THE PTTTSBTIRG DISPATCH, THURSDAY. APRIL 9, 189L 5 ESTABLISHED FEBRUARY 8, 1S46. Vol. 6. Jo. 61 -Entered at Pittsburg rostoffice, itcrembcr li. iST, as second-class matter. Business Office Corner Smithfleld and Diamond Streets. News Rooms and Publishing House 75, 77 and 79 Diamond Street tv-tekn ADvrirnsic office, room it. TEIblNE BUILDING. NEV YORK, where complete files of 1 HE DlbPATCH can always be Sound. Foreign advertisers appreciate the con venience. Home advertisers and frlendso! THE 1HSP TLH, while in New lork, are also made veliome. THE VJSPATCII is trguXmlv on sale at JZrcntvno's. 5 Vmon Square. JVVtr York, and 17 Ave. de rppeto. Pans, Dance, uhere anyone ttho hat been disappointed at a hotel neus s and can obtain it. TERMS or THE nisrATcn. roTACF rmE is the united status. rUTXT mePATCit, One lear 5 sOO Pjoiv IMerATCH, Per Quarter "J I'ailv Dispatch, One Month.... " 1aht Dispatch. inclining Sunday, lyear. 30 00 1ali Dippatch. InaVdlngbundav.Sm'ths -E0 1'tn.T Dispatch. Including Sunday, lm'th SO Kma1 Dippat-H. One lear !50 WiKKLi 1HTATC1I. One ear 123 Tbz iuili Di'PATCn is delivered by carriers at centi- per week, or Including fcunday edition, at ; ceii re week. PITTSBURG. THURSDAY, APR. 9, 1S9L Patrons of THE DIPATCn who have chanced their residence should furnish this office with their new address either per sonally, by postal card or through Carrier. Bj prompt compliance with this request In terruption In the delivery of THE DIS TATCH will he avoided. TDEY OUGHT NOT TO SPLIT. The intimation that the conference of coal miner"! and operators, will split decisively on the eight-hour question is to be regretted. A gathering which presents such a happy con trast to the strife in the coke regions, in try ins to settle questions of wages by reason, instead of force, ought not to be abandoned without an effort. It will be hard for outsiders to see why the operators should permit a conference to fo to pieces, because they will not listen to the eight-hour proposition, where the wages of industry are paid so largely bv the ton mined If the miners are willing to work eight hours and be paid for what coal they mine in that time, why should the operators object? It is true that th. change may re quire some readjustment in the scales o: work paid by the day or week. But whatever difficulty is comprised by that necessity should not be permitted to inter pose an absolute veto on the whole eight hour system. Besides that, there is perti Lence and force in the argument of the miners that the adoption of the eight-hour shifts will enable the operators to get abso lutely more work out of their machinery tban bv the ten-hour shifts. If business should ever be active enough, they can by establishing three shifts run their engines conl.nuouslv. It certainly is to be hoped that the con ference will not go to pieces on this issue. There is surely sufficient merit In the prop osition to permit a fair and reasonable dis cussion of its details. A LONG CAREER ENDED. The death of the Hon. Kussell Errett, announced in yesterday's Dispatch, is an event that attracts attention from the long public services and prominence in politics of deceased. No man living at the timeof his death had been prominently with tne journalism of Pittsburg before him, while his activity in local and State poli t cs dates back to the anti-slavery period. S.nce the war his incumbency of important positions in the State, and bis services as Congressman, mark the prominent events in a long and useful career. While active in practical politics and a strict party man, no allegations were ever made against Major Errett's integrity. He was well known to have never used official position for his pecuniary profit, and the honorable eulogy can be pronounced upon him that after a lifetime spent in the public service he died a comparatively poor man. SENATOR EDMUND? RETIREMENT. The unexpected resignation of Senator Edmuuds, as announced yesterday, estab lishes the exceptional character of his politi cal career In most respects the Vermont Senator has stood above the ordinary and pt'v considerations of politics, and in his retirement from public life he presents the exception to the proverbial rule in politics. Senator Edmunds career in the Senate is one which in creditable features has been ex celled by none; and the only one that can be regarded as rivaling it in the exhibition of high qualities was the much shorter one of his personal friend and political opponent, Senator Thuruian For broad views, clear constitutional principles and unimpeach able integrity, the quarter-century record of George F. Edmunds is the Senate is alike an evidence of his hi'h character and an honor to the country which he served. Whatever are the private reasons "which induce Senator Edmunds' retirement to private life, the country will be sorry to lose his services. And that t-orrow will be shared by his political opponents equally with his political friends. LONDON'S AWFUL EXAMPLE. The possibilities of a smoke-clouded city, in which the artificial obscuration is aided by fogs is at p csent a question -f much in terest to Pitt'jurg. On the principle that misery los company and that grave evils areall.-iatedby hearing worse forms of them elevrhere, it may be some comfort to our city, in contemplating the return of the smoke nuisance, to learn of the much more aggravated form of the same evil in Lon don. Records of the amount of sunshine in London kept at the Greenwich Observatory for the pat fourteen years show that there is a worse depth of darkness than Pittsburg has yet experienced. The statements of the record are curious and possibly instructive. It appears that the darkest month of the year in London is December, in which there is a total of only twenty hours of sunshine or 8 per cent of the possible, and in which there is an average of twenty sunless days. January is but little better, with twenty-six hours of sunshine and an average of nine teen sunless days. February has twice as much sunshine a: January, and March shows an equal improvement on its prede cessor. On the brightest December day only four hours of sunshine are to be ex pected, while throughout the entire year an average ot sunshine amounting to 1,214 hours, or 27 per cent of the possible amount, is shown. "While there may be some comfort in the thought that the largest city in the world is worse off than we are, there is more perti nence in the warning which it conveys of what may result if tr let the smoke nuisance grow unchecked. Pittsburg has learned by J happy experience what an immense differ ence it makes, both in actual monetary value and in the enjoyment of life, to have the city free from smoke. It is at apoint where, in returning to the use of coal, it can enact that it shall be used by such economical and improved methods as to avoid the reproduc tion of the clouds of smoke and soot that formerly burdened our city. With the illus trations furnished by Loudon of the extreme degree to which this evil may be carried with the multiplication of population and industries, we shall be remiss, if we do riot at once unite in urgent measures to abolish the smoke nuisance. LEA ON THE TAX BILL. Mr. H. C. Lea's letter, published else where in this issue, is a moderate and in the mam sensible review of the character of the bill for local taxation pending in the Legis lature. A good deal of the oratory about "inquisitorial assessments" and "spying into private aflairs" in connection with this bill has been overdone. Mr. Lea strays in that direction once or twice, but most of his argument is pertinent and moderate. His strongest point is with regard to the certainty that the attempt to impose taxes on nil classes of personal property is likely to deieat itself. Many States have systems of inquiry just as inquisitorial as this; but they present the same case of a practical escape of personal property from taxation, with the corresponding hardship that those who return their personal property honestly are placed at a disadvantage in com parison with those who make dishonest returns. He is also forcible in bringing out the point that the landowner is bene fited by the prosperity of capital and busi