a
Deuce, Wat
Terns, $2.00 a Year, in Advance
Bellefonte, Pa., March 'i4, 1890.
P. GRAY MEEK, Ebprror.
A Correction Made, and an Explana-
tion Asked.
The WarcuMAN is never ashamed to
do right, nor afraid to be fair to its op-
ponents. Last week we published
what we considered a reliable state-
ment connecting Commissioner Deck-
ER with the job of planking the. Spring
Mills bridge and leaving the impression
that in that job the county had been
swindled to the extent of :$38.72. The
Republican of this week gives the size
of the bridge as being I7 feet wide and
66 feet long, which it figures would re-
quire 2805 feet.of plank to cover it.
This amount at $21 per thousand feet,
the price charged, and which is not ex-
cessive,would put the cost of the plank
for the bridge at $57.47.
In justice to Mr. DickEE, who cer-
tainly has enough of short comings as a
county official to answer for without
being further loaded down with a little
steal like the above, we give the Re-
publicar’s facts and figures,which,if cor-
rect, exonerate him from the allegation
that he had overcharged the county for
this job.
And now while our neighbor of the
Republican and Mr. DEckER have un.
dertaken the ‘‘explaining” business,
won't they please give us a little light
on the two following matters :
What was done with the $1,565.60
of tax collected off the people of the
county for state purposes in excess of
the amount paid over, and which is
not in any way accounted for in the
county statement? Who has or where
is this money ?
How comes it that $12,000 of con-
tracted indebtedness for the superstruc-
ture of the Karthaus and Howard
bridges, is not taken into account in the
county statement, and that the tax-pay-
ers are left under the impression that
no such indebtedness exists ?
These are matters of much more im-
port to the people than the little item
connected with the Spring Mills bridge.
Will the Commissioners, or ene of
their organs, explain them ?
A Great Feat Performed in a Good
Cause.
The Pennsylvania railroad has again
signalized its superiority to all com-
petitors by performing a feat last Mon-
day on its line between New York and
Washington which surpassed anything
of the kind recorded in railroad history.
And not only a great thing mn railroad-
ing was accomplished, but through it
something was done which is unparal-
leled in the annals of theatrical achieve-
ment. A Pennsylvania train, consist-
ing of engine, a combination car, pas-
senger coach and Pullman dining car,
freighted with Manager PALMER'S the-
atrical company, left Jersey City at
7.29 a. m., and,arriving at Washington
at 11.47, having made the 226 miles in
254 minutes, enabled the company
to give a performance in the afternoon
to an audience that consisted of many of
the most distinguished dignitaries in
the capital city,for the benefit of the Ac-
tors’ Fund. As soon as the curtain
dropped on the performance, the
company hastened to the train that had
sped them on their benevolent mission,
and starting at 3.15 p. m., on their re-
turn trip, reached Jersey City at 7.34
p. m., beating their time to Washing:
ton, theretofore unparalleled, by just
one minute, and in the evening gave
their regular performance in Madison
Square theater, New York. In the
benevolent feature of this achievement
the honors are equal between the the-
atrical and the railroad company, as
the one gave their time and histrionie
talent, and the other the use of its
train, free of charge. Altogether it was
a great triumph of railroad and theatri-
cal ability, over which the shades of
Tom Scorr and SHAKESPEARE could
shake hands if it can be supposed that
mutual congratulation is expressed in
that way in the other world.
Democratic Societies.
Hon. Caavu~cey F. Brack, President
of the Democratic Societies of Pennsyl-
vania, has issued a circular letter to all
the organizations in the State urging
them to renewed and increased exer-
tions in view of the approaching State
election. Mr. Brack says that these
organizations did great good at the
last November elections, alleging that
an examination of the reports from
every State, Pennsylvania included,
shows “that in no single district in the
Union, where there has been a live,
earnest, well-supported Democratic so-
ciety, has there been a failure to in-
crease the Democratic vote.”
This shonld be an encouragement
to form such organizations where none
exist, and to strengthen those that have
already been organized. The Demo-
cratic party has a great work todo. It
has
chief part of the political faith of the
larger portion of our people. The ques-
tion of good or bad government in a
great measure hinges upon the impart.
ing of correct information cn this sub-
ject,and in doing a thing so useful and
necessary to be done the Democratic so-
cieties are exerting a powerful and
beneficent influence.
township should have srci a society
——There is news from tbe Pacific
slope to the effect that the British flag
has been insulted on American soil at
Tacoma. The particulars of the of-
fense are meager, but it is certain that
if there was an offense the British lion
woa't be as prompt to resent it as he
would be if it had been commited by
a little power like Portugal.
A Question of Taste.
The new red two-cent postage stamps,
issued as substitutes for what some
called the ‘sickly green” stamps, are
gradually making their appearance,
but from those who have used them
they do not elicit general admiration
and approval. The question of their
beauty is entirely a matter of taste.
A more essential characteristic is their
quality, which is represented to be poor.
The paper on which they are printed is
said to be thin and weak, easily torn
where 4 tear is not wanted. A Phila-
delphia post office official says that in
tearing the sheets for use more of the
new red stamps are damaged than of
the old green ones, and he did not hesi
tate to say that “the new stamp will be
as flat a failure as the new postal card,
which every one dislikes.”
The old adage that one fool will
make many others, was illustrated by
the clamor raised against the green
postage stamps 1n certain quarters.
Some jack brought the charge against
them that their color was a ‘sickly
green,” and without any better reason
than this for considering it sicklier
than any other green,there were plenty
to take up and continue the absurd
charge. There were people of very good
taste who thought that the green
stamp was as handsome as any that
was ever adopted by the post office de-
partment.
It is entirely natural that the
organs of monopoly legalized by tariff
laws should be disturbed by the fre-
quent deliverances of Grover CLEVE-
LAND on the wrong and injury of the
war tariff system. One of them, the
esteemed but misguided Philadelphia
Press, sneeringly remarks that
Mr. CreverLanp's “regular weekly
letter on tariff reform and true
goodness in politics has not
yet made its appearance.” It would
be well for that organ to observe that
these letters never appear without hav.
ing been elicited by a popular request
to hear from the great tariff reformer,
and the frequency of their appearance
upon such solicitation indicates
the growing interest of the people in
the movement of which Mr. CLEVELAND
is acknowledged to be the leader.
-
An Unsophisticated Organ.
The Butler county Republican Com-
mittee at a meeling the other day voted
down aresolution to permit the people
atfthe primaries to express their pre-
ference for a candidate for Governor,
and the Philadelphia Press says it is
difficult to explain such action as that.
An explanation isn't at all difficult,
and the hebetudinosity displayed by
the organ in not being able to “catch
on’ is astonishing. The committee
merely carried out the instruction of
Quay who doesn’t want the Republi-
can people to vote on that question.
He prefers to manipalate uninstr ucted
delegates. The Delamater interest in
Butler is to be managed the same as it
was in Cambria.
It is said that the rank of Major
General is in store for Adjutant Gener-
al Hastings as a salve for his wounded
feelings should he not receive the nomi-
nation for Governor. It is altogether
likely that there will be occasion for
applying the salve.
An Important Question.
Some one who is sensitive about -de-
moralizing influences, asks in the pa-
persiwhether the Young Men's Christian
Association should engage in municipal
elections? Of course they should not
as political professionals,but if its mem
bers do not take an interest in having
good municipal government, which can
be secured only by the vigilance and
activity of good men at the municipal
elections, they are not doing their duty
as citizens.
Politics in its highest sense, relating
Every town and’
to correct the erroneous views
which bad fiscal doctrines and practi-
ces, long tolerated, have made the
| on public affairs.
A iy
to both local and general government, An Old Swindle Draws Its Last Breath.
should engage a large share of the at-
tention of the Young Men’s Christian |
Association. Should this become a
principle of that orgaaization it would
New York Times.
The famous Credit Mobilier of Amer-
ica, which played so prominent a part
+ in the construction of the Union Pacfic
| Railroad and in the destruction of the
greatly aid in loosening the hold which | reputations of several prominent public
the machine workers so long have had |
It shouldn't be sup- |
posed that the members of the Y. M, |
C. A. have become so good, so closely
connected with heavenly affairs, that
their interest in such worldly matters
as elections has undergone emascuia-
tion.
-—1In allowing the postponement of
the time for holding the World's Fair
at Chicago to the year 1893, Congress
shows a disposition to give the people
of the enterprising and energetic city
ample time and the fullest chance to
make it a perfect success. It can be
confidently expected that the Chicago
people will do their utmost, and that
means an immense deal when itis done
by such a people. They should have
the generous and hearty support of the
whole country, with entire confidence
that they will give the world the great-
est fair it has ever seen.
Well Suggested.
The Brooklyn fagle makes the fol-
lowing suggestion which seems to have
init a good deal that is good :
Alfred C. Chapin woula do well for the next
Governor, David B. Hill for the next United
States Senator and Grover Cleveland for the
next President of the United States. Such
choices would secure each of the three men
for the public service. Each would be desig-
nated for duties he could well perform.
We know nothing about the New
York Democratic preference for Gover-
nor, but the balance of the above sug-
gestion stri res us as being a commend.
able arrangement of the right men
in the right places, with a strong pro-
bability of producing a large crop of
harmony. Of course Dana would
kick, but Dana doesn’t count in any-
thing pertaining to Democracy.
Quay Must Make Answer.
If He Does Not Refute the World's
Charges His Political Death is Sure.
Special Correspondence of the Pittsburg Post.
‘WasHINGTON, March 12.—The re-
cent exposure of the New York World
anent Senator Quay’s political and pri-
vate record have furnished much food
for gossip here during the past week.
It is generally believed Mr. Quay must
do something to refute the charges. A
vindiction is thought by everyone who
has given the matter attention to be ab-
solutely neccessary if the senator expects
to retain the respect of his political
associates. The charges have been
bold. Garnished as they were, with de-
tails of the most minute and convincing |
character, their effect has been severe.
In the past when Quay has been as-
sailed, he has said in reply never a
word, and his friends ‘have looked on
approvingly and whispered to each
other with grins of delight: “That's
the way Matthew treats charges against
him."
The accent was on the “him,” and
the stony silence that marked. the sena-
tor’s conduct was accepled as sufficient
refutation. But all ordinary bonds have
been overstepped in the recent expos-
ures, and the arraigment has been so
terrible that even the senator’s friends
concede he must do something to set
himself aright in the estimation of the
public, whom he is presumed to serve
in one of the most dignified capacities
in the nation.
An effort was made by The Post cor-
respondent to secure some expression of
opinion among the Pennsylvania con-
gressional delegation as to what
politicians of Quay’s State expected ot
him in a matter that is now a national
scandal. Naturally there was an aver-
sion to submitting to interviews, but
it was soon evident, before the investiga-
tion had proceeded far, that the delega-
tion is a unitin believing that Mr.
Quay should take some radical step to
square’ himself.
“If Mr. Quay doesnot declare himself
in either an authorized interview or sue
the New York World for libel, what is
the inferences ? asked one of the most
prominent Pennsylvania "congressmen
in reply to a query. “These charges
are not political clap-trap. They were
rot batched up for the purpose of carry-
ing an election. They did not abound
inglittering generalities. The data was
collected, investigated and published in
a cold-blooded manner. There was ap-
parently no motive in them beyond the
motive to have the public appreciate
the character of one of its representa-
tives in the senate. In fact if Mr. Quay
does not answer them he will be liable to
prosecution for malfeasance in office,em-
bezzlement, cerruption and I don’t
know what.
“The statute of limitation of course
prevents his prosecution for the alledged
offences spoken of in the World. Possi-
bly some future exposures might con-
tain some hints of crimes for which he
could still be prosecuted. That remains
to be seen. I, nor any other Republi-
can, dare under-estimate the damage
done to the purty in Pennsylvania these
publications have done. The facts have
been generally known among the poli-
ticians in the State—politicians who
were on the inside. But never before
were they presented in such damning de-
tail. Mr. Quay will have to do some-
thing to set himself aright before his con-
stituency, the people of Pennsylvania.”
Plowed Up $16,000 in Gold.
TY]
Eight miles below Nashville, Ark,
a negro named John Reed, while plow-
ing in a field, found a jug containing |
$16,000 in gold. It was to heavy to
carry and putting $4000 in his pocket, |
he started for a vehicle. He was so |!
elated with his find that he could not
keep his good fortune to himself. As a
consequence when he returned the jug
and its contents had disappeared.
men, has just presented an application
or formal dissolution ia the Courts of
Pennsylvania, where it was organized.
The atlidavit of the Treasurer is preceded
by a statement of account, setting forth
that the assets and liabilities of the cor-
poration exactly balance, each being
nothing. It has engaged in no active
business for many years. Its chief
function, when in operation, was to fur-
nish a ‘legal device by which certain
gentlemen connected with the Union
Pacific Road could make bargains with
themselves at an enormous profit and a
corresponding expense to their fellow-
shareholders and to the bondholders, in-
cluding the United States Government.
It was the first widely-known “‘construc-
tion company,” and was followed by a
long line of successors equally vicious
in principle and mischievous in effect,
but by none that attained such publicity.
That the device was essentially dishonor-
able will hardly be denied, but that
fact has not materially interfered with
its extensive use.
The Farmer’s Bee is Buzzing All Along
the Line.
New York Evening Telegram.
Within one single week the public
has seen demonstrations in widely differ-
ent parts of the country calculated to
carry a cold chill down the War Tariff
spine. In Kansas the farmers and
Krights of Labor held a joint con-
vention, very numerously attended.
The plar was to fuse in a party move-
ment for their mutual benefit, and to
form an alliance for a political purpose.
The whole spirit of the meeting was
“down with these chrashing tariffs.
They rob the farmer, and they are more
of adamage than a benefit to the Knights
of Labor.”
Two days later a convention of far-
mers met in St. Paul to discuss their
wants and purposes. They were large-
ly Republican in politics, and they want-
ed to hear a speech--like loyal partisans
—from the Governor they had helped
to elect. But the Governor was noti-
fied in advance that he needn’t come
there to wave any War-Tariff-Chicago-
plank-flag, for they were not that sort
of Republicans.
Acting on this caution, Governor
Morrison, anxious for re-election, called
on the Convention, and here is one of
the utterances he made: ¢It is’ certain
that the Western farmer should be re-
lieved from any taxes that are instituted
in the interestsof any particular locality,
industry or aggregation of capital. It
is exceedingly difficult to prove to the
farmer that it is to his interest to remov-
tax from luxuries like liquor and to-
bacco, and retain it upon sugar, clothe
ing, hemp, from which binding twine is
made, and the like articles which he
has to have, and I fully agree with him
when he declines to understand the
logic of any such argument.”
Straw number three, two days later,
comes from Trenton, where the Knights
of Labor and the Farmers’ Alliance
met 1n secret session to further legisla-
tion, State and national, for the benefit
of the tillers of the soil and the wage
workers. That farmer’s bee is buzzing
all along the line. His miserable con-
dition has not changed much for thirty
years; but the great difference seems to
be that he has finally diagnosed his
troubles and decided on a remedy.
He is slow,but mighty sure when started.
A Brave But Bad Man.
Deeds of Valor on the Battle Field
and Medals from Congress.
The Philadelphia Record of Monday
says :
The career of Isaac Sapp, the villain
who is to be tried this morning in the
Quarter Sessions Court for having com-
mitted an outrage upon little Mattie
Metzger at Twenty-seventh and Dauphin
streets last week, shows in a forcible
manner that the bravest of men are
oftentimes the blackest of scoundrels.
In spite of the degradation to which he
has now fallen, Sapp was one of the most
daring soldiers who went to the war
from Philadelphia. He was a member
of the Seventy-first Pennsylvania Vol-
unteers, or Baker's California Regiment,
as itwas commonly called, andwas voted
medal by Congress for distinguish-
ed bravery on the field of battle. The
regiment was located at the Bloody
Angle on the third day at Gettysburg,
and when Cushing’s Battery was disa-
bled, every man in the command being
either killed or injured, Sapp was one of
five men who rushed up to the scene of
carnage and, amid a shower of bursting
shells, drew a cannon down to the stone
wall, where it was operated with great
effect. It was for this act that Sapp was
given the medal voted by Congress.
On another occasion, when the Sev-
enty-first-Regiment was in the thickest
of the fight, its colors fell into the hands
of the enemy. Sapp rushed forward
and struck down the Confederate sol-
dier who had captured the flag, and g t
back into the lines with it unharmed.
Although the regiment had to retreat,
it took its colors with it and Sapp was
loudly cheered. For this act he also
was given a medal.
Sapp’s old comrades are filled with
sorrow at his present degredation, and
declare that he was under the influence
of liquor when he committed the foul
crime. His offense is of such a heinous
character, however, that they will not
plead for mercy in his behalf, but let the
law take its course. 1t is probable,
however, that the man’s EAN will be
urged in mitigation of the extreme sev-
erity which is usualy imposed upon of-
fenders of that character.
An Jowa Girl’s Embarrassing Mistake.
Omaha Republican.
A young lady of Walker received a
present from a New York friend of an
elaborate silken, lace-trimmed robe,
girdled with ribbons, in which she soon
made her debut at an evening party and
received many compliments upon her
attire. She fainted upon hearing from
her New York friend that the exquisite
costume was a nightgown.
A New Labor Union.
Farmers and Knights of New Jersey
Unite for a Common Cause.
TreNTON, N. J., March 9.—A secret
meeting was held to-day of members of
the Knights of Labor and of the Farmer §
Alliance. They created a new organiza-
tion, which was christened “The Indus-
trial Senate.” There were forty dele-
gates at the meeting, representing every
Assembly district in the State. The
Farmers Alliance was represented by
only two or three delegates, but letters
were read from the lodges of the Pat-
rons of Husbandry throughout the State
expressing approval of the new organiza-
tion, and pledging hearty co-operation.
Jobn W. Hayes, Secretary of national
organization of the Knights of Labor,
and Charles H. Zimmerman, Secretary
of the State Labor Bureau, were present
and took an active part in the proceed-
ings:
The new organization has for its ob-
ject the betterment of the condition of
wage-workers and tillers of the soil.
The following officers were elected :
President, Henry A. Breckmeyer, ot
Newark ; Vice President, J. A. Craig,
of Paterson; Secretary and Treasurer,
F. W. Merritt, of New Brunswick.
The Ballot Reform bill now before
the Legislature was discussed, and it
was agreed to urge amendments provid-
ing for non-partisan Election Boards
and the exclusive use of an official bal-
lot, to be kept in the election booths and
handed out to voters only. The ballot-
box frauds were vigorously denounced.
The Industrial Senate decided to meet
again in two weeks.
The Guillotine’s Bloody Work in Paris.
No Codaling or Lionizing of French
Murderers.
Parts, March 9.—In the gray dawn
yesterday morning the guillotine did
its terrible work in the Place de Ila
Roquette. The execution was a double
one, Ribot and Jeantroux, the marder-
ers of a concierge in the Rue Bonaparte,
both paying the penalty of their crime.
On the afternoon of July 15, 1889,
Mme. Kuhn was found strangled in her
lodge. For nearly a fortnight the police
were at a loss, but finally they were
put on the track of three young men
named Ribot, Jeantroux and Pillet, by
an indicateur, who succeeded in induc-
ing the precocious rascals to recount
their crime to him. Ribot, the eldest
of the band, was only twenty-one years,
while his accomplices were but seven-
teen. The three were brought up for
trial last January at the Seine assizes.
Ribot and Jeantroux were found guilty
and condemed to death, while Pillet es-
caped with a sentence of ten years im-
prisonment. Despite the youth of the
condemed pair, M. Carnot had been
advised not to exercise his prerogative
of reprieve, with the view of striking
terror into the hearts of the precocious
criminals who infest the capital. The
execution of Jeantroux is, I believe,
the only instance of the death sentence
being carried out in the case of a youth
of seventeen since the revolution.
As usual the news of the execution
spread like Greek fire among the re-
fuse of the capital. Friday evening
the Place de la Roquette was, from mid-
night onward, invaded by a choice selec-
tion of the criminal classes of the pop-
ulation. Shortly before 2 a. m., M.
Deibler’s assistants made their exit from
the prison gate with the guillotine
which, speedily stood up against the
leaden sky, a subject for the coarse jests
of the crowd, to which it should have
been a warning.
‘Meanwhile the soldiers and police had
cleared the square and drawn cordons
across the streets converging thereto.
Just as day broke the prison gates were
thrown open a second time and the
procession, headed and closed by sol-
diers and consisting of the jail officials,
the chaplain, the condemned youths and
executioner moved slowly to the gullo-.
tine. The younger of the two was
first to bow his neck beneath the fatal
knife, and within what scarcely seemed
more than a few seconds his companion’s
head had also fallen in the fresh basket.
Then the throbbing corpses were placed
ina van and driven off. Water and
sponges were employed to efface the
blood stains on the sadly historic stones,
the guillotine was taken down and the
crowd slowly dispersed.
“It is not possible that orders will be
given to execute me,” gaid Jeantroux,
the younger of the two prisoners to the
gaolers in the evening. “The President
will never allow a young man of seven-
teen to be guillotined. I shall be sent
to New Caledonia, for lite at hard labor,
and IT shall be able to get along all
serene.”
The young reprobate dropped off to
sleep at about 8 p. m., probably to
dream of the enchantress of New Cale-
donia and the joys of the hulks. He
was awakened at ten minutes past 6 by
the governor of the prison, who apprised
him of his forthcoming execution and
bade him prepare to die with courage.
“I will try,” replied Jeantroux,though
his trembling limbs belied his words.
After drinking a glass of rum, he
asked to be allowed to smoke a pipe
and to bid farewell to Ribot, both of
which requests were refused him. So
it was with Ribot, who asked the gover-
nor if his accomplice was also to die.
Not receiving an answer, he begged to
be allowed to see him.
“Not possible,” he repeated after the
Governor, “TI don’t see why my request
should be refused.” y
Jeantroux was, as stated, the first to
be placed under the fatal knife. As he
made his exit from the prison gates he
was trembling like a leaf and his limbs
seemed scarce able to support him.
Beside the scaffold he effusively em-
braced the prison chaplain, Abbe Faure,
and twice pressed his lips against the
crucifix.
“Au revoir, a ma mere,” he said to
the abbe, whose cheeks were wet with
tears. Ribot died more gamely than
his younger accomplice. As he walked
to the guillotine he even tried to smile,
but the effort only resulted in horrible
contractions of his features. He wus
able to control the physical repugnance
which had stiffened his predecessor’s
frame and neck under the pressure of
the executioner, and bent hithselt for-
ward over the framework on which the
body rests.
Hard Times for Farmers.
Philadelphia Times.
The farmers of Montgomery and
Berks counties have been aroused to or-
ganized action by the general depression
in the farming interests of those coun-
ties. Itis claimed that the market val-
ue of farm lands in Montgomery c.unty
has declined forty per cent during the
last ten years, and itis ascertained in
both counties that many farmers will be
compelled to abandon larming in the
near future unless some speedy and
substantial relief can be obtained.
The depression of the farming inter-
ests is not only logical butit is inevitable.
They are now paying the same high
war taxes on everything they buy that
they paid when they received war
prices of $2 per bushel for their wheat
and like prices forall their other products.
The needless tariff taxes the farmers pay
upon the necessaries of their industry and
the necessaries of life would make the
difference between actual loss and reason-
able profit on any well regulated farm
in Montgomery and Berks counties.
The farmers are mocked with false
protection, and thus taxed excessively
on what they must buy when there is
no possible method of protecting them
in their chief products, the price of
which is regulated by the foreign m ar-
ket to which their surplus must go.
They are mocked by prote:tion on
wool, when there are not five hundred
farmers in Pennsylvania who would
not gain more from free woolin cheap-
ened woolens they consume than they
could possibly lose on wool ; and for the
mockery of protectiot on wool, vegeta-
bles, eggs, butter, etc., they are taxed
in home and barn from foundation to
roof; taxed in furniture, clothing, uten-
sils, farm implements, and everything
that goes on their tables from salt to
china, with the single exception of tea
and coffee.
The farmers are walking monuments
of high war’ taxation in time of peace,
as are their wives, their children and
their labors. When war taxes were a
necessity and values of farm products
advanced with taxes, farmers could
afford war taxation; but war taxes
with wheat and other farm products
at two-fifths their price in war times,
must bankrupt our farming interests
in the old States. Let the [armers look
to Congress, where tariff revision is on
hand, and note that wool and woolens
are to be loaded wlth increased taxes,
and that tin plate of universal use on
our farms from kitchen utensils to din-
ner pails and out house roofs, is to be
increased one hundred and twenty-five
percent, in taxes, and they will under-
stand wby they are impoverished and
where the remedy is to, be found: Truly,
these are hard times for farmers, but it
is quite as true that the farmers have al-
ways had the power to release themselves
from bondage and that they have thus
far failed to exercise it. t
The Atrocioust Tax on Tin.
Philadelphia Times.
There is no tin plate manufactured
in this country. and although it is a
commodity of very general use among
the masses of the people, they are
taxed over $6,000,000 a year by tariff
duties.
It is purposed to increase this tax on
tin-plate 125 per cent., which would im-
posed a tax of nearly $14,000,000 on the
tin-plate now consumed in this country.
This tax is demanded by a tin syndicate
or combine that purposes to manufacture
tin-plate for our own consumption.
If the proposed tax of nearly $14,000,-
000 was intended to develop a great
home industry and make increased de-
mand for labor, there would be some
plausible excuse for it; but when it is
considered that there are not over 28,-
000 people employed in the manufac-
ture of tin-plate to supply the whole
world with that commodity, including
men, women, and children, the absurdity
of taxing consumers $14,000,000 to
protect labor must be apparent to all.
Of the $14,000,000 direct taxes pro-
posed to be levied on tin-plate, to be
charged to tte workingman’s dinner
pail and kitchen utensils and to the
small farm’s cans for his fruits and vege-
tables, not $1,000,000 of it would be
paid for labor, while 780,000 workers ot
tin-plate in this country would be op-
pressively taxed on their raw materials.
Baltimore alone manufactures 120,-
000,000 tin cans for the use of farmers,
fruiters, and oystermen, etc, and the
capital invested in the canning business
there is $10,000,000 and gives employ-
ment to 75,000 working people. Many
of the villages and surrounding coun-
try in New Jersey have vastly more
interests in this question than any
other feature of tariff reform; and when
it is considered that millions of these
canned fruits, vegetables, etc., are ex-
ported, the atrocity of taxing tin-plate is
presented in all its nakedness.
The present tariff’ is paralyzing the
very labor it professes to protect by
needless and crushing taxes on raw
materials and equally crushing and
needless taxes on the necessaries of
life ; and instead of imposing new and
more oppressive taxes on working peo-
ple the time has come when there must
be a radical advance in free raw ma-
terials and cheapened necessaries of life.
The Corset Vender Caught.
The fellow who has been masquerad-
ing through many towns of Burlington
county, N. J., as a woman selling cor-
sets and other articles of female apparel,
has been tripped up at Highstown, and
is now in jail. He refused to give his
name, but said that he had been mak-
ing his living in that way for several
years, having traveled through the
Northern and Middle States without
being detected. He is effeminate in ap-
pearence and of very slender build, and
always wore a bonnet, even at the table,
excusing himself by saying that he was
afraid of taking cold. He was first de-
tected at Allentown, and promised there
to give up his woman’s clothes, but
after leaving the town went back to his
old tricks and began soliciting business
at Highstown.
“Are you observing Lent?’ asked
one miss of another. “Oh, yes; I al
ways do. I told Charley he should stop
bringing those dollar bonbons, and
we're going to make the 80 cent kind do
during the season of fasting.”