Chicago Daily Tribune Newspaper, July 14, 1876, Page 4

The TEibune, TERMS OF SUBSCRIPTION. PATADLE IN ADVANCE—POSTAGD PREPAID AT T8 OPPICE. ally Editton, postpatd. 1 'arts of & year, permonth. Jlatiedte g ddrers fonr eok 1o Address Tha Prohibitionists of Dllinols mot in Con- wention yesterday and nominated a State ticket whoreon tha nominces considerably outnumber tho nominators, The work of the | Convention is completely opitomized in tha namo of ono of the Presidential Eleotors-at- large: D—bosh! The effect of the excessive heat of tho past fow days npon tho condition of Mr, Bramz, who ig now at his home in Augusts, has con- firmod the judgment of his physicians that the orginal attnck in Washington on tho 11th of Juno was in the nature of sunstroke. MMr. BLuNg's recovery is slow and difficult, and o sea voyage will ba prescribed a9 soon s his strength will permit. Ono offcct of tho CusTen massacro has been to securo the passngo in tho Iouse of tho bill providing for the eatablishment of two posts in the Ycllowstone country, one near tho month of the Big Horn and the pther noar tho month of the Tongue River, These posts have long beon asked for by Gon. Suentpan, who made the original sur- voys at his own expense. ment is better late than never, butitisn good deal liko locking the stable-door aftor the horse has gone, But one bone of contention now scparates the Conferonca Committes on the Buudry Civil bill—the clauso interpolated by the Tiouse for the repeal of tho law which ren- dora it possible to have fair and honest elac- tions, Aport from the merits or demerits of tho proposition,—which contemplntes the removal of all restrictions in the way of ro- peating and ballot-box stuffing in the Demo- cratio strongholds of tho North, and of all protection to the colored man in the Bouth against tho violence and intimidation of the ‘White-Line Democracy,—leaving these con- siderations out of tho question, tha attempt to coorco the Senate by the introduction of such legislation in an appropriation bill is manifestly improper, and will be, and ought to be, resisted to tho end by tho Senate, even ot tho risk of a failure of the legitimato pro- visions of tha bill, Tho Silver bill as agreod upon by the Con- .. forenco Committee was pnssed by tho House yeatorday by a vote of 129 to 75, and, as the Sonate will probably coucur in the action of tho Houso and pass the bill, the small-chango famine is in o foir way to come to a speedy end. Tho inflationists, esgor to ombrace overy possible opporiunity to cheat some- body, undertook to insort s clause making the tolal issue of fifty millions of silver subsidiary coin a public or private debta--a proposition which, with silver at a market valuo lower than that of grecnbaoks, meant nothing moro nor Jess then repudistion in its most fisgracoful and disastrous form. lempt was dofeated, aud the bill as passed doea not meddlo with the legal-tender ques- tion, but simply provides for the coinsgo of tho silver and the issuc of tho coin by the Troasury ot its nominal valuo in the same manner that groonbacks ara paid out, and without waiting for the slow process of ro- dcoming fraotional currency. Tho datails of a fearful tragody a Newark, N. J., yesterday, are contained in the dis. patchos from that city. namod TrieLnoeN, notorious a8 bad and des- perate men, in rosisting an attempt to arrest them ghot and killed one police officer and fatally wounded anothor, Aftor seriously wounding snother man, the bloodthiraty trio charged upon b tannery near by, where they killad two workmen, T'he tannéry oporatives, rocovering from tho first shack of terror and ronsternation, and armed with their currying. knives, drove the murdoerers from the factory w»od pursued them tho bank of tho Passaic River, into which tho hunted fiends plunged in the hopo of escope. Volleys of stones and other mis. siles from the fnfurlated workinen on the bank soon saved the Stato of Now Jersoy the trouble of banging the Tareruonns, not one of whom escaped from the river alive, Thus in less than half an hour soven wmen weore killed and one badly wounded. It is hardly necessary to remark that the summary vengeanco oxcouted by the tannery work. men upon the threo murderers is fully sus- tained and approved by public sontiment in Nowark, one co Club ol Clubof twenty. Postage prep i trce. Bpeelmen coples sen| 2 "To prevent delay and mistakes, be sure and gtvs Poste Office address In fall, facluding Etate and County. Temittances may be e either by draft, express, Fost-Office order, or in reglatered letters, atour sk 7ERMS TO CITY SUDSCRIBENS. Dally, deltrered, Bunday excepted, 35 conts per week, Daily, delivered, Bunday tncluded, 20 cents per week TUE TRIBUNE COMPANY, Corner Madlson and Desrborn-sta., Chicago, Ll ——— TRIBUNE FOR TIIE SUMMER, Partlon leaving the city for the summer can bave Tz Dasty Tnnuss forwarded to auy address upon tenving orders at our counting-room. The papgh will e promptiy malled in s single wrapper, postage pald for §1 per month. P AMUSEMENTS. P Yarts of & year, WEEKLY T Tlooley’s Thentro., Randolph street, between Clark and Lasalle. **Con« clence. . Woodl’s Mnm“m. Bk u P e hepia s Tom Ring: tcmoon and ovenlog. FRIDAY, JULY 14, 1870, fi Groonbacks st the New York Gold Ex- chango yeaterdny closed at 893 prshn et LY ——— ‘The Chicago produce markets wero moder. ately active yosterday, but gonorslly weak. Mess pork closed 16@17j0 por brl lower, at $10.47}@10.60 for August, and $19.67}@ 19,70 for September, Lard closed 100 per 100 1bs lower, at $10,82}®10.85 for August, and $10,00@10.924 for September, were osaler at 8o for boxed shoulders, 10j0 for do short ribs, and 110 for do short clears. Lake freights were more active at 1jo for corn to Buifalo. Rail freights were un- changed. Highwines wore unchanged, ot $1.10§ per gallon. Flour was dull and weak, ‘Whent closed 2o lowar, at 9440 for July and 960 for August. Corn closed }@3o lower, ¢ 4530 for July, and 45}0 for August. Oats were Jolower, closing at 28}o cash, and 280 for August, Bye waa dull at 640 asked. Barley 'was enaler, a¢ 760 for now, seller Beptember, Hoge were active, oud closod flm, were reported ot 80.15@6.70, Cattle were fa sotive demand at 100 decline. 