Chicago Daily Tribune Newspaper, January 14, 1874, Page 4

THE CHICAGU DAILY TRIBUNE WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 14, 1874, TERMS OF THE TRIBUNE TERMS OF SUDSCRIPTION (PATADLE IN ADTANCE). .00 S e b Ewesiady 1 S 5338 Paris ot a rearat the same rate. To present delay and mistakes, bo suro and give Post Of ce addressin fall, including State and Conaty. Remittances may be made either by draft, express, Post Oftico onder, orin 18 sisterod lettors, at our risk. TERNS TO CITY SUDSCRIBERS. Patly, delivered, Sunday exceptod. Z cents per week. Laily, Gelivered, Sunday included, 20 cents per woek. Address THE TRIBUNE COMPANY, Corner Madison and Dearbora-sta., Chicago, Il — TO-DAFS AMUSEMENTS. fadison stroot, ement of the St ugenots.” A'VICKER'S THEATRE. Deerborn and~ State. En, Opera-Troupe. **T) betweon trakosch ACADEMY OF MUSIC—Halsted nnlnl,‘\’mh!wnun Mad- . Jol fson and Mooros. Engaement of Dillon. ‘Afternoon, ** The Lancashiro Lass.” Evening, ** Blow Tor Blow.® - HOOLEY'S THEATRE-Randuloh stroot. betwaen Clark and LaSallo. ** Net Guilty.” Afternoon and GLOBE THEATRE—Desplainos street, between Mad- ison_and Washingron. Epgagement of the Yox & Deuler Pantomimo-Troupe. ¢* Humpty Dumpty.” Af- ternoon and evoning. MYERS' OPERA-HOUSE Monme stroet, hetween Decrborn and State. Arlington, Cotton. aud Keinblo's Binstrols. ** SimploSimon.” Alinstreley sud cumicali- CENTRAL HALL—Corncr Wabash avenue and Twen: ‘g-eocond strest, Frank MacEvcy's ** New Hiberaicon.™ FIRST M. E. CHURCH—Cumer Washizgion and ark 5t Lecturo by the Rov. Dr. Haven, at4p. m. Ancicnt and Alodern Philosopty.™’ BUSINESS NOTICES. CY_ MAKES i, The Chicags Cribune, Wednesdsy Morning, January 14, 1874. The nomination of Louis Wahl for member of the Board of Public Works is s very good one, and is themore creditablo to Masor Colvin in view of the fect that Mr. Wabl was not « supporter of tho People's Party in tha recent election. Speaker McEkron's address to the Kansas Legislature yesterdoy shows that there is as mnch saving virtue ina *‘but” asinan i “I em a Ropublican,” le ssys, ‘“but am earnestly and honestly in full sympathy with retrenchment, reforw,” &e., &c. ——en A universal amen will follow the prayer of the Chaglain of the Senate, thanking God for the repeal of the Salary-Grab law by that body. The Honse Chaplain now hss an opportapity to offer the same prayer, as the Senato bill was passed esterday by his flock by & vote of 226 to 25. e It is proposed to let the women of Ohio settle tho question of woman-suffrage for themselves. A resolution has been offered in the House ask- ing the Constitutional Convention to submit to tho women of the Stato a separate clause giving them s right to vote. If amajority of them vote in favor of it, the clause is to become a part of the Constitution of the State. A supplomentary railroad-grab bill hus been introduced in the State Senate. It authorizes the State Tteasurer to expend any county or township surplus in his hands for railroad-aid bonds issued by such county or township. If not used in this way the surplus is to be funded for the liquidation of the county or township indebtedness, which, of course, brings it round »gsin to the railroad-nid debs. Theo strikein the anthracite coal regions, which bas been impending for some time, has begun by the striking of 8,000 miners st Pottsville yuster- das. There s n faint prospect that s meting to be held between the operators and the work- irgmen on Saturday may settle tho differesces botween them; but the probabilities scem to be that the strike will be prolonged into the 1n0st was dull and irregular, at £1.50 for No. 2, and $1.25 for No. 8, in ordinary houses. On Satur- day evening last there was in store in this city 1,550,263 bu wheat; 1,378,849 bu corn; 457,185 bu cats; 6G,4€6 bu rve, and 404,525 bu barley. Live hogs wero dull and weak, at $L.50@5.50 for poor to choice. The cattle markel was quiet and easy, with sales at £2.50@6.15 for podr to extra. Sheep were firmer. Senator Frelinghuysen has prepared a bill which he thinks would bring about the desirable esult of specie payments without any contrac- tion of the currency. Two hundred znd twenty- five millions of 6 per cent bonds are to be issued, and the proceeds used to bay gold with which to redeem legal-tenders. The Iegal- tenders which are redecmed in this way are not to be reissued, except for gold certificates, and sball be again redeemable in gold ouly. The Texas Legislature met yesterday, not- withstanding the decision of the Supreme Court that their election was unconstitntional. Both Housies offected & temporary organization with- out sny interferenco from the Biate or Federal authorities. President Ireland, of the Senale, made a calm but uucompromising address on taking the clair. Ho says that for ten years tle peoplo of Texas have been struggling for the right of governirg themselves. When, by a majority of 50,000, they elect & Government of their own choice, they are meuaced and embar- rissed by a judicial coup d'elat. Ho advises bis associates to et coolly, calmly, and deliberately. Gov. Davis refuses to disregard the decision of tho Supremo Court and recognize the Legis- lature as o lawful ascembiage. The financial situation in Chicago is steadily improving. Tlhe effects of tho panic are shown by some over-iue paper, but the aggrogato of this is declining daily, while there is a general advance in commercial credit. The advanced prices of grain are putting an increased amount of money in the Lands of tho farmers, and this, of course, hes given an incressed stimulus to trade all through the interior of the Northwest, and, ss a consequence, added to the volume of seles in Chicago and tho remittances here from country dealers. Whest is now selling from 15 to 16 cents higher per bushel than ‘before' the panic; the advance in corn is equal to 14 cents, and in oats to 10 cents per busbel. Theso prices are rapidly making things even, and are putting all branches of trade in this city into healthy activity. Some men, humorously styled a committes in- terested in LaLor Reform, waited on the Mayor of Boston yesterday, torequest that thelwork on the public improvements of that city ho ex- tended, in order to give them employment. In case there should be no funds on hand to defray tie cost of this thinly-disguised charity, they kindly offered to take city scrip in payment of their wages. The Mayor, in Lis answer, showed himself o more real Labor Reformer than these pretenders, He replied that to engage in uu- necessary work, to pay for which money had to be borrowed through tho device of issuing ecrip, would injure the credit of the city, including that of the workingmen who formed 5o large 8 part of its population. It would also injure the workingmen by increasing the tendency, already too prevalent, of leaning upon the Government rather than themselves. Finally, Lo said, the evil results of the penic were so rapidly passing away that there would soon be work enough for sl who really vanted it. Williamson County, Illinois, has refused to poy intercst on her bonds, amounticg to £110,000, exchanged for stock in the Carbondale & Shawneetown Railroad Company. This rail- road is but 18 miles long. Itcostto build that distance, capital stock, §355,500; first-mortgage bonds, $200,000; and floating debt, $10,000; stubborn contest ever fonght in the coal regions. ;| total, §565,500. The county claims that the —eeee Belief for the destitute in our large cities somes frcm an unexpected quarter. The How- ard Association of Memphis have very nobly re- solved to return 230,000 of the £43,000 which shey have on hand to the States which gave it to them. They modestly keep. 813,000 for their own sick and desiitute. When divided up, this Zirty thousand dollars will mot make o very perceptible change in tho euffering of the un- employed, but the spirit of tho decd is priceless. Natick, Mass., where Henry Wilson began his 2xtraordinary career 88 & shoemaker, has been visited by ancther calamity. A tewrible fire broko out in the town yesterday and destroyed $1,000.000 worth of property. The Natick National Bank, a savings bauk, the Free-Masons’ Hall, and several other places of assembly, and tho Poat-Office, were among the public buildings burved. Only throo stores are left standing. There were also large fires in Boston and New York. In the latter three lives were lost. Judge Moore bas referred the case of Good- rich, the divorce lawyer, whose practico bas been frequentiy exposed in the columns of TaE TeIBUNE, and especially in yesterdsy's issue, to the Attorney-General of the State, that Lo bring the matter before the Supreme Court and re- quire Goodrich to show cause why his name ghall not be siricken from ttie rolls. Judge Xoore has taken the initiative in a good work, and it is to be hoped that the sbuses of the divorce practice in the Chicago courts may thus be chacked. i Tho investigation of the Legislative Commit~ tee into the management of the Penitentiary at Joliet was continued yesterdsy. A number of witnesses were examined ; among them was the Coroner, who dwelt strongly on the incompetency of Dr. Mason, the prison physician. Commis- sioner Bane acknowledged that convict Williams died while in the beth under panishment, and also admitted that ot that timo punishment by bathing was forbidden. An inquiry has been ordered into the financial management of the Penitentiary. The Committee returr to Spring- fleld to-day. ——- Tho Chicago produce markets wero rather less active yesterday, and the principal ones were generslly easier. Mess pork wes quiet, and 10¢ per brl lower, closing at $14.45@14.50 cash, and $14.65@14.50 seller February. Lerd wasin good demand and steady, closing at £9.05 per 100 Ibg cash, and §9.1736@9.20 seller February. Meats were quiet and easier, at 55¢c for shoulders, 75{c for short ribs, 72@@75{c for sbort clear, and 9} @10c for sweet pickled hams. Dreseed hogs were dull and 10c lower, at $6.00@6.10 per 100 s, Higfiwma were ective and 34c higher, at 97340 per gallon. Flour was quiet and strong. TWheat was less active, and 3¢ lower, closing at £1,258 cush, snd $i275{c seller February. Cora was less sctive and oasier, closing at 603{c cash, and 613c ecller February. Oats were moderately active and 3¢c¢ lower,. closing 2t 48¢ cash, and 483{c seller February. Rye was quiet sad stronger, at 190 for regular No.2. Barley ‘bouds were never valid, because never legally authorized to be issued, and suit has been en- tered by the boundholders to collect the interest. Under the law of 1869, as interpreted at Spring- field, the Auditor has levied a tax of 9 mills upon the property of the whole State to pay the in- terest on theee void and repudiated bonds issued by local municipelities. The share of this tax to be paid by thiscounty will nearly reach 3250,000, and will be coliected in like proportion from all the other counties of the State. The countics and parts of counties owing no euch debt will pay in the aggregsto memly $800,000 tax this year, the proceeds to be spplied to satisfying these swindling bonds. The California papers are bitterly lamenting that the Pacific Mail Steamship Company bere- after will run but one steemer per month, in- stead of two, as- heretofore, thus leaving hun- dreds of tonsof flour and other merchandiso apon the deeks which the next steamer to sail cannot take, It isstated that tho gap left by the Pacific Mail Company will be filled by an Englieh line of steamers, which will shortly be- gin regular tiips between Ban Francisco and China. At the same time, it is not very credita~ ble to American enterprise or comsoling to American pride for an American company, after having been aided by liberal subsidies from Con- gress, to retire from such a commercial fleld, end yield it to an English company, which steps in upon it own risk, with perfect confidenco in the profits of the enterprise. With the aid the Pacific Mail Company bas received from the Government, there 13 no resson why it should not be eble to accommodate the demands of the Pacific trade, unless its resonrces have heen squandered by mismanagement and reckless speculation. ‘We have before called attention to the hard- ships of the present Jwy law as regords com- pepsation for the juror's time. As the law reads, the juror s entitled to only 10 cents mile- age each way in going to and from the Court, and, a8 the Courts Lave construed this to be for one round journey only during their ser- vice, & pereon may, and often is, required to giso a week's time with no other compensa~ tion than tho 20 or 40 cents mileage he re- ceives. It is claimed by some persons that this was an accidental defect in the copyicg of the bill, which w28 intended to read ‘‘§2 & dayand 10 cents mileago each way.” If we recollect aright, however, some of our County Commssioners urged the adoption of the pres- ent law for the purpose of eaving money to the county. Be this s it may, the public must psy those who serve it, and cannot fairly ask poor men, whose families depend upon their earn- ings, to eacrifice their employment for two weelis nod give their time to jury service withont compensation. To remove the present hardships of the law, Col. Stevenson, the Clerk of the Superior Court, has prepared a bill, which we print elsewhere, providing a fee of $2 & day for jury service, and waking it retroso- tive, sothat oil juries who have served since This bill was passed by the House yesterdsy, with the emergency clause, and will go to the Senate with strong commendations. The Cairo & Vincernes Railroad has got into the Courts on the spplication of tho