Chicago Daily Tribune Newspaper, January 23, 1874, Page 4

4 THE CHICAGO DAILY TRIBUNE: FRIDAY, JANUARY 23, 1874. R S R NP S GV R g S SN e - o e Sl il ot s i s e e s e o BB D P U S POV P 0 e O S (L TERMS OF THE TRIBUNE. ZETRME OF EUBSCRIPTION (PATABLE IN ADVANCE). EARSEE Partsof s year at the sxme rate. o provent delay and mistakes, be sure and give Post OF ce addrezs tn fall, including State and Connty. Remittances may be made either by draft, oxprezs, Post Ofl.ce ouder, or in re sistered letf-s, at ourrisk. TERMS TO CITT SUBSCRIDERS. Daily, delivered, Sandsy excepted, & cente per week. Dail:, aelivered, Sunday included, 30 cents per week. Addreas THE TRIBUNE COMPANY, Corner Madison and Uearbota. Chicago, Ill. TO-DAY'S AMUSEMENTS. M'VICKER'S THEATRE—Madison street, betweon Drarborn and~ State. Engagement of the Strakosch Opora-Tronpe. * Alda.” «d Monrve, Eagagement of £8 a5 bodss Feiand " 4nd + Bolon S SIC—Halsted street, et Mad- ACADEMY OF MU: o atfu; (gasn Mad- hingle.™ HOOLEY'S THEATRE-Randoloh strest, between * Falso Shame."” Ciark and LaSalle. ¢ GLOBE THEATRE—Desplainesstreet, botween Mad- S100 an3 T astintton. Eogigement of Shatples, Sheridan & Mack’s Minstrels. MYERS' OPERA-HOUSE AMonroe strest, between Dearboru ang Siste. Arlington, Minstrels. ** L Slippers Day.™ Cotton, and’ Kemble's Minstreley and comi- - Fridsy Morning, January 23, 1874. Congress is pointedly requested by the Wis- consin Senate to submit to the people an amend- ment to the United States Conatitution forbid- ding any Conrgess to increase its own salaries. The Wisconsin Grangers resolved sesterdsy that the taxation of railroads should be incressed to5 percent, and that the United States Gov- ernment should provide currency encugh to do away with any danger of panic. A currency a8 good as gold would ba enongh. Senator Hampton introduced s bill in the Leg- iclature yesterday for arepeal of the act insor- porating the Roman Catholic Bishop of Chicago. He 8aid that the letter was communicated to him by & Roman Catholic clergymen of Chicago, whose letter is given in our report, but without the name. s S—— Some time ego John W. Cartwright, oneof the Receivers of & bankrupt insursace company of Boston, wes sentenced to six months' imprison- ment for using the money of the Company for his private purposes, aod he appesled the case. Thst judgment has now been afirmed, the Court expressing in strong terms its con- _ demnation of his conduct. The House Committee of Ways and Means upanimously reported & bill to determine the assumed uncertainty as to the maximum amoant of 1égal-tender notes to be issued by the Trease ury Department. The bill declares the amount to be $200,000,000, which sum shall never be ex- ceeded. The effect of the bill is to legalize the unauthorizec issne of $4,000,000 of legal-ten- ders by Secretary Richardson. Persussion is the new agency which it is pro- posed in the Wisconsin State Grauge to bring to bear on extortionate railroads. " A resolution hes been introduced in the Grange Convention at Fanesville, in which the railroads are requested to reduce their rates for freight and passengers. Gov. Taylor isalso recommended to appoint committees to approach the chief railroads with the same tactics. Thé resolutions have not been acted on. There is a good deal of talk sbout bringing producers and consumers together, but there is . little hope of uniting them on the tariff, what- «over may be the result in regard to the trans- portation question. A number of the consum- ers of iron and steel met yesterday in Boston, and formed an associstion to obtain the reduc- tion of the duties on iron andsteel, At the last meeting of the American Iron and Steel Associn- tion (producers) Congress was asked to incresse these duties. ———e The Anti-Moropolists in the Tows Legislature have yielded the Republicans the Speaker, and, through him, the Cheirmen of all the standing committees. They get for themselves the other officers of the House, and the Chairmen and a msjority of all the Investigating Committees. Thers sro no Investigating Committees, of course, yet ordered, and the value of these fu- ture Chairmen znd majorities dependsaltogether upon the resoarces of the Anti-Manopolists for getting the Committees ordered in tho face of & hostile Speaker and s tie vote. Tha‘h!innesn'.l Legislature has taken action looking to the assimilation of the Chippewa Indians with the people of that State, and be- coming citizens thereof. Jn the same Legisla- ture, on a debate on the destitation among the Vermilion Lake Indinns, it was stated that the food-supplies guarantoed by treaty to those In- dians bad been delayed st Duluth several weeks through the neglect of the Indian Agent. It was frther stated that of the $1,900 worth of sup- plics gunranteod by treaty, the Agent hsd re- tamed §700 worth to-pay the cost of transporta- tion on the rest. The interference of the tow-boat monopolists of New Orleans with the work of dredging the mouth of the Missiesippi is likely to be sum- merily stopped. When the chonnel is made navigeble to New Orleans for occan-going ves- sels their occupation will be gone, aud, to pre- vent the consummation of this nationsl good, they bave been sinking barges and other ob- structions in the river. A bill has been ap- provea by the Senate Commerce Committes giving the Secretary of War jurisdiction over the mouth of the Mississippi, and, if it is passed by Congress, ke will have the upper band of these pubiic enemies. Secretary Richardson appesrs as & Tariff-Ro- former, though not of the radical sort. In a letter to the Senate Commerce Committee, ho suggests that the Teriff acts should be revised and consolidated,—not & bad thiug to do, as there are more then adozen of them in operation, and favors the substitntion of specific for ad vaiorem duties wherever possible. Moieties £nd iuformers, he says, should be abolished, bat when smuggling Lias been detected, ona-tenth of tho goods should go to the seizing officer and the informer. Provision might be made for in- formers-out of a special fund. The abolition of the whole system of compromising fines and forfeitares is urged, as well as theamendment of, the law undsr wbich the books and papers of busizess men are so unrighteonely seized. P — The Chicago produce markets were more ac- tive yesterdsy, and most of them were easier. Mess pork was quiet, and 20c per brl lower, closing firm at $14.15 cash, and $14.25 seller the lower, closiog firm at £8.95@9.00 cash, and $9.00@9.05 seller February. Meats were active and unchanged, at 54c for shoulders, 63¢c for “short ribs, 73{c for short clear, and 93@10¢ for sweet pickled hams. Dressed hogs were dull and nominally 10c @ 100 s loser, at $5.10@5.20. Highrwines wero quict and easicr 80 9534@96c per gallon. Flour was dull and un- changed. Wheat was moderately active and 3{c higher, closing weak at $1.22)¢ cash and $1.23% seller Febrnary. Corn was active, and declined 2o per bu, closing dull at 58c cash and 58X seller February. Oats wera more active, and a shade firmer, closing at 413fc cash, and 42 seller February. Rye was quiet and unchanged, 8t 77c for regular. - Barley was more active, and 5@6c higher, closing at §1.52@1.523¢ for No. 2 and $1.84@1.85 for No. 8. ' Mr. Morton submitted to the Senate yesterday a very sensible resolution providing for the ap- pointment of a Board of five Commissioners to exsine aud report what legislation is necessary in regard to inter-State railroads to promote, 1, the speedy transportation at reasonable rates of freigh{s and passengers; 2, the safety of pas- sengers by requiring inspection of bridges, tracks, locqumotives, 2nd cars; 3, the reform of any abuses'1n extoition or uujust discriming- tions; 4, generally what regulations are ncces- sary to advance the eflicioncy of railroads, the interests of commerce, and the coavenience and safety of passengers. Such a report if made by competent persons would tend to more intelli- gent action by Congress than can be had in the absence of such information. Mr. Boutwell yesterday addressed the Senate upon the subject of finances. He opposed any increase in the volume of the carreucy, and at the same time opposed any reduction of it. He stated that it had been tbe custom fora long time for the banks of New York to pay interest on deposits; that practico had attracted the paper currency to that city. There was infla- tion and speculation, followed by disaster and ruin; and he considered & general inflation of the currency of the country would be followed by like rerults. He thought that the 1ssue of the $44,000,000 ought never to have been questioned, and hoped that the matter would now bs determined. The Trensury Depariment, in using a part of it, had acted on the ides that it could be used whenever there was a necessity for it, though it was to be retired when the exi- gency had passed., He did uot understand that the Department was to add the £44,000,000 to the volame of currency, the smount of which to be kept in circulation he understood to be 2356,- 000,600. He opposed the plau of a currency convertible into bonds, and did not consider spe- cie payments poegible. 3 The Lafayette, Bloomington & Mississippi Railroad, which has now & double-headed Di- rectory, extends from Lafayette Junction in Indiana to Bloomington in Illinois, a distance of 116 miles, of which 80 miles are in Illinois. The Company was incorporated in this State in 1867, but languished until the towns and counties along the route had subscribed to the capital stock. The municipal subseriptions were to the amount of §467,000 of capital stock. The whole amonnt of capital stock was 1,000,000, and the remaming 533,000 was given to the Con- struction Company, together with 81,300,000 first mortgage bonds. Upon the comple- tion of the road, the Directors exe- cated a lease of the road to the Toledo, ‘Wabash & Western Railway Company, the leseeea sssuming payment of interest on the bonded indebtodness. The road is now run ss the * Bloomington Division of the Toledo, Wabash & Western Railvay.” Under this arrango- ment the municipal stockholders were practically excluded from all voice in the mabagement of the rosd, and all participation in the earnings. Their stock was supposed to be dead. But the recent exrositions of common law made by Judge Tipton showed that it was only in & coma- tose state, and was liable to be revived and to become exceedingly frisky—aa in fect it did at the last election of Directors. THE LEGAL ASPECTS OF CURRERCY INFLA- TION, _ The inflationists, in and out of Congress, have practically carried the circulation of legal-tender notesuptothe original limit of $400,000.000. The £44,000,000 redeemed in 1867 has been reissued by the Becretary of the Treasury, or soon will be, and it is cow proposed, by a species of post- mortem legislation, to legalize the transaction. But the incresse of the legal-tender issue to £400,000,000 falls far short of what is demanded. What the inflationists want is an indefinite issue of greenbacks, more or less, according to cir- cumstances. There are some legal objections to this scheme which, perhape, these gentlemen have overlooked. These are: 1. That the last act of Congress making an issue of legal-tendor notes pladged the faith of the Goverument that the whole sum issued or to be issued should never exceed $400,000,000. 2. That the Supreme Court of the United States virtually declared that the act creating such notes a legal-tender in payment of debts was only constitutional 88 an sct of necessity during the existence of war. In the first case, Hepburn vs. Griswold, 8 Wallace, 603, the Supreme Court of tho United Stetes de- cided that the Legal-Tender act was unconstita- tional go far 08 it made greenbacks legal-tender in payment of debts contracted before the date of the law. In that case, three dissenting Judges held that the Legal-Tender act was a war measure warranted by the general power of Con- gresa to provide for the national defonse, of the expediency of which Congress was the exclusive judge, but allowing that under ordinary circnm- stauces such an act would not be constitutional. Congross thercupon increased the number of Judges, sand, ome of the majority of the Court resigning, two new Justices were appointed, with the expectation, if not the understandiog, thot the decision in Hepburn vs. Griswold would ba reversed. Theopportunity was soon furnisned, and in Knoz vs. Lee, 12 Wallace, 457, & majority of the Court overraled the previous decision, aod held that the act making gieenbacks a legal-tender applied to contracts made prior to tho passage of the law aswell 88 to those ‘made afterwards. Judges Chanse, KNelson, Clifford, and Field, who re- mained on the Becch and participeted i the former case, repeated their opinion asto the no- constitutionality of the Legal-Tendér act os ap- plied- to prior contracts, and Judge Bradley, one of the new Justices. concurring with the major- 1ty in the case of Knox vs. Lee, said : It follows a8 snother corolary from the views which I have expressed that the power to make Treas—, ury notes a legui-t.nd r, wli:ta mere incldental ono 0 that of isswing the notos themselves and to one of the forms of borrowing mones, is nevertheless & power not to be resorted to excopt upon extraordinary and ‘occasions, such as war or other public exigen~ 1o longer exerted than all the circumstances of the casedemand. He dozs not, it is true, make it a war measure, but Le finds no authonty for maling Treasury notes a legal-tender eave in some pressing emergency of the nation, when sclf-preserva- tion overrides all other considerations. It is true that since these decisions were announced there have been additional changes in the Court. Chief-Justice Chase and Justics Nelson bave deceased, and their places have been filled by others; nevertheless, the argument of all the Judges who afirmed the constitutionality of the Legal-Tendor act as to past contracts romains, that such a proceeding is warranted only in the presence of & war, or some great national exigen- oy, where all private rights yield to the necessi- ty of preserving the life and existence of the na- tion. Itis therefore a matter &5 mear certainty 88 anything can be assumed to' be a certainty in jurisprodence, that the Bupremo Cowt would deny the conetitutionality of a new Le- gal-Tender act at & time when the country is m & condition of profound peace, and when there 18 no difficulty in tho Government raising suffi- cient revenue by taxes or by loan. The act limiting the issue of legal-tender notes to $400,000,000 has, of course, no other binding force than the pledgo of the national bonor. It is to bo hoped that this consideration has not wholly lost its force with the American people. The imperious necessities of war, to which so much has been conceded, no longer exist ; conditions have changed, and there can be nothing at this time 8o conducive to national credit and to the perpetuity of national exist—~ ence ns firm adherence to the plighted faitn of the Government, made at & time when it was environed with the perils of civilwar. Bat, whether this consideration prevails or not, tho inflationists have & lugh walland adeep ditch to clemb over in the Suprems Court, and they cannot fail to take that obstacle into considera- tion. BANEKRUPT FUND DEPOSITORIES, The recout action of the Executive Committeo of the Chicago Clearing-House Association Lav- ing brozght in question the solvency of the Mezchants' National Bauls ‘f this city, it raises also another question as to who is responsible for the §250,000 of bankrupt funds deposited there, in caso the bank canuot pay in fall. It appears fat while tho Circnit and District Courts of this district have of their own mo- tion established a monopoly of the custody of bankrupt fands 1n one or two banks in this city, tho banks thus designated are not required to give any bond or otber spocial security such as is commanly required of parties hold- ing aoy other important public or trust ionde. In every other stsp of proceedings in bankruptey, where individuals or corporations exercise authority in the disposal of the funda of s bankrupt estate, they are required to give satisfactory bouds for the security of the money while under their control. At the request of any creditor, the Coutt is required by the Bank- | rupt law to direct that tho Assignee shall give bonds ; the Ragister in Bankruptcy who counter- signa the checks of the Assigneo 1s required to give bonds ; and even & suitor appesling from & decision of the District Court is required to give bondd. Thus i every case, except tne last and most importast owe of holaing the funds of tha bankrupt pendmg their distribution to tho creditors, security 18 required of every one having anything to do with tuem. It will probably be argued that, in the designation of these special depositories for bankrupt 1unds, the Court becomas morally responsible for their solvency. But we fail toseo how this adds to the security of the creditors, since no pecuniary responmbility govs with it, and, even if it wore othorwise, the Judge is not nsually s man of sufficient property to stand in the position of bondsman for the bank he designates. Bat there is nothing in the Bankrupt law which compels the Court to accept eny responsbility, aud cer- teinly nothing which warrants the Court in mal- | ing s monopoly ¢ the keeping of bankrupt fands by designating only one or two banks, as is the case in this city. There iz arule of the Supremo Court of the Urited States which provides that the Court muy designate **certain National Banks " in the district aa depositories of bank- rupt funds, but the rule does ot say how many, aud is open to tho construction that a separate bank may be designated for every baukrupt estate. In equity, the creditors shonld be en- titled to the sanw choice in the stlection of the place where thp mondy is to be deposited 88 they are in the choice of an Aesignee. If the Court assames to relieve the Assignce of responsibility in this moet important act of his office, the object of the creditors in selecting him may be to & great extent defeated. The authority given the Courts in the Bankrapt law and in the rulings of the Supreme Court, to appoint one or more banks as depositories of baukrupt funda, is only permissive, not compul- sory. 1t is a pkin proposition, Lowever, that if the Courts are to assume the risk of ‘the safe- keeping of lmnkiapt fands on bebalf of the General Governmergt, of which they are & part, the money sbould b deposited in the United States Treasury. If* thig is not done, let the creditors, who are the- partics in interest, and who really own the-money realized from baukrupt estatos, take the risk and responsibyulity them- selves. *. COMPULSORY EDTCATION, On Tuesday last 2 bill passed one branch of the Illinois Legislature to make education in the primary branches of knowledge compulsory This matter, which is'one of very grave impor- tance, bas dardly been-made the subject of gon- eral discassion. The uction of the Legisiaturs, slthough eudden and unexpected, is commend- able, and we think will meet the approval of the people. The theary of mon-interference, strictly car- ried out, forbids the Staterto compel the educa- tiop of its children. Suclr compulsion is an ia- fringement of individual Dberty. It interferes with some of the closast domestic relations, those batween parent and child. By making the neglect or refusal to send childcen to school a crime, it increases the number of mala prolab- ila, abd 170 makes the infringement of all laws more copamon. Moreover, it bears with' barsh- ness, inésome cases, upan the poor. It deprives them of tne earnings of their offspring, snd forces tkiem to pay, whenever they can, bLills for elates nnd pencils, and stationery and books. These zre the main evils of compulsory educa- tion, avated fairly and as fully as space permuts. Wo propose to consider them, one by oBe. 1. 'he tneory of non-interference must yield whemsver it comes into conflict with the doc- trine -of the grestest good of the greatest num- ber. Logically carried out, it would forbid our City Government to dig sewers, to build bridges, to support & library, to maintain water- works, th fix firo limits, to form a fire depart- preszing Februasy. Lard was mors active, aud 100 P 100 | cien of great gravity and importance, and shonid be | ment. X.ogically carried out, it would forkid cur National Government to carry letters, pay postal money-orders, or coin money. And es- pecially wouldit forbid the State to impose taxes to support public schools. I 2. Any Government mast somewhat infringo jndividual liberty. Tho price for sharing in the benefits of societyis the surrender of some portion of our rights. How large the poriion shall be depends upon expediency. And so, while the fact that compuisory education in- fringes upon individual liberty creates & presumption sgainst it, that presumption hes no weight if tho expediency of the system is made clear. 8. Present luws interfero (and must do so) with a!l domestic relations, There is already o Imass of legislation on the relations of husband snd wifeand of parest and child, The law Tecognizes the right of a child to food, clothing, and shelter. It compals the parent to give him these, but nobody complains sgainst this inter- ference with privato concerns. Hereafter, we hope the law of Iilinois is to recogoize the right of a child to mental as well as physical food. It is a higher right, for its exercise ia woro boueil cio}, its neglect more harmful, to the child end “the world. If Le does not get food for the body. bo will die 20d neither suffer thereafter himself nor do barm to anybody else. Bat if his mwind alono is starved, ho will probably Live wretehedly himself and be a thora in the s:de of the Lody- politic. As long 8 a parent gives a child bis tights, the law does not interfere. When ho faily to do so, it ought to interfere. 4. Whilo the tendency of all lows which add to the nuwber of mala prohibita is undoubtedly towards contempt for law in general, this ten- dency may be connteracted. lu this case itis more than counteracted by the instruction the Iaw guerantees to all children, for taat instruc- tion is the surest proventive of law-breaking. 6. If it is a hardahip to tho poor maa to de- privo him of the services of his child, it is a greator hardship to the child to doprive hizm of cducation. 1If some parents 816 nbsolutely uns- ble to buy books for their chiidron, means will be found to furnish them, either by private charity or public funds. = Universal educationis tho basis of popular government.” It increases s nation's wealth- producing power. It tends to prevent crime. The first proposition is saif-ovident. The other two are proved by statistics,—statistics whici were unquestioned till Herbort Spencer said that it would be found that nine out of ten comvicts wore suspendets, and that it would be as just to say that suspenders qaused critne as thet igno- rancedid. This unworthy quibble hss mode some converts. A suspender can make no ‘possible impression upon 8 man’s mind. Edu- cation muet make an impredsion. It makes the difference between great thooghts and petty ones or none at all, between lofty aspirations and groveling desites, Letween a knowledge of the fact that crime injures the criminal more than it does his victim and igno- rance of that fact, and oftontimes botween the sbility to subsist without knavery and the inability to do so. When, therefore, the crim- inal records of every country in the civilized sworld show, as they do, that the ignorant com- mit far more crimes in proportion to their num- ‘bers than the educated do, we have as certain proof that the power of knowledge extends to tho prevention or lessening of crime as we have that the sun will rise to-morrow. Since univer- s2l education, then, produces these three most valuable resalts, it is in tho highest degree ex- pedient to make education compulsory. The particular law now under consideration at Spring- field may be faulty, but the principle on which it is founded is manifestly right. JAPANNED AMERICAN FOSSILS. Recent developmeuts which have come to light in Japan are not very creditable to Ameri- cans holding office in that country under the auspices of the Japanese Goveinmext, sud will probably have a tendency to send tho Japaneso to other Governments when they are hereaf:ier in need of officials to assist them in their chase after Occidental civilization. 'he papeis from tbet country which have come to hand bittesly bewail the incapacity of two of these ofilcials, Mr. Hoiace Capron, who nominally hins charge of their Agricultural Department, and Mr. E. P. Smith, who wss employed by thom as & first- class jurist. At the time tho Japanese doter- mined to lay down the shovel and the koo of primitive times and adopt the iwplements and machinos of modern construction, Mr. Mori, their Minister at Washington, applied to the De- partmeat of State for o first-class Minister of Agriculture. The Secrltary of State hap- pened to have Gen. Cagron on hand, who was at that time showing bis iueficiency at $9,000 per annum st the head of our own Agricaltoral Deparimeut, mainly in sending to farmers seeds which would not eprout, and presiding over Duited States fairs with the dignity of the Great Mogul. Here wisa good opportunity to ship Capron to Japan, and, as the salary was $20,000 per annum, Capron was willing to bo shipped, C.0.D., to the Mikado. He was empowered to take subbrdinates with him, and chose three. The four ot once organized themselves into a kind of mutusl admiration society, under the higi-sounding title of the Japancse Scientific Commission, 2nd et sail for Yokehama to teach the Japsnese Low to plant, and mor, and reap, afier fha most approved modern faslion. The dignity and weight of the Japanesc Scieutific Commission did not sink the vessel which carried such precious freight. They landed in Japan and were récoived with eclat. They bad an audience with the Mi- kedo and numerous ceremonious visits from high officials, Themore completely ta impress his dignity upon the children of the Orient, Capron bad a large apartment fitted up for the reception of hia august visitors, at one end of which s raised dais served him for a throne, upon which no one dared sit but himself. The Commission had bardly got to work when a row broke out, and the three subordinates quit the Scientific Commission and set up for themselves in other business. This left Caprcn alone, and he has ever since been engaged in doing notbing 8:$20,000 per annum the same work he did bere for $3,600. The Japauese bave got dis- gusted with him, and he is disgusted with the Japaneso, but not to a sufficient degree to re- linguish his fat salary. This, however, is not the only burden which has been imposed upon the Japanese. Not long after the breaking up of the Scientific Commis- sion, they needed another man, They did not ‘understand the twists and turns of international law, and wero constantly getting into trouble with other nations, with whom their lessons in modern avilization brought them ioto contact. ‘They applied again to the Secretary of State at Taskington, aod the Secretary had another fos- £il npon his hands whom he wished to get rid of. Mr. E. P. Smith, who had boen vegetating in the Department many years. Mr. E. P. Smith was aocordingly packed off to Japan upon & Iat aale ary. He has proved himsclf to be a little worse than Capron. The Japan Herald says the gen- tleman is capable of drinking more liquor and talling more nonsense in a given timo then any man existing. Unfortunately, he bolds 2 contract for a term of three years. While tha Japanese have to pay him they have nevertie- less dispensed with hia services, and employed two English lasyers who are competent for the work. It may be s very handy arrangement for the Stato Department to use Japan as an asylum for incapables, but the practice is oue which will do no credit to ns as o nation, 'and may sooner or later iuvolve us in a manner which will work material harm to the country. The Japunese aro not fools, as is shown by the ease with which they discovered tho real status of Messrs. Capron und Smith, and if the Govern- ment wishes to lose what influence it already bas in Jupan, = few more Caprons and Smiths eent over thero will undoubtedly accomplish that result. " ¢ The scientific Spiritualist is among us agin. Mr. William Crookes, the editor of the Englhsh Quarterly Journal of Seience, has been studying Spinitualism for four years. In the Janu- ary number of his magezine ho gives the re- sults of Lis innumerablo oxperiments. Ia his own rooms, in broad daylight, and in tho pres- ence of soveral witnesses, he hao seen Mr. Hume float through the air. He hds scen tables and chairs move and riso when nobody could by any possibility bave touched them. He has seen an accordeon float around the room and play tuncs; a coral necklace stand on oneend ; s fan fan the compauy ; s pendulum inclosed in a glass case cemented to the wall begin to move. Ho has scen phantom hands, faces, and forms (the lat- ter two phenomensa bat rarely); and ho has seen in the daytime a luminous cloud hover over a bouquet, pluck 8 sprig of heliotrope, and give it to s lady. These and many more strange thivgy 21e mentioned in Mr. Crookes’ article. Heise scientific man of rare attaiaments and of the highest character. It cannot ba doubted that he thinks be saw everything he described; and it is diSicult to seo hiow Lo cau bave been daped. JMembers of the Iowa House havo whiled away the tedium of its seven-score ballotingy by diop- ping into poetry from time to time. Here are typical resclutions : Resolved, of cards to take a pack, Aud eud the Jock by turatug * jack;” Bat thls conid not the country Stuce every *‘Rad ” must turn = knave, Resolved, that Mr. Dizon znd Mr. Gear Be well supplied witn And Le who drinks the Lirgesc sharo Blull occupy the Speater's chair, Since we can neither work nor play, Let us adjourn without delay, Both sine die and sine pay A resolution discouraging the * excessive lov- ity of such motions was lsid on the table. Charles Bradlangh, who has been interviowed in New York, is opposed to Joseph Arch's views on itmigration. He thinks that 10 skilled Englisk workingmsn can find saiisfactory em- ployment east of an imaginary line dzawn from Chicago to lfobile. Neuraska and Kauess, ac- cording to him, offer a fine field for new sottlers. He will advise his countrymen who omigrate to the West to reise stock instead of growing grain, but his first advice sbout emigration would be that of Puach to young persons sbout to marry, —“Don't!” Taeee views corroborate what we bave olready said on this topic. Theyare of cspecial value, sinco they come from a.mea patt of whose mission it has beon to spy out tho land and see what reward it hoids oat to skiiled labor. e e . The Philosophical Society would do an excel- lent thing should it begin a course of Sunday afternoon lectures for workingmen. -Such lec- tures have been eagerly listenod to in London. The Bunday Society there which gives them is composed of men of every skade of religious and political: faith. It allows its lecturers ab- solale free specch. Some- of the best men of England figure on its list- of speakers. The topics treated renge from heaven to hell and in- cludo a'most eversthing between. A emall ad- missian feo is charged, so that the demoraliza- ton of charity is avoided. T'he strictest sectanan cannot but regard thess lectures as lesser evils thap the saloons which they drain of their Bun- day afiernoon habitents. el i ] The Vermilion Indians have eaton up the stock of babies on hand, and era beginning to boil such of their ancestors as are uufortunate enough to still live. 1f the Governmout Las decided on the pohiey of extermination, it would D far more beneficial to carry it into eifect with fire and sword inatexd of cold and starvation. The trouble comes from tho embazzlement by somebody of all the Vermilion Indians’ approp:i- ation for this year. They bave received noth- ing, BatIndian Commissioner Smith is too vusy defending himself from charges of malfess- ance in oflico to take any care of his victims’ interests., S - The land-owners of Louiciana are beginning to sell their plautations in small lots to the ne- grocs. This 13 o good ides. Peasant-proprie- torsbip is an admirable soother of strife. To own land seems to imply being somewhat con- servative. Hitherto, the negro’s ownership has been limited to the amount that Harold of England oficred to cedo to his foe, Harold Herdrade of Norway,—* a trench six feot long and two broad, or, since you are a large man, perhaps o truflo broader.” — North Carolina and Louisians eeem to think thas there is a great deal in & name. Ths first “refunds” and the second *repeals” iacon- ,venient debts, but neither repudiates them— save in fact. Both are apparently ignorant that repudiation by auy other name doth smell as rank. Abby Smith must bo enconraged to carry on her fight sganst Glastonbury. The Rhodoe Island Woman-Suffrage Association hias unani- mou.ly voted to give her—its moral suppart! Self-sacrificing sisterhood. H —— NOTES AND OPINION. The Kansas Legislature, which is next 'week to elect a United States Scnator, is composed of 139 membeus, viz.: 33 in the Senate and 106 in tne House ; and 70 votes in the joint ballot will be necessary to elect. Iu the present mized condition of parties at Topeks, the vote on & resolution declaring * undiminished fealty o the Republican party” may serve ss & test. Tlio resolution was adopted 1n the Seuate by 23 to9, and was tabled in the House by 69 to 36, The nine Senators and sixty-nine Representatives are & majority of eight in the wholo number. '+ Perloy " telegraphs from Wasbington to the Boston Journal: Republican Congrossmen who have been looking in- to the Listory of the Contingent Fund state that sbould an invéstigation bo mude, the disclosures %o Lo much moro disastrous to ocratic than tas Republican Administration. Let us have the inve. tigation. ~—The cautious Boston Glode thinks it is very probable that, during the present session of Con- gress, the Government of the United States may be brought into contempt. —The Borlington Hawk-Eye says [of the dead- lock in the Iowa Legislaturs. We aro inclined to the opinion that_the organtzation fairly belongs to the Opposition, Uuquestionaoly & 1majority of the members woro eiected in oppoaition to regulsr Reyublican candidatos. —The California Legiolature is now at workon ' the railroad question, and & leiter trom Sacra~ mento says; Since the holidays the recognized railroad lobbyists, Billy Carr and his backers, have Leen conspicuous by thelr absencs from the Capitol. Some now assert that the rea2lt of the Senatoral con‘est Liaa made Stanford give up all hope of defeating the w1l of the people Ly 1koir representatives ; that he haa learned the leszon that tho old form of corTupting legislitors is bocoming played out; and«that, a8 & List resort, he will en~ deavor to frustrata the peopls by technicalities in tae Supreme Court, ~The universality of the milroad question ‘may be inferred from the fact that it isup for congideration in every law-making body now in seesion in this country. . . . Lo bring this businese, which enters so much into the dafly It/e of the people, under the Jomrivion of law, and prevent those metamorphoses which resuls in such ‘continuous bleeding and extortion, is called ‘* Communism * by the more servile bat searcelv sagacious advocates and apologists of o wystem which, if lefs unchecked any longer, would have roduced us to a state of dependeuce as grindng as it would be deploratle. The ides, indecd, that money, especially when coxcentiated in corporations, was above aud besond tho law, has been circalating for & long time. The soundness of that awsertion is now about to be determined. If 1t were true, there might be reason to wish for the return of the good old times of absolutism. There never was & despotism which had not a haoman side. which, on occssion, could manifest itsetf agree- ably. 'But there is noctung of the Lind to be found in the now power which has grownap. 1t has but one object and one impulse, and that is to enrich itself. It takes no account of its vie- tims, axc?t a8 to tie cmount of squeezing they will stand without absolute prostracion.—San Francisco Bullelin, —Oae can comprehend tha complete reversing of the theory of our Federal system by simply contrasung the character of the measuses LOW troduced into Cougress with that of the legislation which cugaged the sitention of the public men of former days. It is in resulis thac causes are sure to show themsolves, if at all. Where Conetitutional restraints were once ap- plied with s jealous watchfulaess to all new public projects aud proposals. lest the true Re- publican gpirit should be diminished even by proteasions of logislative guardianship, they aro now sconted as obsolete obstructions to pop- ular progress, and in th name of development the country 1s threatened with the imposition of adynasty.” The swarm of special measures that 1 at this moment biving in the halls of Congress attosts the truth of the foregoing observalions. It1s asif their auchors were resolved to slence all protestations by combining to let them loose upon the vountry together. It must be con- tessed that the surprise is so great as to benumb auy exp:ession of 1¢ that may be attempted.— Boston Post. —Tt Inoks now as if the cry of the people for relicf from iucolerzble burdens would be an- swered at Washiogton by tie craation of a score or more of the most reckless and wasteful jobs over known to asy couniry. Among them are $100.000,00 to build adouble-track steel reilroad from Coiucil Bluffs to New York: 25,000,000 for & Niagera slup canal ; $50,000,000 to extend ihe Jumes River aud Kanawha Canal; and 350, 000,000 iorleveeson the LowerMississippi. These are ouly samples. The number of schemes is le- sion, and rooue calls for less thau £5,000,000 or so [rom thio Treasury. This is the kind of response the country gets for its remonstrances agamnst cerruption and plundering.—St. Paul Pioneer. —Capital arrays itself in all its power and blandishments aud goes to Washington and to the several Stato capitals, and usks for millions, of acresot the public lands, asks for the in- doreement by the Government of its credit, asks outright for Government aid iv money, to carry onand complete_enterprises wiich capitalists, some of them without caital, project; and Gov- erument nccedes to all tuese demsuds of capital. What does the Government do for the laboriug peoplo? Duesit, in bestowing its favors on cap- ital, stipulate that the laborers and mechanics, who must be, employed by capitalists to buid railruads and operate them, shull have any of the profits of tho eaterprise over and above their meagie and seanty wages? Notatall. Govern- meuts, neither Natioval nor State, ever think of providing for tae interests of the laboring people. Natioual aod State legislation looks oniy and solely to the interests of capital, and it in in this Iight that lhbor demoustrations should be judged.—Dubuque Teieq: aph. —1he sigus of tae Umes are not to be safely disregarded, although notbing is easier than to te blind. Indeed, ke difliculty is to res cleatly ancad. Durivg the development of great social or politic] movemonts, people, 18 3 rule, fail to sea what i3 going on. The British Government took no warmmng from the Stamp-act czse, but went ou to tax tea. The French Court was pever gayes than during the winters immediate- Iy betore the Revolution. The possibility of re- Lellion was laughed at even in 1561, and thou- sands were utceily amazed when Fort Sumter was fired upon, Without makizg a mole-hill into a mountain, we may ask, regarding the present appeal of poveity, if not of labor, to capital : I8 nothing to ve doue aoout it P—Phv/a- delphia_Press. —Is it L be wondered at that with this pres- sure upon them they should begin to rebel azainst the awful contrast betwecn the unspeak- avle wretcheduess of the low und the aggiessive luxury of the bigh, everywhere thrust upon evon the qullest comprebeusions among them ? They begin to think Last capital oves certain ob- ligations to labor; that the responsibulity of wealih is the ullevistion of poverty; that there are 1adical defects 1u o social system under which tho rich grow every day richer and the poor poorer. 1o thougliis like theso there 18 supreme danger to the aristocracy of possession. They Fpave the way for the fival ideas, subversive of evorything, that wealth should be common ; that Do who amusses, 10 so domg becomes the enemy of soetery; that, i short, auarchy is the only good.—San Francisco Post. —IT theto is auy one_subject which the law- makers of tus United States need to study, 1t is thac of political cconomy. It 18 more or less in- volved in every depariment of goveramental sction, yet most or our Congressmen romain in 8 depth of ignorance respecting its first princi- ples which is simply astomshingz. The debate onthe finacce question has advertised this ig- uorance far and wide, and it is haomiliating to educated Americans.—AMiltcaukee Sentinel. —The action of the House on the currency question has been so inconsiderate, 80 manifest- Iy inconsisteut with itself, and so utterly bLap- hazard and reckless, that there is no fcreseeing what it will or will not ao.—Delroit Lribune. —The West has long felt that tho presenc loca- tion of the Capital guve Eastern capitalists and monopolists an immeure advantage iu controli- jog tha legslation of Congress. . . . They come by battulions from Baltimore, Philadel- chia, New York, Boston, and intermediato places, and they hauut the committee-rooms and the halls in such numbeis that members really come to believa they represent public sentiment ; in foct, that they are tle American people. . We wern the wise men of the East agaurst the gume taey are plaving ; they may play 1t onca too ofien.—Indianapolis Journal. —The tratu is that our Congressional halls arc the professional politiciate’ barvest fields. 1t 18 to that favored arena that he Joos to 1eap Dis crops.— Lafayelte (Ind.) Journal. —1he people demang retrenchment, frugal regulation of expenses, a strict abstinence from jous, & voluntary aud uot inglorious poverty in ‘public men, mstead of the shamefal spectacls, Iately so common, of our political sgents wad~ dhing out of oflice swollen with the wealth wiuch they have drawn from the public funds. These things the people demand, aud these, if. we read nrigfil the mfius of the times, they will have.— Burlington Lawk-Eye. —The members of 1he House will bave to go before their constituents for re-clection next fall, and all are therefore intcrested in making 28 economical a showing as poseible of the re- ;mks of the sessiou's wors.—La Crosse Repub- ice Fhie probability is, that the less financial leg- islation we have the better it will ve for all con- cerned. Not but that our ficancial atlairs need regulating in certain particulans; but. there is manifest dapger tbat maiters may be made wotee, instead of better, by the efforts of Con- greavional fiuanciers.—Quincy Whig. —Tho United States cunuot tansgress tho laws of pature without suffering the penalty. It cannot trust to its suticiputed greatness, its un- developed resources, or to its 1apid increses in population to ezempt 1t from obedience to the goneral laws which govern all nations.—Hart- Jord Courant. —If tho majority can only bridgo over & year or tio, riding upou the tide of a fulse and artifi- cial prosperity, wiat matters the future? It will only iatensify the ultimate crash; but mean- while faucy operators may come out, with whole hides.—St. Paul Pioneer. —The recreaut Congressmenhavo been driven intorepealing the odious Salary-Grab law. Now whatdo we Lear? Those same Congressmen who werp so willing that peoplo and press sbould “howl” are now begging that the din be Lusbed. Thoy tell us, **We bave undoue the mean business ; now let the matter drop, give us zest: We promise not to repeat the meau act.” Too late, gentlemen; too late. The people have fully made up their minds that every man who soiled his hands, in sny maoner, with the infamous selary zrab, shall be punished with po- Titical death; and the people won't go bacz on thst dec.sion. They want your pumishment to bo g0 severe thas it will have a good effect upon fil;enlionfl of Congressmen to come.—Fond du Commonwealtn. = - Recchier on Politics. 3Mr. Henry Wara Beecher says, in the last number of the Christian Union, that * For soveral years past two or three Eoimcu parties havo lived privcipally upon each other's blun- ders and also ‘“Each party in turn has tHus trinmphed through its opponent’s con- spicuous error, and neither has identifled itself with any pew and vital political idea. Neither of them to-day represeuts any distiucs policy or priuciple.” MR. SCAMMGN'3 BANKS, Condition of the Mechanics’ Na. i tional. Meeting of- the Clearing-Heuse with Reference to It How It Is Connected with Mr, Scam. mon’s Other Lanks, The Ouicome Turns upon the Conditicy of Mr. Scammon’s Personal Affairs. How His Building Operations Have Involved Mim in Debt. His Property Believed to Be Ampls to Pay OF Al Liabilities, The difficulties of the Aechanics' National Bank, and the entering up of sundry judgments 8gainet Mr. J. Y. Scammon, have brougat the embarrassments of the latter gentleman, which have been for & long time the subject of street talk, into the public prints. We iucerely regret that financial misforiunes have overtalen ono who bas done so much ss Mr. Scammon bas to rebuild and beautiiy the city since the fire, Probably nobody except AMr. Potter Palmer has done more. Although coustrained to erit- cise Alr. on with Bome severity in more prosperous times, TEE Trm- UNE cannot view his embarrassments a5 anything less than a celzity to the city wmith which he Las been #0 long aud so prominently identified. Nor should we now allude to the matter but for the fact that the very magnitude of Lis enterprises takes it out of the categary of ordinary business complications. Mi, BCAMMON'S BANKING BESINESS is the turniog poiot in the situation, and the ract thet hie is the Pre-ident and principal owner of the Mechanics’ National Bank Las brought Dis affuirs under closer and prompter scrutiny chan they would otherwise have received. Mr, Scaunmon hnd reaily been the Lead of a quadri- lateral vRDKingE Lustitutlon,—COAMISULE uf the Mecouuies’ Natiossl Bunk, the Marme Com- pany, tue savings depuranens of the Mae uwe Cowpany, wud J. Y. Scammon, private vsuker. Ad iuese Lanking insututious ure in toe sume bmldiug, ana under the direct control of air. Scunmon. | ‘kue Marive Compauy may vorrow 1ruw the Mecoavicy' Natiouar, sad ar. Scammon from the Marme Cowpany, and 50 on throughi. ‘Liie auluirs of one bLuuk e, tlere- 1ure, wore or less muxed up with the uiairs of tue vihiers, z.ud We coudition of all depends in tue eud upon the coudttion of Mr. Seaunuon's persounl ngatrs, Tue Lst 10 be exanuued 13 THE MECHANICS' NATIONAL, a8 it is sabject to lue ruies ue tuo Clearing- House abu L -the Cowptrolier of the Cutrency tarcugis tae lucs Bauk Kxaouner. ‘L ucton 0f 1ho Cleariug-lHouse Association [P L0 yesletusy My Lo Ledy tid. S6Io tiue 450, the kixacuive Comuwi.lée wos instrucied to IuVesligee® Lo couditon of tue Mechauics’ Na- Lonal, uie 1ls FePOLLs Were NOE_favuigole. Kot XLy GBYS 1O Improvement hus been waue 10 100 Conditiub OF e vank. L8 Ll Fecelvauly wers reauced by s very swall amounc; the reserve requared by e Nsuotar Cunency act bay Bouw been kope up; and Lhe busiuess Las watec- BUY Tuuen uif. A lurge PiOPUrLiol OL two dopus- s cotmiss of butikcupy sud wust tunds, winch Lave 00t been drawy vat, 2ad could not b3 pud o0 demand. ‘Lhe bunk has met s cleanug ey uBy, LUC LLELe b beeu & Cuuslant Lervuusness widug tue Assucied Bouds At 16 uught LUl L0 GO B BE Auy lawe. ALst ic Las uwot been forced 0 lus extrome 13 aue in yart 1o the forbearance of the 1arge depos:iturs, and 1w pars to o fack taar Vely I6W Cattsd ureé drawu on the Mecuawes', Severniol ke leadiug vauks, however, uave ie- Tused 10 Laae cestllua checks va tie Mecusuicd', e BUCL BCCOPESNCE WOl releaso the wakers uf he cuechs, sLA Utheis LEVE pdisUed Lue piac- Lot of seuuing e cuecss tu the dcebiucs’ tur CoeClion UPoi dutr Pleseiaton VIole wats 155 10T W10 Grennigs. Lue Staaig of e bauk LS Vel Uucerladt 30Q Jesbie ever riuce we jac. M stekanbenn & growing eoutiment among the A=suClated Hatio tust LUEY Wed CATylux 4 BUAKY LsLLUTIon ¥t the r=k dud Lo tue detn- weut of the stronyg Laoks. It was, lueretue, deserunned to Vi tue atechauics’ TO WETHDSAW FU0X THE CLEARING-TIOUSE, and o Jorwal uvtuwation 0 Wus euduC: Wad served upou thie bauk ‘Luesday by tne xecutive Couulies. iU IeapoLae 10 tus, Ar. SealIGR seut 4 CLMDUuICsLIoL L0 the Kxvcuuve Contunt~ Tee, fue Ganti purpore of Wincn s Dot kuown, LUE Wuicn 18 beusved tu huve been o request tac the Cleariuz-Huuse shuuld suspead scavu 8 Low duge, WiLiL & Prodse tat tue _condiod of i@ baux suonld ve uuproved. Tho Ixccutive Gumuuties Lud this cummutication uuder copswetution at & wéeaug bed Weauesuny afternoon, aud wen decud- ed nut to take wo responaility of eiuer suspending the bauk or exiendiny tue time, vut 10 LiLOW Lu® WHU;E ALer LuCk UpQ L3 Ass0- ciation. YESTERDAY'S MEETING OF THE CLEARING-HOUSE. L Wiss Tiis decisiol tuat led to 8 call fur 8 ° meeting of thie Cleariug-House Assvelation, Wulch Leld st 108 rooms yesiviwsy uitertioun st 4 o'clock, when the suuject was picseated, bue Do Tormal scuon Was tacc. 'Lheie was sb informal Wwseuss:on of the Whole aduir, i wlich ©wO puluts were botaule: 1. A prepondersuug hen- cunext tst the Muehinuses’ sauvuat Baus oogb 10 WILWsW 1rom tue Associaton; sud, Z, & besitauun on she pmt Of every one 10 tske ilhe initisave. 10 veingug about o withduawal, ‘Lucre was u hope uw al sides that tue vank woull need tae luvitation 10 withuraw alresay 1ssued, and the Assoclsou adjourued uniil oue dey uext weex, leaviug the Duuce to that efect to slaud. ‘Lhe situwsidon, then, 13 this : ‘Yue Mechauca’ Natwnal Bank 18 -utils & memuer of tho Assezation, buc requesied -0 retire. Af it dues not voluntarly Wandis® before the middle of next wevs, ur Gues Lot meanwiule make good its reserve, ic will probus bly be expelled frum the Assvciauon. 3 1t 15 due to tLoAssocusted Banks of the city to 88y that the couse they uave tagen was adupted with much hestation sud regret, und thas tiey have endeavoted to keep the Wuole mutier ¥ privato us possible. ‘Wlis considerniene:s bas becn suggented more by & seuse of regret and sympatuy tor Mr. Scawou's embarrasswen § thun by anything elze. THE BANK EXAMINER'S STATEMENT. * Mr, Alired Spink, Goveiument Baulk Examin er, when questioned relative ta tho status ot 1o bunk, stated that he Lad not made an cxamina- tion of its condition siuce the regular scml-8n- nual inspeecion last fall, prenious to the punic ; tuat at that time it was i a much better coudition tnan st preseut, as shown bY its last statemeni, though it was then about $30,000 suort of its legal reserve. Mr. Spriuk at that time caused the bauk to better it8 condition. Since then the Bauk Examiver had received no ipetructions from the Comptroller of the Curreucy to examiue into the condition of the bauk nor to take s.eps toward winding upits affairs, Unless he received such insiructions, or a depositor made compleint that deposits were not paid on demand, he could not take any 80~ tiou whatever. The last statement as publ recently would probably induce the Comptroller torequire the baok to m‘xn’ p}pod_dngmr:seni within thirty dags or to go into liquidation. With regard to the aasts, Mr. Spink said that the capital was $230,000, and tho surplus reserve £150,000 more; the amount due from other banks was not over 200,000, and, Lence, if tbe whole amount 80 owed was gue from the :Im‘:: Bank and J. Y. Scammon, private banker, depositors would still be secured, even mnlm; ing that the Marine Bank and M. Scammo falled to pay anytung. The depo-its and ul‘; verve were both dependent, however, upon b available condition of the collatcrals and ‘I: ability of the borrowers on call to psy up. the was the opinion of r. Spink that, when {05 Comvtroller of the Currency should see tho Jard statement of the Mechanics’ National, he ol arder a special examination. LIABILITI®S. &AL The reat Jiabilities of the Mechanics’ Natioos Bank are £601,373. Of this amount, $178,X s reported as ** bills payable” in the last bfl;‘x' ment, which is an unusual item. No other L& statement Las ever contained i. It means the bank has borrowed that amouns of moBey, u: enable it to carry on its business, fn spite of . fact that it has & capital aad susplas of AR it s b o G Bl S RO e 1 i H i { 4 ) § i i 3 £ i 4 iq H 3 i i