HHHBflHH(HHH8sfl iHHI? sWi "V 5. - - ij JAattssssavwsssssft Hp'l . 4 .'"',,. THE PITTSBURG- DISPATCH, t TUESDAY, JANUARY 26, '1892. " ' t ' -rt(T imp I, Vl!?j JOlpAJiUMJ ESTABLISHED FEBRUARY 8, 1? Vol. 46. No. IS3. raierol at Pittsburg Postofllce November, 1617, s sccond-clas6 matter. Business Office Corner Smithfield and Diamond Streets. News Rooms and Publishing House 78 and 80 Diamond Street, in New Dispatch Building. TAPTEBV ATIVEUTISIXR OFFICE, BOITM 7, TRIBUNE BlirLDINO. NEWVOKK. where com plete flics ofTHE DlsrATCHran always be found. Foreign aclvrrtl'ors rprecI.Me11ie convenience. Home advertiser, and friends or THE niFATCH. hlle in New York, are also made welcome. THE DISPATCH 1 res'ilwlil on talr nt Brfnttrnf , I Unlnn Sjvnre, Xno York. ana 77 Art aefOprra, rant, Hfliif, where a-nymr ichn hit tai ttltap pmntca at a lintel met aland can obtain it. TEKMS OF THE DISPATCH. rOSTAGE T KEK IX THE UNITED STATE!. yiAILT Dispatch. One Year t m DjiIIrDlsr-ATcn. PcrQnarter t 00 Daily Dispatch. One Month 70 Dailt DtsPATCH. Including Sunday. 1 yar. 10 m Daily Dispatch Including sunday, Sin'lai. 2 50 Daily Dispatch, including Sunday. 1 m'tli.. no Sunday Dispatch. One Year ?w W'kf.kly Dispatch, One Year 1 3 THE Daily DisrATcn Is delivered by carriers at JS cents per wci-V. or. Including Sunday Edition, at It een t s per week. riTTSBIjnC. TUESDAY. JANUARYS!. TWELVE PAGES CITY ASSESSMENTS AND TAXES. Commentins upon the increase of valu ations, The DisPATcn has urged, as the only practical way of cnsurinR that it .do notincrcasc the tax-draft upon citizens' pockets, voters insist upon pledges from Councilmen to reduce the millage in pro portion as the agcrrcgate of valuation may be increased. Our cotemporary, the Leader, which, while honest in its pur poses, is sometimes inaccurate in its per ceptions and hasty in its conclusions, is not satisfied with this. It thinks nothing can he had by pledging Councilmeu and Councilmanic candidates now.and that in discriminate berating of the Assessors will best check the tendency to municipal ex travagance. If our cotemporary can point out any better plan than TnE Dispatch urges that of limiting the appropriations to last year's schedule, and insisting upon reducing the millage by as much as the aggregate of valuation is larger than last year's aggregate we will be glad to accept and push the amendment. But it is hardly necessary to say that it is in Councils the spending power lies; that by them, if at all, retrenchment must be con sidered; and that unless public opinion is brought to bear upon Councils, upon can didates and setting Councilmen the most immediate and effective means of keep ing down the taxes is lost sight of. In short, it is the function of Councils to say what the gross sum of city expenditures is to be; and the function of the Assessors is simply the distribution ot this burden upon individual taxpayers according to the value of their holdings. Suppose Councils increase the appropriations will not the taxpayers have to put their hands In their pockets to meet the increase, re gardless of the general scaje of the val uations? Extravagant, unnecessary and wasteful expenditures must be fought. Items must be scrutinized and a limit set to city ex penditures. This implies immediate com munication by taxpayers with their sit ting Councilman and with Councilmanic candidates. To do this does not imply neglect of exorbitant valuations. While pointing out, as justice required, the fact that hitherto valuations have often been very much under in place of over "cash values," and that the Assessors are not to be blamed so far as they go honestly ac cording to their lights in determining "cash values," The Dispatch has by no m eans approved th eir udgment in all cases. It lias pointed out that they have erred undoubtedly in a great number of cases in assuming too high general values in a neighborhood from special sales governed by special motives, and that they make a great mistake in assuming that all the res idence property and vacant ground in the rural wards could be put upon the market and sold at the prices that at intervals are paid for occasional lots. All "this will have to be corrected; and if it is not corrected it is the duty which every taxpayer owes to his pocket and to his sense of equity to carry his appeal to the courts. But it is no less the duty of the Assessors to raise manifest under-valuations when they meet such upon their books, and of these there have been many. Essential as it is for every one who feels that he is imposed upon by an assessment above "cash value" to resist to the end, it is still more important to bring public opinion to bear upon Council"; to keep down the city expenses. Xow is the op portunity, when the city elections are so close at hand and when men who refuse to pledge themselves can be rejected at the polls. As the taxes fall in the end upon the people who do the voting not merely upon the real estate owner it is precisely the business of those who intend to go to the polls to take pains to know beforehand whether they are or are not voting for an increased burden on them selves next year. In short, it is only by vigorous insist ence upon a reduction of millage corre sponding to the increase of valuations that any increase of valuation can be de prived of its stin?. But in doing this it by no means follows that every raise of valu ation which has been made by the Asses sors is unjust. There are many cases of over-valuation we feel assured; but it would also doubtless be found that pre viously there were very many more cases of under-valuation. The over-valuations can and shonld be brought t3 court if the Assessors do not on revision give relief. Meanwhile the more imperative duty of looking after the appropriations by Coun cils presses for attention. THE STRIKE DISTURBANCE. The proclamation of the Sheriff of the county in the matter of the passenger railway strike in Allegheny brings the demonstration over there directly within the vigilance and pale of the law. Every one should understand 'the. line at which manifestations of sympathy, which are lawful, end, and manifestations of disor der, violence and riot, which are unlaw ful, begin. It needs no exposition of the statutes to convey this perception to the most ordinary mind. But it will be well to remember that between expressing dis approval of the policy of a railway corpor al on, and breaking the peace of the State tbire is a momentous difference, attended by serious results to those concerned. On behalf of the best interests of labor, violence in connection with strikes is always to be deplored and in unmistaka ble terms condemned. With a serious breaking of the peace public sympathy, no matter how strong previously, is neces sarily alienated or paralyzed It is to be hoped that all interested will take to mind the responsibilities of the situation; that neither bad feeling nor bad counsel will prompt any violation of the now pro claimed law, whose decrees must be res pected at all hazard of temper or interest It serins necessary to call attention to this phase of the case rather more in respect to the crowds which gather in Al legheny to express sympathy for tbe strikers than in regard to the strikers themselves. It is usually the sympa thizers who overstep the. law: and most generally they and the cause they sympa thize with are they sufferers in conse quence. THE QUESTION OF WAR, The President has sent in his message to Congress, which amounts to a practical declaration of his position on the war plat form. This is shown not only by the tenor of the text, but in the very fact of its having been sent; n message on the sub ject having been foreshadowed as to come only if it were deemed necessary to ask for the action of Concrcss, and the only positive action which Congress can take in the matter is a declaration of war. The considerations advanced by the President as requiring the nation to take tliis grave step can be more fully learned by reading his message than by a siimmary here. 'With some of his positions there is little fault to find, but as a means of judging the final correctness of the result, it is well to study the whole history of the case. The documents accompanying the message, it must be remembered, give only the side of the case presented by rep resentatives of the United States who have already been shown to have sup pressed and misrepresented important factors in the chain of events; but even thates parte statement does not conceal some important facts. To begin at the beginning, it is shown that during tho war for representative government, Mr. Egan, in the language of the telegraphic sum mary, "had an abiding faith in the ulti mate triumph of Balmaceda over his ene mies" and the downfall of the insurgent cause; Admiral McCann declared that "Balmaceda is the master of the situa tion;" and on June 32, while negotiating with Senor Errazuriz, the Congressionalist leader, artlessly aided the mediatory nego tiation by telling tho Congressionalists that "the Government at Santiago cannot be disturbed." After these displays by the representatives of the United States, is it any wonder that the Congressionalists took the opportunity to show that the Government at Santiago could be dis turbed, and did not entertain especially friendly sentiments to the United States? This unfriendly feeling on the part of the populace undoubtedly produced the Valparaiso riot Whether tho c onflict be tween the sailors and the mob involved the Chilean Government to any " degree depends on whether the police suppressed tire riot or took part in it On this ques tion there is an issue of fact One con clusion is expressed as the result of the investJcation of the Chilean courts; an other as the result of naval investigations. Both are to a certain degree es parte; but both sides were represented in the Chilean courts, and moreover that method of set tling the question is exactly what was laid down as a rule of international -law by the United States in the New Orleans affair, namely, that the trial of the case must be according to the constitutional forms of the country where the disturb ance took place. While there have been attempts to suppress the fact, it is a vital share of the controversy that tli9 Chilean Government, while disclaiming respon sibility, have from the first promised full investigation and punishment of the guilty parties, and have already carried that pledge nearer fulfillment than our Govern ment was ever able to do in the case of its own mobs. Under these circumstances the Chilean Government has formally rendered to tho United States Government tho following expression of feeling: I have, also received special instructions to state to tho Government of the United States that the Government of Chile has feltery sincere regret for the unfortunate events which occurred in Valparaiso on the 10th of October. Although incidents of this nature are not rare in ports frequented by sailors of various nationalities, the fact that deaths and wounds were caused in this dis turbance, the zeal with which the Chilean authorities are accustomed to watoh over the personal seenritr of nil who tread its territory, the fact that persons employed in the service of a friendly nation were con cerned, the frank desire for American cor diality which ray Government entertains, have led it to cordially deplore the afore said disturbance and to do everything in Its power toward the trial and punishment of the guilty parties. It is for Congress to decide whether, after this declaration of "sincere resnret" and the renewal of the pledge for "the trial and punishment of the guilty parties," it is becoming for a great nation to insist on making war against a small one, because it wants the more abject terms used. Wc cannot but regard the President's criticism of this language as inspired by the feeling that we must have war with Chile, in order to cover the blunders of our Government which caused the incep tion of the ill-fcellng. The attitude of tho Chilean Government indicates that a little toleration and conciliation would win from it an even more positive disavowal of the riot. The decision of Congress will doubtless be made in a few days. It is to be hoped that it will decide against going into a costly and, at best, inglorious war, on mere question of language. If the people of this country are once satisfied that Chile will not make full reparation for any wrongs or insult to our Government or to our representatives of any grade, there will be a unanimous ex pression for war; and in any event, if war is declared, there will.be but one feeling but meantime there are enough features of the case to warrant Congress in making quite sure it is right before going ahead. THE WAR r ARTY'S LEADER. It is pleasant to know that the new po litical forces which have been howling for war, have got a leader. Mr. John L. Sul ivan has declared himself, and is now a leader of the Jingoes. Mr. Sullivan's platform Is built on the lines of the average Jingo 'editorial, and assert? that "them Chileans has done us enough dirt, and ought to be wiped off the face of the earth, see!" This reinforcement to the ranks of the war party will be a powerful factor, not only because of the large intelligent con stituency which Sullivan represents, but because it is a distinct accession to the fighting power of the party. Outside of the naval contingent' which hungers for promotion and prize-money there has been a dreadful suspicion that the most bloodthirsty members of the war party were those who expect other men to do the fighting. Mr. Sullivan's character as a warrior will lend dignity to- the bel ligerent cause and protect it from the above accusation at least within Sulli van's hearing. There have been intimations that the distinguished slugger was, going Into poli tics and intended to run for Congress. But with this exhibition of his ability to grasp the salient points of an international issue, the least that the war party can do is to nominate him for President. nOW TO BEAT THE1I. In a suit going on between two stars of the first and perhaps the third magnitude, in the planetary system of stock manipula tion, Mr. John W. Mackayand Mr. Edwin S. Stokes, an important principle was in troduced in the evidence. A letter was produced written. by the bonanza king in which he gave the sage advice to Stokes that "the only way to beat Jay Gould is to leave him alone." The advice was intended to apply di rectly to Wall street operators, but it lias an equal value for the general public. The .only sure way to beat tacticians of the Gould stamp is to let them alone. Gould's success in amassing unnumbered millions has been due to the fact that he could always find victims who imagined that they could play successfully at the game of Wall street wUh the other side holding the loaded dice. When the pub lic makes up its mind to let Gould and all his so-called securities severely alone, Mr. Gould's game asa Wall street manipulator will be completely beaten. The rule applies to others than Gould. Wherever there is a corporation stock, or the certificates of a combination of cor porations, under the control of one or a clique of operators, the only way to get the better of them is indicated by Mack ay's apothegm. Wc violate no confidence in the assertion that- the outsiders who thought they could bet successfully on mining stocks in the days when John W. Mackay and his partners ruled the Vir ginia City bonanza found themselves at the end with a large stock of experience and with the money in tho hands of the bonanza quadrilateral. Mr. Mackay's rule is indisputable; but the most convincing demonstration of it is the manner in which the fleecing of the lambs has been carried on until there" are no more left to support Wall street with their innocence. THE INTERNATIONAL PROPOSITION. There is no possible objection to the proposition to invite the European Gov ernments to a needed conference on the silver question. Although there is little chance of the invitation being accepted it is properly within the policy of the United States to frequently intimate to Europe that this country is ready to join in an international conference for the purpose of restoring the monetary function to silver. The great mass of the people of the United States believe that silver should be used as'money. The legislation of the Government is based on that conviction, and while there is the widest possible dif ference of opinion as to the basis on which silver coinaee should rest, it is an attitude which we can well adopt as a nation that we are in favor of an international agree ment to restore silver on a conservative and stable basis. But to entertain the idea of a ratio of 15)4 to 1 as between silver and gold when the ratio of bullion value is over 20 to 1 is simply to condemn the project in its incep tion. If the United States wouldpropose a conference for the rehabilitation of silver on the basis of actual bullion value it would make a strong appeal to the solid sense of the European bimctallists. It should be clearly understood that true patriotism does not involve the moral sup port of one's country against one's sense of Justice. Were it not for the many state ments which have recently appeared to the contrary, it would bo platitudinarian to as sert that neither patriotism nor any other feeling shonld invalidate tho dictum of the individual conscience. It is patriotic to make private opinion give way to an unquali fied support of any national cause to which tho Government is irrevocably committed, but it is no Jess patriotic before such a posl- tion lias been reached to agitate for a decis ion which accords with one's own feeling of right. Mk. Cbokek has made his debut as hu morous writer. In his article on Tammany in theXbrth American Reviewhe not only says that institution is devoted to "correct prin ciples and publin usefulness," but he also states that New York streets are clean. Benjamin Harrison is often known as tho little man with tho big hat, but he never before so clearly demonstrated that a swelled bead necessitated an abnormally large covering. A noticeable feature ot the Chilean controversy in tbe impetus that has been given to the study of South American geog raphy. The statement that Mr. Hill will use tbe majority that be is going to secure of the New York delegation in his own interest or in opposition to Mr. Cleveland is some what redundant in its form of expression. Opposition to Cleveland is in Hill's inter est and Hill's interests are confessedly in compatible with Cleveland's. However many enemies he may make, there are two things of which no man can acense Sockless Jerry Simpson. He is not a fop, and be has no lack of a flow of language that is unique for its picturesqueness. The whistle-blowing and general noisy symptoms prevalent at the Ohio's departure from Philadelphia were as nothing to the rowdyism displayed of late in many news papers. This country and Chile have gotten into a pretty pickle between them. But then Chile is always associated with pickles. It was once remarked of an Englishman of prominence that "what time he can spare from the adornment of his persoi he devotes to the neglect of his duty." To suit Ameri can politicians this might be paraphrased. What time they can spare from the lining of their own pockots they devote to the neglect of their duties to tbe Nation. If Chile stubbornly refuses to do its duty And draws Undo Sam's fire, Italy may tato it into its head to get oven with us for that New Orleans unpleasantness, and then well, it will be more interesting. ( Some Chileans, at all events, give every evidence of pacific inclinations since tho site for the Chilean bulldinz at tho World's Fair was approved yesterday. War and rumors of war, and mud and rumors of more mud, are respectively the na tional and local topics at present. The song which has found a leading place In the President's second term reper toire is "We don't want to fight, but, by Jingo, if we do," whilo Chile's treble warb ling "Call him back again," is hardly heard at this distance in the din of warlike preparation. It is a remarkable coincidence that in an exact proportion to tile increase ofmud on the rods is tho wonderful precision with which the street cars are carried just bo yond tho less muddy crossings. The only thing that ha? been lowered since the Assessors finished their work is the esteem in which those officials have been held by the taxpayers. Outsiders who have any doubts about our patriotism are referred to the news in this issue of The Dispatch.-- SNIFFING THE BATTLE. Large Crowds Gather In tho Chambers of Congress to Listen to the President's Message Applanso Follows Its Kcadfcn; in Both Branches Irrespective or Party Animated Scenes. Washington, D. C, Jan. 25. It was evident at the Senate end ot the Capitol to day that a large number of American citi zens had come to the conclusion that they could "snitTthe battle from afar." A great many people felt convinced that war with Chllo was Immlnent.so they crowded info the galleries some time before tho Senate assem bled. There was little interest taken in the routine proceedings; everybody was wait ing for the message, and no one would be satisfied with anything less. Some little attention was paid by the ladles in the Democratic reserved gallery to a magnificent floral tribute which adorned the desk of Senator Gibson, of Maryland, and a few strangers amused themselves by guessing who tho various Senators were. Bills were introduced and referred, commit tees reported and other regular business was attended to with that same calmness which is ordinarily in circulation at the northern end of tho big building, and which distinguishes the proceedings of tho Senate from the proceedings of the House. Bntlness Gives Wbt to the Message. Mr. Hoar, from the Committee on Privi leges and Election?, made a report in the case of Senator Chilton, of Texas, conclud ing with the resolution that Jlr. Chilton is entitled to hold his seat. He said he would not nfc action unon it at tho present time. At 12:10 o'clock Secretary Halford entered the chamber, closely follwed by Secretay I'ruden. Captain Basctt lost no time in getting to the door, and then the regular order was interrupted by Vice President Morton's announcement that tho Senate would receive a me'sage from tho House of Representatives. He instantlv corrected himself and said: "Tho President of the United States." It was but five minutes short of 1 o'clock when the presentation of petitions for the passage of tho Torrev bankruptcy bill or tho closing of the World's Fair on the Loid's day, came to3n end. Then the message was formally laid befote the Senate, and a min ute later Chief Clerk' Johnston started to read the interestiug document. Ordinarily a Presi dental communication attracts practically no attention and its reading is the signal for S-natorial disappearance to attend toother duties. Things were diflerent to-day. Twenty-five Democratic and 46 Kepnblican Sen ators were in thfiiiseats when .the reading commenced, and but one of them "moved; that ono was Senator Sawyer.and he, that he might hear more -distinctly, moved down the center aisle and took possession of a chair alongside Mr. Hayes, the veteran As boclated Press reporter. There was no break in the general atten tion paid by Senators. Conversation was not indulged in at any time, the Democrats being evidently as much interested as the RepuDlicans. 'No one seemed to regard the matterunder consideration as being in any sense political. Syraratby for a Pallor. Senators Manderson and Faulkner fol lowed the reading, they having printed copies of the message in their hands. Occa sionally u Senator would be moved by a par ticularly strong point, and would say a word or two of assent to a neighbor. When men tion was made of tbe fact that ono sailor had been dragged along tho streets of Val paraiso with a lasso around his neck, Sena tor Vest gave involuntary utteiancu to a sound which was easily construed Into an expression of eympathy for the sailor and a demonstration of an anti-Chilean nature. Tho reading of the message (which is printed in full elsewhere in this issue) was concluded at 1:30, when Mr. Sherman, Chair man of the Committee on Foreign dela tions, rose and said: "I move, Mr. Presi dent, that tho messaco and accompanying documents be printed and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations. In view of tho gravity and importance of the subject matter I do not think it expedient to make any remarks." The motion was agreed to, and 500 addi tional conies were ordeied to be printed. Mr. Turpie, from the Committee on Priv ileges and Elections reported a resolution in the caie of Senator Cali, of Florida, de claring that Senator dulv elected and law fully entitled to his seat. Placed on the calendar. The Vice President laid before the Senate a communication from Chief Justice Fuller, of tho Supreme Court, announcing the death of Mr. Justice Bradlev last Friday, lle inark in eulogy ot tho deceased Judge were made by Mr. McPhcrson and Mr. Hoar, and then, in token of respect for his memory, the senate adjourned till to-morrow. The 3Iessa;e In the Iloce. At precisely noon to-day Speaker Cri6p scended to the chair, and his colleagues, without regard lo party, warmly greeted him as ho resumed tho reigns of authority laid down so long on account of sickness. The Chaplain, in his prayer, feelingly al luded to the death of Justice Bradley. After the approval of the jonrnal and the trans action of routine business a number of bills were introduced and referred. During the call of States, Mr. Pruden, one of the President's secretaries.appeared at tho door of the House and was announced by the assistant doorkeeper. lie delivered tho message or the Chief Executive relative to the Chilean troubles, and the call having been sniended, the message was immedi ately laid before the House, The buzz of conversation which usually pervades the chamber was instantly hnshed. and every member dropped the work upon which he wns engaged and became an attentive listener. The spectators in the gallerie. too, evidently aunreclated the gravity of the situation and there was none of that noise which so frequently interrupts the deliberations of the House. The reading of the message occupied al most an hour, and when it was concluded there was a general round of applause, which was more warm among the Republl cans,but In which many Democrats earnestly joined. Then on motion of Mr. Blount, of Georgia, tho mesago and accompanying documents wero ordered printed and re ferred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs. After inrther routine business the House, adjourned until to-morrow. THE ORDER'S SIDE. A Family Quarrel That Slay Be Settled by Going to Law. To the Editor of The DlsDatch: In common with other Pittsburg papers, your columns have recently contained tele grams from Johnstown, Pa., referring to tho arrest of J. A. Lyle, Secretary of the Order of Ohio, on charges of obtaining money ou false pretenses, said false pretenses cousti t Ing of failure to loan money to certain mem bers of the order. Whilo published in good faith, these statements are entirely incor rect and calculated to do the Order of Ohio great injury.- It is a fratornal society, man. aged by some of tbe best men In this city, and is absolutely solvent, being able to pay at any time every dollar collected from tho membership and the accrued Interest. The simple truth Is that sundry persons in Johnstown demanded loans on bad security, and, when refused, a.-ked that their assess ments be retnrned. They were required to remain in good standing one year, the rulo of thejrder, and, in revenge, caused tho ar rest of the representative. They will bo prosecuted in due course for conspiracy. Tbusteks, ORDKKOI1 Ohio. East Liverpool, O., January 25. PERTINENT PERSONALITIES. The Czar of Russia never shaves. Mrs. Eider Haggard has lately won three prizes in golfing matches. Senator G0RMAhas a habit of reading in bed, no matter how hard a day's work he has performed. Mrs. Acgdsta Evans Wilson is about to take a trip to Europe to search for new facts for a novel. James Loweie, who recently died, wove the first American brussels, but he gave It no distinctive name. Bishop-elect Rev. Dr. Hoestman", of Cleveland, has received the official notice of his election from Borne. Miss Olive Risley Seward, adopted daughter of W.H. Seward, has become a newspaper correspondent. Colonel Sodfplot, once in the armies of Napoleon, celebrated the 100th anniver sary of his birth a few days ago. Mark Trafton preaches to mankind tho necessity for eating hearty breakfasts. He says they are a good bulwark against tate. Judge Holman, who is over 70, has two favorite expressions. One is, "Oh my, ray," and the other, "This will never do; no, it will never do."V Prop. Michelson, of Clark Univer sity, is said to be very handsome and popu lar. He has a project for using light waves as a standard of measure. JANUARY 26. "1892. PENKSTLVAinA SHUT OUT By Politics, From the Vacancy on tho V. S. Supreme Court Bench. Pbilaoelphia, Jan. 23. Special. A special dispatch to the Times from Washington 'says: While the Pennsylvantans in Washington are disposed to mako an earnest eflbrt for the appointment of ono of their jurists to the vacant Judgeship in the Supremo Court of the United States, there is little reason to expect that they can be successful. Tho Pennsylvanian most likely to be favorably considered by the President, if tho appoint ment could go to your State, would be Chief Justice Paxson; but political considerations forbid the appointment of any member of your State Snpreme' Court, as that would mako a vacancy there to bo filled by a Dem ocrat. There is already one judge to be elected next fall in Pennsylvania, and if an other of your Supremo judges were trans ferred to tho Snpremo Court of the United States there would be two to elect, and the peoplo under your Constitution conldvote for but one. so that a Democrat wonld in evitably fill the vacancy. The President is too caiefiilly -studying good politics just now to expose himself to criticism by giving .the Democrats a Supreme Judge in Penn sylvania, and it may be accepted as settled that no members of your Supreme Court can fill tho vacancy occasioned by the death of Justice Bradley. Thenamnof Jndge Wilson, of your Com mon Tleas Court, has mbeon frequently dis cussed as one of the possibilities to succeed Justice Bradley in the Supreme Court of the United States, but everything now points to the rejection of Pennsylvania's claim en tirely. Pennsylvania had the 'former Cir cuit Judge of your district In Judge JIcKon nan. who has been succeeded by Judge Achcson, another "Pennsylvanian, and George M. Dallas will soon bo confirmed as Hie Judge of the new Apellate United States Court for your district, so that Pennsyl vania does not present any strong claim for that position; but what is more important than the claims of States Is the control of delegates to the next National Convention. President Harrison wants delegates, and ho is going to have them if it is possible to ob tain them by the use of his patronage, ludl cial or political. Harrison has nothing to expect from Penn sylvania whatever, as Quay is entirely master of the situation, and the delegation will be against Harrison under any circum stances. On tho other hand. Senator HIggins could deliver Delaware six delegates if tho Judgeship were given to Sprnance, and Gen eral Sewell could see Senator Higgins and go much better by giving him the Now Jersey delegation. Sewell wants Judge Green, and was grievously disappointed that Green was not nominated instead of Dallas. This is Sewell's opportunity to command the Judge ship, and everything now points to the suc cess of Jndgo Green. He may be appointed direct to the Supreme Conrt of the United States, or Jndge Acheson, of Pennsylvania, may be transferred to that position and Judge Green transferred to the Circuit Conrt as Acheson's successor. Such seems to be the situation of the jndseship in Washington to-day, and it is not likely to be changed in any way to improve the chances of Pennsylvanlans, outside of tho bare possi bility of Atcheson's transfer to make tho place in the circuit for Green. AN ELECTRICAL BOY. TJe Amuses Himself by Shocking Every thing Within His Heach. ' Kiowa, Kax., Jrfh. 25. George Harger, who lives just south of this town, is the father of a 6-year-old boy who is an electrical wonder. The boy has been known as "peculiar" ever since his birth, and those who nursed him when an infant were wont to say that he "made them nervous." His actions and habits were those of all infants, and he has never shown any mental Jraits different from those usually seen in the average boy. His parents and others who are intimately connected with tho family, however, say that there has always been something un canny about him. Whenever the child was taken up from the floor or bed a crackling noise was heard and a slight shock and pricking sensation wns felt, similar to that lelt when a cat Is rubbed on a cold day. The. bny can greatly increase the force of the shock by rubbing his feet on the carpet, and after dark the electrical discharge is so strong that sparks are emitted when he slides across the floor and touches a piece of metal. The force qf the current seems to be greatly increased for several d.iys before a storm of any kind, and his father now de clares that he can foretell evorv change In the weather bv watching his boy. The Tittle fellow amuses" himself by touching all tbe doss and cats abont the place and the re sult is that they all flee at his approach. TALK OP THE TIMES. Mr. Springer's leadership in the House seems to be recognized only to the extent that he is permitted to make the motions to adjourn. St. Louis Globe-Democrat. In other words, he hns been given the privilege of shutting off some of the windy debates. It is to be hoped that he knows exactly the right time to mako his motions. "Scarcity of water in Chicago" did not scare Democrats a bit. Chicago Inter Ocean. The scarcer the water the better they like it. Ex-President Cleveland's Jeffersonian leaning is based upon good ground. The fishing nt the Jefferson place in Louisiana, where he is now enjoying himself, is said to be the finest In tho world. St. Louis Po3t-l5it-patch. Grover's gone a hunting to get a rabbit's paw, to kill the Hill hurrah. The Mugwumps detest office holding. They accept place merely to keep the spoils men out. Washington Post. Butthev display a hang-on-activenees that is not quite in ac cordance with their professions. One thing is certafn: If there is to be war Chile won't have much of a navy by tho timo we getthrough with her. New York Recorder. No, but she may have a good one by tbe time we are ready to commence. There are two rival projects, both good, for the Improvement of Castle Garden. yew York Worta. Can't someone get up a project to improve the immigrant too? What has become of Gray, of Indiana, as a Democratic Presidental quantity these days? Toledo Blade. His boom has been mired on some of the country roads of his native State. CARNEGIE CONTRADICTED. A Hallrosd Superintendent Says theKoadt Can Carry All His Armor Plate. Xaw York, Jan. 55. Special. In regard to an interview between Secretary Tracy and Andiow Carnegie, at which the latter said that the difficulty in getting armor in sueh quantity as the Department desires is due to tho inability of tho railroads to carry the heavy burdens in the time expected, and not to tho incapacity of the Carnegie plant. General Superintendent Voorhees, of the Now York Central Ballroad, said to-day: "That is strange. We can carry any num ber of plates, or anything else, provided tho weight does not exceed 60.000 pounds, or 30 tons. In case there is an excess of this, spe cial cars havo to be built, and then there would be delay on the part of the railroads, and thev would be to blame for delay in fin ishing tho now monitor Monterey." THE. FARKEE3BUHG L0TTSRY CA8ES Come Up Before the Federal Conrt at New Orleans, and Kail is Given. Niw Oelkans, Jan. 23. This morning the lottery oases were again called up before the United States Court on tho Parkersburg, W. Va., indictment. It will bo remembered that abont a month ago proceedings against the lottery company's officer were sud denly suspendea while tho Indictments were under consideration. This morning the gentlemen appeared be fore Judtre Billings and agreed to give bond for their appearanoe in Parkersburg at the next term of court there. Later in the day all the parties included in the indictment gave bail for thoir appearance. She Is Equal In Some Itcspects. Chicago Time;. Three women were hanged in different, States of this enlightened Union last week. Though woman is denied the ballot, her privileges in some respects are identlcalv nitu buuso ui iuuu. HALF AND HALF. Dirty Street Cars Canse a Decided Change In the Visiting Costumes d Eadies A Gay Basque and a. Dismal Skirt He view of a Day's Erents. It is said that New York dressmakers are becoming agitated over the general dreari ness in which Pittsburg women now insist upon clothing themselves. There was a day when Pittsburgers were the best customers tho metropolitan modiste possessed. They liked nice things, could buy nice things and did buy nice things. But the I had nearly said natural sas, ono gets so accustomed to kick in one direction cable car and electric car system has so threaded the town that private turnouts are almost en tirely gone out of fashion. Even for afternoon affairs street cars have to be pat ronized, and ono knows that street cars do not encourage the wearing of daintily col ored dothc3. Consequently dark or spoiled drosses are de rigeur, and since the first state is preferable to the second, the reign of drab nnd Bad-colored garments has begnn, and tho social world seems to have donned something like widow's weeds for the days that are not, long befoie the present system of transit was born or thought of. 'What remains of former splendor are tho hand some basques; whicn are as pretty as ever, and indeed are becomins even more ciy as the skirt gets the more demur. This state ornffatrs, was particularly noticeable at Miss Tindle's house on Friday afternoon. A great manv young ladies had dropped into the mission tea on tho way home from after noon functions, and nearly every one was observable as wearing a fancy waist with a plain street skirt, ir tho street cars do not improve there will soon be an end to elegant toilettes in Pittsburg excepting amours a very few. One feels disposed to pat Mr. William Stead on tbe shoulder, if he would permit approbation to take so familiar a form, on account of a recent article in the Review of Revieios on "Residential clubs for young men and women." The Review describes both by pen and pencil a Kennington Park mansion in process of building for tho accommoda tion of young men who are living in London, aVay from their families. It is to be got up in a stupendously comfortable plan, and also In a more civilized one, since the bachelor occupants are to be permitted to have visit tbem their female as well as male relatives. After a good bit of warm commendation the article naturally switches offlnto an Inquiry con cerning tho unsatisfied needs of young women. Some of it is worth quoting: "Gi"ls need snch clubs far more than men. The solitude that oppresses the young man is absolutely nothing compared with tho lone liness which a yonng girl feels in London or New York, when she has no friends nor home. We would not go across the street to help establish a residential clnb for young men if its promoters were not pledged to follow It up at once by establishing a similar institution for yonng women. There are some homes for women but they are strangled by absurd rules. It is absurd to say "that young men may come in at any hour of the night, but that young women must be at home at 11 o'clock, or be fined if they stay out after that time. If she cannot be trusted with a latch key neither can he. "The ordinary objection." the article con cludes, "of Mrs. Grundy, that if yoanc men and young women are allowed to mix in common rooms there will bo no end of love making, flirtation and the like, may bo ad mitted. Thcro will be, no d'mht, a great deal of flirtation and lovcnnking. It would be a sonr world In which there was nothing of that kind of thing." Wilt not the readers ofthLs confess that these are capital days for tho sex- When shocancarrva latch key, without losing any of hermodesty: when she can keep late, necessary hours without having her decency questioned. A GOOD story, and, at the same time, a true one, is told about the hop at the Ken mawron Saturday evening. By some mis hap, which is not a pun, the misse wero sadly deficient in number and the wall flowers in consequence were all of the gen tlemin species. Every youns lady was beset with admirers and everyone drank that cup of happiness, to be a successful belle, to its very sweetest dregs. Fortunate ly the gentlemen belnz trained to that stoical calmne33 and indifference bloomed so gorgeously along the walls of the hall room that one was almost converted into imagining that to be a wall flower was to be a very fine flower Indeed, The golden wedding of 3Ir. and Mrs. F. W. HoIIenbeck. of the Southside. was spent agreeably at their home last night. The innes3 of the hostess debarred all othexs from participating excepting members of the familv and connections, a state of things which was regretted both a to the canse and consequence. Mr. and Mrs. Hollenbeck are well known among the Ger man residents of Pittsburg; thev are the parents of Mrs. C. Bayer anil Mrs. Daniel Goetz, the wife of Mr.Gootz of the clerical force of tho Duquesne Club. SoclaI,Cliattrr. Rev. Dr. noDQES, rector of Calvary Epis copal Church, lectured last night on "Life in a Medieval Monastery," under the auspices of tne East Liberty branch of tho Young Men's Christian Association, of Pittsburc. As Dr. Hodges cannot be other than inter esting, it is almost .snperfluons to say that the audience listened with most marked at tention. The fourth and last but one of the series of Mondav evening dnnces was given last night at the Pittsburg Club Theater. The patronesses were not larzely represented, some havins been forced to withdraw on account of mourning, but the dance was an exceedingly enjoyable one. Mrs. T. Lathkop, a noted temperance speaker, has been engaged by the Women's Christian Temperance Union of Wilklns burgto dellvtr two lectures in that town next Saturday and Sunday evenings. The Women's Press Clnb will servo mid night luncheon to tbe editorial and rcpor torial staffs of the morning papers to-night at the Fli st Methodist Protestant Church on Fifth avenue. Wedxesdat will bring with it the usual fortnightly evening entertainment of the Unitarian Church of Pittsburg, at Its place of worship in the old University building. Miss SnzKLOCK. of Cincinnati, who is vlslt innMrs. J. M. Schoonmaker. Is being made tho recipient of many social affairs in Pitts burg. The Chautauqua Circle of Wilklnhurg trOB entertained last night by Mr. S. K. Wills, of Penn avenue, with music and readings. The Epworth League of tho Wilklnsburg M. E. Church will entertain its friends this evening in Balston's Hall. FAST ELECTRICAL TRAINS. They Will Be Banning From St. Louis to Chicago in a Short Time. St. Louis, Jan. 25. A company has jnst been incorporated in Springfield, lib, for tho purpose" of building an electric road from here to Chlcazo. Among those inter ested are Governor Francis, Congressman S. W. Cobb, John W. Harrison, I. G. VT. Stead man, Web M. Samuel. E. s. Rowee, William H. Thompson, President of the Bank of Commerce; Dr. Wellington Adams, tbe in ventor ot tho first successful electric motor, an d John P. Kaiser. They represent several million dollars. The company proposes to build a double track road, as straight as an arrow, without a curve to it. On this road it is proposed to run electric cars, which will travel at the rate of 100 miles an hour, making the distance in two and one-half hours, instead of eight as now. The power station will be at Clinton, 111., whore the company will operate its own coal mine for fuel, using electric drills Tor mining ma chinery. In time, the entire line is expected to be come a boulevard, the farmers' houses standing on city lota, while behind them will stretch the wheat fields. The houses will be lighted and heated bv electricity and the reapers, mowcre and threshers will be driven by chained lhihtning. An clcctrio block system will be operated and the track will be automatically illuminated a mile ahead and a mile behind each car. Trains -which are on the same section will have tel ephone connection and communication may be had whether the trains are moving or standing still. A WOMAN'S LAST Q00D TIME: She Drinks a Gallon of Cider and a Lot of Alcohol and Then Dies. YoaKETis, N. Y., Jan. 25. SpeciaL This morning Lizzie Shiler, a domestic employed In the family of A. Radtke.Hving near Tuck aboe, drank four quarts of hard cider and a pint ahd a half ot alcohol from nn alcohol stove. Sho then went on a rampage, and Mr. Radtke, to prevent the entire destruc tion of his household f nrnlture, paid her her -wages and sent her to the railroad station in charge of the coachman. There she refused to get out, and the coachman deoldcd to drive her to the police station in Yonkers. When he arrived there the woman was found to bo dead. Coroner Mitchell held an luquist. CURIOUS CONDENSATIONS. The value of rolling stock iu the Unite States is $1,500,000,000. Tbe great Hemet dam at San Jacintc Cal., Is the largest dam In the world. Washington has 466 sawmills with daily cutting capacity ors.42LOOO feet. Between 1590 and 1680 3,400 wome were burned in Scotland for witchcraft. Tbe "Philosopher's Stone" was a sut stance which theanclentalchemists though wonld change all baser metals to pare gold The highest railway in the world is thi newAlplne road called the-BrenzIerRothorr balm. It is 7,835 feet high at tbosumml nnd is 223 feet higher than the Pilatus rail way. Coral was made use of by the Roman as a protection against the evil eye, and por ular superstition had credited the topa with the power of depriving boiling wate of its heat. Brass wire for brushes used by silver smiths and jewelers can be drawn to : 3-110 of an inch the diameter of a hai-. Th holes in watch jewols are from 5-lft)0 ti 12-1000 of an inch. . . Chloride of nitrogen is the most wonder fnl, as well as the most powerful, explosin known. For 77 years, from 1811 to 1SE. thi secret of the composition of this terrlblo ex plosive was a mystery. A Japanese gentleman puts a box oat sldo his door on New Year's Day, with this inscription: "To visitors I am out. 1 wist you a happy New Year. N. B Please pn yonr presents Into the box." San Diego bay is 13 miles long, with an available anchorage of six square miles The total area of the bay Is 21 square miles the rise and fall of the tide is five feet, and the depth of water over the bar at low tide is 23 feet. Leap year has always been regarded with awe RDd superstition by the people o all countries. The peasantry of England affirm that pease and beans grow the wrons way In their pods that Is, the seeds nro so contrary to the way they are in ordlnar; years. The speed of the camel when on a jour ney 'Of considerable length rarely exceed; three miles an hour, and tho swiftest drome daries are rarely known to go faster than a ten mile sait, but this can be kept up for 2C hours in the day and for six or seven days at a time, "When a little Patagonian is taken with any of the long catalogue of infantile d!s cases, which are equally as rampant in the wilds of the Antipodes as thevaro among the embryo Presidents and millionaires ol the United States, a "devil exterminator" Is sent for post-haste. The most remarkable set of spoons in Missouri are owned in Richmond. They were made out of Mexican dollars by a tin ner named Kaiser, the first of hi trade in Fnlton. who also made tho first tin lamp In Callaway county. The spoons, after 50 years of use, are in excellent preservation. The burrows which fiddler crabs live in are nearly or quite vertical holes for a foot or more In depth, after which they take a horizontal turn, each ending in a chamber where the occupant stays most of tho time when not looking about for food. These queer crustaceans are vegetable feeder. It is a curious fact, and one scarcely known outside of Russia (and tnere hardly ever mentlonod), that the famons Orloffdia mond was once tho right eye of the great idol Serringham in the Temple of Brahma. This precious gem was stolen at abont the beginning of tbe eighteenth century by a French soldier. Everyone knows that it is not safe to eat many peach kernels on account of the larco percentage which they contain of that most deadly of poisons, prussic acid. Al monds also contain prussic acid, but tho good kinds have been cultivated so as to make tho percentage of the poison as small as possible and their shells as thin as may be. The colors of flowers have been shown by the researches of Sprengel, Fritz, Her mann, Millor, Darwin, Lubbock and Wal lace to be necessary (or, rather, to have be come necessary) for the attraction of ccr tain species of insects by which the pollen mav be transferred from the stamens of one I flower to tho pistils of another and cross- fertilization effected. Two kinds of boring sea snails supplied in ancient timosthemost famous of all dyes, known as Tyrian purple, whieh was consid ered too SDlendid to be worn by any but kings and nobles. One pound ofwool dyed with It was worth $173, the process by which It was extracted being very tedious, and six pounds of dyo liquor beins required for staining a pound or wool. Many tribes of Indians, even at the present day, bury their dead in hollow io:, which are made to serve as coffins, instead of putting them underground. Sometimes trees are split for this purpose and the two halves are hollowed out to receive tho body. It Is known that tho ancient peoplo of Den mark were accustomed to employ hollow logs in like manner for mortuary purposes. Prof. Brasdon, of Laselle Seminary, is authority for theso facts: Since the opening of the seminary In September up to date 42 j ounc women have gained 9 pounds or over: 3, 11 each: 2. 16: 1, 13; 1. 20; L 22. and tho record breaker has gained 23 pounds in a little over tour months. Tho featherweight of them all weUihsSl pounds, the hcavlestplnmp 1G7. and thoy are the healthiest set of girls in all New England. A most extraordinary guard takes up its quarters inside the Bank of England every evening at 7 o'clock all the year round, remaining there until 7 o'cloolc the next morning. Itls an officer's guard, and con sists of a drummer, two sergeants nnd 30 men. all well armed. Each man receives shilling from the bank authorities immedi ately npon his arrival, a .reant's share be ing two shillings. Tho ofllcer is allowed a. suppor for two and three bottles of wine,and Is permitted to invite a friend if he sees fit to no so. In some of the Malay Islands, the cocoa nut is obtained in a curious manner. An enormous crab is found there that lives on the fruit, climbing the trees and tearing the nuts off, either hurling them down, or break ing them bv tearing off the husk and then beating them against the rocks with Its huge claws. The husk that the crabs take from the fruit they carry to their holes at tho foot of the trees and make a bed of it; and, knowing this, tho Malays visit and rob the crabs once or twice a year, using the busks to weave into mats. BLITHESOME TBIFLE3. Adolphus I want you to know, Ethel, that my fitter 1j well disposed toward me, and will certainly (five me a good send-off. Ethel That's Just what pa has given every soltor of ralno that tie's found here after 10 r. Jl. Boston Courier. "When vapors rise and never pause, Andmicrobes gather everywhere. In minor sighs the breeze because It is a melancholy air. Wat lit nston Star. "What would yon doif Igave youalittla kitten?" asVed Tommy's neighbor, "NothtnV replied Tommy: we've already got. six at home." Harper's Yinmj People. De Smythe (at the boarding house) I ordered dinner an hour ago. and no sign of It ret. I wooderwhat time it will be when I hare swal lowed It? BJones (old boarder) Not so very late. You see. you make up for the length of the wait by the short ness of tbe tax. Judge. It did not take him long to think, Because full well he knew It was a waste of time to drink. And waste of money, too. With kindling eye and knitted brow He manfully snore olf The little that he's taking now Isjusttocurehlscougb. Seio Tort Press. Mr, n -Rnllinn v.irelTm. I don't alto gether like that yonng Snooper. I"Ih be dlda't : i -. M..1 nv w-njctlnns? come aero so oiien. niwncui ck , Miss De BulUon-I think he has. He says pP rating In BmdstrecCt Is Al.-CAtoJ TWAiw. i Customer So you have discharged the new man? HewasaroodshaTer. Barber-Yes; ho handled the wor wllh consider ate flnesse. but bis shampoo rubs lacked technique. -Puclc.- "What shall I write, what shall it be, A rondeau or sonnet?" "I pray thee, wrlto a check." said she. To pay for my new bonnet." ,. Washington Slnr. Japeth Mildred, will voube my -wife? Mildred Well, not to-day. Japth-On. Mildred, how can yoo, speak so IllppanUy? --yif . , Mirdred-Fllppantly? Haw do yousoopoHJ eould poistbly he your wife to-dsy? I should w.ni at least two weeks to get ready la.-j!' ' ta '" ' ,V 1- is 'v'V ""H9"' ;---, "- a 'r ' . - tk Ffa' mi t " jr
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers