Chicago Daily Tribune Newspaper, April 13, 1879, Page 4

THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE: SUNDAY, APRiL 1. isi3--Si PRN Russian authorities by the Nihilists, and the Kieff outrage would seem to prove the truth of such assertions. She Tribune. TERMS OF SUBSCRIPTION. THE NEW CITY GOVERNMENT. ‘The municipal election has passed into history. The time for complaints and re- gtets has also passed away. When several thousand voters of a party deliberately stay away from the polls, the presumption is that they desire the election of the candidate of the other party. Mr. Hanersos, therefore, BY MAIL—IN ADVa’ Daily Edition, one sear. Furis of a year, peronth.... Senday Eeltiun: Literary snd Religious Dobie sheet. E—POSTAGE PREPAID. SU ‘ectmen copies sent free. Give Post-Uaice address in full, including State and County. Lemlttances may be made either by draft, express, Post-Odice order, or in registered fetter, at our risis. TERMS TO CITY SUBSCRIBERS. Dally, delivered, Sunday excepted, 25 cents per week. delivered. Sunday included, 30 cents per week. S THE TRIBUNE COMPANY, rer Madison and Dearborn-sta., Chicago, Ill. Onlers for the delivers of Tnx TrisusE at Evanston, Englewood, and'flyde Park left in the counting-room will recetve prompt attention. TRIBUNE BRANCH OFFICES, Tnz Cnicaco Termtne has established branch offices reccipt of subacriptions and advertisements as i. MauLen, Agent. LONDON, Eng.—American Exchange, 449 Strand. Bexry F. Gruita, agent. FRANCISCO, Cal-—Palace Hotel. WASHINGTON D. C.—1319 F street. SOCIETY MEETINGS. CHICAGO LODGE, NO, 55, I. 0. 0. F.—Will give a a {on of the sixteth anniversary of ull, corner Kinzie and Clark- ordsy evening, April 24 U ‘The members equesied to meet at thetr all, corner Madison and. rs0u-sis., Monday evenings, And obtain uckets, E COMMITTEE UF ARRANGEMENTS, J. TURNER LODGE, NO. 409, AF. & A. iar communteation on Thursday evening, at8p. m. at (American Express Building) 76 Tor business. and work on M,M. Dest vers afe requested to be present. Vieltors cordi- avited to meet withus. JOHN E, PETTIBONE, GEORGE M. STANTON, Secretzry. DGE, NO, 717, A. F. & A. Mim ‘oramninication om Wednesday evening, April ich time the Grand Master will pay the visit h was pustpuzed last Wednesday on account of the Aliinembers are expected vo be present. Vis- iivis ahiway6 welcome. By order of the W. SM. a. M. ASHLEY, Secretary. APOLLO COMMANDERY, . 1, RNIGHTS TEMP- J.Al.—statea Conclave Tuesday evening, April 15, i Members of Apollo are expected to ap- Pear eguipped. Visiting Sir Knizhts are always wel- ene fae commnaniery: will be opened in fali form. order of the Em oramander.. 2 WL 5. TIFFANY, Recorder. ar corr ‘a}sr IAN CHAPTER, No. (9, 8. Reg: jon “Monday evenin; at 8 A full attendance ta requested, A new code ws will be, presented for adoption. Visiting Jousare cordially invited. By order of the Mt. HP J. 0. DICKERSON, Secretary. CHAPTER, NO. 43, R. A. M. fridzy evening, April i at Hall, corner of Rendviph und F urssand work on the t© A. Degrve. Visit Scordially invited, By order HENRY M CHARLES B. WRIGHT, Secretary. ‘ASTINGTON: —Reg- cation F200. POLLO LODGE, NO. G12, A. F..& A. M.—There ‘Special Communteation of this Lodge to-day yt 12 sharp, Tor the purpose of attending the ral of our late brother, William Hawkridge. By rot the We Me eee STANDISH ACRES, Secretary. CHICAGO CHAPTEX. NO. 177, R.A. M.. 134 ‘cond-ri.—Special Convocation Munaay even- Yo'clock tor work on the P. and M. E. De- Frove, Misting companions cordially invited.” By or- Ger of the % ELI SMITH, Secretary. . BERNARD COMMANDERY. No. 33K. T.— Wednesday evening, April 30, at the Ik. T. Order. “Visiting Sir Ry order B.C. RERSON, Recorder. kM on is are courteously Invited. J. O. DIGI La FAYETTE CHAPTER. NO. 2, R. A. M.—Tall, 78 Monroe-st.—Stated Convocation Monday evening, 14, at 8 o'clock. for business, Visitors cordially By order of E. K, Foner Of £7. N. TUCKER, Secretary. invite SUNDAY, APRIL 13, 1879. A recent New York letter to the London Times, statingin 9 sensational way that the Epison electric light was a failure, has Drought out a response from the great in- venior, in which he refates the assertions of the Zimes correspondent, and alleges that ihe article was gotten up to ‘‘ bull” gas stock. As will be seen by a Washington dispatch, the remarkable scheme of some land-specu- lators, by which they expected to secure a title to the bottom of Lake Calumet, has Leen frustreted, and none too soon. The strange part of the matter is, that such an affair could have been successfully carried as fur as it was. The row about the alleged peddling of diplomas by the Hahnemann Medical College of this city, which bas been fully ventilated in Tue Terecse, firally culminated yester- day in a formal trial of the institution on the cherges before the State Board of Health. After henring al? that both sides had to of- fer, the Board took the matter under advise- ment. Inthe trial of the Oxtve yang of man- burners at Hastings, Nebraska, yesterday, the defense entered upon the hereulean task cf constracting a good character for the chicf desperado, Oxrvr. While thus en- gaged, one of the counsel for the defense in- suited the presiding Judge, and was promptly fined § and disberred until the amount ehould be paid. Although out of Congress, and elected toa comfortable office at home, ‘* Our Canrer’s” troubles connected with National politics are not over, Ex-Doorkeeper Poxx will go be- fore the Washington Grand Jury to-morrow and tell what he knows abont the alleged ob- isining of money by Haznrson on irregular pay-roils while the Mayor was Chairman of the Committee on Civil-Service Reform. It looks now as though the general clation which invariably attends the recurrence of the Fourth of July was to be somewhat sub- Qued this year by the fact that Congress will not probably adjourn until Aug. 1. Those who should know say that the discussion of the Army and Legislative bills, with the de- bates upon the ‘President’s probable veto of those measures, and ihe consequent caucus- ing, will keep the National legislators at Washington until the dog-days. Public interest in the Stevens trial yester- day was somewhat interrupted by the fact that nothing was done save in the way of ergument by the lawyers as to the ainissibility of certsin _conversations keld by the . prisoner with friends, end