BUTLER CITIZEN
JOHN H. k W. C. NEGLEY, PROP'RS,
Entered at the Postojffice at Butler as
second-class* matter.
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 27, 1883.
Republican County Ticket.
For District Attorney,
SAMUEL B. SNYDER, of Butler.
For County Snryejor,
B. F. HILLIARD, of Washington twp.
THE rumor relative to a change in
the high joints of the P. & W. R. R.,
stated in our last issue has proven true."
E. K. Hymlman, General Manager,
and C. P. Ford, Gen'l Passenger Agent,
and others step down and out. The
change will, no doubt, be far better for
the company. The recent manage
ment has not been satisfactory to the
trayeling public or shippers, while all
the employes along the route are re
joicing at the change. The last time
card is entirely too fast for the road,
consequently the trains have been be
hind time six times to being on time
once. The road bed and condition of
the motive power is too poor for rapid
riding and persons not compelled to
travel via that route have patronized
the Valley. The time card for passen
ger trains has been faster than the
Valley, notwithstanding its poor con
dition. Result, broken down engines
and general uneasiness both by trav
elers and employes. The new manage
ment will very soon rectify the mis
takes of the old board.— Parker
Phoenix.
THE Harrisburg Telegraph of Fri
day has the following in relation to the
Republican caucus to arrange Con
gressional and Senatorial apportion
ment. It says: The Republican Sen
ators held a conference last evening
and discussed Congressional apportion
ment. The object of this conference
was to unify the Republicans of the
Senate in the support of some particu
lar bill. A proposition was discussed
to divide the State into sixteen Repub
lican and ten Democratic districts,
leaving two doubtful. A second prop
osition was to adopt the bill that Mr.
McCracken—Republican—had offered
to the conference committees of both
Houses at the regular session, which
divided the State into seventeen sure
Republican and eleven Democratic dis
tricts. The suggestion that receives
* the most favorable consideration was
that offered by Mr. Boggs—Cambria—
to give the Republicans eighteen and
the Democrats ten districts. This was
discussed at some length, and it was
decided to support the bill as follows,
viz: A Congressional apportionment
giving the Republicans seventeen dis
tricts certain and the Democrats not to
exceed eleven, Philadelphia being al
lotted six Congressmen, one of which
will be a Democrat. This is the Mc-
Cracken Senate bill submitted by the
conference committee of both Houses
at the regular session. Senatorial ap
portionment was fixed at thirty Repub
licans and twenty Democrats, Philadel
phia teinggiven eight Senators, one of
which will be a Democrat. The caucus
expressed a determination to make this
the ultimatum, although no vote to
that effect was taken.— Ex.
ABOUT LOCUSTS.
Those here not Real Locusts.
The appearance among us of what is
called the "seventeen year locust" has
caused as to look up something about
them. For this purpose we consulted
Chambers' Encyclopedia. There we
found, under the head of "Locusts," a
figure that in almost all respects resem
bles a large grasshopper. One of those
now flying about here, making such a
din having been caught and shown us
we soon perceived that the figure
given of the "locust" was not by any
means like the one before us. On a
further examination of the Encyclo
pedia we found another figure, under
the head of Cicada," that in all re
spects resembles the so-called locust
now here. The name commonly given
it in the United States is "Harvest
Fly," and the difference of tbe two in
sects is about as follows :
As we have said, the real locust
looks like the grasshopper, differing
only from the grasshopper in the
greater size of its body and limbs. Its
hind legs are large and rough and pos
sess great power of leaping, like the
grasshopper. The noise they make is
done by the friction of their long, rough
hind legs, with their wings or wing
coyers. These wings are large and
fold like a fan, and are of beautiful
colors, red, pink, brown, green and
blue. They eat leaves, green stalks
and plants, and can consume almost
any green thing. They abound in
warm countries chiefly—never in cold
countries. In Asia and Africa they
appear in vast numbers and their rav
ages are fearful and terrible. When
advancing in dense clouds, as they do,
they make a sound like that of many
waters, or, as described by the Prophet
Joel, "like the noise of a flame of fire
that devoureth the stubble," leaving
behind them desolation. Rewards
were offered in old times for their col.
lection and that of their eggs. In some
countries they were eaten, being roast
ed or fried. They were also preserved
in brine, or dried in the sun, and ap
peared in the markets in Arabia, Syria,
Egypt, Madagascar, etc., as articles of
commerce for food and export.
Whether they are the same spoken of
that John the Baptist subsisted upon,
with "wild honey," we cannot soy.
Some species of them are as long as
two and one-fourth inches.
So much for the locust. And now
briefly as to the cicada or harvest fly,
which we have said is the insect, or fly
rather, now among us. This is not
near so large as the regular locust, be
ing only about an inch in length. It
resembles the fly in shape, and not the
grasshopper. Has wings like a fly>
large, brown and transparent. Make
their music in a different manner—not
by their legs and wings—but by a
musical apparatus on the under side of
their abdomen. -This apparatus is
very complicated, consisting of a set of
membranes or fibres, connected with
powerful muscles." Hence the loud
sounds they emit, sounds that can be
likeDed to that of a razor-grinder at
work, or some of the revolving saws in
the saw mills. They have no power
of leaping, but fly only. Dwells on
trees generally and subsist by sucking
the juices of same. They exist in
nearly all counties. In South America
are much larger than here and make
sounds that can be heard a mile. Ihe
ancients regarded these sounds as
types of mnsic, but the shrill din they
make is not here considered good
music. Here they are generally called
locusts, but from above stated and from
all we can learn they are not the real
locusts, but the cicada, or what is
termed the harvest fly. They appear
to come only about every 17 years.
On each of its wings are what resembles
the letter W, from which people associ
ate the idea of war with their coming.
It is said the English sparrow is their
foe and is killing and eating them.
From the number of wings found upon
the roads or walks ii. is evident some
thing is destroying them, but whether
the sparrow, or the robin, or some
other bird, should have the credit for
this we cannot say.
We were led to write the above from
the fact of finding such a difference in
the books between the locust and the
fly now here, and if we have given
any information on the subject we have
accomplished our only object.
APPORTION MENTS.
How the Different Bills Stand as
Regards Buller County.
The Legislature Ye-assembled last
week. Much of the first two or three
days was spent in debating as to
whether the members should draw pay
for the time during their recess, some
twelve days. This doubtless is an im
portant question to some of the mem*
bers, but the public opinion would be
that that question might at least have
been deferred until they had done the
work for which they were convened.
As far as we can learn the different
Apportionment bills are in about the
following condition, so far as they re
late to our county, and we speak of
them onlv with reference to our
county.
First, as to the Judiciary district,
both the House and Senate bills con
stitute Butler county a separate Judi.
cial district; the only difference being
that to which we referred last week.
The House bill joins Lawrence and
Beaver counties for a district hereafter,
and the Senate bill makes each of
those counties separate districts.
The HouSe bill provides for the con
tinuance of the Additional Law Judge
in this and similar old districts,as elect
ed in 1874, during their inexpirud terms
and as at present existing.
Second, as to the Congressional dis
tricts, in which it is proposed to place
our county. The original House bill
joined us with Armstrong and Indiana
counties for a district. Both Mr.
Ziegler and Mr. Greer, as far as we
can learn, were opposed to this arrange
ment. A new bill is therefore now be
fore the House which connects us with
Armstrong, Clarion and Jefferson
counties—this is, we presume, favored
by Mr. Ziegler, and will be unfavor
ably looked upon by Mr. Greer and
Mr. Donly. The Democrats speak of
it as a doubtful district, politically,
but to our mind it is a pretty clearly
Democratic district, judging from the
past. True it might bo car
ried by a strong and good
Republican over a weak or bad Demo
cratic candidate. In the Garfield-Har
cock election of 1880, the only one that
can afford us any satisfactory basis of
calculation, the Hancock electors had
46-4 votes more than the Gar Geld elec
tors. Clarion county gave Hancock a
clean 1900 majority ; while Armstrong
gave Garfield 730; Butler 591, and
Jefferson 115, majorities for Garfield;
making in all 1436, to Clarion's 1900,
and thus leaving the above 464 differ
ence. Previous elections have shown,
however, that it is a district in which
personal popularity has overcame party
lines, at least in most of the counties
that would compose this proposed dis
trict, and as we have said, a Republi
can might possibly be elected in it-
But there is one other objection to it,
and that is, the population of those
four counties exceed by 15,435 the
necessary population for a present dis
trict. The present ratio of population
for a district is a little less than 153,-
000. These four counties count up
168,435 of a populatiou, thus showing
more than 15,000 of an excess, or more
than required for a present district.
The Senate Congressional bill, called
the McCracken bill, joins our county by
a strip of the western side of Allegh
eny county, to Washington county, for
a district. We have not been favored
by any of our members with a copy of
this bill, but from the papers learn that
is the connection made for our county.
It is a very unshapely and unnatural
district, making the principal objection
to it the want of "compact and con
tiguous territory, as near as may be,''
and as plainly demanded by the coustitu"
tion. There is nothing but absolute
necessity can justify the formation of
such a district. Butler county's natu
ral position is north of the Ohio river
and not south of it. And it is known
that it is not out of any consideration lor
Butler county that it proposed to thus
join us, but out of consideration and for
the benefit alone of Washington county-
This is asking too much from tbiscoun.
Tv in the way of accommodation to
others. This district would also have
an excess of population of between 14,-
000, and If), 000.
As to our next State Senate district,
both bills, of both House and Senate,
we believe connect this county with
Lawrence county for a district. Thi3
seems to be satisfactory all around
The two counties are favorably con
nected in every way and will make a
natural and convenient district. What
may be the result, as to the passage of
all or any of these bills, remains yet to
be seen. If both parties but/o//ow> the
constitution all the apportionments can
be made. That they should be now
made is the very general public
opinion.
We should add, that as regards the
members of the Assembly, all the bills,
before both Houses,give us our present
number of Representatives, two, as at
present.
One Clergyman Slays Another
for Seduction.
NEW ORLEANS, June 10.—The little
town of Mansfield, on the New Orleans
and Pacific railroad, was the scene of a
terrible tragedy this morning, when
Rev. J. Lane Borden, President of the
Mansfield Female College, was shot
killed by Rev. Benjamin Jenkins,
Jr. The cause of the shooting was a
young lady, a relative of Jenkins, and
and an inmate of the college, whom
Borden, taking advantage of his posi
tion as her teacher, bad seduced.
The shooting occurred at an early
hour in front of the store of Hon. B. G.
Jenkins, the father of the Rev. Mr.
Jenkins. Mr. Borden was passing
when Rev. Mr. Jenkins and his "broth
er, C. F. Jenkins, stepped from the
store. The former advanced towards
Mr. Borden, and when within a few
feet of him, drew a revolver, and after
addressing bim a few words, opened
fire, discharging five or six barrels of
the revolver. The first shot struck
Borden in the leg and he staggered;
the second struck him in the side,
smashing his watch and entering his
heart. Another shot struck him in
the forehead just between the eyes.
He fell mortally wounded, but surviv
ed nearly two hours. He remained
wholly insensible, and did not speak a
word from the moment of the shooting.
Both the Jenkins immediately surrend
ered to the Sheriff.
THE MINISTERIAL MURDERER.
Rev. Ben. Jenkins, who did the
shooting, is a young man, only twenty
five years of age, and considered a
promising young preacher. His fami
ly is among the most respectable in
North Louisiana. His father is one of
the leading merchants of Mansfield and
has served in several legislatures and
constitutional conventions. Mr.
Jenkins, Senior, is a prominent Metho
dist, and was one of the trustees of the
college over which Borden presided.
Young Jenkins was ordained as a
minister at the last session of the
Methodist Conference and was assigned
to the church at Robeline, from which
place he came to Mansfield to do the
shooting, when he heard of Borden's
treatment of his relative.
Rev. J. Lane Borden has been for
the past half dozen years one of the
most prominent ministers of the Meth
odist Church in this State, and has
held for some years the position of
president of the Mansfield Female Col
lege, which is under the control of the
Methodists, and where most of the
young ladies in De Soto and the neigh
boring parishes are educated. The
town of Mansfield has been wildly ex
cited over the shooting, the sympathy
being nearly unanimously with young
Jenkins.
Prohibition County Convention.
The delegates to the Prohibition
Convention met pursuant to call in the
Arbitration room, in the Court House,
Butler, on the 22d inst.,and was called
to order by the Chairman, James W.
Orr. Half an hour was spent in de
votional exercises, after which a gen
eral talk on the work throughout the
county and reports of delegates were
had, and adjourned to meet at half past
one o : clock, at which time it reconven
ed, and elected J. W. Brandon, Esq.,
of Connoquenessiog township, tempo
rary Chairman, and P. W. Conway, of
Clay township, Secretary. The report
of the Chairman was called for and
read, which was quite long and em
bodied many good recommendations ;
report accepted. Secretary's report was
short and justified, Treasurer's report
satisfactory, alljbills paid and a balance
on hand. Permanent organization was
then affected, J. W. Brandon, Esq.,
was elected Chairman of the County
Executive Committee for the ensuing
year ; Robert J. Thompson, of Con
cord township, Secretary, and Shryock
Harper, of Washington township, re
elected Treasurer for the coming year.
Twenty-five delegates from different
townships were present. The nomina
tion of candidates for county offices re
sulted in the nomination of W. P.
Brandon, Esq , of Butler, for District
Attorney, and Isaiah N. Meals, of
Washington township, for County
Surveyor.
