The New York Herald Newspaper, January 1, 1879, Page 4

4 NEW YORK HERALD BROADWAY AND ANN STREET. JAMES GORDON BENNETT, PROPRIETOR, Bevery day ta the year, el Ten dollars por r. AML rdor to insure atten- changed imust give Money remitted at tion subscribers w: their old as well ax graphic despatches must properly sealed, Letters and pac be returned, Rejected commun . 112 SOUTH’ SIXTH VW YORK HERALD— TOPERA. ADA PACE. ats will ho received and erms us in New York, GRAND OPERA HOUSE—Tux Smavennavy. Matinea PARK THEATRE—Banxs ix Tx Woop, Matinee, LYCEUM THEATRE—Dot a BROADWAY THEATRE— a4 Lire, Matinee. Matineo, M—Civpeuwus, Matinee ex. Matines, THOMAS’ OPERA HOU H_ SUPPLEMENT. York and its vicinity today will be slightly warmer and partly cloudy or cloudy, possibly with oecasional rain or snow, To-morrow the same conditions are likely to prevail. A Harry New Yea R TO ALL. Ww Watt Srreer Yesrerpay.—The stock mar- ket was active and strong. Gold sold at par to 1-64 premium. Government bonds were firm, States weak and railroads strong. Money on call lent at 4205, and at the close as high as 7 per cent. Do Nor Bror the new leaf before night. Tne Ren on the Bank of Good Resolution this morning is enormous, Ir rue Decision in the courts yesterday is sound in Jaw the ‘‘bucket shops” will hardly re- sume this year. . Seven Tuousanp six hundred and twenty- nine city marriages during the past. year do not jook much like hard times. Ir tne City death statistics are all right twenty-six thousand one hundred and ninety- four went over to the majority last year. To Keer tue Streets CLEAN for the year is the good resolution the Street Cleaning Com- missioners ought to make this morning. Years May Come and years may go, but Mme. Anderson is apparently determined to go on for ever. She is still steadily rolling up the quar ters. Ir Is To Bk Hoprp Judge Choate will see his judicial way clear to make a New Year's present of “Red” Leary to Massachusetts. A decision is promised this week. ‘Tur Ixpictment of four Brooklyn officials for alleged conspiracy to defrand the city is a good beginning of the new year in the line of munici- pal honesty and r Tuovsanns OF Parents would like to see the school officiala make a resolution this morning to stop the annnal decimation of the little ones by giving them pure air AccorbDinG To THE Figures of the Board of Apportionment it will take thirty million seven thousand -and ninety-seven dollars to run the municipal machine thi Tun Revi of the business of the courts, elsewhere printed, shows that the judges and the lawyers were pretty busy Iast year. So were the litigants who footed the bills. As Comparrp with those of December, 1877, the business failures last month present a splen. did exhibit in both amount and number. This is another encouraging sign of the times. Or Course the Aldermen passed over the Mayor's veto their resolution giving a portion of Harlem Bridge to a street railway company. We ought to be thanktul they did not give away the whole structure. Vincinta BoxpHoLpERs will be interested in an article on avotber page outlining a plan of justment which seems to meet witha good deal of favor on both sides. An honest settle- ment of her indebtedness is the first step to be taken toward prosperity. Tue Weatue: ‘The depression that was re- ferred to in yesterduy’s Heratp as moving eastward in the Northwest is now north of the lakes and southeast of the Hudson Bay district. ‘The preasure has risen considerably throughout all the northern sections. In the Gulf districts the barometer is falling steadily, and a dis turbance is evidently organizing over the West Indies which may develop into a storm ceutre of exceptional energy. The high area of barometer continues to dominate the weather from the Middle Atlantic coasts to the North- fest. Rain has fallen throughout the South Atlantic and Gulf coasts, and snow in the een- tral valley districts and the lake regions. The winds have been generally light, except in the Northwest, where they have been tresh to brisk. The temperatures have fallen throughout all the distriets. The stormy weather predicted by the Hsnatp Weather Bureau jor the British coasts continues. Our special cable weather despatches state that last evening at IMoly- head a strong southwest gale prevailed, with the barometer at 29.143 inches; at Falmouth o fresh west-southwest wind, and at Plymouth a west-southwest gale, with rain, and the barometer at 20.55 inches. It is very probable that the pressure will de- crease rapidly in the Southern districts and that “dirty” weather will prevail along the Atlantie coast for the next few days, The weather in New York and its vicinity to-day will be slightly warmer and partly cloudy or cloudy, possibly with oceasional rain or snow. ‘Tomorrow the same coiditions are likely to, nrevaily .NEW YORK HERALD, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 1, 1879—WITH SUPPLEMENT. The New Year and Its Hopes. Everybody wishes everybody ‘‘a happy new year,” with many returns of he day. It would be churlish to say that these pro- fuse expressions, so lightly and gayly ut- tered, are thoughtless or unmeaning. They have as much sincerity as most social usages, and it is amiable to begin the year with a universai exchange of good wishes. The many returns of the day which ail hope for themselves aud profess to desire fpr others with whom they exchange these greetings depend on a Higher Power, and that ‘blindness to the future kindly given” which conceals the events of the future permits many to pass this day with hilarity whose hearts would sink within them if they knew what the next twelve months will bring forth. But for a major- ity the hopes of the day will be fulfilled, and it is not wise for any to anticipate troubles which may never come. We cordially wish a happy new year to all betrothed young people who expect to stand before the altar before a return of the day. Ofall classes this is the one to which the new year is most likely to prove really happy. We wish a happy new year to all brides and bridegrooms recently married, for whom the eldest born of their children will make the yearmemorable. Next to the gayetics of a wedding the most joyous event in human life is the first christening which occurs in a new family. We wish a happy new year to the fathers and mothers who will see the last‘of their children set- tled in life, and will thereafter ride calmly at anchor in the placid waters of approach- ing old age. We wish a happy new year to all beautifal young ladies who aro to be first presented in society, and whose hearts will be so occupied with the flutter of fashion that they will think of beaux, as they do of their own elegant fripperies, only as necessary appendages of what is called society. We wish a happy new year to ladies who are enjoying their second or thi season, for whom society has lost the fascination and lustre of novelty, and whose prudent mammas are adroitly trying to teach them to set their caps for a husband. We wish a happy new year to all young men who are expecting to be graduated from institutions of learning ; to all who are just entering upon professions, to all new poets and young authors; to the un- fledged politicians who are about to make their début in the various State legislatures, some of whom may rise to eminence in public life. We wish a happy new year to all confirmed old bachelors and all spinsters of an uncertain age, and advise them to seek their happiness in giving to institutions of benevolence the attention and support which are less easy to people encumbered with domestic cares. If the foregoing enumeration seems to indicate a tone of levity and a disposition to trifle we desire to say that we were never more serious. The impression which we desire to convey is that the happiness or unhappiness of the year is to depend moro on what happens in private life than upon public events,. The time will, never come in human experience when marriages and births, the success of sons. in their business or professions and the enjoyment by daughters of their domestic relations will not contribute more to the satisfaction of life than all the events which take placeincamps and courts and cabinets and parliamentary bodies, which occupy sg large a share of public attention. If we are chargeable with levity it is in selecting our illustrations from fashionable life. We have referred to’ this because it is more: conspicuous, and therefore furnished readig} materials for o contrast. The happiness of private life, even in circles which adinit osten®stion and display, is a great deal more important than the bustle of political activity which fills so much space in the public press. The life of the masses—which is more strictly private, which admits of no social display, which is confined by limited means within very narrow and obscure channels—is the chief seat of happiness or misery in the aggregate of human life, The flippant and thoughtless wishes of a happy new year which are so profusely and gayly interchanged among the prosper- ous classes would have a more serious meaning if given in sincerity and true kind- ness to the humble toilers who form a ma- jority of the community. To them a happy new year would not mean showy entertain- ments, brilliant weddings, elegant apparel and a round of social gayeties, but health, constant employment, good wages, clean apartments, decent clothing for children at- tending schools, a modest provision for quiet marriages and inexpensive seats in places of public worship. In wishing » happy new year to these deserving classes we de- sire for them those solid and modest advan- tages, and in a spirit of the most earnest sincerity we tender to them the ordi- nary formula of the season. We desire to record our belief that public affairs are mismanaged when government does not secure these simple blessings ; that all poli- tics are an insulting farce which do not tend to secure employment and comi{ort to the obscure masses of the community; that the luxuries of the prosperous are a public advantage only as they furnish remunera- tive occupation to skilled labor, and that the greatest good of the greatest number is the only legitimate object of government. With deep sincerity and profound sympathy we wish » happy new year to the virtuous sons and daughters of toil, and express a trust, supported by confident hope, that the year on which wo are entering will bring relief from the hard times under which they have 80 long suffered. The prospects with which the year opens justify the hope that we are at the begin- ning ofa better era, We are warranted in expecting that the experiment of resump- tion which is so auspiciously begun will be maintoined without difficulty, and that it will encourage capital to embark in new en- terprises which will enlargethe employment for labor. In this city especially we are justi- fied in believing that the extension of rapid transit to the upper parts of the island will givea new impetus to building interests in providing dwellings by owners who wish to bring stagnant real estate into activity. ‘The beginning of the new year is bright with hope, and the courage and enterprise in- spired by the improving prospect will have a powerful effect in realizing the expecta- tions with which we enter upon another division of time. * A Monument for Mr. Field. When Mr. Cyrus W. Field, responding to Dean Stanley's expression of surprise that the place of Major André’s execution had not been marked by a monument, promised to supply the omission, he could have had no idea that the most sensitive American would take umbrage at his action. He thought only of preserving the memory of the event and pointing out to the curious in future years the exact locality of the exe- cution. But Mr. Field has now an oppor- tunity to build a monument to himself, to which no o2e will object, by bestowing upon the people of New York the boon of cheap rapid transit. Long after his busy and useful life has closed Mr. Field’s name will be recalled as that of one to whom above all others the world is indebted for the priceless gift of the ocean cable—the great instrument of progress, prosperity and peace to all nations. This will cer- tainly"be an enviable fame. But to the working people of New York a rapiditransit road, run at a rate of fare that would place its use always within their reach, would be of more real value than a score of ocean cables. It would liberate them from the thraldom’ of tenement house landlords ; would enable them to live in healthful, happy homes; would afford them more time for rest and recreation, and would supply employment for labor by giving an impetus to building investments which always move hand in hand with other im- provements, Mr. Field has it in his power to present this great boon to hia fellow citi- zens, and if he will resist the temptation of high prices so strong to corporations, and in return fora valuable franchise, will secure to the people the full advantages of rapid transit by placing the rate of fare at five cents, he will be remembered at home even more gratefully for this than for his tri- umphas the champion of ocean telegraphy. Mr. Field is not a man to stop half way in a good work, and as he has declared him- self favorable to placing the fare on one car of each train on the Third avenue road at five cents we believe he will soon recognize the expediency of adopting the bolder and more sensible policy of a uniform five cent rate. If, as Mr. Field believes, gentlemen: who, escort ladies to the opera would preferjs fifteen cent palace car to the crowded fivé/¢ent car, there might be no objection to ‘img one of those luxuries on certain train: their special accommodation. Even addi- tion of a band of musicians, or at t of a musical box, for the gratification:.of the gallant escorts and their fair friends might be permissible, But “class” tr@ins in a country where there are no class distinc- tions will never, be popular, independent ot the fact that they would. not meet the de- mand for a low rate of fare, What.the people expect of Mr, Field is the estab! tof the principle that the rapid transit roads, holding their valuable franchises from the people, shall be managed in the interests of the people and not of the favored corpora- tions alone. That is to say, that while the capitalists who have built the roads are en- titled to a fair and even a liberal profit on their investment, they shall, after securing this, recognize their obligation to give the people the benefit of using the roads at the lowest possible rate of fare. It is demonstrable that the Third avenue road, ran at five cents fare, would carry greatly more than double the number of passen- gers it can secure at ten cents fare, and would, therefore, increase instead of dimin- ishing its profits by adopting the lower rate while at the same time immensely bene- fiting the people. The monument we urge Mr. Field to erect to himself is one which will record the fact that he has stood up as the people’s champion in this matter, and that while at the head of a corporation he has recognized the people's right to consid- eration and has bestowed upon them the boon of a cheap rapid transit road. Paying the Piper. During the good times, so-called, which existed just before the panic of 1873, a favorite delusion of many people in rural localities was that to have a railroad in their neighborhood was rather more beneficial than to discover a gold mine. New roads were projected faster than engineers could survey the lines, and the town that had no row of chalked stakes crossing it was con- sidered to be entirely out of the world. For, once the capitalists who clutch at everything that has money in it were too stupid to perceive the golden opportunity that was waiting to be grasped, so the towns along the lines cheerfully voted large quan- tities of their own bonds to assist in building the ronds. ‘The transaction seemed, financially, the simplest and safest in the world. A town gave its bonds in ex- change for an equal quantity, at. face val- uations, of railway bonds or stock; the inter- est on the latter was to pay that on the for- mer, and the principal of the one was to offset that of the other. Slowly, however, it dawned on the minds of the forefathers of the ambitious hamlet that, although inter- est on town bonds was promptly paid out of the jocal treasury, there was a delay, which became chronic, about the payment of interest or dividend on the railway securities held by the town. A railroad can pay in- terest only out of its net carnings, whereas of the roads completed not one-half could earn running expenses, while many havo yet to behold their first rail. A science peculiar 4o railroad building enabled many a com- pany to pay several times os much for its road and rolling stock as any possible trade could ever yield a surplus upon, and in most cases the towns learned that the secu- rities they had taken in exchange for their own yielded rothing but assessment. The end was a powerful sentiment of disgust with railroads and every- thing connected with them, but disgust never filled an empty treasury, so at present some hundreds of towns are search- ing the law for loopholes of escape. Somo otthem may be successfal upon technical points, but the gencral result is bound to be the same which overtakes every one, community or individual, who pays cash for prospects. The towns, at best, have been sinking money in possible improvements. In rhany eases they have been wild specu- lations, but the law is powerless to annul any contract’ merely because one of the parties was blind, careless or stupid. ‘The dance which is over may have been a silly one, but still the piper must be paid. The New Mayor, Mr. Edward Cooper takes possession of the Mayor's office to-day, and will be at the head of the municipal government for two years to come. He enters upon his duties under favorable circumstances. He is not subject to the influence or dictation of any political organization, having been elected by the votes of men of all parties. He finds the cily debt decreasing, the public credit good, the annual’ expenditures lessened, business improving; real estate, under tho influence of rapid transit, looking confi- dently to a recovery from its long depres- sion, and the promise of increased employ- ment for labor good. Before and after his election Mr. Cooper assured the people of his entire freedom ‘from pledges, di- rect or implied, regarding his Siticial action, and of his determination to give the city a government based upon the sound and honest principles that would control the management of a private business. We have heard such promises from executives who have preceded Mr, Cooper, and have, unfortunately, seldom known them to be fulfilled. But in the present case the Mayor has every facility for keeping faith with the people and every inducement to do so, The new administra- tion will receive the hearty support of the Henaxp if it is found to be based on the principles Mr, Cooper has announced. If he will truly and honestly conduct the city government as he would his own business he will establish a precedent whose good influence will be felt for many years to come. 4 American Books of the Year. Among the remarkable features of the year just past is the small mark which America has made in literature, The read- ing public has not lacked for books, but most of those published during the year were re- prints, while of noted American works a large share consisted of collections of material published piecemeal in, previous years. The notable works of the year can be enumerated on the fingers of two hands, even after including the more prominent volumes of poetry and romance, Therecord is certainly a disappointing one, but it does not prove that interest in lit- erature has declined. People have probably done as much reading as ever and students, singers and romancers have been faithful to their respective vocations. But readers have grown so rapidly in wisdom and taste within the past few years that American writers are compelled to be more careful and thorough than ever before, and to real- izo that collections of hasty notes cannot safely be offered tothe public as books. ‘The prospects of our native littérateurs are better than they ever were; there is more reputa- tion and money for them when they suc- ceed than there was for men of their clan a generation ago; but while the daily and periodical press is employing hosts of specialists to give {ragmentarily to the pub- lic the information and entertainment which once could be found only in books, the tendency of the reading classes is to decline and discourage every new work which in merit’ is not above the average, Why Not the “L?” Life is short and the Americans are a busy people. Newspapers are read quickly— dinners are swallowed hurriedly—letters are written briefly—everybody is pushing and crowding everybody else and there are a great many George Washington Phippscs among us. It is the fashion to talk rapidly and sometimes by abbreviation. Every one remembers the story of the beau who was startled to hear his lady-love talk about taking a ‘‘prom” on ‘‘Broad”—meaning, of course, » promenade on Broadway. Now “the elevated railroad” is too long an ex- pression for rapid transit days. Why not call it the “LL?” “Going to take the L?” would be a question more rapidly asked than “Are you going to take the elevated railroad?” In the name of a hurrigd, busy people, we suggest the adoption of the ab- breviation. ‘There can be no objection to its use—unless, indeed, the speaker should happen to come from dear Hold Hengland. Three Sad Stories. Seldom does the press intrude upon New Year festivities a trio of narratives as sad as those which we give this morning. The testimony in the Furniss shooting case, the investigation and verdict in the Harlem Bridge accident and the story of the Schulte mystery embody considerable reading which is all the more dismal because most of the mishaps recorded might have been avoided. It is very unlikely that Officer Furniss would have been killed if he had been in uniform. A fright- ened man is always reassured by the presence of men whom he knows to be offi- cers; but the crazy man, Palmer, naturally imagined the policemen in civilian dress to be the enemies that he thought were dogging him. The verdict of the Coro- ner’s jury in tho caso of Mr. Ste- venson, who was drowned by stepping off a bridge which should have been closed, implicates a single man, but even if he be proved innocent tho testimony already given shows that the fatal draw was opened and closed without the precan- tion which prudence would dictate in even the case of a drawbridgo over o country stream. No matter what individual may be pronounced responsible, the moral blame must attach to the authorities who leave a bridge on an important highway without men enough to properly work and guard it, and without any facilities for life saving. ‘Tho’ Schulte affiuir, although still unexplained, shows that the victim was reckless to a degree which scems inexplicable, when his usual pru- dence is considered. That a man who always romained within doors after dark, undoubtedly because the character of his property was known, could have not only departed from his cautious habit on a single oveasion, but gone into a “secluded road, which was also hidden bv the darkness of the night, shows an almost unnatural care- lessness. It is too late to remedy either of the terrible resulfs of the mistakes alluded to, but all three of these cases are full of warning against similar errors. PERSONAL INTELLIGENCE. Ex-Senator Yulee wishes to succeed Senator Cono- ver, of Florida, ‘The President has invited Vice President Wheeler to receive with him to-day, The chances for the re-election of Senator Howe, of Wisconsiu, are very small, An Ilinois girl of nineteen makes $26 a week from the victims of heggnink and inuskrat traps, Lord Ronald Gower has executed a bust of Harry Montague, a little too serious in.exprossion, ‘The Empress.of Germany gave audience on Monday to the widow of the late American Minister, Bayard Taylor. Minister Layard is still nagging at the Portein order to obtain privileges for Englaud.- Poor boned Turkey! London World:—“Such a genius as Rachel lives once in a century, and—listen to my confess‘on, ye members of the Devonshire Club—she is always a Jewoss.”” ‘ t London Fun:—As a rule, cheating is never ast- tempted in games played on a cheasboard, for the moves in such games, its obvious, are bound to be ‘on the square.’ ”* Galignani’s Messengev:—“Petticoats and skirts are still very narrow, but trains are long and flowing; bodices adhere closely to the figure, which is moulded more cr less by intricate whalebone arrangements.” St. Louis Tines-Journal:— “A well fed hog roused up in his sty And dropped @ regretful tear, “The beautiful snow has come,’ he said, *And slaying will soon be here.’ "” The Presidential party (consisting of President and Mrs. Hayes, Burchard Hayes, Secretary Evarts, Miss Platt, Secretary Sherman and daughter, and General Devens and.daughter), left Jersey City at’ 10:05 A. M. yesterday by the limited exprees for Washington. ° Mr. Chapman, of Chandbally, India, shot an alliga- tor which upon being opened was found to contain twenty-six pairs of brass auklets and bangles, two sota of gold carrings and 3 number of toc rings be- longing to bejewclled persons whom it had devoured. Norristown Herald:—‘The ‘intelligent compositor’ is abroad in Missourl. The Warrensburg Journal asks the reader, ‘in translating last week's issue,’ for ‘pillows of light’ to read ‘pillars of light,’ for ‘Long- horn and Newsyrup’ read ‘Lawhon and Newson,’ for ‘drunk and dressed up’ read ‘dreary and desolate,’ &e. When last secon the compositor was ten miles from the Black Hills and etiil running.” Says a Roman correspondent:—*“By the bye, now that the Court has returned to Rome, Roman beauties have alsb returned. As a rule they are very fine women, quite of the old matron stamp, with full, very full, busts, and complexions like white wax; with large almond-shaped eyes, which speak every language under the sun without uttering a word. ‘They havo a way, also, of weaving their hat or bonnet veils to cover the eyes, and no more, just likea mask> and this is wondrously becoming.” ‘The mombers of the Bar in Luzerne and Lacks- wanna counties, Pa., tendered Governor-elect Hoyt a complimentary @anquet last night, at the Wyoming Valley Hotel, Wilkesbarre, Colonel Stanley Wood- ward acting as master of ceremonies., Prominent members of the Bar from the different parts of the State were among the guests. Addresses were de- livered by Messrs G. M. Harding, D. L. Rhone, H. B. Wright, W. G. Ward, H. W. Palmer, General McCart- ney and several others. The banquet was agen affair throughout, Secretary Sherman has not much of s reputation for joking, but he got off a ‘good one,” a few days ago, on one of the Washington. correspondents who was bothering him for an item. “By the way,” said ‘the Secretary, “you know wo shall. not resume on tho Ist of January.” “What !"' exclaimed the scribe, pricking up his earaand clutching his pencil in ex- pectation of a startling bit of news. “We can’t, you see,” said the Secretary, as blandly a4 ever,“ Why— why, what's the trouble, Mr. Secretary ?” “We can't rosume on that date, you see, for the reagon that the law has made the first day of Junuary legal holi—"’ But the reporter had vanished. London Truth:—“‘Here’s an amusing instance of Scotch simplicity. Am old ‘wifie,’ having heard whispers that the Caledonian was shaky, thought she would be on the safe side, went to the bank and pre- sented her check for ber balance. The cashier cashed it in Caledonian bank notes, which the canny old lady pocketed, and walking across to the Nations Bank asked them to exchange these for their own notes, which having obtained, she went beck again to her own bank, and handing them over to the teller, said:—‘There, that’s the “‘richt” paper. Will ye just take care of them for me ? Two days after the Caledonian suspended payment.” OVERLAND FREIGHT. MERCHANTS AND SHIPOWNERS PETITION CON- GRESS AGAINST THE COMBINATION OP THE PACIFIC RAILROADS AND THE PACIVIC MAIL STEAMSHIP COMPANY. “The merchants of this and other cities who do business with the inhabitants of the Pacific slope have been complaining of late that tho Union and Central Pacific railroads have been binding with cast- iron contracts all shipments made by merchants to the States of California and Oregon. A petition has been drawn up, to be presented to Congress, in which their grievances are recited, It is in circulation smong the merchants and shippers in this city and Boston, and has received many signatures. It reads as follows :— ‘To mx HoxonAsLe tax SkxaTe axp House ov Rarzesen- tarives oF The USiTko Starks oF Amunica IN Comakess ASSEMBLED : pe memerial of the undersigned merchants and ship- owners, residing and doing business in the United States, respectfully represent state commorce and common eatriors, whieb has pai Seutatives aud is now before your hunor it should become @ law, have results highest degree to the shipping, commer interests of the t has Beretofore been the cus- ods from the Bust to Cali- tthe bill w regulate inter: — Taw prohibit unjust diserimination by sod Hoase of Repre- an y merchants, whereb; such werehauts aro bouud and compelled to ship ull their goods to the States of California and Orogen by those roads, do 0, oF In cane tl & portion only railroads, rate of freight send all thelr itn setoping to oqroo when. shippin Pellsoad ecmapenien or thatt amonte th Freight, calculated at the highast. tained by aid railroads unsil ad of the month to be aforesald shippers are €or their goods with the said nh al to the cted, shall be re of euch month, ere rned as rebate © sent ail their goods by tw the said raitroads in ho have not sont all their ons reapoetfally ropresent that iin thus destroying © aise ty: 0 nyly exercined by said railroads of great mivantage und bonetit tw merckante, ship: owners, shippers and others. fore your emorialints most respectfully pray that the aforeenid bill may be speedily passed by your honorable "And your momorialiste will ever pray, LINCOLN UNION CLUB, The Lincoln Union Club, @ social and political organization of the Vifth Assembly district, held their opening reception last evening at their rooms No, 27 Bedford stroct, which lasted till the carly hours of the morning. The rooms were crowded during the wholo time with the republican politicians of the district, and a number of prominent republicans from other districts were present daring the evening as invited guests, among them ex- Senator General John (. Limbeck, from the First dis, trict, a prominent candidate for Police Commissioner ; Aldermen Jacobus and ex-Senator Michael Norton. ‘There was a bountiful «pread of good bea for the delectation of the inmer man, whic! the members and guests seemed thoroughly to enjoy. While the eating and drinking were going on in the inuer room there was plenty of good music ond singing provided in the outer one, the members of the club farnishing both. Mr, John H. Brady, the President of the ¥ Assembly District Associa tion; Alderman Jacobus, ex-Senator Lent and ex lenutor Michacl Norton made short addresses, CHARTER OAK CONSPIRACY. CLOSE OF THE TESTIMONY—NOTHING OFFERED IN REBUTTAL—COUNSEL ARGUMENTS COM> MENCED, (ey TELEGRAPH TO THR HERALD.) Hantvorp, Dee. 31, 1878, Inthe Charter Oak conspiracy case this morning State Insurance Commissioner Stedman was recalled and his eross-examination continued. He said that ho was not certain that he had been told what amount Farber and his associates were to pay for the stock when they purchased the controlling interest in 1875; it was a matter that did not concern him; witness in- formed them, nowever, that payment of dividends on the stock would not be approved» by him until the company was in 8 sound condition, On redirect ex- amination witness explained that when he tf te ber that the capital stock was impaired to the extent of $500,000 he did not mean that’ the company could not meet its obligations, but instead that there was a technical impairment of that amount on a four per cent basis, Both the defence and the State here rested thei® case, somewhat to the surprise ‘of every- body, as it had been understood that the State had some important evidence to offer in rebuttal, YHE ARGUMENTS, ‘ The arguments were then begun, the agreement be. ing that State Attorney Hamersly and Messrs. Buck and Foster should speak for the State, aud Messrs, Perkins, Sweet and Hyde for the defence, the latter to make the closing address to the jury. Mr. John R. Buck opened for the State, and, after defining a conspiracy, proceeded to enumerate the unlawful means which the accused had adopted to get pos- session of the company and its assets. As to the first count, alleging such means, Mr. Buck said that while everything was done under the form of law it was not according to the substance. ‘Turning to the second count, which alleges that the agcused conspired to deceive the policy holders Mr. Buck claimed that they did it by ialsely repre- senting that they held assets sufficient to secure the policies; that Furber fraudulently secured $370,009 from the company’s treasury under his contra:t; that Furber manipulated the stock of the company so as to secure a controlling in- terest, and that it was paid for out of the company’s money. He gave a word of praise to Secretary Stevens for his critical examination of the Furber contract before he wguld consent to give it his signature, criticized the valuations of the West Virginia coal and iron lands by the appraisers pro. duced by the accused as ridiculously high, and said that all the showing made by them of straightening out the company’s affuirs was merely with the object of getting the concern into condition to pass inspec- tion by the State Insurance Department, so that could better continue their plans. Tho play gonemaparcics Lc tae pas, a vat of this plan, and while m: a mee of gett e: values, Furber was careful never to place aa ciated value in his schedule, even if he knew property was worth less. ‘SIRONG DENUNCIATION OF FRAUD. Commenting on the claim by Furber in his cou- tract, that he must have extra compengation for risk ‘incurred in Greene the $500,000 in the way in which it was led to the asnets, Mr. Buck characterized this stipulation as having doen inserted with an evil intent, on the ground that Furber could have got his money back in iy court of justice, even if the company had passed tl ds of @ receiver and the premium receij longer existed as a source from which to rein! himself. The contracts of Wiggin & White for ment of commissions in addition to their salaries denounced as bare frands, and they, with would have been entitled in five years to draw,\as commissions, the enormous sum of $2,621,454, ‘the provision that the company might cancel the con- ‘tracts undor certain conditions amounted to nothing, because the com was really composed of Furber and his associates who hold the controlling interest. . referring to the New York real estate matters, Buck said that the $50,000 mortgage which Furber contributed appeared to be something of the nature of a mere accommodation by Matthews. The affair thus stood fora year, and then the company bought the property. Furber deeded it to the com- pany: but before he did so he required a release to im of the $800,000 mor! which covered the $600,000 one, thercby he got back the contribution he had made. In conclusion, Mr. Buck claimed that evidence presented by the State ought to’be regarded , by the jury as fully proving the allegations ag of the consp! re soy Mr. Walkley. A Owing to the illness of Judge Foster, one of ¢* counsel for the State, the court, at the conel! i Mr. Buck's argument, adjo until Th ty morning. . fers RAILROAD LITIGATION. . JUDGE OSBORN BY A DECISION DELAYS THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE NEW | SCHENECTADY AND BOSTON RAILROAD, [Bx TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD.) Taor, N. Y., Dec. 31, 1878. In September last year a railroad was begun ia Saratoge county which was intended to run from Schenectady to the Hoosac Tunnel, and give the Erte ‘an outlet cast of the Hudson River into Boston and New England, also as a local opposition line to. the Troy and Boston Railroad. ‘Mr. ° William L. Burt, of Boston, was at the head of the project, representing several prominent Eastern capitalists in conjunction with the Erie. ‘The Delaware and Hidson Canal Company also ‘abetted the scheme, which would provide a channel from their coal mines to the East. Tno instigators of tle new route pushed operstions vigorously, and have constructed sixteen miles of the railroad, besides building a costly and beautiful bridge over the Hud- son at Mechanicville, where & connection is made with the Rensselaer and Saratoga track. About $1,600,000 have been expended on the work done. A READY MADE ROAD BED SEIZED. An abandoned road bed, graded and used by a come pany now defunct, was appropriated by Mr. Burt, who had ties and ‘steel rails laid thereon, besides building two costly bridges to replace others worm out, This rosd bed belonged to the Albany and Northern Company end was purchased by the Troy and Boston Company for $200,000 to close the com- petition. Hence the latter company endeayored to prevent Burt and his associates from using this as an economic method to start a competition, ‘The Bostonians continued operations and placed ma- terial worth $50,000 on the premises in dispute. Yer- terday trains were started over the route in litigation. ‘The road extends through Saratoga, Rensselaer and Washington counties, and it is the intention to coa- tinue it to the Hoosac Tunnel. The same parties have surveyed a route from Sch west to Lake Ontario, intending to construct a line in opposition to the New York Central from Buffalo, besides giving the Erie an outlet by way of the Albany and Susque- hanna from Binghamton to Schon ly, over the tracks named until the Fitchburg is reached. VANDERBILT'S OPPOSITION. On this account the Vanderbilts have manifested an emphatic opposition to the Bostonians, who claim that they can run astrong competition with » road built in these times and with no heavy floating devt to absorb the carnings to pay interest. To-lay, at Albany, Ju ae One rendered 8 de cision in the suit of the y and Boston Railroad Company against Burt, to compel a withdrewal from the ror , which the Judge averred had been sure reptitiously appropriated. He decided in favor of the plaintiff, which virtually means a loss of $80,000 to the defendants, besides the delay in construction. ‘The decision has created quite an excitement in this Hage sce ‘a8 the populace generally favored Burt and plans. ARMSTRONG'S MURDERERS. « HUNTER'S EXECUTION TO BE VERY PRIVATE GRAHAM TO BE PROSBCUTRD WITHOUT MERCY, (wy TeLkoxarH TO THE BERALD.) Taewton, N. J., Dec. 31, 1878, Sheriff Calhoun and Prosecutor of the Pleas Jens kins, of Camgen county, were at the Executive De- partment to-day, and were officially informed of the action of Governor McClellan in refusing to cons vone a special session of tho Court of Pardons in the Hunter case. The Sheriff hes determined to have. the exeention take place in the jail yard, in- stead of in the court room, as was first templated. Heo ‘8 that Hunter does not realize P his fate, but sleeps and cats just the same as if nothing dreadful wasto happen. Ev recaution is taken to prevent suicide or excape, a wo keepers are with him night and day, ‘The execu- tion, which is to take place a week froin next Friday, will be nearly private, as none but officials and mem- bers of the press will be admitted, ‘THE THAL OF HUNTER'S ACCOMPLICE. Prosecutor Jonkins says that the trial of Thomas Graham, the alleged accomplice of Hunter, will take Boer on the firat day of the term of the Camden Jourt, the Mth of January, Two able counsel will ‘be assigned to defend him, and Mr. Jenkins adds that wery word he said with reference to Graham at the unter trial will be insisted upon in order to insure the conviction of Graham and his condemnation te suffer the same penalty as Hunter, 4 ELECTION IN PENSACOLA, (BY TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD.) Pensacona, Fla., Dec. 31, 1878, The city election yesterday parwed off quietly. ©. Cobb, republican, was elected Mayor, \ » i) .