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LANCASTER DAILY INTELLIGENCE!. THURSDAY, JOLY 8, 1880.
Lancaster Intelligencer.
THUBSDAY EVENING. JULiT 8, 1880.
Ah Md ArgHmeiit.
The founder of the Philadelphia Press
and its present editor are engaged in a
mutual effort te satisfy each ether en the
"pending question as te whether General
Hancock should or should net be elected
te the presidency. Colonel Ferney start
ed out in support of the affirmative of
the issue with the declaration that Han
cock had a geed title te the place by rea
son of his having saved the country at
Gettysburg. But, says Mr. Smith in
response, he is a Democrat, and this po
litical issue is between the two parties.
This apparently stout suggestion Colonel
Ferney parries by declaring that Abra
ham Lincoln took Stephen A. Douglas
te his besom. The rejoinder is net en its
face very conclusive, but Mr. Smith, op.
pressed with the knowledge or idea that
it will never de te intimate te geed lie
publicans that Abraham Lincoln could
ever have have done anything that the
Republican party need hesitate te fellow
him in, responds that Douglas dropped
his Democracy when Lincoln embraced
him. According te Mr. Smith he be
came a patriot, and as by another of his
suppositious a patriot cannot be a Dem
ocrat, he proves that Douglas ceased te
be one and se became eligible te Mr. Lin
coln's approval.
It is an odd shape for the argument te
take, and Editor Smith seems te have
been forced into an indefensible' position
in a very strong case. Very clearly this
is a contest between the Democratic and
Republican parties, and any Republican
who votes for Hancock abandons his
oartv.fer this occasion at least. And if
there are any vital principles dividing
the parties, Mr. Smith may fairly declare
that no sense of a debt of gratitude te
Gen. Hancock, alone, should suf
fice te take te him the vote of a
Republican who does net believe in the
political principles which he avows and
will cause te prevail in the government
of the country if he is placed in its
charge. Such Republicans as have no
fixed conviction of the wrongfulness of
Democratic policy, and who are willing
te trust te a geed man of any party te
guide the country, are these who will be
affected by Cel. Ferney's argument and
will let gratitude for Gettysburg and con
fidence in Hancock's iiersenal character
control their vote for him.
If the gratitude for Gettysburg which
the country ewes te Hancock, entitles
him te the Republican vote, as Cel. For Fer
ney seems te insist, we may leek for the
whole party te come ever te him; we
knew we will leek in vain, though the
editor of the Press seems te have a secret
conviction that they ought te de it, and
strikes out wildly in seeking reasons why
they should net. It says : " Let these
Democrats rise above Democracy as
Dguglas did in the last noble hours of
his life; let them stand by the public
honor as Douglas did in its crisis, and
we will welcome their co-operation as
Lincoln welcomed that of Douglas."
Which, if it means anything in connec
tion with this argument, means that if
Hancock was as geed a patriot as
Douglas, the Republican party might
be expected te support him ever
Garfield, though net ever the su
IK'ilative patriot, Lincoln, as we
gather from the subsequent argument of
the I'rcss. If it means te say this, it
yields the question, since very few people
will hesitate te say that Hancock " steed
by the public honor " as stoutly as ever
Douglas did, and certainly with a
greater net result in the decisive vie.
lery of Gettysburg. He is worthy of
every honor that Douglas could claim,
including Lincoln's trust and Republican
confidence. And there is no gainsaying
that the party is put in a very awkward
jKisitien in opposing him ; a fact that is
demonstrated every time its organs at
tempt te show why they de it. They
had better quit trying te explain what
they find se much trouble te make clear.
Ma you MacGexigle's veto of the
1.1,000 lean ordinance is strictly in ac
cord with the policy laid down by him at
the outset of his eflicial career, adhered
te in his treatment of questions of muni
cipal administration,and se emphatically
endorsed by the people of the city. He
could net consistently de otherwise than
refuse his assent te the creation of a lean
which the finance committee had advised
him would run the city debt beyond the
constitutional limit and which was made
te pay debts created in direct violation
of law. It is a very embarrassing posi
tion, no doubt, in which the city is
placed by this state of affairs, but the
mayor is net responsible for it and he is
net disposed te stultify himself and his
past record by untangling the knot which
shiftlessness and recklessness of heedless
legislators has twisted. He wisely refers
the responsibility for undoing it te these
who brought it about.
In recently noticing Cel. Breckin
ridge's masterly argument en the power
of courts te disbar, as a punishment for
contempt, in the case of It. W. Woolley,
of Louisville, Ky., the Intelligences
stated that the court had discharged its
own rule, This was essentially true se
far as it related te the rule te disbar ;
but the court held Counseller Woolley
te answer for contempt and fined him
$30, the limits of its statutory power te
punish for contempt. The case will be
found reported in 11 Bush (Ky.) reports,
and though it will be seen that the court
maintained that an attorney could de
monstrate his unfitness te practice by
committing contempt, it refrained, like
Judge nail in the Greevy case, from the
exercise of its claimed power, and most
painfully manifested its lack of confi
dence in its own judgment.
Gen. Hancock meets the question
that has arisen ever his attitude in 187G
'77 toward the disputed electoral ques
tion in a soldierly and at the same time
statesman-like way, by authorizing Gen.
Sherman te make public any communi
cation received from him at that time.
Manifestly, if any such letter was writ
ten at that time by Hancock, as alleged,
premising te obey Mr. Tildea as presi
dent, if se declared by Congress, Gen.
Sherman is in the best position te prove
its authenticity. If he can and will de I
OU, lb Vf 1M U111JT CUUaUbC VC. Aieuwn. a
standing in the affection of his party by
showing that he was willing te lead
where conscience pointed and where his
party would have readily followed him.
PERSONAL.
Mr. E. y. Sutter, f en or the late Gen.
Sutter, California geld discoverer, has ar
rived iuLititz, en a visit te his widowed
mother.
A. Bnossex Aixett drinks nothing but
water seldom tea and coffee, and then
very weak. He has net touched animal
feed for fifty years, his fare being fruit,
vegetables and grains.
Mr. P. T. Barnum celebrated his seven
tieth birthday in Bridgeport en Monday.
Many old citizens were present, and there
were speeches and a clam-bakc. Congrat
ulatory letters from Mr. Thurlow Weed
and ethers were read. .
Judge Black sends the following by
Sible te the editor of the New Yerk World :
I am net the author of General Hancock's
letters or orders concerning Louisiana. I
knew nothing of them until they were
printed.
Senater Den Cameken's health is se
much undermined as te cause his friends
serious apprehension, and only an entire
abstinence from all excitement or mental
strain, he is advised, will assure his restor
ation. He is under the care or a physician
and has dropped everything but attention
te his nervous condition.
Cel. Simen B. Kase, spiritualist, con
tractor, etc., used te be president of the
Danville, Hazleton and Wilkcsbarrc rail
road. The corporation has begun pro
ceedings in equity against him te recover
large amounts of money said te have been
received by him for the company and ap
prepriated it te his own use.
Bishop Simpsen was assigned te held
the M. E. conferences in Japan and China
this autumn. Upen his departure for the
East he took with him his wife ami
daughters. Mrs. Simpsen was sick when
she started, but it was hoped that she
would recover sufficiently en the journey
te San Francisce te take the steamer te
Yokohama. Instead of this her health be
came worse, and some days after his arri
val in California the bishop was obliged
te give up the trip.
Jes. S. Cook, assistant U. S. district at
torney te the deposed McCennick at Pitts
burgh, se takes te heart the failure of
McC. te be reappointed that he indignantly
resigns the position from which he no
doubt would have been removed in a few
days. In his letter te Devens he says:
"Iliad hoped in the interest of General
Garfield that Hen. II. II. McCormick
would be reappointed. His able and up
right discharge of official duty has been
abundantly certified by these in this com
munity best qualified te judge. But civil
service reform, which has demanded much
and worked such wonders in this marvel
ous administration, doubtless called for
the punishment of a man whose position
could net deaden his love and admiration
for the great soldier." Which is Grant.
STATE ITEMS.
Meadville counts 8,800 population, but
Titusvillc will net credit it.
Jeffersen Hcrisc, flagman at Black Dan's
cut near Easten has been cut te pieces en
the railroad.
Titusvillc had a half hour riot en the
5th of July, between the town roughs and
the countrymen.
Little Harry Sampsel, of Easten, playing
by the riverside, was horrified te find his
missing father's dead body floating in the
wate.
Henry Stinger, eight years old, of 1,307
Greves street, Philadelphia, was drowned
in the muddy Schuylkill at Seuth street
bridge, last night.
Shindlc Gebcn Yeung, a private tele
graph operator at Sunbury, went te Dan
ville with the firemen and his dead body
has been found in the river with marks of
foul play en it. .
Though Mrs. Wolfgang Heffman, of
Somerset county, was found dead in her
cellar, hanged by the neck, suspicious peo
ple think that her husband killed her for
her money.
The Cedar Dale Valley woolen carpet
yarn mills of David Hey, en Cresheim
creek, Chestnut Hill, was destroyed by
fire at half-past ten o'clock yesterday
morning. Less, $25,000.
Londen, July 7, 1880. J. S. Black.
Hudsen Vanetten, a wealthy fanner, re
siding near Milferd, was found dead in
the public highway near his home. He
committed suicide by blowing his brains
out with a pistol. He is supposed te have
been intoxicated when he committed the
deed,
Jehn Dorff, jr., 24 years old, a "ildcr,
residing at 48 Elwood lane, near Rising
Sun village, was run ever and killed while
walking en the Pennsylvania railroad
near the Reading railroad crossing at Nice;
town.
Gee. Stillcnck of Allegheny, lest his
reason by the death of his wife. On Mon
day he became very violent, drove his
brother from the house and chased him
through the street with stones. In turn
he was pursued by officers, who took him
te the lock-up. While he was in the cell
he repeatedly dashed his head against the
walls, and death resulted from injuries
thus received.
Cel. Israel Painter, the famous West
moreland county Democrat, some two
weeks age while carrying a small vial filled
with some poisonous substance, slipped
and fell, breaking the bottle in his hand,
and severing the palmel artery. The
wound bled profusely for a time, and was
with difficulty checked. Nothing of a
serious character was apprehended at first,
but a portion of the contents of the vial
entered the wound, poisoned the bleed, and
caused his death last Sunday.
Romantic Elopement.
The daughter of David Paddock, a well-to-de
farmer in Pike county, has eloped
with a hired man named Andrew Bobbins.
