!- ! . s 1 "JV--' 'TH-? .' - '-- ; . Lancaster fntelligencer. FETOAY EVENING. APBIL G, 1880. The Coming Convention. Somebody proposes a plan te harmon ize the Democratic party in Pennsylva nia by agreeing in advance of the meet ing of the state convention upon certain terms and conditions te be carried out therein, these terms in part consisting of an agreement by the contesting Phila delphia delegations as te -what shall be clone ; and the Philadelphia Times prints the sentiments of several Pennsylvania congressmen thereon, which show their conviction that the state Democracy must net be disturbed by any personal contest between Messrs. Wallace and Handall, or any ether claimants te lead ership. Se far as the matter of securing harmony is concerned, and the disposi tion te disregard any personal interests in obtaining it, it may be assumed that there is no division of sentiment among the masses of the party, and that the delegates te the state convention will meet with a fixed determination that the interests of the whole party shall net be .sacrificed at the demand of any faction. And se far as the Philadelphia dispute is concerned it is certain that any preposition which will result in sending tejthe convention one set of dele gates will be welcomed by the party, and any compromise proposed is very proper matter for consideration and determina tion prier te the meeting of the conven tion. Se is it right that any disputing sets of Democrats shall try te settle their differences amicably before the conven tion meets. IJut it is nobody's business te determine for the convention what it shall de in the matters which it assem bles toletermine. 'Who shall be delegates at large te the national convention, and who shall be electors and candidates, it is fjtlic convention te say, and it will net be prejHjr te set up any slate for its adoption before it meets. The con vention will be quite able te discharge its business, and in the temper in which it will meet we de net think that it will have much trouble in settling all matters at variance between members of the party. "What can properly be done te reliee il of jangles should be done, but Jit is Jnet necessary for this purpose that the pro pre gramme of its nominations shall be mapped out. Disputes in conventions are net agreeable, but it is better te have them than te have machine dictation. The only great trouble the party has ever had is with Philadelphia, and, as we have before suggested, the contention has a ready means of freeing itself from that by refusing Philadelphia representation in this convention if it shall find the party there se antagonistic that it cannot agree upon its representatives and can not consent te act together for the party geed. There is no tense in the descrip tion of Pcnnsylvanian Democrats gen erally as "Wallace or Handall men. They are net se. The most of them doubtless have their individual preferences be tween tliesa two men, but it is certain that in general they cannot be clan nishly described as the support ers of either, as against the party. Xer can the Democrats of the state be classed as Tilden or anti-Tilden, without charging them with the grossest felly. It -vill net de te say that.Pennsyl vania Democrats are for any man for president who will be unsatisfactory te any large number of their fellow Demo crats. Pennsylvania is net such a strong Democratic state that its Democrats can afford te be very saucy in insisting in the choice of their individual preference ; nor will they. Let Them Summon Each Other. If lawyers are te be held in contempt or subject te summary and severe pun ishment for impairing public confidence in the courts, even if they deserve te lese it, the important question arises what te de with courts which by their own con duct forfeit their confidence or by their freely expressed opinions of ether courts and ether judges lead the public te dis" trust their integrity or their intelligence. Anyone who will carefully read the opinions of the state supreme court, for tlie last forty years especially, will find scattered through them severe reflections of the upper upon the lower courts, and even of some the judges of that high council upon some of their associates. The familiar "Williamsport case,in which Judge Agnew strongly intimated that the opinion finally delivered as that of the majority of the supreme bench was net that originally agreed upon, fur nishes some very severe reflec tions en the court and its opinions ; and his political letter published while chief justice is equally distinguished for its freedom of language. Every new and then a common pleas judge gets a buffet from the upper court which is cal ciliated " te disturb and prejudice the mind of the public respecting the impar tial and just administration of distribu tive justice " in the lower courts and te expose the reversed judge te the con. tempt of his bar and th suitors before him. Xetably here in Lancaster county lias each of the two judges been willing if net desirous te disturb the mind of the pub lic respecting the willingness or the ca pacity of the ether te impartially and justly administer " distributive justice." It is the common scandal of lawyers and laymen here that instead of there being a cordial feeling between them and an earn est desire each te co-operate with the ether in upholding the dignity of the bench and promoting public confidence in the wis dem of the court, they have allowed their petty jealousies te se far control them as te belittle each ether and each ether's judgments. The lawyers have listened witli astonishment te Judge Livingston's arraignments of Judge Pat terson en the bench and off the bench ; and waited with wonderment en one oc ec oc fer Judge Patterson te " get even with him " when he seemed te have the chance. In private and public they have , manifested this disposition and neither lias ever seemed unwilling that the ether should get fast in the mud, provided that none of the ether fellow's mud should get en his garments if we except the present heroic exhibition of Judge Pat- . tersen in doing what he thought Judge ' "- . " . i-, ,; -. .. ...... j . - 7 .;'" "-; " " ,-- ;-- .-; r V T - ..- LANCABTEK 52SP5 LJSlPATTERSOffS OOIUM.I would net because he had. a "weak back." "We affirm that no circumstance has done mere than the relations of our two judges te each ether te " injure if net de stroy the moral influence of the court and te impair confidence in the administra tion of public justice, and thereby in flict great harm en public society." "Wherefore since they are " unanimous for once " as te what ought te be done with people who thus offend, we invite Judge Livingston te summon judge Pat terson te answer for a breach of profes sional fidelity, and Judge Patterson te proceed similarly against his beloved brother. TnE Western association of iron man ufacturers have done a sensible thing at last in reducing the scale rate of iron te the actual selling rate. They have drop ped the price from four cents te three and two-tenths cents per pound, and the cost of the manufacture will have te drop correspondingly. A decrease in wages, freight and material must come, that will enable the manufacturers te make iron at the reduced rate at a fair profit. The mistake was a great one which advanced iron se high as te let the foreign article come into compete tien with it, and it can only be repaired by a reduction in price that will preserve the market te the home manufacturer. The "Western trade would have shown mere sagacity by an earlier realization of this obvious fact. MINOR TOPICS. Blaixe has carried one mere Ohie. Sherman had Letter go leek after his fences. county hi home and Ok course the politicians who are rabid en the Chinese question will net employ Chinese lanterns during the campaign. Tun Maryland Hejmllkan, published at the state capitol, issues an extra printed in geld, red and blue, with an account of the house-warming at Magnelia hall, June 2, 1050, and biographical sketches of all of Maryland's legislators. Prixce Bismarck appearslikely te hare his own way again. The letter in which Emperor "William refuses te accept his re bignatien and asks him te deiine the changes he desires, virtually assures the chancellor that the powerful influence of Prussia will be exercised in his behalf. The emperor evidently deems state rights of little account compared with the con tinuance of Trince Bismarck in office. A compilation" of the various canvasses of the colleges of the country en the presi dential question has been published by the Harvard Eche. Thirty-six colleges have been heard from, and the totals aie : Blaine, 2,227; Grant, 1,-10S ; Sherman, 1,01-4; Edmunds, U01 ; Bayard, 1.117; Tilden, 105. This shuws Blaine te have nearly twice as much t&icngth as Grant, and Bayard te beat Tiklcn in popularity mere than live te one. Tan Philadelphia Ledger has figured up the result of the election of delegates te the national convention as thus far held, as fellows : Fer the Chicago convention 12 states and tciriteries have chosen their delegates, aggregating 252 delegates out of 75G composing the convention. Se far as can be ascertained from the instructions given delegates and the announced indivi dual preferences of theso uninstructcd, thcre arc for General Grant 155, for Sena Sena eor Blaine 52, for Senater Edmunds 14, for Secretary Sherman 8, for Mr. "Washburne 3 and the preferences of 20 arc unknown. Fer the Cincinnati convention three states haTO thus far chosen their delegates, aggregating 3C, all of them believed te be favorable te Mr. Tilden. PERSONAL. Senater Buiixside furnishes champagne te his guests, but takes none himself. Sir. IIexdricks"s portrait hangs en the Times's " White Heuse Gallery" te-day. Miss MixxinllAUK, the young American prima denna, has made a successful ap pearance at Naples. Mrs. Daniel S. Dickinsen, widow of the late U. S. Senater Dickinsen, died yes terday m .N owl erk, in the 77th year of her age. . Prince Leepold will proceed from Can ada, after visiting her sister, through the Western states, but will net go as far as San Francisce. Queen "Victeria and her youngest daughter wear as their traveling names en the continent the titles of ' Countess of Balmoral" and " Countess Beatrice of Balmoral." Mr. W. C. Gould, editor of the Jack Jack eon (O.) t Herald, formerly of Carlisle, where he learned the printing business under the late Geerge Sanderson, and well known in this city, is sojourning in Lan caster. Before starting for Zuzuland, the ex Empress Eugenii: presented her imperial crown te the church of Notre Dame des Victories, Paris. It is of great value, en account of its artistic composition and Hie number of precious stones it contains. General Isaac Muxree St. Jenx, who was commissary general of the Southern Confederacy, died suddenly at the Green brier White Sulphur Springs, W. Va., en Wednesday, aged 52 years. At the timoef Ins death he was mining engineer of the Chesapeake and Ohie railroad. Prince Bismarck has been forced te re solve te give up drinking his much-loved beer. His weight has se alarmingly in creased, that he has reluctantly,' followed the urgent advice of his physicians, who have long tried te dissuade him from his excessive use of malt liquor. When a Beer lever gees te pep the ques tien te the girl lie loves he presents her with a lighted wax candle. If she does net blew it out and return it he is happy. Ilcr mother takes the candle and sticks a pin into it and all but the levers leave.thc room. When the candle lias burned down te the pin he must leave. The Democratic state convention of Ore gon met in Portland yesterday and nomi nated district judges and attorneys. The resolutions adopted favor the regulation of railroad fares and freights; oppose military interference in elections ; condemn the practice of keeping alive the bitterness of the late war ; censure Hayes's veto of the anti-Clunesc bill anil the decision of the U. S. supreme court in regard te the election laws ; pledge support te all laws looking te untrammeled suffrage ; oppose a pro tective tariff, and denounce the third term movement. THE NEWSPAPERS SPEAKING OUT. Tlia fourth Installment of Their Opinion. Lancaster Law. 1'liUadclplila Evening BuUetln, Uep, The disbarring et A. J. Steinman and W. U. Hensel, members of the Lancaster bar and editors of thcJfeie I5ra?bj Judge Patterson has raised a question the settle ment of which will undoubtedly disbench Judge Patterson. There is no county in this free state where such an arbitrary ruling will be long tolerated by the people, and whether the long-winded judgment of this Lancaster Daniel stand or fall, when it comes te the test of the supreme court, it has already gene te that higher tribu nal of public opinion from which there is no appeal, and where it is found te be re versed. The circumstances of this remarkable case are briefly theso : One Snyder, a ward politician in Lancaster, was arraigned for keeping a disorderly heuse. The case came into court and, as is alleged, the counsel for the defendant made such rep resentations of his political influence and usefulness in his ward te the prosecuting attorney that, without examining any wit nesses, the latter officer reported that there was no case, and a verdict of net guilty was taken without trial. The mat ter was freely criticized by the Lancaster press, and the New Era was sued for libel by the district attorney. When the suit was tried, ovidence was produced sustaining the fact that the origi nal case had been disposed of by mere political influence. A second indict ment was found against Snyder, but upon trial, Judge Patterson ruled that there was no case en account of the preyieus acquit tal. The lawyor-cditers, Messrs. Ilenscl and Stcinman, criticised the whole pro ceeding with becoming Heverity in their newspaper, and Judge Patterson, in an opinion of great length and of strength in inverse proportion te its length, declares that the editors are bound by the obliga tions of the lawyers, as officers of the court, and are guilty of misbehavior in of fice, for which lie strikes them from the roll of the Lancaster county bar. Judge Patterson talks a great deal of the law, in his voluminous opinion, but he cannot talk away the plain meaning of the well known act of 183G, declaring that " Ne publication out of court, respecting the conduct of the judges, officers of the court, jurors, witnesses, parties or any of them, of, in and concerning any cause de pending in such court, shall be construed into a contempt of the said court, se as te render the author printer, publisher, or cither of them, liable te attachment and summary punishment for the same." Ne man of ordinary common sense will doubt rhc purpose of the law or deny that it is in exact accord with that liberty of public criticism that it secured by the con stitution of the state. Even the Lancas ter judge was forced te admit that there had been no "contempt of court" com mitted ; but he seem te have been unable te see that in that admission he debarred himself from the infliction of that "sum mary punishment " which is only entrusted te him in cases of such contempt. But the legal technicalities of this high handed procedure will all be settled by the supreme court and need net be discussed by the newspapers. The general principle involved lies at the root of the freedom of the press and the purity of the administra tion of justice in Pennsylvania. Judge Patterson's court lay under the gravest of all possible imputations. A respectable newspaper, edited by two lawyers familiar with all the facts of the case, had distinctly charged that an acquittal of an active pol itician had been secured "by a pros titution of the machinery of justice te serve the exigencies of the lie publican party." Judge Patterson an swers the grave charge, net by disprov ing it, but by summary and what must and will be held te be vindictive punish ment of the editors of the paper, who happen te be lawyers. He has net vindi cated his court from the charge by this ar bitrary act. no has net protected it from the criticism about which he is se sensi tive He has net dene publie justice any service. He has followed two of the offi cers of his court into a sphere where he had no right te knew thein at all in any official relation, and he has inflicted a pun ishment upon them that is ordinarily re garded as infamous, but which carries no such stigma with it in this case. Judge Patterson has ruled, in effect, that no lawyer in Pennsylvania shall edit a newspaper except m the interest of the court. He interpolates