T11E DAILT EVENINO TELEGIIAFII PHILADELPHIA, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1871. ormiT or sna rzxnsa. Editorial Opinions of th Leading Journal! upon Current Topiot Compiled Every Day for the Evening Telegraph. KNOW-NOTHING DEMONSTRATION. From the Ilarritburg Patriot A public meeting was held ia Pittsburg on the evening of tne T wenty-Beoond of Feb ruary for the ostensible purpose of sending congratulations to the people of Italy on the events which have lately transpired in their country, but, in fact, to indulge in Bome old faBhioBed abuse of the Catholics and their creed. Pittsburg has 'had a reputation for sectarian bigotry ever since its people hon ored with tbe mayoralty one Joe Barker, a vulgar and coarse street preacher. There Know-Nothingism has won its proudest civio victories. The meeting was an imitation of tbe demonstration in New York in all but an enlightened and liberal spirit. There was ap propriateness . in ; the New York meeting, and its enthusiasm was doubtless genuine, inasmuch as it immediately followed the im portant event which it .celebrated. These people in Pittsburg serve up an unseasonable cold oollation. Now when the thoughts of all others are turned towards .France, . the ancient and true ally of this country in her distress, these sectaiies of Pittsburg gather together to abuse the Pope, and imagine they are displaying unbounded zeal for religious liberty. The 'struggle of the unfortunate French for nationality and a republic deeply interests all lovers of liberty, while the event in Home more nearly concerns zealots. Vic tor Emanuel's ambition finds gratification in the restoration of Home as the capital of the new empire. The Romans change Pio Nono for a new master. To expoBe the character of this demonstra . tion against the Catholics it is only neoessary to mention the most active of its participants. Besides the clergymen, the orators were mostly radical politicians and offioe-holders. Tbe president was Mr. Felix 11. Brunot, a male member of the Jellyby family. Among the vioe-presidents we notice the lion. James 8. Negley and the Hon. James K. More head, the latter of whom was early iden tified with the Know-Nothing movement. The lion. Thomas Williams, being too unwell to attend in person, asked leave to print his speech. This pious radioal had much to say of the ignoranoe and degradation of Catholio countries. He was exceedingly happy in his ridicule of Catholio processions, holidays, and relics, but we can assure him that Joseph Barker, if living, would have put the point with more vigor, and with nearly as much elegance. With the llev. Btuokenburg, the Rev. Bittinger, the Rabbi Naumberg, the non. Bucher Swope, and the Hon. James L. Graham, the Rev. and Hon. Joseph Barker would have found him self in congenial association. Such a leash as Thomas Williams, Joseph Barker, and Buoher Swoope in Lfull cry against the Pope could hardly be discovered in this country. Mr. Swoope is now United States Attorney for the Western district of Pennsylvania. He was one of the organizers of Know-Nothing lodges in this State in 1854, and so strong was his zeal in ' the cause that he stumped the State in 1857 in favor of Hazlehurst, the candidate for Governor of that Know-Nothing branch of the party whioh was opposed to the election of David Wilmot. Of oourse this meeting was a fine op- Sortunity for the Hon.. Buoher, and well id he improve it. While rejoicing in Italian union, he could indulge in denunciations of the Pope to his heart's content. The nature of this meeting can-be ascertained from these materials. The spirit which oooupied the breasts of such men as Thomas Williams and Bucher Swoope pervaded it. It was a poor attempt to cloak sectarian bate under a pre tense of zeal for political and religious liberty. Among those participating in the meeting were some who have given striking proof of their devotion to political and religious free dom by taking an active part in the convea tions whioh have met in this State for the purpose of demanding that Christianity be recognized in the eaerai constitution. THE LIFE INSURANCE BUSINESS OF ' 1870. From the AT. F. Times, ' At length we have some trustworthy facts by which to judge of the progress of life in Burance in the United States. The impres sion has been general that the frantio ellorts of promoters and solicitors had reached their worst point a year aeo, and that the retarns for 1870 would show, if not an actual retro gresBion, a decided cheek as compared with Erevious years. And the facts appear to ear out this oonviotion. The issu of the 8iectaUr Life Chart, which contains the au thenticated annual ' statements of some seventy life companies, (including all of any prominence in tne United Mates,; supplies the figures for 1870. and we have taken the trouble to compare with these the figures lor 180'.), as given in the last report of the Insurance Department of this State. It is obvious that such statistics cannot be abso lutely correct, but they are nearly enough so for purposes of comparison, inasmuch as they cover the transactions of all the life com panies doing business in New York during the two years. We may state that in 18CD there were sixty-nine companies ODeratine in the State, while in 1870 there were seventy two or seventy-three; consequently the re turns for the latter year are the less entitled to be deemed progressive, beoause more com panies did less business than in 180'J. The following are the figures for the two years respectively: 18T0. 