Miss Paddock is a pretty young lady, re
fined and well educated, and no reason for
her escapade can be assigned. Robbins is
a steady young man, who has worked sev
eral years for Mr. Paddock, and it is be
lieved that the couple, fearing their mar
riage would be prevented by the lady's
father, eloped and were married. Mr.
Robbins hired a horse and carriage, drove
te Mr. Paddock's house, and after dark
procured a ladder, placed it against his
sweetheart's window, and after securing
all her valuables they tied.
A Terrible Death.
Mi-s. Cera Walker, of New Yerk, en a
visit te Poughkeepsie, went into her hos
tess' bath-room, where she was seized with
a fit, and leaning against the side of the
tub she threw her hand around for
support, when she accidentally struck
the het water faucet and turned it en full
head, and fell back in the tub, the stream
of het water pouring en her till all the het
water was out of the boiler. Her clothing
stepped up the outlet in the tub, and in
this way she was scalded te death.
FUBNET ASTO BUCHANAN.
Ueuilniscences of Wheatland and 185C.
Washington Correspondence or Pittsburgh
1'esL
Jehn W. Ferney was chairman of the
Democratic state committee in 185G, the
year Buchanan was elected president. The
state was considered close. Mr. Buchanan
had net the benefit of military glory te stir
the people into a high pitch of enthusiasm;
he had nothing but the cold civil record of
one who in high places had steed up with
out reproach in the fearless discharge of
his duty. He had been in the Senate, in
the cabinet, minister te Russia and te
England. His growth had been gradual.
As he steed the candidate of the Demo
cratic party for president, he was a mag
nificent specimen of the American citizen,
whose morals, education and experience
fitted him for the high place te which he
aspired the peaceful executive ever forty
millions of people, and at the same time
the humble and law-abiding citizen, with
out hereditary rank or title, owing no alle
giance te any prince or potentate en earth,
except the sovereign people.
The October election ever, then came the
settling down for distribution of the offices.
Everybody thought much was due te For Fer
ney for his exertions in carrying Pennsyl
vania. November brought tiic emcial an
nouncement that Buchanan was te be the
President, and then the struggle com
menced. Maj. David Lynch of Pittsburgh,
an old friend of Buchanan's, went te Lan
caster and stayed with Buchanan for sev
eral weeks. It was during Lynch' visit
te Buchanan that the Ferney trouble
began. Lynch related the circumstances
te a friend in Washington shortly before
he died.
When Ferney went up te Lancaster the
first time after the November election, Mr.
Buchanan said te him : "Well, new, Mr.
Ferney, the election is ever, and I suppose
you have settled in your own mind what I
can de for you."
" Sir," said Ferney, "there is just one
thing I want, and that is te be the editor
of the organ" (then the Xatienal Intelli
gencer). Buchanan seemed embarrassed for a few
seconds, and replied: "Ferney, I eaunet
give you that ; I have already made up
my mind te give it te Mr. Applcteu."
Appleton had been Air. lsucnanairs secre
tary whilst abroad, and the naming of him
as the editor of the organ of the adminis
tration, which up te that time had been a
very important thing, but which from that
time out became as nothing, was thought
te be a cover te satisfy the demands of a
number of southern men who insisted that
Ferney should net have the place. The
refusal of Buchanan te let him have the
paper, or course, struck Ferney with as
tonishment. "Well, then, Mr. President,"
said Ferney, "I don't want anything."
"Mr. Ferney," said Buchanan, " I had
and have my mind made up. te offer you
the best paying position within my gift,
viz. : Censul te Liverpool."
" I de net want it," said Ferney. " I de
net want te be buried alive." Neverthe
less the offer had flattered him somewhat.
The salary or the Liverpool consulship
was made up by the fees of the office,
amounting te some $25,000 pcrannum.and
it had generally been given by the presi
dents te their closest friends. Nathaniel
Hawthorne, the author, was then the
consul, President Pierce haviug appointed
him.
"Ge," said Mr. Buchanan and consider
the matter aud come back in a week and
tell me what you think of it."
Ferney went back te Philadelphia and
at the appointed time again appeared in
Lancaster.
By this time Buchanan was getting a
little uneasy at the situation. He honestly
wanted te serve Ferney, bt found from
the moment of his election great difficulty
in reconciling ether friends te his proposed
advancement of Ferney. The Seuth had
sent up pretest after pretest against him.
Toombs and Hewell Cobb were bitter en
Ferney, and they had persuaded old man
Bennett te open the columns of the New
Yerk Herald en him.
Majer Lynch was still at Wheatland
when Ferney came out and at the request
of Mr. Buchanan stayed te wituess the in
terview, "for" said the president "lam
afraid we will have trouble with him."
Ferney came, and said he wanted either
the organ or in the cabinet as postmaster
general. Mr. Buchanan said he could net
appoint him in his cabinet nor cive him
the organ, and Ferney returned te Phila
delphia. By this time the trouble had get
noised about and friends began te inter
fere.
The Legislature was,Dcmecratic by one
or two majority, and it was proposed that
the whole force of the new administration
should be exerted en behalf of Ferney te
succeed Cameren. About Christmas
time Ferney again went te Lancaster and
it was arranged that Mr. Buchanan was
te write a strong letter favoring the elec
tion of Ferney te the United States Senate.
The letter was written and put in the
hands of Maj. Lynch, who went te Harris-
burg te work tiie matter up. it tailed.
Cameren retained his scat in the Senate
through the votes of three Democrats
whom it was declared he had purchased,
and Ferney was still in a bad shape. As
he looked at the inauguration of Buchanan
and read the announcement of his cabinet,
who can describe "his feelings. The work
and devotion of se many years blasted.
Compelled te cry content te that which
grieved him most. But Ferney kept quiet.
A purse was raised te start the Philadel
phia Press, and premises were made that
it should outrival the Washington organ.
The organ business about this time
burst. Washington city swarmed with
newspaper men who interviewed every
prominent man en almost every subject,
and telegraphed these views East and
West. The great New Yerk dailies were
delivered in Washington city at neon en
the day of their publication, and it was te
them that the people looked for news. The
diplomatic slowness of the official organ
did net suit. Whilst it was blowing a soft,
low feeling whistle te the country te test
the popularity of any measure, the New
Yerk and ether papers were pounding
right and left, utterly regardless of what
the official organ said under the quiet Mr.
Appleton. Ferney did his best te assist
this feeling and in a few months the organ
was dead. Buchanan was surprised at the
turn affairs had taken. He began te real
ize for the first time that his fixed notions
of some things were net received as law.
The organ business, however, was -net
alone in his opinion, but up te that time it
had been one of the institutions. Who
ever controlled the organ was considered
the head of the kitchen cabinet, anil they
often regulated important matters, partic
ularly, however, the private money trans
actions of the administration. The public
printer, then Cornelius Wendell, was an
other member. It was the " Divy De
partment" of the government, and every
man who had any genius te turn an honest
penny wanted in that crowd. The thing
has grown since then, until it blossoms in
many of the departments as a separate con
cern. Ferney had resolved en a public break
with the administration and watched his
chance, which did net come until the Kansas-Nebraska
troubles of the Buchanan
administration commenced. " Between
the acting of a dreadful thing and the first
motion, all the interior is like a phantasma,
or a hideous dream. The genius and the
moral instruments are then in council,
and the state of man, like te a little king
dom, suffers then the nature of an insur
rection." Denglas opened en the administration
and Ferney echoed his words through the
Press. That agitation was virtually and
really the clearing of the decks for the
dreadful war that followed. Buchanan
sincerely regretted the separation, for he
had as earnestly endeavored te repay For Fer
ney, no was greatly blamed by many for
his efforts te elect Ferney senator, and the
letter which he had written was published
in his defense. After Buchanan s admin
istration closed the venerable ex-president
retired te Wheatland in a much mere agi
tated condition tlian he had left there four
years lefere. The war was going en, and
every fibre or his sympathetic nature was
saddened by that dreadful prospect. The
estrangements he had met with during the
last four years, the deep interest he felt in
the welfare, or his country, and the con
templation or the struggle lietwccn his for
mer friends and associates, his late cabinet
thirsting for one another's lives ; Unwell
Cobb was in the saddle, and Michigan
troops were driving into Virginia armed
and cquipiied by Lewis Cass.
Saddened by this prospect, realizing that
" te be wroth with these we love doth work
like madness en the brain," Mr. Buchanan
died. The nomination at the same city
(Cincinnati) or another Pcnnsylvanian
for the presidency closes a circle or twenty
four years in the life of Ferney, and he has
celebrated it by declaring for the party,
which, during that long period, received
his incessant opposition, and which, by a
combination of circumstances, has remain
ed out of power. It is said that Ferney
new acknowledges he did Buchanan wrong
in many things, and the behalf is that
Buchanan really and truly tried te serve
him.
LATEST NEWS BY MAIL.
W. D. Washburn has been unanimously
reneminated for Congress by the Minne
apolis, Jlinn., Republicans.
A. Biddle Weeds, of Washington, N. J.,
aged twenty-four, was drowned by the
capsizing of a beat. His wife was saved.
The hotly was found.
In New Brunswick, N. J., James Kinny,
a mason, aged fifty years, fell from the
wall of a new shoe factory, a distance of
forty feet, and was fatally injured.
Colonel Peter McCol leugh, an influential
Wilmington merchant, who always has
been a Republican, has decided te support
his old commander, Hancock.
Laena Darragfa, a little daughter of Ed
ward Darragh, of Fourth and Walnut
streets. Wilmington, foil into a boiler or
boiling water en Tuesday and was se badly
scalded that she died yesterday.
Turkey and Greece are both preparing
actively for war. Mr. Goschen, the Brit
ish ambassador, considers that armed
force will be necessary te make Turkey
yield.
The steam yacht Sprite when opposite
Rutherford park, Newark, N. J., run into
and sunk a row beat in which were two
girls and a boy. The girls were drowned
hut the boy was rescued.
A horse ran away, down the mountain,
with Mrs. Alenzo Walker and her grand
daughter, going te Keller posteflice, Wy
oming county. Beth were thrown out and
killed by striking their heads en rocks.
A twenty-four-hour-old baby, chubby,
black eyed, and with a "wealth of black
hair," found in a Norristown cess-peel,
will survive and be cared for. The mur
derous mother will be hunted up.
Ex-Aldcrman Feffcnberger, a well
known Altoonian,has been arrested for net
paying ever some $ie), "proceeds el the
sale of personal and real estate and debts
due te S. P. Kipplc, which said Pollenber Pellenber
ger collected ami received."
