Indianapolis Journal, Indianapolis, Marion County, 17 April 1889 — Page 4

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THE INDIANAPOLIS JOURNAL, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 17, 1889

THE DAILY JOURNAL WEDNESDAY, APRIL 17, 1SS9. WASHINGTON OFFICE 513 Fourteenth St, P. S. Heatii, Correspondent. NTTW YORK OFFICE 201 Temple Court, Corner Beekman And Nassau Streets. TERMS OF SUBSCRIPTION. DAILY. On year, without Fanday fliOO One year, with Sunday 14 00 Fix month, withont Sunday 6.04 Six months, with Sunday 7.00 Three months, withont Sunday 3.00 Three months! with Snnttay 3.50 One month, withont Sunday..... 100 One month, with Sunday 1.20 WEEKLY. ?tr year t100 Reduced Rates to Clubs. Subscribe with any of our numerous agents, or send subscriptions to THE JOURNAL NEWSPAPER COMPANY, I5DIAXAPOL1S, IXO. THE INDIANAPOLIS JOURNAL Can be found at the following places: LONDON American Exchange la . Europe, 443 Strand. PARIS American Exchange In Paris, 35 Boulevard des Capucine. ... , NEW TORE Gilsey House and Windsor ITotcL . PHILADELPHIA A. pT Kemble. 3735 Lancaster avenue. - CHICAGO Palmer House. CINCINNATI-J. T. Hawley & Co., 154 Ylne'street. LOUISVILLE C. T. Deering, northwest corner Third and Jefferson streeta. 8T. LOUIS Union News Company, Union Depot and Southern HoteL WA8niNGT0N, D. C.-BJgg House and Ebbltt House. . Telephone Calls. Business Office 238 Editorial Rooma,. .;.242 Tue United States government does not want to buy Cuba; of course not. It Bimply wants to establish such friendly commercial relations that the island will want to give a mortgage on itself as a keepsake. Foreclosure will follow later. The "bringing in," near Pittsburg, of the largest natural-gas well ever struck should cause the scientists to , suspend their assertions that the supply is being exhausted. We remark again that the scientists mean well, but they do not know. The shipment of several wagon-loads of coffins for Oklahoma, and the fact that many of the provident boomers are leaving their wills on deposit in St. Louis and Kansas City, are cheerful symptoms of the social pandemonium that may be expected there. President Harrison's ruling in regard to the appointment of clerks in the railway mail service is a proper one. The experience and good official records of clerks removed without cause should certainly make it unnecessary for them to stand examination when applying for fe-instatement. The Commissioner of Patents finds prevailing among the clerks of the office a practice which is simply outrageous, viz., borrowing money from attorneys and solicitors of patents who practice before the department. Such a loan places the clerk under pecuniary obligation to the attorney, and is, in effect, a bribe or inducement for favorable action on pending claims. The Commissioner has issued an ortler requiring all such loans to be repaid by the 30th inst., and forbidding the practice in future. He would have been justified in discharging every clerk guilty of it. The Pennsylvania militia was invited to take part in the New York centennial celebration, and after accepting the invitation wasiuformed that it was expected to provide its own subsistence during the visit.- As a result comes a pleasant interchange of compliments between Philadelphia and New York papers, the first making pointed comments on a hospitality that requires invited guests to bring their dinners, and the latter retorting that an invitation to come to New York is sufficent ljonor without further favors. The Philadelphians ought to consider that the New Yorkers may be practicing economy and ?avmg up in order to contribute to the Grant monument fund. Tiie first man appointed to a clerkship in the Postoffice Department at Washington, when the civil-service law took effect in July, 1883, was a Democrat. The first letter-carrier appointed in Indianapolis, under the present administration, to succeed ono removed for cause, is a " Democrat. This is an honest construction and enforcement of the law. If enforced and observed in that spirit for a few vears we shall havo a non-partisan civil-service based on the idea of the survival of the fittest and in which honesty, intelligence and efficiency will be the guarantee of retention and promotion, instead of party service and political influence. It is only a question of time when the civil service will havo to be established and maintained on that basis. The business interests Hof the country and the successful administration of the government, if. not its very preservation, will demand it. It is as fair for one party as for the other, and when the working force of the public service gets to bo about equally divided between the parties and composed of honest and efficient men, neither party will feel like reviving thebarbarous custom of "sweeping removals" for political cause alone.

