Indianapolis Journal, Indianapolis, Marion County, 8 February 1886 — Page 4
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THE DAILY JOURNAL. BY JKO. C. NEW * SON. WASHINGTON OFFICE—SI3 Fourteenth St. P. S. JIKATH, Correspondent. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1886. RATES OF SUBSCRIPTION, TERMS INVARIABLY IN ADVANCE— POSTAGE PREPAID BY THE PUBLISHERS. THE DAILY JOURNAL. On# year, by mail • $12.00 One year, by mail, including Sunday 14.00 Fix months, by mail 6.00 Six months, by mail, including Sunday 7.00 tThvee months, by mail 3.00 . Three months, by mail, including Sunday..... 3.50 Onsnmonfb, by mail 1.00 One month, by mail, including Sunday 1.20 Per week, by carrier (m Indianapolis) .25 THE SUNDAY JOURNAL. espy 5 cents POne year, by mail $2.00 THE INDIANA STATE JOURNAL. • (WEEKLY EDITION.) One year SI.OO * Less than one year and over three months, 10c per .month. No subscription taken for less than three subscriptions at sl, and retain 10 per cent, for their work. Address JXO. C. NEW & RON, Publishers The Journal. Indianapolis, Ind. THE INDIANAPOLIS JOURNAL. Can be found at the following places: LONDON—American Excbango in Europe, 449 Strand. PARlS—American Exchange in Paris, 35 Boulevard des Capucines. NEW YORK—St. Nicholas anu Windsor Hotels. CHICAGO—PaImer HouseT CINCINNATI—J. R. Radley & Cos., 154 Vine street. LOUISVILLE —C. T. Rearing, northwest corner Third and Jefferson streets. BT. LOUTS—Union News Company, Union Depot and Southern Hotel. WASHINGTON, D. House and Ebbitt House. Telephone Calls. Business Office 23S | Editorial Rooms 242 If Garland wins for his company the public will revenge itself by talking him to death over his telephone. Mr. Garland’s connection with the Panelectric Telephone Company may be Platonic, but the appearances do not carry that impression. Pastor Downs wants damages and has gone to court to get them. The Parson is certainly very badly damaged, but has no one but himself to blame. The Glondon Iron Company, atEaston, Pa., has advanced wages 20 per cent., or to the Beale paid in 1883, siDC9 which time two 10 per cent, reductions had been made. The announcement is as gratifying as it is surprising. The motion to expel the Orleans Princes from France was a very impolitic one. Victims of persecution and proscription are quick to gain popularity. It was a good advertisement for the Count and Countess of Paris, and served to keep them from being forgotten. A NEW pure white chrysanthemum has, inappropriately enough, been named after President Cleveland by a Washington florist. At the rate at which the Cabinet and other presidential appurtenances are getting smirched the chrysanthemum will soon be the only pure white thing connected with the administration. At Memphis, on Saturday, two men were killed by a snow-slide which crushed a shed. At Talbotton, Ga., a man died on the same day from the effects of being frozen in January. Northern people visiting the South should go prepared to face the rigors of winter. The balmy air of this region is unknown dn some parts of the country. There has been issued, by order of Con,sTess, a large quarto volume of 1,392 pages, Tbeiag a descriptive catalogue of the government publications of the United States, embracing the title of every document published by act of Congress from Sept. 5, 1774, to March 1, 1881. The alphabetical index of these publications takes up 149 pages, of three columns each, fine type, and an estimate .shows that 70,000 publications have been made, ranging from a two-page pamphlet to -works that cost tens of thousands of dollars. In this way millions of dollars have been squandered, and the evil is growing rather than being restricted. Year after year the most useless matter is being put into print and bonnd fit to find a place in libraries. Speeches that were never delivered, and will probably not be read, are published by the hundred at a very great expense, and still the outlay is kept up. One of the best ways to surb this useless waste of money would be to pass a law requiring each member ©f Congress to keep a copy of this volume on his desk during every day of the session. The evil nhould be abated. The results of the trials in the caso of Birmingham, the murderer of Beniorf, and of Chesley Chambers, at Bloomington, tend to shake popular faith in the value of jury trials, especially under the Indiana plan. That the jury system for tho determination of facts is a good one, when properly administered by a strong-handed and true hearted court, cannot be denied; but there may well be question of the utility of that system which gives juries the power to fix punishments. In an inflamed state of public feeling the jury inflicts the extreme penalty of tho law; in the absence of a decided public feeling, it flips coppers or draws cuts for some fort of a compromise, rather than have a raistriaL In the Birmingham case the brutal killing of an inoffensive old man, who Lad been ruined by whisky-selling, because he
