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About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 26, 1901)
V- s -- THE MORNING OKEGOyiAff, SATURDAY. JANUARY 26, 1901. fts rfegomcm Entered at the Postoffice at Portland, Oregon, as second -class matter. TELEPHONES. Editorial Rooms itf Business Office.. .OCT REVISED SUBSCRIPTION RATES. By- Mall (postage prepaid). In Advance Iany. with Sunday, per month S S5 wajiy, bumlay excepted, per ear 7 50 Dally, with Sunday, per year 0 00 bunday, per year .'. 2 00 The Weekly, per year - 1 00 Th Weekly, S months .. 60 To City Subscribers .Dally, per week, delivered, Sundays excepted.l3e Dally, per week, delivered. Sundays lncluded.20c POSTAGE RATES. United States, Canada and Mexico: 10 to IC-page paper 1c 10 to 32 pace paper ..k 2o Foreign rates double. News or discussion Intended for publication In The Oregonian should be addressed Invaria bly "Editor The Oregc-nlan," not to the name cf any Individual. Letters relating to advertis ing, subscriptions or to any business matter should be addressed simply "The Oregonian." The Oregonian doss not buy poems or stories from Individuals, and cannot undertake to re turn any manuscripts sent to It without solici tation. No stamps should bo inclosed for this purpose. Puget Sound Bureau Captain A. Thompson, office at 1111 Pacinc avenue, Tacoma. Box 055. Tacoma Postfllce. Eastern Business Office The Tribune build ing. New Tork City; 'The Rookery," Chicago; the S C Beckwitb special agency. New Tork. For sale In San Francisco by J. K. Cooper, 748 Market street, near the Palace Hotel; Gold smith Bros., 236 Sutter street: F. W. Pitts. 1003 Market street; Foster & Orear, Ferry News stand. For rale in Los Angeles by B. F. Gardner, 50 So Spring street, and Oliver & Haines, 106 So Spring street. For sale in Chicago by the P. O. News Co., C17 Dearborn street. For sale in Omaha by H. C. Shears. 105 N. Sixteenth street, and Barkalow Bros., 1012 Farnam street. For sale in Salt Lake by the Salt Lake News Co , 77 W Second South street. For sale In New Orleans by Ernest & Co.. 115 Royal street. On file in Washington D. C.. with A. W. Dunn. 500 14th N W. For sale in Denver. Colo., by Hamilton & Kendrlck. 008-812 Seventh street. r TODAY'S WEATHER,-Probably fair, with variable winds. , PORTLAND, SATCnDAY, JAX. 20. Behind all the maneuverings of the Senatorial campaign at Salem looms the portentous figure of John H. Mitch ell. With no ostensible part in the fight with not a vote in the roll call, his candidacy, nevertheless, forms the backbone of the play. From the first it has been recognized that Mr. Mitch ell's eleotion was the most probable outcome should Mr. Corbetfs plans miscarry, unless Mr. Mitchell's friends were sincere in their asseverations that he had decided his chances would be better In a fight two years hence with Senator Simon, and that he would now seek to strengthen his fences by assist ing to put McBrlde, Fulton or some other of his friends In at this time. Perhaps it is due to Mr. Mitchell to say that his abilities stand out resplendent in comparison with those of certain others in and out ofllce who need not be named. Yet Mr. Mitchell's election may be an impossibility at this session, for he has to reckon with two powerful sources of antagonism those .who ob ject to him as a man and politician, and those who have been for years in or ganized array against him. It Is highly probable that there are enough such in the Legislature to prevent his elec tion, except with aid from the Demo crats, whose sympathies are divided between him and Mr. Corbett Unfor tunately for a speedy outcome of the struggle, the Mitchell camp seems to contain about the same proportion of lmplacables as the Corbett following. The one thing certain Is that all mem bers seem resolved not to go home with out an election. The atmosphere of the capital Is happily divested of the bitter spirit that has been wont to cloud the Legislative sessions; and this Is doubt less due In part to the high character of the membership. Men like Colvlg, Kuykendall, "Williamson, Proebstel, Looney, Steiwer and Booth, however the)- may differ on policies, are likely to agree In conducting legislation with dignity and order. Another deadlock seems out of the question at this ses sion. Mr. T. B. Wilcox and Mr. Charles E. Ladd have waited on the proper com mittees at Salem, the dispatohes say, In opposition to the enabling act for a drydock at Portland. There Is no evi dence that they oppose the idea of a drydock in itself, but they should greatly regret seeing a project for one adopted without having It referred to "the people." Tet the fact re mains that the Columbia River needs a drydock the worst way, and the ques tion remains how we are going to get it unless the community bonds Itself for the purpose. A drydock can be built in three ways by the Federal Govern ment, by private enterprise, or by bond ing the port It is useless to recount the antagonism in Congress and in the Navy Department which effectively rrcents construction of a Government drydork at Portland. As for private enterprise, a desperate effort has been iraJ.? In that direction by a local ship bui'dlnr firm, but the effort has come to nothing. It is all well enough to say that the Government, or the O. R. & N., or W..Iff & Zwicker. or somebody else, will build the drydock and trust to luck to make it pay. The fact is that ncr.e of tliem will do it, and the work has either got to be done at public ex pense here, through taxation of the proptrty interests concerned, or not at alL This is why the effort has been made to enlist the Legislature's Inter est In the project, and why the Mult nomah delegation inclines to favor it. We hae little doubt, however, that the project il!l be cheerfully abandoned If only Messrs. Ladd and Wilcox will make another trip to