The New York Herald Newspaper, February 27, 1872, Page 4

4 PENNSYLVANIA. The Political Feuds of the Political Factions. CAMERON AND M’CLURE. How United States Senators and State Senators Are Sometimes Elected. THE WONDERS OF. QUINCY. A Little Contest in Philadelphia Jeopardizing the Presidential Election, GRANT AND FORNEY. Review of the Political Siiuation--- Pennsylvania Apathetic, PHILADELPHIA, Feb. 24, 1872, Politics is the chief topic of conversation in this city, and the words most in use among politica hacks of every degree are “rings and “-retorm.’” It 1s impossible to stand sull or to move on, and thus escape tie eternal din of party chatter. 1 ar- miyed here last night just in time for dinner—I mean supper, ior Puiladeiphia dines eariy—and after a Meal which I cannot call “square” I trica to walk in Chestnut street, Going out from my ho'el 1 had not Proceeded half a block before I heard a fellow who looked like a Seventh ward rounder exciaim in fear- Tully sarcastic tones, “The Senator trom the Twenty- sixth—a reform Seaator;” and thia sarcasm I con- celved to be aimed at Harry White, who was a gen, eral, is a State Senator, and would like to be Go v- ernor after Geary. Waite leads the republicans in the Senate who oppose McClure in his contest with Gray, for which offence McClure assures me he has not the slightest chance for any farther Ppreferment. Going a tew steps | overneard a police- man at the corner of Ninth and Chestnut deciare, «They were sworn to Make a square, honest count.” The application 0: this was casily made, but not so the remark of another chap who passed about the game tlne—*He always was a political beat.” The latier sentence might apply to McClure, but unfor- tunately every other Philadelphia politician of whom I have any knowiedge is equaily entiticd to the desig- Dauon, and where every man is a “veat? it is 1in- Vidious to maxe distinctions, Itis because there is DO political honesty here except among the peopler who are stupid politicians, that a “ring” of low NEW YORK HERALD, ®UESDAY, FEBROARY 21, 1872.—TRIPLE SHHESS POLITICAL MOVEMENTS AND VIEWS.| THE SEAMEN’S RETREAT. Brown raid. Logan was democrat and an athlete, ephew of Gerri Smith, anold line whig, was he Was also @ man recklessness and daring. These formed triumvirate—smith being & rough, Lo- ‘e catcher aud a sporting man, and Fitz. ‘gentleman.”” They were supplied with the sinews of war previous to every clection, and, though the other candidates of his party were al- Ways badly beaten, McUiure generally managed to have a handsome majority in the democratic strong- hoid, Gradually these operations spread their evil effects over the entire aistrict, and when McCiure Was a candidate for Senator it was charged, on ap- parently credible evidence, that where he failed to rive men to vote for kim he ‘sometimes suc- eded in bribing them not to vote at all, ‘This was bad seed sown im sandy ground, but it sprung up and grew as if it had been good seed in a ferule soil, Simultaneously legisiattve corrupiion showed wore and more plainly tls ugly proporuons at Harnsburg, tt the law-making power of the Commonwealth became a foul biot on the escutcheon of the State, The republican feud grew deeper every year, and the fights of the factions more bitter and unreienting, McClure and his friends charged Cameron with a series of atrocious crimes, and Cemeron’s friends were equally outspoken m their Errore. a of the Mevlure-Curtia Ring, It Is unnecessary to retail these scandals, or even to asseverate their truth; but it 18 certain they were beleved on both sides, and 1t 1s equally certain that to these early frauds and this long-continued feud are owing the corruptions in Philadelphia to-day. FOKMATION OF THE PHILADELPHIA RING. Perhaps more than any other State Pennsylvania has suiferea from special legislation, he opto, sition which is developing to the proposed Constitu- tional Couvention gains more strength among poll- ficians Of a certain class Irom a desire to cling to the “jobs” fostered by this species of legisiaiion than from anything else. Spectal legislation paved the way fur the jormation of the Philadelphia rings, and the lessons taught by Cameron at Harrisburg and McUlure in Quincy showed the small politicians how to preserve and perpetuate their power. While the heated and pairiouc motives which con- trolied men daring the war occasioned bu little scrutiny iato the characters of candidates lor olice and pad men crept mio place a loose administra- Uon of some of the departments wilch existed belore the era of demoratization began occasioned consideravie discontent and strong and earnest de-~ sire for chaoge. The first ring in Unis city to call forth a cry tor reform was the Board which had charge ol the city’s charities and the city’s poor, ‘Lhe innocent gentlemen composing this Board were in the habit of selling the dead bodies of paupers for dissection and turning an honest penny by tus deicate process, But nobody took very active steps to prevent the formation of new rings, and these Were created year alter year by special acis of the Legisiature. One after another a Board of Water Commissioners, Gas Commissioners, Park Comunis: sioners and Commussioners of Public Buildings was insututed, and these had almost unlimited control Ol ie public money, and some of them even tne Tight of perpetuaung themselves, ‘the Gas Com- mission has shown itself one of the most vor- Tupt rings which ever existed in any city, and the Board which was given the control of the public buildings, with power to build more expensive structures than the County Court House in New York, only came into existence by the corrupt use of the power to fill vacancies conferred upon it by the special act creatung It, Board was a corpora- tion in itself, and the City Councis and the Courts became the corrupt partners of the rings. Money was spent lavishly, and taxes rose at a tearful rate. ‘Tue desire for plunder increaseu with the opportu- nity lo gratify the desire, Low fellows came into oitice, and they kept 1t by the practice of low aris, McClure’s enormities in Quincy became as common as tue purchase and sale of voles in Rhode island, Voters sold themseives for small prices, and soon repeating and false counting were pracused as sShatmeiessly in Puitadeipbia as in Brooklyn. ‘The cuy was utterly and hopelessly degraded. Good men began vw look avout them tn amazement and to turn widiy co every quarter irom which relief might come, When men like Heury C. Lea, one of te most accomplished scholars 1p the coautry, as well as one of the most accomplsned genueinen, and F fellows gradually obtained possession of the city, @nd that a man whose skirts are stained with a thousand ‘jovs” is able to come out in tie charac- ter of a great reformer. But even McUlure, able ag de is in natural and acquired gifts, and skilful as he 1s noted for being 1 the arts of political manipu- lotion, could not have fifted a little election contest in Philadelphia ito national importance if the agmin- istration or the iriends of the administration had kept of their hands, No admiuistrauon and no one, except @ very shrewd observer of political events, coud have anticipated the present condi. tion of affairs, and yet the corruption with which he city is cursed is only the naturai outgrowth of causes which have been operating ior years, and which are due in @ greai measure to the very man Who 13 now loudest in the cry for “reform.” THE ORIGIN OF PENNSYLVANIA ELECTION FRAUDS. ‘There can be no question that the mpurity of elections in Pennsylvania 1s owing in a great degree to the system which Colonel McClure