It is announced from Washington that concerted action will soon be taken by the Postmaster-general and Attorneygeneral against the Louisiana State Lottery. The objective point of the movement will bo to exclude lottery matter from the mails. The general government could not go further than this, but this would be almost a fatal blow to the lottery. Its en&rmous business is carried on principally by mail, and if any way can be found of excluding their lottery correspondence from the mails, and cutting them off from the use of the money order, postal note and registered letter facilities, it will be a great victory. Efforts have been made in this direction before, but the difficulty lias been to find any law that would enable the government to discriminate between lottery matter and ordinary business or privato mail, which of course cannot bo invaded or excluded. Another difficulty has been the impossibility of reaching the lottery company behind tho legal safeguards xrbkh the Louisiana Legislature has ex

tended, and its potent influence in the

Louisiana courts. The lottery company is an organization of vast wealth and tremendous power, and it uses both unsciupulously. Its influence for evil is beyond all estimate. As a debaucher of public morals and a systematic promoter of gambling, robbery, peculation and theft for years past it ha3dono incalcu lable harm. The Louisiana lottery is an unmitigated curse, and its use of the United States mails for years past is a national scandal which should have been ended long ago by stringent legislation. If the present administration can find a way to throttle and strangle the evil, it will deserve the thanks of all good peo ple. INDIANA FINANCES TEE TAX LETT. If the people of Indiana were as sensi tive of the honor and credit of the State as they ought to be, wo should have wit nessed during the past month a general outburst of indignation at the present financial situation, and the imbecile management that has caused it. Their ap parent indifference can only bo account ed for on the theory of their absolute confidencetin the resources of the State and her ability in the last resort to raise whatever sum may be necessary to pay her debts, maintain her credit and carry on the government. Of tho final ability of the State to do all this, and more, there is no doubt whatever, but that does not make the present situation less humiliating, or lessen tho responsibility and odium that should attach to those who have brought it about. Do the people of Indiana know that the State treasury is absolutely so empty that the Treasurer could not honor a draft for $101 Do they know that warrants on the treasury have been hawked about and sold at a discount like dishonored paper? Do they know that some of the employes of the State institutions are living on credit or borrowed money, and that some of the officersof tho institutions are advancing from time to time a few dollars out of their own pockets to the needy employes? Do they know the State is in debt $6,770,000, andispaying interest at tho rate of $337,801 a year, of which $79,875 is a foreign debt? Do they know that the annual interest account of tho State is about one-fourth of its total revenue? Do they know that in the face of these facts the late Democratic Legislature made larger appropriations tnan any of its predecessors, made absolutely no provision whatever for raising revenue, and actually tried to pile debt upon debt by passing a bill for a loan of $1,400,000? Do they know that even that "loan bill, a miserable, cowardly makeshift at best, is of doubtful constitutionality, and that the State has been advertised all over the country as trying to borrow money in New York on bonds .of questionable validity? And do they know that all this embarrassment, pecuniary loss, humiliation and disgraco are due to tho dishonest financiering and the malignant, persistent and long continued mismanagement of the Democratic party? These are facts, and if tho people do not know them it is time they should. The Democratic policy of piling up debt," shirking the duty of increasing he tax levy, borrowing money to pay interest and current expenses, postponing pay day, and creating a debt for posterity, to pay this shystering, Democratic policy of robbing Peter to pay Paul has been going on for years. One Governor after another has called the attention of Democratic Legislatures to the necessity of increasing the tax levy and making provision to place the State finances on an honest, solvent basis, but no attention has been paid to their recommendations. Tho present law fixing the tax levy at 12 cents on each $100 has been in force twelve years, and the necessity of an increase of the levy has been apparent nearly as long. In 1874, fifteen years ago, tho assessed value of the taxable property in the State was $954,857,475; at present it is $7G9,747,005. In 1874 the State revenue for the general fund was $2,170,410; at present it is about $1,400,000. Yet with the valuation and the revenue steadily decreasing and expenses steadily increasing, Democratic legislatures have refused to increase the tax levy, and have gone on piling up debt and borrowing money. Hon. John M. Butler put it well when he said, in a recent interview: The simple fact is that this entire trouble is caused uy the cowardice of the Legislature in failing to raiso tho tax levy. Tne members were afraid to increase the taxation and then go back and face the people. And yet this State will-never get out of debt until the tax levy is increased. At the very furthest, the present taxation is not suflicient, and yet the last Legislature went to making appropriations right and left, with not a cent in the treasury, and with, tho tax levy only half sufficient to pav the running expenses of the State. This kind of thing has been running on since 1SS5, and if it is permitted to continue it can only end in bankruptcy. Mr. Butler