Salem and show the delegation that they are about to build a drydock themselves. It is a positive pleasure to find Mr. Pettigrew visiting his well-stocked vo cabulary of abuse upon the Dawes In dian Commission. It would be discon certing if not positively painful to find that Pettigrew had actually come across seme institution or organization In his native land, protected by the Stars and Stripes, planned for and served by American citizens, upon which he could bestow a word of approval. It is not a p'easant task Mr. Pettigrew has set himself that of stigmatizing every thing American as corrupt and vicious tut it Is one he discharges with un remitting zeal and devotion. What sort of a man must he be to whom every movement in which his country men participate is infamous, and every motive that can actuate his fellow-man is base? He does not say that the Dawes Commission is the most extrav agant and corrupt body in the United States, for that would imply a less de cree of extravagance and corruption in those several bodies which he has al ready declared as extravagant and corrupt as possible. So he says there is no more extravagant or corrupt body, and this leaves him free to pur sue his theory that the extremity of infamy has been reached by all per sons and organizations alike that in habit the United States and have had the luck to fall under the gaze of Petti grew's baleful eye. The Pettigrewsome incident of Thursday In the Senate is only to be regretted because It com pelled Messrs. Jones and Butler, who share the Pettigrew estimate of the Government,, from President to private soldier, to part company with him for once, and in rebuking his aspersions upon the commission, discover the ranks of anti-ism for once in a state of disorder. That Jones and Butler should see points of merit in anything bearing the name American certainly needs explanation. Meanwhile there is no calling in question the accuracy of Pettigrew's universal lament. He has the best of proof, for has not South Da kota in shameless Ignominy elected to fill his place in the Senate with a Republican? Elsewhere Is noticed at some length the question of cheap labor immigra tion, suggested by Senator Inman's joint memorial to Congress. A word might also be said concerning the local aspect of the matter. What basis of fact exists for this terror of Chinese and Japanese competition in Oregon? What American mechanic is kept out of a place by any Chinaman or Jap in the City of Portland? The Chinese are mostly house servants, vegetable ped dlers and laundrymen. Now, where is the representative of organized labor that hankers to cook In the kitchen, or wash undershirts, or get up at 4 o'clock to load his wagon with vegetables? The Japs are generally railroad hands or do menial work about the house. It is hard for the railroads to get the section hands they need, and American mechanics are not looking for chances to scrub porches or wash dishes. It is a common remark that these "heathen devils" are "keeping poor white girls out of work." It Is a pitiful falsehood, for the fact is that, with all the Chi nese and Japanese servants available, domestic help is next to impossible to obtain. Equally baseless is the cry that the Asiatics spend no money. They spend about as much as the thrifty American. As their position rises, they wear good clothes, ride in street-cars and Indulge the luxuries Chinatown af fords. They do not work for starvation wages, as is sometimes alleged, "because the efficient Chinese cook or butler is frequently able to command higher figures than American girls in the same line of work. Perhaps the most despic able of all outcries against the China man is that he saves his money and sends some of it home to his relatives. If he earns his money, what business Is it of Mr. Labor Agitator what he does with It? Is it a crime for the poor Irish girl to send her savings home to the folks on the auld sod, or do we grudge the German boy his money who sup ports an aged mother in the "Vaterland? Race prejudice and superstition are at the bottom of Mr. Inman's appeal, as he shows when he proposes to draw the color line on all laborers not white. Race prejudice is a real thing, but the wages menace is a chimera. AX EQUITABLE PLAK. Senator Booth's plan for fixing the valuation of property in the different counties for levy of state taxes is not only ingenious but offers as clear a promise of fairness as any plan likely to be presented. Each county is to take its average assessment for the past five years, and for the next five years is to pay to the state on the basis of this assessment. Then for the next period of five years the state tax is to be apportioned on the basis of the annual county expenditures, thereby furnishing a fair guide for future as sessments for support of the state and offering to each county an inducement to practice economy In Its own affairs. We consider this double device a happy one. It will put a stop to the efforts of the several counties to outdo each other in cutting their valuations; it will enable each county to know be forehand just what proportion of the state tax it will be required to pay; it will do away wholly with the need or suggestion of a State Beard of Equali zation, with its findings, which, In the nature of things, never can be satisfac tory; and it will hold up before the county authorities at all times and in every county a motive for the exercise of care in their future expenditure. In Multnomah and In other counties where there are cities or considerable towns the levy for county purposes, purely, is about as large as in those counties where the towns are small, or where no incorporated towns exist In Multnomah there are expensive courts to maintain, and costly bridges, and there is much larger annual expendi ture for roads than in any other county. All these things and many more come through the county government; so that, though the City of Portland has its own expensive functions, the County of Multnomah Is not relieved thereby of charges that fall upon any of the purely rural counties. Under Senator Booth's plan the coun ties will cease to have a motive for cutting their valuations. Guided by their expenditure for county purposes, an equitable guide may be had for the assessments for state purposes for the next term of five years though the property of each county will be the ac tual basis, and the Constitution thus may be complied with. The plan does credit to the ingenuity of its author, and it promises, in our judgment, a nearer approach to fairness and Justice, and at the same time tc stability of method, than any other at all likely to be suggested. A POPULAR PROPOSITION. It can hardly fall to be a source of satisfaction to the people of the Oregon Coast region that the Nehalem Rail road promises in the near future to be an assured fact. The natural resources of the large tract lying between the Coast Mountains and the Pacific Ocean have long invited development The wind work, so to speak, of a railroad making available these resources in timber, coal, mineral and dairy prod ucts has been many times constructed and given to paper, only to be dissi pated by the hard logic of circum stances, the central fact of which was lack of money wherewith to build and equip a mountain railroad. This vital condition seems now likely to be sup plied, and a railroad to the sea to be in immediate prospect There is nothlnr new to say In sun- port of this enterprise, since all that can be said has many times been said. It is simply astonishing that this re gion, so richly endowed by nature for the benefit of man, has been so long in accessible to trade; that its industries, all of the growing type, the products of which are in demand in the world's markets, should have been left to strug gle in a condition of arrested develop ment for the better part of a genera tionnot from lack of recognition, but from lack of modern transportation fa cilities. The people of Tillamook County, loyal to their section and anx ious for its development, have shown commendable courage and patience in waiting the slow progress of events that would put them in touch with the out side world. They have argued and urged and hoped; spoken in season and out of season of the natural advantages of the region, and pointed to their mag nificent forests, their vast coal deposits, their streams alive with fish and their ranges rank with wild grasses in proof of their contention. They have en gaged in dairying and challenged the world to produce sweeter butter or more toothsome cheese than that bear ing the Tillamook brand, and, in a way, relatively small because of a cramped market, they have pushed these vari ous industries until, in the matter of local prosperity, as shown in well-to-do community life, there are no happier homes or better educational and social privileges in any rural section of the state than are found In portions of this isolated Coast region. With this nucleus of enterprise, In dustry and social order, a wonderful development will follow railroad con nection with the outside world. This connection at last seems to be in sight, and, when accomplished, will introduce an era of prosperity that will, in a sense at least, atono for the deferred possibilities of years. THE SENATE AS IT STANDS. The biennial replacement of United States Senators has proceeded at about Its usual pace. Of the thirty whose terms expire March 4, fourteen have been replaced by new members, and the result in the remaining four cases Is still In doubt. The fourteen Senators re-elected are: Bacon. Ga. Martin. Va. Berry, Ark. Morgan, Ala. Cullom, 111. Nelson. Minn. Elklns. W. Va. Sewell, N. J. Frye, Maine Tillman, S. C. Hoar, Mass. Warren, Wye McMillan, Mich. Wetmore, R. I. The twelve replacements are these: Sitting member Baker Kan., Rep. Butler ....N. C, Pop. Caffery La., Dem. Carter ....Mont., Rep. Chandler...N. H., Rep. Chilton... Tex.. Dem. New member J. R. Burton Rep. F. M. Simmons... Dem. Murphy J. Foster.Dem. W. A. Clark Dem. H. E. Burnham...Rep. J. W. Bailey Dem. J. C. S. Blackburn. Dem. R. J. Gamble Rep. Fred T. Dubois. ...Dem. Lindsay.... Ky., Dem. Pettigrew. .S. D., Pop, Shoup ....Idaho. Rep, bulllvan ..Miss.. Dem. A. J. McLaurln.-.Dem Turley... Tenn.. Dem.iE. W. Cormack...Dem. Wolcott.... Colo., Rep. T. W. Patterson.. Dem. The four cases In doubt are those of Oregon, Delaware and Nebraska, now in process of settlement, and Iowa, where Dolllver is serving under ap pointment upon the death of Senator Gear, whose term was to expire In March. Politically, the re-elected Sen ators may all be expected to act with the parties they have hitherto served. In the cases of new members, Demo crats succeed a Populist In North Caro lina, and Republicans In Montana, Idaho and Colorado; a Republican suc ceeds a Populist in South Dakota. In Iowa the new Senator, as the old, will be a Republican; probably the same will prove true in Oregon. Delaware Republicans can elect a Republican if they will, and Nebraska is likely to re turn a Republican in place of Thurston, Rep. It appears, therefore, that the Democrats have gained four, the Pop ulists have lost one, and the Republi cans, if they win In Delaware and hold their own in Nebraska and Oregon, will gain two. In addition to these changes, vacancies have been filled by election of M. S. Quay, Rep., Pennsylvania; Moses E. Clapp, Rep., Minnesota, and Thomas L. Kearns, Utah. Nebraska and Delaware each have to elect two Senators, to fill seats now vacant In Delaware and one occupied by Allen, Pop. Counting Oregon, Nebraska and Delaware as returning Republican Sen ators, we can construct the following comparative