The losses by fire in the five-story brick
building Ne. 81 Water street, New Yerk,
are as fellows : Cabet, Bowles & Ce., jute
and matting dealers, $5,000 ; Heward C.
Goodwin, teas, $3,000 ; Gee. P. Adrian is
Ce., spices, $5,000. The building was
damaged $3,000. Building Ne. 70 Water
street was damaged $500.
Benjamin 11. Bristow, Charles S. Smith,
Frederick Kulmc and ethers are named as
directors of the inter-state telephone com
pany. The lines are te run from Bosten te
Washington, D. C, passing through the
states of Massachusetts, Rhede Island.
New Yerk, New Jersey, Pennsylvania,
Delaware, Maryland and District of Col
umbia. The capital is placed at $100,000.
LOCAL INTELLIGENCE.
NEIUHKOUIIOOO MKWS.
Events Acress the Count' Lines.
The freight train en the West Chester
and Philadelphia railroad commenced run
ning en Monday at night instead of day
time as heretofore. This arrangement
makes it equally as geed if net better for
these receiving freight, while it keeps the
track clear in the daytime for passenger
trains.
A consolidation of Die Luthcrixchc Zeit
schrift, a German weekly published, by
Brobst, Diehl & Ce., of Allcutewn, and
ucr Jjiitherisehe Jlerela, a Oerman semi
monthly, published under the auspices of
the New Yerk lninistcrium, has been ef
fected and will hereafter be published by
Brobst, Diehl is Ce., under the title of
Jlereld und Zeitseltrift.
The Lebanon Daily Times has denned a
new suit of type and shows ether signs of
well-deserved prosperity.
Jehnsen L. Terry, a respectable colored
man of Reading, is suing for a divorce en
the grounds or his wife's adultery ; she is
the sister-in-law of Rev. James S. Payne,
ex-president of the republic of Liberia.
The wire or Mr. Payne is an elder sister
te Mrs. Terry. These sisters are natives
or Ilarrisbnrg and their maiden names
were Harris.
Geerge Yeutz, superintendent or the
Speedwell stock farm, has a bay filly
(Purity) foaled May 22, 137G, sired by
Middletown, that has trotted a half mile
in 1.13;, perfectly green, has net been
handled of any account until very lately.
Henry Bcchtel, her trainer, says he thinks
she will be able te trot below 2.20 before
$hc season is ever. They have also a num
ber or ether geed ones that can trot rast,
among them Middletown Chief, a bay
stallion, 4 years old, can trot in 2.40 ; Mid
dletown Maid, another very premising one,
can trot in 2.35 ; Lady Orange, a beautiful
yellow bay, can trot close te 2.30 ; Middle;
town King, a fine large sorrel gelding, can
get there in 2.35 or better. They have
also a number of 3 and 4 year olds that
can trot in 3 minutes and under.
The Filth Ward in Line.
A meeting preparatory te the organiza
tion of a Hancock and English club was
held at Philip Wall's Green Tree hotel last
evening. Temporary officers were had in
the selection of O. B. Shcrtzer as president
and Jehn S. Beck as secretary, and the
following were appointed a committee en
permanent organization and battalion offi
cers : Jehn Jeffries, Jehn Free, C. Stiefllc,
O. Heffman, S. Dean, B. Meguire, II Si
mons, II. H. Holten, W. Simons and II.
Karer. In the little Fifth, as in all the
ether wards, there is a spirit ei earnest
and deep-felt enthusiasm for the Cincin
nati ticket and she may be relied en for
" all there is in it."
Leut for a snort Time.
Yesterday afternoon a little child of
Philip Spillman, residing en Poplar street,
wandered off from home and was gene
for several hours. It was found en Prince
street by Christian Mayer, and was sent
home. "
LOCAL LEGISLATION.
MIDSUMMKK MEETING OF COUNCILS.
A Perspiring Time lu Beth Branches The
Mayer Vetoes the I.ean Ordinance. is
Overridden In Common Council, but
Sustained in Select The Oas Mat
ter Still Unsettled An Ordi
nance Extending the Length
or Contract Introduced
Tl Widening or North
Queen Street Vari
ous Street Werk
Miner Topics.
City councils met statedly in their re
spective chambers last evening.
Select Council.
The following members were present:
Messrs. Bering, Eberly, Franklin, Judith,
Sales, .Shenk, Zeciier and Evans, presi
dent. The minutes of the previous meetings,
special aud stated, were read and ap
proved.
Iteperts of Committees.
Mr. Zccher presented the report or the
finance committee for June, which was
read.
Mr. Zccher also presented an abstract
report of the water committee for June,
which was read. It announced the award
of the various contracts already published,
the exonerations granted by the commit
tee, action authorizing the employ of an
assistant for the superintendent at the
reservoir, and referred the refunding of
certain money te Mr. Hatzfeld.
Mr. Franklin moved that the recommen
dation in reference te refunding money te
Mr. Hatzfeld be acted upon.
Mr. Eberly peiutcd out the fact that the
particulars in the case were net presented
te councils in the abstract, which is there
fore imperfect, and he moved that it be
referred back te the committee. Adopted.
City Treasurer's Statement.
Mr. Zccher presented a statement from
City Treasurer Welchans, who had net had
time te make out his monthly reports,
which showed that up te July 1, he had re
ceived $02,581.88 city tax, and from June
1 te July 1, $98(5.35 water rents.
Mr. Zechcr presented a resolution author
izing the city committee te refund te Miss
Frances Krcady the water rent paid for
1880 for the premises, 141 East Lemen
street, as they had been unoccupied since
September, 1879, and she had notified the
superintendent or the water works.
Adopted. Common council concurred.
lelice.
A communication from Mayer Mac Mac
Geniglc, announcing that en June 9th he
had suspended Officer Geerge Lentz for 60
days for drunkenness en June 7th, and ap
pointed Martin Daily in his place, was
read, and the action of the maycr was ap
proved. Lighting the City.
Aii ordinance, entitled " An Ordinance
for the lighting or the city or Lancaster by
gas," fixing the time for which the con
tract shall be made at three years, and the
time at which the lamps shall be lighted
and extinguished, was presented by Mr.
Zechcr, read and referred te the lamp com
mittee. Streets and Finances.
The following petitions were presented
and referred te the street committee :
By Mr. Shenk : for the repair of the
crossing and gutters at Rockland and Blid
dlc streets.
By Mr. Judith : for gutters ou both sides
of High strcat from Strawberry street te
the run, a distance of about two squares.
By Mr. Franklin : a resolution ordering a
gutter te be laid en the cast side of Seuth
AVater street rrem the Reading depot te
Milllin street.
The report of the street committee for
May was taken up aud the action or com
mon council in approving the action of the
street committee concurred in.
Mr. Franklin called for the report of the
special committee appointed two months
age te investigate t.ie city treasurer's ac
counts. Mr. Zccher responded that an attempt
had been made te call the committee to
gether, but only two members were pres
ent. Since then the treasurer had been se
busy that his books had net been in condi
tion for an examination.
Mr. Franklin then moved that the com
mittee be instructed te report at the next
meeting of councils. Carried.
Mr. Franklin asked if the finance com
mittee had turned any money into the sink
ing fund, and, receiving a negative reply,
moved that the finance committee be di
rected te authorize the mayor te draw his
warrant for $12,000, te be placed in the
sinking fund.
Mr. Zechcr said he had no objection te
the resolution, but the law laid down the
duties of the finance committee, which
they propose te perform, but they were ac
countable te nobody. They proposed te
perform their duties, and report te this
body, but he here entered his pretest
against any such action en the part of
councils.
Mr. Bering thought that if the president
was en the finance committee he would
consider it an insult if any such motion
was passed, intimating as it docs that the
committee was net competent te perform
'its duties.
Mr. Shenk was net particularly favor
able te the motion, but objected te Mr.
Zechcr's statement that the finance com
mittee was net accountable te councils
which created them.
Mr. Eberly said he was very glad te see
that his friend from the Third ward had
made a discovery that committees are
under control of councils. He though the
resolution was unnecessary, as the finance
committee will direct the mayor te draw
his warant this week.
Mr. Zechcr stated that the committee
made preparations last week te attend te
the duty, but the mayor's illness pre
vented it.
Mr. Franklin said that in the face of
this statement he would net press his reso
lution. But the committee are the crea
tures of councils, and if we pass a resolu
tion ordering them te de this thing they
must de it.
The Vete Sustained.
The message from Mayer MacGenigle
vetoing the ordinance, authorizing the lean
or $15,000 for street purposes was brought
ever from council, where the ordinance had
been passed ever the veto. The motion
in select council te pass the bill ever
the veto was defeated by the following
vote :
Yeas Messrs. Bering, Franklin, Sales,
Shenk and Zccher.
Nays Messrs. Evans, Eberly and Judith.
Mr. Shenk presented a joint resolution,
directing the mayor te draw his warrant
for the money due the contractors for pav
ing East King street and Centre Square
with Belgian blocks. Adopted. Common
council concurred.
Adjourned.
Common Council.
The following members were present :
Messrs. Albert, Barnes, Beard, Berger,
Brown, Cormeny, Cox, Franklin,
Hartley, Hays, Hershey, Jehnsen. Lichty,
McMullen, Sing, Smeych, Snyder, Springer,
White, Levergood, president.
The Fire Companies.
After the minutes of the last stated and
special meetings had been read and ap
proved the roll of committees was called
for reports, and Mr. Franklin, chairman of
the committee en fire engine and hose com
panies reported that the several compa
nies comprising the department had filed
their respective statements of disburse
ments of the appropriate n for the fiscal
year ended June 1st ult., and complied
with the previsions of the ordinance.
Street Werk.
Mr. McMullen presented the monthly
report of the street committee of which
the following is an abstract :
Street Committee's Kepert.
Gutters en East King street, beyond
Franklin, net uccessary.
Repair of Mary street, betw:eu Walnut
and Lemen, recommended.
Cressing en north side of Chestnut street,
across Pine, recommended.
Macadamizing Chestnut street, between
Charlette and Mulberry, net recommended.
With regard te the culvert or archway
en Maner street, ever the run at the feet
of Derwart, the committee recommend
that the culvert be extended te the house
line en the southwest side of the street and
the sidewalk extended ever.
Guttering of Sherman street, west side,
from Chestnut te Marien, recommended.
With regard te the work of grading and
guttering Plum street, from the Pennsyl
vania railroad te the New Helland pike,
which work was ordered te be done at the
May meeting of councils, en the recom
mendation of the committee, the commit
tee new report that having had the work
surveyed ami advertised for proposals,
they find that it will require the cutting
down of the hill te the depth of six feet,
and cost about $1,000. The committee ask
for further instructions.
The committee report that they have en
tered into a contract with Messrs. Cun
ningham & McNichell for paving North
Queen street from Penn square te Orange
with Belgian blocks, at a cost of $2.30 per
square yard ; and have also contracted
with Messrs Keogh and McManus for ma
cadamizing west Orange street from Char
lette te Pine for sl,2.0.
The committee report that te grade the
west side of Poplar street, from
Strawberry te Filbert, te the width
laid down in the city plan, it
will be necessary te locate the west gut
ter within about three feet of the Hue of
the houses and in one instance te cut a
small distance into an enclosed 'let. The
committee deem it advisable te have coun
cils take the proper steps te open the street
te its full width.
Crossings at the corner of Walnut street
and Lancaster avenue are recommended.
The amount expended en the streets
during Juue was $1,182.81).
On motion of Mr. Smeych, the recom
mendations embodied in the report, with
the exception of that relating te the work
en Plnin street, were adopted, and the com
mittee was ordered te have the work done.
Mr. McMullen explained te Mr. Beard,
in answer te the lattcr's interrogatory as te
the committee's motive in referring the
Plum street matter back te councils
after once having recommended the
work, that when that recommen
dation was made, some time since,
the committee was net fully aware of ihc
extent of the proposed repairs. In order,
therefore, te escape possible censure in re
commending work te be done without in
forming councils of its magnitude -and
preb.ible cost, the street committee had
decided te defer beginning the work until
they had thrown a little mere light en the
subject for the benefit of councils, and if
that body, in view of the situation as tha
committee had endeavored te explain it,
still saw fit te go ahead with the work, the
committee would be very happy te de it.
In order te get the matter properly be
fore the house, said Mr. Springer, I move
that the Plum street repairs he proceeded
with in the manner indicated by the com
mittee. Mr. Franklin was opposed te doing this
work at present. It would require an out
lay of between $1,200 ami $1,700, and the
limited amount of money appropriated for
street purposes rendered, it proper that
only the most necessary work shall he
done. The street commissioner, Mr. Trc
witz, informed him the ether day, that he
did net consider the work absolutely nec
essary, when se many of the mere gener
ally traveled highways in the central por
tion or the city are crying aloud for early
attention. Mr. Franklin thought this a
geed place te call halt and leek te the ap
plication of the funds where mere needed.
Mr. Beard remarked that the gentleman
appeared te imagine the location of these
proposed repairs te be semwherc away off
in the country. It is manifest that he
hasn't been there for some time, for it he
had he would quickly perceive that the
street under discussion steed as much in
need of repairs and was as valuable as a
public thoroughfare as some of the high
ways in the western portion of the city.
It is unjust te this quarter of the city which
is new asking for these improvements te
again deny them after having ordered
them net less than four times. As te the
street commissioner's intimation, Mr.
Beard didn't think it was any of his busi
ness. Mr. McMullen said it was true that
there was considerable travel ever this
street. The number of tobacco warehouses
that have lately been erected in the local
ity cause it te he much traversed by large
mnl li:ivilv laden wagons. Moreover, a
prominent gentleman of this city, though
net specially interested in street contract
work, had offered the ether day te guar
antee the completion of the work for $500,
and te give any amount of security.
Mr. Jehnsen said he believed this work
te be necessary. He also wished te direct
the attention of councils te the fact that
the streets of the Sixth ward, in which the
repairs asked for are situated, has received
less attention than any ether ward in the
city, and within the past ten years 75 per
cent less money has been put into it than
any ether ward.
The question being put, the motion te
have the work done was agreed te with
several stoutly dissenting voices.
The Mayer Vetoes the Lean Ordlnancr.
Mr. Snyder 'presented the following
message from his honor, the mayor :
Te the Honorable the Select unit Common Coun
cils of the City of Lancaster:
Gentlemen : I herewith return te your
honorable bodies without my approval the
ordinance entitled " An ordinance author
izing the issuing of a permanent lean for
the payment or all bills contracted by the
city or Lancaster up te June 1, 1880, fla
ttie laying of Belgian block pavement,
macadamizing certain streets in said city,
and for labor, material and general street
work."
I very reluctantly withheld my signa
ture from this ordinance, knowing that the
already protracted delay in providing for
the payment of the bills intended te be
met by this lean has caused very serious
inconvenience te these te whom they arc
due. Ner have I any disposition te deny
that the contracts and labor were perform
ed in geed faith, that the materials
charged were properly furnished. My op
position springs from the illegal acts of
the committee in ordering "work te te
done in direct violation of law, and te an
amount prohibited by the constitution of
the state. That our statute and funda
mental laws were almost contemptuously
trampled under feet in the execution if
the work en Centre square, no one famili: r
with the facts will seriously deny. There
the report of the finance committee of the
city, the only proper authority in deter
mining our city's debt and financial con
ditien, was disregarded ; there the act of
1855, prohibiting the mayor, aldermen and
citizens of the city of Lancaster
from making any improvement for the
benefit of said city where the cost is ever
$300, after the appropriation is exhausted.
except by an ordinance, was arbitrarily set
aside, and there tee the very fundamental
safeguard erected in 1873 te estep reck
lessness in the expenditure of the people's
money was, as far as the street committee
had the power, overthrown.
At the Octebcr,1879,meeting of councils,
before the work ou Centre square had
been commenced, Mr. Zccher, of the se
lect council, fearing that the city had reach
ed its limit of indebtedness, offered a res
elutien instructing the finance committee
" te inquire into and report at the next
meeting of councils the real indebtedness
of the city, ice." The finance committee
made the following report :
" In accordance with resolution of coun
cils the committee report the following
leans made since the adoption of the new
constitution together with the amount of
debt that cau be increased without a vote
of the people :
"Lean of February 4. 1874.$13,30O
" " April 12, 1875 10,000
" " May 5. 1875 100,000
" " Dec. 9,1875 30.0(H)
" " Feb. 7, 187(i 10,000
" " July 10, 1878 29,000
" " Aug. 8, 1878 20,000
$219,200
"Assessment en $11,400,000 at 2 percent,
allowed by act of 1874, P. L., p. 05, $228,
000 ; leaving a balance te be borrowed
without a vote of the people of $8,800. "
The above report was made by the en
tire finance committee, and stands as the
only official utatement of the amount el
money borrowed since the adoption of the
new constitution. The assessment for
this year, after the exonerations are de
ducted, reduces our valuation from $11,
400,000 te about $11,300,000, leaving us
but about $7,000 of a margin te go en with
out recourse te the people. I knew then:
are individual members or councils who
held different views rrem these of the
finance committee signing the above re
port, but these individual views have out
been officially formulated, anil de net suf
tice me as preer data upon which te hu. e
my official conduct in a matter se import
ant as this, aud I therefore feel compelled
te reject them.
The decision of the supreme court in 27
P. F. Smith, Wheeler it al. vs. the city . f
Philadelphia,sets at rest the point that the
city cannot borrow mere than 2 icr cent,
en its valuation ever the indebtedness f
our city as it existed en the 1st el" January
1874. The following is an extract fmm
the decision of the court in that cac. de
ferring te the phraseology of the act. the
court says :
" This section is net clearly expressed.
Yet its true meaning may be gather d
with reasonable certainty. The end sought
te be attained was clearly a limitation
upon the debt of municipalities, aud seven
per centum upon the assessed value of tax
able property therein was fixed as tint
maximum. The fact was, however, known
te the convention that at that time the
debt of the city of Philadelphia, aud jier
haps some ether municipalities, exceeded
seven per centum. In such instances an
arbitrary prevision that there should be
no further increase of the debt might have
worked great injury te the stoppage of
public works already commenced and es
sential te the public convenience aud wel
fare. It was therefore provided, that us
te such municipalities the debt might be
increased three per centum. The main
controversy, however, was as te the man
ner in which such increase should be ac
complished. Here again the distinction
is preserved between municipalities whose
debt is under seven per centum, and these
in which it exceeds seven per centum. In
the former the municipal authorities may
increase the debt from time te time until
two per centum has been added, provided
the original debt, with the increase does
net exceed seven per centum. After the
two per centum has been added there cau
be no further increase without the vole el
the people. Te illustrate : The whole
debt is net te exceed seven per centum.
We will suppose the debt te have been two
per centum at the time of the adoption of
the constitution. Twe per centum may be
added by the municipal autherities,inakiiig
the debt four per centum. Ne portion of
the remaining three per centum can be
added without the assent of the electors of
such municipality at a public election in
such manner as shall be provided by
law. "
1 therefore withheld my approval of "the
ordinance
1st. Because the statute laws of this
state (acts of 1855 and 1874) were directly
violated in the work en Centre square, and
it is questionable whether the city is
bound by the act of its agents unless done
according te law ; and
2d. Because the only competent au
thority of the city, the finance committee,
have officially declared that the city's in
debtedness in November last had reached
within $8,800 of the constitutional limit,
and this proposed lean will carry the in
debtedness beyond the limit allowable
under the valuation of last year $G,200, and
about $7,000 under the valuation of this.
The attention of councils is respectfully
called te Sec. 10, p. 233, P. L. 1874, which
reads as fellows : " A member who has a
personal or private interest in any measure
e bill proposed or pending beforeceuncils
shall disclose the fact te the branch of
which he is a member, and shall net velt:
thereon. If such interested member shall
vote without disclosing his interest in such
measure or bill, and the same be carried
by his vote, such member shall forfeit his
office. "
Very respectfully,
Jno. T. MacGenigle, Mayer.
Mayer's Office, July 7, 18S0.
On motion of Mr. McMullen the ordi
nance was read, and then the question be
ing, " Shall this bill pass notwithstanding
the veto of the mayor'.'"' Mr. McMullen
said he believed his honor the mayor te
be perfectly sincere and conscientious in
his objections te the ordinance, and he did
net for a moment doubt the honesty of the
motives which inspired this message. At
tiic same time he was inclined te diiler
from his conclusions. In the first place, it
is net denied that this work was ordered
by councils ; it was performed in geed
faith by the contractors te whom it was
confided; the city is enjoying the benefit
of these improvements. New, said .Mr.
McMullen, I de net feel like standing up
here and saying te these men, by my
vote, "Yes, we ordered you te de this
work ; you did it according te your prom prem
ise ami we arc reaping the enjoyment of
it ; but we had no right te order you te de
it ; it was against the law, and it is you
who must suffer." Even if wcdid puisne
this course the city would be sued for the
money and have te pay, besides
the amount or the bills, the expense
of litigation. In the second place, a
large portion of the money that has been
i
f