Chicago Daily Tribune Newspaper, March 17, 1877, Page 4

THE .CHICAGO TRIBUNE: SATURDAY, MARCH 187~ TWELVE - PAGE: haps very greatly, the tranaportation of gra which he 80’ often manif The Treibne, " TERMS OF SUBSCRIPTION. 3T MAIL—IN ADVANCE—POSTAGE PREPAID AT iy TIIS OFFICE. Dat ipaid: .$12.0 A of 8 yese. gy o o] Mailed 10 any cddrecs fot - sumy‘ Literary and 13 e Eatarday Edition. tweive pages. =W - Weekiy, postpald. 1 year... wo o(a yéar, per montl 50 WEEELY EDITION, POSTPAID. Qe copy. S T Clubof warediy. Postage prepaid. Specimen caples eent free. To preveat delay and mistakes, be fureand ive Post- Giec address I full, including State and County. Llemfttagces may be made cither by draft, cxpress, Yoe-Utey order. o fn regtstered letters. at our Hisk. ®ELMS TO CITY SUBSCRIBEUS. Yrtly, delt eered, Sundsy excepied, 257 cents per week. Lufly, dedvered, Sunéay focluded, 30 cents per week Addiee THE TRIBUNE COMPANT, Lorner Modison and Dearborn-sts.. Culcazo, il —— TRIBUNE BUILDING DIRECTORY. Rooms. Occupants. . 1. CRARTER OAK LIFE (Insurauce Dep't.) 2 TO RENT. 3. GUSTIN & WALLACE. J. T. DALE. 4. DUEBER WATCH-CASE MAN'F'G CO. 5. ROBBINS & APPLETON. G TO RENT. 7. LUEBKER & HTTCHINS. * & WM, C. DOW. i.J. BROWN. W.ROBBIXS. 9. WRIGHT & TYRRELL. 10. CHARTER OAK LIFE (Loan Dep't.) 21-13. FAIRCHILD & BLACKMAN. N. R.W. BRIDGE. E. W. D. COOPER. . K. S & CO. 20, BUTCHINSON & LUFF, 21. 0. L. BASEAX & €O, ASSOCIATE EDITOR. HIEF. DITOR. EDITORS, WILLIAM BI H. F. NORCROSS. GHT EUITOK. ITY EDITOR. Offices fn the Bufiding to rent by W. C. DOW, Tteom & — AMUSEMENT! McVicker’s Thentre, Madison “street. between a0d_State. Becefitof E. F. Thorne. Afteraoon sndieveaing. o EETeTly Theare, Rancoifh sireet, between Clark and LaSalle. entng. **Evangeline.” Afiernoon and eve Adclphl Theatre. Mouroe street, corner Dearborn. Varlety enter- tainment. Afterioon and eventng. & ) New Chicago ‘Theatre. Clark street, between Lake and Iandolph. Concert by Miss Kinmi Abdots 812 . m. SATURDAY, MARCH 17, 1877. L Greenbacks ot ths New York Gold Ex- change yesterday closed at 95%. . It took the Canadian Horse of Commons until half-past 4 o'clock yesterdsy morning to finish the debate onthe proposition to establish a protective tariff. By that time the defenders of the Government policy and the opponents of the proposed incremse of duties were uble to defeat the measuze by a mejority of 31 The American schooner Montana was re- cently detained by a customs officer at the Mexican port of Mazatlan, and the Secretary of the United States Navy now sends a ship- of-war to the offending guarter to ascertain the focts, and, 85 Col. INcERsoLL might say, to maintgin the dignity of the United States, if any. The two Pxes, man and wife, have been comuitted without bail by the verdict of the Coroner's jury for the killing of . 8. Joxxs. The jury, in the innccence of their hearts, “find it murder in the first degree,” little recking that by the time it hes gone through the Criminal Court it may be “*found” to have been not only a justifiable, bat a really praiseworthy, hoinicide. The list of appointments yesterday sent to the Seoate for confirmation, and which, when acted upon, wiil end the executive session, includes no nominstions for foreign wissions or Consulships, which, togetber witl many other offices, remain to be acted ugon by the Cabinet more at leisure. Among the appointments deferred is that to the va- cant place on the Sapreme Bench. & It is anuounced ihat IGNATIEFF's mission to London has resulted in an arrangement between the English and Russian Govern- wments relative to the terms of the protocol on the Turkish question. Eugland proposed certain modifications to which it is believed Russia will readily sccede, and thus the attempt to bring the moral sansion of Europe oncz more to bear upon the stubborn Turk isin a fair way to succeed. Whether the woral suasion itself will succeed, is quite another question. The French Government has finally ob- tained permission from the House of Dépu- ties to prosecute PAuL CassaGyac, the cdito- rial bully and professional duelist. Cassac- Nac, himself 3 member, took part in the de- bate on the subject, and is reported as hav- ing performed a greater feat, socially consid- ered, than he has ever before been capable of. He is eaid to have made n temperate spoech, induced thereto probably by fear of his prospective opponents,—the courts of Justice. MMr. FraNE Apaxs was yesterday befors the Cook County delegation in the Legisla- ture at Springfield, and did not vouchsafe the tax-fighters' lobby - anything save dissat- isfoction. He carefully abstained from the captionsness for which they had hoped as a peg upon which to hang a two-faced op- position to the bill, and in addition rnined several small but confident objections on the partof the law-makers themselves. It is Lis opmion that, if the Revenue Commit- tees’ bill to collect tax-fighters’ taxes be not constitational, no other measures could be found to meet the end devised by hionest and nnselfich men. Elsewhere we publish an interesting and ¥aluable letter to sheep-raisers from the Hon. A. €. Wavss, of Ohio, in which s described Liis metl:od of dealing with the worst enemy of the flock-master, viz. : foot-rot in sheep. The three great enemies of successful sheep- raising, says our correspondent, sre: ¢ First, dogs; second, buck-peddlars; and third, foot-rot. They are named in the inverse order of their malignsncy.” Mr. W. says to the editor ina private note that, had he known in time the efficacy of the mode of treatment which he now adopts in dealing ‘with sheep-rot, it would have been worth to .him §10,000. Our correspondent is one of ‘the most extensive as well as successfal sheep-growers in the State of Ohio. 3 —— The Chicago produce markets were quiel ‘ond generally firmer, except wheat and corn. Mess- pork closed 20c per brl higher, at '@13.50 ‘ for April and $13.70 for May. Lard . Closed about 10c per 100 1bs higher, at $9.15 for April and $9.273 for May. Meats closed steady, nt +]c per Ib for Joose shoulders, e for do short