8hoop wese quict at $2.60@4.26. in gold wonld buy $111.37} in greenbacks at r—— It sppears that the mission of tho Bt Louls Convention was wholly misconceived by tho dologales, who expended a great doal of breath and perspiration in ndopting a platform, and all for nothing. They oupht to have left it to tholr Presidontinl candidate, ond saved thomsolves the trouble and bother of determining the financial policy of the Tiozx has undertaken to withont regard to One hundred dollars | No more lake navigation. ‘No more canal navigation, No more Interest and {nsnrance, and no more waiting for navigation to open. Bleel ralls have becomo n -great factor in rovolutionizing tho railroad businessin the country, Ono of the groat crimesof the American tariff is that it delayed the use of stoel rails in this country at least ten years. ‘The economy of steel rails is now conceded ; it is not yot possible from actual results to measure thefr duration,—they have not been in goneral uso in this country long enough to tell how long they will last in ordinary uso, but it ia safely estimated that, whore the Dbost fron rail will lnst ten yoars, the life of the stoel rail will exceed thirty years, and, in this respect, ia n great economy in the work. ing oxpenses of railronds. But the prediction that water transporta- tion is to ba abandoned, and that the stecl rail is to becomo the exclusiva rond for com- merco, is not only oxtravagant, but absurd. ‘These water routes ot this very time threaten the rnilroads with now facilities. Capt. Eaps has boyond all question demonstrated that ho will furnish a ship channel of 22 feot of water to Now Orleans, thersby ronewing the trade of that city, and mnking it again o for tho productions of tho Missiesippi and its western tributaries. Tho railroads must all look to the Northwest for their business, and hers is strong compotition, offering transporfation to an ncknowledged market at rates which will bid defiance oven to stecl rails, On tho north wo have the great lakes and the 8£t. Within a compnrativoly brief timo tho Canadion canals will be 8o on- larged that the navigation which now stops ot Buffalo and connocts with tho railroads will continue to Montreal. It will be all water from Chicago to tho elevator at the other end of the routs, and a certainty of full roturn freights. The vossels that can now deliver grain at Buffalo for 1} cents por bushel, will then, with more profit, deliver the same grain for 5 or G conts at Montreal, whoro it will stand procisely as it will if sent to New York by all rail at 15 or 20 cents, Hare, then, will be such an improvement and enlargement of the wator routes ns will not only reduce their ratea for transportation, but will continue aud extond the diversion of tho trade from tho Wost to Now York, which has alrondy made such progréss. But Now York has othor difficultics in the Stecl mils will connoct tha West with Baltimore, which has already made giant progross in her Weatern trade; in fact, the inerenso this year has been 8o great as to exceed oven tho liboral convenionces of storage, and caused a temporary embarrnss- mont. This jncronso oxtends to all varicties of Westorn products and results in an ox- Bo, too, in like manner Thiladelphia is greatly enlarging hoer com- merce with tho West, and steel rails will enable the railroads leading to thess citics to furnish transportation comparatively cheaper tian to New York, ns they can now do. Nor aro these the only difficulty in tho way of New York becoming the grain depot of tho country. There is an all-rail (stoel roils) routp dependent on tho West for its | tunity, thoy ousted the Ring Aldermon and business which will not bo subject to any closs of navigation, and which will enable Chicago to dolivor grain to fill Europesn orderaat Halifax, Traveling byinteriorlines, COhicaga can forward her grain by rail one- third of the distance to Liverpool in about the samo time it would take to deliver it at Now York. This route, built at compara- tively small cost, will bo mblo to transport grain from Chicago at less rata per ton per milo than can be offered by nny railroad lond- ing into Now York, ‘The grain trade of Chicago has long sinco censed to o a mere spoculative one. Chicago buys and sells grain, and all other branches of Western producta. Purchoses are made Occasionally purchases aro made turough New York houses, bnt day by day the purchasers aro becoming convinced that itis to their intoreat to do their business herodirectly. All the capital necessary for such a trado is hero, and in the prodiction thnt there is to be no moro lake navigation, no moro grain trado in Ohicago, and no use for elevators hero, Mr, Harch lets an im. sgination s little wild at the best of times get tho better of his good sonse. That therois a rovolution in the railrond business ; that tho operating exponses of railways are to bo cut down; that capital is horentter to be content with 6 or evon lower per cent dividends ; that the present rates of freight are to become substantially per- mnnent ; that railronds nro to make profits by doing nn incrensed volume of business, with o smaller margin botween cost nnd ax- penditure, may be oll true. Buttho rovolu. tion will not be confined to railways; it will be general ; the same reduced percentage of profit on capital, the samo reduced porcent. ago of cost of operating, and the same in. crensed facilitios for and actual fucrease of ‘business, will also apply to water transpor- tation, thus presorving the same margin of differenco batwaon tho relativo rates at which the land and water rontes may do business, ‘Tho groat problem of choap transportation has beon solved by natural laws, leaving tho tho Grangors interesting monuments from which the world haamoved of the Resumption act, and tho Demoornts in the Houso, under the impression that the party is bound by the utterances of the Con- vention, some time ago instracted tho Bank- ing and Currenoy Committes to report a re- The Committee, however, hangs Lack and fails to report, and the roason of it is that tho grent Reformor at Albnny hias fs- sued orders that no roport recommending the repeal of the Resumption act be submitted Iexonioss and his reg-monoy followers are clamoring for the ropeal, and & very interoat. ing rampus is among the near probabilities. Gon. Gnant's lettor to ex-Socrotary Brise 7ow, commending tho position he took in regard to tostifying bofors the Congressional Committee, but giving him full warrant to tell all that transpired relative to the whisky frauds while he was in the Cabinet, must be regarded asa purely porsonal matter be- twoen the President and Col. Buistow, The ox-Becrotary may still feel it to be proper and for the benofit of the publio servico to insist upon these communications as matters of the highest privilege, and atill refuso to re- In snch case, tho publio have such completo confidence in him aa to credit him with tho highest motives, and believe it to be best. If, on the other hand, ho foll back on his privilege merely on sccount of Gen, GraxT and his Administration, ho may now feel at liberty to relato thesocret history of the whisky prosecutions, fail to redound to the credit of tho Presi- dent, ox-Secretary Brisrow, and the Ropub- lican party, no matter what individaals may suffer. 'The prosecutions undertaken by Sec- rotary Bnistow are virtnally closod, wo be- lieve, the rings have been smashed, and, whero bad jadgment or bad management on the part of local counsel has not intervoned, the principal thioves have been brought to adoquato punishment. There is, then, per- hinps o further roason for withholding any Oabinet discussions of the cases, snd the Prosident in evidently -satisfied that neithiar he nor any of the Cabinet has over said or dono onything for the whisky-thioves that will make thom blush. Lawronce River, It can searcely chango of trade, Thelr establish- | ygp PROBLEM OF CHEAP FREIGHTS, The renders of Tuz ‘CriBusz can recall tho excitoment and tho intenso feeling which prevailed nfew years ngo on the subjoct of the charges for transportation. There wasnot a village west of tha Ohio River which wasnot aroused to the enormity of tho charges for tronsportation, 'Tho agricultural population wns ospecially outraged, and the exaction from them was fitly oxpressed in the for- mula that to sond one bushel of grain to markot roquired that three other bushels be sent along to pay the freight on the one The rosult of this sgitation, which took nctive shape as far back ns 1872, was the holding of Stato Conventions, county and township organizations, all having the pur- pose of seouring logialation limiting tho rates for transportation. Tho mattor ropidly as- sumed importance in local politics, snd In- dinnn, Illinois, Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota, Nobraska, and Kaonsss, and perhaps other States, ennotod codes of law on this subject, somewhat differing, but all directed to the mnin point,—the assortion and exorciso of tho power of tho State to regulate and pre- scribe a maximum rate for the transporta- tion of various commodities by the railroads. These ennctments wero resistod, and the various laws have gono up, upon appoals to the Bupremo Court, to have their constitu- tionality dotermined. In the meantine, what the hostile legisla- tion failed to nccomplish has been brought sbout by natural laws. . Tho rates of trans. portation botween tha West and the East aro at this time lower than the ratos for similar work in any country in the world. The de- clino has gono far below anything which the most uttor anti-monopolist of o fow yoars ngo over demanded. Graln by steam on the Inkes to Buffalo yesterday ruled at 13 cents for corn ; and from Buffalo to Now York, by canal, G} cents, At the same time, contracts for all rail from Ohicago to Now York have beon made at 16 conts for 100 pounds, or 9 cents por buskel, Tho averago rate is 20 conts per 100 pounds, Of course, on the old bosis of the outlsy for transportation all this work is performed at aloss. It may, how- prove otherwise, there was no transportation of grain by rail from Ohicago to New York,—tho ratcs equal. ing tho valuo of tho grain, In that year a concession was made, and grain was moved by rail through tho winter ot n profit, It hns aince becomo a rogular traffio, cach Prior to 1860 Threo brothers logislation of tho Baltimore & Ohio Rallrond; opened ils route, offering low winter rates. A conse. quonce was thet all through that winter tho wheat orop gave employmont to tho railronds ontoring Chicsgo from the West, and tho grain wont East by rail to Baltimore, thus overcoming the season of the * close of nav- igation,” and enabling the producers to sell all through the winter, by all rail honce to New York at almost the rate of 4 mills per ton per mile; at that rate, perhaps thero are three tons moved to the ono that would otherwiso be forwarded in It may be that in the economy of railway management it is moro profitablo to move throe tona for 1} cents por mile than to mova one ton for 1 cout per mile. The roduotion in tha coat of transportation has beon gradual and steady ; {t may be thatan {ucroased volumo of business, with a reduc. tion of the coat to tho railway for operating, will still leave profite, cvon ab rates that a fow years ogo would have bankrupted any rond that adopted them, P In a lotter published in Tos Tomune afow days ago, Rurus Hatom, of New York, URCOMMON CARRIERS. Undor the provislons of tho common law, bullt up by centurics of usage and logal de- ofsion, tho business of common carriers was in its relations to the people & publio func- tion, Itwns pursued by the pormission of the State, thd author sof the franchise, and ita liabilitics were detormined by the Btate. In lator days s most pernicious change has beon introduced, and the Oourts have sanc- tioned the oxtraordinary claims of common carriers to defino their own ligbilitics. In this way, oxpress companies, telegraph com- panies, and railroads havebeenable to imposs any conditions thoy ploased on the publio by simply printing them in fine type or blanks, bills of lading, and tho like. The Courtshave boen ko amiablo that tho incress- ing aggressions of common carriors on the rights of the public have beon successively conceded, and Lasve now becomo established o8 rights, To such an extont is this true, that the Courts now declare themsolves pow- erloss to moke the resistance thoy porceive, too lato, to be necessary, unless they Lave tho assistance of the Legislaturo, Under tho legal rulingsna they now stand, the publicare purely conatructiva no- tico as the list of conditions on o telegraph blank or a passonger ticket, which no one ronds, and which, if one was to read aud rojoct, could not in sny woy be alterod or anpulled. The Courts have beon godd enough, howover, to soem willing to make & stand agamst allowing common carriers to provide that they ahall nof be held respon- gible for their own negligence. Btill it is by no means cortain that our pliablo Courts will have the virtue to stand oven at this laat diteh, As an instance of tho attitude of the Oourls to corporations, it msy ba men- tloned fhat In seversl casss the Courls some distance to Graln isnow moved Bteel ralla havu revolutionized modern rallroad- fng, aud tho sanio radical change, so far as cost of transportation i« concerned, Ls about to take place a8 when the rallroads wore firat started aud stages and canal-boats wuperacded. and stecl ralls on a raliroad now mean simply loadingand unloading the cars, birlog engineors, fremen, and brakemen, and buying the coal tofecd They will load cars in 1lLnols, Towa, Wisconsiu, and Minncsota, and unload them at tho Now York Contral & Hudson Rlver Railroud gralne elevators on Manhattan Island. Chicago, tho past and present great graln depat of the world, willonly bos way station for the gralu trade of tho Northwest. 80 far as tho grain product of the great Nosth- ‘weat Is concerncd— Nowore charges or commission for handling elthor in Chicago ot Bulalo, bound by such A permanent way THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE: FRIDAY, JULY 14, 1876, hiave rofused to hold railronds liabla for the acts of thoir agents in giving false or fraudu. lent bills of lading, by which great loss wns inflicted on third parties. Tho subjoot of rosisting the impudont and dangerous en- cronchments of common carriers hns boen much disoussod by the commercial pross of Iate, nnd has been dobated in tho last two an- nual meatings of tho National Board of Trade. This body adopted lnat yoar, and ro- affirned this year, tho following resolution ¢ Resoleed, That tho Executive Council of the Na- tional Board of Trade be reqnosted to recommend 1o Ita varlous constituent bodles concerted actlon: First—In opposition to any bill of lading or rafl- road recelpt whatever, containing or assuming to fmpose conditions other than recognized aa in force under (o common law, s defined by Judiclal de- clalons, This matter is one of supremo interost to tho unorganized publio, which doos not noed to bo warned of tho diffficulty of obtaining a recognition of its rights from Congress, when corporations are on the othersile. Wo Lope this question will bo widely disoussed and takon up by Boards of Trade and commer- ainl bodies gonerally thronghout the country, Congress has the right to ropudiate theso practices, as far % they affect intor-Stato commerco, And whon commorcs between tho States hina boon reloved, local trafila would soon claim and command the same en- franchisoment. lettor. two Wator-Works THE REFORM CITYZGOVERNMENT, For the first time gince tho bummors ae- quired possession of tho city two years ago 1nst fall in tho City Government in n condi- tion to realiza the demands of tho peoplo for reform aud rotrenchmeat, For two years and o hinlf (prolonging their term by etufling the ballot-boxes for tho charter of 1872) the Ring Aldermen, sustained by CoLviy ot ev- ory step, wont on adding to the public dobt in an unlawful manner, increasing the num- borof local office-holders, and authorizing and approving all manner of reckless and ox- travagant oxpenditures. In order to rotain certain persons in office (one of whom has proved o defaulter for mora than $100,000) they ndded fully $100,000 a year to tho city exponses, and sesessed and attempted to col- lect tho taxes under o law whereby $2,000,- 000 of back taxes have beon irrevocably lost, The revenuos of the city were umcollected and the expenditures incrensed. Tho sn- loon-keopers were permitted to carry on their Lusiness without taking out licenses in many instances, because they furnished the principal sup- port to the bummer government. ‘The number of peoplo employed and paid was at least 50 per cent more than the services ren- dered. Valuablo rights and franchises were given awny, or rather sold out by the Alder- men for individual consideration, but without securing any guid progquo for the city. The city was running behind all the time, and money borrowed upon illegal cortificates, for the psyment of which no provision was made. 'Thus, besides squandering all tho monoy that conld be collectod, $2,000,000 of taxos wore lost, and a floating dobt was left of $8,500,000 over and sbovo tho availablo nssots, As soon na the people had an oppor- somo yoors to como. commiseration for him. clected a Councll of busineas-men fully alive to tho nbeolute noceasity for jmmediate ro- trenchment, and competont to devise means to that ond. But the new Council has been hampered nt evory step by CoLvin, who held on to the Mayor's office in tho interest of the bummers, and who, for tho last fow wecks, has simply songht to exercise his functions to gratify his porsonal spleon. But now, for the first time, by tho clection of Monznor Hears, has Ohicago & harmonious City Government, willing and competent to procoed at oncoe to the work of ontting down oxpenses. It .is no longor a houso divided against itsclf, with o Council whosa dutios manifestly lay in ono dircction and a Mayor whose sympathics were as manifostly in anothor direction. Mr, Hearm is an honest man nnd a practical business.man, Ho is familiar with the machinery of the City Government, and will co-operato earnestly ond honestly with the Council in the doubls duty of the hour, viz.: (1) to curtail ox- ponses at overy possible point, and (2) to collect the rovenues promptly and ener. gotically. Now let the work of reform begin, The first thing to do is to cut down romorsolessly, Everybody understands this. Tho new Coun- cil know that this is what is oxpected of thom, and are already working atit, The now Mayor knows that this is what ho wes clectod for, and he must got at it at once. All tho subordinates must willingly and offeotively co-operate, or thoy must got out of the way. ‘The Mayor snd Council have full power to remoyo any and all whorefuse to do 8o, andtheguillotinowill beset going wheraver the warning is not heeded. [Mr, Eruior AxTnoNy, the Corporation Counsel, is a good lawyer and & hard workor, 8o that ovorything that is dono under his advice will probably be dono properly and lawfully, ‘Fhe Board of Public Works — Mesars. PRINDIVILLE, ‘Wanz, and TuosesoN—are all sensible mon, ond must sppreciate fully tho necossity of reducing. the numbor of employos, cutting down snlaries, and stopping all publio im. provements where the sloppage will save moro than tho loss to the city, in contracts or otherwiee, by reason theroof. 'They have alroady indicated whero thoy can save $47,- 440 0 month, or nearly $0600,000 a year, which is obout 25 per cent of their sharo of the oppropriations, and possibly enother re. vision may rovoal still further oppor- tunities. §Tho consumption of gus is in tho hands of tho Council, and hero atlonat 40 and porhaps 50 per cent can bo saved by the roduction of tho number of lamps, and by s nore sclentifio system for lighting and oxtinguishing them. Fire-Maralial Benxen is famillar with his department, and must avail himself of this knowledge to lop off where the expense can best bo saved. Super. intoudent Hicxzy, whatever clss hns beon said of him, has always been regarded asn good subordinate policoman, and ho must now look to the Mayor and Council as his superiors, as they are, and do their bidding, TheBoard of Education havo alroady dovised a schieme for reducing the cost of the schools, which must bo fully agreed upon and in good working order beforo theboginningof thonest school-yenr in Scptember, The Health De. partmont, Building Dopartment, Law De. partment, and. all others, must atand thoir proportion of curtailment, The Financo Committoe, in a recent roport, expressod the belief that the following schedule of reduc- tions can bo carried outs victims of an outraged law. of Intellectual power, ninge for the Kxavrs. Reduction, per cent. Tax Commisaloner's offl Bullding uu%mmm Hoard of Public Wi mont. .. Health Dop: Yollce Departmunt. Fire Department. Camptrollur, fucl Tightiug city. Hehool Depariment This will be au aversge reduction of 44 per cent in the expouses of running the city, or a saving of somothing like $1,600,000 from the eppropristions for the mexd aiz months, It should b carried out to thae vory Fortunatoly Chicago is now in a condition to dispense with publio improvements with- out endangering the welfare and progress of tho city, which was nover beforo the case. Formorly, and of neenssity, we had a woodon clty. The rapidity of our growth and the lnck of sowerage procluded tho ercction of stono and brick buildings outside of s small contro. Now, howaver, the system of sow- orago and water, after the cxponditure of many millions of dollars, is about complote, and will bo adequate to tho wants of the ity for mnny yeara to como, and with an increase of population by several hundred thousand. The bridges are all built, all the ncces- sary rnilroad vinduots findshed or der way, the tunnels constructed, the operation, tho pipes onlarged, tho sowerngo adequate, the principal strects improved, and oll motropolitan protections and com- forts provided that a city of s million pco- ple, compactly arranged, renlly roquire, Thera ia nothing to do but keep this syatom in order, and it must henceforth bo done s oconomically as possible, without sacrificing tho property. Bo it happons that, as the peoplo aro no longer able to pay taxes at the high rata of the past fow yoars, the nocos- sity disappenrs; and, wero it not for sotting nsido o stated sum every year to meet tho indebtedness which the lato City Govern. ment saddled upon the people, taxation might bo roduced lower than in any other Inrge city in the conntry. As it in, and oven making up this deflcioncy, it will be so rea- sonable that thore will bo no excuss for any miore tax-fighting, and the prosont City Gov- ornment should make tha ssscssment and collection conform so strictly to the Genoral Rovenue law that thore will be no further chance o ovade the payment of taxes. the Logislature can amend 'this law intelli- gontly, and provide a moans for rocovoring the lost taxes, the burdens of citizenship in Chicago ought to bo camparatively light for e ——— THE 8T. LOUIS NEWSPAPER WAR. Another characteristic snd bitter newspn- per war has broken out in St. Louis, and is stirring up that dull city in o very remarke- blo manner. Tho origin of the war dates back to tho crooked-whisky trials. be remembered that among the struck by Bristow's lightning was Mr. Mo- Kez, propriotor of the Globe-Democrat, He was an old man, and, like Mr. Hesmvo, was very sovercly punished. Ho was an influon- tinl dispenser of patronage, nnd thoe Whisky Ring surrounded him, and by their blandish- ments finally succeeded in inducing him to taste of the forbidden fruit. of his sontonco socured almost universal Nearly overy news. paper in the country spoke rathor sorrow- fully of the cvent, and in their comments gavo expression to the opinion that the sen- tonco was n sovera one. Tho 8t. Louis Re- publican, however, owned and edited by the Kxares, could not lose such an inviting op- portunity to senil a rival, Tho Globe-Dem- ocrat being down, the Republican very ungenerously commenced to pummel it, and gloated over its unchivalrous work. was unmercifully severs in its comments. It pronounced Mr. MoEem to be tho chiof among ton thousand rascals, who richly de- sorved his punishment. Sinca Mr. MoKzz's incarcoration, whenever it has discussed political or other questions, it has attributed every uttorance of the Globe-Democrat to his pon, instead of that of the editor, **Maox," aud theroby sought to make the paper odious o8 being edited by o convict, It has nover oinitted an opportunity to batter and bruise the Qlobe-Democrat, and thon rub salt into tho wounds. Little Mack, however, has pationtly bided his timo, warding off the blows as well as ho could, waiting his chance to get in a telling blow, nnd he at last has dolivered it and knocked the Kyarps out of timo, while ho comes up smiling. been burrowing and amolling around, and his gearch was rowarded by the unearth. ing of a twonty-year-old scandal which the Kwares supposed was buried and forgotton years ngo. After an unusu. olly sovere nssnult from tho Repudlican, tho Globe-Democrat camo out the next morning ‘with thoassertion that tho Kyarrs were black- logs, and made good its assertion by tho offi- cinl records of tho Courts, from which it ap- pears that twenty years sgo thoy were in. dicted in the Criminal Court, along with ovor twenty imoro of the leading Democrats of the city, for public gambling, that they pleaded guilty, and wero tined for tho offense, Such was the influonce brought to bear at that timo that notn pfiper in Bt. Louis printed thoe nows, and the knowledgoe of it has there- fore been confined to the parties immodiately interested for twenty yoars, It is now: the property of the whole city. Little * Maox,” in his peculiarly choerful and acrid way, s now ronsting the Kyarrs, and basting them woll down with salt and pepper, rubbed in lord, Ho is industriously making up for lost time, ond is ahend by o large majority. ‘Wo print the following elegant oxtract from #Mack's" oxposition of the Republican'’s two Reformers, that our readers moy have an idea of the liveliness of the fight: Ono sin of thoss times was tho onsnaring of Pike's Peak emigrants into low gambling dens for the purpose of robbing them of tho mnonoy with which thoy proposed to croes the plains, Tho ne- cessity for *‘roform® became evidont; the author- Itics dotermined to putan ond to these nefarious practices, and the KNavrs were among the eurly Porhaps it was a braco game of faro, with Jonn for capper and Grouar for dealer, (Geonoxt How the imagination pictures him lean- Ing over the tin box and tho green baize. e was then In the vigor of manhood and the prime and we can almost lioar his wanly volce announce the result of the gamo—which was ono monotonous record of win- Jomx was not a Colonel then, by military appolnt. ment, but he was aMajor-General witha colddeck. 1iia martia) fame was In thy womb of the future, It was ve years shead of him—on the gory ficld of Camp Jackson—whero ho was tho NAvAnux of the occasion, except that Navanux woro a white plume instead of showing o white feather, ‘Whothor dealing a braco game in 1830 or imparte 1ng the moral tonu to the Repudlican in 1870, ho has olways been & Reformer. The Bt. Louis fight is not péeuliarly couraging for thoso reformers who are labort ing to secure imporsonal journalism, and, on genoral principles, it janot pleasant to soe peopla scolding, guashing their tooth at each othor, and calling onch other hard names. 1t is not very decorcus orcharitable toarraign tho two old gentlemen of the Republican for offenses committed o quarter of a century 8go, and to assail them for the irregularities of their youth, when thoy were in®the hey. day of boyish passions and juvenile follios, But the Knarrs ought to have known that the indictmont was still on rocord, and was liable to bo found by the mousing * Macx," and on that account to have been a littlo less pungent in their assaulta upon the unfor- tuunte MoKz, Thoy will recoive littlo sym- pathy, as thoy commenced the fight. Mean- while it iu sad to contemplate the character of the gamblers and whisky-singsters who edit tho 8t. Louis papers. 1t is what might bo oxpooted, howaver, in such n wicked city. The regular ebb and flow of the campaign in Turkoy once mora brings the Borvians to the surface in some important sucoessos, but it mny woll be donbted whether thoy are of sufllcfont conseqquonco to materially affect the campaign. The most interesting fenture of the eampaign turns upon the probabilitics of Russia taking o hand in the struggle. The English papors, Laving o short timo ago shown that it was impossible for Russia to interfore, on nccount of its provoking an active alliance botween Germany and En. gland, aro now just ns vigoronsly hedging againat tho possibility that she may pitch in aftor nll. A few oxtracts may show the curious position they ocoupy. The London T'imes' correspondent saya: *Wo are thus driven to the assumption that Sorvia fecls justified in cdunting upon Russian support— an agaumption borno out by many direct indi- cations from the Neva and Danube alike.” Tho Spectator says: * Thediplomatists may throaton ns brusquely ns they plonse, but it the. King of Hungary and the Czar of Russla permit Bervia to be occupled by ‘Turks for n month, their thrones would bo exposed, from popu- lar focling, to a danger which thoy are mor- ally certain not to faco.” Tho Pall Mall ‘ Budget says: **Wo are still of opinion, in spite of all that has been enld of the force of national aud religious sympathies in Servia, that thero would bo no attack from Servin even now, if that principality and its nllies wera not assured of support, sconer or Inter, from a greator Powor. And oven if Russia honestly wishes to koep the peace, what probability is there that the war now thront- ened will be confined to tha ‘ring fenco' which has eaptivated tho imaginations of sympathotio and scntimentalizing com- mentators?” The position of the English pross, 08 will bo seen by tho above quotn- tions, is a curious one, Having conclusively sshown that the Russinus cannot intorfere, they now stand shivering lest sho may do the very thing she eannot do. The recent law passod by Congress, and alrendy signed by tho Prosidont, prohibiting the trangmission in the United Btates mails of lottery ndvortisementa and circalars, will probably accomplish a grent and good work. Hod an effective Inw on this subject been in oporation a genoration ago, millions upon ‘millions of dollars would havo boon saved to the poople of thiacountry, and the amount of swindling will bo notably reduced in the fu- ture. Ono section of the law reads as fol. lows : No letter or circular concerning lotterls, so- called gift concerts, or other similar enterpriscs offering prizes, or concerning schemes devised and 1ntended to deceive and defraud the public for the purpose of obtalning money under false protenses, shall be carried in the mall. Any person who shall knowingly deposit anything to be carrled by mail 1u violation of this section ahall bo punished by a fine of not more than $500 nor leas than $100, with coets of prosacution. The penalty prescribed is suffiolently large and will be sufficiently used by the United Btates Courts to cat off the mails altogether from the lottery swindlors, The trouble herotofore hns beon that thore was nohar- mony in tho logislation of the various States, somo of them refusing to adopt any anti. lottery laws, while the use of the maila has onabled the Jeremy Diddlors to circumvent the Btate laws. Now, however, they will have no means for circulating their ndvertise- ments excopt through the expresa companies, which will woarcely undertake the distribu. tion in the differont citics. Undor the law of some of the States, indesd, such ns Il nols and Ohio, such distribution is a misde- mennor punishable with nlarge fine. Atall ovents, the present Unitod States law will intorfore with the lottery schemes so sori- ously as to reduce their numbor very materi- olly, as well gs their facilities for swindling tha publie, Mr. O'Bnex, ox-Peoria and present Chi- cngo criminal lawyer, in dofending somo oleotion judgoes who attompted to pollute the ballot-boxes at the spring election in this oity, took occasion to deliver somo sweeping atatements about tho Chicago pross. Now, Mr, O'Bnrxx, being & professional eriminal Inwyer, is really only the mouthpiece of his clients, and in this caso he must bo regarded 28 0 conduit through which tho indicted eloc. tion-judges pass their spleen against tho Chi- cngo newspapers. We should be very sorry it this port of cnttle did not -de- nonnco and abuse the press, for wo should suspect that the pross had not done its duty. As it is, we can only recall that “No roguo e'er felt tho Lislter draw, with good opinion of the law,"” and all ballot-box gtuffers aud clection.re- turn falsifiors naturally resent their exposura through the newspapers, and blame the pross if they aro apprehendod and punished, O'Bnizex, being somowhat versed in tho uso of invective, and not at all averso to employ- ing it in any case whero ho i« rotained for that purpose, will continue to do tho press o favor by denouncing it right along in behal? of his criminal clients,—thoy usually being the vilest and most vicious wrotchos in the .| community, whose ill-will ia the best praise o newspaper could ask,” ABTRONOMIOAL. Early in the morning of Friday, Aug. 18, ihe planct Venus will approsch very nearly to o star ot the fourth magnitude, known as Lawmbda, in Gemint,—tho least apparent distance of contres Leing less than one-twentieth part the dlameter of the full moon, At that tine tho planet will be a morning star, rising beforo tho sun, and sufiiciently clongated from him to permit the phonomenon to be watched closely, though the thne (before 4 o'clock) will be fuconvenient for o popular exlibition, But the eveut will be one of no Httle intercat to the astronomer, The dis- tance of Venus frum the earth belug then only about forty and a quarter millious of miles, the phenomenon offers an opportunity for obtainlug # knowledge of her parallax, and henco that of the sun, scarcely Inferlor in finportance to that afforded by the transit of the plauet across the solar disc ninotecn months ago, ‘The appulsv will probubly bo watched, and tho appurent changes of distaucs measurcd, by astronomers at tmany of the observutorivs on tho carth's surface. If tho atmoapberlc con- ditions bo favorable, permitting proclse meas- ures to bo taken, tho results of thess observa- tlons will be compared, and the work may prove of cons{derable value fn determinlng our estl- mate of the solar parallax, The motfon of the planct in her orbit is di- rocty so that sho will pass from tho Western slde of the star to tho eastward, Venus belug the most southerly of the two, The appearance of the planet through the telescope will be near- 1y thst of the moon at five days before tho new meon, the Hluminated portion of the disc being about one quarter of the gvhole; and the line joining the cusps of light will be nclined about O degrecs to the cast of ostronomical north, ‘This will render 1t diflicult to take measurcs of distance st the time of nearest spproach, as the star will then bo opposite s dark polot of the dise, a Jttlo west from the northeru horn. As scen from Chicago, the star will be on the lino of cusps, at 8h. 43m. a. m., thealtitude be- ing about 20 degrees, and’ tho parallactic angle bldegzecs. The star will, therofare, be on the uppor left of :hu planet, the line two being Inclined 83 degrees from th ‘The distance of the lhrg(mm the nm:-c:l: flhmn‘ of Venus will then be 70 soconds of ar, o dlstance botween the horns, or the np,.;,m' diameter of tho planet, belng 89X secondy, fil interval betweon the two will thereforg |m 1 A than tuvica the dlameter of Venus, Tue neg appronch, a8 acen from Chicago, will be nl’:: 2}{m. 8. m., tho dlstance of centres belng scconds, and the Interval of space 75 ll‘mmfi Dbut tho star will then ba boyond tho cugp o already noted. il The following are the fundamental quangy from which tlio positions may bo calculageq [fl any place. The epoch chosen 1s Augusy 1-2 23h., Greenwich time, which correaponds l’a ;L 9m, 838,y 8. m, of the 18th, Chieago ciy)] tmay Jofntng 1y, Position. Rt Asc, Blar,...7h.10m 508,00 Var, Ind HE AiteVenis T dex om fi Jea. Uiar North. 10 dek 4om Plshlsy Jec, Venus, 44 Verar'sis: imfasdion: 0:53 Tho appulss mny be observed through amy; telescopo; but a large instrument, fitted with micrometer, I8 nceessary to take the mmurg: } accurately. If tho weather permit, the gl cquatorial telescope nt the Dearborn Obsery,, tory will be thus employed on the occaston, ——— It s suggested that one reason of the hogyy ty exhibited towards Becretary BRistow wy tho new measures ho fnaugurated last year ¢ protect the Government from the losses oo, sloned by the peraistent and successful efforty of Amorican tourists In Europe to smuggly goods Into this country on thelr retumn tome, Notiwithstanding a decreaso of more than 25 cent in passengers, the dutfes collected frop passengers’ baggnge have doubled, It fs pe | lieved that a good many of the delegates to thy ¥ Cincinnut! Conventlon wero smarting under 1y [ sums in gold colleeted from their familics, o those of thelr.friends, which had to be paid gp. der the new rule, Formerly immense wardroiey and other personnl effects were slipped eagily through the New York Custom-Houso by “hop. orable ! Indies and gentlemen, and the bagpapy bureau of the Dupartment was conducted wity no refercnce to the Interests of the Government, at all. The New York Commercial Advertier gives the following figures, which tell the ator; W of tho effect of the more rigid system of fuspes (M tion adonted by Scerctary Bristow: 1876—Decreasa of passengers, 1875—-Decreane of bagga; 1876—Increnso of dutics, 1876—Month of May dul 1674—Month of May dutles,.., 1875 over And that, too, upon o very much swpller numberof passengers. ———— ‘We pointed out not long since the dangersot fire to which the City of New York is vxposed, s gathered from admissions mado by the prey of that city. The New York Sus now calls at tention to tho danger of Brooklyn, and charges & that, owing to the usclcss firc-alarm system, the 8 safety of hundreds of thousauds of Hves and many millions of property are dependent upon one watchman's vigilanco, The Sun says: 1In Brooklyn it Is frequently twenty minutes be. fora the Pire Departinent knows of a fire, In one case, whore thore was no way of conveying the nlarm, twenty houscs were entirely destroyed be. foro the engines arrived. In November aml De. cember, of 1874, and Jnnuary, 1875, tho averaze dlstance from cach fire that decurred to the near. cat ularm statlon was |l|rcn-elfihll|s of a mile, This distance had to bu traversed by some ono befors the nlarm was vent out. The consequence was, that the nverage losn pier firo in thieso months way 2,700, Tho uveruge loss per fire In 1872 wa 87,0243 In 1873, 81,4005 In 1874, £3,505. The instances in which the loms lias boen greatly lne crensed by tho delay of the engines are to I numorouy to record, ‘Thu cage of the fire in the Home of the Littlo Sisters of the Poor, whers B elghteen agod persons wers burned to death and $40,000 worth of property way dostroyed, becaure of & delny In teanstitting the alans, Bus not beea forgottei by the public, But what nre the insurance companies doingt For tha llifo of us we cannot understand why they should have discriminated against Chicago, which Is duing everything within human posst Dbility to fucrease ity safoty, and malke exveptions in favor of New York and Brooklyn, which are not ouly dotug nothing, but adlhering to methods which were in uso In Western country towns several years ago. e ‘The hot weather, eating crow, and the eleo tion combined, have had such a distressing cf fect upon the Chicago Tmes that it {s ncting ke o funatie, Both Its candidates having been defeated, the one vecelving no votes ot all worth counting, the other being in a minority bardly to be called respoctable, aad both combined be- Ing whipped out {n every ward tn the eity, and beaten by a large majority, the ZVmes gets on the rampage fn o manner a8 violent and as fu- rious as {f it had o nest of hornets in the seat of its breecies. It fiings sticks, stones, nud mud at Mr. HzaTi, at poor old CoLviN, who hos stepped down and out, at Gov. BrvERIDGE, the President, Zacn Cuanprnn, the Republican party, and the whole nunicipal, Administration. It characterizes all who voted for Mr. HeaTias bummers, lonfers, and party-strikers, and thoso who dld not vote at all as well-to-do, decenty so-called God-fearing Imbeciles. Our advice to our nelghbor, under thocircumstances, i3 o pull down his vest,” lold his yawp, and rev sume his cating of Mr. TiLpeN'S crow. e should remember that lie f8 now “a puttld reminiscence,’ and that the public does not like to have its attention called to o reminiscence of that kind by such a ridiculous display us he It making of himsclf, Resume your crow. Mrn Heamir will take carc of the city. ————— That thio Presidential campaign 18 approach. ing, s shown Ly arcturn of the old famillar “atraws," taking, the Presldentlal prefercnces of excursfonists wherever they can' be cane vussed, Yesterday a large party, numbering between 500 and 600 1adles and gentlemon, came to tho efty on & pleasure excurslon from Bloom- ington, They make thelr headquarters nt the Grand Pacifie, and remnnin in the city untfl this afternoon at 4 o'clock, On the way up the road it was proposed to ascertaln tho Presidentlal preferences of the masculing spffragists, with tho followling result: Ior llaves and WitpELER For TiLuky and HxNoiug For Pxrkn Coursn (rag-baby). The ladies were unanlinous againat the sour, petulant, dried-up old bachelor, BaM TILDEN, who uever had ap afcction for anything but money. 250 1 Tho Republican State Conventlon of North Carolina has nominated Tnoumas Surrie, the Presidont of the Natlonal Republican Conven- tlon of 1873, for Governor, and W, A, Buuru for Lteutenaut-Governor. Four years ago the Re- publicans clected thelr candidato for Qovernos by 1,900 mujority, after a desperate contest, in which tho largest voto was polled ever cast in the Btate, Tue clectlon takes placo in August. It the Republicans would muke o determined ¢ffort, and recelvy somo support and uncourages ment from thoe North, the Btate might bo agaln carrled. Judge SRTTLE, we belleve, Is o native of hia State, and [s a very popular sud highly- esteemed cltizen. ——— O1d Broney says that HiLprarirlaa Republic- an, e moy havg professcd to bu onej but, after ho took to stealing for o lving, Le ceased to clalm membership fn that political church, and was found fellowshipping with tho class of peopls who are expected to cnthuse for Bas TyLoex under the persuasions of Sroney’s two papers, both dally,, ,Betore tho 8t, Louis Convention the New York Eupress (Dewooratic organ) published a serics of articles exposing 8ap TiLpen’s multitudi- uous roilroad jobbing and speculations. Tiw articles are exccodingly damagiug ss showlug up the “true inwardoces ™ of tho man, Theso revelations have been widely copfed by the Republican newspapers and carcfully credited to the Eapres, whereupon 14 groaus fu spirit and complains bittesly, The Boston Joursal raminds tha augriavsd Ahewis that, ¢ Althoush R o WS