CP)r Centre A Democrat.
S. T. SHUUKIIT A. K. I. OH VIS, tutors.
vol. r>.
triic Centre democrat.
Term* $1.50 par Annum in Advance,
I Thursilay Moraine, December 13, 1883. (
H The deputy commissioner f internal 1
revenue give# the internal taxes al- 1
V ready collected for the present fiscal '
B year at the rate of 8123,000,000, and '
estimates the amount to he collected '
lor the entire year at 8130,000,000.
THE Democratic National com |
1 mittee are to meet in Washington on ,
■ the 22d of February, to agree upon j
the time and place of the meeting of
the National convention to nominate
the uext President of the 1 uit*d
States.
THE difficulty of obtaining a jury
in Fayette couuty, to try young Nutt
for the murder of Dukes, has necessi
tated a postponement ami a change ol
venue. The case has been certified to
the courts of Allegheny county for
trial, hut the time of trial is not yet
announced.
THE caucus of Democratic repre
sentatives at Washington on motion
of Gen. Blocum, of New York, sec
Glided by Gen. Kosecraos, ol Califor
nia, resolved unanimously that the
fourteen crippled soldiers now on the
roll ol employes under the <ioorkee|>er
of the house, shall remain undisturbed
iu their positions.
A PARTY of American capitalists
have purchased a Mexican volcano
with a view of mining sulpher from
the crater, and have made arrange
ments for the transportation of 30,000
tons a year. What next? Will
Yankee enterprise rest here, or invade
another sulphurous region we read of
to extraet wealth and fame as a tri
bute to Yankee grit.
WE publish on our fourth page the
Governor's message vetoing the salary
grab bill. Although both houses
passed the hill over the veto, the rea
sons of the Governor remains, and
I will commend themselves to the |>eo
pie to the Confusion of the grabbers
when they present themselves for re
election.
SENATOR HI TLER has introduced A
bill in the senate to abolish the inter
nal revenue system. It provides thai
"all laws and parts of laws and all
rules and regulations of the depart
ments now in force for the collection
of the internal revenue tax he anu
the same arc hereby repealed." The
act not to take effect until twelve
months after its passage
A Li. efforts of the Republicans to
create distrust and division in the
LK Democratic ranks in the organization
of congress, proved an entire failure.
The highest satisfaction is expressed
everywhere with the election of Mr.
Carlisle, and by none more sincerely
than by those who desiied the election
of Mr. Randall ami Mr. Coxe, who
were the prominent competitors. The
rumors now sent out that these dis
tinguished representatives are deeply
chagrined and bent upon giving trou
ible, is all bosh. They are not that
d kind of statesmen. It will not pay
\ the Republicans to build large hopes
upon Democratic dissensions this year.
Senator* GORDON, Coxe and
Emery each turned over 81,800, their
entire pay for the extra session to the
Treasury. Lee, of Venango, refused
to take $970 of his total, Kennedy, of
Philadelphia, covered in 8310, King
of Schuylkill, 8330, Longcoecker, of
Bedford, $3lO, Vnudegrift, of Bucks,
$l6O, Biddis, of Pike, $l3O, and Anil,
of Allegheny, Cooper, of Delaware,
fci Davie*, of Bradford, Greer, of Butler,
B Grady, Hughes, Smith, lteyhurn and
H , MacFarlaue, of Philadelphia, and
BT Hess, Humes, Hart, Harlan, Kecfer,
Laotz, My!in, Shearer and Wagner
turned in 8110- each. Walres covered
Ein $123. Crawford of the house
turned in bit entire pay, $1,870.
ThoLuat Proposition of the P. R. It |
z\fter coquetting with the I'enns- i
valley committee, making appoint- j
meats and postponing the meeting
week after week, President Roberts
finally invited our Centre county gen
tlemen to meet the board. They went
to be overcome by the generosity (?)
of that great and peculiar institution
of our state. Our people were led to
believe that, this time, the railroad
was honest, that its officers felt hurt
because our people expressed a slight
distrust in their fairness and good in.
tention. Yes, our people are easily
gulled. As well expect a hungry wolf
to change his nature, as this robbing, j
tyrannical and rapacious monopoly to
do one honest act of reparation to our
community. The committee was met
by the insulting proposition to raise
$23,090 to complete the road. If we
did give them the money they would
not finish the road, the officers have
too often deceived our |>eople for us to 1
believe that. It is only another at
tempt to bleed us again. There is not
one man in the w hole county of Centre
that will give this blood sucking
vampire a cent. Welcome the time
when we may be free from the chains
of a monopoly.
PORTER, the Republican Governor
of Indiana, does not take kindly to
the proposition of Mr. lilaiue to divide
among the states the revenue* collected
from whisky and tobacco. He savs of
this amendment of Blaine to the
Barker-Penusylvania scheme of rais
ing revenue for distribution among
the states, that if it should be adopted
the state governments would s.mn
practically cease to exist. Lrcal self
government would soon disappear and
centralization would have limitless
sway. All taxes, in whatever form
are a tax on the people. Let them be
customs taxes or any other form of
taxes that the people will long tolerate
they are taxes that come fron) the
people. When they arc not felt by
the people, but are taken from them
seductively ami secretly, the govern
ment runs inevitably into extrava
gance and corrupt expenditure. When
the fieople feel the taxes they enforce
economical and pure administration.
I should look up in the adoption of the
scheme of supporting the state gov
ernments by indirect taxes collect"!
by the general government as tlm first
step towards the downfall of the re
public The best government is a
simple government, frugally adminis
tered, and the further you remove thnt
government from the people the less
there is of simplicity and frugality."
THE latest novelty is the attempt of
the Philadelphia Pre** to hoi.l Senator
Wallace responsible for the failure of
the apportionment bills, out of revenge
for some fancied grievance against the
Governor. Senator Wallace's official
course is always open and manly, and
is never prompted by unworthy mo
lives, like his livilers, in performance
of duty to his constituents or tliestnte.
I lis speeches and acts during the ses
sion give the lie direct and emphatic
to the Prett' insinuation. He had no
motive for antagonism with the ad
ministration, and we venture to assert
that none existed—certainly none that
would influence him in the manner
charged.
This attempt on the part of the
Prett to cover up the revolutionary
and dastardly conduct of its party
representatives in the senate, is un
worthy as it is mean, will prove a
failure. The people of the state are
thoroughly posted on this subject, and
can have no difficulty in fixing the re
sponsibility where it belongs.
A PERTINENT INQUIRY. Not less,
says the Washington Pott, than a bil
lion dollars have been expended on
the army and navy since the war, and
yet we have not a fort, a ship or a gun
that would he better than toys in case
of aetual need. Where. hat all the
money gone f
"KODAL ANI) KXACT JUSTICK TO ALL MKN, OK WIIATXVKK STATU OH I'KRHC ASION, KKLIOIOLH OH POLITICAL.JOroii.
BKLLKKONTIC, I'A., THURSDAY, DI-X'KMI/.KK 13, 1883.
A Short SoHaion of CougrenH
There is a popular belief, says the
Ilarisburg Pot riot as well as u uniform
hopo that the present Mission ol Con
gress will he brief. Kx-Spcaker Ran
dall, in an interview before the inci t
ing. gave voice to this idea, and Spea
ker Carlisle, about the same time, in
dicate that his judgment was running
in the same direction. A* these two
distinguished gentleman fairly repres
ent the majority party it is not un
likely that a policy of which they
agrce will become the prevailing sen
timent. In the matter of legislation
there is really nothing of importance
jto protract the s ssion. There are cer
tain incongruities and inequalities iu
the tariff'hill passed at the last se-*ion
which might and probably will he cor
rected, hut any legislation of this char
acter attempted ut all will be so uui- ;
fnrtnly supported that little delay <>r
difficulty will he experienced iu <li
| posing of it. There is, however, plenty
!of work to do in one direction, and
that is in the matter of inquiring into
alone- and irregularities in the public
service. It is Intimated that the man- ,
tier of Stanley Matthews' appointment
to the supreme court bench will be
I made the subject of inquiry. The man
ner in which "Brewster, attorney
general, has been conducting the af
fairs of his department likewise invites
a searching inquiry, whib- the allega
tion that George Blis has been indul
ging iu crooked practices while a
special attorney of the 1 oiled State-is
al-o put down for investigation. It is
not only proper hut important that
i these several investigations should he
made, hut it docs not follow that the
ses-iott should be- protracted on ac
count of the m.
Tin: Pennsylvania Senntor- nod
Representative* on Thursday lu-l
pocketed the "i/ary <jrib L> the lat
1 shilling possible to drag out of the
Treasury, including the ten day-' re
re-- and mile-age. There were a f.-w
honorable exceptions, and these only
! will compose the roll <>l honor of a
1 legislature famous for inefficiency and
| dis) yalty to tlx ir oaths and the rights
of the people of the Commonwealth.
It*is but just, however, to -ay that tlx
majority of the members of tlx II u--
endeavored to per'- rm tlx ir dutxs,
and made .ill tlx sacrifices that could
be* ex|>e teil o( tliem to affect the
i object lor which tlx v were .ailed, but
they spoiled a fair record by their par
simony, wlx-n they accepted the t n
days' grab and mileage. With the
Senate, there i- no extenuating cir
cumstance in the cno. The. conduct
of that laxly, controlled by a radical
■ machine majority, acting under the in
i struction of the abse nt hows, from the
inception to the close, wa- lawless and
| revoldtionary, exhibiting a disregard
of their sworn obligations to the
j supreme law of the State. Besides
abdicating its legislative functions and
refusing to act with the House' four or
five days of each week, these Senator*'
with an unparalleled meanness, nnw
come forward to claim ten dollars n
day for the whole tim# they were ab
sent from their post of duty, at home,
attending to their private affairs. It
is nothing hut a downright dastardly
tteal from the Treasury of the State
and no guilding or explanation can
make anything else of it. The end is
not yet, whether as to tho larger or
lesser steal.
Cot- QUAY, Bon Cameron's *ub (
having run the machine in ifnrris
burg satisfactorily and defcateel the
apportionment bill, has now been
transferred to Washington to repre
sent his superior in the Federal patron
age mill. It is said he has opened
stately quarters at Willnrds, which
are constantly thronged by the party
scavengers of Pennsylvania in pur
suit of plunder and place.
RUMOR is again rife that Secretary
Folger i to retire from the Treasury
department, to be succeeded by J. C.
New.
Taking Whialcy for Stat© It.-vonuo
or for Federal Revenue.
Mr. Blaine has found a defender for (
his plan of distributing the Federal j
whisky tax among the States in Pro- j (
lessor James, of the Pennsylvania , (
I nivvrsity. He discusses the finan-jj
eiul aspect of Mr. Blaine's project in -
a spirit of ingenious amplification
which merits more attention than the
project itself. As a means of raising
money for carrying on the State Gov
ernments the suggested plan of distri-
hut ion is already practically laid aside.
It has been received and discussed iu
a spirit nearly akin to derision. But
there is an incidental value in the -ug- !
gxstion* of Professor James that ought
not to fall lifeless with the corpse he )
-<. k-t to vivify. It sometimes happens !
that a correct conclusion is reach"!
from mistaken premises. Profe-.-or
James sustains a whisky tax because
indirect taxation is preferable to direct
taxation; la-cause it is latter to tax
luxuries than necessities ; because
■such a tux falls on the consumer, with
uo possibility of shifting it to other
-boulders; and because the redundant
revenue which might in this way la
obtained would enable us to increase
both the number of public functions
and the efficiency of the public ser
vice through enlarged inoa;. of ex
penditure.
Here is a rare jumble of right r.a
-on- and wrong reasons for retaining
the whisky tax ! It should neverthe
less h. retained, not because it i- better
to pick the pockets of taxpayers than
to make them stand and deliver open
ly, hut because a whisky tax may be
- - cheaply collected that money is
saved to the taxpayer and his interest
subserved. N->t because tlx- whi-ky
drinker would pay the whisky tax, or
any more than his share of it, for
taxes diffuse themselves by the opera
tion of well defined economic laws,
aixl hence the injustice of tnxing
single objects, while other* go free, i
mitigated. Not l)ecau*e we are not
governed enough, and need to exja-nd
more money for more governnx lit To
whatever extent the whisky tax would
< attribute in multiplying public I unc
tions or functionaries it would, indeed,
I"- an injury.
The reasons, above allude.) to,
winch Profesor James gives f--r re
taining 'he whisky tax arc largely dc
lusive an.) unsatisfactory. Ncvorthe
k> the whisky tax should Ire retained.
It only costs alx.ut 3} per cent, for
collection. Customs revenue, laid for
revenue only, is collected at a cost of
als nit 3 per cent.; laid for protection
the cost attains such huge proportions
as to defy accurate statement, 'lie
whatever extent, therefore, the tax on
whisky may bo made to stand instead
of our present method of tariff exnc-
Hon, it is a positive gain and blessing.
We welcome Professor James' argu
ment, much of which is unanswerable,
as a shot aimed in the right direction,
(hough intende.l to support an inde
fensible misuse of the taxing power of
the Federal Government.— Philn. /.V-
I cord.
Protecting Pennsylvania Labor.
Among the 1,002 immigrants who
were landed at Castle Garden last
week, says the New York Telegram,
"were 300 miners, who will find cm
ployment in the coal fields of Penn
sylvania. They came in the steam
ship I jessing from Hamburg, their
passage tickets in most rases being
purchased on the orders of mining
companies and superintendents who
required their services. Many of the
miners came originally from Austro-
Hungary. They left here via the
Pennsylvania railroad this afternoon t
for Philadelphia. When they arrive
at the latter city they will lie assigned
to different mines in the la-high and
Lackawanna regions."
Ala time when tho coal markets
are declared to be overstocked, and
work in consequence is limited fo
three .lays each week, it would seem
that the importation of foreign labor
is not as protecting as it might be to
Pennsylvania labor.
Among Our Exchangee.
The warning from Ohio that fifty
thousand Republicans would stay away
from the polls if Arthur should be
nominated as the party candidate next
year has chilled the movement for hirn
in these part*, says a letter from
\\ ashington.— Gctty*hurj < 'otnpiler.
Now we shall get at the true in.
wardness of the Dana boom for Hoi
man. if the dodge was to kill off*
McDonald to make room for an east,
eru man that (act will soon appear
now that Carlisle ha* been chosen
s|K-nker, thus defeating the eastern
com hi nat ion. — JlartJord Telegram.
It will be time enough to criticise
th" Democracy iu congress alter they
have placed on record their vote- and
speeches. So anxiou-, however, are
the Republicans to weaken the action
of the majority that they anticipate
results, and condemn before & hearing.
Is such a course patriotic, honest and
becoming men claiming to he repre
sentatives of a great party '' — Sun and
I}<<nncr.
Governor Pattison will not he well
advised to call H new session of tlx
legislature.—Milton Fsonomi't.
In common with the majority of
Pennsylvania's Democrats, we hoped
for the election of Randall for Sp< ak< r,
hut since the choice has fallen upon
Mr. Carlisle, we are ready to accept
the re-ult without any forelroding* :L
-to the future. Mr. Carlisle is talented
and conservative enough to encourage
nothing tending to create bu-inc-- .11--
turhnnces, and ail bis speeches on the
much-ahucd question of revenue re
form have indicate.) as much. /.on*
too n Sentinel.
No matter by what hair-splitting
d. vices and legal grips the members
of the legislature may -<-k t ■ Ix.l-ter
up tlx ir salary grab, the js-ople of the
state who will look mainlv to the
eqiiiti'*, wil 1 ix-artily indorse- Gorei*
[nor rattiauo'a ringing veto nonage.—
Pott.
President Arthur ha- di-< overed, by
this time, how much <n->r it i- to
write a message without expressing a
definite opinion, than t<< harvest favor,
able ..pinions by -owing this negative
seed. — Phila. Pr--'.
<ox notices that ".-unset" come
earlier . v. ry day a- c >ngr< H mar- tlx
opening sew-ion.— Weekly Call.
Mr. ( arli-le could take the iron
clad oath that he had not been en
gaged in rebellion against the govern
me-nt, while Mahone's contingent to
the Republican party had to content
itself with the modified swear, con
fessing its participation in that little
fracas. —.1 Itoonu r.ni".
Governor Patti-on vetoed the ap
propriation hill, hut the senate an.)
house passed it over his veto. It rings
| like a cathedral lell. — Clarion Demo
'■ ernt.
The selection of Mr. Carlisle for
I their political leader is the most re
s|>ectahle thing the opposition to the
government have done in a quarter of
a century. — Chicago Time*.
The Republican members of the
house have not the slightest reason to
complain because Mr. Keifer thrusts
himself forward a? the leader of the
minority. Mr. Keifer would be a fool
if he did not look upon the nearly
unanimous vote cast for him by the
Republicans on Monday as evidence
of continued and great esteem, respect,
admiraliun and confidence. — Mru York
Timet.
Senators Coxe, Emory and Gordon,
refused to take any salary whatever,
on the ground that it had not been
earned. It's a pity the state did not
1 have more senators after this pattern
Doylettotrn Democrat.
The cheek that impels to denuncia
tion of Carlisle and the extolling of
Keifer would shame a rhinoeerous. —
Union Leader.
Governor Pattison will feel lonely
now that his rebellious and idle school
has been dismissed.— Altoona Tribune-
TKKMB: £ I ..'l I per Annum, jn Advance.
Proceedinga of Mooting of Board of
Trade.
LULLKROXTK, PA., I>PC. r, t ]K;J.
A n>e<-lir,£ of th* Heilefonte Hoard of
'I rade held in itio i (Hi of M'sirt. Heater
A; Gephart at 7 -0, i- m.
