Chicago Daily Tribune Newspaper, December 4, 1874, Page 4

TERMS OF THE TRIBUNE. Parts of a yoar at tho samne rato. To yrevent dolay and mintakes, bo suro and glra Pont- Ofiion aidros in full, incuding Stato and County. Tomittandesinny boruado alther by deaft, exyreas, Post~ Ottice order, or in registored lolters, At our risk, TRIMS TO CITY SUBSCRINERA, Dajly, dolivored, Sunday oxconted, 25 conts por waok, Daily, dolivored, Sunday fucluded, 30 conts poe wooks, Addrens TIIE TRIBUNE GOMPANY, Corner Madison and Dearborn-sta., Obitongo, 11, pusbasishuntobuthativishiniast TODAY'S AMUSEMENTS. (RAND, OPERA-TIOUSE. straot, ~Olark spporita snonn Houso. Kally &+ gon's Stastroler Urand Datel 3" FIOOLEY'S Til Clark and LaSnllo, ATt~ Randolph streot, betmoon ** Divarce," ACADEMY OF MURIO~I1nlated stroot, betwonn Alad- 120n and Mongoo. Engagemont of 1 o+ Deator . Toal tan Lifo," Burleaquo Lucturo, and *Tho Woavors." MVIOKER'S 111 Prarborn and Stata, **David Coppertiel SOCIETY MEETINGS, FXCELSIOR 1ODOE NO. 8 KNIGHTS OF y! )~ Cunyes I t Tixe ). Work [u the Amplitied Third ftnuk, and othor u pactad . By ardor of tha Chnneellor Come Inufigsant bustacnts BY Gon G100, KT, and 8. SNTAL LODGE, No. aSallo-st, ~ Stated o totwoon THE - Madizan sraof, bobmoo hgagomont of Joha A, ¥, and A, M tall, aptontion thte (Frid 1) : a ic ¥, U, Dogine, S Mmaraer 2 ok 2 P G R ERY Bey. et —— INDEX TO ADVERTISEMENTS. 1874, Deoembor 4, Friday Bloraing, President Grant, if lio is correctly reported, hag sounded n key-noto for the next Repub- lienn ecampaign, o discournges auny sxam- inntion of the enuses of defent boyond that which is necessary for a preparation of the monus of victor; [ — President Blanchard and other vietims of stuffed clubs and jubila, jubilo, jubilum will be properly shocked, no doubt, by the pro- ceedings of the Knights Templar ab New Orlenns, which are fairly ontlined in our spe- cinl dispatehes this morning, A brief abstract of the report of the speeial Commities of Underwriters which Iately vis- jted this city is furnished by tho telegraph. The Committec's views do not appear to be of much valuo, That pavt of their report whiclt intimates that the city will refnse to weko the cuormons expenditures advised by Gen, Shaler speaks well for tho intelligence of the Committee. Judge Durell lias bavely saved himsclf from impeachwment and deposition by sending in his resignation. There scems to be 'no doubt that he will be promptly rolieved from Quty by tho President. I'he Republican party Liad quite determined not to emry the burden of Durell's sing, and he lns not mado the discovery any too soun. Durell may go joiu Butler's new party. The Gngci trial was ot given to the jury yesterday, the entive dny being consnmed by tho spooches of Mr, Dexter and Mr. Searles for tha defenso, and Mr. Siduey Smith for the prosceution. It will bo scen from the re- port of the trial published elsewhero in this paper that Mr. Gage made n grave mistake in retaining o lawyer of Mr. Senrles’ enlibre to asyist in his defense. Both the manner and matter of his argument were unworthy of tho occasion, We should have thought that o trial of this kind might Lave been con- ducted without resort to low cunning and iasinnation, sts of cheap trans- portation ars concerned, it would have been botter if the Richmond Convention had mever been. The very extravaganco of its recommendntions will forbid their being seriously entertained by Congress. Yo political purty, in these times, wo venture to sy, will assume the burden of & scheme which con- templutes the fumcdiato expenditure of §200,000,000 by the National Government for intornal improvemeuts. The Conven. tion, however, descrves somo thanks for summarily turning ont of doors a Southern Peeifio Rtailrond resolution of the most fia- grant dascripliun.' It might have been ox- veeted that nothing wonld bo too shemeless fora bLody which could approve the James River & Kanawha Canal project, and with it all the rest of the Windom Conunitteo's roport, A meeting of prominent Town Democrats was held yesterday in Towa City, and it was decided to reorganize the party in that State, A call for a general convention, with this objeet in view, will bo issued by the Chair- men of tho Demoeralic, Liberal, end Anti- 3lonopoly Committees Inst known to bistory. If this action is in any de- greo due to tha late Demooratic * victo- ries," us it probebly is, wo havo sub- statinl recompenso already for the Repib- liean defents. Al that the Republican party needs, in order to complate success, will have been gained by the time of the noxt Pres- idential election. To specify: The party needs, first of all, honest and prudent lend- ership; that has been nssured by the relega- ton of Butler aud Lis supporters {o private h.fe. Sceondly, the party uceds wise administen- tion; thathasbeonsecured by tho appointment of two thiifty and cneryotio men—Jiristow and Jewell—to the Prasident’s Cabinet, - Fi- nally, tho party needs n concolidation of nll the clewments of opposition to its rule, in order to a similar combination of all the forcos at its command, 'Phig result, it seems, has been accomplished by the Domocratic succosses last month, ns witness tho disin- tegration of the ** Reformors” in Wisconsin and the Anti-Monopolists in Town, ‘The Ohiengo produce markots were gener- ally stronger yosterdny, Mess pork was netive, and 20¢ per brl higher, closig at 540,20 cash, ond $20.90 seller February, Lard wag nctive aud 16@200 per 100 s highor, closing at B13.25 cash, and 18,70 for Februnyy, Moats ‘were loss netive and firmer, at 7o for shoul- Hors, 0 8-40 for short ribs, and 100 for short Mears. | Highwines were quiot and ateady at D7e per gallon, Dressed hogs wero less no- tive, closing at $7.75@8.00 per 100" tbs, Flonr waa dull and steady, Wheat was more netiva, and 1 1-4e higher, closing at 020 cash, and 930 for January, Corn wns less active and 1@20 higher, closing at 74 8-40 seller the month, 72 8.40 for May, and 07 1.2 for now, Onta woro moro netive, snd 1@1 1-4o higher, dlosing at 54c, Rye was quiet und firm at 95 @U5 1-20, Barley was in good demand