davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Omaha daily bee., 1905-07-21
THE COUNTY JUDGESHIP.

By far the most important position to
be filed by the electors of Douglas
county next fall is the Office of county
judge. The county court has jurisdic-
ton not merely in civil cases involving
amounts up to $1,000, but has exclusive
Jurisdiction in all matters of probate.
A prominent attorney who for years &C.
cupied a position on the supreme bench
Of Nebraska once said that were he sure
he had to die during the incumbency of
a former probate judge he would aban-
don his citizenship in Nebraska and move
to some other state in order to protect
his family and safeguard his estate.
The lowest estimate of the number of
estates which have been administered
by the county court within the past four
years is not less than $500 How these
estates have been administered, how the
widows and orphans have Jared, isA
matter completely surrounded in mys-
terry. There is practically no publicity
given to settlements made in the orphans
court and the methods of advertising the
distribution and sale of the properties
and chattels that come under direct
supervision of the county court has been
simply scandalous.
Instead of receiving the widest pub
liclty, as the law would naturally con-
template, they are scattered in reader
less sheets, like the applications for d.
vorces, that are planted where they will
be seen the least. Why the people who
are so much concerned over life insur-
ance management exhibit such indiffer-
ence about the safeguarding of their
savings for the benefit Of their families
seems almost incomprehensible.
Candidates OF all parties who will
present themselves for the suffrage OF
the citizens of Douglas county In No
vember next for the position of county
judge should possess not merely the re-
quisite qualification as practitioners at
the bar in good standing, but they should
above all things be men of known and
esta blished regulations for integrity.
The county judgeship is no place for
men without judicial training, or men
who hope TO make themselves comforta-
| bly, rich in few years through judicial
graft.
Omaha daily bee., 1905-07-21

progress with certain men administering
the law in the departments. Machen and
Beavers and their associates were part OF
machine which operated under civil service
rules, and some OF them may have en-
tered the service by passing examinations;
but did they carry out the merit SYSTEM
The notorious violation OF civil service
principles in the appointment to rural Offices
Of men and women who were to be imme-
diately transferred to the CLASSIFIED service
which was one of their conspicuous Of
fenses-furnishes the answer. These men
were in Office playing politics. They were
protected as long as possible by politicians,
and their abuses would long before have
been stopped IL the voice of those who
we're merely demanding faithfulness to the
merit system had been needed.
When we look back and see what the
departments were in the days Of the spells
system after the civil war, and in the old
jackson days OF defalcations, notwith-
standing the prevalence of primitive vir-
tues, we can better appreciate what our
government would be IL every appointment
were now handed out as patronage without
regard to fitness. The merit system has
been the safeguard Of the government
from thievery and scandal ten times worse
than anything which has occurred.
Omaha daily bee., 1905-07-21
REFORM THAT HAS REFORMED.
Merit system in civil Service a Foe
TO Graft.
New York Tribune.

New York Tribune.
Secretary Bonaparte's prominence as
civil service reformer furnishes a pretext
for the gibe that he is regulating his
favorite principle OF administration when
he declares that 1.-THE underlying evil in
the administration OF our public affairs is
simply dishonesty" Here for twenty
years we have been IN increasing measure
selecting officials by competition after
tests. Yet in department after department
we unearth "grafters," as we have fallen
into the habit Of calling them. who are, in
plain words. thieves and scoundrels. II
the merit system is the safeguard OF good
government how can these things BET
In the first place. no civil service re-
former ever said that the merit system
could change human nature. II the society
in which oficials dwell is tainted with the
grating" spirit. the public service will
have It's share. An occasional bank de-
falcatioh does not tempt bank directors
from the application OF careful tests Of
htness 10 applicants for employment OF 10
the abandonment Of their methods OF pro-
motion. No process Of selecting employees
can infallibly detect dishonesty or furnish
safeguards against yielding 20 temptation.
Surround the civil servant with offers from
brokers for crop estimates and the result
will depend on his character not on his
method OF appointment.
Moreover. while appointments are made
largely as the result Of examinations. no.
body prctends that the spirit ruling gov
eminent offices Is uniformly a civil service
reform spirit. The Teformers have for
years had 70 contest svery step Of their
Omaha daily bee., 1905-07-21
A CONVENTION oITY--wHY NOT,

n NOaN hN 4 AOAN va " ~ A'bA'
The announcement is made that Chi
cago intends to become again the con
vention city of America. To bring about
this result the Chicago Commercial as
ISOLATION is organizing a Bureau of
Conventions" which is to take i'm
mediate and direct charge of the promo
ton work to land big meetings for the
Lake city. The Chicago people have
discovered that thousands of conven-
tions are held each year in which they
are represented by their delegates, but
that no active efforts have been put for
ward to press on them invitations to
meet there. One of the Chicago con-
yention boosters is quoted as saying:
Hundreds of conventions can be secured
for this city every summer II the right
course is pursued. Chicago is supplied
with attractions such as other cities do
not possess. 1t is the greatest railroad
center in the country. 1t has the best
hotel accommodations in the United States.
There is no reason why it should not be
known as the Convention city.
Omaha Is not Chicago, nor can 1t for
the present put itself up as a competitor
of Chicago, but it has everything to
make it convention city with scarcely
less attraction. Omaha has handsome
new Auditorium to house big gatherings.
Its railroad facilities are unequaled for
convenient access, and its hotel accom-
modations while not what we would
like, are still adequate to demands.
Omaha could take care of forty or fifty
conventions each year without any
trouble, and would do so If an organized
campaign were started to push Omaha's
claims with the great national assOcia-
tons
If it is worth while for Chicago to go
after these conventions, it is surely
worth while for Omaha to go after it's
share of them.
Omaha daily bee., 1905-07-21
personal NOTES.

Miss Minnie Baldwin is president of a
bank at Wister, l. T., which has a capital
ization of $4,000, and is manager of the
concern.
The duke of the Abruzzi is preparing an
exploring expedition to Central Africa. He
is called the most adventurous prince in
Europe.
DR.. A. v. v. Raymond, president Of
Union college at Schenectady, N. Y, re-
fused an offer OF $4,000 to become pastor
of the First Presbyterian church OF Buff
falo His salary as president is $500.
Rev John Sharp, superintendent OF the
London Bible society's publication work,
which embraces $50 languages and dialects,
Is to receive a presentation on his compile
ton of twenty-five years service shortly.
John d Rockefeller is said to be as ex-
mart a writer OF shorthand as any of the
army of typewriters he employs. Thus
be Is armed against loss OF his daily bread
in case his colossal fortune should ever
melt
The Japanese emperor's daily fare is
strtctlv Japanese. His breakfast consists
NJ bean soup and a few other dishes, but
his dinner is an elaborate one of twenty
courses. His banquets are European and
expensive.
lean Jacques Elisee Reclus, the famous
aeoqrapher who died recently in Brussels,
was a great friend of America and his
articles during the civil war aroused great
sympathy IN France for the Lincoln ad-
ministration.
The siamese minister, Phya Akharaj
varadhara, who is spending his summer
az East Gloucester, Mass, for the fourth
year has recently purchased and put in
commission a handsome yacht, the Petrol,
on which he takes the most OF his recre-
alton. He has parties out with him al
most every day.
NJ. Berthelot secretary Of the Louvre
museum. believes that he has discovered
the secret of the agent used in embalm-
ing in ancient Egypt After laborlous
examination OF the sarcophagi OF the NTH
and sixth dynasties, which date back as
far as $500 B. C., NJ. Bertheiot has come
10 the decision that the oil employed was
simply castor oil, such as Is still used in
Egypt, which has undergone some oxidiEa-
ton. but retained during the long period
its preservative qualities
Omaha daily bee., 1905-07-21
Beauty Not extravaganza.


The finding OF a French court that 1t Is
not mere extravaganza to spend money on
self decentralization, apropos a suit brought
by a beauty doctor. so-called, to recover
payment OF bill from one of his patrons,
might not be possible in the original in any
other country. But now that the decision
has been handed down 1t is easy to see how
II may be cited and quoted in legal squao-
bles and in domestic dlsagreements in al
most every part of the world. Wards may
bring it to bear upon their guardians when
certain extravagances are charged and
husbands may speak Of II to their rich
wives in asking for an increase OF allow
ance. For women are not the sole patrons
of the Improvement specialist. Altogether
then we should say that the complexion
specialists who have of late, in two or
three instances, at least, been having
troubles with patrons who insisted on their
doing impossible things, may consider that
their calling has, from France, received a
fair support.
Omaha daily bee., 1905-07-21
A CHECK TO rBE BOYCOTT.

Reports received from the Department
of State from the American consuls in
China state that the movement in that
country for the bOycotting of our goods
has received check and that no Sc
rious injury to American trade is likely,
except possibly in Canton and Shanghai,
where the merchant guilds are strongest
and most influential. 1t is not stated
what has brought about the check, but
doubtless the chief influence is the DO
sition taken by President Roosevelt in
directing a less harsh enforcement of
the exclusion law. Undoubtedly the
action of the president in this matter
was promptly made known to the Chi
nese merchants who were I'm the boycott
movement, as it was to the imperial gov
eminent, and seeing in it the promise of
fair treatement for the exempt classes
OF China the agitation for the exclu-
sion OF American goods abated.
The information TO this effect from
our consuls is gratifying, but 1t should
not be assumed that the danger is all
over. 1t will be an easy matter to re-
vive the boycott movement and this
would undoubtedly be done should the
immigration authorities fail to strictly
obey the order of the president. Having
learned that the Chinese are fully aware
what their treaty rights are in the matter
and that they are evidently determined
to have these rights respected or retail
ate upon American merchants and man
ufacturers, we have only 10 fairly and
honestly carry out treaty obligations to
avoid further trouble and retain the
friendship Of a people whose trade we
are seeking,
Omaha daily bee., 1905-07-21

Chairman ShOnts of the Commission
Talks of Ultimate Success.
New York World.

New York World.
Chairman t. P. shonts of the Panama
commission has no political illusions about
the Isthmian canal. To him, fortunately,
It is a mere business enterprise.
Mistakes have been made he admits, In
the hasty preliminary work They Will be
corrected and avoided so far as possible
in the future. First OF all. he promises,
there will be no suppression Of information.
I'VE have nothing to conceal" he says,
because this is a great government work. -
The pledge is comforting, though the rea-
son he gives for II may be due TO his DO
litical inexperience.
Instead OF insisting that everything is
being admirably done" Chairman shonts
confesses that when the work was started
there was too great eagerness to begin to
dig. Important matters were overlooked
He has a different program.
The sanitary conditions OF the isthmus
must be perfected There must be a more
careful selection OF men for specific duties
Square pegs In round holes have been too
numerous. To get good work out Of men
they must be kept contented, properly han
died. properly housed. properly fed, Too
many in the past have been left to shift
for themselves and suffered In health and
spirits. When the machinery is on the
ground and the work fairly started canal
construction will be kept under full head
way.
Chairman shonts urges the American peo-
pie not to lose faith In the ultimate sue
cess OF the canal. His frank and serious
recognition OF the obstacles 70 be sur
mounted Is an encouraging sign. He is too
old hand at railroad building to think
that mountains are moved and rivers
damned BY Jaunty speeches
Omaha daily bee., 1905-07-21
LOOTED LEVITY.

| Senator Steele-I want 1000 for that fob
Railway Magnate-You won't get tho
tenth part of It. Senators are going to Jail
| now for 5000. This is bear market for
senators-Pittsburg Post
You went fishing yesterday with Mr..
Multimilyuns, didn't your
Yes"
! us he much OF a hshermanF''
NO. A mere novice. had to bait the
hook for him"
What bait did you user"
| "Myself"-Cleveland Plain Dealer.
First Magazine Editor-why do YOU have
! icai?
| Second Magazine Editor-To improve its
circulation-San Francisco Call.
short-I say, old man. will you let me
| have five-spot till pay day7
| Long-Your pay day or the day you'll
, pay me7-Washington Post
I'm glad to find you as you are" said
the old friend Your great wealth hasn't
We'll" responded Mr.. Packer ut has
changed me a trihe. I'm eccentric where I
used to be impolite, and delightfully."- sar-
Tribune
How will we get rid of that edition de
inxe2' asked the manager Of the publish
original or surprising"
Never mind" replied the salesman
Wei raise the price few dollars and ad-
yertise 1t as 'unexpurgated, "-WashinEton
Star.
II never thought" said the conceited
lecturer, that my voice would all that
hall"
mo-" replied the candid man ~
Thought at one time 1t would empty it,
Philadelphia Ledger
do you think that the municipal owner
snip idea can be successfully worked?"
Il think So" answered Mr.. Dustin Stax
complacently. I'VE will not hesitate to sell
our franchises to the government at a good
figure, nor to buy them back cheap when
the idea goes out of fashion"
Star.
Mr.. Tambo-Do you mean TO tell me, Mr.
Bones, that that ignorant gentleman to
whom we were talking is a host in himself
Mr.. Bones-Yes, sab Appearances am
mighty deceivin', sah.a
Mr.. Tambo-But what did he ever do?
Why Is he host in himself!
Mr.. Bones-Dat gem'man am a host in
himself, Mistah Tambo, becaze he am de
landlord of de leadin' hotel in Fucker
Mr.. Tambo-Ladies and gentlemen. with
your kind permission, MT Highcollah win
now sing, My Girls Name Is Miss Toober
and She's My Sweet Potato. Detroit Trib-
une.
Omaha daily bee., 1905-07-21
MODERN PRIMARY SCHOOL.
Baltimore Sun.

bdlllTnOTe sun.
We have glimpses of science, a deluge Of
art,
Biography, history, each has a part
And the alphabet? Surely, it's needless to
state
That the alphabet's hopelessly gone out Of
date.
We have eating and pasting and folding ga
lore,
OF rama baskets neat little store.
Can we spell? Why, wonder the question
you ask,
Since speilings as passe as grandmothsTs
basque.
We have modelling I'm clay, we have painting
from pose,
We have. cardboard construction. as every
one knows,
Can we add and subtractP why. surely
you know
All that was old fashioned long ago.
We have weaving and gardening, occupa-
pations pacific:
We have organized games which are quite
scientific.
Can We read? WELL the fact is I very
much doubt
eve have so much to do) that we've no
time to find out
Omaha daily bee., 1905-07-21
and done their annual swearing in round
figures.

Lincoln merchants who are protesting
against the assessment returns made by
the county assessor for Douglas county
profess to be very much excited for fear
some Of their competitors in Omaha may
have imposed upon the tax assessor The
fragrant differentiation Of the railroads
for taxation, however. seems to have
escaped the notice of the Lincolnites en-
tirely. Not one Of them peeped when
the state board was in session fixing the
railroad assessment at figures fagrantly
disproportionate to real values.
Omaha daily bee., 1905-07-21
4 SKILLED LABoR FAMINE.

1t has been many years since there
was a demand for skilled labor which
exceeded the supply. That, it appears,
is at present the case The New York
Comnercial remarks that while strikes
andthe agitation of labor questions con
tinue TO be a menace TO Industrial pros
perity and progress in this country, a
far more serious problem confronting
capitalists and employers today is the
purely economic one of an adequate sup
ply of skilled labor. 1t says that as a
general statement there is an actual fam
inc Of skilled labor just now in all lines
of production. IL declares that long
continuation of this condition OF affairs
would inevitably result not only in a
positive deterioration in the quality OF
American products, but also in a check
TO our industrial and manufacturing
growth and in a withdrawal Of our cap
ital to more promising fields for invest
ment.
Il is fact than which nothing could
more forcibly show the activity and
prosperous condition Of our industries,
Omaha daily bee., 1905-07-21

Police took the names of the persons
who are attending the congress of zemst-
vos Mt Moscow. They must fear that
the list may be the genesis of Russia's
society Of the Sons of the Revolution.
Omaha daily bee., 1905-07-21
INDIANAPOLIS News.


We remember-or have we forgotten-that
before the Fourth OF July the press of the
country teemed with exhortations for a
saner Fourth, and that there were efforts in
many cities toward prohibiting the use CT
the more dangerous sorts of explosives.
But taking the country over, the slowly
maturing statistics show that the recent
anniversary was more destructive OF human
life than any other on record. The Chicago
health department in its bulletin for July
Is, says that up to July of last year the
casualties OF the Fourth, tabulated for The
whole country, were 2,4S1; to the same date
this year they were 3l6s. an increase OF 30
per cent Up to July Is last year the deaths
from these accidents were 1907 to the same
date this year they were ninety-two. The
decrease, the bulletin says, was due to the
greater preparation that was made by medi-
cal science and the better treatment. Every
day since the hfteenth, new deaths have
been reported from Fourth OF July acct
dents, so that the total will soon, It is ex-
pected, pass that OF ali other years. Is not
Il nearly time that we should stop this
slaughter.
Omaha daily bee., 1905-07-21

While the head statistician of the De-
partment of Agriculture has summarily
resigned, we have confidential advices
that the head statistician of the Ne
braska labor bureau contemplates no
such a summary withdrawal from the
state pay roll.
Omaha daily bee., 1905-07-21

The state bureau of labor statistics
has discovered that Nebraska has ex-
ported during the last year among other
things 10000 pounds of bones. And
still there is no trouble to find dry bones
around in sufficient quantity to rattle.
Omaha daily bee., 1905-07-21

no great difficulty should be encoun-
tered in filing the place made vacant by
the resignation of statistician Hyde
from the Agricultural department when
so many graduates 81 the school Of sta
tistics, conducted by the lamented Prof.
Coin" are still at large in the country.
Omaha daily bee., 1905-07-21

Russia has accepted an invitation TO
attend a conference regarding the in
tern0l Affairs Of Morocco. The car
must want to discover just how such
conferences are conducted before tack
ling his own internal problem.
Omaha daily bee., 1905-07-21
sample of GOOD Finance.


II Mr.. Ryan's stock is to be sold to the
policy holders without an advance, the
Equitable troubles will have produced the
finest specimen of good finance the age
has witnessed. And Ryan has never made
a speech about 1t. II there are any more
Virginia Irishmen of that breed they should
be transferred to Wall street.
Omaha daily bee., 1905-07-21

The procurator of the holy synod of
Russia is said to have been cool and col
iscted when the bomb exploded. Under
these circumstances Russian officials are
generally collected by the police depart
mcnt.
Omaha daily bee., 1905-07-21

One of the democratic prophets Of
hindsight has discovered that it was
the waiting vote" that gave the cleo
ton in the First Nebraska district to
the republican candidate, or rather kept
the democratic candidate from winning
out. The waiting vote, however, should
not be confused with the walters vote.
Omaha daily bee., 1905-07-21

South Omaha has made contract for
plans for its proposed fire department
headquarters. Contracts for plans and
specifications for bigger fire depart
ment will be next in order.
Omaha daily bee., 1905-07-21

The reason Of General Powell Clay
tons return from Mexico is now APP
parent. Residents OF Arkansas are ask
ing the Interstate Commerce commits
sion TO reduce rates on his Arkansas rail
road from 6ss 70 cents a nills
Omaha daily bee., 1905-07-21

The new comptroller of the Equitable
Life is said TO have been the choice of
former Presidept Cleveland, which goes
to show that Grover never loses an op-
portnnity to boost n personal friend.
Omaha daily bee., 1905-07-21

The prospectus of the Omaha and Ne
braska Central Electric Trolley railroad
Is very attractive. but before the project
can materialize the promoters will have
to lind capitalists who are willing to ad-
vance the money.
Omaha daily bee., 1905-07-21

China says 1t is not angry at the
United States government, but at the
California labor unions. A boycott
against labor union will be something
unusual, but not entirely unprecedented.
Omaha daily bee., 1905-07-21

Lincoln merchants have filed a pro-
test with the State Board Of Equaliza-
ton against the assessment Of Omaha
merchants and capitalists, and In sup
port of their remOnstrance have fled
comparative exhibit of assessment re-
turns of merchandise on hand aud
moneys on deposit, notes secured by
mortgage, money loaned and book ac-
counts I'm Douglas and Lancaster coun-
ties, and we feel sure that we violate
no confidence in admitting that the
showing is not creditable 10 the mer-
camille conscience of either county. For
example, the aggregate amount of money
loaned in Douglas county is returned as
S6,2S7, while Lancaster county returned
81, 1850. And the aggregate amount
OF money on hand and on deposit is re-
turned for Douglas county 1927, 7O1 and
$219O11.2O in Lancaster county. II
would seem that the people who return
money on hand and money loaned on
mortgage notes for taxation I'm Lancas-
ter are particular in swearing to frae-
lions OF dollars. while Douglas county
moneyed men seem to have earelessly
brushed aside the fractional currency on
deposit or loaned or mortgage security
Omaha daily bee., 1905-07-21

The ease with which Charley" Barr
defeated foreign shippers made him too
confident so it is but fitting that the
first time he contested with another Yam
kee he should be beaten.
Omaha daily bee., 1905-07-21

According to the latest report Of the
state statistician Nebraska has exported
$l605O worth of cigars in the past year.
How many cigars have been imported
into Nebraska is not disclosed.
Omaha daily bee., 1905-07-21
necree stiII -stnndn.

81. Louis GIobe-Democrat'
Judge Parker says their should be
divorce between business and politics.
There is. One was declared last year when
the syndicates which financed the demo-
cratic party were defeated with it.
Omaha daily bee., 1905-07-21

Now that the Portland exposition has
perfected rules and regulations for
awarding prizes the exhibitors may pro-
coed to prepare explanations why the
other fellow got them.