ness so much that to place any premium on capital and business to locate elsewhere is more injurious to real estate than an equi table system of taxation on land. Mr. Lea indorses the effort of the bill to make the great corporations pay their share of the public burden, but he strikes a home blow by saying that it would be much better "to devise measures for preventing the discriminations in transportation which exercise so baneful an influence on the pros perity ol the public for the enrichment of the lew." The Legislature should do this public duty, which it has heretofore refused to do in violation of its constitutional duty. Mr. Lea's calm and sensible way of criti cising this bill s likely to have much more effect than the spreading of declamatory circulars denouncing the bill as "infamous" and "inquisitorial." LEGALITY OF THE BOND ISSUE Numerous gentlemen, whose opinions are of weight, differ from The Dispatch's reading of the Constitution with regard to the ipsuo of municipal indebtedness. The standing of these gentlemen entitles their views to respectfu. consideration. It was stated by Controller Morrow to be "that we can issue bonds for this indebtedness to any extent less tban two per cent of the total valuation." In other words, the idea is that the city can at any one time, without a vote of the people, issue an amount of bonds not exceeding the two per cent limit. A first rule of construction is that the language of constitutional or statutory provisions is to be construed, if possible, in harmony with the gen eral purpose of the provision. There is no dispute about the general purpose of this section. It is to place a strict check on the incurring of public debt which, prior to the adoption of the Constitution, had been notoriously reckless. The limit of seven per cent was made absolute, with one exception to be noticed hereafter; and within that limit no one questions that the intention was to place a further check upon hasty and improvident increase ot debt by provid ing for a vote of the people. As to what this check exactly is, the construction quoted above practically impeaches the common sense of the Consti tutional Convention by asserting that it gave the weighty character of organic law to a restraint which, by the simplest device in the world, could be made 'absolutely no restraint at all. It supposes the Constitu tional Convention to have said, for instance, to a city with 5100,000,000 valuation: "You must not incur S2,500,000 of debt without a vote of the people. That would be so grave an abuse that we prohibit by the funda mental law, and take it out of the power even of the Legislature. But we leave it open to you to whip the devil around the stump and get out 57,000,000 of debt by issu ing $2,000,000 in April, S2.000.000 in July, ?2,000,000 in October and $1,000,000 in the following January." No, gentlemen I Judge Black, Judge Agnew, Buckalaw, Wayne McVeagh and their colleagues were hardly so foolish as to corporate into organic law so empty a provision as this. It is more in harmony with their character, as well as with the tenor of this section, to recognize that they said: "If a city government keeps its debt within 2 per cent of its valuation it can be trusted so far; if it desires to mort gage the property and revenues of the peo ple beyond that point, it must have the sanction of the people by a special vote; and beyond seven per cent oi the valuation it cannot go, even with the sanction of the popular vote." Moreover, this construction accuses the Constitutional Convention of being unable to put its meaning into unmistakable Eng lish. It alleges that the provision meant to say that "the amount of any new debt or in crease of municipal indebtedness shall not exceed two per cent;" but in trying to say that these eminent and learned gentle men, by mistake, used the words that the municipality shall not "increase its indebt edness" (referring plainly to the entire in debtedness) to"any amount exceeding two per centum ot the total valuation," which by the grammatical construction refers to the amount of the whole debt. This is again an unwarranted impeachment of the abil ities of the eminent minds who composed the Constitutional Convention. The Consti tution is as a whole a model of terse, clear and perspicuous language. Conclusive evidence is afforded in this very section that where it intends to convey the meaning advanced by our opponents its language places that meaning beyond dispute. The final clause provides authority for a special increase, by saying that any city whose debt at the adop tion of the Constitution exceeded seven per centum could be authorized by law "to in crease the same three per centum in the ag gregate at any one time." Here we see that where the Constitution refers to the amount of.increase.it finds the words to make its meaning clear, and it uses distinct language from that employed with reference to the total amount ot debt in the clause, under dispute. Finally, while the debates of the Consti tutional Convention do not, so far as we have found, contain any commentary upon the language used, the history of this section in the convention gives a very strong indication ol what was meant. The section, which was debated as rection 7, originally made the absolute limit of debt two per cent This was objected to as too rigid a restriction, and after various amend ments had been offered, at different times, that drawn up by Mr. Buckalew prevailed. It made the absolute limit seven per cent, with this additional clause. The way in which this clause was adopted, as a modifi cation of the original proposition, agrees with its lauguage in pointing to the con clusion that the absolute limit was raised to seven per cent, and that the limit of two per cent first proposed was retained with the modification that it could be exceeded by a vote of the people. As to the financial policy advocated by the Controller, as well as by numerous other gentlemen, in showing bow the bonds may be used, there has been little dispute. It is clear that the monev in the sinking fund can be emploved in the purchase of these bonds, provided their constitutionality is placed beyond doubt by a vote of the people. No one has yet offered any reason why this method of placing the status of the bonds beyond all dispute should not be adopted. No one has made any attempt to answer the obvious argument that even if the people should vote against the issue of bonds which is unlikely if the matter is presented in proper form and is shown to be necessary they have the right, if they prefer, to pay the money by direct taxation. In view of this fact, the determination to take a course of doubtful constitutionality at best is something remarkable and well nigh incom prehensible. The wool tax question is to be further complicated by doubling the duty on sorted wools under paragraph CSS of theMcKinley bill. Ths wool duties have got beyond tho comprehension of the average man, and, to Judge trom some of the decision', beyond tho comprehension of the revenue officers, and It seems likely that the last puzzle will furnish occupation for the courts. The news that Boulanger has turned up in Brussels, and is occupying very handsome and expensive quarters there, provokes a new inquiry as to who is foolish enough to put up the money for him. It is announced that Secretary Foster in tends to institute general reforms In the New York Custom House, and many changes in of ficials may be looked for. The changes may be taken as in the natural course of events, but that they will be in the direction of reform is something for which the public would liko plans and specifications. It may be said for Mr. Blaine that the letters he is writing at present on diplomatic subjects are not of a kind which he is under the necessity of calling upon the recipient to burn. Senator Hearst's widow, in her peti tion for an allowance, estimates the estate at $10,000,000. This is a very comfortable sum: but if the estate bad had to bear tho cost of the Congressional funeral it might not have panned ont so well. The heirs in this case arc so fortunate as to escape the undertaker's bilU On the whole the great victory in Rhode Island, in which the Republican candidate got 1.S00 votes less than his Democratic rival, does not seem to be a matter to brag about. That an American pistol should be found on the person of the would-be assassin of the Czar was bad enough, but the news that an American arranged the private marriage of tbe Grand Duke Michael will no doubt cause the ruler of Russia to be chary about express ing admiration for this country. Plon-Plon's will after death is worth just as much as his will was In life nothing. Somebody else's won't always carried the day. Colonel Ingeesoll does not know one note of music from another, but made a mag nificent speech on Wagner and Wagner's com positions before tho New York Lieaerkranz Society the other night. Knowledge of music does not disqualify a man from being a eulogist of Wagner. TnE triumph of American pork' in Ger many does not justify the adoption of that sort ot manners in negotiations with Canada. If the astronomers should be successful in getting the National Observatory ont of the control of the Navy Department, the people in the latter will not suffer hardships. They can still continua star-gazing in the observatory roost popular with them tbe Washington theater. Very often the only thing settled by an argument between two persons is that neither knows what he is talking about. Senator Hoae's declaration that if the Mugwumps would be affected by the loss from free silver coinage he wonld not care so much is a frank and touching confession that what Senator Hoar objects to is the legislation that touches tbe Senatorial pocket. The English clergyman who refused to toast the Queen improved his opportunity to roast the Prince of Wales. THE fact that the English soldiers at Manipnr were slaughtered because they wore armed with Snider rifles and had only cartridges for Martini rifles, proves that official misman agement is just as costly now as it was during our war. La Grippe has gone to the dogs, but it was dog-goned long ago. A MONTHLY magazine prints an article entitled "A Defense of Lawyers." If it gets as well paid for defending lawyers as the lawyers do for defending other people it is enjoying the high tide of financial prosperity. Ingalls Inspired This. Lincoln Journal Mrs. Lease, the Alliance female Anarchist, is now called the "Amazon of Kansas." The Amazon, you know, has a mouth ISO miles wide. PEOPLE PARAGRAPHED. Senatop.-elect Felton, of California, is a bookworm. The Crown Princess of Denmark is 6 feet 10 inches tall. Duke Nicholas, of Leuchtenberg, who died recently, was a victim of tho cigarette habit. Rev. E. L. Kidd, a Canadian evangelist, boasts that he can recite the entire Bible from memory. Senator Palmer, of Illinois, is a man of only moderate fortune, his estate being esti mated to be worth 5100,000. Prof. D. S. Jordan, the newly-appointed President of theLeland Stanford Uni versity, of California, will receive a yearly sal ary of S10.00O. Miss Helen Betts was an instructor on the sewing machine in Ohio 20 years ago. Now she is an M. D., and is going to Berlin to study the Koch method. Ex-Private Secretary Lamont will extend bis Washington trip Into the South, they say. It is possible that he will go tarpon fishing with Senator Gorman in Florida. Miss Julia Marlowe is said to have the most wonderful faculty of memorizing of any woman on the stage, and she finds that this faculty has been intensified by her recent illness. Prof. Halsey C. Ives, who is likely to be made Manager of the Art Department of tbe World's Fair, is a resident nf St. Louis, and Is connected-with the School of Fine Arts of Washington University. He is 43 years old. Die. Daniel G. Beinton, Professor of Ethnology at tho Philadelphia Academy of Natnral Sciences, has recently been elected an associated member of the Russian Society of Anthropology. This distinction bas rarely been conferred on Americans. Prince Dolgorouki, the perennial admirer of Mrs. J. U. Ayer and her millions, is now at Monte Carlo, dividing bis time between tbe widow and tbe board of green cloth, upon which, it is said, the croupiers are raking In big piles ot his Napoleons. LEA ON 'THE TAX BILL. An Open Letter From the Phlladelphlan Real Property the Tairest Basis Al leged Absurdities of the Vending Meas ure Its Obscurity Dangerous How to Relieve tho Taxpayer. Mr. JHenry Charles Lea, of Philadelphia, of Harrison letter fame, has transmitted tho fol lowing open letter to State Senator Penrose on "The Bill for Local Taxation:" I have looked over the "Act to provide rev enue for local purposes," of which you kindly sent me a copy, and I take the liDerty of calling your attention to some of its remarkable fea tures. I may premise that, as a large holder of real estate, I feel the burden of local taxation acutely, and having comparatively but a small amount of capital invested in personal prop erty, "tangible" or intangible, I should profit largely by any legislation which should shift tbe burden from real estate owners to capi talists, if it can be done without indirectly causing greater evils than it removes. I can, therefore, sympathize with Jhe objects of the bill, even though I think its methods unwise, and that if enacted it would inflict serious in jury on the prosperity of tbo State. As a heavy taxpayer, I have naturally given the subject of taxation some thought for many years past, and my conviction is settled that real property is the sorest and fairest basis on which to levy the public revenue. It cannot elude tho assessor, as the great bulk of per so lull property can; its value can be estimated with reasonable accuracy, and is not subject to violent or sudden fluctuations; moreover, tbe tax levied upon it is sooner or later diffused through all classes of the community by the medium of rentals, in a voluntary and equi table way. Besides all this tbo land owner is specially interested in inviting capital and business to maintain or increase the valno of his ground. Legislation which attracts .business to his neighbor hood helps him; legislation which cripples or injnres business hurts bim more than it docs the trader or manufacturer di rectly affected, for they can remove to a more hospitaDle region, while bis investment is im movable. The difference between land at $23 an acre and $25 a square foot is simply that the latter is surrounded by capital and business while the former is remote from these sources of value. Of all classes in the community, the land owner is the one most interested iu having capital and business untrammeled to earn tbe largest profits. He gets, sooner or later, bis share in those protlts, and it is suicidal for him to drive away that which alone give bis land its special value over Government lands in the Territories. Personal Property Elusive. Experience has shown, moreover, that all de vices to secure tbe complete and equitable as sessment of personal property have proved failures, except when it is in the hands of cor porations. Nothing is more elusive than in tangible personal property. After legislative ingenuity is exhausted, tbe (assessor must rely, for tbe most part on the honesty of the taxa ble, which results in tho honest paying both for themselves and for the dishonest. If the pres sure becomes too severe for the honest, capital is easily transmitted elsewhere and is lost to the community. The draftsman of tbe bill un der consideration has spared no pains or rigor to accomplish his purpose, and has only succeeded in inventing a system odiously and insufferably inquisitorial to the honest taxable destructive to tbe privacy which is the right of every citizen in his private affairs, and wholly inefficient to prevent, detect, or punish fraud, despite the lavish threats of fine and imprison ment. Ihus section 12 threatens three years at hard labor and a fine of 1,000 for corrupt com bination between an assessor and a "taxable person," wholly overlooking tbo fact that as both are liable to tbe punishment each can de pend on tbo silence of the other, just as we have already found tbe same principle work in rendering nngatory our statutes against bribery. In fact, the enormous power which this bill lodges in the hands of the assessor throws too much temptation in their way for us not to expect that it would be largely abused on the one band for oppression and on the other for unlawful gain. The wise legisla tor will always take into account the weakness of human nature and will not imagine that by piling up penalties be can avert the conse quences of exposing it to too severe a strain. Tbe impossibility of accomplishing the ob ject aimed at in the bill the subjection to local taxation ot every fragment of personal prop erty owned by each taxable in excess of $300 in value is sufliclently proved by the grotesqu-9 provisions tor the assessment of tangible per sonal property. Each taxable Is required by section S to present to the assessor a complete inventory ol everything owned by bim, and business firms and corporations are expressly made "taxable persons" for this purpose. The minuteness with which this is to be done Is lu dicrously illustrated by tbe fifth special clause in this section prescribing that "musical instru ments," Including. I presume, jews-barps and tin trumpets, shall not be omitted. Every householder thus must band in a catalogue of all the contents of his house, every business concern a full and detailed account of stock, every manufacturer a complete statement of all materials, tools and machinery. Everyone, moreover, must set forth in detail all debts and accounts due to him, for if he fails to enumer ate any of them they become outlawed and un collectible but no permission Is given to de duct liabilities, so that all business indebted ness within the State will bo taxed twice, which will be severely oppresslvo to the debtor class. Every Taxable a Rogue There is no provision that any valnes are to bo affixed to these enormous inventories, for the bill regards every taxable as a rogue and will not trust him, but it imposes on the assessor the Impossible task of aftlxing to every item "the price or value the same would sell if such piece or parcel of the same were sold singly or separately at a bona-tlde sale after full public notice." It seems incredible that so preposter ous a suggestion should be made to a legisla tive body, but I suppose the framer of the bill bad in view only the simple contents of a barn or far in aril with their comparatively easily ascertainable values, and never contemplated the consequences of applying his plan to the complicated interests of a large city. Even he, however, I suppose, can imagine what would be the task of the assessor on whom wonld fall the valuation of tbe Inventory of Mr. Wana maker's grand depot, or Messrs. Cramp & Son's shipjard, or tbe Baldwin Locomotive Works. Such asjstem as this would be inop erative through its cumbrous impossibility, and it would disappear under a storm of public ridicule and detestation, but not before it had had time to work unimaginable annovance to tbe people. A minor evil would be the swarm of assessors let loose upon the community, like the locusts of Egypt, for it wonld require several hundred in our own city to value tho contents of the houses, stores and factories of Philadelphia, which are estimated, I believe, at between 175, 000 and 200.000. Another evil would be the ne cessity, under Section 6, lines 42-43. of preserv ing all these voluminous inventories, tbe accu mulation of which in a few years would require va-t storehouses. To crown the offensive absurdity of all this. Section 21 requires that all tbese lists with their valuations shall be printed, and a cop be de livered to every taxable. With tbe obscurity customary in the bill it is not stated whether all the items in the several inventories ol eac'.i taxable, with their valuations, aro to be printed in full, or only tbe totals, but the former is pre sumably Intpnded. as tho latter would fail in the manifest object of setting every man as a spy upon his neighbors. In cither case; many vol umes would be annually required In a city liko Philadelphia, and as thero are 225,100 taxables in the citv to be supplied, the printing bill would exhaust a notable percentage ot the rev enue accruing to the city. Its Obscurity I Dangerous. I will not weary you with the many other im practicable or injudicious features of the bill, for I think tbe above shows sufficiently how unsuitable and injurious it would prove as a social and financial factor in tho larger cities of tne State. 1 will only in conclusiou call your attention to one characteristic peculiarly dan gerousits obscurity. Tho drafting of a bill requires a thorough knowledge of tbe subject and a cauacity for clear thought and expres sion. The framer of this measure unfortun ately possesses none of these faculties, and bis work In consequence is almost unintelligible. If enacted it will fill the State with conf usiqn, for its obscure and doubtful points will be in terpreted differently by the authorities of dif ferent counties; taxables and assessors will in evitably take antagonistic views: the courts will be burdened with the questions at issue, and, if It is left on the statute book, yeais must elapse before the Supreme Conrt will interpret its numerous doubtful clauses and establish a tax system which will be judge-made, and not the work of tbe Legislature. A few instance', of this unintelligibility. arising either through Ignorance or inability to use language intelligibly, will suffice. In Sec tions, lines 18-22, "all other moneyed capital In the hands of individuals, corporations, etc.," is by strict construction excepted from taxable "moneys and crtdits," though apparenl t? was tbe intention o( the draughtsman to inclu e it. Suction J, line- 4.M9 is tho kernel o. u whole bill, for It defines the "local purposes" for which the aew taxes levied are to be used. After declaring these to be "the expenses of the government of counties, cities, wards, etc.," it proceeds to add certain objects, such as schools, the Insane, roads, bridges, sewers, paving and lighting thus by necessary in ference excluding everything not strictly "gov ernment" and not especially mentioned. Some Omission Pointed Out. So little has the framer of tho bill realized the complexity of a modern municipality that he omits from bis schedule the following depart ments of onr city organization, for which, thereforo, no tax could be collected under the bill: The Bureau of Street Cleaning, the Bureau of Water, the Electrical Bureau, tbe Fire Bureau, the Board of Fire Escapes, the Boiler Inspectors, the Building Inspectors, the Bureau of City Property, the Bureau of Health, the Municipal Hospital, the Bureau of City Iceboats, the City Morgue, the Port Wardens, the Park Commission, the Harbor Commissioners, the Oil Inspectors, and the Nautical School. Even in what be does men tion his diction is so confused that he provides "for the support of the poor and indigent in sane," thus taking care of the Insane and lit erally excluding paupers. Section 7. line 7, as sumes that the school tax is to be levied by the school district, which is a novelty, at least so far as Philadelphia is concerned; and in line 11, "class soven" is alluded to when "class six" is obviously intended. Section 20 is devoted to raising the poll tax to 1 25, a very commend able thing in itself, but it requires this payment to bo made by "all natural male persons over 21 years of age," thus including all strangers who may chance to pass through the State or to reside here tempo rarily. Fortunately the complications which tbe enforcement of this curious regulation would create, are avoided by the precaution of omitting all penalty for non-payment and all instructions as to how such a tax is to be col lected, whether from strangers or citizens. It will not do to disregard all this as captious or verbal criticism. Such is precisely the criti cism to wbicb all laws are subjected, and which they must be drafted to meet, first from the officials entrusted with their execution, and then from keen lawyers and able judges, when doubtful points require to be settled. The bill fairly bristles with such obscurities and incongruities, and this is the more inex cusable, as it ailects every household, every store, cery factory and every corporation within the boundaries of Pennsylvania. How to Relieve Taxpayers. The effort in tbe bill to make the "transpor tation and transmission" companies pay their fair proportion of the public bnrdens is a move in the right direction, but I would suggest that much more could be accomplished for the re lief of the taxpayer if the Legislature would devise measures for preventing the discrimina tions in transportation which exercise so bane ful an influence on tho prosperity of the public for tho enrichment of the few. Tho bill has evidently-been drawn to fit the agricultural counties of the State, and we are told that they demand its passage. If tbey think it would be beneficial to them we of the cities have no right to prevent them from ex perimenting with it, but we have the right to demand that tbey shall not inflict upon us a measure utterly uusuited to our needs. It wonld require but a simple amendment exclud ing from its operations cities of the first and second, and, perhaps, third class, and then both parties will be satisfied. As the State revenues are not involved, and as the solo object of the bill is local taxation, there can be no pretense that uniformity is necessary, and the rural and urban population can each bavo a system adapted to their wishes. OHIO'S SHARE OF THE DIRECT TAX. Governor Campbell Points Out a Method of Disposing of It. Columbus, April 8. Governor Campbell cent a special meassage to the Legislature this afternoon relative to the disposition of the di rect tax recently refunded to the States by the General Government. Ohio secured $1,332,000. Ho recommended that S60O.OUO of the amount be set aside to ob viate the necessity of making advance drafts on tbe county treasuries, a custom which, the message says, has been necessary since 1885. He Won the Booby Prize. Speaking of progressive euchre, a Texas editor sajs: "It is an abominable, damnable practice. It is the curse and blight of society, a blast and mildew to young men, a canker worm in defiance, a soul destroying sin is this horrible, detested, deplorable, outlawed gam bling. It most, like moles and bats, bide itself; slip into dark corners; lie up in the day and prowl at night; cover itself Jvitb the cloak of secresy; love darkness rather than light, be cause its deeds are evil; it is a twin brother to theft, a near relative to robbery and a cousin to burglary, fit only for the society of devils, and none bat his slaves will indulge It." A Hlgh-Prlced Mule. Sedalia, Mo., April 8. John R. Gentry, of tbo Locust Grove Stock Farm, is here today, and reports tbe sale of Kentucky Prince, one of the best known mules in Central Missouri, to D. A. Hancock, of Saline county, for $1,900. This is the highest-priced mule ever sold. A Mean Trick. Washington Star.J The attention of Mr. Jay Gould is called to the fact that there are 35 individual railroads in operation in tbe State of Sputh Carolina, and 29 of tbem are making money. A Good Idea. New York World. The Chicago end of the World's Fair is in good shape. Now let all tbe rest of us set to work to make the celebration worthy of our great country. DEATHS OP A DAY. Mrs. Ann Eliza Buchanan, Mrs. Ann Elizabeth Buchanan, a noted lady, formerly or 1'lttsburjr, died on Tuesday at her borne, No. 1733 l'lne street, Philadelphia. Mrs. Buchanan was the wife of the ltev. Br. Ed ward Buchanan, of I'hUadelphla, the only surviv ing brother qf ex-President James Buchanan, bhe was the daughter of Colonel William B. Fos ter, the founder of L&wrencevillc. and was born in nttsnurg in 1812. bhe spent her life here until her marriage, and lor many J ears bas resided In Philadelphia, bbe was the last surviving sister of the late MeDhen C Foster and of William B. Foster. Jr., rormerly Vice President of the Penn syanla Railroad Company, Oneof her daughters is the wife ot A. J. Cassttt, Esq.. of the Penn sylvania Hailroad Company, and another is the wile or Maskell Kwlnz, EEq , of Philadelphia. Airs. Buchanan was a lady of very brilliant mind anil high intellectual acquirements, an accom plished musician and a model of the dignity and elegant manners or the olden time Aboe all she was a Christian, pure in heart and earnest In zood worW Upon her guitar laid upon the floor, the Infant lingers of her little brother. Stephen, at 2 years of aee, first learned to tune the notes of harmony which in alter life made him so famous. J lie last survivor of the family Is her brother, the Bon. Morrison Foster, who resides at SewicUey. Governor Daniel G. Fowle. Governor Daniel G. Fowle died of apo plexy at Raleigh, N. C. yesterday. He was 80 years of age. ho previous announcement has been made ofhls Indisposition, but he had for a day or two Seen siittcring from Indigestion, and had not attended at the Capitol yesterday. He aided his children at their lessons last evening; retiring at 10 o'clock, and at 11:39 called his daughter to his chamber, saying he felt quite un well, aooutto faint, and then suddenly expired. Governor Fowle graduated at Princeton In 1851. He was Adjutant Generalof the state under Gov ernor Vance during the war. and Judge or the supreme Court In lsfl", but resigned rather than oocy General Canby's military orders. He was In augurated Governor In January, 1839. Uhe body nun lies In state at tbe Capitol with a guard of honor. Patrick Brcnnan, Centenarian. Patrick Brennan, seed 102 years, died yesterday morning, at his home in Hurley, Wis. He had perfect health and an excellent memory. Brennan leaves HM descendants. He voted yes terdav. and has a record for voting for the last 20 Presidents since John Qiilucv Adams. Obituary Notes. Mr. James Carvxhax died yesterday at his residence, .'1 Wylle avenue, at the advanced age oil I j ears. Mks. Samuel Laturop, an actres3 and the wile of Sam Lathrop. an old-time clown, died on 31 mid iv in ew ork. William K. Jcstus. a very well-known resi dent, died at his residence at Mansfield yesterday. Uhe deceased gentleman was In his 81th year. Mus. Blanche SLADEit. a supporting actress well known to the profession, died In lienr Vork of consumption Tuesday. She came of i profes sional lamlly. . K. Wadeb, artist, of Arlington. N. J., who sketched many battles of the Civil War for the Harpers, died Tuesday while visiting in Marictt., Ga. MRS. AXS KLIZA BUCHAAJf, wife of Bcv. Dr. K. Y. Buchanan, and daughter of the late William B. Foster, of Pittsburg, died of old age at Phila delphia Tuesday. BRIOADIER GEXERAL LUCIUS J. GATTHELL, rormerly ot the Confederate arm- died at At lanta Tut.sd.iy. He was a Congressman at the breaking out of the orar. MBS. SaraU Hauohey, tho first white child born In Newark, O., died In Thornvflle, t)., yes te day at tbe advanced anp"of 93 years. She re tained ber strong mental faculties up almost to the last moment. Edmund Dehault de Pressexse. tho well known French pattor and writer, dleo In Paris yesterday. He was born January 7, 1824. In 1871 M. Pressense was elected to the National Assem bly. He was the.autu.gr of a large number of re ligious works. SPRING NUPTIALS. Two Pretty Weddings TV. & Kuhn and Miss Kate Hill and W. TV. McBrlde and Miss Blame Zlegler Join Hands and Fortunes Patriotic Celebration Society Gossip. Mr. William Speer Kuhn, a prominent yonng Fast End man and general manager ot the American Water Works Company.was married yesterday to Miss Kate Hill, of St. Louis. Tbe wedding was celebrated at tbe residence of Mr. and Mrs. Jerome Hill, the bride's parents. Tbe hour was 5 o'clock and a reception from 6 to 8 followed. Mr. Knbn is a very popular young man in this city, possessed of a host of friends, both ladies and gentlemen, who anxiously await tbe opportunity of welcoming the fair young bride into social circles, who, if rumor Is not incorrect, is fitted by nature and education to sblne brilliantly in the most refined society. A number of Pittsbnrgers were in attend ance last evening at tbe nunttals of Miss Mame Ziegler, daughter of E. E. Ziegler, of the West Penn road, and Mr. W. Wilson McBrlde. The wedding was in tbe evening, and In all was witnessed bv about 50 guests. Tbe residence of tbe bride's parents on Main street was tbe scene of festivity. The bride's only at tendant was Miss Mann, of Lewistown, who acted as maid of honor. After a wedding trip the young