R. J. Thompson, J. W. Orr and
Levi Porter were appointed a commit
tee on resolutions and reported the fol
lowing :
Hesolved, That as a political party
in tho county of Butler we hereby re
affirm the declarations of principles as
enuueiated in the National and State
platforms of our party and do declare
the liquor traffic to be a great national
crime that should be prohibited by the
general Government.
liesolved, That we regard the parties
that consent to license, regulate, con
trol and protect the liquor traffic, as our
political enemies, against whom we
contend and whose overthrow we must
secure in order to preserve the civil in
stitutions and religious liberties of our
Government, and to that end we take
pleasure in presenting to the people of
this county the name of W. D. Bran
don, Esq., as a suitable person for the
office of District Attorney, and the
name of I. N. Meals as a competent
and worthy person for the office of
County Surveyor, and do hereby
pie !ge ourselves to the support of the
State ticket and also that of the party
in the county.
In the evening Mr. Daniel Swoger,
of Allegheny city, addressed an
audience from the Court House steps
—not large but attentive and intelli
gent. P. W. CONWAY, Sec'y.
The Governor's Vetoes.
The following are specimens of Gov.
Fattison's vetoes of some of the bills
passed by the present Legislature. It
seems strange that bills of the character
to which the following vetoes relate
could be passed by any Legislature.
And it shows the watchful care a
Governor has to exercise in the matter.
There are but few citizens of any party
who will not strongly approve of the
Governor's reasons given for the below
vetoes:
POVERTY NO CRIME.
IIARRISBURU, June 20—Governor
Pattison has fded the following vetoes
in the office of the Secretary of the
Commonwealth:
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT,
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA, {
OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR,
HARRISBURO, June 20, 1883. J
I herewith file, with my objections,
in the office of the Secretary of the
Commonwealth, House bill No. 383,
entitled "An act for the Government
of Cities of the Fifth Class." This is
a very long bill, containing many pro
visions. Indeed, to such minute par
ticulars does it descend that if it should
become a law the cities thereby affect
ed would have little discretion left as
to the government of their own affairs.
As to the wisdom of many of the de
tails of the bill the executive has grave
doubts, but one of its provisions is so
highly objectionable that he contents
himself with resting his disapproval
upon that alone. The first clause of
Section 4 provides that a treasurer of a
city of the fifth class may appoint col
lectors of unpaid taxes, to whom be
shall deliver his warrant authorizing
the collectors to levy and sell the per
sonal property of the debtor for the
payment of the taxes due.
The bill then further provides that
"said warrant shall also empower the
collector, on failure of personal proper
ty beinff found sufficient to pay the
taxes assessed against any person or
persons, and twenty days' notic? having
been given to such person or persons
to pay said taxes, to take the body of
such delinquent, if found in said coun
ty, and convey him to the jail of the
proper county, there to remain until
the amount of such debt, together with
the costs, shall be paid, or secured to
be paid, or until he shall be otherwise
discharged by the course of law," I
will never give my approval to any
law to re-establish imprisonment for
debt in this Commonwealth. Such a
step backwards, out of the humane
civilization of to-day to the repellant
harshness of the laws of a century ago,
would be a blot and reproach upon the
fame of the State. It is difficult to
imagine how a bill containing such a
provision as the one cited ever passed
a Pennsylvania Legislature of to-day.
The insolvent delinquent taxpayer may
be unfortunate, but I will not consent
to the barbarism of making his poverty
and misfortune a criminal act.
ROBERT E. PATTISON.
THE SURVEYOR'S ACT DEAD.
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT,
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA, I
OFFICE OF TEIE GOVERNOR,
HARRISBURO, June 20, 1883. j
I herewith file in the office of the
Secretary of the Commonwealth House
bill No. 220, entitled "An act relative
to surveyors." This bill is an attempt
to regulate the business of surveying.
It requires surveyors, before proceeding
to take the bearing and distances of
boundary lines of surveys, to obtain at
station No. I, the bearing to certain
visible and permanent objects, and, as
they proceed, to correct doubtful marks
in the corners of surveys by taking
bearings to similar permanent objects.
Aside from the question whether the
Legislature has the right thus to direct
surveyors how they shall perform their
work, the bill itself, even if a wise and
legitimate exercise of legislative author
ity, would be absolutely impotent as
an enactment. It directs certain things
to lie done by surveyors, but imposes
no penalty of any kind for their failure
to obey the injunctions. It amounts
to little more than a mere request,
which may or may not be obeyed, ac
cording to the pleasure of the citizens.
The measure, therefore, being futile to
compel any good, and having doubts
as to its lawfulness, I decline to en
cumber the statute books with its
provisions.
ROBERT E. PATTISON.
Mormon Baptismal Rites.
RUTHERFORD, JX. C., June 15
Great indignation and talk of lynching
were the results here to-night of the
fir9t public service held at Duncan's
Creek, by the Mormon women mis
sionaries who have been gathering re
cruits in this section for the past
weeks. The four missionaries have
been holding prayer meetings and pre
senting flattering inducements to con
verts. This evening seven women and
three men who had professed the faith
were baptised in Duncan's Creek.
Several hundred people, about half the
number being woiueo, gathered on the
banks to witness the ceremony. The
place was lit up by pine knot torches.
The converts and missionaries arrived
about 7 o'clock and went into a small
house adjacent, and when night fell the
entire party of converts, male and fe
male, accompanied by the four mission
aries, left the building, all of them be
ing entirely naked. As thry marched
to the water there was a murmur of
surprise among the crowd, soon fol
lowed by hisses, but they did nqt in
terfere with the party.
The rite was performed in the mid
dle of the creek where the water was
scarcely waist deep, two of the mis
sionaries carrying pine knots in their
hands. After the ceremony a commit
tee of citizens waited upon the Mor
mons, and gave them notice io quit
the county at once on pain of summary
justice. Several of the women in the
party are quite pretty, and have borne
good The Mormons are
demoralized and gave assurance that
they would leave to-morrow for Utah.
A Request,
To each Sabbath School in the
couuty, you are requested to send me
the name and address of your Superin
tendent, with number of scholars in
your school and any other matters, to
assist me in making up the annual re
port for the Convention to be held at
North Washington, September Gth and
7th, 1883. Address,
11. S. DAUBENSPECK,
Sec'y Sunday School Association,
Bruin, Butler County, l'a.
Advertiso in the CITIZEN
ACTS APPROVED.
A Furlher List of Bills Signed by
the Executive.
II AURISBURU, June 20.—The Gov
ernor has approved the following bills :
House—An act to empower any
Judge of any Court of Common Pleas,
of any county of this Commonwealth,
to fix the place of election in certain
cases.
House—An act to require a brand
upon all goods made by convict labor.
House—An act to make accepted
orders and certificates for petroleum
negotiable.
Senate—An act providing for the
registration of practitioners of dentistry,
and penalties for violations of the
same.
Senate—A supplement to the act of
May 21, 1874, in reference to entail
ments.
House—An act to enable city, coun
ty, township and borough tax col
lectors to collect taxes for the payment
of which they have become personally
liable without having collected the
same, but by expiration of the author
ity of their respective warrants, and to
extend the time for collection of the
same for a .period of one year from the
passage of this act.
Senate—An act to facilitate the
proof and record of the title of real es
tate vested in the heirs of certain intes
tates.
House—An act to provide for the
disposal of the property of unincorpor
ated associations organized for benevo
lent, charitable or beneficial purposes,
upop the dissolution of the same.
Senate—An act amending the act es
tablishing the insurance department.
Senate—An act to regulate the com
putation of time under statutes, rules,
orders and decrees of court, and under
charters and by-laws of corporations,
public and private.
Senate—An act to authorize the cer
tificate of the recording of deeds, mort
gages and other instruments in certain
cases, where the proper officer has not
done so.
House—An act to provide for the
publication of the Pennsylvania arch
ives.
Senate —An act authorizing the
Courts of Common Pleas to decree the
satisfaction of mortgages upon pay
ment being made into said courts of
the amount of principal, interest and
all other money found to be due upon
such mortgages, in cases where the
legal holder or holders thereof shall re
side without the jurisdiction of this
Commonwealth, or shall have remov
ed therefrom without leaving a known,
duly-authorized attorney to enter satis
faction on full payment of such mort
gage money being made.
Luther's 400 th Birthday.
The 400 th anniversary of the birth
of Martin Luther, which falls in the
present year, is au event which appeals
with peculiar interest to the whole
Christian Church world The Lutheran
Church in the meetings of its ministers
and elsewhere, retraces with peculiar
pride and loving interest the life of
the great reformer whose name the
Church bears. But Luther's life and
work belong to all churches, and all
people have reaped benefit from the
labors of the aggressive founder of a
new church who dared to defy the
thunder of the Pope and the instru
ments of the Roman Catholic Church.
There were reformers contemporary
with Luther,as sincere, as self-denying,
as learned as he was. The sufferings
of some of them in the cause of the
true faith were even greater than his.
By precept and example they carried
the departure from the false doctrines
of the Church of Rome even farther
than Luther did. They were persist
ent unto the end of their lives, wander
ing about with a price upon their heads
to teach their disciples, and dying at
last upon the stake or as fugitives from
the fury of their persecutors. But the
Reformation needed a leader different
from these. They were persistent and
courageous, but to organize the forces
that had long recognized the evils of
the Romish Church, and to call a halt
upon their practice that would be heard
and heeded even at Rome itself, there
was needed a leader, aggressive, com
bative, of forceful personal character,
who could compel a following and
thunder back in reply to the bulls of
the Pope. The man was furnished for
the hour in the person of Martin
Lutber. When he arose the threaten
ed turning back of the hands upon the
dial cf the century was not carried
out.
That was nearly 400 years ago. The
400 th anniversary of his birth falls at a
time when man, striving to pierce the
future, is prone to conclude that the
world's work is about concluded. Ex
cepting the birth of Christ nearly all the
important events whose influence are
distinctly felt at the present day have
occurred within these 400 yea-s.
The Reformation itself,the discovery of
America, the fall of feudalism, the
growth of thought, the uprising of the
common people and the startling dis
coveries in science and triumphs in in
vention that have been crowded into
the last of these four centuries,seem to
leave no unexplored fields for man to
tread. Our lines have fallen into quiet
places, when leisure is allotted for con
sideration of the great deeds that have
been done, and for study of the lives
of the great actors, such as Luther, in
these events.
The permanency of the peace and its
security is probably but fancied. The
end of the rope is not yet reached.
The world at times mast pause to
breathe, that the race may be renewed
with redoubled speed. Feudalism is
dead, but we know that is traditions
are not dead. The common people,
but half aware of their power, still
blindly grope in the search for relief
from the inherited conditions of their
lot. Perhaps after the Reformation of
Luther the next great event of the
world may be the bloodless reforma
tion ending in the downfall of the tot
tering thrones of the kings. Even
now the crimes in Ireland and Russia
indicate that this reformation is going
on in those countries,as it is peacefully
under way in England and Germany.
Everywhere the people are reclaiming
the power which was originally of
them, and one lesson of Luther's con
test with the Church of Rome is that
no authority, however firm, powerful
and wide-reaching, can endure when
the people choose to claim their own.
Never again will their be a corporation,
potentate, political boss or ring, that
can wield as wide an authority as the
Pope did before Luther was done with
him, and the lesson of the Reformation
is that the remedy follows surely the
seizure of the rights of the people.—
Phila Press.
County Taxation.
EDITORS CITIZEN :
The question is often asked by the
tax payers of our county, why is our
couuty tax so high, and" why did the
present board of Commissioners levy
seven mills the present year. Now 1
propose to answer this question, and to
do so truthfully as I understand it.
And first when the present board of
Commissioners came into office on the
Ist of January, 1882, they found the
financial affairs of the county about as
follows, which all can see who examine
the Auditors' report of that date. It
shows that the retiring board of
Commissioners levied on the then ad
justed valuation, tour and one-half
mills, for county purposes, which raised
on said levy about $46,000. And by
examining the said report you will see
that the necessary expenditure of the
county was at least $58,000 and the
following debts unpaid at the first of
the year, 1882, viz : Dixmont Hospital,
about $4,000; Penitentiarv, $700;
Workhouse, $751 ; the Reform School,
$185; the Pittsburgh Bridge Company,
for Etna bridge and masonery of abut
ments $3,450, and SO,OOO of borrowed
money and numerous other small debts
amounting in all to about $10,036.
And the same Auditors' report shows
that the outgoing Treasurer, Craig,
turned over to Treasurer J. H. Miller
$4,600 in cash, and about $14,500 of
uncollected tax that all the collectors
percentage, all the exonerations and all
the lost tax would be deducted, reduc
ing the real amount realized by the
county according to Treasurer Miller's
report to about $7,000, making the
neat amount of cash in the treasury on
the Ist of January, 1882, about sll,-
600, not enough to pay the debt of the
county by several hundred dollars and
the necessary expense of our Court to
be met from that date until the follow
ing October before the present board
could possibly realize one dollar on the
levy made by them. Such being the
condition of the county funds the pres
ent board of Commissioners were forced
to borrow a large sum of money to
meet the demand, and it is evident
that the expenses of the county will
increase as the population increases,
and as long as men will go to law as
they have done dnring the last year
the amount of expenses will still in
crease. I don't believe for one moment
that the tax payers of the county know
what every suit that is brought into
court and tried costs them. To illus
trate just what I mean I will give
some facts. Sometime last January
there was a suit tried in the court here
as follows : A sued B for maintaining
a nuisance in the shape of a hog pen in
cloae proximity to A's house. The
smell was so offensive that A could not
eat at the table with any comfort, so
he sued B for maintaining a nuisance
so close to his house. The trial com
menced on Friday morning, and lasted
until the following Tuesday. The jury
held and was paid for the Sabbath day,
or about twenty-eight hours. Now I
am informed that it costs the county
about thirty dollars per hour to run the
court, hence the above trial cost the
county $864. So you may see just
what it costs the tax payers to tell
whether a hog pen at your door is a
nuisance. Now we don't want to be
understood as casting any reflections
on the judicial bench of our county, but
I do want to be understood as reflect
ing on the litigating parties who are so
keen to law at the public expense,
when nine times out of ten there is no
cause for action. Again there is
another class of lawsuits in which the
county suffers in her financial affairs
and that is in all Commonwealth cases,
and forty-nine out of fifty of these have
their origin in the use and abuse of
alcoholic drinks. The records of your
own court will show just what I say,
and yet there is to be found in every
township and borough in the county
good men, who will sign the petition
of the applicant for license for those
who wish to engage in retailing this
dangerous drug the sale and use of
which is the direct cause of four-fifths
of your tax burthen. Now I believe it
is logical to reason from cause to effect
and from effect to cause, and if this be
true it does not require the wisdom of
Solomon to tell that it is wrong to
grant license to any men to engage in
any business, the effects of which are
so pernicious and cause so much trouble
and expense. Nearly every offense in
the catalogue of crime is committed
under the influence of strong drink.
This is a fact that is self-evident and
needs no proof. Then if this be true
the licensing of all these houses for the
sale of strong drink is wrong and the
cause of all our trouble. Again, in the
last triennial assessment the aggregate
value of the whole county falls about
one and a half million dollars below the
assessment of 1879, and the necessary
amount of money to meet the current
expenses of the county could not be
raised by less millage. The expendit
ure from January, 1882, to January,
1883, was about $55,000 and the pres
ent year shows an increase. Again
there is some fault to be found with
Justices of the Peace all over our
county, who are too ready to give law
to whoever may ask for such a remedy.
They will suffer some party to make
information against some other party
and cause the arrest of the party com
plained of, and either commit him to
jail or hold him under bail for his ap
pearance at court, and when the case is
called and tried the bottom falls out of
the case and the county is ordered to
pay the cost. At one term of our
court five Commonwealth cases were
called and only one of them held water,
the other four having no foundation
In fact all these were from the return
of justices of the peace and
if they would only be a
little more careful and give law only
those who need redress, the county
would be called on for less costs. If
all our citizens would study this mat
ter over and refrain themselves and ad
vise their neighbors to less going to
law about trifles, your taxes would be
reduced and the grass would spring
up around your temple of justice.
11. W. G.
A N alienator from Florida, two feet
long, was received at the express office
here, on Monday. It was sent to the
Orphans' Home and came in a box
THE theatrical entertainment in the
Court House on Monday evening, by
the Union Square Theatre Company,
was well attended and every body
pleased with the performances. The
Company will hold forth this, Tues
day, evening, and every evening this
week.
A. TROUT MA N,
I'EALEB IN
DRY GOODS, NOTIONS. TRIMMINGS.
Carpets, Oil Cloths, Rugs, Mats, Stair Rods, Etc.
DRESS GOODS AND SILKS
At lowest prices of black and Colored Silks.
New tthudes in C sinner*. A tine and large as
sortment of Nuns' Veiling, Buntings and Uiiu
Summer Dress Goods.
WHITE DRESS GOODS,
Largest assortment, lowest prices. Infants'
White Dress Cloaks. White Dresses lor chil
dren 1, 2, and :! years old.
Large Stock of Laces in White and Black Ruchings, Embroideries, Insert
ings, Irish Trimmings, Collars for Children and Ladies, Cuffs, Sash Ribbons,
Fishues, Lace Tics, Handkerchiefs in Silk, Linen and Cotton. Black Crape
and Crape Veils.
HOSIERY! HOSIERY! HOSIERY
Fancy Hosiery for children in great variety.
Fancy Ilosieiy for ladies, all qualities and
prices. Men and boys' Socks. Stock the
largest; prices the lowest.
Summer Underwear
For children, ladies and men. Umbrellas and Parasols in fancy Satin, Silk
Alapacas, Ginghams, Serge, &c.
CARPETS AND OIL CLOTHS
Large and fine selected stock, all absolutely new styles. Brussels, Ingrains
Cottage Hemp, Rag, Mattings, Rugs, <fec.
Please call and examine stock and prices.
A. TROUTMAN.
BUTLEB, PA
iSOIt EXTREMELY LOW PRICE TO
ONE PRICE THE TIME lias come and we are ready to ONE PRICE
show the people of this county the Largest,
ONE PRICE Cheapest and best stock of ONE PRICE
ONE PRICE Mens', Youths', Boys' & Childrens' Clothing, ONE rRIt;E
ONE PRICE ALSO A FINK LINE OF ! ONE PRICE
ONEEE.CE JIA TS, CAPS ONE FKICE
ONE PRICE _AJNI> ONE PRICE
QSHTS' FURNISHING QOODS,
ONE PRICE ' ONE PRhIK
Marked in Plain Figures at One Extremely Low Price.
ONE TRICE M j ONE PRICK
ONE I'EIqE 0116 OS]!pK , CB
Popular Character all the World over, will Play UK Leading Part at
' XEP,,UE , J. N. PATTERSON'S, "I
ONE PRICE " ONE PRhIE
OXE PRICE CLOTHING HOUSE,
ONE PRICE g OUTH corner DUFFY'S BLOCK, BUTLER, PEFN'A, ° NE PRICE
= ONE EXTREMELY LOW"PRICE TO ALL IT.
D. A. HECK,
CARPETS, CLOTHING
AND
GENTS' FURNISHING GOODS.
JUSTICE TO AIJL.
ONE PR ICE ONLY.
TERMS CASH.
DUFFITS BLOCK, MAIN ST., BUTLER, PA.
The W. C. T. Union.
Our citizens have enjoyed recently
many excellent literary and musical
entertainments, all of which it has
given us pleasure to commend. But
that given by the Womens' Christian
Temperance Union in the Court House
on Tuesday evening, 19th inst., is
is worthv of especial mention and
praise. All the exercises wer- choice
and select in character, and the young
ladies and gentlemen went through
their parts with great credit. One new
feature was the appearance of some
new performers, who added variety and
interest to the occasion. We allude to
Mrs. Greib and her two younger sisters,
Misses Lina and Mamie Pape, who, with
Mr. Thomas Stehle, Jr., their uncle,
favored the audience with music, both
vocal and instrumental, that was
highly appreciated. We think they
deserve special mention as it was their
first appearance in the Court House, we
believe, on such occasions. To the
Womens' Christian Temperance Union
great credit is due for their efforts in
the cause in which they are engaged.
Considering the inclemency of the
weather the entertainment they gave
was a success and much enjoyed by all
present.
Church Exercises.
In the English Lutheran Church of
this place on Sunday last there were
held very interesting services, in addi
tion to the regular services of the day.
The occasion was the commemoration
of the reading of the Augsburg Con
fession (June 25, 1530.) before the
Emperor Charles V, then the principal
ruling power in Europe and hostile to
the Reformers led by Luther and Me
lancthon. In the forenoon an able ser
mon was preached by the He v. \ . B.
Christy, of Zelienople; in the afternoon
one by the Rev. Peter RifTer, of Mid
dle Lancaster, and in the evening one
by the Rev. G. W. Critchlow, of Pros
pect, in which the trials of the Reform
eis, in connection with the promulga
tion of the Augsburg Confession, were
vividly and ably presented.
Similar services will be held in the
English Lutheran Church at Prospect,
this county, on next Sunday, July Ist,
at 10:30 A. M., and 3 P. M., to which
the public are cordially invited.
McCi'RDY * Co.. FhiU<klpiu»,r».
TABLE LINEN
in Bleached and Unbleached, Turkey Keds,
German at.d In'cy; Towels and Toweling, Nap
kins, Wbite quilts in great variety; L»ce Bed
Sets, Lace Lambrequins, Lace Curtains.
DOMESTICS.
Best makes of Ginghams, Muslins, Zephyr
Cloth, Seresncker, Law us, .Shirtings,
Sheetiugs, Cassimers, Jeans, Tweeds, Ac.
GLOVES! GLOVES!
Kid Gloves in all qualities and prices; Si!k
Glo>es, Berliu Gloves, Lisle Thread Gloves,
You will lind inv Gloves stccK complete,
Mitt, black and colored,
BANNER
POWDER
Always the Best.
STRAWBERRY CAKE.
To tlio yolks of tliree eggs beateu add ona
cup white sugar, one-lialf cup butter, oue-lialf
cup sweet milk, two cups flour having in it one
measure "BANNER" Baking Powder, the whitea
of three eggs beaten stiff; bake in jelly-cake
pans; when cold, and iust before eating, plaoe
in layers, covering each one with strawberriea
which liavo previously been sugared.
Strawberry Nliorl Cake.
Take one pound of flour; mix well through it
one aud a half measures "BANNER" Baking
Powder; add two tea-spoonfuls Bait ; then rub in
one-half pound shottening; add with a spoon
one-half pint sweet milk; bake in jelly-cake
pane; when cold, and just before eating, place
in layors, covering each one with strawbeiriea
which have previously been sugared.
SUMMER NORMAL"
AND
ELOC UTION,
AT
North Washington Academy,
OPENS JULY 24. 1883.
Byron W. King, of Cuny Institute, Pitts
burgh, Pa., will have charge of Elocution, 4c.
Specialties made of
BOOK-KEEPING,
PENMANSHIP,
METHODS
AND E 3V: 73.
Send for circular to R. D. CRAWFORD
North Hope, Butler County, Fa.
"J"
# 1 198 LIBERTY ST. ■
PITTBBUKQK. 3" A.
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