hunself called into exisience fillwen years ago. McClure is aman of versattie talents and of undoubted ability, He “ts still a comparatively young man; but when he ‘Was a boy he edited the best country newspaper in the State, and he was not only a mar of mark in his own county, but received the wing nomimation for Audtior Generai of Pennsylvania when scarcely past nis majority. Confident in nis own powers and reckless in facing opposition, he was & man to stand up against ail odds and ready to cope with the strongest. When Cameron sougat to enter the fepublicau party McClure met bim at the thresnola and endeavored by every means at his command to destroy the wily old democrat pelore ne could gain a footing in the new party, It will be remem- bered that Camefon left the democracy in 1853, as the resuit ot the Know Nothing triumph. The ven- erable Senator is ail that Know Notuingism gave to the Stave, but even that party, made up as it was ot the odds and ends of every poliucal factivn, did not take Cameron’s overnight conversion kindly. The hostility which McClure Kindicd and to which the Curtin faction owes is birth prevented the election of a United States Senator in 1554, aud thus gave the place to Bigler aud the democracy the next year. At that time Buchanan was Minster to Eng- land ana “the favorite son” of Pennsylvania. Thad Stevens had not yet begun bis great carcer in Con- though he had twice been a member of the jouse of Kepreseutatives, Forney was @ democrat, and Buchanan’s chief fugieman: but during the next two or three years parties crystailized ino new shapes, and men as weil ay issues changed, Cameron clung to his new love, though tie demo- cracy agitin gatnered strengi aod contnued to carry the State. Forney, everybouy said, carried it for Buchanan. Lovking for nis reward, Forney looked to the United States Seuate, and in 1857 the democrats, Who had the majority 1u Lue Legislature, recognized his services by making lum the nomi of the caucus. Cameron had been in the Senate and he liked the place, He had beer beaten tor the Senate and he did not like bis dewat. He was & master iu the art of overcoming Obssacies, ano the three yoies on joint ballot which constituted Forney’s rigiutial majority was just the kind of obstacie he best knew how to overcome, Accoruingly ne tod the republicans tnat a they “would make him their candidate he would engage to defeat Forney, ‘The Frepublicaus were slow to believe, however, and a caucus of the party solemuly resolved that Mus promise Was lusuilicient, and # committee was ap- pomted, with Charles B. Penrose at ils head, which Was charged with seelng the three democratic trastors wo were willing to defeat the nominee of the democratic cuucus, Cameron proauced the Men in the dead of migut aud republican ears were quieted. The next day Forney met bis Waterloo, ana Lebo, Manear and Wagonseller became famous. ‘These three “statesmen”? atterwards became de pendent on Cameron’s bounty and bad the Sena- tor’s favor, though civil service ref i it had been in vogue ia their day, Would scarcely nave re- garded them favoravly. ‘Shey were Lhe real found- ers, however, of tue Cameron facuon, azalust woicn the Curtin faction, with McCiure as lis directing mind, has warred ever sine , tw fn th édner was {n this way Calnerdi became a ‘xt the United States senate, and by te patronage MS Was able to dispense he drew about hin sueu tr Of friends that ihe “Lictionary of Cuugtess’ Baye pe Was “spoken 01” for Presideat mu 1-60. In the mean. time Mcvlure Was pursuing his own Scuemes in nis OWn Way, 2nd beiore the outbreak of the rebelion | be had twice served in the Asser at slarrisburg and been elected a State Senator. fis district wag generally democratic; bat be was nov idate vo be easily beaten, and the tactics which © meron | had used so eflectively in te Lexislature were ap- plied by him wiin great effect on ¢ nday. The “arguinents’ which had convinced Lebo, Mancar and Wagonseller in } i e’4 Hands jad of cony\peing ininy démdcralle Vote: years With McClure Was a@ candidate beiore me people the mowntain township of in i'r ih Coubty, outstripped every election precinc the St In unbiusming corruption and Odium. it includes the roughest part of the South Mountain, aod is jppabited by Popula- fion peculiarly ignorant and orita brignam | Young recruited ma pirddise wilt pun. | dreds of * ry” husbands and wives iim | this region, nere are some Mormons living | there even now, the democraiic ticket, tue candidates of tie much a terror st ese MOULLalLeera always Vorb vould ly. A lew rest, pro hd their drinks on ed a comp Ase fhe chiet of these was a man » WhO filled the douvie office eof the peace, Asa man man in the mountains, ons as he and McClure or write, bad we) the! lof them were educated than te neKets ca bold, vid id @ ju the nw Snuua was and tWo such eminent pel g00n tnac , nm inade cach others acquaintance, But stron; oda. a i wa #8 nob strona enough, single eu, Jor purposes, and the great re« ten as now—appoiated st in caring for | a uinicy the poopie, hugh that 4s, Shore were to beip | an Lo; when ab | co } ho untertunate ta suk W escape from Mare Mathew Baird, one of Philadelphia's oldest and most respected citizens, forego all the claims of party and seek to buud up only @ party of reiorm: the evil must be @ most crying and damaging one. 1 was forceu to smile when I read the opening sen- tence of the address which commended the citizens’ reform Ucket to the people last autumn, It bezins 4@$ granviloquently as the Declaration of Indepen- dence iseti, Une arraignment veing as follows:— When political demoralization reaches a potnt at whtca the ufrages of the people are bavituaily asked for the corrupt and te ineapavle, when gcod men shrink from accepting Oilice, and the interests of @ great and wealtuy communiyy pass into the hands of reckless and dishonest Oliciais, it 18 the duty of all who would preserve iree inst{tutions to work unttediy for a reform. The people who took this matter im hand went to work as earnestly as The pamphieteers in Queen’s Anne’s time. hey called jacts aud figures aud sar- cagm and invective to ald them in breaking down rings and repeaters and uulaitiuul elective oficers, and dishonest incumbents of official place. Tue re- form party iu the beginning was insignificant enough. ‘hey polled only 3,500 votes at the October election; but the party represented social position, intelligence aad weaith, and these, 1 a city like this, are a tower of strengtl, especiaily When backed, 45 1n tis case, by energy aad piuck. THE WORK OF THE PAMPHLBTEERS. It was acurious sight to see the literary gentie- men of Pnilaaelpnia take up in their quaint way tne work of municipal reform, A student of sacerdotal celibacy and the history of tne Inquisitiun gave his ume to the preparation of tracts on municipal taxauon and the registry aud election laws. Anad- murer of the WS and satirists ol the seventeenth ceutury, i! he could not forget the *Maeviad" and “Avsaiom and Achitophel,”? was ready to turn tne biting sarcasms of the rancorous oid politicians against tae politicians of Phitadelpnta, and to paint them as DryGen palated Zuuri, who, in the course of one revolving moon, hemist, uddler, statesman and buffoon. Reform tracts were scattered all over the city. “Filty reasons for voting the citizens’ reiorm tickec”? were prinied aad extensively circuiated. Mass meetings were held, where wealth and respecta- bility tuok the place of numbers and enthusiasm, Commitiees composed of such men as Mathew Baird and Jonn Campbell were appointed, charged wWitn ail kinas of duties, and, tuouga the politicians mocked, tbe reformers were not disheartened. They surpassed the old pamphieteers in the vigor of their work because they employed the resources of moa- ern politics as well as the intellectual bitterness of the older satirists, But the iriends of the adwinis- tration discountenanced them aad upheld the poll- lcians in their mockery. Mr. Adolph E. Borcie, that famous oid sea dog Who was Secretary of the Navy when he was younger than he is now, to- gether with Mr. C, Gillingham Feil and otner weil- Known friends of the President, published a card auvising republicans to vote the republican ticket “straignt.’’ This action was impolitic, even if it had peen right. It committed Graot toa purely local figntand made many of nts sincerest triends iuke- warm towards his administratiog, while it brought no corresponding advantages. The newspaper press of the city was generally on the le of reiorm, Colonel Forney, the Collector of the Port, Was on both sides. ‘ne great firm of Mann & Mcviure was divided, and McUiure was the aposue of good government. All the city omiciais who had their hands deep in the city treasury were loud in weir proiessions of repuo- lucan faith, and claimed the action of Borie and the others as an endorsement by the federal adminis. tration. The rings were successfui and they gioried in their triampo, The reformers had fought a gal- lant fight and failed utterly. Now it was hoped they would £9, back to their books and thelr bouk- making, and let the chemists, fiddlers, statesmen and buffoons pursue their congenial ways in tiene The republican party was all right, and the Intention wi B feen. it allright. But two an. toward accidents destroyed every calculation, and brought some of the “boys,” who had tong exulted in running the machine, to grief and tne Peniten- tary. One uf these was the death of Mr. Connell the Invalid Senator from the Fourth district, and the other the Chicago fire. Two more unwelcome events could not have occurred, and, slight as they were in themseives, 11 18 not impossible that they have in effect jeopardized the Presidential election, THE CHAPTER OF ACCIDENTS. The first effect. of the fire at Chicago was to tighten the money market everywhere, and the frm to feel it earhest was that of Yerkes & Co., whose chief had borrowed nearly half @ million of dollars from Marcer, the City Treasurer, Yerkes wanted fo borrow more, and Marcer demanded that he should pa YY back what he had already borrowed. This be could not do, and bis house fatied, dragging own arog ith it. ‘Then it was discovered that jarcer’s securities were members of the Clly Councils and legally disqualified from becoming sureties for other officiais, ‘The Courts were ap- vest toand Yerkes and Marcer were sent to the renitentlary, While the Councilmen were compelled to relinquish the places in which they fed and fat tened. Harry Huln, one of the most noted of the sureties of Marcer, Clam G en be heard the edict of the Supreme Coult, Wald feyersed the ac- tion of the Court below aud reduces to the rank of au ordinaty bidekyuaed, “Thaw what es from not sticking up to @ man as isa man.” The plaintive appeal of the New York Alderman bi asked, “What for you chuck ojum at me was more harrow But the Court showed no merey; ahd these were anvs inends” turned loose upon themselves, ‘They boasted that they Were friends of the administration. Borie had endorsed them. Colonel McClure, the man, Was thelr bitter and unrelenting get Colonel Forney, as a federal ofice-noider, was their bondman and their slave. McClure panted to be at them and Forney to be “free.” Connell had died, naving the State Senate a tie,and honest men though the skies were brightening, MeClure called one Vention composed Of uimself, and nominated him- self tor the Seu: He raised the banner of reform, ut somehow people slid noi like his record. He had orrapted voters, and everybody believed he had been corrupted himeelf, It was plain that be had made mo in politics, and rumor said he had lost it in questionable speculation. He had betrayed nis cousutuents by opposing in this canvass ue repeal of vonnage tax on the Pennsyivania Railroad Com: pany and voling for it in the Senate, He was known to be the creature of that great corporation. republicans nominated a weak man, and one who always did the birding of the rings, to oppose the astute and unscrupulous politician. The demo- craigs made no nomination, and the real reformers were powerlcss. And 80 McClure became a cand. dace In the name of reform, and the administration was put ! antagonism to the foes of the Phila. deiphia rings, The President sent a Bohemian trom Washington to inform Forney that he must support Gray against McUlure, Forney boxed the Bohemian’s ears and sent him shout his business, That coquetush politician still panted for “freedom,” and kept.on both sides in the quarrel, He resigned from tne Custom House, where he had been in frequent consultation with McOlure and dined with the President the next weeks MeClure says be means ‘eal power in the State. mischief. 1 think he means to be ‘That he can’t get into the Cabinet except Grant, and Grant may aj im it Ores- well or Delano can be gotout. Cameron wants Delano’s place for bis son and Forney wants Cameron’s place in the Senate. The probabilities are that Cameron cannot get back again Senate Chamber, and this would be a happy family arrangement that might suit everybody, It 1s not impossible that 16 would even sutt McClure, keep him tn tne republican party and carry tne State for Grant next November, POLITICAL ASPECTS OF THE STATE, There 1s no denying that politically Pennsylvania is in a very critical condition, The republicans generally are favorable to Grant, because on the Larit issues his administration has satisfied them, On other questions, too, they see every opportunity to vindicate his official acts, But he ‘has nurt the pride of tne State in his appointments, especially tn good—to Forney. knows his Cabinet appointments, He gave them Bore, of whom nobody had ever heard, and for whom nobody cared, only for Borie to tarn the Navy Department over to a coun- try lawyer from New Jersey, a State which had given its electoral vote against him, On tne other hand he gave a Cabinet place to Creswell, though Maryland had voted against him once and was cer- tain to vote against him again, On three sides three States received Cabinet appointments, and all of them had voted for Seymour th the Electoral College, while Pennsylvania's twenty-tiree votes counted for nothing, ‘The poopie did not care very much for all this, bat the politicians were soured, and they gradually soured the beople, ‘The result is @ general acquiescence in Grant's re-election, but pathy im every effort to secure it. Any other re- ublican who could receive the endorsement of the ational Vonvention would be equally acceptable to Pennsyivania, and would probably receive 2 much more enthusiastic support. ‘There is NO ENTHUSIASM ANYWHERE and @ good deal of feverish anxiety. Pennsylvania isa douotiul State at best, and its people are a pe- culiar people. A scandalous administration ~espe- clally @ scandalous republican administration—is almost certatn to carry it over tothe enemy. Its people ioye peace and quiet and ernment, and if they have not sands of them_ refuso to always a problem how to get out the Dunker vote. The Dunkers are a body of German Baptists, who generally act together on election day and oiten refuse toactatal. They number many thousanas, and, periiaps, hold the balance of politt- ‘They hate the wars of nations and the broils of politicians, but always pay their taxes and are anxtous to see the national debt elimipated. The slightest breath of scandal frightens them, They have heard of the general order business in New York, and they don’t like it, They have heard of false registration, 1alse voting and false counting in Philadelphia, and they loathe it. An oficial thief 1s to them no better than a chicken thief, and they show no mercy to the depre- dators of henroosts, These people are lukewarm, and another administration blunder may make them not merely passive, but hostile. And this feeling pervades ine rural districts generally and the re- form element in this city. ‘The reiormers here are mostly friends of the administration, but they may easily be made its enemies, COLONEL FORNEY’S POSITION. reat deal of interest has been manitested in Colonel Forney’s resignation, not because anybody cares for his being 1n or out of one, Bae mere! a sign of coming events, as judged from the action of @ man Who has shown great shrewduess in changing his party aifliations at the right moment, Nobody seriously believes that Forney’s cry for ‘dreedom”’ means anything, and nobody trusts in his professed friendstup for Grant, because it is jain that he would not be for Grant if Grant could pe beaten, But Grant’s blunder in countenancing the rings of Philadeiphia as the republican party and Mcclure’s success in the Fourth district admon- ished him to prepare for the future. His office neld him bound band and foot. Tiere was a chance of beating his oll enemy lor the Senate next year, either witn Cameron’s consent or without i. As McClure was on the verge of leaving the republican arty there Was an opporiuuity for im to vecome the Reader ot the anti-Cameron wing. Forney according- ly declared wat agaist the municipal rings, and ab tne same time rung out loud professions ot fealty toGrant. ‘The ume chosen for wis action was ex- ceedingly opporcune, Yerkes and Marcer had just been convicied and Hunn and the other sureties of the Cuy Treasurer turned out of office. 1t was plain to everybody that the city was badly governed, and it had just appeared that there was a power able and wiuing to punish tne rascals of tue ring. MoUlure mignt win, and long experince has taugit him how to win where kisses go by Javor. Grant might ose, and it would never do to be fully com. mitted to the losing side. In this interesting juac- ture of affairs Forney put his nandkercniel to his eyes and wept, and his bark came to anchor where the currents met, Come what may he is ready for anything, and can go With the tide in any event. And this is Forney’s exact position, COLONEL M'CLURE’S CANVASS. Colonel Mcviure bas got his comumlitee, and, wnat is more important, there are four aemocrats on tt. Harry Gray's seat 18 wo pe contested and McClure claims nts elecuon by 3,000 majority. I mquired about the merits of the case and was led to believe that if repeating and false counting are to nuliify the elecaon of one they must also nuiliily the election of the other, If the stories tuid by the friends of either side are even par: tially true the clection was a network of Trauds which cannot be disentangiea, Each side charged the other wiih tié intention of traud betore the election, and both sides have persistently charged fraud ever since. McUlure, It 48 said, bired John Tobin ana ‘Puffer’ Moore, two noted rougns, tc do for him 10 Philadelphia wiat “Gopby? Smith and Logan and Fitznugh had done for him im Quincy, Mayor Stokely warned them that if this in- tention was carried out the Penitentiary awaited them, and wray purposes examining McClure in regard to the terms of the bargain, It 1s aiso ciaimed that some of McUlure’s “detectives” were themselves repeaters aud men unknown in the ais. trict, Everybody ts by the ears, and there is no certainty of anythmg except that there 1s no virtue leit in Philadeiphia, The work of reform has not been well served in this canvass, and the adminis. tration has been quite as badly served. ‘Tne outlook for the future 18 dark and gioomy. {tis an ofa tradi. uion of Pennsylvanians that in a Presidential canvass as goes Pennsylvania so goes the Union, Nobody denies that the situation 1s critical, and that tue State may be lost to Grant in November. A blunder in the appoimtment of Forney’s successor will lose the State, The appointment of an “old merchant”? like Harper Jeffries would be @ needless sacrifice of Necessary votes. Botn of the Senators in Con. gress have given the President to understand that they have no candidate for the office, bat he Must appoint a man whom they can approve. They demand a politician for the place who can wield the political power of the State in favor of the party. oth Scott aud Cameron know the people of Pean- sylvania, and they know the apathy now indicates the old-iashioned cry, ‘Zs is net der welt.” If the Pennsylvania German makes up his mind that it is not wortn his while to vote he will not vote. To stay away from tne polls is his panacea for every ul, and When the remedy 1s applied in Pennsylvania there is generally @ change of administration at Washington, Pennsylvanta is disposed to apply the remedy, and it is a singular circumstance that many Of the people most prominently mterested 1 1ts ap- plication or the prevention of its applicauon were natives of or educated in the county which was Bu- chanan’s birthplace, and where McClure first cor- rupted the sufrage, THE BATTLE GROUND. If the “Tom Scott movement” had resulted 1a the uomination of the great railway chiet we would have had @ Presidential candidate born within three miles of Stony Batter. But whether scott is nomt- nated or not—and many well informed persons be- lieve or atfect to believe even now that his nomina- tion 1s seriously contemplated—the imfuence of his great corporation is almost certain to be thrown against Grant. As for Scott ne has persistentiy refused to be a candidate. People here assert that the Pennsylvania Kailroad Company furnisned the money for McClure’s canvass, though McClure’s friends give out that that company is displeased at the attitude of the “statesman.” Senator Scott and ex-Senator Hendricks rea¢ law in the same town where McClure held his important conferences with “Gobhy” Smith and the others. These people hold the power of making the next President in their” hands as nearly as it 13 possible for mere politicians to hold it. Hendricks is the favorite of the democracy among the democracy, and his counsels carry great weight. John Scott, a3 a moderate republican Senator, is strong enough to ruin te nominee of the Philadelphia Convention ithe wills it. The same thing is at least measur- ably true of Thomas A. Scott. McClure may prove himsel! a stouter triend or a stouter foe than Hen- dricks and the democratic party or either of the Scotts. If Pennsyivania should be tne battle ‘ound of the Presidential campaign, as it pro- faviy ‘will be, a few voles one way or the other could decide the contest, And then there is danger that the country may undergo the calamity ol President ‘counted in’* or “counted out” by a few Philadelphia pothouse politicians. The evil example of McClare’s course in Quincy may be so bitter in its consequences as to make or Unmmake @ Presi, dent of the United State, a wr Brete * COLUMBIA COLLEGE, eh ~ he .Stndents’ Semi-Annual” was duly cele. pratea [Net might at the Academy of Music, ‘The muste, uncéf the direction of 0, 8. Grafalla, con- sisted of seiectigns from Verdi, Wagner, Strauss, Rossini and Bellini. _ Phe addresses, according 16 the programme, werd PY H. Duncan Wood (senior President), W. H. Halgane, C. ©. Kdgerton, 8, G, Ashmore,’ W. H, Wilkir@on, L. £. Lacy, HH. G. Mackenzie, Babcock, | 