The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

ILLINOIS INCIDENTS. SOBER OR STARTLING, FAITH- FULLY RECORDED. No Light Upon the Brass Shootins at. CfaicaiEO--Illinois Will Have the Smallest Wheat ^rop Eves Har­ vested in the State. Brave Case Unsolved. Josephine Bragg has been released by the Chicago police and the mystery sur- i3pundiiig the shooting of her iostcr moth­ er, Mrs. Catherine E. Bragg, is still un- Bolved. The police have virtually given op the problem. Mrs. Bragg does not know who shot her while she was sleep­ ing early Wednesday morning, but has strong suspicions. She knew her daugh­ ter was locked up, but said she would not prosecute her, even if she knew Josephine had fired the shot. But shejiisinherited Josephine and left all her property-to her brothers. She told the girl they would have to travel different roads in future. As the police have no "direct evidence, a nd &s Mrs. Bragg is recovering; they released Josephine Bragg. The crime is a deeper mystery than ever. Some still hold to the theory that Mrs. Bragg shot herself. But the revolver was hidden on a high shelf, and there Were no marks of blood near the hiding place, though the wound in Mrs. Bragg's forehead bled profusely. Mrs. Bragg cannot understand why her daugh­ ter did not answer her at once when she called out after being shot. The girl can­ not explain it. Mrs. Bragg staggered to the back.and front doors and found them both locked: therefore, the police think there is nothing to the theory that ah out­ sider committed the crime. Half the Wheat Crop Is Ruinert. Owing to the rumors prevailing over the State since early in January as to the ex­ tent of the injury to winter wheat by winter killing the Illinois State Board of Agriculture asked for reports on the sub­ ject from correspondents in the wheat belt. The reports corroborate the pre­ vailing opinions and an pnfortunate con­ dition is noted. The reports of damaging from this source vary from 15 per cent of the area seeded to the entire amount, the average being 59 per cent of the acre­ age. Last fall 1,479,000 acres were re­ ported seeded, and if the estimate of dam­ age is confirmed but 682,000 acres will be> left for harvest. In many counties the en­ tire area seeded will be plowed up. A reduction of the area seeded of a million acres, which is reported, leaves by far the smallest area ever harvested in Illinois. Under the most favorable conditions from now on to harvest there is little reason to hope for more than 10.000,000 bushels yield in the State, "which is not nearly enough to supply the home demand for consumption and seed for the next year's crop. Shoots Wife and ^Cills Himself. William Drossel, a Chicago carpenter living at 132 Fullerton avenue, shot his wife, wounding her in both hands in try­ ing to kill her, and then shot himself through the heart while they were in their home. Mrs. Drossel, unless blood poi­ soning sets in, will probably recover soon. Drossel was 57 years old and had been married twenty years. The couple owned the house where they lived. Drossel, al­ though kind to his three children, often assaulted his wife, and about a week ago she had him arrested. State News in Brief. Rev. Geo. A. Wells of Dover was killed at Wauwatosa, Wis., by a St. Paul train. The Democratic city convention of Chi­ cago nominated Carter II. Harrison for Mayor. William S. West was caught under a fall of three tons of coal in a Pana mine and crushed to death. This is a mighty fast age. "Fresh ma­ ple sugar" always strikes the market about a month before maple sap begins to flow. The marriage of Miss Carrie Wright Feasle, a noted pianist, to Mr. Bigsbee of Los Angeles, Cal., took place at the resi­ dence of Mr. and Mrs. J. Feasle in- La- cori. The Illinois Live Stock Commission was notified by the authorities of Sumner, Lawrence County, that a rabid dog has bitten a large drove of hogs in that local­ ity recently, spreading hydrophobia, and that every hog bitten has become rabid. The commission ordered the local author­ ities to destroy the infected swine at once. Miss Helen Leffingwell of Averyville died Saturday as the result of strychnine poisoning. She was keeping house for her two brothers, and, upon arising, was suf­ fering from a severe headache. She asked her brother Eben to go to the drug store for a headache powder. He started, but returned immediately to give her what he thought was a powder. Instead it was a dose of strychnine he had purchased nearly a year before. Before her deatli she exonerated her brother from all blame. The filing of a damage' suit for $5,000 ^:bjr Nr K. Lrllibridge against Mrs. Chand­ ler Starr caused much talk in Rockford -society circles. Mrs. Starr is musical di­ rector of the Second Congregational Church, and is prominent in the musical clubs of Rockford. Mr. Lillibridge was formerly piano tuner for the Mendelssohn Club, but was dismissed. It was charg­ ed that he put the piano out of tune for a club concert to spite some of the perform­ ers, among" them Mrs. Starr. He has made vigorous counter charges and will fight the matter out at the April term of the Circuit Court. • A suit to test the validity of a great deal of fire insurance in Illinois was be­ gun at Bloomington. Otto Seibert of Nor­ mal lost a building by fire. It was insured ' by local agents in the Interior company of Martinsburg, W. Va. It is now alleged that no such fire company has legal exist­ ence in West Virginia, having never been incorporated there. It is also claimed the company never obtained permission to do business in Illinois. The suit is brought to collect the statutory penalty of $500 from Johnson & Bakery the Bloomington agents, for doing business for a company that has no right to work in the State. In the Circuit Court at Louisville Miss Frankie Giddings obtained a judgment for $2,300 for breach of promise. She is 21 years of age. The defendant, Edward Masker, is 34. This is the largest verdiet on account of wasted affection ever given by a Clay County jury. Louis B. Carson, a confidence man from Chicago, was arrested at Carlinville, and, in default of $500 bond, was committed to jail. His offense was endeavoring to swindle the Carlinville National Bank out of $210 by means of a forged West­ ern Union message of credit from the Ridgely National Bank of Springfield. Isaac S. Dement of Chicago, champion shorthand writer, broke his previous rec­ ord of 397 words by writing 402 words in one minute at a Quincy business col­ lege. William Drury, known as the million- ° aire land owner, died at Jbiis country place porth of Keithsburg Saturday night. He was the largest individual land owner in this country, having hundreds of thou­ sands of acres in Colorado, Nebraska, Texas and Kansas, besides 6,000 acres of thg richest farming land in Mercer county. Mr. Drury was 37 years old. His invest­ ments were made in farm land alone, and •he added every year to his vast posses­ sions. James Oscar Wagy, a farmer of Plain* ville, placed a paper to his temple-to keep the powder from discoloring his face and shot himself. The Peoria Grape Sugar Company, which recently cut the wages of its 400 men JO per cent, has announced that wages will be restored at once. Miss Isabella Fulton, for fifteen years a teacher in the public schools of Chicago, committed suicide in Reading, Pa.* by throwing herself before a moving freight train. The act of self-destruction was committed in a fit of temporary insanity caused by overwork. -The board of directors of the Illinois farmers' institute met. at Springfipld%and elected the following officers: President, Amos F. Moore, Polo; vice-president, J. H. Coolidge, Galesburg; secretary. W. E. Robinson. Greenville: treasurer, Thomas W. Wilsc*, Springfield. President Guy of the St. Louis, Peoria and Northern Railroad has purchased $1,- 000,000 worth of rails at $18 per ton and surveys will be commenced in a few weeks fropi Springfield to East Clinton, 111. The company expects to build the line of 150 miles in length this year. A thief chase by a half dozen Chicago officers Wednesday night caused a wild fusillade of pistol shots to resound, and wound up only when one innocent man had been seriously wounded; a second man, supposed to have been a thief, had bi&ri killed* and another fugitive captured. Lyman W. Hall, of Joliet, who shot Constable. F- De Long last November, has been sentenced to the penitentiary for life. Hall is the youngest murderer ever sen­ tenced to the penitentiary for life in Will County. He is only 24 years old, and w as delighted in escaping with life imprison­ ment." . ' ' • The sState Board of Health has been notified by the health authorities of Ed- wardsville that an epidemic of pneumonia has appeared at Prairietown, near Ed- wardsville, and asking for official investi­ gation. Dr. C. H. Starkel of Belleville, member of the State Board of Health, has been notified to proceed to the infected place and make a full investigation. Enoch P. Sloan, clerk of the United States Court in Peoria, died after aVllin- gsring illness. He was born in Dorches­ ter County, Maryland, in 1822. In 1840 he became proprietor of the Peoria Dem­ ocratic Press, the third paper established ir. Illinois. When tlfe United States Court was established in Peoria in 1887 he was appointed clerk, an office lie held until his death. Jewelry valued at more than $1,000 was stolen by thieves from the loan office of Jacob Hirtenstein, 215 South Halsted street, Chicago. The establishment stands flush with the Halsted street station of the Metropolitan L road. The thieves es­ tablished themselves beneath the struc­ ture, and with the noise of the passing trains to drown their work they attacked the side of the building. A huge hole was torn through the frame structure. Mrs. Caroline Bragg was shot while asleep in her home, No. 211 sTliirty-first street, Chicago, sometime between 6 and 7 o'clock Wednesday morning. The bul­ let was fired into her left temple, passed through her head, and came out just be­ hind the rifflit eye, severing the optic nerves and permanently blinding her. Her adopted daught&r^jQsephine. 16 years old, is in the custody of the police, although Mrs. Bragg says she does not know who shot her, while Josephine, who was sleep­ ing in the same bed with her fostermoth- er, denies all knowledge of ho,w the latter came by the wounds. Mrs. Bragg may recover. Charles Eggfeston, the 23-year-old son of Charles B. Eggleston, Chicago, died in St. John's Hospital in St. Louis from the effects of an overdose of morphine. The police department and the doctor who attended the1 young man regard his death as a suicide, but the charitable sisters in the hospital say it must have been an ac­ cident. Young Eggleston's father, well- known in real estate and financial circles in Chicago, had gratified the son's every whim and had given him all the advan­ tages that wealth could confer. In May, 1896. the ysung man was married in Phoenix, Ariz., to the daughter of a mine owner named Gallagher. His girl wife is now in St. Louis. Judge Shirley in the Sangamon Circuit Court made an important decision in an insurance case. The case was that of Mrs. Louisa Henry, who sued the supreme lodge, Knights of Pythias of the World,- for $3,000 insurance on the life of her husband, Charles Henry. The defense was that a by-law of the supreme lodge exempted suicides from benefits from the insurance, but the plaintiff proved that the by-law was not made by the supreme lodge, but only by the board of control, and then ratified by the supreme lodge. Judge Shirley held the by-law was not binding on Henry unless the supreme lodge made it, and instructed the jury to find for Mrs. Henry. Ex-Vice-President A. E. Stevenson and wife arrived at Bloomington Monday and were warmly greeted by many friends. Mr. Stevenson is not in the best of health. He will still make Bloomington his home and after-taking-a long rest will open his law practice again. His former partner is J. S. Ewing, present minister to Belgium, and it is possible that the partnership will be resumed upon Mr. Ewing's return. Cit­ izens of Bloomington, irrespective of par­ ty, joined in a reception for Mr. and Mrs. Stevenson at Cooper Hall. An elaborate banquet was served and there was a pro­ gram of toasts by prominent citizens. Ex^Gov, Fifer was one of the speakers. The State Board of Railroad and Ware­ house Commissioners held a meeting at Springfield, at which the question of the board assuming Control of the inspection of grain at East St. Louis was discussed. The board is of the opinion that the power can only be conferred on it by the Legis­ lature passing a law to that effect, as it is said that under the law creating the com­ mission Easti$t. Louis was exempted from the points at which grain was to be in­ spected by the board. It is.understood the St. Louis Board of Trade, which now has control of the inspection at East St Louis, will oppose any such a bill granting the Illinois Railroad and Warehouse Commis­ sioners power to inspect grain at East St. Louis. „ >>•" .. F. W. Tappe, manager of the Gardner Military Band, committed Buicide at Quin­ cy by taking morphine. He attended the A. O. U. W. lodge and on leaving the hall remarked to a member that the next time the lodge turned out it would be for him. The Chicago police have been notified to search for George McMullen, who left Ireland twenty years ago, and who was last heard of in Chicago twelve years later. If he is alive he can get $80,000 by proving his identity. Detective Ser­ geant Gross has been searching the city for McMullen, but so far without suc­ cess. Charles F. Strong, the Rockford "heal­ er," who was sued for divorce by his wife several days ago, attempted suicide. After a stormy interview with his wife, in which he threatened her life, he drank several ounces of laudanum. He may re­ cover. »• c v '3 • Frank Leeming, formerly a partner of Ed Pardridge and at present engaged in stock brokerage at Chicago, is suing Mrs., Hattie Martin, widow of the late S. K. Martin, the wealthy lumbberman, and her Son, Wilmot B.' Martin, for $100,000 for defamation of character. Behind this suit is a story of love, courtship, parental intervention and the revenge of a dis­ carded lover. EXPLAINS HIS BILL. CHAIRMAN DINGLEYON HIS NEW TARIFF MEASURE. Expects It to Yield $112,000,000 More Revenue--Reciprocity Is Prominent V -®"re St. Louis Causes a Loss of . Nearly $1,000,000. Bin-ley Tariff Bill. Chairman Dingley, of the Ways and Means Committee, in response to a re­ quest that he furnish a synopsis of the new tariff bill presented by him makes the following statement : "The bill has two purposes--namely, to raise additional revenue and to encourage the industries of the United States. On the basis of the importations for the last fiscal year the bill would increase the rev­ enues about $112,000,000, divided among the several schedules roughly as follows: A, chemicals, $3,500,000: B, crockery and glassware, $4,000,000; C, metals. $4,000,- 000: D, wood. $1,750;000; E. sugar, $21,- 750,000; F, tobacco. $7,000,000; G. agri­ cultural products. $6,300,000: H, liquors, $1,800,000; I. cottons, $1,700,000: J, jute, linen and hemp, $7,800,000; K, wool, $17.- 500,000; manufactures of wool, $27- 000,000;L. silks. $1,500,000; M. pulp and paper, $58,000; N, sundries. $0,200,000. "This estfmate is on the auppositiOh that the imports of each class of goods would be the same the next fiscal year as in the fiscal year ended last June. The commit­ tee assumes that the excessive importa­ tion, of Wool would be largely reduced by the proposed bill, although the fact that our domestic production of wool has di­ minished 8.000,000 pounds since 1893 will necessitate the importation of much more wool now than in the latter year. As­ suming that the importations of wool will fall off at least one-third from those of 1S90 on account of anticipatory imports clothing purposes, has been remedied by transferring such wools to the clothing- wool classes, but the duty on clothing wool has been restored to the rate of the act of 1890. "In framing'this new tariff the aim has been to make the duties specific, or at least partly .specific, so far as possible, to protect the r^&pue and also to protect our own inte^st^ The reCiprocit&provis- ions of the'a'ict; of 1890 have riot only been fully restored,, but this pqlicy has .been extended by .adding tousugar, tea, coffee aud hides, as articlesron which to make reciprocal agreemems, such articles as champagne, brandy, wines, artificial and natural mineral waters, argols and silk laces. In adding these articles the reci­ procity provision is strengthened greatly by providing for a reduction of duties to countries giving us similar concessions." FIRE VISITS ST. LOUIS. ,i ---1-- • fi'. • Ely-Walker Dry Goods Co. Bnrned Out--Losm $1,500,000, Fire Monday gutted the mammoth seven-story granite building at the south- west corner of 8tli street and Washing­ ton avenue, St. Louis, Mo., occupied by the Ely-Walter Dry Goods Company. The loss will be close to $1,500,000. One hu­ man life was sacrificed and several people were hurt. - The fire was one of the worst the St. Louis department has had "to cope with for a long time, and for a vyhile it looked as though the Washington avenue whole­ sale business district would be wiped out. The building burned was known as the Lionberger Building. It. fronted on Wash­ ington avenue, running north along 8th street to St. Charles, and extended west on Washington avenue to the middle of the block. The. firm's enormous stock of goods was recently increased by immense purchases from the East, and consequent­ ly every inch of available floor space was occupied by great piles of dry goods of every description for the spring trade. The ipsuratice on the stock is about $1,- PfiESIDENT M'KINLEY IS. STILL A "PLAIN AMERICAN CITIZEN." He Greets. His Friends as Warmly as of Yore and Walks Unattended About the White House Grounds- Plans of the Administration* CHAIRMAN DINGLEY, FATHER OF THE NEW TARIFF BILL. to avoid duties, we place the increased revenue from this source at $11,000,000. Anticipating also that the imports of .woolens will fall off nearly 50 per cent, from the enormous imports of 1S96, we estimate the increased revenue from this source under the proposed rate^at about $14,000,000. From sugar we#estimate $20,000,000 additional revenue. Antici­ pating a considerable falling off of im­ ports of Havana tobacco because of the revolution in Cuba, we reduce the esti­ mates of additional revenue to be derived from the tobacco schedule to $4,000,000. The remaining schedules would afford a revenue of about $39,500,000 on the basis of the imports of 1896, but as there would probably be diminished imports at some points, although the,gradual restoration of business activity would offset this by increasing the consumption of imported luxuries, we reduce the estimates on these to $31,000,000. These would aggregate an additional revenue of $80,000,000 the firgt year. A further reduction of $5,000.-. 000 or $10,000,000 for contingencies would leave $70,000,000 to $75,000,000 as the probable increased revenue from this bill the first year, which would undoubtedly "rise to $100,000;000 the seebnd year. "These estimates are below, rather than above, the probable result, unless a con­ siderable delay in the enactment of the bill should greatly enlarge the opportuni­ ty for imports of articles on which duties are to be raised--particularly wool and woolens--for speculative purposes. Un­ doubtedly any delay beyond May 1 in placing the bill on the statute book would result in a large loss of revenue. --"This increase ofrevenue is sectrred Uy transferring wool, lumber, crude opium,' argols, paintings and statuary, stra\V Or­ naments, straw mattresses, burlaps and various other articles from the free list of the present law to the dutiable list; by increasing the duty on woolens to com­ pensate the manufacturer for the duty placed on wool; by raising the duty on sugar about three-fourths of a cent a pound in order to encourage the produc­ tion of sugar in this couiitry. which, it is believed, can be done, and thus give our farmers a new crop, which we now im­ port mainly from abroad; by increasing the duty on agricultural products affect­ ed by Canadian competition, and on the cotton goods, some advanced manufac­ tures of iron and steel, manufactures of jute, flax and hemp, inaorder to encour­ age these and other industries here, and especially by increasing duties oh such luxuries .as liquors, tobacco, silks and laces. •': . "As a rule the rates of duties proposed are between the rates of the tariff of 1890 and the tariff of 1894, such reduction of rates from the former law and preserva­ tion of the protective principle being made feasible by changed conditions. "The iron and steel schedule is changed very little from the schedule of the tariff of 1S94, the change being entirely in the more advanced articles. The same is true "of tho cotton schedule. * "Iii the agricultural, wood and glass and earthenware schedules alone are the du­ ties of the act of 1890'fully restored as a rule, and in a few cases increased; with the view of amply protecting and encour­ aging our farming interests by every possible point. While the duty on cloth­ ing wool is larger in proportion to the foreign value than on manufactured arti­ cles, yet it is thought desirable fpr the public interest and for our agriculture that, we should produce this prime necessity for ourselves. The duty on carpet wools, as well as ppon many «ther articles, is imposed mainly for revenue. The irrita­ tion caused by the use of a few wools, heretofore slcssed as cai?>et-wools, for. 000,000. The building was insured for $200,000. It was owned by the John R. Lionberger estate and was built about eight years ago at a cost of $500,000. Before the blaze was mastered one fire­ man, George Gaultwald, was killed by a falling wall at the 8th street end of the building, and during the fire several other firemen were more or less seriously in­ jured. It is the opinion of the members of the Ely-Walker Company and officers of the fie department the fire was caused by an electric wire. HUGE REVENUES. The Customs Record at New York Is Broken. A record which has stood for twenty- five years .was broken at the New York custom house Monday. The payment of duties for goods imported and on account of merchandise withdrawn from bond was the largest for any single day since the office wail established. Until Monday the high water mark for customs duties was Aug. 1, 1872, when the total receipts were $2,308,000 The receipts Monday ran nearly $360,000 above that mark. The total receipts were $2,667,979.51, of which $2,178,515.36 was on account of withdrawn entries. Though similar from the fact that both were rec­ ord days, Aug. 1, 1872, and March 15, 1897, are vastly different in other re­ spects. Fears of higher duties to be imposed by the Congress called in extra session led to the present withdrawals ancLhenvy„payments. Twenty-five years ago the waTr tariff was reduced 10 per cent., and.^Wls accumulated in bond to take advantage of the lower rates were withdrawn. The present movement started with the negotiation of heavy lines by the importers of linens, tobacco, wool, woolen dress goods and men's wear goods and other merchandise that might be affected by the new tariff. The sugar trust, which has an abundance of money "on call;" asked for payment--or "called its loans" for the same purpose. The borrowing by general merchants and the calling, by the trust had the effect of stiffening rates for time and call money and commercial paper. > Railroads in a Bad Plight. St. Paul dispatch: Never in the history of the Northwest have railroads had so much to contend against because of drift­ ing snow. It is stated that there are 200 cars of freight at initial points and else­ where destined for towns off the main lines in the Dakotas and Minnesota that cannot reach their destination until branch lines are opened. There is suffer­ ing especially in Sontli Dakota by, reason of branch lines being closed. In that State over 500 miles of road have been practically abandoned for fully two weeks. V? ' • :f. At Mingo Junction, Ohio, wind blpw off the iron roof of the cast, house of "the Junction Iron and Steel Company and the tall brick walls fell in. Frank Hobson and Larry Fahey were caught under the falling walls. Fahey was taken out dead, Hobson died three hours later. .John Weikas.a Hungarian, was badly crushed apd will die. „ " The London Daily Mail's Cape Town correspondent states that Germ'any has recently landed large shipments of muni­ tions of war at Walfisch Bay, a,circum­ stance which causes suspicion. The Trans­ vaal is also arming steadily, the ship­ ments of ammunition, guns and artillery supplies from France alone amounting to 300 tins monthly. No Frills on the Major. Special Washington correspondence: There are Presidents and Presidents. Grover Cleveland, who has just retired fropi the White House, had a host of special police in the Executive-Mansion, and the beautiful grounds surrounding it were disfigured by sentry boxes, from which uniformed irien peered suspi­ ciously upon every visitor. Mr. Cleve­ land never appeared upon the streets except in a carriage, and that aome- times followed by another one carrying detectives or liis private secretary. But how different now. President McKin- ley has ordered the sentry boxes away, the guards are to be withdrawn, and lie mingles with his fellow-citizens and greets them as cordially as lie did when citizen, Congressman or Governor. There were no "frills"r about liis in- augtiral address, no unnecessary exelu- siveness in any. part of his share of the the day's doings, and when he became master of the White House its doors were thrown open, and day after day throngs of people from every seetiou and State have been received by him. The surviving members of his did regi­ ment, the Twenty-third Ohio, called upon him the day following his inaugu­ ration, and riot for many years have the ,walls of the White House echoed such ringing cheers as those with which they greeted their old comrade and commander. The day's work over, this statesman and plain American citi­ zen donned his hat and overcoat, and for the first time in many years there was witnessed the spectacle of a Presi­ dent of the United States walking un­ attended through the streets of Wash­ ington. This habit, which was charac­ teristic of General Grant, has been re­ vived by that other Oliio'soldier, Major McKinley, and strollers on Pennsyl­ vania avenue now doff their liats to the President of the United States as he walks by, and in return receive a pleas­ ant salutation from him. Plans of the Administration. The plans of the administration, as outlined by President McKinley's in­ augural address, are received with the most cordial approval by members of all parties. I say all parties, but I must withdraw this statement so far as relates to fche silver Republicans. These men, who were once members of the party which President McKinley now represents, are the only men in the entire nation who seem to find no good word for the sound American senti­ ments of his inaugural address. Demo­ crats, even Populists, speak in the warmest terms of him and the Ameri­ can principles enunciated by him; but from the men who recently deserted their party come no good words for any sentiment arising from its representa­ tive. International Bimetallism. The return of Senator Wolcott, cou­ pled with President McKinley's ring­ ing utterances in favor of an interna­ tional bimetallic conference, gives great encouragement to the friends of that sentiment. Senator Wolcott re­ ports unusual interest in this subject on the continent and even in England, and is hopeful of results. President McKinley's clear, terse utterances on this subject leave no doubt as to his in­ tentions. and there is reason to believe that within a few weeks definite steps will be taken to bring about a confer­ ence of the leading nations, and to cause this, conference to be held during t he year 1897. The Farmers Not So Badly Off. After all. the farmers of the United States are not the worst off people in the world. Their total products last year, according to the Department of Agriculture, are valued at $1,500,000.- 000. Of this amount Jl'ie corn alone is valued at 500 millions, the hay at 400 millions, the wheat at 300 millions, the oats at 130 millions, and the potatoes 75 millions. These figures are given in round numbers because they are more easily remembered, but they are sub­ stantially those of the department. Ev­ ery farmer wMl want to remember them, and to remember that the farm­ ers of the United States are, when the country is in its normal state and condi­ tion, the most prosperous of those of any part of the world. Reports from all parts of the United States show a marked improvement in business conditions. General improve­ ment, of course, does not come with a rush like the breaking o£ a great dam, bn t the grow this steady, and even Democratic newspapers are admitting an improvement in business condi­ tions. May Lose Their Jobs. The silver politicians are alarmed. They begin to fear that they are going to lose their occupation. They have talked themselves into public promin­ ence qnd public positions on the silver Question,'and they are now scared lest the proposed international silver con­ ference will take that subject out of politics. They recognize the fact that if the bimetallic conference agrees upon a plan, and it is adopted by the various nations, the silver question will go out of politics in the United States and they will be out of a job. They also recog­ nize the fact that if the nations fail to agree upon q, system for an increased use of Silver,it would be folly for the United States alone to undertake it, hence they would be, under those cir­ cumstances, out of a job. So, it is not surprising that such men as Dubois. Teller, Stewart and other nlleged friends of silver sneer at the proposed bimetallic conference, and are doing all in their power to prevent its success or even its consideration, i. A. B. CARSON. Is to his credit that life does not. pos» for anything that he istoot. He is not an orator and will not attempt that |-ole. The country 'will not regret this nor will, he lose by it. There a^re too many professional talkers in the Sen­ ate now. There are men there Who can make speeches that lap over from day to day, who pride themselves on their abUity to talk against time, and when they have finished one of their long-winded" speeches .they ; have not influenced a vote rior helped anybody in or out of the Senate to a better derstanding of the subject. The coun­ try does not want any moms- Senators of that kind. It wants men of affairs, men who can accomplish things, who have strong convictions on economic, financial and business questions, and clear conceptions as to how needed re­ forms can be brought about..--Indian­ apolis Journal, Protection Popular in the South. There is nothing remarkable in the appeal of Southern Congressmen for protection to cotton. It was inevitable that such an appeal should be made. In the past few years there lias been-a marked increase,in the imports of cot­ ton from Egypt. This material, grown by fellaheen labor, can be brought into the United. States under the provisions of the Wilson bill and sold profitably at a price £6 low that American plant­ ers cannot afford to raise it. There are other articles--notably sugar in the case of Louisiaria^-for which Southern business men and agriculturists are earnestly demanding protection also. Slowly but surely the conviction that the vital interests of the South and North are identical, instead of antag­ onistic, is permeating the Southerly mind. With the decay of Bourbonism and the disappearance of the "unrecon­ structed" elements which cherish free trade chiefly because it was a tenet of the Confederacy there will come a larger view of the rights, the duties and the needs of American citizenship in the former slave States. Already great progress has been made in this direction. The time is not far distant when a strong majority of intelligent Southern voters will stand with the enlightened manhood of the North in supporting, not only protection, but sound money and the supreme author­ ity of law.--New York Advertiser. To Open New Markets. However diverse may be the views of those who give attention to econom­ ic questions with respect to the Mc­ Kinley tariff act of 1S90, the fact stands as an imperishable monument to that splendid exaltation of Ameri­ can labor and American interests that our foreign commerce, under its benefi­ cent operation, reached the highest point that lias been attained in our country's history. Having reached high-water mark in our foreign trade under an act which bore the impress of Major McKinley's genius and the con­ structive evidences of his own handi­ work, it is easy to understand that "McKinleyism" in its widest signifi­ cance stands for new and ever-expand­ ing markets for the fruits of American industry. That the new administration is pledg­ ed to break down the trade barriers erected under an unwise and un-Amer­ ican tariff policy--a policy which open­ ed wide our own markets and exacted nothing in return, which destroyed friendly and profitable commercial re­ lations by aunuliug most beaficent re­ ciprocity treaties--is evidenced by the numberless utterances of the Presi- dent-elect upon this question as well as by the unequivocal declarations of the party^ platforms.--Chicago Times- Herald. About National Appropriations. J Democrats are denouncing the Re­ publicans for the record of the pres­ ent Congress, although it will be seen that the Fifty-second Congress, which was Democratic in both branches, ex­ pended $1,027,000,000, or within eigh­ teen millions as much as the present body will have appropriated by March 4. Certainly, an increase in the Na­ tional expenses of eighteen or twenty millions in four years, or at the rate of four or five millions a year, can not be considered excessive. Several times $20,000,000 have been expended on the navy and on the National defenses within that period, yet no class of citi­ zens, not even the Democrats, object to the large necessary expenses for those purposes. Furthermore, tiro Democrats are conveniently forgetting that their own crazy revenue and deficit-producing policy of the past three years lias in­ creased the interest On the National debt by no less than $il,500,000 per annum. Deducting this sum, which produces a similar increase in the an­ nual expenses, from the-appropriations of this Congress, and we find that the present body has appropriated even less than the amount expended by the Congress that expired in 1S91--Toledo Blade. Hnnna as Senator. 1 Whatever may be sdid of Mr. Han- na, he is not a boastful nor an egotis­ tical man. Most able men have a good deal of self-confidence because they have tested'their powers by con­ tact and conflict with others, aud Mr. Hanna is undoubtedly an able man. As a man of affairs lie is probably not afraid to measure swords with almost any one, , and since his entrance into politics he lias shown great ability as an organizer and executive head. . He probably V uows his limitations, and it Political Comment. . If the government con create 51 cents of value by stamping 37114 grains of firie silver as a dollar, it can create 100 cents of value by putting the same stamp on a bit of paper. In spite of the generally unfavorable conditions of last year, the savings banks of New York State iriade a good showing. Their surplus, their resour­ ces, and the amount due depositors all showed increases. The term "Silver Republicans" is as much a contradiction of terms as "free trade Republicans." Both honest mon­ ey aiid protection are cardinal Republi­ can principles, and any organized body of men who reject these principles, aud withdraw from the Republican party because they reject them, has no right to go about masquerading under the party name. The election of Major McKinley was a popular uprising of the best elements of American citizenship. Such a large percentage of the legal voters of all the States was never polled before In the history of our politics. The eiectiou will also go on record as the cleanest, fairest, most honorably conducted of any contest in our political annals.. It is the ambiticyi of the President­ elect, above all other things, to advance the business interests of this country, to expand foreign markets and to con­ tribute to the substantial restoration of abundant, normal prosperity. No man will be considered for an appoint­ ment of the slightest consequence who is not believed to be willing and able to do something to increase the demahd for American products abroad. IT.LiyOTS LAJV-MAKERS: In the House Friday the Chicago sal­ ary bill waa put over six days. Bills were introduced as follows: To establish court* of conciliation, to relieve courts of rec­ ords; to establish a State Board of Li­ brary Commissioners; a measure de­ signed to abolish department stores; amendment to law fixing salaries of elec- tios commissioners and chief clerks. Af­ ter ordering a number of biJla to third reading the House adjourned to 5 o'clock Monday afternoon. Mr. Lnndin intro­ duced in the Senate ai bill compelling rail­ roads to carry bicycles as baggage. This is the same as the Sharrock bill in the House, no^ in the hands of the Commit­ tee on Roads and Bridges. The bicyclists are making an effort to secure the passage ,of this bill, and representatives of cycling clubs have also been invited to be present at the meeting of the Committee on Penal and Reformatory Institutions; when Schubert's convict-tabor bill will eome up for consideration. The House met at 5 o'clock Monday, with scarcely a quorum present. Several bills were introduced, most important be- ' ing one to regulate "truck" stores. Iu applies not alone' to the owners and operas tors of coal mines, but to manufacturers and those engaged in any other business. It does not prohibit the owning of truce stores, but. requires- the owners thereof to sell goods at prices ate low as prevail i» stores not; owned by a person' or corpora­ tion engaged in mining, manufacturing or1 other business. All the House bills on the calendar on the order of first reading; were advanced. When Secretary Pro1 Tern Fisher called the Senate to order there was no quortiin present. An ad­ journment was taken by both houscs> until Tuesday at 10 a: m. V ' In the House Tuesday Buckner'a bill to appropriate $20,000 for the participa­ tion of Illinois in the Tennessee Centen­ nial and International exposition, and Mr.'Lamonte's bill authorizing the elec­ tion commissioners of Cook County to des­ ignate five clerks to administer the oatb; of office to the judges and clerks of elec-i tion were passed. Mr. Merriiam's bill in relation to the election of aldermen in^: cities under the minority representation) plan came up on third reading, and alsoi passed. In the Senate resolutions of re-' spect to the memory of Senator Herb of. Alton, who died after the close of the Thirty-ninth General Assembly, and the late Senator Wells, of Quincy, who died recently, were adopted by a rising vote. The Senate confirmed these appointments by the Governor: Trustees.of the Illi­ nois Northern Hospital for the Insane at Elgin--A. S. Wright, Woodstock, to suc­ ceed John D. Donovan, removed. W. Scott Coweu, Shannon, to succeed F. E. Brookman, resigned. William S. Frazier, Aurora, to succeed D. J. Hogan, term ex­ pired. Trustees of the Illinois Asylum for Feeble-Minded Children--Zeno Iv. Wood, Mount Pulaski, to succeed Charles M. Duulap, term expired. Clarence R. Gittings, Terre Haute, to succeed Charles A. Purduu, term expired. . An attempt was made to advance the Humphrey street railway bills in tho Senate Wednesday. Senator Humphrey offered some amendments which he said related simply to changes in phraseology. But after strenuous objection by Senator Warder, who claimed the measures were being rushed through without opportuni­ ty to examiae them, consideration was postponed for two weeks. Strong peti­ tions relative to abolishing competition with convict labor were received. The Governor sent tho following appointments to the Senate and they were confirmed: State Board of Live Stock Commission­ ers--J. P. Lock of ^Jlucago, to succeed C. W. Piatt, resigned; James H. Pad­ dock, of Springfield, to succeed himself; James R. Goddard, Galesburg, to suc­ ceed C. D. Bartlett, resigned. Trustees for the School for Deaf and Dumb at J a e k so n v i 11 e--G eo rge W. Harper of Rob­ inson, to succeed J. E. Parrish; Gates . Strawn, of Jacksonville, to succeed Will­ iam Eppiugate, resigned; J. R. Smith of Taylorville, to succeed C. E. Axt, resign­ ed. Trustees of Soldiers and Sailors* Home, Quincy--W. O. Wright of Free- port, for the term ending March 1, 1899; .T. W. Nill of Sterling, to succeed J. B. Parsons, resigned. Trustees for the Illi­ nois Western Hospital for the Insane at Rock Island--Frank W. Gould of Moline, for tiie term ending March 1, 1903; John MeCauley of Clay City, for the term end- , ing March 1, 1901; Henry C. Clement of Chicago, for the term ending March 1, 1899. Trustees for the Incurable Insane Asylum at Peoria--R. E. Bennett, of Litchfield; M. P. Reed, of Peoria, Henry Alexander of Joliet. The bill for the consolidation of the Supreme Court at Ottawa was passed in the House by a vote of 81 to 04. A bill to legalize racing and pool selling was introduced in the House Thursday by Mr. Kileourse, of Chicago. It provides for a sixty-day season, and a tax of $50 per day; the money to go to the State. Foreign pool selling is barred. The bill increasing salary of Chicago election officials, and the justice-police magis­ trate bill, were advanced to third reading. In the Senate Senator Stubblefieid intro­ duced a bill making the salary of the warden at Joliet not less than $2,500, nor more than $5,000. At present the salary of the warden is $2,500, and the purpose of the bill is to allow the payment of a larger salary to Maj. MeClaughry, who left a more lucrative position at Pontiae. The department store bill was advanced to third reading. The Governor trans­ mitted to the Senate as trustees of the- Northern Illinois State Normal School at De K;illi the names ?>f the foHowmgr A. A. Goodrich of Chicago, to succeed himself; Isaac L. Ehvood of De Kalb, to- succeed himself; W. C. Garrard of Spring­ field. to succeed himself; Charles H. Deere of Moline, to succeed himself; R. S. Farrand of Dixon, to succeed Thomas J. Sparks. The appointments were con­ tinued. A True History of the Borgias? The story of the Borgias and their hideous crimes has found many literary forms, and probably no tale of the Mid­ dle Ages has given more hints to the poet, the dramatist r.nd the librettist than this ghastly period in Roman his­ tory. Whether Lucrezia shared in the depravity of her brother and father, to the same extent that is commonly be­ lieved, is a question. The extreme beauty of this woman and her reputa­ tion as a patron of the arts and litera­ ture have raised up for her many advo­ cates, but it must be confessed that their efforts, while honest and earnest, are hardly adequate to the necessities oc the occasion, for the Borgias wene "a bad lot," and If the annals of their time are at all reliable, Lucrezia was one of the worst of the family. Dead Bodies In the $ea. The water of the §ea is a perfect brtoe and no decomposition can take place in any organic substance immersed in it. This fact, whicbf is not generally known, is a marvelous illustration of the wise provision of nature for render­ ing the earth habitable. So vast is the amourit of animal life in the ooetvu, if the sea water did not perfectly preserve all organic matter it contained, in the course of a century or two. the oceaus would become masses of putrid sub­ stances, the nauseoris exhalations from which would make life impossible, un­ der present' conditions, on an^r parjt of Vhe globe. *