couple will go to housekeeping in Oakland. Tho month of May seemed a dim, distant future when the May festival was first talked of last fall; but it is now almost a present, and all concerned in the vastmusical enterprise are doubling their efforts and devoting their time to the project, that all pertaining to the affair may De the acme of perfection, as far as cir cumstances and environments will permit. Carpenters and workmen have possession of Mechanical Hall, and with their skilled labor will soon transform it into an auditorium of comfort and elegance. Mr. Carl Better and competent assistants are condncting tho re hearsals and report the most gratifying and de liehtful returns in that particular line. The demand for private boxes is on the increase, and altogether the financial, social and musical success of the undertaking is encouraging. This has been almost a Fourth of July week, with patriotic doings in botbvities, and a con tinuation of such will this evening commemor ate the twenty-sixth anniversary of General Lee's surrender at Appomattox Court Honse. The meeting will be a public one, and held at Turner Hall, Forbes street, under the auspices ot thu Union Veteran Legion. The programme is to be a very interesting one. and among the distinguished men expected to be present are General Daniel Butterfielo, General E. S. Bragg, of Wisconsin; Colonel Palmer, of Brook lyn, N. Y.; National Commander Miller and staff, of Philadelphia. At tbe conclusion of the programme a banquet will be served the officers and visitors, and toasts will be the last course. Social Chatter. Jilts. John L. Obee, of Troy Hill, gives a euchre this evening. The Fownes-Filley wedding occurred yes terday in Philadelphia. Mrs. Slack Uavis' dancing class will have the postponed reception this evening. Prop. Leisfeld will entertain his friends and pupils at Cyclorama Hall to-night. The postponed entertainment of the Dean Society of the High School will take placo to morrow evening. Mr. and Mrs. Louis S. Clabk, the bride and groom, are expected homo this morning from their Southern tour. Miss Gertrude Hemphill, of Sandusky street, Allegheny, and Mr. Norton Harsford Byam were married last evening at 6 o'clock at the Hemphill home. R. S. Davis, Jr.. yesterday claimed as a bride Miss Eleanor Elliott, of Lexington. The wedding was celebrated iu that city with con siderable brilliancy. The Woman's Press Club, of Pittsburg, will hold their regular meeting next Saturday at wbicb tbe draft of tbe constitution and bylaws will be up for final discussion before adoption. A LECTURE will be delivered to-night by Rev. P. Maurice Kaeder, O. S. B.. at Old City Hall, on the subject of "Nuns, Ancient and Modern, or the Praise of Womanhood." The lecture will be eiven with the approval of IU. Rev. R. Pbelan, Bisbop of Pittsburg. BLAIE AND THE CHINESE. The New Minister Intimates That Many False Reports Ar eSpread Abont Him. ISPXCTAI. TXX.XGRAH TO THS DISPATCH. I New York, April 8. Henry W. Blair. United States Minister to China, who is at the Astor House, said to-day that he was not feel ing very well, but be bad tbe impression that bis illness was only temporary and wouIdnot interfere with bis trip to China. "1 don't know when I shall start for China," he said finally. "I suppose I'll start from here in two or three weeks. Can't tell, though." Mr. Blair de clined to say what he thought ot China or the Chinese. "Mr. Blair," said the visitor, "you are quoted as saying something very disagree able about China and the Chinese. The saying is that two years ago you made tbe statement that the Chinese were a leprous race. That was before you wanted tbe place of Minister to China. Now it is said that as soon as you re ceived the appointment you passed off your previous remark by stating tbat it was simply a campaign argument; tbat California had to be carried by the Republicans, and that that would help to carry it. Have you any idoa how such a story could get about T" "Tbe wind blowetb where it lisleth and thou hearest tbe sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometb nor whitber it goeth. So is evervone born in tne spirit," remarked Mr. Blair. "You must not believe the various re ports yonr hear." HEW EDUCATIONAL METHODS. What Prominent Collegians Think or the Chicago University Innovations. Chicago, April 8. The Herald to-day, in an article on the projected university at Chicago, shows tbat some radical mnovatione upon the old established higher educational sjstems of this country are to be tried. General Francis A. Walker, President of the Institute of Tech nology, when asked what he thonght of the plans, said: "I can't foretell the issue of new and unprecedented projects. If a new univer sity proposes to change precedents, it can't be judged fairly till some time after the experi ments have been tried." As to the effects of tbe new university upon similar institutions in the East, President Ca pen, of Tufts, thinks tbat it will be but slight, even if noticeable, especially after tbe first few Sears. "It is all right, I suppose, for the Bap tists to have a university of their own, though 1 think It might have been as well not to make tbat restriction." President Eliot, of Harvard, said tbat be thought the restriction with respect to religious beliet a very unfortunate one. Other educat ors looked upon the matter as an experiment, and all were positive in their opinions tbat tbe State endowment ot 82.000.000 is far short of the necessary amount to carry on such a vast sys tem on the lines laid down. AFTEE EDMONDS' SHOES. Secretary Proctor, Congressman Powersand Seeral Other Noted Aspirants. St. Albans, Vt April 8. The announce ment of the proposed retirement of Senator Edmunds from public life will be received with profound regret by the people of Ver mont. The event constitutes the most notable and interesting move on the political chess board of the Green Mountain State that bas been mado for a quarter of a century. There promises to be a most interesting and spirited contest for the succession to the Sena torship. There will be several candidates for the ofllce. including Hon. Henry Powers, Congressman-elect from the First district, and Hon. Reuheld Proctor, Secretary of War. The name of Judie Wheelock G. Veazy, of tho United States inter-State Commerce Commis sion, and ex-Governor John W. Stewart may also be included In tbe list of possible candi dates. Ex-Governor J. GregorySmitb, of St, Al bans, has many friends throughout the State, who would bo gratified to Bee him fill the office. Senator Edmunds lives on the west side of the Green Mountains, from which section, under the unwritten politic U law of the State, hi3 successor must be taken. Wedded in a Barroom. Louisville. April a There was a midnight marriage in a Jctlersonvillo barroom last night. At 10.30 o'clock Thomas R. Doollttle and Miss Sophia Troops,accompanied by friends, entered Louis Klaspie's saloon, belter known as "Tam many." Tbe saloon was filled with men play ing pool, some whisky poker and others draw poker. Justice Kemwiii arrived shortly before midnight, and as be entered tbe men stopped playing and acted as witnesses. The Justice pronounced the pair man and wife and tbe bridegroom "set 'em un" to the crowd, after which there wero congratulations all around. At 12.3U o'clock tho bridal narty left Jefferson vllle and walked over the Pennsylvania bridge, a inile in lengtb, and then to tbelr home. West Louisville. Farm Work In Foil Blast. Des. Moines, April 8. Reports from all over tbe State to-night indicate that the ground is in good condition, and that farm work Is In full blast. Much small grain will be sown this week; CANAL PB0JCTS OP HOTE. Water Transportation Schemes Indorsed Canals for Coast Defense. Baltimore Sun. 3 The assertion tbat railroads havo superseded canals does not appear to be borne out by tbe facts. Not only is the Erie Canal supported at heavy outlay by the State of New York because of the great benefits it confers upon the peo ple, but several important canal enterprises have either been pro ected or are in actual process of development in widely different sections of the country. The Board of Trade of Grand Rapids, Mich., is advocating the connecting of Lakes Michigan and Huron by a ship canal "stretching nearly through ths geographical center ot tbe lower peninsula of Mlcbiean." For several years a company has been engaged in constructing a canal across tbe Cape Cod peninsula to Buzzard's Bay, on the Massachusetts coast, but Its progress has been slow, and the Boston Herald urges the infusion of greater energy into the work. "The canal," says the Herald, 'is a great public necessity, and it would be of immense ad vantage to tbe towns and cities on Massachu setts Bay, to say nothing of New England sea ports to the north of ns, if this waterway was once definitely established." The Pittsburg Dispatch cites as an ar gument for the building of tbe proposed canal connecting Pittsburg with Lake Erie as an out let to Northern and Eastern markets for the coal fields of Western Pennsylvania, the ex ample of Manchester, England, wbicb ba3 re cently decided to advance tbe sum of 12,500.000 to complete the canal now building from that city to the sea. "The value which tbat great manufacturing community places upon tbo possession of water transportation," says The Dispatch, "is strikingly illustrated by its leadineas to put this sum into tbe enterprise upon conditions whlcb, by the statement of the case, were not deemed seenrity sufficient to attract the superabundant private capital of Great Britain." The objects sought to be at tained by Manchester are not, however, in The Dispatch's opinion, "so great nor so vital as those of Pittsbnrg and Western Pennsylvania in bringing lake transportation to their very doors." One of these days, no doubt, there will be a continuous lino of canals along the Atlantic coast from Boston to Florida, affording a most important means of communication by inland waterways which could easily be protected from an enemy's fleet in time oLwar. Some of the links of this chain bave already been built, and the construction of the Maryland and Delaware Sblp Canal would be a long step in tbe direction indicated. The importance o( a ship canal across the Maryland-Delaware peninsula as a means of concentrating troops and supplies for the defense ot Washington, Baltimore, Philadelphia and even New York, can be readily appreciated, and the complica tions with Italy, demonstrating as they do tbe urgent need of an adequate system of protec tion for tbe Atlantic seaboard, may have the good result of inducing Congress to appropriate the money for the undertaking as one of na tional importance in its value for military pur poses. PEEPAELNG FOE MAY DAY. Many Demands and Possible Strikes on the Programme. St. Louis, April 8. Great preparations ate being made by the heads of the Central Trades and Labor Unions for the. proposed May Day demonstration and demand for shorter hours and more pay. The trades that will strike and the demands they will make on tbe 1st of May are as follows: The architectural iron workers and marble cutters will make a demand for eight hours a day. The carpenters are now working eieht hours a day, but will make a demand for 5 cents more than at present. The plasterers and whiteners will mako a demand for eight hours a day and 37 cents an hour. It bas not yet been decided whether the bricklayers will strike or not. as many of them are satisfied with the wages tbey now receive; but if tbey do go out they will demand eight bours and U 60 a day. BEHOVED THE ABSCESS. A Wonderful Operation to Cure a Lungr Disease. Paris, Tex, April 8. A wonderful surgical operation is reported here from Pecan Gap, in Delta county. A young man named Jones was suffering from an abscess on one of bis lungs. His physicians. Drs. Brown and Davis, in formed bim tbat thero was but one chance for bim, and tbac was by a surgical operation. This was consented to, and bis chest was laid open, drained and washed out, clearing tbe cavity of a large quantity of purulent matter. Convalescence was rapid, and tbe young man bas returned to his bome'in Tennessee. A 81,000,000 HOTEL IN LITIGATION. Among the Defendants Are an Italian Count and Conntess and Their Children. New York. April 8. The Albemarle Hotel, valued at 1,000.000, and other property in tbe same estate, valued at 500,000. is tbe subject of a suit brought in tbe Supreme Court by Francis bkinney. Among tbe defendants are tbe Count and Countess Cassare Gianotti and their two chil dren, all living In Rome. Each of tbe children is entitled to 167,000 in the Albemarle prop erty, and 47,000 in other real estate. A Ludicrous Incident. Ottawa, April 8. A young lady, evidently a stranger, while seated in churcb at Morden onSunday,accidentallyletberbandkerchieffalI on the floor. By repeatedly stooping to reach it furtively she attracted tbe notice of a gen tleman in tbe pew behind, who thought she was about to faint. With tbo best of motives, therefore, ho took her gently under the arms and raised her up, greatly to her surprise. As she tried to release herself another gentleman went to her assistance, and before the lady knew what was the matter they were moving ber out into the aisle. Naturally she was too much astonished to find words for protest, and they managed to half carry, halt lead her some distance, when she directed an appealing look to another gen tleman in a pew, as it asking bim to help also. He, too, promptly rose from his seat and helped lift ber up and carry ber gently to tbe outside, where mutual explanations exposed the ludl crousness of tbe situation. COMING THEATEICAL EVENTS. One of the greatest evidences of tbe popular success of the play, "The Still Alarm," is that it created as great a sensation in London, if not greater, than it has in thi3 country. The scenes relating to the life of New York fire men are' equally apt as relating to the tire service of London, and whether the scene be set In New York or London it is an admirable picture of a vigorous phase of men's duty, atfU calls attention to the excellent work and discipline of a brave set of fellows. Tbe scene in the central fire station showing how tbe gal lant fireman passes his life and does his dnty in a great city is as instructive as it is interesting, and always delights a sympathetic and highly sensitive audience. The working up of this scene from tbe quiet repose of inactivity to the sensational episode with the real fire engine and real horses is. perhaps, the best bit of dra matic work ever seen upon the stage. With most of the realistic prodnctions tbe stage car penter and scene painter make the mimic imi tation of the things presented, but here we hafe the real thing a real engine, ready, it necessary, to be placed in active service; real horses, who, in their nightly services on the Btage, are as well, If not better.trained tban the animals in actual service. Aside from the real istic features, the play is cleverly constructed. Donnelly AND Gieard, the mirth-provoking comedians, begin an engagement at the Dnquesne Theater on Monday evening next in a revised version of the familiar and ever-popular farce comedy. "Natural Gas," in a new meter, brightened up with such lively new songs, dances, jokes and general business that tbo critics have pronounced it Donnelly and Girard's "New Laughing Gas" from the merri ment it creates. Its success this season has been unprecedented, and fnll houses at the Duquesne is an assured condition of things. Bob Fitzsimmons, lightweight champion, Is a horseshoer by trade. While in Baltimore be walked into a shop and proceeded to show bis admirers that bis hands were as handy at turning out shoes as they were at turning up toes. He will be seen at tbe Grand Opera House next week in H. Grattan Donnelly's farce comedy, "Fashions," which bas been re written. Tbe sale of seats opens this morning. Patrons of Harry Williams' Academy will be rejoiced to learn that tbelr favorite com pany, "Tbe Night Owls," will appear at that popular place of amusement next week. -iun i. wo Johns," tnose tat ana runny iei- lows, will appear at Harris' Theater next t'K. wot CURIOUS C0NDENSATI05S. National gas has been discovered in thu Argentine Republic. Th eBiver Seine has been restocked with 40,000 California salmon. An Iowa girl has run away from homa to avoid playing the