f-T r-nZ " "' eivrimjext mmr w r-jJ-, i-.yir'-" v JP-jfnWWr v?, -rywp?y3afftg5i ryWi THE SCRANTON TRIBUNE-MONDAY, MAY 29, 1890. (Se Jkranfon r(8tme FnhlUhed Dslty, Rxoept Sunday, br ths Brlhunel'ublUuInz Company, at Fifty Centi Month. lew YorkOClce: 1M) Nimriu SL, k. & VKEKIiANt Eole Ajent for Foreign Advertising. &XTEIIED AT Till! MWWM AT KCJtAXTOW, FA., AS BKCONt-CXAM MJLtl.lt ATTKn. SCllANTON, MAY 23, 1S9D. By and by it will dawn on the "Wash ington authorities that the proper per son to rule over Cuba is General Leon ard Wood, the man who nucceeds. Close It Up. Tonight's meeting: of common coun cil to consider finally the ordinance ap propriating $17,520 for the first year's payment to the Barber Asphalt com pany for the asphalt repairs contem plated in the contruct entered into be tween that company nnd the city of Scranton on the 27th day of last Janu ary should close n chapter of disgrace ful delny in performing a very neces sary public Improvement. That contract. It may be worth while to note, stipulates that in considera tion of $17,520 a year to be paid by the city to the Bather company for a term of ten years, the snld compnny must repair all asphalt paved streets In the city and krpp the same in Rood con dition, furl?lilnB nil necessary tools and materials and assuming liabilities for all damages caused by the n"gli ppnt or- Improper performance of its wotk. The city Is to pay in quarterly itntalmrnts of $i,CS0, falling duo on the lit st day of May, August, November and February In each year; but before any pavment of money shall bo made to It, the Barber company must first present a rertlllcatp from the city en Klneer setting forth that all the stipu lations of the contruct havo been com piled with, nc cording to the specifica tions on file with the city clerk and accepted by the company as a part of the contract. It rests with the city engineer to decide whether the city shall get what It will pay for; and we know of no municipal authority better qualified than a reputable nnd efllclent cngineei to protect the city's Interests in such u matter. Another featuie of the contract is the stipulation that the city ("hall appropriate the necessary $17,520 from the current revenues of each year, or shall pay as it goes, and not pile up promises or deficits for the 1 embatrassment of future generations. For ten years from .Tan. 27 last the city of Scranton is bound by ties of law and honor not only to cause the asphalt streets to bo kept in contlnuo' good repair, but also to pay for tboi re pairs from quarter to quarter, as time shall elapse, out of the city's current Income, leaving the account book at each year's end cleanly balanced so far as this item goes, without debt or due. We need not now review the belated opposition which has arisen since this contract was signed by the parties in interest nor expose again the numerous misrepresentations which have been put In circulation with a view to ob structing the contract's execution. It is sufflcient to call attention to the con tract and the streets; and the two, viewed together, show to common coun cil very clearly the pathway of its duty. Close it up! The disinclination of the Cuban vet erans to accept $75 apiece from the United States is a phenomenon in nat ural history, but there is balm in the reflection that Uncle Sam is in that much. Genuine vs. Spurious Civil Service Reform. After several months of careful con sideration the president, upon recom mendation of his cabinet, has decided to issue an executive order removing f torn the classified civil service about 4,000 positions now covered by civil service regulations. Inasmuch as this decision will doubtless bring upon him lrom civil service reformers of the pro fessional typo an avalanche of unjust and abusive criticism it may not be amiss to explain the teasons piompting him to make it. It is to be temembered that shortly befoio Mr. Cleveland left the White house he Issued an order throwing the civil 8-ervIco rules over practically every appointive ollicf In the government not previously .'lusslfled. Pi lor to doing this hH henchmen In the various de partments had carefully cleaned out as many Republicans as they could, including many Union veterans, and had put in their places Democrats largely recruited from the Confederate vetetan element. Apart from the par tisan nspects of such a violation of the pilnclples ot genuine civil service re form, the Cleveland Older was objec tionable for the reason that It covered many positions utterly unsuited to civil service requirements, such as private secretaryships, confidential clerkships, deputy revenue collectorshlps, cashler uhlps and other posts of peculiar re sponsibility nB to which the responsi ble heads of departments should have the freest privilege of selection. If a railroad should change hands, the new management would, on business prin ciples, retain all worthy men In the ranks of the actual trainmen, track men, shopmen, etc., irrespective of their politics, religion or other considerations not affecting their anility as laborers; but the new management would want to have and would insist upon having a free hand to remove or supercede the custodians of the company's funds, the immediate personal lieutenants of the department chiefs and nil other em ployes whose positions are Influential In determining the success or failure of the new executive policy. This would be only fair and right. The positions whtch President Mc Klnley proposes to take out of the classified service are of this oharacter. His decision is not midway between, tho demand of the spoilsmen and that of the civil service reformers; it Is sub stantially the decision of all true civil service reformers themselves of all men who care more for tho proper ad justment of the public service than they do for personal notoriety achieved In the capacity of chronic grumblers. A new trial for Dreyfus, If conduct ed bv the army according to the old rulo of secrecy, would leave matters unchanged. If Dreyfus Is Innocent he should be freed forthwith; if guilty, there should bo no attempt at revision of his case. Tho affair has reached a phase where compromise is impossible. Automobile corporations contlnuo to grow like mushrooms. Thero Is no question that thero will bo millions in the horseless carriage business for some one during tho next few years, but tho history of the bicycle-making industry indicates that thero will prob ably be a good many punctured tiros In the automobile business if present prospects ot inflation are fulfilled. Tho Problem of Crime. Tho Rev. Dr. K. II. Ward, pastor ot St. Peter's Protestant Episcopal church of Pittsburg, Is appalled at tho nipldlty with which crime is increas ing in the United States. In the 10 years from 1S70 to 1&80 there were, he finds, 4,608 homicides and In the fol lowing decade thero were 7,3S6,an in crease of about CO per cent. From 1S90 to 1S98, according to Dr. Ward's figures, thero were In this country more than 64,000 murders, or nn in crease of over 500 per cent. "Just think of it!" says he. "More murders committed in tho last 8 years than In the 90 years preceding. And what la true of murder Is true of other kinds of crime. In 1830, we had one prisoner to every 3,500 of our population, in 1S90 we had one prisoner to every 7S6 of our population. At this awful rato of Increase and it is growing greater every year how long will it bo bpforo tho criminal classes will become so numerous that our legal machinery will become unable to deal with them? Who does not see that unless some thing is done to check tho increase of crime, old chaos will como again, and anarchy reign supreme?" In pasplnc It should bo noted that Dr. Ward's figures are unofficial and particularly with respect to homicides represent in the later years tiulte as probably an increase in tho thorough ness with which homicides are latterly reported in the press as they do an ac tual increase in tho relative number of homicides. Bo this as it may, the actual increase Is sufficiently formidable to Justify tho alarm with which the Pittsburg clergyman views it. Wc proceed to quote him further: "What, then, is tho cause of this fearful increase of crime. More than to all other causes combined, I believe ii is due to a growing lack of respect for law. That respect for law is wan ing there is no shadow of doubt, and this is the one greatest danger which menaces our country today. Law is not law unless enforced by penalty, and we seem to have lost the power of putting down crime by the infliction of wholesome pain. Thero Is pre valent among us a sickly sentiment of mercy which indicates a lack of moral fiber. There Is a maudlin sentimen tality which prevents the suppression of vice by constantly Interfering with tho decrees of our courts. No mat ter how brutal a crime may be, yet the perpetrator of it can nhvays depend upon some sympathy, and when in prison, flowers and dainties will be sent to him. Every whining beggar and drunken idler will find some who think that ho should bo allowed to prey upon the community, and that tho punish ment which would force him to cam an honest living is, forsooth, an in fringement of his liberty." The doctor quotes with approval the doctrlno of Carlyle that incorrigible members of society should be dedicated to the gallows and then asks the ques tion: "Is our law worthy of respect and reverence?" The law, abstractly considered, may bo just and good, but If enacted by rotten legislators, en forced partially and corruptly by tainted officials or Juggled with by hair-splitting attorneys, he thinks the opinion of the people is very liable to fall into disrespect of it. ''Our laws," says he. "seem to be framed for the express purpose of aiding in everyway the criminal. When a vile woman, who commits murder, and no one seems to have any doubt as to her guilt, is acquitted of the crime on the grounds of insufficiency of evidence, people be gin to ask if thero is not something wrong with the law on evidence. When a girl slays her mother and Is acquitted on the ground of insanity, again people wonder if there is not something wrong with tho law. When drunkenness, which is itself a crime in tho eyes of the law, Is made to palliate a still greater crime, plain, simple laymen cannot help thinking that the only principle on which it can be done is that two wrongs have made a right. It does seem to plain, simple people, who love Justice and truth, that quibbles and technicalities In such caRes have more weight than truth and justice." Those being the conditions, how may they be remedied? Dr. Ward of fers these suggestions: "Give more attention to moral questions In our schools from the first year in tho pri mary to the last year in the university. Seek to develop not only the intellec tual, but also tho ethical side of the child, else he may become 'tho wisest, brightest, meanest of mankind.' Re form our laws where they need reform ation, and seek to create a public opin ion which will demand their enforce ment. Reform our prisons, where criminals of all classes are herded to gether, nnd which, as at present con stituted, uro schools for the higher edu cation of criminals. Let every Chrls tion, and every one 'who love3 his fel low man,' in the name of Clod and humanity, do something to uplift some one fallen person, and help him or her to a higher life." ' The pastor of St. Peter's here comes pretty close to the center ot tho target. But wo Indorse the ono exception to his remarks taken by tho Pittsburg Dispatch, in which paper his opinions irst found publicity. In disproof ot tho idea that exercUes of merciful sen timent promote crime tho statistics of Michigan aro cited by tho Dispatch, which adds: "In tho system of that state capital punishment hag no place; lnebrity U rat4 aa a disease and klep tomania Is recognized. Yet it is a fact that while an appalling increase in crime Is noted In the country at lurg, tKcre Vistt bt vlcvejuk ; .iiw state of Michigan In proportion to pop ulation. This anomalous condition may be partly attributed to nn excel lent system of state supervision ot tho youth for tho prevention of crime, coupled with Improved reformatory methods for those who have taken the first stops in the crltnln.il pathway. But It seems probable that a part is also due to tho fact that Mtnhlgan has been among the most active of states tli the enforcement of measures for the protection of the public a,;ulnst undue aggressions. Tho leaning toward mercy has grown with thu aavancejn civilization. It should find Its ex pression In the modification ot laws, however, and not In non-enforcement of severe statutes." President Schurman may bo a good college txcutlvp, but it is to be feared he Is no match for Malay diplomacy. Otis' peace programme of shot and shell Is tho sure euro tor that Insur rectionary feeling. A Sign of the Times. It is interesting to note as a sign of tho gradual advance In public opinion which has taken place on tho subject of civil service reform that the Washing ton Post, for many years the bitterest opponent ot this policy among tho newspapers ot the country, now says: "The merit system, minus the ob structive absurdities that have some times characterized Its administration, will be more urgently needed in the fu ture than it has been in the past. This government has assumed new and great responsibilities in its recent ter ritorial acquisition. Thero will soon bo many places to be filled in our colon ial service. To fill them with the hench men of politicians would be to default on our obligations and to Incur serious risk of disgraceful failure in governing the new wards ot tho nation. The growth of our foreign trade ought to be augmented by marked Improvement in our consular service. The merit sys temfair and competitive tests of merit is needed in this work." Our contemporary, of course, here re fers to a genuine merit system, hon estly administered a civil service re form project such as Governor Roose velt is working out in New York, in which tho examinations of applicants are pertinent to the duties involved, the ratings made fairly and the appoint ments based on these ratings, without chicanery or manipulation. As nearly as It can be done, this system alms to apply to the public service the same principles of administration that govern tho business affairs of well managed private enterprises making employ ment and promotion stand on fitness alone, without regard to politics, re ligion or "pull." To such a programme every honest citizen must perforce subscribe, and it is a happy conse quence of "expansion" that it is caus ing the people to look at this matter with a new sense of responsibility and with a quickened public conscience. The promises of some of our invent ors are enough to cause the apparition of tho lamented Keely to remain con stantly on guard. A square meal seems to be about the only thing obtained by the Filipino peace envoys at Manila. Canadians Again Show Peeuishness. From tho New York Sun. n CCORDING to reports from London A and Washington, the Ottawa gov ll wrnment, by insisting upon fnad lf mlsalblo conditions, has prevented tho submission or tho Alaska boun. clary dlsDute to arbitration. If these re ports are well founded, it Is possible that the expected reassembling of tho Joint high commission will not take place, and it is also possible that Lord Salisbury may foe! Impelled to consider the ques tion of how far the- wishes of a British colony can bo suffered to prejudice tho general interests of the British empire. Thero is reason to believe that tho Joint high commission might have arrived at an agreement concerning the vaiioua subjects referred to it but for tho dim culty of reconciling the conflicting views of the United States and Canada re specting the boundary of Alaska, Kven with relation to this question, which affected tho extent of tho national do main, and, therefore, the national dig nity and honor, our stato department evinced a conciliatory spirit, and, at the request of the British foreign office, re frained from sending troops to occupy the disputed torritory. A further step tn tho direction of accommodation was made when Mr, Choate. our ambassador in London, effected an arrangement with Lord Salisbury whereby the Alaska boun dary was to bo withdrawn from tho list of matters dealt with by tho high com mission and to bo mado the speclllo sub ject of arbitration. o There were two weighty reasons for such a concession on our part. In the first place, the American and British delegates to tho peace conferenco at The Hague had been Instructed to propose tho formation of a permanent board for th adjudication of International disputes, and it was obvious that their arguments would be seriously weakened if, simul taneously, their governments should re fuse to allow the Alaska boundary to be defined by arbitrators. In the second place, our government, was desirous of tecurltig, in an amicable way, 'tho abro gation or material modification of the Olnyton-Bulwer treaty, and, to that end, was inclined to offer Great Bfltaln a quid pro quo In tho shape of permitting our Alaska boundary to bo fixed by an Im partial tribunal. It is understood that this arrangement, which, on the grounds just named, was acceptable to two ot the parties Interested, would have boon car ried out had not tho third party, Canada, interposed and refused to suffer the Alaska boundary to bo ascertained by aibltratlon, except upon prescribed con ditions which would practically compel an umpire to pronounce in favor ot her claim. o What shall be done? Shall our govern ment proceed to a military occupation ot thei dl&puted territory and shall our treasury department punish Canada for hor interposition by the issuance of re taliatory regulations against the prod ucts of tho Domlnon? Such a course would, at best, produce extremely strained relations nnd cause a great deal ot fric tion, while, at the worst, it mlsht pro voko a collision ot armed forces. The feel lag of good will which now exists be tween the British nnd American govern ments could hardly be expected to survlvo an outbreak of actual hostilities on tho Alaska frontier, and thus all that has been accomplished during the last twelve month to create relations of amity be tween tho two great sections ot the English-speaking world would bo, through Canada's penrerslty, undone In one un lucky hour. There is, hower, a mods of cscapo from 'tho cxistlmr compilation. The 1 Srttlert. 