and 11.9@% higher, closing at 21.27 for De. vsmbor, and $1.26@1.28 1.2 for January, Hoga wero mora active, and for good to choleo tho market displnyed moro strongth, Snles at $0,00@7.40 for poor to extrn, Cate tlo wore dull and depressed, with limited sales at £2,25@05,50 for common to choice. Sheep wera firm The Supreme Court of the United Stntes Statos haw Iately rendered a decision, the substanes of which Is given in tho Washing- tou dispatehes, concerning the power of the Confuderato Govornment to muke valid con- tracts, 'Tho question arvises in ono of the colehented cotton ecases, ‘Iho Court lold that colton bonght from the no-called Confedernte Glovornment was rightfully contisented by the United States, 'The grounds of this position ave: (1) Beenuso the muking of snch purchnses. and the payment of a consideration tended to nidl the canse of the Rebellion; (2) boeanso the so-called Confedorate Govornment had 1o oxistenco save as a conspiracy, and thore. foro was not competent to ontor into con- tracts. -All the Justices agreed to tho first proposition; hut Swayno and Davis dissonted from the second as not being necessary to tho sottlement of the issue raised. B p—— Prosident MacMalion, in his messnge to the Trench Assembly, insists strongly on a dofini- tion of tha constitutional powers, Very por- ientous, indeed, is this sentonco from his messnga: “I sholl not declino my shavo of the responsibility, nor shall the interven- tion of my Government be wanting." o intimates also that he will not desort the post in which he has been placed, but “will oconpy it up to the last day with unshaken firmness and serupulous Tespect for law." The Assembly, and the world, will understand this langusge, It menns tho npholding of tho Septeunnto by all the teans which God and na- ture have placed at the disposal of the President, Ilis widesprend influence through the patronago of his ofiice, his inter- est with the army, his conneetions with for- cign nations and all the agencies of an organ. ized Govornment, will bo employed to keep him in oflico till the very end of the des. ignnted time, With this outlook, indeed, the French peoplo hiave no bolter course to pursue than to pass the constitutional bills, "The only aitornative is revolution, and that is too drendfut a remedy for the teclmical injury which tho Marahal proposes to inflict, TFo doos not contemplate an usurpation, but i Government of abeyanece, ‘THE WIBCONSIN SENATOR. Yesterdny wo printed a lotter from Sen- ator Howo, of Wisconsin, in which he urged upon the Republienn mambers of the Genoral Assembly the justics of re-electing Senator Carpenter. This morning wo print a loter from ex-Gov. Washburn, in which ho states his own position as n eandidate, and furnishes copy of n lutter written by him in 1871, of which uumerons and vavious versions have been cireulated in the Stato. Both letters are of interest as contributions to tha politienl litersturo of tho day. “Tho points mado by Senator Howe in bebalf of Senntor Carpenter nre, that on the salary.grab question Dr, Cnrpenter made o mistuke, but in accordance with the precedent set by Gov. Washburn when in Congrass in 18536, and that the char- neler of the Poland gag-law hes boen wholly misrepresonted, and no one would, wpou exnmination, vote for the repenl of that law. It may not ho out of place to ask.why Mr. Howe is 8o solicitous for the re-clection of Mr, Carpenter, TFrom the tenor of his letter it would scem that ho assumes that he, Mr, Carpenter, Gov, Wnshburn, and one or two others, have a right to determine who shall be Seunator ; and that, if Mr. Washburn would withdeaw hig name, then the people of tho State would have nothing clse to do than re- olect Mr. Carpenter. 'I'his assumption is un- ‘waranted in low ond in fact. Itis conceded that, had the Stato election tnrned upon the question of re-clecting Mr. Carpenter, then the Republicans would have been overwheln- ingly defonted, and ihe Democrais would lave had a Inrge majority of tho Legislature, 1t is conceded that, bad not a number of Iegislative candidates pledged themselves not to vote for Mr. Carpenter, the Hopnblicons would not have lad a mejority in tho Legislature. Therefore the party is in nowise committed to the re-clec- tion of Mr. Carpenter. Judge Howe argos that the usages of the party demand Carpen- ter's clection for a second term. 'L'wo years ago the usnges of the party were wged in favor of v, Towd's clection for a ihird torm 5 Ave now urged in Michigau for Chan- aler's election for o fourth term, and in Maine for Hamlin's clection for a fifth term. When do the “wusages” of tho party end in the matter of re.cloction? Is mot the propor md only safe wsage that the purty shomld always solect the best and least objectionablo men ? How many votes wonld Wisconsin give to make tho Senatorinl term twelve years instend of six? and is not the reason why Senntars aro chosen for short terms and not for lifo that the people.may have » chance to get rid of a Senalor when the services of bottor and sufer man may be seeured ? Judge Howe's own record on the snlary- grab question weakens his apology for Mr. Carpenter. Judgo Ifowe voted agninst that grab four times end forit once. Ho, how- ever, drew the money, both forwnrd and back pay, end has kept it ever since, ITo did not follow the exnmple set by so many other mombers, of returning ke money to the Trensury ; ho seems to have been convinced by Mr. Carpentor's argnmont thnt Senators were “*compelled by the Constitntion to ve- ceive the compeusation and to keep it.” The people can understaud that Judgo Howe feels scusitive on that subject, and that any cen- sure that may fall to Carpenter is equully ap- plicablo to himself.. The suggestion that in 1836 Mr. Washburn accoptod an-increnso of pay, voted by Congress to members of that body, is not portinent. The Congress of 1873, o 'tho last day of tho last seksion, incrensed the compensntion of members, and mado b retrouctive, covoring the twe years that expired that dny, The incronso of 1856 was mado at tho firat session of the Con- gress, at tho enrlicst possiblo day at which it could bo dono, and was retrpnctive only for the fow woeks that hind elapsed while the Ap. propriation bill was under diseussion ; and it venlly wnas no incrense of pay, for it only changed the $8 a dny compensation inlo aanlevy of £3,000 per annum, which is at tho rato of &8 per dny, and at the snme time some lnvge and costly oxiras and porquisites wero cul off, Bo that in fact the money drawn from tho Treasnry under that bill was conslilornbly loay than nundor tho old law, "lhero was, thorofore, no gougoe or stoal in it, nor was it postponed until after tho cloctions, ain 1878, Judge Howe himself hind been ro.glosted only a fow wocke before he drow his 85,000 back pny, to which he had 1o moral or equitable right, Judgo Howa's attompt to oxplain away the ¢ gag-law " lsalyo very wonl, Ha voted for that .THE CHICAGO DAILY TRIBUNE: FRIDAY, DECEMBER 4, 1874. s T B e e e S e —————————————________________ - Inw, and he voted also for the more infamons one concocted in the Sonato, but which, being exposed iu tine, the Houso rejeoted. If tho Inw that wny passed s so monningless and Tinvmless, why poss it at all? If the United States had got along quite comfortably for suvenly-fiva years withont such a Inw, where the necessity for it now? Dut tho oxplann. tion of it asn “hnrmless monsura” 15 not corract, It wns n doliborate nttempt to au. thorizo the nrrest of any nowspaper aditor or publisher, in any part of tho United States, andtalkehim by force to Washinglon, tobethere tried for alander or libel Dby a servile District Court and packod jury, upon the complaint of auy member of Congrems, or Senntor, or othor ofticer of the Governmont at Washing- ton, Wo know it wny disguised under n pro- toxt to authorize tho capture of fngi. tives from justico, nud to accomplish this the TPoland Ilaw provided that any editor (any in Wisconsin) pub- lishing n ‘libel or slandor in nny partof tho United States, upon boing indioted, or charged therewith, in the District of Colum- bin niight bo arrested nt*his home ns a fugi- tive from justico and taken to Washington to be tried and punished. That is Senator Howe's idon of * harmless,” innocent legisla- tion, which he snys he nor any one who voted for ity including Mr. Carponter, would over think of repenling. If thero bo one act of Congress move than another that ought to be ropenled upon the first day of thecoming ses- sion, that gng-law net is one. We are confi- dent thero is not an intolligent man in Wis- consin, besidos Messrs, Carpentor aud Towe, who approves of it, or who does not think it ought to e repealed. In the defonso of Mr. Curpenter's action on this bill it will bo no- ticed that My, Howe is nlso defending him- sclf 5 and Corponter’s re-olection will boan acquitial of both, Gov. Washburn stales tho true posi tion of the question Ly declaring that ho prefers no claim of right to the ofiice over any othor person ; that the choico is oxelusive- 1y with the people, who are entitled to havo any person for Sonator that they may profer, ‘This is tho only correct view to tke of this question, Acting on this theory, ho hns not dono anything to influenco tho choice of the people, either in his own favor or ngninst any other person. If the people want Mr. Onr. penter, ho will bo, 18 e ought to be, olected; if they want some other person, then that other person onght to bo clected. Tho friends of Mr. Carpenter have been holding in terrorem over Mr. ‘Washbura, with threats of its future production, n letter written by him in 1871, in which it was said that he spoke in the bighest terms of Mr. Carpentor, and promised to support him for re-cloction. This maiter is effectunlly cx- ploded by Gov. Washbuyn, who produces and publishes & copy of the letter referred to, whicl is quite n different thing, Even admit- ting that the letter in 1871 contnined a promise nob to oppose Carpenter in 1875, that promise was made before Mr. Carpenter had perpetrated his objectionable record. That was before Mr. Carpenter had voted for the salary-grab; boforo he had pocketed tho mouney and justified the nct in the most Drazen manner; and before the date of tho gag-laws of the last Bes- sion, which ho supported; and before muny other things which bave moro or less impnired the Senator’s standing before the country. Gov. Washburn, or any other per- son, could have foreseen in 1871 the record 3r. Curpenter would make in 1872, '8 and 4, "There is not n man in Wisconsin who is op- posing Mr, Carpenter's ro-clection becnuso of his Sountorial record as it stood in 1871; and even if a promiso was made in that year, and upon tho record as it then stood, it would be Dbinding ou no one at this date, in the light of subsequent ovents. The Legislature has to chooso a Senmator, not wupon what was his charpcter in 1871, Dbut what it is mow, Mr. Carpenter has made hin own record. A ' Washburn - has mnde his. Both ars known to the peo- ple. No ono has any idea that, had Mr. ‘Washburn been clected in 1869, Le would have voted as Mr, Carpenter had dono on those objectionublo mensures; no one has any iden that, if -he #o eclected now, he will not, at the close of his torm, have ns high a charecter, personnlly and politically, a5 110 hns now, or that a re-election will be essentinl to Lis vindication. We do not seck to disparage Mr, Carpenter ; we think he was grossly wrong in the baclk-pay aod the gag- law niensures; we concedo his grentability and learning, but insist that the Legislatuvo is at perfect liberty to choose soma ona elso for Sonntor if they please, and that they have a perfect right to sclect Gov. Washburn if they want him to represont Wisconsin in the Senate, . ¢ ey A THIRTY-MILLION JOB. A relic of the old internal-improvement system of 1831-7 las beon revived in ihe form of a gigantio bribe to the Legislature of Indinne. Tho State of Indinna undertook to build a caual to connect the waters of Lake Erie and the Wabssh Rivor, just ns Ilinois did to conuect Lake Michigan and tho Iii- nois River. The money in both cases wus borrowed ; the Indiana canal was smch the larger, and moro money wns borrowed and sunk in it than in the Ilinois canal, In the finaucial orash of 1837 the whole internal- improvement system went down, Both canuls . wera left unfinished. Tn 1846 Loth States sottled with the eanal croditors. The Stale of Minoin ceded her caual to Lrus- tees, who wore to hold and operate the snme topny the hondholders their original debt, aud nlso such additional sum ns might be naoessary to comploto the canal, the State un- dertaking to pay the interest on hoth debts, ‘the sclieme worked woll. The canal was completed, and its rovenues wore applied to the extinetion of the principal of tho debt, and even beforo tha timo for tho final pay- ment the Stato was able to redeem tho canal, and is now in roceipt of its vevenucs. Indinun sottled her dobt differontly, That dobt mmonnted with acowmulated intevest to about $18,000,000, The State aud the ered- itors ngreed that the State should deed tho connl property to Trustecs, to Lo held for tho oreditors at a valmation of §9,000,000, and issuo new bonds for an equal sum, and bo forover disoharged from tho debt. Ona of tho stipulations of tho contract was that the Legislature should nevor in any way pnss any legislation calou- lated to injura the business of the canal. Fhiy stipulation has now nesumed an importance that was probably not dronmed of at the timo it was mado. Tho canal was comploted, but nunlike the Illinols Canal Lins never paid ex- ponses, and for 6 number of yoars Jhag been practically abandoned. It has proved a total loss to thoue who nccapted it thirty years ago at o valuation of §9,000,000, and who then thought thoy had made n good purchase, In the meantime tho Btate Las paid oft principal and intorest of tho other §9,000,000 of Londs, By tho contract of settlement the pay- mend of tho cannl sorip bovame an exe olusiso charge upon tho rovenues of tho ennnl, and *“tho faith and general* rovenues of the State wero forover relensod.” In of- foot, the Stata gavo to its creditors in full sntisfaction of the $18,000,000 of canal sarfp §0,000,000 of HBtato honds, all of which woye paid in full, and the entive eanal prop. orty. 'Uho Stato gave tho cighteon-million- dollar cnunl and ning millions of bonds in paymont of "the eightcen-million-dollar dobt, and the ereditors wero vory much rejoiced b their bargain, One hundred and ninety-one of tho old intornal-improvement bonds were not surrondered to the Stalo wndor this ar- rangoment in 1844, amd n few yens ago Mr. John W, Gmrett, of Daltimore, held forty-one of these bonds, and brought suit for tho recovory of tho amount. 'Cho State promptly approprinted the monoy to pay Girett and to fake nup the other 150 like bouds, In 1876 tho holders of tho old movip, in payment of which tho ennal was given by the State, Logan their movemont upon tho Leg- islature, auking that the Stato take back tho cennnl and pay the unsatisfled nino millions of serip, with interest from 1846, The State of Indiana beeamo alarnied lest the magnitude of the demand might prove too groat for the Integrity of the Legishture, The Legisla- ture, by resolution, declaved that the State Jiad 10 power to purchnso the cansl, and if it Liad the powor it oughit not to do so. Every yoar the canal lobby got stronger, and in 1867 Dboth branches of: the ' Legislaturo adopted an nmendinent to the Constitution to pravent nny futuro Legislature purchasing the cannl or assuming tho debt. "Thisamendment, accord- ing to tho Constitution of Indiana, Ind to bo approved by two Legislatures beforo being voted on by tho people. ' When the second Tegislaturo was about neting on the amend- vient, it wns discovered that the jouruals of the previons Logislature had been so tam- pered with thab thero was no record of its pas- snge, Tho second Logislaturo, however, passed it, and a specinl cleetion was hold at which the amendment was ratified by the people. This lus not bad the effect intended. It has not suppressed tho canal lobby, The elaim will bo agnin presented to tho Legisin- ture this winler for 120,000,000 privcipsl, with nearly thirly yenrs'interest. Legisla- tures havo heen known to suceuml when the chanco for dividends was much less than in this ense. ‘The equitable ground upon which 1his clnim is presented is, that tho Stato has violated the stipulation of tho original con- tract by chartering numerous railway com- panies who linve absorbod all tho transporta. tion which wonld lave been done on the cannl, and thereby destroyed the value of the canal property. The logal grounds ave, that the constitutional pmendment was never actu- ally adopted, beeanse of the absence of avy rocord of its pustage by the Logislature, and becauso it was voted on by the people at a spocial oloction. ‘This clnim is the Inrgost bribe that hasbeen of- fered a State Leginlature at theNorth, Downin Sonth Caroling, Louisinua, Florida, Arlansns, Alabnan, and perhaps other Southorn.States, State dobts have been assumed and eveated Dby tho ten and twenty millions at a time, but at the North that business hns not been prae- ticed of lato yonrs. The claim, being without the least shadow of justice or equity, can on- 1y succcod by corrapt means. Thoe men who in 1816 toolk this eanal for half the dobt in- curred to build it thought they had the best of the bargain,—had got the advautage of the State,~—and looked forward to an immense for- tune in the future. The result hos been oth- erwise, and their claim that the State should awap back, after thirty years, is 8o weak, that nothing lers than bribery can secure it a voto in the Legislnture. GEN. BHALER'S RECOMMENDATIONS, Gen, Shaler advoentes an increased expend. iture of $500,000 to put our Fire-Department into an efficient condition for extingnishing conflagrations. So’ far, Gen. Shaler hes not suggested auything new. This inerense had already been nsked by the Depariment, and the demand was regarded ns exorbitant by the tax-paying public, and refused by tho Council, Gen, Shaler wants fourteen nddi- tional engines ! aud seventcen more look- and-lndder compruies, ITo evidently esti- mates that,as Chieago covers as much ground, according to ils defined limits, as Now Yorlk, Wwo need as many ougines and ns many fire- men. But he does not talte into nccount that Chicago, which now has a Fire-Depart- ment only second in size to those of Ton- don and New York, hos bardly two-fifthy the population of the ono nor one- cighth the population of the other, Wo do not need engines nor men to protect open spnees, and of theso our city limits contain wholo square miles. But thero is another considoration which Gon, Skaler also ignores, to-wit: 100,000 people cannot fairly bo asked to expend the samo nmount of money on a Fire-Department which is expended by n mill- ion people in ono city, or threo and n hulf millions in another. Our YFire-Depnrmont, in corrent expenses nnd gradual nceretions, alveady costs us aboub threc-quarters of n million a yenr; aud we must begin our re- form with tho understanding that this is as much ag the tax-payers of Chicngo can well bear, As there is alimit to the capacity of tax-payers, which Gen. Shaler scems to over- look, o there is a limit to tho nsefulness of engines end fire-machines, which he sppenrs likewiso to forget. It is entiroly safo to sny that the working force of our pres- eut Department is greator than our water- supply. If wo had arrangements for drawing water from the lake or river in limitless quan- tities, or from vast cistorns systematically dis- tributed throughout the city, we might, por- hiapy, in great omergencies, cumploy a larger number of engines aud men at the point on- dmngored than wo now have, But the en- pacity of eight or twelve-iuch pipes iu readily weasured by 2 number of engines much smaller than the number which wo now have on band. 'Wo increase tho engines, and the number of men to work them, at an immenso cott to the city, 8o long s onr water-pipes are not suffieiontly large to feed any moro thnn wo hnve now, at the point where o firo may Lo ruging, is to go nt roforn wrong-end foremost; and, if Gen, Shalor hns nothing but this to snggest, it can hardly be regarded as original, useful, or likely {o bo adopted. Wo foar that tho renl trouble §s that Gen. Shaler is going to work with the ides that ho eon provide for Chicago just such a systom of fighting firos ns ho bas organized fn bricl. and-stone-built Now York, Howovor do- sirablo this might bo in the abstract, it is ulterly impracticable for the present, Obi- eago {s a totally different sort of oity from Now York, and a system which, has succseded in tho latier would not nceessavily suceecod hove, New Yorlk in solidly and more compaotly built of non-combustible materials, ind possessed of vaatly grealer wealth, If Gon. Shalor is o man of resonrces, he will recognize theso dis- thiotions, and start out to proteot wouden Clicngo, nod upon A plan modeled oftor that which ho establivhed in brick Now York, but upon somo original project especinlly ndapted to the formation and chnrnoteristics of Chiengo. Now Yorle, boing more substantially built of non.com- bustible malerinls, needs a Depnrlment or- gnnized with special voforonco Lo tho oxtin- guishing of smnll firos iu vavious purts of the city nt ouo nud tho snme timoe. What Ohiengo needs most of nll i some systomntio plan of prevention. 'Wo need improvemonts in our wooden roofing, -in the chavacter of onr wooden buildings, and in the menus for checking the flamos at the starting-point among them. Au orgauization of the Do- partmont into divisions and lrigades may b ugeful in the way of discipline, but it is not 0 imperativo ny to demnud additionnl forces that could not bo utilized in timo of need. Gon, Shaler should carefully estimate tho peeulinr dificultice of Chicego, and bring his wuggestivencsy to benr upon those means of prevention best adapted to a city loosely and hurriedly consliicted, Gonius is fortile in invention and not servile in imitation, If Gen. Shaler hopess to be usoful to Chiengo, lio must make up his mind that our current expenditures on account of fire sorvice ave alrendy ns lorgo a8 o oity of this size ought to bear, and ho must set himself to work at n better distribution nnd applicntion of this money thaa wo heve had herctofore, If thero is to be any increase, it must be rather inthe way of providing incronsed water- servica, It will bo time enough to add ad- dilional engines and men when wo find that thoge on hand cannot exliaust the water-sup- ply. Mennwhile, lot us have from the Con- sulting Engincer somo practical suggestions for the prevention of flres, and their sprend- ing, with the materinl at hand. THE INSPEQTION BRIBERY OASE. Mr. John I, Allen, who was arrested upon tho charge of attempling to bribe Assistant Grain-Tnspector Irwin, has been honorably aequitted. ‘The fact remning, however, that an attempt at bribery as made by somo party, and, according to Mr. Allen's opinion, it was by the shipper of the corn himsclf. The lotter offering H6 per car to Mr. Irwin to inspect new corn ns old was produced in evi- dence, the numbers of the cars were fur- nished, and tho pieces of lath which wero to indicato tho pmtioular cars for inspection wera found ag nccording to instructions, It iw forlunato that the grain-inspection force in this eity is so organized that Lribery or a dircet appronch to an Inspector is next to impossible, or at lenst very difficult. The ouly way in which an appronch can be made is by some cireuitous method like the one practiced in this cnse, and this necessitates considerable risk upon the part of the briber, who is virtually working in the dark, In the first place, his communieation may fall into the hands of an Lhonest man, ns it did in the cnso of Mr, Trwin, Agnin, there is no cer- tninty thnt the Inspector who receives the offer may bo upon the track where the grain is to errive, as the Inspectors are frequently chnanged nbout, to-dny upon one track aud to-morrow upon another. The cseapo, lowever, in this case scoms to have principally turned wupon the fact that the offer fell into tho hands of en honest mnan; nud, as this kind of contin- genoy is not an overy-dny ocourrence, it in reality leaves o very narrow murgin for con- gratulotion. Chief-Inspector Harper, in view of these cireumstances, and the fortunate, but narrow, eseapo of the office from a serious scandal, should not rest content with Mr. Allen’s ac- quittal. The offer of the bribo is unmistalk. ably proven, and he ought to run the bribe to enrth in justice to the high reputation of lis office. No teint of bribery has touched the grain inspection of tha oity, but the iuspection should be still fur- ther protected by demoustrating in n practical way that a bribo counot be even offered without penalty, Thero are tricks and subterfuges onough, sharp opera- tions aud corners enough, in the operations of tho Bonrd of Trado itself, and the shysters and sealpers of that organization have done enough to injure the reputation of grain- dealing in this city, without having any new avenncsof corruption and trickery opened, In this case, there is o very woll-grounded suspicion that the kuavery had its origin in tho country, which males it all tho more im- perative that every possible precaution should be taken. If corruption and trickery brenk out at both ends of the line, chaos will soon arrive, THE RICHMOND CONVENTION. The Convention at Richmond, in congider- ing the general subject of cheap transporta- tion, has substentinlly, if not of necessity, worked itself into an indorsement of agrand system of internal improvemonts, The paper of My, Southall was nceepted as the demand of Virginia, and contnined also n statement of what Virginia wonld consent to if heor ro- quest was complied with, Virginia, in the days of Gen, Weshington, had a thoory that if there wns a canal conuneoting with the James River at Richmond, nud estending to the Ohio River, tho commorco of the nation would flow to Hampton Roads, Maryland at a later date had o similay iden, and in 1820 Legan tho Chesnpenke & Ohio Canal, which, after many years of lops md expocianey, reached Cumberlond on the cast side of the mountains and then stopped. Virginia, howover, pushed lior eanal far up into the mounteins, whero the work was finally mwested, aud is now valueless. Virginia wants that cannl com- pleted to the Kanawhn River, aud, by that strepm, to the Olio River. The estimated cost for the now work to be dono is $360,000,- 000, whieh, with tho enlargement and recon- struetion of the old work, will make the whole cost about §100,000,000, In themean. time, the Ohio River las becomo scant of water, aud that strenmn from the month of the Kannwha to tho falls will require locks and doms to meke it navigable, How much this will cost wo do not know, but probably 40,000,000, When comploted, thore will be water communication from Cairo to Rich- mond. From Richmond it is avgued that tho grain of the Wost ean bo trousported to Now York and New Eugland by steam, 1If this bo dono for Virginin, then Virginia is willing that thero shall Lo constructed acnual for the onncsseo River somewhero nonr Chattancogn, up the mountaing of North Alabpua pud Georgin to the opposite side of tho Alleghanies ; that the rivers on that side slall bo dug ont, locked, sud damwmed, and water communicntion extended by one line to Savannall and by anothor line to Alobile, T'o make theso routes available, however, it will be necessary to dig out and straighten tho Tennessoo River from its mouth on the Olio, and to put in looks and dums to mnko it navigable a distanco of several hundred wiles, Tho cost of all this work may bo roughly estimated nt §75,000,000 to $100,- 000,000. Thero are other schomes of lko charactor involved iu the gonoral plan, which isto bo presonted to Congress ng a sort of omnibus, and which is oxpoeted to go through by the foreo of its own spevific gravity. Tho means by which this is to bo done aro to bo furnished by the nation; aud tho na- tion, it is clnimed, can do thin either Dby tho issno of an ndditionnl 100,000,000 or $500,- 000,000 of greonbneks, or Ly the issuo of the snmo amount of bonds,~-it costs com- paratively nothing to print cither form of indobtednens, That is the substance of Mr, Southall’s ‘ great papor,” 'The end sought to bo ac- complished is to furnish n cheap route of trausportation from the West for ity grain. Tho grain-producing portion of tho country is annunlly gotting further west and north, and Nebraskn, Dakota, and Wyoming will in a fow years bo to the country what Iilinols, Wisconsin, aud Iowas nra abt prosent. The orgument i that the grain of the West will be pushed forwamd to ihe Missis. sippl River, thon Lo pnt on boats, and start on its voynge down that river to Cairo ; thence up the Obio to the Knunwha, nnd over the mountnins and through the val- loys of Virginia to Richmond ; or up tha Tonuossco and over the mountning of Geor- gin and Alabama to Savaunch or Mobile, and thence constwiso to Now York and Now En- gland, 'The question of time as n constituent of value seems never to hnvo been considored in this business, Grain and other Western productions are rarely ever shipped to the Last by the producers, Theso products ne- cumulate at central points whencs they avo shipped. A man in Towa sending grain for- ward sonds to the nonrest mnrket, Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Louis, or 'Toledo, aud draws at sight for his money ; his draft is paid and with the money he renews his trade, A con- signment of giain or other produco starting from Dubuque to New York by either tho Richniond, Savannah, or Mobile route, would probably, no accidents occurring, reach ity destinntion in six or seven weeks. In that same time the shipper could hove sent ton times that amount to Chiengo and have got nll his money back. Before lie could hear of the nrrival of his shipment of corn at Now Yorlt, ho could mako the trip to Europe, dino with the Viceroy of Egypt, and get back to Towa. It is this question of time as a con- stituont of value that discriminntes against the Now Orleans routo ; and so important is time that it is no uncommon thing to ship grain from Chicngo by stenmer to Buffalo, and thence by rnil to tho Enst, in preferenco to tho loss of eight or ten days by the Erie Canal, Nr. Southall's plan i s grand one on pn- per ; it is magnificent as a protext for issuing more greenbacks ; but utterly valueless ns promising any relief to n people who want rapid as well as chonp tranuportation, THE BUPIEME COURT. Tf thero should be anywhere an incredulous legislator who is of opinion that the Judges of the Supreme Court aro overpnid for their servides; who thinks their position, on the whole, is an ensy one; and wonders why they suffer business to got so far behind, let him visit tho office of the Clexk of that Court ab Ottawn during its session, inspect the records which they are required to exnmine, note the volumes of printed abstracts which they avo compelled to wade through, to sy nothing of the renms of printed and written briofa and arguments, and we are confident that the nforesaid legislator will leave the cramped and inconveniont oflice of the Clerk of the Court a wiser, if not a sadder, and probably 2 mndder, man than when le entered. If he asks the Judges whether it is necessary that those records should bo so immensely volum. inous, they will with one necord tell him no, If ho inquives whether the abstrncts should bo of such infinito leugth, thoy will answer him no. Should he inquire whether it was necessary that thoy should diligently rend throngh all this vast amount of matter, they will answer yes. They will tell him that it is quite impossible to guess from tho appearance of the outside of the record what it contains, and that they are frequently com- pelled to read hundveds of drenry pages to find, at the end, that there is not a single legal question presented by the record. ‘The legislator will then probably bo pre- pared to ask whether'a remedy for this evil cannot be found, and, zealous in good works, lie will undoubtedly be anxious to apply a corrective If one eanbe discovered. Wo have bofore us, as illustrating the extont of this abuse, a record of a eansonow pending in the Supreme Court amounting to over 600 pages of manuscript. This entire record, bill of ex- ceptions nnd all, ouglt not to have been over 176 pagos,—indeed, it might Lave been less than that, In auother ease now pending in that Court the record contains 277 pages. The printed abstract is 22 pages. This record should not have been over 0 pages and the abstrach not over 5, Theso two cnses mny be taken g foir illustrations of tho extent to which this abuse is carried. Fhe power to correct it rosts with thoe Legislnture and the Court, In the enso lnst referred to, tho exceptions wera all based upon the instructions, Tho bill of exceptions should have embraced no moro of the ovidence than was necessry to present thoso excoptions, and fhe entivo Dbill of exceptions, properly drawn, instructions and all, conld have been writlen on 10 pages of legal eep. Instend of that, however, tho transeript of the short-hand reporter’s notes of the evidence was presented and allowed as o bill of exceptions, and was embodied in tho record ns snch, It is so near the truth as to justify the assertion that not a single bill of excoptions, properly so-called, was filed in any ease pending in the Suprome Court dur- ing its last session ot Ottawn. The Judges hove made an effort to correct this ebuse by a rule, but tho rule seems to o entirely inoperntive. Tho bill of excep- tions should in no case prosent movo of the ovidonco than is nbsolutely necessory to ren- dor the ruling of the Court to which an ex- coption is taken intelligible, And the prac- tico of sending up to the Supremo Court all tho ovidence, without roference to the fact as to whother any questions of law are raised upon it or not, is an abuge so sorious in its character that it will swamp the Court if 1ot soon corvaoted, Whero the ovidonce is conflicting as to o certain fact, it is quite enongh to say, if anything whatover need bo said in tho bill of exceptions concerning it, that the plaintiff introduced ovidence tending to show a certain stato of faots, and that the dofondant introduced ovidenco tending to show the opposite state of facts, Where tha evidenco in the Comt below {s con. fliotiug, tha Supreme Court will not at. tempt to roconcile it, nor will they disturb » judgment whero the evidenco in the cause is conflicting, Theso are questions peoulimly within tho provinee of the jwy, and the purpoe of wu ap. ponl is not to transfor tho trinl of questions of faot from a jury of twolve men, who sco and Loar all tho witnessos aud kere avary op- portunity of detenmining from chofr appost« anca upon tho stand whot witnessos aro one titled to bolief, to a jury of soven gontlemon who noithor see nor hear the witnesses, and havo no menns to ald them in determining which toll the truth, Tho troublo roste with tho practica an to Lills of excoptions, 'he Bupromo Court of tho Unitad Strtes will not tolorato nuinnnces and fwpositions of thin charaster. A fow yonrs sinco n onwo wau takon to that Court from thin cirentt, and the hill of exceptions had Deon Pros pnred something aftor the fashion pro. vailing in the Buprome Court of this Stato, The Judges nl Washington denouncod tho practice in tho mast unmistakablo terme, and gavo vory emplintic notice that thereafter cnsos brought to that Court with sueh bills of exceptions would be disminsed ot sight, 1t is mneedless to sny that tho admonition had tho dosired offect, It Is snfo to say that in the great majority of cases billy of exceptions in cases taken to the Supreme Court of this Stato aro ten times longer than they neod to bo. Reduced to their proper proportions, the perusal of the records by the Court would not consuma one.fourth the Lima that it now does, aud the roal points in tho caso would be much moro cleavly Rppre- hended and underataod thon they now are, "Thero would, as n matter of course, be those who would objeet to the system lere recom. mended, but it is not difieult to sco who the objectors would ba, Other benefits would result from the system hero pointed out than those named, the consideration of which are reserved to auother time, DBanting’s colobrated systom of reducing fless involved too much sacrifico to bacamo popular, Anather systems is now annouuced, which, being simplo and plensant, should becomo fashionnbla, Itis meroly this: Riso at 6 o'clock ang driuk threo glassos of Kroutzon wator, oat two boiled ogps and a roll, drivka cup of tes, tako an hour's vopor-bath, & good rub and & cold-water Dath; fhou rub the body with vinegar. Then takoen brislk walk for an hoar or two, after which con- sumo meat or fish, vogolablos, fruit, without Bugear, two rolls and halfl a lottlo of wing; for tho eix succeading hours walk about in the for. ost (it there be one bandy) and then ding upon cold mont, boiled fruir, half o bottle of wino, andaroll of brond. This alone would have no effect, boiug; moroly & basis of gonoral treatment, T make it effectual tho patient must tako ten olkalive pills daily, five in tho morming and the snme ot night, It will not aurpriso tho roader that tho first pationt to try this cany remédy re- duced himacl? from 810 to 180 pounds in six oz sovon months. Whethor this wasdue to the dief or the pills, howaver, is a question for the indle vidual to detormino, Unless Mr. Clarence Coolt, of Now York, wrote himuolf down egregiously asinine, ho punce tured o swindlo of the most unblushing de- geription. A collection of paintings was exhibe ited at Kurtz'» Art Gallery, among thom o canvea declared on tho entulogue to be the original " Balomo ™ by Reguault, Mr. Cook, who was familiar with the work in queetion, wrota to the Now York Tribune exposing * tho daub nsa wretchod fraud.” The auction oceurred a day or two later, and, whon the “Balomo™ wae roached, tho excitomont of tho spectators wag vory great. 'The auctioneor made some dispare aging romarks with regard to Mr. Cook's nol possessiug wealth enough to pay damages, but threatoned to sue tho paper which publishod his Iotter. Hosnid o had nover claimed this to be an original, but meintained that it wae painted by H. Roguault. Tho explanation did vot sufica to convince tho gudionco, and tho painting wey not Rold, Bowe ignorany parveny, & potentind purchaser, who would bavo jumped at the coun- torfeit for the sake of tho namo, ouo of that cluss the auctioncer aimed at, owos Mr. Cook & bhenvy sum of money and thieuks for saving bim trow ridiculo. It is en anclent joke upon allopathio troate mout to suy that a sickly patient will soon be un- ablo to speak in hot weather Dy reason of the riso of the morcuryin his systom, which, get- ting up to his throat, would choke him. Accord- Ing toa Parislan nowspaper correspondent, some- thing like this bas actually occurrod in the gay Capital, An Algorian soldier, who had con- tractod diseaso of tho liver, took to mercury. Now it would be difticult to eay whether ho s merely o super-mercurinl Fronchman or an ant- wmated mass of quickeilver. Tho avorage heat of the human body is 98 degrees. This is n height to which poor Louls Lamarck caunct rigo. Hig faculrios aro anchored to 918¢ dograe:, He can hear 2nd reed plainly at that temperr.- turo, As it riges or falla ho losos his facultios. At 70 dogreos hie becomos Dbling, at 65 ho losca his taste, and at 20 bis touch, and below tbrs temporature e cau handle Lot fron, What o coliapso would accompany o summer loniona’’d or a wintor tom-and-jerryl Porhaps the ca-8 furnighes an explanation of the frequont ph2- nowmens of weak Lnees, stammering tengus, and & goneral inclination to loll against a lamp-po:t PERSONAL. IN CHIOAGO. The Hon. Alonzo Loring, of Wheollng, We.t Ve, ie at tho Graud Pacifle, Mzrs, Rudolphsen, the wife of tho omincnt concert singer, in stopping at Conley's Bt Charles Hotel, Tho Hon, Franklin Corwin, mombor of Cin+ grese elect from Poru, Ik, and the Hon. Dacicl @. Fort, membor of Uougress olect, aro stoppiug a$ the Grand Pacific. E, H, Waldron, Goneral Superintondent of ih:e Kankakoo Liuo, James F. Joy, Prestdont of the Michigan Southern, aud E. W. Washburn, Te Pacifio Railway, are smong tho promivent 1uil- rond ofielals stopping at the Palmer Houso, ‘The prize awarded to M'llo. Gagne, an elogunt silver pitchor and goblet suitably inseribed, in the compototive coutest at tho French Cuth. lio Church, was duly donnted o the young lidy Wodnesday ovoning. Ae, L. E, Reed, Vice-Prosidout of the E.vub Natiounl Bank of 8t. Paul—iho mamnioth bu e of the Northwest, outside of Chicago—with tho morchant princo MeQuillan and otber Bt. Paal gontlemon, are smong tho guests at tho Pali or Houso, HOTEL ARRIVALS, Palmer House—A. H, Morrigon, Mende'a; William D, Hall, Minneapoliy; 8, T, Hans o, Montaun; J, H. Telford, New York; E. V. Wasbburs, Toxas; tho How, J, M. Gribi b, Dubuque; John Bowen, Philadelphia; . U, Johustous, Milwaukee; H. B, Aundrow, Hnu-il- tou, Onturio, . . . Grand Pac{le—C. D Woolworth, Daltota; H, A, Smith, Now Cr- loans ; Peter Deoker, Ban Frauciseo; P, J, Cars. 0, Council Bluffs: B, Holmey, Buffalo; Williun Young, Milwaulee ; O, B. Scott, Byracuso ; "V, J. Maxyrell, Bostan ; I, H, Windsor, Tituavili), Pa,; W, M, Bonjamin, Now Yotk, , . . Shor wman _ House—Thomas H, Galt, Btorlimg; . B. Bumnor, New York; Honry L. Ames, Potedom; Philotus_ Bwwyer, = Oeite kosh; W. H, Btovens, Dotroit; W. D. Wilson, Rook Teland; Goorue . Browstr v, Mankato; R, R, Nickerson, San I'rancisco; Ju* Dearborn, Havans, . . Tremont House — Jowea Bhaves, Atlanta; D, H, Jones, Racius; J. H, Ammon, Boston; E. G. Oallabun, Er, Louiy; Georgo_Alden, Doston; Honrv Taylor, Ualtimove; ¥, Fitzsimmons, New Yorkj M, 4. Bour, Philadelphia; A. ¥, Thayor, Boaton, ELSEWLERE, Spectal Diepatels o £he Chicado Tridune, Kavass Ony, do., Dac, 8.—0. 8, Lyford, lats General Supurintondent of tho Haunibal & 8t Joseph Railvoad, {8 in the olty. It i mald hoia to tako the snme placo on tho Kansas Pacifie, cated by Mr, Bowen, mmsmunz "Diogateh to 7'ia Chisazo_Trinune, SertsarieLy, Ill, Deo, 8.—3Ir, Feank Agnow, Bhonir-oluct of Oook County, was in the vy to-day, end calted npon tha Boorotary of Hiave, who delivorod to bim his commlisaion ae Slerlf, Mr, Coohixanio, of Chicago, tha mabitoct of tho now Btato-Hlouso, at whoao invitation tho meus bora of the Bhort-Horn Convention paid a visit to the now Biato-Houso, s Alsalare,