Chicago Daily Tribune Newspaper, February 28, 1875, Page 8

{THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 28, SIXTEEN PAGES. TERMS OF THE TRIBUNE ‘RATES OF SCTESCEIFTION (FAYADLE IX ADVAKCE), Festage Prepaid at this Office. $1308 | Weokly, } yaar.. GSU | Five cori ‘Ten co] Parts of « yoar at the samus rate. ‘WarreD—Une active agent in each town and village. Special arrangements made with sach. Specimen copies asnt free. ‘Te prevent delay and mistakes, be sure and give Pos:- Ofice addreas in full, including State and County. ‘Remittancesmeey be made citber by draft, express, Post- Gfkes order, or in registered letiere, at our risk. ‘TEEMS TO CITY SUBSCTIBEDS. Datly, delivered, Sanday excepted, 25 conte per week. Day, delivered, Sunday included, S0 cents por week. address THY TRIBUNE COMPANY, Comor Madison and Decrborn-ste., Chicago, DL” TO-MORROW’S AMUSEMENTS. LETS THEATRE—Randoloy street, hytwees gh tae Ssh Mpat in London” and“ Swiss ADELPHI THEATER—Dsarbom street, corner Mon- roe, Variety entertainment. BPVICKUR'S THEATRE—Madison strect. between ee Sater eussgemeat of George Fawoatt Bowe. Lites Ea.” + ACADEMY OF MUSIC—Halsed street. botween Mad- ee, ‘and Monroe. Engegement of Fraak Chanfrac. hin RAND OPERA-ROUSE—Ciark, street, opposite sO BAND, cues, Kelly & Leon's atinctrols. “Tho Bolles of the Kitehon.” CHICAGO EUM Si treet, between Dear wee Satan WRorer Too Late to Siena." SOCIETY MEETINGS. ATTENTION SIR ENIGHTS !—Stated conclave of Ghicago Gammanders, No. 1s, b. T., onday erecing, Rot RN ree oat iy ander aa te 2G g 0. - WILLIAMS, Hecurdsr. 8T. GEORGE.—Regalaz moathiy me Gcorgo's Bearrolent Aesoriativn will be i evening, Marea 1, 1675, at 71:20 o'cloc» at. 4 lange atteudanco is devircble, 89 tbe Dall oe will report end oitoara fox the nee tera) eee O65) BURROUGHS, Secretary. CHICAGO CALEDONIAN CLUB.—The | regular woothly wecling of the isp x wil bo oid ts Gre soe East Wi. oe esday 01 Ey weeciock. COCHRANE, Foust Chictain. —_—_—_—_—_— BUSINESS NOTICES. WE MEAN ALL WE SAY.—FULLSIT BEST GU cisfaction eofunded. . goth 26 St ecual raion, MCCHIAENEY, 1aClark-st, GLEN FLORA. From Thomas F. ie, Generel A, it of the Equit- eee THERE COU, fot uns Orion Staton ciel bo: ‘States: » corner Washington, i Bog ae BO Te, 1874. 3 B. H. Panes, Boq.—Doar Sir: EL PARES: the water from ths Glen Flora Springs for toa ya which bas resultod most favorably for an acute ‘Kidneys, and am hsppy to ss7 I ro~ on ‘ol, sna can safely say for ite medi~ cans) properties it far epee any water that] havo ever need, not excepting the Bethesda waters Op srg The Chicage Gribune. Bundsy Morning, February 28, 1875. Mr, Wizanp, of Michigan, and Gen. Haw. uzx, of Connecticut, both Republicens in good standing, and men in every way entitled to a respectfal “hesring, have made argu- ments on the proposed Force bill which pught to induce the Repablican majority in Congress to abandon that measure. Both of them mede earnest and thoughtful protests against the invasion of constitutional pro- yisions and the extension’ of the military power, with particular reference to the South- ern States. Mr. Wo1iep held that the policy of the Republican party should be that of conciliation and not menace, and the remedy for existing evils is to be found in the encouragement of local self-government and the industrial improvement of the whole peo- ple. Gen. Hawzer's ideas were of the same purport, and he announced that, though a ‘Bepublican from the outset,-he could not act with the party in enlarging the powers of the President in an extra-constitutional manner. It is worthy of note thst both these gentle- men ars journalists. Gen. Hawzer, formerly Governor of Connecticut, is the editor of the Hartford Courant, and Mr. Witiazp the edi- tor of 2 Battle Creek journal. We hope that their wise counsel, along with that of other good Republicans in Congress, will lesd to the abandonment of the mischievous bill. —_————— The Senate Committee on Finance failed to agree on the bill increasing taxes. Mornmx, of Vermont, Frner, of Michigan, and Scorr, of Pennsylvania, voted for it, while Sarn- mux, of Ohio, Wrrcur, of Iowa, and Bar- anv, of Delaware, opposed it. Frvron was absent. Smerman declared he could not ap- prove the Dill, and would not report it. Finally, Mornit was authorized to report it without recommendation. There never was a clearer case of overresching than this till furnishes. The bill proposes to raise thirty-four millions of revenue by a tax to be psid almost exclusively by the people of the West and South, and it then provides for fifty millions of other tax to be paid as 2 bounty to manufacturers and holders of large etocks of whisky and mapufactured goods. ‘Western Representatives permiited them- selves to be overreached by these Eastern grabbers. The only concession was a vote of 20 cents a gallon to all persons holding stocks of whisky on hand. For this miserable bribe, this bill imposing nearly sighty mill- fons of unnecessary tax, mosily in the form of grab, was voted for and passed by men representing Western constituents. . The stand taken byMessrs. Sureman and Wetcrt gives some hope that the abomination may yet be defeated. ——_—_ = The “long Grand Jury” cloced its lebors yesterday, and, after receiving the thanks of the Court, was discherged. The Jury made a report containing several recommendations : 1. That the Jail is wholly insecure ; and they detail the particulars wherein it may be strengthened, and they point out severel changes and reforms that ought to be made in its management. 2. It seems that various indefinite and vague charges were made against the official integrity of State's Attor- ney Bren, and this Jury undertook the work ,f hunting them down. After a long seerch, the Jury could find nothing-to substantiate the ramors, which are pronounced groundless. 