davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Omaha daily bee., 1903-05-09
BUYING TIE HArsR WORKS.

The first step toward the acquisition
by purchase of the plant owned and
operated by. the Omaha Water com-
pany has been taken under the law
enacted by the late legislature. The
Water board has named John w.
Alvord, a hydraulic engineer residing in
Chicago, as appraiser for the city, and
II this appointment shall be confirmed
by the mayor and city council the APP
praisement of the water works will pro-
coed just as 500 as the water company
has appointed its appraiser and the two
have agreed upon a third. When two
of the three appraisers have agreed
upon the value of the water works the
city will be called upon to pay over
the amount for which the property is
appraised.
Inasmuch as this appraisement in
wolves millions Of dollars to the tax
payers of Omaha, 1t behooves the mu-
nicipal authorities to proceed with the
greatest of care and elaboration. The
best lawyers Of Omaha, including W. s.
Poppleton, who had a hand in drawing
the water works purchase bill, regard
the purchase under the three-appraisers
clause Of the original water works ordi-
nance as a very dangerous proceed
ing, because 1t affords no guaranty
against an generalization of the prop
erty, even II W. had absolute assurance
/ fhaf fha annraianH annnfnNnA h. Nhn
city would stand out against it's ex-
cesstve valuation.
Under the three-appraiser process the
water company has it's trusted appraiser
and If 1t succeeds in capturing a second
appraiser the company will be in po-
sition to initiate the price Of the works
by hundreds OF thousands, or even mil.
lions, Of dollars, and the city will be
obligated to pay the price agreed upon
by two of the three appraisers. Had
the appraisement been conducted under
condemnation process by right Of EN-
inent domain the city would have the
privilege Of naming all the appraisers
and II the amount agreed upon appeared
excessive it could reject the appraise
ment and appoint a new board to MAKE
a second appraisement, or even a third
and If the last appraisement did no
meet popular approval the bond propo
sition to pay for the works could b.
voted down and no harm would result
or expense would be incurred beyon,
the trihing amount paid for the service
| Of the appraisers.
In the opinion OF very good lawyer
the refusal OF the city to vote the bond
= under the three-appraiser process woul
give the water company the right Z
u for the full amount of the apprail
: ers' award and enforce its claim by
e judgment against the city, which, Xix
T any other judgment would have to b
paid with interest from the date tn
property was turned over.
n Now that we are launched upon II
3 dangerous three-appraiser purchase, III
question that oOnfronts us is wheth,
MFR. Alvord can be trusted to stand u
for the city, both In making the a
II praisement and In the selection OF Il
It third man. Mr.. Alyord rs highly recon
mended as an expert hydraulic engines
Omaha daily bee., 1903-05-09
antitrust law. which will be uncOnstitu.

antitrust law, which will be unconstitu-
tional, too
This argument had its weight in Wash
ington, and the decision Of the New York
court was an additional burden for the
president TO bear in his battle for trust
legislation. He induced the senate TO act,
however, and since that time a United
States court Of appeals has sustained the
validity and proved the effectiveness Of the
sherman act in proceedings begun against
the Northern Securities company by order
Of the president. The promotion OF trusts
has been suddenly checked. and 1t Is pos
sible that the end of this era OF reckless
concentration has been reached. And now
the highest court in New York reverses
the decision Of the lower court, and sus-
tains the franchise tax law. for the exist
ence Of which the president was given full
credit by his enemies when the lower court
handed down its adverse decision.
No other public man In many years has
equaled this record OF triumphant achieve
ment, and while this latest victory will
increase the presidents unpopularity with
the Wall street element, there can be no
question that 1t Will add greatly to hfS-
political prestige In his native state. The
full political effect Of the decision is likely
TO be felt in the presidential election Of
1904, when the vote Of New York will mean
much to Mr.. Roosevelt.
Omaha daily bee., 1903-05-09
a oBsERVrR AT MANILA.

