Meade County news. [volume], July 26, 1900, Image 2

About Meade County news. [volume] (Meade, Kan.) 1900-1918

Image provided by: Kansas State Historical Society; Topeka, KS

                
Meade County News.
JOHN D. WEHBLE, Publisher.
MEADE,
KANSAS
KANSAS ITEMS OF INTEREST.
Assessors returns give Topeka a
population of 36,782 .
One Abilene dealer has sold this sea
son nearly 1150,000 worth of threshing
outfits.-'
V. J." Bryan announces that he will
make one speech in Kansas in Septem
ber or October.
Henry Bell, a farmer of Coffey coun
ty, was accidentally killed while hand
ling a target rifle.
Fred Lindsay,' an Atchison boy, 13
;years old, ran a rusty rake in his foot,
lie died of lockjaw. "
James F. 'Whitney is serving his elcv-
-enth term of two years each as county
cleik of Pawnee county.
Chas. M. McCready, of Humboldt, is
in Japan for the Standard Oil company,
drilling for oil and gas.
Mrs. Maria Hopkins, of Solomon, is
dead at the age of 93. She had lived
in Dickinson county 30 years.
There is a boom in church building
in central and western Kansas. Par
sonages are being fixed up also.
Wm. Birch, near Scottsville, lost
wheat stacks by fire which were esti
mated to contain 2,000 bushels.
Harper Zerfoos has been held for
trial for the murder of D. A. Coats, the
operator who was killed at Winfield.
3The imported harvest hands are now
.leaving the state in droves, in some
i taking command of freight trains.
Decatur is the only county which has
settled in full its account with the
state for seed grain loans of 1891 and
1895.
It is believed that Sumner county
las produced 6,500,000 bushels of wheat
of excellent quality testing from 58 to
1 pounds.
The Central Branch has started out
from Atchison its weed burner. The
machine uses from 100 to 150 gallons of
crude oil per day.
A woman of Severance, whose hus
band used beer, took a baby carriage
full of stones and broke all the win
dows in Turner hall.
Adam Bickle, near the south line of
Saline county, lost 20 stacks of wheat
by fire. Fire started from a passing
engine.. No insurance.
"Wichita and the Orient railroad offi
cials have closed a bargain which is to
make Wichita a division point and lo
cate there the general shops of the
line.
Miss Jean Creighton, of Wichita will
go to Paris, expenses paid. She won
it as a prize for securing the largest
list of . subscribers in a given time to
The Endeavor World. - -
Charles Wheeler, of McPherson coun
ty, is said to be one of four heirs of his
brother, Francis Turner Wheeler, of
Chicago, who made his fortune of 82,
000,000 in the manufacture of paper
bags. Wheeler is dead.
A strike occurred at the Lanyonville
smelter. All the yard men stopped
work. About 200 men quit because
they did not like a change that had
been made of their boss. This may
cause a closing of the works.
Work on the new cell block at the
Hutchinson reformatory is going on
rapidly. The board of managers have
let contracts for new cell doors, for an
iron roof, banisters, individual water
tlosets in cells and for material for
clothing.
Mr. Oebel, of Andale, Sedgwick
county, is feeling good over two fine
crops already made, alfalfa and wheat,
and good prospects for a like fine crop
of corn. He is confident that the corn
crop when husked out will surprise
those who have been crying drouth.
The returns this year show that Kan
sas has 2,111 more pianos, 724 more
silver watches, 2,792 more gold watch
es, .12,832 more carriages, 14,994 more
wagons, 16,445 more mules, 1,203,453
more cattle and 146,053 more horses
than last year.
A member of the sanitary board -informs
the executive department at To
peka that the Texas fever epidemic in
Chautauqua county is under control.
The Kansas Midland station at
Loraine was assaulted by burglars.
The agent drove them away with his
pistol. It is thought one burglar was
hit.
The legislature appropriated 85,000
for Governor Stanley's contingent fund
for the fiscal year, ending June 30. He
used only 83,000 turning back into the
general revenue fund 82,000.
Rev. J. M. Sullivan died at Baldwin
July 14. He was financial agent of
liaker university, and had been chap
lain of both houses of the legislature.
He served in the Mexican war and in
the civil war.
The Central Coal and Coke company
has followed the lead of the Mount
Carmel company to pay for mining on
the mine run basis instead of screen
basis and the suits against the coal
companies are likely to be dropped, as
the other companies will likely comply
with the law.
The legislature appropriated 86,000
for state printing for the fiscal year
ending June 30. Of this amount,
S5.03S.57 cents was used. The balance
696i.43, was turned back into the gen
eral revenue fund.
Smith county farmers kill chinch
bugs by cutting a row or two of corn
which is green and making small piles
around the outside of the standing
corn. The stalks ferment and chinch
bugs greedily eat it and die. The
disease spreads over the field sad fin
iths the bugs.
Governor Barnes, of Oklahoma, visits
Geuda Springs.
The premium list for the street fair
at Salina foots up over 81,800.
Kinsley is to have a new elevator
with a capacity of 10,000 bushels.
The Halstead flouring mill made
100,325 barrels of flour during the last
year.
Bock Island surveyors are at work
on a line from Liberal to Clayton, New
Mexico.
Another large gas well near Iola is
expected to run ten million cubic feet
a day.
Charles Sullivan, of Meade county,
gets three months in jail for tampering
with jurors.
Galena has lost two large frame
stores by fire; loss more than covered
by insurance.
English army officers are inspecting
horses at the horse yards, in Bismark
Grove, Lawrence.
3 Miss Lillian E. Hall has been ap
pointed by the governor,' coroner of
Cowley county.
Fifty-five tourists' tickets to Colorado
were sold at the Wichita ticket offices
in one day .last week.
An Iola baker and confectioner is in
jail for selling liquor and his creditors
have closed in on him.
It develops that there was another
man of the same name as Rev. James,
who will get the millions.
John P. St. John, it is said, has pur
chased a home in Independence, Mo.,
and will move his family to it.
Postoffices in eastern Kansas cashed
many money orders sent to families by
men who were working in harvest
fields further west.
Budolph Hatfield and Colonel Hois
ington were the speakers at the laying
of the corner stone of the 825,000 high
school at El Dorado.
A train stopped between Kinsley
and Offerle and the train crew and
passengers fought fire in a field of
shocked wheat, saving it.
Miss Morrison, of El Dorado, is held
for murder in the first degree, without
bail, for the killing of Mrs. Olin Castle.
She was taken to the Wichita jail.
The public generally, at El Dorado.
holds the opinion that the motif of the
murder of Mrs. Olin Castle by Miss
Jessie Morrison, was infatuated jeal
ousy. Dr. Thomas Cooper, of Kansas Citv.
a traveling salesman for a publishing
house, was found dead in his bed in a
Wellington hotel. Death was caused
by morphine.
Vol Webber, of Clay county had
wheat which tested 64 pounds. He
had hauled and sold 5,500 bushels of
old wheat just before commencing to
haul his new crop.
Wheat is pressing- hard on the Dower
of the railroads to move it. Indica
tions are that the high prices being
paid for wheat will cause earlier sale
of a large part of the crop than usual.
All Hallows academy in Wichita, in
charge of Catholic sisters, has become
so crowded with young lady dudHs
that those interested have decided to
build an addition to cost at least 815,
000. A carload of cantaloupes, the first of
the season, has been shipped from
Moorehead, Labette county, to Boston
by express, at charges of 8800. It is
expected that the load will sell there
for 82,400.
M. F. Angel came from Chicago to
Wichita, where he lived 43 years ago,
for the sole purpose of paying a debt
to a dentist which he contracted when
he lived there. Ten dollars settled the
debt and Angel's railroad fare was
820.60.
During a thunder storm Mrs. Herschel
Garr, of Montgomery county, was
thrown from a horse and run over by a
harvester and seriously injured.
C. V. Eskridge's life insurance
amounted to about 835,000. A sale of
the Emporia Republican, Governor
Eskridge's paper, is desired by his
children.
Montgomery county levied a two
mills tax for the support of the county
high school. An appropriation of 8200
was made for the library and 8200 for
the laboratory of the school.
The old settlers of Reno county will
hold a reunion on August 2.
The total assessed value of taxable
property together with the amount of
state taxes to come from each county
is published. Shawnee leads with
814,535,084 in valuation and 879,941 in
taxes; Wyandotte stands 814,510,413
valuation and 879,806 taxes. Leaven
worth and Sedgwick each have over
89,000,000 taxable property, the first
slightly in excess of he- latter; Cowley,
Sumner and Reno next with over 86,
000,000 each.
E. L. Shaffer, steward of the Topeka
insane asylum, had his leg broken in
two places while making a slide in a
ball game.
Judge Herrick has decided that the
bond election for the purpose of the
purchase of the Wellington electric
light plant was faulty, which invali
dates the entire issue. ,
The Santa Fe is endeavoring to have
all its freight cars equipped with
safety couplers by August 1, the date
fixed by regulations of the interstate
commerce commission.
Edward Miller, of southern Reno
county, was killed while oiling a
thresher which was running. His leg
slipped into the cylinder.
John Baxter, of Dickinson county,
gave an acre of land and the school
district built an 8S00 school house .on
it. The deed was not recorded before
the farm was mortgaged,the mortgage
was foreclosed and the new owner re-,
fuses to acknowledge the gift, and pro
poses to make a dwelling out of the
school house. The district has applied
to th courts for relief,
nil
Conger's Message And After News
Anent Yuan Sfrih Kai
THE CAUSES OF REJOICING.
Washington, July 23. Secretary
Hay had been prepared for the news
from Minister Conger by a dispatch
from Consul Gen. Goodnow at Shang
hai telling of the transmittal of Con
ger's message. Mr. Wn appeared at
the state department directly fter
Goodnow's message was received. Mr.
Wu came tearing through the streets
in his autimoble, having left his break
fast unfinished.
Throughout the day the Conger mes
sage remained the absorbing topic of
discussion. Secretary Hay was con
gratulated on the success of the steps
he had taken to open up communica
tion between Pekin and Washington,
for, while the chancellories of the
world stood hesitating and inactive,
he had adopted a course which had
brought a message from our minister.
The Chinese minister, Mr. Wu, shared
also in the universal approbation of
what had been done. He seconded
Mr. Hay's effort from the outset, and
it is due to the official machinery set
in motion by him that the communica
tions were got through.
A message from Consul Fowler that
General Yuan Shih Kai, governor of
Shang Tung province, reported that
the Chinese authorities were doing all
in their power to put down the insur
rection, is exceedingly welcome intel
ligence. It not' only confirms the
theory of the state department that
the position of the Chinese government
is correct, but is assumed to indicate
that Yuan Shih Kai has thrown the
weight of his influence on the side of
the government. Yuan is considered
one of the ablest, if not the ablest,
general in China. He has, according
to a statement made by Lord Charles
Beresford to a prominent state depart
ment official when he was here last
fall, the best drilled and equipped
army in China under his command.
Some doubt was entered as to which
side he would ally himself in the pres
ent insurrection and the fact that he
appears to be on the side of the gov
ernment is accepted as evidence that
his best judgment is that lrince Tuan's
rebellion is destined to fail.
Discord Stories Overdone.
Washington, July 21. In the ab
sence of direct news from China
attention was directed mainly to the
more or less speculative stories emana
ting from European capitals indicative
of discord among the powers. It is
realized that these little ebullitions of
mutual suspicion always characterize
allied movements, and so are to be
expected in the present case. It can
be stated that so far as official record
discloses, there is absolutely no ground
for them. Russia, a power more than
any other under suspicion in these
stories, has not been backward in
assuring the state department of the
coincidence of Secretary Hay's declara
tion with Russia's purpose in China.
Wichita's Strike Settled.
Wichita, Kas., July 20. The strike
on the new Missouri Pacific depot in
this city has been settled. The con
tractor has agreed to adopt the union
scale of wages, union hours ane to em
ploy none but members of the union.
Massacre at Tal Yuen Fa.
London, July 20. According to a
dispatch from Shanghai to the Daily
Mail, a massacre occurred on July 9,
at Tai Yuen Fu, capital of the province
Shan Si, forty foreigners and a hun
dred native converts being killed.
No Extra Session Antieipated.
Washington, July 21. A member of
the cabinet is quoted as saying that
neither the fact, if it so develops, that
our legation is murdered, and that it
was done by the connivance of the
government, would necessitate a special
session of congress. He said that if
Russia has been attacked over the Si
berian line it would complicate mat
ters, but that "we have have nothing
to do with that; it would be between
those two governments. Besides, we
do not know the facts."
To Make Up Oar Quota.
Washington, Jnly 20. The position
of the administration is described by a
prominent official as one of waiting.
Authentic and reliable news of the
situation in Pekin is expected soon.
Until it arrives nothing remains to be
done but to mobilize and push forward
the troops and marines selected to
make up our quota of the 80.000 soldiers
which the commanders at Taku have
decided are, necessary to hold Tien
Tsin and insure the success of the for
ward movement on Pekin.
Tflej Refused to Strike.
Dayton, O., July 23. Six unknown
persons assaulted Calvin Phebus, aged
60, and his son, Eugene, aged 25, and
then beat them into insensibility.
During the melee the elder Phebus
shot one of the aesailants, who was
removed and secreted by his compan
ions. Joseph Kiser was also assaulted
and may die from his injuries. The
attacks ars the outgrowth of the strike
at the Callahan Machine Company, the
men assaulted having refused to join a
strike.
Troops Remain In the Philippines.
Washington, July 21. There will be
no further withdrawals of troops from
the Philippines for service in China.
That is the policy determined upon
and that will be adhered to.
General MacArthur's dispatches on
the necessity of retaining there all the
troops save those already under orders
are clear. It would be unsafe to take
any more away. No development in
the situation is apprehended such as
will call for a change in this policy.
CONGER HEARD FROM.
Cypher Dispatch Received In Washing-ton
Yesterday.
Washington, July 21. A cypher
cable dispatch was received yesterday
by Minister Wu from Ambassador Con
ger in Pekin. It was written in the
state department cypher, and was
taken at once by Mr. Wu to Secretary
Hay. It says:
"In British Legation. Under con
tinued shot and shell from Chinese
troops. Quick relief only can prevent
general massacre."
The message is not dated, but it is
understood was sent from Pekin on
the 18th.
Secretary Long has sent the follow
ing cablegram to Admiral Remey:
"Conger telegraphs that he is under
fire in. British legation, Pekin. Use
and urge every means possible for
immediate relief."
Secretary Lode; Very Hopeful.
Washington, July 23. Secretary
Long says it is a great victory for the
state department of the United States.
Every country in Christendom was
employing every agency in its posses
sion to obtain authentic news of the
besieged ministers, and the United
States is the first to give to the world
authentic and absolutely reliable word
direct from Pekin. There is now good
reason to believe that the ministers
will be able to hold out until a reliev
ing force reaches them. If they have
been able to stand the siege for almost
a month after . the outside world had
given up hope there seems no reason
to fear that they will not be able to
hold out a little longer.
Smallpox at Cape Nome.
Seattle, July 21. The Sequoia left
Nome late on the night of the 3rd and
brings much late news about the small
pox epidemic.
The pest house at Nome is full and
overflowing with patients afflicted with
smallpox, and the government officials
are erecting two other large structures,
one of which, with adjuncts, will cover
an acre of ground. The disease has
spread rapidly and many cases are
quarantined in the tents in which they
were discovered. There are at least
200 cases of smallpox in the pesthouse
and around the camp, and the people
are being taken dow n at the rate of
seventeen to twenty a day.
Excessive Heat in New York.
New York, July 20. The hot
weather caused or cantributed toward
the death of more than 70 persons in
this city and vicinity. As many more
stricken ones are in the hospitals.
More than half the fatalities were
among babies and little children, and
there are now about forty bodies of
the little ones lying at the morgue at
Bellevue. This was the third day of
intense heat. Wednesday was the
worst.
Minnesota Militia.
St Paul, Minn., July 21. Governor
John Lind in reporting to the war de
partment the militia strength of Min
nesota, notified the federal government
that the force was amply sufficient and'
competent to protect settlers from In
dians, who were reported by the news
papers as restless in the northern part
of the state, in case there was any use
for the regular troops in China or else
where. New Order for Hawaiian Malls.
Washington, July 20. The postoffice
department has ordered that, begin
ning August 1, all mails for the
Hawaiian Islands shall be forwarded
exclusively to San Francisco or other
American ports for despatch and that
the present practice of despatching
these mails via Vancouver, B. C, be
discontinued.
All China Drawn Into War.
Berlin, July 20. The news that the
Boxer movement is spreading in the
southern provinces causes great anx
iety here. It is regarded as confirming
the views of Germans who have spent
much time in China that the events in
Pekin would draw all China into the
movement.
Reunion of the First Kansas.
St. Joseph, Mo., July 20. The so
ciety of the Kansas First has closed
arrangements for a reunion of the reg
iment at New Ulm Park, this city, on
August 10. Some noted persons who
took part in the battle at Wilson Creek
will be present. Among them are Gen
eral Powell Clayton, ambassador to
Mexico, who was a capain in the First
Kansas. General John A. Haldeman,
now at Washingtou; Colonel O. E.
Learn ard, of Lawrence; Captain W. H.
Small wood, of Duluth; Colonel D. R.
Anthony, of Leavenworth, noted ex
Confederates will be guests of the reg
iment. The First Kansas, out of 800
men in action, had 550 killed and
wounded.
Miss Morrison Held For Trial.
El Dorado, July 23. The examina
tion of Miss Morrison lasted from
Tuesday until Friday, of last week.
Justice Allebach held that Jessie Mor
rison be held without bail, to answer
the ' charge of murder in the first
degree, committed upon Mrs. Olin
Castle. The justice decided that Miss
Morrison should be taken to the coun
ty jail of Sedgwick county, where
there were special provisions for the
keeping of female prisoners, which the
Butler county jail has not.
Santa Fe Reaches Yellow Pines.
Houston, July 21. The Santa Fe
(the G. C. & S. F.) is to have the Gulf,
Beaumont and Kansas City ' road, in
eastern Texas, which with an exten
sion to Conroe will give the Santa Fe
an outlet to the gulf at Sabine Pass as
well as at Galveston. The road taps
a section of the country in which 75
per cent of the standing yellow pine
timber of Texas is located, and, ow
ing to the rapid growth of the demand
for lumber, the property is very valuable.
WSMiEDDII
I
Until the Constitutional Conven
tion is Over With.
CUBANS WANT THEM THERE.
Washington, July 21. Governor Gen
eral Wood called at the war office and
went immediately into Secretary Root's
office. He said he knew very little
about conditions in China or the reason
for his having been called to Washing
ton. He came here in response to a
telegraphic request from Secretary
Root. General Wood said conditions
in Cuba were quiet and favorable.
General Wood spent three hours
with the secretary of war. The Cuban
situation was gone over thoroughly.
General Wood reiterated his opinion
tuat it would be very undesirable to
withdraw more than the three regi
ments now under orders to leave the
island. The removal of the troops
now under orders will reduce the
American force in Cuba to a little
more than 5,000 men. These, General
Wood considers essential to the welfare
of the island till after the coming con
stitutional convention. The date for
this has not yet been fixed, and about
six weeks' notice will have to be given,
owing to the slowness of rural com
munication. The election of delegates
to the convention probably will be
over by October 1. The Cubans do not
want the American troops replaced by
native volunteers at this time, because
of the opening this would make for a
military dictatorship. After the con
stitutional convention, it may be pos
sible to reduce the insular force still
further.
It is understood that Secretary Root
coincided with General Wood's views
after the situation had been fully ex
plained, and no further draft will be
made on the Cuban force at present.
Elks From Four States.
Joplin, Mo., July 23. The Elks
lodges of the states of Missouri, Kan
sas and Arkansas and the territory of
Oklahoma are to meet in joint session
at Joplin the third Tuesday in October,
These four states embrace a regular
circuit and this will be. its first annual
meeting. The Joplin Elks have the
finest lodge room in the Southwest and
one of the finest in America.
The Oregon Battle Ship.
Washington. July 21. The navy de
partment has word from Captain Wilde
that the Oregon has gone into dock at
Kure, Japan, and he asks if he 6hall
make a thorough work on the repairs
or shall patch her plates and go on to
Taku. Secretary Long replied: "If
safety of Oregon permits patch and go
to Taku. l commend your preference
for service there. LONG."
Kansas In m Nutshell.
Topeka, July 23. The Santa Fe com
pany has issued a neat folder contain
ing the articles which appeared in
Sheldon's paper over the signature of
Secretary Coburn. of the state board
of agriculture. Mr. Coburn says that
it comes nearer being Kansas in a nut
shell than any document ever publish
ed. It is profusely illustrated and is
very attractive.
Rough Riders For China.
Topeka, July 23. John Dawson, a
clerk in the state treasurer's office,
proposes to raise a company of rough
riders in Northwestern Kansas for
service in China in case of war. He
Bays he will have no trouble in getting
up a company. He hopes that other
Western districts will organize com'
panies, so that an entire regiment of
Kansas rough riders can be made up.
The Boxer Proclamation.
London, 'July 20. A correspondent
at Tien Tsin contrasts the "splendid
work and splendid equipment" of the
Japanese with the "inadequate sup
plies of the British, German and
American contingents, which are ter
ribly lacking in the most obvious ne
cessaries." The first Boxer proclamation has
made its appearance in Shanghai. It
declares that Kwan, the war god, de
sires the blood of foreigners and threat
ens ten plagues if the Boxer tenets are
not followed and spread.
Chartering; Transports.
New York, July 20. The chartering
of transports to carry troops to China
is causing a stir in shipping circles.
Fifteen Gerraa'n steamships now opera
ting in the Atlantic trade, have been
requisitioned as war transports and
supply ships by the German empire.
The United States government is ac
tively in the market chartering steam
ers of all nationalities on the Pacific,
to act as war transports and supply
ships for this country.
Feel Certain of Two Facts.
Washington, July 23. The state de
partment is satisfied that Mr. Conger
was alive on the 18th inst. This date
is supplied by Consul General Good
now; it may also have been in the
original cipher from Mr. Conger,
though the fact does not appear in the
paraphrase given out by the state de
partment, which is undated. In the
second place it still remains the opin
ion that the Chinese imperial govern
ment is not encouraging, but is resist
ing the Boxer movement.
That St. Petersburg Story.
London, July 21. The Chinese as
sertions that the members of the
foreign legations are still safe have
been so often repeated that they are
again beginning to raise hopes. Ac
cording to the Daily Telegraph's St.
Petersburg correspondent, however,
the Rcssian government is already in
possession of definite news that all the
foreigners in Pekin were massacred on
July 6. The Chinese minister to Rus
sia has been sent away by the Russian
government. ,
BUSINESS MEN'S lDEAeEFIRE INSURANCE
Common Errors Concerning Its Rela
tion to the Pnfcllc Brought Out ty
the Investigation of Prominent
Men in Commercial Life.
The recent annual report issued by
tt Insurance Commissioner of Michi
gan and the veto of the valued policy
law passed by the Legislature of Iowa,
by Governor Shaw ot that state, have
called public attention to the fact that
there has been a widespread misun
derstanding as to the true relations
of fire insurance to public interests.
Of late property owners, aroused by
these statements from two eminent
state officials, have been giving some
thought to the subject, and the conclu
sions reached are that owing to a mis
conception of the functions and prac
tices of fire Insurance companies, as
well as to the prejudice fostered by
professional politicians who play on
the passions of the public, the people
have been standing in their own light.
As fire insurance premiums are a
necessary part of the expense of ev
ery sensible business man and house
holder, it is but natural that the pub'
lie should desire this item to be as low
as possible, and that a fire insurance
company should give a fair and eqult
able rate.
Recent investigations and study on
the part of several men who pay large
sums for indemnity owing to their ex
tensive interests, have shown that the
public is taking an entirely erroneous
course in attempting to secure lower
rates regardless of all other consider
ations, and that every law intended to
compel rate reductions has In effect
caused higher rates.
The public mind looks upon a lire In
surance company as a corporation, iso
lated entirely from any human Interest,
whose sole desire Is to get as much
money as possible with little trouble
The vital relationship between fire in
surance companies and every form of
business life is unrecognized, as is Its
essentiality to credit and commerce.
Property to the amount of $150,000,-
000 is totally destroyed in the United
States every year. If this fell entirely
on the losers it would cause business
paralysis in hundreds of communities.
Large plants and small enterprises
would be swept away, and the accumu
lations and work of a lifetime would be
reduced to ashes. This calamity without
any means of return would affect every
person dependent upon or having deal
ings with these various concerns.
The business man having all or a
large part of his means invested in
his daily interests could obtain but
little credit without his fire insurance
policy, his operations would be ham
pered, and if his property were de
stroyed by fire he would in ninety-nine
cases out of a hundred be bankrupt
and unable to recoup his loss.
It is to prevent disaster of this kind
that the fire Insurance tax is collected.
A heavy loss would cripple one man,
but if properly apportioned all over
the country the loser can regain his
feet and continue. Each property owner
pays his share into the fund, and it
Is distributed where losses occur. This
interdependence of human life is no
where so nicely exemplified.
Fire Insurance companies were cre
ated to assess, collect and distribute
this fire insurance tax. It is a system
of Indirect taxation, necessary for th
successful conduct of business, and be
cause the tax gathering is done by
competing institutions, and Is not a
government work, false Ideas as to
profits on part of the companies have
been widespread. -
For a period of ten years (1890-1900)
the companies have only made an aver
age underwriting profit of thirty-sit
hundredths of 1 per cent. During 1893
Even the girl who complains that
she has nothing to wear can still put
on airs.
Paroell's Superstition.
Parnell had some pet superstitions.
according to his biographer, Barry
O'Brien. "He would not pass another
person on the stairs. He was horror
stricken to find himself sitting with
three lighted candles; the fall of a
picture in the room made him dejected
for the entire afternoon, and he would
have nothing to do with an important
bill drawn up by a colleague because it
happened to contain thirteen clauses
He also thought green a most unlucky
color a strange and inconvenient feel
ing for a Nationalist leader and the
sight of green banners at the political
meetings he addressed often unnerved
him."
May Come to Pass.
From Harlem Life: Immigrant In
spector We have information that
you come over here on contract. Lord
Fitsmud (indignantly) Aw-what-er-er-why,
you wude, impudent fellah! I
come ovah here to marry Miss An
gelina Goldust of New York. Immi
grant Inspector (triumphantly) Well,
what's the matter with yer; ain't mar
riage the hardest kind of contract?
You'll have to go back.
Is a Lesson In Law.
One day, when the late Judge Pin
ney of Wisconsin was a member of
the supreme court of that state, a
young lawyer who was arguing his first
case began as follows: "Ancient his
tory teaches us " The Judge, look
ing up from the printed brief, remark
ed: "Young man, Just pass over the
ancient and medieval periods and be
gin with the modem era." The young j
lawjer was put uui ior lue nuuee, uui
learned a lesson which has stood him
in good stead ever since. Philadel
phia Record.
Quite CnsensatlonaL
A Montreal paper, which has known
success for twenty years, bars all
sporting, dramatic and tobacco news,
as well as the advertisements for the
same, and will mention no sensational
cases in the courts.
Progressive.
From the Washington Star: "This
army scandal appears to be going from
bad to worse." "That's so.. I didn't
think there could be anything more
objectionable than Gen. Eagan'a beef
tin I heard his language." .
they lost 1H per cent; in 189. they
lost U 7-10th per cent.
Nearly ,100,000,000 of cash asset?
have been year by year kept as a guar
anty by the companies for the protec
tion of their policy holders. It might
be largely swept away by conflagra
tion. The risk has been great, and yet
taking every, hazard into considera
tion, the average earnings from under
writing of American companies on
their assets at riBk have been less
than per cent. Banks during the
same period have earned 8 per cent.
it will be seen, therefore, that the
fire insurance companies have been
earning but a small profit for the risk
assumed in the Investment. That the
risk is great is shown by the fact that
during the last quarter-of a century
over 1,200 American fire insurance
companies have failed or retired, and
out of the survivors, only 32 organ
ised during the same period are still ir
business.
Recognizing, then, that the com
panies have not been bleeding the pub
lic, policy holders who have been ob
serving the trend of affairs see that
anti-compact laws, valued policy laws
and all legislation of such a nature, in
variably cause higher rates because of
the additional hazard, loss and expense
to companies 'which has to be collected
from the public .
Statistics show that from 1893 rates
In the United States steadily declined,
while in the anti-compact law states,
they continued to increase, and not
until 1897 did they reach a lower per
centage than in 1893. The average rate
from 1893 to 1898 was $1.11 per $100
in the United States, eleven cents lower
than In 1893. In states having an anti-compact
law the average rate during,
the same period was $1.27, or one cent
lower than in 1893.
Laws prohibiting companies to as
sociate together to maintain fair rates
have utterly failed to reduce them.
After such laws are enacted, no com
pany with business principles will
write policies at ruinous rates. The
old rates, therefore, prevail.' If com
panies were allowed to associate to
gether and compare their experiences:
in these states, the figures might show
that rates could be decreased. They
cannot reduce them because they are
forbidden by law to act in concert.
Valued policy laws which require
companies to pay the face of the policy
in case of a total loss, whether the
property burned is worth that amount
or not. have Increased the amount of
fire waste and caused higher rates, be
cause the greater loss requires just
that much more fire Insurance tax.
When a fire company issues a policy
of $10,000, for example, it does not
agree to pay that amount in case of a.
loss, but it does give the policy holder
the privilege of protection up to that
amount. If ha has that much value
and it Is destroyed, he is entitled to
that amount of Insurance.
To compel companies, therefore, to
pay the face of a policy, regardless of
the value of the property destroyed, Is
an incentive to crime. When a mans
through misrepresentation secures $10,-
uuu insurance on sa.uuu worm or goods,
the valued policy law compels the com
panies to pay, not the value of the
property destroyed, but the amount
named in their policies as the limit of -their
liability.
The only persons who can possibly
be benefited by such laws are those
who carry insurance beyond the value
of their property. Rates have to be
increased where valued policy laws
prevail to cover increased fire waste,,
in fact, it may be stated as an axiom
that any law that Increases the expense
of fire Insurance, or tends to increase
the fire waste of this country, causes a
corresponding Increase in the cost ot
fire indemnity, which must be paid by
people who need It.
When you can drop a nickel into a
phonagraph talk must be cheap in
deed. Small Valoatlou.
"Do you regard Silas Woodruff as;
one of the Important people in Can
by?" asked a summer visitor, referring,
to a member of the state legislature
whose home was in the little town. "L
hear he can talk up to the folks on
politics." answered the Canby farmer
to whom the question had been ad
dressed, "so I reckon he'3 some use
to the state, mebby; but in Canby we
don't count him of any more value
than a couple of rods of side hill."-
Youth's Companion.
Hard to Take.
"Jim, the loss of that $5 is like a.
barbed-wire fence." "How's thai?"
"Hard to get over." Boston Commer
cial Bulletin.
Chnrch Divorce Laws.
The lower house of the convocation!
of the church of England has passed
a resolution declaring that the law of
the church does not recognize divorce,
and asking the bishops to devote
themselves to securing action of par
liament to the end that the church,
shall not marry divorced persons.
Aoi"s Bargain.
In 1803 John Jacob Astor bought
two pieces of. farm land on the side
of New York city and paid for them
$23,000. They are now worth about
$5,000,000, while the Astor family ha
collected in these 95 years some $10,-
000,000 of rents from them. -
One of Them.
Mv dauehter " said the father, "has
always been accustomed to all the lux
uries of wealth." "Yees," replied the
count, bristling up, "rat ees what I
am." Philadelphia North American.
'. Address Wanted.
a well-known firm of London music?
publishers received a few days ago a
letter from the organist of a church
in New London. Conn., preferring the
following request: "Would you kind
ly inform me how a letter will reach
Mr. Ben Johnson, author, of song
words. "Drink to Me Only With Thine:
Eyes?" London Chronicle. . ; '
'ranee's National Debt. " '
The national debt of France is the
largest in the world-upwards of $6 -000,000,000,
about $116 per capita. This
debt has not been reduced recently