is right. If this kind of thing is permitted to run on it will end in bankruptcy. It has already brought heavy loss and sore humiliation on the State, and is likely to bring more of both before we are done with it. It is a penalty we pay for Democratic rule. There is only one way out of the difficulty, and that is an increase of the tax levy. No matter what the decision of tho Supreme Court may be in regard to the loan act, there is only ono way to lift the State out of the slough in which Democratic financiering has placed it. Tho tax levy must be increased. The only party that has tho honesty and moral courage to do this is tho Republican party. It is not a pleasant nor a popular thing to do, but it must be done. Tho Democracy havo created an emergency, and the Republican party must meet it. The latter must provide the means of paying tho debt which the former havo made. The tax levy on tho present valuation should bo at least 20 cents on each $100, and even then it would be lower than that of many other States. The levy for general purposes in Ohio is 29 cents on each $100, and tho valuation more than twice as great as ours. Illinois levies 53 cents on each $100, with a valuation larger than ours. Iowa levies 25 cents on each $100, though her valuation is less than ours. Missouri levies 40 cents on the $100. The people of Indiana must make up their minds to face the inevitable, and stand an increased tax levy. It is tho only honest thing to do, and the only way out of tho

present situation. If the matter is pre

sented fairly and squarely to the people, wo believe there are enough honest men in Indiana to elect a Republican Legislature, pledged to wipe out tho Democratic debt. JffiS. LEEDS'S CBUSADE. The crusade begun bf Mrs. Leeds, of Michigan City, against tho saloonkoepers of that place, for her husband's benefit, is an interesting and novel reform movement. Tho striking feature of the affair is the apparent continuance of friendly and harmonious personal relations between Mr. and Mrs. Leeds, although they are conducting such a vigorous legal warfare against each other. Mrs. Leeds contends that her husband is drinking too much intoxicating liquor for his own good, and is bound to put a stop to such indulgence if she has to bring every saloon-keeper in town to financial ruin. Mr. Leeds insists that ho does not drink too much, and is supported in his position by a considerable part of the male population of the town, including the sixty-five whisky-sellers. These friends declare that while Mr. Leeds takes an occasional drink ho is never intoxicated nor incapable of transacting business. There is some reason to believe, however, that the men of Michigan City are not competent judges of the quantity of whisky that is safe for any gentleman to imbibe, and that they may permit to pass unnoticed a degree of intoxication that would secure the suspicious regards of the police. in other towns. Not that all tho male residents of Michigan City are addicted to drink far from it but tho presence of 6ixty-five drinking places in so small a town indicates a lively traffic in tho commodity, and makes it clear that a very largo number of the inhabitants are more or less bibulous. Naturally, where the habit of drinking is so generally diffused, and where the citizens havo a fellow-feeling for each other, they can hardly bo depended on to make fine discriminations between the various stages of intoxication. It is apart from the question to say that owing to their location Mr. Leeds and his brethren may havo some excuse for resorting to the whisky when it is red. The impression gained by the casual visitor to Michigan City is one of 6andand saloons, with the penitentiary looming inj tho background. Whether tho saloons were placed there by shrewd dealers to tempt the depressed inhabitant to forget his sorrows, or whether the gloom of tho surroundings created a demand for some place wherein to enliven their spirits, is neither hero nor there. The fact remains that tho saloons exist and that one woman, at least, is of the opinion that their influence is not wholesome. Mrs. Leeds says that Mr. Leeds gets drunk, and as it is not on record that a wife can be deceived in this matter by any circumstance of climate or environment, her testimony will bo pen-' erally accepted by tho outside public as outweighing that of Mr. Leeds's male friends. Tho public is with Mrs. Leeds,, and wishes her temperance society of ono unlimited success. At f The list of pensions issued shows that, work has begun again in the Pension. Office. It will bo remembered that a great showing was made by that department of tho government during thejast campaign. Long lists of pensions granted were reported each day, 'and tho public was assured that Commissioner Black and his assistants . were 6imply wearing themselves out in tho service of the soldiers. It was noted at tho time by observant persons that various means were adopted for padding these lists. Repetitions of names were made from day to day, and increases which should have been made at ; tho first application were issued on the in? stallment plan $2 at a time, until ; the $4, or $0, or $8 to which the applicant was entitled was reached. This added to the sum total of issues pointed to by Democratic workers, and which was expected to prove that' Mr. Cleveland and his party were the best friends of the Union veteran. After election, however, this industry and solicitude instantly waned. Between the 6th of November and tho 4th of March the pensions issued did not equal in number those of a single month of the campaign. The Cleveland party, suddenly discovering that tho people did not believe its pretensions, found it not worth while to keep up appearances longer. It was a cheap device to gain votes, and the quick abandonment of the scheme proved more plainly than any other event of the Cleveland administration the emptiness of Democratic