"WW,-'. Ifer^J '^-•ew^k.: •fcw&M4»4» AM 4* > lV«v «<" »^i|.>~ » •«*• .w ,*. , lis IcBenry Plaind̂ er. 1 •* «,s»- .>M t • 1$.'. ai !. , licHEflBY, rnnusHKn BT V. O. « IIREIM*» ILLINOIS. m C Tolstoi says Gorky is overrated. Mot here, though. 1 Bon I Is the skeleton In the Count* ffcstellane's closet . The man who says he is not worthgr y& 7 of her, too frequently proves his point. English public opinion has aaotlt* the Biidsh soap trust la Its own V . ; The indications now are Hurt Santa <ftaus is going to carry every state In ^e unto*. | , v'. i' Crown Prince George of Senrla la f< •; », \ *aid to be mentally sound--that is, for h.v: ; # crown prince. V" :/ x >\ Ffcint heart ne'er wins fair lady; > for that matter, neither does the Jfetet bank account. , ^ ' i . . ' *, -Hie man who manufactured chew ing gum Is dead, but the evil that he dM lives after him. i t* j Not only is the cost of living in creasing, but the families are increas es at the usual wrte. New York burglars who travel In Automobiles are doing what they can •ill make thieving a fine art. ? They have found an asbestos mine gb the Klondike. They would be glad «k> trade it tor'a coal mine. •J* This new disease called auto heart -ijVIl probably produced by suddenly tell- ms* man the price of tne machine* £ ' jr«< -< i. V. ' ' # ' J > Zip, ' • , ' t - C>&> - $ ' ® 4 With meat, pickles and confectlon- -qgry under suspicion, the public may 9«t ihove to subsist on breakfast food. v Japan is conquering Manchuria com mercially, which is a more substantial *nd lasting way than shooting holes Srougihit ______ JH 'Berlin official in Germany baa tfept for 'two year*. It would almost tite worth while now to wake up and dCHtwlhiB salary. i **1" - /.A.. £§ Rev. Hugh Black, of Scotland. nays "lliades is very much like New York." 3>r. Black talks like a man who has Imt 'there and ought to know. ; y -Dehorned spelling will never da "jernlists" would never consent llo having our time-honored slogan converted into "The pen is mitier than me sord." P»K3R;-, $:v* % The Buffalo Times tells of % l»y "Who took several ounces of rough-on- ^jfeats without suffering any evil effects; ^ut it appears that he worked in a • jtrug store and took it to a customer. • ' ' / * T h e r e a r e e x p r e s s i o n s o f d i s a p p r o v a l f, y ? 41"*>' among eminent Japanese of the educa- |l6n of women in this country. But pV'- 'ti Japan may be depended on to accept * this phase of civilization along with if'/:4^>e rest in the course of time. I'Wl-'i' '• GS-.tP-'- -$?&'• v;' - k' \ * The so-called soap trust in England ^ /!.•- ' * 1ja said to have been "busted" by a P^'V'V "fcoycott The method seems to be ; *«ample and effective. No trust, how- V ! - , , mver big and presumably powerful, can irucceed if the public refuses to pur- , <4hase products. k. ! 'V.-"x A Boston girl at Vassar told her ijlUsnnmtrn that so far as she waa con cerned, she had no ambition further fhan to do her duty by the man she ••xpected to marry and the children t arhich were born to her. Isn't this a ||angerouB line of anticipation for a ,?®o»ton girl? ^ • Prof. Qalloway of the department agriculture some time ago grafted * Japanese orange shoot on a Florida Grange tree. When he picked the liupposed oranges from the recon- iatructed tree he found they were lem- Eren nature has begun to hand to grafters. ^ The Geological Survey having dis- •f4iovered that there are sufficient coal deposits in the United States to last |S,000 years, should continue its re- laearches to determine wbether there jare enough of the precious metalB, or -f«*en gems, in the earth to pay thj§ * ^nfcoel bills through those centuries. - ^ THOUSANDS GATHER !N ROME TO ' PRAISE FRANCE'S ACTItO^f, 1 ENTIRE QARRISON OUT Protects Vatican and Charges, tha Crowd--Sunday Quiet In Paris --Disturbances In the ' "••rovfhoaa. ^ 1 Itom^?--Th^hsands of demonstritforf friendly to Prance and of anti-Vatican tendencies gathered Sunday night in the Piazza adjoining the Farnese pal ace, the seat of the French embassy, in an endeavor to express their pleas ure at France1* action toward the church.' . jv The whole garrison of Rome was employed to face the demonstrants and protect the Vatican, which was Surrounded by cavalry, and the bridges leading to the apostolic pal- are were barred by troops. All the streets leading to the palace Farnese were protected by soldiers with fixed bayonets. The demonstraioTS,-4©d by a dozen radical socialists and republican mem bers of the chamber of deputies, In cluding Prince Borghese, after vainly attempting to break the cordon, pro vided themselves with candles arid formed into a mock procession, inton ing the Miserere, as an Indication of the death of clericalism, amidst cries of "Long live France!" "Long live Clemencenu!" and "Down with the Vatican!" v Fresh attacks were then made to beat back the cordon and the cavalry charged the demonstrators, a few of whom were slightly injured, and sev eral arrested. Amid roars and shouts and the , singing of the Marseillaise the fernrtt continued until late' In the evening. • ^ Sunday Is Quiet Iti Paris/ Paris.--The serious disurbances that it was brlieved would ensue on the first Sunday under the law separat ing church and state were not real ized. Tlfe services in this city in par ticular pdsed off quietly. Reports from the provinces show that ther? was great excitement at many places. Large processions, chanting psalms, accompanied the clergy to and from the churches. Counter demonstrations took place in several c' ties, notably Perpignan and Amiens, •Miere the Catholics and free thinkers came into collision, necessi tating interference by the police, who quickly dispersed the crowds. Sev eral of the demonstrators were in jured. Bi-shop de Briy while receiving the official notice to leave the bishop ric of Mei'.ux Sunday morning suffered a violent nervous shock andv fell un conscious Later, however, he recov ered. ATTEMPT TO SLAY DUBA880FP. Terreriat Makes Unsuccessful Effort to Kill Russian Admiral. St. Petersburg, Dec. 17.--Another attempt on the life of Admiral Dubas- soff, ex-governor general of Moscow, was made Saturday afternoon but he escaped with slight injuries. Dubasooff was driving at one o'clock In the afternoon in Sergiyewskaya street, on his way to the Taurlda pal ace, when two men hurled a bomb at his carriage. It exploded with great force but only slightly wounded the admiral. The would-be assassins were arrested. Doubasaoff had a remarkable escape. The Terrorists made a very deter mined attack upon him. One man ap proached the admiral and fired several shots at him with a revolver but nA'sllfed. The Terrorists then threw a bomb at Doubassoff, which exploded aad wounded the admiral In the leg. A by-stander seized the admiral's as sailant, whereupon a second Terrorist appeared and went through exactly the same performance. The second bomb thrown, however, did not ex plode and Doubassoff, although in jured, closed with the Terrorist and held him until he was taken Into cus- todjf. "Sou can get to the north pole by Nfcrtfting with the current, but it will ®.#ake two or three years to reach there .;%y this method, says a scientist. How- ••«ver, those who have plenty of time 4pm their hands may try the. plan pro- '"fiosed and trust to luck to get back to Civilization and fertilization. IDhe Auio "is winning its way every- " Mine. It -has «tood the test of trips jicross the American continent. It has tnade a tour , around'the world, carried •'fuasengers to the frigid north and cap: Jbaved tire .fancy <of -the Grand Lama of :v 'Thibet. Anil now a venturesome en- KhiMiaEt is to imake a -ttip in the horse- JtaM vehicle -through the desert of :.; Sakara, taice supposed to be given to ttSie camel .caravans. , Gjrpr SmiCh apparently believes 'V-i thatttBf.11 gk>iyaad "humor can go well f -,M.,<0geflie<r. Ajnd «rhy not? There la h/\ inothias gkwmy «b»ut genuine piety. .J,; ,-JHtaavea Wee about m in our childhood, ;;Wnd It UBight all tjfee rest of our lives ^ »e were not so blamed pessimistic. *!•-, Elevated Cars Burned. Chicago. -- Fire threatened destroy 50 cars of the West Side Metropolitan Elevated road, valued at $375,000, and ruined three motor cars and one coach at the yards of the Logan Square branch, Humboldt boul evard and Milwaukeo avenue. The firemen and elevated employes fought for hours to prevent the destruction of the cars, and one by one the im periled coaches were hauled from the burning yards, while a large crowd nf spectators cheered the trainmeifc ^ ^ Fatal Accident to Fast Train. * Canton, O.--The Pennsylvania Lim ited, eastbound, crashed into a freight train in the Canton yards Sunday n:ght and Engineer John Ray and Fireman George Nichols, of the freight, were fatally Injured. No pasaengera ware hurt. f. When a man can pull an car at %•, as can President ESiot, it seems as If Dr. Osier's 40-year limit had ariped out. If a man doesn't amount to amy- HUng himself, be boasts of his aaces- ]|4»ra. The dogfish has had its own way long enough in eating cod and had dock, but now he is to come Into thfe narket as food, and thus cease to A constant menace to the fisherman's >s£*res. Turn about la always fair play. It is reported that a thunderstorm 1 ;|9 Kansas shocked a whole field of a.--Peoria Herald Transcript. Well, at lightened the farmer* It* it? Duel Expccted' In Paris. Paris.--Alexander' Greger, former secretary of the Russian embassies at Washington and Rio de Janeiro, Sun day in the Bois Boulogne horse whipped Count Rodellec du Porzic% A duel is expected to follow. , Capt. Z. L. Tanner Dies. Washington.--Capt. Z. L. Tanner, U. S. N., retired, after an illness ol four days died at his home here Sun 4»r of heart failure. He was 71 ye old and had been on the retired December 5, 1897. 12 work. "A foreign duke has captured an- " ir rlcb American ̂ rk"^E^4aa*e It]) Itfi oonntet! Rebel Leader Kills Himself. Guayaquil, Ecuador.--When the gov ernment troops were entering Cuenca Friday with the rebels taken at the battle of Ayancay, a mob tried in vain to rescue the prisoners. Col. Vega, the captured rebel leader, then com mitted suicide. PRESIDENT YIELDS TO OPPOSI TION dP LOWER HOUSE* Investigation of Alleged Lumber Trust Ordered--No Salary Raiee- , * for Congressmen, I,"; Washington.--President Roosevelt will withdraw his simplified spelling order to the public printer and herer after all documents will again be printed In the old-fashioned style. Mr. Landls, of the joint committee on spelling, had a conference Thurs day with the president, when the latter said that he did not wish to have spelling overshadow matters of great importance and expressed a willingness to revoke his order for the new" spelling in case the house of representatives should go on record as opposed to the system. Accord ingly, late Thursday afternoon Mr. Landls introduced the following reso lution: * \ 'Resolved, That it is the sense of the house of representatives that hereafter in presenting reports, docu ments, or other publications author ized by law, ordered by congress or either branch thereof, or emanating from the executive departments, their bureaus , or branches, and independ ent officers of the government, the government printing office should ob serve and adhere to the standard of orthography prescribed in generally accepted dictionaries of the English language^" The measure was passed without a dissenting vote. The house, after some discussion, adopted a resolution of Mr. Miller qf Kansas, authorizing the secretary of commerce and labor to investigate the causes of the high prices of lum ber in the various stages of manu facture and sale. This Investigation is to he made with the particular object of ascertaining whether or not present high prices are the re? suit of a trust. Washington.--The house of repre sentatives was brought face to face Friday with the proposition to in crease the salaries of Its own mem bers, senators, the vice president, the speaker of the house and members of the president's cabinet, while the leg islative, executive and judicial appro priation bill was under consideration. Though it passed favorably on the proposition as applied to other offi cials, it refused to make the order for members of either house of con gress. mkmm - - ' fur* h i K - w i s «• V 4 ppawlil Gontapoodent W the MIMUpmi JOHML t THS 0HU8TK A8 SUBFBZBX. ' & Wood«r If ol<l Santa Clam Muld have made Ujr nMSkcl BANDIT SIVEH 20 YEARS JES8E C. RUMSEY SENTENCED AT MARSHALL, MO. Chicago Boy Wtra Held Up and % flubbed Two Trains Pleads Guilty --^iets Minimum Penalty. CRUISER MONTANA LAUNCHED. Warship Glides Into Water at New port News, Va. Newport News, Va. -- The tJnlted States armored cruiser Montana was successfully launched at the Newport News shipyard Saturday In the presence of a large number of peo ple. The vessel was christened by Miss Minnie Conrad, daughter of W. G. Conrad, of Montana. Gov. Toole, of that state, was represented by Martin Maginnis, formerly territorial delegate in congress. Senator Carter and Rep- resentative Dixon also were present. The navy was not officially represent ed. After the launching the sponsor's party was entertained at breakfast. The Montana is about 58 per cent, completed and is a sister ship to tha North Carolina, launched here Oct. 6. Her contract calls for a speed of 21 knots. The Montana is the- ship on the stocks here. ' * KAISER DISSOLVES REICHSTAG* Reaeate Defeat of Government Bill far Troops In Africa. Berlin.--Emperor William dissolved the reichstag Thursday and ordered new elections, in consequence of the government's defeat, by 178 to 168 votes, on the bill authorizing what theiernment met wlth an emphatic denial . . . _ x . . . A a ministry contends Is an adequate num- br of troops to end the Insurrection in German Southwest Africa and hold the colony against a recurrence of the rebellion. The clericals, socialists, Poles and one wing of the radicals voted against the government, while the conserva tives, national Itberals and moderate radicals supported the government. Peoria Banker Found Guilty. Peoria, 111. -- Conrad Tuppen, on trial for embezzling funds of the Tei8 Smith bank, was found guilty by the jury. Attorneys for the de fense immedlatetly filed notice of ap peal. The case is a celebrated one and has occupied the courts for three weeks in Pekln. The bank failed for half a million dollars and Tuppen was found guilty on one charge of the in dictment--accepting funds after tto« bank was insolvent, Russian Officer Maimed by Betmb. Radom, Russian Poland.--A bomb was thrown at Col. Plotta, commander of the gendarmerie of Radom. Sun day. His leg was torn off by the ex plosion. A student, who threw tha bomb, was arrested. Policeman Battles With Burglars. Pittsburg.--During a battle with burglars Saturday night in the notion store of Mrs. Mary Keenon at New Kensington, Pa., 30 miles east of this city, Officer James J. Lemon shot and fatally wounded Elmer Kuhn and cap tured Albert Rornlg. Fatal Flreln Burlington^, - ^ Burlington, Vt.--Mtb. Frank Coon- rad is believed to have been killed and property valued at about $40,000 de stroyed by fire which consumed the American House block Sunday. Wisconsin Capitalist Drops Dead. La Crosse. -- Fred Ring, aged 71, well known capitalist, retired railway official aad graad treasurer of the Maaonlc Grand Lodge of Wis- coosln, dronocd dead at his home. New Swiss President. Berne.--Edouard Muller, vice pres ident of the federal council, was Thursday elected president of the Swiss confederation, in succession to M. L. Ferrer, whose iem has e»f i>ired. Marshall, Mo.--Jesse Clyde Rum- sey, the Chicago, boy who robbed the Alton-Burlington train oh Nov. 25 and • the Rock Island limited on Nov. 8, both near Glasgow,' Mo., pleaded guilty here Thursday to two charges filed against him. He was given the minimum sentence, 10 years imprisonment on each charge, and was Immediately sentenced to 20 years. He was taken to the peni tentiary later in the day. Four informations were filed against Rumsey. At his preliminary hearing he pleaded not guilty. Thurs day he offered to plead guilty to two charges connected with the Alton- Burlington hold up If promised the minimum sentence. He refused to plead guilty to the Rock Island rob bery, although he had previously con fessed to having committed this hold up also. The maximum penalty for train robbery in Missouri is death. The robberies were most daring. Single-handed Rumsey, forced the trainmen to go ahead of him and help rob the passengers. He was over powered by Conductor Heywood, of the_ Alton-Burlington train, and the money and jewelry secured at that time was recovered. He was landed in jail four hours after the seoond robbery was committed. STARTLING TALE FROM HAWAII. Two Complete Japanese Regiments Said to Be There. Honolulu.--It Is stated here and has been reported to the United States government at Washington that two regiments of Japanese, completely officered, are In Honolulu disguised as laborers. Whether they are armed Is not known. Washington.--The Honolulu report that it was stated there that Japanese troops, fully officered, were in that $ty disguised as Irfborera and that the fact had been reported to this gov- here Wednesday night. Acting Sec retary of State Bacon said he had heard nothing of such a report. Sec retary Taft stated that no such report had ever been fnade to this govern ment, and at the Japanese legation the story was promptly denial. AGAINST 8TATE INSURANCE. Wiaeonaia Senatorial Committee Finds Plan Not Feasible. JftMUaan, Wis.---The majority re port ' of the committee appointed by the last state senate to in vestigate the feasibility of establish ing a state life Insurance depart ment in Wisconsin, has completed its Investigation upon which it .has been engaged for two year and has filed Its report with Governor David son. The committee is not in favor of having the state go into the life insurance business because it does not find it feasible at this time. The report is Bigned by Senators Julius E. Roehr and James A. Frear, while Senator Jacob Rummel, social ist, whose party is trying to foster a number of state and municipal own ership projects in the legislature, dis sents. Woman Claims Throne of China. Victoria, B. C.--A Victoria woman, a Machu banner woman, married to an Englishman who was an officer of Gordon's army which suppressed the Talping rebellion, has made claim to the throne of China. TO PROBE COAL FAMINE. Of Preijdent Orders Investigation Situation In Northwest* ^Washington. -- Investigation by the president of the coal famine in theNOrthwesthas begun. The interstate commerce commission was instructed to find out whether the railroads are the cause of the scarcity of fuel in the two Dakotas and eastern Minnesota. Hearings, twill be held in Chicago and at other points to look Into the rolling stock shortage. By direction of the president the In terstate commerce commission ad dressed a telegram to the presidents of northwestern railroads urging them to make every possible effort to re lievo the needs and sufferings of those dependent on the facilities of their lines. In addition the commission, also by his direction, is framing a bill to prevent a recurrence of the dis astrous conditions, which will be transmitted to concress and indorsed by the president, probably in a special message. For several days the president has been receiving dispatches and letters reporting that people in the North west were freezing to deatii from lack of fuel and starving from inability to obtain food supplies on account of the failure of the railroads to furnish nec essary ears,. NO NIGHT CAR8 IN PORTLAND. Few Strike Disturbances 8unday ln the Oregon City. Portland, Ore.--The Portland Light and Power company, runftlng their cars with double crews managed to maintain a deeultory service during the entire day Sunday up to sundown, when, to avoid a repetition of laat night's strike disturbances, all cars were run to their barns. There wejre a few incipient distort* ances during the day, the most" seri ous being on the outskirts of town, where in two places tracks were bar ricaded and two cars thrown over by the mobs. The street car oompany de clares that only 37 of its <75 employes failed to report for work Sunday and says it will have no difficulty in oper ating all Its cars if the municipal authorities will prevent a repetition of the excesses by hoodlums which took place Saturday night. GAPTAIN OF DIX BLAMED. Inspectors Revoke Hi^ Lleenaa For Disaster at Seattle. Seattle* Wash.--The United States Inspectors who Investigated the re cent sinking of the steamer Dlx, in which many lives were lost have fin ished their report. It exonerates Capt. P. H. Mason, master of the steamer Jeanle, which sank the Dlx, and revokes the license of Capt. Percy A. Lerraond, master of the Dlx. It was held that the sinking of the Dlx was due entirely to the negligence on the part of those handling her. Heavy Snow Blocks Trains. , 8t. jPaul, Minn.--The worst enow- stat-m in years is reported by the rail road companies which have western extensions. The trains .in western North Dakota on every line are snow bound, and In some cases are lost track of. It is even reported that some of the Great Northern through trains are completely snowed in and cannot be located. The snow In many cases is plied 20 feet high, and traffic is at a standstill. Heavy 8now In 8outhwest. ... Kansas City, Mo.--The heavieat snowstorm of the winter was general over southwestern Missouri, south eastern Kansas. and parts of Okla homa and Indian Territory ^liday night. Actor Commits Hari Kirl. , New York.--An actor named Rankin. Dnval borrowed a long cheese knife in a saloon here Thursday and com mitted hari kirl. He died in hospital" v.withaa* explaining ; fel act.- ^' Gen. Noglls Badly injured. Tokio.--Gen. Nogl, the Japanese commander who captured ' Port Ar thur, was thrown from his horse while returning home from his palace. He fell on bis head and became uncon scious, but maj* recover. ' „ Arpiy Officers to Be Tried. Washington.--The secretary ol war has ordered the trial by court-martial of MaJ. Charles W. Penrose and Capt. Edgar A. Macklln, Twenty.fifth in fantry for impprettpm tBf Brewna* vflle riot. Powder Blaat Hurts Eleven. Eckman, W. Va.--Eleven people, nine men and two women, were in* jured heie Friday by an explosion of 10,000 pounds of powder which was being transported in cars to the mine powder house. 'v./ Standard Oil Advances Wages. New York.--The Standard Oil com pany annouhced Friday that it would advance the wages of all its em ployes now receiving less than flO® a month by tea pef cent, beginning January 1, Ten Years for Counterfeiting. Denver, Col --Ten years' imprison ment tmd a fine of $1,500 was the sen tence imposed on Dr. James D. Eggles- ton, who was convicted of counterfeit ing and making photographic nega tives of t ten-dollar Dill. Mrs. Birdsong Is Convicted. Hazelhurst, Miss.--Mrs. Angle Bird- song *.vas found guilty Tuesday of manslaughter for killing Dr. Thomas Bufler, and waa recommended by the jurors to the mercy of the court. The minimum penalty Is $500 fine. V • i>: '.j > t ' , - « ^ " SpringBeid.--That $1,000,000 e* ppidedbynifoeie fa a reorganization ita charitable institutions would mate the state the greatest eommonwealth in the world for scientific progress along these Maea is the opinion of Gov. Deneen and members of the state board of charities. The state legislature may be asked to appropri ate this amount. After reports of committees were heard the board went Into executive session to determine the approximate cost of the most gi gantic charitable proposition Illinois has been called upon to undertake. It is nothing more or less than a com plete rebuilding of the whole physical system of state institutions. Uniform records and administration of these are sought as a foundation for greater scientific achievements in the care of, dependent- and, delinquent wards of the state. Among many suggestions are: Complete 3tate care of insane, taking them out of the hands of the counties; a village for epileptics, an outdoor sanitarium for consumptives, free distribution of diphtheria anti toxin outside olf Chicago, laws to pre vent growth of families of feeble minded, a separate hospital for con- ble and ana mere s»o«i«'::..' no change. Maxiftd! : inting the city of CIHcaga, told thai embers of the board (feat versa! Gas company was organised^, for the purpose of defrauding ' holders of the People's Gas company^ He asked for a decided increase in^> ' the assessment of public service por-*;. porations. He said that the Univer-^ sal Gas company is one of the lar^>; gest in the world, but the local aa^pC sessors returned. property worth onlyjf" ̂ "J $50,000. He said the city had been^. • unable to secure Information as to^^ the methods of doing business, ti&pf : -• value of its stocks or its profits. Mem-gf bers of the board admitted that} neither the Ogden nor the Univer companies had filed reports. ) To -«edi^Wi^!^tate ifra#hrtiOirn^ A scheme for the complete physical reorganizations of the state institu-**' v. tions is being planned by Gov. De-j^V^: neen. Its execution will be limited^' ^ by the appropriations which ft .-will be* possible to get from the legislature,, but it is the hope of the state admin istration that enough money can bejf; sumptive prisoners, a psychopathic in^^QhjL&ined to put the in&titutions'on agf stltute, and the installation of equ! ment in each state hospital for giving hydrotherr peutic treatment to insane patients. Dr. George A. Zeller sug gested a central colony for consump tive insane and the confinement of consumptive prisoners in a separate institition Ernest P Blcknell, general superintendent of the Chicago bureau Of charities, asked that the state ap propriate' $150,Q0^ to establish a sani tarium for consumptives. He said It Is estimated that 8,OOp .deaths are caused in Illinois each fear by tuber culosis. Mrs. Clara P Bourland, mem ber of the state board, suggested that legislation be enacted to prevent the growth of idiotic families. Dr. Frank S. ChurchllJ proposed an appropriation of $250,000 to establish a village for epileptics. Dr. George W. Webster, of the state board of health, proposed an appropriation of $15,000 a year .to furnish free anti-toxin , to all'needing it outside Chicago. Dr. V. H. Pod- fetata, superintendent of the hospital for the insane at Elgin, reported on the newest scientific method of re building minds erf the temporarily in sane. He recommends the installa tion of this treatment at each Illinois hospital for the insane. Dr. William A. Evans would have tho state care for all the insane and take the burden entirely from the counties, as the state is better .equipped. Dr. J. T. McAn- nally favored a compulsory system throughout the state which would make records of various Institutions alike of greater scientific value. Uni form grades, rules and salaries for em ployes In the several departments of the state charity work was proposed by W. B. Moulton, president state civil service committee. ."-7 ! . _ \ Hear of Tax Evasion. Information that may Induce Gov. Deneen to probe deeper into the af fairs of the IlllnolB Central railroad was secured at a session of the state board of equalization. Attorney Tar- bet told the members of the railroad committee that the St. Charles air line, which had not been taxed for 40 years, was turned in for assessment as one of the charter lines, but that it was listed as "side-tracks." Attor ney John M. Duffy of' Chicago, who represented the city of Chicago at the hearing, insisted that the road iraa one of the most valuable in the elty and that it crossed the best por- tion- of the city. Mr. Tarbet admitted that the Madison & Northern road en tered Chicago over the air line tracks, but held, that the assessment should not be increased. It is claimed that the Illinois Central has paid' taxes on the road, but the per cent, is entirely too small. The committee also heard arguments by Tax Agent Fox of the St. Paul lines, who insisted that the road was practically exempt from taxation in the state of Illinois be cause the road was incorporated un- dpr the laws of a foreign state. At torney Duffy engaged , in a lengthy ar gument on the subject and held that one of the statutes or decisions cited liy Wf. Fox would compel his line to pay an additional tax of about $5,000,- 000. Mr. Duffy then read a part of the decision, which he claimed that Mr. Fox had overlooked in his argu ment before the committee. Frank J. Crandon, who has been a repre sentative of the Northwestern for over 35 years, made an argument in favor of the 30 per cent, proposition. He held that the assessment of 70 per cent that has been followed by the board as a basis for several years f rig of efficiency equal to any inr"**1f the country, if not lis the world. Ideas|£ have been borrowed from New York^ I; from Germany, and from every other!? "" place where experiments have proved| ., the worth of methods for treating dis-f^* ease, handling dependents and prof viding for criminals. Surveys have%., been made of ail the institutions in^f{ , the state to secure estimates of th«|v^ cost of putting them in repair, giving^ ^ them adequate ventilation, sanitary^,. plumbing, and fire escapes. These* J surveys have made it apparent that a^ ., large sum of money will be require A ?' to accomplish all that Is shown to beiK~: needed. The magnitude of the sumi may be measured by one Item in the*. ' total--that of $150,000 for a new cell- ^ house at the Joliet penitentiary^! 4 There has been no defense in recent ~ ^ years for the conditions under which^/ eonvicts are housed in that institu-s^, tion. They have been admittedly dis-?," graceful, but each succeeding legisla-^ <; ture has found it impossible to give-^ the trustees the money for which they . have asked to remedy affairs. ^ It is, the policy of ^ the state boards . Of charities, under Dr. Billings, and: '. of Gov. Deneen to experiment with alB-;". methods which have given any sign?' \$;: of worth at home or abroad, and thusi bring the institutions of the state upi ^ to the highest standard and increase 4 * the percentage of cures in insanity. ~ Much of this work la administrative^ and can be done at small expense^ thus making jt unnecessary to call! on the legislature for assistance, butt r the supplementary plans of bringing: the buildings themselves up to required state of excellence are pensive, and the general assembly: must be convinced of their necessity? •" If- they are to be carried out. Here-|A; tofore Institutions have assailed thef^* legislature singly, and for their ownfcf- ends. The best appropriations havep gone to the institutions having thev-'. shrewdest -superintendent, or to the^v institution located in the district hav-^/_, ing the most influential members in^£ the legislature. ThiB year a new plan^i|||j is being worked out. The superintend dents are making their qrtimate». first to the governor. , He is taking; y them and handling them as a whole^ ,^ They will be submitted to the con- ' ferenceand wili be equalized. It wiir» be determined by the conference jus how much money should go to on< institution and how much to another. All this work, both for the institution and for the departments, will be donee; before the legislature meets, and the. results will be treated In the gover-» , » 2 •*;«' ';' '1 ' 4W State Justices in Long 6oat». " Justices of the Illinois supreme court;V '• will hereafter wear a uniform dressf t \ coat on the bench. The new coats are*^ Prince Albert In cut, somewhat longp and with silk-faced lapels. Altogether^ they Jorm a most dignified garment,^: and are one step nearer the regula-f*.- tion gown. While the coats are in-"^-1 tended for wear on the bench, they - are also serviceable for other pur- poses. Their adoption simply meana' ;^--, uniformity of style and color. . , I.I... • - Ttaw - , .SUte La*rt0/Be Teated. >Y • * * The validity of the act providing^ for the appointment of plumbing *n*||t spec tor will be tested in the suprem&y court. The case will come from Au-|> * * rora, where the mayor and council| | refused to appoint an inspector. The| suit will be filed In the supreme ea«rt| ̂ j by Attorney General Stead. I j-J-jj-j-|_-Lri_riLir.rn*tfTJ u"j" J"'-riJL- -rj-Lnj-iri-nn 1 - i"--- " "ft y'* ' *]j '• •' : no^anwe*age. Leave National Guard. The following enlisted national guardsmen have been discharged from the service of the state: Company A, Second infantry, First Sergt. Charles G. McCullough and Privates Harley F. Nelson, Guy C. Haley, Edward J. Miehle, Wallace F. Burnham, Charles W. Darling, William J. Leak and Ed gar Ostergreen. fourth brigade, Quar termaster Sergt Samuel E. White. Illinois "naval reserve, Chief Paymas ter Yeoman A. H. Peck and L. J. Tay lor, chief ship's writer. tar* t,i*^ M'Ht' ::•£> swb:' . Operators Want Change in Law. Illinois coal operators are said to be planning an onslaught on the "short firers" law in the legislature this win ter. Gov. Deneen has been informed that such a plan is in contemplation, and he is in a quandary as to what he should say about it, if anything, in his message. The operators will meet at Springfield and. It is believed the law; which was passed over their opposi tion in the last session, will toe at tacked -and action,taken looking to a repeal of the atfttute in tire coating -lesafo?. v ' 7 " ..•L.'s»er3k««l» ..i?"*. Al.«dtk L: .v-di .. Equallxera Will Hear Lewis. ' » A forma} Invitation was issued bjr . jk the capital stock committee of the. state board of equalization to Corpora ation Counsel J. Hamilton Lewis of Chicago to address the board, sitting as a committee of the whole, Decem ber 18, wKen he will be given an op* pertunlty to present his views on tax ation In general and Illinois revenues in particular. Considerable progress was made in the compilation of fig ures by the railroad committee at thefst meeting just held. Mueller Case to Come Up. The supreme court at Spfhigfield refused permission to Glen E. Plumb, solicitor for the Chicago General Rail road company and the Southern Street Railway company, to file an in tervening petition in the case of Lob- dell against the city of Chicago, a suit to test the validity of the Mueller i The court set the hearing for,' * law. The court set the hearing for; the teat case for December 20, when ' Special Traction Counsel Fisher, tor the city, and Edgar A. Bancroft and colleagues, for the complainant, WO! give the day to arguments.