American anti-lmperialists will I'M
doubtedly find inspiration in the state
ments Of the correspondent at Manila
Of a London newspaper regarding the
results Of the policy Of the United States
in the Philippines. According to this
British observer our government has
made a pretty complete failure in the
archipelago and conditions there are
such as to cause a feeling Of utter inse-
curity at headquarters. The American
campaign has made no impression In
the islands, states the correspondent,
and the firing line is co-extensive with
the coast line. He asserts that the land
is being largely abandoned and thinks
the time has come for the United States
to decide whether there might be a re-
consideration of it's policy.
1t is well known that for some time
past industrial and commercial condi-
tons in the Philippines have been very
bad. That fact has been very fully set
forth in reports of the commission and
in the recommendations Of the president
and secretary of wal to congress for
relief. These conditions, however, are
not due to American policy, but to
natural visltations. AS to the fighting
line, we have an army garrisoning the
islands, but the only fighting is with
small bands Of ladrones and bandits
which occasionally make their appear
o,oa oN ~, 4nxvn For fho nt1rpnco nf
robbery. This can cause no feeling Of
insecurity at headquarters, from which
the latest information is that the natives
generally are quiet and peaceable. There
is nothing remarkable in the abandon
ment Of the lands, in view Of the mis-
fortunes experienced in a large part Of
the islands within the past year, depriv-
ing the people Of the means of cultiva-
ting the staple products.
There is no apparent reason why the
United States should reconsider the pol.
Icy that has been pursued in the Phil
ippines, accepting as truthful the official
reports Of the results Of that policy,
which all are warranted in doing upon
the authority of the president of the
United States and the secretary Of war.
The course pursued has given the islands
peace, has established an educational
system which has been fruitful of good,
has instituted an impartial admlnlstra-
ton Of justice, and has made life and
property more secure than ever before.
This is the testimony Of Governor Taft
and his colleagues in the civil govern
ment of the Philippines, as well as of
intelligent Filipinos and it is accepted
without question by the very large ma.
Jority Of our people, The government
is now engaged in improving the hnan.
cial situation in the islands and the mex
congress may make more favorable tariff
rates for their products coming to this
country, which 1t is believed would be
very helpful. Industrial and CONNER
cial conditions In our distant posses
sion will improve in time and mean
while we shall continue to give 1t good
and honest government, administered by
men entitled to the highest confidence.
Omaha daily bee., 1903-05-09
4 CRAVE nEsPoNSIRILIrY.

The labor troubles in Omaha can and
should be settled without resort to
force or coercion on either side.
There is no emergency as yet that
will justify the mayor, sheriff or gov
rho to invoke martial law and police
the city with either militiamen or reg
ulars. There will be no such emer-
gency If the business men and working
men Of Omaha respect the law and sub
NIT their differences to ~peaceable ad-
Justment by arbitration.
Those who clamor for troops and
gatling guns do not represent the
spirit of this community nor do they
exhibit the spirit Of true Americanism.
In this respect Omaha is no exception
to other cities where equally serious
strikes have been settled without the
assistance of the military. In such
contests capital has no more rights
than labor and each must respect the
rights of the other.
Those who array themselves against
a peaceful settlement will assume a
very grave responsibility. Let those
who exhibit a disposition to meet the
other side half way come promptly to
the front and send the extremists to
the rear.
Omaha daily bee., 1903-05-09
SUBSTANTIALLY A MONOPOLY,

The claim of the anthracite coal
barons that their combination or agree
ment is not m~onopolistic in character or
effect will not stand against the indis-
putable facts in regard to it's operation.
There may be ground for asserting that
it is not an absolute monopoly, but 1t
certainly comes so near to being that
it is not easy to define the difference.
The available supply of anthracite coal
is contained within a limited area and
by far the larger part Of it is in the pos
session Of a few coal mining companies
controlled by railroad corporations upon
which they depend for transportation.
The few independent operators are
equally dependent upon the same rail-
roads for reaching the markets. There
are contracts regulating the t%ransporta-
tlon and price of coal and also the pro-
duction.
1t is useless, remarks the New York
Journal of Commerce, for coal road
presidents to deny that this is the re-
suit of agreement or combination or CO.
operation of some kind. and to maintain
that prices are determined by competi-
ton under the operation of the law of
supply and demand. 1.-THE result is not
one that could be produced by such
competition and it is exactly n to be
produced by combination" Perhaps 1t
is not the result of specific contracts, of
definite agreements or actual organized
association of interests, adds that paper,
bat whatever the form and manner Of
combination the result Is the fixing OF
prices and of production, the latter
being under the control Of the mining
and transporting companies, swayed by
a small group Of men acting together,
which is substantially a monopoly
This is so obvious that those least
familiar with combinations cannot fail
to see It and when President Baer re.
fused to submit the contracts asked for
by the Interstate Commerce commission
monopoly. II there were nothing in
these contracts to justify the charge 1t
is not to be doubted that they would
have been turned over to the commits
sion for its examination. In the event
Of the courts deciding adversely to the
commission, what can then be done2 II
would seem that proceedings should be
instituted under the Sherman law, for
which there appears to be ample justif,
cation in what has already been dis.
closed. If there is not sufficient au
thority under the interstate commerce
act to each this monopolistic coal rom,
bination and break it up, then the au
thorities should see what can be done
under the antitrust act. The country
must not be left at the mercy of a few
men who hold the power to determine
how much anthracite coal shall be pro
duced and the price at which it shall b.
sold. That is a power too dangerous t.
the public interests to be tolerated.
Omaha daily bee., 1903-05-09

The proposed organization Of a pro-
gressive young mems club to stand up
for Omaha and to push Omaha would
commend itself IL we had any assur-
ance that the members Of the ~organiza-
ton would divest themselves of preju-
dice, partisan bias and hunkyism and
devote all their energies to the upbuild-
ing Of Omaha and the promotion Of
every project that promises to con.
tribute to omaha's growth and pros
perity. Omaha's experience with SINH
lar organizations has not been very
encouraging. Nearly all Of them have
started out full Of promise and gone to
pieces through lack of cohesion and
Internal dissension brought on by selfish
ambition and narrow-mindedness.
Omaha daily bee., 1903-05-09

and his qualifications are not called in
question, but capacity is not 20 much a
question as integrity. To put II tersely,
what assurance have we that Mr.. AL
word will stand up for omaha7 The
last time he acted as an appraiser he
was employed by the water company
that owns the works at Dubuque. VIII
he do as well by Omaha as he has done
by the Dubuque water company
And this forces upon us another In
quiry: Why did the Water board go
out Of Omaha to find an appraiser7
Was there nobody in Omaha competent
to make an honest and fair appraise-
ment of the water works plant2 Do
not prudence and business sagacity
dictate that the mayor and council
should not rush headlong into confirm
ing the selection made by the Water
board?
Omaha daily bee., 1903-05-09
FARMERS CUT SOME MELONS.
Nebraska's Fertile Soil Yields Large
Dividends.
Portland %Oregonian.

POfIldnQ OIthOhlah.
Prof. DAVIDSON Of the State University OF
shows that no trust pay such
as the Nebraska farm on the
invested, He estimates the value
OF the 121, 1926 farms of the state at a total
value. Of. S722. O1O, 4O6. The value OF farm
products. exclusive OF live stock, put on
The market last year was $3.50, OOO. 900; the
profit on the investment was not less than
25 per cent. The value OF live stock on
the ranges in 1902 was $3.50, O00,0 900; agricul-
tural implements are worth S3l 900, 900. The
amount Of money on deposit In national
and state banks was not less than 100000
600. Last year Nebraska produced $4,000
600 bushels Of winter wheat and 100000
bushels OF spring wheat. The corn crop
was 279, 900, 900 bushels, that OF oats $1,000
600, rye 1000, 900 and barley 1000, 600. There
were IL 1872 acres Of sugar beets. averaging
not less than ten tons to the acre. In
tWenty-seven counties there we're produced
80. 900 tons OF clover, $4,000 tons Of limo
thy, see 900 tons OF wild hay and S47,OOo
tons Of alfalfa. The census Of 1900 shows
that, Of S14O, 900, 900 worth Of commodities
produced on Nebraska farms, nearly S75,-
600, 900 represented live stock shipped and
slaughtered. and the raising OF alfalfa
which ten years ago hardly existed In Ne
braska, means that every county will en-
gage in the raising OF live stock. Last
year 1OO,OOO acres Of alfalfa were planted.
and In a few years a million acres will be
under cultivation. In some parts OF the
state this crop annually produces more
than the value OF the land. In 1900 49,
900. 900 represented the value OF the grain
crops: poultry was represented by $1,000.
900. butter by 81 200. 900. hides and pelts by
%. OOO, 900. II Nebraska farmers do not get
rich. Il win b their own fault
Omaha daily bee., 1903-05-09
The Insahity of BoOdIins.
Chicago Chronicle

The only defense made by ex-Mayor
Ames of Minneapolis, charged with
boodling. is that ne WAS mentally irrespon-
sible. during thesaeyeral years that the cor
ruption was in, progress. 1t cannot but be
deemed singular that in this, as in similar
cases, the mental alteration did not affect
the ability of the accused to get every dol
lar in sight and salt 1t carefully away. The
insanity, in other words, merely obscured
moral perception, but left the mind per-
fectly clear as to financial results.
Omaha daily bee., 1903-05-09

ut is said inhaling the perfume of roses
will cure a headache"
',It ought to. The price of roses always
gives me a headache, Tribune.
AN nature is beautiful" said the en-
thusiast.
~ used to think So" answered the young
man with disColored fingers. But since l
took up amateur photography ] begin to
have my doubts. Washington Star.
Briggs-You don't mean to say he called
Benson a liar?
Griggs-Not in so many words; he only
said that Benson was connected with the
weather bureau.-Boston Transcript.
WIN do you think him such a wise
mann"
well, when the first baby was born, he
left everything to his wife without once
getting il into his head that he was going
to have something to say about the selec-
ton of a name. Chicago Post.
Why, do, you, dislike that Bickerford girl
so thoroughly
Vel, It's because her hair is curly"
But hers curls NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
Plain Dealer,
Doesn't that sunset scene strike you as
being decidedly medfocreH' asked the anna
"Er-no," said Mr.. Gaswell. examining
the painting critically. 1T looks to me as
II II was all yellow ochre. Chicago Trib-
une.
How is your daughter getting on with
her music?'
"Splendidly," answered Mrs. Cumrox.
She can go to a classical concert and tell
exactly where 70 applaud without watching
the rest Of the audience. Washington
Star.
Omaha daily bee., 1903-05-09
Rocks on the Path of Monopoly.
Springfield Republican.

Ilh6hClu INSphbANoh'
One trust at least has learned that the
attempt to establish monopoly by buying
UP competing plants at extravagsnt prices
must prove a failure. The whisky trust
went through this course and found 1t dis
astrous. As the president Of the organ
lied concern says in a report Just published,
1t is a policy which generally leads to the
establishment Of new competitive plants
which the large company necessarily is
compelled to purchase at high figures in
order to maintain the desired monopoly.
This piles up Increase upon increase Of
fixed charges and capitalization, and raises
doubt as to future ability to pay dividends,
and in many cases even to pay fixed
charges" Yet this is precisely the course
being taken by the steel trust. reputed to
be the best managed Of all the combina-
tionB.
Omaha daily bee., 1903-05-09
ANOTHER ROOSEVELT VICTORY.
Third Great Victory Gained b. the
President In as Many Months.
Detroit Free Press (dem.).


President Roosevelt is a veritAbls luck
child, as the Germans say. The decision
OF the New York court OF appeals. re-
yersing the decision Of the appellate al
vision OF the supreme court, and sustain
ing the validity OF the franchise tax law
is the third great victory gained by the
president in as many months.
The franchise tax bill was passed by
the New York assembly largely as a result
OF the pressure eXerted by Mr.. Roosevelt
when he was governor OF the state. Last
January the appellate division OF the SUI
preme court declared the law unconstitu-
tional. on the ground that the act provided
for the assessment OF franchises by a state
board instead Of the local assessing officers,
This decision came while the president
was endeavoring 10 persuade the senate to
pass a bill regulating the trusts. and the
most was made Of II by his enemies in New
York and In congress. Roosevelt forced
that franchise tax bill through the as
sembly," they said. THE very clause on
which IL has been declared unconstitutional
was the clause which he drove into the
bill And now he wants yOu 10 pass a
Omaha daily bee., 1903-05-09
THE STRIKE FEVER.
BROOKLYN Eagle.

Brooklyn Eagle.
The men are out, he told his wife;
There's naught that I can do
That will avert this labor strife
That from a trfe grew.
THE men are out because l bowed
To Hawkins on the street,
And that, l learn, is not allowed
By unions he'd defeat"
The cook is out" she did aver;
our ways she did not like.
The ~janitor has gone with her,
And both are on a strike.
The coachman is not satisfied,
And neither is the maid;
They've struck for wages once denied,
And say they must be paid.
"And won't cook the meals for you;
l am a union wife.
I've got the striking fever, too,
That now is elsewhere rife"
W. have no school" the aid his son;
our time is all for play
Until the teacher shall have won
The strike begun today"
"If that is So" the man exclaimed,
And all seek play or pelf,
/ do not think / a be blamed
II l should strike myself"
Omaha daily bee., 1903-05-09
Queer InconsIstency.
Brooklyn Eagle.

