davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Omaha daily bee., 1909-03-01
Far Over the Billion.

Apparently the billion-dollar con-
gress has become a fixture. The APP
preparations for 1908 amounted to
over 1,O0S, 900, 900 and the money
carrying bills that have been passed or
shaped for passage before congress
~adjourns next Thursday will bring the
total appropriations for next year up
to about 5000, O0O, 900, or about
$32, OOO, 900 in excess Of those of last
year. This action has been taken by
congress in face of the knowledge of
a deficit SO large that it has eliminated
the issue of protection from tariff re-
vision and has rendered the Dingley
bill a revenue bill instead of a pro-
lection measure, Inc in face of the
further fact that the country is APP
p~arently faced with the necessity of
resorting to bond issues to maintain
the government in times of peace.
The army appropriations for the
next year will exceed those of 1908
by about $1,000, 900, the navy by
$14, 200, 900, the rivers and harbors
bill by $40, 200, 600 and the sundry
civil bill of about $4,000, 900, and
these increases have been Offset by de-
creases in only a few of the depart
ments. None of these increases nave
been fought, and there has been prac-
tically no charge that the government
has ben extravagant. The congress
has been going on the theory that the
expenditures are necessary for the
conduct of the governments business
and the development of federal enter
prise in various directions, and so long
as the country has failed to protest
the members of congress have not
deemed 1t necessary to take the initia-
tive in pairing down appropriations.
The result of this iberality by con-
gress but serves to emphasize the Sc
riousness of the problem with which
the Taft administration will have to
deal in raising to meet the
great and growing expenses of gov
eminent. The treasury surplus, now
about 800, 600, 900, will be nearly, If
not entirely wiped out at the end of
the present fiscal veal in June, and
there is little prospect that the in
crease in customs and internal reve-
nues will be sufficient to produce reve-
nue. to meet the obligations already
contracted by congress for the next
fiscal year. It will be necessary to
create new sources of income, either
by levying stamp taxes or making
some provision for taking care of fixed
expenses by bond issues. The real big
task &, the new administration will
be to evolve workable plans of fiscal
legislation and put them into law as
! promptly as possible.
Omaha daily bee., 1909-03-01
PERSONAL T

Another of New York's crooked lawyers
has been caught with the goods on and
sent over the road for a year.
One estimate OF the total cost of the
fleets cruise around the world comes from
the Boston Transcript, which says 10000. 600.
A Milwaukee Judge holds that fourteen
inches behind and nine inches in front il
too high for a woman to hold her skirts
on a wet crossing. What the correct height
is the court declined to say.
John v. B. Hatfield. thirty years ago
known from the Atlantic to the Pacific as
one Of the greatest base ball players of
the day, died of heart failure In Long
Island City. He played ball in the days of
the old Eckfords and the Mutuals, but
enthusiasts OF the present generation know
him chiefly as the man with the record
for long-distance throwing. He was 81
years old.
The London postoffice accepted two suf-
fragettes addressed to the premier's resi-
dence, prepaid, and promptly dispatched
the two women In the care OF a telegraph
messenger. Mr.. Asquith's servants refused
TO accept delivery of two women as mail
matter. and the police quickly cleared the
women out OF Downing street. Now the
question between the postoffice and the
police is In regard to the liability for two
packages lost in the mails:
Omaha daily bee., 1909-03-01
Really Funny.

1t 10 really funny to see how the
twin organs of the Water board are
squirming over the recent water works
developments brought about by the
popular demand for legislation vesting
authority somewhere to formulate a
compromise proposition for submission
to the people and by the resolution of
the Water board asking that $6,5OO,-
900 Of bonds be voted to enable 1t to
complete the purchase at the apprais-
ers' price Of $6.263,295.49. On one
side there is a boost for the bonds and
on the other q howl of protest against
giving the Water board the tremen-
dous power to negotiate a settlement
of differences. If the Water board is
not to be trusted to deal with the own
ers of the water works subject to pop
ular veto, how can it be trusted to
handle $4,000 900 of real money and
manage a water plant with an annual
income and outgo of several hundred
thousand dollars?
It is also really funny that anyone
should assume that the owners of the
water works would object to the vot-
ing Of the S6,500,000 Of bonds. If
the present owners should hesitate to
turn over the water plant to the city
in exchange for s6.263 .2s6.4s in cur
rent coin, the unanimous verdict would
be that they were crazy and no one
has accused them Of being anything
but shrewd and calculating business
men. We have no doubt that the
owners OF the water works would con-
tribute literally to a pot to carry the
$500, 600 bonds. If 1t insured them
getting s6,263, 2s5.4s of 1t, much more
gladly than they are now paying out
big lawyers fees to try to force the
city to take the property at that price
by court judgment.
1t is true that Somebody. some in
terest," is behind the movement to get
the water works litigation adjusted on
some reasonable basis. The some
body, rome interest" is the great body
OF Omaha's t~ax-paying citizens, who
are tired beyond patience OF the bun
gle of immediate compulsory" pur-
chase. the waste OF over $500, 900 of
their money by the Water board. with
nothing to show for 1t, and the obsta-
Gle to Omaha's growth from inability
to get needed extensions and improve
ments pending the water works litiga-
ton
Omaha daily bee., 1909-03-01
Making Sailors by Law.

The revived ship subsidy bill, which
its promoters insist has a splendid
chance Of passing before the end OF
the present session Of congress, is in
some respects about as pretty a piece
of humor as has been committed to
writing in many a day. 1t places all
kinds of restrictions upon the manner
in which ships shall be built, what
they may carry and how they shall
be operated, in violation of all laws
of trade and competition, and then
makes rules for the composition Of
the crews that are nothing short OF
ridiculous.
The bill provides that one-half of
the crews shall be Americans and that
one American boy must be carried as
an apprentice for each 1000 tons of
the ships register. This is a PROPOSE
ton to revolutionize the shipping
Omaha daily bee., 1909-03-01
The Postal Savings Jurple.

The postal savings bank bill as
amended by the senate committee On
p~ostohices and post roads fortunately
has no chance of being passed at the
present session Of congress, and
should not be passed at any time. The
amended measure has beer framed to
meet the wishes of the big banks of
New York and the east, and is in di-
rect conflict with all of the original
plans and ideas embodied in the meas
ure.
The new bill makes IL possible to
take all the deposits from postal saw
ing banks throughout the country and
place them in the United States treas
ury at Washington, and from that
point either redeposit them in such
banks as may be selected or invest
them in a wide range of corporation
securities. The bill creates a Board
of Control to be composed Of the sec
rotary Of the treasury, the attorney
general, the postmaster general and
two members to be appointed by the
president. This board is to have dis
cretionary power over the investment
by the government of the funds in
postal savings banks. The amended
bill is said to have the endorsement
Of Senator Aldrich and the approval
OF the financial interests in New York.
The original bill provided that the
government should pay 2 per cent in
terest to depositors in postal banks
and authorized the postmaster general
to ~redeposit the money at IA per
cent interest in the national banks
nearest the p~ostoflce where ii was
taken in. If no national bank was
willing to pay the interest required,
the postal authorities we're authorized
to invest the deposits in municipal,
county or state bonds. The purpose
OF this provision was to keep the
money in the districts in which it was
deposited and in circulation through
the regular banking channels, the gov
eminent credit being pledged to the
payment Of the deposits as called for
by the owners
The amended measure is n of the
most dangerous financial propositions
that has been offered. The country
has seer Wall street drain the money
from all sections through the national
banks, and the Aldrich scheme would
operate as an additional drain to take
the savings OF the small property own
ers and wage earners and convey them
to the Golfers of the Wall street
ipulators. 1t is unfortunate that the
controversy over the disposition of
the funds should delay the establish
ment of the s~orely-needed postal de-
pository system. but it were better to
have the legislation killed than to pass
II in the plan proposed in the new SEN
ate substitute.
Omaha daily bee., 1909-03-01

business and the habits and tastes Of
Americans by legislation. The crews
of the merchant marine OF the world
are not Americans, and It would be
decidedly interesting to see how con-
gress could enforce it's provision in
that respect II the American boys
should decide that they did not want
to 90 to sea. Men can not be forced
to follow occupations that they do not
want to- follow and a home-lovlng peo-
pie can not be changed to a sea-faring
nation by ship subsidy laws.
Omaha daily bee., 1909-03-01
HoOsier Hide Nailed Up.

Louisville Courter-Journal.
Poor Hemenway of indian not only
must leave the United States senate, but
he must have his skin securely nailed to
the door of the White House. The presi-
dent most dextsrously and thoroughly per-
formed that job In his letter to Senator
Hale attacking the report made by Senator
Hemenway in support of the limitation of
the secret service, against the presidents
recommendation. And in taking the pelt of
the Indianian our Mighty Hunter at the
same time took thai of many another OF
the Indianian's colleagues in both branches
of congress.
Omaha daily bee., 1909-03-01
THE NEWsBOY.

Henry NJ. Hoyt in Appleton's s.
Unmoved, among the motley of the market
place he stands,
With the deeds OF divers races I'm his lttle
gTimy hands:
Round the press of %thronging thousands, In
the thick OF straining strife.
He will cry for a copper all the traf-
feelings of life.
Though you hail from sunset Islands grit
by seas OF jeweled foam.
He can cheer you ON your journey with a
greeting from your home;
Though your heart Is linked by memories
to the countries OF the morn,
He can barter you a message from the land
where you were born.
Through the strident stress OF noontide,
through the blazing bloom of night,
Down the slow, slack hours of morning,
ere the coming of the light,
In the times Of JOY and laughter In the
darkest days Of dearth,
He can give you bravo adventures from
the faTthest ends Of earth.
At the portals Of the city. at the gate
ways OF the sea. /
Where the ringing wheels of commerce.
shout their sounding symphony.
Where the flags of every nation are 1.
all the winds unfuTled,
He viii sell you for a penny all the ro-I
nance Of the world !
Omaha daily bee., 1909-03-01
HERO OF A BANK FAILURE.
MissOnrian Recoupa DepOsitOrs for
Losses Due to His Neglect.

Nh h88Ou u I'm ~
Losses Due to His Neglect.
There is an enormous amount OF heroism
In this world which is never heard of.
The captain who went down with his ship
the other day was in ~everybody's mind.
Many other captains do brave things that
are not noticed. Something has occurred
recently In private life In Missouri which
shows real heroism and ought to be 80 rec
ognized.
The National Exchange bank OF Spring
field, Mo-, was wrecked by mismanage-
ment. It was closed by the comptroller.
Its president was L. s. Meyer, a Spring
field miller, who did not give personal at
tention to the bank. AS soon as the fall
ure occurred Mr.. Meyer did give attention
to the bank and. after only a short delay.
came forth with the money to pay all de-
p~ositors and open a new bank In the place
of the old one. The loss to be sustained by
him and his immediate associates who fur
nished the new money will probably be not
less than $4,000.
It Is safe to say that Mr.. Meyer will give
the new bank which he has established.
the Merchants National, the closest posi-
BILE scrutiny, and It is safe to say that the
depositors Of the old bank who rave been
so splendidly protected by Mr.. Meyer, will
take pains to make a practical demonstra-
ton of their confidence in him hereafter. 1t
lie understood that Mr.. John F. Meyer OF
st. Louis stood with Mr.. L. s. Meyer In
producing the new money. We congratu-
late these gentlemen and the banking pro-
fessIon generally, and Springfield in par
ticular on the happy outcome OF this affair.
kansas City Journal.
Omaha daily bee., 1909-03-01

The head of Lincoln on the new cent
piece which is to be minted by the gov
m is the result of loving study OF
Lincoln's life and features by a gifted
New York artist whose designs of this
kind. for medals and coins. have given
him an international reputation. Not
many years ago he was a Russian, long
ing for life in the free republic. Some
of the finest studies of Lincoln, p~oetical
and plastic, that have recently been made
have been the product Of men from the
newer races now settling in this country.
Omaha daily bee., 1909-03-01
tights of Trusts.

Ptttsburg Chronicle-Telegraph.
The impression that, under the recent
ruling OF the federal supreme court. debts
due to a trust are not collectable. is cor.
rected in a supplementary statement by the
court. which sets forth that the debts to
which its ruling referred are simply such
as are incurred as part OF an illegal con-
tract. This explanation disposes of an
Illusion which reflected by no means IA
vorably upon the judiciary. While the
trusts are unpopular, It is manifest that as
long as they are tolerated by law any rul-
ing that would divest them Of the normal
rights enjoyed by corporations would in
flict gross injustice. The present state
ment from the supreme court is. therefore,
a necessary vindication.
Omaha daily bee., 1909-03-01
Seeking New Forage Plants.

Prof. Niels Ebbesen Jansen of the
South Dakota College of Agriculture
has Just returned from a remarkable
tourney which he took under the d.
rection of the Department of Agricul-
ture at Washington in search for
plants, grains and grasses suitable for
transplanting in the colder and in
some of the semi-arid regions of this
country. Prot Hansen spent nearly
a year in northern Russia and pene-
trated beyond the Arctic circle in his
search for wild grains, grasses and
plants suitable for domestication In
civilized lands and he returns with
$50 different kinds of foreign seeds
that may be adapted to our varying
soils and climates.
One Of the professors finds was the
seed of an alfalfa clover which he
found growing beyond the Arctic cir
Gle. The plant will Withstand tenn
peratures which freeze the mercury
and will grow luxuriantly on the
farms in the northwestern states. Its
hardy character, II Is believed, may be
transmitted to the strains of wild and
cultivated species of alfalfa from our
continents now growing In this our
try, out Of which 1t is hoped that a
variety comprising the best character
istics OF each may be evolved in an
ideal forage plant.
It has long been the dream OF Sec
rotary Wilson of the Department of
Agriculture to discover or develop a
forage plant that will grow on the arid
soil OF the west where irrigation is i'm
possible. The development of such a
plant would do much to solve the
range problem and would add millions
to the agricultural wealth of the ma
ton each year. Prof. Hansen has al
ready done much In this direction, and
his new plants may go further toward
meeting a long-standing need.
Omaha daily bee., 1909-03-01
BULLYING OF WITNESSES. .
In Current Practice Secuted
as Absurd.
Washington Post.

Washington Post.
A witness should be made TO understand
at once upon taking the stand What is ex-
pected of him, and to submit graciously
and patiently to any kim or examination
short OF physical attack which lawyers may
make. Suppose an attorney snarls, snaps,
and growls at the witness. or sneeringly
smiles a suspicion. What of II? A witness
is only an unprotected, defenseless citizen
doing his duty: 10 be terrified OF cajoled
into revealing his innermost thoughts ac-
cording to the way the lawyers intends
him to speak them. To impugn the verac-
ity of a witness by i~nsinuation or yelled
threats is a legitimate device for rolling
to the point OF saying something which
may be used to advantage against him,
What! A witness to be allowed to tell
a simple tale Of what he had seen or
heard, uninterrupted and undismayed?
Never! Justice might be precipitated. and
witnesses might retain their self-respect.
Witnesses may be distressed, bullied. and
cowed. but legal circumlocutIon must he
preserved and the dignity of the advocate
.safeguarded.
Omaha daily bee., 1909-03-01
JOBS FOR LAME DUCKS.
Commissions 10 Provide Places for
Defeated embe

Defeated Members.
Washington Letter in New York Tribune.
The leaders OF the two houses OF congress
are making energetic efforts to care for
the lame ducks the term given those
members who failed OF reelection. The
most effective means of accomplishing this
end will he the creation OF commissions on
which those members who fell outside the
breastworks can serve. The monetary
commission will be used to care for Senator
Teller and Representative Overstreet. Mr..
Teller has done excellent work on this
commission, and the members are anxious
to retain his services. Mr.. Overstreet will
be retained on the ground that he is an
expert on postal affairs, and that therefore
his services will be valuable In connection
with such phases OF the work as may have
to do with postal savings banks. funds. etc.
Senator Hemenway will he made the head
OF a commission to investigate further the
secret service and to report to congress
such changes as 1t may be advisable To
make In the statute to provide for an ade-
quate government detective force. This has
been the purpose OF the senate leaders all
along, and the reports that Mr.. Hemenway
was considered for the Taft cabinet and
rejected at the behest Of President Roose-
welt are wholly without foundation. The
proposition 20 add two members to the
Interstate Commerce commission provides
places for Representative Pete Hepburn,
author OF the railway rate law, and for
some other member OF the house.
A prohibition commission which II Is pro-
posed to create will probably provide places
for Senator Hansbrough, and a number OF
representatives who failed Of reelection.
II is proposed to confide to this commission
a thorough investigation OF the extent OF
the power of congress to control the traffic
in liquor through the interstate commerce
clause OF the constitution. an Investigation
OF the effects OF the sale OF liquors as re-
lated to crime, inancial prosperity. etc.
Omaha daily bee., 1909-03-01
Philadelphia Record.

Ex-Governor Murphy of New Jersey
wishes that a tax OF SEQ a head we're levied
upon every foreigner seeking to earn a liv-
ing in this country. He would also pro-
hibit the immigration OF all people who are
incapable OF speaking and reading the Eng
fish language. II is barely possible that
had this head tax been imposed upon the
immigrants In a former generation the
honest and Industrious ancestors OF the ex-
governor would have been prevented from
landing on these shores. Then the country
would have been deprived OF a native Muir
ply.
Omaha daily bee., 1909-03-01
Washington Life
The inaugural Crowd, what 70
WIN Cost, Years q. Retired Presi-
dents, and q Budding Statesman.

All roads lead 10 Washington these days,
and every train headed that way during
the next sixty hours will carry loads that
VIII tickle the passenger departments, in
flate Pullman dividends and stretch por-
ters' smiles from ear to ear. II is ex-
pected there will be a crowd OF 10000
visitors in the city by Thursday noon.
Two-thlrds Of the number come from
nearby ~cities-visitors who may come and
90 on the same day-the balance from dis
tances requiring a day OF more to make
the round trip. The city Is now ready
for the crowd. The court Of honor in front
or the White House is practically COM
pleted: the presidential stand, where Mr..
Taft will take his place TO review the
parade, the great public stands opposite.
the stand at the capitol where the inaugu-
raj ceremony will take place, and the hum
dreds of stands lining Pennsylvania ave-
nue. and adjacent streets. are in various
stages of completion.
Omaha daily bee., 1909-03-01

Why should men who lay claim to
standing and responsibility grace with
their presence a free feed gotten up by
a bunch of notorious political grafters
for revenue purposes only?
Omaha daily bee., 1909-03-01
warship without FunneIs.

bUbtUH ITdHsCTIpT,
The warship without tunnels has come In
the British interchangeable, which will be
propelled by internal combustion engines.
The warship without guns will come with
the millennium. Meanwhile those who be-
lieve that a great navy is the surest guar
antee of peace, will feel encouraged by Ad-
miral Goodrich's prediction tina men now
living will see a 4O,OO0-ton battleship under
the American flag.
Omaha daily bee., 1909-03-01

A Texas legislator has introduced a
bill requiring all lobbyists to carry
whistles, which they must blow to
their coming in hotels, the
corridors of the capitol and other
places where lawmakers most do con-
gregate. Evidently the lawmakers
want to know it when the lobbyists
are around shedding arguments and
coin.
Omaha daily bee., 1909-03-01
A Refreshing Change.

The picture of a hearty and healthy
lninded young American. rich, but not
oisdaining or afraid of work. wooing and
winning an aristocratic English bride
while In his factory ~overalls is quite a
refreshing contrast to the degenerate and
i-nIpecunious titled fortune hunter, look
Ing on working for his living as a dis
grace, and peddling his cornet to any
American heiress foolish enough TO bug It.
Omaha daily bee., 1909-03-01

The Houston Post is talking about
the "balmy jonquiliscent atmosphere"
OF Texas. Sounds good, but we are
preparing for a little d~andelionised at
mosphere of our own.
Omaha daily bee., 1909-03-01

District Attorney Jerome has made
his peace with Tammany and will be
a candidate for reelection on the DEM
ocratic ticket. 1t will then be dis
covered IL he has made his peace with
the people,
Omaha daily bee., 1909-03-01

Poor old silver dollar! With the price
of the metal very close down to the low
est price II has ever sold, the intrinsic
value OF the silver coin is as low OF lower
than ever before in it's history. being now
just over 40 cents. Meanwhile the out
put Of the gold mines continues to in
crease, the latest record being at the top.
Omaha daily bee., 1909-03-01

Where are the houses OF yester-
day." asks the Chicago Tribune.
Can't answer for the Chicago houses,
but the Omaha houses OF yesterday are
being torn down or removed to make
room for larger ones.
Omaha daily bee., 1909-03-01
one Specimen of Home Rule.
Boston Herald

the Missouri being n navigable there is no
danger Of bombArdment by the Greek nsvy
and a war scare IL unlikely. But the riot
ing around the packing houses serves once
more TO direct attention TO the logical work
ing-out Of the theory Of home rule"
Omaha daily bee., 1909-03-01

Mr.. Roosevelt's license to hunt in
Africa authorizes him to shoot every
thing in sight. Reactionary congress-
men and malefactors of great wealth
will do we'll to keep out of Africa for
a year or SO.
Omaha daily bee., 1909-03-01
state Lines on the Map.
New York Herald

NCW IUIh IIVTdIu'
The supreme court upheld the power of
Louisiana to regulate telephone charges
and of Arkansas to fine corporations that
break It's trust law. The state lines are
not yet erased from the map.
Omaha daily bee., 1909-03-01

Now II they will follow up the Ore
gon plan with a formal demand for
the election OF president by direct vote
OF the people there will be some con-
sistency In IL.