davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Omaha daily bee., 1909-03-11
Russia ON the Aggressive

The emphatic declaration of Fight
ing Bob" Evans that Russia is deter
minedly making preparations for an
other war with Japan finds some color
In the course being pursued by the
Russian authorities in Manchuria. The
United States and other powers inter
ested In affairs in China have modestly
protested that Russia is falling to
carry out the terms of the treaty of
Portsmouth, which provided for the
administration of the affairs of the
Russian railroads in Manchuria. The
Russian authorities have not yet found
time to reply to these overtures, but
are going ahead ruling Manchuria
with a high hand and giving appar-
emily every cause for the Japanese to
take offense.
The M~anchurian crisis has been pre-
cipitated by the action OF the Russian
director general of the Chinese East
ern railway in closing the stores and
warehouses of the Chinese merchants
at Hardin because they have refused
TO pay the taxes he has imposed.
Business is at a standstill at all sta
lions west of Hardin and a critical
situation has arisen. The tax propo-
sition is somewhat trivial in itself, but
a big question is involved in Russia's
claim OF right to exercise pleDary
power in the administration OF the
railroad controlled by it in Man
ehuria. This raises the real question
OF the Portsmouth treaty which gave
China Jurisdiction in Manchuria. BY
the terms of that treaty Russia and
Japan were authorized to maintain
guards. in limited number 10 pretec.
their railroad interests. but surren-
dered the entire administration OF
criminal and civil Affairs TO the
Omaha daily bee., 1909-03-11
THE SIX FER CENT RETURN.
Railroad of PrOnt Set Up
by Judge Mcpherson.
Chicago Tribune.


The Missouri railroads have won the first
round in their fight against the 2-cent pas
senger rate and the lower freight rates pre-
scribed by the state legislature. A district
court Judge has held in their favor. The
circuit court of appeals and the supreme
court are yet to be heard from.
In the case of the Consolidated Gas com
pany the supreme court held that II could
charge rates which would enable II to pay 8
per cent on a valuation which had the
stamp of approval of the state legislature.
The judge VINO heard the Missouri rate
cases admits that railroads and gas COM
panies do not stand precisely on~the same
footing. but he contends that railroads,
when economically built and properly man
aged, are entitled to a 6 per cent return.
He is of the opinion that the Missouri roads
were properly built and are properly man
aged, that the rates established by the leg
~islature would not provide sufficient rev.
enue from interstate business, and that,
therefore, they are confiscatory.
The finding may be a Just one as re-
CARDS the rates. 1t appears that the 2-cent
passenger fare did not stimulate travel to
the extent fits advocates assumed 1t would.
II the legislature had made the rate half a
cent higher 1t would have just about hit
the mark, II may be that the valuation put
by the court on the Missouri. roads, some
Of which are popularity supposed TO be
greatly overcapitalized is not I'm excess
OF their actual value. But, while the SUI
preme court has allowed a gas company a
9 per cent return, it may not be prepared
to make that a general rule as TO railroads.
II It were to do so there would be a kind
of guaranty of 6 per cent on the valuation
of all roads which could convince the courts
that their capitalization did not exceed
their real value. No road would admit that
II was overcapitalized and the courts might
be kept busy ascertaining true valuations.
The establishment of the 8 per cent theory
Omaha daily bee., 1909-03-11
PERSONAL NOTES.

