Chicago Daily Tribune Newspaper, February 20, 1881, Page 4

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Eixteen Page Faper... TRIBUNE BRANCH OFFICES. Torthe benent of our pa CRYCAGO TRIRTME has established branch ipt 0: subscriptions and advestiso~ ofices for the rece! 1ments ns follows: NEW FORK—Koom 2 Tribunc Building. F.T.2C- Manazer. X W, Scouand—Allan's American News Arency, 31 Rtenicid-st. 1 Eng.—American Exchanre, 9 Strand. LONDO! BENIY ¥, GILLIG, Agent. W ABHINGL . C.—1317 ¥ stroet. SOCILE' APOLLO COMMANDERY, 0.1 ENIGHTS TEM- — C ve Tuesduy evening, Fob. 22, 1S5L e s timoniats of Jenuseunt Commnnd- B o'cioek. ! Be 2 b Ma. 10 the Sir Knightsof Apolio will 5?.;&’}3.‘25‘!31‘@ Iintshis of other Comuusnderies iwavs welcome, and especlully invited upon this oc- Bsiom. A Tull nttendance of the imembers is desired. der. By order of the Eulnent,s LAY, Recorder. 2 A, M.—Hall, APTER: 1S RIEACO, PR i i Cornvieation Sionduy n e e eluek for Aduption u? amendment 1o $roiIng LTS other tmportuit bistiess. Al mem- ¢ ent, By orderof the M. E. llx‘c.r;,.mquensd fias SMITH, Secretars. QUEEN ESTHER CHAPTER. whi receive a visit from the Grand the Sinte of Lilinots Monday even:s er Iy earnestls Tequested 10 be proser me g ally fnvite ordes of Sianpiers cortiall ITRES CE WiLcoN, Seeretary. GEORGE H, THOMAS give their third recepuon Friday even Grana Army Hall. Musie. literary, duncing. Ireshments are all ou Lho br Comrudes and Iriends will piexse not forzet iL,—3:0 sharp. 40, 1. 0. 0. F.—There inton of se candida Monday, uibers of niL ure rdiaiiy fn- ‘'ne new work s very luteresting, . W. WOUD, N. G. LUDGE, RAINBOW will pe un tni Feb. 2% All me Sited 10 auend. Guvel souuds ut 8 sharp. J. GREENHUOD, Secretars. CORINTHIAN CRA ectal Convocation Monduy <#) u'cioek. {Foricon the i A, D nivns uro fovited. By onder ON, EL P. . ARTHUR WARKIN 3. 0. DICKERSUN, Secretary. NCAMPMENT, NO. 18 ed to appear in futhoe rk sng Washington-sis., next Fria drili. E. L. REINERS, Scribe. et Baciaren V' g $uiriarchy invl x G BARKIN d Rotier-ste, Tm- ‘mewbers desired. arp, LASS, Secretars. purtsni work. A 1ull ati Visiting brethren welcum UNION PARK LODGE, - Communication wlil be 21wt Tia o'clock, fusness breiuren cordiully tnvied, 01 wdny” evening, reiticen cordially CHAMBEKLAIN, viged, W.AL M.HARRIS, Secroiary. LA FAVYETTE CHAPTER, NO. 2, 75 Atonrue-st. *Spectal Convocn o Fev2larid aciocs, fur work G2 1L A | ) ting conspanions weicume, By order o ¥ AL K. FOMSYTH, M. E.HL P, W.J. BEYAR, Sccrel FREEDOM LODGE, NO. 1¢, LOTAL ORANGE IN- £ ON—Meets 1o-miorrow (Monday) evening ut IS Clark-st_Aunual meeting demaads the bress ence of every miember, o = WILLIAM 1, STAFFORD, Secretars. n Vis 22 ~Neg- ORIENTAL COSSISTORY, 'S. P order. nlur Assembly Thursday eve GIL. W. BARNARD, 52, ASHLAR LODGE, NO. W3, mecting Tuexdus cvening, F work. The fraternity cordin Monroe-st. L OCCIDENTAL COMM . 1. ORDER OF “I'HERED Cltu$: evening ut 1 Clurk-st. C. STUAICT BEATITE, Serite. SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 188t A CORRESPONDENT says that Gen. Garfield’s ‘health is badly shattered, and that he has to keep himself up with “tonics.”” So the chances are that tonies will be served at the, state dinners. . }os Niciror has been appointed Com- missioner of Indian Affairs, and will imme- diately proceed to subduc the hostiles by reading them oue of his speeches on the 1money question. Tne Mayor of Chicago cunningly put his argument on the pumping-works into three columns of, fine type. That was a case in which there was safety m a multiplicity of words. Nobody read it. Mn. Cox was obliged, though reluctant to 4o so, to postpone consideration of his Ap- portionment bill inthe House yesterday until Tuesday, by which time it is thought the Re- publicans will have determined on what course to pursuc with regard to the matter. ‘THE last trace of Democratic patronage in this county is the South FPark Boanl, the members of which are appointed by five Cir- cuit Judees, all Demoerats. No wonder the faithful and unterrified are auxious ubout’ Cook’s bill, pending in the Legislature, giv- ing the Governor the appointment of these Connissioners in the future, AX excited person in Ohio desires to know what Gen. Garfield would do if .his train Jeaving Mentor March 2 should be snowed in so that he could not reach the Capital until after March 4. Why he would probably go at the appointed hour to a Justice of the Peace and take the path of office for two shillmgs. - Troe Pleuro-Pneumonia bill came near meeting an untinely fate in the Senate yes- terday, on account of its numerous errors and inconsistencies. An early adjournment postponed its consideration, and when It comes up for discussion again. it is probable that its supporters wiil be able to offer such amendinents as may meet the serious objec- tions which exist at present. AfARSEILLES maintains its reputation as the most radical city of France. ItsCorpora- l tien, by an all but unanimous vote (33 to 1), has refused to permit the erection of a statue ! of Thiers within the corporate limits, on the ground that he was opposed to republican principles and ideas. Andyetto Thiers as’ much as to Gambetta it is owing that France has a republican government to-day. LE Dre, the:; Agricultural Commissioner, hadlie proud privilee of distrib- s %fiufor out of the Treasury of States to whomsoever be wished this brond land, wil be permit- no longer. His course was an. infringewment on the pre- ngressmen, and by their : . b ' THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE action in .the House yesterday he will. be obliged to pay out of his own pocket for any seed he distributes in the future. The Con- gressiuen retain the right to maintain friend- 1y relations with their rural constituents by sending them an oceasional parcel at the expense of Uncle Sam. K TuReE qualifications the next Mayor of Chicago should have: He should be an hon- est man; he should be an intelligent manj e should be a Republican. Other things be- ing‘equal, persons who are anxious to have the ofiice are not the best qualified to fill it. Localify ought to have nothing to do with the determination of the question. But, if it should come to that, it oughtto be consid- ered that no ward or section of the city hasa monopoly of all the wisdow, patriotism, or political power in the party. TuERE is danger lurking in the flowing- Dbowl—of water—nccording to the Cincinnati Guazette. People had better be careful what water they drink. Who would have thought that the Gazette, of all papers, would fallinto line against harmless beverages? There can be no doubt that water used in moderation and at proper times and places is a useful article; and the attempt to prohibit it in Cin- cinnati is an interference with personal lib- erty.- But the Gazetteis very vositive that water-drinking causes paral; A Panis telegram says that the importa- tion of salt pork, bacon, and hams from this country to France has been prohibited. This is probably in cunsequence of exag- rerated reports.of the prevalence of trichine in American pork. A question asked by an English member of Parliament in the House of Commous a few days ago indicates that there is considerable objection on the part of some Englishmen to the importation of our pork also, and for the same'reason probably that it is to be excluded from France., * PARNELL has a pretty hard road to travel. 1f he appears to shape liis course so as to suit the wishes of the Irish hops and clerzy he is assailed by the English’ press as an instrument of Rome, and the Presby- terians and Episcopalinus of Ulster are cautionel to keep aloof from him. If he ignores the Catholic clergy, or sceks the powerful aid of the Liberal press of Europe, hels sureto be pointed to by the sawe English press as an enemy to religion; and the Whig Catho- lies and place-hunters of -Ireland raise their liands in holy horror at his unchristian and anti-Catholic course. It appears the Pope is highly indignant at Parnell’s recent visit to Victor Hugo and other Coutinental Liberals, and it will be probably made the preiext for a crusade against Parnell by the prous hum- bugs of Ireland. Poor old England is full of troubles. No sooner has she concluded her Afghan cam- paign, at an expense of two or three hundred illion dollars, and withdrawn her troops, which have accomplished nothing at all ex- cept to place 2 new Ameer upon the throne of Cabul, than this obstreperous country is in arms again. Ayoob Khan, who, we were led to believe, was vanquished at Candahar, is in the field again, and is marching upon Abdurrahmar Kian, whom he regardsas a usurper. nd now what will England do? Must she not support the man whom she has placed upon the throne as her ‘special OF course Ayoob Knhan have moved hiad it not been for n advance to the north of him. Since the capture of Geok-Tepe they have continued on towards Merv, and the Merv Chiefs are preparing to resist them. Once in possession of Aerv, they are nearer to Herao than the English are to Cabul or Candahar, and they control the approaches to India, d threaten the so-called **seientifie front~ i his new friends, the English, for help, or upon his old friends, the Russiuns, in whose employ he formerly was? In either event, the English are placed in an awkward posi- tion. THE CITY BUDGET. The Finwnce Committee of the City Coun- cil have completed their report of the proba- ble and possible appropriations for the year 18SL. It will be remewmbered that estimates are made by the several heads of depart- ments, which are passed on by the Con- troller, and again by the Finance Committee. Thetotul of expenditures advised by the Con- troller was $4,660,352, and by the Committee $4,653, Under the law the limit of taxa- uon for ordinary city purposes is 2 per cent on the valuatjon of taxable property in the city. At the muwst, this levy of 2 per cent ! can only produce $2,312,673; but-from this as an available asset must be d‘educxed 5 per cent for taxes not colieeted, leaving theavail- able revenue of the city from the 2 per cent tax only 82,225,539, Under the law the ex- penditures for school purposes are outside the ordinary expenses of the City Govern- ment, and therefore are provided for by a special tax. The sum asked by the School Board was $1,132,904, which the Finance Counnittee cut down to $1,037,934. In the same way, the law autharizes an additional levy to pay the interest on the public debt. As the full sum of -this interest has to be raised, the levy includes a sum to cover the 5 per cent loss from mnon-collections. The total levy, therefore, will be for the following purposes: The 2 per cent tax Tax for sehool “Tax for interest. Total mxj-lery... oeer. $4,102,013 From this, asa matter of actual revenue, must be deducted 5 per cent for taxes not collected. ‘The list of appropriations recommended by the Finance Committee foots up an aggregate of $4,653,616. To meet this deficiency the Council appropriates the revenue from mis- cellaneous sources and something from the cash in the City Treasury. . The total appropriations and their purpose, as recommended by the Controller and the Finance Committee, respectively, are thus presented comparatively: Controller. Committec. $ 9200 J $2,342.673 1187994 622,536 . $ 9 1.000 305,003 5,000 60,000 sl 4060 508,107 General Sinking Fun 1,000 Health Department 106,300 Interes . 592,701 Judgme: ount. 30163 Legul expenses.... 7,000 Police tourts.. 2,000 Police Departmeat. . B12083 Pounds.... ...... ~ 1300 Printing and stationery. 10,000 Pablic Library. 23,426 Salaries not cbargeabie fo Departments. .. Sehoul Department. £chool Sinking Fund.. r; “Totals, .. . ! The report of the Finance Committee is a practical document, and its recommenda- tions are well considered and just. The city is now at a erisis in its financial affairs, Five years ago it was in.a most desperate strait, without money or credit, and over- whelmed with an outstanding floating debt of questionable legality. Economy and re- trenchment were not debatable questions,— they were imperative. The City Govern- went wisely eut down its expenditures, and, ? Will Abdurrahmwan Khan call upon $4,083.616. without increasing the taxes, addressed itself to the most rigid system of economgy, apply- ing the savings to rebuilding the credit and redeeminy the outstanding obligations. - The old system of issuing serip instead of paying money was gradualty discontinued, until finally, in 1830, it was wholly and, it is to be hoped, forever abandoned.