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IW« J0USTOMS SYSTEMS TO FIT TER­ RITORIAL EXPANSION. > fcb»tantial Benefits Certain to Follow ' * the Emancipation of Onr Recently Acquired Tropical Poasessions from • a* - Spanish-Oppression and Mis rale. ger of recurrence of war condition* shall bare permanently disappeared* i- . . The work performed by the United •tates treasury officiate In preparing a B<bw schedule of tariff rates for the Isl­ and of Cuba gave opportunity for con­ sidering a number of questions involv- in the tariff policies which may be •dopted in the tropical Islands expected to come under the domination of the United States as a result of the war !»»rtth Spain. Attention has already been called to the fact that the tariff which the officers of this Government found la vogue in Cuba, as a holdover from Spanish domination of the island, was Well calculated to enrich Spain, but to afford no protection or benefits to the people of the island or to their indus­ tries. It appears that the Spanish tariff elites were applied with no settled pol­ icy except to get revenues, and in doing tihis all interests in Cuba suffered, If "those interests came Into conflict with Spanish greed. "; , Of course, the present tariff policy is iprojioseti solely for the purpose of put- Tjflng the island on its feet during the ; .military occupation by the United fttates. What the Cuban Government, - which it is expected the people of the Island will Sooner or later adopt, will ^ do in the matter of tariff restrictions . jttpon trade is purely a matter of con- ' ' lecture. But if one may judge from the ^ evidence given before the treasury offi- $als by interestedresidents of the isl­ and, and of those who have business - Interests in the Industrial development - Off Cuba, it may be safely put down that | - the tariff will be much more protective s M Cuban interests than any tariff jichedule ever given to'the island by the £Spanish Government. '• . / The chief point of Interest in connec- >• , tion with the new Cuban tariff Is the - feet that whlffe it was prepared by pro- !< tectionists, and under the advice of Cu- ban business men who are interested In i* .* f jthe development of the resources of the y .Island, it was found to be practicable to ^provide tariff rates en Imports to the V island, discriminating in favor of the ,i home productions in only three or -four s- - * Interests of importance. This is an in- j teresting point, as it calls forth the sug- ; |festion that when the United States If takes formal possession of the other ' - /Spanish islands and applies to tiiem .tariff schedules for the betterment of 1, ^ tiieir industries, and to furnish reve­ ls ; Sues for'the upbuilding of the islands, f" It will be found that comparatively few ;;; Interests in those islands will require I protection from outside competition, %nd hence the trade to the islands may M be open practically to the world on the ' same rates of revenue tariff exclu- * sively. : This Is true to a great extent of Cuba, •y-• and It is believed to be true to a greater • ; /• extent with Porto Rico arid the Phil- !r. ' Ippines. In Cuba there is a demand for |f; protection to only such industries as ^ cordage making, tobacco raising and *'•* > ^manufacture, soap manufacturing and wKi 'two or three minor interests. Under Spanish tariff the raw materials en- ^5 * tering into the manufacture of soap £" and cordage were admitted at rates of jLL-^ihity higher than those imposed upon -the finished product. One of the Cuban ! manufacturers who appeared before 7 the United States Treasury officials to ask for a better rate qn the manufac- ' * / . tured article and lower rates on the ma- - terials was asked how he managed to .transact business or exist at all under V:4he Spanish tariff^ He admitted, after - 'lome discussion of the subject, that the whole affair resolved itself into "an >; : 'arrangement with the Spanish offi­ cials." In other words, a certain amount was paid on the materials, which sum went to the Government, and, presum­ ably, another amount went into the pockets of the Spanish officials. Such a system will, of course, be unknown under the tariff policy to be established for the Island by the United States so long as this Government retains even military control of Cuba. There was a demand for higher rates discriminating In favor of the tobacco planters and hianufacturers of the island. This was alleged to be due to the Importation to Ciiba of Sumatra tobacco and cheap ci­ gars which are made of inferior tobac­ co and sold as "genuine Cuban goods." The rates of the new Cuban tariff will be arranged to afford protection on lines of this nature. The rates of duty fixed on agricul­ tural products, flour and implements of agriculture will be lower under the new duty lists, as will also be the rates on machinery. No implements or ma­ chinery or flour are produced in the Island, and probably will not be for many years to come. The rates of duty on these articles were maintained at ^ ""^hlgh tlgures by tee Spanish Govern- • ; ' jnent purely for revenue purposes, and ? it will be readily seen that, as there S *o,J(vas no competition by the producers f-br"of the island• in goods and commodi- j'JC ' ties of these classes, the burden of ex- v eessive taxation fell upon the people of US. >t^Cuba. Under the new schedules the *">7 frates on flour and machinery and Im- S .iplcmeats will be much lower, and it is * - Expected that the people of Cuba will f-\ ilerive rich benefits from the new con­ ditions. Under the old Spanish tariff, - * w h i c h s e e m s t o h a v e b e e n m a d e w i t h . maximum rates so high on certain lines . as to prevent the development of the Industries of the island, it was almost ^ Impossible to get machinery and imple- ..-.'inents into Cuba, It Is related by - • treasury officials that maximum rates on engines and machinery were so *' "high that it was impossible under the , Spanish tariff for a Cuban who im- | ported an engine costing $5,000 to be Assessed an import duty of a like lunount, making the engine cost him $10,000. Under such a system it would <of course be next to impossible, for the industries of the richest country in the ,> world to develop, but especially in * W„-, Cuba, where there were no mechanics ' , to set up the business of manufactur- v" ,"5|ng engines and high-grade machinery M*: *r Implements. v- * It is expected that under the new tariff the tirade between the United states and Cuba will be.augmented in important degree, and the trade jwith other nations will be beneficial In Raiding in the improvement of condi- Jtions In tiic island, as soon as tbe dan- fe-»- What the Postal Statistics f how. The statistics given in the annual re­ port of the Postmaster General afford! proof of the greatly increased prosper­ ity visible in the year ending June 30, 1896. The general business of the de­ partment shows an increase of over $6,- 000,000 in the last fiscal year. In all de­ partments of the service the influence of prosperous times has made itself apparent. The number of domestic money orders issued in the year was 27,798,078^ as against 25,*»,05i» in that previous year; the amount carried was! $191,354,121, as against $174,482,076 of. the previous year. There has been an Increase of 2,358 In the number of new money order offices established In the year. It is in the increase of nearly $17,- 000,000 in the transmission of smalt sums through tbe post offices that the true index of augmented prosperity among people of moderate means is to> be found. The postal statistics furnish- eloquent testimony as: to the Improve­ ment wrought in the first eleven months of restored protection. Plow and Swift. Wbat Senator Hanna did not say about a revision of the Dingley tariff is furnishing much food for gleeful com­ ment by free trade .writers all over the countfry. The garbled and incorrect re­ port of the Senator's views, which wa* printed with so mn\h avidity, was promptly repudiated a day or two later, coupled with the expression of the opin­ ion that the Dingley law is one of the most scientific and completely satisfao- tory tariffs ever enacted. ! ! But we do not notice that any of the free trade Writers are showing any in­ decorous haste in giving the correction as wide a circulation as they gave the original misprint. It is a peculiarity of free trade writers that they are slow to perceive and still slower .to make public any fact favorable to tbe Ameri­ can policy. They are, however, swift enough when it comes to the distortion and perversion of facts of this charac­ ter. ONLY A FEW PIECES OP GOLD LEFT. P0RT0 RKt fiffffff -i-ijiTsr*-- oSf'* STATE'S PUBLIC MONEY. Waiting for Permission. Uncle Sam--This banner ought to lly from the masthead, and I'll put It there the minute Congress says the word. Onr Need of Merchant chips. America feels the want of increased ocean transportation facilities. With shipping adequate to thfe wants of the country, the manufacturers and produc­ ers of the United States would soon be competing on many lines In territory now occupied almost exclusively by British and German manufacturers. Consul Stowe reported from Cape Town two weeks ago that on the day he wrote four large steamers were unloading American goods in that port. The ear- goes came from New York. Mr. Stowe says: "While American manufacturers and producers are not getting their share of South African trade, I assert they have only to present their claims and show the quality of their products to obtain that share." This is very en­ couraging. More and better shipping facilities would certainly improve these prospects.--Buffalo (N. Y.) News. Of Course Not* We are not going to increase our re­ ceipts by lowering duties and letting in a flood of foreign goods. There need be no doubt on that point But we may and should keep in force the war rev­ enue act until the need of extra money ceases to press. It bears hardly upon no one. It produces the maximum of revenue with the minimum of hardship and its weight Is not felt at all by tlhe people. Let the war revenue act stand while our expenditures are obliged to be large, and add to It, if necessary, by a trifling tax on tea and coffee. As for tariff revision, neither has Senator Hanna suggested it, nor does any Re­ publican dream of It. That interpreta­ tion of the interview is a stupid or a vicious blunder.-- Spokane (Wash.) Chronicle. Will Always Complain. The gentlemen on the opposition benches who are criticising the opera­ tions of the Dingley law because, as they claim, it does not produce enough revenue, should not commit themselves too far. The Republican party has nev­ er failed to meet emergencies along the revenue line, and the gentlemen on the opposition benches are likely to be com­ plaining next year because we have a surplus that they are not allowed to dis­ burse.