into the act of 1830 a clause of his own that excepts lawyers from the benefit of that act. And in his ill-judged attempt te crush out criticism upon his court by a single local newspaper he has brought his court into the exact focus of observation and criticism of the whole state. The judge who shrinks from criticism is always the judge te be watched and criticized. The man who keeps his own ermine clean and suffers no pollution of any corner of the tcmple in which he ministers has rarely any fear of public discussion of his acts. The arbitrary behavior of Judge Patterson throws the whele weight of proof upon his court, and he will find himself forced te show that there has been no tampering with justice and no ad mission of political favoritism within its jurisdiction. New that Judge Patterson has stricken these two lawyers from his roll, and has remanded them te the undivided function of journalism, what will be the immediate effect upon thorn as editors? He has silenced thorn as lawyers ; but if he has net silenced them as editors, what then ? Suppese Messrs. Steinman and Hensel should again say that the acquittal of Sny der "was secured by a prostitution of the machinery of justice, " what will Judge Patttorsen de about it? Is therc any process of law by which he can bring thorn te account? Undoubtedly thcre is. And if they have falsely charged corruption upon the court they can be punished for it. But if this is se, the perplexing question for Judge Pat terson will be why he did net proceed against thorn in due course of law in the first place. The only apparent answer is that he could puuish them as lawyers without law, while he cannot punish tliem as editors until he has proved that thore was no ground for the serious charge which they have made. And it is a pretty geed answer se far as it gees. Only One Opinion. Philadelphia Press, Kep. Without exception the press of the state unite in condemning the recent action of Judge Patterson of Lancaster county in disbarring Jiessrs. llensel and bteinman for an offeuse which he admits was net contempt in them as attorneys, and for which, if it were libelous en their part as journalists he should have sought redress through the courts instead of reveng ing himself as he did. The entire news paper press of the state sustain the plucky editors of the Ixtelligexcer, and demand that the real question at issue, which is the right of a public journal te criticise a judicial proceeding, be decided by the court of last resort. The press of Pennsylvania had congratulated itself that it was emancipated by the new constitu tion, and the rulings of the courts and ver dicts of the juries in the cases which have arisen since the adoption of that instru ment, but if Judge Patterson's decision is te stand it will be bound hand and feet tighter than it ever was before. - -yg ,, , - . ' "- '"'-. ; " - ' ' - DA3J.Y INTELtilGENOER vBfZ-A Martin Finnegan was struck by a coal train in Scranton and killed. Mrs. Rebecca Demmy, a young widow of Erie county,, has received $40,000 from the estate of an aunt in New Yerk who took a fancy te her. The Western iron association met in Pittsburgh yesterday and unanimously decided te reduce the card rate from $4 te $3.20, the reduction te take place en Men day next. In Philadelphia the grand jury found a true bill yesterday against Select Council man Meuat, charging him with altering the return, sheet of the 10th division Fifth ward, en the night of the last election. A meeting of Philadelphia peel table keepers formed a permanent organization yesterday, for the avowed purpose of re sisting a tax of $30 per annum en the first peel tabic used by them, and $10 per an num en each additional table. The Philadelphia county committee of administration will be called together to morrow night for the purpose of taking preliminary action towards sending dele gates te the coming Democratic state con vention at Harrisburg. LATEST NEWS BY MAIL. David Barten, a colored politician of Dallas, Texas, fatally wounded his wife and then killed himself yesterday. Jealousy was the cause Jehn Petrie, a farm hand, fifty years of age. committed suicide in Baltimore coun ty, Md., yesterday. He was married last Tuesday. Edgar P. Hern shot his wife in the breast and himself in the head, in San Francisce yesterday. He may recover. The couple had been separated for some time. Mr. Blaikie, the referee in the champion cup contest between Hanlan, Courtney and Riley, has decided that the race shall be rowed at Washington en the 14th of May. At a meeting of the San Francisce beard of trade yesterday, the cemmittee ap pointed en the question of inter-oceanic canals, reported in favor of the Nicaragua route, surveyed by the navy department in 1873. The net Liberal gain in the British Par liament up te last night was cighty cighty five seats. This increase is largely due te the success achieved in the Scotch and English counties. In Ireland the Heme Rulers continue te make gains, 'jln the United States Senate yesterday, the Heuse joint resolution authorizing the secretary of war te lend flags and camp equipage for use at the triennial encamp ment of Knights Templar in Chicago this year, was passed by a vote of 37 te 20. The Ute agreement bill was discussed. A fire in Dixen, III., early yesterday morning, destroyed the mills of Thompson & Ce., Becker & Underwood, and S. C. Ells & Ce., with several smaller buildings, causing a less estimated at $100,000. Ezra Becker and Win. Schcm were killed, and live ether men wcie badly injured dur ing the conflagration. Full returns of the election in Rhede Island give Littlcfield, Republican, for governor, 10.098 votes; Kimball, Demo crat, 7,230 :;iIeward. Prohibitionist, 5,002. The Scnate will stand 26 Republicans te 7 Democrats, with one vacancy in Provi dence. The Heuse will contain 50 Repub licans and 12 Democrats, leaving ene te be chosen in Providence. In the Heuse a large number of bills wcic reported adversely by the committee en war claims and laid upon the table. The armyappropriatien bill was considered in committee of the whole. The speaker decided against the point of order raised by Mr. Kcifcr against the amendment pro hibiting the use of any part of the moneys appropriated by the bill for the placing of troops at election polls. Theodere Themas closed his services at the Cincinnati Collcge of Music last night by conducting the last of the series of con certs given by the college, The last num ber en the pregramme was appropriately chosen. It was Liszt's symphonic poem, ' Tasso-Lamcnte c Trioufe." Mr. Themas gees te New Yerk te-day, where he will gather together about 100 members of the orchestra for the coming JMay festival, and rchearse some of the musie for that occa sion. LOCAL INTELLIGENCE. Corener's Inquest. Yesterday Corener Mishlcr held an in quest en the body of an infant child named Henry W. Gendcr, found dead in bed at the residence of II. G. Stchman, near Pe tersburg. Mrs. Gender, the mother of the child, who lives in the family of Mr. Stch man, testified that in the morning the child appeared restless and fretful. She nursed it and gave it a few drops of pare goric. When it fell asleep she went down stairs te de her work, and en her return found the child was dead. There were no evi dences of foul play, and the coroner's jury rendered a verdict of death from natural causes. Contract Awarded. Messrs. Riley & Keller, of Lancaster says the West Chester Republican, have been awarded the contract for removing the bank of earth en the eastern side of the track at Frazer, where the new station house is te be erected. The larger portion of the excavated dirt will be used in rais ing the read bed for the straightening of the branch track near Frazer station. The balance of the earth will be placed en Hibbcrd's banks. Messrs. Riley & Keller will begin their work in a few days. Omissions. The name of Christopher Sheid is te be added te the list of county cemmittcmen in the 8th ward. The three candidates are : Christopher Sheid, Adam - Trost and Wm. Schultz. In the Seventh ward the name of Fred. Arneld was accidentally emitted yesterday from the list of delegates. Michael Reilly, of the same ward, de clines being a candidate. Tellce Case9. Before the mayor : Lilian Censtine was committed for 30 days for drunken and disorderly conduct, and several tramps were discharged. Before Alderman McConemy : Michael Burke and Charles Gray wcre committed for 20 days each. Scheel Entertainment. On Thursday evening next, 13th iust., Prof. Matz's German and English school will give a public entertainment in tlic high school building te which members of the school beard, and patrons of the school arc invited. Vacancy Filled. President Warfel, of the school beard, has appointed Dr. Jehn Levergood a mem ber of the superintending committee te fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Jehn W. Jacksen. The Sprinkler. This morning the sprinkler was put en the street, and hereafter the streets will be kept dampened. . - r , y " .-'-- rv jOv-v- - t j --. - FRIDAY, APRIL 9, 1880. ' SCHXI CONVENTION I Creation of the Office of City Superintendent. I The beard of directors of Lancaster school district met in convention in the common council chamber last evening, under a call issued by the president at re quest of a" number of members, for the purpose of considering the question of creating the office of city superintendent of public schools. The convention was called te order by Wm. A. Wilsen, esq., who moved that Rebert A. Evans be called te the chair. Mr. Evans declined the honor and nomi nated Rev. C. Reimensnydcr, who was unanimously chosen. On motion C. F. Eberman was chosen clerk. The roll was called and the following members of the beard answered te their names : Messrs. D. G. Baker, Brosius, Cochran, Eberly, Eberman, Erisman, Evans, Harris, D. Hartman, J. I. Hartman, Johnsten, Levergood, Marshall, McComsey, Mc Mc Mc Coeomy, Reimensnydcr, Richards, Schmid, Schwebel, Samson, Smeych, Slay maker, Snyder, Spurrier, Westhacffer, Wilsen, Yeislcy, Christian Zechcr, Warfel, president. The call, in which the object of the mcecting was stated, was read. Mr. Slaymaker said he held in his hand a preamble and resolution which he would offer for adoption. When the matter of establishing the office of city superintend ent was breached a few years age, he had opposed it ; but he had since then seen the working of the system in Reading and ether cities, and is convinced of its advan tages. He believed that the present time was favorable for its adoption in Lancas ter. It can be tested for a single year, and if found unprofitable can then be discen tinued. As the state will pay the princi pal part of the salary the cost te the district will be light. The labors of the superin tending cemmittee et the beard have in creased te such an extent and become se onerous, that few members of the beard can spare the time necessary te devote te them. The erection of new schools and the incrcase in the number of pupils will increase these duties. The election of a city superintendent will net only relieve the committee but will add largely, he be lieved, te the discipline and efficiency of the schools. He offered the following : Whereas, the greatly increased num ber of pupils, schools, and teachers new undsr control of the beard has greatly in creased the labor te be performed, and, Whereas, te secure the best results from the operations of our schools requires pro per organization of the schools, careful classification and grading of the pupils, a suitable course of study, the best methods of instruction and discipline, as well as close and experienced supervision there fore. Iieselccd, That the effice of superinten dent of public schools of Lancaster city school district be and is hereby estab lished. Mr. Warfel moved the adoption of the preamble and resolution. Mr. D. G. Baker asked for information, whether the beard would elect a superin tendent for less than three years. Mr. MoCemscy replied that he had au thority for saying that the beard could elect for the unexpired term which will ter minate in May, 1881. Mr. Warfel also said that if the office is established and the beard elects a city superintendent, his term will expire in May, 1881. Mr. Slaymaker said he would be un willing te elect a city superintendent for three years, but the beard had new an opportunity of electing ene for ene year ; if the experiment proved unsatisfactory it could be discontinued at small expense Mr. Eberly would like te knew what was the present necessity for a city super intendent. Mr. Slaymaker replied that the laoers or tue superintending com mittee of the beard were num erous and onerous, and constantly increas ing, requiring mere time for their faithful fulfilment than members could afford te give for thorn. If the gentlemen were a member of the committee he would see the necessity at once. Mr. D. G. Baker said that when the question of a city superintendent was be fore the beard some time age it was argued by these opposed te the system that we had such an excellent beard of directors and corps of teachers that a superintend ent was net necessary. It seems new that the committees of the beard arc getting tired of their increasing labors and want a city superintendent. If the right kind of a man could be secured for the position he thought it would be well te give the sys tem a trial at least for a year. Mr. Eberly asked if they created the effice and did net like it whether it would be possible te abolish it. Mr. Erisman rejdicd that he could net point te the law in the case, but he knew that Allcntewn had had a city superintend ent, and owing te a heavy school debt had abolished the office. Mr. Wilsen called attention te the act of 1SG7, which makes it optional with school beards te elect city superintendents for an unexpired term by means of a convention or for a full term, at the time appointed, at a stated meetiug of the beard. Mr. Eberly was net yet satisfied. He feared if the effice was ence created it would be a permanent institution and the beard could net abolish it. The act of As sembly which says the beard may elect may be construed te mean that it shall elect. Besides if a superintendent is once elected the beard will have en its hands an officer, who if net absolutely bad and inefficient will be hard te get rid of, but who will be re-elected, as many inefficient teachers are new re-elected. He thought no sufficient reason for the election of a city superintendent had been advanced and that the beard would net be justified in eleecting a salaried officer te perform the onerous duties new devolving en a cemmittee. If the committee is unwilling or unable te perform their duties let them resign, incy nau no right te tue honors of the station unless they peferm the du ties. If they were unwilling te act ethers might be willing who would net consider the duties onerous. Mr. Baker was surprised te hear Mr. Eberly say that the duties of the superin tending committee were net onerous. He remembered that Mr. Eberly served en that committee one year and refused te serve longer because he could net spare the time necessary. Every ether member of the beard had as geed a right te decline, - :" r;,-! i. w ' v" u ' ' " - - . J- ' . -. " erhere weu,d no ---- I committee. Mr. Harris could see no reason for this sadden necessity for a city superintendent. He had been for twelve years a member of the beard and had never before heard complaints of the onerous -duties of the superintending committee. If these gen tlemen think themselves overtaxed it might be well te put in their places some of us little fellows who are new kept in the background. If these gentlemen are unwilling te perform the duties of their office they should net have the honors, nor should they vote te take money out of the people's pockets te Day $1,500 a vear te a city superintendent te de the work they were elected te de ; nor should they filch from taxpayers thousands of dollars mere for building fine school houses that arc net needed. Mr. Harris did net believe that the office of city superintendent would be worth two cents te the schools of Lancaster or ever was worth two cents elsewhere. If adopted the system will prove barren of geed te the masses who de net stand in need of high education te fit them for their walk in life and who should net be taxed for the purpose of giving a great education te ethers. If thers want a great education let them pay for it. Mr. Harris expressed himself as net only opposed te the city superintendency but also te the county superintendency, as