Democratic Sentinel, Volume 3, Number 7, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 March 1879 — Page 1

fflemocnitiq A, DEMOCRATIC NEWSPAPER PUBLISHED EVERY FRIDAY, BY ■FAMES W. McEWEN. TERMS OF SUBSCRIPTION. One copy one year w One copy six month* *on« copy three month* •** WA4vertl»lng rate* on application

NEWS OF IHE WEEK.

SENATE COMMITTEES. The Chairmanships of the leading committees of the United States Senate, ae reconstructed under Democratic auspices, are distributed as follows: STANDING COMMITTEES. The Democratic members of the five principal committees are: Finance—Bayard (Chairman), Wallace, Kernan, Voorhees, Beck. Appropriations—Davis (W. Va.) (Chairman), Withers, Beck, Wallace, Eaton. Foreign Relations—Eaton (Chairman), Johnston, Morgan, Hill, Pendleton. Commerce —Gordon (Chairman), Ransom, Randolph, Hereford. Judiciary—Thurman (Chairman), McDonald, Bayard, Garland, Lamar, Davis (111.). Other Chairmanships are distributed as follows : Privileges and Elections, Saulsbury; Military Affairs, Randolph; Naval Affairs, McPherson; Postoffices and Post-Roads, Maxey; Public Lands, McDonald; Indian Affaire, Coke; Pensions, Withers; Claims, Cockrell; Manufact urea, Grover; Agriculture, Johnston; Jpistrict of Columbia, Harris; Patents, Kernan; Public Buildings and Grounds, Jones, of Florida; Territories, Garland; Railroads, Ransom; Mines and Mining, Hereford; Revision of the Laws, Wallace; Education and Labor, Bailey; Civil Service and Retrenchment, Butler; Printing, Whyte; Library, Voorhees; Contingent Expenses, Hill; Rules, Morgan; Enrolled Bills, Vance. SEI.ECT COMMITTEES. On Transportation Houk'S to the Seaboard— Senator Beck. To Examine the Several Branches of the Civil Service—Senator Vest To Take into Consideration the State of the Law Concerning Electoral Votes for President, etc.—Senator Morgan. To Investigate the Treasury Department Accounts—Senator Davis (W. Va.). On Census—Senator Pendleton. On Epidemic Diseases—Senator Harris. On Mississippi river—Senator Ijamar. [Note. —This replaces the select committee on “Levees of the Mississippi river. ”J REORGANIZED. The select committee into the alleged frauds in the late elections, commonly known as the “ Teller Committee, is reojganized, with Wallace as Chairman, and Bailey, Garland, McDonald, and Kernan as the other Democratic members. The select committees on the subject of the removal of the Northern Cheyennes to the in dian Territory, and to inquire into all claims of .United States citizens against Nicaragua, are to ho continued with the same memberships as at present, their respective Chairmen being Senators Kirkwood and Hamlin. The caucus loft three Chairmanships of standing committees to bo filled by the Republicans, viz: those of the Committees on Public-Laud ■Claims, on Revolutionary Claims, and on Engrossed Bills. •

FOREIGN NEWS. There was an exciting discussion in the German Reichstag the other day. Herr Liebknecht,Socialist, declared that his party was the party of reform, not revolution. He defended the course of the Socialist Deputies in not rising from their seats when cheers were given for the Emperor. The President of the Reichstag, amid cheers, remarked that this conduct offended the moral sense of the Chamber. Herr Liebknecht continued: “If a republic is established in Germany—” He was unable to finish the sentence in consequence of the uproar which the words occasioned. The President threatened to deprive him of his Tight of speech. At the close of Herr Liebknecht's speech, the President of the Reichstag threatened him with forcible removal from tho tribunal. The tumult at the time was indescribable. Ex-President Grant is traveling in India. Many avalanches have recently occurred in the Austrian Tyrol. At Bleiburg ten houses were crushed, forty persons killed, eighteen seriously injured, and fifteen missing. A cable dispatch from Pesth, in Hungary, says that 120,000 persons were rendered homeless by the recent overflow of the river Theiss, that 8,200 houses were swept away, and 1,900 persons drowned. A dispatch from Kingston, Jamaica, reports that the British steamer Bolivar, plying between Liverpool and St. Thomas, came in collision with the Haytien steamer Michael The latter sank, and sixty persons were drowned. Herr Anderson, the celebrated chess player, is dead.

The Emperor of Germany has just celebrated his 82d birthday. One hundred and twenty more French Communists are to be pardoned. The Swiss State Council, by a vote of twenty-seven to fifteen, has resolved to restore capital punishment in Switzerland. A cable dispatch reports that the French floating battery Arroganto sunk off tho Mediterranean coast of France. Forty-seven of her crew were lost The expenses of tho French International Exposition were 55,000,000 francs; the receipts amounted to 30,000,000 francs. By a vote of 320 to 131, the French Chamber of Deputies has resolved in favor of an amendment to the constitution providing for the transfer of the seat of Government from Versailles to Paris.

DOMESTIC INTELLIGENCE. Mast. It is reported from New York that Gov. Robinson has decided to remove the Coroners of the city, and that Mayor Cooper will prefer charges against Comptroller Kelly for irregularities in his office. West It is reported, at Omaha, that Indians from Red Cloud and Spotted Tail Agencies are slaughtering a great number of cattle along the Niobrara river in Northern Nebraska, and sellng them to purchasers r.t the agencies. The Indians are also setting numerous prairie fires, and trouble is anticipated. Rev. Dr. James De Koven, for the past twenty years Dean, of Racine (Wis.) College, died at that place last week, aged about 50 years. A State convention of colored men of Wisconsin is to bo held at Milwaukee, in May, to discuss plans for colonizing themselves in the far West. A committee has been appointed by he lower house of the Legislature of Missouri to frame articles of impeachment against State Treasurer Gates. A letter to the public from Archbishop Purcell, of Cincinnati, explanatory of his financial difficulties, has been published. He relates the causes that led to his present pecuniary embarrassment, gives in detail his expenditures on behalf of the diocese, which he says should have been borne by the members of the churches; recognizes the sympathy shown him by both Cn tholics and Protestants,

The Democratic Sentinel.

JAB. W. McEWEN Editor.

VOLUME 111.

and appeals for aid to “those who feel for others’ woes.” An Omaha dispatch says “another terrible prairie fire has occurred in Lincoln county, Kan., burning the house and all the property of Mr. Montgomery, living on Bitter creek, and doing much other damage. A little son of Mr. Montgomery, 12 years old, perished in the flames, and Mr. Montgomery and Isaac Pfaff, a neighbor who attempted to save Montgomery, were badly burned and died in a few hours.” Soutn. A fire on Dryades street, New * Orleans, burned >50,000 worth of property. Hon. George Goldthwaite, formerly United States Senator from Alabama, is dead. Twelve persons, convicted of counterfeiting, were last week sentenced to various (terms in the penitentiary at Joliet, HL, by Judge Ballard, of the United States Court at Louisville, Ky. At Vicksburg, Miss., a bloody shooting affray occurred between Capt W. F. Fitz gerald, Capt W. H. Andrews and W. L. Greene. Andrews and Greene were killed almost instantly, and Fitzgerald dangerously wounded. Dispatches from Lynchburg, Va., state the Grand Jury of United States, Judge Reeves’ Court, has indicted the followingnamed County Judges for refusing to recog nize colored men in impaneling juries: Hay the, of Campbell; Henry, of Amherst; Simmons, of Bobtown; Brown, of Nelson; Wharton, of Bedford; Griffin, of Roanoke; Parish, of Buckingham; Bowles, of Fluvanna. At the recent election in Louisiana, for members of the Constitutional Convention, about 100 Democrats and 34 Republicans and Independents were chosen. At Marshall, Texas, a few nights ago, after the Warde and Barrymore combination had finished the play of “ Diplomacy,” the company repaired to the depot to await the train. Maurice Barrymore, B. 'C. Porter and a female attache of the combination were in the lunch room, eating a lunch, when James Currie, a detective, entered the saloon attached to the lunch room. He made some slight remarks about the lady, when he was told by one of the men that she wr.s a lady, and under their charge, and should not be insulted. After some more words Currie drew his pistol and shot Porter in the abdomen, killing him almost instantly, and, turning, shot Barrymore through the left arm near the elbow, the ball coming out under the left shoulder, making a very severe if not dangerous wound. Porter and Barrymore were unarmed. Currie is in jail. A largo cotton and woolen mill at Memphis, Tenn., was struck by lightning and entirely consumed by fire a few days ago. Loss estimated at 890,000.

POLITICAL POINTS. The Republican Representatives in Congress, at a caucus held March 17, unanimously nominated the following candidates for the various elective offices of the House : For Speaker, Gon. Garfield; Clerk of the House, ex-Congressman Rainey, of South Carolina; Sorgeant-at-Arms, Jeremiah M. Rusk, Wisconsin; Doorkeeper, James Melton, Tennessee ; Postmaster, Gen. Harry Sherwood, Michigan; Chaplain, Dr. Naylor, of the Methodist Episcopal Church, Washington. The following resolution was adopted: “Resolved, That it is the sense of this caucus that no legislation shall be entered upon during this session of Congress other than that for which the session was specially called. ” The Democratic caucus met at about the same hour, and renominated Mr. Randall for Speaker, he receiving 75 votes, to 57 for J. C. Blackburn, 4for Cox 3 for MacMahon, and 2 for Morrison. Messrs. Adams, Thompson, Field and Harrison were renominated by acclamation for their‘old positions of Clerk, Sergeant-at-Arms, Doorkeeper and Chaplain. The Greenbackers also held a caucus, and decided to support Hendrick B. Wright, of Pennsylvania, for Speaker. Ex-Congressmau Carter Harrison has been nominated by the Democrats for Mayor of Chicago. A new Democratic morning paper, called the Herald, has been started in Chicago. It is an eight-column folio, and is sold at 2 cents a copy. The three Chairmanships of standing committees accorded to the Republicans, viz : Revolutionary Claims, Private Land Claims and Engrossed Bills, have been assigned, in accordance with the decision of tho Republican Senatorial caucus, to Messrs. Anthony, Edmunds and Conkling, respectively. Western Republican Senators complain very much because all of the Chairmanships to which they were entitled were given to the East The Rhode Island Republicans held their State Convention last week. All of the present State officers were nominated for reelection. The Democrats also met in convention and nominated Thomas W. Logan for Governor, J. D. Bailey for Lieutenant Governor, D. 8. Baker, Jr., for Secretary of State, and C. H. Page for Attorney General. The National Executive Committee of the National Greenback party has issued an address to the people of the United States, in which they state that no dependence is to be placed on the professions of the avowed friends to the cause; that the hope for financial relief within old party lines has been extinguished, and that they have been, in several instances, misled by nominees of the party and others who obtained its support. It is only possible through a new organization to found a party which shall accomplish the desired end. To succeed, a uniform effort must be made, and a position bold, aggressive, independent, and uncompromising must be taken.

WASHINGTON NOTES. John M. Morton, son of the late Senator Morton, who has been special agent in charge of Government interests in Alaska, has been appointed Consul at Honolulu, Sandwich islands. The President has appointed Clarence King Director of the Geological and Geographical Survey, and Gen. Francis A. Walker Superintendent of tho forthcoming census. It is said that the Southern members of Congress will insist on the passage of a bill providing for a national quarantine, some such bill as that which passed the Senate last session, and was defeated in the House.

MISCELLANEOUS GLEANINGS. Capt. Paul Boyton, the man-fish, is making fair progress in his long swim from Pittsburgh to Hew Orleans. He arrived at Cincinnati last we 3k, rested a few hours, and again took to the water and proceeded on his natatorial journey. In view of the belligerent attitude of Sitting Bull, the Eighteenth Infantry, Col. Ruger, now at Atlanta, Ga., will be sent with all possible expedition to Bismarck. Col. Walsh, the commander of the Canadian mounted police, reports that Sitting

RENSSELAER, JASPER COUNTY, INDIANA, FRIDAY, MARCH 28, 1879.

Bull has 2,000 warriors well armed and equipped, and that an ugly and insubordinate disposition is manifest among them.

DOINGS OF CONGRESS. The Forty-sixth Congress assembled in special session at Washington on Tuesday, March 18. The Senate was called to order by the Vice President. After prayer, the President’* proclamation waa read, and then the roll was called, and the new Senator* and those who were re-elected were sworn in. Clerk Adams called the House to order, and read the proclamation of the President convening Congress in extra session. The roll was called, after which the election of officers was proceeded with. All the nominees of the Democratic caucus were elected. The vote for Speaker was: Randall. 144; Garfield, 125; Wright, 18; Kelley, 1. Neither House transacted any business beyond organizing. The Senate, on the second day of the session, 19th, went to work as if it meant business. Numerous bills were introduced: One, by Mr. Eaton, to revive the Court of Commissioness of the Alabama Claims: by Mr. Burnside, to reorganize the army, and ny Mr. Beck,to remove all political disa bilities imposed by the Fourteenth article of the constitution; also, a bill to repeal the act of July. 1862, requiring the test oath. Mr. Edmunds offeied a preamble and resolution, with a view to confining the business of the extra session to the objects for which it was called. The President’s message was received, read and referred. It is as follows : Fellow-Citizens of the Senate and FTouse of Representatives: The failure of the last Congress to make the requisite appropriations for legislative and judicial purposes, for the expenses of the several executive departments of the Government, and for the support of the army, has made it necessary to call a session of the Forty-sixfh Congress. The estimates of tho appropriations needed, which were sent to Congress by the Secretary of the Treasury at the opening of last session, are renewed, and are herewith transmitted to both the Senate and House of Representatives. Regretting the emer.-i ncy which requires a special session of Congress at a time when it is the general judgment of the country that the public welfare will be best promoted by permanency in our legislation, and by peace and rest, I commend these few necessary measures to your considerate attention. (Signed] Rutherford B. Hayes. Washington, March 19.1879. The Vice President laid before the Senate a memorial signed by a number of members of the Legislature in Kansas, asserting that the election of Senator Ingalls was seeured by bribery and corruption, and asking the Senate to give them a full opportunity to offer proof of these assertions. Referred to the Committee on Privileges and Elections. The House occupied the day in discussing the disputed case from the Second Coneressional Dis trict of Florida. Bisbee vs. Hull, which was decided in favor of Hull, the Democratic claimant. Very little business was transacted by either house on the 20th. The Senate was in session but a few minutes, and did nothing. After adjournment the Democratic Senators met in caucus. John C. Burch, of Tennessee, was nominated for Secretary; Richard J. Bright, of Indiana, for Sergeant at-Arms; ex-Congressman Schrober, of North Carolina, for Chief Clerk; Col. Sexton, of Virginia, for Executive Clerk, and Rev. J. G. Bullock, of Virginia, for Chaplain. In the House, Mr. McMahon called up the petition of citizens of Cincinnati in relation to the election of Messrs. Butterworth and Young, and the whole matter was referred to a select committee, with leave to sit during the recess. The committee were also directed to inquire into the operation of the Supervisors’ law in Cincinnati at the last election. A caucus of Democratic members of the House was held immediately after adjournment, for tho purpose of considering the order of business, and measures to be taken during tho present extra session of Congress. After considerable discussion it was decided to refer the whole matter to a joint committee of the Senate and House.

A large number of bills were introduced in the Senate on the 21st. Mr. Beck introduced a bill to repeal that section of the Revised Statutes which provides that no person who 1 eld any position in tho Confederate service shall ever be appointed to any position in the army or navy of the United States. Mr. Beck also introduced a bill to call in the trade-dollars and reeoin them into standard dollars. Mr. Wirtdom introduced a bill to extend tho time for the completion of the Northern Pacific railroad. Mr. Edmunds called up his resolution providing that all bills and resolutions other than appropriation bills should bo referred to appropriate committees, and not be acted on until the meeting of Congress in regular session. On motion of Mr. Wallace it was laid on the table by a strict party vote. Mr. Hoar introduced a resolution that the action of one branch of Congress, in refusing to pass the necessary Appropriation bills, is revolutionary, and, if persisted in, will endanger the national life. Mr. Wallace objected, and the resolution went over. There was a sharp debate over Mr. Wallace’s resolution directing Secretary Sherman to inform the Senate as to the amount of salary paid to Deputy Marshals employed in the States of Ohio, Pennsylvania. New Y’ork and Maryland, in October and November, 1876. Mr. Conkling moved to amend the resolution so as to include Deputy Marshals in all the States, instead of in the four named, which was rejected. Mr. Conkling then offered his amendment as an additional resolution, but providing that the information called for be distinct from that called for in Mr. Wallace’s resolution, which was agreed to. Mr. McMillan submitted a joint resolution proposing an amendment to the constitution of the United States giving the President power to except, in his approval of bills, other items of appiopriation or special legislation, giving his reasons to Congress, the item so disapproved to be treated as in the case of a veto. Mr. Logan introduced a bill to equalize the bounties of soldiers, sailors and marines of the late war for the Union; also a bill for the relief of the Chicago Soldiers? and Citizens’Colony. Referred. The Senate until the 25th. The House was in session but a short time, and transacted no business. Adjourned till the 25th. Neither house of Congress was in session on the 22d, but tho committees of the House and Senate Democratic caucus to make recommendations concerning the order of business for tho extra session held a joint meeting. The first question discussed was whether the political legislation desired by tho dominant party in Congress should be effected by the passage of a separate measure or by the incorporation of tho repealing clauses in Appropriation bills. It was determined, after a discussion, that the latter course would bo the most expedient. The next question considered was whether tho political portions of the Appropriation bills should now bo passed in the same terms in which tney were passed at the last session, or whether.the repealing clauses in regard to the Federal Election laws should bo modified so as to repeal only those sections which authorize the appointment of Chief Supervisors and Deputy Marshals tor elections, together with the sections conferring police powers on Supervisors, thus continuing the authorization for the appointment of two Supervisors of different politics.to serve in a testimonial capacity at each poll as witnesses of tho count of votes. After an exhaustive discussion, it was decided to recommend tho adoption of a modified proposition. Tho joint meeting also considered whether tho legislation of tho present session be strictly confined to the Appropriation bills, including the measures above indicated, or whether general business should be transacted by either house when not engaged on an Appropriation bill. A decided majority favored the restriction to the Appropriation bills, and the enactment of what is known as tho “ Yellow Fever bill.”

Fish as Brain Food.

Since during the acts of sensation and intellection phosphorus is consumed in the brain and nervous system, there arises a necessity to restore the portions so consumed, or, as the popular expression is, use brain food. Now, as every one knows, it is the property of phosphorus to shine in the dark; and as fish in a certain state of putrefactive decay often emit light, or become phosphorescent, it has been thought that this is due to the abundance of phosphorus their flesh contains, and hence that they are eminently suitable for the nourishment of the nervous system, and are an invariable brain food. Under that idea many persons resort to a diet of fish, and persuade themselves that they derive advantage from it in increased vividness of thought, a signal improvement in the reasoning powers. But the flesh of fish contains no excess of phosphorus, nor does its shining depend on that element. Decaying willow wood shines even more brilliantly than decaying fish; it may sometimes be discerned afar off 'at night. The shining in the two cases is due to the same cause—the oxidation of carbon, not of phosphorus, in organic substances containing, perhaps, not a perceptible trace of the latter element. Yet surely no one found himself rising to a poetical fervor by tasting decaying willow wood, though it ought, on these principles, to be a better brain food than a much larger quantity of fish.—Dr. J. W. Draper, in Harper's Magazine for April.

“A Firm Adherence to Correct Principles”

INDIANA LEGISLATURE.

Monday, March 17.—senate.—The Senate this morning agreed to adjourn next Monday, provided the General and Specific Appropriation, the Congressional Apportionment, and the Fee and Salary bills shall have been passed and approved. An attempt to the Metropolitan Police bill was a failure. The Congressional Apportionment bill will hardly pass, as indefinite leave of absence has been grafted to Senator Reeve, and without his vote twenty-five cannot be secured on political measures. House.—A short session was held, but no business of importance was transacted. Tuesday, March 18.—Senate.—The Fee and Salary bill was the special order in the Senate to-day, but it was postponed, and the Appropriation bills taken up. Several amendments were made, but not much progress was achieved. ... .While the Prison bill was under consideration in the Senate yesterday, Senator Menzies offered an amendment that the Directors of the Northern prison shall elect Murdock Warden in place of Mayne. A special committee, after investigating the claims of Murdock and Mayne, reported favorably upon the amendment to-day... .Majority and minority reports from the Senate Committee on Elections on the SaulsburySmith contest were made. The majority report—that Smith was entitled to the eeat—was adopted. House.—The House postponed consideration of the resolution fixing the date of adjournment till Saturday. Wednesday, Marek 19. Senate.—The House bill authorizing Boards of County Commissioners to make appropriations for the relief of citizens from debts incurred in voting aid to railroads was passed... .The Fee and Salary bill was then taken up and the Senate substitute considered, which occupied the remainder of the day House. —Bills were introduced: Authorizing the redemption of certain lands sold for taxes; authorizing a loan for the payment of the temporary loan debt heretofore incurred, and several legalizing bills. Bills were passed: Limiting taxation in incorporated towns having less than twenty-five freeholders residing therein; providing ’ for a more speedy distribution of tho laws; regulating the collection of fees from insurance companies and requiring the Auditor of State to report the name; amending the Discount law; requiring Coroners to hold inquests without the aid of a jury; providing for the temporary loan to meet the payment of $710,000 State debt falling due this year; exempting five acres of land inside city corporation from taxation for any a greater rate than the lands of the township in which the city is located; defining the crime of embezzlement by adding to the persons who may embezzle clerks, lawyers and other persons who fail to pay over money; to enable farmers to form voluntary associations for protection from damages by lightning; for the protection of game. ... .The joint resolution instructing the State Librarian to distribute the geological reports on his hands among the colleges and schools of the State was passed. Thursday, March 20.—Senate.—The Senate took up and passed the Congressional Apportionment bill, under the operation of the previous question... .The Fee and Salary bill was amended to a great extent, but not finally acted upon... .Several legalizing bills were taken up and passed under a suspension of the constitutional rules.

House.—New bills introduced: Amending the act establishing judicial circuits; authorizing County Commissioners to fill vacancies in the office of Justice of the Peace; reducing the jurisdiction of Circuit Courts and increasing jurisdiction of Justices; repealing certain sections of the act for inspection of petroleum; authorizing cities and towns to remove any cemetery or bodies buried therein whenever such cemetery shall become inclosed in the city limits, and a new cemetery is provided.... A resolution was adopted instructing our Senators and Representatives in Congress to endeavor to secure the passage of a law amending the National Bank act, in relation to the jurisdiction of the courts over controversies between banking associations located in any State or Territory.... A resolution to adjourn on Saturday was made the special order for Saturday, at 2 p. mThe Senate substitute for the House Congressional Apportionment bill was taken up as soon as reported from the Senate, and the substitute adopted.... Bills were passed: Appropriating S2S,(XX) to defray expense of the special session of the Legislature; to prevent the sale or transfer of county orders in the possession of any one owing county taxes; regulating the practice of dentistry; abolishing the publication of Sheriffs’ sales in newspapers; prohibiting playing of billiards, pool, etc., in connection with saloons, and abolishing concert saloons ; requiring County Auditors in making a loan when. the funds belong to various townships to take but one mortgage; regulating weights and measures; authorizing cities to construct water-works; abolishing the color line as to orphan children in admission to asylums, and legalizing judicial sales in certain cases. Friday, March 21.—Senate.—The consideration of the Fees and Salary bill occupied almost the entire time of the Senate... .An effort was made to take up the Metropolitan Police bill, but it failed... .The Specific Appropriation Dill was then taken up and passed... .The House Loan bill was taken up and read a firs’ time....A resolution was adopted fixing the time for the final adjournment on Monday. House.—A resolution was adopted appointing the Attorney General, Auditor and a third person, to be named by the Governor, a commission to revise and codify tho insurance 1aw5....0n the reading of the journal it was discovered Mr. Caldwall was recorded as voting in favor of the bill to prevent biliard, pool and other gaming tables, music or other amusement in saloons where intoxicating liquors are sold. He was not present at the time the vote was taken, ana his name was stricken from the roll-call, leaving the hill without a constitutional majority. Bills were passed: Defining burglary; enablingincorporated cities to aid in the construction of railroads, gravel roads, water-works and bridges; enabling owners of wet lands teuiram to reclaim them when the same can bexlone without affecting the land of others; providing tor tne appointment of guardians of insane persons; authorizing insurance companies to reinsure risks; regulating duties of Justices; limiting the levy of taxes by school trustees, and requiring county boards to take charge of free gravel roads.... The bills for the protection of purity in election. defining duties of city Judges, and authorizing transfer of Morgan raid claims from the Governor’s office to the office of Adjutant Genera], were defeated. Saturday, March 22.—Senate.—Several legalizing bills werg rushed through as a starter, and then the Senate took up the House bill appropriating $25,000 to defray the expenses of the present session of the General Assembly, amended it so as to appropriate $35,000, and passed it under a suspension of the constitu tioual rules... .The Fee and Salary bill was then taken up and passed... .The conference committeee on the bill removing tho legal disabilities of married women reported, recommending an amendment prohibiting married women from mortgaging any property derived by inheritance, or to otherwise endanger their possession by becoming surety for husbands. This report was concurred in. .The conference committee on the Fort Wayne Water-Works bill also reported certain amendments, which were agreed toThe Senate passed the following bills: Authorizing cities and towns to fund their indebtedness; compelling the Auditor of State to pay 75 per cent, of his insurance fees into the State treasury; concerning warehouses... .The bill concerning the redemption of real estate from sale or execution was taken up and passed. House.—A local-option bill was ordered engrossed.. . .The Senate amendments to the bill appropriating money to pay expenses of tho present session was concurred in... .The House then took up the Specific Appropriation bill and refused to concur in several amendments made by the Senate... .A few minor items of the bill were considered, and tho House adjourned.

The Congressional Districts.

The following are the Congressional districts as fixed by the bill, as it finally passed: First—Posey, Gibson, Vanderburg, Warrick, Pike, Spencer and Perry. Second—Knox, Sullivan, Green, Lawrence, Martin, Daviess, Orange and Dubois. Third—Jackson, Jennings, Washington, Scott Clarke, Floyd, Harrison and Crawford. Fourth—Union, Franklin, Decater, Ripley Dearborn, Ohio, Switzerland and Jeffersom * Fifth—Putnam, Hendricks, Morgan, Owen Monroe, Brown, Johnson and Bartholomew. ’ Sixth—Rush, Fayette, Henry, Wayne, TUndolph and Delaware. ‘ '

Seventh—Marion, Hancock and Shelby. Eighth—Warren, Fountain, Montgomery, Vermillion, Parke, Vigo and Clay. Ninth—Tippecanoe, Clinton, Boone, Tipton, Hamilton and Madison. Tenth—Lake, Porter, Newton, Jasper, Pulaski, White, Carroll, Cass, Fulton and Benton. Eleventh—Miami, Howard, Wabash, Grant, Huntington, Wells, Adams, Blackford and Jay. Twelfth—Lagrange, Steuben, Noble, DeKalb, Whitley and Allen. Thirteenth—Laporte, Starke, St Joseph, Marshall, Elkhart, and Kosciusco.

GOVERNMENT EXPENSES.

The Experience of an Accounting Officer ol the Treasury. [Washington Cor. Chicago Inter Ocean.] An accounting officer of the treasury, who passes upon the various appropria tions, remarked to your correspondent that, although he had been many years in the treasury, the thirst for appropriations exceeded anything in his experience. He said our legislation, where money was involved, was becoming very vicious, and unless the people put a stop to it there was no telling what the result would be. He said that the lawmaking power seemed to regard our debt as nothing, and went on appropriating money as if we did not owe a cent, and were five times richer than before the war, when, as a matter of fact, the people were less able to bear burdens than then. Yet, as a matter of fact, the public debt is a mortgage upon every man’s property to the extent of 10 per cent, of its vilue, for the true gold value of property was to-day in this country not over $20,000,000,000. The assessed valuation by States is very much less than this, and less than it was in 1870, being then $14,000,000,000, and now about $12,000,000,000. Taking the assessed value as aTbasis, and the public debt is about 15 per cent, of the entire wealth of the country —a mortgage upon every man’s property. This gentleman thought that matters could be improved if people would call public meetings and petition Congress to cut down the expenses and cease to make extraordinary appropriations until the debt is extinguished. There is no good reason why Government expenses should be in 1879 five times what they were in 1860. There had been insufficient increase in wealth and population to justify this large increase in the burdens laid upon tax-payers. The estimates for the next fiscal year were about $285,000,000, and it is not believed that so large a sum can be levied upon the productive industry of the country without prolonging the “hard times” from which all sections of the country at present suffer.

Weston’s Walk and Failure in England.

Weston’s attempt to cover the unprecedented distance of 2,000 miles in 1,000 hours has failed, after a gallant struggle with all the worst of luck throughout in the shape of one of the most trying winters known for many years. With all the bad roads in the kingdom to travel over in their very worst condition, and with large crowds at every city, town, and village to contend with, Weston has just failed by twenty-two and one-half miles to complete in the specified time an almost unparalleled task in the annals of pedestrianism. On his arrival at Windsor on Tuesday evening he had sixty-five miles to go, and twenty hours to do it in; but the excitement of his reception playing upon his highly-strung nervous system completely prostrated him, and he failed just as the prize appeared within his grasp. He left 4he Castle Hotel at 11:35, accompanied by one of the judges, in a close conveyance, and proceeded as far as the twenty-second milestone on the Bath road, when he dismounted, and was soon trudging away on foot at a good pace until the fourteenth stone, when he turned and came back to the twenty-first, making the fifteen miles at 3:20 yesterday morning. He then rested for fifty minutes in the carriage. This was sufficient, as he had to repeat his nap directly afterwards. On resuming, he reeled all over the road like a drunken man, and had to be twice saved from falling into a ditch, and he again lay down till 7, at which period all chance of success had gone. He now went on slowly, and by 8:50 had knocked of 25 miles since midnight, leaving him 40 to do, and 6£ hours to do it in. He rested till 10:25 for breakfast, when he started and walked out 3 miles on the Maidenhead road and back; this he repeated, making 12 miles. He then retraced his steps 2| miles and back, which with an extra half mile into Slough, made 17| since breakfast. While resting here, time—4:os—expired,his jjecord for 1,000 hours being 1,977| miles. He left at 5:15 in order to finish his distance. About 10:30 he passed through Hammersmith. He expected to reach the Royal Exchange about midnight.— London News-

Elihu Burritt.

Elihu Burritt’s capacity for hard work is illustrated by this extract from a letter written five years ago to decline an invitation to lecture: “I feel that lam played out as a lecturer, especially before American audiences. Then I expect to go to England next summer to see old friends once more, and to look after my books, new and old. I have just sent to London my Sanskrit Grammar and Reading Lessons, which will probably be put to press about the Ist of July, and I must be on hand to correct proofs, etc. Then lam deeply in my philological work. I have finished the Sanskrit, Hindoostanee and Persian series, and am about half way through with the Turkish, in the end expecting the four languages will be issued in one large volume, but in parts at first. Then I intend to take up the Semitic family, or Arabic, Hebrew, Syriac, and Ethiopia, and do the same by them. Thus, you see, I am beginning a work which should occupy a long life, and I am in its evening hours.”

Some Old Ladies and their Families.

Several years ago four ladies met in old Danville at the house of Mrs. John Goss, grandmother of John Goss, of Lewiston. The visiting ladies were Catherine Dyer, Catherine Goss, and “ Aunt ” Ham. The four ladies found that at that time they had fifty children still living. Mrs. John Goss died at the age of 81 years. Mrs. Ham died at the age of 93, and Mrs. Dyer at the age of 94, while Mrs. Catherine, mother of John Goss, at the age of 90 years, still lives with her children in Gorham, N. H., in Lewiston, and elsewhere. A few weexs ago Mrs. Catherine took the cars at Danville Junction alone, and went to Gorham by rail. — Lewiston (Me.) Journal. Walking-matches between cripples are the novelty in Boston,

PENSIONERS.

The Different Classen, and What They Receive. Pensioners totally disabled, says a Washington correspondent, are now paid $864 per annum, which is the largest sum ever paid any class of pensioners by any Government. Up to the war of the Rebellion, and for some time afterward, this class got $96, but it has been gradually increased by nearly every Congress until it is now nearly ten times the former figure. The last increase was from S6OO to $864. The “ totally disabled ” are such as have lost both eyes, or both arms, or both legs, or are otherwise entirely disqualified from physical exertion. There are over fifty different classes of invalids on the rolls, not including widows and orphans, and special cases, like Mrs. Lincoln. The disabled and invalids receive all the way from sl2 to $864 per annum. At the beginning of the present fiscal year there were: Receiving. Annually. Receiving. Annually. 531$ 12.00 185138.00 10.734 24.00 4,799 144.00 1.291 31 92 125 150.00 4,291 26.00 255 153.00 132 45.00 101.- 156.00 28,232 48.00 38 159.96 1,042 63.96 1,960 168.00 45 67.92 1.266 180.00 18,212 72 00 627 192.00 445 84.00 6(5 204.00 465 90.00 11.192 216.00 18,310 96.00 772 240,00 618 102.00 6,386 288.00 42 108.00 206 360.00 4,323 120.00 331 375.00 18 129.00 701. 600.00 135 135 00 11 861.00 61 135.961

All these pensioners will be entitled to arrears of pensions from date of disability to the date that they first commenced drawing pensions, but the rate will be fixed at the rate prevailing at the date of being placed on the rolls. The ravages of death and marriage (widows marrying are no longer entitled to pension) is rapidly reducing the roll, but it is counter-balanced by increase in rates from time to time, and enlargement of the list, so thatthe annual payment for the next five years promises to be larger than for the last five years. However, the minor children on the rolls are now coming of age rapidly, and will be off the list within the coming four years. June 30, 1878, there were 35,434 minor children on the rolls. Last year 10,321 were dropped, having come of age. This year 8,975 will be dropped, and next year 5,997, leaving 10,141, which will nearly all expire in 1881 and 1882. The pension payments of the United States exceed in liberality those of any other nation on the earth.

Contested Seats in Congress.

The contested-election cases in Congress are as follows: Ex-Gov. Curtin (Democrat) contests the seat in the House of Representatives of L. H. Yocum (Greenback-Republi-can), from the Twentieth district of Pennsylvania, on charges of illegal voting, covering ninety-two specifications. Yocum has been sworn in. J. M. Wieting contests the seat of Frank Hiscock (Republican), from the Twenty-fifth district of New York, alleging bribery, intimidation and interference by Federal Marshals and Supervisors of Election. Mr. Boynton (National) will contest the seat of George B. Loring (Republican), from the Sixth district of Massachusetts, because of an informality in certain ballots. Mr. McCabe (Democrat) will contest the seat of Godlove S. Orth (Republican), from the Ninth district of Indiana, on charges of election frauds in Vermillion and Montgomery counties. Mr. Decius (National) will contest the seat of A. P. Forsythe (National), from the Fifteenth district of Illinois, because Forsythe’s name was printed on some tickets “Forsyth.” Mr. Herbert (National Republican) will contest the seat of Joseph H. Acklen (Democrat), from the Third district of Louisiana. Mr. Crane (Republican) will contest the seat of Eli J. Henkle (Democrat), from the Fifth district of Maryland, charging fraud and interference. Mr. Yeates (Democrat) will endeavor to unseat John J. Martin (Republican), from the First district of North Carolina, the canvassers having declined to go behind the returns which elected Martin. Mr. O’Hara (Republican) desires the seat occupied by W. H. Kitchen (Democrat), from the Second district of North Carolina, because, as alleged, votes were illegally thrown out in certain counties. Contests are also likely to spring up in the Ninth district of Virginia and the Third district of Wisconsin, but no developments are yet announced.

Coincident Deaths of Playmates.

We are informed by a gentleman of the following peculiar circumstance which has taken place on Munjoy hill, in this city, within the week just passed: “Three boys, living as above, ranging in age from 2 to 4 years, have been bosom friends and companions, playing in a party by themselves, and each striving to please the others in every way. During the fore part of last week one of their number died suddenly with croup, and his death, as may be imagined, was sadly felt by the remaining two. At the funeral they both, with their parents, occupied prominent places among the circle of mourners, showing every symptom of deep grief at the loss of their playmate. All at once they began to cry violently, and, on being questioned, gave the somewhat ludicrous answer, saying they ‘ wanted a casket, same as has got.’ A few days after their friend’s burial, one of the two boys sickened and died with the same terrible disease, and at the present time the last of the three friends lies dangerously ill from the same cause.— Portland (Me.) Press.

Putnam’s Departure for Bunker Hill.

Dr. Frederick A. Putnam, a grandnephew of Gen. Israel Putnam of Revolutionary fame, tells this story about the General, which has never before been made public: “ The General was about sitting down to dinner in my grandfather’s, his brother’s, house, when the first news reached him that the British had marched from Boston to attack the Americans. There was roast chicken smoking hot on the table when the pounding of a big drum was heard out of doors. All hurried out, and a darkey was seen oeming down the street crying, ‘ The British have left Boston to ’tack the Americans.’ Gen. Putnam’s horse, a big black fellow, that would let no one ride him but his master, was ordered to |he front of the

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house. Putnam was urged to stay and eat his dinner, but he replied that he couldn’t wait, he was off for Boston. Then he grabbed one of the roast chickens from the table, pulled it apart by the legs, and mounted his horse, gnawing the bones as he rode off for Bunker Hill.”

The Champion Pedestrian.

. Charles Rowell, who has won the Astley belt, emblematic of the pedestrian championship of the world, was born in Chesterton, Cambridgeshire, England, twenty-six years ago, and is a blocky young fellow, five feet six inches in height, his weight being 140 pounds. In 1874 he began showing up as an oarsman, and defeated Harry Clasper for the championship of the Isis, and won several minor races. His pedestrian efforts may be summed up inthe following manner: In the earlier part qf 1872 he ran a mile at Tapiow, in Buckinghamshire, which he won. On the Easter Monday of the same year he won a half-mile race. His next encounter was with one Losby, from whom he received fifteen.yards’ start in 880, and won. This took place on the Cambridge road in 1873. On the Easter Monday following he met Losby on level terms. This time he was defeated. His next dssay was in the same year with one Barber on the Trummington road. This was over two miles, and he won. He was next matched to cover nine and a half miles in the hour over the Harston road. Although this was run through a snowstorm, and ankle-deep in slush, the pedestrian won easily. On the 3d of July, 1874, he met W. Shrubsole in a nineteen-mile race. This he won in one hour fifty-seven minutes, after a most beautiful race. In a six-hour race with H. Vandepur he won, doing thirty-two miles in four hours. He also has won a number of minor half-mile races. In March, 1876, he started against E. P. Weston in one of the Agricultural Hall walks, when he went 175 miles. Last Easter Monday he won a half-mile handicap at Fenner’s Grounds, Cambridge. His next attempt was in the contest for the London go-as-you-please affair, at Agricultural Hall, last October. In this race he finished third, with 469| miles to his credit. On the Friday of that week he ran fifty miles without a break. This is probably the only instance where such a distance of ground has been covered with mt a rest.

A California Court Rules that Infidels May Testify.

Charles de Lacale was called as a witness for the prosecution, and Mr. Barnes said he wished to challenge the competency of the witness on the ground that he does not believe in a Deity. He was not aware that there was any rule governing such cases in statute law, but, under the common-law rule, he was entitled to examine the witness as to h’s belief in a God. Our statute makes a distinction from common law. It makes no distinction as to a man’s competency as a witness because of his religious belief, but the common law does. He did not know how far the United States Courts are governed by the State laws. The Court said it was not inclined to recognize that common-law doctrine as a rule of this day. The law would be considered obsolete. Mr. Barnes gave the different rules prevailing in the several States under the statute law, and said he could not say what was the rule of the day.

The court did not doubt what the rule formerly was, but many old rules had been exploded. The proposed rule would exclude Profs. Tyndall and Huxley as witnesses. Mr. BarneS thought otherwise. He did not understand that Prof. Tyndall was an atheist. He believed in a God, but did not believe in the efficacy of prayer. When a witness swears upon the Bible to tell the truth, the truth must rest with his conscience to his God. The court reasserted that the rule had become obsolete; if it had not, it ought to be. The enforcement of such a rule would be an outrage—to cut off, by a circumstance, very important testimony. The motion would be overruled. What do you mean by an atheist ? Mr. Barnes —I will explain in a- moment. The Court —You can put the point in any formula you choose for consideration hereafter.— San Francisco Bulletin.

Not a Book-Judge.

“Old Si ” reports many a conversation between town and country darkeys which shows that they both possess no small amount of native wit. And, apropos of negro wit and sharpness, I heard a tale the other day of a Georgia colored Trial-Justice which seemed to me worth repeating. It appears that a white Democratic lawyer was called to plead for one of his clients before this ebony Justice, and, not fancying that the negro had any mind of his own, prophesied an easy victory for himself. So, when it came his turn to plead, he sent to his library for a very large number of law-books, and, arranging them on the desk before him, began to search them and to turn down leaves in each one. When he had thus marked about two dozen fat volumes, he began his plea, and from time to time he would pick up a book and begin reading an immensely-long extract. The colored Justice sat blinking, and showing evident signs of distrust of his own ability to comprehend, for half an hour, when suddenly he said: “Mas’r John, is yo—is yo gwine ter read in all dem books dat a-way?” “Well, your Honor,” answered the lawyer, blandly, “I wished to call your attention to a large number of opinions pertinent to the case.” “Mas’r John,” continued tLe sable Trial-Justice, “’pears like de mo’ ye’ reads outen dem books de mo’ clouded like I gits in my min’. Now, Mas’r John, I reckons dat I better decide dis case on de equity an’ justice on it. So just leaf dem books alone, ’n come on at me.”

The lawyer did so, but, in telling the stoiy next day, he said: “Blank blank his equity and justice. The nigger decided the case dead against me after all.” Evidently the colored Justice was determined not to be overawed by too copious use of law-books.— Atlanta Cor. Boston Journal. Philip Arnold, banker, died at his beautiful home in Elizabethtown, Ky., a few days ago. He is the Arnold whose diamond-mine speculation gave the whole world a sensation in 1872. He spent $37,000 for rough diamonds

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in London, and took them to California. There he found a little unfrequented valley, in which he “ salted ” his precious stones. It soon became noised about that Arnold had found a diamond valley. He took a bag of the gems to New York and there organized a . company, with a capital of $10,000,000. Before the fraud had been discovered Arnold got $350,000 in money, and compromised by surrendering half of it.

Henry Bergh’s Methods.

In a paper, by Mr. C. C. Buel, in Scribner for April, on “Henry Bergh and His Work,” occurs this'passage regarding his methods of enforcing the laws against cruelty: Moral suasion and a resolute bearing are Henry Bergh’s most potent auxiliaries. Only rarely has he been forced to use his muscular strength to defend himself. One winter’s dav he met two large men comfortably seated on a ton of coal,'with one horse straining to drag the cart through the snow. He ordered them to get down, and after an altercation pulled them down. At another time'he stood at the southwest corner of Washington square, inspecting the horses of the Seventh Avenue railroad. Several weak and lame horses were ordered to be sent to the stables, and a blockade of overloaded cars soon ensued. A loafer on a car-platform, annoyed at the delay, began to curse Mr. Bergh, who stood on the curbstone three feet distant, turning a deaf ear till the spectators began to urge the bully on. Then, losing his patience, he seized the reins and suspended the movement of the car until the order was complied with. This is one of his “ curbstone” speeches, often used with effect: “ Now, gentlemen, consider that you are American citizens living in a republic. You make your own laws; no despot makes them for you. And I appeal to your sense of justice and your patriotism, oughtn’t you to respect what you yourselves have made? ” Once, Mr. Bergh ordered the ignorant foreman of a gang of gas-pipe layers to fill up one-half of a trench they had dug directly across crowded Greenwich street, even under the railway track. The man gave a surly refusal which would have caused his arrest had not a stranger stepped out from the crowd and said:

“Mike you better do what that man tells you, for he’s the law and the goapel in this city.” “The law and the gospel is it then?” replied Mike, surveying Mr. Bergh from head to foot. “Well, he don’t look a bit like it.” “No matter, but he is,” enforced the stranger, “and, if you can take a friend’s advice, you will fill up that trench.” And the trench was filled. It is a compliment to Henry Bergh’s tact and moderation in the use of his great authority that he has won the respect of most of the drivers of the city; these people may frequently be seen lifting their hats to him, a courtesy always acknowledged with a bow. Horse-car drivers have been known to leave their cars and run to the assistance of his officers, notably when Supt. Hartfield was attacked at Madison square.

Narrow Escapes.

Most singular was the escape of a young Shropshire lady from an ignominious death. Staying in Paris during the reign of terror, she was dragged, with other unfortunate “aristocrats,” before one of the tribunals. She pleaded that she was an Englishwoman; but was on the point of being hurried out to the waiting tumbril when one of the Judges asked her what province in England she was a native of. In her fright she exclaimed “Salop,” a reply greeted by a general shout and clapping cf hands, followed by an order to let her go; and, amid cries of “Salope! Salope!” the dazed girl was hustled into the street to run home, wondering that her head was still on her shoulders, little thinking that by uttering the word “Salop” she had effectually rebutted the notion of her being one of the hated aristocrats, thanks to “ Salope ” being a word then used to designate one of the most depraved of her sex. Another escape was that of M. De Chateaubrun, for he was not only condemned, but actually waited his turn at the guillotine, standing sixteenth in a line of twenty. The fifteenth head had fallen, when the machine got out of order, and the five had to wait until it was repaired. The crowd pressed forward to see what was going on; and as it began to grow dark M. De Chateaubrun found himself gradually thrust into the rear of the spectators; so he wisely slipped away, and, meeting a man simple enough or charitable enough to take his word that a wag'had tied his hands and run off with his hat, had his hands set free, and managed to reach a safe hiding-place. A few days later he put himself beyond the reach of the executioner.—Chambers’ Journal.

Pigtails at the Bank.

Two Chinese laundrymen in Cincinnati were in good luck the other day, and a bank teller was in correspondingly bad luck. The Celestials took $259 in bills and silver to the bank to get it exchanged for more convenient gold. The teller counted out the money, and the Chinamen gobbled the yellow pile and left the bank in a hurry, without counting it. Soon the unlucky teller found that he had paid them S4OO, nearly twice as much as they were entitled to. He hunted up the lucky Celestials, but they would not disgorge. In fact, they made light of the matter, and laughed at the teller and the officers. They understood very well that they had done nothing criminal with which they could be charged. They had simply taken what the bank officer had given them and got away with it. The teller tried his best to get the innocents arrested and squeezed, but without avail. There was nothing to charge them with, so he charged himself with the amount of his blunder on the bank books. He is now of the opinion that the Chinese are a curse to this country and wants them driven out. — St. Louis Bepublican.

Dr. McCosh, of Princeton College, is a good debt-raiser. During his administration $2,500,000 has been given to that institution, and now the last $120,000 of its debt is lifted by friends who wisely stipulate that the college mustn’t hereafter live beyond its income. A Nebraska City woman not only listened at a key-hole, but fired through it at a man whose talk offended her.