Evening Star Newspaper, February 6, 1895, Page 9

THE EVENING STAR, WEDNESD SY. FEBRUARY 6, 1895-TWELVE PAGES. BROOM — DANG 10 Gents FOR THE 256. BROOMS. FRESH MEATS REDUCED. 8 LBS, ROUND STEAK. 2 . SIRLOIN STEAK. ae FORTERHOUSE STEAK seeee - RIB ROAST. STEW MEAT. TEA DEPARTME New Special Presents. at, PARSON VEAL, &0. | NT. Gold Band Bakers, Large Gold Band Pitchers, Gold Band Plates, Cups and Saucers given with every pound of Tea, three pounds of Coffee or ome pound of Spices. wAY. BEST MIXED TEA. A AND MOCHA CO EE. 4 Canned Goods, 4c ac LP 3P 7 CAKES STAR SOAP. tT oy: Reduced. ANS STANDARD TOMATOES. ANS CORN, PEAS, LIMA BEANS. PAILS BEST PX; RVES. AGES ROLLED OATS. Ac AKES BORAX SOAP TER CRACKERS, SODA CRACKERS, 300. LB. 50C. LB. Everything in the Grocery Line at correspondingly low prices. [ake up your list and come to the JOHN- STON MARKET. JOHNSTON'S, 729-731 7th Street. (The Johnston Company.) 1te TELEPH ONB 816. RERREERSCCREROS. 1RRRRORRS SEES, $33s ae: em , SSSSSSSS eee seer caataseeaacarersasicariace eVeVeees Almanae and Hand Book FOR 1895 Is Now On Sale i At All News Stands. 95e, A COPY. 3S Looe: 38 SOO OOee SCR eS: SESOCe bs. + 3 RIRESO DOO RRRRROR WORRIED WOMEN, Why Do They Worry When It 15. Neailess? HOW. TO AVOID IT: ‘There is a Sceret Cause of Nearly All Worriment Which is to Be Found in the Women Themselves. If women only had perfect health nine-tenths of all the worrying which they now do would be avold- ed. When a woman is sick she cannot help worry- ing. Now, the cause of nearly all woman's sickness arises from the same source. Men get sick from various causes, but a woman's troubles are pe- culiar to herself. It is urfortunate, but it is true, and yet nearly all this trouble might be avoided. ‘There 1s a sovereign remedy for women. Do you ask what it is? Read what some ladi-s have sai ‘Mrs. A. Ludlam of Chelsea, Mass., says: ‘*Child- birth, combined with the grip, brought me to the border of the grave, uptil my husband and friends I shall always be thankful that of which gave me up to die. at that time I began the use of a remed, I bad heard much, and tbat I was. h th and owe my Jife entirely to Warner's Safe . O'Della Bi . a » Cure in my ‘general and it gives me great pleasure to recom- |. L. Tyndale of Packerton, Penn., says: weral years :igo I began my change of life, and for nearly three years I could eat nothing but craekers and water. I had pains in the back, in- flammation and severe vomiting spells. I could not p and was weak and nervous. When almost, as it Seemed, at the briak of the grave, 1 was restored to perfect health by the use of Warner's Safe Cure, and am better than ever before in my life. rs. C. Murphy, ‘Trumansburg, says: “A Years ago I was troubled with nervous prostra- tion ‘to such an extent that sleep was well nigh impossible, and I failed rapidly, Fortunately, my attention ‘was called to Warner's Safe Cure, and as a result of its use Iam cured, and most heartily recommend it to all sufferers among my sex.’” Mrs. J. Hallowell, residing at 2137 7th avenue, New York, says: “I ive been a great suffer from kidney trouble, end any woman who has been similarly affiteted knows what I suff but 1am happy to say that by the use of Warner's Safe Cure I have been restored to perfect healt have recommended its use to numerous friends and make this stutement with great pleasure. The list could be prolonged to more’ than the space of this paper would permit, but does itm show that all, ud more than all, that has bee ¢ Warner's § care, “woman iy true, hot act upon the s contain? COLUMBIA HEIGHTS. Mecting of the Citizens’ Association Held Last Night. There was barely a quorum at the regu- lar monthly meeting of the Columbia Heights Citizens’ Association at Mis Hall, 14th street and Florida avenue, last evening, and in the absence of the presi- dent and vice president, Secretary Simmons presided. There was very little business done, the most important being the elec- tion to membership of more than fifty residents of the section embraced in the limits covered by the association, those elected being: John P. Miller, T. F. Gallo- way, Charles F. Calhouse, G. N. Winslow, H. O'Connell, H. B. Winslow, John O'Con- nell, J. A. Sterling, E. D. Vaughn, H. W. Sterling, Charles Brandt, M. B. Hinds, Fred C. O'Connell, J. H. Simms, George W. Cempher, C. S. King, J. W. Hirt, J. A. Duchesnés, Daniel O'Keefe, Magnus Ruden- stein, J. D. Beall, Charles W. Fitts, S. Fitts, DeWitt C, Sprague, E. R. Neale, Joseph Par- ker, W. J. Bowman, C. C. Collins, M. R. Worick, P. E. Sharpless, William Darzie, C. F. Cobb, M. A. Ballinger, S. A. Gover, A. E. Mueller, C. M. Lacey Sites, H. Gasch, A. E. Gasch, J. A. Maedel, William Muehleisen, C. A. Boynton, H. H. Mole! Octavius Knight, B. F. Brockett, G. Abbott, K. Tingle, J. M. Schneider, E. MeCort, James Lansburgh, J. T. Dyer, Montgomery Cummings and Jacob ool. ‘The presiding officer laid before the mee ing a letter from Chairman Lybrook of the committee appointed to secure the removal of telegraph poles from Sherman avenue, stating that he had not yet been able to see the officials of the telegraph companies. Chairman J. E. Jeffreys of the special committee on appropriations stated that although the committee had presented to the Senate committee a numerously signed petition, the only improvement secured for the section was the widening of Sherman avenue, the Senate inserting an item of $5,000 for that purpose in the District ap- propriation bill. A letter from Mr. J. M. Woods of the Benning Citizens’ Association, inviting the Columbia Heights Association to appoint one of its members on the executive com- mittee of the suburban associations, was laid over until the next meeting. Upon the motion of Mr. Simmons, a reso- lution of sympathy and condolence was adopted on the death of the late Capt. A. E. Lacey. ‘At the suggestion of Mr. Simmons and upon the motion of Mr. 8. H. Lovejoy, the president of the association was direct- ed to appoint a committee of seven, nine or thirteen members, the number to be left to the president’s discretion, for the purpose of investigating the needs of the section and laying such needs before the next Congress. ‘The association then adjourned to meet on the first Tuesday in March, the prest- dent, on the motion of Mr. Jeffreys, being requested to Invite some member to then deliver a prepared address devoted to the wants and advancement of Columbia Heights. a A HIGH SCHOOL REUNION. Members of the Class of ’S6 Enjoy Their Ninth Annual Gathering. ‘The class of '86, Washington High School, held its ninth annual reunion Monday even- ing at the residence of Mr. and Mrs. L. G. Hine, in Eckington. Mr. and Mrs. Hine were unanimously elected honorary mem- bers of the class. The election of officers resulted in the re-election of Louis Prevost Whitaker, president; Mrs. J. Ramsay Nevitt, first vice president, and Charles S. Davis, secretary. The other officers for the ensuing year are: Second vice president, Paul Cromelien; treasurer, Miss Dela P. Mvssey; class orator, H. W. Reed; class historian, Dr. Francis P. Morgan; class poet, Chas. H. Bates. ‘After the business session an interesting program was rendered. ‘A feature of the evening was the reading of papers prepared by absent members of | the class, who are in different parts of the country. ‘The class oration was dellyered by WIl- liam E. Horton, and a class history in the | form of a prophetic vision of the future of the class was read by the historian, Miss | Mussey. ‘At the supper covers were laid for forty- seven. Toasts were responded to by Paul ‘romlien, Harry W. Reed, Miss Jennie C. | Donovan, George L. Wilkinson, Miss Mar- | garet Bayley and Simon Lyon. The pres | dent of the class, Mr. Whitaker, presided |as toast master. A very attractive souvenir | pregram was provided, carried out in the | colors—brown and white—and having the | title page decorated in water colors, with an artistic brownie design, executed by | Miss Mussey. |“ Among those present were Mrs. L. G ‘ine, Dr. and Mrs. J. Ramsay Nevitt, Mrs. P. Mertz, Mr. and Mrs. L. P, Whitaker, Miss Margaret Bayley, W. A. Hipkins, Miss Dela P. Mussey, James Austin, Mr. |and Mrs. Chas. §. Davis, Dr. Francis P. | Morgan, Mr. and Mrs, F. H. Mack, Miss 8. 1K. Burrough, Geo. H. Maxwell, Mr. and Mrs. H. S. Knight, Miss L. Wilkins, Mrs. E. W. Burton, Mr. and Mrs. Paul H. Crom- | Hen, Miss M. L. Williams, Ira L. Fish, Wm. |B. Horton, Miss Bessie E. Hine, Miss |Bianche Allison Hine, Miss Olga von Ez- dorf, O. C. Hine, E. George Johnson, Miss Laura Zeh, Mr. snd Mrs. Luther L. Apple, Mr. and Mrs. A. E. Shoemaker and Mr. and Mrs. C. L. Snyder. Ea Emigration From Italy. Mr. Stump, superintendent of the bureau of immigration, has received through Baron Fava, the Italian ambassador here, a translation of a letter of instruction re- cently sent to emigration agents in Italy, in which the immigration laws of the United States are fully explained, especial- ly as to the restriction against the contract labor and the “public charge” sections. "The letter calls attention to the disturbed financial conditions and the consequent business depression prevailing in this coun- try. The purpose of the letter is to dis- courage emigration to this country of all persons not clearly of the “desirable classes.” SEWERS ANDSTREETS : u The Board of Trade Replies to the Knights‘of Labor. THE WHOLE GROUND GONE OVER Without the Issue of Bonds Noth- ing Can Be Done. HELP FOR LABORING MEN The directors of the Washington hoard of trade met yesterday afternoon at 4 o'clock in the rooms of the board to listen to the report prepared by R. Ross Perry for the special committee appointed to consider the objections made by a delegation repre- senting the District Assembly, Knights of Labor, to the proposed issue of bonds for city improvements. There were present B. H. Warner, C. C. Glover, John B. Wight, R. Ross Perry, Samuel Ross, Thos. W. Smith, O. G. Staples, Wm. A. Wimsatt, S. W. Woodward, Theodore W. Noyes, Fred- erick L. Moore, George T. Dunlop, James | M. Johnston, Thomas Somerville and Henry A. Willard: Mr. Perry presented a careful and exhaustive consideration of the opposition made to the bond issue. Reply to the Knights of Labor. ‘The reply which was addressed to Messrs. W. H. G. Simmons, Paul T. Bowen and M. ¥. Hobbs, delegation from District, Assem- bly 66, Knights of Labor, said: The directors of the Washington board of trade have carefully considered your communication of January 25, and submit the following suggestions in connection with the important questions discussed by you: ‘At the outset you say that “the labor organizations are in favor of most of the ostensible objects of the bond bill.” ‘The main objects of the bond bill are four: 1. To proceed as soon as practicable with the work of continuing the system of trunk sewers, at a cost not to exceed $1,000,000. 2. To proceed with the work of complet- ing a system of sewage disposal and pro- tection against floods, in accordance with the plans recommended by the congres- sional board of sanitary engineers, at a cost not to exceed $3, 0. expend not exceeding $1,150,900 in act of Congress of March 2, 189%, authorizing the laying out of a system of highways in the county. 4. To expend not exceeding 32,090,000 in grading and curbing all unimproved streets in Washington and Georgetown, and in im- proving streets, roads and highways in the District, ‘including the necessary bridges and culverts. All of these abjects come within the strict meaning of the term, “local improve- men The Supreme Court of the United States has said (U1 U. S., p. 70: “It is not oven to doubt that it is in the power of the state to require local improvements to be made which are essential to the health and prosperfty of any community within its borderg. To this end it may provide for the construction of canals, for draining marshy jthd malarious districts, and of levees to“prevent inundations, as well as for the opening of streets in citiss and of roads in the‘vountry.” The courts, both’ hational and state, have always upheld the Power of the legislature to authorize muri@falities to issue bonds, with or without thé approval of a popular vote of the citizens of those municipalities @ Wallace, p. 33));in aid of the construc- tion of railways proposing to pass near or through their corporate limits, upon the theory that the benefit to result from such ccnstruction, came; within the definition of a public local benefit, All of the objects preposed to be accgmplished by the bond bill are such as have been uniformly rec- ognized by court’, Ipgisiatures and writers upon municipal Tate and policy as proper subjects of legislation and of municipal «are. The necessity for the present making of each of the four specitied improvements is shown ccnclusively by the report of the committee on the District of Columbia (Re- pert No. 1217, Fifty-third Congress, second session), accompanying the bond bill (H. R. 7677). ‘This report we request you to read attentively, for we are persuaded that it will remove from your minds what we dee misapprehensions with respect to this The conclusions of tho report referred to, showing the great need for the speedy com- pletion of the proposed sewer system, and the desirability of immediately providing for street extension on a comprehensive plan, are briefly summarized. The report then contiaues. No Way but by Issue of Bonds. We trust that what we havé sald thus far—at, perhaps, unnecessary length—will convince you that all of the improvements provided for by the bond bill are not only proper and urgent, but that they must be made together in pursuance of one com- prehensive, harmonious plan, and that the present is the time of all others for their execution. How shall they be paid for? Upon this point the District committee says: “The cost of the work provided for in this bill, together with the condition of the public treasury, preclude the possibility of providing for it by a direct appropria- tion, so that, whether the work be au- thorized now’ or hereafter, an issue of bonds must be the means provided for rals- ing the money. The condition of the moncy market is favorable for a sale of bond Again, this committee says: fair and just that bonds should be issued, as the improvement is for the benefit of future generations, As pertinent to this point, we ask your attention to the following extract from the annual report of the mayor of Philadel- phia, Pa., for the year 183: ‘There was a great amount of money expended in 1593, completing many muci-needed permanent improvements which the welfare and progress of our city demanded should no Jonger be delayed. It is !mpossibie to pro- cure from current taxation, at the present rate, the money necessary to continue these works, which will be a benefit, not ouly to the present generation, but also a still greater benefit to the generations to come, and it is, therefore, in my Judgment, good financial policy to adopt the same course pursued by ali well-regulated and success- ful corporations—create loans, the pro- ceeds of which shall be expended in such work, it being but equitable that the future generations should be compelled to bear their proper proportion of the expenses.” The report gave a statement of bonds ts- sued by many of the large cities of the country, showing. that. the issue of bonds by municipal corporations, to provide for public work of a permanent nature, is com- wion. The loans referred to were made in several cases to Cover the construction of sewers or drainage systems. Objections Considered. “We come nowsto consider your objec- tions to the bond bf, and we will refer to them in the order in which you place them. 1 1. You oppese public debts. That a na- tion, a state, a municipality, an individual is justified economically in Ineurring a debt would seem to be beyond question. Many a man has only been able to acquire a home for himself and family by going into debt. If his yearly income enables him to pay his current expenses, and yet leaves a surplus sufficient to meet interest upon his debt and some annual payment in reduction of the principal, no one can qvestion the prudence and good judgment shown by that man in buying his home by incurring a debt for its purchase money. If you consider the business operations of this country and of England you will be astonished to find the enormous pro- portion of commercial transactions which rest upon credit only. Should you prefer to examine the question at closer quarters, we will ask you to recollect how many of the successful men in business in our city teday owe their fortunes to money which they borrowed to commence business with, tion the soundness of the use of berrowed capital wherewith to support la- bor or energy of any kind is, almost, to lay violent han-ts upon the multiplication table. That workmen, whose daily bread aepends upon the multiple activity in all pursuits resulting {rem the power of cred- it, should assail the very source of that activity, is little short of suicidal. What an individual may safely do economically a collection of individuals may generally do with equal safety. The necessity of regorting to borrowed capital always hoy- ers very close to a political body of any scrt, for the simple reason that such a body can, in the nature of things, very rarely have any capital of its own. Our national government was born in poverty. At every emergency in its histofy it has had to borrow money. We owe our exist- ence today to the war bonds. And so with our city. When has the city of Washing- ton ever had money capital? We owe the difference between the Washington of 1860 and the Washington of 1895 to borrowed money. It seems to us futile to discuss this question as you have broadly put it. Present Debt Considered. 2. You say that we owe too large a debt now. In reply to this assertion, we quote again from the very able report of the Dis- trict committee: “The per capita indebted- ness of a municipality, however, while it may be interesting, affords in itself a very unsafe basis of estimate of the burden of debt, or the ability of the municipality to meet its obligations. The per capita of true and assessed valuations of real and per- sonal property, upon which the burden of taxation must rest, is a safer and more re- lable test of the debt-paying power of a state or city. * * * Bulletin 192 (census office) shows that the assessed valuation per capita of property in the District is not only nearly three times that of Virginia, but that it is larger than that of any state in the Union, except New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Montana and California. A still better and the most re- Hable test that can be made of the burden of the debt of Virginia and the District of Columbia upon their respective inhabitants and property holders is shown by compar- ing their true valuation of real estate with their respective debts. The total debts of Virginia, the ‘combined debt,” and the Dis- trict are stated in Bulletin No. 176 at $50,- 837,315 and $19,781,050, respectively, or 0.106 per cent and 0.064 per cent of their respective true real-estate valuations. The indebtedness of Virginia is thus shown to be nearly double as burdensome as that of the District—that is to say, it will require nearly twice the length of time in which to pay it, or it must pay nearly twice the rate per year on its valuation. But the present debt of the District of Columbia is but $18.200,000, about $5,000,000 less than it was in 1880. It has reduced its indebted- per capita during the last fourteen s, and yet has enjoyed, during that period the greatest prosperity of its en- tire history. These figures would seer to establish conclusively the ability of the District to sustain the increased Indebted- ness contemplated by this bill, without feeling the additional burden. But the burden will not be felt for a more import- ant reason—that no increase in the rate of taxation will be necessary, as the amount required each year for the sinking fund the Commissioners estimate at consider- ably less than $300,000, which is safely within present surplus’ revenues. More- over, the organic law absolutely prohibits increasing the rate of taxation.” Some Erroneous Statements. 3. You say that “there is today scarcely a serviceable foot of pavement, sewer or water main in existence which was pro- cured with the money the (existing) debt represents.” Even were you accurate in this assertion, you would only wee an argument in favor of the doing of better work in thé making of future improve- ments. But in reality your statement is inadequate and misleading. We today en- joy the full benefit of the permanent feat- ures of that great plan of improvement which changed the Washington of 186) in- to the beautiful :netropoiitaa capital of The grading of the streets (a source ef large expenditures), the parking, the tree planting—all of these we enjoy now in full measure. The Slash run and the Tiber creek and other great trunk sewers are in efficient use today. While our concrete pavements need resurfacing from time to time, their sub-structire remains. The large water mains are as serviceable as ever. In fact, your siatement is only ac- curate when applied to the wooden pave- ments, Originally tog freely used (for they were in the experimental stage only), and to the tile-pipe sewers laid withouz cement (and thus admitting tree-roots through the jcints), put down at a time when the cor- rect method of laying them had not been discovered. The general result of the im- provements for which the debt was in- curred has been to convert a small and un- known city into one most beautiful and famous. This alone would have justitied the debt, as it has practically created the fame, wealth and population of the District of Columbia. Surely you cannot seriously urge these minor failures as reasons why we should stand still or revert to the mu- nicipal policy in favor before the war. 4. You next object to the bond Dill be- cause fifty years’ interest at the rate of 3 per cent per annum upon_ $7,500,000 will amount to a large sum. While this is a fact, it is not an argument. We all make our daily necessary expenditures with a free mind, nor are we disturbed by the arithmetical computations of those who show us how much the price of the daily loaf amounts to in a long life. Larger considerations than these fix the rate of interest on money, and no business man is disturbed by the knowledge that he pays 6 per cent annually on borrowed money by the use of which he makes ten per cent. We shall not have to pay fifty years’ in- terest in one year. We shall have all of fifty years in which to pay back priucipal and interest. If we get an adequate con- sideration each year for the payment which we make that year, then we shall be on a sound basis even from a commercial point of view. But when that consideration is expressed not merely in dollars and cents, but also in increased health and vitality, then we must admit that not merely the expediency but the duty of the main ex- penditure has been established. Immediate Need of Funds. 5B. You next declare that ‘the sale of bonds is unnecessary, because our annual surplus of revenue will enable us to there- with pay in cash for these needed publio improvements. Upon this point we ask you to consider what we have already quoted from the District committee and the mayor of Philadelphia, as to the in- justice of charging the whole expense of a great permanent public improvement upon those only who are citizens now, while generations yet unborn will enjoy the bene- ficial results of that improvement, at least in an equal degree with, and probably to a greater extent than, the men of today. Individuals deal in their private transac- tions with matters affecting their own adult lives. Isut a municipality should pro- Vide in every department of public im- provement, which is at all permanent in its nature, for at least a half century in advance. No street, sewer, or water sys- tem is an affair of the present only. Such needs are too crushing in their magnitude to rest for their gratification upon the narrow shoulders of one generation of men. Even were our present revenue sufficient for the purpose, it would be unjust to charge this whole burden upon us. But our revenue is not sufficient for the pur- pose. As has been shown, this comprehen- sive system of improvements must be ex- ecuted os a whole and not in piecemeal. We must at the outset have this whole sum of $7,500,000. Even were it practicable to carry out this plan bit by bit, your sug- gestion as to the source of money supply fails. One ground of objection which you urge to the whole plan is that to pay the annual charges therefrom will overtax an annual revenue already unduly burdened. You say that even now we are “cramped in our current expenditures.” You insist that the assessments should be increased, so that real estate shall be listed at its true value. Now, this is not the place to dis- cuss the proper method of assessing real estate for the purposes of taxation. Wheth- er you have a fixed rate of annual taxation and an assessment graduated according to the probable current needs of the com- munity, or (as would seem better) a fixed standard of assessment and a similarly graduated rate of taxation, in either case you cannot tax real estate beyond the limit Which {t will bear without resenting It. ‘Tax it too much and at once house rents become too high and population goes else- where. We do not think that conservative citi- zens are of opinion that local real estate can now be safely taxed much, if any, be- yond its present rate. The annual income from this rate has proved sufficient to meet our current expenses—expenses which are properly chargeable each year wholly upon the United States and upon ourselves. We agree with you that this money should all be used for our current needs. No child in this District should be deprived of its whole day at school. The luxuries of edu- cation should not at public expense be fur- nished to some while its rudiments are de- nied to others. Members of Congress, whose children, with the children of many of their constituents temporarily here, at- tend our public schools, should not pare down the school estimates. Children should be taught in these schools that “a default on the interest of a bondholder’s bond” is a breach of contract, just as a failure to pay a stipulated day’s wage to labor is also a breach of contract, and they should be further taught that while our social or- ganization did not grow out of contract, yet it rests upon the law that enforces con- tracts and would perish without that law, Our annual revenue is enough to supply “Such questions deal not with the luxurt BUFFALO LITHIA WATER A Powerful and Only Known Solvent of Stone in the Bladder—its value in Bright’s Disease of the Kidneys, Gout, &c. Case of Mr. R. L. ROYS, of Meriden, Conn. Thé following plate is from a hotograph, which atcompanies @ report made by Dr. C. H. Davis, of Meriden, Conn., of the case of Mr. R. L. Roys— Stone tin the Bladder—to the New England Medical Monthly for Jui, 1890 (sec page 496 of that journal), and represents some of the largest Specimens Of Mssolved Stone discharged by Mz. R. under the action of “The photograph herewith ts a correct representation, and exact size, of some of the largest specimens of Caleult discharged by Mr. Roys. A chemical and microscopical analysis showed that they are Uric Acid, with a trace of the Oxalate of Lime.” Case of Mr. S. The following plate is from a photégraph, which forms a part of a com- munication of Dr. George H. Pierce, of Danbury, Conn., reporting case of Mr. S—Stone in the Bladder—to the New England Medical Monthly for Nov., 1890 (See page 76 of that journal), and represents some of the largest specimens of Two Ounces and”!wenty-Seven Grains of Dissolved Stone discharged by a patient under the action of BUFFALO LITHIA WATER Smalicr Particles, and a Quantity of Brickdust Deposti, not estimated, That this Water possesses extraordinary remedial potency in Bright’s Disease of the Kidneys, Gout, Rheumatic Gout, Rheumatism, Nervous Exhaustion -or Depres- sion, Female Complaints, and some forms ef Dyspep- sia as well, is so attested as to admit of no question. ———— <== = x — BUFFALO LITHIA WATER is for sale by druggists generally, or in cases of one dozen half-gallo) $5.00 f.0.b. at the Springs. Descriptive pamphlets sent to ore THOMAS F. GOODE, Propr., Buffalo Lithia Springs, Va. GENERAL AGENT, 793 15th st. n.w., Washington, D. ©, Ww. S. THOMPSO all of these current wants and to yet have a sufficient surplus to pay the annual charge by reason of the bond bill. Con- gress will, we think, conform to its con- tract to furnish dollar for our dollar in pay- ing these current expenses and charges. But it will never recognize any surplus that may remain after providing for these an- nual charges. It has never recognized it, save by taking possession of it. The Dis- trict committee has explicitly told us that | ‘The cost of the work provided for in this bill, together with the condition of the pub- lic treasury, preclude the possibility of pro- viding for it by a direct appropriation, so that, whether the work be authorized now or hereafter, an issue of bonds must be the means provided for raising the money When we consider in this connection what has been before quoted from the message of the mayor of Philadelphia, and refer to the course pursued by other municipalities to gratify like needs, we must agree with the committee: “Whether the work be au- thorized now or hereafter, an issue of bonds must be the means provided for raising the money.” Effect on Labor Market. 6 Your further objection that this work should not be done as a whole, because the expenditure of so much money in a short time will attract here many of the unem- ployed elsewhere, seems unusual and with- out merit. Perhaps it is difficult to fully realize the attitude of workingmen, willing to work and yet without work, who see in prospect abundant work for some few years. We can appreciate their natural de- sire to husband that work jealously. While we cannot admit this as an argument against the doing of the work when and as the needs of the whole community require, yet we are sure that the claims of our local unemployed workmen should be preferred to an extent not injurious to larger inter- ests. We believe the experience at the Chi- cago world’s fair to be exceptional. More than $25,000,000 were there expended in two years under great stress of haste, requiring labor both by day and by night. These con- ditions will not be repeated here. We be- lieve your apprehensions on this score to be without sufficient foundation. %. We cannot agree with your character- ization of the contract system as “in- famous.” It is the legal system of letting publié works. With both individuals and public bodies it has for many years been almost the only system. While the sharp- ness of competition in these days pares down the profits of the contractor, it does not materially diminish the day-wage of the laborer. But even did manifold private distresses result from competition, these must be considered as lesser evils than the jobbery which would infallibly follow, as it always has followed, the exercise of the arbitrary power, whether vested in an in- dividual or in a board, of awarding, with- out open competition, work worth millions of dollars to favorites or to intriguers, Under the contract system, the District has had, especially of late years, a vast amount of good work done, at a public saving of hundreds of thousands of dollars, and without a breath of scandal. The aqueduct tunnel was the single exception to such successful operations. It was built under physical conditions which made in- spection practically impossible, and was not in charge of District officials. The proposed improvements will all te work exposed during construction, and will admit of easy and efficient supervision and examination. Z 8. Your proposal that the fate of the measure shall be submitted to the trial of universal suffrage. is, we think, unwise. Where the question has been whether or not a municipality should issue bonds to aid in the building of a private railroad, there generally, but not necessarily or unf- formly, this question has been submitted to a vote of-the eitizens. But this is not the case with distinctly local improve- ments, such as we are here considering. nor even the mere conyentences, but with the necessaries of life. Possibly a majority of voters might be persuaded to forego en- tirely the use of sewers or of paved streets. ‘The burden of the proposed meas- ure will fall primarily and directly on real estate. You do not propose to submit the question to its owners. You would not propose to submit to universal suffrage the question as to whether or not dwelling houses sHould be connected with sewers. We see no reason why the question whether or not this municipality should do what sclence has declared must be done to destroy typhoid fever, should be answored by_& popular vote. ‘We have thus reviewed the entire subject of your communication, and we have been the more specific and detailed, because we desire the workingmen of the District to have, in convenient shape and compass, all considerations which appear to us weighty and pertinent In connection with the im- ortant questions concerned. We cannot lieve that they are opposed to principles of public economy which have been uni- versally conceded and acted upon. The distress and lack of work so prevalent today are due to general financial and in- dustrial causes common to the whole coun- try, and which have, for the time, serious- ly ‘shaken public confidence and credit. But let credit be restored, and In an in- credibly short period of time we shall see houses, stores, warehouses, manutfactories going up all over the land.’ All the myriad forms of human energy which depend upon credit for life, and which increase tenfold what she gives them—these will furnish employment for thousands of workmen. This renewed business activity can only spring from private and public works sup- ported by borrowed capital. That you should put yourselves upon record as op- pcsing public loans in general is to us in- comprehensible. That you should, in par- ticular, resist the effort -to make your | homes healthier, and your city more pros- perous because more healthy, when the success of that effort will directly give you that work which you need, persuades us that you have been misinformed or mis- guided. We ask you to study these ques- tions carefully yourselves and to exercise your own individual judgments about them. We believe that you will then unite with us in urging upon Congress the immediate adoption of this measure, so necessary to the health and continued progress of our national capital, already the most beautiful in the world~ (Signed) R. ROSS PERRY, SAMUEL ROSS, JAMES M. JOHNSTON, THOS. W. SMITH, 8. W. WOODWARD. The Report Cheered. As Mr. Perry closed the reading of the report the meeting broke out in a hearty round of applause. It was at oncé adopt- ed by a unanimous vote, and on motion of Thon:as J. King 2,000 copies were ordered printed for distribution to members of the retiring and incoming Congresses and among the various labor organizations. A vote of thanks was promptly given the special committee for their work in the matter. The committee on membership presented a report recommending the following gen- tlemen for membership and their report was adopted: Dr. L. W. Ritchie, Georgé W. Silsby, J, A. Luttrell, Henry J. Finley, Oscar W.' White, Dr. D, D. Stone, Georgs O. Glavis, J. Edward Libbey, A. D. Hazen, James E. Miller, Dr. J. Wesley Bovee, Ed- ward H. Thomas, Philip T. Hall, T. B, Towner & Son, Wescott, Wilcox & Hies' (change of name from EB. 8. Wescott), D. G. Pfeiffer. The board then adjourned, subject to the call of the president and secretary. —_>_ FOUND A PETRIFIED BODY. Philadelphia Workmen Make an As- tonishing Discovery. A petrified body was exhumed on Monday by workmen engaged in removing the bod- jes from the old Machpelah cemetery, at 10th street and Washington avenue, Phila- delphia. The body, which is that of a man, is in a perfect state of preservation, The body was tiscovered- by a gang of men working in the southeast section of the cemetery, and its associations are such as to warrant excitement in the scientific world. Although four bodies were taken from the same grave, two were totally de- cayed, the third was partially preserved, while the fourth was in a state of perf preservation. R = The body was incased In Afi old-fashioned walnut coffin, which was also well pre- served. When the lid was removed the workmen ‘were surprised to find the occu- pant fully preserved and having the a) pearance of a person put recently inte “It's a petrified body.” said one of the workmen. Superintendent Franklin was notified, and ordered the body placed in the vault. The body seemed to be that of a man about forty or forty-five -years old. Ap- parently he was a Frenchman, and as near as could be approximated he has been in the grave about fifty years. There were no visible signs of decomposition, the body appearing to be preseryed in every part, One of the workmen, in the presence of several spectators yesterday, knocked on the dead man’s breast and there was given out a sound sueh as is produced by a blow on a piece of stone. "The body was enveloped in a white me- rino shroud, while the hands were incased in white cotton gloves. Aside from the spots caused by the earth falling on jj when the coffin was opened the shroud w pure and white and perfectly preservs The head of the body was, however, the most astonishing feature of the pheno! non. The face, which was round @ smooth, was perfect; the eyes being pot hair, while the mouth drooped just a little. the scalp was a full growth of brown The arms and hands, which were crossed below the waist, were also perfectly pres served. In fact, the body appeared have just been placed in the ground. ———— Peace Almost Certain. Senor Romero, the Mexican minister here, has had another conference with Secretary Gresham respecting the arrange> ment of the difficultics that have arisen bee tween Mexico and Guatemala, and wi no statement of the nature of the coi munication made by the minister to obtainable, there Secretary of State ; ample ground for the belief that ‘the has now reached a phase where a peace ful adjustment is almost certain, Income Tax Circulation, The commissioner of internal revenue has secured an additional allowance for lectors of internal revenue, which will ene able them to employ a large force in the work of collecting the income tax. T! commigsioner has issued a circular to lectors outlining their powers, and caw tioning them against allowing informer tion recelved in the course of income ta coliections to become known to the publia