statement: Present New . Senate. Senate. Republicans 51 5-t Democrats 25 30 Populists o rt Vacancies 5 The gain in Republican strength Is really greater than appears from this numerical comparison, for the Republi cans unseated in Montana, Idaho and Colorado were not very reliable on the financial question, while the six new Republicans will be solid on all party policies. The successors of Baker and Chandler, also, are perfectly sound for the gold standard. The Populist party seems to be passing away. There will be six Populist Senators in the next Congress, to nine in this one; Turner and Teller are about as sure to land In the Democratic camp as is Dubois, who has already announced such intention. The Fifty-fifth Congress had 24 Popu lists, the Fifty-seventh will have but 14, of whom Stewart and Jones will largely act with the Republicans. A LITTLE MORE DICTATION. The Washington Legislature Is very wisely considering the abolishment of the office of State Grain Inspector, and In his efforts to hold en to his lucrative and easy position State Grain Inspector Wright is making some very ridiculous statements. He asserts that Portland and the foreign exporters are behind the movement to abolish the office, and are backing the movement with a "pow erful lobby." Continuing, he says: The Oregonian, of Portland, has periodically printed tirades against the state Inspection sys tem of Washington. This looks suspicious. Why should our competitor on the Willamette River wish to have the inspection system In this state abolished If it Is a bad thing for the grain trade here? Would they not rather see it continue in that event Should the Legisla ture of this state play into the hands of Port land, as voiced by The Oregonian, of Portland? The day has gone when The Oregonian can dic tate to the people of this state in the matter of grain inspection or in any other commercial or business interest. The Oregonlan's remarks on the Washington state grain Inspection serv ice have been confined to simple state ments showing In the plainest manner possible that the service .was the flimsi est kind of a farce, for the simple rea son that neither farmer nor exporter paid the slightest attention to the grad ing of the inspector. As a matter of fact, no one outside of the deputies who participate with Mr. Wright in the graft that is wrung from the farmer has ever regarded either the inspec tion service or the inspector himself seriously. It Is now In order for Mr Wright to explain what reason the Portland exporters have for maklwr any efforts toward the repeal of the law. He knows and the farmers know that neither the Pacific Coast exporters nor the European cargo-buyers have any regard for the grades established by the state commission. Notwith standing the fact that the commission has been drawing money from the fanners of Washington for over four years, not one bushel of wheat that has been shipped to the European mar kets has been bought or sold on the grain inspector's certificate. The Portland exporters, who always have controlled and always will control the business of handling the wheat of the Pacific Northwest, make the grades so that they are exactly the same at Portland, Seattle and Tacoma. The grading of Mr. Wright does not offer the farmer the slightest protection, even if the exporters were disposed to "cinch" him, for there is not an ex porter doing business in the State of Washington who will buy wheat until it has been graded by an unofficial grader, who Is more familiar with wheat than he Is with politics. The farmer receives absolutely nothing for the 75 cents per car which he contrib utes to the support of Mr. Wright and his fellQW-polltlclans. The exporter cares nothing whether the law Is re pealed or whether it still cumbers the statute books, as in either case It has not the slightest effect on his busi ness or his profits. Looking through the same glasses as those which revealed the "powerful lobby" at Olympla. Mr. Wright sees something "suspicious" in the attitude of The Oregonian on the measure. The Oregonian opposes all grafts that are created or maintained for the exclu sive purpose of providing soft snaps for political hangers-on who are too Indo lent or Ignorant to support themselves by honest labor. It has also shown up the Washington state grain inspection service for the purpose of putting the people of this state on their guard against an effort to saddle a similar graft on this state. There are a num ber of patriots of the same caliber as Mr. Wright hanging around the Oregon Statehouse at the present time endeav oring to devise means and measures for becoming the same kind of a "farmers' friend" as that gentleman proves him self to be. EXCLUSION OF CHEAP LABOR. Representative Kahn, of California, anticipating the expiration of the Geary law next year, has already introduced a bill extending Its provisions for twenty years longer. The Geary law prohibited Chinese immigration to the United States for ten yearr, and the President and Congress which enacted this legislation deliberately violated the treaty between China and the United States. The Supreme Court, however, sustained the Constitutionality of the act, on the ground that as a treaty Is nothing more than "a law of the land," a later law passed by Congress serves to repeal and nullify the treaty. The demand today for the exclusion of the Chinese Is stronger on the Pacific Coast than it was ten years ago, and it is worth notice that the Senate Joint memorial Introduced by Mr. Inman Urging upon Congress the exclusion of Japanese and all other Mongolian or Asiatic races passed the Oregon Senate unanimously. But there Is really no present prospect thrtt our white labor market will be plagued by the Impor tation of Japanese, for the experiment of railroads with Japanese labor has proved unsatisfactory. A