davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Omaha daily bee., 1906-12-20

cutions appeal. The failure Of con-
gress in the previous session and so
far in the present one may thus be
decisive OF the issue
Though the government hopes for a
favorable ruling. the public will not
fail to be profoundly impressed by a
contrary result with the fact that the
Oil trust has placed its chief reliance
for escape from justice upon the
merest technicality, which has no
legitimate bearing whatever upon the
question OF actual guilt. It will not
in such contingency pass unheeded
that q trivial technical flaw in the
manner of passing the law, either in
fact or in the imagination of a trial
judge, should at one fell swoop be con-
strued to wipe out the whole criminal
past Of renowned corporation offend
ers, although the paramount purpose
of congress was exactly the reverse.
II anything we're needed to bring on a
day of reckoning such a colossal fiasco
would supply It.
Omaha daily bee., 1906-12-20
THE STANDARD OIL pRosEcUrl

THE STANDARD OIL PROSECUTIONS.
The government does not attempt
to conceal its anxiety over the point
interposed by attorneys on behalf of
the Standard OIL company in the Grim
inal prosecutions for rebate violations,
for, If sustained by the federal court,
it would cut the ground from under
the cases and also from under prose
cution of Standard Oil or any other
offender for violations committed be-
fore the new rate law went into effect
and which was not pending in court
at that time. AS no prosecutions were
then pending against the Standard Oil
and very few against other corpora
tons of like character, the issue is
vital so far as the penal sanctions of
the old law are concerned.
The point Is one of abstruse and
purely technical construction and
grows out of clause in the new rate
law obviously intended solely to pre-
vent embarrassment to the govern
| AASAb III ANbANo prosecutions actually
| pending in court at the time of the
enactment of the new law, it's pur-
pose being to strengthen IT and by no
means to repeal the old law touching
all past offenses, like those of the
Standard Oil, for which prosecutions
had not yet been instituted. But by
reason Of unavoidable circumstances
in signing the act, in connection with
certain decisions of the supreme court,
a basis was laid on which the defense
has constructed a strong appeal for a
ruling that would have this sweeping
result.
A serious phase of the matter is
precisely the one which proved fatal
to the government in the famous Beef
trust cases, namely. hat the govern.
meht would have no appeal II the
lower court holds for the Standard Oh
! contention, although the decision
might in fact be error and might be
50 found by the supreme ,Surt II the
point could be reviewed GA the prose
Omaha daily bee., 1906-12-20
STATE UNIVERSITY FINANCES.

The Official estimate OF the regents
Of the state university for appropria-
lions at the hands Of the coming Leg
islature recently made public proves
upon analysis to be a carefully juggled
exhibit. evidently designed to conceal
important sources Of university rev
enue with a view to procuring In
creased state appropriations. The UNI
lversity estimate, for example, leaves
out of account altogether the money
which the university receives from the
federal government out of the Hatch
and Morrill, funds. 1t also leaves out
of account the cash funds, made up
of matriculation and other student
fees, which during the last biennium
amounted to over 100000, and will
doubtless exceed that sum during the
next two years. It also leaves out OF
consideration a number of smaller spe-
cial appropriations which are really
absorbed by the university, such as
those for farmers Institutes, expert
ment station work, state historical
library, etc.
1t is incomprehensible why the uni
versity regents should not be perfectly
frank with the legislature and the tax
payers as to the university finances.
There is no disposition anywhere to
cripple the university or to hamper its
operations, so far as they respond to
legitimate demand, but there is a wide
spread and growing sentiment in favor
of complete publicity Of all university
transactions, financial as we'll as
others The university appropriations
have been increased in the last few
years by leaps and bounds until they
amount to q colossal sum, and with
the other sources of revenue make the
university expenditures equal almost
to all the other expenditures of state
government.
The taxpayers certainly have q
right to insist that all this money
shall pass through the state treasury
end be drawn out pursuant to specific
legislative appropriation upon war
rants, safeguarded the same as for
other appropriations The university
ought to be able not only to pay cur.
rent expenses, but to erect its new
buildings from time to time with ever
less than the mill levy which it has
been receiving. The increase of the
basis of assessment has increased the
value of the university levy tremen
dously To ask for additional ap
preparations for the university out o.
money raised by general taxation /!
going 1t decidedly strong.
Omaha daily bee., 1906-12-20

plus, and thus to take money out Of the
ordinary channels Of trade Plainly. there
fore, the first thing to do is to reduce some
Of the present taxes and to abolish
others, and then look to these new taxes,
both of which are just and fair, to make
good the deficiency A needless tax Is as
bad as an unjust tax. We ought to be able
to show. not only that an income tax is
fair-which is easy to debut that 1t Is
necessity. 1t will be impossible TO make
much Roadway while the government has
more money than it can use. The people
will ask why there should be any new taxes
while the government has a large surplus.
And the question can not be answered.
Omaha daily bee., 1906-12-20

Mr.. Hartman has pastered his estate
with Keep on" signs. AS he aims to own
the whole country, this exclusive spirit
may he embarrassing in time.
William Z. sandersOn, tho new republican
mayor OF Springfield, Mass, is a boss"
in the yards Of the wason company, car
manufacturers, and has worked for day
wages all his life.
The New Orleans Picayune loving cup
an annual award to the citizen who has
done the most meritorious service for the
city of New Orleans in the preceding
year. was presented to Charles Janvler
last week.
Every man who could present at the
box office certificate from his wife that
ne had never told her lie was to be
presented with free seat at fret per-
Torrance in a New York theater. The
house was crowded and every seat was
paid for. 'Nuff sed.
Representative Malcolm r.. Patterson Of
Tennessee, who was last month elected
governor OF his state, has resigned as
member of the house, in which capacity
he gave his state little service. He was
absent all of the last session, conducting
his campaign, and has actually served only
about two weeks of his present term in
the house.
Closely following President ROOSEVELT
advocacy 'of honest criticism of judges
comes the Bar association Of Allegheny
county, Pennsylvania, with the public dec
laration that the judges of that section
are lazy-positively and irredeemably lazy.
In formulating the charge the lawyers dis
creetly omitted the customary salutatlon,
May It please the court
The new president of Bolivia Colonel
Ismael Monies, is a young, progressive,
energetic, patriotic man and takes an en-
thusiastic interest in enterprises that are
now inaugurated for the development OF
| the country. HIS father was one OF the
! ablest generals Of Bolivia, and he himself
has quite a record as a soldier. Before
entering politics several years ago he prac-
ticed law.
Omaha daily bee., 1906-12-20
SIGNS OF THE TIMES,

Christmas is comm How do I know III
EY'rything round me seems fer to show II;
Ma goes a shoppn' most ev'ry day.
Gets lots NV barBunsi gee, | should sayl
Packages large an packages small,
Seems they keep comm an don't stop at
all.
Sister Is sweet to her on riest beau,
Says he's dear, but we know IL amt so;
Mas takin lessons In holdin' her tongue,
Pa steps 20 jaunty an tries TO look young;
Brother Ted gave his old skates to the
That's a dead cinch he is schemin' fer
more.
Fv'ry one works, even father these days;
Long about Chrlsmus we find that II pays;
Mary Iavlna, while don the dishes,
Stops 10 write down on paper her wishes;
An l-if Chrismus don't como purity soon,
I'll expand with hot air like circus
balloon.
Now. ma, can't get you a bucket Of cdalf
Is the wash boiler leakin? Let me fix the
An; dear Auntle May, can't mail that
letter.
Well grandma, how are YOU, hope YOU
feel better;
Say father can't help you saw up that
I simply can't stand tim gettin' so good.
Chrismus Is comn'-how do / know it7
Ev'rythinS round me seems fer to show u;
II it doesn't make haste III go up purity
soon.
Fer Tn filled with hot air, like a circus
BAYOLL NE TRELE.
Omaha. December, 1906.
Omaha daily bee., 1906-12-20
THE LIFE INSURANCE STRUGGLE.

THE LIFE INSURANCE STRUGGLE
The struggle for control of the New
York Life and the Mutual Life Insur-
ance company under the new law pro-
viding for election of directors by the
policy holders has been the most ex-
traordinary in the history of the great
life insurance companies. Two par
ties, representing the old management
on the one hand and interests striv-
ing to Gust It on the other, have in
their canvass for the votes Of the
policy holders maintained organiza-
tons which confessedly required ex-
penditure of huge sums of money
which policy holders themselves GER
tainly did not furnish. 1t has been
widely surmised that in the back
ground were powerful antagonistic
financial interests, apart from the
legitimate purposes Of life insurance,
contending for mastery over the vast
trust funds and resources, although the
ostensible representatives of both par
ties have vehemently protested that
such was not the case.
The contest has been waged with
such intense bitterness that a declara-
ton of the majority of the policy
holders, no matter for which side,
seems now not likely to end 1t, since
both have laid foundation for contest
and continuing the struggle in other
ways, and It is believed by competent
observers that fresh Investigations
judicial and legislative, are to follow,
/ The essence of the whole effort for
| reform in the big life insurance COM
panies has been to prevent abuse Of
their trust funds, and it was for this
purpose that the law was passed pro-
/ viding safeguards for election of di-
rectors by the policy holders, to whom
those funds belong, and in whose In
terest alone they should be admins
tered. 1t is therefore a disappointing
and unpleasant impression that has
been created of dominant interpositior
by other interests hostile to stock.
holders in the very first election held
under the reform law. 1t is, however
absolutely certain that public senti
ment has reached a point at which
perversion Of these great trust funds
to the behests of high finance" after
the manner exposed in the Armstrong
investigation will not be tolerated, and
such result, If it has happened il
the election, will be only a signal fol
more drastic remedial measures.
Omaha daily bee., 1906-12-20
Inheritance Tax Laws.


About half the states of the union have
inheritance tax laws so the federal census
bureau finds, but only half dozen of them
extend the tax to direct inheritances and
then at a very moderate rate. Neverthe-
less these taxes are now sufficient to yield
100000 or more Of revenue. It would
not be rash to conclude from this that II
these taxes were extended to all the states
and graduated to the extent suggested in
the Perkins bill before congress, an ag-
gregate yearly revenue Of s1OO,OOO.OOO or 50
would result. But calculations Of this ma
ture, however much they may excite the
cupidity Of the national government, will
also the more strongly array the several
states in opposition to a surrender Of the
tax to the WASHINGTON authority
Omaha daily bee., 1906-12-20
INCOME TAX TALK.
Some Powerful Supporters of the
Proposition Heard From.
Indiana polls News.

Indianapolis News.
The income tax 10 finding soma powerful
friends. Adolf Busch, the St. Louis mill
lonaire. is out In an interview favorng
It, and he makes a strong argument. He
thinks that we ought to reduce the tariff,
and, though the income tax, make the
rich pay their proper share of the cost
Of administering the government ANY
man." lie says, with money should b,
ashamed to oppose such reason BILE and
just obligation" The whole stunt, on
would, in his opinion greatly improve If
the masses were convinced that the
moneyed interests were not evading a
single debt they owed TO their govern
ment."
We think that the income tax is emil
nently fair, and that until one is imposed
the rich will not pay their proper pro-
portion Ct. the taxes. Federal taxes are
practically all On consumption And the
poor man with a family pays vastly more
into the treasury than is paid by a
wealthy bachelor. Men are taxed on their
needs rather than on their property, And
this, OF course, Is most unfair. Taxation
should have some reference TO the ability
Of men TO pay. We do not favor the tax
ing OF a man simply because he Is rich,
But neither do we favor discrimination In
favor of the rich such as we now have.
But there Is one point that has been
overlooked, and that is the needs q the
treasury. Taxation ought to be simply
for the purpose CT Rising revenue for
the support of the government. At the
present time the government needs no moro
revenue. SO there Is nc proper or scientific
basis for any new taxes. To impose an in
core and an Inheritance tax AZ the present
time would be simply to Increase the sur
Omaha daily bee., 1906-12-20

Out of some $2S,OUO belonging to
the members of the Third Nebraska
regiment collected from the federal
government, a legal intermediary who
acted as claim agent will pocket
5000 as his alleged commission
This is an outrage upon the patriotic
volunteers who enlisted in this regi-
ment Nebraska maintains two sen,
ators and six representatives at Wash.
ington drawing regular salaries, who
ought to be able TO collect all the
money due the state of Nebraska with.
out hiring outside assistants.
Omaha daily bee., 1906-12-20
uNDERPAID POsTOFFIcB CLERKS
Faithful Servants Entitled to -
square Deal.
Minneapolis Journal.

square Deal.
Minneapolis Journal.
The postofice clerk Is not getting square
deal. After he has prepared himself for a
civil service examination and has secured
his appointment, he usually commences
work as a substitute with the p, ospect Of
ocI asional though not regular employment.
Even when he gets a regular position, he
begins at a salary of $500 year. Advances
in pay of slOO year are made but do not
come regularly. A postal clerk may work
several years at $500 without an increase
or he may have an increase annually until
his wages amount to 3l,cC0 or N.lOJ year.
There is no certainty or regularity, no y-
ever about the increase and comparatively
few reach the 81 900 or Sl,lCO figure. A great
majority receive $50 or less ard the ad-
vance to 500 or more only comes aft sr
years Of service and when the clerks have
become advanced in years and often have
several persons dependent upon them for
their living
That this is very meager compensation
fer skilled work and years Of exLeriencs
will he conceded and the injustice and
hardship which il involves are made the
moro conspicuous by the fact that there has
been practically no increase In the wages
OF the 2ostoflce clerks for twenty yea
The present period Of high prices and great
ly increased eNperse FOR all the necessities
OF life finds the postal clerk no better pre-
pared 10 meet them than he was tweaty
years ago
The result II this policy is 10 deprive the
government Of many OF its most eSGcien'
men In the postal service. They can't n I'd
to work for Uncle sam" because he Is no;
willing 20 pay them nearly as much as they
can get In outside positions
Omaha daily bee., 1906-12-20
FAMOUS IN NAVAL ANNALS.
Death of the Builder of the COnfedeF-
ate IrOnclnd Merrimac.
Springfield Republican


Springfield Republican.
The maker of the celebrated confederate
ironclad Merrimac Colonel John Mercer
Brooke, has just df6d at Lexington, Va,
q years after he and Ericsson revolution
ICED naval warfare. Brooke had been a
young ofleer in the United States navy
when the civil war began, and was noted
for his ingenuity. Following Virginia, his
native state, out OF the union he imme-
diately devoted himself to devising a new
type of iTonclad warship for the con-
federacy. France and England had al
ready produced ironclads, but they were
simply old-fashoned steam frigates
sheathed over with iron. Brooke in his
design cut away the high free board and
masts and introduced the novel ironclad
steam ram. 1t was a wonderful success,
as the Merrimac's easy destruction of the
wooden squadron Of the federals at Hamp-
ton Roads fully demonstrated. Only the
sudden appearance OF the unique iron lad
Monitor, designed and built by Ericsson at
the same time that Brooke was working,
checked the Merrimac's conquering course.
Colonel Brooke has never received, perhaps,
enough credit for his performance IN Tro-
ducng that crude ironclad, considering It
merely I'm It's relation to the development
Of naval warfare.
Omaha daily bee., 1906-12-20

Congressman Norris ventures the
opinion that there is no difference be-
tween any OF the Nebraska senators
or representatives as to the principle
of dividing Nebraska into two federal
judicial districts so as 70 provide more
jobs for another set of court officers.
If Judge Norris is correct, the more's
the pity, for there is about as much
need of the Burkett bill as there Is
for a nth wheel to a wagon.
Omaha daily bee., 1906-12-20

% If the railroad lawyers thought they
were playing a smart trick by select
ing for argument of the railway tax
cases the same day on which the Ne
braska legislature will ballot for
United States senator with view to
embarrassing Attorney General
Brown, they will doubtless find that
they have fooled themselves again.
No member of the legislature, who
would take advantage of Mr.. Brown s
absence to repudiate the state con-
vention nomination and the popular
instruction at the polls, would stand
hitched any tighter If Mr.. Brown were
on the ground.
Omaha daily bee., 1906-12-20

According to figures compiled by
the state auditor, the state paid during
me last two years interest amounting
toN S1SO,22S on its warrant indebted
nes5s. This represents, q per cent, a
constant floating debt OF nearly
S2 100000. II is interesting to motto
that the state constitution sets $780,
600 as the lint % which the state can
borrow, In time VI peace
Omaha daily bee., 1906-12-20
Amazing Losses br Fire.

st. Louis Globe-Democrat.
In the last Ave years the United States
has been more than a blllion-dollar coun-
try In CONGREGATIONS. The largest items
were 1892, 1900 in San Francisco in April.
last, and 100000 in Baltimore in Febru-
airy, 1904 billion dollars, according to
the engineers estimate, would build FIVE
Panama canals Most OF the fire loss in
this country could be prevented II the
people would insist on reforms in building
and inspection.
Omaha daily bee., 1906-12-20

Now that famine stalks in China,
those legation guards at Picking should
polish their swords, as the hungry
man is always dangerous, even in the
Flowery kingdom.
Omaha daily bee., 1906-12-20
KNOCKS for the a.Ynhno.n

san FRANCISCO Chronicle.
The United States expends on an average
for military purposes nearly s9OO 100000 an.
nually. If there is opposition to disburs-
ing so large an amount for the mainte-
nance Of our army and navy, it receives
scant attention, but when It IL proposed
to spend $5o,OOO,OO0 or $50,OOO,OOO a year on
the Improvement Of our rivers and harbors
every "yahoo" in the country begins to
denounce the extravaganza Of congress.
Omaha daily bee., 1906-12-20
Smile That wouIdn't Come on.

At the recent Gridiron club dinner In
Washington E. ii. Hartman and Stuy-
vesant Fish were compelled TO face each
other while Jocular remarks were made
b. the other guests concerning the recent
contest for control OF the Illinois Central
Il Is said that Mr.. Hartman smiled Ike
the Cheshire cat
Omaha daily bee., 1906-12-20

from lists made up by the councilmen,
It ought not to be hard to locate the
responsibility for this state Of affairs
II 1t exists. Why not have a few able
bodied, vigorous men employed on the
street force who can give full value
for money received?
Omaha daily bee., 1906-12-20

japanese remembrance of the Maine
does not show that high regard for
the United States with which the in
sular kingdom has been credited.
'Twould be better for all concerned II
they would think only of the Yankee
who lifted the lid" a generation ago,
Omaha daily bee., 1906-12-20
A True blue.

bpIlnBleiu ttepuDuCan.
Secretary Bonaparte's antitrust views
came late in life, no doubt, or since the
year 1922 but he is now true blue and can
be depended upon as an attorney general.
The president would never put into that
office man who had cold feet, when the
corporations were mentioned.
Omaha daily bee., 1906-12-20

omaha's prospects for 1907 building
operations are said to be as good, II
not beSer than at any previous years
cad. AS long as our business and
population continue to increase we
will have. to have more buildings with
which to accommodate the increasing
demand.
Omaha daily bee., 1906-12-20

When enough cars shall have been
found, the real problem will be to get
men to operate them, as the shortage
Of experienced trainmen remains un-
broken.
Omaha daily bee., 1906-12-20

Jim Hill should have no trouble
in proving that there is no water in
his proposed issue of Great Northern
stock since the showing must be made
in Minnesota, where all water is now
ice
Omaha daily bee., 1906-12-20

Thirteen is again an unlucky num-
ber-this time for the bakers dozen
of creditors who have to look to Count
Boni de Castellane for their money.
Omaha daily bee., 1906-12-20

With diplomats demanding the with
drawsI OF Raisouli and Raisouli de-
handing the withdrawal of the war
ships. the sultan OF Morocco seems
called upon to decide between bonn
bardment or revolution. with chances
IN favor of both.
Omaha daily bee., 1906-12-20

With estimated gross receipts of
about $1,OOO,OOO from Rosebud lands
and net receipts of about 100000,
the Indians are liable to consider Uncle
Sam an expensive collection agency.
Omaha daily bee., 1906-12-20

The charge is made by one of our
democratic city cOuncilmen that the
men on the street force are simply
lettering and receiving even more pay
than their work iustiaes. InAsmuch
as ali of the city men are selected
Omaha daily bee., 1906-12-20

The new Office of gas commissioner
which the democratic city council pro-
poses to establish is to be maintained
on strictly civil service lines" We
are sure, however, that we violate no
confidence I'm announcing that none
but democrats need apply
Omaha daily bee., 1906-12-20

Now that congress knows all that the
president knows about the San Fran
cisco school AFFAIR and the Browns
vile incident, the public will be inter
ested in seeing its suggestions for i'm
movement.
Omaha daily bee., 1906-12-20
where silence ~ BeoomIpR.

bTVV VI EHBIt
THE Chief JL-tce of Pennsylvania"
could better have reEied to Elihu Roots
plea for national supremacy, had Penn
sylvania been one of the states in which
commonwealth and local government had
been indicated by its results. Pennsyl-
Vania has not furnished, and is not ITSELF
such a vindication
Omaha daily bee., 1906-12-20

The report of the Interstate Com
merce commission shows that no divi-
dends have been passed because of any
effort to provide for the safety of pas
songers and employees.
Omaha daily bee., 1906-12-20

The showing Colonel Chamberlain
makes for the sale of beer in homes
for disabled veterans will probably be
the signal for a demand that the
beer halls must go"
Omaha daily bee., 1906-12-20

The discovery that rubber can be
made from wheat was doubtless made
by the patron of factory where pies
are made by machinery.
Omaha daily bee., 1906-12-20

1t transpifes that the unwritten
law" is not a recognized defense in
murder cases as they are tried in the
courts Of this vicinity.
Omaha daily bee., 1906-12-20

In compelling Governor Folk to sue
for his salary, st. Louis apparently
regrets the reputation the attorney
gave the town.