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THE SCRANTON TRIBUNE FRIDAY. FEBRUARY 2. 1808.
5
' " r Jtff"
CITY GOVERNMENT
AT THE CAPITAL
Claim Made That It Palls Through Lack
of Partisanship.
DETAILS OP INEFFICIENCY CIIARQED
The Streets ol IVnsliliigton, It l As
sorted, Am No Hotter I'rtvod and
Not Nearly Ho Well Clcnncd, IU
Lights nnd Wnlor Aro Worse, mid
lis Government Less JiMclnnt Tlmn
In I'nrtlsnn Now York.
(Vnnhlngton Letter In the Sun.
This Is the only city In the United
States that Id not ruled by Its own
citizens. Just now n feeble effort Id
belnir tnndo to secure local self-government,
though It has no larger prom
ise of success than nnv of those that
havo preceded It. The agitation Is In
teresting chiefly as showing that hi the
absence of many of the usual features
of municipal government that tiro ob
noxious to the advocates of local non
partisanship, the administration of tho
business nffali-H of the community Is
Hot better than that of other cities.
The arguments of the agitators prove
that other communities, where partis
anship Is constant and rampant, have
little to fear In a comparison with
Washington.
Citizens of tho district are extremely
cautious about criticising the local ad
ministration or any part of the na
tional government. It is the traditional
and sustained policy to keep all por
tions of Influence In a pleasant state of
mind toward the people here. "The
conditions here are, or could easily bo
made, the Ideal of tho advocates of
local non-partisanship," said an Intel
ligent citizen who was an active local
politician before his business In the
departments Induced him to become a
resident of the capital. The population
of the district Is 280,000, which is
enough to make experiments in local
government significant. Certainly there
never was a better opportunity for ex
periment. KVen without any change In
methods we should be able to see some
of the beneficent effects of non-par-tlsanshlp
that its advocates promise
when their principles nre adopted.
ADVANTAGES.
"Among tho 2SO.O0O people there are
many men of wealth, who take pride
in the beauty and good government of
their town. An unusually large pro
portion of the whole Is made up of well-to-do
people. Probably no other city
has as large a percentage of citizens
with a llxed Income of from $1,200 to
$5,000 a year. These are forces for good
administration The rate of growth of
the town is about the average of other
cities of tho same class, and It is rea
sonable to estimate that in twenty
years or less tho population will reach
half a million. We have parks wisely
planned, wide avenues and streets
meeting at monument circles, arboreal
suburbs, fine homes, and the 'magnifi
cent distances' that are without paral
lel. Everything is ripe for an adminis
tration of business affairs that will
make the place, without extravagant
outlay, a model for all the world. Un
der the present system there are no
ward politicians keeping bosses In pow
er to pervert the proper course of pub
lic expenditures. Tho jobbery com
plained of In most communities does
not lay its heavy charge on every dol
lar of tax money. The affairs of tho
town are not run with an eye single
to the welfare of a political party.
"Yet in the arguments for local self
government toned down to save th'o
feelings of commissioners and legisla
tors it is asserted that tho people of
Washington aro forced to drink the pol
luted, unflltered water of tho Potomac,
than which only the water of Jersey
City Is less drinkable. The water is
obviously dirty, though that does not
necessarily imply that it is unwhole
some, but it is impure under the tests
of the chemist and the mlcroscoplst.
Experts have affirmed that In its un
flltered, unboiled state. It Is detri
mental to health and Is in some degrea
responsible when the citizen la not
able to resist the encroachments of
disease. It Is contended that by a
process of filtering- It is easily possible,
without great expense, to make tho
water more potable, or at least less dis
pleasing to the sight; that many n city
less financially aide, has drawn Its pure
water from distant hills and brought
It Into Its homes. The advocates of
local self-government assert that If the
form of government were changed to
that of other cities, no such condition
of the water supply could endure. Evi
dently they forget Jersey City.
UNIJEAI.THFUI, AND DIRTY.
