Chicago Daily Tribune Newspaper, February 6, 1876, Page 4

4 THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE: SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1876—~SIXTEEN PAGES. e ——————————— e ——————— TERMS OF THE TRIBUNE. PLATES OF SUBSCRIPTION (PAYASLE IN ADVANCE). Postaze Prepaid as thls Office. Paily Editicn, post-paid, 1 year..... ..$18-00 Parts of yearzt camo rate. NMailed to any address FOUE WEEKS for. 1.00 Sunday Edition: Literary and Religio sheet.. 3.00 Tri-Weekly, post-paid, 1 yea: 6.00 ‘WEEKL) Dnseery, per yeer. Tlub of five, per Elub of twedty. per cop: The postage {x 15 cents a year, which we Specimen copfes sent free. To yrevent delsy and mistakes, be sure and give ‘Post-Office 2ddress in full, including Stateand County. Eemittances may Le made citber by drafl, express, Post-Ofce arder, or in registered letters, at our rikk. TERMS TO CITY EUBSCRIEERS. . Dally, delivered, Sundsy excepted, 25 cents per week, paily, delivered, Sundty included. 30 cents per week. Address THE TRIBUNE COMPANY, Corner Mzdison and Dearborn-#1s.. Chicago, Til. AMUSEMENTS. . TO-DAY. AlcCORMICE HALL—North Clark strest, corner Tinzie. Lecture by Heary Vincent at3 p. m. Bubject : * Qifver Cromwell” NEW CHICAGO THEATRE—Clark street, between ‘ake and Randolph, “ Ehrliche Arbeit.” p TO-MOREOW. a MCVICZER'S TECATRE—Madison street, between dearborn and State. Engagement of Mr, and Mra, W. i Tlorence. *The Mighty Dolisr.” HOOLEY'S THEATRE—Randolph strect, between flark and LaSalle. The California Minstrels, ADELPHI THEATRE—Dearborn street, corner ionroe. Variety performence. i WOOD’S MUSEUM—Monrop street, between Dear- sorn and State. Affernoon, “ Ticket-of-Leave Man.” Evening, “ Lictle Bfvefoot.” FARWELL HALL—Madison street, tetween Clark 134 LaSalle, Richings-Bernard Costuma Concert. SOCIETY MEETINGS. LASONIC—There will be 2 regular assembly of Van Bensseluer Grand Lodge of Ferfection, A. & A Scottish Iote Marons, i{fanhund:y eveuing nest. ‘Werk on the Tourth and Degress. By order o e F. P, HALL, T PG ML ED GOODALE, Gr. 8eC'Y. ATTENTION, SIR ENIGHTS!—Stated Conclave of Chicago Commandery, No. 19, K. T., Alondsy evening, Feb. 7, £ 7:3), for business and work on the K, T. Urder. Visiting Sir Erights courteonsly fuvited. By osuer of the E. C. CHAS. J. TROWBRIDGE, Becorder. BLAIR LODGE, No. 393, A, F., end A, M.—The smembers cre bereby notified to teet at Free Alasons’ Xo. 72 Monroe-st., Taeaday, Feb, §, at 12 m,, for trending the funeral of our late Exo., . Members of other Lodges cordially innied” By arder . €., WHITE, W. M. ST. GEORGE.—The Regular Xfonthly Mesting of 1iis Asrociation will be held ot their Hall, 167 A“:“.}:; The @hicaon Tribune, Sundsy Morning, February 8. 1876. At the New Yuvrk Gold Exchange on Sat- urdsy, grecnbacks were worth 863@68]. A decision is elleged to have been rendered by the Supreme Court in a contested election case from Alton, in this Stete, in which the Court held that o numbered ballot should be counted instead of an unnumbered ballot when the two are found together. The effect of tais decision is the practical recog- nition of the constitutionslity of that part of the Election law requiring the numbering of ‘ballots, nd is therefore in direct opposition to the view tiaken by Judge RocEss, of the Circuit Court in this city. It is probable that the decision of the Circuit Court, if carried to the Supreme Court, will be re- wersed. Another straw came to the surface of the political current in Minnesota on Friday last. The Republican side of the Legislaturp, and the Stete and Federsl officers, were canvassed on their Presidentinl preferences, with the following result: For Brame, 48; Wasm BURNE, 12; Bristow, 5; MorToN, 4; GRANT, &; Haxes, 2; and several others one each; BraIxk 48, against 34 for all others. All the Feders! officers seen were for Brarvg, and all the State officers but three. Thése political etraws count for little as affecting the final result; but, in this case, they show at least that Mr. Brarse struck fire in Minnesota +{ come upon the question of amnestying Jxrr Davis, and that the people of that State are not yet disposed to let the Confederates come to the front and order Union soldiers to the rear. A few days since, we alluded to, and com- mented upon, the announcement that the ex- treme Ritualists of the Church of England had mede propositions to the Pope with ref- erence to & secession from the English to the Romish Church. From the dispatches it now appears {hat the Rev.'A. H. MacEONA- cHIE, who is curete of the famous Ritualistio Caurch of St. Albans, has sent to the English papers a document signed by 100 prominent Ritualists, ¢ disclaiming connection or sym- pathy with any movement looking to the subordination of the Anglicen Ritualists to the Papacy, and declaring the basis of such negotiation impossible until the Vatican de- crees are retracted and repesled with as much formality a5 they were promulgated.” ‘This is explic:t so.far as it goes, and 50 far as it speaks for the 100 signers, but it is an ad- mission that a negotistion is possible. It shows that the bell-and-candle faction of the Church of England is nibbling around the Vatican, and that it would like to go in if things could be made easy and comfortable, There is no reason why they showd not go. They are Romanists at heart, and the Church of England would be healthier and stronger without them. It is only a question of iime when their exodus to Rome will commence. The Chieago produce markets were irregu- lar on Saturdsy. Mess pork was active and gdvanced 20c perbrl, but closed weak, at £20.371@20.40 cash ond $20.35@20.57} for March. Lard was more actife and firmery tlosing tame, at $12.25@12.27} cash and £12.40@12.42} for March. Aeats were active and firmer, at 7Jc for boxed shoulders, 11i¢ for do short ribs, and 11}c for do short rlears. Highwines were quiet and unchanged, Bt $1.06 per gallon. Flour was dull and stoldy. Wheat was more active and 1Ic higher, clasing at 99jc seller the month and 99¢ for March. Corn was dull and steady, closing at 39Jc cash and 40c for Merch. Oats were quiet and steady, closing 8t 803c cash and 31jcfor Alarch. Rye was quiet. Barley was firmer, closing at 76c for February and 70c for March. Hogs were active and o shode