davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Omaha daily bee., 1902-06-19
FREE PASSES IN VIRGINIA.
Gloomy OutIook for OmcehOideru In
the old Dominion.
Cbtcaro Trihu0s

chicago ITlnunes
The new Virginia constitution has been
subjected to much adverse criticism not
alone because the people Of the state will
have no voice in It's adoption. but because
OF some provisions which are unjust and
discriminating. There is one section, how
ever. which is worthy Of all praise and
which would add greatly to the public viz
tue II II were In every other state constitu-
tion.
The section referred to absolutely pro-
hibits free passes in the future. No county,
district, municipal or state onncer here
after will have free transportation on rail-
roads, steamboats, or electric lines. No
mileage appropriations will be made for
members trips while the legislature is in
session. Two exceptions only are made.
Firemen and policemen while on duty may
accept free transportation from street rail-
roads. All others, from the governor
down to the lowest municipal underling.
must step up to the captains once and set
tie. This is as It should be. The prohibit
ton, with these exceptions, is absolute and
the penalty is severe. Any corporation
which shall give q pass will be subjected to
heavy fines. Any oficial who forgets him
self and takes a pass will forfeit his once.
OF course. the ofnceholders are furious at
the summary cutting on Of this ancient.
valuable and demoralizlng privilege. Their
fury Ia harmless. II the constitution had
to have the approval Of the people undoubt-
eddy the oficeholders would combine and
they might defeat It. but as II has been
adopted by the convention, that ends It.
Hereafter they must pay or stay at home.
and whenever they ride they will ride as the
plain people do. 1t will seem hard to them
for a time, but in the end the feeling Of in
dependence will be a solace to them and
they will have the compensation Of know
ing that the corporations will not have so
much occasion to tempt them, and that both
they and the corporations will be likely to
be better public servants.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-06-19
Personal T

Henry II. Callen of Newark, N. j., has
returned home after spending fifteen years
in South America, bringing with him one
of the finest collections OF tropical butter
flies ever collected by an individual.
When Senator Spooner is in an exciting
debate his hair seems to bristle up a little
more than usual and he frequently runs his
hands through II, catching 1t In punches
and twisting 1t into varied fantastic figures.
The widow OF the late Ex-Governor John
P. Altgeld has taken title to their home in
Chicago, In which he lived and where he
died, some Of his friends having contributed
to cancel a mortgage Of $500 upon the
property.
A curious resemblance exists between ex-
Speaker Reed and Pat Sheedy, the, noted
gambler-especially odd from the fact that,
though the big lawyer is often mistaken for
the sporting man, the latter is very seldom
honored by the reverse error.
Baltimore is considering q plan Of chang
ing the name Of its North avenue to schley
avenue, in honor Of the rear admiral. The
present name is no longer appropriate.
the northern boundary Of the city having
extended far beyond the avenue.
Game Commissioner G. X. Sober Of Law
isburg, Penn, known az the Chestnut
King" on account OF his extensive and
successful venture In the new field OF rails
ing an improved variety Of chestnuts. has
been engaged by the national authorities
at Washington to prepare for gratuitous
distribution a report to be issued on chest
nut culture.
While Colonel J. H. Estill was making
his unsuccessful race for nomination as
governor OF Georgia he fell into converse
ton with a citizen from the northern sec
ton OF the state. II couldn't vote for
you" said the voter. 81 couldn't vote for
no man that lives In Savannah. Why. you
amt got but one Baptist church there and
your city must be In bad shape. No. stree.
] don't vote for no man that comes from
such q lost place as Savannah"
Omaha daily bee., 1902-06-19
PARTY WITHOUT A POLICY.
Democrats Proclaim No Philippine
Plan Americans Can Approve.

