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About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (May 14, 1900)
THE MOILING OI?EOO?crA:N. MONDAY, MAT 14, 1900. ftft rexmitm at the PoBtoSJce at Portland. Oregos. u ooond-claxi matter. TELEPHONES. Itorlal Rooms. .166 I Buslsess Office... .OCT REVISED SUBSCRIPTION RATES. -By Mall (postage prepaid). In Advance my. with bunoay. per mcntn....-..-....?o S3 ly, Sunday excepted, per year.......... 7 CO ally, with Sunday, per year ....... 8 00 anday, per year ............ ............. 2 CO be weekly, per year...................... 1 SO tie Weekly. 3 months...... ... ..... CO To City Subscribers Jy, per -week, delivered. Sundays excepted.l5e lily, per week, delivered. Eundaya lndadecL20a Xews or discussion Intended for publication In Oregonlan should be addressed Invariably itor The Oregonlan. not to the name of Individual. Letters relatlrg to adrUstng. lptlons or to any business matter should addressed simply "The Oregonlan." The Orcgcnian does not buy poem or stories (rem Individuals, and cannot undertake to re- any manuscripts sent to It without asllclta- ion. o stamps should b inclosed lor this ie. Puget Sound Bureau Captain A. Thomp!3. MBos at 1111 Pacific avenue. Tacoraa. Box 853. facoma postofllce. Eastern Business OfUce The Tribune build- c Jew loro. oty; "Tie Rookery." Chicago; For sale In San Francisco by J. X. Cooper. iuarnei street, near the Palace hotel, and L Goldsmith nm. fa c..,- ----- For sale to Chicago by the P. O. J ews Co ijtsrooni street. TODAY'S WEATHER-Generally fair and ner; westerly winds. )BTI,AD, 3IOXPAY, MAY 14, 1900 TJntll now, it has been supposed that Daly, Fusion nominee for Congress the First district, was too consclen- ious a citizen and too intelligent a banker to subscribe to the free coin age of silver. Many have been dis posed to view his candidacy with equa- llmity under the impression that he mid be depended upon, if elected, to stand for honest finance and to resist repudiation proposals. His declaration kf prlnc'ples, given in an Interview In yesterday's issue of The Oregonlan, shows, however, that any such hope kt unconcern must be abandoned. Dr. )aly is for free coinage of silver at 16 1 by the United States alone. If the Jryanltes carry the Fifty-seventh Con- feres?, he will join hands with Tillman md Altgeld to send us to the silver aasis. No man who has the hardihood lo talk free silver at this late day should be trusted to represent Oregon fcn Congress. No man who has any In terest In stable business conditions. aid values for crops and wages, confi- lence for capital and steady employ- lent fcr labor can afford to vote for )r. Paly. The First district should -elect Representative Tongue by 5000 lajcrity. The exposure of tariff exactions at Manila, made in our Philippine corre spondence a week ago, is followed up this nurning iith a description of the concessionaire abuse there, which Is, if josslble, een more monstrous and fatal to trade than the extortionate du- les levied under the mixed Spanish and Jlnglcy tariff regime. These revela tions are simi ly awful, and The Ore- jonian is assured of their exact truth. Kgaln we would enjoin upon the busl- iess ontrmunltlts of the Pacific Coast e necessity of bringing these facts to attention of potent commercial id political influences at the East. Congress or the Administration in do In the matter is uncertain, but rfcat Is absolutely certain is that nbth- wlll be done until Influential public inion is enlightened as-to the true iture of the burdens under which lerican trade i ith the Philippines is now staggering Marked copies of this aaper should be sent to every person at influence who is Interested in the fcxtension of American trade In the prtent. In another column will be found a Statistical comparison of local condl- lons Jn 18SG and today. The hard times lif 1S96 wculd continue, the Bryanltes assured us, unless we took 16 to 1. But re tool: the gold standard, and the choice must stand or fall by the rec ord. That record shows that the de posits in Portland's National banks have increased in the four years by liearly $3,000 000, a gain of more than 0 per cent. Postofllce receipts have increased 42 per cent. Bank clearings for three months have Increased by IS.i30.COO. Eprybody knows the In- lireaso in population has been in noth ing nearly so large a proportion. The mderlable fact is that the condition lif our people has improved. Perhaps t "will be safest to let the gold standard ilone. Perhaps the Bryanltes didn't Imow what they were talking about. ?erhaps they don't know now. Pep- laps the safest way to treat their rophecies and their proposals Is to kvold them. i-Ssn"or Buen Camino, the member of e Fillrlno cabinet who has come out an advocate of American sover- rgnty, has simply taken the oosition issumed long ago by the most intelli gent cf the mestizo class in Manila. amino has belonged to the conservn- vo class of the insurrectionary lead- rs, and has always been considered ne of the ablest and most sensible if those constituting the FIliDino fiov- 'rnment. His classification of the iresent hostile forces as "bandits who ontinue depredations in the name of dependence," must give a shock to hose Americana who view them hrough rcse-tinted glasses and can imly see patriots struggling for llbem- jtet Camino, being a Filipino himself. kn intelligent man and a leader In the isurrectionary government, ought to o.ol to what status the movement has reduced and the character and 'es cf the men who are carrying guerrilla warfare, murderinc fceable men who do not hanDen to fee with them, and plundering both nd and foe alike. If Camino can e his plundered countrymen to furn csrtfnst these bandits and aid the Americans to suppress them, the reign )t terror may soon be ended and the iople be permitted to settle down in security to the pursuits of peace. The demand of the Filipinos for the eclusion of friare from the admlnls- itlon of the parishes Is one of more sportance and difficulty than appears the surface. This has been one of greatest grievances of the natives . -one that has been made prominent every at'empt at negotiations for sace. To the extent of depriving the liars of a'l civil power, the demand easily be complied with and doubt will be. but our regard for rellg- Fmk toleration and freedom of indlvid- fcl movement would prevent the full itlficatlon of the Filipinos' deslros. ley want the friars absolutely ex- tuded from their churches. If the Catholic Church authorities should con tinue the friars In charge of churches throughout the provinces, it Is not clear how the civil government could prevent it. On the contrary, it -would be the duty of the Government to protect them in the exercise of this right, and prevent violence to their persons and property. THEIR PLATFORM A MERC PRE TEXT. The "Citizens" Legislative nominees have promulgated a platform. It pro fesses to enunciate the principles they represent, and to define the Issues upon which they stand for election. It does neither. It. is a distinct avoidance of the real policies and projects for which these gentlemen have banded together a pitiful and cowardly evasion in Its failure to set forth the adventure upon which they have Joined their fortunes. Their actual platform Is de feat for the Republican party; their reason being that it is the Republi can party, and that its candidates were regularly nominated by the recognized party machinery. Certain Democrats have therefore made a combination with certain disgruntled Republicans for what is to them the common good the common personal good. The platform is deliclously ingenu ous. It makes for eighteen several candidates twelve Democrats and five or six bolting Republicans tho solemn avowal that they are "entirely un pledged" for any candidate for Sen ator, and in casting their vote will not be "Influenced by any selfish con sideration," but "will vote for such person as individually, in our opinion, will best represent the interests of Oregon." That is, they declare that they have no politics, and will cast their whole eighteen votes for a Demo crat, or a Republican, or a Populist, as to each respective voter seems de sirable from his own Independent and unbiased standpoint. They are to be influenced by no considerations of Na tional policy or National welfare whatever. The great questions upon which parties divide and the destiny of the country hinges are of no moment. They will try to pick out the man who can exercise the longest pull In behalf of Oregon. If he Is a Democrat, all right; If he is a Republican, so be It; if he Is a Populist, let It go at that. No matter. This is wholly a state ques tion. It is none of the Nation's busi ness whom we send to Washington to take part In its councils. And it is none of the Republican party's busi ness, nor the Democratic, nor the Pop ulist. All this is shabby dissembling, cheap and diaphanous pretense. We all know better. We know that the al leged Republicans on the ticket are under the most binding obligation, ex press or implied, to vote for that Sen atorial candidate upon whom the choice of the Mltchell-McBride ma chine falls. It may be McBrlde. It may be Mitchell. It may "be a Silver Democrat, In the not impossible event that there is a Democratic Legislature or that these five or six "Republicans" hold the oalance of power in the Legis lature, between Democrats who are Democrats, and Republicans who are Republicans. Why should they not vote for a Democrat? They say that the politics of a Senatorial candidate is no matter. The Democrats on the Fusion ticket will vote for a Democrat If there Is a chance to elect him; or. If there Is not, they will, under the per suasive Mltchell-McBride influence, vote for a Republican; that is to say, a Mitchell Republican. This poor, tottering excuse for a plat form has made the discovery that a suffering public is in vital need of three things, viz: (1) A primary law, (2) a new method of collecting taxes, and (3) a new city charter. The first all parties favor; the second is simply a question of procedure, wherein the practice of every state widely differs, and there Is a conflict of expert opinion as to what Is best; and the last we have always with us. We have needed a new char ter every two years, and have usually secured it. Doubtless we can get an other next Winter from an obliging Legislature, whatever party is in con trol. The taxpayers are doing pretty well in matters that most concern them just now, and are not lying awake at nights trying to devise some novel and untried scheme to change the sys tem. We are doing reasonably well, too, In our progress toward primary re form. It requires a wide stretch of the Imagination to fancy that a Democratic Legislature will make haste to engraft primary election reform upon the stat utes, or that a Republican Legislature will give It any more quickly because a lot of nondescript politicians, who have no party, propose to enact a law by which a party shall regulate Its own affairs and determine Its own contests and select Its own candidates. The things which these quasi-Mltchell-Mc-Brlde nominees, masquerading as "Citi zens," declare to be issues are not is sues. They are giving the public no concern. They are scarcely In the pub lic mind. THE SAXMOX OUTLOOK. According to the report of the Har riman expedition to investigate the fisheries of Alaska, from which ex tracts are given elsewhere, the end of salmon-packing In that country Is al most in sight. The greed of packers has practically exterminated Uie fish in many localities, and no efforts are being made to prevent it or to renew the supply through artificial propaga tion. The outlook is that the great Alaska pack will dwindle to almost nothing In a few years. In contrast with this Is the wonder ful Increase of the pack on Puget Sound, where new canneries are build ing, and where the state is providing for a permanent supply of fish through maintenance of hatcheries for that purpose. On the Columbia River also the promise of an Increased pack of the best quality of fish is good. No less than seven hatcheries are main tained on the waters of this stream by Oregon, Washington and the United States, which will this j'ear put into the water from 3ft.000.000 to 50.006.000 young salmon. We are already reap ing the benefit of the work done by hatcheries on the Columbia on a much smaller scale in former years, and wheu the effect of the more extensive work of last year, and the still greater output of this and future seasons, is felt, as It will be in lf2 and continu ously thereafter. Uie salmon-fiehlng in dustry on the Colombia will advance materially in the quantity and value of 41r output. The superior quality of 'Columbia River saliacn Iuls always given it a special standing nd quotation In the market. The dew-?r 1 fr klpmen.s to distant markets J-j. a fresh state, and for cold storage for local use and ship ment during close seasons, has so in creased of late as to make prices rule higher this season than ever before. Nothing but the superior quality of the fish, thus giving it a higher rating In the market, enables packers to pay the ruling prices, which are much higher than elsewhere. With a great Increase in the number of fish running in the river, such as the extensive work of the hatcheries may reasonably be expected to produce in the next three or four years, the price of fresh fish on the Columbia Is likely so to be reduced to the packers as to permit them to compete with inferior salmon from other localities at the same mar ket price. When that time comes the Columbia River will again taka the lead In the quantity of its pack It held ip former years, while still retaining the reputa tion for superior quality it has never surrendered. AMERICAN MARIXERS' HANDICAP. The advantages of the British, Ger mans, Italians, French or most any other nation on earth that is engaged in the maritime business over the United States, is strikingly illustrated In the case of the lolani, sunk in col lision off the California coast a few days ago. The lolani Is not exactly an American bark, but as there Is no longer a Hawaiian Government, she was In a sense under the protection of the American flag. The Hawaiian Islands are very short on tonnage with which to move their sugar crop, and the loss of even a single vessel at the present time Is severely felt. This loss affects not only the sugar-growers and fruit-shippers of the Hawaiian Islands, but it also adds to the expense and hampers the trade of the men who are shipping lumber, hay, oats, flour and other Pacific Coast products to the islands. "Look at the maritime greatness of England; witness the marvelous growth of Germany's merchant ma rine," cry the advocates of the shipping-subsidy graft, endeavoring by an entirely false line of reasoning to con vey the impression that subsidies have been the great factor in giving these countries the maritime prestige they now enjoy. Let us take Great Britain, for instance. Her fleets "have fed the seas for a thousand years," and she certainly knows something about the business. Had the lolani still been fly ing the British flag, and met her fate while carrying cargo from one of the dependencies of that country, would the loss of the ship have any per ceptible effect on the general car rying trade of the island from which she was proceeding? Would her Brit ish owner be obliged to sit In idleness until the overcrowded yards of the shipbuilding trust could turn out an other vessel to take her place a year or two hence? Well, hardly. He would collect his Insurance, take the money and go out Into the open market and buy the first craft he found that was suitable for the place of the lost ves sel, no matter what flag she was sail ing under. By this method there would be no disarrangement of business, the products of the farmer, planter, lum berman and manufacturer would move unhampered-to the world's markets, and the prestige of the flag would be maintained. The absorption of the Hawaiian Islands by the United States has left quite a fleet of ships without a flag, and a bill is now before Congress ask ing that this fleet be Americanized along with tho rest of the Hawaiian appurtenances. In the memorial to Congress, the owners of these ships state that the trade of the Islands will suffer greatly If American regis try is not given these ships. This may be true in fact, is true but why should the Hawaiian producer be per mitted to have his products carried to market in foreign-built free ships, while this privilege Is denied the Amer ican farmer? This is a question which Chief Promoter Smith, of the shipping-subsidy graft, has not discussed very fully in the syndicate stuff which he is sending out to the newspapers to run in big type, top column, next pure reading matter. TAKING SCHOOLS OUT OF POLITICS. The New Tork Legislature recently enacted a bill, which has just become a law by the signature of the Governor, taking schools out of politics. There are employed today In New Tork City school-teachers enough to make eleven army regiments. Hitherto, by reason of their absolute dependence on the Board of Education and the other board, which appropriates salaries, the teachers have been obliged to submit to whatever political pressure these boards saw fit to exert, even to the extent of appearing to oppose measures which the Legislature was asked to adopt for their relief from dependence upon political Influences. The 11,000 school-teachers of New York City, It is estimated, can control from 13,000 to 20,000 votes, and this political power both parties have not hesitated to se cure through adroit handling of the Board of Education and the subordi nate boards, and especially through pressure brought to bear upon the teachers and their friends. These teachers have received from the city in salaries about $12,000,000 annually, and It Is through the boards that had control of the appropriation for salaries that these teachers havo been made to feel their absolute dependence and sub jection to the ruling political party. It has In the past sometimes cost a teacher his place to say a word In op position to the methods of the Board of Education, the Controller or the board that appropriated the public money. But the friends of consistent and complete civil service reform finally took up the cause of the teachers and urged the enactment of legislation which would make them as Independent of the appointing power, so far as sal aries are concerned or permanence of employment, as are the subordinate employes In the city government. The bill providing for this enlarged reform In the civil service was bitterly op posed by the city government, by the Board of Education, by the Board of Appropriation, and by the Controller, upon various pretexts, but the real ground of opposition was the fact that If the bill became a law It would ab solutely remove the 11.000 teachers, with all thir family and social influ ence, from under the thumb of polit ical pressure. Fortunately for the fate of this most important enlargement of reform In the civil service, the Superin tendent of Schools, Mr. Maxwell, de spite the fact that his own appointment is subject to the control cf the Board -cf Education, supported the bill as not only jast, but expedient, and It was due to his earnest advocacy that Governor Roosevelt was finally persuaded to sign it. The fundamental principle of the bill Is that it takes away the power of dis crimination from the board that appro priates public money, and leaves that board with nothing but clerical respon sibility. The state, through the Legis lature, takes the responsibility, fixes the rate and gives the Board of Ap propriation no other duty than to set apart from the total tax or aggregate sum available for public purposes 4 mills on the dollar, and the whole sum thus raised Is to be turned over to the Board of Education for salary pay ments. The amount for th,is year will be about $14,000,000, making an aver age payment for the 11,000 teachers of from 51200 to 51400 a year, but the law compels the Board of Education to add each year a certain Increment, so that after a given time of service It will be possible for a male teacher to earn as much as ?24C0 a year, or, if he be a prin cipal or assistant, as much as $3000 a year. No teacher is to receive less than $700. This Is a long step forward In true civil service reform, for hereafter, through this law, the 11.000 teachers of New York City are not only sure of their pay the day it becomes due. but know exactly what that pay Is to be and how much It will be Increased each year until the maximum Is reached. Heretofore, In some of the boroughs, the teachers were compelled to go with out salaries for six months, because of quarrels between the different boards; and in other boroughs salaries were held up two and three months, a very great hardship, of course, to the teach ers and their dependent families. No more hopeful step in true civil service reform legislation has been taken by the great State of New York in recent years, and the passage of the bill In face of most powerful opposition from the politicians of both parties, and Its approval by the Governor, are cheer ing signs of broader and higher poli tics. Wharton Barker, the nominee of the MIddle-of-the-Road Populists for Pres ident, comes of stock of excellent abil ity in business with a flaw of political eccentricity In It. The grandfather of Wharton Barker was Jacob Barker, a man of distinguished ability In busi ness, who was the intimate friend and financial adviser of President Madison in the war of 1S12-14. He was Instru mental in raising the war loan of $10, 000,000, In which he and his friends In vested $3,000,000. He sustained severe business reverses In 1S19; was Indicted for Insurance fraud In 1834, but defend ed himself so ably that tho indictment was quashed. He went to New Or leans, where he rapidly rose to the front rank of business men, and ac quired another large fortune, which, however, he lost through the breaking out of the Civil War. At New Orleans, when nearly CO years of age, he studied law and was admitted to the bar. His political radicalism was shown by the fact that, while living in New Orleans, In a slave state, from 1S35 to 1861, he was an ardent anti-slavery man. an agent of the "Under Ground Railroad." He died in 1871 nt the great age of 92. It will be seen from this description of his famous grandfather that Wharton Barker's curious mixture of business talent and political eccentricity is an hereditary trait. Mr. Barker was for merly an independent Republican, an advocate of civil service reform legis lation, a warm supporter of Garfield, and as early as 1S84 favored his Inti mate friend, Benjamin Harrison, for President. In 18S1 Mr. Barker headed the Independent Republican revolt which resulted In the election of Pattl son, a Democrat, as Governor of Penn sylvania He is a "blmetallst" and something of a socialist. He belongs to the same tribe f men of business abil ity but erratic politics that was once brilliantly represented by George Fran cis Train In the days of his intellectual coherence. After some years of freedom from trichinae, during which, presumably, people have cooked their pork before eating it, and kept their hogs from eating animal refuse, a case of trich inae poisoning Is reported from Baker City. Medical science scored In the case by saving the lives of the two children who partook of raw or insuf ficiently cooked ham an advance over the time when every patient attacked by this most disgusting disease suc cumbed to Its ravages. A distinctly preventable disease, it Is to the credit of our civilization that cases of trich inae are so exceedingly rare. The Interest in the soldiers' monu ment, as shown by the sale of the sou venir buttons, is extremely gratifying. Memorial day will soon be here, and for the first time Oregon will decorate the graves of her new soldier dead at the same time flowers are laid upon the well-remembered graves of those of the old soldiers. It would be a fitting trib ute if every one wore on that day one of these memorial buttons. If this were done throughout the state, the fund would be Increased sufficiently to Insure the speedy erection of a splen did monument to Oregon's soldier dead. Tanner Is not to be Mason's colleague in the Senate Illinois has much to be thankful for. Soon Mason will cease to be Cullom's colleague. Then the obli gation of gratitude will be doubled. Hanna pays high tribute to the sta bility of the Administration and the statesmanship of McKlnley. Right. Both have survived the burden of Hanna. Everybody should wear a monument button on Memorial day. Captain of tlxe Orejron. New York Times. Two years ago the country was ringing with the praise of Clark's grand work in tho Oregon. He raced her all the way from San Francisco to Cuba, without a break, a wonderful achievement. The ponderous but delicate 12,003-ton ship, with tho great rifles, the massive armor, the 50 separate engines, the torpedoes, and the 500 men. came flying through ihe seas in storm and calm alike, by day and by night, her engines throbbing incessant aa the heart of the one man who impelled and unified all. It was almost a miracle. I question If in all the world's navies another ship could have been .found that could have done it. The Oregon was a ouperb vessel, built en honor by the Pa cific Coast: "but It was not enough to have a perfect ship. It needed the man who could get her ready and then Inspire the 10 to the unremitting and terrible labor. Do you not remember how the officers. In order to save time and hearten the weary men, took hold and trundled in coal with their own hands? Or how it was the effort of the men not to go on the sick list from exhaustion? It was good work, and we knew It then. At Santiago the Oregon, though not built for speed, was the racer of the day, and it was she who really captured the swift Colon after that heart-breaking chase of 60 miles, with the men working in a sealed flrcroom at a temperature j oi jj. uia we not tninK weu ot moaesi, brilliant "Charlie" Clark then? Every body felt that he would receive some spe cial reward. It was such a matter of course that no one made It his business to attend to It. How has It worked out? His sole re ward was a leave of absence on reduced pay. given that he might restore his health, ruined by his exertions and ex posure. Just now he Is second In com mand at the League Island yard. But if he got nc reward, he did get some pun ishment. As a result of the promotions after Manila and of the personnel bill, he now stands relatively lower on the list than before the war. He now finds four men above him whom he used to rank. It Is a damnable shame. "Charlie" Clark will never go begging and whining to Congress to do him Jus tice; he is too modest and too proud. He will continue to be the same slmp!e, sweet hearted man, always jolly and always beloved, and he will qnlety go on doing his duty without compalnt until he dies. But this uncommon man has got some thing out of It in spite ot fate, some thing that no forgctfulnees or neglect can take away. He has "self-approval, which is the best after all." I quote his own words about another manr written after his fine work had been done and when he lay waiting In cheerful pain for strength to do more work. A SUPERFLUOUS OFFICE. Vice-Presidency the Goal of Ambi tions Mediocrity. Chicago Tribune. When the amendment to the Constitu tion changing the method of electing the President and iVIce-President was being debated la Congress, nearly a century ago, some persons were In favor of the abolition of the latter office. Roger Grts wold and John Randolph agreed that It was not needed. Perhaps it would have been better had that "fifth wheel of the coach" been done away with. On som occasions the dismal prophecies made when the Constitutional amendment was being considered have been realized. Roger Grlswold said: "The man voted for as Vice-President will be selected without any decisive view as to his quali fications to administer the Government. Tho momentary views of party may per haps be promoted, but the permanent in terests of the country are sacrificed." John Tyler and Andrew Johnson axe illus trations of Grlswold's foresight. "The question will not be asked," sold Senator White, "Is the candidate for Vice President capable? Is he honest? But can he, by his name, by hia connections, by his wealth, by his local situation, by his Influence or his Intrigues, best pro mote the election of a President?" The office of Vice-President, said another Sen ator, "would be hawked about at market" and used as a "gudgeon to catch the vote of a state." The Democratic nominee for Vice-President In 1S30 was selected be cause he had wealth and because he came from a close state. The Republicans nom inated Mr. Wheeler In 1S76, and General Arthur In 1SS0, not because of their pre eminent abilities, but because they were citizens of the Important State of New York. The Vice-President Is a well-paid pre siding officer. He remains a dignified fig urehead throughout his term, except In the contingency of the President's death. This is an unpleasant contingency, which probably never had any Influence with candidates for Vice-Presidential nomina tions. The position has become so unim portant that every second-rate man sees no Impropriety In his seeking it, especial ly If he comes from an important state, and no first-rate man cares to accept It, and by doing ao probably end his polit ical career. It Is not to be wondered at that Gov omor Roosevelt should be disinclined to shut himself up for four years In the Vice-Presidency. They would be four wasted years of his life. It fa not to be wondered at that Senator Allison should prefer to continue being an active, useful and most influential Senator to surrender ing Influence and usefulness by becoming merely tho moderator of the Senate. Thero is much about the Vice-Presidency to tempt mediocre men, and an Infinite number of them have their eyes on the position. It is becoming exceedingly diffi cult to find an able, ambitious man who cares for the place once filled by John Adams, Jefferson and Calhoun. The office Is a superfluous one. A XEEDLESS COMMISSION. Bnnlness Men Must Runtlc Oriental Trade for Themselves. Chicago Tribune. Thero Is before Congress a bill to au thorize the President to appoint a com mission to study commercial and indus trial conditions In China. Japan and ad jacent countries In Eastern Asia, to find out what products of American farms and workshops may be sold there, and how they should be manufactured, packed and shipped. The bill carries an appro priation of $75,000 to pay the salaries and traveling expenses of the members of the commission. This bill Is said to be the result of many communications from Boards of Trade and Chambers of Commerce, urg ing tho Importance of finding out how best to develop American commerce In the markets of the Orient. This is a praiseworthy object, but tho measure was criticised sharply when under dis cussion in the House last week. The fact was brought out that a year ago $200,COO was appropriated for the Philadelphia Commercial Museum, and that of that sum $70,000 was spent In sending agents to China to get the Information It is proposed this commission shall get. Fur thermore, there Is a bill pending to ap propriate 5200.000 more for that commer cial museum, which Is doing a good deal to foster American trade interests. If this bill passes, It will be possible to give some estimable gentlemen pleas ant employment for a year or more. Nothing that they may do, however, will be likely to add much to the volume of American traffic. No reports they may maice wm add anytning of value to in formation being supplied from other quar ters. A series of special Consular reports for China and Japan Is to be issued soon. The American Consuls In Chlnt and Japan, most of whom have been there for two or three years, ought to be able to do better service than a commission which will have to spend much time In finding out matters the Consuls have al ready found out. There are some men in the field, however, In Eastern Asia who are able to do better work than commissioners or Consuls. They are' the intelligent representatives of some of the great American manufacturing corpora tions. They unite technical skill and com mercial energy. These concerns which have sent their agents to Asia, Europe and other parts of the world are of the opinion that the way to get business Is to go out and hunt for It. They do not wait for Con suls or commissions to tell them what to do. Those who wait for information from those sources will be likely to find tne field prettj- well occupied. The commer cial Interests of the country will not be harmed if this commission bill fails, and the Treasury will be $75,000 better off. Golnpr Back on 10 to 1. New York Journal of Commerce. General Warner was on apostle of the mystic ratio when Mr. Bryan was still playing marblea, and his capacity for talking about free coinage and the woes inflicted upon the world by the gold standard were never surpassed by any man, unless It were Senator Stewart, of Nevada. The advocates of that ratio are quite right In assuming that it is the whole of the silver issue. To depart from that is to confess that Congress cannot make one article equal another in value, and the moment that Is admitted the whole case of the free-coinage men is gone. The Issue was originally etatcd with exceptional clearness by Mr. Jeffer son, who said that the ratio was a com mercial question altogether. The sllver Ites have Instated that It was not a com mercial question at all; It was a legal question altogether. And now General Warner, who was the colleague of the late Mr. Bland as a champion of the latter proposition, confesses that it has been completely defeated. EFFECT OF PUBLICITY. Rational Banks She-rr What Might Be- Boae With Tracts. New York Times, The suggestion that the true corrective for such abuses as may arise in connec tion with "trusts" lies in a reasonable publicity enforced by law has been met by the objection that It Is impracticable to secure such publicity without invading private business rights and Injuring cor porate Interests entitled io protection. We Invite the attention of those to whom this objection seems conclusive to the statements of banks published In our ad vertising columns. They are very numer ous, and come not only from our own city but from other cities In the state and from those In other states. Most of them are the statements of National banks, and are in the form prescribed by law, but others are either the statements of state banks or of National banks In a form dif ferent from that imposed by statute. In the cases .of these latter It is plain that the publications made obligatory by law for other banks are made as a matter of advantage. They are simply advertise ments, and contain the truthful accounts of the condition of the banks which. In tho opinion of the officers, are calculated to awaken confidence and increased pros perity. In other words, these advertise ments are a proof that publicity of this extended character Is helpful, and not harmful to the banks as to which it Is practiced. It will hardly be denied that tho business of banks Is at least as deli cate and as likely to suffer from unwar ranted Intrusion on the part of the public as la the business of any other class of corporations. In the early days of the National system there was a very strong prejudice against It on the part of men engaged in state banking, precisely on the ground that the provisions of the Federal law were Inquisitorial and sure, if complied with, to be Injurious. The Pres ident of a strong bankinthe interior of this state remarked of the Federal law: "You might as well ask me to throw open my books to all my rivals and have done with It." And he predicted that the whole sys tem would fall from tho operation of tho requirements as to publicity, but he lived to become the head of a National bank more successful than his old one. It Is .true that publicity helps only the sound concerns, but that Is not exactly an argument against its application to "trusts." WEBSTER DJVIS, ORATOR. The Blnr of Gesturing Hands and Chant of Peroration. Boer sympathizers were disappointed In the attendance at the recent Webster Davis pro-Boer meeting In New York. At the opening thero were fewer than lto persons by actual count on the main floor, where there was an admission charge of 50 cents and $1. So the admission fee was abandoned, and the galleries, which were pretty closely packed, overflowed Into tho lower regions, and the houeo was eventually filled. The New York Sun. In its report of tho meeting, says: "Mr. Davis oratorical methods were remarkable. Beginning In a low, plaintive, almost walling voice, Mr. Davis leaped in successive hops, skips and bounds to such heights of oratorical pas sion that the audience for a few moments seemed in doubt Just what It ought to do about It. Tho speaker threw his head back until his face was turned straight up toward the zenith. His hando, held up to the level of each side of his head, shook with a curious gesture until they wero mere blurs-, while his head swung from side to sldo with a rapidity and force that It seemed must result In some phys ical damage. "Ho began his peroration with the up lifted face, the fiercely shaking hands and head of the other Impassioned pas sages, but as he went on and on It de veloped Into a sort of general Invocation and then Into a queer, walling sort o prayer, prolonged through quivering sen tence after sentence. Then it became a sing-song sound of chant, which gradually took on more and more of rhyme and rhythm, until it dawned upon the hearers that Mr. Davis was not reciting verses to close with, but was singing them to a tunc. It was not a jolly tune, rather a melancholy one, but It was a tune clearly defined and unmistakable. The words were not understandable. "At last the orator. In a kind of running stagger, reached his chah- and collapsed Into it. hi? face pale and his breast heav ing. It was oratory, and tho audience know it, and howled Itself hoarse In ap proval of Kaneas City's ex-Mayor." The Unassailable Aristocracy. New York Tribune. The modern democratic spirit has done much for the uplifting of humanity. It has asserted and made good the oneness of the race against tho false claims of kinsreraft and nrlestcraft. It has taught tho humblest human being to think and act for himself, and has shown him that he can make and unmake those who as pire to rule over him. But even a democ racy has Its limitations. It cannot make or unmake a thinker, an Investigator, a philosopher. It could not by any expres sion of ODinlon either advance or retard the work dono by a Spencer, a Darwin, or a Huxley. The world of truth discovered by the thinker could not have been dis covered by popular vote, nor would its value to mankind be lessened In the slightest degree by the adverse opinion of the noDulace. Thrones have crumbled, mitres have fallen, and privileged orders of nobility have melted away before the blazing anger of the people. But one se rene aristocrat still remains, and always will remain the thinker, whose mission it is to tell the truth even to the people. Educate the Sfegrro. Chicago Tribune. In hl3 opening address as presiding of ficer of the Montgomery conference on the negro problem, the Hon. Hilary A. Her bert took the broad and generous ground that education le the only efficient means of solving that problem. He said: "To bring about better relations between the races we need more education, both of the whitesand the blacks. Men must be educated to broader views of the relations they bear to each other." He also en thusiastically eulogized the system of Industrial education ae taught at Tuske gee by Booker Washington. While he cKd not believe the negro could be ele vated to complete equality with the white man, ho recognized the duty of the whiter to lift him up and improves him until he becomes a better laborer, better citizen and more useful to himself and the country. This problem, ho said. Is one which the South must work out, "or God only can tell what is to become of us." Mr. Herbert has gone to the very root of tho question, and if the conference shall proceed Upon the lines he has laid down there is hope that the problem may some day be solved. Dogdom'x Debt to McKlnley. St. Paul Pioneer Press. The dogs, too, are sharing In the bene fits of McKlnley prosperity. In Milwau kee, for instance, in the hard times of 1S93-JH. the number of dog licenses, en titling the beneficiaries thereof to life, liberty and the pursuit of canine happi ness without Interference from dog-catchers, was only about 60CO. For this year It will probably be over 000. The number of owners able to pay a license fee Is thus shown to have increased fully 0 ner cent, with a consequent saving of 3000 docs from slaughter. Probably the same state of affairs prevails in most of the dog -world outside of Milwaukee. He must be an ungrateful dog who will not bark for the re-election of McKlnley. NOTE AND .COMMENT. , r, . It Is not too late to register, but It will bo Wednesday. Judge Thomas O'Day Is not a candi date for 'Vice-President. " If you have a little- time today, you might put It In registering. Portland scorchers havo extended tho sidewalk ordinance to June 5. Abdul Hamid Is getting mighty careless of his standing -with the commercial agencies. Bryan can hardly hope to get the'ear of the worklngmen till he Is elected and the mills all shut down. Pennoyer Is not out for anything this year. He is waiting till the candidates for seats In the Hall of Fame open thelc campaigns. Kansas City has been having some mora cyclones. The weather man is evidently determined to test her out thoroughly before she Is subjected to the strain .ot a Democratic convention. "Money talks, you know." said tha American Ambassador, persuasively. "Yes," replied Abdul Hamld, "but I be lieve In a quiet reign." And he put tho check-book, with which he had been toy ing suggestively, back Into his lnslds pocket. "Dewey was right," said McKlnley, when ho announced that the office of President was not diflJcult to fill. "Tha trouble Is to empty it." And, calling tho Janitor, he requested him to Inform, tha 4S2 people who wero waiting outside tho door to see him that he was suffering se verely with appendicitis, and could see no one for a week. The bees have been busy among the lo cust blossoms during the past week, whenever the weather was fit for a self respecting bee to be abroad, and the hum ming of the busy workers sounded like a dynamo running up In the trees. Already, the brief period of blooming of the lo custs is about past, and the ground Is whitened with their blossoms, and In a few days more the bees will have to turn their attention to some other source of honey supply. Fortunately, there is no lack of such at this- season, and the bees havo In prospect as rich and bounteous a harvest as the farmers. The tiny linnets that prey on the aphis which Infests rose bushes are very nu merous about town, and can frequently be seen In bands of a dozen or more, hard at work on the rose bushes. When they need something more substantial than the juicy aphis they feast on the seeds of the dandelion, and thus confer another benefit on the public by helping to retard the spread of this pest. It is Interesting to watch them feeding on the dandelion seed. They come flying along and alight by a sweep of their wings on the stalk of tho dandelion. Just below the downy head, bending it down, and then proceed tOj seat the seeds at their leisure. They could not reach the seeds from the ground, and It would not do to alight on the head among the seeds, so they seize the stem on one side, and their weight, trifling as It Is, brings the head down to where It can be comfortably despoiled. Every ona is glad to see these little birds about their grounds. It is not an easy thing for any one to accustom himself to turning out at 4 o'clock In the morning, and especially is It difficult for a healthy boy, who has no nerves or other troubles to prevent him from sleeping like a log. Newspa pora, however, must be carried out in the morning, and .boys must get up to do It, and one of these lads who finds It absolutely impossible to awaken early enough has etevised an Ingenious plan to overcome his sluggishness. On retir ing he fastens one end of a string to hl3 great toe and casts the other end out of his bedroom window, with a vial at tached by way of a handle. Several other carrier-boys pass the house on their way down town, and are only too happy to pull tho string till the owner is awak ened, of which they are made aware by hi3 yells of pain. They generally give a good pull extra to make certain that he will not lie down and go to sleep again. Should he do so, the next boy coming along awakens him again, and if his toa holds and the string does not slip, he is very likely to get down town In time to attend to business. It is said that under the strain to which it is subjected the too Is rapidly Increasing in length, and will soon be long enough to dangle out of tha window, and a special box-toe shoe will have to be provided to coll It away In. Counting- Qunll Before Hatched. Some wealthy sportsmen of Bridgeport. Conn., have sent to Kansas for 60 dozen quail. As soon as the birds arrive they will be taken out In batches jand. liberated at various points in the surrounding coun try. They cost $4 a dozen, and It Is ex pected that, when liberated, they will b easily able to maintain themselves. Quails mate In April and May. Each pair will produce two broods of 10 or 12 birds each during the Summer and early Fall. The Bridgeport men think that about 60 per cent of the young will survive, so that In the Fall there will be about E00O quail to kill when the law is off. PLEASANTRIES OF PARAGRAPHERS Her Reason. "Toa seem to like bis atten tions. "Why don't you marry him?" "Becausa I like his attentions." Brooklyn Life. Pacts In the Cas& "How did he lose his standing in the comnumltyr" "By getting drunk and lettlne a train run over his legs." Chicago Tlmes-Horald. Hicks No. I don't suppose I am up to your plane of Intelligence. Fact Is. I have deteri orated since you first knew me. Wicks Impos sible! Boston Transcript. Naturally Mayme (disconsolately) 3Iy in crease In salary hasn't done me a bit of good. Marie Dear me. "Why hasn't It? ilayme (more disconsolately) It baa Just made my wants Increase. Life. Impressed. He I have Just returned from & little railroad trip, and the scenery did ma good. She Nature was grand, was she? He Tes; and I have never seen the advertisements In more gorgeous colors. Harper's Bazar. Sure Sign. "I am certain that Sue Is en gaged to Mr. Dinkey," said Miss Klttlsh to Miss Flypp. "Why. she never mentions him." 'That Is tv bat convinces me. She used to make all manner of fun of him." Detroit Free Press. What He Would Fear. I don't think." said the Observant Boarder, "that I should caro to propose to a girl addicted to photography." "And why not?" asked tho Cross-Eyed Board er. "I should be afraid that she would seiza the opportunity to develop a negative," Pitts burg Chronicle-Telegraph. Humor Lacking. "Ha! ha! It's rich," laughed the gay American. "I wonder Just how many years It will take the British to settle with the Boers!" "About as many as It will take the Americans to finish up the Fili pinos." replied the Briton, soberly. Those British have absolutely no sense of humor. Philadelphia North American. A Battlehcad. Farmer Dunk (catching them) Ar-har! So you are tryln' to dope with the hired girl, are ye? His Son Ye'es, sir. Farmer Dank Wa-aL K you ain't the gol-vummedest feller for wantin excitnent all the timet Didn't I let you go to the circus last Summer, and to your gran'mother's funeral In the Fall, and didn't you stay up as late as you wanted to seeln the last eclipse of themoon? What In the tunkett do ye want, anyhow contlnu! hooraw r' Pack. Z