Father Abraham. (Reading, Pa.) 1864-1873, January 22, 1869, Image 2

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INDEPENDENT AND PROGRESSIVE
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LANCASTER CITY, PA
FRIDAY, JANUARY 22, 19e9
OVER THREE THOUSAND!
FATHER ARRA HAM, as a "permanent
institution.'" is only a little over two
months old. yet, without any other effort
on our part than simply getting up a
live and original newspaper, we have nosy
a circulation of over three thousand reg
ular subscribers, and since the Holidays
new lists come in upon us more rapidly
than ever. According to present indica
tions, we will have a circulation of at
least live thousand before the first of
April next, and if so—judging from our
remarkable success during the late cam
paign—we will reach fully fifteen thous
and before the second Tuesday in October
next. "Everybody reads FATIIER ABRA
HAM."
TILE MAN!
The - Bedford ',lgo/Iyr, in a pointed arti
cle on the performance of the members of
the House at Harrisburg, on "pasting
and folding," exclaims:
"Oh ! for just one man who could forget
policy and devote himself to the promotion of
honesty and economy—who would dare to
stand up for the right and leave his chances of
re-election with his constituents."
Lancaster county has just such a man
in the State Senate, and fortunately he is
Chairman of the Committee on Retrench
ment and Reform. We allude to the Hon.
E. Billingfelt, and as long as he is Chair
man of that Committee, all projects to de
plete the Treasury, that come under its
jurisdiction, will receive their quietus, just
as the " pasting and folding , ' dodge did
last week.
COP. REPEATERS.
The committee on the case of Brown
vs. Witham, contestants for a seat in the
House at llarrisburg, examined five wit
nesses on Tuesday evening. Michael Sla
van and Christian Lamb testified to hav
ing voted the Democratic ticket twenty
times, generally under assumed names.
Daniel Redding testified to having voted
the same ticket ten times. Henry Mitch
ell testified that he followed a party of men
to several precincts, who voted the Demo
cratic ticket a number of times. He at
tempted their arrest, but failed for want of
a warrant. Alfred Isi. Fields, who ac
companied this witness, corroborated his
evidence in full. This is a sample of the
scoundrelisin of Copperheadism, under
the lead of Wm. A. Wallace.
WHAT OTHERS SAY.
The Lewisburg Chronicle talks of the
pasting and folding job in this wise.
"Hear ye him:"
"Well, Messrs. Rauch & Cochran, who of
fered to do the pasting and folding for the
House of Reps. at Harrisburg at a figure that
would save thousands of dollars to the State,
are, in popular (and doubtless Pean'a Legis
lative) parlance, " euchred," and the job
farmed out to a lot of fellows for a much
higher figure. In conversation with some
who know all about such matters, we are told
that we don't understand why it is so. Very
good; we confess to a reasonable amount of
stupidity, and in a case of this sort, a very
large amount. There are so many ropes and
strings and wires to pull, and axes to grind
beneath the Harrisburg town clock that we
become mystified. It may be more advanta
geous to the State to pay $7,500 instead of
$5,000 for the same services; but, owing to
the thickness of our "crust," we can't quite
" see it." The members of the Legislature
perhaps think that they can do as they please
in regard to squandering the money paid by
the tax-payers. They can, too, while their
terms last; but when those who vote in favor
of such measures go home, they go to stay.
A number of them voted for Rauch & Coch
ran's proposition, and are doing all they can
to reform things about the Capitol. These
men should be carefully noted and returned
by their constituents. Let the other sort look
out for themselves."
IWO V A Sri ill aZIIR) •A k r %A: .1
It is with great satisfaction we an
nounce that General Carl Schurz, one of
the most gifted orators of the country and
sound patriot and statesman, has been
nominated by the Republicans of Missouri
as the successor in the United States Sen
ate of that renegade and traitor, John B.
Henderson. By this nomination the
Republicans being in the majority in the
Legislature, his election is secured. Thus
another of the recreants has received his
deserts.
James Dixon, of Conn., another the of
seven Judas Iscariots, vacates his seat on
the 4th of March next to ex-Governor W.
A. Buckingham, a Radical of the right
stamp.
Governor W. G. Brownlow , the war
horse of Tennessee, succeeds that traitor
D. T. Patterson.
That sneaking conservative, Jos. R.
Doolittle, of Wisconsin, will retire next
month to give place to a Republican to be
elected from that State.