47,3 G, emule, Tenney and EB. McCaM!. Withott maklng any in- vidious distinction, 1t may be noted tat the address of Mr. Ashmore won special favor by clearly defin- ing the true objects of a collegiate “Mucation, ex- plaining what constitutes a University, properly so called, and vigorously defending Columbia College @galnst ihe very serious charges of having lowered ite tradidonal high standard of scholaretip and granting pecullar privileges to rich men’s sons, i) echarges were iriumphautiy refuted by the youny orator, NOT A HOMICIDE, Y Charles F, Horton, @ sickly lad, seven years of Age, died at the residence of his parents, 152 Sulll- van street, as was’ alleged, from the effects of in- Juries caused by weing kicked by anotoer buy, named Henry Levitt, last Vriday afternoon, An in- vestigation before Cononer Young, however, showsd that Charles was not Panes, While the boys were playing “hop scotch’? He hry accidentally struck de- ceased, Who Was suffering’ from spinal disease, in the hack with his knee, “Nis may have acceleraved death, but the father of deceased seemed Tully sat. isiled there Was ho intent to’ injure his son and re- quested Henry's discharge fro m custody, which was accordingly done py Cor ‘ONEF ,). OW ‘The Liberal Movement in Tennossee—Call for a Convention. ‘The liberal movement has extended to Tennessee, A letter 1s being circulated there, signed by Judge Thomas A, R, Nelson, of Knoxville, urging the holding of @ State Convention to appoint dele- gates tothe Cincinnatt Liberal Convention to be held on the 1st of May. The call is signed and ap- proved also by A. Caldwell, George Washington, Thomas E, Champion, T. 8. Webb, W. A. Hender- son, James R, Cocke and S, T, Atkins—a!l promi- nent citizens of East Tennessee, Nelson on the Tennessee Liberal Movement. Judge T. A, R. Nelson, of Tennessee, has writicn a letter tow friend in which he endorses the liberal movement for the Presidency, and says:— fhe frauds of the Tammany Ring in New York caused the triumph of the republican party at the last election in tnat great State, Movements are on 1oot in Missouri and elsewhere py some of the re- uplican Opponents o: President Grants admints- ration to defeat his re-election, Lhe power and patronage of the administration are so great that 1¢ ‘will require a unton of ull the elements of opposl- tion to defeat the re-election of President Grant. If these elements can be united by the formation of a National Union or conservative party 1t seems to me that it is the part of wisdom to make the effort, The democratic party fatled in the election of 1868, and as it nas made but a poor start towards success in the last election in New York some other and more efeciive organization is necessary to success. in commenting upon the action of Judge Nelson the Nashville Republican Banner observes:— If, in sympathy with the liberal movement now spreading alt over the land, the people of Tennessee, who think like Judge Neison, see fit to meet at his or any olher respectable citizen’s suggestion, they will do it, and no crack of party whips or edicts of party executive committee men will prevent them. Judge The Missouci Republican State Convention— All Hands Pleased. ‘The St. Louts Republican (passive) refers to the late regular Republican Convention in that State as follows:— Rarely hasa political convention so well succeeded in pleasing everybody as this one of yesterday. The liberals are pleased because the endorsement of Grant’s administration jusufies them in their revolt. ‘The regulars are glad because they are placed in entire harmony with the mass of their party. ‘The democrats are not displeased because this action demonstrates that the machinery of the republican party 1s in the hands of* those Who are actuated by NO motives oi patriotism, but only by personal or selfish considerauons. According to this, what a happy family the poll- ticiansin Missouri must be! The st. Louts Demo- crat—republican organ—seems disposed to claim the largest share of this happy time, when it says:— To say that the convention was successtul, in the ordinary acceptation of tuat word, is but to feevly express what all who witnessed it so strongly feel, It was far more than successful; 1t was Characterized by @ dignity of action, & harmony of feeling aud such a degree of enthusiasm as can be born only of the conscicusness of a great purpose, and the inspira. Uon of a patriouc motive. It revived the scenes of ten years ago, When the noblest cause that ever en- Nsted human effort found voice in the noblest thoughts that were ever crystallized in human speech, Such assemblages are not olten convened, aud when they coue together they mark epochs in our political history, more valuable as forewarnings of the ruture than as expressions of the present, The Labor Reformers and the New . De- parturists. (From the Chicago Republican (republican), Feo, 24.) * * There ts eyery prospect of an agreement be- tween the republican and labor reform parties, in all the New England States, and also in Pennsyl- vania, Ohio and Illinois and other Western and in whatever Southern States the latter has any strength. Enunctating the sentiments it does, we do not see how this new party can coalesce with those who denounce Its platform and deride its can- didate, as do the democracy and the uew departur- ists, * * * * * * Another thing concerning the doings of this Lapor Convention which 1s gall and wormwood to the new departurists 18, that scarcely one of those great leaders in the ‘'possum” movement were even named as candidates belore the Convention. it 18 trae that Mr. Gratz Brown’s name was forced Lato the Convention on the second formal ballot by some indiscreet friend, and received the douotiul compli- ment of fourteen votes, probably those of the dele. rates [rom tis OWn State; and this in view of the fact Unat this gentleman had a “touter” in the feld to herald his Clatms and instruct the “skied labor. ers.”” It will thus be seen that the “new departure” has made @ wretched showing among the intelli- gent mechanics and “sktiled laborers”? 1n conven. tion assembied. ‘There were none of them “so poor as to do it reverence.” This is why the wuole move- ment is 80 utterly distasteful to the organs and ad- vocates of that movement. Indeed, 1¢ imficts an almost deudiy injury upon the head of the newly- born infani. The Candidate of the Lubor Reformers. (From the Ohio Statesman (democratic), Feb. 24.) Mr, Justice Davis, the candidate of the labor re- formers, is the Justice of tne Supreme Court of the United States who delivered the opinion of that tribunal opening the doors of the Ohio Penitentiary to L. P. Milligan, of Indiana, Wrongtully imprisoned under senveace of lie s one of Stanton’s military courts marual, Judge Davia loosened the grip of the petty tyrant Burnside on the Chicago Times in 1863, He beileves in the constttuuon, and would undoubtedly make short work of tne military rule of Grant at the Soutn should the question come before nim. YACHTING NOTES, “Ex-Commodore William Voorhis has made some extensive alterations In his schooner yacht Tidal Wave. Sho has been lengthened about eight feet and hipped. Her spars and canvas have also been altered to suit. The Dorchester Yacht Club, Dorchester, Mass., 1s avery flourishing organization. Tne officers of this club are:—Commodore, Qoolidge Barnard; Vice Commodore, Charles V. Whitten; Ficet Captain, Warren Simpson, Jr.; Secretary and Treasurer, Omar Loring, and Measurer, Courtland Boynton, They own a fleet of six schooners and forty-four sloops. Ata recent meeting of the members of the Colum. via Yacht Club the following officers were’ elected for the season of 1872:—Commodore, Joseph Nobles; Vice Commodore, Robert McWhinney; Secretary, George W. Brinck; Treasurer, Charies Armstrong; Measurer, Richard Freeman, and Stewara, J. Smith. Mr. Samuel Pine, the yacht builder, has just com- pleted a very handsome model of a keel yacht of the following dimensions:—126 feet water line, 25 feet beam and 834 feet depth of hold. The model 1s very elegantly finished, and has every appearance of afast sea-goingyacht. The lines are very fine, sharp 1orward and a very cleanrun aft. Thismodel is on exhibition at the office of Captain Fish, on the corner of Roosevelt and South streets. ‘The election of Mr. William Kipp, of the Seventh regiment, to the office of Commodore of the Harlem Yacht Chav has added greatly to the membership of that organization. In order to avold the tedious passage through the shallow water of the Kills the club have leased a 1ot of ground on the Morrisania side, where they have excellent anchorage. The Club house Will soon be removed to this new loca- on. Pat McGieban, the well-known yacht builder of Pamrapo, N, J., {8 at Work on A new sloop yacht which be expects will beat the Kaiser Wilhelm, his last year’s ilyor, 4 Pigs motes, he Urescent City Yacht Clad of Ne Lats) intely Added s&¥erai new schooners to their fleet, ‘This club has a membership or over three hundred, Yacht buliding at New London ts very dull this season; in fact, there 1s nothing at ali on the stocks. ‘The following yachis are wintering at that popular resort:—shantom, Rambler, Fieetwing, Columbia, Magic and steam yacht Kidgar Stewart. The busi- ness of ont ung ani preparing for the coming season will Commande about the Ist of April, It is reported that the Fleetwing 14 fot Sale, as Mr, George Osgood intends building a new centre-boara schooner on a design furnished by Mr. Van Deusen. Mr. Peter Cooper's now Steam yacht, now being built by Sam Pine, wiil be ready for her engines about the middie of next month. Mr. Cooper takes reat ‘est In this experiment and is over at Bree aNee ficarly every day to inspect the progress of the work. Tr, 18 & Nae . Bob Fish has nearly GoMpleted the model of Mr. Nicholis’ new sloop yacht, She is something in the style ot the famous English cutter Vanguara, but with considerably nore beam in proporuion to ner Jengtli. i. ‘Mabion Sanas’ new centre-board schooner 1s rapidly progressing anf will soon be decked over. ‘Tne Messrs. Potllon expect to have her ready for launching early in April. The Seawanhaka Yacnt Vind ts the title of a new yachting organization that haily from Oystér Bay, Long Island, They have aiveady about+tweive or thirteen yachts uvon ineir books. Mr, George Lorillard, accompanied by Mr, Louis Loriliard, are cruising in the Medtterrancan in te Fochantress, They have made Nice their headquar- ters, | _ ‘The schooner yacht Alice, lately putchased by Mr. | Nichoils xrom ex-Commodore Kidd, is said to ve in tne market, as her owner 1s butlding & new sloop, of 100 fect on deck, for his own use, Bob Fish hag finished a model of @ 130 ton steamer for Mr. Pierre Lorillard, Her ditensions are 130 feet on deck, 20 feet beam and 9 feet deep, She wil pul ‘The Pen: ja Sailing regatta ip: early part of the Month. end held a very successful: eae vamaaanananmanmmad Legislative Investigation Into the Alleged . Abuses of the Institution. The Concern Not Self-Supporting—How the Af fairs Were Conducted—Merchants Refusing to Pay the Tax—The Troubles of Poor Jack Ashore—Suggestions and Recom- dations of the Board of Trustees— The Institution Eating Iteelf Up—Close of the Inquiry. The Sub-Committee on Commerce and Navigation, consisting of Messrs, Judd, Bennett and Gelb, held an investigation yesterday, at the St. Nicholas Hotel, into the apuses alleged to exist in connection with the management of the Seamen’s Retreat, Staten Island. There wasalarge attendance, and the following facts were elicited:— TESTIMONY OF Dx. KING. Dr. Charles H. King was the first witness ex- amined. He said that he had been a physician since 1864; Was appointed to Seamen's Retreat by board of trustees in 1870; the institution had not been self-supporting; witness has novhing to do with the financial affairs; thought there had been @ mortgage executed on the properly during the summer months of last year; did not know what the money was raised for; wit- nes¢ had nothing to do with the matter; did not know that the institution had been under the neces- sity of taking boarders for its maintenance; the United States government has made arrangements -| to have the sick sailors of other nationalities treated there; about 234 were so treated; the government paid for them; the institution can convenienuy ac- commodate about 250; during last year the dally average number admitted was nearly four and a fraction, and without the gov- ernment patients 750 to 800 for tne year; the total number was 1,074; -at present there are 149, and about sixty of the government patients; the expenses now are $40,000 a year; the consuls of the different Powers send their sick as pay patients; there are from thirty-five to forty acres belonging to the Retreat; the average attendance daily 1s eighty or ninety; I think tnirty or forty acres is too large @ portion of land for hospital purposes; I think that ten acres would answer all the purposes around the house; thirty acres could be sold with- out detriment; a bill was presented in the Legisia- ture to sell the surplus property and pay off the indebtedness, and place the remainder in the Sea men’s Savings Bank; I think it woula be A WISE MEASURE to dispose of the property; there is a valuable water front, which at present is non-productive, either to the State or to the institution; its value 1s estimated at $75,000; 1t would probably fsell for more to-day than it would ten years hence; the institution ts not | in @ condition to make repairs; by opening one or two streets the value of the property would be very much enhanced; witness thougit that it would be well for the Legislature to appoit @ board of ap- pralsement, and then a commussion to sell the prop. erty at not less than the appraisement; there had been no difficulty attending the colleciion of the per capita tax; the report of expenses covers the entire expenses for the year; the institution had not been CRAMPED FOR MONEY even before the loan ou the property was obtained, buc the expenses are anuuaily increasing; the salary of witness 1s $1,800; the salaries for 1871 were $6,796 87; Dr. King, Superintendent Kugar and Dr. -| Jounson, the house physician, were the only house Officers; the nurses received $12 a month; the regu- lations required that at ieast one of the physicians should always be on the premises and 1¢ was rigidly observed; When ® patient was about to die his relatives wore, if possible, communicated with; the Health Officer is connected ex- ojicio with the institution; Dr. Jonnson was paid $60 a month with board: his duties ocou- pied nearly all his time; the chaplain receives $400 and resided in the hospital; he has been connected With the institution filteen years as a missionary; the mortgage on the instituuon was $50,000; there is no hospital Of a simular kind in the port or in the State; the institution expeditesthe commerce of the city, ‘and no provision can be made to supplement 1t; the patents could be provided for at Bellevue Hospital py contract at greater expense; witness thought that the institution was absolutely necessary, but was of the forty acres were not; the purchased by an accumulation of funds subscribed from year to year by the sailors, to whom.it suould belong forever, and if the property were sold this fuad should revert to tne seamen; patients remamn in the inetitutton on an average avout twenty-five days; patients very rarely pay lor fheir board; patients who come there are entitled to do so; those who pay generally give $1 @ day, including board and medical attendance; when the sailors come in 1t tg required that they hand their money to witness, which is returned to them when they leave, TESTIMONY OF T. M. CLARKE. Thomas M. Clarke testified that he kept a ship- ping office and was a notary public; had been in the habit of getting men into the hospital; the schooner Mary 8. Lent arrived here last winter and had two mien frostbitten; went with the captain to the of No, 12 Ol slip, but the secretary said tue men coul not go down, as the captain had not PAID OLD SCORES; the secretary looked over bis book and stated that the schooner had not paid her hospital money for two or three voyages; efforts were made by tne English Consul, who sald that unless the seamen were admitted he would withdraw his patronage; the secretary then said that if the owners pata $90 @ head into the treasury they woud be received; the secretary also stated that the institution had pienty of Teng 4 at Staten Islana which could be sold, So that they did not care for anybody's patronage; the secretary had the full and only authority to admit patients; wit- ness has had business with the insytution for pears and had no difliculty in conn mm with 16 unt last winter; witness objected strongly to the present method by which the Retreat was conducted; the second mate of the bark Mary der some time since endeavored to gain admission, and with great difficulty finally succeeded In doing so; witness stated that Perkins had absolute authority, and believed him alone to be culpable; thought that the rejection of sailors 0 had their assessment was the only feature of the institution which could be questioned; agreed with the last witness as to the SALE OF SURPLUS LAND; several ;merchants had prejudices against the in- stitution, because they thought the money was not roperly expended; the seamen’s boarding house Reepers complained generally of the great difficul sallors sailing regulary out of New York paid at least $10 @ year, and thought it was right inat they should not get DOWN ON THEIR KNEES to gain admission to the hospital; the schooner Mary Lent, when she arrived with the frostbitven sailors, had failed to pay ber hospital money; aid not know of any case-where boarding house keep. ers fraudulentiy obtained tickets of admission tor their boarders; witness nad reterred only to the mismanagement at the office at No, 12 Old slip, and not at the hospital. ‘TRSTIMONY OF DR. PEE! Dr. John L. Feeny examined—Is a physician in Richmond county; Staten Isiand; was connected with the Retreat ior eight years, having le:t it last year on account of prejudice on the part of ‘the trustees; the ship James Foster, Jr., arrived with a number of sick, and when the men presented themselves it was supposed they bad been badly treated, but it was subsequently ascertained that the death of the men was caused by @ specific dis- ease On poard the vessel; the men were treated for ILL USAGE ON BOARD, although they were suffering from typhoid fever; sever, ean tae td yh contracted ok oa ease an erefroms Witness Was a higher position, and the Waeetty OV ation tween himself and the other physician was the removal; thought that the last change Sih Ne te on account cord pre- judices; Mr. Wel ety oved On that account; ‘witness received $1,000 & Féar; thought the institu. tion was at present conducted on parlisan grounds; influences were brought to bear to MAKE PARIIES VOTE, =a as a body, in ole way ag directed; coincided with Dr. King’s opinion in referencé to the disposal of the surpius land belonging to the institution; streets ought to be opened through the Retreat property; cases of contagious diseases have heen admitied ai the institution and have spread in the vicinity; wit- ness thought that tbe institutfon was not suited for hospital purposes; it had bad ventilation and har- bored infections; he spoke from his own knowledge; pele of the State was that the Seamen's Retreat wild admit ho contagious diseases; the seamen hep sick of yellow fever or other contagious dis- wae ne down on the Staten Island ferryboat and mix@q indiscriminately with the passengers, and liad mor $han once ~ CORE THE INPRCTION; by law the governtaés Of the United States takes charge of the sick séimen; he thougat that the general government, as 15 took care Of its sallors in all other ports, should do so in New York; thougnt that the Seamen’s Retreat could be ENTIRELY ABOLISHED; f several house physicians died in consequence of contracting contagious diseases in the insuigauions ever since he had known anything about the Re- treat the fever had appeared in tne fail. TESTIMONY OF G. Fs THOMPSON. | |g George F. Thompson, a seaman’s boarding ane keeper, testified that in the case of the snip 4 lute three seamen Who had come home in A ia. fat deavored to get a permit to Bellevue Hosp! neaer ‘were unable todo so; witness tnally got init nen} from Pentz & Minor and the men ha re those men had regularly paid their hosp! ta a ‘A when witness went to the secretary at Old Slip, fe had the books before him and would have that the menu were INTITLED ADMISSION; she reason asalai a for thelr rerusal was that the “them; trustees, physicial &e.; the salary ot wines was $1.5: cirn and had a house to tive in; tie oft pointed by the trustees; there wus then ore SP NO PARTISAN INFLUENCE exercised in the institution to control the votes of the patients ; parties connected with the imstitue tion interfered to control the elections in the towm against its local interests; thougnt that the oi@ management shoud be resumed, a3 it was at prea ent a political machine; he considered that four acres were sudicient tor the purposes of the iietre: and that the tax imposed upon seamen was un) on the part of the >tate, as the United States yov- ernment exacted in all its waters twenty cents per capita; Commodore Vandervilt once refused to pay the Pa Wet yotieg sued tae carried the case to the Unites $ Supreme’ Co where 1s was decided in his favor, sins THE LAW BEING UNCONSTITUTIONAL; and the institution Was compeiled to pay the costs of the suit; the government of the United States should provide for its seamen; witness recommended. the abolition of the Retreat, and suggested that the care of the sick seamen should be entirely under the general government, TESTIMONY OF CLARKSON CROLIUS. Mr, Clarkson Crolius, President of the Board of Trustees of the Seamen's Retreat, testitied that he had beeu tn the poard fora peri dof seventeen years; the institution as at present conducted was generally satisfactory to him; tt had not been Lapse owing to the fact that the law was consid unconstitutional, and the merchants refused to pays some of the merchants Piers but others refused to do 80; if all paid 16 would be self-sustaining; the dee cision in the case of Mr, Vanderbilt haa DIMINISHED THE REVENUES; the deficit had been met by a mortgage of $50,000¢ the money was raised in March, 1871; witness com- Bidered that if the Retreat was not carried on more successfully it would be better to abolish it; six or eight acres only were necessary; thougnt the re- mainder should pe sold; the water front sione ‘would bring $65,000 or $75,000; it was better to sell the property than to have it GRADUALLY EATEN AWAY} did not consider that @ tax should be imposed om the people to clear the deficit; did not think