contractors for the appointment of a Receiver. The stote- ment of its affaira is not very comforting to the creditors or etockholders, The road is 157 miles long. The complainants eay the Com- pany’s indebtedness to them is $ 764,000 2,511,000 % 1,500,000 144,375 The Company owes to others : First-mortgago bonds. nterest, Floating debt, Total indebtedness.... sesesesesrenes This indebtedness accounts for only $2,511,000 of the capital stock, which is altogethor 84,000,000 and of which the towns, countics, and districts along the line aro holders to a con- piderable sum. The linbilities of the Company, including the capital atock, are $10,856,250; withont the eapital stock, §6,356,250. The cost of the road, excluding the capital stocls, is at tho rato of $40,855 per mile, and including the capi- tal stock, $05,842 per mile. Municipal stock- holders can estimate the value of the stock for which they gave their bonds. This is ono of the roads built without one dollar of cash capi- tal; built entirely upon the proceeds of bonds. The road could have been built for cash at £20,000 per mile. THE TOM SCOTT SUBEIDY. . The Philadelphia Press makes an uppeal to the country in bebalf of Col. Thomas A. Scott, who finds his progress as a raroad boa-con- strictor arested by the want of funds. Tho Press asks that Congress shall add somo thirty millions of dollars to the public debt by an issue of that nmount of bonds as & subsidy to enable Mr. Scott to go on and build the Texas & Pacific Railroad. Wo can inderstand that this subeidy would be & great pecuniary ,assistance to Alr. Scott, and to all holders of Mr. Scott's paper, but we do not understand why- the country should assume his debs, or, which is the samo thing, give him the money he may need to build his railroad. Mr. Scott is the chief officer of the #o-called Pennsylyvania Company, which directly or indirectly has seized or socured con- trol over many thousands of miles of railroad in the West and South. This game of -acjuisition of railroads, Bo as to secure the monop- oly of the local transportation of & great part of the Western States, is also sefionsly embarrassed by the financis! paralysis that overtook all speculative jobs in September. Mr. Scott is not perhaps more embarragsed in the matter of the Texas & Pacific Railroad than in some other of his schemes, He has spread hit- gelf out over an immense surface, and far beycnd what the actual capital at his disposal war- ranted. 3 In his extremity, backed byall the corpora- tions whose credit 18 involved in his own, he now proposes that the country shall recognize him as a pational benefactor, to whom the Treasury should open its doors. The country will do nothicg of the kind. On the contrary, there is well-founded opinion that Mr. Scott's enter- prises are too omnivolous for the public good. Still, we ehould be sorry to see him brought into the Bauktuptey Court. II,.he can paddle his own canoe, very well. But let him, and Jay Cooke, and Steve Hurlbut, ana all the subsidy- beggars be sternly told to keep away from the Public Treasury. They have no more right to have their losses mado good by act of Congress than the Chicago Section of the International Society have to tho samo species of relief. THE TEXAS IMBROGILIO. The contemptible sycophancy of the ordinary party newspaper is shown in the course of the *¢ organs " all over the country in the matter of the Texas controversy. Under the Reconstruc- tion acts of Congress, Texas adopted s State Constitution and elected & Governor (Davis) and State officers in 1869. Congress immediately recognized the Government thus created. The Constitution provides thatthe Governor shall bold office four years and the Legislature iwo yefra. It also provides that the Governor “ must be elected at & time and place when the people vote for representativesin the Legiela- ture.” ‘The Governor and Legislature thus start- od even in 1869, the one for four yoars and the other for two years. In 1871, there was a gen- eral demand for an election of 8 new Legisla- tare, but the Governor and State officers decided that there should nct be one ; it was feared that the Opposition would carry the State. In 1872, Gov. Davis announced that a Legislature was to be elected in November of that year, and e furihier declered that his own term of office did not begin uptil April 28, 1870, and that by right there ehould have beenan election of a Legielature in 1871, Bo long as the Governor of one of these States can call upon the President for military support there is no appeal from his decision, 20 the people acquiesced, and, in 1872, elected & Legislature which was strongly tempted to impeach and depose the Governor. But, anxious to extricate the State from'the legal entanglements in which the Governor had involved it, they addressed themselves to that subject. It was then formally agreed, in the shape of legal documents, that the torm of the Governor did not expire until January, 1874 ; that o Legislature ought to have been elected in 1871, and that one ehould be eiccted in 1873, at which time a Governor and other State officers would also bz elected, and ' that the new Governor and Legislatures would begin their new terms on the same day, as contemplated by the Constiiution. The Legislature then ad- journed. Gov. Davis was a candidate for re- election, and was beaten by the people by over 40,000 majority. A Legislature wae chosen which was also opposed to Davis. The result being known, Gov. Davis made an issue npon the clection of some petty officers, and the Su- preme Court (the Judges having been appointed by Davis) decided that tho clection of o Legis- lature in 1873 was illegal. The Legislature clected in 1873 propose to mect, as required by the Constitution. Whereupon Davis tele- graphs to President Grant for United States troops to enable him to retain the office of Gov- ernor, and put the people of tho State at de- fance. 