firmer, at $7.50@8.00 per 100 1bs. Cattle were dull, and sheep steadier. Jne hundred dollars in gold would boy F112.75 in greenbacks at the close. A ——— An apt illustration of the strictures we have recently made on the operation and ad- Rinistration of the Bankrupt law as it now stands is to be found in the zoluntary peti- tion filed by & Grundy County gentleman, who reports over $159,000 of linbilities, and whose assets consist of & couple of suits of slothes exempt by law! Such a case is sim- oly absurd. The idea that any man can con- 3nct a business of such an extent as to acca- mulate over $159,000 of liabilities and honestly bave nothing left but his old clothes, is al. most beyond the scope of possibility, It is mere brazen effrontery fo voluntarily . into & Bankruptey Court with such a statement, ask to be discharged thercon, and permitted to resume busi- ness on such a showing, without paying any portion of the indebtedness. The fact that such efforts are made, and that they suc- ceed, shows the necessity, withont furtherar- gument, for & repeal or revision of the Bank- Tupt act, or a reform of the system under which it is administered. The theory of bankruptey privileges is, that men who are Lopelessly involved may surrender all -they have, and resume business with a new start. But if it has come to be that men may swear away their debts by going into a Bankruptcy Court whenever they seo fit, the law is simply A convenience for swindling creditors, and the sooner it is expunged the better it will be for the welfare and honesty of the commer- cisl commanity. A BATLROAD CONFIDENCE-GAME. The game of “bunko " has broken out in anew state. Itused to be that the operators of this guileful amusement merely used the roilrond cars for drumming ap their busi- ness, but of late the rmlrozd-managers have gone into it themselves on a much larger scale. ‘They intended originally that Chicago was to bo the victim, but they have become s0 greedy now that they are beginning to pluck one another. From present indiea- tions it would appear that shrewd and distin- guished gentlemen like Messrs. Jox and VAN- peenrrT, who had been supposed to have cut their eye-tecth, have been caught by the wiles of their associates, Messrs. Toxt Scorr end Gazeerr. We apprehend that, like most sufferers from confidence-games, they were betrayed into their losses by an inordinate greed of their own. They consented to have o fixed and inelastic rato from Chicago with the expectation that their ownrevenues would be increased in proportion, and without counting upon the decline of business that would ensue as far as their roads are con- cerned. So, while the Michigan Southern and Michigan Central Roads have been los- ing businéss at Chicago by refusingto pro-rate with the Western through lines at competing rates with the cross lines, the Pittsburg & Fort Wayne and the Baltimore & Ohio have ‘been picking up their trade around and about them. But the Pitisburg & Fort Wayne and”| the Baltimore & Ohio have insisted cll along that they were not cutting rates in connection with these cross-lines when cherged with this breach of faith. Now, however, it is alleged that they have proposed to the Chicago & Alton and the Illinois Central Roads to pro- rate with them at the competing points to bring freight through Chicago, instead of teking it from the cross-lines around Chicago, which is at once in violation of the * pool” contract, and pretty conclusive evidence that the people under the direction of Messrs. Scorr and GargerT have been cuiting at the interior points in connection with the cross- lines. Tho evidence of this seems to be established with considerable certainty, asa reporter of Tae TRISUNE saw telegrams from these roads offering to pro-rate with the Chi- cago roads mentioned. Now, itis to be hoped that Messrs. Jor and Vaxperprur will open their eyes to the real state of affairs, acknowl- " edge that they have been bamboozled, and do what they may to atone for their folly, As the hope of anything like a genuine re- pentance and futurs good faith on the part of these people is somewhat uncertain, the people of Chicago will do well to turn their minds to an independent connection with the Grand Trunk Railway, which has kept out of thess combinations, but which is not able to reach Chicago in the winter except by way of the Michigan Central. It only re- mains, however, to complete the connections of a road between Chicago and Sarnin to make a new, direct, and independent line to the seaboard. The Grand Trunk will then have a terminus at Chicago instead of on the ghores of Lake Huron. This connection can be made, independently of the Michigan Central Road, at a comparatively small cost, 25 we understand, and the people of Chicago should give the matter their attention. There ought not to be another winter without such connection, and when it shall be made it ought to receive the uniform support and patronage of Chicago people in preference to competing lines, so that it may be kept out of all combinations against this city. Such combinations will be powerless without its co-operation. The treatment which Chicago has received at the hands of the Baltimore & Ohio and the Pittsburg & Fort Wayne Railropds should not be permitted to pass out of the minds of Chicago people. When the Pittsburg & Fort. ‘Wayne Road came into Chicago some years ago it was received with every encourage- ment. It was given a right of way without charge, and permitted to penetrate into the very centre of the city, where it has had con- stant advantages over all railronds seeking an entrance into. Chicsgo. It acquired a busi- ness of grest msagnitude, which it would never have had without Chicago as its West- ern terminus. So with the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad. It also was received with open arms, welcomed as a friend by the mercantile community, heralded as a blessing by the newspapers, and puffed and cajoled into more importance than it really deserved. When the project of the Baltimore & Ohio's forming a connection with Chicago wes first announced, the exuberance of our merchants received a warning from their Eastern friends that they were overestimating the boon, and that they would find these Baltimore & Ohio people sabout as sclfish, and stingy, and grasping as any one could possibly be. The warning was not heeded, but experience has ‘proved that it was well founded. These two roads, the recipients of so many favors, and the hope of commercial Chicago, each in its own time have taken the opportunity which Mr. Vaxpersrnr's weakness afiorded to enter into a conspiracy against Chicago. The peo- ple of this city should never forget it. TAX-PAYERS, AND THEIR DUTY. The decision made by Judges Farwery, ‘WiLuiaxs, and Mooz on the local tax cases was practically a decision that the city and county were in need of money, and would be seriously embarrassed if the collection of taxes were restrained by injunction; and that, while the proceedings of assessment end valuation were irregular and not in com- plinnee with law, and grossly unjust, it was better for public interests that the private citizen should be mulcted than that the Gov- ernment should be without the means of pre- serving its credit and its existence. That is the true meaning of the decision. It is trae the Court sought to fortify its points by copious references to the decisions of the Supreme Court of the State, and by citations from eminent Judges of other States, but nevertheless the financial exigencies of the city, in the shape of five mill. jons of debt, representing unpaid taxes, overshadowed all other considerations, and hence the individual tax-payer was not afforded suy relisf, It is a startling com. mentary on our system of taxation that the Court suggested os a fact that it was gues- tionable whether there had ever been an nssessment for taxable purposes in this State that was made in complisnce with law, and hence that it was a necessity for the Courts to troat all defects and illegalities in assessment as * irregulerities,” not affecting the validity of the assessment to the extent of svoiding the tax. ‘We may therefore assume that a tax is not to bo set aside because’of any defoet or in- justice in the mode of assessment, or in the valuation of property; that when s man own- ing 100 of property finds that property as- sessed at $10,000, and taxed sccordingly, he must pay the tax for the public good, and submit to the sacrifice as a patriot. We wish to again point the moral of this tax business, The force of the inequalities seems to have been mainly expended on the personal property in the South Division. Last April there was an election for Assessor in South Chicago, and how many of these com- plaining tax-payers ook the trouble to vote ot that election? How many of them even took interest emough in the matter to know, that there was an election? 1Ir. Alrxe Evaxs and Mr. Toxt Forery, with visions of $10,000 salary, were fully aware of the election, and, making combinations with the CrLEarys and Pumurrses, they marshaled several thou- sands of followers, who not only attended the polls once, but repeatedly, and voted as often as the limted time permitted. Notone of these now indignant tax-payers went near the polls; theywere all too busy; and an As- sessor was elected, with the consequences over which they are now lamenting. They have, perhaps, the consolation that, bad as things are, the Assessor might have made them in- finitely worse; and where they now pay $1 of tax on personal property he might have made them pay $3, to which they would have had to submit as patriots and law-sbiding citizens. Now, within a few months there will bo another-election for an Assessor. How many of these people will attend that election, or take any part in securing the election of an ‘honest and intelligent officer? How many of them will give of their time to the orgamza- tion of the tax-payers, to the selection of a competent candidate, and will go to the polls £nd labor for his election ? The sbuses of 1875 will be inevitable so long as the people most interested in the mntter refuse to take any part inthe choice of officers. Thess abuses will not only re- main possible, but probable, so long as the township orgenization remains in force in this county and prevents any other system of nssessment or collection of taxes. Now, as the tax-payers have no remedy as to past abuses and injustice, will they take steps to their prevention in the future? There arc two things to be done: one is to select proper candidates for town officers, and go to the polls and elect them; and the other is to vote for every measure, preliminary and fingl, to sbolish township organization. Will the tax-payers do this? TEE BOWEN LETTER. The letter addressed by Mr. Hexzy C. BoweN to the Examining Committes of Plymouth Church, which was printed in our last issue, is the most formidable document that has yet appeared in the records of the great scandal. If it be true, it is more crushing than the original allegations of Mr. Tmrox and Mrs. MourtoN, If it be mot true, then is Mr, Bowex the most unblush- ing perjurer and slanderer of all time. In cither event, it is a statement which ‘cannot be waved aside, or treated with that policy of gilence which was but recently so vaunt- ingly enunciated, only to be continually violated. It will be remembered in this connection that Mr. Bowes has been an intimate *ac- queintance of Mr. BeecHER'S since the day the Intter first arrived in Brooklyn. Socially, he was his friend. Religiously, he was a counselor and adviser. He has been 8 promi- nent pillar of Mr. Beeorer's church, and has contributed largely to its success. He has been associated with Mr. Beecaer in the pub- lication of an important religious newspaper of large circulation, with which his name has been identified as publicly s that of Mr. Bexcmer. It will be furthermore remem- bered that DMr. Bowzy has been known to be cognizant of material facts in this wretched slander business; that both parties to the trinl were aware of this, and were reluctant or afraid to coll mwpon him to testify as to any of these material facis; and that, when he was brought forward as a witness, his testimony was confined by common con- sent to side issues, and given with so meny reservations that it cut a very small figure in the case. There is one thing, at least, to be set to Mr. Bowex's credit: He has kept his part of the tripartite agreement faithfully. Plymouth Church hashounded him to desper- ation. The New York and Brooklyn press have taunted and vilified him. As he him- self says: “From thatday to this X have been wickedly and malignantly essailed in my business affairs. All sorts of crimes and mis- demeanors have been charged or hinted at, ond I have been held up to the world as & man totally unworthy of either respect or confidence.” Notwithstanding this, he hos kept his lips hermetically sealed, wuntil at last he has been brought to bay by Plymouth Church itself, through the grievances of Mr. S. V. Waire, who has imprudently, as it would seem at lenst, sought to bring Mr. Bowex to trial for Leeping silence, and drive him ont of the Plymouth communion. The action has opened his mouth, and he has launched a thunderbolt at Mr. Beeceen. The accusa- tion which he makes is vastly more damag- ing than the original allegations of Mr. Tz~ ToN, or the subsequent statements of Mrs. MourtoN. It not only asserts what Mr, Tur- oy asserted, but it goes far beyond and back of it, andlays at Mr. Beecars’s door dreadful saccusations, which, if true, make him the very incarnation of hypocrisy and villainy. AMr. Bowen does not suggest, or insinunte, or hint, this time., He speaks out plainly and says: 1 hiave felt my beart stirred to its depths for dear friends who years before the present scandal was pub- Lished sorrowfully begged my counsel a8 they assured ‘me-that their pastor and mine had craftly betrayed the sanctity of home, the very charge long after pre- sented to mo by TREODORE TILTON in regard to his own home. Inever can or will be base enoagh to al- low 5 single name to be bruited before the warld, al- though I am now ready to testify to the essential facts before any tribunal, And again : Now, being summoned here to speak, azd to speak the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, 1 solemnly give it 88 my unwavering opinion, in vew of all the facts and evidences presented to me, that the Rev. Hexny WARD BEECHER, without even the £hadow of a doubt in my mind, is guilty of the awfal crimes of adaltery, perjory, and hypocrisy. This, I eay ogain, and before tie bar of this Committes, 8 my deliberate opinion, and I may be permitted to af- Arm that I give it calmly, without malice, and with no otber than & sincers desirs to do my daty faithfully to God and to man, the Chureh, and to the world, - Ar. Tz7ox and Alrs, Movzrox had previe ously accused Mr. BzeomEm upon oath adultery with Mrs. 'Trron. Now Mr. BoweN 0dds to this charge that of adultery with others. What will Mfr. Bescrer do about it? Is it possible that he " will attempt agnin the fruitless policy of trying to smother this charge, as he has others within the pale of Plymouth Church, by Friday-night speeches, church-committeo reports, advisory councils, and other machinery which the church can manipulate ? - The charges of Mr. BoweN are direct and point-blunk, although no names are given, and they will carry conviction with them unless they are refated. It will not do to rely upon the fact that thero is a Jublic prejudice agrinst Mr. Bowex; nor will the. obvious criticism that Mr. BowEN must bo a hypocrite hirnself to sit under Mr. Beecuer's ministrations year after year with such knowledge in his possession at all affect the terrible indictment. It will retsin its force until it is refuted as concise- ly. and directly as it is made. Mr. Brecmee is now at bay. Tho whole case is opemed afresh, and he now stands before the public with fresh accusa- tions of adultery made against him. These accusations ave either a gross libel, or they are true. If they ure alibel, then ‘it is 3r. Beecrre's duty to bring an action against Mr. Bowzy and corapel him to justify. If he should not do this, the public will very gon- erally arrive at the conclusion that the accu- sotions are true. More than all else, this let- ter of Mr. Bowen's shows the absolute and supreme folly of 1dr. Beecaen in supposing that either hie or Plymouth Church can whis- tle this slander down the wind, and thus dispose of it. It will not down. The charges must be met directly before a le- gal tribunal, not Liefore partisan church-com- mittees, and must be settled. If Mr. Beeca- ER is guilty, let it ont. If he isinnocent, he ig prejudicing his character and his influence by not punishing his traducers. Mr. Bowey himself is very portinent on this point when ho says: ‘Who comes here to-quote words of slander which I Dave ever uttered against the pastor? Who says I havo ever once, in any way, except by silence, iojured bim? Let me usk, has L W. BEECHER any grievances againstme? 1f 5o, hes he evor brought them beforo this Committes? O thers, 28 you kmow, have in tho plainest English chargod Mr. Berowem with both adulterv and perjurs. They have challenged an in- vestigation in court or in council, and hardly & whis- per has beon heard 1n roply. Whers was the vallant Mr. 8. V. WiiTe all this time?a Where is Lo now? Dare the gentlomaz or any of you snmmon these 30~ cusera intoa courf of jistico and there demand the evidence on which thess charges of adultery and per- jury sgainst Mr, BrecnEn aro made? 1f beis abeo- lutely innocent, whiy do you not act as if you belioved it, and thus put an ond to this norrible scandal? 1f heis s pure man, hiere is the straight rosd outof all diftcaliy, FRAKNCE HAS SPOKEN. For the first time in her nineteen centuries of historical existence, France has elected, in time of profound peace, a real Parlinment. Through times of barbarism, when one after another robber-chief clutched at the kingly power,during dynasties of Merovingian, Carlo- vingian, Capet, and Bourbon families, and for the last cewtury, in which the story of the earlier centuries hasbeen told again, as one man after another has grasped at the crown and then had it wrenched from him,— through all these nineteen centuries, there have been but two real Parliaments, and both have been born of bloodshed and war. The third and prescut one begins its existence under happier auspices and with more promise. Until the French Revolution, the rulers of France were King, nobles, and clergy. -The rclative power of the three changed from time to time. Now one was overpowered by a coalition of the two others, and then the victors quarreled over the spoils and a new combination was formed. But all power rested with these three, and the peo- ple had no rights. As acompensation, they had all the duties. Wken the Revolution broke their chains, they slected a Parlinment that soon showed that the tyranny of majorities may bs deeper and deadlier than that of minorities. TUnder the first Narorrox, the restored Bounsoxs, the one Opreavs King whose cowardice cost himself and his family a crown, and the so- called third NarorEoN, the Parlisment of France was what the old Estates-General were in the raro intervals—sometimes a century apart—when they were permitted to meet. It ‘wasa mere registration-office of the decrees of the monarch. Finally, vhen Germany put her foot on the throat of France and bade her victim. choose a body that could ratify the terms of peace, a conquered country chose the Assembly,—real Parlisment number two. Iis first function was that of simply registering & decree, and a decres of o foreign Emperor at that. But when this was done, it became a deliberative body. It had a vast task of recorstruction before it, and it did its duty well. It-gave the lie di- rect and in fact to Bacemor's assertion that the French cannot debate, for it forged by debate asystem of government which prom- ises to be longlived. It may be that some King will replace the ¢ President ” of to-day, who is King in ali but the name, but it is not likely that the people will ever again suffer themsolves to be robbed of the right of real representation. And this is an all- jmportant gain. If, 8s seems prob- able, it is a permanent gain, it is worth all the suffering and loss of the late war. Alsace-Lorreine and the indemnity are alow price for a constitutional government. Germany will be shown to have done France ono of the greatest imaginable services by conquering, dismembering, and plundering her. A century hence, Frenchmen them- selves will not dispute this paradox. The formation of the rew Senaté, which foreshadows thet of the Lower House, shows that a monarchical republiz or a republican monarchy—the msin diflerence is in the name—will be quite fimly established. While the zreports of the Senators elected last Sundsy by the delegates chosen by tho departments two weeks previously &aro conflicting, it is evi- dent that the Conservative Republicans have o working majority. They have from 160 to 175 of the 300 Senators, and the mi- nority is compcsed of Badicals, Bonapartists, Orleanists, and Legitimists,—four factions which can never by any possibility unite. In the Lower House, the Bonapartists will be stronger than they are in the Senate, where they make a respectable showing of from 40 to 50 votgs, but the Conservative Repub- licans will without doubt have a clear majority. And so,/whether the Septennate is succeeded by a Presidency or a Monarchy, the Government of France will be closely assimilated to that 'of En- gland. The departure from this mod- el will be in two directions, which are contradictory, and may therefora balance each other. The Parliament will ba elected by a suffrage more universd than that granted north of the Channel, whilethe central power, once chosen, will be stronger., In England, Parliament is omnipotent In France, the Ministry supported by Parliament will be nearly ompigotint. Bul la the natare of things a réal Parlisment will con- stantly assume more POWer, n_nhl the two systems becomo almost precisely the same. INCREASING CITY EXPENSES. The gentleman who enjoys the municipal sinecuro known as City Marshal has asked for an addition of 150 men to the police forco of Chicago. This is evidently by and with the consent of the Mayor, if not at his sug- gestion. Itisin the same general direction heretofore taken by the present City Admin- jstration (which perhaps explains its absorb- ing desire to hold on to office after the time is out) foward the increase of city expendi- tures. If acceded to, the project would add 8 cool $100,000 to the expenses of running the city for another year, which must be taken out of the pocketsof the cppressed tax-payers. Any proposition to increase expenditures at the present time would bo odious enough ; bat this one is particularly outrageous, from the fact that the additionel force is mot needed, and is out of all proportion to the requirements of former Administrations. 1o make this plain it need only to be said that the City Administration immediately preced- ing Mr. Couviy's maintained during three (lum-ters of the term a force of only 445 men in all. This was sduring the time when ‘WasnBuay was Chief of Police, and it has been universally conceded thet persons and property were never botter protected. To- ward the close of that Administration the force was increased nearly 100 men for the benefit of Mr, CoLviy, and it has been onco since increased. In spite of this, Mr. CoLvix and his Marshal want 150 men more. In other words, he wants to add that number of tax-eaters to the alrendy extended list. The salaries of the police force have steadily in- creased, as follows : June, 1871, to June, 1879, it w2a,.,. June, 1872, to June, 174, it was. .. June, 1873, to June; 1874, i was (Colvin). June, 18, to June, 1875, it was (Colvin) June, 1875, to date, it was (Colvin) ‘Asked £OF (COIVID), i nsern This for salaries alone. The tax-peyers of Chicago will not quietly submit to this un- necessary piling up of expenses in hard times. Instead of increasing expenditures, the time has come for severe retrenchment. It is the opinion of the vast majority of the tax-pay- ers that there onght henceforth to be 2 saving of a million of dollars a year as compared with the expenditures sinco 1873. The fire of 1871 can no longer bo urged as an excuse for piling up taxes. The public works have been restored, tho .bridges, school-houses, and engine-houses rebuilt, plenty of new en- gines have been bought, and the extraordinary expenditures growing out of the fire have all been disposed of, with the exception of the City-Hall, and the city's portion of that can be built by selling the useless Lake-Front property. Sewer-building czn be checked up for'a few years, as nearly the entire popu- lated portions of the city plat are now sew- ered. The water-ronts can be depended upon hereafter to pay for all the really necessary extensions of water-mains end service-pipes. Hence the practicability of reducing taxes very largely. This demand cannot be ignored by Hold-on CoLviy (after his term is out) and his asso- ciates with impunity. If he persisis in it, his determination to ‘‘ hold over” may result in more personal discomfort than he im- ogines. . STREET-PAVEMENTS. Gen. Q. A. Gmuozr, who distingnished himself in the late War, has contributed to the New York Z'ribune an- elaborate article on street-pavements in large cities. The subjeet is treated in 8 scientific manner, snd furdishes much informetion that may serve asa guide to Municipal Governments upon this very important subject. Gen. Grcze asserts that the essential requisites of a good street-pavement are: 1, that it be smooth and hard; 2, that it furnish a foothold for animais, and not become polished and slippery; 3, that it be noiseless and free from dust and mud; 4, that it be capable of thorough cleaning; 5, that it be of durable materisl, and of such construc- tion as to be easily takenup orrelaid inplaces; 6, that it bo easily repaired at all seasons and at moderate cost. Roads of broken stone and gravel, though comparatively noiseless, fur- nish dust and mud, and are not adapted to the heavy travel of cities.. Cobble-stone pavement is condemned as far inferior in every respect to stone blocks, though these, if 1aid on sand, rapidly form into ruts. Indispensable to all paved streets is & good foundetion, and to tho absence of such foun- dations is attributed the failure of all forms of pavement in cities. The suitable founda- tions for street-pavements are stated to be: 1, hydraulic conerete, 6 to 8 inches in thick- ness ; 2, rubble-stones'set on cdge, but not in contact, with the interstices filled in with concrete ; 3, rubble-stone set in contact, on edgo, like the sub-pavement qf a Telford road; 4, cobble-stones firmly set in a form of sand or gravel ; 5, small rubble-stones of random sizes in a well-compacted layer; G, o layer of broken stone laid in the man- ner of a mocadamized road. Of these, the first, second, and third are considered the best, and are named in the order of maorit. Having secnred these foundations, tho rela- tive value of stono blocks, wooden blocks, and asphalt for the pavements are considered. Of each of these general kinds of pavement, the best stone pavement is one composed of rectangular blocks, set on their longest edge neross the streot, upon a concrete foundation. Tho best wooden pavement is one of rectan- gulor blocks, set on their edges across the street, on a suitable foundation, for which none of those mentioned are good, becauso ‘wooden blocks would not endure the crushing they would receive if sot on a hard, inelastic foundation. A good asphalt pavement re- quires & firm foundation. The asphalt may be of the natural asphalt rack, obtained from Switzerland, or it may be that composed of asphaltic cement, prepared by refining the natural bitumen, to which is added a calcore- ous powder to take the place of the ‘amor- ‘phous carbonate of lime found in the natural asphalt rock, Gen. GrLaoge says that there is o distine- tion between pavements of genunine asphalt and the patented imitations or substitutes composed of wood-tar, coal-tar, &c., mixed with sand, ashes, scorie, &ec., &c. Al of these mixtures he pronounces unfit for car- riage-ways, The advontages of a good ns- phalt pavement are that it produces no dast osnd nomud; itis comparatively noiseless; it does not absorb and retain noxious liquids; it is impermesble to moisture, and neither emits nor allows the emission from the sub. soil of nnwholesome and poisonous vapors ; it reduces the force of traction to s minimum. ‘Though it does not give as secure a foothold lor‘animnh as stone or wooden blocks, it does not become polished and slippery from con- tinued wear. It is adapted to all streets not steeper than 1 in 50, except thosa that arg thickly crowded with hesvy loads, ss in Brondway below Canal street. In many re- spects such a pavement stands uurivaled. will have the longest life, and- wood very much the shortest; the esphbelt is near the stone, and, unless the latter be of superior quality, the asphalt will outlive the stone. He puts tho first cost of & good asphalt pavement on s concrete foundation,.at pres- ent prices, at 33.50 per squire yard, includ- ing 30 per cent profit to the contractor. This exceeds the first cost of wood, but is less by at lesst $1 per yard than thal of stone on a like foundation. As to cheapness in first cost, wood stands first, asphalt second, and stone third. In cost of mairftensnce and re- pair, tnking durability into account, the stone stands first, asphalt nearly the same, and the wood third inmerit. Asphalt s easier.cleaned than wood or stone, and stone than wood. Tn tho matter of noise, stone is the noisiest of sll pavements, while as to slipperiness the case is thus stated : kept clean by either sweeping or washing, the differenco in slipperiness between wood, stone that does not polish, and asphalt, is not great, although enough perhaps to plece asphalt last; while a horse mot only falls more frequently but recovers limself lss often and less easily upon it than upon the others. Mud will render either of the pavements slippery, but asphalt the most so, although it is not slippery when very dry, or, if fres from mud, when very wet. Under & sherp dry frost, after rain or snow, asphalt and stone are generally quite dry and safe, while wood retains its moisture and is quite elip- pery. In the condition in which they are wusually maintained, 2 slight rain adds to, the slipperiness of each, with this difference, that, upon asphalt and stone, this state begins with the rain, while the worst condition of wood ensues later and lasts longer. With regard, therefore, to the safety of the animsls and the convenience | and comfort of those usicg the street, as well as of those living upon it, the weight of opinion places asphalt first, wood second, and stone third, for all streets except those that are habituelly crowded with heavy traffic, in which case stone would rise to the first place and asphalt drop to the third.” It is asserted that the pavements of & city exert a direct and powerful influence upon the health of the population, and this branch of the subject is discussed elaborately. The joints in pavements of wood end stone be- come in time equal to one-third of the whole surface, and they become filled, and the sur- face of filth exposed to evaporation covers three-fourths of the whole street. This foul arganic matter is held in the joints'and gut- ters, and undergoes putrefactive fermentation in warm, demp. weather. The conclusion which Gen. Grxore reaches is that, for the streets of New York, “The best pavement for all the busiest strects, where the traffic is dense, heavy, and crowded, is one of rectangular stone blocks set on a concrete foundation; and the next best is one of cubical blocks, known es the Belgian pavement, set in the same manner. The best pavement for streets of ample width, upon which the daily traffic is not crowded, or for streets largely devoted to light traffic or pleasure-driving, or lined on either sido with residences, is asphelt for all grades not steeper than 1 in 48 or 50.” This subject is one of great importance in this city, where, as in New York, the only foundstion for the street-pavements is sand. THE'LESSON OF THE TAX CASES. The tax cases are at last substantially set- tled by the decision of the motion for tem- porary injunction, and settled in a way ap- parently justified by the numerous and very broad decisions of the Supreme Court. But there is a serious lesson to be learned from the circumstances attending these cases, which imperatively demands the attention of every tax-payer. When the law is such that it sanctions a valustion double, treble, even ten times, the reel value of the property, there must be either some radical defect in it, or somo strong influence which com- pels its enactment. Granted that human judgment is fallible and law imperfect; that taxation by valuation is ever only approx- imate, and is never mumiform; granted also the erractic actions of the Stats Board of Equalization are incomprehensible, and its ways past finding out,—yet there must be some radical evil in addition to these which hos caused such decisions. The theory of a tax is that it is o necessary burden imposed on each individual, in pro- portion to his means, for the common good, but at the same time returning benefits, though unperceived, to each person far in excess of the amount paid, and in direct pro- portion to the unaminity with which it is met. It should then be paid willingly, even with alacrity. Is this the case? The first consideration should be not the amount to be paid, but the advantage to be received. The question of the cost of collection or the pos- sibility of frand should be unnecessary to be regarded. The two evils with which the tax-paying community has to contend just now are un- just Court decisions and corrupt officinls. The Supreme Court has rendered decisions which will support & tax, right or wrong. ‘When blundering and corrupt assessments and absurd legislation became the rulo, the Courts, in order to save tho municipal tax- eaters from short commons, felt obliged to strotch wider and wider the rules applying to the interpretation of the statutes, until they came to Lold that an Assessor was practically beyond the pale of the law. Tax-fighters have frequently been successful in defeating tax-lovies on merely technical grounds, but their victories have cost them dear, and now gross injustice must be endured withont remedy. % The present mode of sssessment offers premium to dishonesty, and this is due mainly to the State Board of Equalization and the decision of the Supreme Court. Itis difficnlt to understand how it makes any dif- ference to a resident of Ceiro whether a citi- zen of Chicago pays city taxes on an assess- ment of only half the actual value of his property, as long as those taxes are suffi- cient for the wants of the City Government. The decision in the ApsrT case was one of the greatest legnl absurdities of the age, yet it is gravely quoted as nuthority. Know- mg thet the State Board will dis- criminate against this city, an honest tex-payer must either swear that a dollar i3 only 50 cents, when it is to be taxed, or psy on something he never owned. The argu- ment that no one is wronged because the amount to be raised is the same whether the v.uhgnh'on is high or low, is fellacious, at least until it can he shown that 4 per cent on SI.,OOO—the addition to one men’s property, —u.flza same a5 + per cent on $10,000, or the increase on another tax-payer's property. The argument to the pocket is probably the most cogent that can be made, and it is to be hoped that the lesson, though severe, will be learned so that it will not need %o be repeat. ed. 'The remedy is partly at the polis,~and } In comparative durability, stone blocks. 4 If the surface bo, the tronble saved by not voting may cost voter $1,000 in increased taxes,—’pufl;';: the Legislature, and the rest in thg Courty, Edwin Booth drew a 81,500 house lotte, N. C. 8 Gy Gen. Sherman is thinking of another to Europe next summer. They say in Germany that Ameri . are tho best trained in the world,m‘n iy ‘fhe French nowepapers assert that Mmg, Judic will visit America in March, Dristow's vame in foll is Bejami # Hold the Helm,” Brother Saukeyj. e D Ex-Senator Revels, of 3lississipni, saya he in the work of -tke Gospel-misistry for g and will never ageia bo induced to eoguger: politics. B v The Germaa {Cetectives who hare baan enm, ining the case of Thomasser, the dynamite derer, have about docided that he had no, conted, crates in this country. ‘Ihe Now York Grajhic offers to publiah the picture of any girl who by ballat shall be selget. | edas the most beastiful in any community, Nomtoations are ia order. 4 John 3I. Francis, of the Troy Times, noy making a tour of the world, thinks the beathey of India are not balf so badly in need of aaln. tion a3 the beathen of America. AL Jaunet's book on this country says that tn institation of tao family 13 rapidly declinig i the Onited States before the 1mmoral infinancey and tendencies of American society. s Handkerchiefs of point a I'siguille and ‘poin{ @'Angleterre retain their popularity for evening use. For day purposes fine hemstitched batists, with monograms embroidered in Gothie styler are the most suitable. . Gen. Roger C. Weightman died st Weshing, ton Wedueaday aged 89 years. He had beep g resident of Washington seventy-five years, H¢ waa at one time Congreesional Printer, 20d, ate terward, in 1824, Mayor of that city. Gen. Lafayette left one son, George Washing: ton Lafayette, and two daughters, all of whom are now desd. Thoson left five children, who are fibw living: the elder daughter left twe deughters; and the younger a goa and threg daughters. . . \ Mr. Jerome Hopkins reports, in his Orpheoni: that Dr. Hans Voo Buelow found M. Anbeu: playing at the foot of an orchestra in Philadel phis, and bronght him to New York to perform at his concertsas solo violoncellist. Buelow, though a German, can appreciate genins in & French artist. ' A monster petition has been prepared in Calic Journgy fornia, protesting againat the pasaszeof an aatic gambling Iaw. The respectable peopls who have sigoed the petition declare that tho proposad lax “would interfere grosely and unwarrantably with the habits and customs of a large minority, if not the majority, of the people of the Sute.‘_ The man with the fork inside him, who hst been now for two years one of the calebritiss of Paris, has gone into hospital, and will sabmit tq an operation for the removal of his troable- some intruder, The fork, which at first main. tained & perpendicular position, afterwards turned over and lay transversely, pressing agninat the coat of the stomach. Aadame Bettie Remmelsberg, & dancer in the Kiralfy troupe, prevented s great disaster ai Rochester, N. Y., by hier presence of mind. Her, dress canght fire from the footlights. If sba had run towards the ballet-girls the entire staga and theatre would in a few moments have been enveloped in flames. She calmly stocd whers she was, and with her hands tore the burning gzoze from her person and tramped it under her fest. Then she went on with the dance. Dr. 8. Irenus Prime, editor of the New York Obserrer, rebukes the cant of Mr, Henry Bergh concerning the comparative value of brute asd human lives. Dr. Prime would kill every hore in New York City, if he gould by so doing esvs tho life of & child dear to him. He does mot wish to come into contact or have further corre- spondence with one ¢ who may be verygantle toward horses, but is quite tha revaras towaus men.” Tommaso Gagliardi, who disputes the ¢ laims of Larkin G. Meade to the designof the Lin- coln Monument, has arrived in New York. He addresses the following lstter to AMr. Mexde through the columns of the Now York Tribune: To LARKIN G. Meape: Iam the anthor of the idess of the architecturs of tho colossal monument of Abra- bam Lincoln. Not you. I arhere. Denythisit you can. ~ My case 3 you will proceed at Flor- ence. If ever I should lose my case it would makeno difference to me. _ But only in my sdoptive comntry, Ameriea, it will 7ecord my ame m our histary, which will make me feel more content thsu any million~ aire. TOMM480 GAGLURDL. ¢ New Yons, Jan. 30, 1876. Prof. Jowett, of Balial College, Oxford, and Robert Browning are credited with haviog brought about the conversion of Algernon Charles Swinburne. Underlying Swinburme's ethics—learnt from Shelley—thero was always & substratam of Christian philosopby. The I._on- don correspondent of the Liverpool Post writes in this connection: “If he has really ‘coms over to us,” and intonds to use hispen, s Teony- son and Browning have dane, on the side of the ‘pale Galilean,” whom he formerly derided, Christian poetry will bo enrichod by strains of passionate verso such as it han rarely known be fora.” Miss Mary McCarron, an invalid cured by the use of the miracalous waters at Lourdes, is no% liviog at Duobuque. Hez case had been pro nounced incurable by emment physicians, for eight years sho had not been zble to stand on her feet. As goon as she drank halfated spoonfal of the holy water sho ssok into a deeg - sleep, from which she awoko without pein. Thit story is thought to be marvelous in Iows; bul faith bas worked strange transformations b - fore. By faith Jimmy Blanchard almostper enaded himself that ke was Charley Ross; and by faith also, assisted by his mother’s ma”fx ho afterwards became convinced that ho wasn'e Charles Lafftte, the French bapker lately de ceasod, was soparated from bis wite in 1854 snd . aompeiled to pay her 37,200 a year, besdes de: positing in court $150,000 as security for thest payments, andan edditional $100,000 for B¢ support of his two daughters. Both of tof daughters had disappointments with their hos bends, and woro separated from them, TheS weze the subject of much &landerous gossip, ¥ the infinito delight of their smioble paps, WAt once £aid of them to o friend, aa they droveDl in loud style: **Aren't they charming? Ih‘f‘ only of one woman faster then they, 20d thaill . thoir mother!” The New York Tribune publishes the follow- ing interesting parsgrsph: A ecandalout story was published Wednesdsy of the *elope ment’ of the Earl of Dunraven witha youn{ lady of Quebec. It has not » hadow of foands tion, and it is dificuis to understand how 8¢ groes aslander coald have originated. Al ‘every stalemont in the article 1n queation it false. The Earl is not *a bachelor,’ but is o8l happily married, and Lady Dunraven, whohat visited America with him, is well known iz New York. Neitber is it true that be has *traveled with the grestest gecrecy,’ or that it is *nol Xkoown st present where he ia stopping.’ HM friends are well aware that ho ig at his hotel i2 this city, and that no lsdy is or has been therd in his company.” A Now York letter contains the following co% cerning Thurlow Weed: *He has beek remarkably well of lste,. snd attendt the mestings of Railrosd Directors with grest regularity. Ho is interested innestly sll the horse-car lines in the city, snd i3 ? Director in the Bleecker-streat aod other lies Ho and his devoted daughter, who has been e him what ‘Yheodosia was to Aaron Burr, makt frequent visits to the Tombs to adminmster com fort and consolation to the prisoners thers con fined. Were theroll of private charities pub Tishod of the man who gecretly paid off the $30« 000 mortgage oa Henry Clay's estate in Kem sucky, the publio would be surprised to find boR" wany Zarianes Thtilow Weed ims given 6ai: