je B$rafrj.
ESTABLISHED FEBRUARY, 8,
1846
Vol. 47. No 40. Entered at Pittsburg Postoffice
November, 18S7. as second-class matter.
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riTTsBURi:. riUDAT. MARCH 18.
TWELyE PAGES
TOO KADICiE roil THE SENATE.
Elsewhere v. ,11 be found an account of
the bill which is so far the crowning effort
of Senator Peffer's political life. Its
thirty-nine articles are little likely to pass
into law, and their particulars, or even the
remaikabiy comprehensive title of the
measure, are too long for repetition here.
The immense revenue which would be ob
tained if Senator Peffer's suggestions
became law, and the useful purposes
to which he proposes to put it,
together with the minority of the persons
who would hae to pay the amounts, make
itery probable that the measure would
be carried by acclamation if it were put
to the direct ote of the nation. Fortu-
nately for the ow ners of millions and for
those who do not believe that the accumu
lation of wealth should be discriminated
against by taxation, laws cannot be en
acted b any such crude method.
Slight as is Peffer's chance of success in
this niattei, there are principles in the bill
which will at least provide food for
thought. There is no doubt that the ac
cumulation of ast wealth in the hands of
aeomparalhe few is in many respects a
dancer to our social life inseeral d'rec
tions. The rates of taxation suggested
are not such as to seriously hamper or re
tard private enterprise, and are no more
than could well be afforded by those who
woald have to paj them.
On the whole, there is much in the bill
which is in keeping with the growing ten
dencies of the age, and there is a proba
bility that modifications of many of its
features will be adopted at no very distant
time. Tlie Senate is not a body likely to
be specially gentle with a measure aimed
at the pockets of the millionaire, but the
treatment of the bill will be watched with
ii.terest. Peffer will no doubt be ridi
culed for his audacity, and love for him
will not grow among the wealthy, but it is
likely that the time will come when he
will be looked back to and pointed out as
the pioneer in a new legion of revenue.
A TttOEDCED SWORD.
The Quixotic raid ou the newsdealers hy
the few people of the Lw and Order So
ciety ami their agents winch is as prac
tical and as likely of success as the Knight
of La Mancha's tilt with the wind-mi!! 1
has now gotten the length of the indict- j
meut of the Societj 's Agent for perjury
Tins is a sort of re erse profession. The
true bill yesterday returned by the Grand
Jury will develop duiing its trial whether
the newsdealers hae any rights at all
wlixh the L. and O. agent and the L. and
O. Alderman are bound to lespect; or
whether it is the thing to swear them
guilty and fine them anjhow no matter
w hether they sell or not
There has been a delightful summari
r.ess about many of these L. and O. pro
ceedings so far The newsdealers have
not been hurt as up to date they have not
been obliged to pay a penny of fine or
costs; both the Sunday and Monday
editions of the newspapers issue, of
course, as usual only with larger circula
tion than ever; and the L. and O. peop'e
hae had congenial pasnme in watching
the wheels of Alderman Robe's justice
mill spin round and round as new victims
were hauled up.
That has been fine fun but it looks as
if it is alout to be discovered that the Law
is a dangerous plaj tiling a two-edced
sv.ord and it remains to be seen whether
those who invoked it have not already got
hold cf the sharper edge.
ivn nAvr: the material
Secretary Tracy's suggestion that Pitts
burg should have the building of a gun
boat is a good one. We have here the
necessary material, and the building of
one boat would probably be the first step
in the establishment of a large industry of
the kind. Whether weget the boat or not,
we have thcarnibrto supply and we lead
in the quality turned out With a con
tinuance of the efforts mada to push the
production of armor plates as rapidly as
possible, Pittsburg's importance to the
naiy cannot but increase, and as its im
portance grows its usefulness will be more
and more recognized by the receipt of
fresh orders. Whether we make the
boats in toto cr only their defensive cover
ing, our supremacy in iron and steel mak
ing insures us an important share in the
manufactures necessary for the growing
navj.
ROOM TOR SIORK PHILANTHROPIST.
However much people may differ as to
the question of teetotahsra and temper
ance, no one can deny that Lady Henry
Somerset's life is actuated by a noble de
votion to the interests of her less fortu
nately situated fellow 1 emgs. She stands
foith as one who -makes her life effort the
improvement of the lot of the masses, and
one whose greatest happiness is obtained
by working for others in a spirit of self
forgetful ness.
We have need of more such women, and
of men of like kind. The mere giving of
alms, large or small, and for whatever
purpose, is an insignificant virtue as com
pared with painstaking effort to thoroughly
understand the lives of the wretched in
order to make thera brighter and happier.
Hundreds of women to-day, and men
too, blessed with health and wealth,
find their lives empty for want of ideals
to strive after. There is no higher ideal
lor any life than the improvement of the
conditions which occupy every moment of
the existence of the immense numbers of
those who live from hand to mouth, or
starve.
Poverty is a matter of degree, and there
are 111 Pittsburg thousands who suffer
from a poverty which does not necessarily
imply scarcity of food, clothing or roofing,
hut which does necessitate a devotion to
labor which leaves far too little time, and
often none at all, for any kind of culture
or recreation. We want more people to
study these things here and we want such
an institution's Toynbee Hall in London,
or Andover House in Boston, which offers
opportunities for the association of classes
which can meet in no othT way and
which at the same time is itself a factor in
the solution of the problem.
LESS PERVERSION WANTED.
Mr. Bryan, of Nebraska, made a great
hit in the nouse Wednesday by the force
of his oratorical abilities, and an unusual
capacity to show even an appearance of
logic in a long-continued speech against
the tariff. The Value of the gentleman's
logic may he vyell gauged by an examina
tion of the best of the illustrations which
formed a feature of his speech. He said
the protection theory reminded him of his
days on flie farm, when they used to raise
sunken corners of fences by putting a
beam under the corner, placing a chuck in
the middle and then bearing down on the
other end. It raised the fence, but the
burden was felt somewhere. The Pro
tectionist, he said, took hold of an infant
industry, then looked around for a good
fat lot of consumers to servo as a chuck.
"Up went the infant industry, but down
went the consumers," said Mr. Bryan, and
his colleaeues applauded.
If this illustration were given in good
faith, Mr. Bryan's lack of perspicuity is to
blame for the perversion of a good meta
phor. Anyone with a vision which ena-
bles him to see things as they are-will
realize that only one alteration in the
simile is necessary to make it truthful.
But the alteration is an important one,
and simply consists iu a substitution of
foreign manufacturers for the consumers
which Mr. Bryan described as the chuck
for the Protectionist lever.
Our industries are raised by the lever of
protection in the firm grip of statesman
ship and by the power of public opinion
working on the fulcrum of foreign manu
facturers. The result is that our indus
tries are placed out of danger and within
the reach of our people, whde foreign
competition is simultaneously crushed out
of existence. A little more truthfulness
would abolish most of the free trader's
specious arguments, and save him the
trouble of a useless endeavor to hoodwink
the people as to the direction in which
their interests lie.
ONE THING OR THE OTHER.
Laws laxlv administered are worse than
useless. The statutes should either be
rigidly executed or repealed. The preser
vation of capital punishment as a deter
rent measure, side by side with a system
which makes it a mere harmless scare
crow, is not calculated to add to the dig
nity of constituted authority, but rather
to bring It into general contempt.
It is doubtful whether murdeiers weigh
the possible results of crime before com
mitting it, and it is impossible to say just
how far the number of murders is related
to the frequency of pardons and the 'raiity
of death penalties. But the sentences of
the courts should be carried to a logical
conclusion.
We are to have another trial for murder,
the outcome of a brutal tragedy last even
ing. The probability is that it will result
in a conviction, and it is certdm that a
conviction should be followed by an execu
tion. We belief e that capital punishment
is.a necessity, but its legal abolition would
be better than its retention in theory and
its evasion in practice.
ST. PATRICK'S DAI CELEBR TION.
Notwithstanding wind and weather
both adverse as is not unusual on St.
Patrick's Dav the anniversary of Ire-
land's patron Saint was celebrated with
spirit in Pittsburg. The falling snow cov-
ered the processionists, hut it did not ob
scure the "Sun-burst," which is the na
tional emblem, een if it did hide old Sol in
the heavens.
Whatever the qutcome of the struggle of
the Irish people for independent existence
as a nation, there is a fine sentiment in
their devofon always to the memories of
then native land. This attachment may
be all the more admired from the fact that
it in no wise impairs the enthusiasm and
practical allegiance of the Irish immigrant
for the country of his adoption. The spirit
which responds to tender recollections of
whatever is best in the old country is suie
to develop similar fidelity to the new.
NO CAUSE FOR TEAR.
Irrigation has an immense future in this
country. It has already made vast prog
ress, but the fields yet undeveloped are so
immense as to almost eclipse the area
already under its influence. We have
600,000,000 acies in the United States
absolutely useless for purposes of cultiva
t'on without recourse to irrigation. For
all kinds of grain, and for potatoes, the
yield is higher for land under irrigation
than for that dependent on rainfall, while
still greater advantages are obtained by
the artificial process where fruit is culti
vated. The success obtained hitherto has
been so great as to warrant the assumption
that the system will increase""in favor and
gradually embrace the whole area open to
Us usefulness.
In a recent article upon this subject the
Philadelphia Press concludes with the
following warning: "It is generally
omitted, or altogether forgotten, however,
in urging irrigation that there is no land
on earth in which irrigation has been long
practiced which is not cursed with fever
and ague. This has not yet begun to
affect all Western irrigated lands. It has
tome. Malaria and ague are sure in time
to appear in all of them."
There appears to be little foundation
for these fears. There is no reason why
irrigation should be the cause of fever and
ague, though it may occasionally be ac
companied thereby. As a rule, irrigation
may be expected to lessen the danger of
these diseases, since ill-drained land and
uncultivated tracts are certainly most
often ravaged by them, while the object of
irrigation is perpetual tillage and a neces
sity for its success is careful drainage.
The only danger of such diseases from
irrigation woulU arise from the initial
steps, since the first disturbance of virgin
soil is always attended with risk. Cali
fornia, Idaho, Colorado, Nevada, Arizona,
Utah and New Mexico, the most irrigated
portions of this country, are not usually
associated with thoughts of malarial sick
ness. The fact that parts of California have
been under irrigation 'lor a quarter of a
century with no concomitant of fever or
ague argues against the baseless theory
quoted above. In this, as in other matters,
care should be taken to avoid the mistake
of assuming as cause and effect what is
merely a coincidence. On the whole.there
is much cause for congratulation on the
progress which irrigation has made al
ready, hope for its spread in the future,
and no reason to fear that its effect will be
deleterious to the health of the com.
munity.
The cablegram sent from St Petersburg
by the Committee of American Citizens
should cause renewed efforts hero to al
leviate more of the distress. Vast supplies
must bo necessary when twenty million
people are in danger of death flora starva
tion. Secretary Foster denies having used a
slangy and vulgar epithet in speaking: of
the emigration from Ireland. It is very
well that the Secretary has taken tne trouble
to repudiate the interview wbicli repre
sented him as speaking coarsely of the Irish
peoplo. The latter are not hurt by adjectives
which originate in the gutter, and which
only evidence the coarseness nnd low man
ners of such as use them. But no public
man of the slightest pretensions to consid
eration could afford to test underthechaige
of insulting a race by coarse epithets. Sec
retary Foster has done well iu denying the
report publicly.
Some interest has been shown in the
marriage 'of a Gorman gitl to a Chinese
lanndiytnan at Newark, N. J. The most re
mai kable feature of the affair is that the
accounts all stato that a 'married woman
acted as bridesmaid.
The wily Chinaman has discovered that
be can become a citizen of Mexico with
very little trouble, and by doing so he will
probabiy seek to enter our country, no
longer as an Oriental but as a Mexican.
This discoveiy is likely to give us a good
deal ot trouble. The only pleasant feature
of the master is the compliment oonveed
to our Institutions by the amount of tronble
to which some folk will put themselves in
order to become beneficiaries thereof.
SrPPOKrEBS. of all three candidates in
the Texas Senatorial contest aio so hopeful
that it is e ident ono or other faction has to
leurn the s id truth, 'Blessed is he that ox
pecteth not, forhoshull not be disappointed.
The execution of two poachers in Eng
land, as the result of the fatal termination
of their struggle w ith ::ame-keepei-.,is likely
once more to prove that the surest -way to
cause the repeal of obnoxious 1 iws is toen
foicethem.1 SecieUry Matthews, by le'f us
ing to exercise his pom er ot pardon, has un
intentionally dono much toward the aboli
tion of the game law s.
Salisbury mav postpone the dissolu
tion of his Parliament as long as he can, but
he lias already delayed enough in answering
the questions addressed to Him with regard
to Bering Sea. ,
From the leugth of time taken in coming
to a decision of any kind with regaid to the
Collectorshlp, no great haste need be ex
pected in the confirmation of Miller's ap
pointment. It does not matter that speed
would be a com onioned for Mr. Miller and
the public alike. It is the intcicst of the
politicians which lias to bo consulted in
such matters.
Kow that Italy has determined to send
us another Minister, it only lemains to recall
F.gan finiu Chile and the h.iimony of our
diplomatic relations will bu completely re
stored. It would strike an impartial observer
that leading society women could raise
money for charities by a littlo solf-deniala
good deal more easily than by masquerading
as itinerant musicians, shoe-blacks, or pop
coin merchants. But in Michigan l hoy
piefer the entcttamment and excitement of
obtaining money f 10111 othci folk.
Caxadian Tories might just about as well
try toiirjmo our trado by any commciclal
measures they can adopt, as mihtn school
bo try to kill an elephant with a pen
knife Considerable astonishment has been
expressed at tho setious nature of the duel
in which tho Mai quia de Moies was the
victoi. Thomattci iseasilyexplilned when
it is remembered tint the Maiquis has a
record for having "pinked" tin eo con boys
and killed another during his &sidcnce in
Dakota.
Chestnut coal has already advanced in
price as the result of the Heading deal. It Is
a chestnut to lemaik that tnis is but the be
ginning of higher latcs lor the consumers.
The accounts of brutal treatment at the
Huntingdon Refoiniatory, given by the bovs
recently released, aie such as to demand a
thoiongh investigation. Such treatment is
best calculated to either kill the boys or
ciushany good there may be in them, and
turn out confirmed criminals.
Schneider's brutality was phenomenal,
e en in the annals of murderers, and it ap
pears that Austria is equally remarkable for
the barbaiity of its method of execution.
It is just about time that New Orleans
should take some step tow aid the construc
tion of a proper sewerage sstum. It is
baldly to the credit of the Crescent City
that, even now, the matter is to be taken in
lnnd bj- private enteipiise instead of by the
municipal authorities.
It is well that Secretary Foster's health
has been impioved. But it is unfortunate
that a black eye should have resulted from
being on the Spree.
Hilt, has at least the courage of his
convictions when he says: 'I have no
pitience with that sot of men who are con
stantly speaking of non-pai tisanship." He
is the result of those pattisin methods
which are utteily unworthy of suppoit from
thoughtful citizens.
Few nnd very far between are the visible
signs of spring in the vegetable world, but
the streets were resplendent with green j es
terday. IP some of the Presidental aspirants
would adopt the tactics of absentee legisla
tors, and make arrangements to pilr off,
they would sa themselves tumble and
disappointment and leave the Held clearer
for contestants who are piepared to make a
leal fight.
PEETISnXT PERSONALITIES.
Dr. Mott Ssiith, the new Minister from
Hawaii, was presented to the President
yesteiday.
Atlanta is preparing to welcome-Gen.
Dan Sickles with all the piovcibial couitesy
or "southern hospitality."
Secretary Elkixs left Washington
yesterday afternoon lor Xcw Yoik, wneie ho
expects to remain till next Tuesday.
Jt is very true, as a contemporary asserts,
that Dana Gibson, the aitist, is a great
favonto of young women, but It is also truo
that tho young women have not yet spoiled
him.
Senor QCESADA,the Argentine Minister,
wUl soon leave the United States for his
native country, having been recalled by
reason of a change in tho Cabinet of the
Republic.
The Pope, who is 82, wears spectacles
only w hen reading; foi ordinary uses his
ej esight remains good. He could see better
at 70 than he could at 20, lor when young lie
was very near-suhted.
Dr. Ai.drew Wilson-, the well-known
scientist and man of lctteis.livesavery busy
life, lecturing, writing and editing a medical
Journal to boot. Ills home is In Edinburgh,
but he is constantly in London.
Emi'eror William has recovered
sufficiently Irom his indisposition to allow of
his again leaving the palace. In company
w 1th the Empress he went for a drive yester
day afternoon in a closed carriage.
Nicholas Mullek, whom Governor
riower appointed to succeed John
A. Nichols as Quarantine Commissioner,
is fat, rioh and good-natured. He made a
fortune in shipping lmmigfants to the West
on the Erie Railroad.
Whex Alfred C. Chapin was a student at
Williams College he belonged to the Greek
letter society of which Francis Lynde Stet
son was an older member, and it wns lucky
that he did, for it uas through Stetson's
efforts that Chapin was fllst made Speaker
of the Assembly.
AFFAIRS OF STATE.
Proposed Public Discussion of the Silver
Question Barter, or Ohio, to Talk for
the Antl-BIandltes Prospects of An
other Test of the McKlnley l4w An
Investigation for Boston.
Washington, March 17. The sugges
tion, originally made as a Joke, that Mr. Har
ter, or Ohio, and Mr. Bland, of Missouri,
leaders of the two extremes of the silver
question, should be brought together and
allow ed to discuss the matter to a finish, has
taken a practical form,, organizations in
both Philadelphia and New York having
proposed a Joint debate between the two
gentlemen 011 the silver question. Several
days ago a representative of one of tho com
mercial organizations of Philadelphia said
to Messrs. Bland and Harter that they pro
posed having a Joint debate, with the silver
question as the topic, nnd asked them If
they would consent to champion their re
spective doctrines. Mr. Bland's health has
been very poor for some time, keep
ing him away from, the House a num
ber of days lately, and while agiee
ing with the suggestion for a Joint
debate, he asked to be personally excused,
and suggested Representative Bartine,
ot Nevada, as a member well qualified to
represent the views of the free coinage men.
Mi. Harter said he was willing to be one of
the debaters, and suggested to Mr. Bartine
Hint thereto two men on each side. Mr.
Bartine did not concur in this suggestion,
saying it would not enable any one of tho
debaters to do himself Justice. Since then a
labor organization iu New York has w ritten
here, also suggesting a Joint silver debate,
and proposing Cooper Instituto as the place.
J. ne pm pose as to liavn the ueuaie nue
Slace in advance of action on the silver bill
V the House, but Mr. Bartine said it would
not be cnn ement for Mm to leave Washing
ton 1111 til alter the special order of the House
foi next week is disposed of. Accordingly,
it waspioposed that the debate tako plate
arter action in the House, and prior to action
in the Senate on the Bland bill. No conclu
sion has been leached, butit is quite prob
able that a Joint debate -will be ai ranged be
tween the friends and opponents of free
coinage.
An investigation will shortly be begun
by a sub-commltteo of tho Homo Judlciaiy
Committee into charges that the clerks' of
fices in Boston, or both tho Dlstrlot and Cir
cuit Courts of tho United states, are be
ing used to make all tho money possible out
of them, and that the court offlceis are en
gaged in lee-mukmg practices. It is charged
that exoibitant fees are being exacted, and
that naturalizations are being proceeded
with solely in order to Increase the emolu
ments of offices. Attorney General Miller
vesterday represented to Representative
Cnlbeifon, Chairman of the House Judl
ciaiy Committee, the condition of affairs al
leged to prevail in tho Boston Courts, and
asked that the matter be investigated. This
morning, at the meeting of the committee,
Chairman Culberson appointed Messrs.
Wolveuon, of Pennsvlvania, Layton, of
Ohio, and Brodotick, of'KansHs, a subcom
mittee to make the investigation.
TnE JTvenina Star has this: "It ispossiblc
that the President's proclamation leimpos
ing duties on ceitnin Imports from Vene
zuela, Hayti, and,Coloinbla will lead again
to a test of the validity of the leclpiocity
clause in the McKinloy bill. Tho proclama
tion opens the way for the direct question
to bo bioudit before tho court, and it will be
tho policy of those w ho nro interested in dis
ci cc.iting tho McKinlev not to avail them
selves ot tho opportunity." Speaking ot the
proclamation to-day, Representative Turner.
of Georgia, the lawor meinbet of tho Wavs
and Means Committee, said: "The restora
tion orduties on co'fec and other commodi
ties tioin Venezuela, IIati and Colombia
will greatly disturb our trade with these
count! ies, and will operate, a great
liaidshin upon Ameiicans engaged in Phut
trade. The question of tlio constitutionality
ot the law under which tho pioclamation is
issued may be test-d in the courts The
question presented would be very different
Horn that lecentlj decided by tho Supreme
(.ourt. The claim set up 111 this recent case
was that the whole bill was rendered in
valid bv the presence of this clause in the
bill, but the validity of the clause itself was
not tested. Von, any importer impoitiug
coffee fi 0111 Venezuela, and being required
to pay duty on the liupoit, may contest tho
validity ot this levy or duty imposed merely
bv an Executive pioclamation, and not ap
plicable to similar impoi ts from other conn
tiles. He may tiko tho matter into tlio
courts and cany it up to the Supremo
Court, and get a decision upon the direct
question of the right oi Congress to delegate
a law -making power to the President."
The Attorney Genqral' has received the
resignations or W illian- Grant, United
States Attoinev lor the Eastern district of
Lonislann, and Georce A. Knight, United
States Matshal for tho Noithein distiict of
Texas.
An effort will be made to-morrow to
sccuio the passage in the House of another
anti-Chinese bill, more restrictive in Jts pre
visions than any of the measures now on the
statute book. This is tbe Geaiy bill, re
ported by the House Committee on Foreign
Affairs. This measure seeks to keep out
practically all Chinese merchants and pro
fessional men as well us laborers. Diplo
mat'c representatives and their retinue of
servants, and a few others .who may be
permitted under licenso to travel in this
country and to exhioit Chinese productions,
aie the only persons who, under the terms of
the bill, are to bo peimittedto enter the
United States. The bill proposes to exclude
hereafter thoso Chinamen now residents of
tho United States ho leave and then ask to
ictnm. Tliore is a minority or the commit
tee opposed tothn passage of tho measure,
as iu contravention of existing treaty stipu
lations, hut it is bolloved that a vote can
be soon secured.
In a long list of nominations sent by the
President to the Senato to-day are tho fol
lowing postmasters for Pennsylvania: Will
lam F. Bii?gs, Honcsdale; Jonathan X.
Langhnm, Indiana; William H. Bpsserman,
Xcnpoit: A-aph S. Light, Lebinon: Hiram
Young. York. For Ohio: Isiae X. Evelith,
2sational Mllitaiy Home: Henry G. White,
Millersburg.
Secretary Tracy would like to see the
building of ono or two battlo ships author
ized, aud especially ten torpedo boats and a
few small gunboats 0; from 800 to 1,009 tons
each. The toipedo boats would not cost
more than $100,000 each, or S1,000,C00 in all,
and the gunboats would not cost Inore than
$300,01.0 each. Tho torpedo boats, the Secie-
taiy believes, could bo built at a variety of
points .Hon,; the Mississippi river and its
tributaries, and some of them could be built
on tho lakes if the treaty with G1e.1t liutain
permitted. He thinks "the distiibntion of
the building of three boats among different
American manutactuicis would bo bene
ficial to the iion nnd steel industries, and
would enconiage study of the shipbuilding
art at the leading potts on the coast and oil
the rivers. A boat apiece he thinks, might
peihaps be assigned to Pittsburg, Cincin
nati, St. Louis and Dubuque.
Senator Platt to-day introduced a
Joint resolution for the appointment of a
commissioner Irom tbe District of Columbia,
to act w ith commissionci s appointed by the
several States, to secure uniformity of-the
laws of mariidgo and divoice, insolvency,
etc. This course was recommended by the
Ameiicun Bar Association.
"It is very likely," said Attorney Gen
eril Miller, talking to a gentleman who
had asked him if it was time that tho De
p irtment of Justice was so earnest after the
Chicago beef combine that tho members
have found it necessary or expedient to
burn their books. "We are endeavoiing to
execute the anti-trust law, and wherever a
concern is lound that offeis investigation
it is pursued to the best ot our ability. As
soon as the bill became a law I sent uciicu
lar lcttct to all United States District Attoi
neys, calling attention to its provisions and
1 requesting reports fiom them as to the ex
istence 01 any organization witnin tneir
Jurisdiction which was in violation of the
law. A special examiner, Mr. Whaiton, was
detailed toi the work, to assist the District
Attorneys, and he has been spending his
time wherever the best results were prom
ised. I should not wonder if he had touud
something of interest out in Chicago."
In the matter of the application of the
State of California for the certification of
certain lauds iu the vicinity of Lake Tulare
as swamp land, the Secretary of the Interior
to-day denied the application, holding that
at the date of the swamp land grant, in lb50,
the lands in question formed a part of the
bed ot the lUKe.aud hence were not Included
In the lauds grunted. He holds, further.thnt
while the Surveyor General had beon made
the tiibunal toueteimine what lands weie
swamp at the date of the grant, his Jurisdic
tion was confined to lands that actually ex
isted as such at the date of the grant, nnd
therefore his approval of the plats of suivey
in this case can nave no binding force on the
department,
A cablegram was received to-day by
the Bureau of American Republics, from
Mr. Kimberly, the United States Consul at
Guatemala, contradicting the published
rumors of revolutionary movements in that
country, and announcing that General
Heina Barrios was inaugurated to-day with
much ceieraony, and that tho country was
in perfect' peace.
Acting Secbetaey Kettletoh,i to
dav instructed collectors of customs to the
effect that under the President's proclama
tion of the 15th instant, suspending the free
11st in tne case or certain products or Vene
zuela, Colombia and Haiti, dntles will at
tach to all such articles shipped from those
countries on and after the 15th instant, to
ports In the United States. This ruling: is in
puisuance or an ooinlon of "the Attorney
General.
The long pending Baltimore and Ohio
Railroad theatrical rato case came up for
argument this afternoon in the United States
Supreme Court. This case involves the
legality of what aie called "party rate"
tickets. Issued at reduced rates, to parties of
ten or more, by the Baltimore and Ohio Bail
road. The tickets were Issued lor the special
benefit of theatrical and other shows.
A 8UBPBISE FOB LUMBEEMEN.
Experiments Show Turpsntlns Timber
to
Be Stronger Than the Unboxed.
Washixotos, D. C, March 17. Some ex
perimentsnf considerable importance to the
lumber Interests aie under way by the for
estry division of the Agiicultural Depart
ment, the object of which is to determine
the effect vhlch the practice of gathering
resinous matter for the manufacture of tur
pentine and naval stores from the long-leaf
pine of the South may have upon the
strength of the timber of trees subjected to
this practice. A preliminary repoiton the
subject has been issued by Mr. B. E. Fernow,
chief or tho division. The current public
belief has been that the timber of theso
"boxed" trees, sometimes called "tnrpen
tlne ttmbor," is deteriorated by the process.
Kot only is its durability, in which this
species excels, believed to be lessened, but
also its strength, and hence its value in the
market has been considenhlv reduced.
Since annually from .TOO 000 to 730,000 acres of
this pine are boxed, involvin In this as
sumed deterioration, ut the lowest estimate,
1,000 000.000 leet, B. M.. of lumber, a consider
able loss in values, counting by millions of
dollars, is thereby incurred.
The circular Just issued bv Mr. Fernow
says: "As far as durability is concerned,
thero seems little donbt that the withdrawal
of the resinous matter, which furnishes pro
tection against the penetration of water and
seems also to have antlsoptic properties, re
duces the capacity to withstand rot at least
in some parts of the tree: the portion near
tho scar, where the icsln accumulates, of
conrse, becomes more durable. But it did
not seem reasonable that the strength in
sreneral should snffer. The tests conducted
in the tet laboratory at St. Louis, in charge
of Prof. J. B. Johnson, give countenance to
tho Important conclusion that 'turpentine'
timber seems to possess greater strenith
than timber from unboxed trees. Although
the tests and examinations of this scries are
not yet completed, and further stady will
perhaps necessitate modifications of this
general statement, the economlo importance
of the discovery seemed to call for im
mediate preliminary publication, especially
since the Investigation hadtoboluterrnpted
tor lack of funds and may, thei etnre, not bo
continued for some timo, delnying verifica
tion and fuller conclusions.
Mr. Fernow Rdds nftor discussing the mat
ter: "Wo fool, however. Justified to main
tain that thn claimed inferiority of turpen
tine timber in strength does not exist."
WHAT P0WDEELY PEEACHE&
He Wants tho Government to Control
the
Coal a Well as the Railroads.
In a speech at Marlboro, Mass., a few days
ago Master Workman Powderly, of the
Knights of Labor, said, among other things:
"The Go eminent hould take possession
of all tho coal lands, and every lallioud
should be obliged to cany it to every man
who needs it. Tho letter carriers, for ex
ample, do not complain of working for the
Government, abd the samo rule would work
in the ca?o of tlio miners. They said 1 was
a Socialist when I first advanced this-idra:
'but Hemy Clews, banker and broker, said a
shoit time since: 'Coal was placed in the
ground for. the people, and they should
have it.
"Thank heaven, the number of Socialists
is glowing. Tho capitalists see the hund
wnting on tho wall. It is wiitten in Boston;
it is written in Omaha. The day will come,
nnd it Isnot so very far away, when all the
railroads will be directed bv tho neonlp.
Such a power as now contiols the telegraph
and telephone is greater thin the power nt
.Washington. We are paving for both foinis
of government, and the Knights of Labor do
not belipvo in doing it.
"We demand, among other things," said
Mr. Powdeily, "that the Improvement in
machinery shall bring about the eight-hour
day. This cannot come by edict alone; it
must no backed up by united action on the
pai t of the people. I believe that the mann-factuieis-are
willing to grant the shorter
day if the men are united in the matter.
We do not want these two hours for idle
ness to spend in the saloon, or even to wit
ness ball game. You have heaid in your
city what has been said elsewhere, that tho
two hours will be spent in the saloon. That
is not true to-day. Where three men will
waste their time in liqaor stores, 97 will be at
homo."
The position of the K. or L. in regard to
con viot labbr was touched on. 1 he speaker
said that convict labor must not be brought
into contact with that of men outside thn
Jails. Child labor was also mentioned, and
the lacthat the Knights of Labor require
that a child be cducitcd nntil he Is 15. Text
books for all classes or children should bo
furnished nee. The Government should
have control of all telegraph lines, taking
them by tbo right of eminent domain, and
the same is true of railroads.
TINKEEING WITH SUNDAY LAWS.
Measures That Are Finical Soon Heroine
rarcical, IT Pressed.
Xeir York Ad ertiser. J
It looks as though our police censors ot
what euphemistically are called "Sunday
concerts" were getting things dowm to a
pretty flue point w hen thoy forbid Sunday
singers and pel formers to wear wigs. Two
or more of our most distinguished clergy
men wear wigs on Sunday as well as on
other days of the week and go through the
entire service, thus disguised, with credit to
themselves and henelit to their congrega
tions. There is altogether too much tinkering
w ith the whole Sunday business. Measures
that are finical soon become faiclcal. In dif
ferent pait3 of tho conntry spasmodic at
tempts aie made to prevent the sale on Sun
day of newspapers, cigars, peanuts and gin
gersnaps, when, in the same places, and in
spiteof the most restrictive local laws, rum
can be bought and drunk on almost every
corner.
It is so in this city detectives will ham
per nnd foibldan innocent, possibly instruc
tive, Sunday-evening entertainment, and
will wink at the 3,000 saloon side doors open
during the day and on tbe same Sunday
niIir. The compulsory observance of Sun
day, as distinguished fiom other days,ongbt
to be regulated and con ti oiled by common
sense. Every good citizen desires that the
day shall be decently and properly observed.
But ordinances that aio too restrictive be
como inoperative they kill themselves.
Every man of common sense knows this.
PITTSBTJEOEBS AT WILKESBABBE.
Ex-Postmaster General James Defends the
Welsh Race at tlis Eisteddfod.
WiLKtSBAititE, March 17. The great St. Pat
rick's Day Eisteddfod, which was held here
to-day under tiro auspices of the Cambio
American Societj, and attracted so much at
tention thioughout the State, bringing
ciowds from Pittsburg aud other cities, as
well as distinguished men, among them be
ing cx-l'ostmastcr General James, ex-Mayor
Grace and ex-Justice Noah Davis, or Now
Yoik, was a success. The $25 prize went to
the G wonts, of Edwardsvilie. The results
of the other contests have not yet beeu an
nounced. Hon. Thomas L. James made an address in
defense ot the Celtic race and their customs.
He releued to the bitter attack of the Lon
don Times on the Chester Eisteddfod of
three j cars ago. Then, appealing from
"Philip drunk to Philip sober," ho quoted
the w oids or Matthew Arnold on the same
subject, in. which that master described tho
affair us sublime, and 111 reply to the Time1
utterances that "It is a shame the Welsh
language should be perpetuated," said there
was (no comparison between the lower
classes of Welsh and tho middle classes ot
English. The former led in general culture.
The Pittsburg and Newark choirs sang with
gieat effect, nnd also the extensive choirs
irom various other points.
It Is Timo to Begin the Lamb Act.
New York Recorder.!
March is altogether too leonine. It will bo
soon time to begin the lamb aot.
NIHTEENATIOSAL MAEEIAGES.
They Have Been Productive of a Vast
Amount of buffering.
Bolton Herald.
The divorce whloh lias bosn obtained by
tho American wlfo of M. Clomsnoeau Is ono
of tho not unlikely oouolmions to inter
national matrimonial arrangements. While
marriage Is said to-be lottery, with quite
as many blanks as prizes, (he union whloh
cannxot n. woman of Amerloan birth and
associations with a European husband la a
lottery in whloh the blanks very largely ox
ceed the prizes, and this for a number of
sufficiently obvious reasons. The chances
are more favorable when the husband is an
Englishman than in tho e cases whero he is
born and has his homo in France, Germany,
Italy or Spain. The similarity of customs
between the people of the United States
and those ot England makes it relatively
easy for a woman of American birth and
training to coniorm to the new conditions
of lire, though tho sense of mental and
social inferiority, which is constantly im
posed upon her, must be, for a time nt least,
intensely galling to a young American
woman who has been brought up with our
national ideas ot the deference which should
be accorded to what is thonght to be in
certain lespects the superior sex.
But on the continent the points of differ
ence are apt to be more numerousthan those
of similarity. In France, for example, the
code of ethics, which is practiced If not
pi eached, is quite different from that which
obtains in this country; and for this reason
the American wire is compelled to submit
to humiliations and is looked upon us want
ing in sense if she does not submit which
she would instantly resent undr American
conditions of life. We are largely the prod
ucts of our inherited convictions and imme
diate surroundings, and, naturally, it is not
possible tor us to live contentedly where
these conditions do not obtain. The pro
portion of marriages by American oung
women to foreigners that end in divorce
may be no greater than the proportionate
number of div orres to marriages in some of
the States of the Union that havea notorious
reputation in this respect, for it must be a
tremendous shock to the pride of an Amer
ican woman, who has been felicitated by her
friends on tbe fine match that she has made,
to have to come back to them a lew years
later Irom foreign parts bearing with her
this positive evidence that her fair Iiodcs
nave been blighted.
Most of the V011112 women of our race have
a sense of personal pride which would make
them bear a great deal of domestic misery
before consenting to make this open confes
sion; hence it would not be sale to estimate
the number of unlortunate international
marriages by the number of divorces that
these alliances have occasioned; but that
they have been productive of a vast deal of
personal suffering is well known, so mach
so that when one hears of nno of these inter
national matrimonial alliances it may be
safe to assume that the chances aro against
the poico of mind and hnpplnorsof tho
oung American wlio.no matter how super
ficially auspicious and flattering the omens
may appear.
STRICKEN' BLIND B7 THE GBIF.
Two Cases Among Well-Known People
Oc-ur at Ylckftbargt Sllss.
Vickbbceg, March 17. Two cases of sudden
blindness resulting from the grip havo oc
curred here lecently, the sufferers being
well-known persons. One, a lady, has con
sulted the most eminent oculists in New
Orleans, who unite in declaring her case
hopeless and admitted that they were igno
rant of the cause of the loss of sight.
The other is tl at of a boy, the son of n
well-known uiorchant.who lost his sight in a
few hours. An operation recently per
formed has piiiti.illy relieved him. His
phj sioians have hopes of his recovery. His
case began with a severe chill culminating
in muscular rheumatism. The lady's symp
toms were similar, except that her limbs be
came dieadfullv swolleu and there wasno
lhcumatism. In neither case aro the eves
outwaidlv affected. Several similar cases
are reported among the negroes, but not all
well authenticated.
THE BALLOT LAW ALL BIGHT.
Prohibitionists Loso Their Case Against It
in a Philadelphia Court.
Philadelphia, March 17. Common Pleas
Com t thla afternoon refused to grant the in
junction asked for against city offkers to
restrain them from carrying Into effect the
new ballot Inw.
Tho complainants sought to have the new
election law declared unconstitutional in
whole or in part, alleging that the law made
discriminations in favor of the stronger
political parties, and that it prohibited the
Piohibltionists from having the names of
their candidates printed upon the official
ballots because the highest number of votes
cast for the Prohibition candidate in tbo
last election fell below the 3 per cent of the
aggregate number of votes cast.
BAD INDIANS C3HING BACK.
The Sioux Hear of It and Are Renewing
.the Messiah Craz-.
Chicago, Slarch 17. Information was re
ceived at General Miles' headquarters here
to-day from the Northwest that the Indians
are again interested in the Messiah craze,
because of the expected return of Short
Bull nnd the dozen other Sioux chiefs who
arrived at New York after sojourning with
Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show in Eaiope.
Shoit Bull was the repute.d prophet of tho
Messiah, and being a very ugly Indian, it is
believed that if Tolcased and allowed to re
turn to his peoplo he will again lnflnmo the
Sioux. Kicking Bear is nlso said to bo still
a very bad Indian. Tne ohlels aie expected
to reach Fort Sheridan Saturday or Monday.
Carlesdy Made Ballots Are Talld.
Isdiajtafolis, March 17. The Indiana Su
preme Court to-day handeddownan opinion
on the new Australian ballot law. It Is held
that this Legislature hns the right to enact
such a law; that the failure to stamp a ballot
did not invalidate it; that n board should
not refuse to count a ballot because the
clerk had written hlsnamc in the right hand
corner instead ot the lert, nnd that whero
county and fctnte boxes wfiro used a ballot
should be counted, no matter -which box it
was do-osited in.
Still Opening the Markets of the World.
Chicago Inter-Ocean.
Piesident Carnot, of France, yesterday
signed the commercial treaty with the
United States. The McKinley act and reci
procity are opening tne greatest markets of
the world to the American producer.
A World or Envious Detraction.
Chicago Times.1
This is a world of envious detraction. How
many more people look at the suu now that
it has a spot on it!
TAIiE'S QDEER PK0FESS0K.
'
Prop. Tottex, of Yale, has published three
more books with cloth- ard titles, and will
soou have enough evidence to land him in
one of the excellent institutions for the caro
of the insane for which Connecticut isjustly
celebrated Detroit Tribune.
Pbof. C. A. ToTTi.:r, of Yale College, an of
ficer of the. United States army with the
rank of Lieutenant, appears tobeapioper
subject for inve-stigntion by a lunacy couit.
"Much learning hath niado him mad,"
evidently. Saiannah Kews.
When Lieutenant Totten undertakes to
teach physical science to undergraduates,
and intorms them that an aurora display is
a shin In the heavens to warn men of the
impending "wrecks of matter nnd the crash
of worlds," science, if we may employ the
word, kicks. Sew York World.
These are feverish days under the old elms
in New Haven. Stimulated by the recent
conjunction of Venus and Jupltor, Lieuten
ant Totten, the "one Watcher in Israel" who
is "awake and nt the post or duty," re
doubles his exertions to. warn his fellow
men of their impending doom. yew York
Tunes.
Whex Prof. Totten, of Yale, spikes a
prophecy of the millennium to a telegraph
polo in New Haven some may challenge his
right to be called sane, but as he is only pro
fessor of military tactics or something of
that kind he may fairly claim that he is sane
enough to teach the young idea how to
shoot. . Louts Bepukta.
On the scientific side Yale College owes a
certain allegiance to physical fact and sound
common sense. It ought, in loyalty to Its
Sheffield pretensions, to transfer Lieutenant
Totten to some chair in which a superheated
imagination may exerciso itself without
breaking its shins over stumbling1 bloeks of
observod physical face Philadelphia Bul
letin. ' ' ,
' ' CURIOUS CONDENSATIONS.
Chicago has a training school for fire
men. A saw in a Philadelphia mill-makes iU
mill through steel bars four Inches thick.
Patsy Sears, of Howard county, Ind,,
aged 103 years, has been a church member a
hundred years.
In one of the great Paris hospitals, oat
or83 patients who suffered from epilepsy 60
were lound to 10 the children of drunken
parents.
Prof. A. a Eeese, of Carrollton, Ga.,
has been teaching school Myears. He says
he has tauzht nearly 5.000 pupils, and never
has bad bat two to die in school time.
Seeing a runaway horse dragging a lit
tlo boy by the feet along the road, a nervy
Hastings. Neb , girl took a hasty aim -with a
rifle she had with her and killed the horse,
thus saving the boy's life.
The floating fire engine, propelled by
steam, which has been lately Duilt for the
service of tho Prefecture or the Port,mada
a short trial trip in the Marmora recently.
It steams 12 to 13 miles an hour.
The meanest man lives at Mt. Vernon.
He went into his back nrd during tho cold
snap last month, soaked his hair with water,
let it freeze and then broke it off, in order
to cheat the barber out of a haircut.
A Virginia City, Uev., youth was re
cently detected in the act of shooting an ar
row, with a cigarette attached, through s
broken window in the rear or the Jail, to
some boys who were imprisoned within.
It is stated that a Paris firm of glass
makers has produced some parous glass to
be used for window panes. The pores are
too fine to permit of draught, bnt cause a
pleasant and healthy ventilation in a room.
Risso relates that on one occasion a
huge female ray was captured at sea, and
her mate followed the boat for three days,
and then died. These "devil fishes" are
said by some to defend their young with
great courage.
dote for rheumatism have already been
noted. A correspondent has written to the
effect that he has virtually found the sting
of bees nn antidote to vpry severe rbeamatia
pains to which he was subject.
The army register for 1892 shows that
of the 1,539 officers of the line in active serv.
ice there are but 24 who were commissioned
officers prior to 1661, viz.: Nineteen colonels,
11 lieutenant colonels and four majors, tho
last, of conrse, in the artillery.
The minimum 3ge of employment on
the continent is general) v 13, or from 12 to 14.
Bnt then English children only work ii
hours per week, while In France and Ger
many the nonra are SS. in Italy and Hungary
48, in Holland 66, and In Belgium 72.
rn Borne a few tourists still hira
balconies en the Corso, whence to throw
flowers at other tonrists. while they them
selves are tho targets of a mob of ruffianly
boys armed with decaved vegetables. This
is all that is left of the Roman Carnival.
A new industry has been invented by a
clever girl. She calls herself nn accountant
nnd auditor for largo households. She finds
Elentyof employment In looking arter tha
nslness of a few families of larco expendi
ture, whose heads- havo not tasto for tho
work.
John and Samuel Manning, twin broth
ers, living on the same farm near Reserve,
Ind., married twin sisters In 1S81, both of
whom tiled in 1S80. In 1891 tho brothers be
came acquainted with twin sisters named
Swope, and there was another double mar
riage. In taking medicine, due regard was.
formerly paid by the superstitious to the po
sitions of the moon at the time different
parts of the bmlv. they supposed, beuur un
der its influence according to the zodiacal'
sign through 'which the planet happened to
be passing at the time.
In Paris, male domestic servants are en
couraged to marry, as they are observed to
be more settled and attentive to their duty
than when bachelors. In London such mar
riages are disconrased, as rendering servants
more attentive to their own families than to
those of their masters.
A new building material, of uncertain
or'gin, but called "fossil coral." is being
worked on a small island of the Bay of Snva,
Fiji. It is so soft that it can be easily cut
into any desired form, but soon hardens
when xposd to the air. and acquires the
characteristics of Are Drick.
There exists in some parts of South"
Dakota, Colorado and Texas a singular
var'ety of grass called the "sleepy grass."
When in a fresh, green state, this plant Is
strongly ch need with narcotic propensities,
so mnch so that horses anil cittle grazing it
aro thrown into profound sleep.
Envelopes are supposed to be quite
modern, but in the Birch manuscripts in the
British Mneum, No. 4433105 there is a let
ter from Martin Triwald to Sir nans Sloane,
dated Stockholm, April '24. 1755, inclosed in
nn ordinary envelope, which is opened out
and mounted at the end of the letter.
Paper barrels are now being made in
England and And ready sale. The factory in
which they are made has an historic Inter
est. It is at Boxmoor Herts, and is known
as Two Waters Mill. It was ono of the flrst
paper mill3 erected in England, and was
started dnring the reign of Qneen Elizabeth.
There is now imported into this country
a peculiar vegetable material from Oran, an
Algerian seaport, on the Mediterranean Sea.
Tho liber or this substance possesses the
quality nrhein? so elastic that it can be used
as n snbtltnte for springs and the like in
tno mannfaeturo of furniture backs and
seals.
In the snowy region-? of the Himalaya,
little smoking tunnels are made in the
frozen snow, at one end of which is placed
some tobacco, along with a piece of burning
crarcoal, while to the other the mountain
eers place their month", and, lying flat on
their "tomachs, inhale the smoke of tbe
glowing weed. .
A well-to-do, well-fed London clergy
man recontlv preached to a congregation of
poor peonle in tno slums nnd took for bis
topic: "How to Bo Happy Thongh Hungry."
Ho eloquently reminded his hearers that
thongh they mlaht bo hungry in this world,
they would be filled in the next world, and,
therefore, discontent with their lot was a
grievous sin.
In Harlem, women who go-to their store
with babies get thorn checked and do their
shopping in comfort. If the baby is in a
nrnage a boy gives a check for it and
amuses the youngster until it-t mother has
finished her shopping. If it is not in a car
riage it is amused in the same way inside
tho store. The plan is working well for
both storekeeper and mothers.
PICKINGS FK03I PUCK.
"Have a cigawett, Cholly, ol' fel'?"
"Nevah ns them, deah boy: and I'm weally sur
prised that Ton have that weakness!"
" Weakness? I'll have yon to know, then, that
It takes a pwetty atwong chap to stand elgs
wettcsl" Erainsby Diggs New York is very nice,
Mlts Hleecker; bat, after all. there Is no place like
Boston.
Miss Bleecfcer Yes after all.
A baby, when it starts to weep
At night, will worlds of trouble make;
Tor, ere It cries Itself to sleep.
It cries the neighborhood awake.
Kicketts Does Mrs. Small keep many
boarders now?
Honker Oh. yes; but some manage to rscape .
now and then.
Lalage I don't care how homely my hus
band may be, so long as he is good.
Viola I don't care how bad my husband may be,
so long as he is homely. I don't want any other
women running after him.
The cynics are the men who find
Grave flairs In nature, and condemn
It all because the Lord designed
Tnis world without consulting them.
Prof. Komoff What has become of the
English sparrows In New York?
Officer Kyley An. go 'way! bore dheynlver wax
an EngUsh sparrow on dhe foorcc.
Prattle (to his wife) You don't seem to
have the courage oryour convictions.
Mrs. Prattle Pd like to know how you get at
that conclusion.
Prattle You say, "There's no use talking," and
then yon talk some more.
Tinder a bushel (or a hat that's quite
As nig) the fair young maiden hides her lignt
Kcd hair; and what Is worse than that- by gam t
she hides the footlights and proscenium.
Bank President What is the new watch
man's name? ,
Cashier Jimmy. '
Bank President-Discharge htm atoneel
Gasket That woman's face seems familiar
tome.
Martin-You most be mistaken. That Is Mr. ,
Vanastorbllt. and she is one of tbe most exclusive .
ladles in the city.