The independent. [volume] (Lincoln, Neb.) 1902-1907, 1903-08-13

sums of 100000 and $40, 0O0, 600 are
mentioned. and one guesser places the
loss as equal to what the state gained
last year from its principal crop. So
it has gone doubtless over a good part
of the rural sections of the country.
The mullet heads are simply paying
their tribute to the millionaires. 1t
will come pretty hard on some of them,
but while they will not read anything
but republican papers, they are not to
be pitied. A million circulation of The
Independent scattered over the states
would have saved many millions to the
people.
A good many papers are criticising
the court order issued by the presi-
dent and Secretary Root announcing
the retirement of General Miles. Here
was an officer who had served in the
army for almost fifty years, making
record of which all Americans are
proud, who had been commended and
CUmplimented by Grant, Sheridan.
Howard, Meade and congress, who had
fought more battles and been wounded
more times than any officer now living
and not a word is said in memory of
these glorious services by the military
Upstairs who by the merest chance
that of an assassin's bullet-now out
rank him. This slap in the face was
given General Miles because he is a
believer in the Declaration of lnde-
Iendence and refused to have his pri-
vate soldiers fed on "embalmed beef.
The postmasters are beginning to
make complaints about "mucilaginous
currency" At the session of the Ma
ticnal Postmasters' association in Bos-
ton last week there was a good deal
said on that question. Postmaster
Hubbard of Chicago said many firms
in that city receive thousands of dol
lars worth of stamps a day in ex-
change for goods. These cannot be
resold to the government, SO are sold
to the public at discount. He esti-
mated that at least 100000 worth of
stamps were sold in Chicago for use
IS currency. Mail matter which had
to be handled by that Office constant
ly increased, but not SO with the sale
OF stamps. Mr.. Hubbard proposed the
issuance by the third assistant post
n caster general of the certificates of
stamps of denominations from 2 to so
cents, which would make up all COM
binations under 81. Received by stamp
order houses from customers these
certificates could be sorted and ex
changed at the pOstoffices for stamps IL
desired, otherwise for cash at a dis
count of 1 per cent. Populists pro-
posed something of that kind ten years
ago, now the old, slow going, behind
hand republicans are just beginning
to acknowledge the wisdom of the
proposition.
There has been more nonsense writ
ten about an "elastic currency during
the last few years than would fill all
the Carnegie libraries and Eckles and
Fowler are just now adding to the
confusion. The French have been
showing the world how to do that
thing for many years, but as it is
populist idea Eckles and Fowler will
have nothing to do with it. The gov
eminent of France through it's bank is
sues all the paper money OF the coun-
try. 1t has a monopoly of it. 1t dis
counts mercantile paper with it's notes
and expands the currency. When the
mercantile paper becomes due it is
paid in the notes of the bank and then
they are no longer in circulation.
There you have the whole thing.
When business demands more money
the French government prints il aud
pays 1T out on secured notes.
When business does not require the
money longer it is returned, the notes
taken up and the interest stopped
The administration has now invented
new way to down the railroad labor
unions. Any train-passenge local,
or freight-will be empowered to car
ry mails. This means that in case of
strike every train which carries these
special mails will be just as much
under the authority and protection of
the federal government as through and
local mail trains which run on reg
ular daily schedule, and when all the
arrangements have been made and the
plans of the department put into effect
xxrs1I - e.