The New York Herald Newspaper, February 8, 1874, Page 14

— THE CRIME OF ARSON. Proposed Legislation for Fire Insurance Companies. What the Proposed Three-Fourths Law Means— Arson Calculated on in Premium Rates— The Percentage of Crime—Opinions of Underwriters and Merchants as to the Proposed Legislation, A petition bas recently been circulated among wusiness circles in New York, the object of which te to secure certain legislation in reference to the nt system of fire insurance, especially the aystem of full or over insurance now in vogue, and which, in the view of the petitioners, leads directly to the alarmingly frequent crime of arson. The chief feature of this petition is @ suggestion that the Legisiature shall pass a law to prevent the recovery under any policy of insurance of a um greater than three-fourths the loss sustained, ana to compel tmsurance companies thus to limit their liabilities, A representative of the HERALD has, during the jast few days, talled upon presidents of insurance companies, secretaries thereof, insurance agents, brokers and prominent members of the Board of Underwriters in reierence to this petition, and the suojoiued interesting and important information ‘has been elicited in these interviews. ARSON AS AN ITEM OF MERCANTILE CALCULATION, Itis conceded on all hands, by insurance bro- kers, the Board of Underwriters, presidents of in- gurance compauies and lawyers versed in in- e@erance matters, thgt a large percentage—in fact wader the circumstances, considering that arson jg a crime of the first magnitude, @ startling large percentage—ef the tres for which the insurance companies have to pay are of inoendiary origin. @1 course apy definite and absolute percentage is mot to be arrived at; but one anthority in insur- ance matters estimates it at seven per cent, and $wo otuere, equally well posted, place it as high as ten per ceut of the total number of fires, Acting on these estimates the imsurance com- panies secure themselves by charging rates from ten to twenty per cent higher than if there was no such crime as arson. And acting on the idea that the chances of arsoa are an item of caiculation, just as any other chances, the insurance compa- mies @o not, as arule, trouble themselves to go too @eepiy into the details of the causes and origin of @ fire, but often pay the premium without any demur, even where the officials of the company bave littie real doubt that the fre was of incendi- ary origin. But then suck a fact is very dificult aBeclutely to prove. lt costs time, trouble and meney to prove it, and a good deal of ‘‘trade” ie meanwhile lost. So the companies (unless the ease is bDlunderingly flagrant) keep their suspicions to themselves and pay, solacing themselves with ‘the reflection that in the long run the eXtra rates ‘hey receive (mime-tenths of which are paid by honest insurers) will compensate them tor thelr @ccasional and crimina: loss. THE ECCKENTRICITIES OF ARSON. Wehae been found by experience that the great maajority of incendiary Ores are under $20,000. A darge fire in 99 cases out of 100 may be said to be @ecidental Carelesspess may ve mvoived in ity Dut not arson. This fact is accounted \or—frst, fom the comparative variety of large as compared With small properties; second, from the generally apd necessarily high mercantile character of par- Mes controlling large interests; and third, from the greater care exercised in tne examination made by the insurance companies in all cases where large risks are involved. But a very large proportion of the smaller fres— especially where the amounts insured are divided tm small sums among a number of companies—are G@irectly traceable to incendiarism, and one com- pany in this city has become so impressed with ‘this fact that it is more particular in its prepara- ‘ery €Xamination in cases Of small than of large msks. It has also been found, contrary to preconceived Meas, that incendiary fires are proportionally more common in rural districts than in large cities. ‘his fact has been accounted for on the theory that tue business done in a city is more eiasuc im its nature (nan the same trade in the country, tor if the latter is once depressed it re- covers tore slowly, the juss on the Stock msured i9 more sensibly leit, and the temptation to fire the Steck and get the casa for it is more cogent. Be- ides, there are more people, co-tenauts and Beigubors, mterested in putting out a city fire and tm puuisiing incendiarism, to say nothing of tue fact that tue Fire Departwent of our cities is much Superior, o1 course, to its rural equivalent. rsonal or professional reputation for high ebaracter, however, seems not to be any positive guarantee against the crune of arson, ior cases have been known in which manufacturers of nigh standing have been more than suspected of incen- diarism Wien it suited tuem to handle the cash of the isurance companies, In point of fact, noth mg Cab Wore cieariy or more cogently illustrate the demoralization which pervades our present system 0! fre Insurance than the lact tuat ail men familar With the Workings of the system snrug their shoulders and wink significantly when a hint de made at arson. They will tell you, of course, that itis a great evil, a great crime, and ail that sort of thing; but the moral or the legal aspect of arson is not ior them to consider. hey simply 200k at 1t in its mercantile light, calculate closely Upon the percentage of its probability aud cuarge accordingly. INDIRECT ARSON is also regarded in insurance circles as quite an everyday occurrence. A “high toned” merchant ors “leading” manulacturer has @ factory or a store 01 goods fully insured; he wants mouey bad. ly; he cannot sell ais goods or render his tactory ‘oftabie; lie will not tire his premises, nor will allow tuem to ve tired; but he will allow them Wo be neglected. He will’ permit his clerks or em- ployés to be careless in the use of matcties and of ughts—he will Wink at danger; and suddenly his stock or his factory is burned up. He claims the insurance money and be gets it, although tne in- surance officers are positive tuat due care bas not been exercised in tue premises. But then it will not do to contest the mat- ver; besices, the extra arge covers the loss. in fact, the companies would Father pay every now and then an unjust and ¢riminal joss than lose the benefit of the extra Tates Which they charge the great mass of those Who would never be guilty of a crume. Now, all Us crime, and its consequent demoraliz ition and injustice, arises in fire insurance, as in almost ail tuner departy {3 of business, irom overtrauing, Nd is a direct sequence to the Way im which the @etails o; tive insurance are conducted. The com- _ petation berwe the rival companies is 60 intense that, as one agent expressed it, ‘the companies and Would rather do 4 loss tuan do nu business 5 eo ipTHE INSURA are themselves in purt directiy responsinle for this state ol affairs, The great majority oi the tire in- murauce business ul the country is transacted by and through these brokers, wuo are entitled to a commission averaging fiiteen per cent. This #eems to be @ huge percentage, but the insurance brokers claim that the amounts insured are gener- ally small, and that, after oii, this fifteen per cent commission barely enables tiem to live. Many of the companies take oif ten per cent discount to the Ansuring party if they dea! with them directly aud e#atisiactorily, while many companies themselves act as agents or brokers for other companies, taking a certain amount Of every risk themseives and yn placing” the remainder, on commission, smong other companies. The representatives of several jarge fire insurance companies assert E BROKERS that the insurance brokers are nuisances; that they detract from the _ profits which would otherwise be made by the companies; that every man, whose interest it is to insure, would insure directly with the compauies, were there no brokers im existence, and that, having fajien into the habit of depending upon brokers, the companies do not exercise their own care and judgment in respect to the risks offered w them. On the other band the brokers assert, coniidently, that thousaads of men are now talked ito, or “vrokered”’ imto, insurance where otuer- wise there would be scarcely hundreds, They also claim that, being themselves to a certain extent Personally responsive for the character