New York Times Qnd. dem.)
The policy approved by the Oregon demo-
Gratis is in substance the policy Of the re-
publican administration Under that pol
icy the F~ilipinos are being trained for self
government as rapidly as possible. Presi-
dent Roosevelt has not proclaimed that,
when prepared for sel-f-government, they
will be made independent. He has no au-
thority to make such a declaration, and TO
make 1t would be a reckless act. Blu he
has said that when they give evidence OF
fitness to govern themselves, then. and not
till then, the question Of their independence
shall be determined.
The Kansas declaration Is unintelligible
except as a lodging Of the question. Short
OF reading a hundred speeches, many OF
them ignorant, some Of them violent and
none of them that we now recall embody-
ing any matured and reasoned out plan, no
one could say what position the democratic
members OF the national congress have
taken with respect to the Philippines. All
the democratic senators voted against the
civil government bill, which provides q
civil administration for the islands and dis
trict and municipal governments, with popu-
lar representation-the very thing de-
handed by the Oregon democrats.
All the other democratic platforms
adopted so far this year, that is to say, the
platforms Of the democrats OF Tennessee
South Carolina and Indiana. offer slterna-
tives TO the republican policy such as nc
sane man Of any party clothed not only
with the power, but with the responsibility
Of the presidential ONCE, would ever ADOPT
and that no civilized people OF any nation
would ever permit TO be followed.
The declarations Of purpose approved by
the democrats Of South Carolina. Tennessee
and Indiana would make any other govern
ment but military government impossible
in the Philippines. We should be com
PEELED either to maintain order there by
permanent military authority or to with.
draw and leave the FIlipinos to their fate
The one would involve governing without
the consent of the governed in perpetuity
the other a disgracefui and dangerous re
pudiation Of national and internationa
duty.
II is perfectly plain hat the democratI
have no Philippine policy. They have
formed no plan. proclaimed no principles
indicated no method that the American
people in any conceivable circumstance
would approve. II the state democratic
conventions yet TO come have no wiser o.
safer announcements to make on this sub
jeet the leaders will be forced TO confess
they have failed miserably In the effort 4
create . Philippine issue
Omaha daily bee., 1902-06-19
TIE Alaska BoUNDARr ISSUE.

The Canadian premier, Sir Wilfrid
Laurier. said in a recent interview that
the most important question just now. as
affecting the relations and friendly feel
ing existing between Canada and the
United States, is the Alaska boundary
question. He spoke of the situation as
full Of danger and all that is required
to precipitate a d~isgraceful conflict is the
discovery of gold in the disputed ter
ritory. He thought 1t not creditable to
either government that so extremely i'm
portant an issue should have been left
DESTROYS that it should be settled on its
merits, to insure continued friendship,
to avoid local and sectional conflict and
to remove the cause Of serious interna-
tional irritation. We are perfectly WILL
ing to submit the question to arbitration,
but so long. of course, as the United
States maintains that there is nothing
TO arbitrate, the menac of open con
fict on the disputed ground must con
tlnue to exist"
The responsibility FOR this dispute and
the dangerous situation growing out of
it rests wholly with Canada. 1t was
raised by politicians Of that country who
put forth claims to territory to which
the title OF the United States had long
been established and for at least thirty
years after the purchase OF Alaska had
not been questioned. 1t is territory
clearly defined in the treaty with Rus
STA conveying TO the United States title
to Alaska and which was recognized or
all maps OF that country as being Ameri
can territory. AS the New York Sur
correctly states. the Canadian claim wa:
never heard OF until the development OF
the Klondike suggested the desirability
Of a boundary theory which should give
the Canadian Yukon region a seaport by
cutting through the American pan
handle.
This preposterous claim the United
States government has declined to arbi
trate and doubtless will continue to d.
so. because it involves a surrender o.
territory which the American peopl'
Omaha daily bee., 1902-06-19

would not permit. The Canadian pre-
mier said hat nothing has been ac-
complished looking toward a settlement
Of the dispute since the adjournment
sine die OF the joint high commission
The reason for this is to be found in
the obstinate persistence of Canada In
its utterly indefenslble claim. But for
that there is every reason to believe
the British government and our gov
eminent would have reached a settle
ment. 1t was due to this that the joint
high commission failed to accomplish
anything and left unsettled all the is
sues between the United States and
Canada which it was created to consider
and adjust, the Dominion government
having made the settlement of all other
questions contingent upon the conces-
sion of its claim in Alaska.
1t is possible that sooner or later there
will be a serious conflict over this
boundary question, but If so the United
States will not be the loser and mean
while 1t "a be confidently predicted
that there will be no surrender Of Amer
lean territory in Alaska.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-06-19
ASSESSMENT or IOWA RAILROADS.

o0AsGAAAAN Ut ~" n
The paramount issue upon which Gov
ernor Cummins secured his nomination
by the republicans of Iowa last year was
tax reform, and especially an increase
in the assessed valuation of railroads.
While Nebraska railroad attorneys and
tax agents point to Iowa as a model of
fair railroad assessment, the people Of
Iowa have for years complained Of the
partially shown to the railroads and the
discrimination against all other classes
OF taxpayers In the assessment of rail-
road property.
In Iowa, as in Nebraska, the railroads
protest against paying additional taxes.
They insist that the railroads are now
paying one-thirteenth Of the total tax
collected in the state of Iowa, which in
round figures mounts to a million and
a half dollars, but one-thirteenth does
not by any means represent the true
ratio of value that railroad property in
Iowa bears to all other classes of tax
able property.
In the state of Minnesota, where the
railroads are assessed 3 per cent on
gross earnings, they were required to
pay $1,65S,7 TO into the treasury last
year and a proposition is to be voted on
at the election next November to raise
the railroad tax from 8 to 4 per cent on
gross earnings, which would be an in
crease of % per cent, or an aggregate Of
over So 900 a veal. That this propo-
sition will carry is a foregone conclu-
sion.
with a railroad mileage of 9,1S0 miles
for Iowa and against 6,942 miles in Min
nesota, it goes without saying that the
railroads of Iowa are worth a great deal
more money and are earning a
great deal more money than the
railroads In Minnesota. The rail-
roads of Iowa were assessed in
1901 for $47,071, 25s, and it is currently
reported that Governor Cummins will
insist on an increase Of 80 per cent, or
about $15,OO0,OO0, in the assessment for
1902. For the next thirty days the
state executive council, which acts as a
board of equalization, will devote itself
to an exhaustive study and discussion
of the railroad assessment problem, and
the outcome will be watched by the peo-
pie of Iowa with intense interest.
The people of Iowa, like the people of
Nebraska, doubtless realize that the
railroads have been a great factor in the
upbuildlng Of their state, but inasmuch
as the railroads are in position to levy
an almost arbitrary tribute upon the
products of the state and make their
patrons pay not only interest upon bonds
and dividends upon stocks, but also the
cost of maintenance and improvement
of the road, as we'll as the money ex-
pended for taxes, they see no reason
why they should not bear their due
proportion of the burden of taxation.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-06-19
THE SHIRT WAIST GIRL.

Pittsburg Chronicle Telegraph.
The shirt waist girl,
Who sets awhirl
The hearts Of all beholders,
To charm and cheer,
And there's no room for scolders.
In raiment light,
And color bright,
h forms a picture pleasing;
She holds full sway
When either gay.
Or serious or teasing.
She's here and there,
She's everywhere.
In all directions going;
Amid the hues
OF blacks and blues
Her shirt waist bright is glowing.
When days are hot
They worry not
This girl attired so lightly,
For as a rule
She's trim and cool,
And always smiling brightly.
Long she will reign
Till summers wane-
Fer winning appreciation.
And she'll be queen
Wherever seen
On far-away vacation.
So careful be
Whenever you see
The shirt waist girl so charming;
For hearts she breaks
And conquests makes
In manner that's alarming.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-06-19

The disposition to escape the rapacity
Of London's thrifty hotel keepers has
overcome the patriotic desire Of the
English people to witness the coronation
pageant to such an extent that the au-
thorities have been appealed to to force
a reduction in prices, to the end that the
popular demonstration may not prove a
fasco. London tradesmen haven't had
a coronation in a long time and they
have evidently determined to make the
most OF this one.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-06-19
GROWTH OF RURAL FREE DELIVERY.

