Chicago Daily Tribune Newspaper, December 21, 1874, Page 4

THE CHICAGO DAILY TRIBUNE: MONDAY, DECEMBER 21, 1874, e e e e P e e et e et e e e et e e e e e ] TERMS OF THE TRIBUNE. 18750 RATEN OF BUNSCRITTION (PATADIE TN ADYANCE). 5 pald at this ONle e, b () | Suuday. Paleddy 0 | ety Parivof & o rate. *To provent delay audl mistakez, L suro and glve Post. OLico address n fall, fneluding State and Gounty. Remittances may bomado eithorhy deaft, c3vress, Post- Qftiea order, or in reglatered lottors, at our riak, ZERUA TO CITY AUNFCRINERR, Daily, delivorod, Snnday ozecpicd, £ conts perwork Dafly, deliverod, Suudey fncludod, 30 cents por wosk Addzers T1117 YRIBUNE COMPANY, Corngz Medison and Doarbio Chicago, 1Ml To. AUADEMY O1f MUSIC—Halsted streot, batwesn Mad- feon_and Munroo, Rugagomnont of the Almos Ozers Boafle Troupa, *' Lo ¥illo do Madamo Angot.'" VICRER'S TIRATRII-Madlson strect, batmeen Dearborn and Stxts, Hngagemont of lidwin Booth. Hamlett v UOOLEY'S THIATRE—Randolnh street, batween Clark and 1aSallo, **FTho Vetoran. ND_OPERA-NOUSE-Clark steeat, opoppite s Py A S Loans Alustcate,” + Lo Potls Fouat,™ $10AQO BMUSEUM—Xontco afrest, botweon Doar- e oA Y T ira Lats. LL—Madlron irent, batwaen Clsrk and A AL S Urio Trospe. FQURTH A THcL Ahoe ™ 2o Fangh 51T ONURRII-Comer Pralrio Y, Lot by CoLGL. Fives, TMEETINGS. ATTCNTION, ST KHIGITS {—Chlongo Command- eI s Anaual Conclava Mundas oveainis 0050, A075 aelpets 1or tho vleetion of oficors ank l‘fi]ml“‘lfl of duvs, ]i\" mlnmhin:\ l:‘| \I}‘;‘;h"y roquusts &5 prosont. Dy optor of e L YOG LD, 1 SINCLATE, Recordor, LERIS LOBGE N, 441 T, 0. U. F\~The oficorsand momibora aro ierobg notiiad to uppoar At thele 11all tos day_(Monday) st 12w, sha 0 atfewl the fnaral of Sa% ata trater (Tohin Duclod), from 114 Shermansat, My SESor Gl T Nao. Graud, Mempaeg ot s Undee fneid il to attend, 5, M INDEX TO ADVERTISEMENTS, Third Page—Clty snd Subntban Tioal Eatate, Wante, To Uenio, Iorses tud Carrlages, Instruction, TO Fx= . Publicatinns, I thug+Table, biod The Chvage Tibune, Monday Ioratng, Decembor 21, 1874, Mr. Cocnaxe does not take tho placo of Supervising Architect, nfter all. Really, the sphero of uscfulness thoro was too big for i, The finavce question is a devil in politics, and both parties are trying to cnst it ont. The only way to do so is to resiove the specie standard, Superintendent Lieukin, who has charge of tho Governmval buildings in Chieago, has been “investigated” by special ngents of tho Tyensury Dopartment, and found carcless Dbut not dishonest. ITo’has also been ndvised to wind his own Dbusiness, and lenve local politics nlone, Government ofilcinls through- out tha country will observe tho beavings of this remark, Elsewhero in this prper wo print the full toxt of & lecture delivered belero tho Sundny Tectuzo Society by Mr. Lputusp JursseN. His subject was “Sundny Laws” He brongbt to the coneideration of it the re- sults of specinl investigation end stndy. Tho lecturo is perbaps the most cxhaustivo and candid trontment of tho theme theb hins ever beon ofgred by n Germnn citizen of Chicngo. e e Satan must have put it in the head of somebody to suzgest that if Congress takes n holidey recess, it will heve no timo to spave for the considaation of subsidy-schemes. If Congress can only be honest by playing such tricks with itself ns that, it had beiler adjonm altogothar atonce. Wo think better of tho present Congress then to believe it needs any such safeguerd 05 an adjowmment would furpish. Congress nlways has {ime to steal, if it. be so disposed. The caucus of Southern Hepublicen Con- gresemery, held in Washington Satuvdey, found fault with the disposition of tho party at the North to hold tho ecarpet-baggers ro- sponsible for the disordered condition of things at the Somth, It is not ex- actly trac thet tho Republican prrty at tho North lans Qone anyiling of the kind, The Repubifcan party at the North vepudiates tho carpet-bagzers, 0s £ class, altogether, It docs not “aold them responsible” for unything. Mr. Wizixax D, Kynzey must bo con- siderably grieved in spivit by the ungodiy comments of the Western Republican press on his letter of advice and crodit to the working- man’s purty of Indiann, Instead of thot low whail of distress which ho probably expected to produce, thera have been only exuberant rojoicings by {he press in genoral, and tho Repullican press of the West in particular, Tits Prnuse sympethizes with the good man In his afftictions, In the contest between Judge Deckwith and Supervisor Munn, concerning the ar- rears of taxes duoe from the Chicngo & Alton Raflrond Company, Beckwith comes out con- quevor. It was a very preity caso as it stood, end so plain to the ordinary comprehension, when enlightened by the telegraph corre- spondents, that the wondoris how tho Super- visor ever made an appenl at all.. But per- haps the correspondents did not grasp the full Lreadth of tho controvorsy. A St. Paul newspaper has dragged the no- torious Wrrtzay 8, Kive, ex-Postmaster of the Houss of Representativesand member of Congross eloct, into the Pacific Mril scandal, Tho atory runs that Kixe dvow 2300,000 of the money placed to Inwin's credit by the Pa- cifio Mail Company, Perhaps thisis a good seent, The Investigating Committeo might gk Tawne whother Lo paid any money to o momber of Congress who used to bo Post- mastor of tho House. 'Ihat would bo a doli- cato (question enonglh. tind sovndness of populer opinion in the West. {oucking the ourrency guestion iu furnished by tho letters from the peoplo which have yecently appeaxed in Tmr Tmsose, Ibisa columuy upon tho West to sny thet it favors ru exprusion of the irredeomablo eurrenoy, 1t probably nover hns been trug thint o 1ajority of Weatern peoplo favored oxpansion, and thero has been smong the inilationist-poo. plo, 1o among the inflntionlst-Bonatora, dur- jug tho past few months, & strong rovulsion of fecling in favor of lionest monoy. s e e Tho Ohleago produce markata were gon- orally tome on Satwedoy, Mess pork way loss aotive, aud 7 1-2a par Lrl lower, olosing at $18.75 cash, and §10,17 1-2 for Februwy. Tord wag loss sotlva, ond 8 1.4 per 100 fuy fowor, closing at 812,87 14 cash, and §$13,17 1.3 oeller Fobruary, Ments wero quiot ana’ aasiow ot 6;1-20 fox shonldurs, 9 2.6 for thort +1be, and'D 550 fo¥ skiort cleavs, Tigh- wines were quiet aud stendy at 97a por gatlon, Tlour was vory dull. Wheat was moderately active aud easicr, closing firm at 88 1-4¢ ench, and 88 3.44 for January, Corn wes dull sud irrogular, ulosing at 47 1-20 for old, 61 7-80 for new, 711-80 seller May Oats werp in moderate domand, aud closed firm n 52 1-2%0 for Jununvy. Liyo was suiet sud strongor, closing at 86@97c. DBarley was in botter re- quest and fiviner, closlog at §1.24 for Janu- ary, nud #1.25 for February, 1ogs wero dull and 10@170 lower, with Hmited sales at $6.00 @7.00 for poor fo choice, Cattlo wero in da- mnnd at fully former rates, Sheep werequict and wealk, Inwiy,. the gentleman who Qisbursed the Dncifle Mail corruption fund in 1872, stands a Inir chanco of boing conmmitted to prison for contumecy. o slaved off tho main in- quiries of tho Invostignting Comumitlco ns long as he could by plending rudden *‘pains in tho bowels,” mnd “violenl giddiness in tho herd,” aud ** affeetions of tho heart;” but o timo enme nt last when (heso excuses did nob nnewor, nad the witness then took refugoe in obstinale contempt. 1o intimnted to the Committea that he had spent $750,000 in securing tho subsidy, but vefused to give the names of persons whom he had parchased. OF cousso Mr, Inwiy understands that hisun- supported testimony will neither affect the standing of any Congressman nor clear him- self of the chargo of ombi Mr. Fanwesy is pushing his Cutrency bill with much persisience heforo tho Fouso Com- mittae, and is aeid to have assuanco of a fn- vorableveport on it. DBut My, FanwrLn is now in tho West, and perhaps a Republiean eancns will agreo to tho Sennto bill beforo ho returns Lo Washington, Tho ehiof objection to . Famwrns bill is, as we bove said alrendy, that it proposed an nnendurable prolongation of tho fnancinl ngony. iy plan of reliring $1,000,000 of legal-tenders each month would Leep tho conntry on the rack for 532 wonths, or nomly thirty-two years, Doubiless green- backs wonld appreeiate to par beforo all had. Deen yotived, if tho plan wero ot interfored swith, but it probaby would be interfored with long befora tho thirty-two years had spired. here wonld bg before flo * dobt- or-elnes ” and the demagogues who represent it a standing temptation to inflate, and “* caso ap things,” and “dovelop tho resources of the country,” Nobody can toll what mys- terious roverence might be pnid to the green- beck by n generation unnccustomed to any other currency. .And such a generation would como upon tho stego of aillairs befors Mr Fanweny's bill would causo n refurn to specie. e — I'ne Itepublican Senators have waived eli individunl opinions, and liave agroed to pro- pose in the Senate, and pnss, a bill yelating to tho finances which siall embody the follow- ing genexal provisions: 1. 'thint specie-payments be resumed Jnn. 1, 1879,—four years hexiee, 2, Freo baiking, sbolishing the existing monopoly. 8. The rotivement of tho fractional onrron- cy, and substitution therefor of small silver coinage, 4. A rotivement of greenbacks in tho pro. portion of B0 per cent of the additional Na- tional Bank currency ns issued, until the ng- gregato is reduced to £300,000,000 of greon- Dbacks, ‘ - 5. The Secrotary of the Treasmy fo use surplus specio in the Treasury or to sell bonds to reduca tho Troasury notes down to 2300,- 090,000, "Ihis bill is sl right 5o fav as it goes, but it falls fav short of what Congrass ought to do. 1t is, liowever, commondabla for soveral ren- sons, and first, beeauso it is an' afirmanco of o clear aud distinet policy on the part of the Republican party. Itis commendable, nlso, Dbeeanse itis a otap in the right dircction. It malkes o divect issue against inflation and de- bagament, and is in favor of n return to hon- est money. It will be cordinlly nceepted Dby Lonest people as » hoalthy improvemont of the tono and spirvit of Congress sinee the lnst session. 'The wisdom of the Executive veto at the last session is now appavent. It not only arrested legislation that was vicious in itself, bLut gave time for e careful and deliberato investigation of allnirs and of the remedics needed to meet existing ovils, Tho act of lnst session was good as far ag it went, It improved the Nationn! Bauking system in many respeets, giving it greator elasticity, providing a way for banks to retive their circulntion, and the notes of broken banks {o bo got out of circu. 1ation, as weil os tho torn and defaced notes of solvent banks. "It relensed £30,000,000 or £40,000,000 of grocenbacks uselessly locked up in the vaults of the banks as reserves, thereby enabling the institutions to loan the Dusiness public that much money, and thus relioving the financinl stringency andreducing {he ratos of interost. And, lastly, it prepaved thie way for this Senato measure, The people of the country, irrespectiva of party, sus- tained the act of last July, and susiained the principles of tho veto "that pre- veunted the passago of the opposing wild-cat bill, and they will sustain this bill should it pass, The misforiuno of Congress has been tho distrust shown in the integrity nnd in. telligenco of tho people, No appeel has ever been made to theiv honesty aud good faith that has not met with a prompt and heaty vesponse, They have been, aud are now, far in edvenee of Congress on this subject of speclo-payments ond gonnd money, The peoplo have received the recommendations: mado by tho President rud Seeretary of tho Trensury with groat satisfaotion, and, ad tho Senato embodied thoso recommendations in n bill, that bLill would be stronger befove the public than the ona agrced on. The country ja sick ond tived of the lossey, uncertaintics, oud disgrnce of dopreciated paper money, and the people wani a restoration of siability md standard volues, 'They want to deal in money that will yetsin the same value two days in succession, 'This Lill proposed in tho Senrte, while it falls short of what the country needs, is ab loast no stop baclward, but is n movement in the right diraction.’ 'ho notion which prevails in the minds cf tho rvorago Congressman, that tho * West” {8 wodded to o fluctnating, jrrodecmable, de- precinted paporonrrensy, isnot only ervoneous, but {s a #lander on the honest yoemanry of the ‘West, 'Tlhio men of tho West ave just as anx- fous ns the men of the East for good, sound, par monoy, Loy aro no mora in love with irradeomablo, fluctuating ourrency than their Lrethron of Now England or Now Yorl, ‘Tho time proposed for speclo resumption is mmecossarily long, - Thoro s no roason why it should bo poatponed for four yonrs, IP the bill gould be ko amended ns to fix tho dato ot January, 1877, or tho Fourth of July, 1870, nt tho boginning of the now contenninl, it would be a great jmprovemont, Noverthe- lexs tho Sixing of any date 1s n declded and poultive galn, and’ 80 benoflola) will Lo ity of- feots bpon (he cxolit of Lhe countty, that wo may ronsonably hope that long before the ex- piration of {he intervening term of four yoars wo will invo specie-pryments restored in fact, ho anly oxenso for o dolay in vesamption iy to give time for an arrangement of the exists ing relations of dobtor and ereditor withoub opprogaion on the ono haud, ov repudintion on the other, A theso wrrangemonis ave mado from time to time, tho business of tho futare will bo based upon the now order of things, Onca the day of resumption is fixed, aud men know that nftor that dato debls aro 10 bo pafd in coin, nnd thet purchages ard to bo made at -cofn values, there will bo n ’| general preparation for tho change. I'ho Legal- "Punder nol mey not bo repecled, but legal- tenders will then beeomo oguivelont to coin, Dobtom and ereditors, thus werned in nde vance, will haston as speedily ay possible to put their nffaivs fn proper order, thot, after thint date, they may enterupon the new tide of national aud individual prosperity; and par- tieipte in the wealth of renewednud increased production, which willfollow tbo restoration of confidence. Tho paasago of this bill will have tho effect of strengthening publio credit at home and abroad. It will impart conildence; it will offer capilal the seourity which is now want- ing; and ib will have the immodiato elfect of adding stability to tho value of greenbacks, Dy Yiving to thom, whot they have never had, n certain nssuranco of ultimate redemption. It iy not unrersonablo to expeet that even within n yenr greenbneks will hava so far ad- vaneed in value as to remove all motive for hoavding silver coin, Tho silver dollar is worth about 95 or 98 per cent of gold. When, therefore, green- baoks advauce to 94 por cent, silver chango will cireulate, and when the notes veach 95 silver will flont fracly. ‘This Souato Dbill will ronder more ensy the rofirement of tho dirty, disgraceful, mutiloted, and seandalous littlo shinplasters cnlled ¢ fractionnl curreney,” which ought to hinve disappecred many years ago. Malf n generation of cilizena have grown up in this conntry who are unfumilinr with the silver coincge. When they havo had their cyes fensted with (his clenn, bright money, with o clear, musical ring, and are no mora offended with the pestilentinl fractional stufl, they will natarally begin to long for tho dny when yellow coin will be obteinable for their greenbacks and benk notes. ‘Thero aro details in this bill which may reqniro com- ment hereafter, but its general featuves, as reported by telegraph, aro most commende- Dle. Lt tho bill pass,—improved if poasibie, Dbut let it,—embodying the festures wo havo deseribed, rud become £ Inw. Lot the peoplo Lknow that the Republican parly kas ¢ policy on this subject, that it is committed to some poliey, and the Democrats must cither dequi- esce in this policy or proposo something bet- terof their own, They ave not likely, in the faco of tho distinelly avowed policy of tho Tepublicnns, to assume tho other attitude of inflation, repudintion, nnd national dishon. esty. If they do, they ill suffer {he conse- quences at tho brltot-Los. TOM ECOTTS W RAILROADSCHENE, ‘Ihe St. Louis Repudlizan hns en editovial nvticle ndvoeating Tox Scorr’s raid upon Con- gress for tho Texns, Avizona & Pacille T road, which rends very much like tho articids wo used to siee in the JTndependent eud other pious pepers in favor of Jax Cooxr’s North- ern Prcific wild-cat vond. Tho ounly differ- ence is, that the latter were mercenary pro- Quetions, while the Republican is inspired by puroe loenl patriotism, and anovervreening de- sive that St. Louis shall increase her com- mereo at tho expense of the Nutionel 'L'rons- ury. It evidently belioves that all thet is uecesenry to this end i3, that Tox Scorr's Southern Pacific Railrond shall be construeted, and therefore it joins in a general fer- vor of enthusiasm over the weulth of Texas, New Moxico, and Arizona, which does eredit to its faith and jmagination, if not {o it knowledge. It nlso ealls "o ‘Lnipuye soverely to task beeause, as it alleges, we op- pose the construction, ab the expense of tho Goverument, of tho Texns & Pacifia Railvond and the Atlentic & Pacific Dailrosd, which will units St. Tounis and San Diego on the Pocifio coast, Now tho fact is that the Zee- publicun (unintentionally, no doubt) misstates our position in this matter, Wo are perfectly willing thet & Southern Pacifie Railroad shall ba built, if St. Louis, tho nein perty in in- terest, will go to work aud build it, Wo are also perfeetly willing that it shall bo built if St. Lonis ean sccuro the co-opevation of cepitnlists at homo or sbroad to bumild it. Wo shall conenr in any scheme for building it in a legitimate manner, which St. TLouis genins can suggest. What wo rro op- posed to ig nat the building of tho railvoad, bus the demaud that the United Statea shall construet it or furnish tho principal crsh means for doing it. Weo protest ageinst this proposition as illegitimate, opposed to the lessous of our past experience, and enlenlatod to bring our national credit into disroputo, Wo do not caro to contest any of the ex- uberant sssertions made by tho St. Louis Republican, or in tho memorinl addrossed to Congress by the Commilteo of the Union Merchants' Exchango of that city, raintive fo the wenlth, industry, vesonrces, and trade that will bo suddenly opened up by the con- siruction of My, Tox Scorr's railrond. All this {s not pertinent to tho real isgue. If the advantagos aro not overststed, wo should think that thero would be eapital in abund- ance fortheoming to build the rond with such flattering prospects for profit, But whether {rue or falso, they fail fo furnish auy reason why the Government should undertako tho construction of tho road, theroby making the Northenst, Southenst, Centre, and the North- west pool in for the benefib of St Louis and {ho far Sonthwest, Ilinois would have to py nbout 7 or 8 por cent of the wholo cont of the road, or of whatover the Government might donato thereto. 'Tho peoplo of iinois shoutd vote nguinst it to a man; then why should wa be forced to contribute pgninst our will? Tho Govermmont hos bad a bitter ecxperionce in alding in the construction of ona Paciflo railvond, which is central in its course, and as divectly tributary to &t. Louis and the South as it iy to Chiengo and tho North, St. Louis is now nearor to the DPaciflo coast by rail, and renches it in ay short o ilme, as Chicago. Thero is no justico in a clpim that tho Chi- eego peoplo shigll aid in tho construction of a specinl Jino for 8t Loul o San Diego; no more renson than in asking St, Touls to nid in the construction of Jax Coonr's Northern Taclfic Railroad, which would bo oqually out- rageous, ‘Tho momorinl which £t, Louis puta forth in behalf of tho Southern Facifio is not moro glowing than momoriale: we lave rend abont tho Northorn Paciflo, If Iinlf is true of tho lnttor that hag been snid in ita favor, its construotion would bo of grent benoflt to Okl ango, but we donot therefora damand that tho Wronsury aud credt of tho Genorat Govorn. 1nont ehinll bujld or aid the Nerthorn Pnoifio, Congyesa bns plrendy endowod both of thess tallwey solomos with enonnous lond geants ~—glving to each a torritory as Inrgo as Mis. souri or Illinols, To askk for more, to do- mand money or landy from the Natlonal Goy~ ernment, 4 o barefgecd outrngo which should Do condennied and rejocted peremptorily, und wo wro nstonished thet the Aepublican lends itwelf Lo 6o ovil n neheme of plunder "'he National Clovornment alone has good eredit left, It is (ho only ngent in this country thatoan go oub inlo the markots. of tho world and borrow money at 6 per cent, ‘Wo st rolain this credit, or wo porish, If wo henrkon Lo the dowands of numerous and nnserupulons speoulators, wa shall loso it. 1f wo cllow railrond adventurers and sen pirates to plungo their nrms into tho Nutional 'rensury, wo sholl forfeib it If we go on with the system of subsidizing with bonds wildernosn railrond sehomes for Credit- Mobilier speculators, and followed up with the Preitic Mail Steamship Dbountiey, it will mot be long Dbefore {he United States will have to hawlk bonds on tho merket at 10 por cent, nud then sell them at a discount. Wo must stop whero wo arenow. Togo further will bo to imperil the faith and very existenco of our Nationrl Government, It is Lut a sorry soxt of potriot- ism that permits local or gectional interests to urge upon tho United States Government conrso which will jeopardize its futuro eredit, and evon its existence ns anation, We regreb that tho Bt, Louls Republican londs iteelf to stich & enune, and that it appeara {o be sus- tnined therein by St. Lonis merchants, Ifin tliis respeet {ho Republican veflocts tho idens of tho Democratio party, wo drend tho results of tho next Congress, VON ARRIM'S CONVICTION. Tho judgment of tho court in the cnse of Count Vox Anxz, who was placed under ar- rest by tho Gerinon Qovermment for withe holding important State documents from the archives of tho diplomatie establishment in PTaris, during his ropresentation of the Government in that ecity, and ninking public somo of the secrets of his’ offico, was pro- nouncerl on Satnrday lask. Considering the megnitude of the offensies charged against Liny, tho punishment is very light, being only threo months' imprisonment in joil, which in- eludes tho month or six weeks ho has alveady Dbeen undor avrest. Probably no ono nch in Biswrancr's offieinl career has exposed him to moro ebuse ead denunciation than the arrest of Count Vo Anxma, It would naluvally Lo -~ expeeted {hat Trauco would raico n liowl of ezeeration upon grounds of nation- al nswell ps religious cumity ; but England s well as Franco has joined in tho luoand ery, and the whelo. Ultramontano influonce fins been at work in Buropo menufacturing sympathy for the Count. While the verdict acquits kim of any eriminal offense, it never- theless convicta him of grave oficial miscon- Auet, nnd justifies Bissraxck in the eourse he hny pursned. Who chavges in {his divection wero unmiztakebly proven by the witnosses cited to oppear. The lightness of the pesal ty shows that Bisiarcr wes not mualicious in Tiis prosecution of the e ister, while the frct thiet the Emperor will prabably pavdon him shows that tho Government enter- tains no malico ageinst him, It s proven that Count voN Anxmt commite ted n grave ministerial indecorum, which morally, if mot legally, waa tanta- mount to & crime, If tho Government had overlooked it, it would have undermined its entire diplomatic representation, pud con- doned n dangerous politieal offense, and, be- pides this, would have conceded an advantngo to Ultvemontanism which would have been little less than suicidnl, If it hed allowed Count Vox Anxnt to disclose its rocrots to its | enemies withoubprotest, it wonld have opened every door of thy diplomatic depurlment to them, The German Government, by tho ar- rest and prosecntion of Vox Anxias, evidently intended to establish a precedent for the in- struetion of its Ministers and Consuls, Hov- ing dono this promptly and decidedly, and by @uo process of lnw, it hag satisfied jts pur- poses and maintained its dignity. Tho exnmn- plo it has st will prolably e heeded. TEE REMTDIES FOR INTEXPERANCE. Thoso legal coercionists in the cruso of temperanco who sot themselves persistently against the logic of facts nnd figures, against all the lessons of experience and all the Inws of common rense, cannot do better than to read, with s littlo projudico as they conbring to bear upon the subject, the report of the Committee of the Lemperance-Reform Soele- ty, which was printed in the Iast issuo of Tur Wmpoxe, If this fails to convinco them of their error, their erso is hopeless, and the renl friends of ta:peranco might o8 well accept the fect thet they have notonly got to worlk ngninst the drunkard himsolf, but his noxt friend and ally, the Prohibitionist, It may be promised that tho T'emporance- Reform Socicty isnot made up of men who have never drank liquor, who have no ap- petite for it,—men who have had no nec- tiva personal knowledgo of the workings of mtemperance, but of men who have been vic- tima of strong drink, and bave suffored in thoir own persons, purses, and families, who Inow what thoy ara talking about, who ave exports ond qualified to give & reliable opin. fon. Now, what s the opinion of these men concerning the working of coorcive monsnres? What do they recommend? 1. Tho Committee, in behalf of tho or- gonizetion, is satistied that oll attempts to prohibit tho manufacturo or sale of intoxi- caling drinks by legislalive enactmonts will result only in failure. This isn point whioh Ty 'Criouse: has repontedly tried to got into the heads of ihe Probibitionints, tho grounds upon whioh the Committeo bases its opinion being identicnl with thoso ropeatedly mrged by ‘Une TapvNe. ¢ 2, 'fhe Committeo deolares that it is op- posed to any aetion ou the part of the Clulb which would in any way encournge n yevival of the * crusading business,” and vecoguizes thofact that it bas hitherto dono more harm then good. ‘Thoy adduce slrong veasons for such conclusion. 8, The Commillee recognizes thal tomper- ance organizations tud tempernuce rovivals havoe hitherto been only partially successful, Doeausa thoy hiave been badly mannged by en vho had no pevsonal kuowledge of the subject, who know not how to approach in- obviates, and wero ignorant of tho trme wothod of desling with intemporanco nu n disease, TPlonting itsele npon this basis, tho Com- mittoo then points out tho mannor in which temperanco peoplo should geapplo with ihis gigantio ovil, and docs it in n plain, practionl way, worlhy of all prefse, No finc.spun theories enter into thoir method, Tt g gim- plo, diract, and available, It embraoes tho following propositions; 1, Instand of making temporanao sociotios Boorot, lke tho HBona of Womperance, Good Pomplars, oto,, It would make thow opon in tholr procoodings, tud noagalble ta all, d attsactive to young men with opportunitien far apanding thole Jeluuro hours profiisbly, 2, The Commmiitteo recognizes the impor. tauce of seoking ; out and bringing into such socioties thosa yiorsons whose condition ren- dera It necessny; y they shonld tako the pledge, and for this puw:poso ib recommaends the ch tublishment of u burenn to divide the city into dintricts o't tho proper wize, to Lo can- vaxsed for el purposen, 8, aving established such organizalions, then they sho'ald bring to bear upon thoto needing refo rmntion such influences ¢y will cause thiom to ponder over Lheir past lives, and cor tvinco thom that their happiness in the future, depends upon iheir sobriety,” aid them in obtaining sitnations, in regaining tho confider ico and respeot of the world, and in farnishir ig peeuninry assistonce where it is deserved. 4 The Clommitteo recommonds the elab- lishment «f club.rooms, whera temperance refreshmernts ean bo procured at modernte prices, whiere thiere may be opportunities for rending and writing, and whore billiards, cliens, an.d other innocent modes of entertaiu- ment, en.n he furnished. 2 &. "This Connitteo further recommends the chaugin j; of tho pay-day of omployes from Saturde y to Mondny or ‘L'uesdny, the reasons for whi ¢h havo been alrondy sel forth in the public printy, B Now- here is nomething practicn), offered Dby me 1 who have had pessonnl exporienco in tho ev ily of intemperance, and who are trying to ref orm themselves, It is tho voico of the victitn Iimsolf, telling temperanco people low to loosen his honds and emsncipato him from his thralldom. Ilo nows what ho wants botter then nuy ono clie. Ilo points out fhe remedy for his troiable, aud nppenls to society to Liclp him, Shiall he bave it? Ilio appeal comes with peculine foreo to two classos of this com- manity s first, thoso who profess to be work- in jgin tha eause of temperanco ; and, socond, tt e Obuzches and Christinnassociations, Tho te anperance socielies and the Churelies eando n great worl, if thoy will drop their theoriz- i 1z nnd their coercive nonsense, and grapplo . 7ith tho ovil of intempersncoby wornl menny i n some such mnnner o8 that pointed out by ‘theso men, who kuow from sad personal ex- -perience and sufiering every detail and phase of their disense. I they will join bands with them, nssist, encourago, nnd aympathize with | them, jucaloulablo good can be done. A CONTESTED PREGIDENYIAY, ELECTION, In ab lenst three cuses the country hps es- ceped eivil war on acconnt of o.contested Tresidentinl election merely by the lucky chance thet tho vietorious candidate had so great n majority that thodisputed votes made no difference in tha general reault, whichever way they were counted, or if {hey were not counted nt all. All thess cases hieve been of rocent date. The faet {s preguaut with peril for tha futare, In 186, the five clectors chosen by Wiscongin were prevented by a violent snow.storn from reaching the Crpital of that Staie on tho day on which they wero requived by lnw to cost thoir votes, When tho President of tho Senate opened the sealed cortificates of thoelcctornl vote, in the presouco of hoth Houses of Congress, it was found thet the Wisconsin returns wero illogally deted, Objection wes made to receiving them. The two Fouses retired to their re- spective rooms nnd passed o joint yesolution {hat the President of {ho Senate should an- nounco {he result as follows: For Jaxes Bu- oiANSY, 178 votes; for Jonx O. Fresoxr (with the vote of Wisconsin), 114 votes; (withont it), 100 votes. This was duly done, and BocmaxaN wes declaved to Do clected. Supposo the five votes of Wisconsin had been the balsnce of power. Tho Republicans would have insisted upon connting them; the Democrats wonld have refused{o do so, The Iatter, controlling both Housos of Congress, would have rejecied them, and the soloappent wonld have beon to the sword, ‘There ean be slight doubt that that appesl vould havo Deen token. A majority of the nation would ot have suffered o snow.storm to give the minority control of the country, At such times, petty technicalitics eaunot bind mill- ions of men. The sccond ense was in 18G9, whon By Wape, tho Acting Prosidont of the Senate, nnnounced thet the electoral vote of Goorgin would be counted, because it did not chango the genernl result, but thab it would not have been, had it changed tbat resuit, I the counting of thoso nine votos would have made lonatro Seyaoun President, what then? Thero was doubtless fraud on both sidea in Georgin, Each party could have nado out o ceso ngainst the other, * Neither wonldl hnvo submitted to Congressionnl dic- tation, had it been agoinst them, Onco moro tho freaman’s last vosort would have como into play. In Fobruavy, 1878, Congress rejoctod tho clectoral votes of Louisiaun and Arkansas. In this case, again, the disputed votes mado no difference, Ttis to bo observed that, in all of theso cases, tho nccoptanco or vejection of the votes was o matter of no practical moment. 3lorcovor, in all theso cases, botl Housos of Congrens wero of tho samo politieal comples- jon, mnd thoreforo the decision was ensy, will ba Republican and the House Domocratic. | Under the present system, can a collision ba avoided ? Itistho ensiestihingin the world o trump up o chargo of fraud, A fow afidevit s at $5 opicce, charging intimidntion, illegnd voting, fulse velurns, etc., can forco upon n divided Congress tho duty of deciding whet!r- er tho olectornl retwns’ of porhaps a dozi m States ara or aro not to bo counted. Wlhe queation, too, may bo complieated by ho Drict tant the simple rejection of o roturn will ot sottle the question, The country bas 366 oloetoral votes, Tf tha veturns from thirty .six States show tie, tha yote of the romail:ing ono will have to be counted one way or the othor to decido tho cleotion. e is o mad man who thinks that undersuch civcumstaneer:: the Senute would not inslst upon accopting the Ropublicnn roturns, and the Ilouse viould not oquelly insist upon tho validity of (ho Democratio certifiento. Anplo-fazon good sonso might find & woy onb of the den Llock Ly agreoing fo n nOw election, bub pn rijsan fooling, ombittered fo tho highest doy reo by tho struggle of tho two Houses for ('ha tre- mendous slake, might plungo the uountry {nto n wat horrible boyond o parallel,. hia would be the movo apt to happen if t110 clae- {fons of November, 1876, restored Repub- Tiean snpremacy in the Housoe and co ntinued it in tho Soncte, For then the De moornts would never cousont to a now eloot/son, but would oliug with deaporato tenaolly to tho validity of thelr yotuns rather thian atlow tholr opponents to be the judgos of ' that elec. tion, hose nre ntot imnginary dsagors, Ix-Sen. ator ‘Tnusouta 8ald rocontly, in hls looture on constitutional Inw, that this pol at was the ot porflons ona in our politieos, 'Tho rdop. tlox uf Benator klouton's atistdm/ inf, follvw- "Phig latter will not bo fruo of the Congress | ! which will canvass the returns for tho noxt |} torial in his newspaper, tho Laporte Clron- President. In Fobruary, 1877, the Senato [{ ile, of tho 16th inst, "Chat Mr, PAckanp, ¢d by the establishmont, during tho session of 18756, of the trilounnls for the decision of conteated oloctione: suthorized by it, would thoroughly curo theso perils of tho near future, 'Tho highost. good of the country do- mands that Congress should pess this or somo similne mensure forthwith, and that the requinito majority of the Statos should ratify it beforo November, 1876, ILLIROIS RATILROADS, Wo infer from tho advanea :fiiunum sont uk by tolegraph frowm. Springficld, taken from tho nnnunl report of the Illinoiy Rnilrond Commissioners, that theso gentlemen have dono their work oionglly nud intelligently, We have alrondy tho miost imporiant collce. tiou of facts that harg over heen mada con. cerning tho railrond siystom of this State, and & comyparison of sorne of them will be found not only interesting but useful, ‘We have now 6,769 miles of railrond within tho State, or about 1,300 miles more than all tho New England States put together, and nbout tho same length in cxcess of tho Stato of New Yok or the Steto of Ohio, The nominnl cost of f{hese rnilvoads is represemted Dby tho comabined sum of tho bonds and eapitnl stock, which would bo at tho rato of $17,477 per mile, 'Tho show- ing is not creditailo to our railrond corporn tions, Illinois is o vast praivie. Itsrailronds run upon streight lines and upon a emooth Thorizontal surface, requiring fow bridges, no tunnols, slight greding, or any other works of magonry and enginecting of unusnal cost, 'Ehero i# no rerles of railroads in the world that ought to havo been constructod so chenp- ly as the railroads of Ilinois. DBut we find, upon comparison, that they cost (?) abont the snme smount per mile as tho roilroads of tho. hilly, mounteinous New England Stales, whove the coudlitions are just tho re- verae, and whero tho aclual cost wes proba- bly moro than as much agein ns {ho actunl cost of railvonds in Hliuoic. By cowmpari- son with the Daltimore & Ohio Ttail- vond, tho showing is wnde siill worne. ‘I'ho legitimato cost of building the Baltimoro & Ohio Railroad vins probably as large as that of tho fmne extont of vailrond anywhore in the world. Yet we find thal (he Baltimore & Ohio Railroad setuslly eost from £10,000 to 15,000 per milo less than the ostensiblo cost of the Illincis railoads ! Tho averago cost per mile of all tho railronds in the country, a3 reprenented by the cnpital stock nnd bonds, is $60,0: but this figuro hes beon swollen Ly the villainous swindles in Now Yorlk, whero the avernge cost is represented to be & per milo; in Now Jersoy, where it is $115,820 per mile ; in Penasylvanin, whero it is $105,- 403 per mile ; and in tho Pacide States and Frar West Torritories, wheve it is $05,600 per mile, Do reilronds in Illinois cannot bave nctually cost more than yeilvonds iu Flovida, whote the average is 818,435 per mile. Instend of that, wo find it to bo more than double those figures. Theso comparisons show the folly of the clnim that our railronds should emm a *fair dividen@” ontheir bloated enpital stoclk, after paying the iuterest on their padded indebted- ness. o do this, {he Illinois railronds would liave to earnt 18 or 20 per cent on the money netunlly invested in them. Tho average rate for locnl prgsengers hag boen nenrly 4 cents per mile, and for through passongers nbout 3 1.3 cents per mile; the former is ncenta mile in exvess of what it ought to Lo, and tho Intter in proportion. The average rete for through freight hos Been 2 4-10 per ton per mile, and nearly 8 4-10 for local freights, which is much sbove what it ought to be, and what it would be under economical man- agemont, and if the capitel stock end debt reprosonted only the actual cost of the rail- ronds. v It is 1ot likely that tho actual cost of the Tlinois reilronds exceeds the aggregato bond- ed indebtedness, for, in many cases, bonds wero sold at a frightful diseount in order to realize more monoy than the sceurity would warrnut. It is snfo to szy that, for eight or ten yunrs bnelk, searcely o railroad hes been Dbuilt in this State which waa not constructed on the * Credit-Mobilier” system,—that is, borrowing mora than enough money neeessa- 1y 1o build it, and forming o ring to do tho ‘work at oxcessive prices. When, therc- fora, it is claimed that railronds aro entitled to carn & “foir dividend” on their capitsl stock in addition to interest on their bonds, the cosweris: * You aroscarcely entitled to earn the interest on your bonds, which is mearo than your rond cost.” Of courso thero aro_exceptions to this rule, especially the oldor roads ; bub this would bo the result of 110 average. We will morely add that it is not creditablo to railvond menagoment - in linois that thoro (should hiave beon 227 porsons killed nod 404 * injured by them ithin the year. This show- ing would indicato that somo of our railronds aro as reckless of human life as they ave wastofnl in their construction expenditures, ) BALARY-GRABBING, The Hon, Jasrrn Pacrarp, ex-momber of Cougress, ond ono of those who voted for iho salayy-geab, is made unbappy by artioles in this papor of tho 24 and #th inst., totho oxtont of iwo aud one-half columus of edi- being guilty, should bo sensitivo to any rofer- onco to the subject, isnot strango; but, when ho attempts to justify himsol? for hiy shavo of tho plnnder by tho statemont that the salary-greb bill of 1873 had its parallol in tho snlary bill of 1850, ho is quite wide of the mavk, The nct of 18iC wi passed ot tho flist sousion of Congress, and bofors any member wan re-clected to tho nost Congross, It incromsed the salary from 5 o day to $8,000 a yenr, which i3 at the rato of 8 par day., Tho mombors who votod foe it hnd to go immediately bofore their con- stituents. Tho act was adjudged by the country to be n proper and wisn one, rud wo Imow of no mombor who votedfor it that mot with condomnation from lis constituonts thorefor, 'Cho rensone why it recoived pub- lio npprovalwera: First: The sonsciousness that tho salary, as it thon stood, was entlre- 1y inndequate, and tho increase was just mnd ronsonable, Sccond: Thut it abol- jshed o long-existing wbuee which hed grown np of increasing tho aalary of merm- lers indivectly by voting each now momber of Qongressa Congressionel library, consistingof the Aunala of Congress, Congressional Globo, the works of Joux Apasms, TroMas JerrFen- wox, Azuzawpes Ifamiwoy, and others, tho whole costing tho Glovernment from §1,400 to 51,600, ‘This largo porquisito was sbol. {ghed by tho bill, Third: It abolished con- structive mileage, which haid provailed up to {hat time, sud members drow full mileaga at ovory sosslon, whethor they travalod or nat, Ry this monus mileago was gonerally doubled, Pl Congresn that yesr fniled to pasa tho Avmy Lill and ndjowrned, but it was called togothor ngain in two weela by Prosldent Trznor, in an ostra Hession, yob no momboi drow willubgo Rot i sbind, though all Wwould liavo dono 80 but for the passago of the law in question, By o referenco {o the Congressional Globe, wo find that, when this bill was under disens. sion, tho Hom. Jasmes T, Onn, n Democrntic Jeader of tho Houso from South Caroling, aftorward Speaker, who had cherge of the bill, in urglngg its passago elnimed that it was o meesura of ceonomy nud reform, and thet changing the pey from n per diem to o fixed salary would tend greatly to shorton the ses. gion, and thug materinlly fo leason tho ex- penses of Congress, This ehango from nper diem to n salary shortened tho session on an everngo of about forty-five days. 'Tho long gession of 1848 terminated on Aug 14, be- ing mnearly nino months; that of 1850 on Sept. #0, ten wmonths; that of 1852 on Aug. 81, ninc montbn; that of 1854 on Aup. 17; that of 1856 on Aug. 80, being mino nonths, Undor the new Healavy lew, Congress ade journed in 1838 on Juue 16, being six snd a half montha; thes of 18640 on June 28, being seven months ; that of 1862 on July 17; that of 1864 ou July 4 ; that of 1966 on July 28; that of 1868 on July 27 ; that of 1870 on July 15; that of 1872 on Juno 10. The whole expenses connected with Congress while in ses- sion nro perhaps doublo thatof the compensn- tion of thomembers, A saving of miscella. neous expouses for fe fve to sixly dnys per long sesuion was nverylnrge item of cconomy. Mr. Onr's statewent has beon fally verified, aud, as the mensurs was cordinlly approved by all parties when i was ndopted, and when oll tho repsons were fregh in the public mind, solmy-grabbors must bo very hard preseed who cite that ret £3 an excuse for their own delinquencics nnd their shameless greed. Tho act of 1873 differed from that of 1856 inthis: It was passed justat the close of tho Inst session by men who hed beon dropped out of the next Congress, and thoso who lhed been ro-clected and conld not ho called to an nccount for two years, 'The firat-named voted themselves §,000 back-pay, and tho lnstnamed 5,000 brek-pay aud 36,000 forward pay, or 310,000 inall. Thoy cut off no abuges such ns wero nbolished by tho act of 1856, Tho first act wns universally approved by all parties, whilo No last wag n wniverselly condomned, and, if M. Pacraxp and others like it are wise, they will call attention to their councction with this greedy, grabbingbusiness as seldom a4 possible. ‘WISCOREIN CORYORATIONS. o havo already ealled the attention of the readers of Tne Trivuse to the decision of Chief-Justico R¥ax, of Wisconsin, in tho rail- way injunction suits. We have seen how tho Supreme Court of Wisconsinhias ield, in thosa cases, that the power reserved to the Legise Iature of the State to alter or repeal the char- ters of corporations at any timeafterthey have been grauted is unlimited, and, wo may say, arbitrary. Under tho decision just named, tho railrond compnnies of Wisconsin may ba compelled to oporete thoir ronds b any rates whatever fixed by the Legislaturo, and, for ail that wo can see, without Leing entitled to sny compeusation hatever, should the Logisleture so decide. This doc- trino is so manifestly opposed to all good poliey, so glaringly at variunco with all prin. ciples of justice, so directly cnleulated ta strike at the material development of Wis. consin and the West, that wo think it not in- approprinte to direct public attention to tha grounds of its untenableness, It is omi- nently just and proper that corporationd should b ever under the control of the State, and that tho Tegislature should reserve to itself the power at any timo to siter or repeal their chartors ; but it is cminently unjust nnd fmproper that the power should bo un. limited aud avbitrary, Wisconsin is not the ouly Stata in which the charters of corpora tions ara subject to legislative repeal, amend. ment, ar alteration, at any timo after they bave been granted; nor is tho Supreme Court of Wisconsin the frst that has beon called upon to put & judicial construction on tho xeserved power to nlter, amend, or repeal, Wo doubt, howa aver, whother the questionof the precise ex- tont of the power was over raised till it wad taised in Wisconsin in the reilway injune- tion suits, No other Court, it would scem, wos ever called upon to decide whether the power wos limited or unlimited. The Wisconsin Court was. Says Chief-Justico Ryax in bis decision: *It was argued for tho defendants that the power is o limited one. It was &0 eaid in Mruen vs, State, and Tonvore ©s, Liwray, supra; nnd in some Massnchusctts casos, that it must bo reasons- bly oxercisod.” Chiof-Justico Ryax does not accept theso viows, and holds that the power is unlimited, and that, in easo the Lagis- Intuxo exercisos it unressonably, mo mat. tor to what cxtent, tho corporation s no remedy in o court of justico. Now, while it is trae that tho question of the pre- ciso oxtont of tho powpr of amendment hed nover before been marked out by auy Court, thoro is amplo ground for saying thnt Courts heve uniformly deelared,~it may havo ‘been only ns dicta,—nud intimated, that th? ree sorved powor is limited and must roceive a roasonnble construction. In tho case of Mrzren vs. State, referred to by Chief-Justics Ryaw, tho Supremo Court of the United States observed : * Power to legislnte, found- o upon such a reservation fu a charter ton privato corporation, j8 certalnly not with- out limit, and it may well bo admitted that it ocpumot bo oxercised to take awsy or destroy rights aequired by virtuo of such charter, aud which, by a Jegitimata uso of the power granted, have ‘becoma vested in tho corporalion; but il mny enfely bo oftrmed thet the reservod powex may bo oxeroised to almost any extent fo cary into eficeb tho originel purpose of the grant, or to scouro the due ndministration of its nffairs 50 ns to protect tho rights of its stockholdors and of creditors, aud for the proper distributionof tho nssets.” This shows clemly enough what the mind of tho Suprema Court of tho United Htates i on the con- stmotion of the power yeserved over tha charters of corporations, It says thet it it ecrtainly not without limit, aud intimatea very strongly that it ean o cxcreised only to protect the rights of tho public, or seeura tho duo adminisixation of tho affnirs of tha corporation, ov to proteot the rights of stook« holdors or of oreditors. Now, the publia hove'no right to causo n railroad tobo opernta ed at o loss to ita owners; in othor words, thoy have no right to intliot awrong on a cor- poration by vivtuo of the power resorved tq altor or reponl its ohartor, It cannob be soid {hat tho Wisconsin Railroad law was passed In tho {ntorest of tho oreditora of thaxond} far 16 wos argued for the ronds in tho injuno. tion auits that it violated the ocome traats of tho ronds with tholr credit ors, lnnsmuch a8 it deprivod thom of tho ability to pay tho interost on tholy bouded iudobtodnoss, Tho fack is that, i thio rupsuscatativod of tho sailivad companied Iy i bt |