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About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 22, 1887)
THE OMAHA DAILY BEE : TUESDAY , FEBRUARY 22. 1S87. THE DAILY BEE. B. ItOSnWATEK , EniTOn. THE BI3I3. Sworn Rtntcnicnt of Circulation. Stntoof Nobraskn , I. County of Uonglas.SV | Uco. It. Tzflchuck , secretary of Tim Bee Publishing company , docs solrrrtnly swear that tlm Rctunl cirmlntlon of th Dally Dee lor tiio week ending Feb. 18th , ltW7. was as follows : Dale. ttorntno Evening Total. Salurdar. Kef ) . 12 . 7,750 0,550 14.1)00 ) .Similar. Feb. 18 . 14.000 Monday. Fob. 14 . 8.175 0.570 14.74.1 Tuesday. Feb. 15 . 7,575 O.KO 14.135 WudlHrtdav Fcb.ia..7.fi75 0,500 14,07/i / Thursday. Keb. 17. . 7.575 0,550 J4.1M Friday , Feb. 18. . 7.573 0,510 14.083 Average . 7.701 o.ffts uno. U. TzscnucK. Subscribed In my presence and sworn to be fore mo tills 10th day of February A. D.,1637. ' ' I8EALI Mo'tnr'y Public , Oco. U. Tzschnct , bolnc first duly sworn , deposes nnd says that ho Is secretary of The Bco Publishing company , that the actual nv- craeo dally circulation of the Bally Hco for the month of Fobruarr. 183(5 ( , was 10,695 copies ; for March , 1880 , 11,637 copies : for April , 1880 , 13.191 copies : for for May , 1880. 12,439 copies ; for June , 1880. 12,2 8coplc' > ; for .July. 18SO , 12.314 copies ; for Aueust. 18SC. 18,404 eoplesjfor September. 18SO , 13,030 copies ; for October , 1880 , 12,039 copies ; for November , 1880 , 13,343 conies ; for December , 1880 , 13,237 copies for January , 1887 , 10,200 copies. . , . QKO. B. Tzscirucic. btitacrlticdand sworn to before mo tills 8th dny of February A. D. 1887. I SEAL. I N. P. FKIU Notary Public. P BtSMAitCK nnd the double-headed caglo of Gurmany iiro screaming loudly over tlic result of the elections. SiXTV-threo per cent increase over last year is the latest clearings record made by Omaha. There- a world of meaning in the figures. WEDNESDAY will usher in Lent. The forty days of penitence arc respectfully commended to the consideration of the railroad lobby. WITH diphtheria , scarlet fever and measles prevalent in onr city the argu ments' against unclean back yards r.nd lilthy alloya needs no reinforcement. COAI , is being found in paying quanti ties all over the state. It is "found on the track and in yards , the prevailing price running from $3 to $13 a ton. SIT.CW.A.TION in Omaha during the past three days has been largely diverted from outside lots to inside Patti concert tiek- ots. Ono costs about as much as the other. TUB need of target practice for the Omaha police force is not apparent when an otliccr lying on the ground onhis side can fatally wound a citi/en at a block's distance. DOUOT.AS COUNTY pays one-ninth of all the taxes collected in Nebraska. This is doubtless the reason that the Nebraska legislature is anxious that other counties should override the wishes of her tax payers. IN'the closing hours of his term Senator Van Wyck keeps up his labors for Ne braska. His cllorts to secure appropria tions for river improvements between St. doe and Omaha have boon eminently HUCCOasful. A IIOAKD of public works that cannot be used to further the private interests of the contractors does not naturally com mend itself to the plunder and patronage lobby at Lincoln. But it will be approved by the taxpayers. A OKEAT deal of opposition is develop ing to Captain Grooly's promotion. The average army ofliccr looks with horror on a jump from a captaincy to a briga dier-generalship in other arms of the service than his own. AMID all the howl about the new charter - tor from the contractor and scavenger brigade the one fact stands out clearly that under its rigid provisions Con Gal lagher will not bo able to draft and accept his own contracts with the city. TiinitK are renewed rumors regarding Parncll's serious illness. The BISK'S ca blegrams several days ago denied , on the authority of the nationalist leaders , that Parnoll's health was in any way seriously nflectcil or that he wasMiiflering from any fatal disease. THE joint resolution of the senate , passed at the last session , providing for : m amendment of the constitution chang ing the time for the inauguration of the president to the DOth day of April , ha been agreed to by the house judiciary committee , and the member having it In charge is authorized to pass it nndor sus pension of the rules. It provides that the term of ofllco of the president and the second session of the fiftieth congress thai ! continue until the last Tuesday in April in the year 1880 , and that the 30th of April shall thereafter bo substituted for the 4th of March as the commence ment of the ollloial term ot successive presidents , vice presidents and congress of the United States. Tnu Kails' ship-railway bill , amended so that Its provisions are now materially different from the original measure , was passed by the sonata near the oloso of last wouk. Every proposition of a sub sidy character has been eliminated from it , and it is now simply an act of national incorporation of the Atlantic & Pacilic Ship iallway company , with the following limitations- . : that the block ahull not exceed $100,000,000 , and that whim $10,000,000 of it has been sub scribed for and fully paid up it may bo assignable ; that no bonus sliall uo au thorized until the paid-in capital amount * to $5,000,000) , , ) nnd that if thcso conditions are not satisfied within two years the charter will expire by limitation , In this form the bill passed the senate by a vote of 40 to 7. This having been acconip- lishod , the Nicaragua canal bill , cham pioned by Senator Edmunds , which stands on the same footing , as it does not ask for anything but a national charter , probably will pass also. The eflbrls of both companies , should their bills become - como laws , would bo directed towards obtaining money through the influence , of their charters. It of course remains to bo seen what arguments they can bring to bear to induce the investment of capital. Of the two , the Nicaragua oanul scems-to bo the more feasible and practical , but in cither case the compa nies will have to ninko a delluito choiring of whst'they can do as a guarantee for japital. . . ' ' . . Ncv York nnil ttio Treasury. A great deal of guessing Is being done ns to who will succeed Manning as sec retary of the treasury , The opinion prevalent a week ago that Mr. Falrchlld , the assistant secretary , would be Ihn fortunate nmn , Is now less generally held , for the reason wo have hitherto pre sented , namely , that lie cannot brine to the position the political strength desired by the administration nnd its support ers , Proved capacity , fidolily and ofH- cicncy arc not all the qualifications re quired of a cabinet officer in the present exigency. To bo entirely available ho must have political power and a follow ing. In this respect the assistant secre tary is not strong , and ho appears not to bo the sort of man to" mnko a successful nnd useful politician of the kind the Ad ministration will need during the next year , llcnco there is said to bo no longer any doubt that Mr. I'airchild will not bo Mr. Manning's successor , P.umor lins been busy with the names of several other prominent democrats for this position. Mr. Pcndloton is believed to have been called homo cither to bo given the treasury portfolio or to replace some present member of the cabinet possibly .Bayard who would bo trans ferred to the treasury. Pcndlo ton is in Washington , and a dis patch from tliat city states that lie is extremely reticent respecting the object of his return homo. The im pression that ho is to go into the treasury has raised , the objection to him that his financial views in the past have not been in accord with the present policy of the treasury. This , however , would not bo regarded as a fault by a majority of the democrats in congress , who might bo drawn into closer intimacy and sympathy with the administration if Pondlcton were a member ot it. Ho is , moreover , a very respectable force in democratic pol itics and a man of undoubted ability. It might prove to bo good tactics on the part of Mr. Cleveland to find a place in his official household for Mr. Pcndlcton. Mr. Carlisle has also been named , but there arc several reasons why his ap pointment is not probable. Primarily , to accept a cabinet office in the middle of the administration's term would bo a political blunder which it is presumed the Kentucky statesman is too shrewd to make. It is not apparent that such a po sition could bo of any advantage to him politically. His connection with the ad ministration might strengthen it with the party , or with the stronger clement of the patty of which Mr. Carlisle is the leader , but the value of this advantage would be somewhat uncertain. The bettor reasons seem to be against Mr. Carlisle desiring a cabinet position or the president being disposed to give him one. Congressman Scott appears to bo no longer thought of , and the suggestion of the names of Mc Donald and Morrison is not entitled to a moment's consideration. Meanwhile there is said to be a strong pressure from New York , and tliero are good reasons to believe it may not be un availing. Mr. Cleveland desires and needs to strengthen himself in every pos sible way in that state. In the game ho is compelled to play against Hill ho can not afford to lose one trick. New York is the lighting ground which he must hold or hazard all. Nowheto else is ho confronted by any serious danger , or at least none which he cannot easily over come if his state remains loyal to him. The present situation there is doubtful , with the tendencies rather unfavorable to the president. They may very easily bo rendered more so. The retirement of Man ning from the administration will weaken it in New York unless a successor to him is found among the democratio leaders o that state. Mr. Manning cannot be politically so useful at the head of a bank as at the head of the treasury department , and it is not ques tionable that some of his following who have remained loyal to the administra tion because they could serve him , may llnd it expedient to transfer their support when ho is no longer in a position re quiring their service. Another leader in ay be able to make tip for Mich a de fection , and thus at least hold the forces of the administration numerically intact. Furthermore , the demand of the financial and commercial interests of Now York that they should bo represented in the national treasury by a citi/cn of that state will not bo lightly regarded by the president. The policy of the administra tion thus far as affecting those interests has been wholly prompted and directed from this source , and whether or not Mr. Cleveland desires to change thi9 , which has not been to the general advantage of his administration , ho would hardly ven ture to do so under existing circumstan ces. These reasons render the appoint ment of a New York man to succeed Manning strongly probable. Such an appointment would assure the domination of Wall street ideas in the treasury during the continuance of the present administration , and it is not doubted that the Influence of Mr. Man ning will bo exerted to accomplish this. There is perhaps nothing serious to bo apprehended from such a condition so long as there is n majority in congress not under the influence of those ideas , since the secretary of the treasury has no choice but to obey the will of congtess , although ho may do so reluctantly and stubbornly , for the purpose of obstruct ing , if not defeating , that will , as the present secretary is alleged to have done. But it is obviously desirable that the head of the financial department of the gov ernment should not bo a man Irrevocably wedded to the opinions of a section or yielding absolute obedience to such opin ions. Such a man cannot be a broad , wise and safe counsellor in all