'orelsn OSes cartAt but twoec- iiie iiiat yfo, a s'u- part, TiATe done aft that can bo reasonably asked ot a self respecting nation when wo havo con sented to leave to arbitrators tho defi nition of out national boundary. We have not sought to linposo conditions upon tlio tribunal, but havo left It at liberty to determine the law as well as tho fact by formulating for itself tho principles In pursuance ot which Its decision will bo rendered. Acknowledging, as it must acknowledge, the equity of our position, the British government might properly Inform Canada that, a colony, it can not be permitted to subordinate to Its local interests the collective velfaro of the Btltlsh empire. Such a reminder was formerly administered, when tho northeastern boundary of tho United Statue was nettled, the lino ultimately agreed upon being as unacceptable to tho Inhabitants of British North America as It was to the Inhabitants of Maine. In tho ense not only of Maine but of Oregon, our federal ffovornment has settled boun. dary disputes without inordinate dofer ence to the wishes of the denizens of the localities Immediately affected, and it will be scarcely pretended that a British colony has more right to prejudice the Interests of the British empire than an American state has to prejudice those of the Union. A question of national fron tier, which, under regrettable but possi ble circumstances, might involve two great powers In war, should bo regarded as, at bottom, ono of imperial concern. o It may be propounded as an axiom that tho good will of the United States is of incomparably more importance to the British empire than Is the good will of Canada. It is by no means true, how over, that in tho case before us, Great Britain would havo to risk tho loss of tho ono in order to keep tho other. Only nn Infinitesimal fraction of tho Canadian people are interested in tho Alaska boun dary, whereas almost all of thorn are vitally concerred in tho improvement and extension of commercial relations with this country. If th British government would announce Its determination to treat tho Alaska boundary as an imperial question, a name which it certainly de scrvos as much as did the boundary of British Guiana, tho other matters which were discussed by tho Joint high com mission, and which are of practical sig nificance to the great mass of tho Can adians, might be again taken up, with a fair prospect of reaching an adjust ment satisfactory to both sides. THERE WERE OTHERS. From tho Thltadelphla Times. There is tho probability that huzzas for General Funston have jolted the air too soon, and that hats must bo tossed up again for tho bravo swimming of a Luzon river, on tho road to Malolos, and the capture of a Filipino company, and this ttmo with tho announcement that the Jubilation is for a band of courageous Pennsylvania boys. Letters from Manila to Westmoreland county tell of the heroic conduct of Lieutenant Richard Coulter and other members of Company I, of tho Tenth regiment, In connection with this now historic ovent of the war. :o: Theso letters were evidently not writ ten in tho spirit cf a disputant for mar tial honors, but as a plain chronlclo of the engagement beforo it was known that tho world was applauding tho dash ing Kansas general. They relate, simply, that Lieutenant Coulter nnd his men swam the river and captured tho Filipinos and that General Funston, who had crossed the river at another point, camo up afterward and, as the senior officer, took charge of tho prisoners. A3 a sou venir of tho capturo Lieutenant Coulter received tho sword of tho insurgent cap tain, which has been brought to his homo in Grcensburg, by his brother. :o: If the story which theso letters tell bo true, and there Is no reason to doubt Its accuracy, then new laurels havo been won for Pennsylvania's soldiery, and the men and women of this state who saw them go forth to give battlo to the people of the east and who have followed their laborious marches nnd victorious engage ments, will have new cause to bo proud of the warriors this commonwealth fur nishes for its country's service. Gen eral Funbton has dono many things for which he has rightly received abundant praise. Let the Pennsylvania boys have the credit which they seem to so richly deserve. "There is glory enough for all," and Pennsylvania should bo exuberant that a fair share of it has come to her soldiers. THAT HE WILL BE TRUE TO HIS FRIENDS. From tho Wllkcs-Barro Record. What is to be expected of a governor who makes a man llko John P. Klkln, of indemnity bond notoriety, his attorney general? REXFORD'S. SCRANTON, May 29. For this week we shall' offer worthy silverware, 5000 pieces, bought, most of it, for this sale and offered, as an advertisement, at prices that will probably never be duplicated. Selling starts at 8 o'clock and lasts, six days only. See our win dow. buys six Rogers & Bros.' 55C teaspoons. You know what most jewelers get, $1.25 and $1.50 the set. t -. secures a Pairpoint P 1 ,5) quadruple plate butter dish. Wedding present buyers can pick from one hundred just such values. Plenty of choice. A each for sterling silver tea 5JC spoons; three fancy pat terns, engraved free. Only six to a customer. t each. A thousand fine steel, 1 C nickel-plated nut picks; chas ed handles. -. for 6 Rogers and Bros'' I 2j table knives or forks: $ the name, stamped on each, guar antees them. Cost more to make, d. j buys a tea set and 20 $17.50 inch tray. When you see it you will say $35, it's regular price, was most reasonable. THE REXFORD CO., 132 Wyoming Ave. Clock sale next week. LMther Keller L1HE, CEMENT, SEWER PIPE, Etc. ifard and Oflloa West Lackawanna rve,, SCRANTON, P& Tli FasMonx Positively the Last week of Our HONEST FIRE SALE Great Bargains. Crash Toweling Bleached, with border, the kind that always sells at 5c. At 2c Yard. ; ' Dress Shields Stockinet Dress Shields, sizes 2 and 3, actual value 15c pair. At Sc Pair. Wash Fabrics 36-inch Percale, a large va riety of checks and stripes, the i2c quality, At 6c Yard. J i i 8 J308 Lackawaeoa Aveewie COfflS iH and ask to see our Wedgewood Blue, Oriental Rose, MAMAS LINEN, The most beautiful shades ever display ed in stationery. All 5izes in Stock to (10 to rao o 3 We have the usual complete line of Reynolds Bros STATIONERS and ENGRAVERS, Hotel Jermyn Building. The Deadly Sewer Gas from a leaky drain may Give the doctor n. case of typhoid fever to work with un less you permit tho plumber to get in his work on thf drain first. Do not hesltato about havlnsr tho plumb, ing In your houso examined by an expert It you think there is the slightest defect. A thorough overhauling now will savo many a dollar later. Tho ismoko test will convince you whether thero is sewer gas or not. GUNSTEfl k FORSYTH, 22.327 PENN AVENUE. An k5w s ' There is no long waiting for help if Ripans Tabulcs are taken for dyspepsia and headache. Relief comes quickly. One Tabule (about the size of a small button) will relieve distress in the stomach within fifteen minutes and the headache till shortly disappear. There was an industrious, hard-working woman of Cooperstown, N. Y., some sixty years of age, who for a long time had suffered greatly from dyspepsia and dreadful headaches. Her stomach tormented her so that she could hardly work at all, and, although she had tried all sorts of things, she got no relief. A friend sent her some Ripans Tabules and she felt better as soon as she took the first one. She felt more like working. I have continued with the Tabules ever since," she says, "and they lways help me.u Marvelous Prices. Underwear Ladies' Lisle Ribbed Vests, silk tape neck and sleeves, the 19-cent kind, At 10c Each. r' , . Window Shades 35c and 29c Window Shades, spring rollers, all col ors, all perfect from being wrapped in paper. At 19c Each. Lace Curtains 69c Nottingham Lace Cur tolns. A rare bargain oppor tunity, At 39c Pair. We are ShowSeg This week a great variety of elegant goods in Spring Serges, You will find the prices like the goods right. W. J. DAVI 213 Wyoming Ave., Scranton, Pa. Cf 'or Jmime Weddio! We carry in stock all of the new patterns of the Gorham M'f'g Co. and the desirable pieces of other makers, including Tea Sets, Coffee Sets, Fruit Dishes, Salad Bowls, Ice Cream Trays, Bon Bon Dishes and Chests of all sizes. MEtCEMAU k CONNELL o Wyoming Avenue. book NEAT, DURABLE BOOK BINDIN1 IS WHAT YOU RECEIVE IF YOU LEAVE YOUU ORDER WITH THU TRIBUNE BINDERY. Sterling Silv NLEY'S k Special mmmer Sale Ladles9 amid Misses9 Flee Muflslimi Uederwear0 Early in the spring we placed orders for a line of high class garments, com prising NfeM Gowns, Img ami Sleri Skirts, Corset Covers, Drawers, Etc, Which have just been received and will be placet on sale this morning. rye caite pjeasure u bringing this particulai line of goods to your no ticethey being mostl made up from French! patterns, are exceedingly handsome and of the new' est designs. New line of Children's Umbrella Skirts and Drawers, with lace and embroidery trimming--Elegant line of new Siik and Lawn Shirt Waists. diuancidii f LACKAWANNA AVENUE THE MODERN HARDWARE STORE. Pure Water CAN BE OBTAINED BIT USING OUR WATE1 FILTERS A FULL LINE OF NEW GOODS JUBT RECEIVED. FOOTE k SIEAK CO., 119 Washington Avenue. The HiEot & Coeeell Co0 Heating, Plumbing, Gas Fitting, Electric Light Wiring, Gas an Electric Fixtures, Builders Hardware. 434 Lackawanna Avenue HENRY BELIN, JR., General Agent for tin Wyomlai UUtrlotfar wroiT Mining, UUmincBportlnc Bmokeltm und lha Repauno Cneoito.il r Company' HIGH EXPLOSIVES. fcufety Kuuts Caps and Kxploisri old POWDER. MApantnn '1 AGE-NOIUi TIIO FORD, MtUta 40UNU.SMITII.fc3W, Plymoutt W. K UULLIUAK, WUXw-Uar" -