashion there
would be a good many club houses for
rent in New York, Boston, Chicago and
other American cities.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-04-17

federal constitution providing for the
election of United States senators by
popular vote, by coupling with it Sena-
tor Depew's proposition for reduced n
gressional representation. This is an in
suit to the intelligence of the American
people which will be resented at no dis
tant day by a universal uprising in favor
of a call for a national constitutional
convention by the states.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-04-17
Some Poverty in Spots,
Minneanolis Times.

Amid the general prosperity and a
plethora OF agricultural products beyond the
capacity of both domestic and foreign mar
kets to absorb a, feeble voice is heard from
certain districts Of Arkansas and Texas
asking for aid for starving farmers whose
crops we're destroyed by drouth. 1t IL a
striking commentary upon the extent and
variety Of climate of this land OF ours.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-04-17

The American people outside OF the
very limited number OF stock jobbens
and spectators in railroad stocks care
precious little as to who controls the
Louisville & Nashville railroad. but they
are vitality affected by the inflated cap
i~talizatiOn Of railroads whereby fixed
charges which constitute a permanent
tax on the products Of the country trib-
utary to these public highways. are in
creased.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-04-17

A wrecked Detroit savings bank has
been ordered by the Michigan court to
give preference to depositors over com
nercial creditors in the distribution OF
the money to be realized from the sale
Of the banks real estate investments.
This is eminently just and reasonable,
but the most effective protection from
savings bank w~reekage would be the
estabiahment Of postal savings banka-
Omaha daily bee., 1902-04-17
PASSING PLEAsANTRIEs.

someryille Journal: It is 2 mistake for
a man just because he Is feeling blue to go
out and paint the town red. .,-.
Philadelphia Press: N. Peok-Talk about
your trick wheelmen, you should see Meek
b. shrude-CIever, is he?
guide. his baby coach through a crowd
without touching the handlebar.
Chicago Post: "He classed me with the
big guns, did he?" ..'
Well, he said you were a great. bore.
and that certainly bears some relation to
the big guns"
Ohio State Journal: what have you to
recommend yourself7" asked the man to
whom the little urchin had applied for the
Well. replied the applicant. 1 don't like
base ball"
The boy got the job.
Cleveland Plain Dealer: There is a
beautiful moral lesson to be drawn from
all these protests against the severity or
the customs inspectors of New York har-
"What is itr'
Don't go abroad"
Brooklyn Life: but | can't bear to be
We'll" said the friend, you should have
thought of that before you went into poll
tics"
Washington Star: mo, my boy, you are
wrong" said the old man kindly. mo
doubt you are doing the best you can, ac-
cording to your lights. but you cannot
make a genius of yourself by letting your
hair go long. That may help, but some
thing more is needed"
Boston Transcript: Mr.. Subbub-Some-
how or other l never succeed In raising
flowers that begin to come up to those
whose pictures are in your catalogue.
Se~edsman-Oh, those pictures are ideal
drawings. 1t would be absurd to suppose
that nature could accomplish anything so
beautiful.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-04-17

Senator Morgan has given notice that
he proposes to begin his speech in favor
Of the Nicaragua canal this afternoon,
but did not intimate whether he would
be able to conclude his brief remarks by
May Day or the Fourth Of July.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-04-17

Germany has called an international
conference with a view to regulating
wireless telegraphy, but up to date no.
body has called for an international con-
ference to devise a system Of wireless
political wire pulling and pipeless politi.
eal pipe laying.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-04-17
Philadelphia LedKer.

A daily diet Of meat at this time Of the
year is not q necessity, aud since the an
nouncement Of q further advance In price
can be construed as tantamount TO q
declaration of war. the people should ae-
cept 1t as such and act accordingly. II
there were a general movement to refrain
from buying meat for the next few weeks
the trust would receive a financial blow
that It would probably feel and remember
for . long time