circum stances. The great secretaries of the treasury in the Ja.it twenty.fivo years- Chase , Fosscnden , McCulloch , Sherman were not of this class , and the fact that the outgoing secretary is has constituted the obstacle to an entirely success ful ad ministration of the treasury for which ho alone might have received the credit. Uuttcrlne Life Insurance , Colonel Sabin , secretary o * the West ern Mutual Benevolent insurance con cern , of Beatrice , has had himself care fully pumped by the Lincoln reporters , and has very reluctantly come to the front to ti'll what ho would like people to believe about the solidity of the com pany. The modesty with which ho pronounces as n tissue of falsehoods everything we have published about- his benevolent and charitable enterprise , is in strjkitu ; contrast to tile adamantine cheek of the average polksy sharp. Mr , Sabin-launches out with-a tirade against Mr. Burrows , and winds * up with the com forting assurance that ho has no influence whatever. He manages , however , U sandwich in n nicely prepared bill ol particulars which goes to show , if It were true , that a number qf the company's loans are well placed , and that one woman has actually received $0,000 on two policies , which probably called for $12,000 more or less. Wo arc very glad to hear that the Mutual BencvQlont mort- gases are placed on property double their value , but the trouble with the property that wo have investigated is that cither" prior loans exist or the signers of the mortgages cannot convoy title. The Colby and the Sabin mortgages referred to would not bo worth the paper they arc written on If Colby and Sabin should re sist their foreclosure , As to the business of the company we do not dispute thai it has been lucrative. So was Dr Buchanan's diploma mill down In Phil adelphia and other enterprises gotten up on business principles for "benevolent1 objects. The company and its ofllcer.s are in thU instance the chief benefi ciaries. It is hardly ncccssar.y to add that Mr. Burrows is not the subject In which the policy holders have much interest. Bur rows may be a very disagreeable busy body , but the Mutual Benevolent cannot shield Itself and its agents behind that screen. Wo still Insist that the auditor should overhaul the concern , not only to satisfy himself that they are making pretense of complying with the law b > some makeshift , but by searching the records nnd exposing their past condition and methods. If , as it is alleged am believed , this company has inflated its assets and propped itself on bogus secur ities and shirked Its liabilities , proper stops should bo taken for the protection of the public. If there is no law for such procedure then there should bo a law passed by the legislature at this ses sion to prevent further imposition by the butterinc insurance sharks. Advancing Immbnr HitcR. ; The first move of the Western Traffic association under the inter-state com merce law has been to advance the lum ber rate from Chirago to Council Bluffs and Omaha from Mto 20 oonts a hundred pounds. The reason given for this action is the higher rates prevailing at interior points. Sooner than to reduce the local rates to the Omaha rates the railroads Imve advanced the Omaha toll above those charged to local points. The result is a curious one which forms the most pregnant of all arguments for a prompt fixing of maximum rates by the states of Iowa and Nebraska. Illinois and Missouri have laws fixing a maxi mum freight rate. In consequence the Southwestern Traffic association has not been able to follow suit and advance the rates to Kansas City. In other words , as the result of prior state regulation , Illi nois and Missouri are now exempted from an arbitrary advance of rates from which Iowa and Nebraska must suffer until they aflbrd themselves relief by the same means. Tfio I'nvlusr Contractors' I'niil. Barring the railroad lobby , the most desperate onslaught on the new charter has been made by the pavingcontractors' gang , of whom Hugh Murphy and Con Gallagher are head and front. Their point of attack was the proposed board of public works. They and their strikers insolently demand that the provision of the new charter which reorganizes the board bo dropped and the old section with the present system be retained. In this demand they not only enlisted the dissipated crew of reporters at Lincoln , witli whom they drank , dined and gam bled , but also , by some mysterious inllu ence , have brought to their aid Mayor Boyd through his famous letter"to Colonel Colby. Now wo propose to show Hie masons why the paving con tractors arc making this raid upon the charter , and through it upon the taxpay ers and property owners of Omaha. To do this we must recite the his tory of the present board , which was organized four years ago , with James Crcighton as chair man. Mr. Creighton was a very efficient , and as far as is known , upright officer. Ho appointed as clerk of the board his son-in-law , Con Gallagher , who is by no means too good for any thing. Mr. Galla gher was then clerk in the Union Pacific headquarters and drew at the same time $35 per month from the city as clerk of the board. In this capacity ho be came very useful to himself , and his present partner , Murphy. He handled all the contractors' bids , and was very often in a position to give valuable poin ters to the inside ring which operated with him. For instance , when Mr. Fox put in a bid for paving Farnam street. When Farnam street was graded the enormous contract was lot to a firm , of which Gallagher was a silent partner , while at the same time fie was olerk of the board of public works. In other words , ho handled the bid * as confidential agent of the board , had un interest in the contract and was in posi tion to promote his own interest and that of his partners' in the acceptance of the work and auditing of the bills. It has oven been assorted at differ ent times by one of his present partners that when Gallagher was clerk of the board ho would sometimes road off bids different from what they actually were , and thus beat one class of bidders in the interest of their competitors. Such barefaced jobbery ami rascality could not happen under the now charter , which expressly prohibits all oily officials , councllmon and employes of the city from having any interest director indi rect in any contract , work or letting. .Since Mr. Creighton retired Gallagher has become partner In the largest con tractors' firm in Omaha. During the last year this linn did $250,000 worth of pav ing , curbing , guttering , etc. , of which , at a low estimate , the profits were 140,000. This work was all awarded by the pres ent board of public works and done under its so-called supervision. Mr. J. E. House , the chairman of the board , is a man whose integrity nobody will ques tion , but ho has been like potters' clay in the hands of Gallagher and his con tractors. Every contract awarded to Murphy , [ Jallaghor & Co. this year was drawn by Con Gallagher himself. Sumo of these contracts were drawn cunningly so as to : illou the contractor prolitablo extras. Hho city engineer never saw these con tracts and had no clianco to insert specifications that would prevent im position. It is a notorious fact Ihat Con Gallagher drew up some of his own contracts , had them indorsed by Chairman House within an hour , and rushed through the city council the same night. Under the now charter fho engi neer would become equally responsible with the chairman of the board , and the council could not pass upon them hastily under restriction imposed. This is one reason why Mur phy , Gallagher and the pavlnp gang oppose the new board of public works , and their greased organ-grinders are making such1 assaults on the new board. There Is another very good rea son why the now board of public works would not suit the paving pang. For the last year , the contractors have practically dictated the appointment of all in- ppcclors , and when any inspector dared to raise Ills voice against bad work or in ferior material ho was transferred or laid off. When the contractors have con trol of the inspectors , as they can by log rolling with councilman , they virtually do just as they please. When the work is done it is impossible to delect the im position , and their estimates are allowed , Under the now charter the board of pub lic works has the entire responsibility for the fitness and faithfulness of inspectors , and the city engineer , as a member ol the board , becomes a party to their selec tion. tion.Now Now , it Is matter of record that the ed itor of the BUM , who was a member ol the citizens' charter committee , was ab < ecnt from Omaha when the provision reorganizing - organizing the board of public works was discussed and adopted by that coir mil tuc. The contractors , and their allies of the monopoly press , cannot truthfully charge that this part of the charter has been tam pered with through his personal Interior once. The Douglas county delegation has not changed one word of that section , and hence all the howl against them on that score is utterly inexcusable. Dr. Peck's Dentil. Another prominent figure is removed from the rapidly thinning ranks ol Omaha's ' pioneers in the death of Dr. J , P. Peek. Among the earliest of profes sional arrivals in Omaha , for more than thirty years he has walked among us the Nester of practicing physicians , beloved by a largo circle of friends and respected and esteemed in the community whjcli he saw grow from a straggling village to n powerful city. Dr. Peck's most marked characteristic as a professional man was his sturdy common sense in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases which placed experience above mere theory. At his bust he had no superior in the application of his knowledge of therapeu tics. His soothing presence , kindly sym pathy and genial smile brought light and comfort to many a sick room. lie was essentially the family phvslcian in the best sense of the term and hundreds ol home.throughout Nebraska bear grateful witness to his skill and tenderness. EUewhoro the BEB has presented an outline of his life. It was a long and a busy one , memory of which will be long held in the hearts of those to whom ho ministered in times of trouble and of pain. It1 the contractors and city scavengers are to make our charter Omaha tax pay ers will save themselves the trouble In the future of securing their ablest law yers and most prominent citizens to dratt such instruments. The Con Gal- laghcrs , Fiinnings and Murphies will be retained as a permanent committee on charter revision. PERSONAL preferences should each and all yield to the public demand in the matter of railway regulation. Any meas ure which secures the required end will do , Division in the ranks of the friends of anti-monopoly will be fatal to the in terests which they honestly desire to serve. T CLEVELAND finds "no war rant in the constitution" for several of the measures'passed bv a democratic congress. But what has the constitution to do with ti democracy which twenty-live years ago were busy in the attempt to prove it a rope of sand. GENERAL Mosur is writing his memoirs under the title of "Mosby's Raid. " The author who will write the history of the various raids on the state treasury at Lincoln proposed in a score of bills now under discussion will find a large and interested audience. STATE AM > TKURITOUY. Nebraska Jottings , Mason City is promised a Hour mill. Music is taught in the Pawnee public schools , Crete paid freight bills to the amount of $3UO,000 last year. Fremont is promised a $20,000 , manu facturing enterprise. Cedar rapids voted unanimously to put $5,000 in a public .school. Fred Meyer , of Fremont , has a grand father's clock 200 years old. Nothing less than 100,000 inhabitants in five yearn will satisfy Lincoln. Ord threatens to put a squad of fifty militia men in the field. Ah , there , Canada ! Plattsmouth is reviving with the spring thaw , real estate prices are stiffening and now railroads are skirmishing in the suburbs. Kearney boasts that she will have "tho largest opera house in the state" before the close of . The ' the season. town's am bition is limited to the earth. The Fullerton Journal issued a double number last week , Betting forth , in tim- plo colors , the growth and prospects of Nance county. It is a splendid adver tisement for the country and a creditable enterprise. Andy Jackson will run in opposition to Biigham Young on the resurrectionist ticket next voar. The cotton halo hero was found chewing the nails off his coffin recently , and will bo brought at the appointed - pointed time. The item going the rounds of the state press that Omaha's city hall will cost $50,000 is one-fourth truth. The cost of the foundation contracted for is $48,000 , and the estimated cost of the building complete is $100,000. J. M. Nlchol , yanlmastor of the Flk- horn Valley road at Norfolk , and James Doav.v , operating a switch cnsiino , arbi trated a dispute with sulphurated words , lanterns , coupling pins and hammers. -The crown sheet ot Dcavv's Jaw was cracked by a hammer , and Nichol's na sal Hues were stove in. The arbitrators asked leave to sit again after the doctors are through with the repairs. The prosperity of Nebraska the present year will exceed all expectations. Prop erty values are advancing steadily in ovcry town in the state , and substantial Xoms are ; scattered broadcast. The marvelous growth of Omalia has given leighborlng towns a boost of considera ble force , and'tho effect is shown in vari ous industiial schemes of local and gen eral benefit. Tiiff jealous feeling toward j the metropolis which has existed in sev eral towns \ now confined to a few small hearted individuals , and the stale ns a wliolo tramples potty spite- under foot. The narrow * chested must give way to the broad shouldered and big hearted men who are guiding the state on the highway of progress. town Moms. Iowa inventors corralled 425 of the patents issued hist yc.ir Rabbits are peeling nil the apple treca in the Dccatur county orchards. Manilla , Crawford county , but a few Weeks old , has a population of 400. The boom has struck Sioux City. Real estate transfers last Saturday amounted to iHM.OOO. Dos Molnes proposes to compel the rail roads running Into Unit city to gate their crossings. There are 128 national banks In Iowa , nnd they have a combined capital of ? 10,295,000. The Cedar Falls library contains 2,530 , volumes. The total receipts of the year wcro $853.07 , the expenditures $017.00. The balance on hand is $211.08. An expert In coal mining agrees to find coal in paving quantities inside the cor porate limits of Leon , provided ho is guaranteed the sum of $0,000. In case of failure he will incur all expenses. Engineer Simpson , of the Burlington , Cedar Rapids ofe Northern road , started out of Burlington last Monday with anew now locomotive and had a lively run. Ho first killed a steer , ran into a freight train and then killed a hor.se. At Washburn , one night last week , a young man in a tit ot somnambulism arose ireni his bed , dressed himselt and then built a fire in the stove. When the room was comfortably warm ho prepared to shave himself. Hu made the lather , strapped his razor , and after coating his face well wltii lather began to tonsure. His nerve , however , did not appear steady and before ho had made much headway the ra/.or was gliding down the board to the roots. Three gashes were made in his face before ho was aroused from his somnambulistic condition. Prophet Foster , of Burlington , fur nishes genuine specimens of March weather in advance , lie predicts a stormy nnd tornado month , with slight intermis sions tor rest and recuperation. Small tornadoes are on the list for the 1st and 2d. Owners of unsheltered stock in Colorado. Nebraska , western Kansas , In dian territory and northern Texas are likely to sustain heavy losses from this storm from the 1st to id ! as the probabili ties largely favor a "blizzard" in the former two states and a "norther" in the others. The second storm wave will bo due on the Olst meridian March 0 , and will bo intensified by the earth's nearest approach to the sun's magnetic polo on the 10th and by the moon passing over the earth's the Another equator on same day. other storm is looked for on the llth. The fifth storm will strike the country on or about the 25th , and the last storm for the month will cross the Mississippi on the 3lst. Further on the prophet says : "The excessive rams last of March and first week in April will damage farming lands in various ways , principally by washing the land and the growing small gram. Whatever can be done to prevent damage from these sources will Pay to bo lopkeu after. After the storm of April 4 will bo the time for farm work. The weather will bo warm and fine and oats and spring wheat sowed about that time will have many chances of success. " Dakota. The Rapid City School of Mines was formally opened last Thursday. The lion Hill smelter when completed will compete for Black Hills ore with the Omaha reduction works. There are 120,085 head of cattle in the two counties of Butte and Lawrence , representing a value of $5,500,000. Over : i do/en brick business buildings , to bo erected this year , have already been planned and contracted for at Canton. Mike Haley , now at Bismarck , offers to fight any man in the territory for the sum of100 or hall receipts. Mike evi dently has not forgotten how to use his mouth. Fears are experienced at Pierre that with an early breaking of the river north a flood will bo caused on the Missouri river bottoms , owing to the large amount of snow and thick ice. In 1870 there were only three priests and a few Catholics in Dakota. Now there are 1 bishop , 1 vicar general , 80 priests , 125 churches , 52 chapels , 4 acada- mies , 23 parochial schools , 20 students for priesthood and over 50,000 Catholics. PROMINENT JL'EUSONS. Augustus LIttlcjohn , a celebrated orntor forty years ago.hus become a pauper at Kala- nia/.oo , Mich. John C. Cnlhoim , grandson of the Kreat South Caiollnlan , has tlm second lanjcst cot ton field in the United States. William PcNel , Inisbaml of arIl ) Presnott , lias commenced prociecdiiiKS for divorce on the ground of infidelity. The late Mrs. Henry Wood never received a cent on about a million copies of "East Lynne" sold In this country , ! Senator-elect Itcagan Is now living with his third wife and Intrusts to her supervi sion his not very profitable Texas farm. The Marquis ile Neuvllle Is lavishly spend ing money to entertain Americans at his London house , lie delights In clam bakes. After the adjournment of congress the Itov. W. U. Mllburn , cliaplln of the house , will Jill the pulpit of the Tiinty Methodist Kplscopal church. Chicago , while the pastor , Dr. Alabaster , socks rest and renewed health. Now York Graphic : Miss Uiaco Howard , daughter of "Joe" Howard , Is going to Da kota next month to spent two or three years in Instructing tlio Indians. Miss Howard Is an exceedingly talented woman , with a Fomowhat strong mind. Tliero Is said to ex ist n strong friendship between the lady and Miss Cleveland. The Preacher in the Licft Flclrt. Sf. IViul Gl/ibe. It Is an affair llko Boston paying 310,000 for tlm release of a crack player In the Chicago ball nine that confirms every poorly paid clergyman * in tlio country In the belief that this life is but a fleeting show. The Trnuhlo with Cleveland , Iftu. ' Yoik Sim , Jluhastlioblghe.il ] . It Is a queer disease. When a man 1ms It I HI may bnabloto mniiage Ills own personal business successfully , but lie never ran elllclontly , disinterestedly and faithfully administer the affairs that have jcen Intrusted to him by a political party. lie cannot be a good n-ent : or representative. That's that's the matter with Cleveland. ICcon Kycs Are NecdtxJ In the West. St. I.nuii Iteimlltcaii. Very naturally the attempt of Now York surgeons to transplant the uyo of a rabbit nto the head of a western ninvspaper man was a dismal failure. Kaljblt eyes may do pretty well for a New "ioik journalist , but out In the breezy west nothing less than the quick and comprehensive eye of the hawker or the eagle Is considered good enough for newspaper headlights. The licet Protection. The western states are rapidly adopting ilgli license , and where the liquor Interests mvo been potential enough to defeat It pro hibition lias como with lawlessness and de moralization rather than tlio suppression of he liquor trafllc. A square high-license law will be the best mutual protection to dealers mil to society , and all stioulj unite to l > ' o t euacUU. -a * _ PRINCE AND PARLIAMENTS , The "Man of Bloftd and Iron" Will Have Imperial Victory. POLITICAL PEACE PROSPECTS , Great Pnrty Strife in < Jormnnj Plat. formi oT the ContcalmitK The Army is the ( Drcnt Tlicmo Wnr Pooslblc. Vcb. 7. [ Correspondence ol the BIE. : ] international situation \ . in no way nfl'ected by the refusal of the rcichstas to vote Prince von Hismarck'a bill , and the consequent dissolution ol the German parliament. In point ol fact , the rclchstag did accept the principle on which the bill was based ; It gave the 41.00C additional warriors who , Marshal von Moltko insists , are a sine qua non to na tional safety , but It nlnrnicd Its right to examine- whether , at the end of three years , this annual increase of the military contingent Is still necessary. On the other hand , the chancellor , who believes that to fix any limit at all to what ho con siders to bo strictly the imperial preroga tive , is a concession ; he considers that ho has made a maximum of concession in fixing seven years as the term , and that to accept a shorter period would be followed by ofl'orts to bring the matter of military appropriation before parliament annually , as is the case in all countries where parliamentary action is not merely a fiction , Prince von Bismarck would not agree to the pronosod compromise because , to quote his own words : "Ho will not consent that the German army shoucd become parliamentary instead of being imperial. " The question to be decided in Germany by the vote of the pcoiiloon February 21 , is political and not military , and is the conflict between the prerogatives and privileges of the emperor and the privileges and preroga tives of the parliament ; it is nothing more , and whether the majority returned be imperial or parliamentary , the chances of war or of peace will bo neither increased nor lessened. OKUMAN KkECTIONS. Still , as the elections are made upon the platform of the seplennatc , the govern ment and Its supporters , viz. , the con servatives and the so-called national lib erals , work strongly the patriotic chord , giving to their candidacies'that charac ter of patriotism , designedly exaggera ted , which more than any question of homo politics insures the support of the masses. Tlio electoral struggle began at once ; within ton days after the dissolu tion the whole country was deluged with manifestos and appeals , and each parly took up its position , canvassed diligently and prepared for that fatidical date , when the chancellor's enemies hope to crush the "Man of Blood and Iron1 , ' for getting that Prince von Bismarck has al ways governed in spite of parliaments , and has always obtained a bill of indem nity for every act , though done sin opposition to previously expressed parliamentary will. Bv the German constitution the lists of all candidates must bo drawn up one full month before the election day , fixed by government ; in this instance it is Febru ary 21 , and , as the settling of disputed elections must bo made one fortnight after tlio first ballot , there IB no time to bq lost ; the German electoral campaign will be terminated on March 8. * The situation of parties is clearly defined ; it may bo interesting to know their several programmes , the defensive and oll'cusivo resources of each , their several advan tages and disadvantages , and these I propose to exhibit summarily. THK ONE GICKAT TIIKUi : . The conservatives and national liberals , who formed the governmental minority in Iho last rcichstag , arc only divided on insignificant questions of etiquette , but vote in unison on all questions of genuine importance ; they did aggregate 100 in all previous to the dissolution , and expect to be considerably rein forced , especially counting upon the influence upon the population of the em peror's message , which will appear on the eve of the elections. Their discip line is admirable ; wherever practicable , only ono candidate is presented In any district , and whenever two candidacies are maintained and the first ballot has not given u decisive result , the individual least numerously supported retires , at the second ballot , in tayor of his rival colleague. In all their appeals to the constituencies , both thcso parlies eschew the moution ot economical and social questions ; their one theme is the army ; the solo guarantee of national safety , of German unity , of European peace ; the army , which is the basis of national development , the "pal ladium" ( sic ) of independence , and which must bo strengthened at a moment when Fatherland is beset with perils on every side perils that will exist for yearn to come , eto. Down with the trionmite , that measure voted by a hetoroclite majority , only united for purposes of obstruction ; the tricnnatc will make of the army a more electoral platform at every general election , eto. , etc. . and then , of course , Marshal von Moitko'H prediction : "The triennato means cer tain war ! " In the soptennate ulono can Fatherland find salvation ! Tlio sopton- nato only can ensure the future of the army , and consequently the preservation of peace ! CIlANCnS OK THE "CIIAMl'IONS. " Such is the substance of every con servative and national-liberal discourse ; but , charm they over so wisely , it is doubtful that the champions of the gov ernment can rally to their platform enough votes to obtain the forty now seats which , in addition to the original 100 seats , are necessary to the constitu tion of a compact majority. At the preceding - ceding elections several of their candi dates were returned , thanks ( o the votes of the center , which gave them its sup port , fearing the success of some social ist or liberal-radical candidate , and as this support will now bo withheld , the defection of the Catholics will bu a seri ous element of failure. In the lust legis lature the center disposed of eighty rates , and against it was dirccte.l the sovornment's assurance , in the landtag , Lhat Prussia's negotiations with the vati- : : an were about to terminate satisfac torily. In the Center's uddres-ss to the oloo- .ors , its electoral committee parried this lilow very cleverly. Knowing ( lint its artisans were influenced exclusively by , ho religious question , it only rcfurrud to : ho military question by declaring that , , from the point of view of national con- .rol , the Iricnnato la the proper form for : ho military budget. Jlut , on the other land , it laid special stress upon thositun- ion of the Catholic church in Germany , nsisting that the "KulUirkampf" is not ibolishcd , and that the struggle for the liberty and autonomy of the church is tot at un end , 'I'ho laws of May have lot been abrogated , and tlioso laws place .ho clergy in absolute subjection to the itute and paralyse its action , It is a mis- nko to believe that the interest of the ihurch are or can be independent of pol- tics. In the matter ot .social questions , ho Catholic parts insists upon the pro- cction which it lias always given to the yorking classes , and to its consistent no- ion in promoting their hgitimnto .aspi- aUons. It pronounces strongly against nonopolics . ( if any kind , and ( Iciiiunils in equitable repartition of .future Jiargos , .that is toay , it will support the principle of nn Incpmo-tax. Tlio pro- gramme lithe most complolo nnd the most Interesting of nil that have been presented , and will certainly bo hacked by n great many socialist * nnd liberal * naalnst ; the Conscrvative-Nntional- Liberal coalition : , but there is littln probability that tlio Catholic party can do more than hold its own ; it cannot ex pect to increase the number of Us repre sentatives in parliament. nr.KMAN ANTPMOXOPfl. Tin position of the liberals is critical it is especially among the liberal elector * Unit the military question assumes the greatest importance , and few of thcso understand its bearing correctly. Tlm scptonnuto is the form under which tlio mass of thu publio is accustomed to view anil discuss Iho military budget ; it M convinced that Germany is , as Prince von Bismarck pretends , on thoovoof war.nml it is 1 nil inn ant that the deputies should have refused means of defense. The lib. cral manifesto then attempts to enlighten the public on this point , insisting specially upon the triennato as the mon ulliciont measure by which to keep con trol of the national expenditure. A\ ill the publio take in these strong oxplnnn tionsf Hern again doubt is nil mlssiblc ; the strong points of the liberal programme are , llko thai of the center ; the abolition of monopo lies and the institution of an income tax , so that the twenty-eight million * necessary for the support of the iiddi tional contingent of 41,000 men shall bo paid from the pockets of persons posses- ' H'IIIK an income exceeding 0000 marks. 'Jho socialists who form the lifth polit ical group in Gormanyaro of less importance - ance than thu others , nnd risk less by defeat. They are naught for the sopten- nato nor for the triennate , but expert to gain ground from the divisions of the center and the liberals , who will vote against all government candidates , and oven for the most ultra socialist candi date , if by so doing they can defeat the soptennnte bill in the next legislature. The socialists work hard and though , in consequence of the "petty state of siege" which prevents any of their public meet ings in the capital , they are forced to operate clandestinely ; their propaganda is active , and their appeals are freely distributed everywhere ; their last faetum of a particularly incendiary character , was headed : "ANow Year's salute to the Berlin workingmenl" and ended with the phrase : "Long live the Interna tional Democratic and Revolutionary So cialism. " To avoid dilllculties lor the publishers of this document , the most violent one over issued by the sect , it was printed at Zurich ; but although every precaution had been taken to re move individual responsibility , the police - lice has made numerous arrests of socialists - cialists leaders among them being the Dantzig candidate to the roichstng , Herr Jochon. SWARMS or iTHtu-nimits. : : The government spares no effort to keep up the agitation produced by the speeches of Generals von Moltko and von Schcllendorf ; everywhere attention is called to pretended French military preparations m view of a spring cam paign asainst Germany ; and to accent uate the note of the organ of the finance minister , the Political News , signals the presence of "swarms of French agents endeavoring to buy up all the sulphuric ether in Germany for the manufacture of the now explosive material melinite. No one could have supposed that this recent invention of a French ofliccr would have been first used as an electoral agent m Germany. Naturally , the chnncsllor has not re mained inactive , and as he cannot take any direct part in the campaign , ho baa aired his views extensively in the landtag , that Prussian assembly which is reputed to be the most somnolent institution of the kind on the globe. Prince von Bis marck gave his explanation of the situa tion ; on the question of the monopolies he was ambiguous , and on that of tax ation he would promise nothing. But in re the constitutional laws , ho was more explicit , nnd stated clearly that should an opposition majority bereturncd.hc would neither dissolve the reichstag anew , nor sock to modify the constitution , ho would simply interpret it as ho pleased ad iisum dclphini , and if that interpretation . > ! were not in accordance with either tra- ( lition or opinions of jurisconsults , so much tlio worse ; is not Prince von Bis marck the "Man of Iron" before whom every other will must yield ? His words leave no doubt as to his intentions : "In the next reichstag , the emperor himself will establish the proper peace footing of the army. " On the religious question , Prince von Bismarck was remarkably categorical. He disclaimed t/io / paternity of the Kill- turkampf and the so-called laws of May. which wore invented when he was not prime minister ; but ho accepted all the responsibilities of their execution , and , "if it were not for the resistance of the center , which is not approved by the Roman curia , all difficulties with the Vatican would now be settled. J'lio pope is a man of peace , who docs not sanction attacks upon established governments , and when the electors learn this , as they shall learn it , they will not support the alliance of Catholicity with socialism. " ritOltUUUTY Ol' WAlt. Should this statement be borne out by facts , that is to say , if the revision of the ecclesiastical laws bo submitted to the landtag this week , ns is announced , the situation of the center becomes extremely critical , ami it is to its detriment that a government majority will bo elected. I repeat , the result , whatever it may be , will not either increase or diminish tin ) probabilities of war. Kvery oiti/pn of Berlin and of Vienna believes war to bo certain and imminent , and opens his morning's newspaper with the conviction that ho will road in it a declaration of war. The North American Gazette announces : h ( ! "mobilization" Of the Red CrosH so- jlcty , the Pesto gives daily extracts of < jeneral Boulangfcr'H ' proposed bill ; some jthor journal relates the conversation of M. Paul Dcrouledo with one of the oil- tors of the anti-Gorman Novoio Vromia , jut all these are mere electoral nianeu- HOB , and BO was the article of the Daily ttows , which struck every continental y" itoek exchange with sued a panic. Still , hat article was not entirely unfounded ; .ho cabinets of London and Paris , ami ho press of Germany can safely deny hut any conuiilnatory note wa < i nddresiod o Franco , for no note was addressed to he Krench giivurinnent , but it is positive- y certain that u "friendly" observation vas made orally to so mo one , to the ef- ect that Germany felt uneasy at seeing ho constant preparations made by a ' iiilghbor with whom si us dtmircd to re- I naiii on plenrant terms , and. should they j ic continued.she would bo obliged to IIHK or explanations. Only this and nothing uoro , and ye.t this is sulllcient , with the xi tmg tension of nion'H ' minds to snow hat thcro may be troublous times at niul , War is not probable , but if is most pos- ; Iblo. TKVIS. The Spoilt * Junta 'ho puz/llne son ? of pnity noxl . , In dark eab.ils and nightly juntoiM met ; Lnil now tlioy whispered clusu , now shrug- cliig reared Th1 Imimitniit shoulder then ; as if to got iuwlU-ht , tlielr twinkling e > ej > wt-io Inward set , No sooner Lucifer recalls alfalrs , 'Imii forth they various rush in miglity freli When , lol unshed up to power , and crowned thi-ir euros , u coinch another set , and klcUeth ( hem down .stulrs. _ President Cleveland , in his autograph lote to thu uccrotnry of thu navy on the lundiiytlio hitter's infani was born , after oiigintulnting him , added : "I think ttio ir.st public prayer for mother and bubo fas made by my minister to-day , when m prayed for thu president and all ( loir nl.ro. "