West Virginia, another of the States so
shamefully betrayed, will reject her be
trayer, Peter G. Van Winkle.
On the 'other hand, nearly every one of
the faithful Senators in that fearful strug
gle, will be returned by his constituents.
Zechariah Chandler, of Michigan, Alex
ander Ramsey, of Minnesota, Wm. M.
Stewart of Nevada, Wm. Sprague, of
Rhodelsland, have already been designa
ted as the elect. They have received their
reward as faithful servants.
TERROR Ili TY,NNESSFI'..
Letters have been received in Washing
ton by a Southwestern member of Con
gress, detailing outrages in the State of
Tennessee. It is stated that two loyal
men were killed in Franklin county 011
the day of the election, :old another taken
front jail and hung in tlu• court hou,-,e yard.
Nobody kno\Ns who committed these acts.
lctt,r front shelh‘ vine, dated .Lllllllll* \-
nth. s;iv:
"In a recent tight the 'k itkinK' were
Whiplwll, 1111 t they threaten to Verne a
thousand str,ac , from Lincoln and Marshall
counties. They were about thirty in number,
mounted on horseback and drilVO into the
ImLlie Slinare, hloMing WhiStleS Ulla yelling
like devils. They then tIONVII the
Murfreesboro pike, and as they appeared near
Duulap's they were tired into and six or them
wounded. Just after the K ttklux ran oil, and
during the excitement a 'barn Was met on
tire."
A nother let ter says:
"If the kultlux organization shall not be
suppressed, loyal men cannot live in 'relines
see;" and the writer adds: "If in this State,
with a loyal element and a Brownlow as Gov
ernor, you are not safe, what would you look
for in other rebel States? We have no secu
rity for life and property, and no exercise of
liberty. These are facts; and Congress must
do something to protect loyal citizens, or they
will be murdered by thousands."
The Kukluxers were the associates of
the beautiful specimen of humanity,
Andrew Jackass Steinman, junior editor
of that paper of Brick Pomeroy, the Lan
caster
intelligencer, on his recent trip down
South. Ile regales his readers occasion
ally
with " Editorial Notes," in which he ;
lauds the rebels and cut-throats to the
skies, pitches into Gen. Sherman because
he punighed the scoundrels on his "march
to the sea," and shows his rebel heart in ,
every line. Of course, nobody accuses
Steinman of writing these "notes," as
his brains are not located in the region
that produces such things. They were
doubtless prepared by his Kukiux associ
ates, and go far to show of what kind of
material he and they are composed.
GOOD NEWS FROM HARRISBURG.
We last week referred to the outrageous
attempt made by our representatives to
repeat last year's pasting and folding grab,
by passing a joint resolution appointing
twenty-seven additional officers"—
Fasters and Folders—over and above the
number authorized by law. We then ex
pressed the hope that this most iniquitous
scheme would receive its quietus in the
Senate, or, if necessary, a prompt veto
from our honest and faithful Governor.
We were not disappointed. Thanks to
the Republican Senate, the honor of the
Republican pasty of Pennsylvania has
been preserved, and the interests of every
tax-payer protected. The bill which
passed the House, after having been re
ferred to the appropriate committee of
the Senate—on Retrenchment and Reform,
of which Hon. Esaias Billingfelt, of the
Old Guard is chairman—was promptly
reported with a negative recommendation,
which ended the matter for that time.
By this result, the Pasting and Folding
leak has been stopped—the item being re
duced to a fair and reasonable figure—
s7,ooo, against $37,723.10 last year, being
a saving of $30,123.10. So much for the
little ventillation of this subject, started
and followed up by FATHER ABRAHAM,
and vigorously backed by such staunch
Republican papers as the Lancaster Ex
press, Columbia .Spy, West Chester Vil
lage Record, Scranton Republican, Lewis
burg Chronicle, Bedford Inquirer, Miners ,
Journal, Norristown Free Press, Gettys
burg Star, several leading papers of
Pittsburg and others we might mention.
The resolution which passed the House
since, (see our Harrisburg letter) being
clearly in violation of law, is, of course,
void, as the State Treasurer has no au
thority to pay any money on such a pro
ceeding, unless by the concurrance of both
Houses and the signature of the Governor.
DEMOCRATIC ELECTION FRAUDS.
The contested election cases of Phila
delphia are progressing, and with such
results as to leave no doubt about the final
success of the Republican candidates.
Hon. Leonard Myers, Republican Con
gressman, has already proven more than
enough of Vaudulent votes to overcome
the majority returned against him. In a
single precinct which returned 627 ballots,
only 572 votes were polled, and the return
made to read 674 votes. The fraud was
committed very bunglingly, however, for
in adding names to the list, so as to cor
respond with the stuffed ballots, they
wrote the names down in alphabetical or
der, one commencing with A, 5 with B,
9 with C, 15 with D, and so on. -
The' mere ultimate success of the Re
publican candidates, who were counted
out by these frauds, is not sufficient. The
perpetrators ought to go to the Peniten
tiary, each for ten years at least. This
would perhaps assure us honest elections
in the future.
A ROOSIT2L
Col. Kleckner, one of the members of
the House of Representatives from Phila
delphia, on Monday last, in his usual
classic way, pronounced Mr. E. H. Rauch
a " Rooster.»
Last year,when Mr. Kleckner conceived
the idea of introducing a resolution (for
buncombe) complimenting the 'United
States Senate for reinstating Hon. Edwin
M. Stanton as Secretary of War, and not
having brains enough to write it, he called
on " the same rooster" to do it for him,
and he did. See Legislative Record, 1808,
page 79. If Col. K., or Mr. Strang, or
any other "feller" of the paste ring want
sonic stories told out of school, this "Roos
ter" will cheerfully accommodate them.
MR. GATC HELL% SPEECH.
Our Harrisburg letter contains a brief
abstract of .1") r. Gatehell's speech on the
resolut ion favoring the pastors and folders
raid on the treasury. We have Sine(' M-
C6%111:111 official copy of the speech in
full, which we . 4 ive below, together with
questions, &c.. by Messrs. Hong, Brown
anil the (lassie Col. Kleckner. The
speech is 1)r. Gatchell's own'.
Mu. GAT( HELL. Mr. Speaker, 1 do not
rise for the purpos,. or making a speech.
I suppose, however, this difficulty in
which these different genii( men have
I).•en participating has heel' caused in a
great part in con , egitenee of the proposi
sion that I had OW honor to present at .
the Republican caucus ()I' the memhers of
this It o use, pr e vious to the organization,
from two individuals of the city of Lan
caster, known respectively by the names
of liauch and Cochran, proposing to do
(he folding and pasting of this House for
the large sum of live thousand dollars.
IIoNO. I would ask the gentle
man from Lancaster (Mr. GATCITELL), if
one of the gentlemen named (referring to
Mr. Rauch) did not formerly occupy the
desk as Chief Clerk in the House?
Mr. C ATCHEL E., I am informed that this
is the same identical individual.
Mr. KLECKNER. The very same "roost
er." (Laughter.)
Mr. GATCHELL. I have only to state,
Mr. Speaker, that this matter has crea
ted some little sensation—has created a
considerable lire in the district which I
have the honor to represent, and the fires
are still burning, and no doubt will burn
until they are thoroughly quenched; but
in order to set myself right on this record,
lam making these renmrks. My worthy
colleagues here can speak for themselves.
I was requested by this individual to pre
sent this proposition to tho caucus.—
That individual said to me on that occa
-1 sion "As for yourself, you can either
vote for or against it. Ido not expect it
to be accepted by this House. I only ask
you to present it." And I believe I did.
Certain papers in this commonwealth—
' among others, one published in this city,
and several elsewhere, and the Lancaster
delegation—are fighting against it.
Now, I think in that caucus, that that
proposition was unanimously agreed to be
laid under the table. So far as that pro
position is concerned, I have nothing to
say. I suppose, and I presume, although
I may be wrong, that the resolution be
fore this House is on the increase of its
officers—that is, provided that this House
absolutely needs them. I have made 'it
my business to inquire of the Resident
Clerk of this House and of the Speaker,
and other gentlemen who have been mem
bers longer than I have, in relation to
this matter, and they have informed me
that the number of officers now employed
is insufficient—that the number of officers
last year was more than absolutely re
quired.
Now, the resolution is, so far as I un
derstand it, to increase the officers of the
House to a sufficient number, just enough
men to do the work of this House; if that
is the resolution I am willing to vote for
it. Ido this publicly not because of what
a paper has said in our county, or what
the delegation from Lancaster county says,
about our putting our hands into the pub
lic purse and our taking out money and
giving it to the gentlemen in this way,
while they do not know where it goes.—
; I do not believe that ought to have any
influence upon me. Therefore, as to giv
ing my vote to take one dollar from the
public treasury of the State, I have only
to say that I would not do it. I have
been informed through gentlemen in this
House from different counties of the State
who were here years and years ago, that
more men are absolutely necessary, and
upon their recommendation, and that of
the Resident Clerk of the House, I intend
to vote for the increase, and let my con
stituents settle the matter with mo next
fall. Ido not care whether I come back
or not; it makes no difference to me. If
we need more men, I will vote for them.
If we have enough men, I shall vote
against the resolution.
I remember only a few days ago hear
t ing a gentlemen from the other side of the
1 House say that he had not been able to
get a document folded for two or three
days. I believe all that, because I do
think, although I have very little experi
ence in this House, that we have not at
this hour enough men to do the business of
this House. Therefore, I shall vote for
this resolution, although I offered that
contract from tauch and Cochran. I did
that out of respect to them, not voting
i either for or against the resolution in cau
cus. But I intend to vote here to-night,
and on this occasion, for an increase of
men, because I thin k it is absolutely ne
cessary. Ido not wish it understood that
I I am voting to take money out of the
treasury.
Mr. BROWN (Clarion). I would like to
ask whether his man is in or out?
Mr. GATCHELL. I think he is down at
Lancaster; I think he is neither in or out.
I do not understand what the gentleman
means, whether he is in doors or out, or
whether he is in the ring or out of the
ring. This I cannot say. I have reason
to believe that at this hour he is in the
city of lAncaater.
Mr. BROWN (Clarion). I would ask
whether Mr. Illyus was here last winter?
Mr. GATCHELL. I would say that I
know nothing about Illyus; probably the
gentleman (referring to BROWN) was a
member of the House last year ; if he
was he has more to do with Mr. Illyus
than I have, because I was not here.
Mr. BROWN (Clarion). Neither was I.
Mr. GATCHELL. I have nothing to
do in the way of marking old members.—
lam here to make a record for myself.—
I vote because it is absolutely necessary,
leaving Mr. Illyus to be taken care of by
the gentleman who was to take care of
him. I heard, on one occasion, there was
a Mr. Illyus. Now, what the gentlemen
of this House did with that man I do not
know—at least I cannot swear to it. I
cannot swear to anything I do not know
positively. I vote for that resolution
simply because it is absolutely necessary.
SEVENTY-TWO railroad projects have
already been introduced in Congress, a
Congressman or two being privately in
terested in each, by grants of public
lands. Better divide our domain among
our Union soldiers by equalizing bounties,
and Rrevent this Congressional squabble
for Lncle Sam's acres.
OUR HARRISBURG LETTERS.
Voters in General—Luce! Legigntion—The
Cattle hill—The ihirshnliship—Pasting
and Fohliiig—heleat of the Nwindle in the
Senate—Rs Reriral in the House ire Ip:tinnee
of Lair—Reinnrl, Wile o f /
Gate/tell tdso ~ puke aph, I, "t
Lilac, Ind rotioy p,,ste H
bavks, &e., &c., e.
11A musistArt(;„Jan. Pill], 1569.
DEAN FAT lIER Ant:A11a:11 : Your minter-
One readers will be glad to learn that the reso
lution which passed the House N\ t()
aPP° ll4 i(treHlMS''''''/ , (0 1 'UtiOti , /7 pastors anal
fO4ll/11 liglitr having been referred to the Sen
ate Committ(e on lidtron•lini,lit and Hciorni,
of which Mr. ltilliugfelt is chairman, ha:i
been reiweted with a aegati re reconiniemla
tion, which disposes of the matter,. unless
specially called up by a majority, which is
not at all probable, as eight Itepublican Sena
tors, and probably more, are well known to
be squarely opposed to the swindle. But the
corruptionists of the House, it would seem,
have not yet given it up. One of the twenty
seven "extra" men has sold out his chance to
a well knpwn Legislative broker for $6O cash
down, and the farther sum of $3lO deposited in
the hands of a member, to be paid over in ease
of the passage of the resolution. The fact that
this extra "stock" is not yet out of sight, and
commands ten per cent. cash down, shows
that the serpent is not quite dead yet. I will
keep an eye on these fellows all the time.
The standing committees of both houses
have been named, and the wheels of legisla
tion are now in motion. Your members in the
House have not been placed on many impor
tant committees. On the Ways and Means
Lancaster county is not represented, while
Dauphin county is represented by both her
members. The attention of the Speaker was
called to this apparent oversight and unfair
ness, but he blandly remarked that Dauphin
county was thus favored on account of the
superior ability of her representatives! . I can
hardly think it was intended as a reflection
on the ability of your members, but to those
riot intimately acquainted with them it might
be so understood. Perhaps the Speaker
knows something. I have not a list of the
committees before me, and cannot give them.
The contested judicial election cases in Phil
adelphia took up considerable time of the Le
gislature last week. Judge Greenbank, of the
District Court, at the last election, was re
turned as having 60,748 votes, while M. Rus
sell Thayer, the Republican candidate and
contestant, was returned as having but
60,623 votes, leaving Greenbank 125 majority,
which return is alleged to have been fraudu
lent, and should have been not more than
59,603 legal votes for Greenbank, and not less
than 60,623 votes for Thayer, leaving Thayer
a majority of 1,097. The following committee
was selected to investigate the matter : Sen
ators Miller, Brown of Northampton, Stinson
and Lowry, and Representatives Nelson,
Ames, Beatty, Hunter, Robinson of 'Mercer,
Goundie, Marshall, Josephs and Webb. As
an offset, the Democrats have " trumped up"
charges of fraud in the election of J. I. Clark
Hare, President Judge of the District Court.
Senators Stinson, Taylor, Mclntire and Brown
of Northampton, and Representatives Ames,
Clark of Warren, Stephens, Miller, Meredith,
Nicholson, Peters, Robb and Place, is the
committee to try the case.
It is understood that large monopoly,known
as the "Cattle Bill," which caused such a
flutter two years ago among the cattle dealers
of the State, will be "urged" this winter and
may probably pass. "There is money in it," I
heard it remarked to-day, and that means a
great deal here. Some of your readers are
still acquainted with its provisions, and when
it comes fairly up for action I may explain
them in full.
An effort will be made to pass a general bill,
changing the time of bolding the municipal
elections in this State from spring to fall, and
a bill to that effect has already been intro
duced. A similar measure met with the de
termined opposition of the Democrats last
year. It will probably pass. Z.
HARRISBURG, Jan. 19th, 1869
DEAR FATHER ABRAHAM : Since writing
my letter on Saturday, there has been a new
movement on the part of the corruptionists of
the House. Yesterday, in open defiance and
disregard of the law of 1868, a resolution was
adopted without the concurrance of the Senate,
and without the signature of the Governor, to
appoint the twenty-seven additional "officers"
to be labeled pesters and folders ! The resolu
tion was offered by Mr. Strang, whose speech
in support of it needs some ventillation. For
instance, be says : " There are but two officers
of the Rotunda." A few years ago there was
but one. " A man is needed in the coat
room—"no member wants his coat stolen,"
says Mr. Strang." Coat-stealing in the House
of Representatives, eight and ten years ago,
wasn't considered parliamentary, and none
were known to be stolen. Now, I infer, there
are also coat-stealers, as well as other kinds
of thieves, about the House, and that is Just
what's the matter. But to watch, spot, do-
toot, arrest and jug the coat-stealers, it seems
to me, is the duty of the Harrisburg municipal
police. Be this as it may, twenty-seven able
bodied men is entirely too big a force to watch
the members' coats, and as members, officers
and ex-members only are permitted inside, as
far as the coat-room, Mr. Strang's extraordi
nary insinuation is anything but complimen
tary to his fellow members. But, " there are
only six assistant Sergeants-at-Arms," says
Mr. Strang. Well, how many do you want ?
There were only four t eight and ten years ago,
and then there were about two more than
necessary. " There are only ten pesters End
folders in the cellar, and the duties of the
folding room have never been performed by
less thin twenty," says Nr. Strang. To an
swer this I must call fora division of the ques
tion, and on the first division I would say that
if Mr. Strang means that there are only ten on
duty, "in the folding room," he makes one
truthful assertion, because more than that
number would only be in each others' way,
and cannot be actually employed. Five or
six men can easily do all the work, and Mr.
Strang ought to know it. •On the second di
vision of the question, I answer that, instead
of ten, there are twelve pastors and folders
authorized by the law of 1868, and this extra
batch of 27 more, will make in all, thirty-nine,
at an expense of $23,800, exclusive of extra
grabs, mileage, &c., for work which Rauch •St
Cochran proposed to do for 10,004, under
heavy bond and security ! The most stupen
dous whopper uttered by Mr. Strang is that
" the average daily pasting and folding
amounts to 43,000 to 50,000 documents." The
fact is, and Mr. Strang ought to know—Mr.
Strang doe., know, that the daily average is
less than n air thousand documents-36 allow
ed to each member per day, being only 3,600,
with about 100 allowed the clerks, and extras,
all told, not over 4,000 !
Now, notwithstanding my previous good
opinion of Mr. Strang, as a high-toned and
truth-loving gentleman, I am forced to the
very unpleasant conclusion, that his asser
tien is either a most outragolls, barefaced
and delilwrate misrepresentation, equalled
only by the unblushing and persistent man
ner in which the Treasury robbers are play
ing their profession, or, Mr. Strang is noto
riously ignorant, and unlit for a seat in any
deliberative body chosen to represent respect
able and intelligent people ! But, as I know
him intimately, I most say, he is not an igno
rant man.
in a word, the true secret is, they have just
twenty-seven men here to whom members
have promised places in the House—twenty
seven more than are authorized by law. To
help themselves out of a dilemma, they go
together, form a ring, open the State Treasury
and deliberately grab $16,200 therefrom, to be
" divided" round To pretend that these
additional "officers" are needed, and to back
up this pretense by such a speech as that of
Mr. Strang—full of misrepresentation and
sophistry—is only adding insult to injury.
The four members from Lancaster county—
Messrs. Gatchell, Hopkins, Peters and Sum
my voted as a unit for the iniquity. One of
these worthies also made a speech, which is
reported in the State Guard, as follows :
Mr. Gatchell, of Lancaster, said that this
matter had created comdderable feeling in
his county. He was requested by Messrs.
Rauch & Cochran to present their offer to do
the pasting and folding for $5,000 by contract.
Ho presented the offer in the Republican
caucus without remark. It was proposed to
appoint just such additional number of offi
cers as was necessary, and he would vote for
it. He would vote for the increase and let
his constituents judge for themselves. He
believed that more assistants were absolutely
necessary.
Dr. Gatchell's memory is very defective.
He did remark, in caucus, when he presented
the offer of Rauch Sz Cochran, that he merely
agreed to present it, and clearly intimated
that he was opposed to its acceptance. But, as
these four representatives had already for
feited the confidence of their constituents,
and probably voted for this iniquity because
they had nothing more to lose, I have nothing
further to say in regard to them. Doubtless
the people will properly dispose of them when
the time comes.
But very little of local interest to your peo
ple has been acted on since my last. Senator
Fisher has introduced a bill authorizing the
school directors of Lancaster city to sell real
estate. Also, one authorizing the Coltimbia
Water Company to borrow money. Both have
been referred to the appropriate committees.
I noticed a number of Lancaster county
politicians on the street to-day—John A.
Hiestand, Ellwood Griest, Ex-Sheriff Boyd
and Nathaniel Mayer, a former member. I
learn Mr. Hiestand is after the Marshalship
of the Eastern District, and is urged by some
of the best men of this section of the State.
Mr. Boyd is also an applicant, but the chances
are in favor of the former gentleman.
The formula of electing a United States
Senator was "gone through with" to-day.
The Democrats supported State Senator
Wallace, of Clearfield. The vote stood as
follows : For Mr. Scott, 17 ; for Mr. Wallace,
13; for Mr. Clymer, 1. Senators White and
McCandless were absent. Mr. Wallace voted
for Mr. Clymer. In the House—Mr. Scott
had 61 votes, and Mr. Wallace tlO. Mr. Scott's
majority in both houses, 28. The joint con
vention will be held to-morrow. Z.
CONGRESS
The Senate was engaged till Friday in
discussing the Sue Murphy claim, occu
pying all the time, except what was taken
up by current business, such as receiving
and referring petitions, resolutions, &c.
Miss Murphy was referred to the appro
priate committee, where she will be likely
to stay for this session. But let her hold
on. She will triumph after a while, as
the woman did some years ago with a
horse claim. The Senate refused to allow
the capitol building to be used for an In
auguration Ball. Right. A bill was in
troduced to pay the widow of President
Lincoln a pension, which was referred.
One was also introduced to amend the
Tenure of Office act. They will be apt to
pass the House bill to repeal it.
The House has been occupied in discus
sing various appropriation bills, and one
to authorize (which means pay for) the
construction of a ship canal around Ni
aga Falls. Mr. Washburn, of Illinois,
who is the " watchdog of the Treasury,
and is supposed to represent the views of
Gen. Grant, is down on all projects for
getting money to aid certain private Pa
cific and other Railroad speculations. This
Niagara bill is one of the same kind and
went by the board.
On Monday, in the Senate, memorials
were presented praying for amendments
to the naturalization laws. Also recom
mending that government sales of gold,
and loans and bonds, be made at auction.
A large number of bills and memorials
were presented on various subjects, and
some Senators, who had been handled.
pretty severely by newspaper correspond
ents relative to their course in railroad
jobs, "ventillated. 7 )
In the House, bills and petitions were
presented almost without number. In
formation was asked as to the substitu
tion of Pacific Railroad bonds, by some
banks, in lieu of the 5-20 , s deposited to
secure circulation. Gen. Butler said some
severe things about this matter. A reso
lution, that grants of public lands to cor
porations should be discontinued, was
laid on the table. A ft er considerable de
bate on the Legislative, Judicial and Ex
ecutive appropriation bill, the House ad
journed.
JUSTICE TO ARMSTRONG AND ILLYUS.
The speech of Honorable B. B. Strang
of Tioga, on Monday last, in the House
of Representatives, has made Mr. Dip's'
career as an " officer" of the House in
1868, a highly honorable one. The speech
of Mr. Gatchell, on the same occasion,
has entirely restored Andy Armstrong to
good repute for honesty and political re
spectability.
HoN. EbwAED McPnEnsoN, Clerk of
the House, Washington, D. C., is actively
engaged upon the Liti. and Timep, of
Thaddeus Stevens for early publication,
and will be glad to receive copies ofletters
of the deceased on political topics from
IR9-', to lgtiS, and any personal incidents
illustrating any point in his career or any
feature of his character. Original letter-.
or other documents, it' sent to him, will
be returned after use.
Wool 4ctvo.
ITEMS : The citizens of Terre 11111, ( Fair
ville) East Earl township, will take all per
sons from Ephrata Station to the Sunday
School Convention, to be held on the 28th and
29th inst., and return them to that point after
the Convention is over, free of charge. They
will also entertain persons who attend.
" Nasby's" lecture at the Court House, in
this city, on Friday evening last, was quite a
success, both as to numbers in attendance,
and the approbation expressed of the lecture.
The evening was unfavorable, otherwise the
attendance would have been very large.
About $7O were realized over and above all
expenses.
Cyrus Schwanger, of Mount Joy township,
has received a patent for improvement in
plough cultivators.
The two-story brick house in North Queen,
between Walnut and Lemon streets, of Her
man Miller, has been said to Francis
Has
mans, for $5,800, and the latter has sold tot
former his house in West King, for $2,500.
House of Levi Coates, in Christiana, sold to
Geo. Pownall, for $2,975.
Benj. !dishier distributed to the poor of this
city, on Saturday last, 600 lbs. of beef, and
600 loaves of bread, at his garden in Middle
street. Between four and five hundred per
sons were supplied.
The dead body of a German man, named
Edwin Derr, was found by Calvin Cooper, in
Mill Creek, near the railroad bridge, about
six miles east of this city. The cause of his
death is unknown. The verdict of the coro
ner's jury was that he came to his death
either by accident or at the hands of some
person unknown.
The Jury Commissioners of this county,
Messrs. S. W. P. Boyd and Wm. A. Morton
are modest men, truly. They wanted the
County Commissioners to pay them only
$2.50 per day for every secular day in the year,
for their onerous duties, requiring their ser
vices not more, we are told, than thirty days !
The County Commissioners very properly
would not allow more than $2.50 for every day
actually employed. The modest individuals
above named, appealed to the Court, who re
fused the demand. Right—very right. Boyd
would be a model Marshal of the Eastern Dis
trict of Pensylvania.
A correspondent of the Express advocates
the appointment of Police Commissioners for
this city. Some change in our police arrange
ments is very much needed. The occurrences
of last fall ought not to be repeated, as they
doubtless will be under the imbecile manage
ment of the Mayor and his Chief of Police.
By-the-way—can anybody tell why the trial
of the rowdies, guilty of the riot last fall, has
been postponed. Had our new District At
torney anything to do with it ?
A handsome clock has been placed in the
court room by the County Commissioners,
furnished by H. L. Sc E. J. Zahm.
Mr. Emanuel E. Miller, near Landisville,
raised 5,386 lbs. of leaf tobacco (fillers not
included) on two and a quarter acres,receiving
for it $1,346.50.
Edward Stevenson, a colored man, aged
54, was found dead in Washington borough,
a few days ago.
The following are the officers of the Susque
hanna Iron Company at Columbia : Geo.
Bogle, E. Hershey, John Q. Denny, C. S.
Kauffman, Robert Crane, Wm. Patton, M.
M. Strickler, John Paine and J. G. Hess.
A skeleton of a human body was found
while digging a trench sear Hershey's mill,
below Columbia, on Thursday. A pipe, filled
with tobacco, in good preservation, was found
with it.
The citizens of Manheim are building a flue
new school house. All the villages and towns
around us, outstrip Lancaster in the excel
lence of their school houses. The accommo
dations of that kind in this city, are positively
disgraceful.
The Manheim National Bank elected the
following Directors on the Ist inst. : Abraham
Kauffman, A. Bates Grubb, John Rohrer, sr.,
Jacob L. Stehman,E. B. Bomberger, John
Stauffer, Samuel olf, John M. Dunlap and
Philip Arndt.
141. H. Kreider has sold his store property
at Lampeter Square, to Geo. Dietrich, for
$B,OOO.
The Directors of the First National Bank
of Columbia are as follows : E. K. Smith,
Robert Crane, John Fendrich, Benj. Herr,
John J. McTague, H. N. Kehler, Jacob Seitz,
John sorry and Ethelbtrt Watts.
Somebody writes to the Wrightsville Star
that the prospect for a large supply of lumber
and timber next spring, from the Upper Sus
quehanna regions, is not very promising. The
Clearfield Journal also says about the same.
Well, maybe so, but as money is scarce, we
guess it will have to come down in price any
how, in spite of such efforts to keep up prices.
A little son of Capt. Reitzel, of Salunga,
was gored by a cow, while playing in the
stable yard, on Friday last. The horn pene
trated the roof of the mouth and passed out
under the left eye, tearing away part of the
cheek. The child is doing well.
The Court has refused a new trial in the
case of Merritt Smith vs. The Lancaster
County National Bank.
The post-office at McCall's Ferry, York
county, has been discontinued, for the present.
Mail matter for that office will go to Castle
Fin P. O.
Anna G. Wilson has been appointed post
mister at Parkesburg, cheater tounty, vice
A. Vandersall, resigned.
The Mechanics' Library, of this city, is in a
flourishing condition, having a very large libra
ry, to which is constantly added choice books
and a fund of $4,450 at interest. 081-
cm were elected for 1869, on the evening of
the 18th inst., as follows: President, William
Diller; Vice President, Chas. Gillespie; Trea
surer, Chr'si Gast; Secretary, H. A. Racks
field; Committee on Library, S. B. Rathvon,
Joseph Preston, A. E. Roberts, Wm. F. Dun
can,li. A. 'Rockatield; Committee on Prop
erty, Frank Diller,- D. A. Altick, W. A.
Morton, B. Yecker, A. R. Witmer. Peter
McConomy was re-elected Librarian.
The Athenaeum Association elected officers
on Tuesday evening last, as follows: President,
Hon. A. L. Hayes; Vice President, Hon. Gas.
Sanderson;t3ecretary, J. B. Kevinski; Direct
ors, A. Harris, W. A Atlee, A. E. Roberts,
S. S. Rathvon, D. GI Baker, Dr. H. Carpen
ter, G. K. Reed; Treasurer, James Black.
A committee was appointed to solicit subscrip
tions, with a view of opening a Reading Rooks
—" a consummation devoutly to be wished."
, Elizabeth Keller was found dead on Dor
wart st., this city on Monday last. She died
suddenly from drinking too much strychnine
whisky. The coroner held an inquest, and
from the testimony she must have lived in a
deligh(ful locality. But it is near Saar-Kraut
hill—where " Democrats" mostdo congregate.
The County Poor House was burglariously
entered on Sunday night, and the Superin
tendent's office was ransacked, but no harm
done except the scattering of that worthy of
ficer's papers about the floor and yard, and
the carrying away of some of his clothing.
Some very rough looking characters are
strolling about the country Just now, and_give
our country Mends no little annoyance. They
should be closely watched.
Two baskets of butter were stolen at mar
ket, on Wednesday morping, one containing
twenty and the other sixteen,potuuls. Scamps
everywhere.