which the defense think. would tend to prove that for several days previous to the killing of his wife the prisoner was in a state of mental excitement thst precluded the possibility of his being sane at tho time of the homicide. The Court’s decision will be rendered to-morrow morning. Details of a horrible massacre of prisoners st Kieff. Raisia, come by way of St. Peters- burg, 8 journal of which city publishes. the fecis. The unfortunates were Nihitist students, ond their attempts at escaps by means of a tunnel proved their death. Although informed of the project, the authorities permitted the miserable men to continue their work until the tunnel was completed and filled with prisoners. Soldiers were then posted at each end, and the slaughter. began, its end coming only with the death of the last man in the place. A general system of bratal treatment of prisoners is charged against the Politics, which are somewhat errati man of pure personal character, justifying the belief that he will not only be honest himself in office, but will require all others in office under his control to ‘be equally hon- est. He is not a man of that class who seck office for the opportunities it affords for plunder; therefore it is presumable that he will be no partner in any job or scheme to use the City Government for private gains. is to be justly considered as having been slected Mayor not only by a majority of the Yotes'polled; but by the consent of those who remained away from the polls. Being elected, and the executive control of the affairs of the city being committed to him for the coming two years, the present inter- est of the people of Chicago is as to the manner in which he shall administer his duties, Mr. Hanztson—leaving out of view his is a Of course the Mayor of Chicago will be only one branch of the City Government. Mayor Hear, during his three years in officé, had the good fortune to be supported and sustained by a, majority of the City Council. The Council responded always to the Mayor's penditures, to limit efforts to reduce ex- the number of officers, and to keep taxation at the minimum so long as the city was struggling with an adverse balance of debt, and was hampered by the necessity of issning scrip, the validity of which depended on a majori- ty vote in acourt of seven members. The Mayor.instituted the policy of keeping ex- penditure within the limit of actual or prob- able revenue, instead of making expenditure to the oxtent of the law, and then waiting for revenue to make up the deficiency. The new policy persevered m during three years has done much to rescus the city from its financial troubles. There is, however, one embarrassment that remains. The scrip ques- tion bas been settled by the Courts. The city may pay its creditors in non-interest bearing paper,—the paper to be issu only against appropriations for which tases are actually levied. As the taxes for the year cannot be levied before the 1st of May, the. city can issue no scrip for necessary expenditures from Jan. 1 until after the taxes are levied. It may pay out money if it have it, but, untila surplus of revenue can be accumu- lated, there is no likelihood of any money being in the Treasury, except to redeem out- stending scrip. The new Administration will enter office, and be at once encountered by a loud and pressing demand for several things: (1) Fora complete change of officers, one- half of whom afe members of the incoming party. (2) A demand for liberal ex- Penditures, and the issue of con- tracts. to the full extent of the ap- Propriations. (3) A large increase of the ap- propriations. (4) An abandonment of the Policy of issuing scrip to only a limited amount of the appropriations. (5) The de- preciation of the value of the scrip by an in- crease of the amount issued, and (6) an ap- propriation of scrip to make good the exist- ing depreciation, equal to from 10 to 25 per cent of the whole city expenditures. (7) The undoing of the work on the City-Hall by a change of the stone, involving a total addition to the cost of the building of from $500,000 to $800,000, to appease the lobby, which demands tho change merely for the money involved in it. In support of these de- mands a large number of the Council, and perhaps a majority are committed. Certainly, if all the Democratic Aldermen shall so vote, they and the Communists will be able to en- force all these demands by legislation. If the City Council is to resolve itself into a partisan body, which it bas not been for three years, and the action of the majority is to be directed by the action of a majority of the caucus, and the Meyor and the City Government generally to be no more and no less than the mere official agents of the coucus, then it is possible that the new Ad- ministration will degenerate into es disrepu- table and es calamitous on affair as that which grew out of the so-called People’s party in 1873. The Mayor himself will be powerless ; his own allegiance will be tested by his fidelity to the hehests of caucus, and his election as Mayor will prove a public misfortune. We know Mr. Harnisos was elected as a Democrat, and we éxpect him to act as a Democrat on all party questions, but we ex- ect him also to act as a member of a large public corporation having great financial in- terests, conimitted to a Board of Directors of which he is one. The question of spending a million or a half million of dollars more then is necessary on the City-Hall is a finan- cial question affecting the whole people of Chicago, Democrats and Republicans alike, and isnot, so far as we can understand, a party question ; and we do not understand how Mayor Hanntson is to be directed and controlled in his action on that subject by the decision of a party caucus. There are other matters of deep public concern, but purely matters of municipal policy, as to expendi- ture, as to salaries, as to the number of offices, as to taxation, and as to the public credit, in which the new Mayor has a large and direct pecuniary interest, as the mass of the public of all parties have, and it is likely that in dealing with these questions ho will need the intelligent and earnest support of the best people of all parties, whether in the Council or out of it. If the City Gov- ernment is to be a mere party Club, of which he is to be the official mouthpiece, then he will have to look to his Club exclusively for his support. If, however, the Government “is to be a Government of the City of Chica- go, then he can claim and will receive the sup- port of the whole people in every effort made by him and his associates to carry on that Government as economically and with as little sacrifice to the public in the way of taxation as is consistent with the mainte- nance of the public credit and the public interest. If it be true that Mr. Hanaison aspires to the nomination for Governor of Winois,—and as a man who has commanded 5,000 majority inthis city he may conf- dently do so,—then the ambition may find a strong encouragement under the certainty that if, as Mayor of Chicago, he so adminis. ters the office as to win the confidence and respect of the whole people, he msy receive in Chicago as Democratic nominee for Governor a larger vote than he did two weeks ago for Mayor, Such acommendstion would be of greater aid in capturing 8 State Convention than gomg before it with the uame of having so conducted himself in office as to have. forfeited the confidence and character to which he was indebted for his election. . A certificate of good character from his last employer, Mr. Hannisox knows, is of value to any man seeking place asa public servant. The natura of the City Government which is to take office in May depends there- fore mainly on the decision which Mr. Han- zison and his friends may make as to ac- cepting or disregarding the support of mem- bers of the Council exclusively on political grounds. In other words, it depends on whether he proposes to run the City Govern- ment as a mere Democratic club, or as a Gov- ernment of the city managed for the public interests. NORTH-TOWN FRAUDS. In the South Town of Chicago a system- atio robbery of the taxpayers has been happily ended. Reform of the same sort scems to be needed in the North Town. Among the bills presented for the year 1878-9 are those of the Supervisor, $500; Town Clerk, $500; and Collector, $1,500, and 2 per cent of the tex-collections, or $2,264. These three bills are all illegal. Since honesty carried the day inthe South Town, the Supervisor's annual bills huve bepn less than $100, asarnle. Thelaw is tho samo across the river. Ths North Town Super- visor cannot lawfully earn $800 by the dis- charge of his duties. The Town Clerk would be overpaid if he got $150. Tho Collector is expressly directed to pay to the town all his commissions in excess of $1,500. Collector Mizxer proposes to keep the com- missions and take $1,500 bosides.. a ‘The prevention of this fraud upon the tax- payers—this steal of $3,000—rests with the North-Town Justices. None of these claims can be paid without the vote of a majority of the Board of Audit, which consists of Supervisor Lorrus, Clerk Noxzs, aud the five Justices. Mr. Noxes can be relied upon to vote against the fraud; and it is probable that the Supervisor’s and Justices’ votes for similar allowances in the past have been due rather to carelesness or ignorance than to any intent to defraud the town. But carelessness and ignorance are both culpable in a trustee. These mer are tho trustees of the taxpayers of the town. And we have a right to expect that Justices Ham- aaup and Rosrssos, who, with Mr. Norss, are the Committee of Audit, will, now that their attention has been called to the matter, report sgainst the allowance of these illegal claims, and that the Board will sustain that report. No man who knowingly votes to pay un- Jowful salaries is fit to administer the law, aud no North-Town Justice who fails to put himself upon the record against this attempt- ed fraud should be confirmed by the Senate. Official dishonesty should bar official honors. DANGEROUS POSSIBILITIES FOR CORRU?- g ‘ION. ‘The annual publication of the delinquent- tax list isa fraud upon the people, and in the case of Cook County alone it amounts to an annusl waste of from $50,000 to $100,000, The practice involves a waste, whether or not it is utilized by officials and their friends for personal profit, and should be abandoned on that account ; but it has become especial- ly disreputable and obnoxious because the arbitrary rate fixed by law excludes competi- tion for the work, and enables the County Treasurer either to show favoritism or to render the job profitable to himself by exact- ing from the newspaper printing the list a division of the spoils, A bill is pending in the Lower House of the Legislature which purports to abolish the publication now re- quired; but, like most measures conceived by the present Legislature, it does not ac- complish but a fraction of what it pretends. The proposed Inw provides that it shall only be necessary to publish a general notice in the newspaper that an application is to be made at a certain term of court for judgment against property on which the taxes remain unpaid. So far, so good. But then the bill provides that, after judgment shall have been rendered and beforo the salo of the delinquent property, notica shall bo published of the time of such sale, which shall include a complete description of ‘the lands and lots to be sold, names of owzers, amount of judgment, etc. This will be as long and costly a publication, in the end, as is required by the present law. For s time the general notice of application for judg- ment may induce a good many taxpayers to come to the front; but they will soon learn to defer payment until after the publication of the notice to sell, and then tho list will be as extensive as ever. Thus, un- der the proposed condition of things, the opportunity both for spending the public money and for corrapt official appropriation of apart thereof will be as broad as itis now. The only remedy is to do away with all publication except that of a general notico of application for judgment and a subse- quent general notice of sale. Two such no- tices would serve every public purpose, and cost but a few dollars a year. ‘The testimony taken in the McCrea inves- tigation at Springfield reveals in part the op- portunities for corruption which this annual publication of the delinguent-tex list affords, ‘Whatever personal connection County Treas- urer McCrea may or may not heve had with the negotiations for Iast year’s publication, the testimony thus far leaves no room for doubt that one of his bondsmen, thkt another gentleman who had been intimately assocint- ed with him socially and politically, and that his own brother, were cognizant of an effort to secure a part of the sum allowed by law for the benefit of somebody who was to bear no part of the expense incurred in printing the list, and was in no wise entitled to any por- tion of the proceeds. If we assume thet County-Treasurer McCrea knew nothing of these negotiations and was not to be a bene- ficiary of the proposed division of money, then the fact that the negotiations were car- vied on without his knowledge only shows how much easier the corruption would -be with the full connivance and consent of the official in control. Still, assuming that Coun- ty-Treasurer McCrea was not personally in- terested in the proposed division of the spoils, that fact did not prevent the job of publication being taken away from the news- paper for which - he had previously indicated 4 preference, but which refused to pay forthe patronage. If, then, the law as it stands sven enables outside parties to trade suc- cessfully on the awatding of the contract, how much more pernicious would be its bearings atid effects if the office of Connty ‘Treasurer should ever happen to be occupied by 8 man who would consent to use the power of selecting the advertising medium as a means for his own personal profit ! But the possibilities of corruption, as il- lustrated by the evidence in the MoCnea case, extend beyond the immediate connec- tion of a County Trensuror or hig friends with a division of the. proceeds, In that case, it appears that riot only wera men inti- mate with Connty-Treasorer McCura going about using his privilege for selecting the | tertainments; finally, any one with society newspapér a8 a source of profit for some- body; that not only were these persons in somesort of communication with Mr. McCrea himself; that not only was the job finally taken from Acortsin newspaper which ro- fused to be blackmailed; but that, subse- qnently to all this, the scandal led to a very questionable and dangerous pressure upon the Grand Jury which undértook to examine into it. It appears! from the testimony taken at. Springfield that Mr. McCrea was represented by at least two professional attor- neys, who busied themsclves in seeing and talking with members of the Grand Jury and with persons likely to appear before that body as witnesses. Tho result was a majority re- Port relieving everybody of blame, and a minority report exonerating Mr. McCrea. How much the services of Mr. MoCnxs’s at- torneys influenced this action of the Grand Jury itis not possible to tell; in fact, not even an inference as to this would be fair, since the attornoys in question declined to tell how much McCies paid them for their work, which, if known, might at least be a gauge of the estimate McCrea’ himself put upon the service they had rendered. As the welfare of society and individual justice require that a Grand Jury shall examine rig- idly and fully into every case that properly comes under their investigation, and as any interferenco in the case in question was dua to the existence of tho Idw out of which the scandal grew, we have another good reason why this publication of tax-lists should be abandoned. But tho partial abandonment contemplated in the House bill will not se- cure the desired object, and such an amend- ment. of the law will still Ieave oxtensive possibilities for corruption, as indicated by what might have happened in the McCaza case. THE ROMAN CATHOLIC BISHOP OF CHI- cago. ‘The Roman Catholic Bishops of the Arch- diocese of St. Louis have been summoned by Archbishop Kenpaice to meet at St. Louis during the present week to make a recommendation to Rome of a suitable suc- cessor to the late Bishop Forex. The St. Louis Watchman, writing from a full knowl- edge on the subject, says: “*Wo announced last week that the Metropolitan of St. Louis had ordered the Rectors of the Diocese of Chicago, which fs a eco enffragan to him, to assemble on the occasion of the Month’s-mind of Bishop Foury to ballot for a snecessur to that lamented Prelate. We have since seen a copy of the Archbishop’s letter, and can give more par- ticulars. His Grace not only calls upon the Rectors of the Diocese of Chicago to vote for their Bishop, but be adds that he will recommend their choice to the Bishops of the province at their meeting after Easter in this city. The reason given by our Arch- bishop for this extraordinary measure is the failure of Bishop Fouzy to leave the three names, as pro- vided in canon Jaw, from which 8 selection might be made, But while this omission might justify the proceeding, the promise of his Grace to accept the choice of the priests, and to urge its adoption by his suffragans, shows him to have implicit confi- dence in the ability of the clergy of Chicago to make a good and desirable selection.” It will be remeinbered that the clergy of the Chicago Diocese met somo weeks ago, and with great unanimity recommended the Rev. Dr. McMuxtey as their first choice, Father Rrospan as the second, and Father Conwax as the third choice. These names will be laid before tne meeting of the Bishops ‘Wednesday, and the Watchman assumes that the recommendation will be unanimously given to Dr. MoMunuen. That paper says: “Dr. McMuzzen has long heen a prominent priest of Chicago. Hecomplete’d his studies at the Propaganda in Rome neatly twenty-two years ago, and cince that time bas labored in Chicago, both as President of a college and ss pastor of a parish. \When Bishop Forer came to Chicago he eet about remedying the evils wbich came from his pre- decessor’s misfortune, and his first step was to ascertain the extent of the alleged insubordination in the diocese. The priests for whom the lato Bishop had conceived such an insane antipathy were sent to obscure places in the country. They, one and ail,. submitted to tho order, and exhibited in their new fields of labor tho earnest zeal and capacity which had before endeared them to the people of Chi- cago, For eight years Bishop Foter did with- out 4 Vicar-General, determined that he would know bis priests before confiding to them any por- tion of his anihority. Atthe end of that time he called Dr, McMuLLeN, to his aid and proclaimed him Vicar-General of Chicago. Bunt years before that he had called oth Father McMunien- and Father Roxzs from their retirement and restored them to their former promitient positions in that city. When Bishop Forzy lay on his death-bed he thought of none to whom ke could better con- fide the interests of his diocese than Dr. McMutren. We is a priest who bas been severely tried in the erucible of snffering, and he bas proven the pure gold of his character in the ordeal. Years ago, before Bishop Foury was named for the see, the clergy of Chicago petitioned Rome to appoint Dr. AMcMutte: They now have their choice. Dr. cMuLLEN is vindicated, and Rome will honor him. ‘To have been a good priest under gooa re- Port was a credit, but to have persevered in good- ness under evi} report was heroic. There is to-day no more bonored name among the priests of the West than Dr. McMutnes, and tho Bishops of the Province will place all the priests of the province under a lasting debt of gratitade by seconding the almost unanimous choice of the clergy of our neighboring diocese.” The choice of the clergy in this caso will, probably meet the cordial approval of the Roman Cutholic laity of the diocese. Dr, McMoxzey is a gentleman of rare ability, a ripe scholar and theologian, and a brilliant preacher. Though much of his theological education was obtained in Europo, he has al- ways been, as boy and man, devoted to Chicago and Illinois. Here ho frst attended school, and, except when absent at college or ona mission, he has lived in this city, and is familiar with the people of Chicago and of the other parts of the diocese, He is nt present, Acting Administrator and Vicar- General, and enjoyed the unlimited confi- dence of the Iate Bishop Fotzy. Under all these-circumstances, it is reasonable to ex- pect thatthe Bishops of the diocese, all of whom are familiar with his ability and bis high charactet, will indorso the recommenda- tion of the local clergy, and that in due time Dr. McMutzen will be appointed by the au- thorities at Rome. THE SIGNAL FOR TRUMPS. The social amportance which the gnme of whist has acquired of late years is well illus- trated by the fact that Mr, Wizraw Pore (a Fellow of the Royal Society, by the way), the great modern authority, has written an elaborate paper, printed in the Jast number of the eminent Fortnightly Revico under tho sanction of the distinguished Joux Monuex, on asingle point in the gime, viz.: the sig- nal for trumps. Proficiency in whist-play- ing has long been one of the polite accom- plishments in English society, as well as a means of protection in some of the London clubs; but its recognition as a social science in this country is of more recent origin, Nevertheless the game has rapidly acquired a strong foothold in American circles. Whist- clubs have. been formed in grent numbers all over the country ; tlie game énjoya a license of respectability even from those who do not entirely epprove of card-pliying; when the Messrs. Appreroy were ~ issuing a new edition of their cyclopedia, a@ person of no less. eminence than Mr. S. L. M. Barzow, of the New York Bar, was engaged to write the articleon whist; it is the chief feature of all minor édcial en-- pretensions or hopes might as well neglect a party-call nowadays as to lead from o short suit, or fail to return tramps to his partner, at the whist-table. An ignoranco of the game of whist is fast becoming an inexcusable s0- cial want. Mr, Pore’s article in the Fortnightly is ov- titled “Conventions at Whist,” an English term inconvertible with “signals,” ax uscd by American pla: His purposo in at onco moral and scient inasmuch as ho opporer vigorously and intelligontly all tho recent in- novations which rest upon a proconcertod understanding that a certain play shall notu- ally and arbitrarily inform tho partnor of tho desired return. Mr. Poze does not, as a mnat- ter of course, object to the legitimacy and desirablevess of certain rales which aro well known to all good whist-players, such as the following: Whon a trump is Icd, tho inferenco of the partner is that tho playor’s hand is strong in trumps, and trumps should. be returned at the first opportunity; se, when a player leads a king, the inference is that he has the ace or queen in his hand; the suit from which he lends first by preference is nat- urally supposed to bo his strong suit. Theso and many other similar rules are signals of expediency established by long practice. Neither does Mr. Pore condemn such varia- tion from the established roles as will indi- cate to a partner the existence of an excep- tional hand, and leave to his intelligence to put such an interpretation upon the play as may strengthen their natural éfforts.. But he is opposed—and we think properly—to the so-called “signal for trumps,” which is an arbitrary bid for trumps by throwing away in a trick s high card when the natural pley would be to throw a low: card, neither being high enough to take the trick. This prac- tice, based upon a previous understanding between the two partners, doesnot appear to be very different in o moral or scientific that -a way from an understanding partner should place the forefinger of his right hand on his right eye when he desires that diamonds shall be led, on his left eye when he wants hearts, on his right cheek for spades, and on his left cheek for clubs. If. whist is to be the standard and respectable game of cards for American society, as it has long been in French and English society, itis highly de- sirable that preconcerted signals of this character be rigidly excluded; for the Amer- icans would quickly invent a variety of sach signs, which, among: the accepted Freeme- sons of whist, would render the play as ob- vious asif the cards were spread openly upon the table, and at the same time would make the uninitiated easy victims to their own innocence. ‘ Interjectio silentium im- perans” isan old definition of the term “whist,” and Mr. Pore conceives it-to apply with equal fores to any communication, re- mark, or agreement previous to the game as to conduct during the game. The objectionable ‘‘signal for tramps” has received the approval of certain authorities on whist-playing, but that it is not generally accepted in English ‘whist circles is evident from the fact that the question, ‘‘Do you use the trump-signal?” is always asked be- fore the game begins, and it is the only question asked. It has led, as a matter of fact, to other innovations equally objection- able, though not so generally understood. ‘Thus, leading the lowest card but one, in- stead of the uniform practice of lending the lowest, as a means of indicating that tho player has more than four cards of that suit. So, a variation of the usual “practice of lead- ing ace and king is used to disclose the short- ness of a suit toa partner. These aro men- toned simply to show what a recognition of arbitrary and preconcerted signals may lead to; they conld be extended andor the ingenious manipulation of the expert card- player to es much of a disclosure of the partner’s hand as if one could read the cards from the back. Such a system would deprive the game of all its scientific merit and much of the pleasure to be derived from it, and it would rapidly descend to the level of ‘ three- card monte” or any other swindling device of the card-sharper. This is the danger of the ‘‘trump-signal” as 6 precedent, even if it should be tolerated in itself and classified with the regular rules of the game. It is to be hoped that the strong ground which Mr. Porz has now taken against it (modifying somewhat the views he has previously ex- pressed in his little bogk on whist) may check this innovation in American whist cir- cles. It is certain that all passionate whist- players and students at the game will find much interest in his Fortnightly article, and we think also will be impressed by tho cogency of his reasoning, Z Sanitary science has had a new revelation in regard to the effect of freezing on the germs of yellow fever. ‘The facts in the case of the Plymouth go to show that no amount of freez- ing is sufficient to totally destroy these secds of disease. In November Inst, at Santa Cruz, several deaths occurred on board the ship from yellow fever. She was soon after ordered to Boston, where she remained all winter and up to the middle of March. During the winter she was thoroughly fumigated, disinfected, and frozen out, and every meaus known to sanitary science was employed to rid the vessel of the yellow-fever germs. Everstaing was removed, anda purt of the winter the vessel lay in dock inclosed in ice. The water in her staterooms was constantly frozen, and in March she went to sea with o crew that was entirely healthy. When 200 miles out, and before she had touched at .any port, the unmis- takable fever of the tropics prose out on board, the first case occurring exactly where the ham- mock was swung when the first ease appeared the fall before. If such thorough freezing and cleansing as the Plymouth was subjected to-is insufficient to kill out yellow fever on a sbip wintering in the hyperborean climate of Massa- chusetts, {t fs folty to expect the fever belt in the South, extending from the Gulf to Memphis, will escape a visit from Yellow Jack the comin surimer. And possibly tlie disease itself may become so acclimated or. modified that it will gradually pass farther and farther North, until a mild type of it may be as well known in Chi- cago as it is now in New Orleans. a The House of Representatives of the General Assembly of Ilinois cannot levy a tax ot one mill upon the most worthlets dog ia the State without the consent of the Senite aud the sanction of the Executive, Nor can it prohibit agoose from running at large in Springficld without the concurrence of the other branch of the lawmaking power; and yet it bas incar- cerated a man in prison. who is guilty of no crime, and has kept him there in company with thieves, burglars, and assassins for over one week. The spirit and genius of our Constitu- tion and Jaws contemiplute security for thé citizen; but the Lower House of the Ilinois Legislature is exercising a power that is a3 dangerous and despotic ‘as it is unreasunable and unjustifiable. Here, in tlie case of Mr. NEVIS, is a citizen kept in durance vile without “due process of law,” and a remedy should be provided at once to cover all such cases. eo The excuse given by Senator Joz Rayan, Chairman of the Democratic State Central Com- mittee of Wisconsin, for bringing out a Demo- cratic candidate for Associate-Justice of the Su- Preme Cotirt was that Judge Coxe, tie Repub- cab, could easily be beaten by Cormen, the Debiderat, aiid that’ Cormmin’s election ‘this spring “would put: the Democratic party in good fighting trim for the fall campaign,” when there will be 2 Governor and other State officers to elect. The Chairman of the Central Com- mittee showed his folly in making the election of a Supreme Judge a partisan question, and the people of Wisconsin have shown their wis- dom by defeating CoTaren by nearly 30,000 majority. As a piece of machine-work Mfr. Nanny has uo cause to be proud of it; neither huyo the Democracy of Wisconsin any reason to be proud of the skill, tact, or party manage- mont of its chief manipulator and diplomat. In- stead of putting his party in good shape for the noxt Qubernatorial election, Rawsrx has forced {ttofueur all the moral odium of defeat upon the ground and issues presented by himself and acceded to and sanctioned by bis party. It is au example of Democratic stupidity.and blun- dering that can always be depended upon when- ever the exigency of the case will admit of mis- takes. Not only are there s good many members of the present Congress representing States that they were not born in, but carpot-bagying seems to be made respectable by several persons who are natives of other countries. Three of the Douse were born in Ireland. Senator Beck isa native of Scotland, and Senator Joss, of Ne- vada, of Wales. Jorcs, of Vermont, and Brroes, of New Hampshire, were born in Eo- gland. Flerustan, of Indiana, Morse, of Bos- ton, MILLER, of New York, and PoEnLze, of Minnesota, are natives of Germany. la reco The Arkansas Gazette is of the opinion that the exodus of negroes from the South can do that section no hurt, as “There are too many colored people in some of the Gulf States for the good of both races.” Unless the people of the South intend to live entirely on whisky, tobacco, and yellow fever, it looks as if the mi- gration of its laborers would be a damage to it. Somebody must cultivate the land and make the crops, while the lazy whites sit around the corner groceries whittling sticks aud talking politics. ooo If TiLpEw proves to be too infirm, not of pur- pose, but of health, to make the Presidential | race in 1880, it is suggested in certain Demo- cratic quarters that be shall turn over all his right, title, interest, good-will, fixtures, ass¢ and macbinery for running the business to ven J. RanpaLt. The Speaker would like to inherit whatever Mr. TrLDEN may have on hand when he makes his political will, but RanDant ‘may as well remember that he can-never geet the “Solid South” as loug as Joz BLackBurn is alive. It is not strange that the poor negroes should flee from their oppressors and taskmasters. That has been the universal practice of the abused and Gown-trodden from time immemorable. Every- where and in every ase, and among all peoples under the cirenitof the run, whes tyranny could no longer be borne nor remedied by revolution, those who could do so have sought shelter under kindlier skies in a distantland. The only wonder isthat the negro has not ‘moved on” before this late day. a The fon. Patrick TaLuerranp WILBER- Foros Barry is “ forninst * compulsory eda- cation, which is strange enotigh on the part of the eminent scholar, jurist, and statesman from Cook when we consider that his Smelling Com- mittee isin favor of keeping a man in jail who is guilty of no crime, human or Divine. Being in favor of the compulsory imprisonment of an innocent man, Par ought to be consistent, and fayor compulsory education and everything else compulsory. The Atlanta Constitution is level-headea enouch tosay that BLarve’samendment ought to become a law and the law strictly enforced. It is in effect to punish by fine and imprisonment eny person who appears within a mile of any poiling-place with a deadly weapon. . The peo- ple of the South begin to see that the almost universal practice of carrying deadly weapons @ocs not promote peace and good order in so~ ciety, and ought to be abandoned. —— ‘The State of Georgia doesn’t propose to allow any National Emigration Socicty to invade her territory and aid or persuade the negroes to “go? An Atlanta paper notifies all such or- ganizers that they ‘must come prepared to pay $500 to the ordinary of each county in which they may deem it necessary to carry on their business.” If the colored citizen intends to emigrate, he is nob to be allowed any outside help. ‘The Atlanta Constitution (Reconstructed Con- federate Democrat) says that every man is op-~ posed to the use of troops at the polls ‘who is honest and loves his country.” That may be true, and it is also trae that every honést man who loves -his country-is in favor of haying a free election and an honest count. PERSONALS. **The Ohioidee”—No Thurman in ours. The Znlus must emigrate to Kansas and gotofarming. — The Southern negro is destined to bo known as the Western negro. ; : One swallow doesn’t make a summer, and one robin is equally onable to make a spring, Motto of the Southern colored man: A farm in Kansas is worth two birds in the bush, In making up his committees, Speaker Randall should not forget that there is a North. Mrs! A. T. Stewart, reported to be in Florida, has not been absent lately from New York. Peace will soon reign in South Africa, for there will be no Englishmen left to keep up the fighting. ‘The recent: elections in Ohio cotivince us that the old flag and the bloody shirt ‘‘are atill there.” ‘ i z If Colt, the revolver-man, were alive, he Would be the choice of the Solid South for the Presidency. i W. . Vanderbilt’s income is $1,000 an hour, whicli 1923 much a3 many of us receive in a whole day. “More missionaries are going out to South Africa, Cetywayo is s good fighter, but he has not yet fought the good fight. An exchange says ‘‘Put none but Damo- erats on guard.” What! Is the United States ‘Treasury to be barglarized ? Prof. King will have his balloon in readi- ‘ness in 1880. Mr. Tilden will also be in readiness at that time to go up with him. Hi there, Anthony Comstock! Arrest Mrs. Oliver. She is soing to lecture on ** What I Know About Simon Cameron." Boston has a Talmage, ‘ only. hé is older and less spirited, with less jump in his rhetoric and fewer fire-crackers in his speecu. The wedding of the midgets, Gen. Mite and Lucia Zarais, is again snnonticed for an early day. It will be 2 very small wedding. Unfortunately for Mr. Thomas A. Hen- dricks, ‘the country is not as.thoronzhly convinced as he is that he ought to be Presiaent. Panl Boyton’s apparatus is perfect, and wa might as well -prepare onrselves for the snd news that he bas reached the Galf in safety. The Pekin and Peoria Districts are con- vinced that nothing bat another term of Grant can restore the country to peace, prosperity, and hap- pines. Gov. Hubbard does not say “Bless you, ny efilldren." On the contrary, his remarks sound ike Denny Kearney's comments on the Chinese bill. cere Bob Ingersoll’s contribution of $1,000 to the emigfing negroes makes us think that, per- haps, the place of future punishment hes a cool corner in it. New York doesn’t need any police force, ‘The fact that the present one 1s not exterminated is proof cnonh that New York is a peaceable and law-abiding city. Laura Joyce, the actress, asks the Supreme Court of Messachusctts to increase’ her alimony from $1, £00 to $3, C00, and that her child, now re- maining with its father, James Valénting Tayior, may be taken from him. ‘ SPRINGEIELD, An Imprisoned Correspondent Pree sides at a Cotirt of His Own Cali The Trial and Scntence of S2yerig Well-Kiown Legislators, Sneciat Disnatch to The Tribune, Sancamon County Jain, Sprrsg: April 12.—A correspondent of Tur CHtcagg = ‘Tripuye, having been arraigned before the Bar of the House of Representatives of the State of Ulinois, and having beeu sentenced for lite to the Common Jail of Sangamon County for cone tempt of said body, does nuw hereby armaiga. the House of Representatives before the bar of = public opinion of the State of Lilinois for trig, on an indictment of vagrancy, corruption, ang gencral worthlessness. In this cause he wy] - appear in the capacity of the Court Lefore which this cause is. to be tried, and the people of the State shall act as a jury. ‘These solemn preliminaries having been com. pleted, the court will now be opened and the trial proceed at once. : “WILLIAM H. THOMPSON, stand up. You are indicted for absenteelig and general worthlessness. Are you guilt? oy not guilty?? “Not guilty.” “ Where are you from?” “ Coox County.” “ From what district?” “ From the First Senatorial District. * How loug has this House been in sessionf» * “Tr bas been in session ninety-five days.? “ During that time how many roll-calls hays. you missed?* “Ihave missed 250 roll-calls by the Clerk's micutes,”? 4 “During that time what have you been doing: for your constituency?” @ “Nothing. Ihave been working for myself, During the temporary organization of the Housa Ikept a grocery in room six of the Leland - Hotel, and tried to get myself elected Speaker I should not have received a vote for that office : had it not been for Tar Trtscxe correspond- ents, who fixed it up with the Cook County, delegation, eo that on the first informal ballot £ received eleven votes, intended as merely com- pliméntary, and to let me down easy. After. my defeat for ‘ike Speakership 1, étroggled for the Chairmanship of a Committee, and bya great deal of mportunity* and cheek Lobtained the Chairmanship of the’ Standing Vommittee on Railroads, for which, position I was not qualified. I then reached out ; for the Lieutenant-Colonelcy of the First Regi-’ ment of Illinois Guards of Chicago, in which‘ contest I didn’t succeed even in getting my.. vame mentioned. Then I spent my time in’ riding up and down the Chicago & Alton Rail-: road, between Chicago and Springticld, on a free pass furnished by that corporation, collect-. ing my rents in Chicago and attending to my: personal affairs.” “¢ Mr, Thompson, is that the way in which you * expect to become the next Governor of It: nois?”? “ Well; I am attending to that business now.” ; “Mr, Thompson, you have been convicted bys the jury on your own testimony, which has been © full, frank, and conclusive. The sentence of this Court is, that you return to your beguiled constituency at the close of this session ofthe ~ Legislature and never be seen bere again. You will be furnished transportation by Mr. MeMut- Jon, and yiven ninety days to get out of this tone Representative of the Stock-Yards Dis trict will please stand forth. “What is your name?” “SOLOMON HOPEINS.”? i “Well! you’re ugly enough. Have you ever had your picture taken?? “Yes every chance Iget. I haven't missed 2 session for the last fourteen years.”” ‘¢ Have you been around to Pittman’s?"” “You bet.” 5 “Mr. Hopkins, you will please drop the Stock=, Yards vernacular when addressing this Court,’ - and confine your vocabulary to the United States language. Will you send this Vourt your pict-: ure? $ “With pleasure.” ae “Tnis Court feels bound to inform you, 3Mr.' Hopkius, that he is about to publish a book of. dreams, and he desires your picture engraved ot. the frontispiece, as an ideal conception of a. nightmare. In this case no witnesses wil!.ba See repart ou are sentenced to be cremated in the first retort constructed io aceordancowita’ the provisions of the bill introduced by rou on that subject if it shall become a law. The mo- tion for a new tria! in this case is orerruled.”) +: “air. Doorkeeper, bring into court tlie body: THE WON. PATRICK WILBERFORCE BARRY. /~ Mr. Barry, you are charged with baving, ina’ eoeecli Galivcred in the House of Represents-' tives, said more hard things sboat, your col-* leagues upon this floor than any other member of this House, and with being Socialist. Aré* you guilty or not guilty?” “Not Fe 2 “Mr, Barry,on what did you base those charges?” 5 On a moral conviction, based upon the char-. acter of certain measures introduced here,which’ no honest man seeking the good of the people. would press.”” “ are you an honest man, Mr. Barry?” ‘ “JT came here asau honest man, 1 have en- deayored todiscbarze mv duty as an honest aman, and, by the help of God, [ intend to leave’ ere a0 honest man.”. * are you 2 member of that murderous Social- istic or¢anizauon of Chicago?” i “Tam; and was elected to come here on thit issue.” ” = “What say the jury—is the prisoner smilty ot not guilty?? e J “ Guiley.? , F ©Mr. Barry, you aré convicted of being & member of a marauding, idle, political organiza- tion with having made statements asainst this House which are true, but which you cannot’ prove. You are sgntenced for life to the County jail of Sangamon County, :nd will be sent there atonce. in this case no bail will be allowed.”, {Slow music, dim lights, and the smell of sub phur as Mr. Barry retires.] “THE HON. ISAAC L. MORRISON, come into court. You sre charged with 9 sneaking desire to be Governor, and, baviog been sold out by your friends in the contest for the Speakership of the present House,. you are charged with nursing in your geutle breast the burning fires of revence, and with cherish- ing bitter malice and hatred for those who a3- sisted in your defeat. Are you guilty or nov guilty 2? a ‘€ Not guilty.” “Mr. Doorkeeper, + CALL JOUN I. OBERLY - asawitness. Stand up end be siorn, my sod, Speak up, and don’t: be afraid, and tell the Court and the jury all you know about this case,” . “T used to be an editor. Iam now a Kailread'= and Warchouse Commissioner.” “Do you know Mz. Morrison?” : “1 do.? Poe « “Did you and Mr. Bosue, also a member.of your Board, use your influence in the contest: for the Speakership for one of Mr. Morrison's opponents?” ed “We did.” “Was that what made him mad, in your opinion, and caused him to introduce that bill reducing the salary of the Railroad and Ware house Commissioners from $3,500 to $1,500 per annum?” “ That is the general opinion.” ‘ ‘Is that what caused him to go over to the Socialists and make that powerful, but wicked, speck Sgainst the Militia bIN aboat two weeks: 420, 80 25 to be revenred on the inajority of House for not electing him Speaxer#” “Tt is so reported.” “4g that what ,has made him sour. and ear F all winter, and cdused nfm to take the bowels out of everything that came in his reach during this entire session?” . ‘It is 30 understood, I belicve.’” “*You are a Democrat, ain't you?” “Yes; one of the Bourdon kind.” “You travel around through the Southera part of this State making speeches against thé Republican party, don’t you, in every cam paign?? : “Yes, afr”, ‘You couidn’t afford to do that if the Gov” ' The prisoner will be convicted on com-: ernor hadn't appointed you to the place, be occupy, and the railroad companies b filled your pockets with railraad passes? * &No, sir “That will do, Joba, Call ° GEORGE BOGUE. ; Mr. Bogue, do your concur in all that Mr. Oberlf + has testified to?” i * Yes, sir, and more too.’” 1 “That will do. “Mr. Mforrison, the verdict of w &