telling Iwjrairft rUBLIf HED EVERT AFTERNOON (stiff DATS EXCEPTED), AT THE EVENING TELEGRAPH BUILDING, NO. 108 S. THIRD 8TREET, PHILADELPHIA. 11UDAT, DECEMBER 3. 186U. TIIh'ClTYl'AX RATE DELINQUENT TAX-rAYEIiH. Toe Common Council yesterday, acting in accordance with the recommendation of the Finance Committee, fixed the rate of taxation during the ensuing year at $1-80. This rate irill inevitably prove immffioient undor the present syntom of collections, and create another deficiency at the end of next year, whioh will lead to a corresponding increase of the municipal debt. We deplore the evils of onerous taxation, and deeply rogret that a ne cessity for a high rate should exist, but it is nevertheless desirable now, and it must Boon become absolutely necessary, that the city should obtain from the citizens, each year, enough money to defray current expenditures. The convenient policy which a polite French man calls "the anticipation of re sources" cannot be continued forever, and its dangers have been fearfully illustrated by the steady and tremendous increase of in debtedness since consolidation. Ech now year a tax rate is fixed with the assurance that it will be sufficient to meet expenditures, and it invariably results in. a deficiency. Cities whioh persist in Buch a course through a long period cannot hope to escape the bank ruptcy that is inevitably entailed, sooner or later, upon the commercial firms, corpora tions, or nations which are guilty of similar folly and injustice. In December, 18G3, the minority report of the Finance Committee re commended a tax rate of $220, and the results have shown that its predictions that a rate of $180 would result in a large deficiency have unhappily been fully realized. It appears that on the 1st of Nov., 1800, the warrants out standing amounted to the sum of $2, 800,(508 "15, and the provisions for obtaining revenue during the coming year are so inadequate that a much larger amount of floating indebted ness will probably be outstanding at the close of next year. The Controller estimates the total amount of money required in 1870 at $U,000,000, of which, he says, nearly $10,000,000 should be provided by taxation. The committee's estimate reduces the total sum required to a littloless than $115, 000,01)0; and while they concede that $8,018,002 77 of this sum should be raised by taxation, the rate they have fixed will only produce $3,308,97979, provided it is all collected; but, judging from past experience, a large percentage of this sum will never be paid into the treasury. According to the Controller's estimates, which are, however, criticized and condemned as imperfect and unfair, the defi ciency will be a million and a half of dollars, even if all the taxes assessed are collectod; while, if the estimates of the Finance Com mittee be accepted, there will be a deficiency of nearly 350,000, even if no allowanoo is made for the delinquency of tax-payers, and if the extra appropriations amount to a mere nominal sum ! This prospect, bad as it is, is intensified by the vices of the present system of collecting the taxes, whioh is as imperfect and inade quate as the tax rate itself. While the city fails to redeem her warrants, delinquent tax payers are withholding from the treasury a sum far greater than her matured obligations, and the net product of any tax rate has be come a matter of guesswork rather than calcu lation. The Finance Committee deserve credit for their forcible exposition of this sub ject, and it is time that the disgraceful and dishonest proceedings of the sharks and fthirks who have done so muoh to embarrass the city treasury should be summarily ar rested. As a general principle no tax is more collectable than that imposed on real estate. Whatever may be done with other species of property, it cannot be concealed or carried away, and it always possesses a value at least equal ' to tho municipal claim. . And yet we are told that at this moment there is due to this fearfully em barrassed city nearly six millions of dollars of the taxes heretofore levied, mainly, ou real estate! And a large portion of this huui is lost forever, on ncoount of the delays in pressing payment and in entering up liens! In view of this disclosure, all former exhibi tions of indifference and neglect of tho inte rests of Philadelphia by the Legislature will pale into insignificance when compared with inattention to this vitally important subject at the approaching session. It is evident that the law defining the dutios of the Receiver of Taxes should be thoroughly revised; and there can be little doubt that the public interests would be better served, in the matter of entering up liens, by the City Solicitor, than by a solioitor appointed by a Receiver of Taxes, and responsible only to him. We do not like the - sugges tion of the Finance Committee that the unpaid taxes should be Bold to the highest bidder; it is liable to many obvious objec tions, one of which is that a body of delin quents might themselves combine to purchase at a price far below the true , value, their own obligations. Besides, the whole idea of farming out taxes is antiquated, and in pro gressxve communities obsolete. The City should have more practical power to collect taxes, or discharge uny other municipal duty, than any single cilizoii or small combination of citizens; and it would have this power jt proper laws wero tranioa ana honest and intelligent officials wero chosen. In the pre sent state of the city's fiuaneos there is only one thing to be done about the taxes levied on real estate collect them, amioably if pos sible, but at all hazards, by distraint cr sale of personal or real estate, and thit, too, within a year or thereabouts of tho time when Ihay aia leviod. If the existing laws da not now grunt the uecoHsary powors, thoy THE DAILY- EVENING TELEGRAPH riIILAD.ELPniA, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 3, 18C9. should be so altered as to confer them, on proper officers, at the earliest praotioable moment. NOT 80 BELLIGERENT. The friends of free Cuba in this city have concluded to postpone, for a few days at least, the grand demonstration whioh was to have come off at tho Academy of Mnsio to-morrow evening, the cause alleged boing the inability of several distinguished Senators and Repre sentatives to be present at the time fixed. The task of scouring signatures to the peti tion urging Congress to recognie the insur gents as belligerents has been quietly pro gressing, however, and it is claimed that fifty thousand I'hiladclphians have affixod their names thereto. Letters from a number of distingiiiHhed politicians endorsing the belli gerent movement have also been received and given to the public, among the writers boing ex-Senator Wade, of Ohio, Senator Came ron,, of this State, and ''Sunset" Cox, the bright light of the Now York city Democracy. Hut, unhappily, none of these gentlemen can be present; and several others who write in response to the invitations of the committee decline to put in an appear ance, some of them plainly taking grounds against the movement, although nearly all are free to express their earnest sympathies with the Cuban cause. Senator Conkling, of New York, in his lot ter to tho committee, puts the case very clearly and sensibly. "Sly sympathies," ho says, "are very strongly with Cuba, and with the ideas embodied in her effor to be free. In so far as those ideas can be espoused in her case, with honent regard for the requiremen ts of public lain, I trust they will be espoused in this country by Government and people." With this view of the case every truo American can heartily agree; but when the friends of free Cuba urge upon Congress to ignore the requirements of public law, and recognize the Cuban insurgents as belliger ents, in defiance of our international obliga tions, they exhibit much more concern for the success of the Cuban patriots than for the honor, dignity, and welfare of their own country. Ex-Senator Wade, in his letter, takes a very superficial view of the subject. lie alleges, what no Aniericnn will dispute, that "the people of Cuba to-day have the same right to govern themselvos, asking no favors of Spain, as the pooplo of this republic have." Mr. Wade then falls buck upon history for a par allel, and says: "Thoy the people of Cuba stand In the same re lation to Spain that our forefathers did to Kn?lanl la the time of the Revolution, and cannot this great republic) aiford to be us generous to thoiu as the mon archy of France was to us ?" But tho champion of free Cuba ignores the fact that at the time France extended such material assistance to the struggling colonies of this country she was already at war with Great Britain, and gave us her assistance, not because she hated kingcraft and tyranny, and sympathized with every people who sought the right of self-government, but because she saw an opportunity for disinte grating the territory and weakening the pover of her antagonist. If the United States were already at war with Spain, or had a substantial grievance of her own against that country, and were ready to go to war on that account, it would be all very well to recognize the Cuban insurgents as bellige rents before thoy have established their right, under the ' international code, to such recognition. Mr. Wade, however, does not believe that Spain would regard recognition as a casus beui, but is prepared to support it, even if Spain is determined to fight all who interfere. The chances are that war would follow un timely action on the part of our Government; and if an international conflict were once in augurated, it would be difficult to keep it within narrow bounds. Besides sacrificing our issue with Groat Britain on the Alabama claims question, we would encounter the risk of a long and destructive conflict with Euro pean nations, and make the sad mistake of plunging the country into war before it has had an opportunity to recover from the de vastation and suffering of a civil contest of unparalleled proportions. The time for a re cognition of the Cuban insurgents as bellige rents has not yet arrived. Not until we can espouse their cause with an "honest regard for the requirements of public law," can we do so with safety, and without any of the fearful risks which would be encountered at present. Mayor Shurtleff, of Boston, is a Demo crat, but in spite of that he has administered the affairs of his office in an able, honest, and impartial manner, giving entire satisfaction to the orderly and law-abiding portion of the community. The only persons who are not satisfied are the Mayor's own political friends. The Democracy do not want him to be honest and impartial; and so, as Mayor Shurtleff has not proved himself to be a Democrat of the "red hot" stamp, he has been thrown over board, and another person has received the nomination for the next, term whom it is hoped will have more regard for the interests of the party. i Mayor Fox attempted to play a similar role in this city, but unfortunately his good per formances were not equal to his good inten tions, and he has failed to give satisfaction to anybody. This, however, would make no difference, for if tho administration of pur Mayor had been as successful as that of Mayor Shurtleff, he would be dropped " at the next convention just ttie same. ' ' ! w m ... j TnosE terriblo fellows who live across (the border are in a sorry plight. There is a prospect of a fight in the Hod . River country, and behold, . they send ope man into Jhe enemy's country to attompt conciliation. Whenever a Feniau general is seen in uniform on the BtreetB of one of our cities, the Do- tuinion straightway arms itself to the teeth, and talks about the wonderful things that will .. be done if tho reckless Fenian yenturos to cross the border. But when there is a chanoa for the volunteers and "tho Queen's Own'j to encouuter a foe ready to fight, the volunteers and "tho Queou's Own" are not to be found. Thk Unithd States Tboom about New York have been ordorod to hold themselves in readiness to move to-day, and the supposi tion is that their destination is Utah A rumor from that quarter states that the Mor mons have formed a camp of 15,000 men, and that they have made a number of hostile demonstrations. It is well known that Brig ham Young chafes exceedingly at the re straints placed upon him by the laws of tho United States, and that he would not hesitate to defy them if he dared. For a long time he was able to do so practically, but now he is being gradually hemmed in by the advanc ing tide of civilization, and he is no moro able to keep the people over whom he rules isolated from the world. The consequonoe - is that the opponents of Mormonism are able to denounce it with comparative impunity, and Brlgham can no longer take the law into his own hands and crowd out all who dare to deny his dootrine and dispute his authority. With a large in creas e of the Gentile population, and the spread of intelligence that results from it, the Mormon leadors find that it is beginning to be diffioult for them to maintain their influence; but it seems scarcely probable that they will dare to openly inaugurate a rebel lion against the Government. If any war like attitude on their part, however, has been assumed, it ought to bo chocked in the be ginning; and it is just as well, for tho sako of avoiding any future trouble, that suffi cient troops should be maintained in the Mor mon territory to overawe any rebellion spirits who may bo disposed to create a dis turbano e. Thk elections in Mississippi and Texas have progressed quietly, as far as we have heard, and in the former State there has been a clean sweep by the radicals, who elect their candidate for Governor, and will have a clear majority in the Legislature. This result ensures the early readmission of tho State to her place in the Union, and ai en trance upon a career of prosperity unexam pled in the past. In Toxas, however, the conservatives claim a' victory; but, as the election in that State does not close until this evening, it is impossible as yet to divine the result with certainty. Conservatism in Texas is a vastly different thing from con servatism in Virginia, and the success of the Hamilton ticket will not be anything loss than a misfortuno. Since Mississippi has done so nobly, we shall not despair of Texas for a few days yet. A Poor Show. The statement which has just emanated from tho Bureau of Statistics, giving the aggregate value of the imports into each of the customs districts of the United States, places Philadelphia in a very humiliating position. The following is the value in gold of the total imports in each of the districts named during the year ending June SO, 1809: New York 29.-,117,082 Boston andCharlostown 41,030,907 San Francisco 18,088,901 Philadelphia 15,9G7,.r..r0 Baltimore ir,8GU,032 New Orleans 11,414,89:1 The time was when the comparison was more favorable to the Quaker City than tb''j; but this time will never come again unless our peop!e put forth their utmost exertions to revive our trade with foreign countries. SPECIAL. NOTICES. For adtlitional Special Notice tee (he Jneide ITufe. jjrT O COUNTERACT an opinion prevalent among some who have not tried us, that, because we are on Ohesnut street and deal only in a class of clothing finer than ordi nary Ready-made garments, our prices must be enormously high, we hero publish a LIST OF PRICES. Light Weight Overcoats1 Business Suits. Irum 8i to $26. I Chesterfields $12 50 Black Heaver Overcoats Pants 600 16, 1ft, &), 25, 36. Vests 8 '60 Cnincbula Overcoats, all colors, 20, 23, 25 US, 35. Himvy Petersham Ovoruoats, Whole suit 20 00 And all grados from $2) to B0. Handtiome Dress Suits. All black t25to86 FineTrioot 33 to 46 Swallow-Tail Dress ftlti. 20. Youths' Overcoats from $7 to 25. Child's Overcoats from $4'G0 Garibuldi Suit from $5 to Uoata. 20. Black Cloth $16 to 40 Prince Imperial Suit from 66 hilue Cloth 1 Boys' Jacket 4'50 2a to m to 25. Biamark Suit from 20. And twenty other Cients' Wrappers, 36. to, boys' Pants 8 60 stvUs Whole auit $800 $6 to And all grades up to 30 metropolitan omit iruw qlu to 2d. - Youths' Chesterfiolds from $10 to 20. The list embraces only a small portion of our stock, but gives an Idoa of what buyers can do, and - demonstrates that i THK VKRY FINEST STYLKS, THK VKRY FINK8T QUALITIK3, THK VKRY F1NKST MAKES ' or CUNTS' YOUTHS', AND CHILDREN'S KKADY MADE CLOTHING can be sold and are boing sold by ua VERY MUCH CHEAPER THAN PEOPLK THINK. JOHN WANAMAKKR, i Ohesnut Street Clothing KstahliKhinont, Nos. 818 and 820 Ohesnut street. 10 2 ; 'jgy ACADEMY O F MUSIC. TILE STAR COURSE OF LECTURES. t YOUNG FOLKS SERIES. AFTERNOON LECTURE 3, ; i BY PAUL B. DU OHAILLU. T. B. PUOH takes great ploasure in announcing to the YOUNO POLKS of Philadelphia that Mr- PAUL B. DU OUAILLU, the famous African explorer, whose adven tures in Equatorial Afrioa have given so much delight to the youthful student, of History, will give a series of three Lectures, in day time, aa follows: - On SATURDAY AFTERNOON. Deoemberll "UNDER THE EQUATOR." Ob WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON, December 16. "AMONG. TUB CANNIBALS." On SATURDAY AFTERNOON, December 18, , ."LOST IN THE JUNGLK8." , The Loot urea will be illustrated with immense paint ings, hunting implements, woapons of warfare, and other attractive novoltiea. Mr. Du Ohaillu will appear on ooo of these occasions in tho identical oosturae worn by him in his travels. Mr. Carl Sentis' Parlor Orchestra will discourse appro priataniusio previous to each lecture. Admission to each Looture 35 oenti Reserved seaU (extra) 8 oenU Tickets (with reserved Beats) for Series. 'I1 '00 Doors open at 3; Leoturo at 8 o'clock. ' ' ' . The sale of tickets will oonimenee on Monday morning, December S, at Gould's Piano Rooms, No. tat Ohesnut street, at 9 o'clock. la iLl BS- N K W G A " 8. . . DUNDKRUAT.K'S OA MHO HYDROGEN OAS ftl AC111NB KKMOVKI) t" u. No. w outU T1UUD U.WtKV. .OPEOIAL NOTIOEB. MEMORIAL MISSION 1 ortn . i NOW &KUIUTKD PRF8BYTRRIAR OHUROB. BKTHaHV. CORNER TWENTY BROORD AND 8HIPPN TS. FAIR TO tbi aaLH or ' USF.rUL AND FANOr ARTrCI.KS. , ' roa CHRISTMAS GIFTS, TO ng rpxd is HORTICULTURAL HAM.. Commencing DECEMBER . ,t 4 P. M., .od olo,ing DKOEMBBlt U, at 10 P.M. t'iuSSST be" t!" ,n mind ,n M- ooHt&r.ft tt Fi'r8IAL ENTERTAINMENTS i. t-u. . CONTRIBUTIONS, Street. xoutive Committee, No. 1210 UiiESNoT , 13 !ar JOHN B. G O U G II At tms ACADEMY OF MUSIC, MONDAY EVENING, DECEMBER C, Subject "OrncrMSTANCEa." MONDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 1.1, Subject "Hjbiit." HENRY WARD REE CHER, Subject not yet announced, TUESDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY I. HORACE GREELEY, "The Womam Qtrngnon," TUESDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 22. Tickets for these Lectnres for sale at Ashmead'a. No. 724 Ohesnut street. Reserved Seats in Parqnot Circle and Balcony, 75o.; Stage Tickets, Standing Tickote, and Re served Seats in Family Circle, 6O0. 12 2 3t ACADEMY OF MUSIC. STAR COURSE OF LECTURES. RSV. ROBERT COLLYER, D. D.. ON FRIDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 3. SUBJKCT-"OLEAR GRIT." Deo. 7-MARK'TWAIN. Deo. 9-DK CORDOVA. Deo. 16 WENDELL PHILLIPj. Admission. ISO cents. Roserved seats, 75 cents. licko s tor any of the lectures for aala at GOULD'S Piano Rooms. No. 923 OHESNUT Street, aud at the Academy on the evening of the Lecture. Doors open at 7 ; Looture at 8. Orchestral Prelude at 7 o'clock. 11 30 jBgy- STEREOPTIuOy EXHIBITIONS OP CALIFORNIA AND THK YO SEMITE VALLEY. BY T. Cf.ARKSON TAYLOR. UUjI WEDNESDAY KVENIMl. Dec. 8. Subjoct-OALI- KORNIA AND THE PLAINS. J t RIDAY EVFNINIS, IVo. 10. Snbjnct-OAUFOR-NIA AND THK YUSKMFTE VALLKY. Illuptratpd with beautiful Illuminated Photographs, covering fico squire foet, and now exhibited, for tue lirst time in this city, at the HALL OF THK MERCANTILE LIBRARY. . TENTH Street, above Chesnut. TVmrf open at 7 o'olock. Commences at H Tickets, M cents; to be had at Parrish'a drug storo. Eighth and Arch stn ets. and at MoAlliator'a, No. 7ii8 Chusnut st. 13 H ot4p fglt CRITTENDEN'S COMMERCIAL COL- I.E'SK, No. HH7 Chesnut street, corner Seventh. BOOK-KEEPING in all its branrhes. PJK NM ANt-HIP. plain and ornanotal. COMMERCIAL OALCULa.1 IOS, liuiincss Forms, Commercial Law. etc. OPEN DAY AND EVENING. Students aeparately instructed, and received at any time. Send for Circular. 11 SO 6t tST PROFESSOR BLOT'S LECTURES ON COOKERY, On Decembor 2d, Mil, 4th, tith, 7th, btb. and 9th. in the ASSEMBLY BUli.UINUN. .. Terms for tha Course of Seven Lectures, $4. Single l ecture. 7fo. Tiokets at the ball. 11 80 tf OROOERIES, ETC. Reduction ! Reduction ! 700 KEGS White Almeria Grapes, In Large Clusters, ONLY 40 CENTS PER POUND. CRIPPEN & (HADDOCK, No. 115 South THIRD Street, i IMp BELOW CHESNUT, Philadelphia, Dealer and Importers la I'lne Groceries. J- LARGE VARIETY OP New Goods, . i Suitable for the Season, just received. ( ALBERT a ROBERTS, Dealer In Fine Groceries, 11 Tt Corner ELEVENTH and VINE Streets. OLOTHINO, i CONSIDERABLE CHANCE . FOB 1 Choosing Choice Clothes ! CLOTHINO, ihe choicest by far In town ! Prices' of Clothing all marked down. . Clothes for the coldest winter daj; ' rieutj to choose from little to pay. . CLOTHES In the highest style of art ; Clothing perfect in every part ; Clothing in which euch nmu and lad Can be Happily, cheaply, and warmly clad. CLOTHES of which nobody need be afraid. Made to order, or ready-made; Watting your pleasure, In mammoth piles; . Every description of choicest styles. CLOTniNQ ready to put right on ; Clothing for every fkther and son. Clothing that HOCK U ILL WILSON make, fast aa the public come and ttuo. COME! CHOOSE CHOICE, CHEAP CLOTHES! ' ' ' ' OF THE CELEBRATED CUT "ok thk Great Srown II all R0CKHILL & "WILSON, NOS. 603 AND 605 OIIESNUT STREET, PHILADELPHIA. nOMER. GOLLADA 1 & CO.'S .1 : .1 STOCK OF MiiHt lo aSold Oil Jiiiiiuiryv Homer. Colladay & Co. Crape Poplin Only 25c, Worth SO. Homer, Colladay & Co. Houbaix Poplins, Only 25c. Worth SO. Homer, Colladay & Co. Double Told. Heavy Corded Mohairs in Fashion able Dark Shades. 37c, Worth $1'00. Homer, Colladay & Co. Triko Poplins Tor Walking- Suits, Only SOe. Homer, , Colladay & Co. Sest Quality Serges To Walking- Suits, Only 43 c. Homer, Colladay & Co. Silk Spinglines, Only 75c, i - Worth SS1-50. , t - . ' i ; . i i Homer, Colladay & Co. Tine Empress Cloths in all the XTew Colors. j 56c. 'I Homer, Colladay & Go. . ; - Sest Qualit Green and Blue , i ... Plaids Importei. Only 87$ c. HOMER, COLLADAY & CO. CLOAK DEPARTMENT. In this department we have mo Alices ot our vioins, -ustracnans, vioaKS. Suits, and A Velvets, and tho greatest bargains aro now offered to pur- 3 chasers. ' Nos. 1412 and 1414 11 OTunwttt DS, SILKS, ETC., toy tlio IifteciitU of Homer. Colladay & Do. Black Silks, Best Lyons Make, $1'5Q worth $250. Homer, Colladay & Go. Black Silks. Best Lyons Make., '. $2 00, worth $275. Homer, Colladay & Co. ! Black Silks, Best Lyons Make, 1 $225, worth $300. Homer, Colladay & Co. Black Silks, Best Lyons Make, $250, worth $325. Homer, Colladay & Co. Hosiery of all Kinds, from 25 to 33 less than before. '" 1 Mr- Homer, Colladay & Co. j Linen Housekeeping Goods, , , . ... An immense Stock, " i A. At 25 to 33 Less.'. V..', Homer, Colladay & Co. Lyons Silk Velvets, All Widths, : At Large Concessions. ,. -i (!.! .!! 1 v?sJ fl A II .1 A M t riomer, Lonaaay & L04 Mourning Goods ' , In Infinite Variety, s Lower than since the War. made an entire revision of 7 , , . CHESNUT STBEBT, riUT,AIELlMUA.
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