Gen Heaver G*ir c ab<n'., John Irwin,
.1 r , • etecW-d President pro. tern.
Tti com mi t tee *) pointed to h*lp aocure
tiie rigi.l <>f any f-• r ((.<■ prop,.ted lailroad
Irum Heei h 4.'reek to li. ili fonU) reported
that the engineer had r, t completed bit
survey A <-t ar.d -k< i '■> he continued. On
motion of l> <i IJ.. •:. ((,■• fallowing pre
amble and resolul. • < (T>r<-d and unan
i irnously adopted
WIIEKKAS, A r< | rt tin circulated
■ that the Hnilef„nl<- II 'd of Trade was an
iagotiiin to it, A- |r• • | n-d n-w railroad in
this Ai< inity. to I i i - rij led in the inter
est and under the a . pi - of the Pennsyl
vania railroad cotnp iiiv, growing out of
the (art that said organization pasted a
resolution arid apjo inted a committee to
an] in procurring r..-ht of way for the pro
|HIHHI new railn ad fr rn Itellefonte to
He, ch (.'reek j
Wll CRK is, Said rep rt is a it bout found
dstion, ar ! the only r>t,-- n any said reao
lution pa-s,-d was b ause a written
proposit, n rain- b, fore i r Hoard of
Trade in referer -i -a. j B<<•< t.Creek road
writh art, ,e,t (or rot ri thereon, whilst
r i r.<, ~t wiiat"\ r pad he.-n rnade for
• rr.ilar action hi it. H lefonte, N Atariy A
Isernont rai.r ad a; 1
\\ llir.r: A- \\ . • desirous of correct
ing - . err, re i r, . rt ar i manifesting
ir hearty .j to pat; A AS h'very enterprise
tending l ' level tfr r<*, un I'S of our
county therefore i it
/I- - Tr at - the sense of this
m-'ting i il anyt • g in their power to
aid the lia.d lag \ y railroad to ar
quire rightf way, sibaa for depots or anv
thing the sa. 1 ra. r ad < mpanv may re.
|quin to further their ntereUin Lb#ttalld*
| ing ol said bra- h
I at i I*-esid"ni appoint a
I ronitnltt Eof i ; t v th w(. m tile oflirers
' THE HA .J H A.■ I RA ■ ADCOTNT,ANR
may ( !,-r t" make kr -n their wishes in
the matter and it is firth, r
li - •, I :.at ttj• >< -etary shall furn
is '" I' n I. \ .AJ.. ai-v, President OL
r \ s ra road comjiariy,
•nd the 1! ,i .! I>iLarry a oopr of
these res, ,1 r,s r. iding the names of
I said committee
The Pre- . rt fAp; rsl,->i the following
•mmitte. ll G I:,. 11 Wrt Valentine,
j Prank McC< A. A P. Curlin. Jr., W. P.
Jenkins, Jr , Jain, A Hearer.
. j Adjourn,-! •I II LtXOLI,
Secretary
: —Daily -New
MON-K.-VOH (\II I. -ny. "There
are a pood many Catholic* in this
(•oiintry— B,lN ,('! l) T s-imebodv UTS
our publi HC-lIIXI] system is inade
'|tiaic fur th- m, and th<_\ are going to
leave it. Suppose that the Church
sends out an authoritative command
to the Catholics to start schools in
every parish, and support tbim, and
send all Catholic children to them. It
can be done by the utterance of a
word, sharp as the click of a trigger.
That command will lie obeyed. New
'schools will spring up everywhere.
' What will le the result of that? A
fight! I>o you suppose M, me million*
of people are going to pay taxes twice
• over—once for their own school*, ami
again for Protestant school*, from
which they get no benefit ? If it ian't
a downright fight, it will lie at least
the warlike condition—a million or
, two of voting, tax-paying citizens
( hostile to the Government."
If Monsignor Cape)'* mission to
America is simply one of stirring up
the fanaticism of his sect, be had
better go home at once. If be can't
comprehend that our government is
based on civil rights and knows no
Protestant, no C-atholic, hi* religious
brethren had better *hnt his mouth at
once. Such unwie utterances, fo .
tunately will do no harm. American
Catholic* arc American citizens at
well, and hold a* dear a* any of us
the great principles of free govern
ment, and would fight for the bul
warks that defend them. No one
objects to any one building schools for
themselves, but the people will sternly
trample down any interference with
the public school. Monsignor, p -
haps, has forgotten the example of
Italy, France and Belgium.
Seasonal for the Ctxrat Dk<k-iat.
NO. 49.