181
A WORD WITH THE WOMEN (By Elia W. Peattie.)
The women of the Grand Army of the Republic auxiliaries of Chicago have been protesting to the mayor against the age-limit in the employment of old soldiers. The new civil service law contains an age limit, and the men who laid down their arms in '65 are practically debarred from work, in consequence. Government, state, county and city officers are practically closed to them, and in such positions, as is well known, the old soldiers have found the chief opportunity for independent labor. This age limit is placed at 45 years, although most of the civil service examiners are themselves over that age, and not fit, according to the spirit of the new law, to exercise their drooping abilities.
There is little doubt that the civil service law was amended by this age limit in accordance with that feverish desire for rotation in office which distinguishes a republic. Since a man is no longer in danger of being turned from office with each change of administration, an attempt is made to limit his holding of office. Of course there is some danger that the government work might become clogged with superannuated persons, who are in fact mere pensioners, but this danger could be averted by making health and industry a part of the requirements. The government could employ only those men who are in condition to perform the service required. It owes this to the people. It has already provided pensions by which it cares for those who have performed signal services for the government and who are not able to care for themselves. It also has homes, asylums and retreats for persons of all sorts of inadequacy, both of the honorable and dishonorable sort.
But it is absolutely impossible to place any limit upon the age of usefulness. An attenuated clerk may get the rheumatism in the joints and the paresis at 30. A Gladstone, a Bismarck can keep physical vigor and mental genius at 80. And a man like J. Sterling Morton is brighter, healthier and more interesting at 60 than he was at 20. Why, some of us who feel as if the world was just newly ours, and who can do more work than half a dozen of the degenerate new generation, are get ting on toward 45. It's odd, but new generations are always degenerate according to the generations which preceded them!
The Chicago women, after declaring [its?] meeting that it was an insult to every man who had passed the age of 43 to accuse him of being incapacitated for active employment, passed the following resolutions:
"We protest against the injustice done to the old soldiers by this age limit, in the name of the mothers, wives and daughters of the veterans of the war. We protest against their being denied the right, above all others, of the privilege of competing for public offices on account of their age."
"The people of Chicago would have risen in their might," says a resolution passed by the Woman's Republican club, "to vote down civil service reform if they could have foreseen the unspeakable insult offered the defenders of our homes, and if they could have believed it possible that a republican mayor could fall a victim to non-partisan trickery."
A letter of approval was sent to President Healy of the county board, because of his approval of striking out the clause in the case of old soldiers.
There is no doubt but the government has been hectored beyond endurance, almost, by persons who purport to be old soldiers, and who, ina condition of decrepitude, ask to be provided for in one way or another. These men are many of them mere consumers, taking money without giving anything in return for it, and directly impoverish the government. But these abuses of the generosity of the government should in no way affect the claims of the able men of any age; nor should any hastily made law be allowed to interfere with the rights of the men who preserved the union and made possible the prosperity of this country.
Many of the old soldiers are not disabled in any particular way. They draw no pensions and desire none. But they are not as well able to endure excessive fatigue as are those who have been spared the hardship of long marches, the sleep in marshes and malarious forests, the poor fond, the horrible apprehension that precedes battle, the nervous tremor that follows it, the misery of war prisons, the unspeakable depression of homesickness- which, breaks the spirit, and, in time, the body as well. These men are injured. They sacrificed all they had to sacrifice. They placed in jeopardy all things dearest in life, and life itself. To say that these men shall not have the consideration of the government is unworthy the government. No country can afford to show itself ungrateful, lest the time will come when men, observing this ingratitude, will refuse the services most mightily needed in some hour of peril.
182
A WORD WITH THE WOMEN (By Ella W. Peattie)
For six weeks or more Mr. Paul Potters dramatization of "Trilby" has been running at Hooley's theater at Chicago, and has at every performance filled every seat in the house, and often crowded the standing room as well. No play put on the boards in the last decade has so won its way into the hearts of the people, just as no book within the same length of time has so fixed itself in the affections of the people as George Du Maurler's tale of the Latin Quartier. It is somewhat amusing to observe the class of people who throng the theater to witness this excellent performance of a clever dramatization. They are of all classes in a way, to be sure, but the pre dominating element is of the sturdy, moral and punctilious middle class, who have not the disregard for moral looseness which the richer in their ennui often possess, nor yet the indifference to social laws which the lower class sometimes adopts. Decidedly the audience at "Trilby" are composed of strictly moral persons- persons who would, if asked, place the sanctity of the family above every other moral law, and who naturally, and by education, stand for respectability.
It is very evident that the pleadings of the preachers, the objections of the stupid, and the animadversions of the envious have all alike failed to impress the people with the idea that there can be anything vicious in a redeemed soul, or that it is social offense to climb on [?] stones of one's dead self to better things. Love which purifies, love which sacrifices, love which uplifts the spirit, though the sacrifice crushes the body, cannot but appeal to the human heart with eloquence. There is no gainsaying its appeal. The preachers, the dull and the envious may as well submit.
And, moreover, in the dramatization referred to, the moral is, as it properly should be, kept in its proper place, and not allowed to dominate and hide the mere charming narrative of the play. The dramatization is one of the best ever put on stage. It was done by a man who has had a good deal of experience in that line- by a man who knows the value of a period- a man who has studied many styles of literary work, and who understands as few do the strength of brevity. But in all his work he has never done anything that approaches "Trilby" for its power and beauty. It is a masterpiece of condensation. It humbly follows after Du Maurier, in only one or two instances taking any liberty whatever with the author, and in one of these cases committing an offense against art. This is in the manner in which Svengli's portrait is conveyed to Trilby. It will be remembered that in the book it came by mail, "somewhere out of the mysterious east," no one knew from whom or from where. This was impressive. potter has perceived that it was impressive, but as the need for hastening the action of the play prevented him from using the incident just as it was, he has the letter brought by one of the young Frenchmen, to whom it was given in person by what appeared to be the ghost of Svengali. Now, a ghost will not down. It sticks in the throat, Only Andrew Lang believes in ghosts. We can believe in a mysterious thing for which there is absolutely no attempt at visibility. We can believe that a portrait may come from somewhere to somewhere without or knowing the exact means, and are fascinated by the hint of mystery. But when it comes to the ghost- well, ghosts, if you handle 'em are always made of your mother's linen sheets.
However, that's an incident. On the whole, the dramatization of "Trilby" is above criticism Svengali is the character of the play, of course, and Lackaye is tremendous in it. The whole caste is good, well balanced, perfectly selected physically speaking, and trained to a high degree. The play has moved harmoniously, and the people looked like the artist-authors own representations. Some day there will, perhaps, be a greater and more magnetic "Trilby"- one, maybe, who can sing the "Impromptu' for her swan song, and keep the eyes of the audience off Svengali. Now, that great hungry spider dominates the stage as the baron de Cheveral dominated "The Parisian Romance," with this difference, that Mansfield made le baron, whereas Svengali made Lackaye. The latter actor talks of starting next season, wherein he shows himself foolish. But that's his own affair, of course.
The public has tried in vain to vulgarize "Trilby." It has named almost every article of wearing apparel after that beautiful wash woman, it has called cold drinks after her, and even a yeast powder, not to mention articles of jewelry and canes. But it cannot succeed in making it cheap. And, indeed, after most persons have forgotten all about the book and the play, and the sweet ideal fo purity won out of a stain, the book, for purely artistic reasons, will hold its place of honor on the shelves of those who choose their books with discrimination. In short, the artists will remember "Trilby" after the common herd has forgotten it, and after the persons who cannot read that or any other book understandingly have ceased their weary and ignorant chatter.
183
A WORD WITH THE WOMEN (By Ella W. Peattie.)
Forty cases of scarlet fever and six deaths are the result of one woman's carelessness, so says Dr. Towne. There is a terrible fact for a woman to face. But this woman is not exceptional. There are plenty of other women in the city who, from thoughtlessness or ignorance, are laying others open to the danger of incurring a disease by which they may lose their lives. One cannot entertain the idea that these women are selfish, for such selfishness would be ghoulish. To imperil the lives of other women's children, to lay innocent little ones liable to suffering in these hot days of summer- surely no woman is selfish enough for that. Yet the woman who permits her children to run the streets, playing with other children, within a month after recovering from an attack of scarlet fever or scarlatina does that very thing.
It is a well known fact that the most virulent scarlet fever may be incurred from mild scarlatina. The lightness or malignity of the disease depends as much upon the condition of the persons who catch it as upon the nature of the disease itself. Every woman will remember to have heard of cases of scarlet fever in which the child died within a few hours, contracted by association with children who were recovering from mild cases of scarlatina.
There is at present living on Twenty-fourth avenue not far from St. Mary's avenue an intelligent and kindly woman with two children who are recovering from scarlatina. It is three weeks since they contracted the disease. Their skin is still peeling. Yet they are allowed to run about the street in that neighborhood, which is thronged with children, and they have been taken for street car rides. What if this woman, who would not willingly do harm to anyone, were to stand beside the collin holding the child of some friend of hers and hear that woman say:
"This is your work. You did this. You caused this misery. It is you who have broken my heart?"
There is nothing exaggerated, forced nor impossible about this. Such responsibility is every woman liable to bear who shows such reprehensible thoughtlessness. If it be not thoughtlessness, but selfishness, such a woman would be a criminal.
A little girl in my neighborhood was attacked with a light case of scarlatina last winter. The neighborhood swarms with children and it seemed unlikely that they would escape contagion. But the little girl was kept in her home for six weeks. The other children sent her gifts and friendly messages; her exile was brightened with dainty food, toys and flowers. And when she was released she was entirely recovered in every particular. Not another child in the neighborhood had the disease. The disease in that locality was stamped out by the good sense, firmness and patience of one woman. She may not have known it, but the other women of the neighborhood certainly appreciated her kindness and endurance- for every mother knows it is no easy thing to keep a child housed for six weeks.
Will not the women of Omaha come to a realization of their responsibilities in this matter? Can they not practically demonstrate their good citizenship by reporting cases of scarlet fever promptly or insisting that physicians make such reports by keeping the family quarantined and secluding those having the disease till the skin is whole? Or do they want a record of death laid to their account? Surely there is not one who would not shrink from such a thing.
184
NO DISTINCTION AS TO COLOR
Chicago Woman's Club Abolishes the Prohibitory Rule at Its Last Meeting
Dr. Sarah Hackett Stevenson Scores Her Associates for Evincing a Lack of Moral Courage.
Action May Cause a Split in the Federation What Has Been Done in the City of Omaha.
The color line is down in the Chicago Woman's club.
Early last winter, Mrs. Fannie Barrier Williams, a well-known and much esteemed colored woman, applied for membership in the club, and was refused. Since then the color question has arisen again and again, till it had to be fairly faced No pallation or compromise could keep it out of sight. The compromise was tried, however. It consisted of an amedment to the by laws as follows:
The qualification for membership shall be character, intelligence and reciprocal advantage of membership to the club and to the Individual.
It shall be the duty of those proposing candidates for membership, as well as of the committee on membership, to to consider the reciprocal advantage of membership to the club and the individual
The committee on membership shall vote upon candidates by ballor. Three negative votes shall prevent the favorable recommendation of the candidate A two-thirds vote by ballot of the board of managers shall be required to elect to membership in the club.
DR. STEVENSON'S VIEWS.
It was thought by those who wished to be agreeable, and to sit comfrotably on the fence, tht the "reciprocal advantage" requirement would amicably settle the matter. The move to admit the colored woman could be killed painlessly. It would simply be decided in the event of the proposal of a name of any negress, that the advantage would not be reciprocal This weak amendment might have carried, had not Dr. Sarah Hackett Stevenson arisen to announce her principles Many who heard her, declared that her speech was the strongest effort ever heard by them from man or woman Dr. Stevenson is an emphatic woman, with a deep nature, positve opinions, natural and unpretentious eloquence, and absolute bravery. She told the women what she thought of the club which professed to speak for the highest achievement of womankind and yet lacked the moral courage to declare explicitly for equal opportunities for her sex The women were swept along by her impassioned eloquence. An unconditional amendment was offered to the constitution. It reads:
Membership shall be conditioned on character and intelligence without regard to race, color, creed or politics.
It went by an overwheliming majority, Dr Stevenson had thrown her searchlight into the hearts of the women. They were ashamed of what they had seen there-ashamed of the motives that had promoted them to oppose the admission of any woman, because of the accident of race
But the club, it myst be remembered, has fought only a small part of the battle. It is one of the largest and most valued clubs in the general federation of clubs an organization numbering at present nearly 75,000 women No club can remain in the federation which doe not hace a constitution conforming to that of the federation The chicago club will be forced to cary the federation with it, or, in course of time, in all probability, to leave the federation.
MAY SPLIT THE FEDERATION
It amy easily happen that this action will cause a split in the federation Many southern clubs belong to the federation, and it was a matter of much comment at the las blennial meeting of the federation, that the southern women were among the most scholarly, influential and charming in the assembly. Some of these women have risen to an intellectual plane which leaves all race distinctions far in the background Some of them never, at any time, would haave done anything toward retarding the development of any woman, though her skin were black as [?as]. But these exceptional women can hardly be expected to carry with them the sentiments of their clubs, nor can they break down the sad old prejudice which shadows the south. One has not however, any diposition to accuse the southern clubs in adcance. If the truth of the matter were known, the opposition would be strong right here in Omaha, to any proposal to admit women to membership. Some time ago the matter was brought up in the board of directors of the Omaha Woman's club There was not a disenting voice ther, be it said to the credit of the body of sixteen representative women. But there was a decided feeling that it would be better if the question were not brought before the club of some time to come and until a stronger esprit de corps was established. The question was proposed to the board, aprops of Mrs. Mahammit a young and beauriful colored woman of good education, and hoenst intellectual ambitions. Mrs. Mahammit showed singular good sense Rather than engulf the club in difficulty of any sort, she started a club among her own race, and has led that society of women along pleasant flieds of study. Not long ago, as president of the Omaha Clored Woman's club she was invited to address the 500 members of the Woman's club This she did with singular modesty, propriety of language, and good sense, and meet with the warmest applause So far, and nor further have the women got on the color question in this city.
IN THIS CITY.
There are those in this city who feel that the club loses much by not including in its membership such owmen as Mrs Mahammit, Mrs Pryor, Miss Lucy Gamble, and others The strong and assertive inteelect of these women, their good taste and sweetness of disposition would be an addition to the club But there are many members of the club-and they are not all southerners-who would vote against their admission, and who in thevent of such admission, would probabl leave the club.
It myst be taken into accountthat no club is under any obligations to admit any woman, or any specie of woman which it prefers to keep without its membership. A club is not a public concern. It is an organization of a private charcter not chartered, composed of persons of similar tates, orgaized for purposes of amusement and improvement Such a club doe not profess to be unselfish Its first duty is to its own members. The will of its members make its laws If these women do not choose to assume an altruistic attitude, or a liberal attitude it is their own affair. Yet, on the other hand, insomuch as these women stand for the evevation of the sex it seems by consistent that all persons of good character and intelectuality should be admitted to assit them
The color question will inevitably arise sooner or later in every woman's club in the federation Certainly it must arise in all clubs which are loacted in cities. The result cannot be forseen It is to be hoped that the women will preserve that dignity of demeanor which has thus far characterized the womens clubs, and made them impervious to the attacks of their critics The question is one that shoul lead to development It puts to the test the character of mind, heart and spirit of the women composing the enormous membership of these clubs It will deomnstarate whether these women are loftier of mund than the average of whether they are governed by the same narrow rejudice as the unrestrained, the sectional, and the unfortunate
ELIA. W. PEATTIE.
185
RAISES THE AGE OF CONSENT
Benedict's Measure Comes Up and Is Finally Recommended for Passage.
Amended to Protect Men from Blackmail at the Instigation of Unchaste Women.
Eloquent Appeal Made by the Member Who INtroduced the Bill -- Political Gossip From the State Capital.
Special Dispatch to the World-Herald.
Lincoln, Neb., March 18. -- The gallery of the house was crowded with men and women this morning. The occasion was the special order for the consideration of house roll 348, Benedict's bill to raise the age of consent to 18 years.
Benedict of Douglas moved to go into committee of the whole. This was carried and McNitt of Webster took the chair.
Chapman of Saline offered an amendment to increase from 18 years to 21 years the age of the man who is to be held responsible.
Benedict opposed Chapman's amendment. The gentleman from Douglas said he had a petition signed by 3,000 women of Lincoln praying for the passage of this bill, and he held one end of this petition while [Jine?] Allan carried the other end over the heads of the members to the other side of the room.
Mr. Benedict said: "Mr. Chairman: I do not believe it will be necessary that any argument should be made to convince the members of this house that this bill should become a law. I cannot believe that any member of this house will oppose so just a measure. The age of 'legal consent' now upon our stature books is 15 years. No one will pretend to say that this is right or just. What does an innocent, confiding child of 15 years know of wrong? When the devil in human form whispers in her ear his damnable lies, she trusts him, believes him. Finally the poisonous fangs sink deep into the heart of that trusting child, her ruin is accomplished, a home made desolate, another soul crying to God for justice. A child of 15 years is only beginning to observe and study, and knows nothing of wrong. It follows then that such a child's judgment cannot be trusted. Men therefore do not entrust business affair not allow children of this age to marry and yet they are credited with sufficient judgment to decide that which pertains to their viatl and eternal welfare. This is a question of right or wrong: not a question of law.
THE CLASS AFFECTED. "Who are the people that will be injured if this bill becames a law? Is it the God-fearing, law-abiding people all over this fair land of ours, or is it the lecherous scoundrels whose name is a stench in the nostrils of all decent people? Does it work an injustice upon anyone who seeks to lead a virtuous, upright life? No, the only one who trembles at this law is that devil in human form who roams the earth seeking out some fair young girl to gratify his hellish lust. When she appeals to him for protection he laughs in her face and casts her from him. He walks out into the bright sunshine glorying in his strength and manly beauty to be received with open arms by fashionable society, petted and feted, and he goes on seeking new victims. Society may frown and shrug its shoulders fora time, but soon forgets or says he is unly sowing his wild oats."
"But you ask what becomes of this young, confiding girl, more 'sinned against than sinning.' Is she received with open arms by this same society? No, not one friend left on earth, except, perhaps, a sorrowing mother or father, crushed, hearbroken and despairing, she knows not where to lay her head. Thrust aside or trampled upon, she seeks to hide her shame by going still further down the way to perdition. She joins the mad whirl and is soon lost to sight in that cesspool of iniquity, the brothel, or maddened with her shame she seeks relief by plunking into the black eddying waters. With one last cry she is engulfed, her soul wings its way to that God who has said he would 'temper the winds to the shorn lamb.' This is no fanciful or overdrawn picture. This is occurring every day and we are doing nothing to prevent it, unless we pass this bill, just as it is drawn.
DOLLARS TO SOULS. "A few days ago what is known as the oleomargarine bill was passed by this house and the reasons given by the great many for voting for it were that so many petitions had been sent in, that they dared not vote against it. Petitions praying for the passage of this bill have been presented nearly every day signed by thousands of our best citizens from all over the state. Gentlemen, do you think more of a dollar than you do of a human soul? Can you consistently give heed to one petition and ignore the other? I hope and believe you will not.
"You ask for argument? Go into the streets of any city in all this broad land, and as night comes down you will see the cunning temper walking stealthily along the street seeking to beguile the unwary into her lair to ruin them as she herself was ruined. She was once an innocent, artless child. Who made her what she is? Man's villainy.
"You ask for argument? Go with me to Milford, and see there the helpless girls with despairing, weeping eyes, deserted, friendless. Some praying for death to to relieve them of their awful shame.
"You ask for argument? Go to the brothel and see there the pained cheek and hear the hollow, mirthless laugh, and ask that erring one if she wants this enacted into a law.
"You ask for argument? Go with me to that vine-clad cottage, as the shades of evening fall. A light is in the window. Step inside the door and you will see a gray-haired mother on her knees in prayer. With streaming eyes she prays to that God who has said: 'Not a sparrow shall fall to the ground without our Father's notice.' She prays for the return of her erring child, who has wandered from her loving arms. Ask her if she wants this bill enacted into a law.
MEASURE IN HIGH FAVOR. "Go with me into the street and see that father who with bowed head and trembling limbs seeks up and down for his lost child. They will all tell you that with all the women and good men of this state this bill is in high favor, and I speak in behalf of the mather and the wives and the sisters of Nebraska when I ask that this bill be recommended for passage."
Mr. Benedict's speech was greeted with great applause, the women in the gallery being, particularly demonstrative.
Chapman of Saline said he offered his amendment in good faith, as he thought the age of the man should be raised.
'Roddy of Otoe favored the bill. He spoke the great earnestness. He said that he wanted to give some protection to the girls. "Mr. Chairman," said Roddy, "I could forgive the man who would cut my daughter's throat, but the man who would bring my daughter to shame I would take his life, so help me God." (Applause.)
Chapman's amendment was defeated.
Casper of Butler said that he wanted to protect the young girls, but he wanted the law so framed as not to assist the blackmailer. He offered an amendment providing that this law should not apply to females who had dealings with different men. Benedict opposed Capser's amendment. Casper said this was a difficult bill to frame. The bill should be amended with great care.
Sutton of Douglas said he had an amendment that was drawn by a Lincoln clergyman. It was similar to Casper's amendment, and he favored the latter. Sutton's amendment merely added the world "virgin" before the word "female," and thus provided that only those who were "virgin females" could be protected by this law.
TO PREVENT BLACKMAIL. Burns of Lancaster wanted to know what would happen if a girl under 18 was an inmate of a bawdy house. Would her guests be liable to go to the penitentiary. Burns said he wanted this bill framed along the lines of common sense. He wanted to look out for the boys as well as the girls, and did not want designing women to use this law as a club for blackmail.
Munger of Lancaster wanted to know if the bill was intended to also protect the depraved female under the age of 18 years.
McNitt of Webster left the chair long enough to say that the opposition to this bill was trying to make a law to [?] the exception rather than the rule. He spoke with his usual force in favor of the measure.
Roddy of Otoe said he did not care if the bill did hit the frequenters of bady houses. "Let such characters take care of themselves or be branded," said Roody.
Conaway of York spoke in favor of the bill.
[Miles?] of Saline also championed it, and said that if the bill would strike a death blow to the social evil he would say "amen."
Casper said Rutton's amendment was better than his and he 'obtained leave to substitute the Sutton amendment.
Cramb of Jefferson said he feared the word "virgin" would open up the opportunities for bad men to attack by perjured testimony the reputation of unfortunate young girls.
COMPARE FAMILIES. Benedict and Burns of Lancaster became entangled in a heated cross fire. Benedict asked Burns how many boy's he had.
"Four boys and four girls," proudly responded Burns. In response to a similar query from Burns, Benedict replied that he had two girls.
Thomas of Hamilton defended the bill.
Speaker Richards made a strong speech for the bill. He said that some day the man prostitute will suffer just as much as the woman prostitute. He said it was rare that a good man was made the subject of blackmail.
Cole of Hitchcook made an earnest speech in favor of the bill.
Davies of Cass, always eloquent, spoke with charming candor. Some of the women in the galleries did not appear to become enthusiastic over Davies' thrusts, but when he concluded with one of his well-rounded periods, he was accorded great applause. Davies said he favored this bill. He wanted to throw every possible safeguard about the girls. But in making amendments to this bill he wanted also to protect the girl who had reformed. A girl under 18 may have fallen and might reform, and after that reform she would be protected under this law. He said he spoke to the criticisms of many women of today. That as a rule, women were the worst foes of the fallen women. There were women who would pass a fallen woman by despising her and ignoring her, and not making a practical effort to rescue her and then hurry to church and drop down before the altar in a silk dress and pray God to rescue fallen women. He was in hearty sympathy with practical efforts as represented by this bill.
TRIBUTE TO MRS. PEATTIE. He paid a fine tribute to Mrs. Peattie, to whom he referred as "That noble woman whose splendid articles in the World-Herald have done so much good for humanity." And he associated with Mrs. Peattie the many good women who were themselves willing to help a fallen women rise without asking God to do all the rescuing.
Robinson of Lancaster in opposing the bill made the "hot observation" that "nature, not statute, fixes the age of consent."
Ricketts made a strong speech in defense of the bill. He detailed some of his experience as a physician among the fallen women and he scored a number of strong points for the measure.
Casper said there had been a good deal of sentimental push on the subject. He related an instance in David City where the girl was notoriously bad, and one young man was selected as the lamb for the slaughter. That young man was sent to prison, and during the trial of the case the conduct of the girl was notoriously bad. He wanted the bill so changed as to meet instances like this.
Johnston of Douglas spoke in favor of the bill. Finally as a compromise an amendment by Bee of Furnas was adopted. This provided, "No female who is notoriously unchaste or is married shall be included in the provisions of this act."
Chapman of Saline wanted to amend by providing that complaint must be filed within forty-eight hours after the offense has been committed. This was defeated.
The committee arose and the house adopted the report.
The house took a recess until 2 o'clock.
GRAVE OVERSIGHT. During the noon hour it was discovered that Bee's amendment was so tacked on to the bill that if it became a law, a man could not be held for rape on any married woman or unchaste woman who was either under or over 18 years of age.
At the afternoon session the house reconsidered the vote by which the report on the age of consent bill was adopted and again went into committee of the whole on that bill.
Great difficulty was experienced in amending the bill so as to meet all requirements. It was first proposed to amend the bill by providing that the clause relating to females under the age of 18 should not refer to those who had "previously became notoriously unchaste, or had been previously married."
Rhodes of Vally opposed this amendment. He said he wanted the law so arranged that girls under the age of 18 years should be protected under all circumstances. He thought the man who would have dealings with a child with or without consent, in a brothel or out of it, should be held accountable and should be shown no mercy.
Griffith of Adams wanted to recommend the bill as originally introduced and without amendment.
Burns of Lancaster sent up an amendment that would make this clause read thus: "If any male person of the age of 18 years or upward shall carnally know or abuse any female child under the age of 18 years with her consent, unless such person shall have become unchaste in character and is over the age of 15 years, every such person so offending shall be deemed guilty of a rape, etc."
Davies of Cass objected to this on the ground that it did not protect the reformed girl. He wanted this changed so as to read: "Unless such person shall be of notoriously unchaste character, etc."
This he said would require that the girl must be "notoriously" unchaste at the time of the committing of the act, and would protect the girl who had reformed. Davies suggestion was accepted and the bill as amended was recommended to pass.
BILL AS AMENDED. The bill as amended is as follows:
Be it enacted by the legislature of Nebraska: That section 13 of the criminal code, being section 5588 of the consolidated statutes, is hereby amended to read as follows:
Section 1. If any person shall have carnal knowledge of any other woman or female child than his daughter or sister as aforesaid forcibly and against her will, or if any male person of the age of 18 years or upward shall carnally know or abuse any female under the age of 18 years, with her consent, unless such person shall be of notoriously unchaste character and is over the age of 15 years, every such person so offending shall be deemed guilty of a rape and shall be imprisoned in the penitentiary not more than twenty nor less than three years.
Sec. 2 Said original section 12 of the criminal code of the state of Nebraska, being section 5588 of the consolidated statutes, is hereby repealed.
House Roll 568, Rickett's bill to suppress mob violence, was considered. The bill provides that counties shall be held pecuniarily responsible to persons who are injured or killed at the hands of a mob. The bill was recommended to pass.
House roll 434 was considered. This is Munger's bill to permit foreign corporations to issue diplomas and to confer degrees of honor. The bill was recommended to pass.
WATSON'S MEASURE. Senate file No. 1 was considered. This is the Watson bill relating to South Omaha and other cities of that class. Harrison of the Hall offered the amendments referred to in another column.
Griffith of Adams said that under the present law it required a vote of the people to change from one class to the other, but this bill provided that the mayor could do this. He was opposed to the bill. Harrison of Hall moved to report the bill for passage. Sutton of Douglas seconded the motion. Griffith moved to indefinitely postpone the bill. Sutton said he had been opposed to the bill, but with the amendments offered by Harrison he had no objections to the passage of the bill. The bill was recommended to pass.
Senate fil 173 was called up by Harrison, but objection was made and the bill went over.
Senate files relating to constitutional amendments were considered as follows:
Senate file 271, providing for the investment of the permanent educational funds, was recommended to pass.
Senate file 273, providing for the fixing the salaries of state officers, was recommended to pass.
Senate file 274, providing for the merging of teh government of cities of the metropolitan class and the government of the counties wherein such cities are located. Sutton of Douglas objected and the bill was laid over for awhile.
Senate file 275, providing for a verdict in civil cases by two-thirds of the jury, was recommended to pass.
Senate file 276, giving the legislature power to create an appellate court, was recommended to pass.
Senate file 279, providing for five judges of the supreme court, was recommended to pass.
ROW OVER VOTERS. Senate Die 280, providing for an educational qualification for voters, was considered and then there was trouble.
This proposed constitutional amendment relates to "male citizens." A motion was made to strike out the word "male." The vote on this stood yeas 32, nays 33. The friends of woman suffrage wanted to discuss the bill a while longer, but their opponents moved to recommend the bill to pass. This was defeated by a vote of 31 yeas and 34 nays. Suter of Antelope proposed to amend by providing "any male or female citizen," but the chair ruled it out of order on the ground that practically the same ques had been voted down.
Barry of Greely moved to indefinitely postpone the bill. The vote on this stood: Yeas, 34; nays, 33. Chairman McNitt said he would vote in the negative, and added that the vote being a tie the motion was lost.
McNitt had ruled that a motion to recommend the bill to pass could not be again made at the sitting, so in order to save the proposed constitutional amendment, a motion was made and adopted to report progress on the bill and ask leave to sit again. When the committee of the whole reported to the house, the friends of the measure moved to amend the report by providing that the bill he recommended to pass, but the motion was lost. The report of the committee of the whole was then adopted.
WANTED A RULE ENFORCED. At this juncture Hairgrove of Clay called for the enforcement of rule 19, which prohibits smoking. The speaker ignored the demand, though Hairgrove several times called for the enforcement of the rule. Finally the speaker said: "There are some things that must be overlooked. The sergeant-at-arms will enforce rule 19, and I will say that if the gentleman from Clay will observe the rules a little more closely, he will be in line with other members. We will have a strict enforcement of rules hereafter, and the gentleman from Clay must observe them."
Hairgrove retorted that he would do his part.
A resolution was adopted to give the Grand Army the use of a room for headquarters in the [aisle?] house.
House roll 309 was made special order for Tuesday afternoon at 4 o'clock.
Thomas of Hamilton made an effort to advance his liquor license option bill, but consent was refused.
Adjourned until Monday morning at 10 o'clock.
At the close of the session the speaker and Mr. Hairgrove met and exchanged compliments. Both gentlemen were decidedly "warm under the collar," and as each has an abundance of grit, there is prospect for fun in the near future.
SENATE PROCEEDINGS.
Australian Ballot Law Amendments Will Come Up Monday. Special Dispatch to the World-Herald.
Lincoln, Neb., March 16. -- The senate was called to order by the lieutenant governor at 10 o'clock.
On motion of Senator Rathbun the senate went into committee of the whole, with Senator Campbell in the chair, for the consideration of senate file 392 and house roll 387.
The first named is Sprecher's bill to abolish the office of county attorney and return to the old system of district attorneys. Senators Stewart and Sprecher, in advocacy of the passage of the bill, declared that the rule seemed to be, under the county attorney system, to elect the poorest lawyers to be found. A list of ex-county attorneys in the senate included Senators Pope, Hitchcock, Lindsay and Sloan. Senator Sprecher explained that those gentlemen were bright exceptions to the usual run of county attorneys.
Senator Noyes amendment to allow the Omaha district to have four assistant district attorneys was accepted, and the bill was recommended to pass.
House roll 387 was then, under a suspension of the rules, read in part the third time. It being apparent that there were not enough senators present to pass the bill with the emergency clause, the further reading was postponed.
All bills relating to amendments of the Australian ballot law were made special order for Monday at 2 p. m.
On motion of Senator Wright his two insurance bills, senate files 98 and 132, were ordered engrossed for third reading. These bills have never been discussed in committee of the whole and there was strong objection made at the time to this advancement of these measures.
The senate adjourned until Monday at 2 p. m.
CAME NEAR HANGING HIM.
Watson Tells Why He Fathered the Anti-Hanging Bill. Special Dispatch to the World-Herald.
Lincoln, Neb., March 16. -- In the house, with which branch of the legislature now rests the fate of the bill abolishing capital punishment, the fight is being vigorously waged by the friends and opponents of the change. Both sides are gathering their forces for the final struggle. The friends of the bill express confidence in the result, and its opponents are claiming that there will be a close vote.
Senator Watson, who has since his first term in the legislature been an earnest advocate of all bills on this line, was asked today when and why he came to adopt his opinion that the death penalty should be abolished. The answer in effect was this:
The why is because of the conviction that many innocent men have been sent to the gallows who were innocent of the crime for which they were executed and the conclusion that more harm than good was done by killing men. The senator then related an incident in his personal experience which doubtless has had an effect as lasting as it was painfully affecting.
While district attorney he prosecuted on Polin, charged with murder, and he was convicted. The man was sentenced to death, and the day fixed for the execution. The usual appeal from the result of the trial and the court below was sustained. preparations were in progress for the execution, and District Attorney Watson started on a business trip to one of the eastern states.
He stopped for a day at Chicago, and while walking along the street he noticed a man who seemed to recognize him, and who was evidently debating with himself whether to speak to him or not. The question was decided in the affirmative, and the man walked up to him with the inquiry if this was District Attorney Watson of Otoe county, Nebraska.
"Yes," answered Watson, trying to recall the name of and where he had seen the questioner.
"You don't recollect me, I see," said the man "My name is --, and I was a witness in the Polin case"
Watson then recollected the face and name as belonging to the principal witness against the condemned man, and said that he recollected him now, all right.
The former witness then, in a solemn manner and with great earnestness, said "I want to tell you that my testimony on a certain point," naming the point, "was all a lie and deliberately told by me to injure the man under arrest"
Amazed and almost-overcome with the realization of what the confession meant, Waston exclaimed "Great heavens, your lying testimony has sent to the gallows an innocent man It was on this testimony of yours that the jury convicted the prisoner."
At once a telegram was sent to the governor of Nebraska briefly stating the facts and appealing to him to not let the man hang Watson hurried back to Nebraska, and on investiagion found that there was reason to beleive the confession of the witness was a truthful statement of the facts
The condemned man had his death sentence commuted to life imprisonment, and he was afterward pardoned. The chance meeting with the prosecuting witness on the streets of Chicago was all that prevented the hanging of Polin. His own intimate connection with what so narrowly-escaped being the judicial murder of an innocent man made an impression which years has not removed
WATSON'S BILL AMENDED.
Provision Made for South Omaha by Census in Ninety Days. Special Dispatch to the World-Herald
Lincoln, Neb , March 16 -- The Watson bill, senate file No. 1, in which South Omaha is interested, was amended and recommended for passage in the house today. As amended the bill is as follows:
Be it enacted by the legislature of the state of Nebraska. That section 1 of an act of the legislature of the state of Nebraska entitled, "An act to incorporate cities of the first-class having less than 25000 and more than 8000 inhabitants, regulating their duties, powers and government, known as chapter 15 of the general laws of 1889, passed and approved March 14, 1889, be amended so as to read as follows
Section 1 Cities of the first class That all cities having less than 25,000 and more than 10000 inhabitants, as ascertained and officially promulgated by the census and enumeration taken by authority of the laws of the United States in the year 1890, shall be governed by the provisions of this act and be known as cities of the first class, having less than 25,000 inhabitants.
Provided, however, that nothing in this act contained shall be so construed as to abolish the government of cities organized as cities of the first class under the act of 1889, passed and approved March 14, 1889, but the same shall [remam?] and be known as cities of the first class and be governed hereafter by the provisions of this act.
That section 2 of said act be amended so as to read as follows.
Section 2 Whenever any city of the second class shall have attained a population of more than 10000 inhabitants, as ascertained and officially promulgated by the census return and enumeration taken nuder the authority of the United States or under the authority of the state of Nebraska or by authority of the mayor and city council of any city which is now governed by the provisions of this act repealed, which census shall be taken within ninety days after the passage of this act, the mayor of the city shall certify such fact to the governor, who shall by proclamation no declare and thereafter such city shall be governed by the provisions of this act And upon such proclamation being made by the governor each and every officer of such cities shall, within thirty days thereafter, qualify and give bonds as provided by this act
Section 3 That sections 1 and 2 of an act entitled, " An act to incorporate cities of the first class having less than 25000 and more than 8000 inhabitants, and regulating their duties, powers and government," known as the chapter 15 of the general laws of 1889, passed and approved March 14, 1889, and the act amending sections 1 and 2 of said act, passed and approved April 14 A D 1891, and all acts and parts of acts in conflict and inconsistent with the provisions of this art are hereby repealed
Section 4 Whereas, an emergency exists, therefore this act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage and approval.
NAMES A CITY TICKET.
Democrats of Columbus Get Together and Make Nominations. Special Dispatch to the World-Herald.
Columbus, Neb , March 15 -- The democrats of this city got together at the Second ward engine house tonight to nominate a ticket for the spring election. Promptly on time the delegates from the different wards answered to the roll call All were present. After organizing, without further delay the meeting proceeded to business, and in nominating by acclamation for mayor G W. Phillips paid a due compliment to his administration of municipal affairs during the last year, which was highly appreciated by the gentleman in his speech of acceptance. Other nominations were For treasure, J. L Berney; clerk, William Becker; councilmen, First ward, Fred Stenger, Second, Jonas Welch and George Lebman; Third, left blank; school board, I. Gluck, J. G Becher and S. W. Wilson; engineer, R Rossiter.
HIS THROAT SLASHED.
Fort Scott, Kas., March 16 -- Louis Strevil, the aged ranchman who was identified last July by a 28-year-old son whom he had never seen, was this morning found in his house on the ranch with his throat cut from ear to ear In a pocket was found $100 in gold and currency, which leads to the belief that he was not murdered for what little money he had on his son. The coroner is in charge of the body and an investigation is in progress.
CAUCUS CALLED OFF.
There was a meeting at the Paxton hotel at 8 o'clock last evening to talk over the advisability of locating a soldiers home at Long Pine, Neb. but owing to the absence of the senators and representatives who had notified too late to attend, the status of the bills looking to the comfort of the old soldiers, and the proposed appropriations, could not be gone into, and the meeting adjourned.
FATHER PHELAN TO TALK. Special Dispatch to the World-Herald.
Des Moines, Ia, March 16 -- Rev. Father Phelan of St. Louis arrived here today to deliver a lecture tomorrow night before the Hibernians in celebration of St. Patrick's day. he says that the attacks for libel upon him by the St. Louis A. P. A. are but a scheme to get him to tell where he gets his reports of their secret meetings.