ribs, and Tic for do short clears. Highiwines were steady, at $1.0¢ per gallon. Flour was fair, quiet, and steady. Wheat closed 3¢ lower,at $1.221 for March and $1.23} for April. Corn closed 1@l lower, at 39]c for April and 42]@43c for May. Oats closed firmer, at 337c for April and 35}c for May. RBye was quiet, at 61@G3c. Barley closed stronger, ot 53¢ for March and 52¢ for April Hogs were in good demsnd, and averaged 5e higher, closing firm at $£.75@5.30. Cat- tle were active and firm, with sales at $2.50 @6.00, Sheep were unchanged. One hun- dred dollars in gold would buy $104.87} in greenbacks at the close. Authorized rapresentativesof the Nicmorrs Government are strenuously urging the President to withdraw the troops from New Orleans. They ask nothing in the way of recognition, but only non-intervention, goar- anteeing that in return for this policy the Louisiana Demoerats will scrupulously ab- stain from any armed demonstration agninst the Packarp Government, or from any at- tempt to dispossess it except through the process of law and the refusal of the people to pay taxes. The theory is that, left to it~ self, the Pacxarp Government will speedily collapse for lack.of the wherawithal to keep italive. It is said that the President favors the plan of pon-intervention and the with- drawal of the troops from both New Orleans and Columbia. The stringent laws regulating the pur- poses for which the United States mails way and may not be used mpot infrequently operate to the detection and punishinentof a certain class of despicable wretches who would otherwise escape. A case in point is that of Troaas W. Trompsoy, of Westfield, N. Y., who, under the name of *‘‘VicTor BExserr,” has been engaged in writing let- ters notifying relatives and friends of per- sons who were killed at Ashtabula that he had in his possession certain articles of jewelry, etc., recovered from the wreck, which he would forward on receipt of a specified sum of money. . This scoundrel has been brought to book under the United Staies Iaw, and has an excellent prospect of serving out a term in the Penitentiary. A very strong opposition to the confirme- tion of Frep DovoLass as Umited States Marshel for the District of Columbia has manifested itself among the Republican Senators, and it would not be at all sur- prising if Democratic votes should finally secure the confirmation of (he appointment. Itisurged that tho selection of a colored man for this important office is distasteful to the legal fraternity of the District, but a far better reason for the objection, if such is the fact, is the claim that Mr. Doucrass is not adapted to the active discharge of the duties of the office on gecount of his ad- vanced age and his lack of business training. It is probable, however, that considerations of color and caste are at the bottom of the opposition, and thet the President’s firmness in adhering to the appointment will carry the day. ELECTING A PRESIDENT. We have presented from time to time the various plans which have been proposed for the improvement of the system of electing the President of the United States. In the light of rccent events, there can be no sub-~ ject more important to the netional peace than that of securing a fair and honest' ex- pression of the popular will. Fraud is one of the easiest methods of defeating sn hon- est election, and yet there is nothing more difficult to detect, to punish, or to remedy. The preseat-system offers great inducements to fraud. It makes the whole Electoral vote of a State dependent on 8 bare majority of the popalar vote of that Stote. The four States of New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Hlinois have 115 Electoral votes, and, in an ordinsry close eleotion, the result may depend upon the vote of cither of these large States. A fraud of 5.000 votes in New York may chauge thirty-five Eloctoral votes from oue to the otler, and a like fraud in Pennsylvania would shange twenty-nine, Ohio twenty-two, and Illinois twenty-one Electoral votes. So long as the whole Electoral vote of a State depends on a bare majority of the popular vote, so long is & large reward for frand held out to encourage and invite fraud. A fraudulent count of a few thousand votes in Ohio would have given TizDEN the vote of that State, and the fraudulent count of even aless num! Indiens and Connecticut would have given both those States to Haxes. The two plans now most conspicuously before the country are those prepared by Senator Morrox, of Indians, and by ex-Sen- ator Bocgarew, of Pennsylvanin. We have discussed both of these plans in detail, sod it is only necessary now to state briefy their operation : 1. Senstor Morrox's plan provides that each voter shall vote directly for President and Vice-President, and the persons having the highest number of votes in the- State shall be entitled to the two Electoral votes of the State at large; and that the persons having the highest number of votes for President, in ench Congressional District, shall be entitled to the Elcctoral vote of that district, sud the Electoral vote of each State shall be apportioned,—first, two votes for the State at large to the candidate baving the highest popular vote in the whole State ; and one Electoral vote for each Congressional District to the candidate having the popular majority in that district. 2. Mr. BucsarLew's plan is to have voters vote in cach State directly for President; that the nggregate vote for President be di- vided by the whole number of Electoral votes to which the State is entitled, and the quotient will bo the ratio on which the Elect- oral vote shail be divided between the candi- dates in proportion to the popular vote re- ceived by each. Both of these plans provide for breaking up the present unfair system of having the whole Electoral vote of each State given to the majority of the popular vote, and are commendable because they reduce the pre- mium on fraud to one or two votes ina State, instead of from six to thirty-five votes, as now. To Mr. Morroy’s plan it is strongly objected that it offers an increased inducement to partisan majorities in State Legislatures to act unfairly and dishonestly in forming Congressional Districts. To Mr. BuckaLew’s plan it is objected that the ma- Jority in many States would be deprived of any advantage to which majorities are justly entitled in all elections. In every State’ where the Electoral vote was an even num- ber, such as 4,6, 8, 10, 16, 20, and 50 on, and the popular majority was less than 10,000, the Electoral vote of the State would be equally divided between the can- didates, and this result being known long before the election, all inducement for voters to take an interast in the election would be lost. The minority would share equally with the majority. But this plan can be amended 5o as to recognize the claims of the majority. Xf the Buckarew plan be amend- ed 50 a5 to secure fo the candidate getting the highest number of votes in the State the two Electoral votes for the State®at large, and have the minority plan apply to the di- vision of the remaining Electoral votes, it would practically preserve to the majority the right to which it is entitled, and at the same time secure to the minority its proper proportionate vote. 3 As an illustration of the practical working of these two plans, that of Mr. BUCEALEW being amended as we have suggested, we give a table of the result which wonld have been renched in each State at the last Presi- dentinl clection under these two systems of election of President: IUNDERL_ BUCK- ALEW'S PLAN, aTaTES. AMNENDED. I‘ Itayes. |Tilden. 4 2 + 3 1 kil B 12 v U 9 & k) 4] 1 4] k) 5 K] 5 2 3 5 8| 5 | 4 4 : 2 ¢ 5 10 Penusylvani Rbode Island South Caroling. Tennessee 13 1 2 8 o 1, 7 4 4 182 Total ... 185 Under either of these plans there would have been a much greater vote polled in the several States than wascast. In Alsbama, Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia, had the vote for President been determined by districts instead of by general ticket, or if the minority vote had been allowed any weight in the choice of Electors, a much larger vote would have been polled. There would have been a practical end to be attained by voting, while, as it was, the minority were as ex- cluded from all voice as if they had not voted at sll. THE COLLECTION OF BACK TAXES. The City of Chicago levied taxes for the support of the City Government and the payment of interest for the years 1873 -and 1874. There mever was any pretense that these taxes were levied for an unlawful ob- ject, or that the levies wero unfair, discrim- inating, or unjust. Certain property-hold- ers, having other uses for money, clubbed together, omployed counsel, and interposed objections to the collection of these taxes, hoping to gain & year or two of time, if not to defeat the collection of the tax altogether. To the surprise of the city and of the tax- fighters themselves, the Supreme Court de- cided that, of the two laws then on the stat- ute book under which city taxes might be levied and collected, the law under which the city had acted was void. The Court did not object to the legality of the tax, nor the legality of the objects for which it was levied, but that the form of levy adopted by the city was void, and with it the tax itself fell to the ground. OF the sggregate taxes levied for those yecars, about S0 per cent bave been voluntarily psid, leaving 20 per cent unpaid; the aggregate tax being merely equal to covering the appropriations and the expenditures made for thoge years, there was nccessarily a defieit in the City Treasury equal to the sum of the taxes lost. That deficit ns been ever since represented by city notes bearing interest, and which can- not be paid except out of the proceeds of the taxes of those years. The sum is in ex- cess of two millions of dollars. On thissum the city peys aunually a large amount of money in‘peyment of interest. The question hos orisen, how this debt, representing unpaid taxes, is to be paid, and by whom. Shall the owners of 80 per cent of the property in the city who paid their taxes in full be reassessed to pay the taxes due by the owners of the other 20 per cent of the property? Shall those who paid the city 100 cents on the dollar of their taxes levied for those years bg now required to pay 20 cents on the dollar additional, to pay the taxes of those who have not paid any taxes whatever for those years? The debt is due; the city is prohibited by law from borrowing the money to pay it; there is no law suthorizing the city to relevy the tax on the delinquent ~property. The city, therefore, has asked the enactment of a law antborizing, substantially, that the prop- erly which bas not paid this tax be reas sewsed for the amount to cover this lost reve- nue. orally and equitably no possible ob- jection can be made to this measure., Itim- poses mo burden except on the property which hos avoided payment of taxes con- fessedly just and fair. 'The sum due is about equal to the whole levy for interest on the Bonded debt of the city for the time covered by the lost taxes. But the gentry who have enjoyed this §2,000,000 and more of the public revenue, and \vho.insisfl upon - having their taxes pnid Dy other persons, have taken slarm at the request for such a remedial law, and com- bining have employed a atrong legal force, including some of the largest tas-fighters, and are flooding Springfield with objections backed by legal opinions to the enactment of any such meesure of jastice and equity. Some of these objections ere : 1. That, under the operation of the law, the whole tax for 1873 and 1874 is to be re- levied, avd ench piece of property which paid the taxes for theso years—all of which is & matter of record—will be credited with the sum paid; but if, in the readjustment of the taxes, the new tax be 50 cents or $1 more than the former payment, then the Pproperty may be sold and lost to the owner, and it may require the * poor man” to em- ploy “alawyer at a cost of one or two hun- dred dollars ” to remove the cload. The auswer to this objection is, that the people who paid their taxes are under no apprehen- sionsof this kind; their tax-receipts, or the record that the tax for 1873 and 1874 was paid, will be an all-sufficient discharge for them against any demand by thecity. Even if there be a rather improbable addition of 50 cents or 81, they. will cheerfully pay it rather than pay their proportionste share of the £2,500,000 of other people’s taxes at- tempted to be settled upon them. The only persons who are lsboring nnder any appre- hensions are those who paid no taxes in those years, and even these can noW escape all possible additions nnd perils by going to the County Clerk’s ofice and paying what they have o unjustly withheld from the publicso long. They can do this mthqut employing a lawyer, and withoat cost or in- ferest. S 2. Objection is made fhat the present charter does not permit-the ‘city to make au nssessment equal to raising the needed reve- nue ; and that to avoid paying more than the Jaw perinits requires an application to the court for a rebate. This does not affect any person ‘who has paid his taxes; it ouly ap- plies to those who have not paid any taxes; these are the only persons attempted to be reached by the law. Thercare no *small taxpayers” among this class; they are all owners of lnrge properties, mouy of them lawyers, and all of them may, if they want to be honest, aveid the trouble of askiug a rebate by paying their back taxes now. 3. An objection is that tho proposed law is not suflicient for the purpose, and is not consistent with the General Revenue law, and if enacted will fail, Considering that this objection is made by the persons who owe the back taxes, its sincerity is obvious. All these objections ave made by the tax-fighters, who waut to compel other persons to pay their taxes, and Dby attorneys employed by them, and really, if this bill be ineffectunl, then they will gain the day. These gentry, however, do not want any legislation. 4. 'The objection is mide that before there can be an appeal from judgment for back tuxes the amount of the tax must be de- posited, therefore these back taxes must be paid at the same time with current taxes, and no provision is mads for payingin in- stallments. The taxes of 1870 were due in 1874, and those for 1874 were duc in 1875 Those who owe these taxes have had the uso of one-half the money three ycarsand of the other half for two years without interest, though the city has been paying interest on the deficiency during all that time. Who shall pay the interest in the future,—those who owe the dobt or the general public? If the debtors cannot now pay the tax, they can redeem the property within two years at the mere cost of interest. Those who seek equity must be equitable. They have had $2,500,000 of public money over two years without interest, and now complain that they will have to pay it or be compelled to pay interest om it. The suggestion that such a requirement will crush any busiuess, or distress any business houses, is pure in- vention. The redort to tax-fighting is the invention to escape paying an honest debt due to the public Treasury on which that Treasury is paying a heavy jutercst by a direct tax levied upon those who owe the Treasury nothing. 5. The tax is o lien on the property, and it is objected that persons have sold property, assuring the purchaser that these back taxes could never be collected, and if this law passes the tax will be collectable. Persons who have bought property, knowing that taxes thereon had not been paid, and as- sumed the risk of being compelled to do so, undoubtedly regulated the price they paid by the possibility of fature linbility, and must abide by their bargain. If they piayed taking the chances, they must sbide the losses. Great stress is laid on the want of a pro- vision allowing these back taxes to be paid in installments. Therais nothing in the law which prohibits auny of these delinquent property-holders paying Lis taxes on so much of his property as he chooses. When he owns twenty pieces of property and owes $6,000 taxes, he can pay up, now in March, $1,500, and redeem one-fourth of the prop- erty ; he can on the 1st of July pay as much more ; and 50 on between, now und Septem- ber pay of the whole debt, remembering that by the time he gets it all paid he will have had the use of the pnblic money for three years without interest. While these objections are of {hemselves insubstantial, and are made by the -delin- quents for the purpose of dcfeating zuy legislation on the subject, stiil the main point sought is to secure such a law as will eventually Iead to the recovery of the back toxes. * Any amendments which will remove any reasonable objection, and leave the bill adequate to the end sought, ought to be made, and we hope no objections will be made to such amendments. The law is of vital nécessity, and nny and all sacrifices, short of giving up the bill, shonld be made if necessary to secure the enactment of the law, STANLEY MATTHEWS. The Republicans of Ohio have done well to select the Hon. Srasvey MATTREWS as the successor of the Hon. JorN SHERMAN in the United States Seuate for the unexpired term which ends March 4, 1879. They could not have done better, notwithstanding the emi- nent character of Mr. Ilowrasp, Judge Tarz, and other candidates. StaNLEY MarTuews is one of the ablest men in Obio, and for years has ranked among the foremost lawyers in the United Statcs. He will make a much sbler Senator thay either Mr. SuEmx or Mr. Tromuy. Heis aqnick thinker, a ripe, polished scholar, o keen and ready debater, and a men who is active, alert, and enthusiastic in whatever he undertakes, Being thoroughly independent in nature, thought, and action, he has never been a machine politician, or restrained by partisan trammels, traditions, or precedents. He was a bold, vigorous anti-slavery man from the béginning. He resolutely opposed GuaxT in 1872 on account of the objectiona- ble features in his Adwinistration. He,sup- ported Grexrey, but never identified himself with the Democratic party. e then eame back into the Republican party, and heertily supported Mr. Hayes in the Gubernatorial campaign of 1875. He was the Republican candidate for Congress in 1576, overmastered his opponent in "power aud sbility, made a splendid run, coming out ahead of his ticket, but was Leaten by Epu Horraxp aud his gang of roughs from Chicago, Bultimore, snd Priladelphia, who cast 500 fraudulent votes, as Horrasp himself has sinco confessed. Srasrey Matraews will prove to be one of the ablest men in the Senate by his vigor, bolduess, incisiveness, and enthusiasm, Pre- ferring right and priuciple to partisan ad- vantage aod profit, he will adopt a high standard of statesmanship., The recent of- fense which he has given' to Republicans by the method hLe proposed for settling the Louisiana and South Carolina complications has been overlooked, and played no part in hisSenatorial canvass. He evidently proposed the method becsuse he thought it was the shortest way out, and ho had the manliness to do it frankly and candidly, without any beating sbout the bush or underhanded work. He will be true to Mr. Hayes 5o long as Mr. Haves is true to the principles he professes. There will be no lukewarmness in his support of the Administration, He will give to Civil-Service Reform and the pa- cification of the South a bold and vigorous i port movement. rt, and apon all questions will take a f:n%g:g ’posifimf?n the Senate. Not only his own State but the whole country may look forward to s brilliant record on his part. He has already proved bhiniself one of the ablest 1awyers of the country. It does not need the gift of prophecy to foretell that be- fore biis term expires he will prove to be one of tho ablest statesmen the country has pro- duced. 2 § RATLROADS AND THE GRAIN TRADE. The Ruilroud Gazette recently had a very interesting article on the grain movement of the Atlantic slope, in which some old figures nre presented in nmew nnd rather striking form. - The total receipts of grain at the five ports, Montreal, Boston, New York, Philadelphic, andeBaltimore, for eleven years past, with the percentage thercof received at New York, and the other four ports to- gether, were as follows: Toral | —Percentane~ receipts, | New | Other Year. busjeels. | York. | clties. it GO e e The following table shows the distribu- tions of the percentege cmong the other four ports: = Mon- | | treal. |Boston. | Phila- | Baiti- Year. delnhia. {more. o | 11. Y] 091 e 131 L0 1L6 0.0 L7 the seaboard. One of these is the imorovement of thé wmouth of the Mississippi, which will admit vessels of large capucity to New Orleans, and cheapen to some extent the cust of exporting gratn by way of that city; the other is the enlarge- ment of the Welland Canal, which in a year or two will perinit the pessage of grain vessels, of as large capacity as most that sail on tha lakes, from Chi- cago, Milwankee, and Dalatir direcily through to Montreal with very little delay or expeuse beyond that ordinarily incident to lzke and river naviga- tion. hitherto been experienced. But it threatens also the business of the more southern ports, and the gramn trade of the railroads cast of Chicago, as well as that of the Erie Canal. If Montreal has already secured a large ex- port trade, and maintained it in spite of last yenr's low rail rates, then it certainly scems that a farther material cheapening of rates by the Canadian route must result in a wuch larger traffic that way than heretofore. The ronds to New York could afford to be indif- ferent to this competition during the sum- mer, if their competitors would let the gramn business alone during that season. But the roads to Philadelphia look for any considerable export trade unless it can be carried on during the summor as The railrond lines well as in the winter, are fhus likely to be much embarrassed by the Welland Canal improvement, between their desire to maintain and increase the basi- ness of the ports at their termini and the necessity of pnying expenses of business done. The consideration of these things presents several intricate problems, the solu- tions to which can only be found in the fu- ture. These figures show an 2lmost continuons comparative loss on the part of New York, which has been chiefly met by a gain in Phil- adelphis and Baltimore, while Boston and Montreal have varied -but little during the whole term. In the actual volume of re- ceipts the two last named cities have, how- ever, incrensed ; while New York has in- creased, but less rapidiy, till within the last two years. It might thus seem that there is norenl ocension for alasm on the part of New York, except in the way of jealousy of 1more rapid growth on the parb of her neigh- bors. Butthe true character of the change con only be understood by looking at the dis- position made of the grain received, on which point the -Age says : Part is destined for export, another past is for domestic consumption: and whiic it isa matter of indifference, comparutively. by which port grain is exported, the domestic market of cach port is pretty strictly limited of late years. New York requires just about so mach grain for its own cunsumption and for distribution for nome consump- tion; and this amount it is likely to reccive under any ordinary circumstances. Thia s not true of the export gram, Should the cost of esporting through Montreal or New Orleans become 10 cents (or lesy) per bushe] lower than the cost by way of Sew York, and remain’ <o throughot a year, New York doubtless wounld los¢ nearly all of its export trude, while maintaining nearly its other grain trade. During the seven yzara from 1570 to 1576, the difference between the receipts and e at New York varied only from $00,000 to 45,700,000 bashels; it 40,600,000 in 1870 snd 40,500,000 in 1876, thiouih mexnwhile the receipts varied from 70, 000, - 000 to 104,000,000 bushels. Thus the portion of the business most lizble to fluctustion is the ex- Lut the increase in the receipts of the other ports has been wholly forexport. They keap from 45,000,000 to 50,000,000 bushels for consumption and for local distribution, aud expor¢ e remainder: and this remainder increased. from 000,000 bushe!s 1n 1873 to 70,000,000 in 1876, York's exports meanwhile increasing only Trom 54,000,000 to 55,000,030 In 1873 the com- vetiug ports exported 38 per cent of the total; in 1570 nearly 56 per cent, We may say that the en- tire increase in the export basiness has been doae through the other port<. Montreal, which Is not much considered as a competitor, i3 seen to ex- port mearly all its receipts. It is thus more formidable ns a competitor to New York than would appear from -its receipts. Boston, which usually receives about as much grain as Montrea), exports buva very small proportion of these receipts. Its expost busi though lacger thau formesly, is still comparatively triinz, amounting even in 1576 to only 42 per cent of the total exports of the five ports, though it ind 103; per cent of the receipte, 1ts large grain business is overwhelmingly 2 domestic trade. York, ns we have secu. requires something 40,000,000 bushels besides its exports, whatever they may be. These ure sometimes less than half of its receipts, sometivies much more; last year they were 57 per tent of its receipts. The Phil delphta exports show the greatest comparative growth. They Were a mere fraction (19 per cent) of 1ts receipts in 1873, but had become 62 per cent in1876. Baltimore has increased its proportion more slowly, having been a larze exporter in 1873, and in 1876 exporting nearly as larze a proportion of its total receipts as Philadelphia did, The Southern ports have thus largely in- creased their exports, chiefly beeause the great reduction iu rail rates, especially in the suzuner, hes deprived Now York of its former advautage as the termifus of the cheapest route to the seaboard. 'So long ns the canal wus the cheapest channel for the transportation of grain, New York was sure to receive most of the grain destined for ex- port; but when ril rates are as low as canal rates, Philadelphiz and Baltimore are able to compete with it. other things being equal. The +ige further says : Meanwhile the long mouopoly of esports which New York has enjoyed has made it possible to in- troduce and maintain a rate of taxes for handiing and werchants® di t the terminng such 23 wonld have been impossible hud the competition of the other ports been <harper. It is conceded that New York takes larger tolls than any other port out of the grain exported, and the geain merchants find it very difficult o refor this. The business is old; the method of doirg it long established: a large number of influciitial pe re intercsted in pre- gerving every tax on the in; and there iy much greater diflicalty in combining to introduce a re- form thun when the business Is compuratively new and abuses less fiemly rooted. It is not easy to see Low the business which has been began at Phila- delphix and Baltimore can be diverted to New Xork without a considerable reduction in the expenses of cxporting by way of New York. Snch reduc- tion must be cither in the cost of carrying to New York, in the expenses at New York, or In the cost of carrying from New York, as com- psred with the corresponding expenses at the competing port<. As to tne first, nothiug more can reasopubly be expected from the New York rail- roads. The action of the New York Central & was - 1tudson River Company last scason has resulted in overcoming the difference of 6 cents per bushel on wheat formerly existing in favor of Philadelphia and Baltimore on rail receipts ‘exported. It cer- tainly is not reasomable to expect that the New York railroads will carry for less than their com- petitgrs, and they Wil 1ot be able toIf they try, The only hope i this dircction is in cheapening the water-route; and the abolition of tolls on the canals will scarcely be suflicient to effect the de- sired resnlt. Such a cheapening of this rote there i3 no reaton to cxpect, for the present at Jeast, What improvements of the canal and of the motive poswer for csnal boats muy do towards reduclag ex- penses we are not likely to know this year or next. As to the reduction of expenscs at New York, taere Eeems great room for it and every reson to attempt it. Asto he ocean rates, they are at least as low from New York as from Philadelphia and Balti- more. They cannot be made 50 mach lower as to be less profitable, otherwise the vessels will leave the New York trade, It thns appears that there 18 hittle room to hope for a reductior. fa the expenses of exporting grain by way of New York €x¢ept fn the terminul expenses, and in possible tatare cagal improvements. But works now in progress tlirenten to disert the grain traffic of all these cities, Two water routes will soon be 50 improved as to cheapen in some degree, and pes- GRAIN INSPECTION. After several years of quiet protest against a political grain inspection in this city, the grain trade has achieved o respeetful hearing ot Springfield. Fortified by a petition from nearly ten thousand persons, all of whom are directly interested in the maticr, a Commit- tee from the Chicsgo Board of Trade have presented the subject so forcibly as to wia expressions of approval from the Joint Com- mittee of Senators and Representatives ap- pointed to confer with them; and there is’ now good reason to hope that the evil will be ebated. There can be no doubt in the mind of any reasonable man who will take the trouble to examine the State system of inspection and its workings that it is unjust to Chicago as a city ¢ompared with other municipalities in the State whkich are not subjected to it, and unjust fo the people of other States and countrics, whose property has been rated, and taxed for such rating, without their consent. The State bas arrogated to itself the right to determine the relative value of all the grain that comes into Chicago, thongh it is well known that only a small percentage of the property is raised within its jurisdiction, and has pro- vided only ingdequate means for appeal from the decisions of its dppointecs. It does not clnim this paternsl right in regard to any other dascription of property moving through the State ; and experience has only confirmed theory in showing that such interference with the grain trade is unwise and unjust. The business of this city has suffered under it to n large extent, as individuals operating here who have lost money without redress have transferred their patrinage to other points, not always within the limits of Ilinois; so that no other point within the State has been the gainer by our loss. If benefit to Chicago were the only end to be gained by abolishing the State system of inspection, there might be some excuse for a disregard of the petition on the part of the Legislatare. That body is largely composed of gentlemen from the rural districts, many of whom Iabor under the mistaken impres- sion that injary to this city isa benefit to the rest of the State; and they are only too ready to lay upon our shoulders as grest a share of tho public burden as possible. But this is a case in which that one-sided policy will not spply. The statements of the Com- mittee, through its Chairman, Mr. Ctrveg, ably shows that®ur State inspection operates to the detriment of the grain-pro- ducing classes everywhere, including those of Illinvis. The risk of an irregular and uncertain inspection is paid for by the farmer, who receives less for his property than be would if buyers had full confidence in the jndgment of the men who pass npon it; and this is true of grain sent to other' points to be marketed, because prices there' are largely controlled by quotations from' Chicago. The farmer is, therefore, vitally interested in secing removed out of the way every obstucle to a fair rating of the proper- ty, which will command the confidence of buyers at home and abroad, and make it worth the while of grain-producers to send their property hero forsale. The fable of “ the belly aud the members ” told by Acrre- 74 to the ancient communists of Rome may be studied with profit in this connection, DEPARTMENT. Reform has commenced in a good place in @ good way. The judiciousness and wisdom displayed by the President in selecting his Cabinet already begins to be vindicated. Mr. Scavrz hias thrown a bombshell into the Interior Department with his pithy but trenchant decluration, *No removals exceot for cause, no promotions except for merit.” Mr. ‘Tuoxursoy has discharged a whole broad- side iuto his Department by turning ont one of Ropeson's worst dependents upon anthori- tative information that e bnd used Govern- weut supplies in furnishing Ropesox’s house ; by notifying all the Burcau officers that no contracts bereafter must be signed without Lis approval; and by sending notice to Bureau officials that they must meet him two or threo {imes 8 week and present matters pertaining to the service to him for his de- cision. Allof this goesto show that the Navy Department hereafter will have a head instead of a fignre-head. Now that the new Admiral has piped all hands on deck to clean up the old ship, we hope he will make thorough work of it, and go to the very keel in search of rottenness. During the past few years more suspicion has rested upon the Navy, Department than any other. More fault has been found with it. More scandals have attached to it, and more investigations have been made of it than of any other. For years the air was alive with rumors of peculations, frauds, cor- ruptions, and maladministration, which were asserted just as stoutly ns they were denied, and yet the ex-President hung to Romesox with astounding tenacity, closing his eyes eod shutting his' ears-to the charges which were' flying thickly about him. Tavestigat- ing Committees dug up not only sus picions and rumors, but facts ugly enough to have overwhelmed any other man, and still the -ex-President, with that fatal felicity for sticking to bad compeny The improvement of the Welland Cansl really threatens & much larger diversion of the graiu trads from New York than has and Baltimore must carry. grain all the year round; and must compet: with water rates in order to have any summer export busi- ness from those cities, while they could not ¢ 8till clumg 4y Roseson, and he . escaped without impesep, ment, Whether the criminal charges ey true or not, whether there were nctusl and peculations, it was af least proven 'ty the management of the Navy Deplrfim“ was notoriously lax and incompetent, thy money Wos'squandered and; flung avay the most riotous and reckless manger, 'I'n-d{ that the navy yearby year was datzriom, ‘What better proof, in fact, is needed than the present condition of the navy? AR thg, there is to show for RonzsoN's extravagiyy: expenditures is a rotten, rusty, nsed-up e lection of wooden ships that are unseaw and of iron ships that won't float outsgy . their docks. s 4 Never was there a better opportuaity o * purge and clean out. the Naval Dapart and to place it upon as scund a basis as thy menns at disposal will ellow. The.ngy Seeretdry is under no obligations ts h,’ CaTTELS, SECORS, or any other contmum’ jobbers, or lobbyists. The new measnresqf Civil-Service Reform malke him independens of politicians. There are no political em. ployes that need to be retained in the navy.. yards. Thers need be no political sinecuray for past services. He takes command of thy ship unpledged to any one but the peopls; and committed to no policy t_:u: that- of, reform. His remarks to his Bareau officialy : upon the manner in which he proposests conduct the Department are refreshing in view of the past administration. - Ho saysto’ his employes: ““Now, I want it understood: that I am Secretary of the Navy. Heretofora you men have had too much to do with' giving oat contracts. I propose after this to_ 100k after this business myself. I wantyog on all occasions, when any question arises sbout contracts, to come and talk to ma,’ Let us have chatsabout material and its cost, aud see whether we can afford to buy it or, not, because I want it distinctly understood that this Department is not going to haves’ deficiency bill this year.” By turning over. such a leaf as this, he will put the navy on a basis that will leave no room for suspicion, honesty of the management. The.Augusta (Ga.) Sentinel strikes back at the New York World for its taunt about Southern submissiveness to Republican rule. The Sen tinel characterizes the World’s .allusions to the South as “something not only insolent bug amazing™: ‘ Ever since the beginning of reconstruction (says’ the Seatinet), the World, nd mearly every other Democratic paper at the North, have, preached nothing to the South bat submission. **Bear all- things, " they cried: For 'whatr °*For the good of the'party.™ And **the party "' with them meant the Northern Democracy. W lhen there occurred an outbreak in any portion of the South—'-when the people, maddened by oppression, rose up aguinst their oppressors to defend their 'lives, and everything dear to freemen "—the 1World was fore- most in denanciation of the deed. ‘*was swift te stigmatize Southern men wade desperste by des- notiew us irresponible rafians, deserving the se- verest punishment.” The Sonthern people wers told to wait, to_patiently cndare; the Northern Democracy would, in time, svenge all their wrongy, Testore ali their rights. e —————— LE VERRIER, the Directorof the Paris Obser- vatory, wants the astronomers of the world to examine the face of the sun during Tharsday next, in the hope of discovering Vulean in transit. It is sugzested that the observation should be extended to include Wednesday and Friday of the coming weck. PERSONAL. It is said that President Hayds is a good bass singer. James Gordon Benuest i3 amusing himself in Algiers. Juy Gould drew 31,280,000 dividends on Tnlon Pacitle lst year. He. votes on 133,729 shares, The lote Oliver Ames was, it is reported, the wealthiest man in New Eogland. —bis estate being valued at $15,000,000. Jean Ingelow has resumed her workas snag- thor, afteralong interruption occasioned by the sickness and death of her mother. The Prince of Wales fntends to piace his two oldest boye on the ship-of-war Britannis, that they ‘may learn the value of strict discipline. The wife of E. D. Winslow, the Boston defsalt~ er, is supporting herself at Whitehall, N. Y., by sewing. Winsiow himself Is believed to be in South America, 7 Queen Victoria's visit to Germany is now set for April. Her Majesty will go to Baden-Badenand . Coburg, where she will meet the Emperorand Em- press of Germany. Mutthew Arnold is preparing for the press a new cdition of his poems, together with a_ collection of 1his recent papers on guestions of the day, which have appeared in the reviews and magazines. Albert Edward and wife, and 2 great namber of the English nobility, are expecting to spend Eaater week in Parfe. There willbe 4 series of balls, dinners, and other entertainments at the Elysee. On the occasion of the consecration of Bishop Selwyn's son, in New Zealand, ns Bishop of Me- lunesia, a simultsncous service was beld in Litch- ficld Cathedral. ‘Che congregation assembled at midnight. Mr. Evarts, apropos of the invasion of Wash- Ington by applicants for office from Ohfo, re- marked: **I have heardand knasvn a good deal of Ohio and Ohio people, butT have mever yet seca the Reserve.™ ' Elder Evans, the leader of the Ledanon (. ¥.) Shakers, bag started o graveyard on a pew plan. The graves are to be twenty teet npart, with 2 tree plauted over cach, 5o that in time there will be & handsome grove. Longfellor, the poet, and Col. T. W. Higginson were the refercesin a zecent difficnlty between the Senior claxs of Harvard College aad the members of the Husty-Pudding Clab, relating to the ap- pointments for clasa-day. An English paper says that Lord Beaconsfeld, when asked in what style his official residence in Downing street shouid be decorated, pointed to 8 purirait of Sir Robert Walpole, and safd: * Fur- nishit for that portrait.” . A fricnd chatting with President Hayes alluded to the vpposition which certain Senators and pub- lic men were expressing. ayes leaned back in his chuir, laughed quletly, and remarked: *0 yed, 1know; but they wili all be my frignds bo- fore long.” Thomas Winans, of Baltimore, being ont of health, has constructed n coupe witha covering catirely of glass, desiring to receive the full bene- fit of the san’s rays when driviug. He has also bailt for himself and family a private riding risk with glass roof The cable sadly anuounced, the other day, *‘TBe Pope hss had another chill.” And now the pst- ent-invide papess of Towa joyfully declare that *“the Pope has ouother child.” The Holy Father is justied inall his anathemas sgalost type.— Burlington Haukeye. iss Edith May, sister of Fred May, of Bennett~ duet notorlety, i8 to be warried to Mr. Montank of New York, 3iss Mag was one of the parcy thaé was abosrd of the ill-fated yacht Mohawk, last summer, when she capsized in New York harbor, and it is to the bravery of her prospective husbisd that she owes her lite. The Boston Wednesday-Clab—cqmposed of sevel Iawyers, seven merchants, seven clergymen, seven phyaicians—met at the- house of the Moo Robert €. Wintbrop, last week, and celebrated the 100th snpiversary of its organization. Among past members were Judge Story, Judge Johs Da- +vis, W. M. Prescott, George Tickuor, and Judgs B. R Curtis. The Marquis de Potestad-Fuori is now in New York. Heis better known in the United States 8 Don Luis de Potestad, for many years Secretaty o the Spaulsh Legation ac Washington. 1ic married Miss Chapman, of Philadelphia. Ducings recent visit 10 Madrid, he was ralsed o the rank of Mar- quis by King Alphonso; and it fs thought thatbe will so0n be commiasioned as Minister to our Gov- crment. : The London tavern-walters assembled the othet pight under the anspices of the City Misfo, were presided over by the Earl of Shaftesbury. The .company had tea, and oody and Ssakey bymps, and a speech from the President, who said that he was glad to see waiters and barmen a4 semblea in a body, that walting was a usefal 00 capation, and that be hod invarlably found waitesty at home and sbroad, courteous, civil, and kisd. and tne people will have confidence in the '