B
BY P. GRAY ME=K.
Ink Slings.
—The latest report is that ANTONIO
MAcCEo, the Cuban generalio, is alive
again. ;
—Senator HILL is a ‘‘peach’’ for saying
good things, but in action—why that is
another thing.
—Speak nice to every one now. How
do you know but that some of them are
going to give you a nice Christ mas present.
—More than one third of the entire ex-
pense of our government is for pensions.
Do you think it wise to rush into war with
Spain ? ?
—New England has had quite a snow
storm, - Philadelphia and New York have
each been visited, but Bellefonte has
wheels yet.
— After the President gets settled down
as a resident of New Jersey he can keep his
hand in at duck shooting by practicing on
the mosquitoes.
—With all its toys and tinsel things,
Christmas comes on apace ; the bad boy
stops saying naughty things, and wears a
pious face.
—When the fat girl thinks of Christ-
mas time and of what use her stockings can
be put to then, she no longer raves because
of her obesity.
—The Mackeyville skunkery will more
than likely be run on honest enough meth-
ods, but it ’1l raise many a stink before it
is in existence long.
—The life of Cincinnati's first one cent
paper was just eleven days. The trouble
appears to have been that the value of the
money was higher than that of the paper.
—The past season holds the record for
the largest corn crop ever raised in Amer-.
ica. It is too bad that nature should have
thus conspired against the temperance
forces.
—So Bellefonte is to have an elope-
ment. The Magnet has a corner on the news.
‘Who is the woman you intend carrying off
from her hubby and two children, dear
Mr. BAILEY?
—The advent of evangelist MooDYy at
Sing Sing caused a little stir among the
convicts at that penal institution. MooDY
should be right at home at Sing Sing, if
there is anything in a name. !
—Judging from the number of debtors
who say : “I'll pay you whenever I get
able,’”’ Uncle SAM would have a great
many disabled men to fall back on should
the worst come to the worst with Spain.
—Quay thinks that they are not treat-
ing him right in Philadelphia. He is say-
ing all kinds of nasty things about Phila-
delphia’s attempt to send $400,000 Jonx
WANAMAKER to the United States Senate.
—QuAY has beaten WANAMAKER in
Philadelphia. Think of it, that business
men’s league knocked out and pious JouN
left to run the big Bethany Sunday school,
instead of being an United States Senator.
—The Pittsburg Post says Major Mc-
KINLEY ‘‘could go further, say to Centre
county—and fare worse’’ in the appoint- |
ment of an Attorney General than in giving
that portfolio to J. HAY BROWN, of Lan-
caster. What does this mean, brother
BARR? Do you dare to fling at our
DANIEL?
—After we get Cuba free Kansas will |
demand our attention for awhile. MARY!
ELLEN LEASE is in trouble out there
in. Some one wants to sell her prop- |
erty because it has shrunken so much in
value that it isn’t worth the money she is
said to have borrowed on it. Centre coun-
ty has lots and lots of cases of this very
sort.
—It was the foreign voter that elected
McKINLEY. In every State where the
native born citizen predominates there was
a victory for silver, and in every State,
where a large percentage of the voters are
foreigners, MCKINLEY won. This looks
very much as if the Dagos are beginning to
get the upper hand. The immigration
bars ought to be put up.
—Senator VEST is of the opinion that
high tariffs are as injurious to American
industries as is opium to the human sys-
tem. We agree with him there. Tariffs
are unnatural stimulants. They, deaden
the nerves of legitimate business, create
false standards and finally leave industry
in such an exhausted condition that it can-
not stand alone, when the tariff pap is
taken from it.
—The DINGLEY bill is dead. That
means that this Congress is not going to
meddle with the tariff and if Mr. Mc-
KINLEY wants to do it he will have to call
an extra session in the spring. The New
York Herald will have to find another
reason for the with-holding of prosperity.
It has said that the fear of tariff meddling is
what keeps manufactures from picking up,
now that they have elected their ‘‘sound
money’’ goo goos.
—There is lots of fun in watching a
fight, such as i3 now being waged in the
Republican party in this State, but there
is very little in past experience to prove
that it will be of any benefit to Democracy.
The remarkable feature of Republican
fights: is that they .invariably forget all
about them before election time. Now
with the Democrats, unfortunately, it is just
the reverse. They never quit and that is
just why our party isso continually in a
condition of disruption.
ness boom would immediately set in.
Demacralic
STATE RIGHTS AND FEDERAL UNION.
"BELLE
Maceo's Probable Assassination.
If it be true that MACEO, the patriotic
Cuban leader, has been assassinated by the
Spaniards, under circumstances of peculiar
treachery and atrocity, and for the foul
purpose of removing an enemy whom they
could not conquer by honorable methods of
warfare, so dastardly an act will probably
do more towards the achievement of Cuban
liberty than if the life of the brave chief-
tain had been spared to continue its service
to the cause of freedom ; for there can be
no question that if the details of this in-
famy, as received through Cuban sources,
are verified, such indignation will be
excited throughout the civilized world, and
particularly in the United States, as must
prove disastrous to the Spanish cause in
Cuba.
Is it probable that there is truth in the
report which represents General MACEO to
have fallen a vietim to Spanish treachery ?
It is the policy of the Spanish authorities
to deny it, butin forming our opinion of
the credibility of so dastardly a deed we
are justified in drawing our conclusion in
regard to it from what is well known as to
the baseness and cruelty of WEYLER'S dis-
position, and the combination of treachery
and cowardice in the Spanish character
that would readily resort to assassination
to accomplish such a purpose as would be
involved in the removal of MACEoO.
Acquaintance with the atrocities of
Spanish history easil,= induces the belief
that the Spaniards would not hesitate to
violate the rules of civilized warfare and
outrage military honor by prostituting the
sacredness of a flag of truce to the purpose
of assassination, if thereby they could rid
themselves of an enemy who could not be
disposed of in any other way. What is
known of Spanish practices in the past
leaves scarcely a doubt that the report of
MACEOQ’S assassination is true, and that a
foul murder was resorted to as a means of
ridding Spain of an enemy whom her arms
were unable to subdue.
Notwithstanding the almost incredible
baseness of such an act, it would be but a
repetition of infamies of a similar character
chargeable to Spain. In the assassination
of the Cuban patriot Spanish atrocity would
but repeat the murder of the Prince of
Orange. The two acts of infamy, thoagh
widely separated in point of time would
be, as historical parallels, similarly in-
famons, thoroughly consistent with the
Spanish character, which, if we may judge
from its manifestations in the Cuban war,
does not appear to have changed since the
time when the hand of the assassin was
employed to remove the patriotic leader
of the Netherlands, who, like the Cuban
Maceo, had resisted the oppression and
baflled the military power of Spain.
The past history of Spanish cruelty and
‘treachery, together with the well-known
ferocity of the Spanish character, and the
brutalities that have marked the entire
course of their operations in the present
war in Cuba, are circumstances which tend
to support the charge that the Spaniards
have effected the death of the Cuban leader
by the base means of assassination.
I —————————————
Our Delicate Industries.
American industry appears to be a most
remarkably tender plant. Something that
subjects it to blight is constantly happen-
ing, requiring the anxious care of those
who have paternal charge of its delicate
growth.
Immediately after CLEVELAND’S elec-
tion, when the industries were overtaken
by a wide-spread depression, the collapse
was declared by the MCKINLEYites to
have been brought on by the apprehension
of Democratic tariff reduction. The bad
state they were found to be in at the end
of the HARRISON administration was said
to have been caused by the fear that the
Democrats would deprive them of MCKiIN-
LEY protection.
But after the Democrats, under the
CLEVELAND administration, got through
with their tariff legislation, there was so
little change in the rate of duties that it re-
“quired an expert to tell thedierence be-
tween the MCKINLEY and the WILSON-
GORMAN tariff laws, as the average duties
| of the two bills varied scarcely five per
cent.” :
There was, however, no cessation of the
industrial slump, and the Republican
spellbinders, during the recent campaign,
operated upon public credulity by declar-
ing that the fear of free silver and a de-
preciated currency interfered with the re-
covery of the industries by keeping them
in a condition of nervous prostration. But
as free silver, with all its terribly pictured
evils, has been out-voted at the polls, what
is now to prevent the recovery of the in-
dustrial patient that seems to be so deli-
cately constituted ? The public was as-
sured that as soon as the country was se-
cured from the danger of ‘‘dishonest
money’’ by the defeat of BRYAN, a busi-
The
alleged danger of free silver has been
averted through the agency of HARRISON'S
boodle, but the promised business boom
fails to put in an appearance.
The industries continue to languish with
the prospect of their being subjected to a
still greater depression by another install-
mént of MCKINLEY tariff legislation.
Upon this subject the New York Herald
forcibly remarks that ‘‘the mere suggestion
that there may be an extra session of Con-
gress to rip up the tariff has sent a chill
through the country and checked the ad-
vance which started when the victory for
sound money was won.”’
It appears then that there is a poor show
for the recovery of our delicately constitu-
ted industries, which are being continually
set back by alleged adverse conditions.
Three years ago apprehended Democratic
“free trade” was said to have prostrated
them. Later on the danger of ‘‘dishonest
money’’ and BRYAN ‘‘anarchism’ was
charged with having prevented their re-
covery, and now there is every reason to
expect that their prostrated condition will
be prolonged by the ‘‘ripping up’’ which
the tariff will undergo in the next MCKIN-
LEY Congress.
Isn’t it about time that the American in-
dustries should acquire a stability of their
own, independent of political influences,
and should be exempt from the blighting
effects of partisan policies? They are cer-
tainly in a bad shape when in four years’
time their prostration is assigned to three
different causes connected with politics.
Free Silver Education.
The overthrow of the monetary despotism
that is entrenched behind the gold stand-
ard was not effected this year. It is almost
invariably the case that the initial assault
upon an established evil is unattended
with the success it deserves ; but never in
the history of reformatory movements did
a first attack come so near a victory as did
the Democratic assault upon the breast-
works of plutocracy and monopoly in the
recent campaign. The elimination of a
few hundred thousand from the negro and
Slav., vote would have proven disastrous
to the party that fought behind the en-
trenchment of the money power and the
protected monopolies.
It was a kind of defeat that only en-
courages a renewal of the battle with higher
hope and increased determination.
That this has been its effect is shown by
the preparation of the free silver leaders to
put the ranks of the currency reformers
in firmer order and more formidable array
for the conflict, four years hence, that will
restore silver to its constitutional place in
the currency and repair the injury that has
been done by the crime of demonetization.
With this object those leaders have been in
conference, and have resolved to perfect
the organization and continue the contest
from now on until, through the force of
public enlightenment, the country shall be
relieved from the despotism of a monetary
power that exeits i oppression through a
single standard of valpe which it has under
its complete control.
It has been determined by the free silver
leadership that the agitation for the
equality of ‘the two metals in our system
of currency shall go on with increased
vigor, and therefore a most thorough cam-
paign of monetary education isto be in-
augurated. It is evident that the success
of the gold-bug cause in the recent election
was the triumph of ignorance. That class
which had intelligently studied the money
question voted almost solidly for free
silver, or in other words, for the bimet-
allism that was established at the forma-
tion of our system of currency. The ma-
jority that supported the gold standard
was derived from a class whose ignorance
was affected by fear or who, in consequence
of that ignorance, were insensible to the
wrong of making their suffrage a purchas-
able commodity. This class was prolific of
votes for ‘‘honest money’’ and the main-
tenance of the ‘‘nation’s honor,’ in all the
manufacturing and mining centers where
the lowest order-of naturalized voters
abound, and from this class but a portion
of the sixteen million dollar corruption
fund was more than enough to purchase
the number of votes that constituted the
majority for the gold standard in the recent
clection.
As it is obvious that the result of the
campaign was attributed to the want of a
more general enlightenment on the money
question, the supporters of bimetallism
and monetary emancipation are determined
that there shall be no remission in the
dissemination of knowledge on this sub-
ject, and therefore the campaign of edu-
cation will be pushed with renewed and
redoubled activity throughs the organized
agency of free silver clubs and speakers,
and bimetallic literature.
This work of education will become
easier and more effective each year of the
coming four, during which the gold stand-
ard will continue to furnish its object
lessons of monetary contraction and the
evils that follow in its wake : business de-
pression, low prices, scant wages, hard
times, general distress and discontent ;
while increased tariff taxation will enlarge
the opportunity of the trusts to practice
their extortion upon the people. These
conditions, whieh- are bound to be realized
within the next four years, will wonder-
fully assist the Democratic campaign of
monetary education.
FONTE, PA., DEC. 18. 1896.
Proposed Currency Tinkering.
It would appear that the Republican
currency tinkers are going to have their
innings, which, in conjunction with the
MCKINLEY tariff tinkering that will soon
be in operation, threatens a double calami-
ty to the country.
The Indianapolis conference, held since
the election, was a movement preliminary
to a proposed settlement of the currency
question. It i$ intended to be followed
by a convention that will be more exten-
sive in its representation of the ‘‘business
interests.”” Its ostensible object is to pro-
mote a reform of the currency, and its en-
deavor will be directed towards putting
the monetary situation in a shape that will
be satisfactory to the interests repre-
sented in this undertaking, which is as-
sumed to be of a reformatory character.
It is not difficult to comprehend what
kind of *‘businegs interests’’ are intended to
be benefitted by the currency reform pro-
posed to be brought about by this Indian-
apolis movement. In order to ensure an
extensive representation in the convention
that is to be held sometime in January, itis
being arranged to have delegates sent from
all the ‘‘business centres’’ of the Union.
Every town of any importance is expected
to be represented, and with such a repre-
sentation these currency reformers will
imagine that they have comprehended all
the interests worth considering. The bank-
ers will be there in full force. There will
be no lack of representatives from the mon-
ey-lending and note shaving fraternities.
The trusts, syndicates and corporate monop-
olies that claim to have the biggest stake
in the monetary question, will not be
bashful in putting themselves forward in
the proceedings. Banking institutions and
corporations that contributed their thous-
ands to MARK HANNA'S campaign corrup-
tion fund will occupy front seats in this
carrency reform convention, and there will
not be a delegation from any town or city
that won't be selected from what may be
called its moneyed class, most probably
consisting of its leading bankers and man-
ufacturers.
The mistake of these currency reformers,
‘who propose holding this convention for
the settlement of the currency question,
consists in their believing that the interest
of their class comprehends the business in-
terest of the conntry. The great agricul-
tural community, that embraces the largest
percentage of our population, will not be
represented or taken into account. The
numerous wage-earning class, that con-
stitutes the largest portion of the popula-
tion, will be given no more considera-
tion in this matter than if it had ng ex-
istence.
Judging from their action in the poets
election it is not difficult to forsée what
conclusion the interests repréSented in
such a convention will come to as to the
system that should be adopted for the reg-
ulation of the currency. It will be but a
mere endorsement of the goldbug policy
which by the means of unlimited corrup-
tion and unparalleled misrepresentation se-
cured the support of a majority of the pop-
ular vote in the recent election, a majority
that was more than made up of illiterate
negroes, Dagos and Huns. Such a con-
vention will recommend a continued main-
tenance of a standard of value that gives
the money dealing interest the advantage
of a contracted currency. The influence it
may exert in fixing the monetary policy of
the country will be in line with the Re-
publican practice of sacrificing the interest
of the mass for the benefit of a class, and if
its deliberations shall be productive of its
intended effects it will be of a character
more beneficial to the bankers and money
changers than to the farmers and general
class of working people.
No Occasion for Surprise.
In a tone indicative of surprise, and with
a simplicity that is quite engaging, our es-
teemed but misdirected contemporary, the
Philadelphia Record, remarks that ‘‘so far
from having been prostrated by their recent
political defeat, the silverites are making
extensive preparations for a new cam-
paign.”’
If this astonishes the Record it is because
that paper allowed itself to be deluded by
the idea that when, in the recent presiden-
tial campaign, the powerful money influ-
ence of the bank syndicates, trusts, and
general monopolistic interests had defeated
the Democratic contention for the honest
money of the constitution, and the princi-
ples of popular government, the defeat
was a final one that precluded the possi-
bility of further effort for those great ob-
jects. Nothing could have been more ri-
diculous than that impression. It bor-
dered closely on imbecility, in view of the
fact that the principles which the Demo-
cratic party enunciated at Chicago were
supported by six and a half millions of
voters, and that it required the corrupt ex-
penditure of sixteen millions of dollars to
secure the comparatively small majority
by which monetary contraction and tariff
spoliation achieved a precarious victory in
the recent election.
Spe
Let us assure our Philadelphia contempo-
rary that it is not a ‘‘new campaign’’ that
the ‘‘silverites’’ are preparing to make. It
is merely a continuation of the one which
this year came so near being a Democratic
victory for constituttonal bimetallism.
Conditions that are sure to grow worse during
the next four years under the increasing mone-
tary constriction of the gold standard, and
the disturbing effect of Republican tariff legis-
lation, will produce an effect upon the pub-
lic mind that will render it proof against
the campaign misrepresentations of those
who this year humbugged so large a per-
centage of the voters by making them be-
lieve that free silver meant repudiation,
that the Democrats who supported it were
anarchists, and that its adoption would re-
duce the value of every dollar to 53 cents.
These falsehoods will have spent their force
in the next campaign for monetary free-
dom and the currency of the constitution.
And They Say it is a Fact,
From the Clearfield Raftsman’s Journal.
During the past week there has been
stopping at the Mansion house, in this
place, Henry Sutton{ of North Clarendon,
Warren county, Pa., exhibiting a grapho-
phone. This gentleman was a party to the
most marvelous accident ever known in the
history of accidents. On the 10th day of
August, 1885 he was at work at the bottom
of an oil well derrick, when a § inch iron
bar 21 feet long, cut off square at the end
fell from the top of the derrick, 74 feet,
striking him on the neck, passing through
his body and coming out below the left
nipple, entering again at the thigh and
coming out 3} inches above the knee, pass-
ing on down severing the little toe from
the left foot and sinking eighteen inches into
the ground. = Over nine feet of this rough
iron rod passed through his body and after
becoming unconscious some fellow work-
men discovered what had happened and
laid the poor sufferer down and extracted
the iron bar by pulling it out. No one
thought that he would live an hour, but
he recovered and his case has been com-
mented upon inall the leading medical
journals of the day. ‘At that time he
weighed 200 pounds. Now he weighs less
than 150. The marks are upon his body
and his statement is verified by men who
were at the scene of the accident at the
time. =
Money Increases, Property Decreases, in
Value.
From the Lancaster Intelligencer.
The Kansas City Journal says that the
sheriff foreclosed a $1,400 nsortgage on
Mary Liz Lease’s home because the house
was worth only $600. Now we know that
Mary Liz isa true blue Populist— Phila-
delphia Press. :
That is, at least, a very good reason why
“Mary Liz” should be better enlightened
than the Press as to the evil influences of
currency based upon a metal that constant-
ly increases in purchasing power. Assum-
ing that Mrs. Lease’s house was not orig-
inally mortgaged for more than it was
worth her experience furnishes a beautiful
illustration of the workings of our financial
system.
Last Year Their Folly Was the Theatre
Hat.
From the Braymer, Mo., Bee.
In the Legislature of Georgia and Mis-
souri bills have been introduced making
foot-ball playing a criminal offense. Here
is the old familiar ‘‘straining at a gnat and
swallowing a camel.”” There are real
evils to be remedied, but it is much easier
to tackle the little things and gain the rep-
utation for courage through them when the
big ones strike terror into the hearts of
the law-makers.
Honesty in Dishonor.
From the Steubenville, Ohio, Gazette.
Now the New York ‘‘Goo-goos’’ are try-
ing to beat Platt for the Senatorship with
Joseph H. Choate, one of the fellows who
justifies everything done during a campaign
and then holds up his hands in holy horror
of the chaps who did the dirty work. Platt
has earned that Senatorship and he ought
to have it. And he is better than his
party, for he doesn’t pose asan angel.
Printing by Moonlight.
From the Montesano, Wash., Economist
A young lady explained to a printer the
difference in printing and publishing, and
in conclusion said : ‘Now, you may print
a kiss on my cheek but you must not pub-
lish it.” With that he locked the fair
form in his arms so that it would not pi
and went to press.
Mark Hanna in "Canton.
CANTON, Dec, 15.—When Major Mc-
Kinley goes to Chicago, as he now expects
to this week, starting on Thursday night,
in all probability he will occupy a berth in
one of the regular trains. The object of the
trip is to join Mrs. McKinley for a few
days’ visit to her cousins, Captain and Mrs.
McWilliams, as well as to obtain some rest
from the continuous strain of receiving and
entertaining callers.
It is thought the inaugural address of
McKinley will be well under way to com-
pletion before the work of forming a cabi-
net takes more tangible form. Rest and
quiet, it is thought, will be found at the
McWilliams home, and it is thought here
that politics has no part in the arrange-
ment.
National Chairman Hanna and Lieuten-
ant-Governor Saxton, of New York, return-
ed to Cleveland this evening. Chairman
Hanna came to confer on inauguration ar-
rangements, particularly those decided up-
on during his recent visit to the capital.
The location of the’ inaugural ball is not
fully determined, and the library building
is still in view. :
H. H. Kohlsaat, of Chicago, was in con-
ference with Major McKinley several hours
last evening. Daniel Ryan, ex-secretary of
state, and former Lieutenant-Governor
Lyons, personal and political friends of
Major McKinley « .e with hima while
this evening.
srs ae
—The steam laundry of EI fr. °. at
Clearfield, was totally destroy:d by fire
Thursday. Loss $3,000.
—A coach on the Wopsoponock railroad
was thrown from the track fast Friday and
rolled down an embankment a distance of
100 feet. The conductor and brakeman and
one passenger were in the car but none of
them was seriously injured.
—The Baldwin locomotive works have
received orders for 13 locomotives for Japan.
The company also expects to build eight
engines for China. These works are very
busy, having besides the above orders con-
tracts for 32 locomotives for various roads in
this country.
Spawls from the Kceyste
—While cutting trees for firewood near
Emporium, a few days ago, Frank Peasley
felled a tree on his 14-year-old son, Arthur,
killing him instantly. The scene of the ac-
cident was nearly a mile from home and the
heart broken father carried his dead boy
home on his shoulders. :
—A movement is now on foot in Harris-
burg to do away with the volunteer fire de-
partment in that city, and create a paid de-
partment. It is estimated that the cost to
the city will aggregate $35,000 per year, for
which it will be necessary to levy an addi-
tional one mill tax.
—The engine house of Kulp, Thcmas &
Co., at Milroy, Mifflin county, was destroyed
by fire Wednesday night, together with a
small locomotive, a car load of coal, lot of
tools, kerosene oil and a quantity of tar. The
loss is about $3,000. The fire is supposed to
be the work of incendiaries.
—Bella Frank, the 9 year old daughter of
Julian Frank, of Irwin, Pa., was burned to
a crisp on Thursday of last week, while
standing in front of an open grate her dress
caught fire. Screaming she ran. up stairs
and entered her sleeping apartment, locking
the door behind her.
—William Ginithin, aged 16 years and em-
ployed at Miller's saw mill, at Newton Ham-
ilton, was almost instantly killed Saturday
afternoon. His foot caught in the circular
saw while he was stooping for a board and
his right foot and left leg were cut off and his
back split open from the pelvis to the neck.
He lived about twenty minutes.
—A farmer named Berkhouse, of near
Reyneoldsville, was in his barn with a light-
ed lantern, and upon looking out observed
two boys stealing his apples. He dropped
his lantern and ran after the boys, and upon
returning found that the lantern had tipped
over and set fire to the barn, which, with
its contents, were destroyed. Loss $2,000.
—(eo. Erb, formerly of Mechanicsburg,
Cumberland county, delivered himself to the
Harrisburg authorities Friday, confessing to
the participation in the murder of a man
named Edward Nutter, at Ft. Smith, Ark.,
last March. He and a woman named Ella
Hicks gave Edward Nutter, weighmaster,
knockout drops for the purpose of robbing
him and he subsequently died. Erb said he
could not keep the secret longer. He isin
jail. : .
—F. W. Clark, thé forger who swindled
the Altoona Building and Loan association
out of various sums of money aggregating
about $20,000, was sentenced Tuesday by
Judge Barker to pay a fine of $100 and costs
and to undergo an imprisonment of two years
and six months in the western penitentiary
on each of three indictments, making an im-
prisonment of seven and one-half years.
Clark had been engaged in the real estate
business, was prominent in the Rescue Mis-
sion and editor of a Johnstown newspaper.
—Some two weeks ago George McClellan,
who resided in Friend’s Cove, about a mile
cast of Rainsburg, Bedford county, cut with
an axe the great toe on his right foot. The
wound was not considered of any serious
consequence at the time, but in a short time
it became very painful, in so much that a
physician was summoned. But the skill of
the physician was baffled and despite his best
efforts the patient died on Sunday morning
last—the doctor said of sciatic rheumatism,
aggravated by the pain in his toe.
—VWilliamsport is on the verge of a big
lawsuit anent their street paving. It seems
the concrete used in the asphaltum pavement
laid on West Fourth street, and the brick
pavement on East Third street is defective,
in that it doesn’t ‘‘set’” properly. It is charg-
ed that the sand used is below the grade
specified and the concrete will not hold the
crushed stone together. Mayor Mansel re-
fuses to draw warrants out of the city treasury
for any more pay on the work, and the
Sicilian Asphalt company threatens to bring
suit to collect the bill due them for material
furnished.
—We see by the Willismsport Sun of Tues-
day that the contractors who are building
the Washington school in that city and have
done defective work are being jerked up for
it. Architect Reitmeyer shows that not only
the brick work was done poorly, but
that parts of the masonary that have been
completed and will be most difficult to re-
place are also defective. The stone supports
of the turned pilasters on which the arched
doorway rests are split from top to bottom
already. That architect ought to have been
around when Philadelphia’s public building
was going up.
—When the small sate containing the
monthly salaries of the officials and em-
ployees of the Beech Creek railroad arrived
at Jersey Shore a few days ago, the paymas-
ter could not work the combination and the
door could not be opened. After making
several efforts a blacksmith was sent for,
who with chisels and hammer soon broke the
door open. The money was then paid out.
This is the second time that the safe contain-
ing money for the Beech Creek employees
had to be broken open owing to the failure
of the combination to work.
—Mrs. Josephine Martin, wife of
J. T. Martin, residing near Royer, com
mitted suicide by drowning some time
Sunday might near Hoover’s dam, near
that place. The dam is located ‘about fifty
yards from the house. Mrs. Martin’s hus-
band missed her from her bed about 2 o'clock
Monday morning and naturally went and
searched for her, finally discovering her
body in the dam. Not only had she drowned
herself, but she had also taken with her
her 2-year old daughter, and both were
found together at the bottom of the dam.
Before committing the deed Mrs. Martin
took off her shoes, and these, together with
a nursing bottle, were found on the bank.