It cost the Illinois colonies $500 to buck
the snow drifts In Washington.
1t is gratifying to know that a woman's
league in New York voted down a truculent
member who declared that the only good
man Is a dead man.
A New York writer advertised that he
had received a fortune and desired to In
vest it. Then he wrote stories about the
people whom his fake lured.
Little sympathy should be wasted upon
the Philadelphian who was robbed OF $500
in the Philadelphia city hall. He must
have known the desperate chances he was
taking.
While there has been no opportunity for
an exact count, about a thousand editors
are commencing congress for favoring a
change in Inauguration day lin accordance
with our suggestion"
William b. Smart, a first assistant as
SCISSOR for the city of Boston, the oldest
active newspaper man in the state and
for nearly a half century connected with
the Boston Post staff. died recently at his
home In Dorchester.
Now a woman in Chicago wants a di-
vorce because her husband not only let's
her have the last word, but makes her
do all the t~alking-which shows how the
dearest privilege, the most holly defended
right, becomes a hardship when it is put
in the light OF a duty.
The strong opposition Of a section OF the
British cabinet to the prevailing lingo
sentiment compelled the ministry TO modify
the extreme two-power naval plan, by
excluding the United States. 1t il not
much of a concession to peace. but every
little helps. 1t is more OF a concession to
the necessities OF a treasury deficit, and
sources of taxation that are squeezed to
the limit.
One of the incidental humors of the Taft
Inauguration according to a be-
lated account. is that Chief Justice Fuller,
in administering the oath, called upon the
new president to execute rather than
defend the constitution of the United
States, And Mr.. Taft solemnly promised
that he would. The only bystander who
noticed the slip was Senator Knox. who
whispered to his new chief, Don't do IT..
Mrs. Laura smith, whose death was re-
| corded recently in the west, worked with
her husband for years to get a tunnel
through the Rio mine in Colorado. When
hope was almost gone they won a prize
Of SIS, 1000, and with that sum the ore was
laid bare, and they made about a million
and a half of money. Then, after having
fought a hard fight so long together, the
couple separated, were divorced and the
woman married again, to die in almost
poverty.
Omaha daily bee., 1909-03-11
A SEND-0FF.
wallace Irwin I'm Collier /.

Wallace Irwin In Golfers.
Say, Teddy, we have Joked about those
Spectacles and Teeth,
We have joshed you on your Strenuous
Now a ifttie word, At parting. for the
Heart that beats beneath
And the Purpose that was true to your
For you're ~going-you're going. and we
scarce believe it's true:
Yes. a sort OF lonesome feeling, like an az
row. shoots us through
BY the Laws that got the scrubbing
And the Trusts that took the clubbing,
Twill be many a cold, hard winter ere we
see the like Of you!
Here's a bumper to you, Teddy, and so
See the Manhood OF the Nation rise and
throng to you.
Let the I'redatories roast you
We, the People, rise and toast you
In a cup Of Glory, Teddy-and so-long to
you!
You were often hard TO follow in your
chase for Bull and Bear;
And your walks with Army Captains-my.
you hiked 1t so!
Say, we almost hoked to see you beard
the Congress in its lair
And emerge without an bump-and o you
You were never DUH or clammy-you were
either pleased or vexed,
And we woke up mornings asking, What
will he be doing next2'
Will he give the railroads Hades,
Or express his views on Ladies'
Or impale some Rabbit Faker on a pointed
Moral Text"
Here's a bumper to you. Teddy, and 30
long to you!
Here's a banZai and a broadside and a
song to you
BY the Slaves that you have fathered
And the Masters you have bothered.
We, the People. wake the welkin-and So
long TO you!
You nave bred a Bunch of Language that
will live beyond it's day.
You have told the Truth where Lies might
be defensible;
You have butted In where angels would
have tainted dead away,
Yet your madness has been always COM
moi sensible.
You have raked the old traditions OF the
b~arnacles that chung.
You have whizzed into the Bee HIVE where
the Nations Honey hung.
You have spotted out the shlrkers
Az thev fed among the workers;
And there's been an awful buzzlng from
the Drones-when they were stungl
Here's a bumper to you, Teddy-and so
long to you!
Here's the send-off OF the Nation free and
strong 70 you:
60 and rest In wild Zambeh,
Hunt the LiCn-oh. that's easv-
You have baRRe some Big Ones. Teddy
and so-long 20 you!
Omaha daily bee., 1909-03-11

might be followed in many instances by a
raising of rates.
During a season OF industrial depression
the earnings OF the community decrease.
Business concerns have 10 put up with
smaller earnings and to economist whore
possible. 1t has seemed only natural that
railroads should share their lot 1t would
be a great thing for the roads IL they
could be put in a position where a heavy
increase of rates would be tustifiable dur
ing a season of light traffic so that their
earnings might suffer no diminution. The
supreme court has not yet put them on so
enviable a footing.
Omaha daily bee., 1909-03-11
Boosted Rates Coming Down.
Springfield Republican.