that the officers of the institution ever exercised any jolitical influences over the patients, nor had the ard any political complexion; a law was to dispose of the property, but it required the trus- tees to qualify in heavy bonds to return the pro- coals to the State; it was generally considered that MONEY BELONGED TO THE SAILORS, and no steps were taken in the matter; was of opine» ion that commissioners snould be appointed, with ponds of $50,000, to all the property, and that snould receive two thousand or twenty-five hunc dollars per annum; considered that the investment a8 head phyat- of une surplus in the Old Ladies’ Home was a just expedient; takiag into cousidera- vion the increased prices of supplies, the institution was conducted as economically as possible; Whenever there was any doubt whether @ Sailor had not paid his tax, and, althougn the doubt was slim, the Secretary wus iosiructed to lean om the side of charity and send the sailor down to the hospital. Captain Nathaniel Briggs deposed that he was @ resident of Brooklyn and had been connected with the Board since 1823; became a trusiee beciuse ae ‘Was president of the Shupmasiers’ Association; was thoroughly saustled with the manner in which the institution was conducied; did not think that the United States had the means to take care of all the seamen Who arrived at this port in the course of the year; was of opinion that THE RETREAT SHOULD BE CONTINUED until the United States government was prepared to take care of all the sailors at the United staves Naval Hospital, which, he understood, had been discontinued; the present management of the Retreat had bis approval; the officers had been very economical; sick sailors wouid not suffer if the Re~ treat were’ abolished, as the general government would provide tor them when it had the requisite accommodation, Dr. Heber Smith was nextexamined. He stated that he was Superintendent of the Marine Hospitals of this port of New York; the government sent to Seamen’s Retreat, Brooklyu Hospital and Bellevue, lor which was paid ninety cents per capita per day; those whom the government sent were ail persous | who paid the United states Marine Hospital tax; all sailors who sailed in United Siates vessels paid this tax, and the government feit bound to proviae jor the Seamen’s Retreat was only advan- tageous, in his opiuion, so far as it accommodated. seamen who arrived in foreign vessels; the tax per capita was raised by Congress in July, 1870, from twenty*to forty ce! month, and was collected every time @ Vessel not & coaster entered the port; the sident of the Board of Trustees had sta' that many instances had occurred where the cap. tains of vessels nad APPROPRIATED TO THEIR OWN USE the hospital tax collected from the sailors, and that was probably the reason why the saliors were marked as delinquent on these books of the Sea men’s Retreat; thought that if the Ketreat were abolished the United states Marine Hospital coud provide for those entitled to treatment, CORROBORATIVE TESTIMONY. Mr. Robinson, another trustee, was next exame ined, and gave corroporative testimony, Hethougat tne Legislature should passa law tor the of the Retreat property, excepting the Old Ladies? Home, and that the money should be appropriated to pay for the board of sick, infirm sailors at ouner hospitals where they could optain good treatment, Other witnesses were then calied, including Messrs. A, Wood Abrahams, V. L. Clausen and Samuel He Hopkins, all of whom concurred in the opiaions ex- essed by the Presicent of the woard of Trus| reierence to the sale of the properiy. Captain Perkins, Secretary of tue Seamen’s Re- treat, testified that he received his appotutment four years ago; considered that all tne items of ex- penditure were just; in regard to the charges made against him concerning his refusal to admit the two savlors from the schooner Mary Lent, he had sai@ thatif the back dues‘of the vessel were paid ne woula admit them to the institution, or if they would & written certilicate {rom the owners thas they to pay the amount, he would give tnem mits. Poavid A. Edgar, Superintendent, was then ex- amined in referenve to the expenditures and the mode of conducting business generally. D. L. Webster, of 68 Front street, said he was storekeeper of the United States bonded warehouse; had been connected with the Retreat for six years; cages of contagtous disease had been in te Ketreats Dr. Moffatt died of infectious disease contracted there; never knew of any political influence having been exercised to obtain votes, Atver some further evidence relative to the work ing of the insutution the investigation was brought to a close shortly after four o’clock. ‘The committee leit for Albany last evening. SUSPICIOUS CASE, Alleged Malpractice by a Physician, Asomewhat suspicious case was yesterday more ing brought to the notice of Coroner Keenan by Dr. Bergold, of 153 Delancey street. Anna Livingston. @ good-looking girl, twenty years of age, living at 77 Suffolk street, gave birth to a stillborn child, under circumstances which indicated foul play. Anna stated that in September or October last she ‘was recommended to call on a Dr. Kemp, whose of- fice she believes 18 in Twenty-third street, near Seventh avenue, for consultation, After an inter- view the Doctor thought he could accomplish the desired result for the small sum of $10, halt of which amount he was to refund in case of failure, Anna called on Dr. Kemp the day following by request und received an electric shock. ‘The means resorted to faued, and Dr. Kemp, good as his word, returned $5 to is unfortunate patient, who thereupon left and did not visit him again. Dr. Bergold, a8 well as Deputy Coroner Wooster Beach and Joseph Cushman, who saw Anna Living- ston were of the opinion that the alleged malprac- tice of Dr. Kemp, committed several months ago, had nothing whatever to do with nastening the pre- mature birth, The case was submitted to the jy Dr. who found that the child was sulibora, but add their belief that in September or October 1ast Dr. Kemp atte pied #8, commit an abortion on de- beasts fhother. For this attempt coroner Keenan issued a warrant for Dr. bge arrest and placed tin the hands of Detective Walker, of the Thir- eenth precinct. 1% FATAL ELEVATOR CASUALTY. Merchants Censured. An inquest was held yesterday at the Vity Hall by Coroner Herrman in the case of Mr. Julius Adier, the German, who was killed by being crushed by an elevator in the store of Messrs, Rindskof, Brothers & Co., 79 Walker street, on the 19th inst. Deceased the employ of the merchants, and on the aay Suneds Taving business on tne top floor of the tore, jumped on the elevator, which he endeavored ) manage, bat was unable to do so, Becommg alarmed Adler attempted to jump off, but was caught becween the elevator and one of the upper floors and terribly crushed, so that he died in a lew minutes afterwards. It appeared from the testi- mony that there was no guard or provection avout the elevator for the prevention of accidents. Im their verdict the jury censured Messrs, Rindskom, Brothers & Oo. tor not having proper guards aroun the elevator. THE END OF A JOKE. Joun H. Stevens, of 249 Mott street, and Louis We Fish, of 61 East Twenty-first street, on Sunday night were in @ liquor saloon in Wooster sireet, im- pibing. While there Stevens charges that Fish stole a breastpin from fis shirt, valued at Fish was arrested by OMicer Henderson and mitted take tng the pin but claimed it was only in ajoke. Upom being arracnet hedere Jnstice Oox, at veffersom Morrel, yesterday morning, We Was locked up im de swujt of $600 bail for Wlate