THE SCRANTON TUIBUJSJii-TUESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 3899.
rubllshcd Dolly, r.xctpt Sunday, by Th
Tribune Publlshlnc Company, nt Fifty
Cents a Month.
New York Ofllce: ISO Nnssnu St..
B. S. VREF.t.AND,
Bolo Anent for foreign Advertising.
Entered nt the PnMofllci nt Sernnton,
I'n., as Bcccnd-Clnes Moll Mnttsr.
Whrn spneo will permit. Tho Tillmno
Is (iIwiivh Rind tn print nhort letters from
In frli'iids liearlnt? on current topli-H, but
Its ruin Is that tlieo mutt be sinned, for
pulillriitlon, by the wrller'n real nnmo;
nml the rondltlon precedent to ncccptnnco
Is thnt nil eniilrlbutlniis of whntpver
tin turn nnd bv whomsoever Bent shall bo
RUbJcet to editorial revision.
TEN PAGES.
SCRANTON, DKCKMUnn. 19, 1S99.
Thp Scrnnton Times last ovcnlnft Is
suoil n special Christmas edition of.
thirty-two pages not only highly cred
itable from n literary standpoint, but
In Its advertising columns Illustrative
of n bounteous prosperity. AVe wish
for our neighbor and Its accomplished
proprietor many happy returns of the
lnv
The City Revenue Problem.
IN Tin: LICKNSH tax ordinance
recently Introduced by Council
man Morris, of the Eighteenth
ward, a peculiar discrimination
appears In relation to Insurance agents
and book agents. The former, If iesl
dents of the city, nre to pay $" nnuual
ly for a license to do business, but tha
sum to be exacted of the meek nnd
lowly evangel of literature Is live Unit a
as large. Whether this means that
selling books Is more of a crime thnr.
advocating life Insurance or that the
book agent Is llnanclally the more eli
gible to n municipal draft, we leavo
to others to determine. The singling
out of these particular occupations for
exceptional taxation represents, how
ever, a mistaken view of expediency
and It Is to be hoped that It will not
pievall.
On this general theme wo desire to
lelterato what has previously been
said on this page, that the need of the
city Is not so much a readjustment of
license taxation for the purpose of
swelling tho city's Income as it is a
business-like and economical adminis
tration ot the icvenues already In
sight. The city Is hard up; we under
stand that. It needs new sewers, It
needs new streets, it needs a viaduct;
more urgent, perhaps, than anything
else just at present, It needs tho grant
ing of liberal means to the board of
health for the purpose of putting
speedily to rights the city's disturbed
sanitary condition. The temptation o
open the door to Inei eased taxation Is
ery strong and maybe increased taxa
tion will yet become unavoidable. Hut
first there should bo a caieful plugging
of leaks and a gathering together of
the tangled throndi of past negligence
In municipal administration.
Let councils give to the public some
concrete evidences of a desire to dis
burse the public's money prudently and
with fidelity, and then the raising o;
taxes will be less strenuously opposed.
It begins to look as though General
Kltchner will bo the coming ivmn In
the South Africa campaign.
England's Critical Hour.
T
. HE Tl'- Y of greatness comes
In emergencies. To do at such
times what Is needful to be
done nnd to leave undone
what should not be done stamp a man
or a nation as truly great. In tho
emergency now confronting the Urlt
ish empire radical steps were obvi
ously necessaiy nnd they are being
taken in what appears to bo an Intelli
gent as well as a determined manner.
For reasons not at this time pioflt
nblc to discuss, the campaign which
Oeneral Rullor had been Instructed to
prosecute In South Africa has failed
at every vital point. General nfter
general, backed by the llower of the
English army, lias been not only out
generaled as to strategy, but com
pletely licked In fair fight by the vol
unteer burghers of the Transvaal.
Within a week three of Britain's best
known column leaders Gatacre, Meth
uen and llnally Ruller himself have
been defeated with humiliating loss:
nnd a situation Is presented before tho
English peoplo involving not only tho
question of success or failure in their
South African undertaking, but the
very existence ns a coherent force of
the world-wide Ilrltlsh emplie. In such
n crisis the decision to send not only
Lords Koberts and Kitchener to tha
seat of war with paramount and per
emptory authority, but also to put In
to Immediate requisition tho empire's
last available fighting man is typical
ly Anglo-Saxon nnd we bellevo that It
will move ine undercurrents of Ameri
can sympathy and admiration.
By their conduct In tills extraordl
naiy war the Hoers have lifted them
selves high In the world's estimation,
nnd In this country especially they
probably now command the moral sup
port of a majority. With the sentiment
which applauds tho superb pluck and
grit thnt tney have shown wo do not
quarrel; on the contrary, wo share It.
But believing conscientiously that In
tha ultimate nnnlvsls the cause of
England In South Africa Is the cause
of the best civilization: nnd thnt per
petuation of the Boer oligarchy alone
t?ie repressive lines of the past would
be",on International misfortune, wh
canh'ot join In tho choius of jubila
tion over Britain's disasters nor view
ns other than lumentablo that n task
1n Its nnturo inevitable should havo
Us necessary performance so ludly
embarrassed and prolonged. Wo crin-
" not,forget that the men who nro dying
In .'South .Aflica because of blunders
not their own nro men of our own kith
and kin;-that they stand for a com
mon law, language nnd literature; that
'IfTiltt-more than a year ngo they wore
tapering our soldiers nnd sailors nnd
saluting our Hag as these went forth
nliing new .paths nmldbt Jealous spec
tators" "tn"n slmlinr mission of human
nffrnnchlsement. Unseals there may
bo among them, and above them, lust
V territory and arrognnce of power
nay bo among tho facto: s which sent
vtixinUv llwlr 1oki butnltils.an Insult
, oiii1Jpj;oICn,iu?ESl;ry,i,owy of the
Kngllsh rncp rm a whole that It Is sel
fish or sot did or corrupt, or that tho
good Kngllsh blood which lies so lately
been pouroJ out In the Afrlcnn moun
tain passes or upon the battle-stained
veldt has been sacrificed In Just retri
bution. It Is a libation to ofllclal stu
pidity but not to criminal Inspiration
or Intent.
As Americans wo have not only sen
timental but selflh reasons for wish
ing England well. The disappearance
of English InPuence from International
councils would put difficulty and doubt
upon Ameilcnn statesmanship nnd.
complicate vistly the problems of our
own future. In a largt number of cll
icctlons England's Interests aro our
lnteiests; England's humiliation our
distinct and appreciable loss. We can
not afford to wish tho ground to be cut
from under our own feet. Much bet
ter might wo await In calmness the
working out of final iCngllsh victory
over the obstacles of preliminary de
feat, and be ready to o'fer at the con
clusion friendly offices lit the composi
tion of nn honorable and a durabte
peace.
lloer sympathizers who Intimate
that the Irish soldiers in the Ilrltlsh
army In South Africa will desert and
join the enemy put a slur upon those
wartlors that shows meagre knowl
edge of tho race. While the Irish sol
dier might upon his own account In
some Instances rebel against Ilrltlsh
rtllo and light for what ho deems bet
ter conditions, it is not likely that
save In rare Instances be would bo
guilty of deserting his comrades in
arms In front of a common enemy. On
every field of battle In wars of the
past the Irish soldier has been among
the bravest In defending the flag under
which he marched, nnd the Intimation
that he would desert at this time can
scarcely be considered a compliment.
Old Arc Pensions.
REPRESENT,
hns re-Int
which was
EPIIESENTATIVE BROSIUS
troduced the bill,
.ns unsuccessful in
the last congress, to pro
vide a letlrement fund from which em
ployes In the civil service may be pen
sioned under certain condltlins. The
bill provides that, beginning w!h the
first day of July, 1300, 2 per cent, ot
the salary of every employe In tha
classified civil service of the govern
ment shall be withheld and shall be de
ducted from his or her monthly pay,
and shall be deposited In tho treasury
of the United States to the credit of
the civil service retirement fund; and
the money so deposited shall constitute
n runu wmcu snail do Known as m
civil seivico retirement fund, nnd which
shall be held in trust by the secretary
of the treasury to bo expended for the
retliement of employes In the classified
civil service of the government and for
certain expenses In connection there
with. Beginning July 1, 1004, emplojes
In the classified service may be retiiei
on 75 per cent, of their annual pay, as
follows:
First Every person who has been em
ployed In thu clH service for a period of
twenty ears unU who shall havo become
physically or mentally disabled for tho
performance of his or her ordinary offi
cial duty, may bo retired upon his or her
application, or muv be emnpulsorlly re
tlied, and when letlred shall be entitled
to rectlvo from the said fund the rctlied
payment herttnbeloro presided: Pro
vided, That the s.ild period of twenty
years shall bo computed from tho origi
nal eniplomcnt of such puiaon In tho
civil service of the government, whether
ns n classified or unclassllled employe,
and may Include service In one or more
departments of tho govunmcnt: and pe
ilods of sen ice lit different times, with
nn Interval during which such person
was not In the service, may be computed
together so as to constitute a. total ser
vice of twenty years: And provided fur
ther, That In cases of mental disability
nn application for retliement may be
made by tho next filend or guaidlan of
nny person who shall be declared non
compos mentis.
Second Eveiy person In tho classified
civil scrvlco who shall attain tho ago of
ft) years and shall have been employtd
In the civil service for n period of thirty
years may bo retired upon his or her np
plication, nnd when retlted shall be cntl
tlled to rccelvo from the said fund the re
tired payment herclnbeforo provided:
Provided, That tho said period of thirty
years shall be computed in the samo
manner ns herein proIded for computing
the period of twenty years In the preced
ing paragiaph.
Thhd Every person who shall havo at
tnlned the nge of TO years, and shall havo
been employed thirty-five years, shall be
compuHorlly retired.
It Is not certain that tho condition'?
aro yot ripe for the enactment of such
a law. One drawback consists in tho
temporary character ot much of tho
employment cf labor In the civil ser
vice, duo to political Influences or fav
oritism. Clerks not reasonably assur
ed of steady tenure of place .would
hardly care to be mulcted In salary
for tho benefit of others. A more
stable civil service conducted upon
cleaner business principles Is leslrable
before this experiment Is made perma
nent. At tho same time, tho Introduc
tion of such a proposition nt this time
by nn Intelligent member of congress
hnvlnff considerable Indorsement on
thin Issue, is slgnlllcant of tho fact
that the question of old ago pensions;
far ndvanced in somo countries. Is
destined to figure large;' In tho future
discussion of economics In the United
States.
The time may come, It certainly
should come, when for every ton of
coal mined, freight moved, or goods
of any form produced, a charge will
bo made on tho expense account of tho
production, payable by the consumer,
for tho purpose ot providing disabil
ity Insurance for faithful employes. It
is a debt ot humanity that each Indus
try should care for Itti own victims;
und tho debt can be collected when
public sentiment shall bo belter edu
cated. The action of tho government In
Bending Marine Hospital ofllclnls
abroad as consulate attaches to In
vestigate the condition of Immigrants
to this country Is a ntcn that cannot
but meet with unlveial approval.
These officials will bo located nt tho
largo ports nnd will go aboard venseU
to examine steerage passengers. The
knowledge) that a systematized send
ing of cripples nnd sick peoplo to tho
United States has been practiced, has
decided this question ot a means of
preventing the evil. It U thought that
thus the Introduction ot contagious
dlseaso -will frequently bo obviated,
nnd nt nny rate much additional tax
upon tho generosity ot our charities
will bo nvolded.
i
Just what charncter the new magn
zlno to bo published by two young wo
men of Chicago, nnd to be devoted to
the Interests of bachelorhood, will take
In the world of literature Is dllllcutt
to predict. The somewhat universal
opinion Is that It will be devoted large
ly to ndvlpo nUvocatlng mnrrlago, with
a few recipes for welsh rarebits nnd
cozy corners thrown In. Later on It
la suggested by sarcastic critics, en
vious of the vogue the new periodical
will enjoy, that a matrimonial bureau
will bo established In connection with
the publication. AH of which Intima
tions nre probably far from the present
Intentions ofj tho well meaning young
editors.
A Cincinnati clergyman has made
tho statement that It Is better to let
the poor starve to death than to feed
them from the proceeds of charity balls
and bazaars, a view of tho situation
with which tho poor will scarcely
ngree. No doubt people should bo will
ing to give to charitable causes with
out the Inducements of a grab-bag, a
chance on a big lamp or an opportu
nity to dance or play euchre, but there
nio those who, until they are recon
structed, must have these excuses for
spending money to aid tho unfortun
ate. The Cincinnati preacher may be
right In theory, but we have not yet
arrived nt the millennium.
Fifteen states have by
school children adopted
emblems. The rose, the
npple blossom, sunllower
vote of the
state floral
peach and
and rhodo-
dendron have nlready been appropri
ated. If Pennsylvania children do not
got together soon nnd decide upon a
llower they may bo obliged to take up
onion sprouts or celery tops.
No one appears to question the prob
able nomination and re-election of
President McKlnley. It Is the origi
nal ieo president men who will claim
attention a few months hence.
Mr. Bryan did not care for an ap
pointment to tho senate. Talking in
congress Is not as profitable ns on tha
lecture platform.
London stock jobbers appear to bo
tho only ones who have thus far re
ceived benefit from the Transvaal
trouble.
TOLD BY TEE STARS.
Daily Horoscope Drawn by Ajncchus,
The Tribune Astrologer.
Astrolabe cast: 4.0 a. m.,' for Tuesday,
Dec. 19, 1S93.
& v
A child born on this day in Scranton
will probably bo obliged to do his Christ
mas skating on rollers.
Thero Is piobably no more pitlablo ob
ject on earth than tho ambitious scribe
who writes smart things for papers that
aro neer lead.
A mantle of "tho beautiful" would In
deed be a mantle of charity in covering
up Scranton''j dirty streets.
Misdirected ambition will often pro
duce a bore.
Bluff Is always noisy while courage Is
generally quiet.
A RECOGNIZED RIGHT.
From tho Philadelphia Press.
An exception that was taken by Presi
dent . W. Scrantnn. nf n,. 8.m.,.
nter company, to several changes that
had been mnde In ono of his contributions
to Tho Tribune of that city, brings for
ward a point that should be better un
derstood by peoplo generally, relatlvo to
the privileges of a newspaper and its
duty to tho public.
Incorporated in tho communication of
Mr. Scranton was a reference, for in
stance, to tho private affairs of Mayor
Moir. Very properly Tho Tribune editor
eliminated this part of the article, and
explains the liberty taken by saying:
"Free as Tho Tribune Is to criticise May
or Molr's public and official actions and
Fail
Sis
And Dress Golds
For the Holiday Trade
China Silks, new bright colors for fancy work 25c
Bright Roman Stripe Satin 19c
Fancy Silks for Waists, very best quality 75c
Black Spot and Brocade Taffeta Silks, fine goods, 24
inches wide, will wear 69c
High Class Silks in checks and plaids 59c
Elegant new assortment of Silks and Satins for
Fine Dresses and Waists.
Peau de Soie, 21 inches wide 79c
Peau de Soie, 24 inches wide, soft and pliable 95c
Satin Duchesse Pure Silk, 22 inches wide 75c
Satin Duchesse Pure Silk, 27 inches wide 95c
Haskell's Black Silks, guaranteed, from $3 to $2
DRESS GOODS.
Fine Black Crepons 75c
Very Fine Black Crepons $3.25
Highest Grade Black Crepons 3.75
Fine Assortments of Armures, Plaids, Cheviots, etc.,
very desirable, at 75c
New Lines of Black and Colored Whipcords, Pebbles,
Cheviots, etc., from 50c to $2
A New Fabric Worsted Granite in black, royal, dahlia,
russet and myrtle. 45 inches wide 75c
HEARS &
435-417 Lackawanna Avenue.
politics (and wo don't owo hltn nny
mercy politically) It has novcr yot Inten
tionally Invaded tho clrclo ot his prlvnta
llfo mid it will not knowingly permit nny
contributor to do so."
Iteputablo newspapers novcr reflect up
on any citizen unless ho transgress tho
laws or In nn otllclal or other capacity
does or says things that nro Injurious to
tho public weal. Tho right of Tho Trlb
uno or nny journal to mako editorial re
vision In tho rejection of objcctlonablo
words, phrases or allegations mndo by a
contributor can not bo questioned.
PASSING SMILES.
Collecting Chestnuts.
Society Edltor-A great many people
nro getting up chestnutllng parties this
week.
Comio Supplement Editor I hnvo ono
every week. Unltlmoro American.
For a WlUle, Now.
Tho football season cptns up,
And certain peoples, thus,
Who patronlzo tho bull fight,
Have now the laugh on us.
Detroit Journal.
Maidenly Confusion.
"Whero did Frederick kiss you, my
child?"
"T-twIco on tho cheek nnd once on
tho balcony, mamma." Cleveland Plain
Dealer.
A Definition.
Llttlo Willie-Say, pa, what's a peaco
congress?
I'n It's a company of men that makes
war Hgntnst war. St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
Love a la Tandem.
'Mong sylvun groves of sentiment
We billed and cooed;
You were, sweetheart, moreo'or content
To bo thus wooed.
Tho futuro then with rapture hung
And blisses rare,
While blrdlings sweetest songs they sunar
To glad tho air.
Wo courted then we're married now,
No more wo strlni;
Fair pearls upon horizon's brow
I curses fling.
All. nil Is changed; with rain wo soak;
We're cast and down
Our tandem's Bmashed nnd we nro broko
ten miles from town.
H. S. Keller, in Boston Courier.
OUR YANKEE SANTA CLAUS.
From wintry Malno to Dixie land,
From Georgia to Guam,
lie goes, a quaint old gentleman,
Who looks like Uncle Sam.
A soldier's knapsack is his pack,
Ills Jolly presence thaws
The frost on every window-pane,
Our Yankeo Santa Claus.
The nation hangs Its stockings up
The cood old-fashioned way,
The North of woolen ribbed and blue,
Tho South of homespun gray.
Ho fills them nil from toe to top,
Ills foaming broncos pauso
At every door in every state,
Our Yankeo Santa Claus.
Where In tho smoky Philippines
Old Glory proudly floats,
The volunteers whoso fathers went
To war In different coats
Llko brothers stack their shining arms
Besldo the Maxim's Jaws,
And share tho Christmas-box he sends,
Our Yankeo Santa Claus.
For Dewey's guns havo healed the
wound3
That onco so freely bled
When Gettysburg and Malvern Hill
Wcro fields that blossomed red,
And love of country sweeps away
Old feuds llko windy straws.
One great united nation greets
Our Yankee Santa Claus.
Mlna Irving In Leslie's Weekly.
Luather Keller
LIITE, CEMENT,
SEWER PIPE, Etc.
Turd nndOmes
West Lackawanna Ave,,
SCRANTON, PA.
HAOEN
Merccreai
LOBECIIj) Silversmith
No. 130 Wyoming Avenue.
Our Thirty-fourth Year.
A GRAND
CHnrlstena.
Display
Fine Diamonds,
Riclh Jewelry,
Stone RflogSc
Watches of the reliable sort -from $2.50
to $ 1 SO. 00. Sterling Silver Wares, Sterling
Silver Novelties, Clocks, Etc. Our prices are
at the bottom. Our guarantee is perfect.
Hill & Connell's
Christmas
Pmirnitiuire
o o
The largest stock to select
from of
Writing Desks.
Dressing Tables.
Toilet Tables.
Cheval Glasses.
Parlor Cabinets.
Music Cabinets.
Curio Cabinets.
Book Cases.
Wustc Baskets.
Lounges.
Work Tables.
Easy Chairs.
Gilt Chairs.
Inlaid Chairs.
Rockers.
Shaving Stands.
Tcdestals.
Jardinieres.
And novelties in
PICTURES.
All marked in plain figures. A
fine selection for early callers.
Hill & Connell
121 N. "Washington Avo.,
Scranton, Pa.
Heating1
Stoves,
Ranges,
FmirmiaceSo
PlunmniMinig
amid
Ttaflmig.
OTSTH & FORSYTE,
S25.3 PENN AVENUE.
The Hwnt &
Connell Go.
Heating, Plumbing,
Gas Fitting, Electric
Eight Wiring, Gas
an Electric Fixtures,
Builders Hardware;
04 Lackawanna Aveai
18 YOUR
HOUSE VACANT?
ir BO.
TnY A "FOR RENT" AD.
IN THE TRIBUNE.
ONE CENT A WORD.
o o o
BARGAINS IN EYERYTIilM,
CHRISTMAS PRESENTS
v. V.''
AT THOS. KELLY'S
FURNITURE STORES
131-133 Franklin Avenue.
Never before havo wc been ablo to ofter
such a variety of goods In our lines suit
able for presents. Latest designs, ex
quisite finish, newest covering In parlor
coods. Fancy rockers and endless variety
of other goods at lowest prices. Cash
or credit, at
THOS. KELLY'S STORES
131 nnd 133 Franklin Avenue.
HENRY BELIN, JR.,
UeneralAsentforths Wyomlnj
District .'j.-
lllnlns, BlastlncSportlus, SmoUelmi
and tha liepuuno Cneralcal
Coiupauy'4
EDGE EXPLOSIVES.
fcafety Fuse, Cap nnd Kiploioci
Itoom 401 Co a 11 el I UalUlaj.
ttcr.ikiita.
ACJU.N'CIfcH
THOS. FORD.
JOHN B. SMITH & BON,
W. E. MULLIGAN, -
JPIttstan.
Plymouth.
WllkeB-Uarre.
fTnTTrv
L ii ' 'vii "C
yrA -; o'tei
IfWfflli
A little boy of thirteen years, living in Leb
anon, Conn., was badly troubled with indigestion
and could only eat certain kinds of food without
causing him the greatest distress. Seeing the ad
vertisement of Ripans Tabules, his mother pur
chased a box at the drug store, and in a very short
time after the boy was entirely cured. Both the
mother and boy look upon Ripans Tabules as a
very excellent remedy.
A new itjteWk't conttlnlna tcx bimh liTOH Ina WMr ;rtn (without ielita)U now or Mia it mm
dmi itor-ri uv can. THu low unred iwrt U loitodfU for Ibo poor ud uw wonomloil. On. Utn
"or' "n. lbp Sir". t J York-or lnfil t-Ka l tvuu) "HI o tnt tor Hi. ctou
FINLEY-
Eoliiay
mm
o o o o o
Among the many
and useful Holiday
Gilts we carry an
elegant line of
Latest Designs
Laies'
anil Gentlemen's
Si
And we call special
attention to
Our HMrella Stock
The largest and finest
assortment ever shown
in Scranton.
530 and 512
LACKAWANNA AVENUE
OPEN EVENINQ8 UNTIL CHRISTMAS
Holiday
Qoodi
o o e 0
Calendars,
Booklets, Bibles,
Prayer Books,
Gold Pens,
Gold Ink Stands,
Leather Card Cases,
Fountain Pens.
Music Rolls; Pictures;
Pocketbooks, Traveling
Cases, Bill Books, Ojpera
Bags, Typewriters, and
a hlandsome Assort
ment of 1900 Diaries
In fancy bindings, suit
able for Christmas Gifts.
Reynolds Bros
Office Supplies Our Specialty.
339 Wyoming Avo
1IOTIIL JKKMYN.