1889. Policies issued 849,479 831,269 Amount insured , M9,629.U S14,7ii.',4iU Premiums received.. 81,338,934 85,171,614 laierebi, etc., re ceived 14,0M,SST 12,454,164 Total Income 106,7i,3&7 98,507,818 Gross assets 64,704,69 227,767.016 uiviueuu au ditions, and ma tured endowments. 19,755,362 8S,718,R28 Dividends 16,23,0H5 10,248,309 Expenses of manage ment and taxba.... 17,059,341 19,634,333 Policies in force 734,3s 6.,572 Risks la force ..1,998,709,691 1,836.617,819 These returns go far to justify the impres sion that the life insurance business is droop ing, while its administration gives indications 01 demoralization. We have, indeed, more polioiea issue in 1870 than in lKtiO; but the amount they cover is less by $15,000,000. Yet tbe total amount at risk at the end of 1870 is apparently $150,000,000 more than at its beginning. The premium receipts were seven per; cent, more thanj those of the previous year, but those of 18U:) were nearly thirty per cent, greater than the receipts of 18G8, which clearly proves that progress has been effectually stoppod. It is noticeable, too, that the great curse of the business, expense of management, has done much to injure the companies. An im provement begins to be visible in this re spect. Upon an increased income (however blight the increase), the expenses of manage ment, last year, were some $2,500,000 less than in 18(10, averaging about eighteen per cent, upon the cross premiums received. Uf course, there are all sorts of variations from thin reasonable percentage wnen tne figures of individual oompanies are con sidered; for many of these admit having ex pended forty, fifty, and even sixty per cent, in keeping themselves alive. But as an indi cation of average economy, there is some satisfaction in knowing that tbe ratio of ex penses to premium income was considerably I .1 - 1 1 1 . : . ni- enH man it uns ueeu muuo iou.. But we will not further pursue this subject now. Unr readers can draw their own con clusions from the figures given above. It may be worth while, however, to print in connection with (he foregoing statistics some further figures drawn from the official reports of the Insurance Department, by way of exhibiting the steps of past progress in life insurance, and thus proving our position as to the deoadence indicated by last year s re ports: . roTMcg in Gron Amwnt J'tar. three. Ael: Prtimiumi. at Hik. ISfiO M.046 ?4,115,6S7 14,770,847 $163,703,455 1861 67,202 80,670,397 4,913,891 150,256,052 1862. 65,262 80,123,382 B.742,447 183,962,677 1863. 99,095 37,838,190 8,493,969 267,658,677 1S64 146,729 49,027,297 13,181,975 895,703,055 1S65 209,392 64,232,123 21,671,106 690,882,253 1866 805,890 91,687,029 86,197,698 865,105,877 1867 401.140 125,548.951 60.883,830 1,161,T29.776 1868 637,694 175,202,330 67,675.165 1,828,984,695 1809 656,612 22T,7U7,UV!0 H,Ui,UI4 l,8HU,Bl (,H1V lbiO 736,890 264,704,629 91,333,934 1,993,739,697 It seems clear enough that the "gigantio strides, of wbirh we have beard ro much, must have undergone a change last year. There was more done, we admit, than in 18G9: but not the proportionate amount of progrese to which late years have aocustomed ub. It is about time to bring the life insur ance business down to the level of an econo mical, comprehensible, simple operation. That it needs some reform in these directions we think nobody outside of a life insurance office will dispute. A SYSTEM OF NATIONAL EDUCATION. From the N. T. World. Of all the bills before the present Congress looking towards the centralization and consoli dation of the United States of America into a union more closely resembling that of United Germany tne ideal government of General (irant there is probably none so bold in its invasion of the rights of the States and none so subversive of the freedom of tbe citizen as that entitled "An Act to establish a system of national education. In the course of debate, a few days ago, Mr. Kerr, of Indiana, showed so clearly its scope and intent that it will have to be laid aside, temporarily at least. With out any pretense of clear and express warrant in the Federal Constitution, and covering its naked deiormity witn tne tig-leaf of the pre amble "in order to form a more perfect union," Mr. Kerr showed that any interpreta tion wnicn would give it validity would also warrant the passage of a law regulating mar riage and divorce, tne registration or wilts, or the transfer of real estate. Bat, passing from the question of constitutional authority a subject worthy only the jibes and sneers of the radioal mind he laid bare the motives which lie behind it. 1. Thirty-seven State superintendents, 213 general inspectors, 5000 local inspectors, and an army of 150,000 teachers, all under the control of and appointed by the head of the bureau bo established, would furnish an op portunity for fraud and corruption, for ve nality and nepotism, besides which tne pre sent revenue system sinks Inte Insignificance. 2. lhe aggregate annual expenditures would be (i0,000,000. This vast sum, very nearly tbe whole amount of tbe annual Fede ral expenditures during the last Democratic administration, tne bill proposes to Bhare equally among the several States. This would burden the Southern and Western States most heavily, while the tax on the Eastern and Middle States would be comparatively light. By the last census the aggregate of values in Honda nas been reduced forty-five per cent, below that of 1800; in Louisiana forty-six per cent.; in Mississippi seventy-one Eer cent.; and the bill imposes the same tax urdens on the people of those States as the people of Massachusetts and Rhode Island would be called upon to bear, whose atrcrre- gate of values has increased over ninety per cent, since 18G'0. And further to oppress the people of the Southern States, to proteot the colored man against paying any part of the tax, and to punish the white man of the South, it provides that the homestead shall be exempted from taxation to the value of $500. Is it possible for human ingenuity to devise a more grossly unjutit, unequal, op pressive, and cruel mode ol taxation i 3. It would place in the hands of the Exe cutive ( and this is the vital point of the mea sure ) money and patronage more than suffi cient to have turned the scale, in any Presi dential election since the administration of Washington, in favor of the incumbent of tbe Executive office, or of the man by him chosen as his successor. The effect of the bill, if passed, would be to insure General Grant's re-election in 1872; and then, with a corruption fund of if uo.wo.ooo yearly, aided by the bayonet election laws, to make him President for life in name an emperor in 0 ' WHAT GOOD WILL COME OF IT? From the N. Y. Tribune. The perfectly good understanding which now subsists bet ween tbe various corporations, companies, and individuals whose capital is invested in mining anthracite coal and bring ing it to market is a phenomenon whioh ought to exoite the most jealous attention on tne part of tne public it may as well be known now as at any other time that the ob ject of those who have entered into this ex traordinary alliance is to conduct the coal trade hereafter as a monopoly, a result whioh will be attained should the present cordial understanding continue. The capitalists were forced to unite by their dread of the Miners' Union, and it is probable that the same power will keep them together. There is not one of the great transporting oom panies whioh has not lost within the last two years from $1,000,000 to $3,000,000 by the action of the labor unions. The fear of en countering like experiences in future must have a strong tendenoy to strengthen the capitalists' league. The curse of the anthracite coal business has been that for years everybody engaged in it has worked in direct defiance of the natural laws of trade. Over production has been stimulated by transporting companies like the Reading, for the purpose of iuoreasing ton nage; and by mining companies, like the Delaware and Hudson uanaL and Delaware. Lackawanna, and Western Company, for the purpose of crushing out their weaker competi tors. All tne natural luuiiauons 10 ine growth. of tbe trade have been beld la abeyance. Wcs have been regulated by treaty be twten the leaders of coal associations and labor unions, and have, consequently, ruled Licb. BU-erage tickets and drafts have been sent over to Europe in abundanoe, and fresh miners navo been imported by the thousand The capacity to produce coal has been brought from SO to 50 per cent, above the utmost quantity that the market will bear, and at the same time the natural growth of the demand has been checked by violent fluctuations in tbe price. The troubles of the last two or three years are but the inevitable results of these forcing processes and abnormal condi tions. Ibe only remedies are the temporary extinction of those mining oonoerns whioh are not .favorably situated for production, and tne reduction or. tne miners compensa tion at least to the natural level of wages in other branches of industry. If theooali- tion of coal camponles, coal operators, and railroad oompanies proposed to aooomplish. eitner or these salutary reforms, the publio might look upon their consultations with some favor. We are enabled to state on high authority that their intentions are directly the reverse, instead or permitting competi tion to work out this problem, they propose to abolish competition the competition alike of produoer with producer, of laborer with laborer, and of carrying company with carry ing company. .Let ub examine the policy of the Reading Railroad, which is at once the most powerful, liueiugeni, nuu euierpriHing oi &u me ooai carrying corporations. This company, by its lateral railroads, has brought all the coal lands, far and near, within its reach into communication with its shipping points. Distance has been compensated for by reduc ing the lateral tolls of the most remote mines. Collieries favorably situated are made to pay the extra expense of collecting the ccal of those unfavorably situated. To secure the New York and New England markets a drawback has been allowed on coal shipped from Richmond to Eastern ports. The consumer iu Philadelphia has been forced to pay two-thirds more freight for transporting coal over ninety-three miles of tbe main stem than the consumer in New York. The Pennsylvania manufacturer has been deprived of much of the advan tage which he ought to derive from proxi mity to the mines, and the development of every branch of industry there has been correspondingly checked. To carry out this enormous and unhealthy extension of its operations a capital stock of $30, 4 01, Co 28 has been created, and a funded debt Of $13,841,877-22 accumulated. lhe object of the managers of the Heading Railroad in entering into the coalition is simply to accomplish the otherwise impos sible task of paying the interest on its mort gages and ten per cent, dividends on its stock, and avoiding the penalties of that reck less expansion whioh has distinguished its management, in common with that of its competitors. The policy contemplated by this immense combination of railroad and mining capital is to maintain coal at a steady and remunerative price all the year round, by limiting the quan tity to be brought to market. If it is found that the supply is getting ahead of the de mand, all the companies are to reduce their tonnage by a certain percentage, to be agreed on at a counoil of the representatives of the various corporations.. A colliery whioh has a capaoity of 100 car-loads a day will have, say, only 80 cars left at its disposal. If 500,000 tons are transported to market each week, the monopoly for such it is avowed and in tended to be will cut down the supply to 400,000 tons, or to whatever extent may be necessary to keep up tbe price, so as to afford a "reasonable profit" to all concerned. It may be asked, Will not this monopoly be an improvement on tbe state of things which has existed for the last three years? Is not a combination of capitalists preferable to a combination of labor unions? Perhaps it is, but the atten tive reader of the resolutions promulgated on Thursday by the railroad men and coal ope rators will see that they leave the Miners' Union unshorn of a single power or preten sion. Should the miners go to work on the terms proposed, in six months the 30,000 members of the Miners' and Laborers' Bene volent Association will be four times as powerful and four times as closely united as tbey are to-day. That organization will have accumulated force enough to inaugurate a four months' suspension. The . policy of limiting the supply and keeping up the prioe, together with a sense of security arising from any confidence which may be entertained in the ability of the allied companies to "put an end to strikes," would proba bly cause -' the publio to be less prepared for a coal famine than they were last December. It is an ominous circum stance that the leaders and members of the Miners' Union, almost to a man, look upon those who have taken part in these meetings in New York and Philadelphia as their mor tal uemies. They credit them with the de sign of destroying their association. The miners, if tbey accept the terms offered them now, will do so because they are too poor to carry their resistance any further. But the spirit of resistance will only be intensified by their forced submission, while common sense will enable them to appreciate the compli ment which has been paid to their power. Whatever else may flow from the deliberations of tho capitalists, at their meetings here and in Philadelphia, the restoration of right rela tions between laborer and employer, or be tween producer and consumer, is not to be expected. THE HISTORY OF THE NAVAL STAFF QUESTION. From the . Y. Kation. There is just now a good deal of discus sion at Washington, kept alive elsewhere by occasional artioles in the daily papers, upon a subject wnion, considering its real impor tance, is surprisingly ill-understood namely, the reorganization of the navy, more com monly called the "Staff Question." Mainly beoause the discussion relates to a "spe cialty," and is therefore gladly left for argu ment and settlement to those specially con cerned, and partly beoause of the ill-advised efforts of too-zealeus advooates who rash into prirt on either 6ide, the real matter at issue has been lost sight of in a fog of side issues and technicalities, until the interested publio has been narrowed down to the small number whose rela tives and friends are directly affected by the present status of the navy, whioh a part of them desires to change. Yet, if it is worth while to have a navy at all, it is worth while to see that it be efficient; and the smaller the number of ships and .officers to which it is reduced, tbe more important beoomes the state of efficiency and readiness in which it is maintained. No doubt, small quarrels and petty contacts of authority and precedence will inevitably and frequently ocour among gentlemen whose bile is daily stirred up and temper soured by the discomforts and con finementpf sea voyages,and the publio has very sensibly t eased to take muoh interest in naval squabbles. Bat the present dispute really appears to be rooted too deeply to be lightly disregarded. On shore a well us at fcea, and during more thau two years, the division has been growing wider and deeper; and it is persistently alleged that. unless certain points are se'tled definitely by law, and no longer left to the elastlo rules of usage' and precedent, the efficiency of the service will be seriously impaired, while its internal harmony can now soaroely be said to exist at all. These points of issue are be tween the line officers and those of .the staff, the latter being inolusive of Burgeons, pay masters, and engineers; and can scarcely be made intelligible without a brief Ex planation. Tbe functionaries of a man-of-war are, first, ' the commanding officer; second, an "eXeoutive officer, or first lieutenant, who execute the orders of the commander, and should not originate any orders himself. This officer presides in the ward-room, and is supposed to exercise general supervision over all depart ments of the ship. Officers desiring to leave the ship or to communicate with the captain, whatever their nominal rank or length of ser vice, must first ask the "executive's" permis sion; all reports to the captain must be first presented to bim; and, in fine, he stands be tween the commander and all others on board, and, by special regulation, takes precedence of all staff-officers. Next in rank among line officers is the .navigator, who per forms the duties indicated by his title, whioh on merchant vessels belong to the captain; and below him are four or more watoh-offioers, who take tbe charge of the deck in turn for four hours at a time. Of the staff there are a surgeon, paymaster, and engineer, and on large vessels an assistant surgeon and one or more assistant engineers. Previously to the late war, the highest rank known in the navy was that of post-captain, the title of "commodore" being given, by courtesy only, to the senior captain com manding a squadron or fleet; and a staff offi cer, after due length of service, might attain to the rank of commander, the second grade then existing. The dispute now raging was then unknown, for the reason, as the staff al lege, that, promotion being very slow, offioers ef the line were not advanced to positions of power and command until they had tho roughly mastered the details of their duties, and had. learned by experience to reoognize the responsibilities of others as well as their own. The "grey-haired lieutenant" who wa3 first officer in those days (the term "execu tive" is o recent growth), although perhaps no classical scholar, had appreciated the ap plication of Menenins Agrippa's fable long before he had attained to that position of authority; and a courtesy which left the au thority unfelt and its exercise unneeded was then as constantly the rule as we are com pelled to believe that it is now the exception. lhe staff contend, moreover, that in the ear lier days of the navy the first lieutenant was really what be purported to be, the executor of the orders of the captain, and not, as now, an independent authority, resenting as "in terference" any personal action of the com mander concerning the details of ship man agement, and as "insubordination" all efforts of staff officers to improve the. condition and efficiency of their respective departments. When the enlargement of the navy conse quent upon the war rendered it desirable to create the additional grades of commodore, rear-admiral, vice-admiral, and admiral, there was no corresponding advance in the staff grades until Mr. Welles, in 1803, by a general order, raised their possible rank to that "with" captain, granting the chiefs of the several bureaus the "assimilated" rank of commodore. With this they were content, although varying interpretations of the word "assimilated ' began early to be a casus belli more or less suppressed by the common dan ger and consequent "nearer fellowship of the war. But in 1800, Mr. Borie's General Order No. 120 wag promulgated, reduing all staff officers to their status of 1810. and addi tional regulations were issued, confirming in many ways the supremacy or line olhoers, even the very youngest, over all the staff. Meanwhile, promotions amoBg the line offi cers, especially in the lower grades, became bo rapid that the midshipmen who made their first real voyage in the fall of 18C7 have re turned as lieutenants, having been promoted through the successive grades of ensign and master; while the surgeoiis, paymasters, and engineers who sailed with them, of the "assi milated" rank of commander, returned with that of lieutenant. Not unnaturally, such a change has produced anything but a pleasant state of feeling a state of feeling to which it is very desirable to put an end. In support of the present condition of affairs, the line officers contend that efficiency requires rigid discipline, which implies absolute, . irresponsible command on the one hand, and unqualified obedience on the other; that such power of command must reside in the captain and in his represents tives, whatever their nominal rank: and that such representatives are the executive officer and the officer of tbe deck for the time being. Should staff-officers be allowed actual rank say the line circumstances might frequently arise in which they would be entitled to command the ship, a sphere of duty for which they are totally unfitted by eduoation Moreover, they maintain that, for the proper maintenance of discipline, a superi ority of their own, as tbe governing class and essentially the navy, must be acknowledged, particularly by those whom they delight in calling "the auxiliary olhoers or the navy. The staff, on the other hand, claim to un derstand best the details of the management of their several departments, and state that, under the present system, the efficiency of the service is frequently and seriously impaired by unwarrantable and petty interferences on the part or young and subordinate line otn cere. They therefore ask for the control of their respective departments, subject only, though entirely, to the captain of the ship. They demand, to this end, and as the only practical remedy, aotual rank (but expressly disclaim tbe right of command in the line, or outside of their several specialties) and the richt to quarters in the cabin. With this rank they ask for the dignities, immuni ties, and privileges which it conveys to the line, with the exceptions above-mentioned; and that tbe preoedenoe or the executive om cers over themselves be limited, as in the line, to cases in which he is senior in lineal rank, or by date of commission, loose de mands have been embodied in tbe Stevens bill, which is now pending in the Senate. The result of the present state of uncer tainty ia certainly bad, and calls for i remedy. The naval service has beoome a house divided against itself, to the point of almost absolute non-interoourse. Officers go to sea " bristling with jeal ous watchfulness of each other's actions, and ready constantly to seize upon the first pre text for a dispute. Reports, based often neon the most trivial grounds, are more f re quent than in a young ladies' boarding- school: and. from such a state of feeling, de lays, want of esprit de corps, and occasionally positive publio damage have resulted. In the medical corps, for example, although an examining board is constantly in session, there are to-day over fifty vacancies, and when, in a profession notoriously" so overcrowded as the medical, not so many can be found able to pass the moderate examination, and willing to accept a position which should be honorable, there 'follows a strong presumption that the alleged injustice to staff 'officers has good ! foundation in fact. Th medical profession, indeed, has taken up the cudgels aotively, and there is now scarcely a medical associa tion in the country wbioh has not passed reso lutions calling for legislation in this matter, and, so far, discouraging capable physicians from offering themselves as doctors in our national vessels. In support of their assertion, that actual rank will prove a sufficient remedy for the hardships and hindrances whioh they suffer, the st aff -officers point to the well-known suc cess of the staff organization in the army, where the provisions of the Steven's bill have been long in practical operation. Tbe effi ciency of tho Army Medical Department has really been a wonder to the scientific world in general. Its circulars are aocepted as the best authorities in Europe as well as at home, and it has become a legitimate source of pride to every American who knows its his tory and values the true honor of his countrv. If this great success and acknowledged supe riority do, bs auegea, me reBUit 01 indepen dence of action and of freedom from the oon trol of those not experts in medical and sur gical matters, doubtless the instance is well chosen and applicable. ur take the case of the paymasters: the cost to tbe Government of disbursing its money, including the pay of offioers' trans portation and defalcation much noise has been made about this and that notorious case of embezzlement was less than one-sixteenth of one per cent. a fact showing, as the advo cates of the Civil Service bill have well said, that the surest protection to the (Government against the dishonesty of its offloials is to be found by making its offices permanent and respectable, thereby attracting a class of men so high as to be above tbe commoner temp tations to fraud. Concerning the armv sys tem, ueneral bherman writes to Admiral Porter that it "works very well in practioe," and such is the testimony of army officers generally. It appears also that in other countries this distinction which staff officers find it so hard to endure does not exist. In the Russian navy, for example, they attain to the highest rank (general admiral); in the British and bpanish to that of vice-admiral; in the French and Austrian to rear-admiral, without impair ing either emciency or discipline. There are at least two facts to be de duced from tbe mass of contradictory state ments on both Bides of this quarrel. One is, that the staff offioers of the navy are quite convinced that they are unjustly treated and are clear as to the remedy; and the other is, that this remedy has the merit of being no new or untried experi ment, but a plan which has worked well in practice; in the United States army and in the navies ef other countries. Its merits must be decided by Congress, since ' every effort to settle the question by means of mixed boards, and by reference to those most thoroughly cognizant of the circumstances, has resulted in a strictly party division and no agreement upon essential points. Certainly the picture which has been presented of the aged fleet-surgeon or paymaster asking the executive officer, not born when he entered the service, "for permission to go on shore," reporting to the beardless ensign pacing the quarter deck that he has "permis sion to leave the ship," and then waiting for a Btill lesser youngster to take command of the boat which is to convey him ashore, mani feota an inherent absurdity, whioh is yet the necessary result of existing laws and regula tions. Or think of a competent surgeon con demned by a naval court-martial for declining to take a man off the siok list and declaring bim too ill for duty, when a certain line officer, who had disabled the man by punish ment, demanded that the surgeon should re port him welL The subject is of more importance than it seems, for few of those who remain at home are aware to how great an extent foreign ideas of Americans, particularly outside ef Europe, are based upon the demeanor, at tainments, and ability of the officers of the navy. Aside from the undoubted necessities of war, it is a matter of considerable im portance to this country that, at least until the diplomatic service can be set upon a more creditable footing, the navy should be so constructed and directed as to attract the best attainable material .into both staff and line corps. And in no way can this be better effected than by at least equalizing the status of professional men on board ship with that which they would oocupy in the military ser vice on shore. . Much, if not most, of the trouble now existing is to be attributed to the introduc tion of equivocal terms, such as "assimilated rank," admitting of various constructions according to the whim or prejudice of differ ent officers, and it is to be hoped that the subject will not only be fully discussed in Congress, but finally settled by a plain and intelligible enactment. SPECIAL. NOTICES. tfcW- TI1K ANNUAL MEETING OP THE STOCKHOLDERS of tile CONNELLSVILLK AND SOUTHERN PENNSYLVANIA KAILWAV COMPANY will be Iheld at the OUlce of the Cim pany, No. S33 S. THIRD Street, on WEDNESDAY', March 1, at 19 o'ciock M., when an election wilt be held for a President and twelve Directors to serve the ensuing year. CHARLES WESTON. Becretarv. Philadelphia. Feb. 16, 1811. 2 18 ws4f DALZELL FETROLEnt COMPANY", Office No. 213)tf WALNUT Street. Philadelphia, Feb. 14, 18H. The Directors have this day declared a dividend of FIVE PEK CENT, (being- Ten Cents per share) on tbe capital stock of the company, payable, clear of htate taxes, on tbe 1st of March, proximo. The Transfer Books will be closed from February 1 to March 8. M. li. KELLY, 8 15 12t Treasurer. TDK ENTERPRISS INSURANCE COM. PAN Y OF PHILADELPHIA. COMPAMT BCLLDINO, NO. 400 WALNUT STKBT, January a, 1871. f The Directors have this day declared a dividend of THREE PER UJL4T. on the capital stock of the Company for the last six moDins, parable oa de mand, free of all taxes. ALEX. W. W1STE1L 1 stf Secretary. TILE UNION FIRS EXTINGUISHER COMPANY OF PHILADELPHIA Mann facto re and sell the Improved, Portable Fire Xxtlngulalier. Always Reuabla. - D. T. QAQS, 80 tf Wo. 118 MAKK8T St., General Agent tgs- BATCHELOR'S HAIR DYE.- THIS SPLEN. did Hair Dve is the best In the world, the only true and perfect Dye. Harmless Reliable Instan taneous no disappointment no ridiculous tints "LHtei K tioiUaiii Lead nur any Vitadic Poxnon ta it, juteim Hair or Saetem." Invigorates the Hair and leaves It soft and beautiful ; Black or Brown. bold by all Driipgltits and dealers. Applied at the Factory, No. 16 BOND Btreet, New York. 4 81 mwf 8 JOUVINS KID GLOVE CLEANER restores soiled gloves equal to new. For sale by all druggists and fancy good dealers. Price 89 cents per bottle. UtSmwf V- THURSTON'S IVORY PEARL TOOTH w POWDER la the best article for cleanslug and preserving the teeth. For sale by all Druymt. Price 88 aud to cents per bottle. 11 8 atuihly 1?.Y- DlSrEN8ARY FOR SKIN DI3EA8E8, NO. 816 S. ELEVENTH Street. Patienu treuted gratuitously at tUU loatitntlon dai'.; at 11 o'clock. 1 14 'AL NOTICES- t.y iiErsraon OP" CIVIL BONDS OF Stati of California. TuSAHimv DsrATwRNT,! BiCKAMBKTo, February L isn. Whereas, There U on this day In the State Trea t ury the sum of twenty-eight thousand (123,000) dol lars which, nnder the provisions of an act of the -Legislature of said Bute entitled "An act to pro vide for the paying certain qultable claim against the State of California, and to contraot a funded debt for that purpose," approved April 80, 1900, la set apart for the redemption of Civil Bonds ".of said State, letued nnder the provisions or said act, notice la hereby given that SKaLED PROPOSALS for the aurrender of aald Bonds will be received at this Department tor the amount above speclued until the 10TH DAY OF APRIL, 1371, at 11 o'clock AM. - - No bid will be entertained at more than par value, s and a responsible guarantee mutt accompany each proposal, which mnst be Indorsed "de'ed Proposals for the aurrender of Civil Bonds of I860." Said bonds will be redeemed and interest paid la gold and silver coin of the United States, and mast be surrendered within ten days after the acceptance of the proposal for their redemption. A. F. CORONEL, 8 14eod t4 10 State Treasurer. REDEMPTION OF STATE BONDS. Stats o California. Tksasckt Dbpartmrnt, SACRAMBMTO, Feb. 1, 1871. Whereas, there Is on this day In the State Treasury the sum of two hundred aud fifty thousand (1260,000) dollars, which, under the provisions of an act of the ' Legislature of said State, entitled "An Act to pro vide for paying certain equitable claims against the State of California, and to contract a funded debt for that purpose," approved April 89, 1S67; and a1 so under the provisions of an act amend at iry of said act, approved April 87, I860, Is set apart for the re demption of Civil Bonds of said State, Issued nnder the provisions of said first mentioned act, notice IS hereby given that SEALED PROPOSALS for the surrender of said Bonds will bo received at this Department for tne amount above speetfled, until the 10TF DAY OF APRIL, A. D. 1871, at 11 o'clock A. M. ' No bids will be entertained at more than par value, and a responsible guarantee must accompany each proposal, which must be marked "Sealed Pro posals for the Redemption of Civil Bonds of 1357." Said bonds must be surrendered within tea days a rter the acceptance of the proposals for their re demption. k . A. F. CORONEL, 8 14 eod 1 4 10 State Treasurer. NOTICE TO STOCKHOLDERS. CHICAGO AND ALTON RAILROAD COMPANY. Secretary's Office, Chicago, III., February 8, 1871.) The stockholders of the CHICAGO AND ALTON RAILROAD COMPANY are hereby notified that a cash dividend of FIVE PEK CENT., free of Govern ment tax, has this day been declared on the Pre ferred and Common Stock of this Company, ont of the earnings ol tbe last six months, payable at the office of the Company's agents, Messrs. M. K. Jesnp A Co., No. 18 Pine street, In the city of New York, on the 6th day of March next, to holder who are registered as inch at the close of business hours on tbe 16th Inst., at which time the transfer-books will be closed, and reopened for transfer oa the 7ta day of March next. 815tB7 W. M. LARRABEE, Secretary. ggy- CLE VB LAND, COLUMBUS, CINCINNATI, AND INDIANAPOLIS RAILWAY COM PANY. ' Clbtkland, Ohio, Feb. 8, 1811. The annnal meeting of the stockholders of this company, for the election of directors and for the transaction of other business, will be held at the office of tne company In Cleveland, Ohio, on WED NESDAY, March 1, 1S71, between the hours of 11 o'clock A. M. and 8 o'clock P. AI. Tbe tranarer books will be closed from the even ing of February IS until March 8. GEORGE H. RUSSELL, 8 9 Bw Secretary. OLIVER AMES, PRESIDENT. JOHN DUFF, Vice-President. JOnN M. 8. WILLIAMS, Treasurer. JC. U. kollins, secretary. UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD COMPANY, DSAKS JiUILDlxiQ ll'OBT-OFFICB UOX INO. Hil l. Boston, Feb 4, 1871 The annnal nieetlnir or the stock holders Of the UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD COMPANY Will be held at the office of the company In BOSTON, on WEDNESDAY", tha 6th da of March, 1871, at 10 O'clock A. M to elect officers for the ensuing year. OLIVER AMES, 8 14 t3-8 President Union Pacific Railroad Oo. gy- OFFICE OF THE PENNSYLVANIA RAIL- ROAD COMPANY. PHILAPXXPHTA, Feb. 83, 1871. NOTICE TO STOCKHOLDERS. The annual Election for Directors will be held on MONDAY, the 6th day of March, 1871, at the office of the Com pany, No 888 S. THIRD Street The polls will be open from 10 o'clock A. M. until 6 o'clock P. M. No share or shares transferred within sixty days preceding the election will entitle the holder or Holders thereof to vote. 8 g8 in JOSEPH LESLEY, Secretary. ItfB- OFFICE OF THE PHILADELPHIA, GER- MANTOWN, AND NORRlhTOWN RAIL ROAD COMPANY. The Board of Managers have declared a dividend of THREE PER CENT, on the Capital Stock, pay. able, clear of tax, at the Office of this Company, No. 12 Philadelphia Exchange, ou and after the 13th of March next. The transfer books will be closed on the 80th Inst., and remain closed until the 14th of March. A. E. DOUGHERTY, 8 13 m Ct Treasurer. gy TREASURER'S OFFICE, ST. JOSEPH and Denver City Railroad Company. St. Joseph, Mo., Jan. 88, 1371. The Interest and coupons due Feb. 19, 1371, on the first mortgage eight per cent. (8 per cent.) gold bonds of the St. Joseph and Denver City Railroad CompaDy will be paid at the office of tbe Farmers' Loan and Trust Company, In the city of New York, upon presentation and application, on and after that date, free of Government tax. 8 7 26U THOMAS E. TOOTLE. Treasurer. jfgy-ClTY TREASURER'S OFFICE, Philadelphia, Feb. s, 1871. The premium on Gold Interest on City Loans of July, 1S70, will be paid In currency on and after February 6, 1871. JOSEPH F. MARCER, 8 8 City Treasurer. THE IMPERISHABLE PERFUME I AS A rule, the perfumes now in use have no perma nency. An hour or two after their use there la n trace of verfome loft. How different la the result succeeding the use or MURRAY A LAN MAN'S FLORIDA WATER ! Days after Its application tha handkerchief exhales a moat delignUul, deliuaut, and agreeable fragrance. Sltnthai Ifl?- INSTEAD OF USING COMMON TOILET Soap at this season of the year, use Wrighfs Alconated Glycerine Tablet of SolldlUod Glycerine." It soften tne skin, prevents redness and chapping by cold, and beautifies the complexion. For sale by rugglsU generally. 1 fmw86t No. 624 CBESNUT fct., Phllad'a. vS- Dr7f. R. THOMAS, No. til WALNUT ST, formerly operator at the Colton Dental Rooms, devotes his entire practice to extracting teeth with out pain, with fresh nitrons oxide gas. 11 171 QLOTH8, QASSIMERES. ETO. Q L O T H HOUSE. j A M C 6 a HUDBR. Ho. 11 North gl2JOHl Street Sign of the Golden Lamb, Ai w receiving a large and splendid aasortmen of new stylos of FANCY CASSIMEKEii And standard makes of DOBWKINS. CLOTHS ana COATINGS, 83 mwt AT WHOLESALE AND RETAIL
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers