Chicago Daily Tribune Newspaper, January 17, 1875, Page 8

THE CHICAGO DAILY TRIBUNE: SUNDAY, JANUARY 13, 1875.--SIXTEEN PAGES. TERMS OF THE TRIBUNE. ‘RATES CF SUBSCRIPTION (PAYABLE IX ADYAXCE), Fs é Tesrane Fvenald at this Office. Berek S18 98 | say ‘Pars of a year at the samo rate, , ‘Te prevent delay and mistakes, be rare and give Post. Ottce address in full, including State end County. Remiitanoes may bo made citherby draft, oxpross, Post— Cfsoe order, of in registered letters, at our risk, ‘TERMS TO CITY SUBSCRIBERS. ‘Daly, delivered, Sunday excepied, 25 conts per week Deily. delivered, Sundey includ: 30 cents per week bddress: THE TRIBUNE COMPANY, Corner Madison and Dearborn-sts., Chicago, IL. TO-MORROW'S AMUSEMENTS. pigERine SEAT sete epee arborn and Stata. a OporacTroape, "La Travista.” +, AOLDEMY OF MUSIC—Halstod strnot. between Mad- feaand Monrse. Engzgement ef John McCullough. OHIOAGO MUSEUM—Monroe sireo beiwoen Dear- bom and State, ‘* Three Years in a Man-Trap.” GRAND _OPERA-HUUSE—Clark | street, opposite Merman Honse. Kelly & Loon’s Minstrels. ** The Grimson Beart; or, The Council of Ten.” yeeeema HOOLKY'S THEATRE—Kandolph strect, bet claeaad LaSalle “Mags ree ADELPHI THEATRE—Dearborn street, eorner Mon- oe, Variety entertainment. —_————— SOCIETY MEETINGS, NATIONAL LODGE, No. 893,—Rerular concuzica- ton at their ball, corner Randoiph and Halsteds*. ‘Taes- ay ovening, Sau. 19, at het past 7 o'clock. A full at- fendance oi the members is paruicularlariy desiced as tha EE. W. Bro. D. J. Avery, D.D. G. M., bas been Invited te bs present. Visiting 6 21 order of tho W. M. ATTENTION SIR KNIGHTS !-Stated es ‘Commant No. 19, EK. T., Mon dan. He 1, tor, bustoces acd work’ on ik, ‘Enig! uty inv mo, Lis, Beco MASONIC.—LaFayetto Chzpter, No. % Ro A. Mu Hall 73 Monrco-st, Special couvocstion Monday evening, $i Bankston Sasa ae fiors meet, us. “By ordor tho HP. E, N. TUCKER, So. ASHELAR LODGE, No. 88, A. F. & A. M.—Tho Taird Will be conferred in this Lodge Tucsday gvoning next, Imbinst, The fraternity contialiy invited. Bororder W. Mt C. H. CANE, Secrstary. COLUMBIAN CLUB.—Txe members are requested to weet atthe comer of Lako and LeSallests. gn Friday srening next, Business tod. ‘of imporsauce will be: BUSINESS NOTICES. Ratitiaction or money -“fanded, Flin, fire Shalt the sual roles: Mo AUSNEY, 13 Charkett The Chieagu Tribune. Sanday Moraing, January 17, 1875. ura. elasa, OUR MUHICIPAL GOVERNMENT. ‘We have commented brié4y upon the pro- posed amendments to the general act of in- corporation of cities in Dlinojs, and return to the subject, koping to arouse public attention to the great importance of the question. Our citizens should undurstand the present em- barrassed condition of the City Government, and that iis embarrassment is rendered more complicated by our przsont charter, under which ths executive «athority is exercised by irresponsible Boards, the Mayor is a power- lees igure-head, and the number of officials Is constantly increasing, and where the sclaries of the officers consume & very large proportion of the revenue they are ap- pointed to disbarse. There ig no extrication pf the city from its grave financial and other tomplications save by such legislation as will enable it to shake off the present cum- bersome and irresponsible form of govern- ment, and establish in place of it one more adapted to the wants of a metropolitan city, and combining responsibility with executive athority. The general act of incorporation was of course designed for cities of all grades; It contained many things unsuitable for Chi- cago, and did not contain many which ara essential It is proposed by these amend- ments to enlarge this general act of incor- poration, and yet leave the adoption of these snlarged powers optional with the people of the several cities. Among the proposed amendments is one saking from a factions Common Council the power to defeat the demand of the people of the city for achange. We all know how the present Common Council of this city post: poned sction on the petition of the voters, so astodelsy the election on the question of adopting the new charter, in order that the present charter and form of government should continue until 1877. The proposed amendment to ihia part of tho law makez a vote on this subject in Novem- - ber, 1875, mandatory, and authorizes puch a vote to be taken every four yeers, whether the Common Council consent toit ornot, In addition, it authorizes such election to be held on petition. It also pro- vides that, in case the majority shall vote for such charter, there shall be an election in the succeeding April. In case the people of this city shall in April next, at the special election, vote for the adoption of the new charter, the.Mayor and other officers to be elected in November next, under the old - charter, will be elected to serve until April, 1677, only. This amendment, while not im- pairing the uniformity of the law, secures to the people the right to change their charter, despite the maneuvering of the Oommon Council and office-holders. Another amerdment is one intended to Becura responsibility in oflice-holders. It authorizes the Mayor to remove any appoint- ed officer of the city whenever he is satisfied that the interests of the city demand such re- moval. It doesnot, however, give this power absolutely. The Moyor is required to report the removal to the Common Council, and if two-thirds of that body disepprove the action ofthe Mayor the officer shall ba restored. ‘This authority is absojutely necessary to any system of responsible government. When- ever ny subordinate in oifice is at liberty to set up a government of his own, and act Independently, and cannot be removed, then there can be no responsible government. A knowledge that any such officer. may “be re- moved for cause can have nothing but a wholesome effect. Another amendment proposed makes it op- tional for the voters to adopt s Common Council consisting of one Ecard as now, or of two Boards, os is the case in all large cities. In case the system of two Boards be adopted, then the second Board shail consist of thirteen members, to be