hadn’t ten cents to pay for a drink of rot-gut whisky, is awarded two years in the State prison. In the case of Chambers, a crime that has destroyed the life of a man, compelling him to a living death, for how long no one knows, is given two years in the penitentiary. The theft of a few dollars, or of a horse or a cow, would be more severely punished. On the theory that the men were guilty—as the verdicts determined —these two juries have disgraced themselves, and brought ridicule upon the law by their contemptible conclusions. TREASURER HANWAY’S SETTLEMENT. Our amiable contemporary, the Sentinel, appears to be very anxious that the Journal should give it some information in regard to the adjustment and settlement of the accounts of Mr. Hanway, a former county treasurer. The Journal does* not speak by authority for either Mr. Hanway or hie sureties; still, it will endeavor to gratify the yearnings of the Sentinel by a statement of Mvr. Hanway’s case as it appears, or at least should appear, by the records of the treasurer's office and those of the Board of County Commissioners. Mr. Hanway*s term of service expired Sept. 4, 1879. Several weeks prior to that date the County Commissioners appointed two expert accountants to go through the books and duplicates of the auditor's and'treasurer’s offices, and to ascertain and establish the amount due the various funds from Mr. Hanway. These experts and the county auditor made a full and careful examination, and stated the amount due in detail and in the aggregate on the day of the expiration of Mr. Hanway’s term. Mr. Hanway promptly, on that day, turned over to his successor, as required by law, every amount, to the very last cent, that was so found to be due from him, and his accounts and settlement were finally closed. The of the office were surrendered to his successor, Dr. Loftin, a thoroughly honest ar.d reliable man, a man against whose integrity no truthful word can be spoken. But, unfortunately, the books were in the custody and subject to the handling and manipulation of certain other persons whose integrity and honest yare not above grave suspicion. After several months an al leged error was claimed to have been discovered in the settlements. This being brought to the notice of Mr. Hanway, he properly and truthfully avowed his entire ignorance and innocence of the claim, but proposed to the Commissioners that they should appoint one expert accountant, familiar with the method of book-keeping aDd system of the treasurer’s office; that he would appoint one, and, they two failing to agree, should appoint a third member, and these three should go over the books and records of the office, and that he would abide by their decision; should they find him in any way, or sum, indebted to the county he would promptly pay the amount so found to be due. This proposition the Commissioners refused to accept; but, instead, designated two men to again go over his books, both of whom were so unfriendly to Mr. Hanway that they were not on speaking terms with him, nor Mr. Hanway allowed to be represented even at his own expense during such examination. These two alleged experts made their report. Mr. Hanway declined to accept their finding as either impartial or truthful, and declined to pay what they found to be duo from him. When, under order of court, this remarkable brace of experts submitted a bill of particulars, more than twenty thousand dollars of the alleged sums were, by memory, without any reference to the books at all, found to have been wholly accounted for by Mr. Hanway in his settlement. It is also to be said that the county has had a good deal of experience with ‘‘experts;” that no two sets of them overreached a similar verdict after examination of the same accounts, and that the county has never received anything like the amount of money that has been expended for the services of these special accountants. It would be a very unsophisticated man, indeed, who would pay $20,000 or $40,000, or any other amount of money, upon the ipse dixit of any "export," especially after he.had made a full, complete, and, as he had good reason to believe, a final settlement of his accounts with the county. Tho Journal has to say that, from the facts as they appear to be from its investigation, and from all it can learn about the matter, Mr. Hanway has fully paid all that was due from him. At lea-1 the matter is now before the courts, and by the judgment of the courts the decision of the matter must abide. THE TELEPHONE SCANDAL. Tin administration, as reflected by its champions, is taking a remarkable method to free itself from the scandal involving two members of the Cabinet. Instead of having Mr. Garland purge himself of suspicion by surrendering or selling his Pan-electric stock, which did not cost him a penny, it seems to be the purpose of the President to not only permit him to retain it, but to afford such influence in the case now pending as to make the Attorney-general a millionaire without the outlay of a dollar. To this end, and' to divert attention from the fact that this official is practically bribed, a concerted attack has been made upon the Bell Telephone Company, which is now being denounced as a merciless monopoly. This may be true, and yet be wholly irrelevant to the question at issue, so far as Mr. Garland is concerned, and, indeed, so far as the merits of the issue between this company and its opponents is concerned. If the papers so wrought up by the alleged iniquity of the
THE INDIANAPOLIS JOURNAL, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1886.
Bell telephone monopoly are sincere, they should hasten to advise Mr. Garland to strip himself of his handicap, so that he may render the more efficient service to the public. As it is, it is useless to ask the people to believe that there is not a job in this fight. What guaranty has any one that the the new telephone company would not prove as conscienceless a monopoly as has the one now in existence, and, with this difference, probably, that a decision in favor of the plaintiffs would perpetuate it by the length of time that has elapsed since the patent now in force was issued? It is not apparent yet that this suit is anything more than a shrewd scheme to perpetuate this imposition. If the life of the patent can thus be renewed, what more natural than that an understanding could be arrived at or a conspiracy formed to accomplish it through a specious appeal to the courts? As the matter stands, the public cannot divest itself of the suspicion that there is crookedness in it, and that men high in office are parties to it Should this suit be gained in the practical interests of the company that has guaranteed to make millionaires of Mr. Garland and others, this gentleman would find himself in possession of a million and a half, to acquire which he had not risked a cent, nor done any service that would have been worth the tenth of that sum, except that he is now in position to do more than he ever could before by prostituting his office to his own enrichment. It is a scandal of which the friends of the President may well wish themselves rid. The reluctance shown in letting go of this stock has already caused the suspicion that it is a money-making scheme of size sufficient to bribe federal officials, and for that reason dangerous to the public. The insinuation that the Bell monopoly has bribed certain newspapers to make an outcry against the President and those he shields is but a subterfuge that deceives nobody. The public has no defense for the present monopoly and no relish for another to take its place at the expense of official probity. The President can readily put himself in the 'right light before the people by requesting the Attorneygeneral to dispose of his gift-stock or politely demanding his resignation. Until one of these things is done, ic is asking too much to believe that there is nothing rotten in this suit. They do things differently in France. On Friday last, at Maziores, Ardennes, Nicholas Guvnot was guillotined for having assassinated a tax-collector. On the night before, M. De Ibler, the gentlemanly executioner, and his two attendants arrived from Paris with the dread machine, which they proceeded at once to put together and set up. The executioners then returned to their hotels, ato a hearty supper, and went to bed. They got up at 5 o’clock the next morning, put on black broadcloth coats, waistcoats, trousers and black cravats, ate boiled eggs, drank large bowls of coffee, and stood in readiness by their guillotine at C o’clock, (garnet was then awakened and told tlu2 bia time had come. He complained because he had not beer, pardoned or commuted, as they might as well have executed him two months ago, had they not intended to mitigate the sentence. Os ferel a drink of wine, he refused it, saying, "What’s the use?” and the same when offered a cigar. He finally took a glass of brandy and another of chartreuse, and drank to the health of the company. Seeing the-judge that sentenced him, he said he would take it as u favor if he would ride with him to the place of execution. The judge consented, mounted the cart, and the two rode off together, followed by the crowd, for it was to be in public. Arrived at the place, th 9 convict bared his neck, placed his head on the block, and when one of the attendants had wound his fingers in the hair of the condemned, tho knife descended and the head dropped into a basket of sawdust. The gen-davmes immediately dispersed the crowd. The executioners, pale and exhausted with their morning’s work, washed the guillotine with soapsuds, dismounted it, and, with the van, the guillotine and all their implements, returned to Paris. Taken altogether, the execution was accomplished decently and in order, and the gentlemen in tho black cloth suits probably attended the students’ ball on Sunday night, or went to a case chantant. The Rev. Dr. Arnold reads the Sunday newsDapers because ho “desires to know how God has ruled the world since yesterday.”—Louisville Courier-Journal. This is the first intimation we have had that in the present residence of Dr. Arnold the daily newspaper exists, especially the Sunday newspaper. Prohibitionists and temperance people generally will make the most of the fact that Weston won the pedestrian match from O’Leary, at Chicago, easily covering 2,500 miles while his competitor broke down and left the track after doing 2,292 miles. Weston is a life-long teetotaler, O'Leary an habitual partaker of stimulants. Several American newspapers now have special cables signed "Member of Parliament.” Having no salary, these poor fellows must make a living some way. If they will come over during vacation they can carry papers. ABOUT PEOPLE AND THINGS. There are noW eight female physicians practicing in Paris. Mr. Edison’s fortune is said to have grown like the traditional snowball into a $2,000,000 lump. "There are times,’’says Gail Hamilton, "when a woman does not feel like learning a language or Eaving a soul.” Thomas Bailey Aldrich is losing the dandified look of former years, and "has grown fat and unfashionable and fine looking.” The Civil-service Reform Association of New York held a private meeting on Wednesday night, only nine members being present. Sir Arthur Sullivan, as New York lobby loiterers report, is to be married to Miss Geraldine Ulmer, a singer of the American stage. The entire area of wooded country under the Forestry Departmeutof British India is over 75,000 square miles, larger than all the New England States together. Attorney-general Garland, it is said, summarily dismissed a servant girl the other morning when she asked him if he would have Pancakes.—Rochester Post-Express. A philanthropic Jewess, named Zukerman, died recently at Minsk. Besides contributing liberally to many charities, she educated nine orphana, apprenticed them to handicrafts, and
granted each 1,000 roubles to enable them to start in trade. She was also in the habit of inquiring after needy tradesmen and sending sums of money to their houses. The fiftieth birthday of the first German railway has just been celebrated. It is a little road, three or four miles in length, and runs between Nurembere and Firth. It was completed at Christmas, 1835, and still pays good dividends. A young Japanese lady writer, Miss O. Santa San, has been taken on the editorial staff of one of the best newspapers in Tokio. She is the first woman in the kingdom of the Mikado who has been admitted into the circle of journalism. Mr. Gilbert, the librettist, answers to the full name of William Schwirk Gilbert He is credited with having said "that a husband can hope to be a hero in his wife's eyes only two months —the month before he is married and the month after his death.” Gen. G. W. Custis Lee, president of Washington and Lee University, has still in his possession the family silverware bequeathed by George Washington to his adopted son, George Washington Park Custis, of Arlington, grandfather of Gen. Custis Lee. When Lawrence Barrett assumes the management of Edwin Booth’s business, next season, he is to pay the latter $150,000 for thirty weeks’ work and furnish everything. He will arrange to keep his own and Mr. Booth’s companies in different parts of the country. A miser who has just died in Canterbury, England, is reported to have left an immense sum of money and a large number of valuable paintings, including several Raphaels and Van Dycks. He had walled up many of the windows of his house, and only one door was available for use. Possibly John Ruskiu has enlisted under the Gladstone-Parnell banner, but probably it is not true, as reported, that Tennyson has openly expressed himself in favor of home rule in Ireland. His position as poet laureate would prevent him from holding opinions in opposition to those of the Queen. Fifteen years ago Mr. Joseph Arch was a farm laborer, supporting his family on $4 weekly wages, and he is now a member of Parliament. He is what is commonly called a self-made man, but, as his wife taught him to read and write, he may be considered a creditable specimen of domestic manufacture. Senator Jones, of Florida, it is said, is spending his days somewhere in the West, laying siege to the heart of a widow, or, more correctly speaking, to the hearts of two widows. One is said to possess $4,000,000 in her own right, and the other $0,000,000; but he Senator is still undecided which to choose. Capt. Sam Packard, of Malden, Mass., who celebrated his one hundredth birthday on Thursday, has lived uuder every President of the United States, is a pensioner of the war of 1812, has been the father of twelve children, and is in good health and condition, which promise him a lease of some years yet. In Norway it is believed that wolves are frightened away by telegraph lines. It is said that, however hungry a wolf may be, he will never go into a spot that is enclosed by ropes stretched on posts. Since tho first telegraphic line was established, twenty years ago, wolves have never appeared in its neighborhood. John Russell Young, in speaking of the large amount of money received by Mrs. Grant from the book of the General, says there is little danger of Mrs. Grant ever being troubled for the want of funds. He knows of several invest ments which have been made for Mrs. Grant, and so carefully made that in the event of fail ure of any kind she is secure. Louise Michel says that before she conceived such an absorbing pity for humanity music was her passion, and that when young she received from animpressario a brilliant offer to play at concerts. But, her mother being dead, her piano must be dumb for the rest of her life, and she will only use her musical accomplishments to teach poor children. William Rowley and a gang of men were working in the gravel-pit of Biddeford, Me., when a cave in bogan. All managed to jump out except Rowley, who, as he was caught by the falling grave), threw his shovel as far as he could. This act saved his life, for every other shovel was buried by the slide; but, working with Rowley’s shovel and their hands, the men dug him out, not much hurt, but very badly scared. There is on the way from Alaska to Washington a cane for President Cleveland. It was made by Dick, the native policeman of Sitka, and is of yellow cedar, skillfully carved. The carving represents the history and traditions of the bear family, that animal being the "totem” of the Kahtwatons, the most numerous of the two Indian families that constitute the population of Sitka village. It is finished with a ferule of Alaska gold. Mr. Henry M. Stanley, the African explorer, relates that when ho started on his tour through the “Dark Continent” he took iu his baggage a large collection of books. But as the number cf his men was lessened the books had one by one to be left by the wayside, until finally, when less than 300 miles from the Atlantic, he had left only the Bible, Shakspearo, Carlyle’s "Sartor Resartus,” Norie’s Navigation and the Nautical Almanac. At Zinga the Shakspeare was abandoned, and afterward Norie, the Almanac, and, last, "Sartor Resartus” were thrown down, only the Bible going through to the end. The adopted daughter of Senator Sherman has become a great comfort to him. both for her affection and her accomplishments. His wife heard her husband express the desire to have some children to bring up, and she understood that in New York were two fine children, the daughters of a French couple who came to this country, and here the husband lost his wife. He was so disconsolate that he refused to stay in the land, which he accused of having caused the death of his partner. So he gave Ins children to an institution, and hearing about them Mrs. Sherman caine over to New York, and it is said that she personally, without assistance, carried those two infants to Washington in the night. One of them died before it was two years old. The other was sent abroad to be educated, aud while there some informiug person told the girl that she was not the child of the Senator and his wife. It made her so unhappy that she was unable to stay in France, and insisted upon coming home. The incident, however secured yet more of the affection of her adopters, and they are realizing as much joy in the object of their care as if she were their own. COMMENT AND OPINION. The administration’s Garland has become a crown of thorus. —Minneapolis Tribune. President Cleveland mu3t feel that he has "a leaden Garland on his brow.”—Boston Trancript. So far Congress has done nothing that the country most needs to have done. —Springfield Republican. There seems to be a deplorable lack of terminal facilities at the Pershing trial and the Ohio senatorial investigation.—Pittsburg Chronicle. Dr. Rogers will take notice that there is a brand new Cabinet in London, all the members of which are utterly destitute of Pan-electric. —National Republican. Does President Cleveland propose to let this partnership between the Pan-electric schemes and his administration last, or will he "turn the rascals out?”—Philadelphia Press. Both the Grand Army of the Republic and the Loyal Legion are dishenored by retaining such a man as William F. Vilas, Postmaster-gen-eral, in membership.—Cleveland Leader. There has been a deal of talk about the administration working behind glass and in full sight of tho people. The Garland episode is suggestive of stained glass.—Boston Record. Ohio seems for the moment to have dropped out of sight into an omnious quiet. None who know what elements are seething in Ohio will suppose that its quiet is tor long.—Memphis Avalanche. The Herald, the New York Times and the Evening Post, having had no polities for some time except unqualified support and laudation of President Cleveland, are forced into close quarters by the attitude of Attorney-general
Garland, since it is rather difficult to condemn the Secretary and laud the President who made and can unmake him.—Boston Journal. Evkby fresh eviction in the coke regions is likely to add to the numbers of those among the general public who have practical objections to letting human beings freeze to death.—Pittsburg Dispatch. Whoever understands the present condition of the treasury cannot believe a material reduction of the tariff will permit any material increase in the pensions appropriations.—Milwaukee Sentinel. Mr. Cleveland should either tell Garland to go, or else publish another lone and vehement declaration of his undying and indomitable attachment to official purity and reform.—Milwaukee Sentinel. Thebe is no telling how many drunkards have been made by the nightmare pictures of the interiors of the stomachs which temperance lecturers have been so fond of exhibiting. —Philadelphia Telegraph. The divine right of kings is a pretty thoroughly “exploded idee’’ in Prance when the crown jewels are sold to provide a fund for aged workingmen. The “people’s hour” struck in Prance with the downfall of the little Napoleon.—Boston Record. * The experience of Hong-Kong has been the experience of San Francisco, and that is that the Chinese are beyond the ordinary processes of our law. They care less than any other race for imprisonment, and their cunning and treachery are proverbial.—San Francisco Chronicle. A “signed editorial” is a misnomer. In a signed contribution, it is the individual, and not the journal, that speaks. The very fact of a signature shows that the editor—the responsible conductor of the paper—does not commit the journal to the views expressed.—Boston Herald. The chief objection to a postal savings bank consists in tho fact that the mqney of depositors, instead of staying at home to he loaned in the improvement and building up of the town, would be sent to Washington and New York, whore there is too much money .already.—Atlanta Constitution. A thoughtful concern for the material interest of Ireland would seem to dictate that Parnell should be content with such legislation, conceding the principle of home rule, as Mr. Gladstone can pnrsuade the Whigs to consent to. Whether he will or not remains to be seen.—San Francisco Chronicle. Fike insurance men wiil be glum over the New York Commercial Bulletin’s estimate of January’s fire loss, which is placed at $12,000, 000, or $2,000,000 more than the average January loss for the past ten years. An encouraging improvement in the amount of losses last year was noted, but the promise of the new year does not inspire confidence.—Springfield Republican. Tiik Rocky mountain country ha3 received very little aid from the general government, while the East has received much. It is surely not asking a great deal that certain localities in each of the Rocky mountain States and Territories be reserved from sale and set apart as national parks, to be used and enjoyed by the public for all time to come.—Denver Republican. Unless indications are badly in error, the present House promises to become purely obstructionary. It has placed itself at variance with the administration, and has no policy of its own. The Blands and the Morrisons are evidently determined to provoke legislative pandemonium. It is a disgraceful sight for the first House of Representatives under a Democratic administration.—Albany Express. The verdict of the Democratic press, with few dissenting voices, is that the Attorney-general must either sell his stock or resign. Tho verdict of the Republican press is that he must either be removed or impeached. The verdict of every journal of influence and character is that the telephone scandal requires a thorough, searching. impartial investigation at the hands of Congress, whether the Attorney-general stars in or goes out.—New York Tribune. Mr. Garland is yet regarded as an honorable man, and the intention to use his official influence for his personal profit has not beon imputed to him. But he will forfeit this judgment of him if he persists in “braving it out,” or if he wait till the President requests his resignation. Ho could save himself and turn what he regards as detraction into praise by offering his resignation before the suit is brought and by insisting on its acceptance.—Brooklyn Union. If question answering is the best test of fitness for appointive, it is also the best test of fitness for elective office. Let it be erected into a comprehensive and all-pervading system. The only trouble will be about the selection of the examiners. The creation of a self-examining examining board might be the best plan. Its members and ail its subordinates would hold office for life, and then the professional civilsert’ice reformer would have nothing more to complain of.—New York Sun. The Bell company may have desperate reasons to regret Secretary Lamar’s decision, but facts have not yet been given which link him in guilt—for the point whera guilt begins is now nearly or quite reached—with Mr. Garland, Mr. Harris and their co owners of stock that has not and has never had any value other than the value which their names and possible influence gave it. In justice to Secretary Lamar, the two parts of the controversy ought to be kept distinct in the public mind.—Brooklyn Union. Walk up. Mr. President. Delays are dangerous. The Senate is letting in daylight; it will not do for the executive to keep the curtains down. That was an excellent idea that this administration lives behind glass doors. But the people want the curtains pulled up. It is very possible, and indeed certain, that you have made mistakes; but the people will forgive you. They will understand that you have been imposed upon. But they don't intend to have" this wretched office seeking and office-getting done m secret any louger. You cannot save the politicians who have deceived you. and you would be very foolish to go down with them.—New York ilerald. INDIANA FOR CONROY. Why the Recommendations of the State Ofcers Should lie Ignored. New York Times. An investigation concerning the remarkable appointment of Barney Conroy to be transfer mail agent in Indianapolis has revealed some curious facts. This man’s application was virtually supported by the State of Indiana, for the State officers urged his appointment. Conroy had passed a great deal of the time since 1872 in the penitentiaries and jails of Indiana. He had served terms for grand larceny and for highway robbery. He had afterward been indicted again and again for robbery, petit larceny, rioting, and assault. He had been arrested “almost numberless times.” we are told, “for minor offenses.” In Indianapolis such a career as this does not escape observation. This man’s character must have been well known to the intelligent residents of that city. The reports of proceedings in the city, county, and State courts must have made hia name familiar to them as the name of an incorrigible thief and lawbreaker. Nevertheless, he was able to induce the following persons to sign his application: Isaac P. Gray, Governor of Indiana, State Treasurer John J. Cooper, State Auditor James H. Rice; W. R. Myers, Secretary of State: Francis T. Hord, Attorney-general; W. E. Niblaek, Judge ot Supreme Court. And this is what these men, representing the State of Indiana, said: “We have known Mr. Conroy for a long time as an earnest worker in the cause of the Democracy, and one who is always at the polls early and late. He is a hard-working, honest citizen, and as he has never before asked an appointment we think him worthy of recognition now.” Their signatures are not forgeries, for they admit, apparently without; shame, that they wrote them. Neither the President, nor the Postmastergeneral, nor any other member of the Cabinet should ever again pay the slightest attention to any recommendation signed by any of these men. They have no longer any right to be heard. The State of Indiana is disgraced by officers who “earnestly request” that the offscourings of the penitentiaries and jails shall be made officers of the United Statos. This ought to be enough to prevent tho re-election or the renomination of any one of them. No State can be properly governed by men who deliberately take such action as this with their eyes open. If they fairly represent the Democratic party of Indiana—and we suppose they do—that party should be held responsible for their action. But Jhe executive officer at Washington who was deceived and who summarily dismissed Conroy should receive the credit which is hia due. How can a President or a Postmaster-general desiring to select honest and capable men avoid appointiag scoundrel* now and then if the Congress-
men, Governor, Treasurer, Attorney-general, and Supreme Judges of a State unite in recoin- ' mending them! The facts in this case show not only how difficult the President’s task is, bag also how far the Democrats of Indiana are from, seeing anything good in a merit system. Competitive examinations and capable men may bo preferred in some States, but jailbirds are good enough for them. THE SPIRIT OP THE STATE TRESS. Rest Fitted to Serve the People. Sholbyvillo Republican. Governor Porter says: “There is no office in the gift of the State or country that I desire or would accept. lam out of active political life-. What I now want the most is to be let alone, and allowed to spend tho remainder of my life quietly and happily.'’ That may be ’Mr. Porter’s plan, bnt he is the very kind of man the people are looking for to serve them. Tne ones that are not so anxious to get into office are precisely those who are generally best fitted to smwe the people usefully. There has been too much of this “running for office,” this seekineof place by small fry politicians. The people should insist that the petty politicians keep still while they look around for the kind of men that will fitly do their work in public station. Albert G. Porter is too useful a man to be allowed to retire to private life. A place in Congress would become him. and during the remainder of his life he could do some useful work for the people. What Ails Indianapolis? New Albany Ledger. There is still a good deal of uneasiness at Indianapolis over the financial situation. The capital city is not yet done paying for its kite-flying away back in 1870-'l-2. Then everybody was to be made rich by laying off lots and marking up the prices. Center township was about used up, and a good portion of the available lands of the county staked off and held at fabulous prices. Streets were laid out for miles, and not only laid out, but graded and paved, running through lands “where cornfields nod to lazy crows, and waiving meadows hide the timid quail.” A few outside sucker* were caught and helped to pay the penalty of such speculation, but tho great bulk of it fell upon the citizens of Indianapolis. Many of them went under at once, and others have since been going down, and still others are yet staggering under the load. The Cost of Democracy to Indiana. Muncie News. When the people of Indiana count tho cost of a State Democratic administration in dollars and cents, they wfll begin to realize that a Republican government is much the cheaper. The cost of Democracy in this State runs away up in the millions. This fact should not be lost sight of in the beginning of the organization of the Republican party for the coming election. There is every reason found in tho debt statement of this State why the Democratic party should no longer manage the State government. Democracy is dear enough as a gift and is unsupportable when it costs a State the sum of $0,000,000. lie Demands No Fee. Shelbyville Republican. Sonator Harrison is standing up manfully at Washington for his friends whose characters were assassinated by Democratic spoilsmen who wanted their places. And he doesn’t demand any fee for his work either. Not even Pan-elec-tric telephone stock. His deeds to his friends are only for the consideration of “love and affection.” _ A Model Statesman. Richmond Palladium. Senator Harrison, of Indiana, is noc a tall man physically, bnt mentally he towers above the honorable Senators who have measured swords with him in debate. He is courteous, dignified, clear, and the complete master of his subject. His speech upon Dakota admission is a model. The Doors Are Open. Tipton Advocate. • There are a laree number of Democrats in Tipton county that are honest and seek to do that which is to the best interest of themselves and public. To all such the doors of the Republican party are open and they will be welcomed, into it. An Unprofitable Public Servant Indi&nts-1i. 3 t. _ - —.— Mr. Philip Gapen, tttfTArkansaw traveler, exliquor dealer, and trustee of the Insane Asylum, returned to this city, after an absence of many months, to draw his salary as trustee, it is supposed. Are They Satisfactory? Grecncastle Times. Gentle reader, these are tho good old dear Democratic days about which you heard so much when you were better off. Are they altogether satisfactory to you? Not the Name. Kniarbtstown Banner. '‘Old Man-Afraid-of-the-Tomperance-Issue” is not the name of the Republican party ot Henry county. Tarn Them In. Brazil Enterprise. Turn the rascals in as fast as they come from the penitentiaries. Cleveland and Voorliees in ’BB. Washington Letter in Philadelphia Inquirer. It is common talk in Washington that Mr. Cleveland has been looking around for an Indiana man to go on the ticket with him in 1888, and has at last pitched upon Senator Voorhees, the Tall Sycamore of tho Wabash. Mr. Cleveland, with one eye on New York, looks to Indiana with her fifteen votes and such other Western States as may be induced in the next four years to turn Democratic. He knows Senator Voorbees’s power on the stamp, where he is simply matchless, and it is often beard that Cleveland and Voorhees is the ticket which Mr. Cleveland favors. Senator Voorhees is in high favor at the White House, and anybody who thinks Grover Cleveland is not figuring on 188S is mightily mistaken. One Presidential Candidate Withdrawn. Washington Letter. A good story is told of ox-Governor Long, of Massachusetts, and Congressman Reed, of Maine. A newspaper reporter, in referring to possiblo presidential candidates recently, mentioned Mr. Long and Mr. Reed as among the number. A few days later he met Mr. Long, who thanked him for the compliment, but said: “You will have to withdraw my name now. Reed and I have made a bargain. He has offered me sl3 to withdraw in bis favor and make a speech nominating him at the next Republicac convention. The only bitch in the proceedings is that I want the sl3 down, but he wants to pay $3 now and the other $lO after tho speech is made.” A Warm Man. Philadelphia Press. It is intimated that Randolph Tucker, of Virginia, may succeed Garland as Attorney-general. It would be a fit selection. Cononel Tucker is a scholar, a gentleman, and a mighty good lawyer. Besides that, he can make a speech on the woe* of the Sunny South so hot that one application of it would keep the whole Cabinet comfortably warm all winter. Mr. Tweed Blew Over. Boston Journal. Attorney-general Garland is reported as finding consolation in the thought that “it will all blow over.” Another prominent Democratic statesman, the Hon. Wirt. M. Tweed, was once of tbo same opinion. But Mr. Tweed was mistaken, and so is Mr. Garland. An Unsatisfactory Report. Minneapolis Tribune. General Hazen has explained the accounts of the Signal Service, but porsistentlv refuses to tell ns why winter was held back for a whole month, and then fired at us in a condensed form. A Sure Cure* Binghamton Republican. A correspondent wants to know how to keep eider from working Imbue it with sooialistio ideas. Nothing works that has them. A Distinguished Visitor. New York Graphic. Mr. James D. Fish, having finished his round of receptions, has returned with hi* Ytlet to Auburn prison. - wi
