Chicago Daily Tribune Newspaper, February 4, 1880, Page 4

“he Tribune. TERMS OF SUBSCRIPTION. BY MAIL—IN ADVANCE.—POSTAGE PREPATD. Inlty edition, one yeaa. $212.00 Jortaot @ yonr, Por nit 1,00 dnestay. tr hnewday, and Bi #99 Munday, Wetnoulny, and Priday, pur oar; ge Snturday or Sunday, Le: i jaar 2.00 Any other day, pur you R00 WEFKLY ED! CRP Fons tone Chu of ten, Hpeclnen coplen sont treo. Glvo Post-Oftice nddross fn full, Inoluding State and County. Uernltinneca may bo made elthor by draft, oxprers, Jyst-Ontice under, ov in roulstorod lottor, at our risk, TO CITY RUBSCHINENS, Dally, dolivared, Runday oxcepted, 25 conta por week. Daily, dellyerod, Sunday included, 10 cents por weuks Address {THE TIUNUNIE COMPANY, Cornor Madison and Duarborn-ate., Chleago, Li), ———ee Lo! Enterett at the Post-Osice at Cnicago, Ni, as Seconds Clase Matter. For the bonentt of our patrons who desire to send single coples of THE TNIKUNE through tho mall, wo civa herowith the transtent mto of postage: Domestic, Fiche nnd Treehyo 1 Sixigon Pago Papor. Hight ond ‘Teelvo Pa; Sixtoun Puxe Paper TRIBUNE feng Crtcano Tree offices for the recelpt of subscriptions and advertlsas nents na fottaws: NEW YORK—Ioom 43 Tribune Duliding. ¥.'T. Mo+ ¥ANMEN, Munnger. VAIS, Frince.-No, 16 tue do ta Grango-Ratulera. Runt American Exchango, 4 Strand, AMUSEMENTS, MoVicker's Theatres Madisot street, botween Venrbort und Stnte. Ene gu ot Mr, Gus Williams, “Qur Gorman Sen- ator. Afturnoon and yvouing. Magerly's Theatre, Denrborn street, corner of Monroy. Engagmvont of DMr, Mauriles Gran's French Oporn Company. Aftor- noon, “The Chics of Normandy" Evonloy, “Mignon.” Nootey's Theatre, Nandoiph street, butwoon Clark and Bn Salle. Ene gmgument of Misy Dicklu Lingard. “dts Bourchan- Dault.” Afternuon nud uventni. Olympic Thentre, Clark street, botweon Randalph und Lake, Hngaze- mont of Goorgy Learock. “Philip Gurdon, Miner.” Aflernoon and avoning, HMamlin’s Theatre. * Clark street, betwoen Washington and Itandolph, Engngemont of Me. Frank Chonfrau. “ Kit, the Are kansas Travolor.” Afternoon und eyoning. SOCIETY MEETLNGS, KNIGHTS OF PYTHIAS—All mombers of tho Ore dor ore requested fo be present at the Grand Jaina Mal), cornor uf La Balto und Adame-sta., to-day, Fel 4,nt 3 o'clock p. m.. to nttond the sunorel of vbr Inte Brother, Past Gi Shancellor und Past Supremo Representative ‘1 W, Deertiy. The services wil commence prot wyely at 3 o'clock. Members in Sniform are requestod 10 be prevent fiftenn minutes arlien: oD, KENNEDY. emer Deputy Grand Chancellor for isk: of Cook. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 1890, We are informed that 1 number of news- ooys yosterday demandud sz cents fora copy of Tim Daiy Trmuse, ‘They have no right to do this, as the retail price is five cents, and no inore under any elrenmstances, ‘They make a good profit on the sale of Tue “ Tnmune at that price, and must not exact more. : Two prnsons yesterday perished in the burning of the County-Hospital Bullding near Bfilwaukee. Ono was 9 feeble-minded woman of 9, and the other an Insane man of BI 4 HEAVY snow-storms are reported to the cast, west, and north of us, but Chicago somehow manages to escapy tie severe weather, as has been her experience all win- terlong. | ADENIAL of the report of the intended marringo of Mr, Sunuel J, Tilden is given to the world on the authority of that gentle ynan’g seeretary, who says there Is no such telleity in store for the unhappy old bachelor . of Gramercy Par Tue Judiciary Committes of tho Lower House of the Maing Legislature has beon in- structed to Inquire Into tho advisability of 80 amending the Constitution of the Stato as to Umit the right of suffrage to those who are abla to read and write the English Janguage. in view of tho anticipated visit to Chicago _ of Dr, Fricdrick Bodenstedt, the German pout, a movement lag been set on foot by representatives of the German societies of the clty to welcome and suitably receive the distinguished visitor, who 1s expocted to nr- rive nbout the 90th fnst. ‘Yur loenl Committee of Democrats ap- Doluted to labor for the holding of the Na- tlunal Demuoratic Conyontion hn Chicago has been enlarged to twenty-one mombors, and an organization perfected looking to some systematic work toward gajuing the reault destred. Something more of the Industry and Uberallty with which the Republicans did the busincss than has thus far been shown will bo necessary If the Chicagu Democrats expect to succer A-test made yesterday at Woolwich con- firmed the supposition that the recent oxplo- sion of the thirty-clght-ton turret gun on bonrd the British war-ship Lhunderer, where- | by several officers and men were killed, was tho result of carelesness In double-londing the gun. Ln proof of tho correctnoss of this theory, the “imate” to this big cannon was brought baok to the Woolwioh arsenal aud loaded with tio charges of powder, weighing tn all 190 pounds, besides two pro- §uetiles of 600 and 700 pounds welght respect- ively, and the gun thus overcharged burst In- tp atoms, thereby proving that that was what alled tha one on bourd the Thunderer, It was an expensive mode of testlhg the cor reetness of a theory, but none too costly in propurtion to the valuable result arriyed at, A comMITTER was yeaterday appointed by tho Directors of the Chicago Bourd of Trade to proveed to Washington and ropresont that body before tha Senate and House Commit tues on Commerce in thelr considoration of varlous moattera of Impartunes to the com- merelal Interests,—such as the lnprovement on tho St. Mary's Canal, Tho Directors alao adopted a resolution, reported from the Com : inittee on ‘Tranepoitation, tudorsing the pro- Jectod new line of rallway communteation with Port Royal, 5. 6., thore to connect with nus of ocean steamships carrying tho prod: y}, Mets of the West ta Murapean ports, ees Yale ofthe Limckitn Crossing at the mouth of the al Detroit River, and the despening and {n- EGAU- provement ot the St, Mary’s River to make It AVA}. correspond with tha work now In progress vg! aN Bai Some curlositics tn tho way of suteldos and “qagualties aro reported tn the dispatehes this morting. ‘Lhe Cashicr of a bank at Augus- ; tt, Mey climbed down Into a well, tied weights to hla feet, and then fired a pistol -balt Into his brain with eitire success, A merchant at Newark, N, J. was evon more elaborate In his preparations, as he rigged up wealnen out of au tron cy|iuler, Joaded it with powder and slugs, puttho muzzle under his chin, touched eof with a watch, THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE and his head was forthwith missing, A sea Captain who saw thnt his vessel was going to nteces off Atlantloville, N. J., kiHlod himself with o pistol while his crew reached Iand in safety, In aceldents there was a curlous concurrence of death from the anime cattse,— 8 brakeman on the Hudson River Railroad nnd & newsboy on a Now Jersey Ive both being blown off the train by the wind and killed, “z Tuk outlook for tha Pennsylyaula Repub- Henn State Convention, which mects at Lnr- risburg to-day, is not exactly of a peaceful and harnmontous charneter, There was no- tleenbla Inst evening among tho supporters of Diaino a settled determination to Insist upon tholr rights In the Convention and to resist any attempt by the Cameron men to carry inatters with a high hand, While there fs every prospect that the friends of Blaine will be In the minorily, thoy are sufliciently strong to make thomsclves felt and heard and to organiza # formidable revolt i¢they shall dechte upon making a square fight against the Cameron machine, Our dispatches from Harrisburg give an Interest ing account of the altuation In its varlous na- pects, and foreshadow a stormy session In tho event of an attempt to carry through by nolsy acclamation mensures ontitled to bo decided by votes in detall, Cnicaqgo clovators have now In store 15,- 207,551 bushels of grainof all kinds, with a nominal capacity of about 17,150,000 bushels, Some of them are quite full, bus a few have still a Ittle room left, so that there Is not a complete bivckads yet. Tho total quantity in store and afloat in the harbor 13 17,043,054 bushels, Our stock of pork 13 about 200,000 barrels, and of Iard 214,000 tlerees, ‘The stocks of both grain and provisions aro unue sunily large, and the fact is oxertising a de pressing Influence on prices. It is especially remarkable that we have much more pork amd Jard on hand than a year ago, while the number of hogs packed dunng tho three months since Nov, 1s some 600,000 Jess, or nearly 25 per cent decrease, The fact shows that high prices at the primary market, with high freight-rates, materially enhancing the cost to tha consumer, cause a much dimin- {shed consumption, even In spite of “better times.” We note that leading shippers do not now scem so hopeful as they did o short time ago that rall-frelghts will be reduced to ® polnt lowenough to partially relieve the glut here, and thoy are inclined to anticipate unusunily high tates of lake-freight next sumer, as the larger quantity of stuf to be moved will enable carriers to assume an in- dependent attitude, A. New On.uans dispatch reports that tho water In the Mississippi River is within a few inches of the * dangor-Hne,” and inthnates an apprehension of an overflow. As amatter of fact tho danger-line is constiérably below the line of xctunl overilow, and it has been rerched at some tine during several years past without an overflow. The reason why the water has not risen higher than the banks and flooded the Clty of New Orleans is be- cause tho river several years ago broke down tho artificial barrier that had been construct- ed at tha Bonnet Carra crevasse, and thus secured n natural outlet above tha eity into Lake Pontehartrain, This fact, which is patent to all experienced river-men, hasbeen deliberately !gnored by the Commission ap- pofnted by the Government for the benefit of Capt. Eads, and is persistently suppressed by tha’ New Orleans press, in order that tho scheme for spending a hundred auiiltons of public money upon lovers and jettles may receive no set-back. One pecul- Inrity of this scheme fs that, after the hun- dred millions shall have beon expended, there will be periodical opportunitivs for now expenditures to repalr breaks and dam- ages, Thus, ff the lovee or jetty plan were to-day In actual operation, water at the dan- gerline would foreshadow o brenk at Bonnet Carre or somo other natural outlet, which would throw 9 new job Into the hands of the construction company; since this ont- let 1s now open there is neither danger nor oceaston for squandering public money, ————_ ‘Tnene are somo reasons for crediting and others for rejecting tho rumor that Unele Sammy Tilden is about to be married. His avuncular experience has been so sorrowful that a desire to cut off his graccless nephew Pelton may be a greater inducement for him to marry than the tender passion hns evor been; » widow's dower might thus interfore with the nephew's prospects If there were no other results. It is posslble, too, that the old gentleman has finally abandoned all hopo of conciliating that terrible ‘Tammany chiet- tala, Jolin Kelly, and has consequently sur- rendered his Inst thought of obtaining the Democratic nomination, In that enao it would be very natural to turn to matrimony for consolation, and sevk some lovely woman's care for his declining yceara. Though the rullng passion fs sald to be strongest In death, there can bo but small solace In nursing futile polltieal ambition or planning new schemes for wrecking rallrond corporations, Mnrriuge, oven at Mr, Tilden’a advanced ogc, must be regarded a3 9 more desirable pastime, and it is certainly a much more commendable pursult, ‘These and othor considerations that will readily suggest themselves givo at least acolor of probability to the rumor of Mr, ‘Tilden'a approaching nuptials, It may be urged ‘ngainat the Ikelihood of such an event that an attractive young lady Is not so easly to bo secured at tho bidding of a supor- annuated relic of bankrupted corporations and Ulsappointed hopes; but the history of mat- rimony In all (mes and countries shows that the frailty of human Ife, the certainty of death, aud the laws of Inheritance have al- ways secured 9 yery rich and very old man a wife whom a younger and poorer man might woo in yaln, Itis certainly to bo hoped that. tho rumor ts founded on fact, and that it may nob imnlscarry In this case as tt has tn previous rumors In which Mr, Tilden'y namo has been associated with that of some marrlageable lady, "Tt 4s naver too Inteto ment,” though Mr, Tilden's case hus beon ao desperate as almost to destroy the force of the adagu, enna CONGHERSMAN WEAVER {3 anxious to got nyote in the House on hia resolution declare ing It to be the opinion of the House that the Natlono| Government only should. bo al- lowed to Issue puper monoy, and that It should at once {suc enough to pay the inter- eat-bearing debt, which would require about 1,000 millions, Weaver docs not stop to con- sider the question whether Congress has the constityttonal authority to make now tasues of grocnbacks In tho of peaco, nor has he pointed out the provision of the Constitution granting that powor to Congress, Pothaps his resolution dovs not contemplate the Issuo of legat-tender notes, but. simply notes Uke those of tha Natlonal, banks, which aro non-legal-tonder, Ills resolu- tion makes no provision for the redemp- tlon of the notes In coln, or In anything, on demand, But as Weaver is a“ Filatiat” ho disbellevos In hard money or redemption of notes. Keduoing hls propoaltion to its Inst Gnalysls, and placing td practical qneration before the reader tn plain terms, it Anounts ta'this slmply by a changg of phraicologys ™ Resolved, That the public creditors who hold the houded Indebtedness of the Natiodial Govern Inent shall be requirhd to surrunder the sano to. the Wocratary of tho Troasury long enough to engble bim lo cllp off all the coupons of tho suid bonds, and to burn the aume, Whurvupon he ee H shall hand back eaid clippod bonds to the owners, wko tnny pass thom ns money if thoy onn at whatover thoy will brings and from tho dato of 80 divesting the anid bonds of thor coupons they shall bo deomed and troated as paid.” That ts the true Intent and meaning of ‘Weaver's resolution. Tho author of ft stole the idea from Brick Pomeroy, who In turn “hooked” It from “Gentleman George” Pendleton, now United States Senator from Cincinnatl Itts the essence of the “Ohlo idee,” which had beet nursed and coddled by the Democrnts of that State in varlons forms until it was finntly killed and burled Inst fall, Weaver proposes to pny the soldiers 600 milllona of that kind of “money,” which ho calls “equalizing thelr pay with gold.” Wo don’t sea why the House declines to call the roll.on Brick Pomeroy'a fisenl propost- tion, and pass to other business, Give ‘Weaver a chanee, ee THE EFFECT OF AMERICAN PROSPERITY ON EUROPE. The London Saturday Revicw of Jan. 1%, nan article upon the trade prospects of the new year, telis the story of how Britlsh tn- dustry and British trade have been lifted from the seeming hopelessstngnation of Inst July and to some extent given an unprece- dented activity, and all due ta tho revival in America. At the time of the first American purchases tn the Intter part of tho summer of 1878, the Revicw states “prices had fallen to a lower level than had been known since the erent gold discoveries”; In lke manner, “wages lind been cut down with an un- sparing hand.’ “Economics had been forced in every department of business, and production bad been restricted to tho weasure of tho existing consumption, if not evan below it’ Attendant on this condition of affairs was n pnraly: sis of credit; no goods were sold ex- eept for ensh, so general was the distrust. The American demand for iron and steel, . and even for iron ore, was tho first signal of recovery. All tho Brltlyh fron and steol establishments In partial operation were put (In full blast. Extinguished furnaces were rellghted; closed mills were reopened; sent- tered ant halfstarving worlcnen were re- called and put at work; double gangs were employed; tho revival of the fron trade re- vived nlso the curl trdde and the ore trade; all tho old serap fron of the Kingdom was gathered and sent to tho United States; wages advanced, and with the distribution of high wages to immense numbers of men there followed an increased consumption ofall ¢elasses of gootls for Which ‘wages are ord!- narily expended, The cotton and woulen trade revived to such an extent as to lead the operatives to demand and obtain increased: wages. The British test of the comparative well-doing or prosperity of the working classes Is the Incrense or decline In the con- sumption of spirits and beer, In the few months of revived Industry jn Great Britain the consumption of spirits and beer hos in- creased to an extont that Indicates the larga retmployment of Jabor at {noreased wages. Out of this ravival, originating in tha Amer jean demand for fron and steel, tha consump- tion and demand for other productions have increased, extending, In many things, to other countrios, thus carrying the blessing of Amerlean prosperity to ull parts of Europe. Tho prosperity of the United States has be- come of the utmost importance to othercoun- tries and to other peoples. The United States are not only supplying tho people of the world with an abundance of cheap bread, but also with cheap meats, cheap but- ter and cheese, and chenp {uminating oll. In every land blessings follow the namo of America, and, ag shown in the history of tho Inst six months, wa have not only supplied Europe with cheap food, but have revived her Industries and given employment and im- proved wages to the thousands who laye been but one remove from starvation, ‘Tho depressed condition of Industry In the Old World, and the ever-increasing exactions of the Governments for the support of gigan- tie military establishments; the inability of many Governments to meet thelr current expenditures, and the ever-inerunsing taxo- tion, have produced an extent of soctal’sut- ferlng, want, and privation which can lisrdly be understood in this country. Without the abundance of brendstuffs and meats ftur- wlshed by this country, food would bo in many Innds boyond the means of purchase by the great mags of the people, The free Nepublic, withont a standing army and without a costly navy, which rests sectrely in the confidence of the people ona comparatively Inexpensive perce footing, Is to the popular mind In Europe not only a wonder, but serves ag a blessing and a hope, It not only fupnishes food to all thesa peo- ple, but It pow furnishes employment and igh wages’ to the Inbor even of Great Drit- ain, The London Times of Jan. 18, 1880, con- fesses au astonishment at tho trade in Iron, steel, and ore which in the fow closing months of 1870 had taken placa with tho United States, and of the wonderful pros porlty of this country as alown In ita inanu- factura and consumption of Iron and steal. It gives the following as tho figures of the mauutacturo and Lmportation In the United States In t870; 1879. 1878. Pig-iron, Tinas Tons, Produced pig-iron, 2, 800,00 SOUL E15, Pf piportnt pig. 275,000 66,5103 Oldiron. 178,000 6,558 ‘Total pig and old from.,,..0,250, 2,873,876 i 1878, Raila, Tons, Tron rails produced Bea Stoel rails prodticed: 490,817 Inuported rails... . 9 ‘Total ratla.......+ teen eee eee 180,000 788,110 ‘These figures do not include the fmporta- tion of 800,000 tons of Europenn ore, nor vast quantities of all descriptions of manufactured iron and steel whieh Europe has sent hither to mevt the rapacious demand of the United States, The London Tunes esthuntes that during 1880 the European exports of Iron ore to the United States will reach 500,000 tons, and If Uns comments upon the facta: “Tho total production of Lake Suporlor ore during 1879 was 1,050,000 tong, ax compnred with only 1,125,000 tong in 1878, Tho Unitod states ateol manufucturors, finding this eupply grontly inudequate, have agtuully been under tho nocos sity of Importing over 800,000 tons of oro—-tmuch of itfrom Gront Rritaln—to supplement their own locul production. .This ts surely ourrying coals to Nowcastle,, No country tu tho world enjoys the samo motalluryical resources as the United States. Vast mountains of og, akin ta Pilot Knob, may be found all ovor the continent, ond yot hore aro the Fnglish and Continontal ining-owners, whose resources tre by comparisan but poverty, sending to tho Amerioun atoc} Mmanufacturore a not inconaltorablo proportion of thelr raw matorials}"" ‘Yhe American boom in fron and steol, ti will bo scen, hns proved a bonanza to the lron nanufucturers, mechanics, and laborers of Great Britain, and, fndireotly, to all othor trades, not only In England, but in other eountries, * THE Comuissioner of Water-Works, Bir. Waller, mady voine excellunt suggestions fu Is report to the Council Monday night, Among other things ho proposes that, instead of charging water-consumers a penalty of 10 por cent for dilatoriness in paying their semi-annual wator-taxes, they be rewarded. for prompt payment by, a deduction of the tax, He states the proposition as follows: “Continue the reduced rates of 181% on frontages; proyido by ordinunoo that all who pay tholr watererates at the Wator- ‘Ollce iu tho monthsof Stay and Novembor, in each year, for tha current six months thus coin moneing, shall have a reduction of 10 percent on the whole siwount churyeable to them for sald six months; thoee who pay in like manner in the mouths of June and December, In ench your, tahavoa reduction of § per conton tho whole amount charged to thom for satd six montha; and those who do not pay within throe months from the timo sald semi-nnnuft water- rates are duc—to-wit: from the tat days of May and November In oaoh your, rospeotively—sunit have tho use of tha wuter shutoff from thom immediately thoreafter, until payment in full ts mide.” “Mr, Waller estimates that undor this sys- tem of rebates at least four-lifths of the water-rates will bo promptly pald in, and a vast amount of grumbling and contention stopped. ‘The 10 per cent pennities have heretofore been spont in hiring men to go round and hound peoply to pay thelr water- taxeg, the cost of this disagreeable process amounting to some fifty or alxty thousand dollars s years Me rightly thinks that tho people would be vastly better pleased to ca- cape the dunning and save this expense by making It to thelr pecuntary interest to pay promptly and cheerfully, As a first step towards tho proposed roforin ho has discharged two or three duzon of thode superiluous ‘collector who, a3 9 matter of fact, had converted their ofices into “sinecures,” and practically did nothing except to draw thelr per digm and bum around the saloons, drinking Hquor at public expense. ‘The Commissioner also polnts out to tho Council a bad leak In tho ‘uso of water which ho wants to have stopped. He thus oxplains it: “*Metor rates, ton conta por 1,000 gallans, paynbla monthly, oxcept when tho conaump- tlon exceeds 2,000,000 gallons por annum, thon the rates shall be oight cants por 1,000 gallons, payable monthly.’ Exporicnco has pointed out a dofoct in thia ordinance, As tho rates under moter mensurement are payablo monthly, the amount of one month, when brought in for scttlemont, must be dotermined by the ratio of a ike amount for each month during tho yoar, 60 us to apply tho ten-cent or cight-cent rate under tho ordinance. Now, If a consumer wsos 23,000 fect, which je 172,500 gallons, por month, this bringa him within the efyht-cent rate, and he ts charged. $13,80 for it; but, if he uses 22,000 foot, which Is 165,000 gallona, this falls bolow 2,000,000 of gallons per annum, and ho {a consequently charged the ton-cont rate, which mukes his bill 16,60. It ts thus mado hia Interest to waste 7,500 gallons of water per month, which [a loss to the olty of $2.40 per annum, besides the 00,000 gallons por annum wasted. This may be remedied and the rate mado equitable by churging all consumors ton cents for cach 1,000 gallons por month up to 108,000 gallons, nnd those who oxcoed this clght conta for.cach 1,000 gallons used by them abovo orin excess of 165,000 gallons per month.” ed THE AMERICAN NAVY. It is notto be dented that the American navy Is in an obsolete and utterly ineflcient. condition. ‘The recent report of Representa- tive Ilarris, of Massachusetts, In behalf of the Itouse Naval Committee, is a frank con- fesslon of this fact. The const defenses of the country aro also utterly inadequate to the emergency of a forelgn war; a grent naval Power Hke England might pounce upon three or four of tho largest American elties, and exnet a tribute of millions before the Government could prepare ‘for resist- ance, much less for attack, Ever since the close of the War of. the Rebellion, the United. States Governmont hos quictly rested in a sense of security from attacks from within and from without. Onco ina while possible forelgn complications, such os a fear that tho arbitration’ for tha Alabama claims would miscarry, and the spasm of indignation over tha Spanish outrage upon the Virglulus and her crew, have directed public attention to the {mpoyerlshed and antiquated resources of tho American navy, aud led to misdirected expenditures ;. but, for the most part, the whole naval estab- Nshment has been allowed to drift {nto do- eny, until, poor as the showing is upon the records, the actual weakness of the navy Is relntively more appalling than at any pre- vious perlod In the histary of the Nation. Since no oceraton has arisen during the past iifteen years for testing tho naval re- sources of the country, tuera has beon uo dainage from the Indliferenes that has been displayed to this branch of the Government service, Indosd, proper onorgy now may ex- tract a positive bencfit from the past Inert- ness, During tho porlod of American innc- tlon the Furopenn Governmouts, acting upon American models, and — stimu- Inted by American successes In con- structing war-vessels, and naval guns, and nilssiles during the Rebellion, have expend- ed hundreds of millions in experimentation, and the Amerlean Government inay now pro- ceed to take advantage of these costly exporl- ments, The highest point of excellence in Jronclad ships seems now to haya been reached, combining the greatest nmount of realstnce with the Inrgest degree of speed, and the improvemonts in the Aincrican navy may start with the best experience of Euro- pean nations, supplemented by that native ingenulty which served the Government so well during tho Civil War, ‘The experliments which have been made In this country during tho Inst few years upon such mengre appro- printions as Congress has voted lave demon- strated that the material an hand from war times ean bo largely utilized in an improved condition, ‘This Is the case with the Rodinan guns, which are valueless In thelr present slinpe, but niny bo converted Into the most effective weapons, ‘There aro 1,500 of theae guna, of which threo-quarters aro ten-inch and the remalnder fiftaen-Meh in size. It has been found that these guns, new smooth- bpres, can bo converted Into rifled guns by the Introduction Into the smaller ones of one-inch wrought-lron rifle-Ining, aud of the same Hning two Inches In thickness Into the larger guns. This single item will give the Government about 1,100 elght-inch rifles, capable of ploreing an tron plate clghttnehes in thicknoas at a distanes of nearly three quarters of a mile, and about 400 eloven-Ineh: rifles that can ponctrate an iron plate of eleven Inches at the game distance, Such an Addition to the const defenses, if thore wore ne other, would add enormously to the snfoty of the country, But the navyshonld be rendered more ef- festive throughout by lopping off the useless rubbish and constructing a smaller number of the most approved pattern of fronclads, torpuda-boats, and fast sullers for offonsive warfare upon the commerolal marine of any foreign Powor with which the United States may be involved In war, ‘Tho report of tho Naval Committee shows that, out.of the 143 vesgels of war that nominally constitute the American navy, thera are but forty-elght vessels capable of firing 8 gun, and of theso five are of the old-fashioned sniling-vossel du- aeription, which could not be safely used, Of the remnlnder of the list, some ure rotting on tho docks, othors are Isid up for repairs, though they arc boyand the power of nian to put ito good shape, a few are unfluished, and all are antiquated and useless, ‘There In not # sinule rifled gun on our Ironclad flect afloat,” say the Committee, and all the arina- ment fs of so Inforlora character that none of the vessels can be properly called ships of war In tho recent senso of thaterm, For the protection of American commerce and the tde- fense of American citles, {tly now necessary that an gfilelent ironclad feof should be bullt up, the torpedo system doveloped, and o few fast ships provided, : ‘The suggestions made by Mr, Warrls for the necessary Jmprovement of te navy at tho smallest outlay are admirable, and they should be adopted, He favors, In addition to Q reasonable appropriation, tho sale of the ugeless old hulks now classed as warvessols and all tha unused and wnovallable ma: the Hon. Silas B. Duteher. fores of Assistants Mr, Howard Is the young est, we believe, except one; and that one, ifwe mistake not, lind previous to his ap- WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 1880—TWELVE , PAGES, torinl that has accumulated at tho forts and ‘navy-yards during tho paat ffozon or fifteen years, It ts prol- nblo that these acemmulations will sell for many millions of dollars nt the present high prices for tron, The Government would not bea loser by disposing of rubbish which Is not used, but would gain by the sale a fund that would go far towards paying fora respectable navy without adding sensibly to the taxes upon the peopls. Mr. Ifarris has Introduced a DIN which confers the necessary authority upon the Secretary of the Navy to have the naval stores and supplies appraised, and tho surplus and. useless ships and material condenmed fot aale, by competent Boards of naval oficers. The proceeds of thesosales are to becredited to a“ Permanent Construction Fund of the Navy,” to be used exclusively in the construction, armament, and equipment of new naval vessels, in ad dition to stich appropriations as Congress may make for tho same purpose, “This a practical, economical, business-ike schonie, and 1 should. be promptly adopted by Con- gress as the specdiest and cheapest moans for placing the American navy upon the same plane, though not of equal magnitude, with the navics of other Great Powers, —-— A BAD TREASURY APPOINTMENT, The Eventng Journat has a dispatch from Washington that reads as follows: “ Wasttixatox, Fob. 3,—The President to-day nominated James Q. Howard, of Columbus, 0., who wrote the campaign ‘ Life of Hnyos,’ during the Inst Prosldentinl campalgn, to bo Appralsor ofthe Port of Now York, Seorctary Shormin and all tho Treasury officials wore anxious that Gen. Kotchum, one of the, four General Ap- pralsora for the country at large, should bo ap- polnted, but the President decided otherwise.” ‘This news of the appointinent by the Prest- dent of Mr. James Q. Howard as United States Appraiser of the Port of Now York will be received oyerywhere with surprise and deep chagrin. pointed Assistant Appraiser about two years ago. He wentintea very important office Mr. Howard was’ ap from a distant State—Ollo—without any ex- perlence whatever in the duties he was called to perform. He was placed In charge of tha Damage Allowance Diviston, and Inu the ef- forts, emanating from the West, to reform that particular branch of the'New York cus- toms service it wns discovered that all tho strength of Mr. Mownrd’s very pe- cullar intellect was devoted to a de- fense of the old system and to the elaboration of fine-spun technical arguments in support of the rights of importers, Every reform instituted in his division was Inau- gurated agulnst hls vigorous protest. He appeared to be lupressed with a desp con- yiction that the Importing fraternity needed an attorney to save them from cotitemplated outrages on the part of the Treasury, and that he had been appointed to act in that enpacity. Of tha ten Assistant Appraisers constituting tho forco of chiefs In the Ap pralser's office, Mr. Howard fs lenst fitted both by naturo and by experience to fill the place so4vorthlly occupied by his predecessur, Of the whole polntment been long an Examiner, and con- sequently possessed large experience, Wo do not hesitate to say that Mr. Howard's In- ecumbency of tho Appralser’s office of New York would place in perl oll that has been enined by the reform mensures instituted by the Bingham and Ilinds Commission and falthfully carried out by Mr, We compelled by on public duty to say emphatically that tha nomination of Mr. Iloward’ to tho Senate ought not to be confirmed. It is intimated that Sceretary Sherman favored the appoint ment of Gen, A. P, Ketchwin, the present able and falthful General Appraiser at New York. This Ss greatly to tho credit of Mr. Sherman. Theappointment of Gen. Ketchum would be eminently fit. Ile ling had Inrgo experiences in renppralsomonts. To his firm- ness and fidelity the Government, in a very large mansure, owes the substantial reforms whith have been accomplished. We has nearly broken up the nefarious eustom of undervaluation which so long disgraced tha Dutcher, say it, but we aro imperative sense of regret to port of New York and drove from the for- elgn market all honest importers. In behalt of all thosa who dealro to hold fnst to the re- forms already attained and to press forward to other neaded reforms, and in behalf of the importers of the West, long barred from tho foreign markets by the imbecllity and frauds which characterized the management of the New York Cnstom-llouse, we protest against tho confirmation of Mr. Howard. Wo go fur- ther. Wa bog tho President to reconsider his hasty action. Ie has, according to reports, beon well advised by Secretary Shorman, In rejecting that advice he has mado a serious * mistake, It fs. not too late to correct tho error of judgment. The West looks con- fidently to Mr. Mayes for an Mlustration of that highest of all moral courage whieh con- sists In the cheerful confession of error and the prompt undoing of the wrong resulting from It. AMERICAN HELP FOR IRELAND. ‘Thore aro not wanting numerous evidences showlng that the agitation of the Irlsh quoa- tion In this country, and the almost unani- mous sentiment of the American people that thore Is need of immediate and radical re- form, are having a strong influence npon the English Government and the English people, Mr, Parnell, who of course ts 0 close ob- server, has already noted it and made refer- ence to Itin his speeches, and Its influonce my bo traced tn the milder poltey of the Government, In tho drift of the political ennvass, in the forecasting of the polley of Parllament, which meots shortly, and tn the general tenor of articlea in the English press, partleularly in the ‘Tory organs, which, so far from defying Amerienn opintons as bas been their oustoin heretofore, pay respectful deference to them, and discuss them it an earnest and thoughtful manner, Thoro is also ovience that Disraeli himaclf has heard the voles of the American peo- ple, thopgh tt has not assumed tho form of offfolal protest, and Js pro- pared to Haten to It and to adopt some policy which shall at least abate the rigor with wiich tho Irish tonants have been persecuted, evenifitdocs not altogether remove the griev- ayces under which they are laboring. Among tho measures which it 1s announced will be recommended in the Queen's speach to Par- Nament next week are the abolition of primo- genlture, the facilitutlyg of tho sale of Jands, the pormisaion to Ife tenants to dispose of thelr Interests, and othor concessions caleu- Juted to bring relief to the untinppy Irish, 1t would not be safo to attribute all this to the eifect of American sentiment, because Dis. sraolt, whon he ts hard pressed by his oppo- nents,.as he happens tobe just now, both as to hig home and hits forolyn policy, aways re- sorts to the trick of stealing thelr thunder and promising reforma which sometines he knows will not be granted by Parliament, ‘Pils tine, however, he will be moro strictly held to his promises than ayer before, and he knows that he cannot rely upon the Liberals’ to help him iu chse of obstructton by the Irish niembors, besides having the pressure of American gentimen$ to contend against, which has never before bean so strong. It fs oyldent that the time has come when England must listen to this country and re- spect ita ophilon, especially when itis ex> pressed with auch unuutuity and fervor ps it has been touching the Irish grievances. We ore the Iargost half of the English-speaking race. We number a full tifty iniilions, if not more, against forty millions In: all tho reat of thoworld, and, as lnevorything ated, thelarger, half dominntes tho lesser, and thls domina- tlon oxtonds to the materinI pecessitics of Ife, as wollas to mattars of socinl and politic alopinton. Great Britain has tolook to us for her meat and grain, and other articles of food, and for the staples that enter into the clothes her people wont, She had” to look to us for tho materials of, her manufacture, for & market fur her goods, for employ- ment for her shippingy.and for rollet for her unemployed people, Having’ this great commerctal advantage, and dominate ing the trade between the two countries, It Is but natural that our people should make thomselves and tholr influence on all great Internotlonal questions felt In Great Britaln, and command respectful consideration for thelr opinions, Thero ling never been o question of this nature upon which they linve expressed themselves more freely than upon tha persecution of Irish fenants by English landlords. They have closely studied these grievances, not only ers stated by Mr. Parnell, but as brought to them by-telegraph and mall, They have had xbundnnce of in- formation which has enabled them to com- pare the unjust English Land Inws with our own, They have studied the relatlons’ gf landlord and tenant, and they have had an unusual Interest In doing Jt, becnuse they have been furnishing the money, at the rate of $100,000 a week, to help the Irish tenants pay thelr rents,—in other words, the Inboring people of this country have been taxed that amount by English Iandlords, and, finding that {t does not relieve the condition of the sufferers, they have been moved to find out tho reason why, It has not been dificult to discover tho renson or to ascer- tain the exact conditions of injusties and In- humanity under which tho Irish tenant labors, nor have they been slow to oxpress thelr opiniona through the press and In great publio meetings, and in a respectful but earnest manner, which Great Britain must heed. No Power, however strong it may be, ean disregard the senthnents of another Power, especially when it Is {n every material way dependent upon that Power. All that] Orioff, and Count Schouvalof aro to have Mr. Parnell need do fs to continue in the | prominent positions. ‘These statesmen arg way he has commenced, quietly and forcibly |, known as the most ablo, upright, and con. presenting the grievances of the Irish people, | servative which Russian contains. It $s nok keeping within the Inw, and avolding alt bel- | the intention to propose measures of const! Hgorent demonstration, aud he will find the | tuttonat reform at present, for tho country - American people at his back, and, more than | jg not in a condition to recelve them, Tho that, the wishes of that people respected in | appointment of such statesmen, however, Great Britain, They will help him bring re- | known, as they are, to be the most culiglt. Hef, not only in the present physical suffer- | ened and experienced In the country, will ing of his unhappy countrymen, but In In- | give much satisfaction and socurity to tna fluencing legislation so that futuro suffering | people of every class. These changes, with may be averted. the abolition of the Third Section, wiil cer tainly be an carnest that constitutional ro form of every kind may be expected when ever the condition of the Empire will justify such reform being attempted. ——— Nilillists tn offecting their organtzntion with. in the limity of Ruraln Instead of breventing them. ‘Thelr Inability to detect Nubilst, plots or to capture the perpetrators of Nini. Ist erlmes have largely alued in the exten. ston of Nihilist doctrines. Witla 4, reallly tho agents of the Third -Seetinn have been worthless to prevent theso erly thelr ignorant activity has cansed tineh glaring Injustice to be committed by tho Government tipon innocent people, Many individuals, gullty of no offense whatever, but suspected by these agents, have been ts rested upon.thelr representations and thrown into prison, whera they have been kept for yenrs bofore trinl, awalting thelr efforts to procure testimony. In a large number ot cases persons arrested by thent and so held have, when eventually brought to trial, been relensed by tho courts fully exonerated, There fs no -dowbt that the frenzy which enused Vera Zassouliteh to attempt tho Nfo of Gen. Trepoft for havingordered the whip. ping of the political prisonor Bogolioubog In one of the prisons in which she Ind been, confined, was produced by her haying been unjustly Imprisoned by the agents of tho Third Section, The cnormous enthusiasm, manifested by all classes of Russian foclety upon her acquittal by tha court for this deg pernte and uncalled-for attempt may be taken, as a fair mensura of the utter detestation in which the Third Section and evorythin, pertaining to It are now held by the Iugsian people, It may be claimed, also, that this feeling of dislike and abhorrence for the agents of tho Third Section rather than By Iie pathy for Nihilist teachings has been tha renson why 80 many porpetators of Nilittist crimes have not been detected and punished, In tho changes predicted from St. Peters. burg, to which wo have referred, it 13 under: stood that the four grent Governmental Conn. ells are to be discontinued, and thot the new Ministry !s to combine within {tself tho ay. thority heretofore exerelsed by them and by the old Ministry, as well as much of tho executive control previously exercised by the Emporor’s private Chancellery. It fs also sald that the Emperor has concluded to abolish the Third Section without dolay. Gen, Milutine fs mentioned ag tho head of the new Ministry, in which Gen. Obruscheff, Prinea PROPOSED REFORM IN RUSSIA, ¢ For some time past [t has been reported from St.Petersburg that the Emperor of Russia contemplated a radical change in tho Russian form of government. In place of the complicated machinery which now exists and by which officin! responslbility can with diMmculty bo determined, it is proposed to substitute a new and homogencous Afiniatry in which each Minister shall be directly re- sponsible to the Emperor for tho affairs of the department over which le has control, Although all functions of the Government arecentered In the Emperor, whose will Is absolute, yot, for the ordinary conduct of publte affairs, there is provided certain ma- chinery which is in reality the sole enuso for the many just complaints made ngainst the Government by the Ruasinn people. Under the present arrangement the administration of the Empire fs intrusted to four great Coun- cells, ench possessing separate functions, and contering in the Private Chancellery or Cab- Inet of the Emperor, Ench Council consists of a President qnd an untimited numbor of members, appointed by the Emperor. ‘There aro cleven Ministers in charge of different departments, but, excopt in the case of Prince Gortschakoif, Chan- cellor for tho Empire for Forcign Af- falrs, who by his obillty ond long sorvico hastendered himself independent of control, all are subordinate to the private Chancellery of the Emperor as well as to the four different Councils, Inthe private Clinn- eellery {3 contered the entire executive an- thority of the Empire, I¢ 1s divided {nto four sections, tho first of which lins charge of affairs to,be submitted for the Emperor's orders, tha second controls the Leglsintive Departuient, the third {s specially Intrusted with the control of the army and with the secrot police, and the fourth has charge of public Instrugtion arid ecclesinstical anatters, ‘Tho conp)aints of the Russian people agninst the Government are now known to tha world, They show a degree of corruption antongst Russian officials of atl classes which has nover been surpassed. ‘This corruption, by the hatred to Government whieh if pro- duced, has been the instigator and sbettor of Nihilism, ‘The same reason has enabled Sociallsm to obtuin the strong foothold tn Russla it now holds, Injurlous to the luter- esta of tho country as these two are, vicious and insonsate as thelr principles and prac- tices have proved themselves to be, both can ho regarded as blessings to every Russian in- terest, If, by their agitation, and even by thelr scuseless attempts at assasinatlon, thoy auc- coed In causing & change In the Government. by which the wholesale peculation and fraud permeating every branch of the Russian servive can be prevented. It was for the purpose of putting a stop to the outrages committed by .officlals that the Emperor Nichotas established tha present system of seerct pollee known as the Third Section of the Imporlal Chancetlery. Tho raping, fraud, and violence of every descrip- tion practiced upon people in all parts of tho Empire liad long been known, but until then they liad been beyond the rench of executive authority, Thissystem of police wasespecially intended to exercise a curcful espionage over eachgublicfunetionary, It had also confided to it tho survellinnes of persons suspected of political agitation. Its agents wero subject to no control except thatof the Chief, of the Section. He, by tholr means, and by the reports which thoy rendered direct to him, was to be considered the vye, the car, aud, In any cases, tho right arm of the Emperor. By the power thus placed ,in his hands ho naturally became, next to the Kuporor, the tnost timportant person in Russia, and the Emperor's most trusted confidant. When frat organized, under Gen, Dinkendorff, the system worked well, ‘True, thera werg many offenses which, although pitilesly reported by tho police, wore too ancient and too deap- seated to be corrected. Butthe ThirdSection at firat undoubtedly corrected many ovils, and caused Justice to ba dong to mumberless fueble and obscure Individuals, who other- wise could not have hoped for protection, . ‘Under other leaders than Binkendorif the system has rapidly detorlorated. Vor awhile under the charge of Schouvaloff, Inte Mtnis- tor to Great Britain, who Introduced many reforms In the police, the Svetion recovered Its usefulness, but under the present in cumbent, Gen. Drentelen, It las rapidly be- come one of the most powerful instruments for tyrannical oppression eyer nado uge of in o civilized country. Gyadunily the su- porvision of Government officials has becainé ® matter of secondary considerations: Tha watching of political agitators fy now ‘re- garded ogits principal duty, ‘The inedliclency and negligence of its agents th the porforme anod of this duty have reully. aided. the Lorv Cuuncutrt, emphatically denied the statemont of Parnoll that Queen Victoria gave nothing to reliove the awful Irish famine of 1817, and asserted that sho contributed £%,000 (ur $10- 000 of our monocy). Parnell roturns to tho churga in this language: . “TL tind that I might havo gonc atill furthor, and anid with perfect accuracy that not only did she give nothing, but that sho actuully inter coptedt £6,000 which the Sultan of ‘Turkey desired to contributo to tho famine fund {1 1847, Tho ‘Sultan had offered a donation of £10,000, but the Knglish Ambassador at Constantinople was dk rected by the Queen to Inform bim that hor cone tribution was Miutted ta 32,000, and thut tho Sule tan should not in good taste give any moro than her Maleate Henco the not result to tho fame ino fund ce the Queen's uction was «loss of £0,000. All this is Fortuatls: well Ienown to tha students of Irish hi pani nnd would have been known to Lord Churchill were our bistory not. Pproseribed in English schools,” ‘That is to any, tho Sultan, who wis then tlush, offered to donate £10,000 ($50,000) towards alte- vluting the terriblo famine, but the Queen forocd tim toreduco his contribution to tho snine gum na her own,—42,000; so tut between thom thoy gave only £1,000, or £0,000 loss than tho Sultan of ‘Lurkoy desired to donate in his own behulf! The Quoen, thorcfore, provented $30,000 from being added to tho famine fund,—an amount which would haye saved sovernl thous Band lives, For somo reason, Queen Victorin has nover Uked tho Irish, altho' tho Protestant part of the population at lenst have been intensely loyal to her Government, and tho Catholics have tried hurd to respect her, and huye never shown dls like or disrespect for her, But during her long velyn of forty-two years wo belleve sho bas never but ‘once set foot in Ireland, and that only for a fow «dnys, whilo she spends hulf ber tino in Scotland. Tho Queen's ofletal Income 48 SX60,000, or $1,000,000 4 yeur, Tn addition to this sho hus an income from private sources of nt least $100,000 n yonr, or a totat of $2,000,000; and it fs uot belloved sho spends tho hulf of it, as she 1s notoriously par almantous, When, thorofore, bor Irish subjects, starved to death by the absentee English land: lords, were porishing by thousands u day, shudo muted less than two days of her vast Income to save their lives, Is it any wondor‘tho Irish ag & wholo'aro nut oxtravagantly fond of tholr Rms press," and do not sing * God Save the Queen" with great unotion or enthusiasm? Tue Chicago Medical Gazeite for this Thonth contains a fow' pungont paragraphs on tho administration of chloroform, frequently rowulting in douth ta tht unfortunate patient ‘Tho writer culls attention to tha admitted fact that in ovory 2,000 Inhalations of this drug one person dies, making tho changes of deuth bout throo times ay great an atthe battle of Gettyr ‘burg, whore one was killed to evory 0,000 cunnon and musket balla dischurgod. Hecallauttention te thondmitted faqt that gut phurio othor isad tinesthotic the use of which {4 alinost absolutely free fram danger, and sayds “T'bolfavo the Inw would he a just one, and not more stringont thin is neccesary for the prov wetlon of these who tro forced to bo the sule Jects of unvsthesla, that If aw porson who 16 to inesthotizo another negleot to usg the axcut which the world bulloyea to bo the safest, nt death reauit, ho shall bo Hable to indictment und to grenter pinianane than that mifortunate eae who kills anothor by giving hin ilve grains of strychnine Instead of tho sume quate uty of quinine.” cee In this connection we note that a new ance thotia has bocn dovieed by Prof, Paul Hert, which ho chitms ls oven leas dangerous that elthor af the above. It conalsts of vlghty-tve purta of protogide of nitrogen and fftven puts of oxygen, dullvercd ut a pressure of one and 6 1itth atmospheres, under a mask over the face of the putlent, About a gullon and a bulls breathod in a minute. ‘Tue peaple of Wisconsin abolished enpltal punishinont overs quarter of a contury Wo and now thore is. bill before tho Leglstature 10 restoro it, which fg fuund to croute n yood deal of dlsvussion among the people and fn the now vupers, The bill now under conviderton pro” vidow that any person convicted of murder {rout promeditated deslgit shall suffer tho yunlshe inent of deuth, or fmprisonment in tho Peo! tentiary during bis naturil Ufo, or for a term not feas than fourteen yours, If tho accused | found guilty by a Jury thoy sball fix the peor Iuhmont by thelr verdict, but if ho plead gully the Coyrt fs to fix the ponulty, ‘Tho bill lee provides thut In cave thadouth penalty ts substle tuted in place of lifo imprisonment, tho Sherif shall havo tho criminal exeonted inside oF tho priton walls, and it !4 mado hie duty Invite the Judge of tho Clroult Court, the Pree” cutlng Attorney, Clork uf tha Court, twelv® reputable oltizans of the county, two physiolans two clorgymon, and tho near relatives of at criminal over 21 years of age, Unloss objcole to by the oriminal vr samo noer relative, the body may bo given aftor exooution to tho sur goons for dissection. ered Kansas claims 3,000,000 inhabitants, anil will add another 100,000 to the number before tho noxt consus fv taken, ‘This will give on evven members of Cougress, ‘That splen 4 Territory was well worth saving from the clu! } of the aluyo-bracdor, ‘Tie English poople ere proverblally stub born when they think thoy are right, aud fad gonerully tight # good while on tho same bare The Queen's Hanah has just made ‘a doclulon ay regard to the functions of the Bnglish Baw