elected by the city at large,—all to be elected the first year, and six or seven every two years thereafter. For - the election of these Councilmen, voters are allowed to cumnlste their votes, or distribute them, at their pleasure. The certainty of 2 discrimination agsinst weak or improper men ‘will force nominating conventions to select the best class of men for this Board, and it will, or onght to, require strong evidence of ability sad integrity to enable any man to get a majority of the whole vota of the city for that office. in like manner, * the other Board shall be elected in districts, each district to be entitled to elect six Alder- [ well as the agproval of the Mayor. Asa pre: caution against rash, inconsiderate, and cor- rapt legislation, the system of two Boards is one of tlia best. " When the powers of legisla- tion are vested exclusively in one Board, the resalt is invariably corruption end despotism. It is the peculiarity of ‘the American system of government, t ‘The proposed new. charter designates cer- tain officers who sliall be elected by the peo- ple. - It authorizes the City Council. to pro- ‘vide for certain: other officers when needed, and suthorizes the ouncil to abolish offices when no longer required. ‘The wisdom and necessity for these provisions have been pain- fully evidenced in ‘the, past history of the city. They remove from the Cominon Coun- cil one of the most corrupting of all powers,: i nom) ‘| nor the originator of any startling theories in —the election of city officers. Another reform is that which requires each of the various heads of depariments to make an annual estimate of the appropriations for the coming year for his department, Thess consolidated estimates, considered by the Mayor, shall be laid before the Council. While the Common Council may reduce the appropriations below the estimates, they ara’ prohibited exceeding them. As all the present independent Boards, except that .of Education, are abolished, and one single responsible head appointed by the Mayor aud Council to each branch of the public service, full and direct responsibility is secured in every department. Moreover, these several heads of departments constitute, with the Mayor, a sort of Executive Council or Cabinet, having general jurisdiction over all things pertaining to the interests of the city. In. this way every contract awarded by the city shell be examined and decided upon, not by an independent Board, but by the con- currence and approvel of all the executive officers of the city. This excludes all secrecy; it excludes all pretense of ignorance by one officer of what the other has done. It makes them all, including the Mryor, responsible for the acts of each. Any one familiar with the present practice cannot fail to approve the proposed change. It is a reform ex- tending to every branch of the public service, —a wise, healthy reform. 7 -« We repeat that the exigencies of the City Government demand an early deliverance from the present complicited city charter, or there will be serious difficulties in the imme- diate future. The only possible deliverance is the adoption’ of the general charter; and this charter, to be suitable to a city ‘like Ohi- cago, needs the proposed amendments. It is of the utmost importance that public atten- tion be given to this subject while,the Legis- lature isin session. Should that body sdjourn without action, then the present charter will be the funeral shroud of the credit, efficiency, and integrity of our Municipal Government. GLADSTONE’S RETIREMENT. The formal retirement of the great ex- Premier Grapstone as the leader of the Lib- eral party of Great Britain illustrates a unique system of politics, totally di¥erent from anything mown in this country, and probably not generally familiar to American readers. It is very well known that the Premier is always the recognized leader of the Government party, and thats defeat in Parliament leads to his retirement, and a change in the Administration, by a precedent which has the force of Constitutional law. But the formal retirement of a leader of the Opposition iss much more unusual occur- rence. Itreveals the fact that the Opposi- tion acknowledges a leader, whose position is just as well assured in his own party as it would be if his own psr ty were in power and he occupied the Premier’s place. He is formally chosen by a party caucus, dictates the policy of tho Opposition, leads the debates in Parliament, and otherwise manages party affairs with an authority never vested in any one person in this country. The system is one that has its advantages and its disadvantages. We will not examine them now, but simply ssy that party-discipline can never attain so strict a construction in this country. Political inde- pendence, individnal ambition, the strong hold “availability” exercises over all our parties, and the inflexible character of the Administration daring the limited term for which it is chosen, alike prevent an imitation of the English system, even if it were desirable. Mr. Guapstore’s resignation is equivalent to his retirement from public life, and, as such, it is the most important crisis in En- glish politics sinca the death of Paiarensrox, —more important even than that ovont, since Grapstosg was ready to step into thd place which Paterston had vacated, while there is now no ene whose qualifications for the succession areso thoroughly demonstrated as Guapsroxe’s were then. Ar. Guapsronz assumed the leadership of the Liberal party immediately after Lord ‘Patmenston’s death, though he retained the Chancellorship of the Exchequer in Lord Russeuz’s second Adminis- tration. He first became Premier in Decem- ber, 1868, on the resignation of Mr. Diszaxx1’s Ministry, and he remained in office till Feb- raary of lost year. . As already intimated, however, Mr. Guapstows had Jong before established his claim to the leadership. Born Dec. 29, 1809, he is now only a little more than 65 vears of age, of vigorous health and frame, and, all other things being equal, too young to retire permanently from public life. But s complication of political reverses in the last year of his official term seems to have destroyed his interest in public affa‘rs ; and his accession to a large personal foritne, left him by his wife’s brother since he resigned his Ministry, probably persuaded him to re- tire altogether. Sn ‘ Guapsroxz began his public career in 1832, forty-thrue years ago, who: be was returned to Parliament from N: in the Conserva- tive interest. His nm: tile origin (his father ‘being a largo sed successful merchant of Liverpool), allied with his University suo- cesses, first brought him to the notice of Sir Bonenr Peet, who appointed him one of the Junior Lords of tho Treasury in 1884. From that time on, with perhaps a larger share of political reverses than falls to s man who keeps go uninterrupted a liold on public life, Mr. Guapstore has been in Parliament and in office, He became Under-Secretary for Colonial Affairs under Mr..Psxn; then Vice- President of the Board‘of:"Trade and Master of the Mint in 1841, in which position he was the advocate of the commercial policy of the Government in the:‘Lower House of Parliament. He also’ “was sworn in as a member of the Privy-Council at this time, and tho work of revising the tariff fell tohim. This work was one of his greatost services to Great Britain, and, upon its com- pletion, it was found'to be so thorough, and so admirable in all ita details, that it received men, and the voters to be authorized to cu-| the sanction‘of Parliament with scarcely an mulate their votes for candidates. The two Boarda will sit sa do the two Houses of the Legielatera, éach having a negative on the action of the other. All logistation . must Apve the concarpat of bath bhanches, 4 semuaised cuca i alteration, In 1843 Mr. Guapstowa became President of the Board of Trade, and in 1846 Secratary of State for the Colonies. Shaetly after be resigned hia seat in Parliament, and the ponetal elsotich i car H 1847, when he was returned for the University of Oxford. At this time the questions of University Reform and the removal of the Jewish disabilities came up, end his position on -these matters led to his breaking with the’ Conservative party, from which he finally separated himself in 1851. He :|'became Chancellor of the Exchequer under the Earl of Aberdeen in 1852, and continued in this office under the Pazrsron Ministry. His career since his accession to the leader- ship of the Liborals.upon Lord Pazarerston’s decease is generally familar. Mx.. Guapstows’s reform , measures have been mora numerous and of groater aid to the British Government than those of any states- man of this century.. While ho has never been a great student’ in political economy, this science, he hus the greater glory of apply- ing the principles whose soundness had been demonstrated to-:the relief and benefit of his country. His fundamental principle of nation- al finances was to raise the revenue by taxing the smallest number of articles,—and they of luxury or appotite,—ond never at tho point of prodaction, That is to say, he taxed neither lJabor . nor capital in its working condition, but only after it had produced its results, He would not tax mortgages, or notes, or money at interest, but the income; he would not tax the tools or raw matorials of workmen, though he might the fabrics they produced. His system of taxation, in one word, wos a relief of pro- ductive industry, and during his official life he repealed taxes which had yielded from £30,000,000 to £40,000,000 without reducing the revenue below the wants of the nation. He also reduced Government exponses at every point where it was possible, or the ex- igencies of the public services permitted it. He actually spent less money in the ‘fiscal year of 1873-'4 than had been spent any year since he entered public life, nothwithstanding the increase of wealth and population. His measures added more to the ma- terial comforts of the jsboring masses than. those of all who had pre- ceded him, except Peet, and Convey, and he equaled them by pushing their own reforms farther than they had ever hoped to go. In the matter of taxation, his measures were constantly in the interest of the industrial classes, since his rule was to tax only the luxu- Ties, vices, and vanities of the nation. He be- lieved in the utmost fresdom of trade and production. In addition to his admirable idess on finance and taxation, Mr. Guapstone carried out many practical projects of reform. We recall notably the Free-School and Compul- sory Education measure, in which he ré- received the active help of Mr. Forsrer, who is likely to succeed him; the Disestablish- ment of the Irish Church, which is perhaps the most widely known of his reforms; the Reformed Land-laws of Ireland, by which bankrupt estates can be sold; the abolition of purchase in the army; the Tenants’ Rights bill, giving tenants in Ireland ownership in all the improvements they, make; the negotiation of the Treaty of ‘Washington, which prevented war with the United States; Law Reform in the Em- pire, by simplifying pleadings and procedure, and creating one Supreme Court by the con- -solidation: of several other Courts. His Temperance measure, by which ‘the saloons were closed earlier in the evenings aid on Sundays, and his scheme for a free unsec- tarian Irish university, built up an opposition to him among the very classes he had done most for, and led’ first to his resignation os Premier, next the defeat of his party, and now to his retirement. His recent pamphlet directed against Ultramontanism shows by the sensation if produced in Great Britein and throughout Europe that his influence will still be exerted, though in a different way. The Bight Hon. Winttax EG. Forstrm, who is named as Gianstoxe’s probable successor. 25 leader of the Liberals, has been in public life since 1861, and has gained arcputation as: a bold and independent thinker, as well as an indefatigablo worker. His greatest public service wes rendered in connection with the Education bill, buthe has not yet dcemon- stratedthe versatility and ability essential to the filling of the place which Guansronx has prematurely vacated. Indeed, it may be meny years before that place can be filled by any man Great Britain will produce. " THE LAKE-FRONT PROPERTY. The bill which has been introduced into the Dlinois Legislature authorizing the organ- ization of joint-stock companies to build union depots in cities, is evidently intended to cover and solve the complications between the city and the railway companies relative to the sale of the three blocks lying between Randolph and Monroe streets, on the lake- front. . The bill provides that five or more persons, or three or moro railroads, may form a company, limited as to a term of years, and with a capital not exceeding $5,000,000, and they shall be granted articles of incorporation whenever three or more railronds agree to use tho depot which they propose to construct. The company so formed shall then have power to condemn real estate for. depot- grounds, approaches, etc., ond to lay. tracks on streets when tho consent of, the city authorities shall be-. given. The bill confers ne powers upon the new organizations which railrond companics do not already possess under the laws of the State; they may now condemn land for depot purposes, lay tracks, etc., and the new corpo- rations are required to proceed in the same form and manner as provided in the case of railroad companies under the present law. Without any special information on the sabject, we infer that this bill’contemplates a compromise, by which the railroad companies -may obtain possession of the three blocks on the lake-front, and at the same time pay the city a rensonable price therefor.. This is the proper solution of tho case, and it would probably have been reached some’ time ago had it not been for obstinacy on the part of tho Common Conncil first, and afterwards on the.part of tho railway companies, When the railroada renewed their offer to pay the city $800,000 for a quit-claim deed to this property, the sam wos all the land was worth, and the Common Council ought to have accepted it. The offer was refused, however, and it was vory generally believed thet some of the Aldermen demanded ‘that the railroads should ‘‘seo” them before they would change their minds. This the rail- rosds declined to do, and, after boing badgered on the subject as long as they could endure it, one of the companies withdrew its proportion of the $200,000 which was depos- ited as a first payment, some four yenrs ago, in the hands of Mr, Knreaxt, the City Comp- troller, and which the city declined to re- ceive. This withdrawal, which :seoms to have been mado by one company without any agreement with the others, was followed by tho withdrawal. by the other companien of their. proportion, But, in the meantime, sotnd thisundemtanding butwesn the camps nies had grown ovt of it, and they have never since been able to' agree upon any concerted action. Otherwine they might have pro- ceeded to condern the land, and ‘have it ap- praised in court, a3 Tae Tarsuna suggested at tho time. ‘The formation cf a company, under the bill proposed in the Legislature, for the purpose of condemning the land, would be the means of accomplishing the purpose in view withont either of the dissenting companies yielding its point. Or, in this case, if any one or two of the companies who entered into the original lake-front purchsso now desire to draw out, the vacancy can be readily filled, and the ground ‘purchase! and the union depot built all the same. We havo no doubt the Balti- more & Ohio Railroad would gladly.take the place of one of them. If such be the purpose’ of the bill, we see no reason for disapprov- ing it ook THE ROUT OF THE ARCHITECTS. County-Attorney Rounrnes and Corporetion- Connsel ‘Dicxer havo both submitted legal: opinions. in reply. to the question asked them by the Public Buildings Committee of the County ‘Commissioners and tho Board of Public Works: “Does any liability rest on the city and. county, or either of them, on account of ‘any action’ taken on the adoption of any -plens, the election of - architects, or the designation of mutérial to be used for the new: Court-House?” Both our legal lumi- naries unite in saying that no liability has been incurred in any of these ways. If this opinion is sustained by the Courts, should the parties aggrieved carry the case there, there will be-s happy ond to a series of ingenious blunders. The chance of spending some millions of other people’s money excited the officials elected by the People’s party .to especial efforts at jobbery.. ..Ewo' rings. sprang into being with the utmost rapidity. One was Gorman .and ono. Irish, One elected a Teuton ond one a Celt as archi- tect. Whon complaint was made, it was pro- posed to throw a sop to Cerberas,—Cerberus being the great bulk of tax-payers who were unfortunate enough to have been born in this country,—by the election of a third architect of American parentage. So the jangle has gone on, - Nobody has thought, apparently, of choosing s man for the position because he was honest, able, and skfllful. The Peo- ple’s party officials szem to hava wanted a man who had been born in some foreign land, and who thoroughly comprehended the science of “ addition, division, and silence.” They did not quite dare to carry out the job, however. So now the two architects alrendy elected aro to: be invited “ to step down ond out.” The rings may not like it, but the people do. Commissioner CLovan's suggastion that all provious action should now be rescinded and a fresh start be taken, is an eminently good one. What we need is harmonious action by city and county in the election of one of the three or four men in Chicago who are fit to ‘be intrusted ‘with the erection of such a building. If the people must be taxed mill- ions of dollars for a municipal palace, the money should be kept out of the hands of officiel thieves and incompetent, or speculat- ing architects, and should not be sunk in any stons abomination, such as the cultured and westhetic persons who compose .a majority of our Common Council and County Board may think would be ‘‘neat.” THE GRASSHO?PER TXPOSITION. ‘Wo have beer placed in possession of some. facts relative to tho alleged snfferings by the, grasshopper invasion of Kansas, which come from a reliable source, and this information should be given to the publio to protect it from farther imposition. There hos been proof enough ‘to satisfy the public that there has been considerable suffering in some of the northwestern counties of Kansas; but subse- quent information shows that the trath has been grossly exaggerated for the purpose of working upon the sympathies and pockets of charitable people in the Middle and Eastern, as well as the Western, States, and getting contributions for the relief of ‘Suffering Kansas.” The country is literally swarming with beggars from thnt State, who are magni_ fying tho accountsof suffering, and collecting in proportion to the dimensions of their stories. When the Legislature of Kansas, or the call of the Governor, met in extra session a short time ago, it authorized all tho County’ Boards to issuc and sell bonds for the relief of the people in each county who had suf- fered from the ‘ grasshopper scourge,” 50 as to enable them to put in their winter crops and obtain seed for the spring sowing. Only. one eounty, Reno, availed itself of this priv- ilege, and that county, through the ope~-tions of aring of speculators, had already issued bonds to an amount exceoding the- selling value of the property in the county. In ad- dition to this, it is 3 notorious fact that Kansas is full of cattle, fodder, grain, and fruits of all kinds. Its farmers were never: better off financially than now. Notwith- standing this, nothing has been done in tho State towards relieving itself, Tho begging commitiees in the State itself, which is overflowing with products, and which boasts its 3,000 miles of railroad and its six or seven hundred thousand population, have not tarried at home, but have set off on their mendicant pilgrimages through the Fast and the West, and are now narrating their stories of destitution and obtaining provisions and money to the value of tens of thousands of dollars. A single instance will show the character of this imposition : - Near Beloit, a little place in the western part of Kansas, the grasshoppers injured a part of the crops of a few farmers, ‘Thres or four of them came into the village one doy, and announced that they were going East to obtain “relief.” They had letters, drawn up by themselves, setting forth an exaggerated condition of destitution, which, through: the influonce of a demagogue, were indorsed by. the town authorities. They also induced the Council to pass a resolution setting forth the impoverished condition of that, region, snd obtained a copy of it, certified’ by the Mayor, and personal credentials, as well og certifi- oates from olergymen. Armod with these documenta, thoy ‘started East, taking in §&% Louis first, which yielded them a handsome sum. Lonving Bt. Louis, they took the towns along the Ohio River,—Louisyille coming down handsomely, —and finally reached Cincinnati, where they ereated a first-class sensation. ‘The news- papers aided them by publishing columns of “interviews” with them. ‘he churches, the publio charitable organizations, the Cham-. ber cf Cojnmerce, and private citizons, all contributat Invishly. In this manver they obtained ii::--yse amonnts of provisions and clothing, snd thousands of dollars in money, and kept the roads busy transporting their supplies, they themselves menn- while getting out of the operation property exceeding the entiro value of their forma, Having sucosssfully “worked” Cincinnati, thoy moyed on, like the grasshopper, and |-esuay, a tro now telling their Little storied and ok | and in mathemation ‘Che mpheré of cam [-form, forguttfid or ignotmad lecting contributions further East. Mesn- while, the Beloit authorities got alarmed at the unprecedented manner in which relief was pouring into that rogion, which did not need it, and a meeting was called to repudiate this committee and its operations ; but, after discussion of the subject, they ‘concluded to hold their pence afd let'the industrious trio continue their work, as any official action’ on their part, in view of former proceedings, would stultify themselves. Meanwhile, the success of committees like this one is ‘induc- ‘ing other committees to take field. Men who have lost nothing and have money in bank ave obtaining ‘‘relief,” anda general spirit of cupidity and mendicancy is spreading over the State. The point to be impressed upon the publi¢ is, that Kansas is abundantly able to take énre of its sufferers without outside aid, and this point we: feel warranted in assert- .| ing, upon good authority, as up to this time she has done little or nothing, because peo- ple abroad have rushed en masse to the succo: of starving (?) Kansas. i OFFICIAL CRUELTY. ‘The horrible circumstances which attended the hanging of the negroes Janvis and Jack- son, at Hempstéad, N. Y., on Thursday last, should bring down upon the hosds of the of- ficials who had charge of the execution the severest censure. The revolting, cruel, and bungling nature of their work was little less than a crime in itself. ‘There was no doubt that the'two wretches committed the awful crime for which they were excuted, as they confessed it There. is no doubt that they richly - deserved death for their fearful offense, and that . the world is well ‘rid of them. But none of these facts mitigate the cruel manner in which one of them was tortured before his death. While Jackson was writhing in mis- ery inthe air, the:rope attached to Jarvis broke and let him down upon his feet again. ‘Tho clumsy authorities were three minutes in fixing the rope, and even then were unable to fasten it,’ and so slipped it over the beam; and, after fastening it tight about his nock, pulled up the poor wretch, hand over hand, and held him there for twelve minutes, during which timo he was writhing in his agony, with his associate also struggling in ‘ho air by his side. This sickening spectacle was witnessed by crowds of people who had congregated to see the hanging, notwithstanding the exceeds ingly cold weather, and even filled such a crowd as that with horror. Agzinst such a barbarous cruelty as this a most solemn protestshould beentered. There is little doubt of the. necessity of hanging murderers. , It is the only compensation which a murderer can make for taking the life of, his victim: It is. the only adequate protection which society has, and, without it, human life becomes pitifully cheap, as has been shown by the criminal statistics of Iowa during the past year or two, where capital punishment has been abolished. But capital punishment to be effective should be sharp- quick, and mysterious. The murderer should not be compelled to suffer tortures, nor be put to death by degrees. He ‘is deserving at least of the treatment accorded to the beast who is put ont of existence. There is another duty which this hor- rible display of cruelty and suffering sug- gests, namely, thet’ these executions should be private and not public, Public exccu- tions, especially when marked by circum- stances of the character we have been describ- ing, only serve to harden the crowds who at- tend them, and, in the majority of cases, at- tach acertain degree of display and sonsa- tion to the taking off of the miserable wretch. The murderer must give his life for the life he has taken in order to vindicate justice and protect society, but heshouldgiveit asquickly end secretly as he took the life of his vic- tim. The public should bé assured that his lifo has been forfeited, but beyond this the public shonld know nothing of the punish- ment. The only right the murderer may claim is that he be dispatched promptly and with- |. out unnecessary suffering. COLLEGE BRAIN RACES. Heretofore the scholars, speakers, and writers of each of our colleges have narrowed their competition to their own class-mates or college-mates. The intercollogiate contests have been trials of muscle, not mind. Dys- peptics have sneered at them, and much Sun has been.mede by unhealthy -minds,.the transient: residents of unhealthy bodies, of the devotion ‘shown by students to their sports, The man who ridicules this yearly strife can never have seen the magnificent spectacle of a dozen cedar shells, necdle- shaped and fragile, leaping along on inch or two above the surface of Saratoga Lake under the sharp oar-blows of their crews. of six athletes, whose paddles strike the water st the samoinstant, whose backs rise and fall together, and who make together one splendid, living, breathing machine. to turn the well-lmown point on Quinsigs- ed his arms in carrying the winning crew in triumph through the cheering crowd. - He } does not know what he condemns. At the same time it must be admitted that a college is supposed to educate tho mind as well. ag toughen’ the body, and; when this collegiate parent: as that of s boat roce..” Such a contest took place in New York City on the prizés offered for the best ‘oration and the bast essay, Only six or seven of them, how- ever, sent representatives. With the excop- tion of Cornell, and perhaps of Princeton, they were all of the second class.: Yale, Har- yard, Columbia, Washington and Lee, and sented. The award of prizes gave genoral satisfaction, strange to say: The result of the essay-contest seems to show that compe~ tition of this sort does test the excellence of the different methods ‘of study in the differ. ent colleges. The successful metaphysical essayist wos.a pupil of Dr. McCosx, of Princeton. Both the successful Shakspearean Cornell, : ‘There have beon one or two contests of this nature between the fresh-water colleges of the West, bnt the Eastern press is sppa- rently ignorant ef the fact, ond hails tho. New York competition es the first of the kind. It would be well for all tho colleges to unite with the New York Associntion. In order to keep out the horde of patty denomi. national schools which call themselves uni- Yorsities, a regulation limiting membership to coliogeshaving over 150 undergraduates might be adopted. Next yoar prizes will be given, “not only for the best.oration and the best He can nwver have | ' strained his eyes to see whether the first crew mond wore the magenta or the blue; never have strained his voice with mad hurrahs for the victory of his college ; never have strain- is granted, the expediency of. an inter-, brain race becomes ag ap- -evening of the 7th inst, ‘The arrangemonts’ “for it were made last February, and all Amer- ican colleges wore invited to. compete for the’ the University of Michigan were not repre- essayists wera pupils of Prof. Sxacaroxn, of petitive study will hereafter be enlarged. It is hoped, so says Col Hiocrson in the Independent, that ere longeome intercollegiate scholarships. will ba founded as prizes for these examinations. The grest objection to fostering such ri- valry between the students of different insti- tutions’ is that very few cZ them have time enough to do their appointed tasks justice and yet compete for these ‘outside honors. The senior year of each college is usually the busiest. Most of the college prizes are awarded init. Ruined health would be too dear a price to pay fora round of cheers, 8 hundred dollars,, and an honorable montion in the newspapers, Moreover, if the prece-‘ dent of this‘year is to be followed, the com- petitors will have to have their pictures pud- lished by the illustrated papers. This is ore of the penalties of greatness. If a man com- mnits en atrocious crime, becomes President of the United: States, or otherwise separates himself from the herd, he is punished for it by having his name published beneath a mass , | of black marks of the same general nature as those illustrations, memoreble in the history of American art, which appeared in Taz Onroaco Trmunx of Oct. 9, 1872, This is hard... THE SOBER SECOND THOUGHT. There is very good snd convincing evidence that the New Yors press is beginning to bb ashamed of itself for its reckless course with reference ‘to the Louisiana matter. It is no longer belligerent. It han ceased blowing trampets, waving flags, and “firing the heart” of the Northern Democracy. Since. the President's message was published, the New York Times has stiffoned up its back- bone, the Post has become more moderate, the Herald and Tribune heve hauled in their horns, and even the Bourbon World begins discussing, and has stopped ‘ cussing.” They have all found that they went off at “thalf-cock.” - They now admit that the ‘President had nothing to do with.calling in the military ; and that he ordered no inter- ference; that Gen. Suertpan had nothing to do with it, as he was not in com- mand; that the Republican party had nothing to do with it; that the Legislature waa not dispersed, and that it was irregulor- ly organized, and that both factions called on the military. These are the very points for which wo have been contending. These they now concede, but insist that the use of the military by either side was wrong,—a point which has not been yet in issue, and which is admitted by the President in his message. Slowly, but very reluctantly, they have ac- cepted the facts, and slowly, but reluctantly, they have quit their senseless bluster. Now they dea how eruel it was of them to. drag out poor old Mr. Coorrn, and older Mr. Bryant, from their warm firesides these terribly cold nights to preside over a meeting called to’ protest against outrages of the: imagination and usurp- ations of the fancy. Now that they have come to their senses, and eommenced discussing the situation upon its merits, we may hope they can throw some light upon it, It should be'a valuable and impressive lesson to them, however, not to put on war-paint and shout the war-whoop when there is no efemy in sight. It is unworthy the tone, and influence, and dignity which sre pre- sumed to attach to great metropolitan jour- nals, and exposes them to: the ridicule and mockery of their readers, to say nothing of the loss of confidence and influence with the publio. 2 = CONTEMPORANEOUS BOOK-MAKERS, A writer in the Boston Transcript, evi- dently s member or an intimate of one of the largo publishing-houses of that city, contrib- utes sume information about the relative popularity of different classes of books, which ought to be of value to literary people, sad of goneral interest. At a. time when protty much everybody has a tendency to rush ‘into print, and a special calling for lit- erary work is the delusion of half the men and women who, as Cnarnies Reapx says, know how to write but not how to read, it is well that the experience of publishers outside the technical points of their trede should be more generally understood. If it were . 60, there would be less time wasted which might be profitably employed in sawing wood or running a sewing-machine, | end tho publishers might save the aunnal salaries of sevoral “readers,” and the ‘ read- ‘ers” preserve a mens sana throughout tho ordinary span of a lifetime. The first im- ‘pression which we believe the publishers of this country would generally like to spread -sbroad—and it would be in the interest of American literature as well as their own—is that there are too many books, The compe- tition in the publishing business is very great, and the embellishments of book-making have ‘made an inroad on the profits. The supply of trash is so large, and the demand for gen- ine merit so small, that the superabundant issue of books can scarcely fail tohaves de- pressing influence upon the book-trade gen- erally. So much by way of general reflection; the suggestions of the Transcript writer are more detailed and practical. In the first place, the supply of works of fiction is larger than any other class of books. Within the last few years the stories for chil. dren have been almost as numerous as the stories for adults.. Indeed, the one class has tronched upon the other until it is no longer easy to draw the line; somo of the “' juve- niles,” so called, have commanded large sales and great popularity among the old folks, and the young people are so precocious now- adays that they seize upon the adolescent ro- :mance before their time. We have recently seen the statement that the greed for novels among the reading people of the present day is so absorbing that it will only disappear with the failure of the supply. But, according to present indications, this failure will never occur, ‘There are already more jnvenile books than it is profitable for the publishers to keep in print, and the mass of fiction con- tributed by all nations in all languages for 200 years may be drawn upon in addition to the modern accretions, Poetry, we learn, is the “greatest of all drugs.in the literary market, |. and wé ore not surprised thereat. Of all poor -stuff poor poetry is the vilest. Pootasters and rhymesters are as plenty always as black- berries in sdason, but the real poets are os rare as the gems of the sea Your nameless poet writes a thousand lines whore Horace wrote one, in those. days as of old, snd go it-is that the proportion of postical works declinsd by the. publishers is smuch: largor than. that of any other class of books. Publishers are likewise flooded with Essays, and but few are ever accepted. The ' amateur scribblor, who contributes an occa ‘sion&l article to his home newspaper, or o0- casionally finds his way into a local periodi-' cal, is always consumed with desire to seo’ hig “fugitive productions gathared togother and reproduced -in -book-form. He is con-;|, , bat for the best examination in Greek |-vinoad that-they are worthy of a more lasting’ of the fact thik nothing is moré stupid than a disjointed 2 of articles: put together without unity ten sign or continuity of interest. Bat fu writers in the world have ever attained : 4 tained ran} as essayists. The educational department literature is also overstocked, as is na ate this free country, where every school-teachs belioves himself -or - herself ettinent, qnelifed . to invent text-books supe rior to anything in cxistence.’- Ty, same is-true of what-sre called ‘+ toq1” books or the technical contributions to literature rs lating to law, medicine, agriculture, a trades, etc., and of religions books... * Of the books forwhich there is stil ; healthy demand may be named books - travel and adventure, history and biography French and German translations etigo foreign books, and. books of what ig nowy generally known as ‘ Popular Science.” The reason why these classes remain Popular gag in demand is obvious... They treat'of matter, which require research or experience, con. | tribute genuinely to the stock of in... formation, ‘ and appeal to ‘a genera) interest, Te is a great pity - tint writers of good - ability s0 frequently permit their talents to drifi into unprofitihle | channels, It isa grezter pity that tha: poh Ushers should be londed down with the trecky offerings of trashy writers, who'confuss Gieig = judgment snd build up # competition g quantity rather than quality. “Much of th’ confusion could be saved if the exper of publishers were more widely understoo. A PRECEDZNT FOR THE PACi¥Ie wart: .. Tho New York Evening Post bas raked ot of history a story of 180 years ago, whist; hig some suggestive bearings on the investiz-tion into the Pacific Mail jobbery of today. =. ‘The East India Company wanted a charter, It got it. There were strong rumors ‘thst Parliament got something too. An investiga. tion was ordered. A Committee of the Horse’ - of Commons sat'for along time and ex. ined Officials, clerks, and papers in vain. No. body. .kmew anything. Their ignorance wig as profound as that of the innocent Jobliyists at. Washington who were so surprised at ry. ceiving greenbacks galore from the Pacife Mail, and cannot remember what they did to deserve such favors.’ At last, the Committes hit on some entries of “ special service” in the Compeny’s books. In 1692, * special servico ” cost £80,000. By dint of dili.zently following up this trail, it was discovered tht Sir Taostas Cook, the Governor of’. tha Company end en M. P.,—a sort of combined Srocswrz and Scuusaxen,—hed expended this sum, having been authorized to do. so by the Directors, te whom he ‘confided the fact that it was necessary to ‘ gratify” certain great personages. The House of Cormocs had Cook in its power, just 2s the Honse of Congress now has Scuuncaxer in its power, ‘The Commons called on Cook to toll all he knew. He refnsed. He wes promptly clapped into jail © A bill wos introduced providing that, if he did not confess before a dixcd day, he should repay the £80,000 to the East Indie Company, be fined £20,000, and be incapable of holding any office thereafter. This passed the House. In the Lords, the Duke of Leeds opposed the bill, and Coox implored’ the Peers, on his knees, not topsssit. Thor oughly scared, he promised to tell every: thing, provided an act of indemnity wa granted him. His proposition waz accapted. A joint committee sifted the job. ‘The investigation showed a number of at tempts at bribery and many failures. Several Peers had been tempted in vain. Tho Duke of Leeds, Cooz’s champion.in the Upper House, was caught, however, with his bribe inhis pocket. The net also brought up a few smailer fish, but most of the corruption fond was never accounted for. “A large part of this’sum,” says Macavtay, ‘which Coox had drawn from the Company’s Treas. ury, had probably been embezzled by the brokers whom he had employed in the work of corruption; and whst had become of the rest it was not easy to learn from the relno- tant witnesses who were brought before the Committee.” 7 Complex rascality can rarely, if ever, be thoroughly exposed. ‘Txuth is not always mighty enough to provail over systematis lying. The Pacific Mail investigation bas s0 far been a comparative failure. The Com- mittee seems to be afraid of finding out some- thing bad about big men. They have hooked Scuvmazen and Buz Krxc,—the latter’s hid- ing is a damning confession of his guilt— but they are apparently unhappy over it. If Scuumaxer were treated in some such way @ as his predecessor, Coox, the nation might“ learn something. No doubts good part af the $750,000 expended by Srockwex in the Pacific Mail's “ special service” in 1872 vas “embezzled by the brokers whom he em ployed in the work of corruption,” but vigor- ous investigation and healthful severity could detect more than one imitator of the Dake of ‘Leeds in the Senate‘and House. ——— A year or more ago Tax Tarsunx called ab tention to the difficulties of levying and col- lecting taxation for State purposes upon ths system of valuation. Under that systemit is inevitable that a large percentage of pet sonal property is never returned by the As sessor, and the tax on that which is e is largely uncollected. The result is thatin this State the land, and the personal property incidental thereto, such 23 live-stock, imple ments, etc., pay 80 per cent of the taxes ‘The difficulty of reaching personal property is so general, that it is estimated foal even in the State of New York not over 15 pet cont of the personal property is ever taxed. Our Constitution provides two modes of ta ~ ation: one by valuation, and the other by ~ licenses or other special tax, by which occ potions, merchants, dealers, traders may bt ‘reached, and by which persons ard corpory ‘tions holding special franchises or exclusive privileges may be taxed theron. ‘This lat power has never been exercised in this Stste, though it would farnish the means of raising all the State revente needed, at a nominal 20st of collection, Under this branch of the” power of taxation the various railroad coro rations and other monopolies might be resched and an oquitable tax collected therefrom, which would choerfully paid. - While the tax-grabbing law to pay railroad. . : aid debta was in forea there was a great.cab - cry against any change in the system of ts ation. That law exists. no longer, and w notice that this subject has already been it trodnoad in both Houses of the General AS sembly. At tho last session, Hon. Anxmr pes Starve proposed an amendment to te Constitution, in order to meet a suppose? difficulty on this point. We think, howsréty that the difficulty does not legally exist, that. the Logisintare inay put the system ia force without delay. It would be well, P& haps, to begin it cn a few objecta at firsh let the systom grow up to the demands of the State for revenue, One of Nast’s bappleat ideas was the sertoom of Tho. Tammany Ring,” in whieh THES +} Connacis; Swat & Co, wore reprised a 2 3