of the risks they bring into a company, they exercise greater Vigilance than the companies would be able to do themselves. ‘The only certain iact seems to be that brokers form an important, the most im- portant feature of whe present system of fire insur- ance, and that, it is conceued on all sides, if would be utterly impossible to get rid of them, even if it were at all advisable. Another and most cogent fact ieee beyona @ peradventure, aud That is, whether trom the brokerage system or Whew own negligence, the insurance: companies do not, as a rule, make, or even pretend to make, any caretul preparatory examinations of the premises } goods they undertake to insure. In tia one = le# one of the main causes of the eviis of the pessoas ‘ystem. If a respectable looking person, Hos ore Wirectly Known to the companies, ap- ) +p or & policy, it ig generally made out on FebreseRiations, without inquiry. Ifa broker Makes the application, the policy i8 granted at once, on od faith of the broker, only in the com- | pm: b Tare case of 4 doubtiul or unknown per- eon making application to@ company directly is any examination undertaken, and even then the examination is loosely conducted, the company beibg more anxious w get the business than to | fast, a president oF a pany NEW YORK HERALD, SUNDAY, FEBRU (Ry 8, 1874—QUADRUPLE SHEET. teaaing mre msurance com- vonfesses that & far seusougeny ie con cerned he proceeds on the principle o! “LOCKING THE STABLE DOOR APTER THE STRED 18 tho h ti is insured er eiay ozemiine ony promises or pood great majority o: STOLEN.” In other words, he says that his company never Fa fire has taken place. ‘Then, but not il then, ts @ thorough examination made. The oficial in question justifies this manner of pro- cedure from two points of view—first, that as the representations are made cor- Tectly and honestly it would be useless to take the immense trouble of examining a hundred cases wo detect flaws in four or five, especially when “we charge such @ percentage as wil cover the loss on these four or five cases anyway” (the exact words of the official in quesiion) ; vond, that if companies were to Make tt a rule to examine stores and premises insured in advance it would necessitate such a large force of surveyors and examiners as to reatly increase the rates of imsurance, increase them in fact greatly above their present standard. Again, it is claimed that @ thorough exi tion is often, under the circumstances of the case, utterly impracticable, or, to quote again the phrase of the oMcial just referred to, “You must go it blind, and charge for your biindnegs.” It can readily be seen (nat such a system as this offers every facility for the commission of crime, and is not only offering a premium against loss, but pre- senting an inducement lor talse pretences and for arson. OVER INSURANCE, or the insuring of stocks or premises for much moge than their value, is of comparatively rare oceur- rence, however, lor the simple reason that after a fire has once taken place, and tefore it pays its losses, the company makes a searching examina- tion, and, I! it appears probable that the insurance is excessive, then it avails itself of the plea of | iraud and reiuses to pay. In iact, over surance | is not where the danger lies, but in full insurance ot goods (supposing Various circumstances which ii Known at the time would invalidate tne insur- ance), and then, when the opportunity offers or | Recent demands, getting the full cash value of | the goods through the medium of arson. All in- surance Companies and agents unite io the opinion that none oi the evils im our present system ot fire insurance can be remedied by legislation. They all denounce LEGISLATIVE TINKERING and hold that the scheme of forbidding insurance companies to assume more than three-iourths of 3. risk 1s utterly impracticable and madequate [04 tne purposes proposed. The President of the Glove Fire Insurance Co m- pany claims that this proposed “three-fourt 4s” jaw would work most injuriously to the compa’ aies. Not enly would it do away with one-fourth of their risks, and therefore one-fourth of their p soiits, but i would entail positive injury upon thean. = La the case of a tre, under the present system, whatever is saved from the flavses les- seus the absolute lose to the insura’ace com- pany; they only pay a portion of the l(@s, though they have received the 1uil amount of their charges, But under TRE THREE-FOURTHS LAW, whatever was saved irom the flames would be credited to the unipsured tourth, out of which the company would receive no manner of benefit, so that the insurance companies themselves are op- posed to this new scheine, Tne mercantile class of the community 1s like- wise decidedly epposed to the proposed three- fourths law. The honest merchant who has $100,- 000 worth of goods at stake naturally enough re- tases to endorse any scheme which would compel him, in case of an accidental fire, to a loss of $25,- 000—perhaps the full amount of his avail- able caplial The bonded warehouses do not favor the proposition, nor do the commission houses, Jor their interest lies in having the goods entrusted 10 them fully in- sured for or by their principals. In fact, the oppo: Lents Of this three-fourths proposition claim that vhe scheme proposes & remedy which is far worse than the disease, They say that at present an honest man is charged but a comparatively small additional percentage on account Oo! the rogue; whereas, by the proposed system, the honest man would be compelled to run the risk of the loss of one-fourth of hig whole property ior ‘the sake of reventing an occasional scoundrelism, and only inadequately preventing it at that; for even under @ three-fourths law one scoundrel could so arrange matters by @ little trickery and perjury that his nominal three-fourths would really cover the total value of bis insured stock. NOTES FROM BOSTON. The Sumner Battle-Flag Matter in the Massachusetts Legislature—One of Agassiz’s Last Letters. BogTon, Feb. 6, 1874. The question of whether or not the official snub- bing of Senator Sumner by the Legislature of 1872 shall be allowed to stand recorded and transmitted to posterity is just now attracting considerable at- tention in Massachusetts. It will be remembered that during the last session of Congress the dis- tinguished Senator introduced @ measure providing for the removal of the names of the victorious Union battles trom the national battle flags, and also the erasure of the victorious naval engagements from the official records of the country. The probable motive was to get rid of all standing evidences of the late War that would be likely to engender feelings of anger or mortification on the part of the van- quisued rebels. At about the time of this action on the part of Mr. Sumner an extra session of the Legislature was calied to provide means for the sufferers by the great Boston fire, and the occasion Was improved to administer to the venerable Sen- ator a severe rebuke ior what they termed “a gross insult to the brave soldiers and sailors who saved the conntry and the government.” Strong speeches | were made against him, and finally a resoiution of censure was put through by a very respectable Majority. This action created considerable feeling in the community, and the legisiators were gen- eraliy denounced amd the act and motives of Mr. Sumner almost universaliy defended. During the tume which has interveued THE ABSURDITY OF THE CENSURE of the Senator has become more apparent, and the present Legisiature now finds itself loudly called upon to undo tue rash proceeding of its predeces- sor. Hundreds of petitions, with thousands and thousands of signatures appended, have come in asking that the obnoxious resoive be rescinded aud ail ofMfictal record of it wiped out for ever and ever. ‘These various petitions nave been referred to the Committee on Federal Relations, and there will be a series of public a on the mat- ter, which will probably be fruitiul of some lively speeches. There is not mucii doubt but the obnox- ious resolve will be expunged irom the legisiative records, ONE OF AGAS8IZ’S LAST LETTERS. That the late Projessor Agassiz was conscious of his fauling strength trom too close application to his business is indicated by a private letver which he wrote to a iriend in Engiand a few days vefore he was siricken down, “1 am down again,” he said; “at least I feel unable to exert myself as usual, and such a feeling in the beginning of the working Season is disheartening. When | last wrote | had strong hopes of an easy summer with my family, and confidently expected to be able to pass @ greater part of the winter in Europe. Now that hope is gone, J have my hands full with ad- ministrative duties and responsibilities, and scieuce and friends must suffer.”’ | FLASHES FROM THE PRESS. Women and wine have nad a falling out in Ohio. * ae grocery is to be established at Salem, Aroostook, Me., sells $10,000 worth of honey every year. Lots of ice in the bays and harbors of Lake Erie, and ice dealers are happy. Thirty women have been placed in charge of post offices Within the last two months. A new county, to be named after Governor Adel- bert Ames, is now called for in Mississippi. The fly:ng machine, which was to have been the Auburn, N. Y. The Morris county (New Jersey) authorities re- fus to license hotels where pigeon-snooting matches are held, Afemale detective, employed by the New York Central, rides to and {fro on the road to watch the duplex business, Miss Coilins, of Moberly, Mo., has been sick in bed for thirty years, but ‘a little adder crawled | unaer the ved clothes and snaked her out. In 1841 Nantucket, Mass., had ninety-two vessels employed in whale fishing. Last week the last vessel was sold, and that city is now counted out of the oil business, A number of prominent citizeus of New Jersey Willmeet in Bordentown on Saturday, the 2ist inst., for the purpose of adopting measures for the better protection of game in the State. Vineland, N.J., the rendezvous of woman’s rights women, wanis to be made intoa ae The place is growing so rapidly that the necessity of a more extended power to the authorities is greatly felt. A young man in Kingston, N. H., was ied into the water aud baptized on a recent cold stormy Sunday, and in less than a week he sickened and died, nig death being caused by the exposure and | the remains and swore consequent shock produced, Martin Van Buren used to say that it was better to walk thirty miles to see aman than to write | him a letter. That has been settled by the breach of mise ink, Which ia only visible jour days on note paper. The Rochester Erpress announces that an ar- | rangement has been made between the New York State Agricultural Society and the Driving Park } Association of that city, by which the State fair is | tw be held on the grounds of tne association once in three years jor the next fifteen years. Asipgular case occurred near Schenectady, N, Y., the other gay, A locomotive struek @ man on Wednesday of jast week. He was thrown a di tance of nearly seventy feet and was pieked up for dead, The Curoner empanelled @ jury, viewed WO witnesses, when the supposed dead man revived: and discouraged that oficial irom prosecuting hid duties and collecting take tue trouve of @ shorougn inverUgelion, Ja) bis ices, consist of a Pre: designated as First | judges. It shall be the duty o | Secretary of the National Association at the end of the ing Whole. to- | eight wonder of the world, Is lying at anchor at | | able interested parties to iden TROTTING. The Amended Bylaws, Rules and Regulatic AS of the National Association, IMPORTANT CHANGES ‘apr The following are the amended and regulations of the Nationa) ciation, made by the Trotting held its flith annual meeting at February 4, 6 and 6:— BYLAW Avyiaws, rules ¢ Trotting Asso- / Congress, which ae Everett House, ects of this association shail £ two Vice Presitents, to be Bovond Vice Presidents, and & ¢ The duties of the secretary charged by one and the same Me President shall be, ez officio, ai of Appeals, and, when present, miweotings Of the association and the as shail have the casting vote at such 4 may temporal and until the neat meeting of the B gerd of Appeals, suspend uny penalties be Ley v. #& imposed by an associs member, yyhen avon VY" aified written petiions, he shail believe Mnente » A#mbive or illegality in such penaities or pun- Fecretary and Treasure and ‘treasurer shall be person. ‘Aut. 4.—President.— & member of the Bor shall preside at ail Board ot Appeals, ¢ meetings; and he ishments vero we Presidents.—it shali be the duty of the cone ab £408 to preside at meetings of the association senses gene of the President, which duty shall by devolve apon the First Vice President, and, 10 his abse ee, tupon the second. oe it‘ 4—secretary and Tredsurer.—It shall be the dut or ule Secretary, when present, to act as Secretary at all mec} #gs ol the association and Board of Appeals. He shall “keep a record. to be kept in a book for that pur- bow 4 of all the proceedings of such meetings, and, by Ort sev of the President, cail all meetings of the associa- { ow and board, and aivend to all correspondence relat- ax to the aifairs of the association. He aball, irom tme time, furnish each associated course with # written sor printed report of the proceedings of meetings of. the association and Board of Appeals, and at the close of ¢ach year he shall compile and arrange an oficial record, which shali contain a fuil report of the proceed- Ings of this association and the Board of Appeals during the year; a complete list of persons and horse: that have been fined. suspended oF expelled, together with the amount of fines and term of suspénston, and, if prac- Ueable. a complete record of all races on each and all associate courses, and such other matters of record as may be of interest and service to the association. O1 the mater so ¢ ed he shall have prepared ut least one printed copy for cach of | the associated courses, and as waby more as the Board of Appeals may, in ‘their judgment, deem ~ expedient, said’ last mentioned’ copies” to disposea of by sale, for the benefit of the association, or in such other inanner as the Board of Appeals may’direct. And the Treasurer shall receive and take charge of all moneys that may belong to the association, and make thereirom such disbursements in payment of demands growing out of the legitimate transactions of the asso- ciation as may be sanctioned by the Board of Appeals. He shall keep iull, accusate and distinct accounts of nis receipts and disbursements. and shall prepare a state- ment at the end of each year (and as much oitener as the Board of Appeals may require) showing the receipts and expenditures ana the fnancial condition of the association. Art. 7.—Board of Appealz—The Board of Appeals shall consist ot twelve members besides the President, and shall hold regular meetings on the second Tuesday in July and December in each year. Special meetings may be ealled whenever deemed necessary by the Presi- dent, and at all meetings, whether regular or special, Place of all mectings shall be given by the Secretary to tach member of the Board. The Board of ‘Appeals shall of the affairs of this association, subject to the rules, regulations and bylaws, to whom, through the Secretary, must be addressed all’ charges against any member of this association or other communications intended for the action of the Board. They shall examine all evi- dence of fraud, or any other matter relating to the turt that is brought before them, and shall take such meas- ures to ascertain the trath ‘or ialsity of all charges as they shall deem necessary and proper, and they shall pass judgment in each case. And they shall have au- thority to impose fines on members who shall veglect or refuse to obey the laws of the association; and an meinber failing to pay a fine so imposed may be suspend ed or expelled by order of the Board until such fine is paid; provided that such fines shall not in any single care exceed $10. The Board of Appeals shall have power to call a special congress whenever by them deemed necessary. Each member ot the Board shall be enutled to the privilege of grounds and (Hebel of all the associated courses, Axr. &—Delegation.—A delegation to @ general con- gress or any association meeting shall consist of one or more persons, not exceeding three, duly authorized in writing by the President or Secretary of their respective Seeceenans, or proprietor or proprietors of individual courses, Art. 9.—Admission of Members.—All applications for admission to membership in this association must be made in writing, duly signed and addressed to the secre- tary, for action of the Board of Appeals, who may admit or reject the applicant, Provided, that in the interval between meetings of the Board, new members shall be admitted when sanctioned by the President, but always subject to the approval or rejection of the ‘Board at its next meeting. New members shall abide by all previous action of this association, a reportof which shall be fur- nished them by the secretary. Art. 10. nnual Fee of Membership.—Unchanged. Arr. IL. ‘teiture of Membership.—The word “vote”? on filth line changed to “order.” Ant. 12.—Duues of Members.—It shall be the duty of each member to see ihat the rules, reguiations and by- Jaws Ol this association are rigidly entorced upon theic respective courses, under penalty of suitable ines or ex- pulsion. Members shall not allow their cour to be used for exhibitions of a char: jing to the pub lic standing of the Nation: sociation, and they shall be heid responsible betore the Board of Appeals for any violation of the rules of this association. They shail keep on file, for tuture reference, all letters, entries and commanications relating to their respective courses. They shall furnish each owner, trainer, rider or driver with a copy of the rules of this association, if s@ re- quested ; and shall have at least one copy posted in some conspicuous place in the jungee stand for the use of the each member to furnish the honorary membership on the trotting season each year a review con! gether with an official summary of all respective courses; said summary to the «mount or value of the purse, match or sweepstake, the iull terms and conditions of the race ; lists of such en: tries ceived; the position of each and in each heat; the drawa, distanced and ruled- out horses; the official time of each and every heat; the names of the judges, and such notes and remarks as are necessary for an understanding of the whole. also furnish the n es upon their they shall mes of all persous and horses that ve been fined, suspended or expelled, together with the amount of fines and terms of suspension: and. shall furnish a list of the officers of their respective aasoci- ations or courses, with their post office address, Axt. 18—Clerk of the Course.—Unchanged. Ant. 1.—Meetings—There shall be a meeting of this Association biennially on the seeond Wednesday in Feb- ruary, at such place as may be chosen at the oesnne next ‘preceding; a written or printed notice of eac! meeting shall be mailed, postage paid and. addressed by the secretary to each member, at least thirty days prior to such meeting. Each member shall be entitled to one Yote, and they may vote by delegates duly authorized, who shall have the power of substitution. Aur. pecial meetings. —Special meetings of the association shall be called by the secretary, whenever requested by the Board of Appeals, or in writing by a Majority of the members, and fitieen days’ notice shall be give by the secretary, toeach member, ot the time and place ot holding any special meeting, in the manner provided tor notice of Hiennial me ; one-tourth of the members shail be represented to constitute a quorum for ue transaction of business in ony ry reesing, Art. 16—Election of Officers.—The Vresident, Vice Presidents and Board of Appeals shall be cnosen ateach Diennial meeting of the association, and shall retain their respective offices until their sucee: pointed. In case of the resignation 01 y their members, the Board of Appeais shall have power to fill vacancies until the next election. The secretary and Treasurer shail be elected by the Board of Appeals, and Ie they shall hold office until a successor fs ap- pointed. Axt. i7.—Entries.—Cnchanged, Axr. 18 —Fines. Unchanged. Aur. 19.—Length of Tracks.—Unchan Anz. 20.—Bylaws.—Unchanged. RULES AND REGULATIONS, Rete 1.—Mandate.—Changed only as to date. Rue ‘tries. —Unchanged. Rute &.—Entrance Fee.—The entrance fee shall be ten per cent of the Aurse, uniess otherwise specified ; and any person failing to pay hu ues may, together with his horses, be suspended until they are paid in full, which shall be with an addition of ten per cent penalty, and interest at seven per cent per annum until paid. “The penalty to go to the National Ass tion. Provided, that aiter April 1, 1874, no. such_ suspen: sion shall be lawiul anless imposed within sixty days from the close of the meeting; and turther provided, that any entry Which shali be sccepted upon conditions dif- fering from those applied by the terms of the race to other entries tn the same class shall be regarded @ con- ditional entry, and as such shall | and any asso- ciate member who shall accept ap hi conditional en- try shall, upon satistactory evidence produced to the Board ot ‘Appeals, be held to foriert to the National Ass. ciation t percent of the amount of the purse in wh conditional entry has been accepted, KuLe 4.—How Many to Enter.—Unenanged. Ruce 5.—Horses to be Eligible when Entries Close.—A horse shall not Le (in any race that has beaten the time advertised prior tc the closing of the en- tries for the race in which he is entered, unless other- conditions. Horses shail not be eligible it the time specified has been beaten by them ata greaver distance; that is, a horse having made two miles in five minutes is eligible for a 2:30 raee, but not eligible for @ race limited to horses of a slower class than tha Reue Name and Description of Each Horse Re- quired.—An accurate and satistactory description of each entry will be required, and shail Le in the tollowing form, to wi ¥ The color and marks shall be accurately given. Sex.—It shall be distinctly stated whether the entry Dé & stallion, mare or gelding, and the names of the sire and dam shail be given in ail cases (aud when unknown it shall be so stated in the entry), under penalty of $25 fine for each omission. And the pedigree so given shall | be published by the associate member, with the adver- tigement of entries, Naine of Horse.—Every horse shall be named, and the Name correctly and Bi nly written in the entry; and ina public rice such naine shall not be ept by permission of the Board of Appeals 4nd upon payment ot a recording tee of $10. The fee to go to the mal Association, aud tor cach violation of the requirements a fine ot $100'shali Le imposed, together with suspension or expulsion ; and it t troited im a public race, the las or she trotted shall be given with the entry: and if the name has been changed within two each name | he orshe has borne Guring that time must be given; | if any horse without a name liasever trotted in a public race, mention must be made in the cutry of a sufficient number of hisor her most recent periormances to en- ty the animal; pro- vided that it shail not be necessary to furnish any one association or proprietor with the same rei ord the second time. in entries and nomi hereatter made the words “No name” shall not ceived as & mame; neither shall such descriptive words as “bay hort “gray mare, &c., be allowed as names, under penalty ofa fine not to excced the trance fee, to be imposed on the member who violates tnis restriction. Ahorse having onee been named shal! not in startin a race on apy course in the United States or Canadas without a naine or under a dit ferent name, unless the foregoing provisions have been complied with. Double Teams.—In all double-team races the entry must contain the name and description of each horse, 11 the manner provided tor entry of single horses. RoLe7.—Name and Address.—The residence And pos office address in fail of the Faia or persens in whose name an entry is made, and if he or they be not the owner, then that of the owner or owners, alo must ac- company each nominatis Ruce §—Entries that not Start.—~Unchanged Rote %—No Puree tor a "Walk Over.’ —Unehanget Rowe 10,—In Case of Death Engagements Void,—All en- sagements, including pbiigayous Jor entrance fees, sual four members of the Board shail constitute a quorum for | the transaction of business. Due notice of the time and | have general management, control and superintendence | tain the date, | ’ £3 dvey shall aiect the the decease of either party or horse, ao far deceased party or horse; but for- also matches made play or pay, “oY, the Lal of O ahead ces. Unchanged, hd ac Mawhes Become Play or Pay. —Un- aged, 0 aisha or Stake Wrongfally Obtained.—Un- changed. ‘ute M.—Fraudulent Entries or Meddling with Horsea — orcs tieReward.—Unchanged. ULE 15.— Rutx 16 —Protesia. —Protests way be made verbally be- fore or during a race, and shall be reduced to writing, ball contain at least one specie charge, and, when tement of the nature of the evidence upon y are based, and they shall be filed with Judges, association or roprietor before the close of the mest. The jadges shall, inevery case of protest, de- mand that the rider or driver and the owner or owners, if present, shall immediately testity under oath, in the manuer hereinafter provided; and in case of their re- fusl to do 40 the horse shall not be allowed thereupon to siart or continue in that race, but shall be considered and declared ruled out, with forfeit of entrance money. But it the parties do comply and take the oath, ay herein required, unless the judges find conclu: sive evidence to Warrant excluding the horse, they shall allow him to start or continue in the’ race, under protest, and the premium, if any is won by that horse, shall be retained a suiticient length of time (say three weeks) to allow the parties interested a chance to sustain the allegations of the protest. or to turmsh info mation which shall warrant an investigation of the m: ter by the associate member or the Heard of Appeals and all outside bets on such horse shall be held im abey ance pending the decision of euch protest; provided that, where no action as aforesaid has been taken to sus- tain’a protest during three Weeks. the associate member shail proceed as if such protest had not been made; and in any heat which such protested horse shall win the Judxes shall waive the application of a distance as to all other horses, except for “fouls” defined in rule 48. And @ protest is presented, before or during @ race, and the parties reiuse to make the scribed” oath, if the judges believe the refusal is designed to’ favor @ fraud, they may require the horse, under protest, to start or continue fn the race, Any person tound guilty ot protesting a horse falsely nd Without cause, or merely with intent to embarrass & race, shall be pusilshed by a fine not excceding $100, or by. Suspension not {9 exceed one yeur, oz by expulsion. hen a protest has been daly made, or any information lodged with the judges in support of a protest alleging ‘an improper entry or any act prohibited or punishable under these rules, the same shall not be withdrawn or surrendered before the expiration of three weeks with. out the approbation of the associauon or proprietor of the course upon which such protest or information was produced if any association or proprietor shall per- mi: such & withdrawal of protest or iniormation, with & corrupt motive to favor any party who shall be affected by the saine, the association or proprietor so permitting, iC convicted thereof by the Board of Appeals, suall bé expelled trom all connection with the National Associa- tion. Associations or proprietors shall be warranted in retaining the premium of any horse during the time herein mentioned, without any formal protest, if before itis paid they shall receive information in their judg- ment tending to establish fraud. Rute 17.—When Horses Shall Not be Drawn.—No horse shall be drawn, except by permission of the judges of the race, under penalty oi being expelled, unless at or before seven o'clock P: M. of the day preceding the race (omitting Sundays) thes proper parly shall haye lodged with the President, Secretary or proprietor of the course & written notice of his intention not to start, after which notice the horse so drawn shall be ineligible to start in the race. And parties having two or more entries in one race shall elect which they will not start, and notity their decision gt the same time, in the same manner, and under the same penalty as provided above. Rute 1&—Vower of Postponement.—In case of un- favorable weather or other unavoidable causes, each association or proprietor shall have power to postpone to the next fair day and good track (omitting Sunday) all purses or sweepstakes, or any race to which they have contributed money, upon giving notice thereof. And they may exercise this power before or after the race has commenced. (see also Rule 19.) RULE 19.—No Trotting After Dark.—Unchanged. Ret Weights and Welghing.—Unchanged. Roux 21—Handicaps aud Miscellaneous Weights—Un- changed, Be awe Riders and Drivers are Overweight.— nehanged, v —Length of Whips.—Unchanged. Judges’ Stand.—Unchange: Rutw 25.—Selection of Judges. —Uachanged. Ruze. 26.—Auihority of Judges.—The judzes of the day or race shall have authority, while presiding, to ap- point distance and patrol judges and timers; to intlict fines and penalties, as prescribed by these rules; to de- termine ail questions of tact relating to the race over which they preside; to decide respecting any matters of difference between parties to the race, or any contingent matter which shall arise, such as are not otherwise pro- vided for in these ruies;’ but, all their decisions shall be in strict conformity with these rules, or with the princi- ples thereof. They shall have control over the horses about to start, and the riders or drivers and assistants of the horses, ‘and in the absence of other provisions in these rules they shall have authority to ponish by a fine hotexceeding $100, or by suspension of expulsion, any such person who shall tail to obey their orders or the rules. Rui 27.—Distance and Patrol Judges.—Unchanged. Ruue 2&—Powers and Duties of Judges.—Ihe judges shall be in the stand filteen minutes before the time for starting the race. They shall weigh the riders or drivers, and determine the positions of the horses and injorm each rider or driver of his place betore starting. 1hey may require the riders and drivers to be properly dressed, “they suall be prepared to take the time of eac! heat in the race, and they may appoint some suitable person oF persons to assist them in that respect, and the time go taken shall be recorded and announced, in con- formity with these rules, (See also rules 39 and 4) and article 18 of bylaws.) The judges shall ring the bell _or give other notice ten minutes previous to the time announced for the race to come off, which shail be notice toll parties to prepare tor tne race at appointe! time, when all the horses must appear dy tor the race, and any rider or ‘and entrance ‘shall not be affect ‘ROLe IL —Match when river ing: ymons may be punished by a fine pot ex- to ceeding $1U0, oF bis horse mi ruled out by the Judges and considered drawn; but in all stakes and matches a sailure to appear promptly at the appointed time shall render the delinquent party liable to forfeit. The result ot & heat shall not be announced until the judges are satisfied as tothe weights of the riders or drivers, and sufficient time has elapsed to receive the Teporbof tne distance and patrol judges. The judges shall not notice or consider complaints of toni trom Any person or persons except the distance and patrol judges appointed by themselves or by those in authority, and from owners, riders or drivers in the race. It the judges believe that a horse is being or has been ‘ pulled,” or has been ridden or driven in other respects improperly, with a design to prevent his win- ning a heat which he was evidently able to win, and thatsuch act Was done, on the part of the rider or driver, for the purpose of throwing the race, or to perpetrate or aid a fraud, they may declare that heat void, and they shall have’ power (o substitute a competent and reiabie driver or rider tor the remainder of the race. who shall be paid a reasonable compensation for his services, but nor to exceed $4; and any professional driver or rider Who, without good and sulficient reason, refuses to be so substituted, may be fined, suspended ‘or expelled, by order ot the judges and upon approval by the Board of Appeals; and if the result and circumstances of the race shall confirm their belie:, the rider or driver so removed shall be expelled by the judges. And at the close of the race, if they are warranted under the foregoing circumstances in deciding that such improper conduct has changed the result of the race to the rein. dice of innocent parties, they shall deciare all outside “bets”? off, and if the owner or person or persons con- trolling the offending horse shail be a party or parties to together with the horse, shall be expulston, [See also rules 22 and 49.) KULE 29.—Starting and Keeping Positions.—The second paragraph is amended to read—When the judges are p Vented trom giving a fair start by # horse or horses per- sistentiy scoring ahead of others, or being retractory, or from aly other faultof either horse, mder or driver, it shall be their duty, after three scorings, to select one of the contending horses, of average speed compared with the ovhers, and no driver shall come up in advance of said horse betore crossing the score. Rue 30.—Horses breaking.—Unchanged. r Rote 3l.—Relative to Heats and Morses Eligible to Start.—Unchanged. Rute 32—Dead Heats —A dead heat shalt be counted in the race, and shall be considered @ heat which is won by the horses making it, but undecided between them, and it shall be considered a heat that is lost by all the other horses contending therein; and the time miade in @ dead heat shall constitute # record for each horse mak- ing stich dead heat, “and only tose horses shal: start tor the next heat that would have been entitled had the heat been won by either horse making the dead heat; rovided that each horse making such dead heat would have been entitled to terminate the race had he won the dead heat, and that each of the horses thus prevented starting shall retain his position in the award of 1848 if said dead heat had been decided in favor of the said horses which made the dead heat. A horse prevented from starting by this rule shail not be distanced , but ruled out. : Kuce &.—Time Between Heats.—Unchanged. Time Allowed in Case of accidents—Un- changed. Kote $5.—Collision and Breakdown.—In case ot colli- sion and breakdown the party causing the same, whether willuliy or otherwise, may be distance; and if the judges find the coliision wus intentional or to aid traud the driver in tanit shail be forthwitp suspended er ex- pelled, and bis horse shall be distanced ; but, if necessary to deteat fraud, the judges may direct the offending horse to start Again. No horse but the offending one shall be distanced in such a heat except for foui driving. ‘The judges in a conciuding heat, finding a collision in- volved a fraudulent object, may declare taut neat void. [see also rule 44, | RULE 3é.—Vlacing Horses.—A horse must win ama- Jority of the heats which are required by the conditions Of the Face to be entilled to the purse or stakes, Butit # horse shall have distanced ali competitors in one heat the race will then be concluded, and such horse shall re- ceive the entire purse und stakes contended for, When more than one horse remaius in the race, enutied to be placed at the finish of the last heat, the second best horse shall receive the second premium, if there be any; and ir there be any third or tourth premlum, & hich no. horse has won and maintained a spe ¢ shall go to the winner; proviaed that a miums awarded shall not exceed the number of horses. which started in the race. The foregoing provisions shall always apply, in such cases, unless otherwise stated im the pubusned con- ditions of the race. In deciding the rank of horses other than the winner, as to second, third and fourth places, &c., to be assigned among such as remain in the race, entitled to be placed at the conclusion of the last thereot, the several positions which have been assigned contending shall be considered every heat in-the race—thut 18, horses having won two heats better than those winning’ one; @ horse that has Won @ heat better than a horse only making a dead heat; a horse winning one or two heats and making a dead beat, Letter than one winning an equal number of heats, but hot making a dead heat; a horse winning a heat, or making a dead heat abd not distanced in the race, vetter than a horse shat has not won @ heat or mate a dead heat; s horse that has been placed "sec. ond” twice, better than a horse that has been placed “second” only once, &c, When two or mure horses shall be equal in the race’ at the commencement of a tinal heat thereo!, they shall rank as to each otner us they are piaced'in the decision of such final heat. fn case these brovisions shall not give a specitic decision as to second and third money, &c., the judges of ¢ race are to make the awards according to their best judgment, but in conformity with the principles of this Fule, RoLe $7.—Distances.—Unchanged. i Rove $.—Runk between Vistanced Horses.—Un- —Time and Its Record.—In every public race of each heat shall be accurately taken and Placed in the record, and upon the decision of eack heat the time thereot shall be publicly announced by the except as provided in these rules concerning those licats which are “not awarded to either of the leading horses.” luty of the judges of the race to take the time 4, oF to appoint some table person or persons to assist them in ihat respect, ‘and no unofficial timing shall be announced or admitted wo the record. (see also Rule 40.) Rote 4.—Two Leading Horses To Be Separately Tiped.—Unchanged. ULE 4l.—Suppression ot Time.—In any public race, if there shali be any intentional suppression or misrepre- sentation in elther the record or the announcement of the thme of any heat in the race, procured through any connivance or collusive arrangement or understanding between the proprietor or judges or timers and the owner of the winning horse or his driver, or other au- thorized agent, it shail be deemed fraudulent. And any horse winnin t or making a dead heat wherein there was such a fraudulent suppression of time, together Jyith the parties implicated in the iraud, shall, by opera- yn of the rules, encetorth expelle Rute #2—A Public Race —Unchang Rowe 3. nchange oie 44.—When Time Shall Not Be a Bar.—Unchauged. jivre —Complaints by Riders or Drivers.—Un- changed. Rute 46.—Decorum.—Unchanged. Roce 47.—Loud shouting. —Unchanged. number of p S0ny owner, rider, erean, of thels beeen 96, aur- rules dene en, “iw’fudges In deciding to be it OF (ck st made "Tules to theet, the case, the judges shall, ‘have ish the offender by fine not to exceed $100, xpulsion, Aud in any case of foul riving they shali distance the ofiending horse, ha decision will favor a !raud. ul” shall be construed to avply to riding oF contrary to rule, to any act of @ fraudulent ature and to any unprincipled conduct such as tends to debase the character of the troiting turf in, the estima tion of the public. (Gee falso Tales 43, 2 35, 43 und 47.) Ri —Fines,—Unchanged. Ruts 50.—No Compromise of Penalties.—Unchanged. Kone Sha faspensions and Kxpulsions.—Unchanged. Ru.e S2—Right of Appeal.—Any person who has been subjected to the penalty ot suspension or a fine by the decision of the judges of a race can appeal trom such decision to the association or proprietor upon whose rounds e penalty wus imposed, and. trom their decis- jon can appeal to the Board of ‘Appeals, provided that Where the penaity was a fine ft shall have been pre Yiously paid. And all decisions and rulings of the judges of any race, aud of the several associations and Proprietors belon ing: #9, said National Association. may be appeai the Board shall be subject to review by said Board, up and questions involving the proper interpretation and application of these rules, and their decisions shall be nal; provided, that parties to be aifected thereby shall be notified, as the Board shall direct, of a time and place when such appeal will be acted on by the Hoard. Pro- Vided further, if the appeal relate to the decision of a Tace, immediate notice shall have been given to the Judges of the race of the Intention so to. appeal. ‘Notices ot all other appeals must be given within one week from the announcement of the decisions appealed. Any per- Son who shall appeal from any order suspending him or his horse tor non-payment ot entrance money or @ fine may deposit the amount claimed with the Treasurer ot said National Association, who may thereupon issue a certificate or notice temporarily reinstating or relieving the party and his horse from such penalty, subject to the final action of the Board of Appeals. uel %3%—Age of a Horse—low Reckoned.—Un- Kutx b4-Colts and Fillies Equally Eligible to Enter.— Uae han} re = ULE ireen Horse.—Unchanged. ee ‘Races Made and TNO our Named."—Un- NK RULE ‘Races Made and No Distance Specifled.—Un- changed, Kaik 58—Races Made to “Go as They Please.""—When @ race is made to go as they please, it shall be construed that the performance shall be in harness, to wagon, or under the saddle; but after the race is commenced no change shail be made in the mode of going, atid the race shall be deemed to have commenced when the horses ‘appear on the track. UU 8-—Kace Made to Go “in Harness.""—Unchanged. RULE 60.—Matches Made Against Tine.—Uncuanged. Kuux 61.—Horses Sold With Engagements. —Unchanged. HORSE NOTES. The National Trotting Congress Will Not Assemble Again Until February, 1876. The Maryland Jockey Club announces the closing of the Dixie Stakes, for colts and fillies, three years old, to be run tor in 1875, with seventy-three nominations, The entries for 1874 were sixty- eight, which was @ surprisingly large number for so young an association, The Dixie Stakes, it will be remembered, was originated by Mr. M. H. San- ford as the Dinner Party Stakes. It was subse- quently altered to the Union Stakes, and in 1874 was again changed to the Dixie Stakes. The first meeting of the Saratoga Racing Associ- ation will commence on the 25th of July, and the second meeting on the 10th of August, closing on the 22d of that month, We have veen informed that John Morrissey has leased the track for five years, and will have supreme control of the ~ ounds for that length of time. ‘The managers of the Hampden Park, Spring- field, Mass., contemplate giving purses ior their next fall meeting amounting to $50,000. A meet- ing for the election of officers took place on the 2d | jost., with the following result:—L. J. Powers, President; H. M. Phillips, Secretary, aud J. D. Marsh, Treasurer, The spring meeting of the Louisiana Jockey Club will commence on the 11th of April, and, continu- ing six days, will end on Saturday, the 18th, Three Taces will be run eaca day. William =H, Gi has purchased the well known trotting mare ly Clutes. Mr. Belmont’s imported mare, Nonpareille, by Kingston, dam Engiand’s Beauty, by birdcatcner, foaled a bay filly by Kingfisher, on Saturday, Jan- -, 31. uliam Meiklé has sola his imported Clydesdale colt, Ranton Robin, to Messrs, Kunkle, of Irwin’s station, Westmoreland county, Pa., tor $3,000. The colt was imported im August, 1873, is now two ears and six months old, stanus seventeen hands igh and weighed 1,900 lbs. on the 28th of January. Ranton Robin was bred by R. M. Buchanan, Scot- Jand, and sired by the celebratea prize horse, Uld Ranton Robin. Mr. Samuel Black, of Nashville, Tenn., has wa- gered $300 that he can drive his Idol colt seventeen miles in one hour over the Nashville Driving Park course. ‘the race will s00n come of. A farmer named reed helene driving from Mat- teawan to Glenbam, in Dutchess county, on Thurs- day last, pulled so hard on the bit that he broke the horse's jaw. George Mitchell’s bay mare Fanny Raymond was sold at auction last Monday morning at Saratoga. She brought $1,480.’ A Kentucky colt, seven months old, is said to have trotted hall a mile, led by the side of his dam, in a The dam of Dexter, now in her twenty-sixth year, has a filly toal six months old. The dam of this mare died at thirty two, and produced a colt when twenty-eight years old. The celebrated trot- ting gelding Shark was loaled when she was twenty-seven years old. It will be seen by the following extract from an Auckland (New Zealand) paper of December 19, 1873, that horse flesh in that country 1s held at high figures:—“Mr. Kedwood’s string of racehorses was offered by public auction at Christchurch, on Thursday, the 20th of November. Malvina was porcharee. by a Cantersury man for 250 guineas, eringa sold for 100 guineas to L. Walker, Cunter- bury. Papapa was passed out at 675 guineas; Te- Tanga Was passed at 150 guineas; Kakapo passed at 450 guineas. ‘he racing mare Lurline, which has proved herself during the past month to be such a splendid ‘goer,’ recently changed hands at Mr, Nosworthy’s sale oi racing stock at Christ- church, She was bought by Mr. H. Redwood, of Nelson, for 750 gu.neas. Calumny brougnt the next largest price, falling into Mr. Ray’s hands jor 550 guineas.” ANOTHER BOLD ROBBERY. A Steam Trading Boat Gone Through by an Organized Band—Eight Persons on Board Bound and Blindfolded. {From the New Orleans Picayune, Feb. 3.) From Dr. W. |. Jordan, a planter of Morehouse parish, who has just reached the city, we learn the particulars of @ most outrageous act of piracy, committed in that parish last Friday evening. It appears that the steamer Ellen D., which left here some months ago, fitted out for a trading ex- pedition by Messrs. Krantziass & Gerson, was tied up at Point Jefferson, on Boruf River, during the greater part of last week. They had been doing a pasty good business, and felt satisiied with the result. On Friday, however, just before dark, five men, whom none of the traders had ever seen betore, came aboard at nearly the same time. Some ot them had crossed tie river, others had ridden down to the landing by different approaches; no two arrived together, yet ail arrived within the space of fifteen minutes, They were handsomely dressed, good-looking men in every instance, and there was @ striking air of intelligence and refinement about them. With the exception of this prevailing similarity, they seemed to be quite unknown to each other, bent on entirely independent errands, and only assembled thus by the most unaccountaple of accidents. They were sitting or stand- ig about, as all customers on a trade boat are in the habit of doing. One, @ particularly handsome lellow, had just bought and paid tor a pair of boots; another was rejoicing in a new hat; others were contemplating different purchases, and everything seemed to be going on as usual, Suddenly the handsome man cast bis eyes atound and said, in a low, clear tone, “Shall we?” and in- stantly the other four started to their feet. “Ready!” they all answered, and, quick as thought, their pistols were drawn, presented at the heads of the clerk, salesinan, pilot and engineer of the hap- Jess boat, and the laconic but suggestive command wai given, “Squat.” it was done like lightning. Before those unsus- pecting traders quite comprehended the state of things they were tied, blindfolded and lying hel Jess on the floor. The five elegant looking genti men then proceeded below, where the four deck hands were subjected to a similar operation, After this the real business of the day commencea. It transpired that the five gentlemen knew each other quite intimatety, tor they laughed and talked in the pleasantest possible way wuile they went through the saies and the stock of goods, taking ail the money, about $1,000, and such of the goods as were at once valuable and portable. Their se- lections in the latter, which, by the way, evinced aah Judgment, amuonted to $600 and up- Aiter accomplishing all this with a neatness and despatch quite remarkable the party made off at a great rate and were far advanced on their road When assistance came to the disconsolate victims on board the Ellen D, All sorts of speculations are said to be rife con- cerning the five mysterious strangers; but little ts known beyond the fact that nobody about Point Jefferson ever saw them before, or has seem them since. It is supposed by some that they are a frag- ment of the famous Coy band of Missouri, thoug! this appears to be nothing more than conjecture. DEATH OF AN OLD SOLDIER On Thursday last there died at No. 419 Fift! street, between First avenue and avenue A, I. Lonis, at the extreme age of 106 years, 2 months and 12 days, Louis was born in Paris, November 2, 1767, and earty enlisted under the banner of Na- leon I., and served with him in many metnorable ‘ttles and marches, Waterloo, Austeriit, and Moscow being among the number. The old soldier war buried on Friday last, and bas left behind him _ Hubs 44—Fouls—U any act oF thing shall be dene by J @ widow over eighty years of age and destitute, 18 If A RED OUTBREAK? eiiasiellbieeeeane Strength of the Sioux—The Arapahoes and Cheyennes in Search of Beef—The Troops in the Field—Causes of the Trouble— Prospects of s Winter Campaign. The news that comes from the far Northwest of serious Indian disturbances cannot be passed over on the present occasion as of little moment. The Sioux, said, with other tribes, to be on the warpath, are the most powerful and flercest war- riors on the Continent, and their persistent and determined opposition to the intrusion of white men into thelr territory on any pretence 1s well known, During the past few days the telegraph has announced and again thrown doubt upon a report that twenty white men, while engaged in chopping wood near Fort Rice, Dakota Territory, were murdered by the Sioux. An admiss. yn, how- ever, 18 made by General Stanley, commanding as Fort Sully, many days travel soutn, that the Sioux had made an attack on the Poncas Agency, which Is occupied by In- dians who have long lived at peace with the government, and at which point troops have had to be stationed to protect them from the ag- saults of their red enemies, Fears are expressed in another quarter that Red Cloud and Spotted Tail, with bands of Cheyennes and Arrapahoes, contemplate making a raid on the settlements along the Central Pacific Railroad, in consequence of the rations allowed by the Indian Bureau hav- ing given out and there being no money to pure chase a further supply. The Indians, we are told, have the choice of either starving or engaging in marauding expeditions. The open country, it is said, affords them @ good opportunity to roam. about, SCENE OF THE REPORTED MASSACRE. The reports referred to come from points widely separated. Fort Rice is in the centre of Dakota, and the news of the massacre comes from St, Paul, Minn., many hundred miles to the East. Fort Sully, whence the report is discredited, is also sev- eral hundred miles distant from Rice, and the tele- gtaphic despatch ia sent from Yankton, still farther away. There being only a difference of one day in the intelligence obtained from St. Paul and Yank- ton, and the two places being widely separated from each other and both far distant from Fort Rice, in an open and unsettled country, there is too much reason to believe that the Sioux have commenced one of their treacherous and bloody inroads upon the white settlements. ‘The dé spatches trom Omaha are nearer the thickly popa. lated States, and if Messrs. Red Cloud and ted Tail come so far South and East on hostile intent @ suitable reception no doubt awaits them and their followers, TROOPS IN THE FIELD. General Terry is in command of the Department of Dakota, headquarters at St. Paul, Minn.; Gene eral Ord is in command of the Department of the Platte, with headquarters at Omaha. The.busi- ness of keeping the turbulent savages in order principally falls to the share of General ‘Terry. He has three regiments of infantry (Sixth, Seventeenth and Twenty-second) and one of caval ry (Seventh) under hiscommand. At Fort Rice, near to which the massacre of wood choppers is reported to have taken piace, there are three com- panies of the latter regiment; there are seven com- panies of the Sixth infantry at Fort Buford, close to the British line, and a battalion (five compa- nies) of the Twenty-second at Fort Sully, where General Hanley is stationed. Scattered over Da- kota are the military outposts of Forts Abercrom-: bie, Abraham Lincoin, Clark, Hancock and Grand River, garrisoned with one or more companies, STARVE OR STEAL. The gommunication between Fort Sally and Grand Kiver is maintained uninterrupted. There are about 5,000 Indians located there. All they re- quire 1s @ sufficient quantity of food, and they are Willing, it would seem, to cultivate the land in order to add to their rations. They are nob backward in saying tnat they must either starve or steal. A short time beiore his death Father De smet, the celebrated Jesuit mifssionary, visited Gran.) River, ana, according to the report ol the resident agent, the Indians were delighted to see him. He established a school at the agency for the Indian children, and Captain Hearn, United States Army, stated to the Commis- sioner that Father De Smet had a great deal of in- fluence with the Indians, as they think “he is one white man who does not lie to them.” In the sur rounding country are many thousand wanderers with insuflicient resources for their support, and, notwithstanding the generosity of the government in ae AE jor them, the food and raiment fail to reach the Indians, and such outbreaks as the one now reierred to disturb half a dozen States and Territories. THE YELLOWSTONE EXPEDITION. The several expeditions along the projected line of the Northern Pacific Railroad, which passes through Dakota and the country of the Sioux, has demonstrated the fact that unavoidable interter- ence must be made with many oi the Indian reger- vations, the possession of which has been guaran- teed by the laith of treaties. General Hanley has just returned from the Yellowstone with nearly 3,000 reguiar troops that marchea through ‘the ‘Territory, aud during which his force was constantly assailed. It is @ portion of these tribes that have now come down as far south as Fort Sully and commit hostile acts against the garrison at that place. General Terry nas all the necessary force to chastise the marauders, but still in view of the other roads projected through the great Sioux district, the matter should reeeive such attention of Congress as wilt avold a repetition of these serious and bloody diticulties, THE CHEYENNES AND ARRAPAHOES. Toe hey eited and Arrapahoes have been knocked about during the past lew years in a manner to exhaust even the strictest kind of Christian patience. But some of tneir number were guilty of atrocious murders in 1868, so that General Sherman deemed forbearance with them impossible. The whole tribes nad to suffer jor the acts of certain of their members, They were broken up and scattered, and have been removed from one reservation to another at different times. They have becn badly used by the agents and they now complain that the beef provided for them by tie goverument is all gone and starva- tion stares them in the jace, They therefore threaten to come towards Kansas, their old homes, and as they are turbulent and treacherously dis- posed, and have given much trouble in the past, the fears that are expressed are only natural, an must put the military commanders on the qué vive to be prepared for and punish sudden inroads of these Wild men, A WINTER CAMPAIGN PROBABLE. The various trives mentioned can bring into the field 40,000 warriors. They grow more desperate every year, for the stretching of ratlroads over the country they innabit deprives them of their only means of subsistence—the chase. The Stoux are reckless and weil accustomed to fighting. They rather court conflict with the whites, The Chey- ennes and Arrapahoes have become veterans in the fleld; they have measured swords with Sher- man and Sheridan, aud if they come now on the warpath sanguinary work may be expected. General Sheridan, some years since, inaugurated and successfully carried out @ campaign in the depth of winter for the purpose of removing from the minds of the savages an impression that white soldiers could not staud the rigors of @ winter campaign in the Indian country. JOURNALISTIO NOTES. The Nashua Telegraph thinks there is a good Opening at Dover, N. H., for “any democratic edi- tor out of @ job, out of principles and out of Junds,”? The Salisbury (Del.) Bachelor, which has hereto- fore claimed to be independent, nas mounted the democratic platform, and will hencelorth preach irom that standpoint. The Foot-Hil Tidings is the name of a new paper in Grass Valley, Cal. A paper called the Star has been started at Jack- sonville, Greene county, Pa. State Senator Spencer, of Alabama, wants $100,000 from the Montgomery Advertiser Sor stating that he received money from a defaulting United States revenue coilector. The editor of the Columbus (Ohto) Journal has. been renominated for postmaster of that city— $4,000 a year. Jessup W. Scott, who published the first paper in the Maumee Valley, Ohio, died in Toledo on the 22d ult. ‘The Observer is the name of a weekly paper just started in Marion, 8, C. ‘The White Plains (Westchester county, N. Y.) News has changed proprictors, and its next tasue will be changed from octavo to quarto form. Miss Frank A. Tefft, preceptress of the Sandy Hill @N. Y.) Union School, has been appointed one of the editors of the State Educational Journal, published at Buffalo. The Georgetown Planet is edited by a negro member of the South Carolina Legislature, The Oakland (Cal.) Home Journal has been levied upon by the Sherif, and the publication day of the paper has been indefinitely postponed. ‘The Wilmington Journal is the oldest daily paper in North Carolina, Samnel Williams, formerly news editor of the St. Louis Republican, has accepted the position of Managing editor of the Kansas City (Mo.) Times. The Columbus (Miss.) Democrat is soon te be Dubilshed as a biweekly,