5 Alost of the Republican papers in the conntry, which recognize party supremacy as superior to trath and juetice, have applauded Davis, and ‘promised him the materisl and moral aid of the North in his glorious defense of Republican principles. But the President has taken a differ- ent view of the case, and hohas answered Gov. Davis in the following terms : Exscurive Masaroy, Jan, 12, 1874, To Gov. Davis, Ausiin, Texzas: Four dispatches and letters, reciting the sction of last July can draw s compénsation b that rate. | ths Bupreme Oourt of Texas. in deelaring the lats elec- tion unconstitutional, and asking for the use of troops to provent an spprebended violence, aro received. The call §8 not made in accordance with the Constitution of the United States and the acts of Congress nnder it, and cannot, therefore, b2 granted. Theacta of tho Legislature of Texs, providing for the recent clec- tions, have received your approval, and both poiitical partics having made nominations, and baving cou- ducted the political campign under its provisions, would it not be prudent, as well as right, to yield to the verdict of the people, aa expressed by thel: ballota? (Sigued) : U. 8. GRaxT. The President has in this matter acted very justly, and, had he adopted the same course in the case of Louisiana,he would have saved an infinitc amount of trouble, and spared the coun- try the humiliation and disgrace of the Kellogg usurpation. The ‘“organs” are placed in aa awkward position ; but ss the President is of more consequence in a party point of view than the Governor of Texas, they will at once change their tune, and now denounce the man whom they applauded a week ago. —eee THE PENITENTIARY COMMISSIONERS. ‘The Board of Penitentiary Commissioners at Joliet complains that there isa groat desl of work to do and very Little pay, and that the salary i not an eguivalent for the responsibility of the position. The arduous duties of the Commis- gioners aro summed up in visiting the Peniten- tiary once a month, eating s good dinner, Laving a2 genoral jomboree, looking sbont the prison, and receiving the assurances of the Warden and other officials that everything is lovely. For these monthly visits the Commissioners receive $125 each, or $1,500 per year and traveling ex- pensés. And yet thoy are not havpy. One of tho principal canses of unhappiness scems to bo the fact that, the free-pass system being abol- ishad, they cannot charge the price of railroad tickata after having traveled on passes. and thus only get in retmn their actual ex- penses. For this the Commissioners censure Tre Onicaco Tomsose. To censure of this sort Toe Tamose has no specizl reply to muke, except to express its gratification that the Com- missioners are indebted to it for that service. If there is ny other service of a tmilar nature which Trz TrIBUNE can peiform for the Com- ‘missioners, it would be glad to do it gratuitousf. As other people, who don’t get 1,600 for a fow days® serviee in o year have to pay their fares when they travel, the Commissioners can at leaet afford to travel without free passes o long as the State pays their fares. There are two sources of consolation, however, which are open to the Commissioners. The office 18 not compulsory. If & .Commissioner thinks it is too burdensome for lum to go to Joliet, rond-free, twelve times a year, andre- ccivo §1,500 per sunum for it, ho is not obliged to take the office; and, if he has taken it without 8 real- izing sense of its responsibilities, ho can resign at any time, and his resiguation will undoubted- Iy be promptly accepted by the Governor. This is one door of escape from his troubles. There is gtill another, even better than this, which has already takon the form of a very carnest and widespread suggestion. The recent death of the coavict Williams, and other facts touching the general conductof the prison, have convinced the Senate Committee, now on a vieit of in- epection at the Penitentiary, that the offico of Commisrioner is not only not an arduous respoa- sibility, but tha it is o useloss picce of machin- ery, and a general burdan which is of o servico to the State. This opinion is very generally shared by the people of the State at large. If, therefore, the office shonld be abolished entirely, the Commissioners will have no further grounds of complaint concerning avolition of passes, ar- duousness of dutics, or insufliciency of pay. BUTLER ON CIVIL-SERVICE REFORM. Ben Batler's last tangent is & direct isoue with {he Treasury Department in the matter of Civil- Service Reform, which ho proposes to test. The causo which he has espouaed is timt of Capt. Lemuel B. Gregory, a soldier who was in But- ler’s command, was ‘wounded during ihe War, end was therefore honorably discharged from the service for reason of disability. Capt. Grogory applied for a clerkship in the Treasury Departmont, but his name was not reported by the Dxamiuing Bosrd, and consequently Le failed to get the positicn. Thereupon Datler takes the case, and at once addrestes o lotier 10 the Secretary of the Treasury, informing him that be is determined to make this a test case between the departmental and legislative power, and therefore desired him to make as fuil and complete & defense a8 peseible, 8o that he may know how to proceed. e also succinctly states his own position to the Secretary, which is substantially as follows : 1. That Capt. Gregory is s wounded soldier, who bas served with ais- tinction. 2. That e passed above tho standard fized by the Civil-Service Board, viz., 7, end is, therefore, fit for the position. 3. Ho cites the following resolution passed by Con- gress March 3, 1885 Resolced, By tho Senate and House of Representa- tives of the United Statos of Awerics in Congress os- sembled, that persons honorably discharged from the ‘military or naval eervice by reason of dizability result- ing from wounds or sickness incurred in the line of duty, shall be preferred for appoiutment for civil oftices, provided they ehull bo found to possess tho business cupacily Decesears for the proper discharge of tho duties of such position. SEC. 2. And be it further resolved, that, in grateful recognition of the services and sufferings of pursons ‘houorably discharged from the military and naval ser- vice of the country by reason of wounds received, or tho expiration of terms of ezlistment, it is respectively rocommended to banlkers, merchants, menufacturers, ‘mechanics, farmers, and peraons cogaged in industrial pursuits, to give them the preference for appoinument to remunerative situations und employment, The point which Mr. Butlor makes with refer- ence to the above resolation is, that the rales of the Civil-Service Board cannot override the law of the land. 3Alr. Butlor says: 1 am ot aware that the Civil-Service rules shall be scts of Congress. You will seo by {he resolution quotad above that Congress has recommended to everybody elsc to give the preference to disabled soldiers, and Lave provided that they shall be preferred for ap- pointments to civil offices. Can it Le that the rules of the Ctvil-Service Board override o aletinct law of the Lnd? Ifso, .y what power? Why should a mers Jinicul preference because of dnswering to s few unim- portant questions in the opinion of the Civil-Service Board of examination be made to override such a law a8 agalnst woundod soldicrs, but for whose valor the Civil-Service Board would bave had no soft cushions tosit on now, which they enjoyed dufing ths War, ‘while the soldiers wero in the feld 7 To this letter the Secretary has made a reply, in which be briefly answers the three points. The first is sclnowledged. With reference to the second, the Secretary states that Gregory's examination placed him beyond the minimum standard of 70, viz., 76.27 on & scale of 100, as perfect. Dut thero were forty persons on tho list eligible for sppointment who passed better examinations, and Gregory’s name Wwas Dot, therefore, among the three certified to the Secretary, as required by tho rules; coose- quently, Gregory's name cannot be cocsidered until the other thirty-seven names have been exhausted. As to the third point, the Becretary claims that the Civii-Service rules have all tho binding force of law, and qualify the jolnt reso- lqfio‘n ©of 1863 so far a4 giving = soldier prefer- ence only in thacase that he is one of thethree roported by the Board of Examiners. This brings the case squarely to au issae, and, 8s Mr. Butler is very thorongh in everything ho undertakes, wo may expect that this trouble- some question of Civil-Service Reform will, for once, ve definitely sotiled. It will be & matter of conaiderable interast, not only whether the rales of Civil Service have the authority of law, but also whether they are maiters of universal practice, and whether their enforcement is a matter of favoritism. For once, at least, Alr. Butler is on tho right track. o cannot mako his quest too searching. If he can establish the status quo of Civil-Service Reform, ho will be entitled to the gratitudo of the country. Tha debate of the 10th tlt., inihe Prussian Diet, revealed a remarkable fact. 1t will be re- mombered that the Bavarian Legislature at firss resolved to be neutral during tho war of 1870, The most importaut partof the Emperor’s re- cont reply to tae Pope was his cffort to show that this action of Bavaria was instigated by the Tltramontanes of Prussia. But, on the 10tk ult., Herr Reicbensperger declared, in the Diet, ‘that the Ultramontanes of Prussia really op-, posed this action at first, and finally overruled it, and got Bavaris to joinin the fight against France. Soid he: “Yes, gentlemen, through this [i. e. Prussian Catholic influence] the de- cision of tho Bavarian Diet and mobilization of tho Bavarian army became possible. . . . This weighty decision was due to tho efforts of my friends. [Laughier on the Left.] Ihavea witness; ask Herr Lasker!” Auod Herr Lasker, tho Liberal leador, whose word is all-convincing, snswered: ‘‘Very true.” Bo it seems ag if Bis- marck bad deliberately driven Prussian Catho- lics as well as Prussian papers into disloyalty. Tho makers of sfter-dinner speeches are usually only too happy wlen reporters can in- terpolato ** Laughter " ad lib. But thisis not always €0. At a recont Panwsian dinner given in houor of Mr. Richard, M. P., the edvocate of ar- bitration, the Chairmau, AL Rononard, lushed with enthusiasm or wine, confused Mr. Richard and Richard Cobden, and addressed himself to tho Iatter. Somebody laughed sad M. Ren- ouard grew sulkiy aod sat down, without finish- ing what he had to say and without feeling, we may presume, a8 much * good will to men ™ as an arbitrator ought. The incident so confused Mr. Richard thut bis French suddenly ebbed and 166t him stranded in the middle of Lis roply. He finished it in English, but as the audience could not understand his bnllisnt periods they fell rather flat. It is consolatory to know that the dinner was good, if tho speccies were bad. The guests were regaled with pelilspates al Alabama, poulardes truffcesa la Cobden, bombes pacifiques, and other peaceful daintie Ttalian Radicals demand that the Vatican gal- leries suall be geized by the State. It is argued that the books and pictures and statnes ke- longed to Pius Ninth, as tho temporal ruler of Rome, and not as its Bishop. If this view of the case were correct, the title to them would vest in the conqueror of that temporal ruler, the Kingdom of Italy. Napoleon L aud the then Pope, Pius Seventh, took tnis view, for one of the conditions of the peace between them was tho sending some of the most valuable of the Vatican MSS. to Paris. If tho Pope persista in his present defiant resistance to the new regime, or if he gives away the Vatican art-treasnres as Iavishly 28 he did to the Empress of Russis laat spring, it is by no means unlikely that Victor Emanuel may again conquer his religious scruples and capture the Vatican as suddenly and successful- Iy 88 he did Rome. o The United States, acling on information de- rived from Gen. Butler, 8ays that Benoni How- ard, of New York, counterfeited match-stamps. Benoni eays he Cidn't and putsin the following curious plea. During the War, he published 2 steel engraving, consisting of vigne:to likenesses of conspicuous Generals. Among them was that of Butler. After the Fort Fisher fiasco, be erasod Butler, and republished the changed en- graving. Ho claims that this so enraged the Essex County statesman that be brought this cliorge of counterfeiting in c-der to get his revenge. As the people erased Butler from tho list of conspicuous Generals at the same time that Benoni did, the prosecution of the latter (if Lis story is truo) is partial as well as unjast, ALl S Last summer's panio has not yet let goits hola on the Vienns money-market. Thotheatres, tho shops, even the cafes, are deserted. All maanner of corporations failed to pay the January interest on their bonds. The paternal State, which has drowned Austrisn credit in oceans of paper money, is to do what it can (indeed, it means to do what it cannot) to reliove the dis- tress. It istoloan the 80,000,000 florins it has just borrowed from Germany to individuals and corporations, taking such security a8 it can get. This will ba the most gigantic case of Govern- mental pawnbroking on record. e e KNorth Carolina will probably repudiate the greater part of her debt mext week, when the Legislature meets. They call it “fanding™ down there. It is really re-funding in onesense, —nud not at all in the other. The procss may ba pecessary, but wouldn't it be just as well for the State press not to talk abon: ‘““untarnished escatcheons,” ** honareble traditions,” etc., un- til the little job ia done, snd, as far &8 may be, forgotten ? R Tlarry Meiggs, the California defsulter, is the * Railroad King of South America.” So aman who is o profiter of the credulity of others may still be not without honor save in his own coun- try. He is at present building tho Peruvian Railroad from the Preific across the Andes. It is making rapid progress, despite the earth- quakes tiat swallow it np on tho low-lands and the land-slides that topple small mountains upon it, higher up. The New York Evening Post considers capital punishment a * bioodthirsty code,” because there wero painful scenes connected with the recent execution of the murderer Mechella. To be consistent, the Post should consider clerical efforta to convert convicts as something very bad, for paioful eceués sro sometimes con- nected with them. This very Mechella baptized an officions clergyman with a bowlful of hot soup only & dsy or two before he wrs hung. Russia is playing & neat littlo game by print- ing thousands of copica of the Korsn for her Mussulman sabjects. Her object is to convinee the believers in Islam that she is far more toler- saut to their faith than England is. Tue scheme may yet give her the supremacy in Central Asia. The English press regards it as sinfal and sharp. Archibishop Manning said, in a paper read Dec. 23, that the * doctrine that nations should be put bbove churches as objects of affection and loyalty must be regarded as Pagaoism re- vived.” This wicked world holds & good many Pagans. A CARD FRCM EX-MAYGR MASON. To the Editor of The Clicago Tribune: Sm: My attontion has been called to an arti- cle in your paper of Jan. 12, 1874, entitled “ Ex- Afayor Medill’s Answer to tho Criticisms on His Administration,” I regret to sce that Mr. Medill, in his comments upon his own Adminis- tration, has permitted himself to cast axpersions upon thet of his predeceasor. Once before he has, in & message to the Council, used Jangusge of similar purport, which was yet too vague to call for a reply. Under all the circumstances, I thinks it proper for me now to say, in this public manner, that his reflections upon my Adminis- tration are unfounded and unjust. I propose to make this spparent in a ttstement, now in gmpmfiw. of the condition of tho city finances uring my Administration, for which, as soon 48 it is completed, T shall ask, as T do for this card, as prominent & place in yoar columns as vou have given to Ar. Medill's article, and I doubt mot you will cheerfully comoly wilh my roquest. Respecifully yours, R.B. oX. AMUSEMENTS. . THE OPERA. i Flotow has written iwo or threo operas of | late which have not been & success. ‘His most recent one—* Haida "—has just made a failure, and the composer. it is reported, is growing sour and misanthropical. It yould almost scem es it | his old operas, which havo been the good Inck of 80 many seasons, have also commenced to wane in their popularity. * Siradella,” charming aa it is, is virtually shelved, and * Martha™ no longer is magical, as of old, to drawcrowds to devour its musical confectionery. It bogins to pall upon the appetite. Ting was the case lst evening at the second performance of the sea- son. The sudience was Doka large one, although the performance was an admirable one and de- serving of an immenso attendance. A more beautiful Mariha, a more sprightly Nancy, or more passionate Lionel bave rarely played their pretty gome of love upon our local stoge. Tho cast was as follows : In tho general cusemble of the performanco of “Martha " there bas raroly been a botter one here. Tius was due to the fact that there were no weak spots in it. Not only the leading parts ware” strongly cast, but the secondary roles were also well filled. For once, there were a Tristan aud Sherif on the stage who cozld | sing,—a Tristan who could both act aod sing, aud & Sherif who was not a clown. The choruses also were well given, and there was o conductor ot the head of tho instrumental force who knew how to give the tempos as they snould be given, which added greatlyto tho effect, especially in Zthe fair scene, which was made very sprnghtly and vi- vacious, even without the aid of the pie- turesque and grotesque applances so often set forit. As a rule, Muziois notspanng of the voices, but his exact tempos, and his power 2nd decision of leading, make & splendid sup- port for them. The representation was a peculiarly interest- ing one, as it 'was the occasion of the debut of Mile. Torriani. The reception which was accord- ed her, acd the hearty spplause which greeted Ler during the evoning were indicative of & suc- ceas which will make her s decided popular fa- vorite long before the season is over. The fact is one upon which she may woll congratulate herself, especially as sbe Sccuved the success norwithstanding the fact_that she had evidently not recovered from her indisposition. She has everything in_her favor, youth, freshness, o five figure, and a handsome ftace. The openiug cene, which was & perfect pictura of languid- ness snd ennni, told what sho was as an actress, end from tlus scena to the close, in all the varying_ phases of naivete, coquotry, garnestness, and love, eho displayed o keen appreciation of tho ealient points of the cheraccer and fine _dramatic skill in interpeting them. Her voice is of admirable quality, cspecially a5 to freshness and ehows & good Echool. The middle voice isfull and round- od and the upper deliciously besatiful and clear. The ouly weakness is on the lower notes, wlich are sometimes thin and lack strength to compete with 8 powerfut orchestra. In the rapid musical cmbellishments of the first and sccond acts, her voice displayed grest tlexibility, both in trills aad staccato rans, the latter of which were very clear and crisp. Her priucipal number, *The Last Rose,” although it nearly always fails somewhat jn effect when sung in Italian to an American sudience, was an exquisite piece of voealization, given without extraneous embel- lishment and with & passionato feeling and quict_earnestoess which wero all the more effective, as set sgainst Capoul’s domonstrative end wigorous love-making in the same scene. 'fho encore was one of ihe heartiost this favorite number has ever received here. Alle. Torriani’s debut may be tet down as a positive and unequivceal success, which will be even more pronounced when shoe has recovered from her indisposition. Misa Carv was a delightfal Nancy, and played and sang the part as 1f ehe had bean accustomed toit for years. Thero wore none of the usual signs of crudenesa which uppear in the ropre- ontations of beginners. Her music was sung with perfect ease, and her etrong, rich voico has never been more effective. In the dramatic personation of tho role, also. she was arch and miachievons, and even rollickiug, without once overstopping the bounds of s genuine refine- ment. Capoul is ovidently a tenor who means busi- nese. An electrical cel could not be more livelr or positive in its demosirations thanhe. There is many a tenor with such avoice as his, who would be a flat failure. His earnestness some- times iy carried so far that it becomes almost amusing. There ia nothing which he docs, from moving & chair to makiog love which he docs not do all over, body and sonl, and with a sudden- ness of preparation and nervousness of manner, which produce o feeling of delightful uncertai 1y a3 to the result he isabout to achiove. Wil out a voico rowarkable either for quality or quautity, and marred by frequent falsettos, aad wWith & peculiar and indescribable physical man- nerist in tne use of his voice, he is neverthe- Tess an effective tonor with very tolling points. Tove-making is evidently his forte, 08 was shown in the Rose scene, where Lo attacked Martha with an earnestness and realistic parsion suflli- cient for Raoul, Faust, Manrico avd Edgardo combined. He 18 8 consumimate actorin this respect, with a splendid dash lkewise of true Trench vivacity and abaudon. Thero is no dan- wer that the interest will ever lag with Capoul ou the stage ; and there is no danger that he will ever be unwelcome to any audience. Siguor Del Pucnte was an acceptable Plunkell, and sang his music very eiucerely, but he is not up to the standard of mauy of the Plunkells who have been bere before. The minor parts, as we have said before, were well taken, and the gereral performance was & very commendable and pleasing one. “I'his evening Madame Nileson will make her first appearance in the ** Huguenots,” the cast being s follows: De Nevers. Alarra WISE AND LIQUOR DEALERS. The New York Socicty to Request an Amendment of the ‘Tarifi and Reve enue Laws. Special Dispatch to The Chicago Tridune. NeW Yong, Jan. 13.—At the regular monthly meet- ing to-day, of the Wine end Spirtts Traders' Soclety, member of tho Committeo’on Legislation made a lozg report in which the Committes advised important changes in the Revenue laws,and stated what steps they hiad taken to securs the needed amendments, It was then decided o request tho President in the name of the Society to communicate with members of Con- gress, desiring Lim to present to tho House the follow- fug resolution, which embodies the suggestions of the Committee on Legislation, “Resolred, That tae Committee of Ways and Means Do directed to consider the feasibility of changing the present mode of impozing duties upon wine, viz.: ‘mized, specific, and ad valorem duties, in such 3 way 28 to secure the simplifying of the collection of kail duties, while baving regard for an increased ravenues; o to consider the feasibility of so changing the resent tax upon spirits :s to dispense with certain Processes of stamping now required, Which, whilo wholly nnpmductive of additional revenue, Lre a very great hinderanc to legitimata trade. ‘Charles Bellows, President of the Council, then read loug and elaborate scries of suggestions for changes in the tari(T and internal revenue lew, which Were xe- ferrod to the Committee on Legislation. MEMPHIS. A Disgraceful RRow in the Council- Chambere-Noble Action of the Elow= ard Association. Mzpas, Jan, 13.—A moet disgraceful ecene was enacted in tho Board of Aldermen -last nmight. Ald. Devis, of tho Third Ward, rising to o personaiex- planation to charges in regard to an attempt to brive Ald. Dent, of the Fifth Ward, to voie for hum for Chairman, was interrupted by Dent, who spuse of Davis' a3 3 *villain” Davis retorted, *You're o Mar” Dent rushed ot him, ool attempted tostrike him. Dent drew a piatol, but was seized by the Chief of Polize, Several of Davis' friends attempt- ed to striko Dent efter he was in custody, and 3 gener- al meleo ensued, Desks were broken and chairs knocked over. Reporters collired an Alderman wio was trylag to throw a beavy inkstand at Dent. Fioally the Jatter was marched Off to tho station-house aud required to put upa forfeit for his appearance 3, when he was fined $30, and_requirod to give bond tn $3,000 for .his appearsnce at the C: Court to anawer. At a meoting of the Howara Association las the following resolution wes adopted : ‘Wakzzas, It comes 0 us that thare is great destitu. Gonsequent suffering among th: certain séctions, 01 c3paciaiie in the Lirge wiie oF various States’ that contributed %0 gemerous) to the rellef of our sick end e tote durlag the late yellow fever pestilen it fa the scuse of thip Atsociation that $30,000 of 5} 3,000 now fn onr hands be placed to the credit of h, eeveral Siates in proportion to tho amount contribgs. :,lt(&z us byll}mm, the mmeto bo drazn ¢ they may 2cd or eail for, the remainder to bo ke sick and suffering, i G FARMERS’ CO-OPERATION, Annual Meeting of the Kansas Farme. ery? Co-operative Associntione-En. cournging Address of President Da. vise=Elcction ok Oflicers. Special Dispateh to The Chicajo Tribune, Torexa, Kan,, Jan. 13.—Tho annual meeting of the Farmers' Co-operative Association of the State of FKanssa convened in Representative Hall this evening 3t 7 o'clock. "It was callod for 10 o'elock this morning, but was postponed, owing to the nnusual interest attending the orginizaton of the Legislature, Thiz Asscciation was organized in March, & constitution adopted, officers elected, and several committees ap- pointed to report at tho present mocting, with a view to recommend needed legislation, John Dads, ot -Junction City, was elected President, and Alfred Gray, Secrefary. Among tho committees sppointed, the most important were ona to oxamine tlie affairs of thy Agriculteral Coilege, and another to consult with the various railroad Managers, with s view to sug- gest leglslation for the regulafion Jof frailway traneportation, The first business transacted, to- night, wss the appointment o entiate, after which Me. Daviar :h?flfiiigfzg:‘?xfh!: ered an ddress, e reviewed the operatiuus of the Association siuce its orgonization, congratulated his hezrers on the succeds which bad ttouded the united efforts of the furmers, in the political field, and pre- dicted exeellent results therefrom as well in the Lecls. Iature of the present winter s in the coming pobitie cal cauvass, He made 3 strong argument iz favor of the Grauges, and defended thie secret featars of tiow with spaet! Mo also spoke warmly in fa- vor o - THE PRINCIPLE OF CO-OPERATION . in its practical application 0 the every-duy necessities of the farmers, The tinancial situation was treated rathes tedionsly and confusedly. The total abolition of the National Banking syatem was urgod, and - gently needed reforms in the systems’ of ns tional and State tamation recommended. The unequal operation of the tariff was clearly shown, Perhaps, tho most curious suggest tiou profferod by the speaker was that members of Congress aud other oflicers should be liable to ime ent by o two-thirds vote of the people. Tha precticebility of the scheme, however, was not thor- oughly demonstrated. C, W. Green, of Jacksonville, 1N, Crop Reporter and Secretary of the National Agricultural Congrees then sddressed the Association, Me expiained in detall the method adopted by his journal in the eecuriug, arrangement, and publication of repors of the condition of the yarions crops, snd dwelt upon the Lmportance of the &ystom to the producer. He gisclaimed ull sclf-eeking in the matter, but urged the co-operation of the farmers of Kansas in gathering and treusmitting the necessary reports from their various.localities at stated periods. ~Cant. George T, Authony, lateof the Kansas Farmer, and now Collector of Internal Revenue, made 3 vigorous argument for the retention of OUR PRESENT BASKING SYSTEM. THis remarks wers carneat aud_cloariy detivered, and crested considerable enthusiasm, Tha discussion of {his question was further coztinu:d by Stato Senator Brouson, Capt. Antlioay, and the President of the As- Boclatior. _After which the Committeo on Credentialy Teported about 100 delegates us entitled to seata. The President was authorized to sppoint Committees on Na- tional Finance, Transportation, Texation, Political In. tegrity, Political Action, and resolutions o be announc. ed Lereafter. Alr. Grees, of Illinois, was sunounced ta speak to-morrow night on the general subject of THE FARMERS' MOVEMENT, John Dawes was re—elected for the ensuing year, and the other officers wero mainly re-elected. *The Assoclation, which will probably continue its seasions until Thursdsy, or later, adjeurned tll to-morraw, when the annual reports will be presented. AGRICULTURAL. The Coming Convention of the Wiss consin Siate Societies. Special Dispatch to The Clicago Tribune. ArLwAUREE, Jan. 13.~Tho approaching Joint Con veution of the Wisconsin Agricultural and Horticult« ural Socleties i3 attracting some ottention, an unusz, ally large gathering of farmers being expected, Among the strangers will be several well-known mex, prominent among the furmers of Iilinofs, notably the Ton. W. C. Flagg, President of the Illinois State Farme ers’ Association, who will dcllver the annual address, Fotlowiug ia the. full programme, a8 at present ar- ranged : Wedneadsy ovening, Feb. 4, at 7:30 p. m., annual addreas before & Joint Convention of the Agricultaral 2nd Horticultural Societies, in the Ase~mbly Chambery by the Hon. W. C. Flagg, President Illinois Farmers' Association. Also, brief Temarks by the Hom.W. R Taglor, President of the State Agrcultural Soclety, and J. 5, Stickney, President of tha State Horticultoral Society. Thursdas—Sessions ia the Agricultural Roome from 95.m. 101 p. m... and from 210 G p. m., &t Which p- pers will beread and discussions had. At 7:30 p., Zadress in the Assembly-Chamber, by S. D. Carpenter, Fsq., upon * Production aud Consumption, portation, Population, and Tazation.” Friday—Sessions from 9 3. . to1 p. ., 2 t 6 and 7:3010 10 p. m., 1m the Agricultural Hooms, where an adress wil bo dalivered by T. C. Chamberlin, Professor of Neturel Histor, Beloit Colicge, and the reading of papers and discusalons will be continued. Pupers upon the following subjects bave been prom- ized by t&e persons named : 8. D. Corpenter—* Production _and Cansamption, Transportation, Pornlation, and Tazation.” Thie Importance of Manafsce Advautages in Wisconsin for Sach » 173. Chestor Hazen, President of the Wisconain Dairy- men's Asaoclation—+Patrons of Husbundry—Tbe Benefits which Farmers Ought to Derive {rom tha Order.” ‘The Hon, Hiram Bmith—Dairy-farming 34 a0 Bz~ clusive Occupation. ‘Prof, L. A. Lapham—Relstions of Geology to Agr~ culture. Col, . IL Chasc—The_Atmosphere, & Consarvatar of Animal and Vegetable Life. J. C. Plamb—Horticulture of the Farm, Tne Hon, Levi Alden—Education of Parmers’ Sans and Daughters. 3. M. Smith—General Intelligence 1o Farming. —Swine. The Ken. C. K, Dean—The best meana $o secure the legitimate encs of the Wisconsin State Agricultural Soclety, Mrs, Helen M. Britell Huntly— N. £. Allen—Corn-Reising. Tue Hon. M. Anderson— Eiliott 1. Benton—Relstion of Small Freeholls to the Property of the State. Prof, 8. i, Carpenter—Industrial Education. Secretary W. W. Field—Practical Tuouglts. 0. 8. Willey, ex-Secretary State Horticulrural So- clety—Horticulture! What is it?—2Means for its et~ couragement with the average farmer. Clinton Babbitt—The Dty of Wisconsin Farmars to the State and MNatlon, — - INSURANCE. The Snbject ns Viewed from o Hile wanlee Standpoint. Special Dispatch to The Chicago Tribune. MrLwarkEE, Wis., Jap. 13,.—I0 a conversation with your correspondent this morning, on the subject of = surance and tazation in Milwaukee, a prominent Ak dermen showed by figures that ho is paying not lews then 333 per cent of his entir income from butk ness in the sbape of insurance premiums sad cliy tazes, Mo is preparing statistics, to be presentad to the Common Counc:l shortly, showing bow grievou § burden is being thus borns by the businggs mes thecity. The fgures ara CONCLUSIVE AND STARTLING. m The question of imposiug a further tax UpoD & earuings of the insurance compauies will Le 3de £:o Subject of a special repo:t to the Common Coucl by Tho. Legislative Commnttee ina few days. The co panics at present aro required by Statelsw topey & fidte tax of 2 per cent cn all the premiticd received thronghout the State, and 1o tiou to this 2 al miuma recerved i ot Department, to the City Tressury. mup‘t‘.ru(mp;uxlfi from the payment of all orl.:;r S‘fiy county, and municipal taxes, except TpOD Xeal SO0 The proposition to be made by tuo Legislative mittee, it is uncerstood, will boto | BAISE THE LOCAL procesds to b8 Io favir 105 per cent of the premiums, . the applied to the Fire sud Water Departments. i of this, tho Common Council—baviug been cmsiey —apper to bo slmost a uait. Tne ;fim-mx are, that the Companies have great rates without o bause and without 3 mrtuw::’:?_ inctease of risk, and_that tho coustruction of SIS works by tho city, at 3 cost of ovar $2,000,( s actually greatly reduced the risk, Part of thp BUFNC of paying this cost, the Councilors3f, ough! b4 borsie by the insurance companies; aud the ;pa:m‘ the Conimittee will recommend that steps e Yo secure the porsage of the Wl BY FS present Leglslature, a:uctioning the incressed 1% year, unless the companies voluntarily LOWER THEIR BATES e to the former standard. Your corzespondent, desTFR0 fo give the otlier side of the question €gusl PLIT Dente, raw a member of the Bourd of Tndermaitin: who £aid that he considered the m;:r:i»q ith e Decessary, a8 the companies wero as well swary body that their risk would be decressod bY W“W pletion of water-works, and that, 88 3908 5% o ‘works were {n full running-order, which they¥% o 1 now, he had 0o doubt whateser tha the Board &4 B Qerwriters aud Nations) Board would take rteps 55, dnce the rates proportionately to toe reductiod & OXE OF THE PEOPOSITIONS 1made by citizens who huve ceased 10 ainiity 10 pay the high premiums, is that men of each block should pool their Foiouices Moo thelr own insurers, It s stated it & Ui zmount of lasurance fs now effected with CE compenies and agents, at 50 per ot lmm e charged uere, Ono instance was mentioned of 870 nery, where the vats were rated st 43 cents, progrietor. went to Chicago aud effcctod his insunsn® for 3 cents. P ) BOSTON SCHOOL COMMmEE-WOiE.fl- ., Jan, 13.—Miss May xnd AL n&,"fi&i&"& ety .h‘:’u& mmm Comumittee, were cdmitted to 6ats &Y mfim night, Ths legulity of theis aletics. ¥ &