Indianapolis Journal, Volume 53, Number 9, Indianapolis, Marion County, 9 January 1903 — Page 4

THE INDIANAPOLIS JOURNAL FRIDAY, JANUARY 9, 1903.

THE DAILY JOURNAL FRIDAY, JANUARY 9. 1903. Telephone Calls (Old and New) Disslces Office.... JS Editorial Room. ...80 terms of subscription. BY CARRIER INDIAN APOI.IS and SURURB3. Dally. Sunday included. DO cent per month. Dally, without Sunday, 40 cents per month. HunUay, without dally. $2.60 pr year. Bind copies; Dally, 2 cents; Sunday, B cent. BT AQENT3 EVERYWHERE. Daily, rr week. 13 cents. Dally, Sunday Included, per week, 15 cents. fc'undar, per Issue, cents. BT MAIL PREPAID. Dally edition, on year 13 00 Dally and Sunday, cne year 7-w Sunday only, one year REDUCED RATE3 TO CLUBS. Weekly Edition. One copy, on year W cents Flvt cents per month for periods less tlian a year. No subscription taken for lss than three months. REDUCED RATES TO CLUBS. Subscribe with any of our numerous agents or send subscription to JOURNAL NEWSPAPER COMPANY. Indianapolis, Ind. Persof senälnr the Journal through the malls In tho United States should put on an eight-page or a twelve-pace paper a 1-cent stamp: on a six teen, twenty or twentr-four-page paper, a Z-cent tamp. Fore Ira postage Is usually double tncie rates. All communications Intended for publication In this paper must, in order to receive attention, b accompanied by the name and address of the writer. Rejected manuscripts will not be returned unless postage is Inclosed for that purpose. Entered as second-class matter at Indianapolis, Ind.. poetoffle. TUB INDIANAPOLIS JOURNAL Can be found at the following places: NEW YORK Astor House. CHICASO-Palmer House. P. O. News Co.. 21T Dearborn street; Auditorium Annex Hotel, Dearborn Station News Stand. . . CINCINNATI J. R. Hawley & Ca, Arcade LOUISVILLE-C T. Deertng, northwest corner of Third and Jefferson streets; Loulavllla Book Co., 24 Fourth avenue, and Bluefeld Bros., 442 West Uarket street. ST. LOUIS Union News Company. Union Depot. WASHINGTON. D. C-Rlggs House, Ebbett House, Fairfax Hotel. Wlllard Hotel. DENVER. Col. Louthaln & Jackson. Fifteenth and Lawrence streets. DATTON, O.J. V. Wllkle, 29 South Jefferson street. COLUMBUS. O. Viaduct News Stand. 2S4 High street. Not penurious parsimony, but an intelligent and business-like expenditure of money for the maintenance of the State's institutions is the policy set forth by the Governor. It is surprising indeed that a country possessing the most extensive coal fields in the world, the greatest railroad system and the most enterprising population should be suffering from a general coal famine. In the New England States, and perhaps In a few others, the Governor reads his message to the Legislature and the message is called the Governor's address. It seems well that the Governor should thtis officially meet the Legislature upon its assembling. BBaiBSBSBSaaBMSaSBSMaMHBiHeMSSBHBHBIBSSNBBBS Senator Fleming may Imagine that he is helping his party by publicly snubbing exMayor Taggart and Hon. John W. Kern, but, when the managers get into a close place, they will Implore the resourceful T. T. and the popular Kern to come to their rescue.

"The move in the Senate to purchase ReT3ed StaTuTcST "for each member of the Legislature comes under the head of what the Lieutenant Governor called "waste and extravagance." Such extravagance would be a bad beginning. It would be a waste of at least U.500. There seems to be a consensus of opinion in business circles and among those who have made a study of the subject that if. Senator Hoar's anti-trust bill were to become law It would paralyze all forms of industry. Attorney General Knox's views are regarded as far more promising of good results. There is little doubt now that Indianapolis will' get both the technical school and the military post. Representative Overstreet is looking after both, and no man could do It better. The school will be beneficial to the whole State and Its neighbors, and the post to the country roundabout. It took the rowdies of Indlanola, Miss., a long time to discover that the colored postmistress In that town was an Insult to the community. She had served eight years acceptably and been confirmed by the United States Senate without the slightest objection from either of the Mississippi senators before the Indlanola mob concluded that its dignity was offended. Washington dispatches show that both of the Indiana senators arc co-operating with Representative Overstreet to secure the additional appropriation of $ 100,000 for the new government building, and that they and the supervising architect are in perfect harmony as to the ultimate plans. This being the case there is no occasion for a town meeting to "rcsoloot" on the subject. It is no fault of the Shlloh Monument Commission that It is compelled to ask that the appropriation for the monuments, which lapsed at the close of the fiscal year, shall be revoted. The conditions of the appiopriatlon were that the money could not be drawn until the monuments were in place. But for the low water in the Tennessee river every monument would have been in place in September. Attorney General Knox's recent letter concerning trusts contained many good suggestions, but none better than the state ment that "legislation to correct trust abuses should be developed with great care, for it is not nearly so important to act quickly as to act wisely.". This applies to State legislation as well as to national. Crude and unwise legislation on the subject might Inflict great Injury on business. There can be no doubt that the President, In his urgency for legislation designed to check monopolies, represents the sentiment of the country and particularly of his own party. It may be but the beginning, and It may not be effective, but the proposed measure designed to put an end to favoritism In transportation by granting rebates to a part of the producers of one class of merchandise would, if enfo-ced, break up the evil which has created the only monopolies now existing. If the State had had an efficient architect during the past twenty years it would have saved a large amount of money. For In stance, a chapel was built at the northern prison about a dozen years ago, costing $20,000. No architect was employed. It was abandoned a few years later because It was längere u. and U has since been taken

down. The amount of money paid the architect in charge of the tollhouse at the I State Reformatory would have paid an architect's salary for several ytars. The State is constantly building and reconstructing buildings which should not be done without the plans and supervision of a competent architect. Useless and unnecessary officers are harmful, but a state architect might be a most useful official. TUB GOVERNOR'S ADDRESS. Governor Durbln's message is th3 utter

ance of an official who thoroughly understands all the affairs of the State. Two years ago he promised the people of Indiana a business-like administration. He is familiar with all the details of administration and the excellent condition 'of every branch of the State's service proves that he has made good his pledge to the utmost. He has personally put himself in touch with the management of every institution and has seen that his Ideas of administra tion were carried out. Governor Durbln has shown that "the best politics Is exemplified in fidelity to official duty and the protection of the interests of those whom we serve." , The finances of the State are shown to be in excellent condition, which is quite as much due to intelligent and conscientious management as to the collection of the rev enues. State officers have paid into the treasury 02,025 fees, while 1377,177.46 was the amount of the savings by the careful expenditure of appropriations which the general fund contributed to the reduction of the State debt. Emergency and epidemic appropriations under the control of the Governor, which would have been exhausted if the requests for their expenditure had been complied with, remain unexpended for tho most part Of the appropriation of $10,000 set apart as a civil and military contingent fund for the Governor, only $248.50 was expended. It was the habit a few years ago to expend whatever the Legislature appropriated and to anticipate appropriations, but under the present system of accounting and strict adherence to the purpose of appropriations as expressed In the law, better methods prevail. The official who does not exhaust an appropriation is no longer regarded as a curiosity. The recommendations which the Governor makes regarding State Institutions seem to be practical. An appropriation of $50,000 or $73,000 was deemed necessary for a hospital for the criminal Insane, but provision has been made at the State's Prison by the expenditure of a small amount. The Governor's solution of the problem of separating the Woman's Prison from the Girls' Industrial School is sensible. Outside of the State Prison h would build a prison for the female convicts, to be under the general direction of the Prison Board of Control, but in charge of a matron with powers similar to those of warden of the prison. The building now in use for the two institutions would be remodeled for the industrial school. The Governor's suggestion regarding the proposed home for epileptics, that the Legislature should provide for a commission to ascertain what the State needs and the best means of caring for such unfortunates and report to the next Legislature, wise. The State has already been put to. great expense by the hasty location of public Institutions. Experimenting is not necessary when something like certainty can be attained In two years. In accepting the opinion of the Board of Charities to the effect that Indiana should not commit Itself tÖ experiments in the disposition of prison labor, and that the present system, with some modifications, should be continued, the Governor has doubtless taken the sensible course. That the contract system should .interfere with outside competitors and deprive outside labor of employment cannot be sustained by statistics. Several prisons in neighboring States have the same Industries, and these may effect similar production where they could not affect a larger number of trades. The outspoken opposition of the Governor to the creation of bureaus and new boards, which are usually unnecessary, will meet general approval. There are men who are anxious to create places which they hope to get. If such men had carried their points in the past, Indiana would now have Insurance, railroad and boiler-Inspection commissions with expensive bureaus. Indiana is better off without them because they are expensive and unnecessary, and what is expensive and unnecessary In the creation of public places Is vicious. The Governor's objections to the Incurring of county and municipal debts are timely. Indiana has, thanks to the efforts of the late William H. English, a debt limit. But for it counties and cities would now be hopelessly Involved. Now that we have it, it is better to live up to !t. The Governor's recommendations relating to lotteries in the form of "guessing contests," the prize fight evil and to the promiscuous sale of weapons to be carried in violation of law will meet with the cordial approval of law-abiding and law-respecting people. If the Legislature shall proceed to its work in the spirit which pervades Governor Durbln's message it will meet the approbation of the people of Indiana. A FEW WORDS WITH THE MAJORITY At the beginning of the session it may be well to remind the Republicans that as they have a large majority in both branches of the Legislature they will be held responsible for all that it does or fails to do. It may be well to remind them, also, that the business of legislators is to legislatethat is, to consider the framing and passage of laws of public interest. Indiana has grown to be a great State, and the work of legislating for nearly two and a half millions of people involves grave responsibility. The Legislature will not be Judged by the number of laws It may enact so much as by their character, and it may earn popular approval as much by the measures it defeats as by those it passes. It has been truly said that the world is governed too much, but it is not governed too well. Many a State has been injured by too many laws, but have never suffered from too good ones. The Governor makes some recommendations in his message regarding needed legislation, and local conditions or the views of Individual members will suggest others. No doubt there will be bills enough introduced to occupy the entire session In perfecting and passing or in discussing and killing them. There will be no time for dawdling, playing polltics, listening to lobbyists who have axes to grind, or trying to promote personal ambitions. Time spent In such ways will injure the Republican party and hurt the members who are responsible for lLJThe Republican party in the State can be strengthened by good legislation and by the advancement of the public Interests, but

not by playing for position In some future contest. There never was a truer saying than the statement of President Hayes in his Inaugural address that "He serves his party best who serves his country best." One of the duties of the present Legislature will be to pass a new apportionment law for the election of senators and representatives. It -has sometimes happened that the party In power at the performance of this duty has abused its power by making a grossly unfair apportionment. It Is to be hoped the majority In the present Legislature will not attempt anything of that kind. The Constitution contemplates a fair apportionment and the people expect it. In the long run a gerrymander always hurts the party that enacts it. In his annual message of 1801 President Harrison discussed the subject of gerrymanders for State and congressional purposes at some length. He characterized them as ''a form of political robbery," as a "threatening and intolerable abuse," and said: "Respect for public officers and obedience to law will not cease to be the characteristics of our people until our elections cease to declare the will of majorities fairly ascertained without fraud, suppression or gerrymander." He classed gerrymanders among the gravest of national dangers. If the Republicans are tempted to seek any unfair advantage in a new apportionment let them recall the words of Benjamin Harrison. TRANSPORTATION AND 3IOXOPOLIES. One of the speakers in the anti-trust conference in Chicago in 1S9S declared that if the favoritism of railroads could be stopped, monopoly, which is the evil feature of combination, would be prevented. The speaker who made that declaration was not an orator, and having such brilliant associates on the platform as Mr. Bryan and Bourke Cockran, his opinions attracted little attention. Subsequent revelations, however, disclosing the rebates which railroad managers had been giving for years to large shippers proved the correctness of the statement referred to. After recalling the outrageous concessions made twenty years ago by the leading lines to men who now constitute the Standard Oil Company, and with the confession of the leading trunk lines that they paid back to the great packing concerns which have controlled the meat trade at least 23 per cent, of the freights paid, one is not surprised at the statement of the attorney general published on Wednesday. "Rebates and discriminatory rates constitute one of the chief restrictions upon competition" Is the language of the statement of Attorney General Knox, speaking for the administration. The legislation which the administration urges "should relate, first, to such concerns as fatten on rebates on transportation." Such legislation, rigidly enforced, would break up monopoly, which Is the design of some combinations, and put an end to monopolies which have existed for years. It is probable that few men outside of railroad managers are aware of the extent of this evil of rebates. In the fierce competition between competing lines each has naturally bid for the business of the large shippers in spite of "gentlemen's" agreements and the most solemn pledges of competing managers; they have after a time permitted their agents to make rebates to large shippers, so that there has grown up a competition in cutting rates in the interest of the large shippers, while the lesser ones pay the full advertised rates. Railroad managers have from time to time shown a disposition to get rid of this losing and unjust practice, but they seem not to have any faith in each other. They have asked for a law to legalize the pooling of the receipts of trunk lines, so that there would be no temptation to cut rates or rebate, but the cry of "railroad monopoly," raised doubtless by the favored shippers, frightened Congress from passing a carefully-guarded pooling law. There are those who will Insist that the putting of goods made by so-called trusts upon the free list will break up monopoly, but It would trouble these persons to name the line of American productions competing with Europe which is controlled by a single corporation. In Iron, cotton, wool, glass and all staples there are enough competitors to prevent monopoly, and there will be more when the small company shall be sure of the same rates of transportation as are paid by the large companies that may receive rebates. There are three great monopolies In the country, the Standard Oil Company, the mammoth packing concerns and the anthracite coal combination. No one of these Is in the least affected by the tariff, but all of them have been built up by railroad favoritism due to the fact that they have been the largest shippers. In view of such facts it must be seen that the rebates of railroads contribute more than all other influences to the creation of monopolies and the restriction of trade. And here a question may be asked: Why do railroads ship plate glass made In Brussels from New York to the Mississippi river for one-half the rates charged domestic plate glass from Pittsburg to the same points? Such a rate annuls the tariff as a protective measure. If the duty on plate glass were cut 25 per cent, such a discriminating railroad rate would destroy the plate-glass industry in this country. FARMERS' ORGANIZATIONS.

An organization "of farmers and for farmers," such as was discussed at a meeting of farmers held at the Statehouse last night, could be made useful, in promoting the Interests of agriculture, but to get the best results it should be kept out of politics. An organization calltd the Farmers' National CongTess was organized in Chicago In 1SS1 and met In successive years at Washington, Louisville and Nashville. In 1SS5 it met In this city and adopted a constitution and elected new officers. Since then it has met annually, and its discussions have been interesting and Instructive. Its twenty-first annual session was held in 1901 at Sioux Falls, S. D., and while the attendance was not as large as at some former meetings, every delegate present was a farmer and the proceedings were characterized by unusual earnestness, carefulness and patriotic feeling. Papers were read and addresses made by a number of representative men from different parts of the country. Hon. J. Sterling Morton, former secretary of agriculture, in an address said: "On the farm nothing can ever arise to threaten American institutions. It is in the cities where men are homeless that riots and anarchy are found. On the farms the people i love their homes, and there can never be a riot where people love the home, which is a part of the Nation." Under the constitution of the congress branches may be formed and Incorporated in any State, and this has been

done In many of the States. Indiana has been represented at nearly all of the annual meetings by delegates appointed by the Governor, and there would seem to be good reason why a branch of the congress should be regularly organized In this State as In others.

The advantage of locating the Woman's Prison near the State Prison is that it will not necessitate another board of control and set of officers. The accounts could be kept in connection with those of the State Prison, and the general supplies of the institution for the women could be furnished from the present storehouses. The plan is said to work well in other States. It would be expensive to make an Independent institution for sixty prisoners. In his message to the Legislature Governor Yates, of Illinois, says that the State's share, as tax, of the gross receipts of the Illinois Central Railroad for the year ending Oct. 51, 1902, was $342,061, and that the total receipts of the State from the same source from the completion of the road in 1S53 to date have been J20.5S9.166. So much for Inserting a wise provision In a railroad charter. The Supreme Court of Missouri has decided that "the mule is a domestic animal whose treacherous and vicious nature Is so generally known that even courts may take notice of it." If the mule could have its day in court it might protest against Including all of its kind in so sweeping a condemnation. On the first night of the session a member of the Missouri Legislature and his wife came near being asphyxiated at their rooms because on retiring the member blew out the gas. None of the members of the Indiana Legislature Is from Missouri. THE HUMORISTS. A Clear Case. New York Times. Jaggles I see the scientists have determined that only the male parrots learn to talk. Waggles That's probably so, to Judge from the language they use. Did as Well. Philadelphia Lodger. Her Beau 'Tis said Kipling gets 50 cents a word. Her Brother Mc, too. Mabel gave me that to say "No" when you asked if she was In yesterday, didn't you, sis? Explanatory. Puck. Mrs. Jones Are they getting up another polar expedition, John 7 Mr. Jones No, my dcarl They are only getting up after the one they got up to get up after the one they sot up! For Keeps. Baltimore America r. Mamira Don't be so selfish. Let your baby brother play with your marbles a little while. Tommy But he means to keep them always. Mamma Oh, I guess not. Tommy I guess yes, 'cause he's swallowed 'em. Hove- It May Re Done. Washington Star. "Do you think that It is really possible to support a family on $10 a week?" said the woman with a worfled look In her eye. "Certainly," answered the businesslike friend; "the experiment may be made quite remunerative If one only has the knack of writing magazine articles about It." Mother Couldn't Object. Little Chronicle. "Does your mother allow you to have two pieces of pio when you are at home, Willi?" asked his hostess) "No, ma'am." "Well, do you think she would like you to have two pieces here?" "Oh, she wouldn't care," said Willie, confidentially, "this Isn't her pie." Crashing Blow. Chicago Tribune. "I like your people and your Institutions In general," remarked the educated foreigner, "but the streets of your city are the worst I have ever seen." "Great Scott!" exclaimed the mortified Chicago man. "Have you ever been In Constantinople?" "Constantinople," rejoined the educated foreigner, "Is my native city." ABOUT PEOPLE AND THINGS. Rev. Dr. Lyman Abbott, of New York, Is to preach a series of sermons at the University of Chicago this month. The Rochester' Theological Seminary' received a New Year's gift from John D. Rockefeller of $110.000. The trustees had succeeded in raising a like amount during the last year, and they now have at their disposal $220,000. Ex-President Steyn has been spending some months at Clarence, on the Lake of Geneva, where his children go to school. When he first went there he was so worn out that he could hardly speak, but his health was soon restored. Persons close to Stephen B. Elkins, United States senator from West Virginia, credit him' with being close to the multimillionaire division. Out of his many and varifd interests he cleaned up between $7,000,000 and $5.000,000 last year, and his entire fortune Is put at about $50,000,000. As a sort of reward, after preventing his relative from becoming a member of a London stock broking firm,. King Edward has allowed Prince Francis of Teck $10.000 a year until the prince can obtain some remunerative position more in keeping with his standing as a member of the royal family. Richard Croker Is enlarging his English estate at Wantage. He made himself a Christmas present in the shape of two new properties adjoining his estate at Wantage. The combined purchase amounts to 130 acres, and it Is said Mr. Croker Is looking for still another adjoining farm. He will use this new property for horse training and breeding purposes. The Paul Revere homestead, Nos. 19 and 21 North square, Boston, built about 16S0, and bought by Revere In 1770. is still standing, and has been purchased recently by John P. Reynolds, Jr., with a view of inducing patriotic orders to Join with him In preserving it as an Interesting historical landmark. It was from the door of this very building that Paul Revere went forth to his famous ride on April 19, 1775. Here he lived during thirty years of his life, and here his children were born. Deat of the Vanderbilt. Portland Oregonian. Young Cornelius Vanderbilt ought not to die, for he Is the best Vanderbilt that lives to-day. He married the woman he loved, even at the sacrifice of his share, as the eldest son, of his father's estate. He has displayed unusual talent In the mechanical department of railroading, having invented an Improved locomotive firebox that Is highly spoken of by experts. He has lectured on railroading, and the current number of the North American Review contains an article from his pen on the subject of electricity as a motive power of railway transportation. He Is the most gifted and promising member of his father's family. The Labor Situation. New York Financier. Capital and labor fought their great fight during last year's coal strike. Both learned a lesson. It Is not likely that the foolish struggle will be repeated again. The wageearner is receiving fair treatment, as advances in his pay by corporations testify. He may not be getting as much as he thinks he ought to have, but the fact remains that he Is getting more than he ever did. both In the matter of dally wages and the matter of continuous employment.

PROFIT IN THE BUSINESS

DIAMOND SMUGGLING PAYS DIG DIVIDENDS, IF SUCCESSFUL. Uncle Sam, However, Has a Way of Interfering with Those Who Seek n Fortune by That 3Iethod. New York Press. "Do many smuggled diamonds come Into the United States?" repeated a famous old Inspector of customs. "Well, I shouldn't wonder but the . regulations are of such a nature that we cannot enter hito all the details as to smuggling cases. We simply dare not voice our suspicions or theories, nor dare we name suspects. If we have a rogues' gallery we must keep it to ourselves. We cannot give away our knowledge of the most popular forms of smuggling now in use. Diamond smugglers generally are so wealthy that every word that we told you would be cabled In every European language and perhaps In the Kaffir tongue to every diamond and Jewel center of the habitable globe before your paper had been many hours in circulation, and the diamond smugglers would be Inventing new plans of campaign. So this branch of the work of the United States special treasury agents would be thrown into irredeemable confusion. We would have to fling away all our data and begin all over again. "The diamond smugglers are the smartest people in the world. They are, I regret to say, seldom caught The people who fall into our. clutches are generally amateurs or people who think that they will try a diamond venture Just once which is once too often for the poor greenhorns. Time-hardened, experienced, trained professionals ply their trade with a certainty and regularity and a variety and ingenuity of device which would make Sherlock Holmes look like a plugged nickel. If you can suggest any absolutely sure way of putting an end to gem-smuggling, please communicate your Ideas to the authorities, and you will be rewarded as well as thanked. But Great Scott! When a lordlylooking Individual in a mackintosh strolls down the gangplank of one of the ocean liners, smoking a lovely, big-bowled meerschaum pipe, and when he stubs his toe and drops the pipe and the bowl smashes, and out roil diamonds well, how would you like to be a special agent In the act of realizing that this Individual was the last of half a dozen pipe smokers, who were past the rope and away, leaving neither trail nor address? This actually happened not long ago. No, I won't say that it was at the port of New York. But 111 cheerfully stand for the assertion that it happened." The speaker was a veteran of the most risky and unsatisfactory part of the government service. He added that the petty nature of the 10 per cent, margin on diamonds In the rough a picayune apology for a tariff, due to the melancholy fact that this great and ingenious country has not yet evolved diamond polishers, cutters and setters who can hold a farthing dip to the Amsterdam hereditary experts put the smuggling of diamonds in the rough into American parts almost out of the question. It would hardly be worth while, and would certainly not be worth any risk. The bait that tempts the smuggler Is the enormous margin of profit afforded by the fact that the unfinished and set article has to give up 60 per cent, of its rated value to the government, $60 on every $100 that it Is actually worth; so that a man who can beat the tariff on unfinished or set Jewelry Is as big a winner as the gambler who lands a long-shot on the ponies. Raids on suspected smugglers are generally the result of "tips" from people across the water, who "squal" in the hope of obtaining rewards. The celebrated anaconda case shook the government's faith in "squalers tips," but Une Sim cannot get along without them. Somebody sent word, "Look out for a great shipment of anacondas. Anacondas are stuffed - with rabbits. Rabbits are stuffed with diamonds. Anaconda's digestion slow. Rabbits will bo used up and diamonds lining anacondas' inside by time shipment reaches America," The men were on hand when the anaconda ship came in. The serpents, which were knobby with lumps of undigested rabbits, were packed lntout barrels, and our man's eyes sparkled as he saw the coils and Imagined the crystalline contents. The anaconda man was there, too. He represented a firm of animal dealers that is known in New York, Philadelphia, New Orleans, London, Paris and all the world over. "Cut open that sarplnt, sir," said our man to the anaconda man. "Go to the Hellespont," said the anaconda man. "You can't' fool me. He Is full of diamonds," said our man. "You can't fool me," Faid the anaconda man. "You must have been drinking. Brace up, old boy these are real snakes. Look at the size-of them. Here you may heft one. "Heft your gTanny," said our man, shuddering. "I insist that you cut him open. You are caught dead to rights caught with the goods on your anaconda. Cut him up, quick!" "I'll do no such thing. Besides he's a she. Surely you wouldn't do anything ungentlemanly " "Cut her up and be blasted!" said our man. "Why, the blamed thing's humpy with diamonds." "Diamonds!" echoed tho astonished snake importer. "Well I'll be say, are you in serious earnest?" "I am." (And he was, for, mind you, Ihe Information would have fooled an Angel of Light it was so explicit and precise and so plausible.) "Well, to cut a long story short, a mangey kind of one, that hadn't stood the voyage well, was cut short; likewise cut longwise, and there wasn't a diamond to be seen. You would think that the anacanda man would have been so glad at the happy issue of all his troubles for he was exonerated that he would have been filled with peace and Joy. Instead of that the ungrateful fellow called our man a doddering paranoiac and, although our man showed him the letter of information, had the nerve to send him a bill for $5U0, which he said was the price of his serpent the scaliest and slickest of the lot, mind you. That was nerve, eh? Oh, we have to put up with a great deal. I assure you. He hasn't been paid yet. The case Is being investigated." HAS NO USE FOE COAL. Fortunate Man Whose House la Heated by Electricity. Rochester Letter in New York Times. The coal strike had no terrors for ona man in this city, and even If coal were selling at 10 cents a ton or being given away, with free delivery attached, he would only smile disdainfully and wave It away with his hand. No coal or wood for him in his house. He's above it. The name of this man is Charles R. Barnes. He is state electrician, and he owns and inhabits the only house In this country which Is neated from cellar to garret. Including the range for cooking in the kitchen, with electricity. Consequently he does not care anything about coal and the vagaries of the market therefor. It Isn't because Mr. Barnes is state electrician that he has made himself such u home, nor is ic on account of economy. The story that is said to be back of it Is rather entertaining. About fifteen years ago. they say, when the question was argued concerning the feasibility of heating dwelling houses by electricity, the Rochester Gas and Electric - Company asked Mr. Barnes to allow them to experiment upon his house. All they wanted was to install a plant Just to see how it worked. MrBarnes said he would give the desired pe remission if the company sign a contract to furnish him with power as long as It shoulo be In existence. This was readily agreed to and the plant was Installed. "Several manufacturing firms were eager to share In the advertisement,' and offered to put the apparatus In free. The theory was excellent and the wiring and apparatus beyond criticism, but the experiment wäi not the success that everybody had hoped for, and the enterprise was given up. Mr. Barnes is a practical electrician, and he sat down and studied hard. He took out a connection here and put one in there; he altered this resistance coll and strengthened that. In a year he had all the parts working in harmony, and his house as warm as the coziest steam-heated one In the country. The contract still holds, as Mr. Barnes leans back in his Morris chair, looks at the thermometer, about the only thing In the house that Is not run by electricity, and if it is too warm touches a but

ton, whereupon the room cools off Just so many degrees. If It's too cool another button is pushed, and up goes the mercury. "No coal, no smoke, no grit, no gas." said Mr. Barnes as he lit-his cigar by the electric sparker. "I am only able now to recognize coal by breathing It, and believe that wood should be used only for decorative and building purposes. Think of broiling your chicken by touching a button! And do you know, a friend of mine once asked me if we didn't have current pie any time we wanted it by turning on the currents." The power la brought into the house from the underground cables of the electric light company mentioned above, and conveyed to a switchboard in the library. From there it is distributed through the house. There are electric heaters in the halls, the parlors and sitting rooms, the dining room and one in each of the sleeping rooms. Each heater consists of hundreds of yards of fine wire coiled on spindles and inclosed in black wooden framework attached to marble slabs, which are fastened to the baseboard near the floor. The heat is controlled by the principle of adjusting the current to the resistance. A safety appliance is attached to each radiator In the shape of a "fuse," which. In case of thunderstorms or short circuiting, burns out quick, thus minimizing any danger from f.re. "The electric heaters in the sleeping rooms are most convenient," said Mr. Barnes. "Many persons prefer to sleep in a cold room, but almost everybody has a leaning toward dressing in a warm one. Suppose you wake up and find the room too cold. Getting up time is approaching, and insteading of sliding out of the covers to open the register or turn on the steam, you Just reach out your hand, give the switch at the head of the bed a little push, and when you get up an hour later the room Is as warm as you want It." PRESIDENTIAL PLUNDER.

How Venezuelan Revenue Is Diverted from Venezuelan Uaea. London Telegraph. A representative of the Daily Telegraph had an interview yesterday with a gentleman who has been well acquainted with Venezuela for many years past, and has been associated with several Important industrial undertakings in that country. According to his view, the one chance of salvation would be the placing of the customs under European control an event, however, which is not very likely to take place. Venezuela itself teems with natural resources. Apart from its mineral wealth. It grows almost anything, and its coffee and cocoa are considered to be the best in the world. The trouble Is that the people, who, left to themselves, would be content to till the land and otherwise lead an industrious life, are ruled by a class of brokendown Journalists and lawyers, whose one object is to get into power for the sake of what they can make during their term of office. "It may seem incredible," said our informant, "but not many years ago, on the very day before Dr. Palaclo was ejected President, he was unable to get credit for the price of a ham. Yet in fourteen months he retired to the more genial clime of Paris with 800.000, and I can guarantee the accuracy of the amount because I assisted in counting the boxes of bullion in which the treasure was sent to Europe. The fact Is, that the one object of the government is to divide as much of the revenue as they can among themselves, and to spend as little as possible upon the administration of the country. The revenue returns that are supplied are wholly untrustworthy, and few people except the inner ring know what it really Is. The late President Crespo used to send down every day, including Saints' days and Sundays, to the treasury for 3G0, which he said was due to him for his salary as President, so that he regarded his position as being worth at least 130,000 a year. The huge fortune which was made by the now deceased Guzman Blanco is a matter of history, but it is not so well known that when he retired from the presidency he went to Paris as envoy extraordinary with a salary of 23,000 a year in addition to expenses, one item of these expenses on one occasion being 4,000 for a ball. "Of course, if the government class live in this extravagant manner and fail to pay the subordinate officials, the latter have to earn their living by getting backsheesh wherever they can. No one who has not had practical experience can realize the Infinite annoyance to which foreign industrial undertakings are subjected unless they are prepared to pay handsomely for being left alone. To take only one Instance, the Laguayra harbor was undertaken on a government guarantee of 7 per cent., but owing to the constant interference of government officials, the company was eventually glad to relinquish the guarantee in consideration of being allowed to carry on its business in peace. "The only thing in favor of President Castro is his pluck, and, in my opinion, he would not have taken up such an attitude had he not been under the impression that the United States would come to his assistance. It is unfortunate that the revolution was not successful, because what the country wants is an honest President, and General Matos, who has been defeated. Is rich enough to be above temptation. Moreover, he has lived in Europe for many years, and Is more civilized than the halfbreeds who frequently attain to the highest post In Venezuela, As regards the railways, their promoters were not in all cases free from blame. They traded on the cupidity of the government, and obtained large guarantees which they knew the lines would never earn. The Germans especially were at fault, and the last loan of 1836 raised by the Dlsconto-Gesellschaft, was brought out mainly in order to fund the unpaid railway guarantees. Still, it all comes back to this, that Venezuela, with all its natural resources, will never do itself justice until a stop is put to the corruption of the ruling class, and I do not see how that is to be brought about unless the country is placed under the tutelage of the European powers or the United States." The Immlarratton Problem. Frederick J. Turner, In Atlantic Monthly. To the old native democratic stock has been added a vast army of recruits from the old world. There are in the middle West alone 4,000,000 persons of German parentage out of a total of 7,000,000 in the country. Over a million persons of Scandinavian parentage live in the same region. This immigration culminated in the early eighties, and although there have been fluctuations since, it has remained a most extraordinary phenomenon. The democracy of the newer West is deeply affected by the ideals brought by these immigrants from the old world. To them America was not simply a new home; it was a land of opportunity, of freedom, of democracy. It meant to them, as to the American pioneer that preceded them, the opportunity to destroy the bonds of social caste that bound them In their older home, to hew out for themselves in a new country a destiny proportioned to the powers that God had given them, a chance to place their families under better conditions, and to win a larger life than the life that they had left behind. He who believes that even the hordes of recent immigrants from southern Italy are drawn to these shores by nothing more than a dull and blind materialism has not penetrated into the heart of the problem. He who would take stock of American democracy must not forget the accumulation of human purposes and ideals which immigration has added to the American populace. Heartleaa Squeesc of the Poor. Boston Post. Kerosene oil can be bought In Boston to-day for 15 cents a gallon. Six months ago, before fuel began to be scarce because of the coal strike, it was sold for 10 cents i gallon. As people began to use it more senerally for heating purposes, the price was advanced, a cent at a time, until when the greatest distress prevailed it was put up to 14 cents, and now. In view of a continued fuel famine, it is made 15 cents. What is the cause of this Increase of 50 per cent. In the price of an article of universal necessity? Crude petroleum, from which kerosene Is made, was never so -heap. The development of new oil territory has brought down the price of the raw material. The cost of manufacture Is '.he same as before, or less. In a time of distress among the poor, kerosene at 1) rents a gallon would be a blessing and would save lives that are now sacrluced to insufficient, warmth. It Works All Right. Philadelphia Record. While the employes of the United States Steel Corporation are .trying to make up their minds whether they like the opportunity to invest in the company's stock the Pittsburg Commercial Company, s coal concern, reports that it has been practicing a similar arrangement with its employes for two years, with general satisfaction. The men have bought a million dollars' worth of the company's stock, and are rapidly paying for It. and the company and Its employes are reported to regard the arrangement as an entire success.

ONE OF LINCOLN'S COUSINS

WIFE OF A MILL ENGINEER PREPARING A FAMILY GENEALOGY. Her Reminiscence of Lincoln and the Hankaea Nancy' Grave Possibly Slarked Wrong, She Sayn. East Pepperell (Mass.) Letter. Living here with her husband, who Is an engineer in a mill, is a cousin of Abraham Lincoln, whose father was born In tho same log cabin In which the great President of the United States was born in ISoD. She is Mrs. Nellie M. Moore, who was born not many years before the outbreak of the civil war in Frankford, Mo., and has been for three months a resident of Eist Pepperell. Mr. and Mrs. Moore live in a modest, though neat and attractive little cottage in Franklyn street, the Interior of which bespeaks on every hand unusual culture), and artistic taste on the part of the mistress thereof, for so unpretentious an establishment. Miss Hull, for that Was Mrs. Moore's maiden name, spent only the first thirteen years of her life in Missouri, having been sent to a Kentucky boarding school at that age. She was married and lived in Louisville for several years, later removing to Cincinnati, and after the death of her first husband came East, was married to Mr. Moore, a native of Massachu-, setts, and they lived for seventeen years In Atlantic, a part of Quincy, until" they, removed to PepperelL "My father, William 8. Hall, was a son of Martha Hanks, sister of Nancy Hanks, who married Thomas Lincoln and became) the mother ojf Abraham Lincoln." she said. "So, you see, my father was first cousin and I was second cousin to the President." She has been for some time engaged in investigating the early connection of the families with New England, and Intends to prepare a genealogy embodying the results of her labor. The three families, she says, have so Intermarried at various times that It would puzzle a lawyer to make the actual mutual relationship clear In some, cases. "My grandparents, Levi Hall and Martha Hanks, both died of the milk-sick." continued Mrs. Moore, "in Indiana, in 118. about the same time that Lincoln's mother, Nancy Hanks, and her uncle and aunt Sparrow died All were burled together In rude coffins constructed by Thomas Lincoln, who was then a widower with two small children. MARKED BY GUESSWORK. "After Lincoln became President some one erected a monument over his mother's grave In the wilderness, but Aunt Rosanne told me that the selection of the grave for mc Hiuiiumciit iituM jiuve ueen mtre H"" work, since none of the graves had ever been marked and there was no means of identifying any one of them." Coming to the subject of the migration of the survivors of the three families from Indiana to Illinois, Mrs. Moore says: "Joseph Hanks, who taught Thomas Lincoln, Abraham's father, the carpenter trade just one hundred years ago, was one of the first settlers in Illinois, having gone there from Kentucky about 18-0. It was his son. the famous John Hanks, still living in Missouri, who in 1&30 induced Thomas Lincoln, Dennis Hanks and my father to pull up stakes and also remove to Illinois, where Abe was destined to achieve that fame which gained for him the presidency. "Having arrived in Macon county. Illinois, the party, which numbered thirteen, settled for a while. My father and Abe Lincoln were In their twenty-first year, and they, with John Hanks, Abe's second cousin, built the log cabin whtch some say was exhibited on Boston Common thirtyfive years or more ago. They also split tb famous fence rails at that time, samples of which did much to arouse tlw enthusiasm in the Illinois convention of IsHO, which secured the presidential nomination for Lincoln. "After .serving as major In the Black Hawk war. In which Abe Lincoln was captain, my father became one of the earliest settlers in Missouri, and during the greater part of his life kept a tavern, first at Hannibal and later at Frankford. "Although I am not yet fifty, I saw a lot of genuine pioneer life in Missouri when I was a girl, for Frankford was then a newly-settled locality. When I was a little girl Aunt Sally, Abraham Lincoln's stepmother, used to visit us. and she frequently put me to sleep in her arms, but I never thought much about it till I was grown up and others reminded me of the distinction I had enjoyed. "I often visited among the 1 Tanks' In my childhood, too, and my especial favorite was Grandma Hanks, es we called John Hunks's mother, who lived in what Is now known as Quincy, 111. I used to hold her skein of yarn for her when she wound it into a ball, and during the operation she would tell me stories of her early life In the pioneer days of Illinois. "One story was in regard to a freshet such as used to come almost yearly to those who lived along the river bottoms eighty years or so ago. Gradma went several miles down the river on a raft, one day, to the mill, to have some corn ground, leaving the children in the log house. "The river had been threatening to riso for several days, but the children well knew, from former experiences, that If the river Invaded the house thy were to climb up on the roof for safety. GRANDMA HANKS FINDS THE BABY. "The river rose while grandma was) away, and she toiled laboriously to get home as soon as she could. When she got nearly home she found everything,, afloat, and as she passed a tree that was well submerged she thought she heard a cry from the branches. "She paddled to the tree, and there found her baby, John Hanks, afloat In his cradle, which had been washed through the door of the cabin and had drifted about until It found lodgment in the top of the tree where its mother found It. "The rest of the children she found sitting on top of the chimney, and, taking them all on the raft, she paddled them to the nearest house that had escaped tho flood. "Another of her stories was about Guinea niggers.' I suppose you don't know what 'Guinea niggers' were, do you? Well, they were not uncommon In the days whrn slaves were brought from Africa, They were very small in stature and very unprepossessing In appearance and they were said to be cannibals. "Grandma said that In her youth she knew a young couple who bought a pair of 'Guinea niggers. One day her little child disappeared and it was never seen again. They afterward found that the cannibals had eaten the child, and they were hanged for it." Mrs. Moore describes having seen, with some amusement, Abraham Lincoln making a political speech in Missouri, arrayed In a long and exceedingly crumpled linen "duster" and a tall hat of ancient pattern. She says that when Lincoln was nominated for President his humble relatives among the Hankses held up their hands with amazed Incredulity and exclaimed with practical unanimity: "Abe Lincoln for President? I don't believe it!" "There was always something queer about the Hankses." she says, "for, although they were among the earliest settlers in Illinois and had their pick of the land and plenty of It. and some of them had large, productive farms, yet every one of them turned out as poor as Job's cat. "There is John Hanks; I can remember visiting his farm in my childhood, when you could ride for miles and miles and see nothing but land that belonged to him. He had plenty of good cattle, nne horses, pigs and poultry, yet to-day he and two sisters are living in Louisiana. Mo., old. feeble and In absolute destitution, although thtir needs are not much. "If they were near me I could help them In some ways, but I can't send them money, for I have but little myself. "My mother owned slaves before the war, but my father never did. nor did any of the Hankses, and for that reason they were called 'poor whites' by their neighbors who had slaves. All the llankses were stanch supporters of the Union during the civil war." Certainly Not. Washington Star. Bret Harte left a very small estate. T'one of his pibllshers will, of course, feel it Incumbent on them to offer any explanations tux this. ooLut.