The independent. [volume] (Lincoln, Neb.) 1902-1907, 1904-05-12

Panama railroad is now vested In the
United States. This ownership will
break up a lot of contracts in which
certain persons have Iong enjoyed spe-
cial privileges. The government has
now made start toward adopting
populist principles. Let it go ahead
until every, railroad, telegraph and
telephone line in the United States be-
comes public property and thus Danish
the corporation lobbyists from the city,
state and national legislative halls.
There are some things about the
republican country press In this state
that are so silly that they are disgust
ing. Since Lindsay was appointed
clerk of the supreme court, the most
lucrative Office in the state, every re-
publican rural rooster has been telling
his readers what an excellent appoint
ment 1t was. They now say that "this
appointment represents the unanimous
voice of the press and people," "emi-
nently satisfactory" will make a
splendid Official etc. etc. They
would have said the same thing about
any Of the other aspirants If he had
been successful.
Rosewater made speech before the
state board demanding an increase in
the valuation Of railroads for taxation.
He said: Railroads have been an ex-
cellent investment within the past few
years, returning an enormous return
on the capital invested. In 1896 the
return on railroad stocks were 1S40
per cent Of the investment; in 1897 it
was 1884 per cent, in 1902, $3.50 per
cent, and 4.O7 on bonds. The gross
earnings on freight alone on the Bur-
lingtOn system in 1901 were $33, 662,-
22l.05, in 1902 they amounted to $685.
072,079, in 1903 to $42, 789, 4O5.94. The
total gross earnings for the same years
were $5O000,OO0, $57795, 254.45, $62,-
63S, 1882 respectively and the mileage
only had increased $50 miles. The ex-
penses for the three years were $34,-
068, 907, $35, 628,S75, $40,542, 572.76, while
the net earnings showed the follow
ing: $15,93S, 0S1, SIS, 112,369.94, and
$22,095, 10000 for the same three
years" He demanded that they should
be taxed more than double what they
had been. That is all very fine, but
when election time comes he will be
found ais he always mas been found
heretofore, supporting the nominees
of the railroads for Office. The Jour
nal and the News which have been
talking the same way lately will be
out next fall calling their followers to
vote 'er straight. That sort of work is
one of the best vote getting tricks that
the republicans ever invented and the
railroads have always been delighted
with it.
There has never been a time for a.
hundred years when there were not
men in congress with Indian blood in
their veins. At the present time there
are several Senator Morgan, Senator
Quay and Representative Curtice are
among the number.
since January HrSt, japan mas sent
$29,070,6 07 in gold into this country.
If 1t had not been for that war how
would Wall street have been able to
postpone the panic until after the
presidential election?
There is a general demand in the
republican dailies for g short plat
FORM The Independent suggests the
following:
We point with pride. Stand pat,
And vote 'er straight. Well fry the
fat.
The crop report Of the weather bu-
reau shows that the crops are in un-
usually good condition all over the
United States with the exception OF a
small area in the mountain states