THE COLUMBIAN. BLOOMSBURG, VA. A THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OFBIaUOBISBURG. 1A. THE OLDEST AND STRONGEST. Capital 8100,000 Surplus 8150,000. With the Largest Capital and Surplus in the County, a Strong Directorate, Competent Officers and Everv Mod ern Facility, we solicit Accounts, Large or Small, and Collections on the Most Liberal Terms Consistent with Sound Banking, and Invite YOU to inspect our NEW QUARTERS. 3 Per Cent. Interest Paid on Time Deposits OFFICERS: Myron I. B. W. M. Low, President. Jame M.rttawr, Vive President. DIRECTORS: James M. Stavcr, Fred Ikeler, 8. C. Creasy. Clinton Herring, E. W. M.Low. F. O. Yorks, Loulf (JroHs, M. E Stnoklioune. THE COLUMBIAN. ESTABLISHED 1866. THEJCOLUMBIA DEMOCRAT, CSTAIILISHKH I837. CONSOI IDAI Eli 1869 u u iiiiiED Evekv Thursday Morning, A1 KIojrrnlurf, the County Scat ot Columhin County , Pennsylvania. CEO. E. ELWELL. Editor. GEO. C. ROAN, Fokimax. ru k m a: Insult the county A1.00 a year In alvancc; l.jnif not aiil in aancp. 'ats-de the county, $ 1.25 a year, strictly in All communication houl1 lieidilrefsed 1 II I. COL'J.MHIAX, Hoonisl.urj;, i'a. HUltsDAV, MARCH 2r, lWfl FREE COAL. Should the provision of the Payne Tariff bill putting bitumi nous coal in the free list be finally approved, and if thereafter Canada should respond by Hie repeal of the Dominion coal duty, there would be great reciprocal advantage for both countries. The Pennsylvania and West Virginia mines would be able to supply with coal a large area of Canadian territory fronting on the Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence River. Canadian pro dacers would obtain counterbalanc ing advantage by being able to sell Nova Scotian coal in New England ' nd coal from British Columbia to u-,-rican consumers on the Pacific 1st. Such Canadian coals would rssured of a market because of . cilities of cheap water transporta- uin. There may be opposition to a re peal, both of our owu aud of the Canadian tariff duty, at the hands of producers who find narrow and local advantage in a restriction of free intertrading; but the benefits . r a 01 repeal are so obvious ana so widely distributed that we cannot doubt of final reciprocal action. It will be some time, however, before such mutual arrangement, if agreed upon, can become operative. JViila. Record. DIRECT TAXATION. The proposal to put a tariff duty I on coffee and tea in order to meet the exigent need ot the government for more money arouses an instant remonstrance from consumers This is readily explained. Such taxes would be instantly added to house hold expenses and recognized as t continuing additional burden. Yet the consumer will go on paying without murmur more grievous tax ation on his food, clothing, shelter, medicine, tools and machinery be cause he does not pay these taxes so directly. He does not recognize the extended hand of the govern ment nor the plucking he gets when lie buys himself a coat or builds himself a house. He also fails to Temember that the coffee and tea taxes go straight into the Treasury. ery little of the money being dis.ii- jwicu in me cost ot collection, whilst the tax on his coat and his house is largely diverted to the pockets of favored parties among iu icuuw-ciuzens who are author bed to tax him for their own emol anient. The coffee tax is a fair tax; but it would be unpopular because its burden would be recognized. The ico per cent, tax on wool and wool ens is an abomination; but it is paid without remonstrance because it is paid without knowledge; the sub stance of the tax payer Is drawn way jrorn mm as the vampire sucks the life blood of its sleeping Little Barbara's Complaint rour-year-oid Barbara went to church with her two sisters and came home crying. "What is the matter, dear?" in- quired her mother. "He preached a whole s sermon- ahout-M-Mary and Martha," sob bed Barbara, "and-never said-a- w-woTd about me." April Lippineotft. Low, Vice PreHident. Frank Ikeler, Cashier Mvron T. Low, H". V.Hower. Frank Ikeler. THE PROPOSED STATE HIGHWAY. One of Governer Stuart's pet schemes is the construction of a state highway from Philadelphia to Pittsburg, and a bill has reen intro duced in the legislature asking for an appropriation of Ss.ooo.ooo for that purpose. Last week on recond reading the bill was sent back to the committee, because it was evident that if a vote was taken on it at that time, the bill would have been killed. Since then it is announced that Senator Penrose and the other ma chine bosses are favoring the bill, and it is expected to pass. Some sort ot a compromise is re garded as the probable solution whereby the bill tvill go through. Elimination of the $vooo,ooo ap propriation for the work and allow ing probably $1 ,000,000 with which to start the project was the one sug gestion most discussed. To pacify the country districts, which feel that they are left out in the cold in the State highway pro gram, it is proposed to have the Jones Township road bill reported from committee and passed, after cutting down the $3,000,000 appro priation to $1,000,000 or $1,500 - 000. The bill allows 50 cents on each dollar expended by townships in road improvements, but Hon. W. T. Creasy, declared that the count ry districts would not accept this as a basis of compromise. He added that the Jones bill appropriation would have to carry considerably more than $1 000.000 to make it ac ceptable to the townships. It is my belief that the State highway bill cannot be passed,;,' continued Mr. Creasy. "The country people object to it for two reasons: First, they do not know that the State has sufficient money available. Second, they want to know what is the route between Philadelphia and Pittsburg. "We might as well be candid a- bout this matter. No sane man be lieves it Dossible to construct n Viio-h. way between Philadelphia and Pittsburg for $5,000,000. Take for instance, that part of the bill requiring that trolley roads shall not occupy the proposed highway. In Lancaster County, alone, roads which would be used for the high way are occupied by trolley lines. which cost more than $800,000 for construction. It would cost $1, 500,000 to remove and replace them. 'This is but one of many such cases. 1 he project would run uo to $20,000,000 if not more, before it was completed. The bill must say what is to be the cost of the highway complete." Of just what benefit such a road is expected to be, we have not learned. Ordinary people who ride in trolley cars conld not have the pleasure of riding on this "magnif icent state boulevarde", because there will be no trolley lines on it. It could not be used for freight traffic with automobile trucks, for the railroad companies will see that such use is not permitted mere are out three ouroosses wnicn sucn a road could accom ... . - pu&u. nrsi, ir. wouia De a very nice route for the wealthier classes who can afford to go on automobile tours; second, it would be a raonu- ment to the memory of Governor Stuart after he is dead and other wise forgotten; and third, it would be a splendid opportunity for a stu pendous steal from the state treas ury in its construction and mainte nance. Unless the state hierhwav department finds some better meth od than it has been using, the first end that is built will have to be re built before the other end is reached. While the schools and hospitals and country roads are all in need of much more money than the state is giving them, it would be a sinful use of the public money to devote the many millions this road would cost, to such a purpose at this time. WASHINGTON From our Regular Correspondent. Washington, D. C, Mar. 22, 1909 Tl:e Democrats in the House ein determined to punish Repre sentative Fitzgerald for his bolt f 10111 their tanks on Monday. A minority caucus was held 111 the liall of the House 011 Tuesday, and after a lengthy debate a resolution was adopted appointing n commit tee of fifteen to frame rules for future caucuses, and at the yame time determine what shall be done to Fitzgerald, aud with the com mittee assignments not approved by Champ Clark, the new minority leader. Democrats and Republicans alike were delighted with the message of President Taft, and at the conclu sion of its reading, which took hardly five minutes, the Democrats in t'.:e House joined iu the loud aud prolonged applause. Just twelve years ago President McKin ley sent to Congress a message three times as long when he called Congress in extra session on March 15,1897, to pass a new tariff bill. The Democratic members of the full committee on ways and means made every effort during the hear ings which preceded the delibera tions of the Republican members, to bring to light every important fact regarding the articles named in the tariff which are produced in the South, though the Southern States are not represented 011 the subcommittee which framed the tariff bill. In fact the securing of protection for the industries in the southland formed one of the feat ures of the hearings, and sugar, peanuts, lumber, mica, clays, rice, Sea Island cotton, southern fruits, were all subjects for interesting dis cussion and all seek protection at the hands of the government. It is estimated that there will be fifty-six car-loads of government exhibits taken to Seattle for the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific exhibition, including the mint and life-saving service outfit, and the work of loading these exhibits has already begun. The official of the Treas ury department, in charge of the shipment, said yesterday that he expected to have all the govern ment exhibits in place by the time the exhibition opens, tJune 1st, next. The Bureau of Engraving and Printing is unusually active these days and color is given to the be- ief that the new tariff bill win con tain clauses reenacting the stamp taxes, levied during the Spanish- i American war period, by the fact that machines are being installed for the printing of stamps, and the entire printing force is working overtime. Millions of stamps for future sale have been printed with in the last ten days, and the belief obtains that the bureau officials bave received an intimation from the Treasury Department that the task to produce adhesive stamps for use on proprietary medicines, perfumery, chewing gum, on checks, notes and other commer cial paper, will fall on the bureau. In view of the fact that the War Department is simply deluged with applications for headstones for graves of soldiers, the quartermas ter general of the army has made an effort to obtain from the com missioner of pensions information as to the death rate of civil war soldiers and others whose graves are entitled to be marked at gov ernment expense. In many instan ces, of course, the headstones fur nished by the government are never applied for, but some idea of the demands upon the department may be obtained from the tact that there are destined to be somewhere in tne near neighborhood ot 23,000 applications for headstones during the p-esent fiscal year, about 7,000 more than can be purchased out of the funds available for such pur pose. In view of the increasing de mands for headstones, about $75, 000 will be required to meet them during the next fiscal year. Tentative plans for the two new battleships authorized by the last Congress have been completed and the department is making every For (Coughs and Colds Troubled with a cough? A chronic lung trouble There is a medicine made for just these cases Ayer's Cherry Pectoral. Your doctor knows all about it. Ask him what he thinks of it. No medicine can ever take the place of your doctor. Keep in close touch with him, consult him frequently, trust him fully. No alcohol in this cough medicine. C. A yer Co. , Lowell, Mast. Ayer t Pills. Sugar-coated. All vegetable. Act directly on the liver. Gently laxa tive. Dote, only one pill. Sold for nearly sixty yean. Ask your doctor about them. effort to complete the plans and specifications with the least possi ble delay, that contracts may be placed within the next three months. It is believed that if bids are called for soon enough there will be sharp con. petition, with better prices, ns there is great slackness of woik in the private shipyards at present. Bids wfll be called not only ior the two battle ships, but also for the five torpedo destroyers and the collier, author ized by the new law. Wyoming and Arkansas have been selected for the names of the two battle ships, md this leaves only two states, Nevado and Oklahoma, for which battleships or armored cruisers have not been named. No Coal Contracts for April Dolivery. Coal for April delivery is now being shut off by the coal-carrying companies. This refusal is to con tract tctr April coal at any price whether the customary April reduc tion of 50 cents a ton is granted or not. There has been a noticeable in crease in the demand ou dealers for immediate deliveries at the present prices, many householders having been cotiviuced that it will not do to take chances and put off buying until the possible wage war has ac tually broken out. The representative of a large coal house in Philadelphia explained that tne demand for domestic coal has been exceptionally light this year, presumably because of the ha:d times and the warm winter, which fell together. These ccono mies, he suggested must nave so exhausted the stock of the house holders as to create a rapidly in creasing demand for coal lor sever al months to come. If there is a strike it will be be gun and ended, in his opinion, within a few weeks, since the oper ators are forcing the fighting. Their declarations that their will be a lockout April 1 if there is uot a strike then, he said, will start trou ble at once, if it is to come, aud get it over. One curious development of the situation is that dealers are now buying certain grades and sizes of coal from one another, very much as grain is traded iu on exchange. This traffic, which has, of course, not yet reached any considerable importance, usually follows upon an important disturbance 'in the trade, such as the threat of a big strike. Every effort, it is declared, will be made, however, to prevent spec ulation in the coal which is already mined and stored above ground. There is an enormous amount of coal in these storage piles, estimat ed as aggregating from 10,000,000 to 15,000,000 tons. This however. is really not a very large quantity iu the whole buliof traffic, as it would furnish only about two or three months' supply to the trade in norma! times. It is for this reason that the com panies have shut off orders for de livery in April, so that no dealer shall get his hands on more coal than he needs for the immediate wants of his customers. Should large quantities of the storage come into the market prematurely the effect would be speculation, which would undoubtedly work serious wrong to the consuming public. Ticket Agent Fatally Injured. Albert E. Shure, of Northumberland, Slipped from Car Step at Station. Albert E Shure, night ticket agent for the Pennsylvania railroad at Northumberland received inju ries early Saturday morning while at work from which he died at the Mary M. Packer hospital at Sun bury. Mr. Shure had an errand to do a short distance from the station shortly before seven o'clock and as several cars which were being shifted were passing the platform he jumped on one of them to save himself the trouble of walking. He slipped irom the step and was rolled between the platform and cars for two car lengths. Badly crushed and almost' un conscious from his suffering, he was placed in a box car and taken to Sunburv. At the Market street crossing he was placed in an am- bulance and taken to the Mary M. Packer hospital, where he died a few hours later. hard cold, bronchitis, or some New Spring Suits! Spring Suits have arrived! There's magic in that simple an nouncement for where's the woman who is not all eyes to see the new garment fashions ? The New Spring Snits Are Low Priced. A most remarkable feature about these handsome new models is their extremely lew prices. Your spring- outfit will give you a bet ter service a much finer appear ance and yet cost you a small price. Catering to every taste we've gathered an assortment of choicest correct styles. Prices $10 to $35. Spring Suits . M Regularly $20 00 I y . U Suits of hard twisted serge and striped worsted in black, blue, green, tan and gray. 36 inch hip less coats; slashed back, patch pockets, self button trimming, and cuffs; Skirt is Demi-Princess with self covered buttons down the front. All sizes up to 42. SUIT at $12. 75 Of shadow stripe chiffon panama in navy blue, elect blue, green, tan, ashes of roses and gray. Coat 40 inches long, semi-fitting hipless cutaway front forming points on the sides, new small sleeves, lined throughout with satin: gored Hare skirt with trimming of straps and self covered buttons. SUIT at $26.50 A 4 button cutaway coat 40 inches long of. striped worsted, slashed back and sides, inlaid bengaline silk collar; large Hap pockets, trimmed with but tons, lined with taffeta silk; plain 1 1 gore demi-Princess skirt. At $6.00 to $14.00 Junior Suits for the little Misses in sizes 1 1, 13, 15 and 17 years. Made of shadow stripe pan ama and fine serge. in navy blue, gray aud green, semi fitting hipless coats, gored and pleated skitt. SUIT at $27.00 A strictly tailored suit of French Serge; 4 button cutaway; single breasted (just a slight cut away effect;) lined with taifeta silk; new small sleeves; Demi Princess Skirt with inverted plait at sides. SUITS at $20.00 Of chiffon panama in blue, green and black; graceful semi-fitting hipless coat 36iinches long, single breasted, new small sleeves and trimmed with satin piping; gored flounce skirt. F P. PURSEL. BLOOMSBURG, - PENN'A. sn JUST A REMINDER! Here is a list of some of the printed goods and blank stock that can be obtained at the GlmmMam Priming Some Perhaps it may remind you of something you need. M VU1 T ADFC Allsi:", Commercial. Professional, Insur. ill VCiUVrCiO ance, Baronial, Pay, Coin, UylTTMffO Letter J leads. Note Heads, Bill Ileaas, State tkilnUi 11 11 1 ments, in many grades and sizes. CARDS PAftrVQTPNQ No Admittan For Kent, For Sale. Post WVi3 OslIilO No Bills, Trespass Noiwes, cW. IN RfMKV Administrator's Executor's, Treasurer's Receipt Ail DVlii Books. Plain Receipts, with or without stub, Note Jioofts, Scales Books, Order Books. Etc. HANft RIT T rrinhd in an? size frm aii stre,t tJ lUJln dodger, up to a full Sheet Poster. BOOKS AND PAMPHLETS MISCELLANEOUS 1 Our Stock Includes : Cut Cards, all sizes Shipping Tags Round Corner Cards, Manila Tag Board, Card Board in Sheets, Bond Papers white and colors, Lede-er Panprs Name Cards for all ctve?PaPffs ' WindoUcS:68' BookPaers speetf erven0fsrr0gramS' MeQUS' DaDCeS' Sodeties Lithographed Bonds and Stock Certificates Supplied Engraved? Invltations and Announeements,U?inted or Visitors are Always Welcome. No Obligation to Purchase. We Do AH Kinds of Printing Columbian Printing House, BLOOMSBURG. PA.: full satin lined; satin collar Business, Visiting, Announcement, Admission, Ball Tickets, Etc. B I WILL BE PLEASED TO SHO It SAMPLES OP THESE AND ALL OP OUR IVOR A'.