- As under the law the taxes for one year cai Dbecollected until after that year has wholly. passed, the city must, therefore, have enough money on hand- to carry it on, or it must re- sort to the disgraceful, disreputable, and really illegal issue of city serip. There has been in the City Treasury, and is now, enough. money belonging to the General Fund, the accumulations of past economy and savings, to enable the Controller to pay the semi-an- nual interest and all other current expenses without going on the street to peddle city serip illegally. The city, therefore, is now in the con- dition of 2 man just recovered from an ill- ness which had taken him to death’s door, and who is just able to walk alone. Shall he return to former recklesness and wasteful expenditure of strength, or, by continuing the judicious care which has saved him from'n fatal collapse, reéstablish his health perma- nently? There is, of course, a faction in the City Council which will seek to squander the cash in the T'reasury, and which will endeavor to have every dollar of it expended, and .| foree the city back-into the old, ruinous, and costly policy. To be compelled to borrow money to pay the interest on the city debt was equal for many years to adding nearly 1 per cent to the annual interest on that debt, and the effort to carry on the City Govern- ment by means of serip cost the city nearly aquarter of a million of dollars annually more than would have been needed if cash were employed. The city has now reached a cash-paying basis, and the Finance Commit- tee implore that the fund ueld for that pur- pose shall not be depleted by the City Coun~ cil. In that recommendation all Chicazo outside the City Council will cordially unite. The Commiittee wisely recommend that the Water Department be separated from that of - Public Works, and that it, as well as the office of City Collector, be placed under the responsible charge of the Controller. The Committee report that they have made arrangements for sufficient room in the Ex- posttion Building for two firecompanies, thus _avoiding the purchase of two additional sites and the erection of two additional buildings. . The Committee also direct attention to the fact that the city now pays anuually $65,000 for' the collection of the city taxes, when, under another arrangzement, the same work might be done for one-third that cost. Included in the appropriations recom- mended is one of an additional $100,000 for the constraction of puinps at the eanal; with this appropriation there certainly can be no apology for any further delay in that work. ‘The City Council have yet to pass on this report. The best thing they can do is to take it up and adopt it as a whole, thus avoiding a great waste of time andof wind. BTRIOT INSEECTION OF GRAIN. The resignation of the Chief Inspector of Grain in Milwaukee, after a term of service of nearly twenty years, has been already reported. Towards the close of last week it was rumored that the reason for his resigna- tion was a much more important one than at first supposed. The reason is alleged to be insuperable difficulties in regard to the con- duct of the inspection in that city. Itis claimed that, under pressure from parties auxious to do a larger pusiness as receivers of wheat from the country, the quality of cer- tain grades has ‘been reduced, till it is now not so good as it ought to be. To put the case plainly, as stated, some shippers have recently discriminated against MMilwankee wheat on the ground of .inferior quality. The Inspector has wunted to keep up the grades, but bas been unable to do so; and still the receivers press and press to have grain admitted which is not equal even to the reduced quality of the grades. The of- ficial saw no way of escape from the dilema except by summarily resigning the responsi- bilities of his anomafous position. Whether or not the' facts be exactly as al- leged, the matter is one of especial impor- tance at this time, as the grain-inspection system of Chicago is now in process of official investization.—all the more so as the Mil- waukee inspeetion has been several times re- ferred toby the witnesses examined at Spring- field. Outside of the allegations of personal “indiseretion” on the part of Commission- ersand (some) Iuspectors, the chief point made is, that our grading has been too high to be just to the country shipper, and proof furnished by reference to the fact that cer- tain parcels of grain have been graded high- er in that city than here, Of course this chiefly apolies to wheat, which is the greatstaple in the grain trade of Mil- waukee. We believe it is generally admit- ted that such araising of grade has often occurred as 2 consequence of transportation from this-point to our neighbor, eighty miles farther north. The claim that such inspec- tion .must give a fower actual value foa named grade there was answered by the statement that Milwaukee inspection was *“elastic,” and compensated for the one by greater rigor in the grading of wheat there which did not come from competing areas. It is now conceded that the result of this policy has been an actual lowering of grades, and that to a point where they will not bear comparison with those of Chicago, exceptat adisadvantage. Itisdue to the retiring In- spector to say that parties in the trade here do not blame him in the matter, save for lack of backbone. Inother words, they believe that he has only yielded to such a pressure as is now sought to be brought to Dbear upon our Inspectors,—a pressure of and by receivers, which would be irresistible 1f the oflicials were under their control, as has been the case in Milwaukee. -Whatever may be said about the injustice of a State system of inspection, and the inev- itable tendericy to let politics dictateappoint- ments under such a system, there isone thing certain: nothing more is gained in the long run by letting down the quality of an article than is gained by reducing the quanti- ty. When it once becomes known that wheat which is called No. 2 is inferior to the wheat that was called No: 2 some time ago, it will nomore command the same price from the consumer than if it were sold by the bushel of fifty pounds instead of the bushel of sixty pounds asit is now. Andit is hnpossible, in the very nature of things, that the quality of a grade of grain can be maintained if all the grain goes into it which is claimed by the holders to be equal to that grade. There must be a line somewhere, and it should be strictly adhercd to. We may even add that the line would be much better placed a little too high than as wmuch too low, since it is well known that a good article will always command the best going prices. Above all, there should be no tampering with grades. A set of standards once established, unless notorious- ly impracticable, should be rigidly adhered to. Couuntry shippers would soon learn to accommodate themselves thereto, and buyers ata distance would feel and exhibit a confi- dence impossible where change was per- mitted. The lesson studied and taught by our neighbor should be well considered by the grain trade of Chicago. The City of Afilwaukee held a commanding position in the wheat trade of the world up to a couple of years ago by virtue of an inflexible in- canuot SUNDAY, . FEBRUARY 20, 188 —EIGHTEEN PAGES." spection. .She has fallen back owng to a re- | laxation of thestandard. Chicagomay profit by the example. ¥ THE TIMES CHANGL The Irish Land-Leaguers, whare now de- nounced as though they were jome of the “vilest wretches that cumber the earth,” should “take heart of grace,”. Jand remem- ber that they are not the only :‘uvmmed poli- ticians who in ourage have ben subjected to the denunciations of the English press, the scorn of upper-tendom, axd the contunie- Iy of the so-called respectadle classes. In 1842, when - the free-trade agitation was at its highest, the London press and the En- elish pamphleteers were ag fierce in their denunciation of the ~4nti-Corn Law League as they are nov in denuncia- tion ot the Land League. The Pall 3all Guazette quotes from the advanced sheets of a book about to be publisted in England a chapter of the history of tl;e free-trade agl- tatfon, which gives us a clear insight into the history of the times to “Which we refer. ‘““The League,” it says, ‘{was thoroughly “out of fashion. It was regrded as violent, extreme, and not respectale.” It was de- scribed as “a selfish and {ontemptible fac- tion.” The Quarterly Review reterred to it as “the foulest and wmostJanzerous combi- nation of recent times”; te London Times alluded to Cobden anl John Bright as ‘“capering mercenarks,” ‘“incendiary claptraps,” and “peripatefic orators pufling themselves Into easy popilarity by second- hand arguments.” In theiall of 1842 there were furious riots gotteni up by English mill-operatives, gng, still laier in the season, hayricks were burned down in many of the soutbern and midland shires of England. The Auti-Corn Law Leagie was charged with promoting these ouiriges, just as the Land League is charged nowadays with promoting the outrages it Ireland, *“The ruling elasses,” adds the wark from which we are quoting, * were anxioustt almost any cost to destroy Cobden,” just as the Irish land- lord classes are anxious nowadays to de- stroy Parnell. Cobden wss looked on as the head and frontof the ani-Corn law agita- tion as Parnell is now looked on as the head | of the antirent agitation. During the Parliamentary session of 1843 j Lord- Howdick moved a resolution in re- gard to the prevailing distress in En- gland, and Cobden, replying to Glad- stone and Peel, who adyocated the main- tenance of the Corn laws, charged Peel with being “individually responsible” for the distress prevailing in England. Peel affected virtuous indignation, and counstrued Mr. Cobden’s language te mean that he (Peel) was “personally” responsible, and he created a scene in tho Houss of Commons by ““acting the. choleric man,” as Beaconsfield expressed it. - How. like the scenes in the House of Commons newadays, when Sir William Harcourt, Lord! Hartington, or Mr. Secretary Forster lashes himself into frenzy at Mr. Parnell’s rather forcible language! But the storm blew ofer then, just as all English political storm} blow over, and as “the anti-Irish storm in England is now blow- ing aver. L : ‘There were not wanting wise mentors in those days, too, to condginn the impetuosity of the ardent Ulyssed of reform. Lord Broughnlm was to Mr. (bbden in those: days ‘what Mr. Shaw is to Mi. Parnell. The quon- dam radical nobleman expressed his ‘* utter abhorrence” of the course of Mr. Cobden and Mr. Bright, just as M. Shaw expresses his utter abliorrence of 3fr. Parnell and dr. Dillon. He *“abhiorfed, detested, and scorned” the -wild/ rhetoric of the Anti-Corn Law’\Ledguers, and held that their speeches’ were “calciilated to producs the taking away of inmocent life.” In fact, his speech then embodied the ideas which the English Whigs would’ mow express “against the Irish LandLeaguers, had they the ability or eloguence o; Lord Brougham. In afew years after these denunciations and an- imadversions the program of the Anti-Corn Law League became {he prograw of the Gov- ernment of the day, and in less than a quarter of a centurydfter Mr. Cobden was offered a Cabinet podtion, and in thirty-five years after Mr. Bright accepted a Cabinet position. Would it be surprising, then, to find an English Cabinet- adopting the full Land- League program? Iiis perhaps too much to, expect that Mr. Parugt may have the refusal of # Cabinet positioa inside of twenty-five years, and that Mr. Dillon may be Chancetlor of the Duchy of Lancaster or Chief Secretary for Ireland inside thirty years. ’ THE NEW RUSt0LBINESE IREATY OF : "PEACE. The long impendirg conflict between China and Russia, wifich, Jas’ threatened to'break out at any time during the past three years, has at last been averted by the new treaty concluded with Russin at St. Petersburg by the Marquis Tseng.: That diplomat appears not only to have setaside the miserable work of his predecessor} Chung How, who wasa weak and inexperienced man, and who would lave lost his head but for the resolute inter- ference of some of; the Powers, but to lave effected a settlement which is decidedly in the interest of China. He has secured not only all that his Government demanded, but awnsiderable more. The principal demand of China was for the retrocession of.the Province of Kuldjh, and the demand was a just one, as Russin; under pretext of keeping peace among the Turcomans and of protect- ing her own provinces, seized Kuldja, with the understanding that the occupation would be temporary, and ‘that at the proper time it would be banded back again. The proper time, however, secemed never to come, and the Chinese, tired of waiting for it, mustered their armies and resolutely prepared to take it. Induced to euter into diplomatic negotia- tion, China has made the surrender of this Province a sine qua non of her very cunning and astute diplomacy. 1ler first Ambassador was a weak man, but could bardly be called dishonest, though he allowed the Russians to get the better of him, and to wheedle him into the aceeptance of a treaty so grossly un- fair that his Government tore it into tatters and pretty nearly chopped off the wretched Chung Iow’s head for making it. His sue- cessor, the Marquis Tseng, has done better, for he has compelled Russia to admit the jus- tice of the elaim of his Government, and the whole of the Provinee of Kuldja will be re- turned, with the exception of a small district in the northwestern part of it, comprising only one-twentieth of the area of the whole, which Is of no special value to China:. More than this, the Marquis Tseng not only has secured the return of the Province, but China will receive it free of -the immense indemnity which Russia claimed, and will only pay to her a small sum as an act of friendship. .Certain important conditions relative to trade were also specified in Chung Ilow's treaty which gave Russia an immense ad- vantage. The Marquis Tseng has blotted these out and secured fresh omes, which make a fairer division of trade between the two countries and remove one source of dan- ger, for whereas Cliung How’s treaty would have given Russia trading ports with fortresses and garrisons that- would have been tantamount to sb many - strategical points and bases of communication in case’ of war, the Marquis Tseng has succeeded in grantinz {rade concessions which have no military bearing atall. From every point of view, it would seem that China has the best of the bargain. As Russia las accepted the treaty, and its provisions are so favorable that the Pekin Government will be certain to accept them, it may be assumed as certain that there is no danger of war, not onlyat present. but for a long time to come. The credit.for this treaty of peace does not belong altogether to the Marquis of Tseng, but in large part to Gen.Grant. When he was in China the whole country was_ rampant for war with Russia, and the war party was in the ascendency. Recognized as the greatest General in the world, the Chinese Prime Minister consulted him for advice. He showed the Prime Min- ister the folly of golng to war with Russia, how mighty the Muscovite power was, and how easily it would swoob down upon China by land and by sea. His advice was taken. Tne war feeling died out, and the Govern- ment ‘entered upon the more pacific policy of negotiation, with what results has already been shown. The same friendly service was also done for Japan .in the Corea complication, and by his friendly and sensible suggestions he prevented her from plunging Into 2 war with China, in which, of course, Chiina would have been successful, though it might have involved a severe contest and great expense at the very time when she was in trouble with Russia. However satisfactory the relationsof China and Russia may.be under the new treaty, they are not regarded with much cowmpla- cency in England. The London Spectator Is nlarmed: first, because the war party still has the ascendency, and, second, because China now will be free to give her attention to matters in which England is concerned, and especially to the obium question, which has always been a sore spot in the eyes of the Chinese authorities. Upon this point the Spectator savs: The Chinese Government would like, as 8 counsel of perfection, to put down the use of opium, both native and forelgn, with a strong hand; but, us a practical administration, it wants te muke money out of the practice of opium- euting. By the imposition of a fresh import tax, and of dues Tor the right to convey opium trom tho Seaports to the interlor, or from one Rrov- ince to another, the Chinese could greatly limit its use; or, which they desire muct more, they could add a very lurge sumr annually to their revenue. Their English adviser, Mr. Hart, would supply them with details on this latter polrt that would have & very persuasive tenden- cy. Whichever course they pursue, it muy be taken for certain that, as soon as tussia carries out the stipulations of this treaty, and when the contest for power at Pekin has been decided, the Chinese Government will devote ll its vi&mr and attenton to the attainment of a solution satisfactory to itself of the opium question. It will insist on_a Chinese interpretation of -the agreement of Cheefoo, The recent treaty between China and the United States, by which the latter has con- ceded that its subjects shall neither import opium into Chinese ports nor deal in opium when imported, has emphasized the alarm felt in England that China will soon make the complete prohibition of foreign opium a cardinal object of its policy. This is not to be wondered at, since it would mean the bankruptey of India, if there is enough of India left to be bankrupted, but at the same time it wiil be difficult for England to con- vinee the world that China . has not the right to regulate her own taxes,orto explain why, if India can prolibit the importation of opium, China bas not the same right. THE RIVER-PUMPS. We have received a letter strongly urging the adoption by the State and city of the plan to build an enormous sewer connect- ing the South Branch of the Chicago River with the Illinois River, and thus provide unfailing drainage for this city. Thissewer or underground river would be constructed alongside of and sometimes under the canal and the Desplaines River, and its projectors claim for it that it i5 the only permanent means whereby the Chicago River can be re- leved. s The fact is the evil is already one that de- mands prompt relief. The Ciiy of Chicago is not.alone interested. The people along the Illinois River are as great Sufferers as are those of this eity. Any mere sewer to drain the sewage of this city into the Lilinois River would meet with Instant and most de- termined opposition and resistance from the peopleof the whole State. The plan proposed is nothing mofeflmn_m extend our sewers from Chicago to the Illinois River. The drainage of the Chicago River in that direc-/ tion would only be