3. The jury poirt out certain defects in ihe law against gambling, which defects operate 2s a protection to that business ; and they advise remedial legislation, so that the police may have unrestrained power to suppress gaming-houses, and that owners of premises ased for gambling, permitting them to be oc- cupied for that purpose after the conviction of the tenants, bs held responsible as keepers ‘of gaming-houses. The recommendations are pertinent and substentially agree with those of previous Grand Juries who have in- | ignted the same matters. This Grand Jury has hed a long session, and deserve the thanks of the community for their personal sacrifice for the public wetfé ——————— The ocephalous newspaper of this city, which is under contract to bolster up the Reform incapables of the Ilinois Legislature, takes exception to the remark of one of our correspondents that “Out of 482 bills intro- “duced in the House, only two have passed and received the signatare of the Speaker, and one of them was Killed, in the Senate,” ‘beanuse “ the least valuable service of a leg- islative body consists in the multiplice- Yon of siotetes.” ‘Tue Tarsuxe does not make any objection to the Legislature because it has not passed 482 bills, or 482,000 bills, ar ten bills. It isnot looking at the ‘ quantative value” ot all, but at the fact that nothing of any value has been done ; that not one bill, worth the price of the paper it is printed on, has been seriously consid- ered. Up to this point nothing has been done, and over seven weeks of time and over $100,000 of money have been squandered ; thst no bad lawa have been repealed and no defective laws have been amended ; that the few obviously necessary bills have not been either matured or enacted; and that, so far as usefulness is concerned, the ‘Legislature might as well nover have met. the out- come of this Reform Legislature is simply to be the adoption of a lot of trash,—if it hasn't sensa enough to distinguish between a polit- icel humbug started by the acephalou3 con- cern as a sensation and the legislation needed. for the State,—{hen it had better quit where it is and go home. The appetite of the Centennial Commission for Government funds has been whetted by the $500,000 appropriation voted by the Houso a few days ago. The Plnisdelphia Telegram modestly asks for $1,500,000 more. In support of this proposed grab at the reve- nues, st atime when taxcs have to be in- creased in order to keep the Government ran- ning, it gravely remarks: ‘It iss fact that the Government, while refusing to bear one @ollar of the cost of the Eshibition, hes yet taken the management whol- ly into its own hands, invited the guests, and Jaid out the money.” This sounds like sarcasm, but the Telayram asserts it (we cannot insult its Imowledge by saying it believes it) to be trae. The Gov- ernment has not taken the management into its hands ;"it has had nothing to do with the mauagement; it has not even decided the nature of the show. Again, it has not invited one guest, much less ell of them. On the contrary, Secretary Fis took the pains to issue a cireuler calling attention to the fact that the invitations were not given by the nation! And, finally, the Government has laid out precisely 0 cents of the money. The Telegram’s ‘fact ” is as fale as its beggary is absurd. The pooplo are taxed enough al- ready for the benefit of Pennsylvania. | THE GENERAL CITY CHARTER. We have received a copy Of the bill now pending before the Legislature enacting a gencral incorporation law for cities. It does not amend or repeal the Incorporation act of 1872, but creates a new act; and any city, by popular vote, may adopt the act of 1872, or that of 1875. As originally proposed, this bill contained a new system for the collection of taxes; but upon this point there was so much objection that all relating to that sub- ject has been stricken out, and the bill now relates purely to a reorganization of the City Government. Upon the petition of one-eighth of the voters of any city, the Common Council is required by resolution to submit to the voters of. the city the question of “Reorganization under the general act of 1875,” or ‘* Against” the same. Té a majority shall vote “Tor” re- orgenization, the new charter, upon the declaration of such vote, shall go into opera- tion, but all officers shall continue in office ‘until their successors shall be elected. The record of the vote adopting the new charter shall be recorded in the office of the Recorder of Deeds. If this law be passed, a specisl election on its adoption will be held next August, and the general election for Mayor and other officers will take place in Novem- ber, 1875. The wards of the city remain as now, with their number and boundaries un- changed. Under the new charter the officers of the city will consist of Mayor, Comptroller, Corporation Counkel, Attorney, Treasurer, Clerk, Collector, Assessor, Tax Commissioner, Engineer, Commissioner of Public Works, a Commissioner of Police, of Fire, Health, two ormore Police Justices, two or moro Police Clerks, Inspectors of Fish, Steam Boilers, a Weigher, Sealer of Weights and Measures, Superintendent of House of Correction, and sach other officers as the Common Council may from time to time establish. The Common Council is to consist of two Boards: the Board of Councilors is to con- sist of fifteen members, elected by the city at large, who shall hold office four years, seven or eight to be elected alternately every tro years ; the Board of Aldermen is to consist of three Aldermen from each ward, to holdof- fice two yeers. Every person elected a Coun- cilor or Alderman shall be a freeholder, and the Aldermen shall be residents of the ward in which they are elected. Councilors and Aldermen convicted of corruption or misfea- sance to be punished by fine. Noperson a de- faulter to the city or State to be eligible to either Board. The bill contains a new and rather arbitrary provision, that any per- son elected an Alderman or Councilor who, for ten days after notice, shall refuse to qualify aecozding to law, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and be fined $1,000. Physical disability, legal ineligibility, or necessary ab- sence from the city, will be legal excuses. Such a provision as this is hardly necessary to enforce the acceptance of these offices by those ordinarily elected; but it may be im- portant in securing other men whom the peo- ple may choose to elect. ” The Mayor, Comptroller, Corporation Counsel, Commissioners of Public Works, Health, Fire, and Police, shall compose the “Mayor's Cabinet,” and shall hold, regular meetings at least once a week to consult and advise concerning the affairs of the city. All proposals and bids for contracts shall bo opened at these meetings, and all awards of contracts made shall be approved by # major- ity of these officers; and all the duties of all the offices of the Executive Department shall be performed subject to the authority of this Cabinet, which shall keep a record of its besi- ness and proceedings. The first election under the act, in case it is adopted by the people, shall be in Novem- ber, 1875, at which time shall be elected a Mayor, Treasurer, Attorney, fifteen Council- ors, and three Aldermen from each ward. ‘These officers cre to hold office two years, In ‘voting for Councilors and Aldermen, each yoter will have as many votes as there are persons to be clacted, and may divide or cumulate them at his pleasure. The two Boards of the Common Conncil are to have concurrent action in all legislation, each Board to choose its own President and to have 2 negative on the action of the other; the Mayor to have a yeto, which may be over- ruled by a two-thirds vote of each Bord. ‘The Mayor, however, may Veto any items in en appropriation bill and approve the rest of the ordinance, The Common Council, by ordinance or in the appropriation bill, may fix the salaries of all officers, but no salary shell be increased or reduced during the term of an officer. ‘The Mayor is to be not less than 30 years of aze. In case of a vacancy in the office, if the un- expired term be less than six mofths, the President of the Board of Councilors shall become Mayor. ‘All officers not elected by the people are to be appointed by the Mayor, with the approval of the Board of Councilors. They may“ be removed by the Mayor for cause, provided two-thirds of the Board of Councilors ap- prove the saine. The only new feature in relation to the Treasurer is that, in addition to a monthly report of the amount of money on hand, he shall state where the same is deposited. The City Clerk, with assistants, is to be Clerk to the two Boards of the Common Council. The Commissioner of Police is to have entira charge of that department ; the Commission- er of Public Works and the Commissioners of Fire and Health are in the same manner made heeds of their respective departments, re- sponsible for the action of their subordinates. ‘The Commissioner of Police is to appoint his subordinates, and, for cause, may remove them ; his action is final and no appeal is 2l- lished in the Fire Department. Such are the general provisions of the new charter whjch have been substantially agreed upon at Springfield, and have been accepted by all those who have: participated in the prep- aration of amendments. We have no hesi- tation in expressing a hope that all the mem- pere of the Cook County delegation will unite in giving it their cordial support. There is nothing partisan in the bill. It is not inthe interest of one party or the other, but is in the interest of good government and respon- sible government. We understand that the Democratic members of the Cook County delegation have waived all opposition to this messuro of reform, and we are certain that the Republican members can as readily sup- port any measure that promises to bring or- der out’ of disorder and. establish re- sponsibility whero there is none. The City of Chicago, with a population exceeding that of any one of a dozen States of the Union, with an annual tax-levy three times that of the State of Dlinois, has no exceutive au- thérity. The executive functions are divided among a number of departments, each inde- pendent of the other, and not responsible to any. Esch transacts its own business as if it were an exclusive government. The new charter does establish 2 responsible executive government, Ench department is responsi- ble to a joint authority of all the other de- partments. There can be no secrecy or xin operation in any branch of. the City Govern- ment. Every expenditure of over $500 must be authorized by the approval of the Mayor and of the heads of all the other depart- ments, end be a matter of record. This one feature of reform is sufficient of itself to commend the whole charter to pub- lic approval The establishment of two Boards is, we think, another great improve- ment; it will be an additional check on hasty and improvident legislation. It destroys the absolute power of any one branch of the City Government. The mode of election of the members of these two branches of the City Legislature places it within the power of the conservative portion of the people to elect at least a strong repre- sentation of able, intelligent, and respectable citizens to each Board. The bill breaks up the present organ- ization of the City Government; it dis- solves all the irresponsible Boards; it gets the administration of city affairs out of of the old rats in which it has been run 50 long, and into which it is sinking deeper every day. Tho city will shake off its old garments, and be clothed anew, to the great improvement of its operations and to the great saving of expenses. GOD IN POLITICS.: ‘The recent action of the ‘North Carolina Legislature, published in another column,. in expelling one of its members, Mr. J. W. Trorne, a sort of Quaker, on account of his alleged disbelief in the existence of God, along with other historical incidents in the same State, should commend North Carolina as a place of residence to the people who advocate the doctrine generally‘known as ‘“ God in the Constitution,” but which might be more ac. curately defined es ‘‘ God in Politics.” Up to the year 1848 the God in the North Carolina Constitution was not only a Christian God, but also a Protestant God. Under the organic law of the State up to that period, all -persons who denied “the trath of the Protestant religion” were excluded from holding office. This provision debarred Catholics and Jews, as well as Deists, Atheists, and infidels. In the “Constitution of 1848 the political notion of Deity was modified, and the new restriction was limited to a general belief in God; this idea was retained in the new Constitution of 1868, which has aclause disqualifying from holding office, ‘Firat, all -persons who shall deny the being of Almighty God.” This general disqualification, however, seems to be subject to the special interpretation of the Legislature; for Mr. Torse was ex- pelled on the ground of disbelief in the being of Almighty God, though he made the following explicit declaration of faith in his speech before the Legislature: ‘‘ There is but ono living and true God; everlasting, without body, or parts, or passions; of un- limited power, wisdom, and goodness; -the maker of all things, visible and invisible.” To a layman and non-believer in the doctrine of “God in Politics,” this would seem to be a sufficiently strong declaration of belief in Almighty God to warranta man, otherwise unobjectionable, in holding a seat in the Leg- islature to which he had been chosen by the suffrages of the people. In addition to this declaration, Mr. Txornr also presented a number of letters showing thst he was a member in good standing in the Progressive Order of Friends, a sect of Quakers; that he had been o Trustee in the church of that Society in Pennsylvania, his former home; and that he was a man of good moralcharacter. But he had written a pamphict in which he hed spoken of the ‘frinity’and Resurrection as mythical or su- perstitious, and said that he did not regard God as a Being whose chief purpuse is to tortare mankind after death. He also stated in the presence of the Legislature that, while he believed in God, ho did not believe “in all the characterizations attributed to Him.” ‘Thereupon a member declared that it was clear Toone did not believe in the “God of our Constitution,” and it was on this ground that Mr. TaonNe was expelled by a majority vote of the House sitting as an Ecclesiastical Court. From this instance it is plain that when God is introduced into politics it is necessary to define exactly what kind of a being is in- tended. It is doubtful whether a Jew, or Unitarian, or even & Universalist, could pass muster in the North Carolina Legislature.” , Bat, suppose some future Legislature shall Ninterpret tho attributes of God to be aike those believed in by the Quaker Tzonye. lowed. The same rule of discipline is catab-. and expel members who have faith in the ‘Trinity, and who look forward to bodily resurrection. The succeeding majority may be Protestant and orthodox, and ex- pel. Catholics upon alleged idolatry, be- cause they believe in ‘Transubstantiation and the Real Presence in the sacramental bread and wine. The complications likely to grow out of ‘Godin Politics” are countless, and the action of the North Carolina Legislature shows that, whenever the Deity is made a part of a party platform or constitutional project, itisnecessary to define His attributes; and it is probable that such a definition ywould involve s discussion stretching from the Council of Trent to the latest Spiritualis- tic Convention. Tho expulsion of Mr. Tsorxz may have arison from a confusion of terms altogether too common, whereby an ‘‘infidel ” is thought necessarily to be an Atheist, and a true believer necessarily a Christian. Here ara ‘Wensrer’s dofinitions of God, Christian, Atheist, and infidel : ‘Gop—1. An object of worship; » divinity; a deity. 2, Tire Supreme Being; Jehovah. Cimisrian—L. One who believes, or is assumed to believe, ia the religion of Christ, 2. One born in = Ohristian country, or of Christian parents. ‘Arizist—One who denics ar disilioves the &xist- ence of a Supreme Being. IsFipii—Ono who is without faith, or unfaithful, hence a dusbeiiover; a freetbinker ; 6ne who disbe- Moves in Crist, or the divine origin and authority of Christisnity. Now, Mr. Toorve may be an infidel and still not an Atheist, may not! be a” Christian and yet believe in God. But the North Carolina Legislature chose to regard all these terms as interchangeable and meaning the same thing. ‘The only religious disqualifica- tion for office-holding in that State appliesto “tall persons who deny the existence of Al- mighty God”; but they expelled Mr. Txorne because he did not believe in a God of threo persons in one, which is the common belief jn Christion countries, though he expressly decrad his belief in a Supreme Being, ‘“‘the maker of ali things visible and invisible—one living and. true God.” ; i Perhaps the expulsion of Mr. Txonxe from the North Carolina Legislature mpy be useful in! teaching that itis better to keep creeds out of constitutions and out of poli- tics, and permit every man to worship the Supreme Being in his own temple, and according to individual dictates of conscience, Means The members of the Ways and Committee have monopolized all the leading parts in the Congressional performance now nearly concluded. ‘They have played in tragedy and farce. In the tragedy entitled “The Tax-Grabbers; or, The Victory of the Protectionists and the Whisky Ring,” they illustrated how the mass of the people may be oppressed and trodden under foot by the select classes with the assistance of false Representatives. The farce is called “Tho Pacific Male; or, How Not to Do It,” in which there has been a very ludicrous repre- sentation of the difficulties which beset men who profess to be doing one thing and are really doing another. The Waysand Means Committee have professed to trace the cor- rupt-use of Pacific Mail moneys to Congress- men, while they hnve actually been engaged. in the effort to show that none of these mon- eys ever got into the hands of Congressmen. They have acted the farce with the genuino self-satisfaction of your true amateur, ond close their ears to the criticism of their audi- ence—the public. ‘The report on the Pacific Mail investigation is alame and impotent eonclusion to an in- complete and slovenly examination of the sobject. Bat the conclusions of the Committee are also at varianco with the partial testimony offered. For in- stance, the ‘report intimates a belief that no” ‘part of the corruption fond was paid to any member of Congress, while the fact simply is that no such payment has een absolutely proved, on account of the failure to follow up the evidence actualiy given, and that suspicion strongly pointed to several members of Congress, The Commit- tee also express the belief that tho greater part of the $1,000,000 corruption fund was used by Stockwell in stock spgcylations, while the testimony before the Com- mittee clearly proved. that between $600,000 and $700,000 of the money was paid over to lobbyists, friends of ‘Congressmen, and ‘middlemen, and not used in stock speculations, This portion of the report is therefore unwarranted by the evidence, and intended to deceive the public. The Committee were unusually alert in their efforts to ran down every obscure newspaper- reporter whose name was mentioned in con- nection with the job, but they failed lamentably to follow any scent that might possibly lead to the conviction of a Congressman. Both Re- publicans and Democrats agreed on this. ‘Their trestment of Scuumaxer and Krxe is weak to the last degree. The most they thonght they could do was to certify these eeses to the next Congress. As Mr, Kiva Kept out of the wey, perhaps there was noth- ing else tobe done in his case, though his persistent stay in Canada was confession, not only that he received the money said to have been paid to him, but that he madesome use of it which he did not want to reveal. But in Scuusaxen’s ‘ease the Committee might have shown their purpose of ascer- taining the facts if they had entertained such a purpose. They bad evidence enough weeks ago to warrant 9 recommendation of Scxuumaxen’s expulsion, which the House would have adopted. Thereupon Mr. Scuc- MAEER could have been arrested and forced to tell what he did with the $300,000 which he received. jf ‘The investigation hns been a failure in the manner in which it was conducted, and in all its results, except that it led to a repeal of tho subsidy which wes fraudulently procured. This repeal is proof that Congress does not believe with the Committee that most of the corruption fund was used in stock specula- tions, ‘The very demon of discord seems to have seized upon the extreme partisans in Lou- isiana, represented on the one hand by McExzry and Wir71z, and on the other by Awstorse. A day or two since, everything looked favorable for the adoption of the ‘Wuertzr compromise proposition, which would have reversed tho action of the Re- turning Board, reseated the ejected Conserva- tive members in the House, and recognized Kurxio¢e until the end of his term, the mem- bers of the Committee named as arbitrators in the Werner proposition having already reported in favor of .this action to Congress. Nothing more reasonable could have been asked; in fact, it was surprisingly liberal upon the part of the minority, after the evidence they had taken from public end private sotirces, to concede as much as they did.. ‘But now come the White Leogners and the mob of New ‘Orleans, headed by McEn- ery and Wrz7z, und the black bend, headed by Aytorse, and do their best to defeat the acceptance of the propor tion, threats, corrupt coalit i pressure of public meetings. In the event that these turbulent malcontents of both par- ties succeed in defeating this equitable com- promise, there are only two resources left: First, to Jet the “ dead-lock ” rempin until the expiration of the President's term and continue the use of the bayonet; or, to withdraw the troops, advise decent men to get out of the State, and let these Kilkenny cats fight itout. The law-abiding people of the country are getting disgusted at the miserable partisanship of the two hot- headed factions. If this compromise is de- feated it will show that this imbroglio is sim- ply a wrangle between two factions of pot- house politicians. HOUSEHOLD ABT. It is about as easy to farnish a house in 2 Deautifal as in an ugly way; but very few people know it. So the young housewife, if she has money, goes down-town and buys various hideously-shaped and frightfully- upholstered things, which she sets at right angles in a right-angled room. And this she calls farnishing = house. The money paid for the carpet which sprawls over the whole room, gathering dust and dirt under every piece of furniture, and_ cleanable only by making the room uninhabitable, would have bought a rag in bright Perisian colors, and have paid for periodical polishings. of the plenks left uncovered. Then the Jloor ond its covering could both bo xendily cleansed, and the gay colors of the carpet would be relieved against the dark gleam of the polished boards,—an effect far more beautiful than any omnipresent carpet can give. The price paid for the furniture would more than defray the cost of some- thing more comfortable and more beautiful. ‘There might not be as many pieces, but mod- ern roams are usually overcrowded with sawed, turned, and chiseled ugliness. ‘There are two or three men in this city who can de- sign and make really artistic farnitare, and sho do their work cheaply as well as heauti- felly. Then there are the household art stores of Boston and New York to draw upon. Insome ways, it is absolutely cheaper to fornish a home in good taste than in bad. The ponderous cornice which tops most curtains is not only ugly, but costly. A slender wooden rod, just strong enough to bear the weight of the curtain which hangs from it on wooden rings, painted some color which harmonizes with the general tone of the room, is far less costly and far more taste- fol. A marble mantelpiece is rarely as bean- tiful as one of square-cut wood, relieved with tiles and chiseled in color ; but the letter de- mands only about half as many dollars. Good paper, of dainty device end hue, usually costs a little, but only a little, more than the stiff and glaring patterns which spoil most walls. It is cheaper than frescoing, and is better adapted to a home, which should be warmly and cheerfully tinted. It is nocdless to pursue this enumera- tion, The literature on the subject is quite full, end is to be found in eny public library,—or should be. The display in the Household Art Depart- ment at the recent Hospital Fair was a potent educator of taste in this city. It should be followed up. The Art Dopart- ment of the Exposition of next fall would be the richer for a room devoted to household art. It would be more effective, simply as an edueator, than, the same space filled with |. paintings; and art never doos better work than when it refines the home-life of the peo- ple. If the world had to choose between Wurm Moners’ “ Earthly Paradise” and his “‘earthly-paradise chair,” it would err if it did not take the latter. ————————— CONDITION OF AFFAIRS IN CONGRESS. The official existence of the present Con- gress expires March 3. By a constraction of Jaw it has been determined that March 3 does not end until Merch 4 at noon. Consequent- ly, 12 o'clock, meridian, on March 4 is the utmost limit of the present session, which, counting from Monday at 10 a. m., includes only seventy-four consecutive hours. Allow- ing six hours a day for recesses on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, and four hours on Thursday, the actual working hours left num- ber but fifty-two, or just sufficient time in which to call tho yeas and nays in tho House 100 times, The condition of busiziess is as follows: ‘The Fortification, Pension, Naval, West Point Academy, and Con- .sular and Diplomatic Appropriation bills have passed, and have been signed ; the Army, Post-Office, and Indian Appropria- tion bills have been returned with amond- ments to the House, and are on the Speaker’s table; the River and Harbor pill is in the Senate; the Miscellaneous Appropriation bill is pending in the House; the Legislative, Executive, and Judicial Appropriation bill is before a Conference Committee; the Defi- ciency bill has not yet been reported. Of other measures, the bill increasing taxes is in the Senate, reported by the Financo Committea without approval. The bills to admit Colorado and New Mexico are in the House, having been amended by the Senate. The reports of the several Committees on Alabama, Louisiana, and Arkansas, have yet to be acted on in the House. Tho bill providing a new Government for the Dis- tmet of Columbia, end one authorizing the levy of ataxin that District, aroin the Honse unacted on. The bill providing for the vast system of water end canal improve- ments is pending in the Senate, as is the bill to equalize the bounties of soldicrs serving in the late War. The Fores bill, when passed. by the House, will have to go to the Senate, and be there debated. The bill regulating the navigation of lakes and rivers, called the Steamboat dill, and which Senator Chandler takes deep interest in, is in the Senate. Hero is an array of business awaiting ac- tion, in one orthe other, or in both, Houses of Congress. In the Sonate, there is no ‘previous question,” and the twenty-four Democrats in thst body, if so disposed, can telk any measure to death, We have not included in this list of pending measures Tom Scott’s subsi- dy bill, assuming that méasure to be dead, but still it may turn up yet. Tn the House every call ‘of. the yeas and nays con- sumes half on hour. The minority, there- fore, after to-day, will have it in their power to defeat almost any measure. There is no disposition, wo suppose, to defeat any of the appropriations, unless the Administration leaders persist in- pushing other and objec- tionable bills to the front. ar Ee Wo must not forget to ‘say that the Senate pill regulating the manner of counting the votes of the Electoral College—a very im- portent measure, and essentiel as a preventive of fature national strife—is in the House waiting action. It will require two-thirds of the House to take up any bill after to-day. So, unless the Republicans can kcep their men in attendance, they: will be powerless. The protracted debates, however, Have re- sulted in demonstrating that there was not a Democrat who had hing more to say on the Civil-Rights bill! They had exhausted argument on the gteat ques- tion, ‘* Will you marry your daughter toa negro?” It is not likely. that they will ke as exhousted on the Force bill, when that meas- ure reaches the Senate. ANN ELIZA IN CLOVER. Awy Exzza, of Utah, has got in one between the Prophet's eyes, and there will be rejoicing all through the Prophet's dominions. It will ‘be remembered that Barcnas, the Prophet, did not do the handsome thing by Aww Exzza. He took her to his bed and board in her callow days, had her duly numbered and stored away in the house, as a pawnbroker lays away his marked package. It is to-be presumed that they read and sang together, conversed upon pleasant topics, laid plans for the future, and that the wily and smooth-tongued Bricnaa persuaded the credulous and fond ANN Exza that the other twenty-nine wives were poor pick- ings and of little account; that she wes the bright particular star; that they were two souls with bat o single thought, two hearts that beat. as one, etc, Bat by and by the Prophet’s ardor cooled. The flame upon Axw Exzza’s altar began to burn feebler and feebler, until at last it went out altogether, Then the Prophet came to see her no more. She no more found console- tion upon his manly breast. When she ap- pealed for the love ho had pledged to her, he regarded her coldly, sometimes threnteried her with vengeance. But Ann Exiza was a girl of spirit, and talked back. Then he cut off her pin-money, and kept her on short rations. He took away her carriage, and she had to foot it. He staid away from hor altogether, and she had to saw the wood, make the fires, bring in the water, and do all the chores which the Prophet should have done. More than that, when she was sitting at the lattice, wearily watching and waiting, hoping against hope that her Burczasm might yet be touched with pity and come back to her, and light the flame anew upon the altar, the old sinner would drive by with some of the other wives, and they wonld turn up their noses at the deserted favorite of the Seraglio, and make it uncomfortable for her in those pleasant little ways with which women are so well acquainted. She had no new spring bonnet, knew nothing of the latest modes, could only look into the windows of the dry- goods stores with the sharp pang of knowing that none of these things were for her, and with the added wretchedness, perhaps, of seeing the other wives inside, shopping, and charging the purchases to Betcuam. The children had to stop their dancing-lessons and piano-practice. She her- self was rapidly coming down to bread and water and a single change of calico. But ‘Ayy Exrza was a woman of spirit, She made one more proposition to him, giving him a last opportunity to relight the flame on the altar, and he answered her with scorn and contumely, and threatened the vengeance of Henven, and the Church, and himself upon her if she didn’t quit her nonsense. “Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.” Axw Exiza rose up like Wuuta Ax.EN, rose out of the ashes of her desola- tion, burst the seals with which he had cemented her to the house of Youne, hoisted the black flag, and exercised that proudest prerogative and inalienable birthright of every American woman, by suing to be di- vorced from the Prophet of the Latter-Day Saints and the Vicegerent of the only Church. Ordinarily, Axn Exiza would have had little sympathy, because she undoubtedly Imew, when the venerable reprobate told her his love, that he had told the same story to twenty-nine others, morecr Jess ; thatshe was only getting one-thirtieth of him, perhaps even less, and one-thirtieth of an octogenarian is of little consequence. She knew when she took the Prophet for bet- ter or worse that there was nothing better about it; on the other hand, that it was all worse. Under the circumstances, however, she has had general sympathy. ‘‘The man who would lay his hand upon a woman save in kindness is unworthy the privileges of an American citizen ” is one of the sublime moral- ities of the stage, and the American people acted accordingly inher case. They thronged her lectures and listened to her tale of woe and her denunciation of Bricuam’s perfidy with sympathizing hearts, Ann Exaza has bided her time, and now comes the. Court and decides that Bricnaxt must pay $3,000 lawyer's fees and $9,500 alimony. It is rather a handsome thing. It may not bene- fit Awn Exiza mach, for the Uteh Inw- yers have s peculiar grabbing tendency, but. still it takes $12,500 from the fat purse of the Prophet, and, if the twenty- nine other wives should follow the example of Ans Exiza, it will cost the old gentleman $362,500. That some of them will do so is quite probable. Asn Exzza having found the way thet leads out of the harem, and left the door open, there ean be little doubt that those who are not too old to travel will pack up before long, take $9,500, and go West. OHURCH AND STATE IN GERMANY. ‘The complete secularization of marriage in Germany is a groat step towards the gocl to which the Empire is hastening,—the com- plete divorce of Church and State. Former- ly, the religious ceremony was essentinl to 2 marriage, and the civil ceremony was op- tional, The present lew exactly reverses this. No marriage is valid unless performed by the civil power. The employment of priest or parson is optional. It adds nothing, in the eyes of the law, to the validity of the contract. Since the new law took effect it is said that only 30 per cent of the marringes in Prussia are celebrated with religions rites, Under the old system, no man or woman could be lawfully married without present- ing certificates of baptism, vaccination, and confirmation, Tobe confirmed, it was nec- essary, of course, to take the communion, and thus the holiest rite of Christianity had to be taken by an unrepentant sinner before he could get msrried. Avowed in- fidels took it, and justified themselves on the ground that they wanted to be married, and the State therefore forced them into profane mockery. Confirmation, moreover, was not the prerequisite for marriage alone, but for any occupation. Licenses to practice any kind of business were grant- ed only to holders of a confirme- tion-paper. So far was this carried, at least in Berlin, and probabiy elsewnere, that no bad woman could ply her wretched trade without first taking the communion and then getting the requisite permit! Asif the denial of marriage and employment to the unconfirmed were not enough, they and their parents were liable to heavy penalties. A Prassian parent who did not heve his child baptized by mimister or priest, or failed to have him confirmed before his ‘sixteenth birthday, was fined and imprisoned. There is a case on record in which a baby was taken the Senate | som | 2: father by a squad of soldiers aptized et thé point of the bayo- net.” All these ridiculous customs have czased to exist, thanks to recent enlightened legislation, but the end is not yet. Tha State still supports ministers and priests, and still taxes the whole . people— Lutherans, Catholics, Dissenters, Jews, Free- Thinkers—for that purpose, and still teaches sectarianism in its schools. Theso things, too, must pass away, before the divorce be. tween the civil and the religious . power can be complete. A Church which depends on the State is no glory to God. The effect of an “Established Church” is seen in the ma- terialism, rationalism, and skepticism which pervades Germany, as well as France and Italy, to-day. The main evil, however, is in the schools. Dogmatic instraction is out of place inside tho doors of a State school- house, At present, it is often farcical in its nature, Two years ago, youthful Saxons were being taught religion in State schools after a most original fashion. A boy learned that Cueist’s miracles were all explainable by naturel causes, while his sister was instructed that they were miracles indecd! When the State Church shall have been put ona per. fect equality with all others, and when the State schools shall have been secularized, then Church end State will be divorced. United, they are apt to fall; divided, they will stand. THE LESSON OF GERMANY. ‘We published the other day a letter from Mr. I, Lrseripene, in reply to a recent edi- torial on the effect of the French indemnity upon Germany, in which we took the ground that this indemnity had stimulated specula- tion, greatly inflated the rates of wages and price of commodities, crented habits of ex- travagance, and made production and manu- factures more costly than in competing coun- tries, so that exports had fallen off and im- ports had increased. Mr. Lrycensenc’s let ter did not contradict or refute these state- ments, although spparently written for tha sake of doing so; it gonfirmed them. Wa quite agree with our correspondent’s predic. tion thet the commercial condition of the Empire will henceforth improve. It will do so because, as we hava slresdy said, prices and wages in Germany are now not far from where they were before the payment of the indemnity. The Empire has eaten, and drunk, and worn, part of the wealth poured in upon it, and has consumed the rest unproductively in forts, and cannon, and speculative stocks and bonds, and luxu- ries of every sort. Before the Franco-Ger-| man war, Germany was rivaling England everywhere in the sale of many lines of man- ufactures. The English press acknowledged the fact with dismay. One of the most. effective arguments urged in behalf of bettex popular education in England was the way in which Germans—thanks to their superior training—were driving Englishmen out of the world’s markets. Then came the war, and the indemnity. Just as soon as the cost of production became higher in Germany, on account of higher wages, monetary inflation, more unproductive enterprises, than it wasin competing countries, the latter undersold Germany, notonly abroad, but in the home market. Imports increased, exports decreased. Now the overstock of money and the specula- tive fever it caused have largely disappeared. Prices have fallen neasly to the ante-war basis. A financial revulsion has forced the : nation into its old-time industry and thrift. It will doubtless now retake its old place as an exporter of manufactures. ‘The moral of thisis plain. In America, we have increased the cost of production, first, by the inflation of values and impulse to speculation caused by a fluctuating, depre cinted currency; second, by.a miscalled “protective policy,” which, by making the manufactdrer pay more for his raw materials, his tools, his labor, his every aid, has effect- ually harmed the industries it was intended to benefit. Our manufacturers, like those of Germany, have been driven out of the foreign market, because they were undersold there. We have, therefure, been unable to pay the interest on our enormous foreign debt with merchandise, and have been drained of our gold. If we would regain prosperity, wo must do as Germany has done. We must remove the causes which have raised the cost of mechanical production to such an un- healthy pitch. We must get rid of the evil currency which turns legitimate business into gambling, and we must get rid of the falsely called “protective system” which shuts ts out of the markets of the world. Then we can export goods instead of gold. Cheap production means abundant produc. tion and national prosperity, and lnbor fox all who are willing to work. ee Matter, in which Prof. Tyxpatx discerns the potency gnd promiseof every form and quality of life, hs often been put by him toa very satis- factory use for the preservation of life. Ons-} his many discoveries, discuesed at a recent mee ing in London, will be apt to convince his enc- mies that he is nots mere visionary speculator. His experiments to obtain pure air, m connec+ tion “with scientific investigation, showod him that cotton-wool was one of the most effective of air-filters. To this he added glycerine, and found that the usefulneas of the cotton wad gceatly increased. By an ingenious combination of pulverized charcoal, cotton, and glycerine, Capt. Saaw, Chief of the London Fire-Brigade, and Prof. Trxpatt together bave constructed a maek for the use of firemen, accoutred with which they can breathe for an hour, without dis- - comfort, air impregnated with carbonic scid, azote, sulphurized hydrogen, fire-damp, or any of tho poisonous vapors which would destroy them in a few minutes without the respirator.« The helmet is worn over the mask, which is said to impart to the wearer an expression 80 hideous tbat flames seem to be his natural at- mosphere. And this monster asks no fee or patent for his invention! A curious suit will come up in the May session of the County Oourt at Milford, Ps. It is a twonty-year-old affair, and grew out of an elec tidn bet. During the Bucuanan-Fremont Pres- idential campaign, Maj. Couvix L. Sexxour bet with Appagax WesrFaL several hundred acres of land that Frewoxr would be elected. Titls- deeds to both pieces of property wore placed in tho hands of Danrxx Van AvEES, Districe Atsor- ney of the county. Of course Szysour lost. The property has now risen in value tremer- dously. Several famous stono-quarries have besa in operation there, and Mr. Serxtoun repents his bet. He brings suit against Wesrraxt, on tho ground that the whole transaction was legal. Betting debts being usually classed by civilized nations among ‘debts of honor,” the attempt to evade one nearly twenty years after its paymeut should characterize Mr. Szraoun’s suit as 80 22- tion of dishonor. Young America, or that portion of it residing within city limits, will be dolighted to learn that company of Now York capitslists has beca formed to alleviate a standing sonrce of misery. Notrvly American youth can gaze with an sir of ‘pacific noutrality on the tolegrapp pole, let alone a feeling of complacent admiration of this new wheel of the car of progress. The company with a capital of $1,000,000, proposes in as short atimo as practicable to remove these obstruc- tions to the nationsi art of kite-flying, and in the