"The death rate of Washington seems
to support thlB argument. It i.s high
er than that of most, If not all, North
ern cities of the same class. This is
partly due, of course, to the greater
mortality among tho blacks, and part
ly due to the malarial conditions. Hut
these conditions can be changed. The
signs of inefficient administration nre
frequent enough to maue that count
among tho causes. An epidemic of
diphtheria or scarlet fever Is among
the rarest oi things In a well-regulated
community of this size. At this mo
ment there is what would be called
elsewhere an epidemic of each. The
new cases of diphtheria in one week
were fifty-eight This may mean In
efficient methods of seclusion or a bad
state of tho water supply, and of the
atmosphere, or both. Typhoid fever is
not an uncommon thing here, even in
the winter months. Yet sanitarians
assert that It is possible to make Wash
ington a healthful as well as a beau
tiful city.
"Foliage covers a multitude of sins.
Just now the veil of leaves Is with
drawn, and the place is naked to the
eye. It Is undeniably dirty. Covered
as miles of Its tree-lined streets are
with cracked, uneven asphalt, show
ing bad inspection, they are not kept
clean by the sweeping machines nnd
the negro laborers. Ilesldes being bad
ly put down In many cases, the pave
ments have no proper drainage, al
though the natural topography is such
as almost to require skill to prevent
self-drainage. On n rulny day tho
streets of no ring-ruled city are mud
dler. There aro virtually no street
crossings. To go down the southwest
side of Pennsylvania avenue It to wade
through muddy water abqve the shoo
tops. The sidewalks are atrocious,
made of soft red bricks that are us
uneven as the course of true love.
I.lttlo puddles of water stand for n
full day nftr a rain. About Center
Market at this season of the year there
Is an atmosphere of carelessness. In
the street the black man builds, bis
fire to cook his coffee and bacon, un
disturbed by tho easy policeman, who
does not always wear his coat but
toned, whllti on duty und who Is usual
ly lacking In dignity. He leans against
a lamp-post nnd chats as amiably with
tho colored man as though tho latter
wor'o a political power. The muddinesa'
about tho railway stations gives to
the visitor u painful first Impression
of the capital city such ns I have not
had on reaching many cities that are
ruled by political parties.
UEIIIND THE TIMES.
"At the two railway stations north
ern visitors are astonished nt the mot
ley collection or dirty, rickety cabs,
coupes, and carriages, to which horses
lit only for the Imneynnl nre attached
nnd driven by Jehus equally ns dirty
nnd dilapidated. The railway com
panies have long desired to establish
a line of respectable-looking vehicles
tit for decent people to ride In, but are
unable to get the promise of the com
missioners for proper rules und regu
lations against tho competition of the
crnzy cabs that now hang about the
stntlons.
"Street lighting Is no better and no
cheaper here than elsewhere. The qual
ity of the gas is about that of other
towns, but It Is not good. The propor
tion of electric lights Is not greater
than elsewhere. Not being governed
by popular vote, it would bo easy for
the district administration to solve the
problems of lighting that other cities
ure restrained from attacking by the
political influence of corporations The
price of gas should be lower or else
the company should pay a profit Into
the treasury, ns In Paris. Electric light
ing might be made so cheap as to en
able a much larger proportion of pri
vate houses to use the current.
"The streets are abominably cut up
by street railway lines, a part of which
are underground electrln nnd a part
horse. Tho continued use of the latter
seems to bo due to the leisurely way
In which the slow-moving traction
company replaces its burned power
house. If tho building goes on no fas
ter than the removal of the bricks of
the burned structure, It must be
months more before the horses are
abandoned. Horse cars go bumping
along Pennsylvania avenue on rails
that are loosely laid down without
spikes.
THE COLORED ELEMENT.
"This reminds me of one respect In
which Washington Is unfortunate. Its
labor Is virtually all black, and there
fore mortally slow and Incredibly In
efficient. Wherever the Washington
negro does not constitute the solo
source of labor supply, wherever he has
any competition, ho must Inevitably
go under. He can't polish a shoe, lly
comparison with the quick, but thor
ough Italian bootblack his work Is that
of a whltewasher compared with a
skilled painter. Ho Is shiftless, mostly
caring only to earn enough to tnke him
to a picnic, or where he Is Industrious
he Is not expert. His shine does not
shine on the heels nnd edges. This Is
true of whatever ho does. In sweep
ing the street or In following the sweep
ing machines, he gets up most of the
refuse, but not all. It is astonishing
WISE
"Now. Charles let us mako a list of
vour debts." "Ono moment, dear uncle,
till I havo filled up your Inkstand." Tit
Hits. VI si tor -"Pat fays he's descinded from
some of the greatest houses in Ireland."
Mike "MiiMlia! So ho lld, many a toime
on a ladder!" Tlt-Hlts.
Julia "Did you say Jcannette is trying
to get into InislnttsV Jennie "Ves."
"What kind of business does she want to
get into?" "Everybody's." Yonker's
Statesman.
Not Unreasonable Supposition. Yonst
Whore do they get tho gold leaf from?
.Crimsonbeuk Oh, I believe I bey gather
them from the trees out at the Klondike.
Yonkers Statesman.
"I find $12 a hlsh price for this parrot.
I suppose he speaks a good deal?" "No,
not at all. but ho understands every
thing." Flleguido lllattcr.
Willis "Parker's salary was doubled n.
short time ueo, ho X bear." Walucu
"Yes, It was; but It got him in lots of
trouble." Willis "How's that?" Wal
lace "Ills wife found it out." Town
Topics.
"Maud Is going to give the Sunday
school Christmas treo n lovely doll with
real hair. Isn't it Just like her?"
"It isn't Just like herlf it has real hnlr."
Indianapolis Journal.
Two newsboys In the gallery witness a
performance of "Hamlet." In the last
scenes, after Hamlet has killed Lacites
and the King, nnd tho Queen lias died of
poUou and Hamlet of a. poisoned wound,
one of tho newsboys exclaims: "Jim,
what a time that must havo been for ex
tra specials!" Tit-Hits.
.
Information. "This." said tho littlo
boy who was showing his eastern rela
tives the suburban beauties of Chicago,
"Is tho park that General Jackson was
named after." Chicago Tribune.
Another Clever Woman. "My wife can
tell what time It is in the middle of the
nfght when It Is pitch dark." "Ilnw does
she do It?" She makes mo get up und
look nt the clock." Chicago Record.
"I hear that the crowd hooted you when
you appeared at tho Pedllngton Theater
Royal." "False, mo boy, false," replied
tho eminent tragedian. "All false. There
was no crowd.'" Household Words.
Stranger. "I notlco this handsome
npartment house is illuminted, and thero
aro sounds of roverly within. What Is
it? A grand wedding?" Resident "No,
sir. The Janitor's funeral." New Yoik
Weekly.
Disappointed in His Boy. "Smith's jiifct
about discouraged trying to mako some
thing out ot that boy of his."
"Yes?"
"I saw him today, und he told me ho
had Just bet n pot of money on the foot
bull tram the boy plays in, ami lost it
nil." Detroit Journal.
"No Alternative. "Don't leno tho
table," said tho landlady as her new
boarder rose from his scanty breakfast,
"1 must, madam. It's hard wood, and my
teeth aro not what they used to be."
Detroit Free Press.
Magistrate "The gamekeeper declares
that he raw you take tills pheasant.
What havu you to w.y to that?" Prisoner-"!
only took It for n laik." Magis
trute "Six mouths ror making such nn
ornithological error.' Tit-Hits.
When Lord Duftcrln wus viceroy of
India, he hud u "shlkurry." or spoiling
servunt, wheso xneclul duty was to at
tend tho visiters at tho vlecregnl court
on their shooting excursions. Returning
one day from one of theso expeditions,
tha "shlkarry" encountered tho viceroy,
who, full of courteous solicltudo for his
guests' enjoyment, asked: "Well, what
sort of sport has Lord - had?" "Oh,"
replied the scrupulously polite Indian,
"tho young 13ahlb shot divinely, but Clod
was very merciful to the birds." Kx
change. At 2 n. m.-"Vho Is It? What do you
want?"
(Voice from without ( "It's Willie (hie),
grundmu. forgot (hie) lutch key,"
"Onndnesi me, how much that dsar
how his ways nre tolerated. Tho door
boy nt ono of tho largo dry goods
stores Is a well-dressed' colored boy,
who chews gum incessantly its ho lolls
and lazily opens tho door. Undoubt
edly tho lack of cfllclcnt laborers tells
on the public work, but that Is not the
sole source of trouble. A few weeks
ngo thero was an ley pnnw fall nnd the
walks were covered. Here and thcru
the sidewalks were cleaned by resi
dents, but about every government
building they remained Icy until the
sun turned the Ice to slush. The slush
wus allowed to stay until It was dried
by the sun nnd tho winds of heaven.
"Tho appearance of the streets Is
much affected by the colored citizen.
His nmbltlon, when he prospers, Is to
own an express wngon. Ills -wagon Is
a blight. Hamshackle and rickety, It
Is saved from collapse by an assort
ment of ropes, strings nnd scraps. It
is covered with scraps of rng carpet
or old canvas, and drawn by a horse
rescued from the glue factory to Its
own dlHgust. One powerful argument
against local self-government la the
largo porccntngo of negroes. It Is not
surprising that ambitious citizens with
the ability to Influence the votes of
these people should see glory and
emoluments for themselves In a pop
ular government.
POLICEMEN.
"With regard to the police and de
tective force of Washington, the less
said the better. Discipline, system, and
businesslike management all are miss
ing. Three or four policemen will make
a great hullabaloo over arresting a
drunke negro whose only desire Is
to bo allowed to amble his way home
ward unmolested, but nt least one mur
der has been committed recently In
open daylight by a man known to ev
cty police station In the city, yet the
criminal still breathes the air of free
dom. Young colored boys, whose au
dacity Is amazing, have made It un
safe for women to go to market in
broad daylight for fear of being
k'nocked down nnd robbed of their
pecketbooks. Hnlf a dozen enses of
this kind occurred In one week last
fall, one Indy being assaulted on her
own doorstep, and no arrests were
ninde. Policemen are allowed in Wash
ington to make arrests without a war
rant, nnd they havo even been known
to arrest persons ugalnst whom no
charge had been made merely on the
fanciful suspicion of the policemen
themselves thnt their victim might
possibly havo committed an offence.
There Is authority for the statement
that a house owner who protested
against the forced entry of a pollco
mun Into his home nt night to arrest
a person who was not there, nnd for
whom he had no warrant, wns re
buked in court by the police Justice for
resisting nn officer.
"Yet in spite of all these drawbacks
to a system of municipal government
In which kissing goes by favor, and
AND OTHERWISE.
COMPILED BY THE POCKET MAGAZINE.
boy's voice sounds like his father's."
Brooklyn Life.
A New Zealand nuthoi recently applied
to Mr. Kipling for advice, and received
tho following t.otc, which he says, ho
considered "encouraging": "No man's
advice is of the hast benefit In our busi
ness (and I am a very busy man). Keep
on trying till you either fall or succeed."
Professional Call Delayed. Now Wo.
man Physician "George, Is thre any
prospect of it clearing off very soon?"
George "No; why?"
N. W. I'. "Mrs. Smith sent tor mo tn
como over and see her throe days ago,
and I have been waiting ever since for It
to clear off. I am sure she will bo ex
porting mc." Philadelphia North Amer
ican. "t told you." said Mr. Gobbler, as he
gazed reoroachfully at his wifo through
the slats of tho coop whero nho was be
ing fattened, "not to como near tho house
until after Christmas. Why did you dis
obey me?" "I just couldn't help It, dear,"
said Sirs. Gobbler. "They killed Mrs.
Peafowl yesterday, and I did so want to
seo how sho was dressed." Detroit Freo
I'rtss.
A now and alarming phase of the do
mestic service pioblem Is revealed by an
advertisement that recently uppenred In
a London paper under the heading, "Sit
uatlons Wanted." It reads as follows:
"As Plain Cook, General Servant, or
House Parlormaid: whero thero Is a dojr
or dogs. Pug preferred: uge 3S. E. E. S.,
etc." New York Times.
Slngerly (to friend recently married)
Why, old man, you look sail and dejected
Havo you met with a disappointment in
your matrimonial venture?
Wodcrly Alas! yes. .My wife cannot
sing.
Slngcrly-Can't sing! Why, man, that
ought to cause you to rejoice. 1 think
you are to bo congratulated.
Wederly Hut tho tiuublo Is that she
thinks she can. Chicago News.
Not the Wny to Cork. Charles. Kenny,
dining once at the house of a friend,
chanced to swallow a piece of cork wltti
his wine, tho result being u severe fit ot
coughing. "Take care, my friend," said
his next neighbor, with a rather feeble
attempt nt humor, "that's not tho wny
for Cork!" "No," gasped the Irrepres
sible sufferer, "It's tho way to kill Ken
ny!" London Figaro.
Heck "What became of that charming
little north Bide widow you used to ravo
so much about?"
Peck "Oh, she's married now."
Heck That's too bad; but yon al
ways were unlucky with your lovo af
fairs." Peck "Yes; decidedly so."
Beck "Hy tho way, whom did she
marry?"
Peck "Mo." Chicago News.
An old Georglu negro hearing that his
former master had decided to enlist in
the Cuban urmy, said to him:
"Marso Tom, dnuu you do no bicli fool
thing ez dat doan yo do It!"
"Why shouldn't I?"
"Knse, Marso Tom" and here tho old
man lowered Ills voice "you's got a touch
er do rheumatism, en you can't run ez
fast now ez you tun en-ilurln' er do war!"
Atlanta Constitution.
A Puzzle. Willie Addlepate There Is
ono thing 1 cawn't understand, doncher-
Chollle Noddlcklns What's that?
Wlllio Addlepate Why. when we
stop
to consldeh aw how uncomfortable it
Is In a crowd why, aw J cawn't seo why
it is. that there nre always more people In
u crowd than thero aro wtiero there is no
crowd. Puck.
Relieved. "Horns," cautiously inquired
Nagus, literary editor of the Dally Bread,
"aro you goln to write a ChrlHtmus story
this year, as usual?" " have already
written one," replied the other, "nnd sont
It to another paper." "Horns," exclaimed
Nugus. Impulsively slapping him on tho
back, "let's go out and tako something)"
Chicago Record.
Fr. Dugnn "I nm afraid, Bridget, that
you are ub much at fault In this quarrel
ns Patrick. You must learn to cxerclso
forbearance, nnd remember thut tt soft
uuswer turueth away wrath." Bridget
O'Hnollhan "Begorra, yer riverenco,
that's Jlst wot stharted tho throublc. Pat
where local polltlcB cuts no figure, nnd
where tho humble citizen therefore hns
little show, It Is not likely that the
community, fast becoming cosmopoli
tan In Its character, will desire to go
back to the system In vogue when
political suffrage was enjoyed In the
District of Columbia.
"Those were tho days of Jobbery and
corruption, of rotten pavements und
endless mudholes. Those were the days
of tho 'featherdustcr legislature," so
called because ns each day's session
closed tho newly enfranchised states
nun would curry away every portable
article of furniture from the city hall
and other public buildings, oven In
cluding the spittoons und feather dust
ers." m
HMVTHOKNi: AVH UP.
Tried to Wrllo n Novel on tho Inci
dents nl Uvnngclinc.
From the Washington Post.
A man from Massachusetts told the
following in one ot tho hotels last night:
"Few people know that Hawthorne
came near publishing Evangeline, '
which Longfellow wrote, but It Is u
fact. A few inrs ngo there died In
Salem, Mnss., on old gentleman named
Horace lngersoil, who wns not rein ted
to Rob lngersoil, but who was a won
derful man in his wny. Years and years
ago Horace lngersoil heard the story
of 'Evangeline' from a woman friend
ot his who had been spending some
time In Nova Scotia. One day tho old
gentleman, who was it personnl friend
of both Hnwthorne and Longfellow,
was dining nt Longfellow's home In
Cambridge, and Hawthorne was thero
also. After dinner lngersoil told to the
two writers tho story of 'Evangeline,'
nnd Hawthorne decided then nnd thero
that he would make a novel of It. He
wrote a few chapters und then gave
It up In despair, because he found that
the subject was too grand for his pro
saic pen. So lngersoil gave Long
fellow permission to use the nar
rative, nnd under his poetic touch
it blossomed Into one of the
masterpieces of literature. I know
lngersoil personally and ho told
months before his death. And, by the
way, it Is worthy of mention that ln
gersoil died in the houo In which Haw
thorne lived for many yeurs."
A Wnlghty Consideration.
"t wish." said tho bookkeeper, discon
tentedly, "that 1 hud taken up n rclcntlito
career. I've a great mind to be an nslion-
omer. yet."
"Are you urea ot figures; -
"A little."
"Hut If you wore nil astronomer yon
would be obliged to make calculations on
a scale Hint you never havo to attempt
now. YollVl havo to deal with millions
and billions and quadrillions of miles in
stead of hundreds and thousands of dol
lars, as you do now."
"That's vciy true. I3ut 1 wouldn't be
nearly so likely to lose my position It' I
made a mistake." Washington Star.
camo homo from his worruk nnd axed
wot was thero for dinner. He was tolled
un' hungry uiv cross as two sthlcks, so
ho was, an' I glvo him a soft answer,''
"Well, what did you say?" "Cowld
mush." Detroit Freo Press.
A pompous bishop was having his por
tralnt painted, and, after sitting for nn
hour in silence ho thought he would
break tho monotony. "How nro you get
ting along?" he inquired. To his aston
ishment tho artist, ubsorbed In his work,
replied: "Move your head a littlo to tho
right, and shut your mouth.'' Not being
accustomed to such a form of address,
his lordship asked, "May I ask why you
address mo In that manner?" Tho artist,
still nbsorbed In his work "I want to
take oft a littlo of your cheek Tlt-
Blts.
An Actor's Excuse. Alter his first
great successes. W. S. Penley had to act
In many p,ays which somehow did not
seem to pleaso tho public. Somo of theso
ho Just kept alive by his brilliant "gag
ging." On ono occasion, when a wretch
ed play hud been going for somo weeks
In this manner, tho conceited young .iu
thor camo behind nnd asked Mr. Penley
why ho "gagged" so much.
To this Mr. Penley replied promptly:
"That's all very well for you, old man
you live in town; but, you see. 1 live In
tho country, and have to catch the 12.13
from Waterloo!" Tit-Bits.
A Loulsvllio gambler on ono occasion
thought ho had a good thing when a
stranger who looked as If ho had plenty
of money camo ulong nnd suggested u
friendly game of poker. The game ran
along smoothly for a while, und at last,
when tho opportune moment came, tho
gnmbler dealt to tho guiltless stranger
four queens and gave himself four kings,
Tho betting becamo Interesting light
away, and after all the cash was up and
It camo to a show-down tho Loulsvllio
man laid down nis four kings nnd tho
stranger showed four uces. "Tako tho
money, mister!" gnsped tho astonished
Kentueklan; "tako it. If you have the
heart to do so; but I'll be darned If that
wus the hand I dealt you!" Argonuut.
A good (nnd true?) story is going tho
louiid which shows to what extent tho
violent ebullitions nnd caprices ot the
Gorman emperor nro regarded In his own
country. An English gentleman. It ap
pears, was walking with a friend in Cu
ter den Linden, nnd in tho courso of u
discussion on tho Kaiser's conduct com
mitted a grievous error of Majestats He.
leldlgung. "The orrreror's n fool," bo
exclaimed, whereupon nn English-speaking
police ofllcer tarped him on tho shoul
der and said, "You must como mlt mo to
zo police station." "What for?" asked
the Englishman, 'Meln lurr did call zo
kaiser a fool," replied tho man. "No,
no," urged tha onto Briton. "It was tho
Russian emperor 1 was talking about."
"Dat vlll not vasli," went on tho eon-
stublo; "dere Is no emperor n fool ex-
cept tho German etnpetor." After which,
Damo Rumor hus It, tho pollco ofllcer und
tho Englishman agiced to keep each oth
er's secret, and parted on good terms.
Westminster Gazette.
Natlnnnl Characteristics. A German
and a Frenchman sat opposite each other
at a tublo d'hoto in n certain hotel in
Switzerland. "You aro a Frenchman, I
suppose?" Inquired tho German at tho
commencement of tho meal. "Yes," was
tho reply, "but how do you manage to
find that out?" "Bccauso you eat so
much bread," said tho German Thero
wus a long pause. When tho dinner wus
over tho Frenchman In turn questioned
his vls-a-vls. "You are u German, I pre
sume?" "To bo sure; but tell me. pruy,
how you made that discovery." "IIociiuho
you ute so much of everything." was tho
dry retort.-London Figure.
"Kismet." A lady living In a fashion
able quarter has u bit of statuary bear
ing the inscription "Kismet." Tliu house
muld wns duslng tho room tho other day
whon tho mistress uppenred.
"Bhure, ma'am, what's tho inanin' of
tha 'rltln' on tho bottom of this''" asked
tho maid, referring to tho Inscription on
the statue.
"Kismet means 'futc,' " replied tho
mistress.
Bridget was limping painfully when out
with her sweetheart not long afterward,
and hn asked:
"what's tho matter, Bridget?"
"Faith," was tho answer, "I have the
most tlrrlble korns tin mo kismet I"
,1-rora Tlt-Blts.
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Elsewhere
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"Clinchers" for Friday
In addition to the large number of special items advertised in yester
day's evening papers we shall place on sale today the following list of
stupendous trade winners. Every item is a total eclipse in itself.
Surprisingly Low Prices
In Fine Dress Goods
Friday has always proved Itself to be a great
stock reduction day in our Dress Goods Depart
ment. Special efforts will be made today to fur
ther diminish a cumbersome stock. Here are a few
prices that will do it.
fSj. Ha,f Wool Figured and Plaid
y( Dress Goods, 16c w
SftOv s&?1 grade, special 2c
soffits' &K& Just received, 4c pieces black
Q$su JjList. and colored figured dress
vQ-ZS: sife goods, real value zzc,
o4t special JiD
JVJiA Black Figured Dress 1
V fe -A Goods, 22c grade, special C
' I fcsvSsJ-''' All of our 39-cent Spring
nfcS Dress goods that have. come in
x within the last ten days, 0
special ZvC
Our regular 49c Wool Spring Dress Goods, compris
ing about thirty-five different patterns and weaves, ,0
special oyC
Black Figured Dress Goods, also Plain Black j.
Mohair, regular price jjc, special C
All Wool Black Figured Dress Goods, 69-cent 0
grade, special ZVC
Beautiful Silks
At Bargain Prices
Black Brocaded Silks, 69c grade, special 4C
Satin Rhadame, guaranteed all silk, real value -,
7c
Olllv VtJIUUIS, III an uivr new cnccio, icuiui Ofv
price, $i.jo, special oC
Extra Quality Checked Wash Silks. 49c grade, Q
special "C
Our Bargain List
All of the following are to be had at or near
the bargain counter in the center of the store all
day today.
8c Dress Ginghams, choice of any 4c
yiC Cotton Crash, special 2c
cc Shirting Prints, choice of any 2c
8c Fancy Outing Flannels, special 4c
10c Bates' Seersuckers, special 5c
jc Indigo blue prints, best quality, special SV2c
i2cyard wide printed Cambrics, special 6y2c
8c Pillow Cases, ready for use, special 5c
$1.00 White Crochet Spreads, regular price 1.00,
special 79c
7c Pure Linen Crash, special 5c
4c, yard wide, Unbleached Muslin, special 3c
6c, best quality, 4-4 Unbleached Muslin, special 434c
ioc Soft Finish Cambric, as gooct as Lonsdale,
special 5c
6c, yard wide, Bleached Muslin, special 4c
39c Bleached Table Damask, special 25c
49c Bleached and Unbleached Sheets, best quality,
size 81x90, special 37c
ioc, All-Linen, Fringed Napkins, special 5c
1 jc Brown Sheeting, 10-4, special lie
6c Checked Nainsook, suitable for Men's Aprons and
Shirts, special ; 3c
All of our 1 cc Turkish Bath Towels, special... 10c
All of our 1 cc pure linen Towels, special 10c
All of our 18c pure linen Towels, special 12Jc
LEBECK & CORIN
W4'A'A-a'A'AW4W'4""'AW"'A'W
WILY!" UAlXiltOAUS Sl'IINI).
Thor Aro the Crout Ilbursiiig
Aguucici o( tho Country.
From tho Sun.
The railroads of the United Sffites
expend In a year a sum more thun
?100,000,000 in excess of the total ex
penditures of the United States gov
ernment, and this computation does
not Include nearly $250,000,000 paid In
tho form of Interest upon railroad
hond.s or guaranteed stock and from
JSO.000,000 to 100,000,000 paid III the
form of dividends to stockholders. The
ral!roadj, Indeed, are the great dis
bursing agencies of the country, hand
ling never less than a billion dollars In
11 year and disbursing It all, or prac
tically all, for railroads as a rule do
not kesp large bank accounts, and do
practically a cash 'business, turnlrfg
money rapidly,
An estimate mndo by one of the
scientific papers a short time ago gavu
as the average annual expense ot
American railroads In maintaining tho
condition of their roadbeds $75,000,000,
u
i , v il v:ni:v .u'.'v t lv11 ai n" f v w ;v . y rr .-o.tc-v.
"m&&msmmmmmmsmsm&mffmmi 124 and afvxi
yjjl. n k S5QV nsosa S2 sn v v c&i - w
m m K ezs& liBKHYi BMffiL v
m m is R s Wi E$ a wh m fits Wyoming"
vwry fxjt mA i? ouy:? mruztji mcun mjrx ik jtc rtiAv bj vrk r
JKfrl87izi2&r?
besides $35,000,000 fur the purchase of
rails, ties and sleepers, and $15,000,000
for the construction of now bridges.
The railroads of the country spent last
year for fences, sign-boards, signals,
and wnteh towers $3,500,000' and for
printing and advertising $8,500,000. Very
few persons have nn accurate Idea of
the extent to which railroad expenses
aro to bo subdivided, .supposing, prob
ably, that tho largest Items of expen
diture ar) for cars and engines, fuel,
emnlcyes, and termlnuls. Such Is the
fact, but there are other large Items,
and one of the largest of these Is the
Item of taxes. Hallroad corporations In
tho United States are heavily taxed,
and they pay collectively In u year, It
haa been estimated, $4),000,000. There
is then another item which figures
largely in all railroad accounts, the
Item of legal expenses, railroads be
ing drawn into almost col slant litiga
tion and requiring at all tlVnes the ser
vices of counsel. It Is estimated that
expensed uf American rallrcads for pro
fessional legal services amount In a
year to about $10,000,000, nd thin is,
f
The Last
of the
Blankets
The most pretentious store in
town never arenmed of bargains
such as we offer you. Look to
your tried merchant for stability
in merchandise, lowness of
price and general satisfaction all
around.
We have still a large stock of
blankets that ought to go. Some
that we bought very recently at
a cash figure came to us so cheap
that we are offering them at an
unheard-of bargain. They are
large double blankets of cotton,
but of good weight and worth
fully 59c. Until the last is sold
they will be marked
29c.
Also about twenty pair of a
better quality, worth 75c,
49c.
All of our $6.00 slightly soiled
all-wool blankets have been re
duced to
$3.98.
And rather than carry over the
balance of our $7.00 strictly all
wool blankets, we have marked
the same
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$4.98.
Upholstery
Department
Silkolines in the latest styles
nnd colorings, 36 inches -t r
wide, were 15c; special. 1UC
Cretonnes in all the newest
colorings, 36 inches -t j
wide, worth 25c; special IOC
Tapestry in entirely new ef
fects, 50 inches wide, fr
worth 59c special 0"C
High Art Tickings, corded
effects, worth 35c 'Crr
special ZiuL
A x m i n s t e r Mo-
quette Rugs, regular d no
price 2.59 Pl.yo
Fur Rugs, in white
and grey, regular q j aq
price 2. 7 5 pl.O
Special
Embroidery
Values
soo yards Cambric Embroid
eries, none in the lot
worth less than 8c; A n
special 4jC
One lot extra quality Cambric
Embroideries, ioc grade, s
special OC
One lot Cambric Embroid-
eries, I2c grade; special. 'C
Ladies'
Handkerchiefs
One hundred dozen white
hemstitched Handkerchiefs,
6c grade ; special
3c
One hundred and fifty dozen
Swiss Embroidered Hand
kerchiefs, I2c grade;
special
8c
One hundred dozen Swiss
Embroidered Handker- r
chiefs, 15c grade; special 1 lC
of course, exclusive of tho sums re
quisite to meet claims for personal
injuries or damage to property. Somo
of the large railroad companies expend
as much an a quarter of n million dol
lars in a year for the settlement of
such cases or the payment of' Judg
ments recovered. Tills Item of expense
on all American railroads Is ordinarily
put nt about $5,000,000. tV serious acci
dent may entail on a railroad company
damages so lurge as to offset many
months of pixiilt, nnd some railroads
have been crippled for long periods by
such cases.
There nre in the United States S00.
000 railroad employes, 100.Q00 station
men, 33,000 engineers, 40,000 fli;emen ami
helpers. 2.-..000 conduces ad despatch
ers. 65,000 trainmen, 20,000 machinists,
100,000 shopmen other than machinists.
20,000 telegraph operators and their
helpers, 45,000 switchmen, flagmen and
watchmen and 175,000 (rnckmen.' The
dally pay roll on alt American rail
roads combined, ofllcers nnd clerical
staff included, amounts to about $2,
000,000 n day.
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