We are righteousiy insistent as to the
protection of our interests In Manchuria,
but we have not heard a peep as to Man
churia's interes ts over here. When Man
churians come here we arrest them at the
border and kick them, II they succeed in
evading our inspectors and labor unions,
Then we throw up the hands and eyes of
establishment If they object to our opera
lions in their wi country, because We
tell them that civilization requires our
presence there. Civilization must be q
queer thing to the range who contem-
plates It from a distance.
Omaha daily bee., 1903-05-09

Renewed discussion of the Nebraska
oil inspection law and the modification
OF 1t enacted by the recent legislature
impresses the fact that the men chosen
TO enforce It are more important thar
the law itself. Upon the new chief
deputy oil inspector will depend
whether the tests applied viii be effect
i've to keep low grade and dangerous
Omaha daily bee., 1903-05-09

The appointment by President Roose-
Welt Of Willis Sweet of Idaho to be at
torney general for Porto Rico lie recog-
milton Of another man who made his
start with The Bee, Mr.. Sweet having
been identified with this paper in Its
early days. That the new. attorney
general for Porto Rico will make a
capable and reliable officer goes with
out saying. President Roosevelt is to
be congratulated on his choice as much
as Mr.. Sweet upon his selection for APP
pointment.
Omaha daily bee., 1903-05-09
"THE YEARS OF PETER"
Pope LeO's Remarkable Record on the
Pnpal Throne.
Philadelphia Ledger. April Is

Philadelphia Ledger, April 20.
Leo XIII accomplishes today a pontincate
Of length equal to that credited by the his
torians Of his church to the reign of the
first bishop Of Rome, st. ~Peter-twenty-
I'VE years, two months and seven lays.
Since the apostle. but one other pope-and
he, singularly enough, Leo's immediate
predecessor, Pius IX-has sat 30 long In
the chair of Peter. Sylvester l wore the
tiara twenty-one years; Adrian I, twenty
three; his successor, Leo III, twenty-one;
Alexander III. twenty-five; Urban VIII
twenty-one; Clement XI, twenty-one; Plus
VI, twenty-four; Plus VII, twenty-three
Plus TX, thirty-two years. May Leo be
spared for the reign OF Pho Nino. and
longer, II happiness is still to be found on
earth for him, aged SERVANT Of the serv-
ants Of God"
Pope Leo's is the most venerable and
striking figure in the world Of living men
today. He has looked upon changes which
can hardly have been paralleled in any
period OF human history-the world upon
which Gioacchino Pecci opened his eyes in
1910 is a very different place from that
world in 1903-and he has had a part in
more Of the great events that have trans
formed It than any other single personality
has had. The emperors. kings and statess
men in all OF whose affairs he was an ele-
ment have played their parts and passed
from the stage. Some OF them fingered
awhile-Bismarck, Gladstone, Victoria,
Crispi-but. Gladstone alone having been
born a few weeks earlier, the pope sur
wives them all, continuing to perform his
great duties, administering a vast spiritual
empire. and winning, by his benignity, gen.
tleness and wisdom, new dominions in the
hearts OF millions who accord his character
what they could never yield TO his once;
alert to the signs OF the times; tenderly
solicitous for the welfare OF his children
and OF all men. The Roman pontin Is
revered by the church OF which he is tho
head; Leo, the aged saint and statesman,
q venarated nv all the wnrld
Omaha daily bee., 1903-05-09

Several Minnesota railroads subject to
the control of Jim Hill that
they will pay no attention to the order
of the State Railway commission en-
forcing a joint rate on coal between GER
tain points, These railroads are setting
a fine example Of law observance for
employees and shippers, against whom
they are always so ready to invoke the
law. In this case the rates in question
are said to have been sustained in liti,
cation that was carried clear up to the
United States supreme court. If rail
road strikers defed a court decree they
would be promptly cited for contempt
and the same kind of equal justice is
invited by railway magnates when they
undertake to make a law unto them
selves.
Omaha daily bee., 1903-05-09

Men who clamor for blood-letting are
generally the first to run away from a
fight. Up to this writing nothing has
happened that would justify the calling
OF troops to maintain law and order in
Omaha or the substitution of martial
law for civil law.
Omaha daily bee., 1903-05-09

Nebraska has M great advantage
over ninois-it manages to get rid Of
its legislature in three months, while
in Illinois the lawmakers have hung on
for four months.
Omaha daily bee., 1903-05-09

Colonel Bryan says Grover Cleveland
may run for the presidency on the re-
publican ticket. But the republicans
VIII not deprive the democrats Of the
man pronounced their only available
candidate.