piano. A Maine woman, 88 years old, who has used tobacco all her life, bas suddenly sworn off. Russian peasants will be prohibited by law shortly from selling or mortgaging their lands. Montreal has the cheapest telephone, service on the continent. Twenty-five dollars a year is charged. The Senate of Arkansas has passed a bill to prohibit tbe giving of a mortgage on crops, either planted or prospective. Clay county. Mo., will be represented at the World's Fair by a span of mules 18 hands high, and which weigh 3,800 pounds. "With the exception of Spain all tbe countries of Europe bave laws against the use of castiron wheels under passenger cars and locomotives. A Hartford, Conn., youth has developed a relish for iron filings, tacks, ten-penny nails, live bullfrogs and fish, all of which ho swallows with avidity. A Jackson, Mich., man, recently mar ried, celebrated the event by treating his friends to bread tickets. He passed them in stead of cigars. A spinster who died in 'Westminster, Englan d. two weeks ago aged 60 years, had been in the habit for some years of using half a pound of tea a day. This is curious: A young woman, member of a theatrical company playing in Chicago, fainted because the was embraced by a ma n at the stage door. Many railroads are introducing brake shoes on both sides of tbe wheel, the claim being made tbat the braking power is thus more efficiently employed. The Grand Trunk Railway is to build a rolling mill plant at Montreal, and the offi cials claim that the road will save at least 30, 000 a year by rolling its own iron. A 2-year-old girl who died at Mas co Utah, III., weighed 12 pounds, exactly what she weighed when born. She never got an ounce heavier daring her short life. In Paris tbe drivers of the cars on some of tbe street railways are placed on top of the car. thus giving them better control of the horses, while gaining additional space for pas sengers. A new mineral has been discovered, to which the name sanguinlte has been given. It is bronze red in color by reflected light, and upon analysis is found to contain silver, arsenic and sulphur. Some of the sub-alliances in Minnesota are undertaking to order boycotts of news papers which venture to take a different view of public questions and exercise their right to criticise Alliance utterances. A rope company in St, Louis recently made what is claimed to be the largest ship ment of cable ever carried by one car. Two reels of wire, weighing 140,000 pounds, were shipped on a special four-truck platform car. One German school child in every hun dred is a stutterer. Tho boys are more liable to this defect than girls. Ernst Keil, wbo has collected statistics from all German schools, finds tbat there are 5,985 stuttering boys to 2,233 stuttering girls. An expert says: "According to the monistic hypothesis, every mode of kinesis has its concomitant mode of metakioesls, and, when tbe kinetic manifestations assume the form of tbe molecular processes in tbe bumau brain, the metakinetic manifestations assume tbo form of human consciousness." A fire-hose supporter was tried in Bal timore the other day, tbe invention being a contrivance to lift the fire hose and hold it in midair so that cars and other vehicles may pass beneath during fires. Ihe supporter is de signed to overcome stoppages on cable lines as. having a grip, the cable cars cannot jump the hose like horse cirs. Tbe experiment is said to bave been successful. A gentleman of Milledgeville, Ga., the other day saw something fall from tbe clouds and bounce like a ball in bis yard. He went out to discover what It could be, and found it a live terrapin, which had evidently descended with the rain from tbe clouds. Tbls little ani mal was abont IK inches in circumference, was a dark green on its back and striped some thing like a king snake underneath. It is reported tbat a Chilean is living in Tacna, Pern, who is 151 years old. according to his own statement: but his neighbors assert that be is older, and a document is in existence which he signed 142 years ago. He still works in bis garden and is in good bealtb. He at tributes bis long life to bis simple and frugal nanitf. xte eats only plain, nourishing food, an d eats it cold. He rises early, takes bis bath regularly, never indulges in Intoxicating liquors, and does not smoke. The long and flowing beard and bright red whiskers of tbe Postmaster of Wilton, Conn, having proved oDnoxions to the aesthetic tastes of tbe worthy inhabitants of that town, they sent him a letter with a skull, cros3-bones and coffins marked in blood, warning him to divest himself of his hirsute facial adornments, or take the penalty. He took tbe penalty, and was seized at night in the woods by a deter mined band of bis fellow-citizens, wbo rednced bis Inxuriant growth of hair to a stubby beard. A bachelor tradesman who has just died in Hamburg adopted a novel method of re venging himself on tbe woman wbo once jilted him. In bis will he left her a legacy of 12,000 marks, but also indited tbe following letter, which he ordored to be banded to tbe lady, who isnowia widow, with tbe money. "Madam: Some 30 years ago I was a suitor for your nand in marriage. You refused my offer, and as a consequence my days have been passed ia peace and quietness. Now I requite your good ness." In the Third precinct of the Second ward, Detroit, a lady went to the polls along in tbe afternoon yesterday and the outside ticket handlers presented her with the Republican, and Democratic ballots for School Inspector. "Can you tell me what their religion 1ST" in quired the lady, and she was answered: "O, wa don't mind religion at elections." "We ought to," said tbe fair voter. "There should be an, amendment to tbe law to show what church they belong to." To satisfy her inquiry was made, and when she was told that one was a Baptist and the other was an Episcopalian she was ready to vote. French gardeners are now obtaining tha same results as the Japanese in tbe production of dwarf trees, which are in great demand, tbelr fruit being just as perfect as it It had grown on a full-sized tree. Their methods are kept as secret as thoe used in Japan, whera one sees trees 200 an'd 300 years old which have been treated in such a manner as to stunt their growth and to prevent tbem from attaining a height of more than two feet at most. Their trunks are gnarled and twisted by age. but they bear no trace of tbe pruning knife, and tbey constitute an exact representation in miniature of tbe grand old scyamore, oak, cedar or apple tree, which line the magnificent 50-mile avenue which leads up to the sacred shrines of "Nix ko." FUNNY FELLOWS' FANCIES. "It is naught-y, but it's nice." What is?" 11,000,000." .Veto rort Herald. Old Scroggs What did you carve on that tombstone 1 ordered a while azo Monument Man-"Augustus bcrozgs, K. L P." Old Scroigs Ihai's all right: but in irn not better by to-morrow Just make It "U.li. I. P. Sew Tort Sun. Student We want badges for our grad uating class. We have adonted as a design a graduate surveying the universe. Jeweler-About how large would you lite the Azure? Student I think the cradnate should cover about three-rourtlis of the badge and the uni verse tbe remainder Jtu:lers, It ttkbj. At a reception in Boston. Hostess Mr. Smith, alio me to present you to Miss Cornfield, of Chicago (emphasizing Chlcajro). ilr. bmlth-DelUhted to meet you, Mls3 Corn field. Our hostess' emphasis on your city reminds me of Jlr. l'otter of Texas and Mr. Barnes of ew York. iliss Cornfield -Indeed I I haven't tbe pleasure of the acquaintance of either gentleman Bolton Gazette. Aboy was telling ofaman generally known as "BUI," who was employed at his father! house. "His name Is not 15111." the boy said: "I made np that name and gave It to bim. His real name Is William." Atehiion diode. A PARADOX, Oh, matters mundane now and then Get singularly mixed; Here is an inconsistency . Tbat hardly can be axed. 1 know a hard and narrow man, A miser and morose. Wbo, thouzh a million miles awiy, Would stUl be Just as close. BviUn CeurUf, ' ?.&' t - TsTnrirTffl- AAiL fe.kiaM . mXmgsmm flfrrtflfMBte XifiitsT ly-1- toatw- - A 1
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers