BY P. GRAY MEEK. Ink Slings. ——Switzerland, which celebrated its six hundreth anniversary last Saturday, as & republic is like the Irishman’s pig —+little, but ould.” —Toum PLATT iS again attaining an elevation as questionable in its character as that which he reached in ’81 by means of a step-ladder. --A Pittsburg heiress has married the tattooed man of a dime museum. Her taste is similar to that of the Republi- cans who are in love with BLAINE. —If WANAMAKER would have been with Quay and CaMERON at Donegal last Sunday the sabbatarian character of the meeting would have been com- plete. : —Such is the abhorrence for the nude along Asbury beach that the mer- maids can’t flip their tails above the water without exciting the protest of the deacons. —In these canning days the low price of sugar doesn’t sweeten the temper of the housewife when she thinks that cans would be cheaper if it wasn’t for Mc- KiNLey. —Mr. HarrisoN’s great luck catching crabs at Cape May is ominous- ly suggestive. Things are going back- ward as regards his chance for a re- nomination, —A contemporary charges PARNELL with pulling down the temple of Irish home-rule. Maybe this Samson parallel is attributable to PARNELL’S having been shorn by a DELILAH. —CLEVELAND, Hirt, HARRISON and BLAINE are all at the seashore straining their ears to hear what the wild waves may have to say about the prospect of the next Presidential campaign. -—PuiL ArRMoUrR and James WHIT- coMB RILey sailed in the same steamer from Europe last Saturday. In this realistic age it is difficult to prevent the juxtaposition of pork and poetry. SAM LoscH scalped his enemies in the Schuykill county Republican conven- tion last Tuesday. If his foes had got- ten away with SAM’s scalp it would have been a barren victory, for there is no hair on it. —The commendation of Senator Gor- MAN by the Maryland Democratic State committee for his having defeated the odious Force bill, was as great a com- pliment as was ever paid to American patriotism and statesmanship. in —OCLARKSON has blazed his way to the head of the Republican National Committee by the keen edge of his snickersnee. He has beconie head-man of the committee by his having been headsman of the post office department. —No one should indulge the delu- sion that the morality of the Republi- can National Committee has been im- proved by the withdrawal of QUAY and DupLey. The only difference is that its rascally methods will not be as ef- fective. —Chestnut trees ace reported as doing their full duty thisyear, and there is go- ing to be an adundant yield. There doesn’t seem to de any production that will detract from the prolific record of 1891, the Fepublican vote alone ex- cepted. —As slentorian as is the voice ot Re- presentstive Fow it is not far-reaching enougl to reverberate across the Atlan- tic aid arouse GEorGE HANDY SMITH to # consciousness of neglected duty in net being on hand to assist in investigat- ng the State treasury crookedness, —General GREGG, who has consented to be the Republican candidate for Au- ditor General, distinguished himself by his connection with the cavalry, but those who can’t see that he is Quay’s candidate display a guileless innocence that entitles them to be classed among the infant-ry. --The Treasury Department has given instruction to the New York custom house to remit the duty in the special case of a kinkajou imported for the Washington Zoo. As everything else is tariffed there is no reason to bs sar- prised that kinkajous are alsa on the list, although it is difficult to see what infant industry is benefited thereby. Probably the remission of the duty on the kinkajou is a concession to Mr. BLAINE'S reciprocity policy, with the ultimate object of encou raging a foreign demand for the American giasticutis. —Our really honest and fair-minded Republican contemporary, the Altoona Tribune, after saying that Philadelphia “has been in the hands of common thieves,” advises the people of that city, of both parties, to rise up and oust the rascals. The city government of Phila- delphia has for years been exclusively in the hands of the Republicans--tcom- mov thieves,” if the Tribune wishes to have it put in that way. Itis only since the interjection of a Democratic of- ficial by Governor PATTISCN'S appoint. ment of a city treasurer that the public is being enabled to get some idea ot the extent of this thieving. cla VOL. 36. The Watchman and a Constitutional Convention. The Pittsburg Times has certainly given this paper a very casual reading or it would not have committed the er- ror of placing it on its list of papers op- posing a Constitutional Convention. The WarcHMAN is not opposed to a Constitutional Convention. It has giv- en what other journals say regarding the probable cost of a convention; it has stated what other papers allege— that the corporations of the State are in favor of remodeling the present con- stitution—an allegation that has no foundation, and one that but few will believe ; but in no way or at no time has it expressed opposition to the movement, nor does it expect to. To the contrary, the WarcamaN is in favor of a Constitutional Convention. It believes it necessary that there should be one. It believes that Article V, which fixes the constitute a Judicial district at 40,000, population necessary should be changed so as to prevent a further increase of Judges and give those we have something to do. It believes that section seven of Ar- ticle IIT should be so modified that country districts could .receive some benefit from legislation, and the inter- communities and sections be cared for and protected to the same extent as large cities and densely populated dis- tricts. It believes that Article V1II should be so altered and amended that such reform in our method of votinz and the manner in which the vote is counted secure a secret and fair ballot and an honest return of the result. It believes that other changes in the fundamental law—possibly not so pressingly needed as those "indicated— could be made that would benefit the people and protect the State. It believes that the Democratic par- ty, through the action of its organiza- tions, and the promises and professions of its speakers and candidates in the campaign of last fall, stands pledged on this question, and believing this,it will, when the time comes, give «0 the movement in favor of calling a con- stitutional convention, an honest, open and sincere support, unless the character of the delegates selected to make up that convention are men no- toriously unfit to perform the impor- tant work expected of such a body. ——The United States are not the only country that is going to celebrate the great discovery of Crristornrr Corvmpus. Itis going to be commen- orated by a historical exhibition at Madrid in Spain, and by an all-around industrial exhibition at Genoa in Italy. It is highly fitting that the Spaniards and Italian should make these demon- strations, as they were so closely asso- ciated with CoLuMBUS'S great achieve- ment, but the Chicago Exhibition will dwarf every other held in honor of CoLuMBUS. ea cn Nothing could be a better illus- tration of the utter disregard for facts too often shown in party couavention resolutions, than is given in a resolu: tion passed by the Centre county Re- publican convention this week, which expressed “a sense of the benefits con- ferred upon the industries of Pennsyl- vania by the McKinley tariff, and of the great extension of our commerce and the cheapening of prices which have followed the reciprocity system inaugurated by that measure.”—The facts are that in no instance have reci- procity arrangements been perfected with any nation to the extent of hav- ing any eftect whatever at this time, and it is the experience of purchasers that prices have generally been increas ed since the McKinley bill went into operation. to | ests of the people in sparsely settled | are the interests of the residents of our | and returned, should be made as would wv, [3 Quay’s Game. The game which manager Quay is going to play this year in Pennsylva- nia is quite transparent. No one with a grain of political sagacity can expe- rience any difficulty in seeing through it. The impression has heen created that his candidate for Auditor General was Senator MyLIN, of Lancaster, and for State Treasurer Speaker THOMPSON, of Warren, or Captain Joun W Mog- RISON, of Allegheny. These names have been given out as the choice of the Boss, but later on it is made to ap- pear that he has yielded his determin- ation to rule nominations and will not demand the choice of his favorites. He is not going to interfere, it is said ; he will not repeat the dictation of last year; the party will be left free to choose its own ticket; and under such circumstances General Grea, of Reading, and GiLes D. Prick, of Erie, are announced as likely to go on the ticket free of hoss dictation. This is a cunning game intended to disguise the continued power of Quay in controlling the party nominations. It is pretty well understood that the choice of Greece and Prior will be merely a change of instruments in the hands of the Boss, and is approved by him because itjwill serve as a means of deceiving the yoters who are disposed to rebel against the nomination of open and avowed tools of Quay, such as MyrLiy, TroxpsoN or Morrison are known to be. In speaking of this deception, a | prominent Independent Republican of | Philadelphia said some days ago: “It | is quite amusing to watch the side | shows and by-plays of Senator Quay {and his friends to mislead the public; 'and it is almost certain to proye about as successful as the efforts of the os- | trich to eonceal its body by hiding its | head in the sand. The convention to { be held at Harrisburg on August 19 | will be as completely under Quay’s | domination as was the convention last year when DeLaMATER was nominated. | Quay himself will be absent, just as he was absent last year; but it will be QuAay’s convention, Quay’s Chairman, | QuaY’s candidates and Quay's plat- form. Pains will be taken through the newspapers to conceal the fact ; | but the outcome will be exactly what | Quay either wishes or approves. It is true he will give the Republican party | better men as candidates than under | ordinary circumstances. This he will | do to increase his chances of retaining | his control of the State. If he wins he 1 will be stronger than ever; it he loses be will be broken. Quay himself ap- preciates this, and he will give desper- ate battle with the people to continue the supremacy of Quayism in Pennsyl- vania.” At the Maryland State conven- tion at Baltimore the Sun polled the delegates on their personal preferences for Presideat, getting the views of 150. CLEVELAND led with 65, while Senator GoryMaN showed up with 60, Governor Hrun 2, and the remainder undecided and for the party’s candidate. SS ————— ——The free trade idea in Mr. BraiNe’s reciprocity policy is working out its results, A commercial treaty has been made with Spain in which the restrictive features of the McKinley tariff are to some extent dropped in the trade intercourse between the 1s- lands of Cuba and Porto Rico and the United States, with the undoubted ef- fect of benefiting all parties concerned. For a long time these islands have been atilicted with many of the evils of a high tariff, from which the free trade secured by reciprocity will relieve them. Under the new constitution of Mississippi it is requisite to pay a poll tax four months before election day in order to secure a vote. The effect of this provision considerably thins out | the list of voters, A great many ne- groes will not pay this tax, and as a re- sult the voting population of the State show a white majority at about 50,000. This may cause a howl among the bay- onet politicians, but the same prinei- ple was endorsed in Pennsylvania two | vears ago when the people determined | by an immense majority that those who didn’t pay just such a tax should not be allowed to vote. There should be no exception made in favor of the vagabond negroes of ‘he South. . STATE RIGHTS AND FEDERAL UNION. BEYZ.EFONTE, PA., AUGUST 7, 1891. How the Quaker City Goose Has Been Plucked. City Treasarer Wricnt, of Philadel- phia, continues to make remarkable disceveries. In addition to having dis- covered that the books of the last half dozen Republican city treasurers are not to be found, he is making some rich finds in the Mercantile Appraisers’ department. He has found out that the Appraisers’ lists have been enormously padded by putting names on them that should not have been there—the names of persons, many of whom were dead, many bogus, and many others who were not doing business at all, or not enough to warrant their enrollment. Names appear to have been put on the lists merely for the sake of getting the 62} cents allowed for each name. Last year, after this fee was allowed the thrifty Appraisers,they deliberately set about striking off 10,367 names, which, at 62} cents a name, afforded a clear steal of $6476.25. In addition to this “stealage” for the benefit of the Ap- praisers, the names that had no right to be on the lists—put there merely for profitable padding—were published at a cost of $1.50 each, giving favored newspapers a share of the swag to the amount of $15,543. Auditor General McCamant denies having got any share of this plunder, but is not sure that some of it may not have been used for?political purposes. This thing has been going on for years. As an illustration of the bogus charac- ter of these Appraisers’ lists, it appears that after more than 10,000 names had been stricken off there were 6559 left on to be prosecuted as delinquents. The suits were given to city magistrates —ward politicians, no doubt, who had a claim to being greased in the way of fees—and out of these suits but $2,725.- 50 was collected at a cost of $31,194.20. The State was out $28,467.70 in this one item, but the magistrates were “in it” to that extent. This job was appor- tioned among nine magistrates; each had 728 cases allotted to him;onan aver. age each collected 27, and after turn- ing over a modicum of costs to the city treacury, each made an average of $2 245 on the deal. The constables, for serving the writs and executions in these cases, received $20,199.70. They had to have their little “divvy” too, as a reward for political service. In all, Treasurer WriGHT estimates that $66, 000 of State money was wasted in this way last year. The Treasurer mildly uses the word “wasted” in this connect- tion, but “stolen” is the proper term. ce —— —The Democrats of Maryland held their State convention on Thursday of last week, nominated Frank Brown for Governor, and adopted a platform that lacks directness on the silver question. The nominee is a farmer, and, in all relations, is a man above reproach. Senatcr GorMAN was endorsed for re- election to that high position, and the enthusiasm the mention of his name evoked is evidence of the strong hold he has on “My Maryland.” Erhardt’s Protest. The spoils system has forced collec tor ERHARDT out of the New York cus- tom house. He was a good officer, honest aad efficient in the discharge of his duty as far as he was allowed to discharge it; but out of regard for his reputation as a public officer he was compelled to resign when he found that his office was controlied by ma- chine politicians in the interest of ma- chine politics, while he was held re- sponsible for its management and for the doings of 31503 employes who were under the control of Tom Prarr, the chief representative and dispenser of the administration patronage in the State of New York. In his letter to the President resigning the office of collector, Mr. Eruapr says that he cannot consent to occupy an office which he 1s not allowed to control. Iu his eagerness tor a renomination Mr. Harrison has forgotten his pro- mise that his administration would be conducted on civil service reform prin- ciples, and is using the offices .as a means of continuing his official tenure. The New York custom house, the most important and influential official estab- lishment in checountry,has been hand- ed over to Pratt to be used instrumen- tally in making New York solid for Harrison's renomination. ErHARDT'S resignation is a protest against such debauchery of the civil service, NO. 30. Looking After the Stolen Money. Governor Partison, with asolicitude for the interest of the State becoming a careful and honest chief executive, and with the object of getting to the bottom ot the Keystone Bank rottenness which has caused the loss of a large amount of money to the State, has written aletter to (Secretary; of the Treasury Foster asking for the power of appointing a committee of citizens to examine the books of that bank for the purpose of tracing the State funds deposited there- in by BarpsiLEY, which has so myster- iously disappeared. The apparent loss to the commonwealth and to the city of Philadelphia is about $1,500,000, in which loss the State is largely concern- ed, directly and indirectly. The affairs of the bank are now in the hands of a receiver and consequent- ly under the jurisdiction of the Treas- ury department. It will require the consent of the Secretary of the Treas. ury to enable the Governor to effect the object he proposes in the interest of the plundered State ; but if his request is allowed, the committee which he will appoint to examine the books, papers and accounts of the bank relative to the deposits of public money made therein by BarpsLev, may discover what became of the money thus deposited, and the same be recovered if possible. It is to be hoped that Sec- retary Foster will accede to the Govern. or's request, so that the stolen State money may be traced, even if the thieves have gotten away with it so completely that it can’t be recovered. There will be something gained at least in finding out who the rascals are. —Since the above was written Sec- retary Foster has given his consent to have the affairs of the bank investi- gated by a committee, as requested by the Governor. — —Some political observers profess to regard the removal of EraarDT and thesubstitution of Fasserr in his place, as collector of New York, as a good piece of strategy, displaying President Harrison's sagacity as a political manager. They claim that it gives the President a stronger hold ou the National Executive committee, and at the same time disconcerts the Blaine faction. Whatever may be its effect in these respects it certainly secures the Tom Platt machine for HarrisoN in 1892. Italso presents Mr. Harrison in the light of a high official ready to resort toa low order of politics,and going back on his promise of civil service re- form for the purpose of securing a re election. He Will Be Surprised. Hon. Georee HaNpy SuitH, who is now enjoying the pleasures of a Eu- ropean tour, will be surprised to hear a certain item of news from the Key- stone State. Aschairman of the legise lative committee appointed to investi- gate the management of the State Treasury and the Auditor Generals de- partment, he went off to foreign lands when he should have staid at home and called his committee together for business ; but at the very time when he thinks that he has succeeded in dodging this unpleasant duty—un- pleasant to himself and his party—the Democrats of the committee determine to get together and go on with the in- vestigation. This may be a little ir- regular, but it seems to be the only thing that can be done under the cir- cumstances in the interest of the plun- dered people. It will surprise Mr. Syrri when he hears of it in Europe. ———— He Puts His Foot on It. State Chairman Xerr makes it dis- tinctly understood that under no cir- ramstances will he allow himself to be a candidate for Auditor General in the cotniug campaign. [lis name appears to have been brought into prominence in connection with that office without reference to his own wish or interest, to suit a purpose with which he was in no way connected, and he has come to the conclusion that it is about time to stop its being used in that way. He is a candidate for clerk of the House of Representatives, with excellent pros. pects of an election, and the urging of his nomination for Auditor General was taking liberties with him that he is not willing] to tolerate, Spawls from the Keystone, —Pottsville brewers have raised the price of beer. —Horse thieves are stealing the choicest animals at Norristown. : —Lycoming county's tax levy was increased from 4 mills to 5 this year, slo ad In Reading thirty children under 3 years died during the past week. —William Funk, a Carlisle contractor, ig . missing, with about $4000 debts. —Mr. and Mrs. John Beigler, of Lancaster celebrated their golden wedding, . —The Potato yield in Northern Berlks county will average 125 bushels to the acre, —Ellen Sawyer, of Bowers’ Station, aged fifteen months, ate caustic soda and died. —Ex Governor St. John, of Kansas, addresge ed the temperance people at Mount Gretna, —A big blacksnake was found.in a hen's ‘nest by Mrs. George Ruth, of Yellow House, —Thieves have recently broken: into rail road stations at Douglassville and Birdshoro, —Four deaths from diptheria have occurred since Saturday on one small street in Scran ton. —The Soldiers’ Orphans’ Sixteeners will hold a reunion in Reading on. August 18, 19 and 20. —From four and a half acres of small fruitg E. C. Brinser, of Middletown, realized $300 this ‘season. —A crazy Hun, armed. with: a.big knife, is making life miserable for the people near Hazleton. —A boiler full of hot coffee sealded to death the 2-year-old baby of James Hoisby, of Phils ipsburg. —The new railroad through the breast of the fatal Johnstown dam was opened for business Saturday. —Oil wells are being sunk. in. Berks county, —There are forty-five cases of ‘typhoid fever at Cressona. —Stuart Wiley, of Lancaster, tried to swim the Conestoga Creek after a wounded. bird and was drowned. —Station Agent Frank Mitchell at Skinner’y Eddy has disappeared, leaving his books bad- ly mixed up. —While ina street car in. Reading, Rueben H. Brady, aged 55 years, choked to death from asthmatic coughing. -—Rheumatic cramps attacked: Lewis Keefer while at work on a roof in Williamsport, and he fell to the ground. —A mad bull drove J. M: Bennethum, of Reading, into a tree ina. field and kept him there for two hours. —Edward Martin, one of Pottsville’s mcgh competent letter-carriers, has been decapitag ted for being a Democrat. —Bowmanite trustees have been sued at Mauch Chunk by the “Antis” to get possession of an Evangelical Church. —A fallen tree pinned Charles Campbell ta the ground on Cedar Run, above Williamsport and dislocated his thigh, —A woman giving the name of Mrs. Garrigs han was arrested in Tunkhannock, charged with passing a forged check. —Alfred W. Swartz, salesman for Hautsch & Rhein, cigar manufacturers, was arrested in Reading for embczzling $300. —Samuel Schenck, of Princeton, was are rested in Reading for stealing a chest from hig grandfather containing $2700.. —The great anthracite furnace at Kutz. town, which was wreck ed'years ago by an ex. plosion, is to be started up again. —Guorge W. Curran, John Wolf and Dick Russell have been sent to jail at Hazleton for robbing Dodson's clothing store. “Death from alcoholism and exposure” was the Coroner's verdict in the case of Adam Twarkesky, a Bear Meadow Hun. —A turkey hen belonging to Monroe Kise ling, of Bernville, has adopted 112 young, chicka ens, and leads them. to the field daily. —An amputated leg was the penal ty paid by Abner Morgan, of Philadelphia, for a ‘stole ride on the Lebanon. Valley Railroad. ’ —Failing to kill himself with a suicidal bule let on Wednesday night, John Leisey, of Hinkletown, tried:to-drown himself. —A footpad sand-bagged Walter Keller, son of Williamsport’s Mayor, while he lay ina hammock, and robbed him of his money. —Among theold files in Clerk W. H. Salla. da's office, at Reading, is the original petition for laying out that town, being signed in 1760, —Eighteen-year-old John Christian, of Pottsville, fractured his skull in a collision with another young man while playing bases Dall. —The Pittston Borough Cnuncils were order by the Court to open a certain street, and now the Court has granted an injunction restraine ing them. —Tee skelton found at Manheim is believed to be that of a drover who disappeared many years ago, having been robbed of a large sum of money. —Three cows belonging to John F. Mesch near Pottstown, were driven into an abandon- ed cellar by an unknown person and nearly died of starvation. —John Mettenger, an escaped maniac from the Harrisburg Insane Asylum, has cansed great alarm at Ashland. He hides in a cave and makes nightly raids on the town. —The ground around Richardson colliery at Glen Carbon is settling deeper and deeper: and cave-ins are frequent. Fears for the whole village are entertained. —4¢ Mantrase the Grand Jury Hos found eight bills for embezzlement against Daniel Summers and Tracy Hayden, bankers, who failed and left their depositors to whistle. —The Newbergers, of New York, stopred with an injunction other Directors of the Pennsylvania, Lehigh and Eastern, Railroads, from holding a meeting and yoting_ stock in Wilkesbarre. —Joseph C. Moritz, an Easton painter, was committed to jail on aserious charge. While intoxicated he - attempted to.assaalt an aged lady and drew a revolver on anold man who interfered. He then fired five shots at a party of boys without effect. —The strike of the Pittsburg bricklayers was three months oid, Saturday. The bosses are full of fight and determined to refuse the men’s terms. President Barnes, of the Build. ers’ exchange, said that $100,000 would be ex- pended in the future, if necessary, to win the fight. —In June Lee Babcock’s husband was sent to the Norristown jail for three years for horse stealinr. The woman after a few weeks’ courtship with a lover went to Camden and was married. She did not even go to the trouble of getting a divorce, Now there is trouble,
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