--Chicago Inter Ocean. A Chance to Do Business. Any tariff agitation, even by the friends of the protective policy, would have more or less of an unsettling influ­ ence upon business, and even though the tariff needed some modifications the business interests of the country would infinitely prefer a continuance of the present schedules to the disturb­ ance which would surely follow the re­ opening of the tariff question. They want a chance to do business.--Grand Rapids (Mich.) Herald. iFilent as to Victories. It wohld be interesting to hear a free trade organ explain what has become of the freight of disasters which were billed to fall on our export trade under the Dingley tariff. All the organs of tlhe policy under which England is steadily losing her manufacturing su­ premacy to us are as silent about the victories of protection as if their mouths were closed by good, thick American tin plate.--Washington Poet Confined Himself to Live Issues. Silverites complain that the President did not allude to 16 to 1 In his mess­ age. It is true; neither did be refer to the Missouri compromise. FARMERS IN SESSION." National 6onsress Begins Dellbera* tions at Fort Wayne. The farmers' national congress of the United States of America assembled at Fort Worth, Texas, in its eighteenth an­ nual session. Ex- Gov. William D. Hoard of Wisconsin presided, and among the delegates were representatives <of all the States and terri­ tories of the Union t and of several of the Canadian provinces. After prayer by Rev. Alexander C. Garrett of Dallas, the visitors W. D. hoaed. listened to addresses of welcome by Mayor B. B. Paddock, Gov. Charles A. Culberson, President W. E. Skinner of the Fort Worth Live Stock Exchange and others. Responses in be­ half of the delegates were delivered by Secretary John M. Stahl of Illinois, Wil­ liam Freeman of Maine asid F. L. Max­ well of Louisiana. After the roll call by States President Hoard proceeded to de­ liver his annual address. A feature of the congress was the at­ tendance from some of the States of large numbers of associates to re-enforce the delegates. Iowa had sixty-three persons, including the delegates, and Colorado had fifty-four. The annexation of the Philip­ pines was one subject which engrossed the attention of the delegates. The report of Prof. Henry of Wiscon­ sin on the President's address was adopt­ ed. It recommended instruction in the principles of agriculture in rural public schools; that commercial representatives for American agricultural products in for­ eign markets be provided; that the best possible means for the operation of steam­ ship lines direct to <South America should be secured, and that laws against food adulteration be adopted. The report also urged farmers to uphold agricultural col­ leges and experiment stations and recom­ mended strong taxation laws for securing equity in taxation. Resolutions were adopted and ordered *o be sent to Con­ gress favoring government aid in the con­ struction of the Xicitragua canal and gov­ ernment control of same, and for the de­ velopment of the beet sugar industry. UNCLE SAM AND JOHN BULL. Demand for Joint Control of Nicara­ gua Canal Causes Irritation. The Nicaraguan canal question prom­ ises to be one of the leading questions in Congress this winter. The anxiety of the British to get in on the ground floor, as expressed by the London press, causes some irritation in Washington, as Eng­ land's friendship for this country during the recent war is shoved under our noses as an argument for joint control of the proposed canal. England's claims for a share in the canal are based on the Bulwer-Clayton treaty, an agreement entered into before any one dreamed of a canal across that part of the isthmus. It is understood that Sir Julian Pauncefote has recently had a conference with Secretary of State Hay and has intimated that our exclusive con­ trol of the waterway violates the conven­ tion of 1850. In administration circles tbe feeling is strong that no one shall interfere with this Government's declared intention to build the canal, and Secretary Hay probably told this to Sir Julian in a friendly but firm way. Later the United States may declare the canal neutral in war times, but the Government will do this in its own way and certainly not ander pressure. As to the Clayton-Bulwer treaty, which England threatens to drag forth, the United States has two strong defenses against it. First, the United States can immediately annul the treaty. Second, under the treaty the United States can do anything she proposes to do without vio­ lating any of its terms, although the treaty has been abrogated by Great Brit­ ain's own acts. HOBSON REFUSES $50,000. JAPAN MAY BUY PHILIPPINES. Offer of 9200,000,000 for Group Made fa President McKinlejr. Japan has offered this Government $200,000,000 for the Philippines. This information came through a Washington correspondent from a high source and is asserted to be official. It was further stated that this overture of Japan was met by the reply from the President that no negotiations affecting the disposition or control of the Philippines could be en­ tered into until after the conclusion of the treaty of peace at Paris. In direct connection with this story it is known that an influential Senator recently had a long talk with the President, at which the disposition of the Philippines was the main topic of conversation. The argument of the Senator was that, while he was opposed to the holding of the Phil­ ippines, he had now become convinced it would be necessary to hold the island of Luzon. He told the President it would be to the advantage of the Government to dispose of all of the group except Luzon and that it would be the better plan to have several purchasers for the group. In other words, he would avoid all possible complications by letting Germany, Eng­ land, France. Japan and Russia into the gigantic auction sale. When the peace protocol was negotiated by Cambon and the President the adminis­ tration's idea involved nothing more than the acquisition of Luson. Since then the expansionist sentiment has grown rapidly in popular favor. The President may be only testing public opinion by giving cer­ tain gentlemen the impression that he favors the sale of all the islands except Luzon, or he may actually favor this dis­ position of the Philippine question. If seriously advocated the proposition will be hotly opposed by many Republicans and Democrats of influence. POINT FOR PtCQUART. Court of Cassation Orders Hia Trial to Be Suspended. The | Paris Court of Cassation has in­ dorsed M. Atthalin's report favoring the suspension of Col. Picquart's court mar­ tial. M. Atthaiin is a weil-known barris­ ter, who was appointed by the court to report to it the proper procedure with ref­ erence to the preference of the court mar­ tial of Picquart or the revision of the case of Dreyfus. The trial^of Col. Picquart by court martial had been ordered by Gen. Zurlinden, military governor of Paris. Public feeling was strong against such action by Gen. Zurlinden, inasmuch as it would prevent Col. Picquart's testifying before the Court of Cassation, and it was known his testimony would be favorable to C^aptain Dreyfus. The decision by this court to check the court martial of Col. Picquart, is a triumph for French civil authority. TRADE WITH CHINA. Merrimac Hero Declines an Offer to Lccture. ' An offer of $50,000 for a number of lee- tares has been refused by Naval Construc­ tor Richmond P. Hobson. This offer was made by a New York lecture bureau, and the reason for bis refusal was stated by Hobson to a friend. "Before the sinking of the Merrimac," he said, "my lectures would probably have not been worth 50 cents. The sinking of the Merrimac seems to have made them worth $50,000. The work that so sud­ denly raised my stock in literary trade was done in simple execution of my duty as an American naval officer. 1 did not feel that I had a right to use the perform­ ance of that duty for my financial better; ment. I therefore declined the offer of $50,000."_ PERILS AS TO CHINA. England and Russia Unable to Reach an Aitreement. Bight Hon. Joseph Chamberlain, Brit­ ish colonial secretary, made new disclos­ ures the other night in a speech at Wake­ field, Yorkshire. He virtually stated the British Government had found it impossi­ ble to reach an agreement with Russia touching China, and that France's plan of exasperation had prevented a settled policy as to Egypt. It was made evident, however, that an entente ha§ been reached with Germany that may make for peace and for extend­ ed trade; but the significant fact was brought out that unless an agreement !s effected with Russia there are dangers of grave complications. He, however, left rogn to hope for a seiUesa^At. Consul Wild man's Survey of Economic Conditions. Dewey's victory has already had a good effect on Chinese commercial interests, according to a report received at the State Department from Consul General Wil­ liams at Hong Kong, who says regarding American trade in the East, that a care­ ful survey reveals two facts--first, a gen­ eral, permanent increase of trade; second, unusual activity in mercantile circles, ow­ ing to the gre%t demands made by the large American squadron and army. Ev­ ery steamer and ship from America brings cargoes of American goods. While their ultimate destination is Manila they are handled by European firms in Honk Kong and come before the public in such impos­ ing quantities that at first curiosity is aroused and demand follows. Our fleet, it is estimated, left in Hong Kong over $2,000,000 gold during the war. FOR MANILA VIA THE SUEZ. Expedition of Three Regiments Will Soon Leave New York. The next regiments to start for Manila will embark at New York about the end of this month, and will go through the Suez canal, unless present plans fail. This expedition will consist of three regiments of regular infantry, distributed between twip of the largest converted transports owned by the Government, with perhaps a convoy of two warships. The decision to use New York as the point of embarkation instead of San Fran­ cisco was reached after a careful review of a number of considerations, chief among which was the urgency for haste. At the present time the Government is wholly without available transports in the Pacific ocean to meet the emergency, The three regiments of regulars have not yet been selected, but will come from New York State and Atlantic garrisons. Gold from Maria Teresa. The safe of the Spanish cruiser Maria Teresa, which has lain for some time in the Norfolk navy yard, has been opened, and found to contain bags of Spanish and American gold and silver coin. It is esti­ mated that the value of the treasure will reach $75,000. The money will be turned over to the proper officials, and the safe will be sent to the National Museum at Washington. Convict LabQr on Boats. Martin Dodge, chief of the d>vision of road inquirs of the Agricultural Depart­ ment, is maKing an investigation to learn whether convict labor can be made avail­ able for the improvement of roads. It is thought the convicts might profitably make brick or prepare other material that could be used by free laborers M the cos struction of model road* Auditor's Biennial Report for Period Ending Sept. SO, 1898, ' The biennial report of the Auditor of Public Accounts for the fiscal period end­ ing Sept. 30, 1898, is in the hands of the printer. It shows the receipts and dis­ bursements to have been as follows: RECEIPTS. Taxes, 1895 #222.45191 Taxes, 1890 ................... 3,229,607 31 Taxes, 1897 .^,1.. 8,722.050 1 3 Total from taxes #7,174,109 3B Illinois Central Railroad, 7 per cent, gross earnings, from Oct. 31. 1896, to April 30, 1898. 1,253,988 46 United States Government, in aid of soldiers and sailors' home Secretary of State, fees col- leetod Superintendent of Insurance, fees collected Auditor of Public Accounts, foes collected Fees for examinations of mine examiners, hoisting engi­ neers, etc 259,631 81 301,441 98 356,826.87 Iflrre oo 2,541 81 United States Government, ap­ propriation by act of Con­ gress for benefit of colleges for agricultural and mechani­ cal arts # 4T,000 00 Various State, charitable and penal Institutions of the State, being unexpended bal­ ances of appropriations drawn from treasury........ 106,218 00 Merchants' Loan and Trust Company, proceeds of sale of . certificates of Indebtedness amounting to #250,000, issued under provisions of "an act to provide for casual deficits and failures In revenue," approved April 2. 1897....... S)SflC5Q2 00 Proceeds of sale of bonds te- longing to University of Illi­ nois endowment fnnd. sokl under aet approved June 11, 1897 107,000 00 Interest on bonds belongtiuE to University of Illinois endow­ ment fund 4,885 00 Sales of lands and on land con­ tracts of the University of Illinois, credited to endow­ ment fund 5,570 M Inheritance taxes collected to ^ Oct. 1, 1898 39,in 98 From other , miscellaneous r sources 1,196 32 Total #9,911,738 53, DISBURSEMENTS. Amount revenue fund warrants Issued^ all purposes #8,587,140 57 Revenue warrants outstand­ ing Oct. 1, 1896 51,048 94 Total .. .#8,648,189 51 41,501 47 Revenue fund warrants o>ut standing Oct. 1, 1898 Total amount disbursed by State Treasurer #8,606,688 04 Excess of receipts over dis­ bursements 1,305,050 48 The total receipts on account of State school fund, all from taxes of 1805, 1896 and 1897, was $2,179,032.30. The dis­ bursements on this account aggregated $2,128,247.87, showing an excess of re­ ceipts over disbursements, $50,784.43. The amount of warrants drawn on the unknown and minor heirs fund was $1,- 308.57, and the amount of warrants against this fund outstanding Oct. 1, 1898, was $382.70. The registered bond fund account is as follows: Received from taxes on account of taxes levied to pay princi­ pal and Interest of bonds registered #2,203,913 22 Warrants drawn In payment of principal and interest on oonds registered 2,282,329 53 ABOUND A BIO STATE Warrants outstanding Oct. 4, 1898 #538 59 Disbursed by State Treasurer. 2,281,790 74 Excess of disbursements over receipts 77,877 52 Disbursed during the two years on account of revenue. State schools and minor heirs' fun. .10,735,861 78 State funds in the treasury Sept 30, 1898 1,748,473 12 The amount disbursed from local bond funds during the two years was $2,281, 190.74, and the amount in the treasury to the credit of this fund Sept. 80,1898, was $414,904.53. A On Oct. 1, 1896,' there were treasury warrants outstand­ ing amounting to #55,606 63 During the two years ending Sept. 80, 1898, 21,427 war­ rants were drawn on the sev­ eral funds, aggregating 13,010,229 34 Total #13,065,835 97 Of the above tbe State Treas­ urer paid prior to Oct. 1, '98. 13,017,652 52 Leaving warrants outstanding Oct. 1, 1898 #48,183 45 The aggregate of taxes carried on the books for the two years for all purposes was as follows: For 1896 #45,834,948 53 For 1897 47,137,090 95 Appropriations made by the Fortieth General Assembly, warrants drawn there­ on and the unexpended balance Oct. 1, 1898, were as follows: Total amount of appropria­ tions #11,178,902 00 Warrants drawn against same 7,945,985 61 Unexpired balance Oct. 1, 1898 #3,232,916 39 An Intermittent Lake. Payne's prairie, three miles south of this city, covers an area of 50,000 acres. A large portion of the prairie is no-w covered with water, but there are thou­ sands of acres around the borders of the lake which has been formed on which horses and cattle graze. There is no way of estimating the number of cattle, but there are many thousands, and they are in fine condition. The prairie, or savannah, which it really is, occasionally goes dry, the water pass­ ing out through a subterranean passage called the siuk. Where the water goes to has never been determined. When the sink Is open the lake goes dry, and when the outlet becomes gorged or choked a lake from five to seven miles wide and about eighteen miles long is formed. When the waters of the lake suddenly leave it, thousands of alliga­ tors, snakes, fish and turtles are left with nothing but mud for their places of abode. The fish and turtles perish, but the saurlans and reptiles seek and find other quarters. For miles along the northern border of the lake there is a succession of sinks, averaging in depth all the way from twenty-five to one hundred feet Subterranean pass­ ages run in every direction, leaving the ground in the shape of a honeycomb. The ground is liable to give way at any time, creating a new sink.--Gainesville (Fla.) Sun. Contagions and Infectious. The terms contagious and infectious are not synonymous. A disease is con­ tagious when it is transmitted from the sick to the well by personal communi­ cation or contact, more or- less inti­ mate; and all contagious diseases are infectious, 1. 'e.. th^j are due to the introduction into the body of a suscep­ tible individual of a living germ. But all infectious diseases are not con­ tagious. Thus, small-pox, scarlet fever, measles, diphtheria, etc., are not infectious diseases which ace conta­ gious; while malarial fevers, typhoid fever, yellow fever, cholera, pneu­ monia, peritonitis, etc., are infectious diseases which are not contagious--at least, they are only contagious under very exceptional circumstances, and those In close communication with the sick as nurses, etc., do not contract those diseases as a result of Mch dose association or contact. BRIEF COMPILATION OP ILLI­ NOIS NEWS. Sheriff Lvries on a Bridge--Insane Mother Near Klgitr Dies After Poi­ soning Her Baby-Accident in a Chi­ cago Klsvator--Fight the Scale. The bridge over the Mississippi at Al­ ton is in the Jiands of the sheriff of St. Charles County. Missouri, for a trivial back tax amounting to $3,126.03. The Alton bridge is owned by the St. Louis, Madison and St. Charles Belt Line Rail­ way and the Central Trust Company of New York. It includes 2.37 miles of track, with all equipment, was opened for traffic May 1, 1894, and is worth altogeth­ er more than $1,000,000. The tax could have been paid at any time had the offi­ cers been so disposed, and the company has paid regularly an annual tax amount­ ing to much more on a few hundred yards of property in Alt oil, from Front street to the draw span. The reason assigned for failure to pay the bridge tax is that the assessment was considered exorbitant. But it is admitted that there can now be no recourse but to pay, and as this Could have been easily foreseen it is argued by many well-posted men that there is a deeper purpose behind the proceedings. This, it is hinted, is a determination of certain holders to force a sale, which will enable them to buy and place the property upon a new basis. It is a recognized fact that the bridge has never developed the aim for which it was built* ^Insane Mother Kills Child. The family of Wallace Kcnyon, living two miles south of Elgin, is prostrated with grief over the terrible deed of the wife and mother, who administered a dose of strychnine to one of her children, from which it died. The child was a boy named Wallace, one of twins born a year ago last March. Ever since the birth of the children Mrs. Ivenyon has suffered from mental derangement. Her act was un doubtedly that of an insane woman. The poison was administered about 8 o'clock. Its cries in consequence of the pain pro­ duced by the strychnine awakened the mother's instincts and she sought to re­ lieve its agony. But for this interruption the woman would have administered a similar dose to the other child and then probably shot herself. This she afterward stated was her intention. ; T|»e insane mother died two days after her terrible act was committed. One Killed, Two Hurt. One man was killed and two others so seriously injured their recovery is doubt­ ful by the falling of a scaffold at the Ar­ mour elevators in Chicago. The accident was witnessed by mauy of the working- men employed there, and for a time it was believed eight men had been killed out­ right. Two men had narrow escapes and several saved themselves by catching hold of a cross-board and swinging in space sixty feet in the air until rescued by their companions. The elevator was destroyed by fire several months ago and is now be­ ing rebuilt. The foundations were finish­ ed several weeks ago, and the present work consists mainly of carpenter work, a force of nearly 200 men being employed. The top of the structure is now sixty feet from the ground, and it was here that car­ penters and laborers toiled. Farmers Fight Against lings. At the annual meeting of the Washing­ ton County Farmers' Institute, held at Nashville, considerable time was taken up in the discussion of the San Jose scale, its destructiveness and the manner in which it could be mitigated. Prof. French of Carbondale, assistant State entymofo- gist, dwelt upon the ravages of the insect In his address before the farmers. Since the State Legislature appropriated a sum for the purpose of exterminating the pest the head of the State Agricultural Depart­ ment has been experimenting upon the orchards in Washington County, which appear to be affected more than those in any other locality. The trees are being sprayed with whale oil soap which is the most efficient and economical remedy that can be used. Wounds Girl and Ends Life. W. H. Emner shot and seriously wounded Henrietta Crain and then shot himself. Emner was a young farmer and lived near Denmark. It is said that Wil­ liam andjPtto Emner both paid atten­ tions to M%s Crain. During the absence of Otto, Wifeiam called on Miss Crain and proposed marriage. She refused and then William drew his revolver and shot her. He then turned the revolver upon himself, death ensuing almost instantly. Miss Crain is not expected to live. Brief State HappenTnga> At Kewanee, Mrs. William Goldsmith was burned to death, her dress taking fire from an overheated stove. About $00,000 has been spent in im­ provements by the Decatur Gas and Elec­ tric Light Company the past season. Frank Kerr, aged 45. a farmer of South Downs, was killed and his 7-year-old son probably fatally hurt in.a grade-crossing accident on the Big Four Railroad. The new $12,000 Methodist Episcopal Church, just completed at Lebanon to re­ place the building destroyed by fire last April, has been formally dedicated. Judge John W. Showalter of the United States Circuit Court died in Chicago. His death was due to pneumonia, which de­ veloped only five days before as the result of a cold of a few weeks' ntanding. J. B. Lantz of Ridge township reports that a large number of cattle are dying with a peculiar disease that affects their hind legs and stiffens them. He thinks it is caused by eating rotten corn in the fields. Thomas Smith, a colored saloon porter, teased Mathew Diller, an old river rat, in a saloon at Springfield and was stabbed. Smith died at St. John's hospital. Diller left the saloon after the stabbing and has not yet been arrested. At Rockford. John Thelen was riding on the rear platform of a car when the bj*ake chain gave way and the car plunged heav­ ily forward, throwing Thelen out upon his head. He died two hours later. The office of the Pekin Morning Post was almost completely destroyed by fire the other day. The loss, $5,000, is cov­ ered by insurance. Rev. J. N. Strain of Nokomis <was ex­ tended n call by the membership of the First Presbyterian Church of Virginia, and he has accepted. The retiring min­ ister, Dr. Glenroe McQueen, takes a pul­ pit at Nashville. The opposition of the business, me; along the lines of the Alton railroad in central Illinois to the policy of the Alton in giving bargain-day excursions to Chi­ cago and St. Louis has resulted in the an­ nouncement of the abandonment recently by the railroad of a cheap excursion to those cities'. A two days' session of the Clinton County Farmers' Institute was held in Carlyle. The meetiug was well attend­ ed. Prof. ft. A. Forbes of the Illinois University, Champaign, was present. He made an address on "The Economic Con­ trol of the Chinch Bug." Officers elected^ were: President, D. J. Donwald; secre­ tary, N. P. Cracker. Wi .... .J®|E -• . 5* ' •?. The Catholic fair at Decatnx desieS A. r>»#M $7,000. ' ' _ An unknown *tgn was foUad dying near ", hp Elgin by M. J. Adams. The Champaign County poor house shel- . . ^: ters forty-eight men and fifteen women. ;* Negotiations are In progress tor the 1 )|r erection of a beet sugar plant ftt Galesr 5J-' burg* .. *4* Some time in January the annual farm- " ers' institute of Tazewell County will be> held at Minier. ' The Jewish charity bazaar at Chicago' ~ has its object attafned. It gathered in the * sum of $100,000 in one week's time. • Burglars broke into the large furniture* store of W. L. Alexander at Jacksonville, vj£ opened the safe and rifled it of its con- ' • tents. " 'O The postoffice at Findlay was burglar- ized the other night, the safe being blown open and a large quantity of stamps being! J.* taken. At Kewanee, the 3-year-old son of Mr.~-" and Mrs. Samuel Wonders swallowed large amount of creosote and died in half> ***** an hour. ? -if. Mrs. John Mann of Franklin committed • /: \ ; suicide by throwing herself into a welL She was 50 years of age and had a large . ' family. *>:. Martin McDermott, roadmaster on the > Peoria division of the Big Four Railroad, . < . died at Pekin. The remains were ship- - *•*; ped to Aurora, Ind. , '• %$' Gov. Tanner has commuted to nine years the life sentence of Lawrence Far- ley, who has been serving time in Chester# penitentiary since 1892. f.f* Prof. S. C. Barrett, one of the oldest In" habitants of Wenona, is dead. Prof. Bar-fe'"'-33 rett was one of the best-known musical directors in central Illinois. - t Fifteen families will leave the neighbor-?'1 hood of Macon, Dalton City and Prairier 1 *f Hall between now and spring for Crow­ ley, La., to go into rice farming. A Pekin paper reports that a Lacon fish­ ing party in a single haul of the seine in Lake Senachwine brought in 4,680 carp and buffalo, and 1,000 black bass. Col. Culver, commander of the Fifth in- v fantry, has relieved Captain M. F. O'Bri# f'; || en of Company C of the command of hu|V company, which is on duty at Pana. - The University of Illinois is making a chemical analysis of meats, investigating-^ the cost, nutritive value, digestibility anoft \ f assimilibility of the market meats. &*£ Charles Schultz, township supervisor a# C Spaulding, reported to the coroner tha^a ' l| the dead body of an unidentified man waf, ^ found in a ditch near that place. Th*. ' - man was dressed poorly and had no mones^i^Opi or valuables. At the new Central Church in Gales* burg the dedication services took the forn| of a celebration by the church and Kno* *„£,^ College, both being closely identified. Dr. John M. Coulter of the University of Chi- 4 cago made the address. * * • At Springfield, the State Millers* Asso- c. ciation elected the following officers: Presn; ident, E. C. Kreider, Jacksonville; vice*..' president, D. R. Sparks, Alton; secretary, j C. H. Doylet, Highland; assistant secre»; tary, Geissman, Highland. ; i Gov. Tanner has announced the follow^ ing appointments in the Fourth regiment* - Illinois volunteers: John R. Skinner, to be chaplain of the regiment; Alvan C. Voris, to be second lieutenant of Company E, to? succeed Lieut. Ropiquet, resigned. *:H One of the largest deals of the season in Chicago downtown property was the re* newal by Siegel, Cooper & Co. of the big ' store they occupy on the east side of State street, extending from Van Buren to Cons» gress street. The new lease is for a period of ten years from Jan. 1,1902. The year* ly rental is $200,000. L. C. Lord, president of the Moorhead normal school, Moorhead, Minn., wag elected president of the Eastern Illinois normal at Charleston by the trustees of the institution. Prof. Lord has been g teacher in Minnesota for twenty-five years and president of the Moorhead normal'; since its founding, ten years ago. Rev. Pinkley P. Samueis, pastor of Mou .it Zion Colored Baptist Church of Spring Valley, preached the other evening in the Baptist Church in La Salle, a citjf that has not tolerated a negro minister ht the fifty years of its history. The preachf ? er was kindly received by a large audi­ ence, his theme being "Christian Patriot* ism." - v';i£ ; -•<1:0 v~. - "*** ' - ,.v4\ % &- * ,-sj - •> '»1, W. T. Morris, State organizer of thSf, Miners' Union* and D. B. Hoggins, presi-• dent of the Seventh district, have been iiif Mount Vernon, and the membership of th#f union was increased nearly twenty-five..' There are now but two non-union men,- employed in the Mount Vernon coal mines. The miners ask that they be pai(£ • the Springfield scale--50 and 43 cents a i ton for hand and machine work. The men now receive §0 and 35 cents a ton. It ia not probable the company will grant the increase, in which case the miners desire- to submit the question to arbitration. The State of Illinois still bears the great ^ ' burden of, internal revenue taxes. Out of • a total of $170,8tKi.819, the State of Mi- t *• 1 n-vls contributes $39,658,G86. One fevenueH^ district of Illinois--the fifth--in which tha>^>ffe- great distilleries of Peoria are located, -*1; and which was the nucleus of the greaC^.-,- i 4,. - whisky trust, paid $22,837,553--more than^'A • £ V was paid by any single State in the Unioni " , except Illinois. This district has held th». record as a revenue producer for many^i ' y e a r s . A f a i r i d e a o f t h e g i g a n t i c p r o p o r - * ^ tions of its revenue producing qualities^ can be obtained by comparing the amountjjb of taxes it pays with those of other Statrst , - J* . of the Union. This single district pays) $1,000,000 more of revenue than the en-»" . ." tire State of New York: $4,000,000 more ;j? than the entire State of.Kentucky, which has been popularly associated with the> ' • V production of whisky; more than twice asf-,^"" much as the State of Indiana; neariyv'\f•% twice as much as the State of Pennsyl-" vania: $6,000,000 more than the State off" - * Ohio; nearly two and a half times as muchf^ ; as the State of Missouri; more than oigh-^'y. teen times as much as the State of Miune-j^|^ i sota; more than fifty-five times the Stated ] of Colorado: more than 447 times as muchi^ } a s t h e c o m b i n e d r e v e n u e s c o l l e c t e d b y t h e ' " ^ { territories of New Mexico and Arizona. Bruno Puhan, who shot and killed Mrs., «/V: ^ Nellie Armlin about a year ago in ChKj? ^' cago, was found guilty of murder, and M punishment was fixed at imprisonment for! ' life. Sergeant Batty has relinquished the , ' 'fc, command of the gatling section of the Na- . » j||- tional Guard in Pana and returned to* Springfield. Col. Culver has appointed! 5 Sergeant Peel of Company C to succeed him. Batty was in command of the gat- ling section for six weeks. He served in^v-%tj||& both India and Egypt, being with the 1 ^1,' British troops when Gen. ("Chinese") -- Gordon was killed at Khartoum. . Andrew McQueeny, a well-known horse --- jockey, was shot at the police station at- Galena. McQueeny and two night offi- *• cers were the only ones present when , the shot was fired. All three refuse to " talk. The affair is a mystery. McQneeny % jU--, cannot live. Gov. Tanner has made the following ap- - ' • pointments in the Ninth regiment, llliuoi» ' volunteer infantry: Samuel L. Wright to- • be captain of Company C, vice E. T. B. '"iWp Miller, resigned: George H. Felty to first lieutenant Company C. vice Meredith, promoted: John T. Kline to be second lien- tenant Company C. vice Felty, proaMtei; George E. Meredith to he adjutant; vie* Wright, pcomotMjk . -fc! • wfV*' - f "X' .-vis