Those advanced railroad rates which took
effect on January 1 are already coming
Town They were raised without consult
ing the Interstate Commerce commission
and are being lowered without any order
from that body, which seems to be SO
overwhelmed with work in various direc-
tons as to make one question whether the
roads have not actually a freer hand in
rate matters now than they did before the
passage of the Hepburn rate act. The rate
advance of January was long discussed
and was finally adopted on the theory that
the volume of traffic would be as large
under high as low rstes-a very curious
economic proposition.
Omaha daily bee., 1909-03-11

President Taft has wisely r~efrained
from taking any sides in the fight now
in progress in Washington between
the standpatters in the house and the
Insurgents" who are seeking a rad
zeal change Of the rules in order to
lessen the dominating power of the
speaker and give the body Of the rep
resentatives a larger voice in the house
proceedings. Mr.. Payne, chairman OF
the ways and means committee and
the most ardent of the standpatters.
has appealed to MIR. Taft to support
the existing order Of things, in order
that the revision of the tariff may be
promptly taken up and no time wasted
in a wrangle over the rules. Close on
his heels, a committee of the insur-
gents has asked for Mr.. Taft's endorse
ment of their plans. In both cases
the president has refused to commit
himself, insisting that the house is a
law unto itself and must make its own
rules, without suggestion or Interior
ence on the part of the chief magis-
trate.
Any policy on Mr.. Taft's part other
than one of noninterference would but
serve to aggravate and emphasize the
differences that now exist in the house
owe the question OF rules governing
that body. The house is judge of the
qualifications Of it's membership and
the sole authority for the adoption Of
rules of procedure. The power lodged
in the speaker comes from the action
of the members of the house. None
but those who benefit by the existing
arraS ement will even argue that this
power is not excessive. or that reforms
are not needed. Speaker Cannon is
no more to blame than any other mem
Der of the house for the existing order
except to the extent he may use the
existing rules to prevent free discus
sion and debate in favor of changes
that have been demanded.
The need of a reform of the house
rules is generally conceded and the
public, however anxious it may be for
speedy disposition of the tariff revision
problem, will support the insurgents
in their fight for a revision of the
rules. A winning fight for the crea-
ton OF a more representative house
may be more important n produc-
tive of more benefits to the country
than the passage of a tariff bill in
June, when the reorganization OF the
house rules would delay action on the
tariff question for a month or two.
BY a shrewd parliamentary trick, SEN
atOr Aldrich has secured the adoption
OF the old senate rules for the special
session, but the house can not afford
to be imposed upon in that matter.
There is no better time than the ex-
ira session beginning on March Is for
the house to decide whether it shall
rule itself or be ruled by a select com
mittee of three persons.
Omaha daily bee., 1909-03-11
Washington Life
Short Dseohss Of incidents ana
ePiS sx.s.. 'ss' n. ' n..ss , 1 cessssi.

AS a rule. great bodies move slowly"
But there are exceptions to every rule
President Taft's record as a traveller makes
him a shining exception, and puts him at
the head Of the list. not only as the great
American traveller, but as a world beater.
The Washington correspondent of the New
York tribune compiled q record OF the
distance covered by the Ohioan in nine
years. showing 10000 miles Of land and
water traversed. a greater distance than
that Of any other person Of prominence
in ancient and modern times. In addition
to an almost Unprecedented number OF
Journeys in this country. the president went
four times to Manila, including one visit
on his way around the globe; five times
to Panama and twice to Cuba touching at
Porto Rico once on his way home. In
his campaign east and west, north and
south, II was estimated that he covered
more than 1900 miles, and that is below
the figures. His goings to and fro upon the
surface of the earth began in March, 1900.
The table of distances which makes the
total of miles Travelled, 202. ia, does not
include his many journeys up and down
the Philippine group of islands. II com
putes the decentralization of the earth
at 5000, which does not allow for all the
great distances covered to and from places
out of the direct line OF travel. The table
Of miles covered by years shows that II he
had kept up the average set for the first
two months OF 1909 he would have nearly
equaled the record of 1908 and exceeded
that for any other year. The table fol-
lows, the mileage for 1901 and 1902 count
ing the return journey from Manila as
completed, although he was on board
ship when the years closed:
Omaha daily bee., 1909-03-11
GRADUATED INHERITANCE TAX
Threatened Fedora Invasion of
states Pasture.
Chicago Tribune.

chicago lTlDune.
The tariff as revised may not provide i'm
mediately so much revenue as Is needed.
With an eye TO that contingency President
Taft suggests the adoption of new forms
of taxation. Among these he recommends
a graduated inheritance tax. Much can be
said in its favor. IL can be collected with
certainty and ease and at small cost. The
graduated inheritance tax Of 1898 brought
in SO, 100000 in 1901 and 1909. and would be
more productive now.
When the income OF the government is
falling as much below it's expenditures as
it is now It is the duty of congress to
supplement the customary taxes with new
ones. giving the preference to those which
are the least burdensome and whose yield
can be most accurately estimated. The in.
heritaDee tax II an excellent tax for an
emergency and SHOULD be resorted to by
the national government in emergencies
only.
Thirty-six states have inheritance tar
laws. The remaining states will adopt then
in time. Therefore, except on special coca.
sions, the federal government should le
the states have undisputed possession o.
this source OF revenue. The spheres O
state and federal taxation should for OBJ
vious reasons be as distinct as possible
Furthermore, II state and national tax col
~lectors were as a regular thing to take toll
Of the same estate they might in som,
states be a dangerously close approach L
oonfiscatOry taxation.
AS general business conditions improy,
the regular internal revenue taxes viii b,
more productive. The lower duties OF tn,
revised tariff will ultimately yield NOR,
revenue than the higher duties have. TheI
any extraordinary taxes that congress maj
impose because Of the deficit can anS
should be repealed for'l-
Omaha daily bee., 1909-03-11
Premier Bonds Retirement.

The. United States has more than a
passing interest in the political COM
plications that have developed in New
foundland over the resignation of Sir
Robert Bond, the premier, as his re-
tirement marks another certain
change in the long-standing fisheries
dispute between this country and
Great Britain. Mr.. Bond was re-
sponsible for the treaty which he and
Mr.. Hay, then secretary Of state. nego-
tiated but which was defeated by the
efforts of the Gloucester fishermen.
The change in the political complexion
OF Newfoundland will cause a revival
of the old fight.
Sir Robert Bond has been premier
of Newfoundland since 1900, when his
party captured thirty-two OF the
thirty-six seats in the Parliament.
Four years later he secured thirty OF
the seats, but in 1908 the parties
broke even. Mr.. Bond retained his
premiership and his cabinet, but he
has apparently seen the hoplessness
OF accomplishing any Legislative good
with a house evenly divided and SC
has decided to retire and go. to the
country with an appeal for vindicatiou
and a vote of confidence. Indications
are that the opposition will win in
such a conflict and Newfoundland WI
have the exciting experience attendant
upon a complete change of admins.
tration forces.
Omaha daily bee., 1909-03-11
New Presidents Cordial Reception.
New York Tribune.

The new president enters office under
the most favorable conditions. He has the
respect and confidence Of the whole coun-
try. His experience fits him in an exoep-
tional degree for the work of administrs-
ton. He possesses poise, breadth of view.
sanity, charity, and a wholesome sense of
humor. He can be firm. as we'll rs just
and kind. He has himself helped to break
the path which his administration is to
follow. We can see no emergencies ahead
Of him for which he is not fully prepared.
His ideals are high, his capacity is proved.
His administration. we confidently believe,
will be fruitful in great and honorable
achievements, indicating completely the
popular Judgment which decreed his cleo
ton.
Omaha daily bee., 1909-03-11
FEWER TAX DODGERS.
Progress of the States In Reforming
Taxation Systems.

NO8HCn VI ~ SNaaGh y"
Taxation systems.
William Allen White in American Magazine.
Thirty years ago we were a nation of
tax-dodgers. Today the inequities- of
taxation are shameful in American
states. but not so shameful as they were
in the old days. During the last ten
years the tax laws of over half the Amer
lean states nave been changed in the
hope that they would be improved. The
full rendition law has come into a large
number OF the states. And with It the
state tax commission has been established
In a wide group OF the more progressive
American states. These states are Pennsyl-
vania, New York, Indiana, Kansas, Wis
consln, Michigan, Virginia, through it's cor
poration commission; Maryland and West
Virginia, through a board Of public works
Alabama, Washington, Oklahoma, New
Mexico, North and South Caroline and Ne
braska through a state board OF ~equaliza-
ton. New Jersey has an effective system
of county boards working together, and
tax commissions have been appointed by
the legislature or by the governor to codify
and revise and improve the tax laws in
Maine, Missouri, Vermont, Ohio and New
Hampshire. In nearly every state during
the last five years there has been a serious
attempt In the legislature redeeming the
pledge Of a dominant party to do something
to improve the tax system. The people
nave grown in%tolerant Of its inJustices.
They are willing wherever a full rendition
law is enacted to give in their property
at its full value, and where the taxes in
creases there is not as much complaint as
there would have been twenty years ago.
The people earnestly desire to reform them
selves.
Omaha daily bee., 1909-03-11
Bleached Flour and Pure Food.

The secretary of agriculture invites
the Nebraska millers to go into court
If they want to continue making white
flour from hard wheat, and it is quite
possible that he will be accommodated.
1t seems like a hair-splitting PROPOSE
ton, but it is altogether in favor of
the Minneapolis millers, who control
the soft wheat, of which the supply
is limited. Unless it can be clearly
proven that bleaching flour by cleo
tricity is dangerous to health. the Ne
braska millers should have the
privilege.
At present it seems that the alleged
deleterious element in bleached flour
is detected only by minute and expert
chemical analysis, and the secretary
himself admits hat its, presence il
only in inhnitesimal quantities. 1t
is dangerous in large quantities, but
one expert has said that a man would
have to eat at least 10000
loaves of bread made from
bleached -four in order to &C
quire enough of the precipitated nj
trate to make him sick. II this is all
there is to the danger, the order of
Secretary Wilson may be set aside
without any special violence being
done to the pure food law.
Omaha daily bee., 1909-03-11

The city council will do well not to
build any more fire houses until some
of those already built are equipped
with men and apparatus. The ex-
tension of fire protection is always
a good thing, but an idle Are barn is
a poor investment.
Omaha daily bee., 1909-03-11

Chinese government. Russia is now
asserting rights which are not pro-
vided in the treaty, with a healthy
prospect that the control Of Msnchuris
may be made the subject OF another
conflict like that of 1904 which re-
suited SO d~isastrously to the cars
forces.
Omaha daily bee., 1909-03-11

The fake reformer who has flour
ished aloft the gonfalon OF blue law
enforcement in Omaha for so long
now finds himself re%pudiated by his
former associates, who are trying to
extricate themselves from the morass
into which they unwittingly followed
this enthusiast. The cause of real re-
form has never been advanced by
hysteria.
Omaha daily bee., 1909-03-11

A forty-pound box of dynamite fell
over a 2OO-toot clif at Gadsden, Ala,
and landed on the dinner of a man
who had just eaten and lay on his
back waiting for the / o'clock whistle.
The dynamite didn't explode, but the
man did.
Omaha daily bee., 1909-03-11
National
Wall Street Journal

VIII bIIttI JUuTHdI'
A reviewer Of oriental conditions says
that China's fatal weakness it's its lack
of self-consciousness. A reviewer OF west
ern conditions might say with equal truth
that the greatest nuisance here and in
Europe is an exaggerated state Of self
consciousness. which keeps us and our
neighbors awake nights, planning to repel
attempts at foreign conquest.
Omaha daily bee., 1909-03-11

The defeat of county option in the
senate was accomplished by a narrow
margin, but it was accomplished and
the prohibition fight is put on TO an
other campaign.
Omaha daily bee., 1909-03-11

Some sapient persons are advising
Mr.. Roosevelt OF the risks he takes in
penetrating Africa. That is all right
in a way, but Africa is also taking
some risks.
Omaha daily bee., 1909-03-11

The salary of the press agent of the
Panama canal has been reduced from
$4,000 to $4,000 a year. Still, the
average press agent cares no more
about 5000 than he does for one OF
his arms.
Omaha daily bee., 1909-03-11

A corps of the Norwegian army is
being drilled to operate on skates.
Just shows the difference. An Amer
lean officer who tries to perform his
duty with his skate on is called before
a court-martial.
Omaha daily bee., 1909-03-11

A citizen a paid $500 for a docu-
ment signed by George Washington,
which is not remarkable, In view of
the fact that Senator Stephenson has
paid $2O7,O 900 for a document signed
by the governor and the officials of
the legislature of Wisconsin.
Omaha daily bee., 1909-03-11
Forced 10 cult the Game.

The president Of the New York Contra
declares that there will be no more rebat-
Ing, being brought to a reformed state of
mind by the affirmation of that fine
against his company But the reduction
of the standard oil fine may produce the
other effect on more important factors in
the rebating industry.
Omaha daily bee., 1909-03-11

Secretary Wilson says Nebraska
wheat makes the best flour in the
world. and this is all the more 8
why it should not be shut u of the
market by an order favoring an in
ferior grade.
Omaha daily bee., 1909-03-11

Senatorial courtesy will be put to
the test when Senator La Toilette es-
corts his colleague before the vice
president to take the oath.
Omaha daily bee., 1909-03-11

The 'possum will not succeed the
eagle as our national bird" says the
Chicago Record-Herald. So the eagle
has already displaced the stork, has
1t?