year or more ago the Great North ern Railroad made arrangements with labor contractors for 2000 Japanese workmen. The railroad on trial came to the conclusion that Japanese at $1 a day are more expensive than white men at $1 25, so orders were given to discharge the Japanese as fast as their places could be filled. The advocacy of this memorial by Mr.' Inman included the absurd statement that the work ingman of this country should be paid at least $1 75 per day, and that he would have the law apply to every man who has not a white skin. To object to labor because It Is a very sharp com petitor with American labor is reason able, but to exclude labor because of Its color is unreasonable. The most for midable "cheap labor" that now threat ens our American market Is the Increas ing Immigration from Southern Europe. The cheap labor in our mines and on our railways at the East is composed chiefly of Hungarians and Italians. These Immigrants are really more for midable than any other, because they can be naturalized and will menace the Intelligent ballot-box. Cheap labor is not desirable in the form of Asiatic immigration, and It is still more unde sirable In the shape of cheap labor from bouthern Europe, which will not only depress wages, but depreciate and de file the ballot-box. It has been said that human prog ress shows Itself In a fall of prices and a rise of wages, this would seem to be supported by the experience of our own country, for in 1790 it took 125 days' labor to buy a ton of flour; in 1835 eighty days' work sufficed; In 1870 fifty days' wages would buy a ton of flour, and probably twenty-five days' wages today would buy a ton of flour. The most philanthropic and generous friends of foreign immigration Cannot logically deny the right of Government to cnecK any rorcea and unnatural Im portation of labor. The advocate of a protective tariff cannot successfully meet the question why, If a govern ment may and should protect a nation against cheap goods, the product of pauper labor In other lands, the immi gration of pauper labor is not an equal ly threatening danger. If the influx of cheap goods, the product of pauper labor In other lands, will depress wages In the same line of production In this country, why will not the Immigra tion in a flood of cheap pauper labor from 'foreign countries depress the wages of labor? - The cheap labor from Hungary that has flooded the mining districts of Pennsylvania is composed of creatures that consider as luxuries many things that American labor considers among the decent necessities of life. The Chi naman or the cheap laborer of South ern Europe works cheaply because he seeks gratification of only the lowest, most inevitable wants. The American demands more because his standard of life has risen above that of a barbar ian. We cannot afford to fill our indus trial channels with imported millions either from Asia or from Southern Eu rope. It Is a comparatively easy mat ter to exclude a formidable flood of Asiatic labor, but if there is any real danger to American wages on this coast It does not He in the threat of yellow or brown Asiatic immigration. It lies la the steadily Increasing stream of white cheap labor frpm Southern Europe that will sooner or later flood all the lines of unskilled labor between the two oceans. These creatures com pose the murderous mobs in the mining districts of Pennsylvania, Ohio and Il linois; they not only depress wages, de grade labor, but sooner or later will defile the ballot-box. There is nothing commendable either to the industry or the Judgment of Hopklnson Smith in his recent effort to discredit the motives and veracity of Harriet Beecher Stowe, and to charge the Civil War against "Uncle Tom's Cabin." The book played Its part In awakening the National conscience against the evils of slavery. It ap peared at a critical time In National politics, and with its simple pathos stirred the heart of humanity. It was never considered a great literary crea tion. Many of its incidents were found ed upon facts, the details of which were no doubt colored by the preconceived opinions of the author, or enlarged in the telling, as folk-lore stories are apt to be. The very simplicity of their nar ration stirred the heart and quickened the conscience. It was inevitable that the book should have wide vogue and that Its author should be extolled 'as a benefactor or hated as a disseminator of strife, according to the viewpoint of the people of opposing sections on the slavery question. It served to crystal lize Northern sentiment on that ques tion, but he who at this late day, when the passions of a troubled era have been filtered through the blood of a generation and their heat diminished by the cooling processes of time, charges the Civil War to this one book is short both In his historical knowledge and intellectual judgment. "Uncle Tom's Cabin" belongs to the past. Its sins of Inaccuracy were doubtless more of omission than of commission. It had its part in the events of a critical era in the Nation's history, and, according to the considerate judgment of roan kind, this was a noble part. It is still read by thousands every year, who kindly refuse to criticise Its literary style, but find a strange fascination In Its pages, In which stalking ghosts of lives and times that are dead pass In review before the imagination. The advantage of intrusting to men of different walks of life the Important task of manufacturing laws has be come very apparent since the Legisla ture has been In session at Salem. Each man" understands the needs of his own business, and can frame laws to pro vide for them. Representative Watson, observing that restaurant-keepers lose much trade to free lunch saloons, ar ranges to abolish the free lunch. And now comes Representative Schumann, tombstone dealer, In advocacy of a bill providing that a monument once placed on a grave can be removed unless it is paid for In full. It is evidently unfortunate that all lines of trade can not be represented in every Legislature. If the plumbers had one of their trade there, he could make It a crime to shut off water on cold nights, and thus the plumbers would prosper beyond the dreams of J. Pierpont Morgan. And if an undertaker were entitled to the floor of the Senate or House of Representa tives, he might protect his craft by the introduction of a bill empowering un dertakers to remove from Its sepulture a coffin on which there was yet some thing due. Thus the proverbial grip of grim death would relax before the maj esty of the law, and undertaking would become so profitable that no one could afford to engage In any ether business. The Washington Legislature, at this time In session, has In a body per fected Its title to good, honest, common sense by Indorsing without division , what is known as the "Rands resolution." This resolution, simply and succinctly stated, asks em ployes of the several state institutions to stay at home and attend to the du ties which the people are Davlnnr them to perform, adding that, if the Legisla ture nas any need of any one of them in order to secure desirable data in re gard to the work in his charge, such employe will be sent for. If such an or der were promulgated and could be en forced against Federal office-holders who swarm the capital of this state just now, the Job of Senator-making would be greatly simplified and a choice in the interests of the whoje peo ple be much more llkelv to result. What Is called officious or meddlesome surgery Is not unknown to the medi cal profession, but reputable physicians are prompt to condemn It The Wash ington Legislature, In the resolution above cited, furnishes the first example of a reproof administered by duly ac credited lawgivers to officious office holders who meddle with the body pol itic to its detriment When a member of the House, pro posing to legislate Judge Cleland out of office, says that Cleland Is "an unfair Judge," he is himself unfair. There is nothing whatever to support tho. alle gation that Cleland is an unfair Judge. The question whether one department of the Circuit Court might not be spared is quite another thing. It would be but cheese-paring economy, how ever; since almost the only Item of sav ing would be the Judge's salary. It would still be necessary to have as many juries as ever. We do not learn that the Taxpayers' League, which has gone over all these matters, deems the abolishment of one of these depart ments advisable. The editor who has been ordered away from the Philippines will be a great man when our antls get hold of him. His overt defiance of authority will afford them subject of endless adulation. With popular songs bringing in $20, 000 a year apiece, and the salary of a legislator fixed at $3 per diem, it is no wonder certain people would rather write a nation's songs than make its laws. The news from West Point cannot have failed to inspire a wholesome fear of the West Point graduate In the mind of the frail-bodied Filipino. Some posthumous correspondence from Adlal E. Stevenson would be a bright feature in the Lincoln Com moner. Negotiations with China are no fur ther advanced than they were at first, and the powers are much encouraged. West Point cadets abolished hazing. But they wash their hands of the con-seauences. FATHER OF IMMORTAL STRAINS Nor blame X death, because he bar The use of virtue out of earth: I know transplanted human worth Will bloom and profit otherwhere A life that all the muses decked With gifts of grace that might express All-comprehensive tenderness, All-subUllzlng Intellect. Tennyson. When a citizen dies whose life has been devoted to -the common weal, his city mourns his loss with a general grief; when a ruler who has been devoted to all the duties of his office goes to his grave, his countrymen lament over his death; but, when a King In the domain of genius is withdrawn from the sphere of his labors, thousands upon thousands of hearts which beat with love for what Is good and true are filled with sorrow, thousands upon thousands of eyes are filled with tears. Such sorrow is that which laments the death of Joseph Verdi, for In him departed the last of all that was -sublime In that great realm of melody known as Italian opera. But as Providence blessed him In life (that Is to say. from his nineteenth year onward), giving him no harder battle to flght than that which came from the constantly unsatisfied aspirations strug gling within his own breast, even so, In his death, the gain Is with him, and not with us. He took his departure after having attained the highest summit of his fame, for who is bold enough to insist that, had he lived longer, he would have produced something greater than he ever did? Ho was undoubtedly the most univer sally popular composer of the nineteenth century, and remained so at the dawn of the twentieth. What posterity will think of this Judgment passed by Verdi's con temporaries we do not know, but cer tainly he will always rank among the greatest composers of operatic music of all ages, and amongst all nations, because seldom. If ever, Is to be found such truth and power of feeling expressed In a clearer or simpler way. Though Italian operatic composers may be reckoned by scores, yet, after Rossini. Bellini and Donnizetti, only one man had the power to fight his way up. After Donnlzettl's death, Verdi remained the only composer to uphold the glory of Italian opera, and from 1845 to this day nobody In "the land of music" has shown any symptom of rivaling him, with the exception of Bolts, and he, notwithstanding the promise of his "Meflstofele," has as yet brought out no other work. Music Is a universal language, and op eratic music is, of all branches of that art, the one which most forcibly Imposes itself upon the attention of the public, as the Indefinite musical expression Is rendered definite by the meaning of the words, and by the dramatic action on the stage. Moreover, music Is, of all arts, the one that can be most easily and cheaply brought home to everybody. This in the reason why we think that Verdi Is more known to the million than any other man who lived during the last century. Gulseppe .(or Joseph) Verdi was born at Roncole, October 9, 1813. The little set tlement consisted of a cluster of laborers' houses called Le Roncole, some three miles from Brussels, and before the uni fication of Italy, In the Duchy of Parma. It was here that young Gulseppe was Initiated Into a knowledge of music, and cbtained some notions of harmonv from .the organist of the village. This kind or teaching did not lead the young artist very far, and he seriously felt the neces sity of a more thorough instruction; but he belonged to a poor family, who could 111 afford to maintain him away from home. Fortunately he became acquainted with a generous man, Slgnor Barezzl, who offered to assume the expenses of his musical education until his talent should secure for him the means of sup port Verdi accepted this kind offer with a thankful heart In the Hummer of 1S33 h5 went to Milan, with the intention of entering the conservatory of that city, but the director refused to admit him among his pupils. Whether It was be cause he looked like a statesman rather than an artist, s some say, we know not; but we do know that the unhappy candidate of 1833 was in a few years avenged by the brilliant success he ev erywhere met. Instead of being a pupil at the Conservatory. Verdi placed him self under the direction of a musician attached to the Theater of La Scala, During three years he studied hard. He then began composing marches, sere nades, etc Among his earlier operas are: "Oberto dl San Bonifacio," "Na buchodnosor," "I Lombard!," and "Er nanl;" but the first opera which gained for him renown in Europe was "Rlgo letto." Thl3 delightful creation was given for the first time at Venice, March 11, 1851. The description of the storm, the gusts of wind, obtained by means of chromatic thirds vocalized behind the scenes (into closed mouths) was entirely new. One advantage that Verdi has over other masters, who do not spare means to pro duce effects, Is that he never fatigues an audience. Always short and rapid, when he has attained the end sought for he insists no longer, but passes on to something else. The conception of "Rlg- oieiso 13 Doia ana the effect admirable. The melody wondrously beautiful and each personage preserves his own, char acteristics with great distinctness. We need not dwell upon the beauties of "II Trovatore," "La Traviata," "Ernani" or "Un Ballo In Maschera." Suffice It to say that each of these creations Is di vine and can never be outdone in point of melody. Fortune came with fame. Verdi was more than a prophet in his own country. He was a wealthy landholder, possessing Immense properties In Italy; near his birthplace he built a splendid villa; here the composer was wont to seek rest from the fatigues and annoyances to which he was subjected in large cities; here, with his gun on his shoulder, he would walk from farm to farm, making a conscien tious study of agriculture. The country people all loved, respected and honored him. In the evening when he went for a walk the laborers, catching a glimpse of him. would unite in singing the cho ruses of his operas. The cry. "Viva, Verdi!" has often resounded In Italy. At the time of the war against Austria it was the rallying cry. The word of the popular enigma is well known. The five letters of the riame of Verdi are the Initials of those of Vlttorl's Emmanuelo RI d'ltalla (Victor Emanuel, King of Italy). The great composer was known to be very liberal withal, so that nothing was more natural than that he should have a seat in Parliament. The following Is a complete list of Verdi's operas, with date of Initial per formance: "Oberto Conte dl Bonifacio." Novem ber 17, 1S39; "Ungiornu dl Regno," Sep tember 6, 1840, Milan; "Nabuchodnoser," March 8, 1842. Milan. "I Lombardl," Feb ruary 11. 1S43, Milan; "Ernani," March 9, 1844, Milan: "I due Foscarl," November 3, 1S44, Rome; "Glovanna d'Arco." Feb ruary 5, 1845, Milan; "Alzlra." August 12, 1845, Naples; "Atlla," March 17. 1846. Venice; "Macbeth," March 12, 1847, Flor ence; "I Masadierl," July 22, 1847- Lon don; "Jerusalem," November 26, 1847, Paris; "II Corsaro," October 25, 1848, Trieste; "La Battaglla dl Legnand," Jan uary 27, 1849, Rome; "Louisa Miller," Do cember 8, 1849, Naples; "Stlfellio," No vember 16, 1S50, Trieste; "RIgoletto," March lL 1851, Venice; "II TrOvatore," January 19, 1S53, Rome; "La Traviata," March 6, 1853, Venice; "Ies Vespres Slclllennes," June 13, 1855, Paris; "Simon Boccaneyra." March 12, 1857; "Aroldo," August 16, 1857, Rimoni; "Un Ballo In Maschera," February 17, 1857, Rome; "La Forza del Destino," November 10, 1S62, St Petersburg: "Macbeth" (revised), Anrll 2L 1SG3. Paris: "Don Carlos." March 11. 1867, Paris; "Alda," December 24, 1871, Cairo; "Otello" and "Falstaff," February 6, 1887,Mllan. I EUGENIE R. HARRIS. ; NOTE AND COMMENT. The Chinese situation is almost aa quiet as Admiral Dewey. The usual January mild Bpell has been postponed on account of the weather. Tho secret of the grip's success is the disposition of Its victims to "lay down' whenever they are attacked. There are actually one or two lobby ists at jSalem who are not employes of the United States Government Every Kansas farmer has a piano In his house, but the true proof of pros perity will come when they again begin to invest in gold bricks. Br'er Indian is likely to find out that Uncle Sam Is in a good deal better train ing just now than In the days when a post garrison consisted of a Corporal and three men. The creeks are rising. This would bo nothing unusual at this time of year were it not for the fact that the Creeks which are doing the rising happen to be Indians. The superintendent of the Carlisle In dian Schools says he does not feel con fident of the Indian's future. Perhaps, however, he may see the noble red man's finish In a few days, and his confidence will grow apace. The people of Toronto, Ontario, have recently- voted by an overwhelming ma jority in favor of the public purchase of the local gas company's plant notwith standing that the net price of gas sup plied by the company has "been as low as 90 cents. Apparently, Thomas A. Edison doesn't realize that his Inventive genius has made him one of the foremost men of his gen eration. The Electrical Review has been Interviewing him on the subject of his In ventions, and they are so numerous that he Is unable to name them. Says he: What were my principal patents? Good gra cious, mant Oh, ou don't mean patents in ventions? Why. first and foremost the idea of the electric lighting central station; then let me see. what have I Invented? Well, then was the mimeograph, and the electric pen. and the carbon telephone, and the Incandescent lamp and its accessories, and the quadruple! telegraph, and the automatic telegraph, and the phonograph, and tho klnetosoope. and I don't know a whole lot of other things. According to a Berlin correspondent, a modest little society in Germany is ap parently pinning its faith to the crow, in succession to the almost universally used pigeon, as a carrier of war news. The pigeon fly experiments which Ger many carried out on British soil some time) ago sending huge crates of birds to Dover for the purpose were not wholly successful, bad weather preventing many of the birds from reaching their quarters again, and many were shot by persons In search of dinner. It Is claimed with truth that very few people would shoot crows for food, and that when liberated from a beleaguered place the enemy would ba more likely to allow them to fly past un molested and unsuspected than would ba the case with pigeons. The Washington Star suggests that it is a good thing that the river and har-j bor bill comes up during the rainy season, when the water courses for'whosi improvement appropriations have been made can be clearly traced. This re calls tho reply of General Grant, when a Southern Congressman came to him and inquired If he would approve a bill for the Improvement of a certain river in his state. "Let me see," said Grant, didn't I cross that stream In the campaign of ?" The Congressmen. , who had served tho Confederacy, remembered very well that he did, and said so. "Well, then," said the President, "I will approve that bill on one condition." "What is it?" asked the Congressman, anxiously. "It is," answered Grant, "that you will amend the bill so as to provide that the stream be macadamized." PLEASANTRIES OF PARAGUAPHERS Chemist-Pills, eh? (emphasizing question) Anti-bilious? Child (readily) No, sir, undo Is. Punch. A Blow. "Don't you think the decorations in this room are very pretty?" "Very, who selected them for you?" Detroit Free Press. Blase. Caller If your doll is squeezed does she cry "Mamma"? Little Elsie Oh. no. she got over that; this is her second season out. you know. Puck. A Kitchener Definition. "You know what an Irish dividend is?" "Tea, an assessment." "Well, do you know what a Boer repulse is?" "Yes, an advance." Cleveland Plain Dealer. Tho Last Resort. Superintendent Theso goods won't sell at 11 cents a yard. Dry Goods Man Mark them up to 14 cents and put them on the bargain-counter. Brooklyn Life. Burglar (sternly) Where's yer husband? Woman (trembling) Under the bed. Burglar Then I won't take nothing. It's bad enough to have such a husband, without being robbed, too. Tlt-Blts. The Blessed Child. "The naughty boy told me to go to the bad place." said little Alger non. "Yes?" said his fond papa. "But I told him I never went anywhere without my papa." Philadelphia North American. A Good Trait Mrs. Knowslt So you aro en gaged to Miss Sweetlelgh. I do not wish to discourage you, but I understand that she has said she had absolutely no wish to know how to cook. Mr. Wise That's right. I proposed to her as soon as I heard it. Baltimore Amer ican. Refutation. "I want you to tell me candid ly whether yon want to marry my daughter ior ner money." "Certainly not," answered the titled young gentleman. "I scorn the sus picion. As 1 understand the situation, your daughter hasn't much money anyhow. You are the ona we are looking to." Washington Star. Derlvltalve. "I'm trying to get some in formation about a friend of mine named Fox, who came out here," said the stranger from the East. "They tell me he died of some throat trouble." "1 guess that's about right;" replied the cowboy. "What was- It? Bron chitis?" "Bronkltis? That's a new one on me. but I reckon I sec the connection. H stole a bronco." Philadelphia Press ' t 1 The Lucky Bargain. N. S, In the Spectator. I have a friend, without whose face (God keep his face from sorrow free I) The world would be a dreary place For weary me. . To please htm Is my chief delight; I'd rather die than give him pain. Yet this I've done In my despite. And shall again. My friend Is kind when I am cross,' Nor ever cross when I am kind;. He rules the sullen waves that toss My tolling mind. His gracious spirit gives me Joy; What can I give him for his grace? A little, useless, battered toy fit time and space. A box of prayers with broken wings. Of shapeless hopes and wasted hours, Of half a hundred worn-out things And faded Sowers; Wherein one blossom lives, and makes A I ght whereat his lips will part And smile for kindness, as he take The proffered heart