tolerated when -that drainage was nccompanied, diluted, and ren- dered free of odor and poison by an im- meuse body of the pure water of Lake Michi~ gan. Nomere sewer could carry a volume of water sufficient for any such purpose. The present flow of water from our river into the canal (when free from ice) is not in excess of 20,000 cubic feet per minute, and this is wholly insufiicient to purify the water of theriver. It will requirea continuous flow of water equal to 40,000 cubic feet per minute to-render the drainage inoffensive when it reaches Joliet. The capacity of the canal at present is equal to any demand that can be made of it in the way of carrying water. The present level of the water in the canal is the level of the Chicazo River. An increase of the water in the canal to a level six or seven feet above that of tie Chicago River would give it all the benefit and advantages in point of depth that can ever be obtained by carry- ing out the orginal plan of lowering that canal to the depth of the Chicago River. To put in a lock at the junction of the canal and rviver and pump water into the canal to a hight six feet above the present water-level would enable the canal to carry off 60,000 cubic feet of water per winute. This is not conjectural nor experimental; it was done for many years, and the work was inex- pensive. To put in these pumns would in forty- eight hours ehable a clear stream of pure water to flow from Lake Michigan through the Chicago River, the canal, and the Illinois River; and 2 moderate continuance of the pumps would make this the permanent con- dition of the entire water-way. With this great evil demanding linmediate relief, with this remedy so easily applied and so certain in its effeets, it is idle to sit down, as Mayor Harrison does, and talk about the construe- tion of a ship-canal by Congressin theremote future, or to talk about constructing 2 mam- moth sewer which will take fifteen years to build and cost §15,000,000, ‘What is wanted is immediate relief,—some- thing that will answer the purpose wuntil, say, the year 1930, leaving the intervening fifty years for the ship-canal and the big sewer men,—ample time in which to' push their schemes and induce the people to go into the busivess. The people.of this city and of the Stato protest agaminst being poi- soned and stunk to death while the ship- canal and the underground sewer are talked about, h . _TuE Society of Arts in London have de- cided toaward threesilver medalsfor the three London houses, whether old ornevw,which are furnished with the best appliances for sani- tary purposes. ‘The conditions of the award embrace, among other things, immunity {rom frost, such as the protection of the kitchen-range, the water-supply, the action of snow and ice upon roofs, the metres in the house, and \other apphances which so often necessitate’ the presence of the hilari- ous plumber. The conditions also involve the proper arrangements for preserving in- ternal temperature, by preventing the waste- ful escape of heat, and the propor laying of gas-pipes, as well as the regulation of gases from sewage and the construction of drains. The action of the Societyis commendable, and might well be imitated here, provided these sanitary precautions did notstop with the awarding of medals but with the enforce- ment of sanitary laws and regulations in the construction of houses to correspond with those adjudged -worthy of the prizes. It would be of little use to know that A’s house was perfectly built as regards health unless B were compelled to build in the same man- ner. Itwould be some compensation, how- ever, In these days to know how to build such a house. - THE CONSTANTINOPLE CONFEZRENCE. The aspect of the Greco-Turkish question i3 more pacific in itsoutlook, and it looks now as if the forthcoming conference at Constantinople might settle it without a general war. The consent of Prince Bis- marck to preside at and conduct the de- liberations 1is hopeful, for, as he has stated on more than one occasion recently, and has been-confirmed by the recent speech of the Emperor, the desire of Germany is for peace, because, as was not stated, she Is not yet ready for war. The policy of France, as is well known, is pacific, so much so that she has abandoned her former position as the champlon of Greece, ana has officially an- nounced that she will take no part in'a forei- ble coercion of Turkey. England resolutely maintains her old attitude of taking no step except in concert with the other Powets. Sir Charles Dilke, in reply to a recent inte rogation, explained the form which negoti: tions are to take, and denied that the Govern-- ment had given any intimation that it would help Greece against the Porte, or that it had any purpose of doing so. “The trust of the Government is in the maintenance of the concert between the European Powers. Englend is not engaged in any isolated action. She will move with the rest, but will do ‘nothing by herself to force a solution which there is still some hope may be at- tained by pacific means.” Nor is there auny danger from Italy; or Russia, or Austriz. Italy is too weak, Russia is too much occu- pied with internal troubles, and Austria, of course, will second Germany, Both Turkey and Greece also are growing more pacific. Turkey has been plunged into fresh financial | difficulties of a dangeroussort, and cannot afford & war if she can avoid it. Greece is also in financial troubles, and cannot gether loans placed; and besides that begins to have misgivings about the attitude of the Powers in case of war. ) Meanwhile, the Porte continues its wary and non-committal policy. 'When questioned recently by the English Ambassador how far it would go in order to meet the demands of Greece, it replied that it was impossible to define in advance the maximumof the concessions it might be disposed to make, since that could only be established through the negotiations with the Ambassadors, and in this view it is supported by Germany and Austria. The Porte has successfully re- sisted every Individual effort of the Powers to sound it as to its intentions, and the only action it will recognize is that of the Powers in concert. The London Times, comment- ing on the situation, says: ‘The object of the Powers will, of course, be to asqertaln the amount of territorial concession which the Porte is prepared to make, andto determine on its sufliciency or otherwise. Thera is promise here of & long_ process of bargaining affer the recognized Oriental fashion. First comes the guestion of the basis from which the negotiations are to proceed. I1f the Powers in- sist on tuking as n starting point the line of the Berlin Conference, their mediadon, or what- ever else we are to term it, will, our Constanti- nople correspondeut hus informed us, be respect- fully but irmly declined. The opposit extreme i3 the line indicated in the noteof Oct.3. If the Powers agree to this, some further conces- sions will be made. The tendency, our Vienaa correspondent thinks. i3 to takean interme- diate line.—that, namely, lald down In the thir- teenth protocol of the Berlin Treaty, Butitis to be a shifting Lasis in any case. If a liberat line is adopted the discussion will turn on the degree in which It'is to be uarrowed, and vice versa. Butthe Powers, wo must presimne, will place themselves in substantial accordance as to what the tinal Scttlemeat i3 to be. If su, it seems an unimportunt matter from what side it is reached, whether by paring down .an original demand which the Powers do not insist upon, or by adding slice after slice to an inadequate ter- ritorial offer from the Porte. That the agreement of the Powers will re- main intact now seems-apparent, and it equally seems apparent that they will reach some compromiss between the demands of Greece and the concessions which Turkey is prepared to make that Turkey will . hold herself bound by. The situation, therefore, " hinges upon the attitude of Greece after the Powers have arrived at a decision, and. whether she will consent to accept less than has been specified in the Treaty of Berlin. After the Powers have delivered their decis- ion they, of course, will not recede from it. 1f Greece is dissatisfied with it and refuses to uceept it, she must act for herself, and of course will alienate the sympathies of the Powers and all hope of assistance from them. She must make war upon Turkey alone, and, asshe is much the weaker Power, she must inevitably get the worst of it, and at the close of such a warfind herself infinitly worse off than she isnow. The wiser policy for her to pursue would be to accept the decision of the Powers, and, if she can’t get the whole loaf, take half, and retain the respect and sympathies of Europe. THE CALAMITY FOOLERY. Mr. Murry Nelson is entitled to the thanks of Chicago for halting the absurd movement to celebrate, next October, the burning up of the city in 1871, and it is to be hoped that the good sense of those who have been canvass- ing the proposition will second his vigorous protest by indefinitly postponing its further consideration. A movement of this kind was started once before and promptly sup- pressed. If there were no reason then for a celebration, there is no more reason now. What are we to celebrate? Webster defines celebration as honor or distinction bestowed. ‘What is there in connection with the great calumity of 1571 that entails the necessity of bestowing honor or distinction? Again, he says ‘*‘commemoration or observance with appropriate ceremonies,” and he adds “we commemorate events which we desire to cherish in affectionateremembrance.” Isthis calamity a matter to be cherished in affec- tionate remembrance? Are the destruction of the city, the burning up of homes, stores, manufactories, banks, churches, newspaper offices, and places of amusement, . the beggary of many unfortunates, and our de- pendence upon the world for charity matters to be held in affectionate remembrance? If we are golng to celebrate calamities, why single outthe greatfire,and refuse torecognize others? Why not celebrate the massacre of Fort Dearborn, the wreck of the Lady Elgin, the cholera seasons, or the anmiversary of the day.when the first case of small-nox ar- rived here? If the great firo Is to be held in such affectionate remembrance that our ex- uberant oy can only find vent in pro- cessions, fun. frolic, and foolery, then why should we not show our joy over- these minor bui proportionately hilarious calamities ? Certainly, in their way, they did everything possible to commend themselves to affectionate remembrance and to arouse feelmes of devout thankfulness. Let us be consistent, and not concentrate all our joy and affection upon one calamity, merely be- cause it was larger than the others. . Should this absurg propositionbe persisted in'Ch‘icago will become the laughing-stock of the country. The onlyfeature of the great calamity that can be remembered with grati- tude or that can be cherished with affection is the splendid charity of the- world that flowed in upon s in those dark days, un- sought and unasked. Chicago has not been unmindful of it. She has never lost an op- portunmity to help others in their affliction since then, and, were any other city ip thls: country to meet a similar fate, she Would not -be behind her sister eities in promptly co‘? Ing to the relief of the unfortunate, Si:e hm' done her best to prove herself worthy of t!:: world’s kindness by devoting herself to uflf material restoration with all her €nergy ang enterprise, and by setting the great echan, Ism of commeree, which supplies-the worlg with food, into the speediest working orge, But is there not some better way of t;:lehm: ing this eharity than by fooling away mopey. upon child’s play and reimbursing oumj: 14 out of the pockets of the gaping crowg wf may come here to see the show ? Ig it con?. sistent with tne dignity of this- greqt city to inaugurate a carnival of buffoonery he, and give up a day, or two or three days,op 5 week to senseless and cheap shee:—show,lw noise and flummery, and to drinking and guzzling, because of a calamity? Sp, ;05«!5 private individual had been overtaken by some merciless disaster and his only salyg. tion was at the hands of his fr 4 who came to his relief, anq “}g:;’ this individudl should eelebrate * the anniversary of his trouble by making himself uproarious and getting gloriously drunk, would it elevate him in the estinz, tion of those who had placed hiw o3 hs feetr again? There is another thing to be op. sidered. We had 2 celebration here last summer, and, though Chicago as a City wag not ofllcially responsible for it, it hag Jet 5 very bad odor. Would it not be well to get rid of that odor and wait until it has paeq, off before we venture upon another eélebrs; tion? If we must celebrate our calumity, 3 faneral ceremony would be moreappropriaty than a heterozeneous jamboree or the grang carnival of allegory and tomfoolery which has been proposed. Murry Nelson has dona. well to puncture this illegitimate boom it‘ the very outset. If the rest of the Com. mittee have good sense they" will second hig motion and end this absurd ckild’s play, "THE imbroglio in the Union Tabernacla," New York, shows that while a capitalist may - owna church, he cannot own 2 congrega. tion. Francis A. Palmer, President of thy National Broadway Bank, enjoys, the rara distinction of owning the above chureh, As he owned the church, he hired its minis- tér and paid him, but, becoming dissatisfied with him, he has discharced ‘him, and is. looking out for 2 new employé; but, asthe congregation went out with their pastor, it is difficult to see what the new minister can_ do unless he holds service in the Broadway. Bank and preaches to Mr. Palmer and his’ clerks, -Mr. Paimer, owning both church’ and clergyman, of course has the right to- discharge him, just as he has to discharge one of his bank clerks, but it seems anodd: way of managing churches, and indicates that there may come a timesben banks,, newspaper offices, railroads, and other cor- porations may own their own churches and ministers, and inspire their sermons. It would at least be a very convenient way of getting rid of uncomfortable doctrines amll minatory ministers. 7 Astronomical, . x A Chicago (TRIBUNE office), north latituda’i 41 deg. 52m. 57s.; west longitude 42m. 18s. from.. ‘Washington, and 5h. 50m. 30s. from Greenwick. ., The subjoined table shows the time of ris= ing of the moon’s lower lmb, and the of-_ “ficial time for lighting the Hrst street-lamp in each circuit in this city, during the coms’ ing week, unless ordered sooner on account of bad weather. Also the following times for’ extinguishing the first lamp: % Hoon riscs. The moon will be in her last quarter at1:40 . Monday; in perigee next Saturday morn= ing; and new a week from to-morrow. Shewill: be with Mars Friday night. The sun’s upper limb will rise on 3onday st 6:463 n. m., south at 13m. 44.89s. p. m., and setat” 5:41% p. m. S The sun's upper limb rises Friday next at’ 6:403% a. m., souths at 13m, 09.478 p. m., and sets at5:471 p. m. . s The sidereal time Thursday mesn noan will be 228, 18m. 57418, + Mercury will sonth Tuesday at 1:19 p. m. and setat7:16 p. m. Thursday he will south atl:il p. m. and set at 7:18, or about au hour and ahalf after the sun. He attains his greatest elonge-. tion east (18 degrees) Wednesday morning. Tho present week isa_peculiarly favorable oue for. - seeing the planet Mercury. He will shine fallf as brightly as Saturn, if no clouds interfere with the view, from half to three quarters of an hour! aftersunset in the city, and even later in the country. Ty 8% Mars will south Thursday at 9:55 8. -m.. Tislng. at 5:12 a. m., and nearjy due south from tha two, bright stars in the hedd of Capricorn. Hefstoo far away from us to be a very interesting object, even through the telescope, a3 his moonsarepot:* at present visible. Venus, Juplter, and Saturn are now “bunched together” within an apparently smell spacein. the heavens. In the latter part of tis week they will form & triangle of brillldnt polats,. Venus being the brightest and most northerlys while Saturn, the least brilliant of the three, will be at the eastern or left-hand corner of tha- triangle. Next Thursday tney will move as fol- lows, with reference to our meridian and horde zon: St Juplter.... 920 p. By Venus. 98BI, Satura. . 1. 9:49 Zut‘ Venus {s now at her greatest elougaticd ward from the sun, the angular distance beig about 46% degrees. That meansshe-i8 station= ary with respect to the geo centre motom. She, . however, appears to advance 'w-: wards the east, as compared With Jlxp.té!i and Saturn, because those two planets arenear | ing the place of the sun, at tho rate of neariy 8 | degreo each day. She will pass 5% dm“'”: tho north of Saturn Tuesday of nextweek. < small telescope suffices to show Venus 283 w; moon, At the present time, proving thatshe 5| now at the greatest angle of a neerly right~ { angled triangle, tho earth snd sun belnd at tho other two corners of the figure. WomaYy also, by a simple operation in plain rdxnnflflt try, obtain from the present podition & KROWS. edgeof her relative distance from tha sun, n;; cnough for most purposes. The relativedis: tance i3 tho sine of 2% degrees, tho aif% which the sun and Venus subtend -to 8% observer on the earth. The sine of tbat a0F5, 0.725, nearly; and 0.72333 i3 the result ob! . by the most accurate methods emploged ., Venus will continue to grow in hrlx!w'm. nearly o month yet; while Jupiter mdSfl“ will dlminish as they pass toward Junceios with the sun two months heace. *Sr Uranus will South Thursday at 10:38 8- M % ing then in right nscension 10 hours 53 minutesy and north acclination 7degrees 49 winutes.- e Neptune will south Thursday at 420 P Right ascension 2 bours 40 minutes, nortd declination 13 degrees 44 minutes. e —————, deserves.snd vallant attsck, Mr. UrpEGRAFF, of Towa, as recelved much credit for bis s on the River and Harbor bill. He mude. thasm;:\ bate really enlivening. One-fourth of the i 167,000 called for by the bill, according wbll" showing, will be wasted In raft and push-Do% navigation. Some of the streams are obstra by “overhanging trecs,” others by mlfl'wu o and many of them haveless than three iach o ywater in low stages. The money thus far w:fl re in the Elx River (West Virginia) improvem ot hasbeen devoted to obtaining ultimatel? open navigation of ten or tweive ioches, :llfl" is yet far from realized. Mr. Updegral posd sald that thero ougbt to be gome mERn . tween tho Atlantic Occun snd a dew-drop consldering tne improvement of navigation. - 3 ALarg TWwAIN estimates his profits P;: the sale of his books at $125,000; from “2 ) Tramp Abroad” ar $40,000; and his ltfl:‘b and plays, in additlon to his books, wufl' bring the ogsregate up to $250,000. He o to u correspondent that the sum ought B bave been over $400,000, now discovered that he had printed his und that he had J booksoa™+