davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Omaha daily bee., 1905-10-18

have been defrauded. Bribery, perjury,
forgery, etc, are charged and a number
Of prominent persons among them Sen
ator G. w Clark, are implicated. The
federal authorities believe that the evil
dence in these cases is quite as strong
as that upon which the convictions i'm
Oregon were obtained and it is not
doubted that indictments will be secured
in all the cases. 1t is needless to say
that the Interior department and De
partment of Justice are working in COM
plete harmony. That whoever is found
to have had any connection with the
land frauds, whatever his position, will
be prosecuted and IL convicted will be
punished, the record in Oregon gives
ample assurance. The position of the
president in regard to this is well known
and the attorney general and the secre-
tary of the interior are in full accord
with it. The persons who have obtained
lands from the government by fraud de-
serve an even severer punishment than
the law provides. The sentences of the
men convicted do not quite fit the crime
Omaha daily bee., 1905-10-18
Anti-American In Porto Rico.

If we went no farther into details than
the broad general fact of the present at
tltude toward us of the people Of Porto
Rico, as compared with their attitude when
we first came among them, a strong pre-
sumption would be established, not only
that things had been going radically wrong
in some way, but that responsibility for
the wrong rested, in some degree at least,
upon our own shoulders. There is now
sweeping over this island a wave of anti
Americanism too intense and too wide
spread to be accounted for by any Of the
standard explanations of Porto Rican dis
content.
II discomfort alone, in however intense
a form, fully covered. in broad character
ization, the state of mind of the people
here, then those standard explanations
might sufice. But, unfortunately, an
analysis of Porto Rican sentiment toward
American administration of the island
yields elements less agreeable than even
the most aggravated forms OF discomfort
Disintegrated into its component parts, we
find liberated from Porto Rlcan anti-Amer-
icanism a very considerable quantity OF
disgust and just about an equal amount
of contempt.
Omaha daily bee., 1905-10-18
LEGISLATIVE HoLDUPs.
Process of snndbaEginE Corporations
and the Remedy.
Chicago News.

Chicago News.
There Is, unfortunately only too much
reason to credit the statements OF James
NJ. Beck, special counsel for the Mutual
Life Insurance company. when he COM
plains that tho insurance corporations are
blackmalled and sandbagged by state legis-
latures. The public is prepared to admit
that corruption is rife in many OF these
bodies and to take It's own share OF the
blame for this condition. It may be
readily believed, also. that the companies
In their dealings with the legislatures have
for their chief object not the purchase OF
favorable legislation. but the prevention
Of legislation adverse to their interests.
Mr.. Beck continues:
"Censure II you will the hapless passen-
ger in a stagecoach who puts a premium
upon robbery by surrendering some part
OF his valuables rather than be killed, but
let our stern moralists visit their greatest
condemnation upon the legislative high
waymen who hold up these great business
interests and. above ALL upon an Indifferent
people who clothe these highwaymen with
the power to hold up their victims"
Mr.. Beck's metaphor implies that the
life-insurance companies have been meet
ing the legislative plunderers upon their
own terms. They have yielded to the
demands made upon them. Accepting his
view that they were forced to this ex-
tremity in self-defense, what have they
been doing toward remedying bad condi-
tons? Their proper course plainly. lay
in taking active measures TO bring about
the detection and exposure of the high
waymen and to stimulate a popular move
ment for legislative reform.
It does not appear that the life insurance
companies have taken this course. Subject
TO the predatory attacks OF lawbreakers,
they not only have submitted to be robbed,
but have failed to exert themselves for
the apprehension OF the robbers They
have fought corruption with the weapons
Of corruption, instead Of aiding and guild
ing the public in efforts TO extirpate H.
That corporations should be subjected to
Matchmaking operations is Infamous. OF
course. But the way for them to protect
themselves is by moving against the black
mailers not by silently submitting to the
extortion and thus encouraging IT, Bust
ness considerations apart, these companies
are under legal and moral obligation to
lend their influence toward destroying the
corruption of the legislatures. When they
have taken this stand the apology Mr.
Beck offers on their behalf will carry much
more force and conviction than 1t does
at present.
Omaha daily bee., 1905-10-18
A STRAIT-JACKET CHAR TER.

When the charter bill was still under
discussion last winter, The Bee took
exception to the proposed section max
ing the sinking fund the reslduary lega-
tee of all the odds and ends of municipal
revenue and all the SURPRISES of other
funds formerly carried over from year
to year. 1t called attention to two Sc
rious defects of the plan: First, that it
would make the charter too rigid a
strait-jacket for emergencies, such
as we have just been compelled to meet
in the exhaustion of the police and fire
funds, and second, that it would incite
every branch of the municipal govern
ment to spend every cent at it's disposal
rather than show a surplus at the end
of the year TO be forfeited to the sink
ing fund.
Examination of the balance sheet dis
closes that this is precisely what has
happened and that when the books are
closed with the expiration of the fiscal
year not only will there be no balance
in any of the current funds, but nearly
every one of them will have obligations
outstanding that will become a charge
upon the proceeds of the next years
levy.
With such a system in operation it is
difficult to see how expenses can be
materially cut down or tax levies ap-
preciably reduced. Add to this a per-
sistent policy of evading the charter
limitations by drawing on other funds
whenever the city authorities find them
selves in a tight place and the safe
guards of the new charter against ex-
travagance and overlaps fall down al
most completely.
When the new charter comes to be
revised, as has been the invariable his
tory of ali our charters, the unsatisfac-
tory experience with these strait
jacket clauses should not be overlooked
and such notifications adopted as will
insure reasonable measure Of elastic
ity for the future.
Omaha daily bee., 1905-10-18
COMMERCIAL LYNCH LAW"
Practice Common with Railroads De-
nOunced by Spokesman.


The most inveterate opponent OF rail-
way rate legislation must admit that the
address of President Samuel Spencer, OF
the Southern railway, to the Newark
Board Of Trade. is more impassioned than
convincing. Whatever may be said of the
advocacy of rate legislation by President
Roosevelt, no one can fairly assert that
II Is not sincere or that II in any sense
savors Of demagogism. Those organiza-
lions which practically represent the en-
tire shipping class of the country are pro-
nouncing in favor OF this legislation, UNI
less they happen to belong to the favored
class.
To denounce rate legislation as "oom-
mercial lynch law must keenly concen-
trate attention upon the causes which
have led to all this discussion. II the
railroads themselves had never engaged in
commercial lynching the Interstate Com
merce commission would never have been
conceived, and there would now be no dis
cussion of extension of the powers Of
that body Railway managers have ad-
mitted discrimination in favor of certain
shippers. They have admitted charges
for short hauls out OF all proportion to
those for long hauls, and other discrepan-
cies in rates of varied character have
been confessed by railway officials which
are absolutely antagonistic to the prin-
ciple of fair play. IL not to the "funda-
mental principles of Anglo-Saxon jurispru-
dence," which are so dear to the heart Of
President Spencer.
But let railway managers take heart of
grace. There is not a desire in the mind
OF anyone to inture the railroads. Those
who behave in such legislation would re-
lieve the railroads from that bondage to
other corporations to which the managers
have confessed. In any event, there can
be no harm in submitting the matter to
congress at a time when 1t may be calmly
discussed in the new light which has been
recently thrown upon the question. The
house OF the last congress passed a bill
which was not satisfactory TO itself, with
out discussion, and merely for the pur-
pose Of shunting the problem over to the
senate. The proposition will be temper
ately considered in all its phases, and
President Spencer will have full oppor-
tunity to elaborate upon his theory OF
lynch law. 1t may be predicted In adj
vance that President Roosevelt will be
satisfied with what he looks upon as
square deal for all sides to the contro-
versY
Omaha daily bee., 1905-10-18

Secretary Shaw is said to have been Of
fered the presidency Of a trust company.
There's something tangible In that.
II the author Of Everybody Works But
Father" makes $4,000 out OF his sons, as
predicted, Il is certainly the haul Of fame
Thomas Lowry, the Twin City traction
king, has purchased and presented to
Minneapolis the famous old Lincoln car
which was an Omaha relic until two years
ago.
Under the will Of the late Frank Harvey
Ceilley Of Boston a beduest OF $4,000 is left
to the Massachusetts Institute Of Tech
nology for the equipment and maintenance
of the proposed Walker memorial building
Of the institute.
William NJ. WINS, who has been nomi-
mated by the republicans for mayor of New
York, Is lawyer, author and publcist. Ho
is about IS years OF age. When william r.
Grace was mayor OF New York Mr. WINS
was his official secretary.
One OF the New York banks has adopted a
most stringent rule against the use OF in
toxicants by its employees. Every man in
the service of the bank has been required
to sign an agreement that he will not even
enter any place where intoxicants are sold
William Kingsley. who was born in Ire
land in 1888 and fought with Nelson at Ira
falgar, is now living at the age of 1922 near
Bloomfield, Mo. He fought in the Criulcan
war, assisted in the taking of Sebastopol
and in this country fought in the Mexican
and civil wars.
William Heating is saving his board and
$40 a day for ten days in the New York
county Jail. He was fined 500 in the court
of special sessions for running an auto
mobile at the rate of fifty miles an hour in
Riverside avenue. He had the option Of a
fine of 500 or ten days in Jail. He chose the
jail.
Omaha daily bee., 1905-10-18
COST OF LIVING.
Some Basis for Secretary Wilson's
Hope of Relief.
milwaukee, Sentinel

Milwaukee Sentinel.
Good old Secretary Wilson OF the De-
partment of Agriculture steps blithely to
the front to cheer US all up with a predic-
ton of a marked decrease in the cost of llv-
ing in the near future That is important,
II true. and here is about the way the sec
rotary figures it out. Grain, especially
corn, is the elementary form OF nearly all
our staple food commodities-meat, dairy
products, poultry, breadstuns, of course.
and dozens of other articles OF household
consumption In the great granary OF the
country, the middle west, there is a splen-
did all-round yield of grain, which means
an abundance, and hence a reduced cost OF
the multiform articles Of food into which
grain is directly or indirectly transmitted
Especially the enormous crop of corn, used
to feed and fatten cattle and poultry, and
the basic principle not only of meat but Of
eggs and dairy products should exercise
cheapening effect on food necessaries OF
life all along the line.
Corn is king in this direction and scarce
and dear corn means scarcity and dearness
OF about everything else. So with a bumper
corn crop we are fairly justified in expect
ing that agreeable decrease in the cost
of living which Secretary Wilson conf
IDENTIFY predicts. The secretary's deductions
are fair and philosophical; he is presumably
mighty careful this time about the correct
ness Of his crop statistics, and It is hoped
the pesky trusts will not manage through
some hocus pocus TO get between the people
and the bounty of nature indicated by the
/ figures Of the Department OF Agriculture
With an abundance Of the natural elements
Of all the food staples why should scarcity
pri-eS preyalI
Omaha daily bee., 1905-10-18

Taxpaying citizens of Douglas county
will note that nearly $500 has been
placed to their credit in twenty-one
months by County Treasurer Fink as
interest earned on current deposits Of
county funds, while under his demo
cratic predecessor the interest collec-
tons for four years amounted to less
than $1,750. AS a matter of fact, the
taxpayers of Douglas county have yet
to discover just who pocketed the in
terest money earned by the county de-
posits while they were handled by
County Treasurer Fink's democratic
predecessor.
Omaha daily bee., 1905-10-18

THAT part OF Manhattan island below
Fourteenth street has a weekday popula-
ton of at least 100000 in the rush hours"
says a correspondent of the Pittsburg Dis
patch. Between o'clock in the morning
and 6 at night It is crowded so uncom-
fortably that there is no living in the
quarter. One thousand bar rooms are do
ing a business that would scandalize be-
levers in temperate drinking and create a
condition of despair among advocates of
teetotalism and prohibition. The restau-
rants thrive the hat stores, the shoe shops,
the shirt infirmaries, the cigar deadfalls
and all the retail places of whatever de-
scription are simply little mints for the
receivers OF small change. At night-after
all is changed. A million OF the popula-
ton quit the quarter and go home to Har-
lem, to Jersey, upstate, uptown, and the
Lord knows where All is stu where
teeming multitudes waged their wars an
hour before The Waterman and the po-
licemen are the only ones left. One might
take off his clothes under the statue or
George Washington at the subtreasury
building in Broad street and walk through
the great financial district without scandal.
He would encounter only few dago
sweepers and an occasional somnolent po-
llceman. The streets OF the financial dis
trict are so still and the acoustics from
the high buildings so perfect that an or
binary voice carries a block. That is at
night. At noon one must shout into the
ear OF his fellow pedestrian to make him
self understood. There are not over two
good restaurants open on Manhattan island
below Fourteenth street after p. m. Even
the famous old Astor House is deserted
after that time. lot Of cheap beaneries
hold the watch for wayfarers and turn
up messes of beans and ham or fried eggs
in sufficient quantities to murder appe-
tites-to satisfy is out of the question. To
be below Fourteenth street at night is
worse than isolation. Better far to be in
Newark, N. j., or Painted Post, Kan. There
is nothing doing except along Park Row.
where 800 or so reporters and newspaper
workers make things a little lively on their
way uptown"
Omaha daily bee., 1905-10-18

The register of deeds law passed by
the last legislature as part of the bien-
NAL elections legislation has finally
gone up to the supreme court 1t is
only a question of time when every bill
of that series will have to have to have
the judicial stamp on it to tell whether
ii is good or no good.
Omaha daily bee., 1905-10-18

President McCurdy OF the Mutual
Life says that he believes the testimony
of officials before the investigating com
mittee should be taken IN private and
held confidential by the committee.
Under these circumstances members Of
the committee might find more profit If
less fame than they are now receiving.
Star chamber transactions are the par
ents OF graft.
Omaha daily bee., 1905-10-18
where Reform SHES.


Congressman Lands of Indiana, proposes
an investigation OF the government printing
once, with view TO stopping the printing
and distribution OF worthless publ
cations" but as next year will be devoted
TO congressional campaigns, when many
tons OF parts of congressional record" will
be sent out, the odds are against the sue
cess OF the scheme.
Omaha daily bee., 1905-10-18

Admiral Dewey says that to have a navy
which shall be efficient In the stress OF war,
there must be younger men 10 direct the
lighting aboard the ships than those now in
command. II is his opinion that the officers
above the rank OF lieutenant are too old for
the grades they occupy. The admiral is
getting TO be an old man and can make TO
marks OF this kind with better grace than
one Of the juniors.
Omaha daily bee., 1905-10-18
Old Hunks was paying his gas bill, which
THE CANDIDATE.
New York Sun.

New lOrK sun.
Blithely the candidate
Puffs his cigar,
Making each handy date;
Bright is his star!
Fame-why the fist Of her
Points at him straight.
Jimmy Christopher,
Isn't II great!
Mark with what fuency
Rolls his address.
Wise constituency
Likes It, ] guess.
After strong passages
Comes the glad newst
Acres of sausages,
Oceans OF booze.
Fame, with a toss OF her
Head. leads the way;
Barroom philosopher
Simply gets gay
Drinking the health OF him
Gladly mid cheers
Swiftly the wealth of him
Melts into beers.
Tickling his vanity
Innocent soul!
And with urbanity
TOUCHING" his roll"
Graft for the cityful,
Signing the check,
Every committee full
Up to the neck.
Henchmen say breezily
That he will win;
Then, oh, so easily,
Touch" him again.
Still though he's cheerily
Moving about,
Oft he asks YEARLY;
Will II pan out?
Omaha daily bee., 1905-10-18

By his answers to the investigation
committee President McCurdy seems to
make out that part of his $4,000 sal
airy is paid for not knowing certain
facts ut the proper time.
Omaha daily bee., 1905-10-18

What has become of Gathers, the ever
wakeful watchdog, while all this jug
Cling of municipal funds is being
planned to piece out an exhausted po-
lice fund in direct violation OF the char
ter provisions? Has the watchdog been
put 10 sleep?
Omaha daily bee., 1905-10-18
RUBBING on Ragged EDGES.

boslon transcript
A visitor returned from the Philippines
observes that most of the mistakes which
have been made are due to the Anglo-Saxon
failing of thinking our way the only way.
We are really lucky, then, 10 have got be-
yond that other racial failing of not think
ing at all
Omaha daily bee., 1905-10-18

Trust the democrats FOR unding way
TO crawl under the tent without an ad-
mission fee. County Clerk Drexel shut
the socialists out on the official ballot
because they refused to pay up, but he
now let's democratic nominee for
county commissioner come in without
putting up a cent.
Omaha daily bee., 1905-10-18

Now that the engineers nave returned
from the canal zone ambitious CORE
spondents can begin to tell of the diff
ferences between the members without
waiting to learn what plan any member
favnrs
Omaha daily bee., 1905-10-18

A new syndicate is Trying TO reor-
ganize and regenerate the stock yards at
Milwaukee, so as to put the Cream
City on the map again as a live stock
market Milwaukee is in the wrong
corner of the corn belt ever to catch up
with the live stock business at Omaha.
Omaha daily bee., 1905-10-18

