THE COLUMBIAN. BLOOMSRUPO.
STRONGEST BANK
Capital
$100,000
Undivided Profits
$30,000
First National Bank,
OFU&OOHttIfl71lG 1A.
Solicits the Business and Accounts of Farmers
and Business Men.
SATISFACTION OUAIIANTKKD HY A STRONG, C'ONSKKVATI VK
AND SAFK MAN AO KM F.NT.
3 Per Cent. Interest Paid on Time Deposits.
OF KICK US:
K. W. M. Low. President.
Janice M.Stavfr, Vice President.
I) I K KOTO US:
E.W.M.Low, K. U. York, S. C. 'reimy . Fred Ikeler,
H.V. Mower lames M. Slnver, Myron I . Low, Lou in Oroxc,
M. K Stack house. Frank Ikeler,
THE COLUMBIAN.
ESTAllLISMFI) iSf.h.
THE COLUMBIA DEMOCRAT,
isrABI.ISIIKl) lSj7. CoNSOl idai ei 1S69
UHi.tsntii) Kvkkv Tiu kshay Murming,
A lilo.misliur, the Ceisnty Scat ot ,
Columliio County . !V::nsylvania.
;!:.. K. i.t.W ELL. Flu tor.
HE: . C. ROAN, I om ,as.
I'kkm.-: Insult t lie j i . n;y I ,oc a year
i m a tv.nn c ; 1 . 5 o i f not ; .iui in alvance.
) r sule the county, t. 2 a year, strictly in
Iw C.
Al. :iiiiiiiunications should be. id dressed
THE COLUMBIAN, H!oomslurn, l'a.
: IllT.-sDAY, DECKM KKK 31, I mis.
Wages and the Cost of Living.-
It took ?3f23 lnt year to pay for
the necessaries of living that could
he bought for $2500 in 1S97. Six-ty-nine
ce.its ten years ago had the
buying power of the dollar today.
This is the graphic way in which
Professor Joseph French Johnson,
of New York University, drives
home the meaning of '"increased
cost of Hying." I lis two simple
statements make it startlingly plain
that there is a seamy side to mod
ern American prosperity.
Our Republican friends common
point to the existing high scale
. workmen's wanes as evidence of
1 exceeding blessings of the
jutry under Republican policies.
.. hardly need be pointed out that
.: advance of wages is cf no ad
vantage to a workman if everything
that he buys has advanced in the
same proportion. The true gauge
of a laboring man's prosperity
is the purchasing power of his
income, and even those workmen
whose wages have most advanced
are lucky if they can live as well
now as tbey could ten years ago.
With the professional classes and
with clerks, salesmen and other
middle-priced employes, the situa
tion is much less favorable. Lack
ing unions to promote their inter
ests and having no organized clas
identity to enlist the attention of
stump orators and legislators, they
have had no advance in income to
keep abreast of the advance in pric
es. For the mast part, the posi
tion that paid $2500 in 1897 pays
the same salary in 1908. The one
evident financial difference that the
decade his brought to the man who
holds it is that the $2500 of 1897 is
worth only $1725 today.
From the standpoint of the vast
class which lies between the great
captains of industry and those who
labor for them is there not some
thing of mockery in a high tariff
prosperity? Just what is there in
it for the bank clerk, say, who
married ten years ago on $25 a
week? Would not even the high
paid skilled workman prefer to be
free to purchase his necessaries in
the cheapest market and take his
chance on being able to exact a
good living wage for his labor.
Richmond Times Dispatch.
More Capitol Trials in April.
The next trial of alleged Capitol
grafters will take place on April 5,
and Joseph M. Huston, the archi
tect, who so far has escaped the
net, will be one of the defendants,
and he will not be granted a sever
ance this time. Along with Con
tractor Sanderson and former State
Officials Snyder, Mathues and Shu
maker, the architect and designer
of high-priced trimmings will face
a jury.
Attorney General Todd, Assist
ant Deputy Attorney General Todd,
District Attorney Weiss, Senator
John E- Fox, of Harrisburg, were
present for the prosecution, as was
Attorney James Scarlet, of Dan
ville, who left off prosecuting the
Ppwder Trust for the Government
long enough to come to Harrisburg
to help care for the interests of the
State. Mr. Scarlet will again be
the chief counsel, taking active
part.
IN THE COUNTY
Surplus
$100,000.
Myron I. Low, VIcp President.
Frank Ikeler, Cashier,
State Road Improvement.
In a letter to this paper com
mending its arguments in favor of
highway improvement by the State.
Mr. J. II. Weeks, the chairman of
the Good Roads Committee of the
Pennsylvania Motor Federation,
which has instituted a campaign to
secure favorable action by the Leg
islature, thus definitely outlines its
purpose:
I "Our Main Highway P.ill pro
' vides for a commission to be ap
pointed ty the Governor who shall
prepa:o a complete plair of all the
mails in the State which they be
lieve should be converted into State
Reads, not alone those that the
lirst appropriation ot s.is,ot)o,ooo
will cover. In other words, we
are advocating the planning of a
complete system. It is unquestion
ed that such a system will embrace
at least three across-the-State high
ways and a number of north and
south highways with branches run
ning into every section of the State.
The difficulty today lies in the
fact that our "State-aid" roads
only go into such sections as can
afford to pay one-fourth of the cost.
The poorer sections get no roads for
the reason that they cannot afford
to pay their share. In certain locali
ties important highways pass
through these poor sections, with
the result that nn immediate amount
of traffic is compelled to go over
roads that are almost impassable.
The present plan has resulted in
nothing but patchwork, mostly
roads leading from nowhere to no
where, and has practically frozen
out the poorer townships. We
maintain that the main highways
should be constructed and main
tained at the expense of the State.
They are for general use, and
should be supported by the general
fund. We naturally have a selfish
interest in advancing the cause of
good roads in Pennsylvania, but
our bills have been worked out not
solely in the interest of the auto-
mobihsts, as many seem to think,
but according to the motto we have
adopted, "Good roads for the farm
er means good roads for the auto-
mobilist." Our bills provide for
no boulevards, but for common-
sense roads treated with a preserva
tive whico shall make them water
proof and dustproof."
It is obvious that what is here
indicated is the sensible treatment
of the State's highway problem.
It there is to be substantial pro
gress 'in road improvement there
must be a system by which each
stretch of work accomplished shall
be part of a contemplated whole.
The entire scheme of betterment
should be lodged in the State au
thorities, and the fund acquired by
general taxation. It is as unjust
to deny good roads to the poorer
sections of the Commonwealth as
to deny paved streets to the poorer
sections of the city.
Troops Soon to Leave Cuba.
New Year's day will witness the
beginning of the evacuation of
Cuba by the American army of
pacification, which has been in pos
session ot the island since the be
ginning ot the provisional govern
ment, in October, 1906. The First
Provisional Regiment of Marines,
numbering about ooo. which will
be among the first troops to leave,
is now concentrating from various
posts at Camp Columbia. About
half this regiment will sail fiom
Havana on January i, on the
cruiser Prairie, for Newport News,
after which the Prairte will return
and embark the remainder.
Headquarters and Companies A,
B, C and D, Twenty-eighth Infan
try, will embark on the transport
Sumner at Matanzas, on December
31. From there the transport will
proceed to Havana and embark
Companies F, G and H, stationed
at Guanajay, and Company E,
stationed at Guines. The Sumner
also will sail for Newport News,
the ultimate station of these com
panies being Fort Snelling, Minn.
WASHINGTON
From our Kecular Correspondent.
Washington, I). C, Dec. 28, 1908
The Ways and Means Commit
tee, that has been sitting so long in
Washington, has discontinued its
so called investigations and Con
ns having adjourned, we are in
the midst of the holiday seasi n.
An unusuilly large number of
Senators und Members temain in
Washington, but these are cheered
by the visits of their sons and
daughters who are in eastern
schools and colleges or may be in
western and pout lit rn schools and
colleges. For there are many worse
places to spend the holidays than
in the capital city of the United
States. The ground is covered
with six inches of snow, but the
days are bright and there has
scarcely as yet been any really cold
weather.
The citizens of Washington,
those who make it their home, are
interested in the preparations for
the inauguration of President-elect
Taft. Seventy-five thousand dol
lars have been already subscribed
for the expenses of tbc si reel pa
geant and ilu- inaugural ball ami it
is interesting to note that this a
inouut is $i 2,000 gieater than the
total subscription for President
UnoM Vi U's last i n a u g ti r a t i o n.
There is no doubt but that the sub
scription will be considerably in
creacd for donations are coming
in in sums of $ co or more.
Locally Mr. Taft is a much more
popular man than President Roose
velt, lie is genial, tactful iuiper
turbably goodliuinorcd. and as the
proftssjr said, Mr. Roosevelt
"ain't". Thousands of Washing
tonians have a grudge against the
President. He extended the work
ing hours in all Departments from
4 to 4:30 o'clock causing what was
imagined tc be intolerable hardship
to at least twenty thousand govern
ment employees, interfering with
their dinner hour and with the
schedules of local tiains, fur it
must be lemembered that hundreds
of government clerks live eight and
ten and even forty n:iles outside of
the city, quite a number of them
coming over in the morning from
Baltimore and returning in the
evening. President-elect Taft will
not have to do what Mr. Roosevelt
has done, fortunately perhaps for
his local popularity but it may be
safely assumed that he will not re
scind the older.
The inauguration on the fourth
of March is expected to surpass in
splendor and in volume of specta
tors, street parade, and inaugural
ball, any similar event that has
been given before. As usual, Penn
sylvania Avenue, on the south side,
will be lined with bleachers where
the spectators may sit on a rough
pine board at an expense of any
where from fifty cents to a dollar
and a half and watch an almost
endless procession, military and
civic, with fifty or more brass bands
interspersed, for five or six hours.
The day is usually inclement and
frequently almost intolerable. The
seats that cost $1.50 will have awn
ings; while those of ; less price will
be exposed to the frownings or
smiling skies, as the case may be.
In thiity years residence, your cor
respondent remembers only one
pleasant fourth of March and that
was the day of the first inaugura
tion of President Cleveland.
Andrew Carnegie's admission be
fore the Committee on Ways and
Means that an international combi
nation of steel manufacturers exist
ed has naturally excited many
people interested in the tariff prob
lem and it is said that steps will be
taken to get to the bottom of this
alleged international trust. Mr.
Carnegie denied that he knew any
thing of it personally, but he did
not deny its existence and had
heard of it from several sources.
There has been talk of summoning
J. Pierpont Morgan, on the assump
tion that if there is a big trust any
where, he is in it, or may know
something about it. Moreover,
Mr. Morgan had much to do with
the creation of the steel trust and
it is somewhat natural to suppose
that he is advised as to any inter
national relations.
It is predicted by those who pro
fess to know that President Roose
velt's reply to the demand of the
House of Representatives for the
Weak Throat Weak Lungs
Cold after cold; cough after cough! Troubled with this
taking-cold habit? Better break it up. We have great
confidence in Ayer's Cherry Pectoral for this work. No
medicine like it for weak throats and weak lungs. Ask
your doctor for his opinion. He knows all about it.
His approval is valuable. Follow his advice at all times.
No alcohol in this cough medicine. . c. Ayer Co.,LoweiWass.
Always keep a good laxative in Hit house. Take a dose when your cold first comes on. What
U the best laxative for this? Ayer's i'ills. Ask your doctor his opinion. Let him decide.
information upon which he based
the assertion tn his annual message
that Members of Congress were
averse to investigation by secret
service men, is piepared and in the
form of a special message. It is
said that th President has com
pleted it after working clay and
night to get it iff his hands in or
der that lie might enjoy the Christ
mas holidays with a liht heart
The draft ot this 111 ssage, it is
said, has been submitted to the
Cabinet and the paper was carefully
scrutinized by every one of the
President's counsellors. It is said
that those who are anticipating a
vitriolic document will not have
thfir expectations realized The
paper is said to lc conservative,
calm and temperate. Congress will
scaicely have assembled in the Cap
itol before this paper will be re
ceived by it and those who have
seen it, believe that the country
will be convinced, ns will also
Members of Congress, that the
President h id sufficient rjason for
the words that have been so heat
edly criticised and discussed in his
annual message.
The American Eagle.
Will NjI bo Prolcitcd any Longer in Pel n.
sylvanla.
The St. ile of Pei lylvania will
remove its olTici il protection from
the great American eagle it a bill in
contemplation and having the back
ing of the State Game Commission
hi conies a law. Now the eagle is
protected ami there is a fine of $511
for each and every eagle killed.
The state game ollicials take the
ground that the eagle is a bird of
prey and does more damage than
good. It has been ascertained that
the United States government does
not protect the ?airle. and ill.' flan
is to make it legitimate game.
- - .
U. S. Navy Second in World.
England Alone Now Leads Us on the Sea.
Our navy stands second among
those of the great wot Id powers at
the present time, aecouling to the
navy year book, prepared by Pit
man Pulsiver, clerk to the senate
navy committee.
Germany follows third, while
France has dropped to fourth place
and Japan to fifth.
The year book shows that Great
Britain has sixty-one first-class bat
tle ships, the United States thirty
one, Germany thirty one, France
twenty-six and Japan fifteen.
France takes precedence of both
the United States and Germany, if
the tonnage of all the vessels in the
navy is counted. All told, France
has 516 vessels.
Pennsylvania's Big Bridge.
One of the most daring and re
markable engineering structures
ever proposed is the bridge which
the Pennsylvania Railroad will be
gin building from Port Morris, a
suburb of New York, to Queen's
county, Long Island, as soon as
work on its terminal station is
farther advanced.
With the approaches the bridge
will be three miles long and span
the Hell Gate ship channel with an
enormous arch 1000 feet in the
clear. The entire bridge, except
the piers for the arch, will be of
steel, having an estimated weight
of 80,000 tons.
The novel feature of the plans is
that the train floor of the bridge in
stead of resting on the crown of the
arch is hung from it. The crown is
300 feet above the water and the
floor 140 feet, enabling the largest
steamer to pass under with ease.
The bridge will have four tracks,
two for passenger trains and two
for freight, and is designed for live
loads on each of the tracks of two
190-ton locomotives, followed by a
uniform load of 5000 pounds per
linear foot.
The main arch is to be flanked
by piers, from which will rise
double towers 200 feet high. The
towers will be of massive propor
tions, with the lower portion of
granite and the upper of concrete.
w niiam KaoD ot uauviue, son
of Dr I. L. .Rabb of this town,
was united in marriage on Monday
to Miss Ann e Reifsnyder of Dan
ville. The ceremony was perform
ed in Binghamton.
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1
00 YOUR
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SH0PPOKK3 I
AT
PURSEL'S.
A GREAT VARIETY OF
GOODS SUITABLE
! FOR HOUSEHOLD USE
F. P.
BLOOMSBURG,
We Have Ten Styles of
Envelopes and Paper to Match
FOR
Invitations, Acceptances, Regrets
Announcements, &c.
Full size Wedding with two Envelopes, down tc
Billet-doux m.c with Card to Fit.
Twenty-Four Styles of Type
FOR CARDS AND INVITATIONS.
We Do All Kinds of Printing
Columbian Printing House,
BLOOMSBURG, PA.
Worth Knowing.
Burning oil is spread by water.
To extinguish it throw down flour!
sand or earth. The idea is to pre
vent the oil spreading.
Fried chicken with cream sauce
and corn fritters is an old dish, but
one that too seldom finds a sub
stantial place in the home.
A faint scent of violets is impart
ed to handkerchiefs by adding a
small piece of orris root to the wat
er in which they are boiled.
PURSEL.
PENN'A.
To soften hard water, put one
ounce of quicklime into four gallons
and a half of water. Stir it thor
oughly and allow it to settle. Then
pour off the clear solution which
will be enough to add to four bar
rels of hard water.
Trespass Notioes.
Card signs ' 'No Trespassing" for
sale at this office. They are print
ed in accordance with the late act
of 1903. Price 5 cents each, tf