Chicago Daily Tribune Newspaper, December 5, 1874, Page 8

& ¥ ‘THE CHICAGO DAILY TRIBUNE: SATURDAY, DECEMBER 65, 1874---TWELVE PAGES. a TERMS OF THE TRIBUNE. ‘4s NATEA OF SUNSORIPTION (PATANLE UC ADVANCR). ally, by mail. L2.06 | Kunitay i Aookly BGG | Way Pastaof a yoar nt tho anno rite, To pravont delay and miatakes, be sure antl give Post. OMico address tn full, including Stato ani Vounty, Ramittancesimay bormade altherby draft, exprose, Poste Onico order, or in ‘registorod Iettors, at our riwk, senwa To city KUNRCNIUENS, Daily, delivered, Sunday excopled, 25 counts por srook. Daily. delivorod, Sunday included, 80) conte par wook. Address THE TRIBUNE COMPANY, Curnor Madison and Dearhorn-eta., Chicago, I}. prods aradrtiecelite TODAY'S AMUSEMENTS, ORAND, OPERAATONST Clark Bawenan Hour. Kally & Luon's Minstrote, Dutch 8." Afvoraoon and evonini. atreat, gonnosite "Grand AeiQOEEyS, {ERATE landpih Mark not fatialios, jeruoun, ** Bouent of James ONale ACADEMY OF MUSTC—alsted etront, batwegn Mtod- Tgnggmout ofr Tan On the and “That Blessed atreot, betweon orce,"* Iiventugy Tho Woavarn, ‘Aftarnoon aud avonluit. MIVICKER'S THE, Dearborn and State, David Copnartteld." FARWELL HALL asalio nineatee Ne JTR—Mautieon eteaot, hotwoon Sa ent or ohn irouglan. 'Kifarnoon and avontant. Jadleon atrrot, bntwoon Clark and is by Charlotte Cushman, “BUSINESS NOTIC! OAUTION TO HOUSEKEEPERS-—OWING TO TOE increnucd end cansinntly incruusing cost ul yanilla bean naud in the mauufactnro of os tract vantlla, spurious vor wounds are being thrown upon the marker, purpurting to Poruroganilia, tne prentsad uriaetoaly free Tosan i beun, ‘This or a nubatittity costs thy maniting. gonuins ti roalily Bodateeted by In fragrance. Tt i ured principally by tobaceoniste for perfuming enult and clears, aud was Hover hitetidad te be used ata flavoving for tho vatlous compounds propared for tho human stamaoh, Houseleopers who studs tholt intorests will demand ot thele grocer atrictly pura vanilla only, and reftiee to ace copt ot an ndulterated compound, wiiteh may roudor the dealer a bottor protit, ‘Burnett's oxtract of vanilla ts proparod front gglactad yauille beanm and fs wareantod ontiruls frvo from Fonqua a or vthor delolerious: ‘All cooking oxtracty, wit na lemon, vaniltn, reso, aluond, enlory, ote pre ured at. they lahoratery of Soroph Bacuott'® Co. Hoston. yan he reliod upon for parhy and strongth. Kor upward of twonty-two scarey the; hare been sod by the leading hotuls and tiv best Tonle throughunt tho United States, and aro sold by all first-class xeccera and drugelsts. INDEX TO ADVERTISEMENTS, Ta 9 uluvouth page. The Chicane Tribune, Snturday Morning, Docembor 5, 1874, WITH SUPPLEMENT. MacMahon’s message is a comfort to all parties in the French Assembly save the Re- pnhlicaus, Ib is to them a postponement of thelr success ; to the others it is a reprieve, 'The Pope, it is said, bas absolutely refused to permit the Brazilian Bishops who have come in conflict with the civil power to re- sign thelr soes, Who would have thought the old man had so much blood in him ? Amusing enough is the telegraphic corre- spondence between President Grantand King Kalnkaua, in which each calls the other his great and good friend.” Kalakaun’s grent- ness is tuo awful for light remark ; Iét it pass, There apperxs to be arensonnble doubt of tho guils of Hivam Smith, who was hanged yesterday at Watertown, N, ¥., for the mur. ger of Charles Wenham. Mr, Boveo may do some good by investigating the facts of this case, and giving hisconclusions to the public, Judge Durell has confided to a newspaper reporter in New York that his solo offense was the literal interpretation of the Enforco went acts, ‘his is an argumont for repeal- ing those acts. But we suppose Judge Durell could not be induced to reconsider his tesignation, At any rate, the Administra. tion, with its present light, could not be in- Auced to have him. Au English Couvt has peremptorily ordered the production of the books and papers of the Emua Mining Company. Some rovela- tions not altugether flattering {o American, honor will daubtless come from the examina- tion. The United States loses more by the Emma Mine swindle than England does, though not directly, It is something to los eredit, President Ashton’s favewell to the County Doard is remnrkable for a confusion of idens, He spoke as if the City of Chicngo and tho Board of County Commissioners were com- pletely identified, snying : ** To-day we com- mand tho admiration of the world.” But you don’t, Mx. Ashton, You haven't the nd- miration of nuybady whose admiration is worth having. Jesper D. Ward, present Congressinan from the Second INinois District, has decided to contest the seat of Mr. Harrison in the Torty-fourth Congress, So there will be a thanee, after all, for the Democratic House to show ifs hands in {rvor of a reform in the manucr of deciding eqntested election cases, Let them scat Mv, Ward, and wo shall be- lieve thera ava quite a number of honest Domoerats in Congress, It is rumored in Washington that Mr. Jus. tice Swayne, of tho United States Supreme Court, contemplates resigning under tho law whieh xllows him ta do so upon full pay. Justice Swayne is an Chio man, and was ap- pointed by President Lincoln in 1862. Should the rumor prove correct, President Grout will have an opporinnity to appoint is Afth Judge, thus constituting a majority ofthe Court. ‘Tho other’ Judges appointed by hitn are Chief Justice Waite, of Ohio; and Justices W. Strong, of Peunsylvania; J. P, Bradley, of Now Jorsey ; aud Ward Hunt, of New York, —_—_—— ‘The second annual report of Chief Grain, Tnopector Harper spenks well for his admin- istration of the office, A reduction of onc- holf in fecs has been made during the year ending Oot. 81 1874, and still the reecipts exceed expenditures, ‘This much has been accomplished, in spite of small. do- evense in tho amount ‘of grain inspected, by economical servico ind close collection of dues, Tho esteem in which My, Harper in held by the commission trado of Chicayo in testified by 4 letter, published in anothor column, to which avo attached the signatures: of the bost-knowe operators on the Board of ‘Trade, The Chicago produce markets wero gencr- ally on tho dowaward turn yesterday, though provielous averaged higher than on 'Mhursday, Bless pork was uctive and weak, closing 20@ , 800 per brl lower, at %20,00 cash, and $20.65 @20.60 seller February. Lard was active, aud closed 5@210a per 100 tha lower, at $18,16 cosh, ond §13,65 for February, Meats wore moro active and firmor, at 7o for shoul- ders, 9 8-40 for short ribs, and 200 for short aears, Iighwinos were in fuir donand and ateady at 97c per gallon, Drersed hoga were more active nnd firmor, closing at 9$7.75@ 8.00 por 100 tbs, Flour was in better re- quest, but easier, Whent was less active, and 3-4@1¢ lower, closing nt 90 1-20 cnsh, and 91 1-20 seller Januny, Corn was dull and irregular, closing at Tle seller the month, 74 1-20 for May, and 670 for now, Onts wero dull aud ensicr, closing at 63 1-20, Moga were active aud higher, tho adyauce amounting to 14@L200, Soles at $6.00@7.00. Caltla were weak and unsetiled, Shoop were firm, Souretary Bristow very properly cut out fron ‘Preasurer Spitnor’s report an argumont ho hat prepared in favor of the 8.65 con. vertible bond xchomo, It is anid that the ‘Trensurer ix highly indignant at this treat- ment. Ho ought not to be, Ho ought to bo thankful that tho importinence of his suggestions has been allowed to pass without a reprimand, ‘Lhe ‘T'reasurer, in his oficial capavity, has no moro right to 6 theory of finance than the Chief of the Ord- nance Bureau. His bond scheme is directly opposed lo the viows of the President and the Secretary of the rensury, For him to press it in an offleial report is to say that his wis. dom is better than theirs, teen In the Richmond Convention yesterday, a Mr, Dobbins, of Buffalo, rend on iuteresting aud aminently-practical papor on steam-cnnal transportation, Somo of tho statements made by him, and especially those relating to the actual work porformed by the Baxter ling of boats on tho Erie Conal, will bo new to many Western renders, al- thongh wo have several times alluded to them in theso columns, Mr, Dobbins esti- matos that the introduction of steam-barges on the laken will evontually reduce the rates for carrying wheat from Chicago to Buffalo to 41-2conta; and the tells from Buffnlo to Now York will be again decreased 5 conta by the omployment of steam on tho canal,— making a total reduction per bushel of wheat of 10 to 15 conta, Hero fudeed is asolution of the cheap transportation prob- lem ready at haud, Besides hearing Mr. Dobbin’s paper, tho Convention listened to tho final report of the Commit- tea on Resolutions, The most roemark- able delivoranco of this Committee ison the currency question, and reads sone- thing as follows: |‘ Metal ourrency is the ro- aul, not the cause, of commercial prosperity, and its goneral introduction will bo brought about by cheap transportation.” Wa do not know that the foolishness of the Richmond Convention could be more appropriately ex- pressed than by the adoption of this resolu. tion, Its utter absurdily, of course, is too apparent to admit of its deceiving anyhody. Metal currency is not a “cause” ora ‘re- sult,” or even an infallible indication, of com- mercial prosperity, It is merely a measure of value, THE DUTY OF THE HOUR, At the present timo, whon so many grave questions—quostions of the most vitul impor- tanve to this nation—are before the peoplede- manding a solution, the country expects, and has a right to expect, that every man shall do his duty, And tho first duty in the premises of evury citizen capable of thinking at all is to take a living and practical interest in the questions of the hour, No country in the world has beforo it matters of such magni- tudo as the United States at the presont time. ‘The xepudintion of our national debt is threntened by a party ausions for and san- guine of obtaining the control of the Na- tional Government, Could. it obtain power, thore is no guarantee that it would not de- stroy our credit as n nation, and put us in tho position of bankrupts, If that debt bo not repudiated by the Democrats, it will be in- sisted thet the people of the wholo coun- try shall be taxed to pay the enormous cx- penses juenrred by tho Confederate States for the purpose of destroying the Union; and thus, if not bankrupted in one way, there is danger that wo shall bo in another. ‘Tho Democratic imagination will be powerless to imagine a fitter way of clasping hands across the bloody chasm than by piling the Confed- erate on to the Union debt, and paying both by the taxation of those wha fought to save the Union and to crush out the Confederacy. Not only will the Democratic party, if it re- gain power, bo called upon by its old com- rades in tho ranks to pay off the Confederate debt, but, ns wo havo already painted out ro- peatedly in these columns during the past Sew weeks, to indemnify them for the loss of their slaves, and for othor losses during the War. We cannot predict with certainty that the Democratic party would listen to their demands, Thero is a possibility, howovor, that it should, and, whero thero is so much at stake, that possibility should ba a suflicient renson why every person who loves tho eredit and good name of his country should oppose ils accession to power with all the energy na- ture has endowed him and by all the meaus athis command, Nor are these the only is- suey, Our national finances necd regulating, Our commercial interests demand that they shall be regulated at tho earliest moment. ‘The party that represents tho intelligence and property of the country will be amore likely fo give that question the best solution, ‘That the menibers of the party are the propertied and business classes vory largely, makes it their intorest to give the currency question a speeily and just solution, That thoy are the intelligent classes of the community is a guar- antco that they will find for tho question tho vest solution under the circumstances in which we ave placed, Noxt, there ie the Southorn question, The whites have their righta, ‘ho colored population have their rights. ‘Both must be respected, 'the rights of the one must not be snorificed to plorso the other class, ‘ho seourity of life and property in the South must be guar- anteed by just aud equitable Inws, ‘Lhe prosperity of the whole country demands this, Under Demoeratio Government thero would be no seeurity for life in the South nor for property, ‘She colored population would be treated by tho Government as inforior bo- ings, ‘Chis would inavitubly rouse them to resistanco, perhaps to deods of violenco and bloodshed, What tho South needs to-day is 1 Government that willbe more solicitous for tho colored than for tho whito man, because tho white man can tnko cnra of himself in most parts of the South, ‘lho nogro cannot. Lot the negro bo protested, and there will ba peace in the South.: Leave him unprotected, lot him fect himeclf an outonst, a alavo with- out n master to feod and clothe him, but with a thousand mastors to iol and goad him, and you can expect nothing but lawlessness and bloodshed, I€ the Southorn business men and planters would only think of this, they would bo less anxions for a Democratic Congress, ‘Tho Republican party alone onn give seourity to tha South by protecting the black man, Tho Domoorntio party, by denying him equal protection with tho white, will com. pol him to dofond himself os bout he osm, The absoncd of souurlty in the South consequent on the advent of tho Democratic party to power would keep it poor aud react on the whole country, for the wealth of the South fs part of our ua- tional wealth, In view of all thie, the duty of tho citi- zen is plain, ‘’hé man who belioves in placing the payment of our national debt heyond a poradventure ; who wishes to op- poso tha possibility of the snddling of the Confedernta debt on the tax-pnyors of tha North ; who is jestous of ow national credit aud national honor; who {4 anxious to sea the aurrengy question settled in order that Dusinoss may not be reduced to speculation end a suecesaion of panics or quasi panics ; wiv is desirous to gecura good government, perico, and prospority to the South, to whites and blacks alike, bas no option but to join tho Republican party and work with and for it, The Republican party is not perfoct, No party is perfect, But it is infinitely bot- ter than the Democratic party ; and betwoon tho two every citizen is compelled to choose. If there were o better party than the Repub- lican party, wo should advise our rendors to join {t; but there is'not and will not be: In the presont condition of things, thon, the duty of avery citizen is to join the bottur purty. Ho must eithor do that or do nothing ; and to do nothing is equivalent to working with the enemy. Party organization is a necessity, 'Yo withdraw from party is to withdraw from tho life of tho nation, It has beon fashion- able in 9 sinall cirelo of people lately to speak of independence of party. ‘here nover was an indopendont party. ‘There never can be. 'Thero is room ‘in this country but for two partios—the Democratic and Republican, Between the two overy man must choose, 'The preponderance of intelligence, wenlth, houor, morality, nnd loyalty to tho nation, nra found with the Republican party. This should be enough to decide the choico of mon wilh any protentions to intelligonco, morality, nnd Joyaity, n8 well as of thosy who look merely to the protection of their matorial interests, But the Republican party is oven more than we have claimed for it above. John Stuart Mill says, in bis work on Liberty: “In poli- tics it is almost n commonplace that a party of order or stability nud a party of progress or reform are both necessary elements of a healthy stato of political life, wntit tho one ox the other shall have so enlarged its montal grasp as fo bo a party equally of order and of progress, knowing and distinguishing what is Aitto be presorved from what ought to bo swept away.” ‘Tho Republican party is a party of order and of progress, To it belongs tho futuro of this conntry just as certainly as there is a law of development that governs tho politicul life of nations, The Democratic party lias accomplished its. mission, if it over had any except to bring on tho War of the Rebellion, It is tho duty of tho hour to recognize this. Let there be no more talk of **no party” and “independence.” These aro Utopian shibboleths, A nation without par- ties iy a nation without principles, It is a nation without movement. It is ao lifeless swamp. THE ACQUITTAL OF GAGE, The nequittal of Mr."Gago by tho jury at ‘Waukegan takes the public by surprise, and isn matter of no little concorn, hero was renlly no controversy as to the facts. Mr, Gage was Treasurer, and on tho day he loft office held of the funds of tho city n certain sum ; ho turned over his books and papers to his successor anda portion of the money ; his deficit was $582,000, A portion of this was in a suspended bank ; the rest was unac- counted for; ho confessed the deficit, and said that if given time he would pny it to the vity. He was indicted, these facts proved, and tho jury promptly, and without hesitation, nequitted@ him, It is cortain that the jury must have gone outside of tho evidonca to yeach this verdict, and what was. thoro out- sido of the cvidence to justify it? When Mr. Gngo was first elected ho promised that he would turn over all the in- terest received by him for the nse of the city funds to the City Treasury, rotaining only his ewn salary and expensos, Aftor ha was elected he made this distinct offer to tho City Council, and that body nover took any action thereon, though the Finance Committee favored it, During his first tonn tho public funds were notoriously placed on doposit in several city banke; and Mr, Gage, after de- ducting $10,000 a yoar for his own salary, turned over $192,000 of interest received by him from the banks to the City Treasury. Tn 1871, upon this record, he was re-olected by on enormous majority. Nothing more was ever snid or done about any arrangement between him and the city. Hoe lonued large sums of city money or used large sums of city money to invest in Rivorside bonds and otherwise, the details of which are un- important in this connection, It was claimed by his counsel that he was viriually authorized by the city to Iend the mouey at intorest; that in exercising his discretion ho loaned some $118,000 to the Second National Bank, and moro on Riverside bonds, and that both these investments proved unfortunate, he not being able to get tho money back; that tho investment of the monoy for the use of the city was sanctioned by the city in accepting the $132,000 interest paid by him previously, and he was not, therefore, crimi- nally linble. It is true the Court excluded al testimony tending to show these facts, on tho ground that neithor tho city nor its agents had any authority to make any such arrangement, ote, Nevertheless, the defense was offored to be made, and was mado known to the jury, Strange as it mary appear, tho only Inw under which a defaulting City ‘Treasurer could bo indicted was an obsouro and long- forgotton statute of 1838, and this provided penalties for not “paying over to his suo- cosgor,” elo, Even in that statute no such officer as a City Treasurer is mentioned. Whether the jury failed to recognize this law ag applying to the caso of a City ‘Treasurer, or whethor thoy considered tho legal defonse offered, but not admitted, as acquitting Mr, Gago of all intent to dofraud the city, may bo disclosed horeaftor. At all events, thoy do- olaved he was not guilty, and that ends all the criminal prosooution against the lato City ‘Treasurer. Without stopping at this time to disonss tho vordiot of the jury, wo call attention to the present condition of the law. Whon tho jury failed to convict Gage in tho enso pro- sonted to them, it is not likely that any other jury can bo found who will convict any othor City 'Troasuror under liko ciroumstonces, Tho business of the City Treasurer is conducted naw precisely ns it was in tho timo of Mr, Gago and as it had beon proviously, ‘Tho ‘Treasurer is paid $2,500 a yenr, and thia is his wholo legal allowance, It is notorious that his clorical forco costs him twice or thrico that amount. In contomplition of lnw, ho is out of pooket several thousand dollars a yont; in polnt of fact, ovary ony kuows that ho directly or indirontly receives interest on his deposits of city funds, ‘The City Governmont is aware of this now as much as it was nwaro of it in Mr. Gago'n time. ‘Sho City Compirollor hasdemanded of the Treasnror that ho pay over, a8 Gago did, the Interest on the deposits, If this knowl- adgo of tho fnct was sufliciont to autborizo tho jury in tho Gago case to rssumoe that tho city hnd authorized the Treasurer to loan the public funds for the benoflt of tho city, thon it will sland equally ay a defonso to any other ‘ronsurcr who may at tho ond of his term fail or be unnble to pay over to his anecessor tho money belonging to the city. The time has now come when the businens of tho oflice of the City Treasurer should bo regulated by law. ‘Cho prosent Loose system ix disgracoful, ‘Lho offica is a moro partisan re- ward. ‘To got it, tho Treasurer has to expend largoly, and, as in tho Gago case, the city has to foot the bill in the ond. ‘The present con- dition of tho Inw and the practical rolatious of the Tronsuror and tho city are too vaguo and uncortain, It is questionable whethor the revised code covors such cases sufficiontly, There ought to bo legislation clearly defining and fixing pecuniary ss well as personal re- sponsibility, Whon tho talding of 600,000 of public money ceases to be a crime, thon it is time that thore should bo some Inw enacted directly applicable to such cases, and also sut- ficient to protect the city against loss pecuni- arvily, Hero in work for the Citizens’ Com- mitteo. THE KANAWHA CANAL FOLLY. ‘The Richmond Cheap ‘Lransportation Con- vention hos shown a readiness to spend the monoy nnd pledgo tho crodit of the untion which Congress, in the palmiest days of subsidy-logisintion, haa never npprorchod. It hus adopted, apparently by a bit of sharp parliamentary practice, tho report of tho Senate Comimitteo on Inland Trausportation, ‘This Committeo was appointed during the hent of the Grangor oxcitoment. It went to work with sound and fury, and recommended the digging of every possible nud impossible ditch which imaginary national interests or local greed could demand, If their schemo, with its estimated expenditure of $300,000,- 000 to $500,000,000, were ever carried out, the average inhabitant would have moro enunls to the right aud the left and bofore and behind than the six hundred at Balak- Java had cannon, Tho preposterous report foll flat. Now the Richmond Convention has adopted this stillborn child and is trying to breathe tho breath of life into it, ‘The ren- son for this is plain. Tho Convention is controlled by tho Yirginin delegates, A component part of the omnibus schemo it has indorsed is the completion of theJames River & Kanawha Canal. ‘This ditch is now dug from the James to a point in the mountains. Virginia, speaking through tho Richmond Convention, asks the National Government to enlarge the part already dug and dig another part through one or two hundred miles of mountains to the Kanawha, including enor- mous mountain tunnels, Then she would like to have that stream locked, dammed, and deepened from the mountsins to the Ohio River. When all this has been dono, at an ostimated cost of $100,000,000 and a real cost of twico that amount, the work will still be only begun. Tho Ohio River is ''ficlle nga woman.” ‘To-day it would float the Great Enstern and to-morrow tho mythical Missouri steambont, which can ruu ona honavy dew, would run aground in its sand-bars, It isidle to spend millions of money in locks aud dams for such astream, ‘Lhe first flood would pour down such a resistless torrent of water as would doposit every dam and lock on sand-bars between Cairo and New Orleans, Nature has a few rights that man must perforce respect, When she has thrown a triple range of moun- tains ncross the routo of 1 proposod canal, and when she makes a river alternately a ronring torrent ‘and 9 meandering brook, the best possible advico to persons about to dig a thousand-mile ditch by mountain and viver is—Don’t |! The caso would be some- what different if the projectors proposed to uso their own money, but they do not. ‘They wish to tax every man, woman, and child in this country for a century or two, and pour the money thus wrung from the nation into a hole in tho gronnd. Gen. Imboden, of Richmond, said in tho Convention Thursday, that, if he were in Congress, ho would vote for an appropriation of 200,000,000 for ditch-digging. ‘The party that votes such an appropriation need never troublo itself to run any candidates thereafter, oxcept in the local- ities whore the monoy is spent. Politicians need to understand, with the greatest dis- tinctness, that the poople pay too many taxes already. hero isa limit to all things, save the greed of tax-onters, Digging the canals demanded by the Richmond Conven- tion would be parallel folly to that of the Ozar who lad o railroad constructed on an absolute air-lino from St, Potersburg to Moscow. He argued that the best way to go from one place to another must be the short- est way, and ho thoreforo hud his road so built that it cost twice what it should, and left the towns it should have touched miles away to the right and left. Tho mild maniacs of Richmond draw a straight line from that city to the Ohio, and propose to change the line into a canal forthwith. If one mentions the Alleghanies, thoy reply that money will lovel them, And so, indeed, it would, but they cannot got it. If ono sketch the real state of the Ohio River, they shut their cars, Evon inonsy, though produced by tho salo of the prettiest bouds or tho greenest legal- tenders in the world, will not mako that changeable stream a national water-way, Perpetual motion will be on old invention Deforo tho James Rivor & Kanawha Canal fulfills the hopo so frooly expressed nt Richmond, he, modern Methussleh, whose other namo is R, M. T. Huntor, has signalized himself during tho Convention by dolivoring an elaborate argumont to the offoct that the Federal Govornmont had un- limited powors to dig water-ways, but nono to build railways, betwoon tho States, ‘This soems to bon fair samplo of tho intelligence displayed by tho dolegates, ‘he representa. tives of the Northwest, although outnum. berod aud outvotod, have, however, made a good record, ‘hoy secured tho defont of ‘om Scott's subsidy schomes by # heavy majority, and thoy have fought manfully for tho two intornal improvewents most urgently neoded now,—tho completion of work on tho Illinois River and tho oxooution of tho Rock Island & Hennepin canal. 'Pho chief trouble with the Convention has been that it hay yepresontud Virginia and Tichmond much more than it has tho nation, ‘Ihe people want cheap tranaportation for tho soko of tho wholo country, not of any single olty, A convention like this only harme tho onuso it assuines to champion by allowing Jo- oul interests to drivo it into making wildly ox- travayant demands, ‘The noxt session is to bo Holdin Chicngo, ‘Wo trust that the proosed. ings of 1875 may be marked by more nation. ality af fovllng and less loosl prejudice, When a numbor of gontlomon spend several days in nsking tho United States to expend a liundred million dollars on a useless moun- tain ditch, they ave merely enacting a most wnprofitable farce, TOWN BOARDS IN GOOK COUNTY, ‘The frand practieed upon the tax-payers of Chicago by tho Yown-Board organizations during tho Inst three years becomos donbly oppressive whon it is rymombered that theso ‘own Borrds' nro an imposition on Cook County in direct violation of the Constitu- tion of 1870, ‘Tho recklessness and inde- ceney of their grabs would soum to indicato that the beneficiaries wore aware Uhat thero was no authority for their existence, and {hat thoy oxpeet to be suddenly wiped out at any time, ‘he opinion given to the Citizens' Association by Mr. dames P, Root about n month ago on this subjecl was tho correct viow of the case, ‘There is no such thing as ‘Town-Bonrd Government in Cook County ; and wo believe that it will only be necesxary to tale the proper legal steps to secure a judi- cint revognition of this position. 'Vhe caso may be succinctly stated us fol- lows: Tho Constitutional Convention of 1870 provided two distinct systems of County Government, leaving it nt the discretion of the various counties of the State to orgenize under either ong or the other, Ono of theso was the township organization, and the other was the control of county atlairs by a Bonrd of Commissioners. Jn the latter case it was provided that there should be three Commis- sioners in overy county adopting the system, except in Cook County, ‘he excoption in Cook County was expressly made by the Con- vention in order to inke from Cook County the privilege given to all the other counties of selecting.their own system. In tho case of Cook Conuty it was expressly provided (See. 7, Avt, X.,) that “Tho county affairs of Cool County shall be managed by a Bourd of Commissioners of fifteon persons, ten of whom shall bo clected from the City of Chicago, and five from towns outside of said city, in such manner as may be provided by Jnw." In this way, the Convention stipulated that Cook County should be governed by a Boayd of Cominissioners, while it left to all other counties in tho Stato tho option of either one of the two systems. About forty counties organized under tho Commissionor system, the remainder retaining the own- Board system, The Legislature, howovor, ignored the fact that the Constitution had fixed tho character of the Cook County Gov- ernment, and permitted if to retain tho ‘Town-Board system along with tho Commis. sionor systom. It is manifestly absurd that Cook County should have two systems of Government while every other county in the Stato has only onc. In the ab- sonce of any express prohibition of this dual system, it would bo held that this could not be the case. But the Constitution also provides, both generally and with specific reference to township organization, that thera must be uniform legislation for all counties in the State; that is, all counties shall be organized either under the Town- Board system or the Commissioner system ; and it would be a violation of this principle to permit any one county to havo both sys- toms, Mr. Tuley hns more recently recommended to the Citizens’ Committes to avail themselves of the constitutional privilege of petition as a means toward ridding Cook County of this incubus. ‘To do this it will be necessary to secure the signature of mora than 10,000 Jegal voters in the county, or one-fifth of the entire number of votes cast at tho last olec- tion, ‘tho question whether Cook County will continue or discontinue tho system of Town Boards will then have to be submitted to the people at tho next general election, which would be next November, and so be determined by a majority of tho voters. But this plan manifostly includes a waste of timo and money, if the Constitution already provides the Commissioner system for Cook County, a8 we boliove to be the case. The Citizens’ Association havo already had some oxperience with tho privilogo of petition in the matter of incorporat- ing the city undor tho general law, It is a tedious ond uncortnin manner of proceeding. It would require at least two years, aud, meanwhile, we would havo to encounter serious dangers of defoat through tho opposition of the professional politicians before the matter could be determined. It is amuch simpler, speedier, and surer way of meeting the diffieulty to take the question into the courts, and let the Supremo Court decide the meaning of the Constitution with reference to Cook County. It will bo neces- sary to have this sottled in any cnso, If it be decided that Cook County, under the Con- stitution, can have no other than the Com- missioner system, that ends the matter. If the reverse, it will then be in order to nt- tempt a riddance of tho Town Board by menus of a petition and popular vote, There are two points that need to be dis. tinetly recalled in connection with this sub- joct: (1) ‘Lhe intention of the fraimers of the Constitution must be considered as atfect- ing the interpretation to be put upon any part in controversy, Now, it was the inton- tion of the Convention to abolish the Town Bouwds in Cook County, buing perfectly fa. miliar with their atrocious character and ut- ter uselessness ; and it was tho beliof of some eminent lawyers of the Convention, among whom may be mentioned Mr, Hitch- cook, the President, Messrs, Elliot Anthony, and §, S, Hayes, that the article providing for Board of Fiftean Commissioners in Cook County did abolish it, (2) It isa well-cstab- lished principle that a Goneral Assembly has no power to change the operation of tho or- gouia law of tho State, and our Supreme Court has frequently so decided. ‘Iherofore, when our Constitutlon fixod two systems for Connty Government, ono excluding tho other, and provided tho Commissioner-systom for Cook County, uo ignorant legislation could alter the fact, Wo boliove that an appoal to the courts will establish this position, The noxt Congross will be asked to create two new ‘érvitories, A bill dividing Dakotas ‘Yorritory and erecting a now Territory out of the northorn portion of it is already beforo Congress, andwill probably be taken up early in tho noxt session, ‘This was the issue in the late election in Dakota, and, the choice of Congrossional Delognto turuing on it, tho do. cisionof thopopular vote wasinfavor of nsep- aration, The puople of Northern Dakota want a now political existonco and a distinct Torri- torial Government. Thoy desire to bo known ns Pombina, ‘Tho same is the casa in Idaho, which has also olocted a dolegato in favor of tho division of the Territory. In thiy case, also, itia the northern portion that dosiroy the separation, Wo haveno doubt that there avo local reasons for dealring those changes which appeal with partioular force to the poo- plo of the Territory. But Congross muat also consider tho quostion of increasod oxponsen to the Goneral Government nad future puli- cy. These now Torritories will be knocking at the doors of Congress with an application for admission as Statea before many moro years, Thore will be four of them instend of two, which menns, perhaps, eight additional Senators instead of four, and two moro 'trot- ton boroughs” than we would otherwise have, ‘Yhis is a consideration not to bo ignored, ‘Tho Army Register for 1876 shows a very remarkable disproportion betweon the num- ber of enlisted men and the numberof com- missioned ollicers, According to the Nogister the army now numbers 25,000 men, having been reduced 4,000 by dunths and dexertions sinco last January, and, as there iva very gon- eral opposition to auy inerensa thereof, it will only take four or five yenrs at thin rato to wipe it out altogether, ‘Lo command thin Tittle handfm of mon, it appears that 2,060 oMicers aro necessary, not counting Surgeons, Ausistant Surgeons, and line officers selected for transfer to the Ordnance Department, ‘Tho perninnent sta officers number 524, so that there is one staf officer to cach sqgitud of four line officers and forty- eight men, and one commissioned ofli- eer to ench dozen men, ‘The dispropor- tion is an ubaurd one on the faco of it, and probably obtains also in the navy, although we have not the figures athand. It is an army with a tremendous head and little body, looking something like a tadpolo, ‘This dis- proportion becomes all the more absurd when | it is considered that the rank and file of the army is constantly diminishing and the of- ficers are constantly inereasing, since they do not suffer from desortion, very little by death or resignation, and Wost Point grinds out its grist every year with unvarying regularity, At this rate of increase and decreaso how long will it be before the army will be made up of officers without commands? ‘Lhe plea for this porportion is that the officers, al- thongh not needed now, may bo of use whon the emergency of war occurs, But in case of war the country must depend upon its volunteer army, and experience has al- ready shown that the samo course which pro- vides volunteers for the rank and filo can also provide volunteer officers in any number who are not only brave men but quickly become qualified to command, as was abundantly shown in tho War of the Rebellion both in the Sonth and the North, And tho War of the Rebellion showed another thing, viz.: that officers who had gone through West Point and afterwards resigned into the walks of private life, can be recalled to the army on the tap of the drum and on the firing of tho first hostilo shot, It is wholly useless, there- fore, to keep thousands of educated, skillful oflicers in idleness on the national pny-rolls all their lives, waiting for the “next war.” The absurd disproportion which the Regis- ter shows is in itself an argument for tho re- duction of the number of ofticers. Tho re- duction of the enlisted men is taking caro of itself with sufficient rapidity. If the officers are to be constantly inorensed, then the army should be increased also, or the War Depart- ment will speedily be a dopartment of sinc. cures, Gen. Belknap, in his annual report, has taken a very sonsible position in this ra. spoct, especially in his argument that tho present system of reducing the army by dis- charging men without diminishing tho uum- ber of officers id unsymmetrical and not aco- nomical. The army now is reduced to a min- imum which ought not to be further dis- turbed. The reduction should hereafter bo made in the ofticers and posts. Let West Point go on with its work and farnish tha officers, but it is not necessary to keep them in idleness. A part of them can be retired without detriment, as they can be called upon at any timo in an cmergency. THE POSTAL SERVICE. The report of the Postmaster-General to be submitted to Congress furnishes intorest- ing information of the operations of the Post-Oftica Department for the year ending duly 1, 1874. The revenues’ of the Depart- mont for the year wore $24,596,569, and the expenditures of all kinds $32,126,415,— snincrenseof ravenuc ovor the previous year of $1,674,411, and of expenditure of $3,041,109, Including the eppropriations by Congress for the transportation of public mails, tho de- ficioncy in tho revonues of the Dopartment wero 35,259,084, against 35,265,475 in the provious year, Tho esthwates for tho year ending June 30, 1876, nyo $36,064,03t, and the ostimated revenue at $29,148,156, leaving a doficiency of 37,815,378. ‘This does not include the yovenue for carrying the Government mails, amounting to $2,000,000, ‘ho operations of tho dond-lettcr office show that 4,601,773 dead-lotters were re- ecived, of which 1,892,224 letters, reprosent- ing in valuo $3,909,808, were delivered, On Juno 80, 1874, the postal service con- sisted of 69,784 miles of railronds; annual transportation, 72,460,546 miles ; annual cost, $9,113,100, or 12.58 cents per mile, Tho an- nual transportation on steamboats cost over 26 1-2 cents a mile, and ou all other routes at about 11 1-2 conts per milo. 'Yhe forcign mail service has beon increased to four mails per weel, ‘Tho International Postal Congress that met, at Berne in Septembor, 1874, onded in a trenty by all the Powers represented, Under this tventy a uniform letter rate of 6 cunts was adopted, ‘his rate covers all postages between tho ofiice whore the letter is mailed and that at which it is delivered, Ench country is to collect nud keop all the postage on letters re- ceived. During the year, the monoy-order dopart- mont worked satisfactorily. ‘Lhe whole amount of monoy thus transmitted was over $74,000,000; the average amount of cach or- der was $16.88, —‘I'ho revenue from this do- partment over its expenses was $105,000, ‘There were but seventy-four cases of fraudu- lont pnyment, or one cose in each 59,677 lat- tors. ‘Tho whole number of Postimaaters in tho United States is $4,204, of which 1,108 aro appointed by the President. ‘Chu number of amployos of the Postat Railway Service is 2,173, and thely compensation $2,851,800, ‘The whole numbor of persons ‘in the employ of the Post-Offico Sorvico is 49,000. ‘Lho estimate for the year boginning in July, 1873, is, as wo have atatod, $36, DUI, 000, This includes $7,000,000 for salaries of Post- masters, aud $3,500,000 for clorku, ‘The componsation of Postmusters and thoir clerks is now rogulated by no law. Postmnsters in small towns and cities, with population losu than 80,000, ave paid tho sumo compencntion axis pald to Postmastors in the inege cities, ‘Lhe Poxtmaster of Chicago ia paid 84,000, and the business of that offloo excoods that of any othor office nave Nuw York, ond yot thore nro 200 Poxtmasters in tho country who rocolve $3,200 to §4,000 o year anoh, ‘Phere is nood of a vigorous rofonns in this mntter, and the Postmnstor-Goneral who frankly ackdowlodgos ils {nox porlonge i mantying w business whick a is not solf-sustaining is just the man to apply tho proper remedy to this ays. tom. ‘The Post-Olices want to be classified with regard totho population within the range of their dolivery and tho amountof their bus iness, and salaries should be graded down to meet this classification, At lonst a million or a million and a half of dollars could thus be saved annually without any loss to. tho ser vico in cithor the ability or the. eflicieney of the Postmasters, ‘he Railway Postal Servico is an additional charge on tho transportation of mails, It costs $9,000,000 to transport the mails on the railways, und for railway postal clerks, route agents, etc., nearly $8,000,000 more, ‘Chin Jatter service neums to be hocom« ing expunsive out of ull proportion to the sor- vice, The subsidy of $500,000 n yenr to the San Mrancisco, Japan & China Lino is ono of thoso gratuities which cnnnot be defended, It is an outrage upon the country, ‘There is no moro justification for it than there would be for voting $500,000 to ench of the Jines running between New York and Enrope. I isa upecial bounty of half a million of dol Jnrs a year ton steamship compauy, and for which no adequate sorvico is rendered. The gratuity wos authorized by Congress, but it is nono the loss reprohensible, and should be discontinued at the earliest date. ‘Tho Postal Service is one in which the peo. plo are pergonnily and directly more ‘interest- ed than in any other branch of the Govern. ment. That Dopartment is one of actual, tangible service, and uot a mere political mu. chine, It should bo managed as a business department exclusively, and all abuses and extravagances and unnecessary expenditures should be cut off, and the sérvice brought down to a purely business standard. If the Poatmaster-Goneral will take this view, and wo think ho will, and can got the support of Congress, the Postal Servico can be mnde self.’ supporting, Subsidies ara wholly foreign to the proper management of the Post-Ollica Depurtment, 8 ‘The various rumors which have been in circulation for some time past that Ben Bute lor is canvassing the orgunization of anew party bogin to assumo an appearance of real- ity. It is now stated that the defeated chief of the corruptionists is in correspondenco with prominent (?) men oll over the country with this end in viow. This fact shows vory clearly that Mx. Butler has reached the con- clusion that neither the Republican nor the Democratio party has any further use for him, and in this conclusion ho is right, The two partios of the country—and the only two —havo no principles which ho represents, no trusts which they daro confide to him, no offices which they care to have him fill, ‘This fooling is very strong in the country ab large, ond strongest among his own constituency, where ho is bost known, The expression of that focling in Essox County has been received overywhere with profound satisfaction. When it becamo apparent to him that the Democratic causo was hopeless, ho fastened himself upon tho Republican party with all his corruptions, and the party carried the load until it became necessary either to drop it or to break down under it The former alternative was chosen, and Mase sachuscits for the first time in twenty years elected 1 Democratic Governor. Sho volun. tarily chose this unmitigated form of calamity rather than endure the scandal and roproach of “Butlerism” any longer. Having dropped this intolorable burden, tho party rises to its proper place, and will go into the election in 1876 with al its old spirit and enthusiasm, and roll up its old majorities. As all the issues of importance in which the country is now interested are represented by the Repub- lican and Democratic partics, it follows that Mr, Butler and his new party will represeni issues in which the public will have no in. terest, except to upset them at the very firss opportunity. My. Butler bas never repre- sonted but one fact, and that is the fact c? political immorality. His new party will b3 based upon that fect, and ho will group abort hhim all the political plotters, intriguers, ac- youturers, and corruptionists of the countr:. He may call to his standard ombitio: 3 political Grangers, the lower strt.+ of socicty which is controlled by Cor: munism, some of tho Southern ex-Rebe. aud men of all stripes who have no princip:«: and whose only object in striving for of'-e is plunder, When Mr. Butler has rallied jis constituency, ho should summon ‘weed 23 hig lioutenant. Butler has shown pre-o d- nent ability in planning salary-grabe e:d othor schomes; ‘Tweed equal ability in ec. cuting them, ‘The two combined would ec a- eentrate all the immoyality aud corruption of tho country, and, onco concontrated, the people could easily pat an ond to tho loadas and thoir party, Tho dispatch published this morning to the effect that peaco has beon officially yxo- clnimed in tho Argontino States seems to be worthy of confidence, Before this, it wos, impossible to tell what was the condition of affairs in that country, 6o confused and con- tradictory wore tho reports {nrnished to the press agents, Happily, thero is no longer reason to doubtthat the insurrection haa b»on suppressed, aud tho supremacy of Avella- nedo's Government established. ‘Tho re- sult will be, of course, gratifying to tho American people, und to all be- Hevors in Repnblicau institutions. ‘Cho Argentine States, by means of their oom. posite population, offer tho most encouiag- ing fleld in South America for a trial of fee. govornment ; if the oxperiment thero, which lind so grant promise of success, had fail:d, wo should have despaired of South Amecica BYEO goer a nee 'Tho British Privy Council ravontly reversed ‘ho dociuion of » Canadian Court which sustal:id tho motion of cortain Catholics in rofu Christian burial to porsons actually oxcommt: cated or doxorving excommunicntion. But tor the fact that the immediate relatives of a per: on reveutly deceased woro Catholics, another of a similar description would have occurred 1 Rochoster, N.¥. ‘he deceased was a Mw 0 and a Catholic, but dying turned away from tho arms of Mother Oburek and departed thia life u Muson, He wns not buried in the lothok d bought and beautitied, because the Church f:-t- bade it, ‘Tho Masons, thorofore, buried b:o with pomp equal to that of the Churob, but in other ground. It would bo well for tho intolcs+ unt Protentants who aro fighting Musoury to 21+ mombor that they ero acting in league with tht Church which it is their cardinal prinoiplo to condemn; and for the Cutholics to take note of tho ridiculous attitude in which the anti-Magoro placed thomeolvos at tholr last eewalon, Whatis aauoe for the gooue ie # rospectablo condiment for the nusesino fowl of the other Hex, Traoktyn ta avtually nothing moro than & nolghbarhood of New Yorks, aud ity fanolful tu dopondonco promlues to be of short duration. Tho completion of the big bridge will make it teva than a sitburb, and if tho report of the special agents of the Pont-Ofilco Deparsmont 9 Adaptod, the Clty of Churohes will bo w mers dikttlol he roctmnmicndation ts to codadtidatd