protestations of love for the soldier. The soldiers were not deceived, but voted the pretenders out and their truo friends in. Isn't it about time for Indianapolis to offer entertainment to the National Education Association? Two years ago this , association met at Madison, Wis., last year at San Francisco, and this year will meet at Nashville, Tenn. As an educational center' Indianapolis is in advance of any one of these place s, and certainly has ample accommodations for the eight or ten thousand teachers usually in attendance. Let the delegation from this State arrange to issne an invitation to the association for next year, and to accompany it with assurance of hearty welcome. ABOUT PE0PLEAND THINGS. Senator Dixon, of Rhode Island, will be one of the youngest members of the Senate. His age is forty-one. j Toe Rev. Dr. Newman has lately become so weak that his friends have been seriously alarmed. Tho Cardinal is eighty-eight years old. A close friend of Mrs. Langtry says she is worth $700,000 in money, bonds and real estate. When she started on her tour of the English provinces she had nothing. She cleared 10.000, however, in that tour. Paul Du Chaillu's health has broken down under the strain of preparing his great work on "The Viking Age," on which he has labored for eight years, and tho book will probably not appear till the f all. The Emperor William's new private car is lif tv-six feet long and contains all tho modern improvements, including a bathroom and electric lights. It is painted a dark blue on the outside. Within everything is of light blue and gold. Miss Annie Waters, of San Francisco, has made a bad beginning in her attempt to strike out a new line of industry for women. She started out as a highway rob

ber, but was captured and locked up before he had a fair opportunity to demonstrate what an enterprising woman could do if let alone. . James Wiiitcomb Riley is not doing much writing now. He said, the other day, to a Kansas City reporter: "When this engagement is over I want to hunt some big lonely grave, crawl into it, and . pull the green covering over me fdr a dead-earnest rest." v. Captain Laylor Leland, whom Jennie Chamberlain, the American beauty, is to marry, is one of the richest young men in the British army. He is a tall, handsome man, probably thirty-two or four, and he has a country home which is a . marvel of comfort and convenience. Over the grave where Matthew Arnold lies with his four children, in Laleham church-yard, there has been placed a plain head stonaof white marble, containing beneath a raised cross the inscription: 'Matthew Arnold, eldest son of the late Thomas Arnold, D. D., head master of Rugby SchooL Born Dec. 24, 1S22. Died April 15, 1888. There has sprung up a light for the righteous, and joyful gladness for such as are true-heartecL,f Within the last few years Mr. Blaine is said to have doubled his fortunes. His best paying investments are in the Little Hope silver mine, which has paid, it issaid, $4,500,000 in dividends in the last five years. He admits having already received from that source thirteen hundred dollars for every dollar invested and the stock is still in his name. . He is also a large stockholder, in the Pride of. Erin mine at Leadville, which is paying dividends of $25,000 a month. . Andrew D. Wiiite, ex-president of Cornell University, has sent from Cairo, as a present to the university library, a papyrus found about two years ago in tne tomb of a priest of the Ptolemaic period. In a letter he says of this interrestiug document: "It represents certain chapters of the Book of the Dead is a beautiful executed, perfectly preserved and complete document in every respect." Mr. White also sends 140 large photographs illustrative of ancient and modern Egyptian art, and a collection of more recent works on Egypt. Lord and Lady Wyntord, an English peer and his wife who are traveling in the West, seem to have made a very favorable impression in San Francisco. The Chronicle of that city says: "Their entire simplicity of bearing is indeed a tacit rebuke to a great many members of our own mushroom aristocracy, for neither their social position nor their great wealth has been 'more than they could digest.' Lady Wynford possesses another interest for us, too, for there have been few more beautiful faces in the 'English Book of Beauty than that which adorns the page bearing her name." The late Count Schouvaloff did much in 1S73 to preserve peace between England and Russia, but on one occasion one of his jokes nearly precipitated war. He was at Lady Granville's at a time when rumors were thick that the Russians were advancing by forced marches on Constantinople. Some oue asked him plumply if it were so. "Why," he replied, with a laugh, ."we are already there." The company scattered. Two hours afterward telegrams were flying to Aldershot, Portsmouth, Besika Bay, and elsewhere. .Three days later one inquired of the ambassador why he had put off such a serious ' Joke. He replied that no one had any busir ness to question him on such a subject in a drawing-room. ' It is related that shortly after Mr. Arthur came to the presidency the Woman's Temperance Association sent to the White House a beautiful portrait of Mrs. Hayes, which now adorns the East Room. At about that time a gentleman wanted to see the President on some personal business, and through the kind assistance of John Q. Carlislo secured a private audience. As they were passing with Mr. Arthur from his public otlico to a more retired room they noticed a big packing case leaning against tho wall of the corridor, upon tho face of which was the express company's brand, "Keep Dry." The President stopped in front of it, smiled pleasantly and touched Carlisle on the. shoulder. "Do yon know what that is?') ' "No." answered the' Ken-

tuckian; 4N6td the legend of 'Keep Dry." , saia air. ATinur; ' it is juts, myes's portrait." Mr. George Vanderbilt has recently done a graceful act which shows not only the most thoughtful and- considerate affection for his mother, but an amount of sentiment not often to be seen in rich young men at the present day. Knowing the partiality that his mother has always felt for her old home on Staten Island, where the early days of her married life were passed, and where most of her children were born, ho has purchased the old spot, which had fallen almost into decay; has restored, renovated and decorated it, as nearly as Eossible in the style of forty years ago. and as collected from the various persons to whom it had been sold all tne f urnituro as it was when Mrs. Vanderbilt was taken there as a bride. Nothing has been forgotten or left undone, and on her return from her Mexican trip, this old home, beautified and restored, will be presented to Mrs. Van- : dcrbilt for a summer residence. . ' THE DKSERTED SANCTUM. The paste pot sits on tho table, 5 The cockroach passes it by; -' For tho cockroach knows as he comes and goes That tho paste is old and dry. i The scissors He dull and rusted On the table where once they dipt The best to be found in the papers 'round. As they snlpt, and enipt, and snlpt. The editor's chair is empty. Its arms are held out in vain. While it waits all day for the one away, Who may ne'er come back again, Tho sanctum sanctorum's deserted The editor, where Is he! Go ask the man. who's struck the plan Of sending him over the sea. Washington Critic COMMENT AND OPINION. .Brains are the most enduring foundation to build upon in America. There is a great deal of nonsense, of course, growing out of wealth, but out of this in itself grows vulgarity rather than honor. It is well that it is so. Cincinnati Commercial Gazette. Idleness can be profitable to no one. The whole theory on which convict-labor agitation is based. is false, but if'distinctions have to be made the number of industries to which prison labor is applied should be increased, and tlms the competition in any particular one would be materially diminished. Brooklyn Eagle. The latest agreement, that each of the high contracting parties shall keep one war ship, and no more, at Samoa, should be amended so as to withdraw that one ship, and then be made perpetual. The Samoans are o.uite capable of attending to their own affairs, and no so-called civilized power has any business interfering with them. Philadelphia Inquirer. It is not the hard-working and thrifty citizen who hates those more successful than himself. The envy which would stab, and the hatred which would destroy, riot in the hearts of those who are conscious that their own wasteful or self-indulgent habits, their own want of energy, thrift or honesty, have set them back m the race. New Tort Tribune. The Samoans who rushed into the surf and risked their own lives to save those of the Germans, whom they detested as arrogant oppressors, certainly showed a spirit that was more than civilized. Their conduct during and after the disaster was admirable and the treaty powers are more than ever bound to deal justly with them. Buflalo Commercial.. If American manufacturers can compete at all by sending their goods to South America via European ports, they will, if given direct communication, be able to rive the English products out of the market. This is an American administration. Let us have American steamers, carrying 'the American mails and flying the American flag. Los Angeles Tribune. It is evident that the Samoan is a man and a brother after all. Prince Bismarck should take notice that tho natives who killed some of his marines in battle have siuce saved many more German lives than they took on that occasion. Old scores should be wiped out after this magnificent display of humanity on the part of those bravo black people of tho South sea. Chicago News. Were the business men of the country to .take a more active and vigilant part than they are - apt to

do in the control of conventions, the nomination of candidates, the adoption of policies, and the conduct of campaigns, the mere politician would be measurably robbed of his occupation and the menaces of partisanship reduced to a minimum. W ashington Post. TnE demonetization of silver struck tho country precisely as Creeping palsy does a human being. 1'here.wasno sudden shock, but there was at first a suspicion of growing weakness, which changed to a certainty, and it has been increasing ever since. In the human being, unless arrested, the disease means death, and it will, unless arrested by Congress, mean nniversal bankruptcy before three years more. Salt Lake City Iribune. Idleness on the part of convicts is not only a financial loss to the state, but is also a great moral loss. Reformation of prisoners without employment is an impossibility. For its own protection against the growth of criminality the state must give its convicts work enough to prevent their further demoralization. What this employment shall be is now the prevailing question in the matter of criminal management. Chicago Herald. Tenant farmers . all through the West are greatly tempted to join in the rush to the Indian Territory in the hope of getting farms of their own. Even city-bred men are carter to leave factories and workshops to make a grab for a homestead before the' public domain is exhausted. After squandering millions of acres on corporations t he government now has but little good land left for the land-hungry settlers and pioneers. Chicago Tribune. , - If one-half of the time and money spent in attempting to monopolize labor by tho Knights of Labor organization, now practically defunct, had been expended in agitating the sliding-scale co-operative' system of wages, it might now have passed beyond the experimental stage ana have found favor with hundreds of employers and hundreds of thousands of employes to say nothing of the enormous waste and suffering that would have been avoided meanwhile. Cleveland Leader.

WHERE HARRISON WORSHIPS. "Standing: Room Only to Be Had In tho Church of the Covenant on Sundays. . Washington Letter to LoulsvUio Post. The scenes at the Chutch of the Covenant on Sunday morning aro interesting. Long before the hour ior service to begin tho crowd of people beti-is to arrive. The first comers stand on the sidewalk for a little while and look over the edifice and make inquiries about it from those who are passing. Those, who enter find the ushers waiting in the aisles, but find also that they are not rbl io give them seats until the arrival of the congregation. A few seats in the roar hav.' j.ot yet been taken, and these are ciulcklv filled. Then the throng which gat 'iercd musfc wait in the rear part of the clinrcb . .vhere there is "standing room only," until tl.e; pew-holders have arrived ar.d been given their places. While they wait they watch anxiously for the arrival of the noted people. The tall, rather fair man. with smoothly-shaven face and prominent nose, who comes in accompanied by two or three ladies, is tho Vice-president. He quietly finds his way to his own pew, ac-. companied by the ladies. Pretty soon a shorter man, with a brown face and little black side whiskers, just a point on each side of his face, comes in accompanined also by ladies. Those who recognize him nudge their neighbor and say, "Secretary Windom and family." If they see a taller, heavier, broad-shouldered man, with full gray beard, gray hair, walk up the aisle on the other side of the church and take a seat at the right, they nudge their neighbor again and say, "Mr. Blaine and his family." Postmaster-general Wanamaker also has a ew, but he is very seldom seen there, for ie has a Bible class in Philadelphia which he considers it his duty to attend to on Sundays just tho same as ho always has done. He takes the late train here on Saturday night, goes over to his home, attends to bis Bible-cl ass duties in the morning, and is back again either Sunday night or early Monday morning. Of course the greatest interest centers in the arrival of the President. The visitors amuse themselves by gazing at those who arrive meantime and commenting upon them, but tho interest is in the President and his party. Those who expect him to enter by the main door and keep their eyes cast in that direction are usually disappointed. There is a small entrance on N street, where his carriage drives up, the President gets out and walks up and into the church, accompanied by his family, and the first thing the curiosity-seekers know is that a short, heavily-bearded, broad-shouldered man walks down the aisle from the direction of the pnlpit and takeshis seat in one of the pews at the left of the center aisle, about seven or eight pews back from the pnlnit. You can always tell when the President, comes in by the little ''buzz" tnat . passes over the gathered congregation. , Of course there are a good many other people who would attract attention under other circumstances, but; they get very little notice now that tho President, Vice-president and Cabinet ofiicers are centers of attraction. The tall, thin man, with black chin whiskers, who looks like Lincoln, comes in quietly, and takes a seat lit the left of the pulpit, is Senator Cullom. The taller, gbodlooking man, with full gray beard, who sits on the other side of the church, is Senator Hale. Senator McMillan, of Michigan, also has a pew therein. So has John Hay, who was private secretary to Mr. Liucoln; so has Gen. Boynton: so has Gen. Breckinridge. Congressman Dalzell, ex-Senator Van WTyck,CommodorePicard,Admirai Calhoun, Congressman Adams, Congressman Elliott, of Louisiana, and a large. number of other people of national prominence. The greatest interest, however, centers in tho President. He 6its quietly in his pew, not allowing the fact that he is the center of attrac-' tion to cause him to fidget, listens quietly. to the sermon; drops his contribution in the plate as it passes, joins in the singing and other portions of the service, and when it is over, takes his hat in hand, speaks to a few people whom he meets as he passes up the aisle, goes out the side door again, and is gone before the crowd of curiosity-seekers outside know that he has made his departure. Coming Questions. 'Chicago News. When Oklahomabecomes the white man's country, at 12 o'clock on next Monday, -who will be the oldest inhabitant! Who will become the postmasters of the towns which; are to spring up in a single afternoon? Who will be the Mayor of Kingfisher? Of Guthrie! Will the Democrats or Republicans get control of Oklahoma politics? Who will be citizens of tho Territory" lone enough to vote at tho elections! Who will run for Governor of Oklahoma! These are Juestions which will have to find auswers or themselves later on. Not Always United. . . Kansas City Journal. . The 65,000,000 people of this country, according to that versatile authority, Mr. Depew, are united on base-balL . As a statement of general truth, this will' go unchallenged, but there are frequent instances where 5,000 people and an umpire are by no means a unit on a close decision. On the contrary, tfiey are widely estranged. mim Between Two Points. Brooklyn Eagle. ' ' . 1 Ward McAllister is no longer the boss of tho centennial ball, a gentleman named Stanton having been chosen to take his Iilace. This reduces the leader of tho four mndred to a condition of innocuous desuetude. He is like a straight line between two points the one being bumptiousness and the other oblivion. A Clear Case of Jealousy. Springfield (UL) Journal. There may be some delay in appointment elsewhere, but the appointment of fourthclass postmasters in Indiana goes right along as if nothing had happened. There were thirty-two of them appointed last Friday. . . And the Remainder Came from Indiana. Chicago Inter Ocean. Over 118,000 Iowans were born and reared in Illinois, and 112,000 are natives of Ohio. That accounts for their intelligence, moral worth and progressive spirit. He Ha Now the Necessary Capital. Omaha Kepublican. Russell Harrison has a press, a press franchise, some type and a libel suit. This is capital enough for a bright newspaper man. May-Save a Game in Time. Minneapolis Tribune. There is a bail player named Stitch. We suppose that this Stitch in time may save xiixie. v . . .

CHOPPING DOWN THE POLES

The New York Authorities Take, Decisive Action as to Overhead Wires. Under the Direction of the Major, a Squad of ' 31en Is Put to Work Chopping Down Telegraph Poles and Removing the Wires. New York. April 16. Chips havo been flying in tho streets of the city to-day. Tho poles and wires are falling .it last. After more than two years' bickering between the authorities and the telegraph, telephone and electric-light companies, the removal of the overhead wires and polos in the sub-way district was begun to-day. The companies fought for delay to the bitter end. Tho Western 1 Union Telegraph Company, acting like a drowning person catching at- a ptraw, did not surrender until it had appealed to the United States courts to prevent Mayor Grant from issuing tho order taking down the. wires and poles. Judge Wallace's order dissolving tho injunction against the Mayor left tho companies no leg to stand on, and it only awaited the receipt of the Judge's order for the removal of tho wires and poles to commence. Early to-day council for tho Board of Electrical Control went to the Mayor's ofiice, bringing with him a certified copy of Judge W'aliaco's order. Mayor Grant was not present, but Commissioner Gibbons and expert Wheeler, of the Board of Electrical Control, were thero awaiting its arrival. Secretarj' Crain handed Commissioner Gibbons an order signed by Mayor Grant, directing the commissioner of public works to remove poles and wires from the streets in this order: Beginning on Broadway, at the intersection of Fourteenth street, and to continue up Broadway to Twenty-third street; then on Twenty-third street, from Uroadwav to Sixth avenue; then on Broadway, from Twenty-third street to Twenty-fiftu street; then on Twenty-lifth street, from Broadway to Sixth avenue; then on Sixth avenue, from Twenty-third street to-Fifty-eighth, street; then on Broadway, from Twentytilth street, to Forty-fifth street; thenou-Forty-second street, from Sixth avenue to Madison avenue; then on Fifty-eighth 6treet, from Sixth avenue to Fourth avenue. It was twenty minutes past 10 o'clock when Mr. Gibbons served the order on Commissioner Smith. The latter at onco ' summoned Superintendent John Richardson, of the Bureau of Encumbrances. Com missioner Gibbons and expert WThceler left at once for the scene of destruction, followed shortly after by Superintendent Richardson. Together with spurs for the climbers, the workmen took with them axes, pinchers, hatchets and trucks, the latter to be used iu taking away the poles cut down and wires cut olf. Ihe pole on the southeast corner of University piaco and Fourteenth Istreet was the scene of tho first, attack. Tne foreman had his spikes on, and in a few minutes, with nippers in hand, he quickly climbed the pole, while a gaping crowd gathered around Commissioner Gibbons, who was on hand, and wondered what was going to happen. The nippers were put in use, and a western union wire uroppea into tne street, mis was followed by others, until twelve wires had been rendered useless. The work of clearing the polo was accom plished in six minutes, and the pole was allowed to remain standing to sunport the now useless wires running South. T"lipn tliA fnrfa u'orj rliiriiltxl flnu cnstin crossed into the park, where stood a pole of the northerly lines of the Western Union. It was soon cleared of wires, and at 11:25 the ax men had laid the pole lengthwise. The other gang of workmen began clearing the heavily laden poles of the Bru sh Electriclight Company, starting with tho pole on the northwest corner of Fourteenth 'street and Broadway. When the cutters began work it was found that, notwithstanding the notice given the different companies affected by the move of tho board of electrical control to cut off the electric currents, the Brush company had left five circuits in full working order. The line men. however, were fully prepared for this dif ficulty, and wore rubber gloves. As tho nippers went tnrougn the wires there was a flash that made tho crowd below step ; aside in lively fashion and which proved that the powerful currents for arc lighting were turned on tho wires. Commissioner 1 Gibbins, who 6tood on the street below watching the work, becamd indignant. "Why, they want to kill our men. This is outrageous," he exclaimed, lie stated that word had been sent to the Bruh Company that the wires were to be cut, with the request that the circuit which included these lines should be turned off. "It is a fortunate thing that tho inspectors have their rubber gloves, continued the Commissioner, "as otherwise the currents in the wires they cut would, have instantly killed them." . In about tea minutes the eighteen electriclight wires running north on Broadway were rendered useless. The crowd 'grew larger as the people realized that the war on'the wires had begun, and fully a- thousand thronged the space around tho statuto of Lincoln. WThile this work was in progress the other gang had cleared the, second Western Union pole, which stood in tjio F ark a few yards above Fifteenth street, t was a long pole, and as the lineman de scended from his perilous position it, swayed. At that moment the street wan crowded with people and vehicles of all kinds, but few of tho snectators realized . the danger threatened. A crackling sound was the only note of warning heard, but it was sufficient for tho throng, which scattered almost instantly. The pole, with its half dozen cross-arms, toppled over jnst as 4i Broadway car was standing at the street crossing to allow a woman to get off. A cry of mingled warning and honor wcut up from the crowds as the pole inclined toward the 'on board, mostly women. Tho driver baw bis danger, and witn a single, bound jumped from his car just as tho pole crushed to the gTound, the part bearing the cross-arms tailing between the dash-ooard of the car and the horses a narrow escape forpa?sengers, horses, and car. The horses started to run, but the lumber impuded their progress and the driver soon had them under control. Two women fainted, and tho re- ! main in g passengers, men and women, fled terror-stricken from the car. The pole, it. was discovered, was rotten at the base, but ' the workmen were careless in starting the work. ' Another scene followed, but it was of a ludicrous character. A -foreman of the Brush company demanded the arrest of Commissioner Gibbons for destroying tho company's property. Failing .iu accomplishing his with he attempted to take possession of the cut wires, but Superintendent of Encumbrances Richardson had his wagons and men on hand, and as each wire was cut it was rolled and placed iu a guarded wagon. There was no interference from the W estern Union or tho other companies affected. The work was continued until nightfall, . and will be resumed earlv to-morrow morning. The only poles left standing Uy the workmen were those which held the tire' department's wires. These will all be removed by that department this week. The commissioner expect that bv Saturday night the streets designated will be entirely freo from overhead wires. Tho electric light, telegraph and telephone people are. helpless, and say that they can only grin ana bear it. Superintendent Humstone, of tho Western Union Telegraph Company, said today: "What can we do! It will, of course, iuterfere with our business if the Mayor goes about it the way 1 understand he intends to. Fortuuatcly for us, in the district over which ho is going to-day our wires ar already in the subways, althoogh the poles are ours. What action we may take is for the future to divulee." Superintendent Eckert, of tho Metropolitan Telephone Company, said; "fho Mayor's action will aliect us at present only on Sixth avenue, and about liO subscribers will be inconvenienced. We are simply helpless in the matter." Mr. Bulick, of the United States Illuminating Company, said: "We have been getting our wires under ground as fast as possible. We have lines on Broadway and Sixth avenue, aud. of course, if the wires are at once taken down our lights will go out. We can do nothing." Mr flihsnn nf tli Fili;nn Klertri-H trht. Company, said that his company would not be affected. Their wires were already under ground in conduits of their own. The Brush Company said their . lights would have to go out. As a result of tho Mayor's destruction of poles to-dav. Broadway, between' Fourteenthand lfifty-ninlh streets wosiu almost total darknes to-night, greatly to tho inconvenience of wayfarers. Tho dubs and theaters lost some of their attractivi'uess, and the parks aro gloomy and deiU