With cabinet officers empowered to re-
move civil service employees for person
ally known cause, several voluntary res
ignations may be expected from under
lings who see the handwriting on the
wall
Omaha daily bee., 1905-10-18

The candidacy of Prince Charles of
Denmark for the throne of Norway
shows that the Danish royal employ
ment agency has not gone out of bust
ness
Omaha daily bee., 1905-10-18

The voters Of New York are to have an
opportunity at the November election to
record their wishes as to an immense
scheme for better public highways. The
question is whether or not the state OF
New York shall issue good roads bonds
to the amount Of t5O,0OOOOO. which is the
largest amount Of money that is proposed
anywhere for an Improvement Of this
nature.
Stated brihy, the plan is to give New
York with its 1900 miles Of roads sys-
tenn which at the end of ten years will
embrace 7,40O miles OF good trunk line
roads. at an outlay OF S,OOO.OOO a year.
As the law now stands the state pays
one-half the cost of road improvements
and the county or towns the other half.
The proposed bonds are to run through
period OF nifty years An expert on the
matter says: Reports from the different
parts OF the state indicate that the people
IN the rural districts are almost unani-
nous in their approval of the bond issue.
The oranges have taken the matter up
with earnestness, and many have passed
resolutions in favor of II. The greatest
danger is in the fact that voters in the
larger cities will either not understand or
appreciate the value OF the measure to
them"
Omaha daily bee., 1905-10-18
LAND FRAUD PROSECUTIONS.

LAND fhA ~ fhbDECC HUNS
The zeal with which the federal au-
thorities ere carrying on the land fraud
prosecutions cannot lie too warmly com
mended. A few days ago the United
States court at Portland sentenced three
persons, one Of them Congressman VIII
hanson. to fine and Imprisonment, and
there is every reason TO expect that an
other Oregon congressman, Hermann,
will be convicted and perhaps subjected
to a heavier punishment, as his case is
In some respects the most aggra waited Of
them all. Not only is he charged with
making improper use of the office of
federal commissioner of the general land
office, but when the secretary of the in
terror allowed him to remain for time
it is charged that he destroyed letter
press copybOoks, alleged TO have CON
tanned proof of his land transactions,
He is under indictment in Washington
on the charge of destroying government
records, as well as in Oregon for COM
plicity with the land fraud there. II is
stated that Interior and Department OF
Justice officials have from the beginning
been more confident Of the conviction of
Hermann, in the land fraud prosecution,
than Of either Senator Mitchell or Rep
resentative Williamson.
The course pursued in Oregon has
been followed in the state of Washing
ton, where six cases have just been filed
I'm the federal court at Tacoma TO re-
cover TO the government title to lands in
Washington, Oregon and California, out
/ Of which the government is alleES5 -
Omaha daily bee., 1905-10-18

After his escapade ut Ilollo Lieuten-
ant Burbank was more fortunate than
Major Taggert In that his divorce suit
escaped trial in Ohio.
Omaha daily bee., 1905-10-18
Can't AFFORD 20 Lose Him.
DrnplrIpVa Tyapla

Pat Grove has stolen and blackmailed
enough 10 hire the best legal talent. but we
have an idea that they are so fond OF him in
Nebraska that they will keep him there for
many years and will not charge him a cent
for his keep, either.
Omaha daily bee., 1905-10-18

A $1,000 bond has been prescribed
for an outlaw charged with stealing
$4,000. 1t is needless TO say that this
distorted perspective of crime comes
from County Judge VinsOnhaler's court.
Omaha daily bee., 1905-10-18

The proht TO be realized by Japan
from the tobacco monopoly is figured at
$16,OOO,0O0 for the year. An ant-cigar-
cite crusade in Japan would doubtless
BIO considered treason.
Omaha daily bee., 1905-10-18

The local bryanite organ has discOv-
cred that there is lively municipal
campaign on I'm New York City, and
though 1t is not sure whether democrats
should line up behind Hearst or behind
Mcclellan. IT is ready TO throw up its
hat over a great democratic victory, no
matter which wins.
Omaha daily bee., 1905-10-18

Morocco Will probably nnd that the
international conference comes too late
to do any good unless those captive
British officers are returned in short
order
Omaha daily bee., 1905-10-18

Kansas CITY has the advantage of
pulling of its horse show Immediately
after Omaha's with the styles that
make hit already set for it.