GROWTH OF RURAL FREE DELIVERY.
Former Postmaster General Charles
Emory Smith was presented last Satur-
day, by many of his former subordi-
mates, with a massive silver punch
bowl in recognition Of his work in In
stalling the rural free postal delivery
system. The facts regarding the growth
of the system under the administration
Of the Postoffice department by Mr..
Smith are interesting. When he took
charge there were but 100 routes in
operation and the number established
1000. In 1898 the appropriation for
this service was $4,000, while for the
current year it is $4,000,000 and the
amount to be disbursed during the next
fiscal year is $S,OOO,OOO. At the time
Mr.. Smith became postmaster general,
in April, 1898, rural free delivery was
an experiment. 1t had become a per-
manent part Of the postal service when
he retired from the cabinet in January
last. The very great progress made in
developing the system during this per-
iod of four years was largely due to
the earnest and energetic efforts of Hon.
Charles Emory Smith and it is some
thing Of which any man might feel
proud.
Speaking of the work Mr.. Smith said
its value cannot well be over-estimated.
THE conception which plans the actual
delivery of the mail every day at every
door throughout the entire eligible por-
ton of the country, covering over a
million square miles of territory, and
thus puts every home in touch with the
world activities, is one of the striking
illustrations of the p~rodigious energies
and wonderful achievements of the
American people. No other country IN
the world undertakes such colossal serv-
ice. The only countries where univer-
sal house delivery is tried are countries
of limited area and compact population.
In only two years of our advance we
covered a territory greater than the
area of all England" Mr.. Smith ex-
pressed the opinion that at the estimated
rate of progress the whole available por.
ton of the country will be embraced In
this service in three OF four more years
Omaha daily bee., 1902-06-19
Britain's Comic Opera Army.
Baltimore American

Armies do not appear anywhere to be
model institutions, but the investigation
into British army affairs discloses a state
Of things which, serious enough on one
side, on another smacks OF comic opera.
The suppression Of polo is gravely recon-
mended, because, on account Of the strenu-
Gus competition between regiments at tour
naments, such high-priced ponies are
bought and maintained as to keep ~ef1cient
men who are poor out of the service. 1t
is also recommended that the practice
should be discontinued of keeping regi-
mental packs Of hounds, from which the
irreverent outsider will draw the conclu-
sion that the army is going to the dogs in
more ways than one.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-06-19
Before and After Taxing Transport
PHILADELPHIA Recor!

llAAaNCARhAo ANSSchos
Recently the army transport Egbert was
offered for sale by the quartermaster gen.
eral Of the war office, wide publicity being
given by advertisements and circulars to
the opportunity for investment. Only one
bid was received and that was In the sum
of $40, 1000. 1t was urged that the vessel
must revert to the British nag, under
which it sailed before coming into possess
sion of the government, and hence must be
reckoned as valueless or nearly so. Even
the board of officers that examined Egbert
considered $50, 900 a fair valuation in view
Of the necessity OF British registry follow
ing a transfer of ownership. Egbert has
been used as a hospital ship in the Phil
ippines. The government paid $20o,000 for
the vessel and spent nearly $3.50, 900 in re-
pairs on 1t. Yet all this Is worth but a
single beggarly, bid of $4,000. For bound
less rapacity and unadulterated gall the
Pacific coast marine CRATER certainly
carries off the palm.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-06-19

The excursion Of Omaha business men
which is now being piloted through the
northeastern part of the state will not
be in vain If 1t awakens a sentiment in
favor of more direct railroad cOmmuni-
cation with some of the rich territory
which is now cut on from Omaha.
Communities that should be among
Omaha's best patrons have long been
forced to trade elsewhere because Of in
efficient train service.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-06-19
PUBLICITY UF COMPUTATIONS.

A bill has been introduced in h house
of representatives providing for pub
LEFTY of corporations engaged in inter-
state business. The outlines of the
measure as reported indicate that
the measure has been framed along
the line suggested by President
Roosevelt and is comprehensive in its
requirements. 1t provides for annual
statements to the secretary of the treas
ury by the corporations showing full
particulars of business and requires the
secretary of the treasury to classify the
stock of corporations into such as has
been paid for in cash or its equivalent
and such as is usually called inflated or
watered stock, the latter to be assessed
by the government at 2 per cent per
annum. There is also a provision in
the bill relating to railroad discrimina-
ton.
While it is improbable that there will
be any legislation of this kind at the
present session of congress, it is well to
have the matter brought forward so that
preparation can at least be made for
It's consideration at the next session.
There is practically universal concur
renee in the opinion expressed by the
president in his first message to con-
gress that all corporations doing an In
terstate business should be required at
reasonable intervals to give public in
formation as to their financial condition
and operations. The government should
have the right, In the interest of the
public, to inspect and examine the work
ings of such corporations. There are
other means of remedying the abuses
and impositions of the great corpora.
tons, but none is more important oil
would prove more effective than pub
licity, and there appears to be NJ doubt
as to the power OF congress to apply
this remedy.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-06-19
Government Money in Banks.

Since Secretary Shaw took hold Of the
Treasury department he has increased the
deposits Of government money In national
banks by nearly s1O,o o 900, and they were
before considerably above 500. 900, 900. Evil
IDENTIFY the new secretary has no fear Of q
pet bank issue against his administration
such as was used with some effect by the
republicans in the campaign of 1883, wher
the democratic administration had on de-
post with the banks only about one-hali
the present amount.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-06-19

The Shriners are coming back from
their pilgrimage to San Francisco.
Omaha is a much more important oasis
on the return trip than 1t was on the
outgoing, for 1t is here the tent of the
imperial ~potentate is now pitched. The
local wearers of the fez and claws will
be busy for a few days now f~elicitating
and entertaining the pilgrims. They
win endeavor to live up to the motto,
sIf you meet a Shriner, ask him"
Omaha daily bee., 1902-06-19

ers of coal in enhanced price cannot
easily be computed, but 1t is a large
sun. Not only is there no apparent
prospect of a settlement, but there Is
danger that the soft coal miners
throughout the country will become In
volved. a national convention having
been called with this In view. 1t is a
situation that menaces the industrial
welfare of the entire country.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-06-19

1t appears that the Beers had a larger
force in the field at the outset Of the
war than was commonly estimated, the
number being authoritatively stated at
10000. There is no comfort in this fol
the British, however. since their army
stu numbered six times that OF the in.
frepid burghers.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-06-19

The republicans in every congressional
district In the state except the Second
have made their nominations, but Mer-
Ger does not propose to submit his pros
pectus for a sixth term denomination
until he gets good and ready, which
may be-in July, August, September or
possibly not until the middle Of October.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-06-19
sHRrNKAeE IN STAPLE EXPORTS.
Tendency OF Foreisn Trade In Recent
Months.
Springfield Republican.

opIllhntNu HNtpubilNhus
Notwithstanding the recent rise OF manu-
features to a larger place In the export
trade. products Of agriculture still consti-
tute some SIS per cent OF the total shipments
Of merchandise out OF the country. The
current shrinkage in this branch OF tho
export trade Is therefore telling heavily
against our exterior In general,
and this is a fact OF immediate bearing on
the course Of international exchange and
Of importance in relation to the business
outlook OF the country.
The May returns Just az hand reveal a
very sharp backward tendency in this par
t~iculsr. Shipments OF corn, owing 10 the
failure Of last years crop, have declined to
45S,3Is bushels for the month. against
0.5s5, s6s bushels in May OF last year. Ex-
ports OF oats have fallen from 5,4e1, 900
bushels to 144,117; OF oatmeal there is a
decline Of one-hslf and of wheat a
decline from 15,s57,Oo0 bushels to 9,57e. 3s7.
Cotton, provisions and cattle also show
material decreases In the UPWARD move
ment and all exports Of staples by values
during May compare as follows with the
month last year:
Omaha daily bee., 1902-06-19
S4s, 72s. a SIS. as4.172
Totals ................

Tho total loss from q year ago Is $40, POS
o72. or about 80 per cent. This is the
smallest May export Of staple products re-
ported since 1897. and compares with $751;
sos 900 in the month Of 1900, $50, 4l9, 900 In
1899 and 373.122. $40 in 1898.
Such has been the tendency In our for
eisn trade for some months. and II is likely
TO continue at least up to the harvesting
OF another years crops. No increase in
shipments Of manufactures and other than
agricultural products is taking place sum
cient materially to offset this heavy shrink
age In the movement OF staples; and since
imports are being we'll maintained our
favorable trade balances, the wonder of
Europe for three or four years past, must
suffer considerable reduction. As they have
not been large enough in some time to
compel gold shipments this way, they are
now likely to prove not large enough to
prevent an outward movement OF gold,
particularly in view OF the heavy borrow
ings Of capital abroad recently to finance
various trust enterprises. The important
fact brought out In these trade figures is
that the ground is already being cut from
under the feet Of the syndicste soarers, and
speculative enterprise, insofar as It has
calculated on an unbroken continuance Of
the recent enormous trade expansions, 10
already In danger Of missing its c~alcuia-
lions.