they are both worth less appendages te the common school system ; but since the county superintend ency has been thrust upon the people by state law let him attend te the duties which it is new proposed te devolve en a city superintendent. Notwithstanding what had been said about the inferiority of our schools lie believed them te be as geed as any ethers ; and he hoped that as we had already plunged our hands into the people's pockets for $20,000 with which te build new school-houses, we would new step. Mr. Slaymaker suggested that Mr. Uar ris underrated the duties of the school committees because he had neglected te perform theso which had been imposed upon him. Mr. Brosius said the importance of the matter new under consideration could net be ever-estimated and that it is right and proper that there should be full and intelli gent discussion of it. That a correct con clusion might be reached te discuss it intel ligently it was necessary that there should be premises, a common ground, upon which all could stand. He thought that a fundamental principle te which all would agree was that we should aim te secure the highest attainable proficiency in our schools. If the adoption of the resolution before the convention will produce that re sult, it should adopted. It the election of a city superintendent will increase the efficiency of our schools, let us elect him. That this will be the result, Mr. Brosius had no doubt. A close supervision ever the schools is as necessary as it is in any ether organized work. This preposition admits of no contradiction. It is necessary in every department of labor. Organization alone produces the highest attainable suc cess in every profession, in every trade, in every enterprise. Te illustrate, leek at our watch factory, our cotton facteriesand ether enterprises. They all have efficient superintendents te oversee and leek after all the details of the business, te correct mistakes, te prevent neglect, te suppress abuses. Se with our schoeis. If there arc defects in them, as we knew there are, shall net they be corrected? Indifferent schools thcre are different modes of teach ing pursued, different rules of discipline and ether irregularities, showing the want of a directing mind. While the superin tending committees and ether committees of the beard have dene much for the schools, it requires a single head a super super intendenteo take charge of all the schools and establish a uniform plan. Mr. Bro sius, at considerable length, answered Mr. Ebcrly's objection, that if once the city superintending be adopted it could net be abolished, saying that the highest school authority in the state had pro nounced it te be optional with the beards of directors te elect or net at their option. Mr. Brosius concluded his remarks by reading a list of the cities and boroughs in the state some twenty-five in number that had adopted the system of the city superintendency. Mr.McCemsey thought that what had been said already was sufficient and he would net discuss the matter at any length. When the question of electing a city superintend ent was before the beard some two years age, he had opposed it, and was slew in changing his opinion. He wished new te say a word in behalf of the superintending committee. It had been charged that thev were un willing longer te perform the onerous duties devolving upon them and wanted some one else te de their work. This is net the case ; the truth is that after they have given their efforts te the school they are convinced that they have failed te secure the best attainable results, and there fore believe it te be the duty of the beard te adept any measure that premises te increase their efficiency. We have 3,000 children te educate and we spend S-in.OOO of the people's money te de it. Shall we net therefore de all that can be done te secure the best possible results? Having visited schools in ether cities where they have the city superintendency he is convinced that they are in bet ter condition than our own. In the borough of Columbia, with 1,300 children in the schools, 700 of them, or mere than one-half arc in grade above the primaries. In Lancaster with 3,000 pupils, ever 2,000 arc in the primaries. In Read ing almost one-half of the pupils arc in the primaries. Why are our schools se far behind them ? It is net because our teach ers are less efficient, for as a body thev are equal te any teaching elsewhere ; but it is because they lack a responsible and direct ing head, te properly classify the studies, te organize a uniformity of instruction and discipline. In Reading there is almost as much accomplished in a three years' course as there is with us in a four years' course. There is some reason for this less of time and money, and it is our duty te seek and adept a remedy. Mr. Eberly replied, declaring that he de lie ved our schools te be equal te theso of ether cities, and if they were net the elec tion of a city superintendent would net better them. He thought it would be disgraceful te place a superintendent ever - ' .-?-. v- -i i - i-, s -tMw,, . ,1, - - ' v -' j 2 ! - Mr- jiciasKey ana .miss iiundell. At our annual commencements we beast of our schools, and here we declare them te l failures. Mr. Wilsen thought Mr. Eberly treated members of the beard unfairly when he stated that they regarded the schools as failures. Nobody thinks se ; they are as geed ascan be expected under the present system of management, but they be made better by having a directing miud at their head ; ene who will visit and compare, and criticize and report upon the work dene by the several teachers, and create amen-r them a spirit of emulation ; te point out te them where improvements may be made iu their practice of teaching, and te brinsr te the attention of the beard the names of these who arc inefficient that their places, may be supplied by ether and better teachers. Mr. Erisman called attentieu te the fact that in many of our schools it requires a four years' course te advance pupils as far as long division. He belived if a proper system were adopted as much could be done in two and a half years as is new done in four years. Anether error of our pres-. ent system is that the principal of pri maries, te secure a geed percentage for their transfer classes reduce the number of pupils ittheclass te 12 or 15,thus throwing back into the lower classes many pupils that should be further advanced, and giving the assistant teacher se many pupils, in some cases 80 or 90, that it is impossible te de justice te them. Anether fault in our system is that with our large beard of thirty-six directors, all or whom give permits te pupils te any ami all the schools, it often happens that per mits are given te a school alieady over crowded, and when the pupil applies and can get no seat, he is again turned upon the street. By bavins a competent super-, intendent all these faults might be reme died. The yeas and nays were called en the adoption of Mr. Slaymaker's preamble, and resolution creating the effice of city sup erintendent, and resulted as fellows : Yeas Messrs. D. G. Baker, Brosius, Cochran, Eberman, Erisman, D. Hait man, J. I. Hartman, Johnsten, Marshall, McCenisey, McConemy, Reimensnydcr, Schmid, Samson, Smeych, Slaymakerj Snyder, Spurrier, Westhacffer, Wilsen, Yeislcy and Warfel 22. Nays Messrs, Eberly, Evans, Hani--, Levergood, Richards, Schwebel uml V. Zechcr 7. Se the resolution was adopted, and Presi dent Reimensnydcr deelared the office ei' city superintendent of Lancaster school district created. On motion the convention adjourned te meet en Thursday, evening, April 22, ti elect a city superintendent and fix his salary, and the secretary was directed te announce the meeting by advertisement, and advertise for applicants for the posi tion. Adjourned. lien. Kej nelds's Will. The will of Gen. James L. Reynolds has been offered for probate in the office ol'the county registei. It bears date Febiuary 14, 1880. The will directs that all the tes tator's real and personal property be sold by the executer (Ames Slaymaker, emj.), the law and miscellaneous libraries te be sold separately as a whele in the city of Philadelphia at public or private sale. The following bequests are made : The Lancaster tcmctcry association $200, upon condition that the Reynolds let 1 by them kept in proper order, and he din-cftr dis executers te have placed around the let a substantial stone curb. Te his nephew, Jehn Reynolds. Evans,, he bequeaths the deuble-barreled jjnii, formerly owned by General Jehn F. Rey nolds. Te his nephew, Harry Evans, he be queaths another double-ban clcd gun. Te his nephew, Lieut. J. Reynolds Lan dis, he bequeaths the cap and scarf for merly belonging te General Jehn F. Rey nolds. Te his sister, Lydia M. Evans, the por trait of General Jehn F. Reynolds, painted by Lambdin. Te. A. Wilhelm, of Cornwall, a paper weight formerly presented te J. L. Rey nolds by Rebert W. Celeman. Te Cap. Jeseph Resengartcn i statu ette of General Jehn F. Reynolds, iu plaster. Te the city of Lancaster $1,000 in trust, te purchase fuel for the needy inhabitants of said city. Te his sisters Lydia 31. Evan and Catherine Land is. he bemicaths S.l.OCO absolutely. Te his executer he bequeaths in tiust a sum sufficient te yield an annual income of $900, te be paid annually in equal propor tion te his sisters, Jane Gildcrsleevc.Harriet Reynolds, and Eleaner Reynolds, during their natural lives. A sum sufficient te yield $900 per an num is also bequeathed in trust te the execter for the benefit of his hi ether, Samuel 31. Reynolds. Then fellow minute directions te the executer for the disposal of these trusts iu case of the death of his sisters and brothers. The residue of his estate, if any, he be queaths in equal shares te his sisters. Damages Awarded. Yesterday Samuel Evans, A. N. Cassel. 31. S. 3Ietzgar, William Ellmaker and Henry Eckcrt, viewers appointed, by the court, met te assess the damages sustained by property owners by the opening of West 3rarien street. The jurors awarded $320 te A. J. Dunlap and found that none of the ether property-holders were en titled te anything. That rueful Street Car Track. This morning Dr. II. E. 3Iuhlenbcrg was driving along West King street, and when near Prince street the wheel of his phaeton struck the street car track and the axle was broken off in the wheal. Farm Sold. Yesterday B. J. 3IcGrann bought at pri vate sale the farm of R. A. 3Ialenc, en the New Helland turnpike, nearly opposite 3Ir. 3IcGrann's present residence. Th-i farm contains about G7 acres of land. Surety of the Peace. Jehn Sharp, residing near Brunerville, get drunk and threatened te sheet his father and his horse. Jehn was arrested and, in default of bail was committed for a hearing. Emma Abbett Coming. 3Iiss Emma Abbett and her opera com pany were booked te-day te appear at the opera house en, April 24th, i! m $i s m Pi. '.. .. 'si AM I m V. fl! i n j,,i m rfj I m i i ht-l iiia n 'fi i? I ! c 5 m a m 'HI KM I i a: w i I! I m W5 t-J Ui 1 m 1-,-Zj r.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers