Locomotive, Volume 43, Number 10, Indianapolis, Marion County, 23 January 1858 — Page 2

THE LOCOMOTIVE.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 23, 1858. HjSaturdayisthe day of publication of the Locomotive when It will al way boo read) for subscribers. In no case will welolacopyofthepaper go from theofllce before publica tionday. LOCOMOTIVE STEAM PRESS BOOK AND JOB PRINTING OFFICE. rK would call tli e attention of Railroad Men, Presidentsof Colleges und Academics, the Medical Profession, and all u l tiers, to our assortment of NEW AND BEAUTIFUL, TYPE ! Just received from the bost Foundries in the United States. emhriLcinir all the Medical Signs Accents fractions, French Letters, Jitfe&raieal Signs, and all the modern facilities Tor do hip work in the best style. All our Type utid Mnehinery is new, and in good order. Including two of Adani' Improved STEAM PRINTING PRESSES which enables us to do on r work In a superior style, on asshor . lime, and as good torms as r.ny other ollice. We have on hand a superior article of Hook and Col red Papers, ami the beat of Inks, and as we lire practical workmen, we guaranty nil work entrusted to us to be done in tile neatest manner, with promptness and accuracy. Our Job Department is well supplied with all kinds of New and Fashionable Type, and we are prepared to do .11 3Cixi.c3.iBi of Jol) Worlt 1 on the shortest notice, and at the lowest living rates; and BLANKS Or KVtltl UESVKIPT 1 OH on Cap, Letter, Folio Post, Flnt Cap, French, or Colored Papers, and Cards or Card Boards. For the character of our work wo coiflltlcntly refer to any . Book or Job bearing our i inprin t. Our prices are regulated at the lowest cash standard, so as to be regular and uniform, and etjual tf, all; and contracts for work will ho adhered to, without resort to extra charges. , TCfOrders from a listance promptly attended to, and accuracy guarantied. " Tr7IHceon Meridian street, immediately opposite the Post Ollice, ., . KLDBK & HARKKEKS. .. ' PAY ALL JUST DUES. Mr Thomas E. Hoi, brook will call on all against whom we have accounts for printing and advertising, for payment. Let all prepare to meelhlin. All having unsettled accounts against its are reqnestodo make them out al once, so that they will be ready for settlement when called on. We want to pay every cent wo owe and we want all that owe us to do the same. , Lf.cture. Those who heard Prof. E. L. Youmans lecture before the Young Men's Christian Association, will be glad to learn that tlicy have invited him back. Saturday night, January 30, is the only night upon which he could be obtained. It inconveniences very much the lecture committeec in doing so, but on account ot the generally expressed wish that he should be invited to return, they have sent him an invitation I We say to those who did not hear him before, that if they fail to go they will lose one of the most instructive and interesting lectures ever delivered in this city. To those who did hear him nothing need be said. tJST It will be seen by a notice in another column that the examination of the Public Schools in the city, closes next week the Intermediate, Grammar and High Schools being examined. We had contemplated attending the examination of the Schools during the past week, but our engagements prevented. Our inquiries among the visitors satisfies us that the examination were generally satisfactory, evincing a good degree of progress. : . tZ2F The pews of the 2d Presbyterian Church are to be rented to-day at 3 o'clock, p. m. at the church. The repairs, &c. having been completed, this church will hereafter be regularly open for public worship at the usual honrs. Citizens and strangers are cordially invited to worship there, so far as it may suit their convenience, seats being always reserved for their accommodation. ———<>——— ——>The weather has been unseasonably fine during the past week. It is feared the warm winter will have a bad effect on fruit next year. As yet no ice has been put up. ———<>——— The Supreme Court has decided that the election of Judge Biddle, to the Supreme Bench, in October last, was not in a case provided by law, and was invalid. ' , Good yon Lawrence. We are under obligations to our friends in Lawrence township, for the addition of seventeen to our already large list of subscribers at Lanesville. ' . We sincerely regret that a serious and painful accident happened on Tuesday last, to the estimable lady of Hon. Aquilla Jones, Treasurer of State. We are told that she stepped upon a stand for the purpose of arranging the cord of a window curtain, the stand upset and she fell to the floor breaking her arm and severely cutting her head and face. We hope that her injuries will prove only temporary, and that she will soon be restored to the enjoyment of her usual rood health. , We want every tax payer to read carefully the articles in this paper on city taxes--next week we shall have more to say on them. . EXAMINATION OF THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS. Intermediate School, 1st WTard Miss K. Higgins and Miss M. Shellcnberger, Monday, Jan. 25th, at 9 A. M. & 1 P. M. . Grammar School, 1st Ward Mr. Geo. Simonson and Miss E. C. Huntington, Tuesday, at 9a,h,'IJ P. M. Grammar School, 5th Ward Mr. Geo. Bronson and Miss E. Reynolds, Wednesday, at 9A.M.il p. m. Grammar School, 7th Ward Mr. O. Phelps, Thursday, at 9 a. m. : - . Grammar School, 2d Ward Miss M. L. Higgins and Miss Gaylord, Tuesday, at. 1$ p. M. High School Mr. W. T. Webster, Misses G. Nichols and N. Sprague, Friday at 9 a. m. & 1 J p. m. Saturday at 9 a. M. there will be an examination of candidates for the Grammer Schools. 63T We have received a very handsomely printed and highly illustrated catalogue of tho New Albany Female Seminar', C. C. Hinc, Proprietor. A Republican Township Convention will be held this morning, at 10 o'clock, at the Court House, to nominate delegates to the County Convention. 0 We would call the attention of Farmers to the advertisement of Messrs. Beard & Sinex, of the Great Western Steal Plows. There is a table of the comparative value of all the plows entered at the State Fair, that is interesting and valuable. Messrs. Board & Sinex are permanently established in this city, and keep one of the mo-it extensive agricultural warehouses in the West, under Masonic Hall. . Where are They. The proprietor of the Temperance House is very anxious to know the whereabouts of a man and woman calling themselves J. Smith, alias George Titlow, and wife. They left unceremoniously, without paying their board, and he would like to hear of them.

HIGH TAXES CITY DEBT.

Last week we showed, by figures and dates, who was responsible for the high taxes now burdening the people of this city. AVe will this week show some of the practical results, in individual cases. We have selected the names of a few of the heaviest tax payers, not because there is more difference in their taxes than in that of others, but merely to show what the difference is. We give, first, the County Tax second, the City tax for 1856, and third the City tax for 1857, assessed by the present Council, and of which we are complaining. There is no State tax this year last year it was 20 cents on the $100. The county tax is 7 cents higher this year than last, and there is a tax of 5 cents for building a Court House this year, which leaves the Connty tax this year but 8 cents on the $100 less than both State and County tax was last year. The comity tax this year is 4 7 cents List year State and county tax was 55 cents. The first column is county tax on property within the city the second is the city tax of 1856, and the third is the city tax of 1857, now being collected all on the same property County Tax. 1857. Blackford, I. $251 26 Blake, James, 211 11 Bates, II. 343 64 Fletcher, S. A. 188 00 Fletcher, Witt, & Co. 169 08 Vanblaricum, Jas. 152 93 City Tax. 1856. 1857. $401 80 646 70 594 CO 523 70 395 48 307 61 $ 665 27 1,257 16 927 75 759 84 608 60 697 60 $1,316 02 $2,869 89 $4,715 73 Here we have a difference between the city and county tax, of six men, on the same property, this year, of $3,399 71, and an increase of $1,845 84 over the tax of last year, by the assessment and levy of the present council. The same proportionate increase extends to every tax payer in the city. If any reader doubts this, or thinks it only affects others, and not him, let him go and pay his taxes, and he will find the truth, realized in hard dollar arguments. ' Look at this from another point, and then say, if you can, that the city tax this year is not enormous. The tables given above, of the six tax payers selected, give the following fact: City Tax for 1857....... ...$4,715 73 City Tax for 1856 . $2,869 89 County Tax for 1857 1,316 02 , Total City and County Tax 4,185 91 Excess of tax this year over both ..$529 82 This shows that the tax of this year, of the six per sons selected, is $529 82 more than the city tax of last year and the county tax of this year added together. '' The Journal tries to make light of these heavy, burthensome taxes, that are grinding the face of the tax . ..... I T - 1 payers, ana says we are running uinto poiuicsi uoos. at those figures, and see if there is any politics there. This old cry of the Journal about our politics, raised whenever we state any fact for the good of the city, to underrate our influence, will not answer now it can defend the council their high taxes and abuse us as much as it pleases, but it cannot make the people those that have to pay the taxes beleive that they are not too high, and that the council have not wasted the means entrusted to their charge, by paying one hundred dollars for every seventy-five received in work or debt Reader! think of these things when you go to pay your taxes. $W " The editor of the American had reprobated the appearance of the article, in that paper, and the writers had published a retraction of the most material and offensive allegalion in it. But the editor of the Locomotive, with an instinctive perception of the meanest way to act, copied the article without noticing the retraction. The controversy was no affair of his, in any manner, yet he thus goes out of the way to endorse an attack on us, which the author had retracted in part at least, and he knew it. Daily Journal, January 18. The above is part of an article that appears in the editorial columns of the Journal of last Monday. The balance of the article is filled with abuse, as dirty as it can be made. We shall not reply to that, as it would occupy all our paper to repal attacks of that kind, constantly coming from the Journal folks. But we want to say a few words about the above extract, which we have copied. In the first place, Mr. Journal, we did not publish " the most material and offensive allega tion" that part was stricken out of the article, and therefore there was no necessity of noticing the retraction. Jf the article had been read, as published, by us, the " most material and offensive" article of the Jour nal need not have been written. If the Journal will refer to its files of October last, it will find the members of the Marion County Agricultural Society abused like pick-pockets because part of their printing was given to this office. We then charged that as an atr ! tempt to force patronage to that office to levy black ' mail. The short extract we published last week from Cameron & McNeeley corroborated our charge, and referred to the case of the Marion County Society in ! particular. We are in the habit of telling the truth, and the Journal is in the habit of controverting it when it thinks it can serve its interest by so doing, and we . think it was an affair of ours to place this proof on the i recoi'd, to corroborate a charge made by us last fall, and I which we llave seen " reasou to change or alter- We have seen no retraction of this charge by the authors j of the card we published has the Journal ? . ' The Journal charged us with retaining malice against it and its editors, and from the tone of the article he evidently feels embittered. We are sorry for this ' we have denied this charge before, and would do so ! again, if it would avail anything. We think that paper entertains those very feelings towards us, and if it does it any good it can continue to do so. The article referred to waspublished in full in the American, and Sentinel, two or three weeks ago, and not a word was said by the Journal, but when we publish part only, omitting . "the most material and offensive part," it splatters its J slime without stint. It is the truth that hurts. I . "Every person in the city, of Ordinary intelligence, knows that the debt of Indianapolis, when the present Council came into power, was nearly as great as it is now fully $30,000, including the Jerry Skeen swindle. Journal, of Jan. 18. I By referring to the proceedings of the City Council, I recorded on page 323 of the council record, at a meet, ing of the Council held in May, 1857, you will find the annual report of Frederick Stein, City Clerk, presented to the Council, accepted by the Council, and ordered to be published, in which it is stated "the amount of orders issued above the amount in treasury to date is $8,002 36," just what we stated last week. Now either the Clerk, Mr. Stein, or the Journal is ! wrong. AVhichisit? Tax Payers ! Read .'The debt of the City, when the present Council came into office, according to the annual report of Frederick Stein, late City Clerk, as recorded on page 323 of the Council record, and as published in the Sentinel, Journal and Locomotive in ; May last, was $8,002,36. The present Council have , issued orders up to Dec. 31, 1857, as is shown by the i reports of the City Clerk, amounting to S3 2, 282,84. At 75 cents on the dollar the price the Council have been selling their orders for the city has been shaved ' on the above orders just $8,070,71, $31,65 cents more than the entire debt of the city at the time they came into office. If this is the result of nine months work, j what may we expect for the balance ? j

ALMANACS AND MAGAZINES. The American Almanac and Repository of Useful Knowledge for 1858, has just been received by Stewart & Bowen. This work contains more valuable and useful information than any work of the kind published, and should be in the library of every one. It is filled with statistical tables, on every matter relating to the United or individual States, the army, navyf post office, laws, celestial phenomena, &c. The Lady's Almanac for 1858, comprising a complete calander and memorandum for every day in the year, besides a great variety of useful and interesting information. It is put up in a small neat volume, suitable for carying. The Ladies will find this a valuable acquisition. Greely's Almanac and Political Register, intended mainly for politicians, and which they cannot well do without. Harper's Magazine for February the prince of Magazines, of which Messrs. Stewart & Bowen sell monthly over 500 copies a good evidence of its popularity. Graham's Magazine for February, beautifully illustrated, filled with interesting articles for all, but particularly for the Ladies. Gody's Lady's Book, for February the Ladies Favorite the leader in illustrations and patterns for their especial benefit. '. All the above works can be obtained of Messrs. Stewart & Bowen, at their Book store, on Washington street.

C3T The most complete assortment of foreign and American Illustrated papers, Literary, News, Comic, and papers of all kinds and descriptions, can be found at the news stand of Mrs. Thompson, in thoPost OfficeShe is in regular receipt of these papers, as well as the daily Cincinnati and New York papers. By visiting her stand, persons can procure papers of all kinds, to suit their fancy, at any time during the week. KaT The Tribune Almanac and Political Register for 1858, can be obtained of Mrs. Thompson, at the Book stand in the Post Office. This almanac contains a large amount of political inforhiation, in a form suitable for reference. The City Tax this year is higher than the City? County and State Tax of last year, all added together . Let every tax payer compare his receipts, and see if this is not so. And yet, in the face of all this, the Council refuse to make a few good stone crossings, over the filth and mud that has accumulated in the streets for the last 18 months, tfaTThe richest and most beautiful lands in the Uni" ted States, are embraced, it is said, in the Northern tier of counties in Kansas. 6 See the card of Messrs. Werden & Chamberlain, headed New Books, in another column. LATER FROM KANSAS. ' ' St. Louis, January 21. The Democrat has received the returns of the elections in Kansas, on the 21st of December and 4th of January, as published over the signatures of Governor Denver and the Presiding Officer of the Territorial Legislature. The vote on the Constitution, on tho 21st, stands with slavery 6,143; without slavery 369. Election on the 4th, the Free State party is triumphant, electing all the candidates for State offices by average majorities of 4 15. The Senate stands Free State 13; Democrats 6. House 29 Free State, and 15 Demo crats. : On the 4th, the majority against the Constitution is 10,226. It is alleged that fraudulent votes were counted in Oxford, Shawnee, Kicknpbo and other places. IJaT A heart-rendering calamity occurred in Brooklyn on Tuesday. The public school No. 14, situated on the coi ner of Navy and Concord streets, was utterly destroyed by fire, and as there were about seven hundred children in it at the time, and the fire was not discovered till it had made considerable progress, such confusion and terror spread among them that the stairways leading from the male department were completely choked and rendered impassable. The consequence was that several of the younger children got trampled, and as the windows were now the only means of escape, several of the boys who leaped from them were severely and some fatally injured, while others were suffocated by the volumes of smoke. In all, seven boys have died from one cause or the other, and three others are more or less injured. The fire broke out in the lower part of the building, and was first discovered in the female department, which was located on the second floor, and it is owing to this fact that nearly all the girls escaped uninjured. The Fair Complaints. Notice or Investigation. The State Board of Agriculture, at its recent annual meeting in Indianapolis, appointed a committee to investigate the charges of "defalcation," "fraud and corruption," made against members of the late executive committee of the Board, and awarding committees at the last State Fair, and I request you to give notice to all concerned, that the committee will meeet at the Secretary's office of the State Board at the Capitol in Indianapolis, on Monday, the 1st of February, 1858, at 2 o'clock p. m., and will be ready to hear all evidence that may be produced to substantiate the charges, and we request all persons who have an)' knowledge of facts bearing upon the question, to present themselves or address tho committee, at that time. Very truly, C. D. Murray, Chairman. Kokomo, Ind., Jan. 18, 1808. Appointment by the President. James W. Borden, of Indiana, to be Commissioner of the United States to the Kingdom of Hawaii. 1 Appointments by the Governor. James L. Worden, of Wbitely count)', to be Judge of the Supreme Court, for the First District, in the place of W. Z. Stuart, resigned. Reuben Dawson, of DeKalb county to be Judge of the Tenth Judicial Circuit, in place of James L. Worden, resigned. - , . - Money in New York. The money market is particularly easy and comfortable for speculators on the Stock Exchange ; but beyond these limits money is scarce and hard to get at any price. Money is cheap, but not plenty. It is cheap enough with those who have the right kind of securities to put up ; but to those who have not that class of securities the rates rule high, and it is difficult to raise large amounts. Tho inactivity of business is calculated to keep the money market stringent with the commercial classes. No one is disposed to enter into new contracts. Among the merchants confidence is at a very low ebb and credit hardly exists. No one knows who to trust ; and we understand that many houses have defaulted on the first payment under the extension. In the early part of the revulsion many concerns labored under the belief that short extensions would answer every purpose and enable them to go along smoothly enough. In this they have made a great mistake, and see it now that it is too late. This will result in general liquidations, and very many houses who supposed that with a little time they could go through, will now be compelled to wind up. This is the second stage of the revulsion, and its effects will not soon pass away. It causes a relapse in the growth of public confidence ; and although the aggregate failures in this city and throughout the country are but a bagatelle compared with the total number of mercantile firms, the whole community is affected, and credit usually continues a long time depressed after the violence of a panic has passed away.' The low prices ruling for all kinds of merchandise seem to at tract no purchasers beyond the absolute demand for immediate consumption, and business generally, therefore, continues dull and heavy. The opening of spring will, without doubt, nve activity to the movements of produce and the most staple articles of consumption, and that is about all we can expect for many months.

nPDipDnwnirwQ train

uuiiimui uiYLmiu u innm For the Locomotive. TO THE CONGREGATION OF THE FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH BY C. I love the light 1 The glorious glare, That comes from the heart, Through eyes that are Lit with the blaze, And fire of truth, That gleam alike for young and old, For the mizers pelf, And the good man's gold. I have seen that glare, And gleam to-night 1 With its glorious blaze ! . ' . . And streams of light ! ! And the lesson it taught, Was kind and good, And fires again My young heart's blood. Glorious light 1 AVith its glitter and glare, No coward heart to meet it dare, For he drew in colors, . . ., So chaste and clear, The christian's duty, And a grave so near. ; I'll come again 1 For the beautiful light, Gives tone to all I feel to-night , . . They say that he a stranger comes, ' ; To prepare the way for your other homes, Then treasure a gem, So pure and bright, AVhose glitter and glare I have seen to-night, 'Tis more t you, Than gain or gold, , For he speaks with a heart, That's true and bold ! 1 1 Indianapolis, Jan. 17, 1858. " Rev. L. II. Long, of Urbana, Ohio, occupied the pulpit on the evening referred toby our correspondent. For the Locomotive. TO MARY LYNN. . What do I see ? i How shall my soul interpret it? She would not tell a falsehood, Nor yet deceive, . ' The meanest of all God's creation, Much less me! I am "Frank." The Frank she talks about I thought I read the sweet idolatry In her own dear eyes, But the morning came, And Oh ! how shall I speak The cruel, cruel words 1 Her generous heart may have whisper'd yes, But her tongue Arwanswerd no! I went and found a child, A sweet and guileless child, She never "loved another," Nor yet loves me; But I'll teach thee, Kitty dear I And Oh 1 I won't deceive thee ! ! Come to my soul ! Light of my " heart's last goal," I will whisper words that Will ring in your ears forever! I loved thee ! but will love thee no more ! 1 Go M you are free forevermore ! ! ! Indianapolis, Jan. 16, '58. GLIMPSES AT WASIHNGTON. . NO. HI. Foundation of the Federal City Invasion of the British and Excursion of the President in 1814The JSeiv Hall of the Lower House Growth of the City, 6r. . . . . ' ., Washington, D. C, Jan. 18, 1858. The City of Washington is a creation of the United States Government. It had no existence until Congress sent its surveyors, architects and artisans to the shores of the Potomac to build a Federal city. The old Congress had been held, according to the exigences of war and the public convenience, at Philadelphia, Baltimore, Lancaster, Princeton, York, Annapolis, Trenton and New York. The State of New York had tendered the town of Kingston for a permanent seat of Government; Rhode Island had tendered Newport; Maryland, Annapolis; and Virginia, Williamsburg. In October, 1783, Congress having been insulted at Philadelphia by a band of mutineers, which the State authorities were unable to quell, they adjourned to Princeton, N. J., where the subject of selecting a permanent seat of Government, to be under the exclusive jurisdiction of Congress, was taken up and discussed, with some sectional jealousy and rivalry during that and succeeding sessions until the Fall of 1789, at New York, when a bill making Germantown, Pa., the permanent seat of Government actually passed both Houses, but failed to become a recorded law on account of the po3tponemet by tho Senate, until the next term, of the consideration of a slight amendment made by the House. At the next session, the subject was taken up anew, and Philadelphia, Germantown, Havre de Grace, Wright's Ferry on the Susquehanna, Baltimore, and Conegocheaque on the Potomac, were competitors for federal honors. Baltimore and Conegocheaque were for some time about equally balanced. On the 16th of July, 1790, Marayland and Virginia having previously tendered a joint cession of land on the Potomac, to be selected by Congress, an act was passed accepting for the permanent seat of Government "a district of territory, not exceeding ten miles square, to be located on the river Potomac at some place between the mouth of the Eastern Branch and the Conegocheaque," which act was amended in March, 1791, so as to authorize President Washington to so locate the district as to embrace the mouth of the Eastern Branch and the town of Alexandria, in Virginia provided that all government improvements be made on the Maryland side of the Potomac. The District of Columbia, embracing ten miles square, was located accordingly, (the Virginia part has since been seceded.) and the present site for the Federal City having been selected, it was laid out in 1791. On the 18th of Sept. 1793, the corner stone of the Capitol was laid by Gen. Washington, with masonic ceremonies. In June, 1800, the Government offices being then very small, were removed from Philadelphia to Washington, and on the 3d Monday ot November following Congress met for the first time in the new Capitol. From that time till the present the Congress of the United States has assembled annually in Washington. In August, 1814, the city was invaded by the British, who burned the Capitol and all the other public buildings except the General Post Office. On this occasion, the President and his Cabinet not fancying the society of British Soldiers, were "not at home," having taken a little pleasure excursion into the country. For two or three years after the burning and sacking of Washington by the British, while the Capitol was being rebuilt, Congress met in a large brick building, just a square east of the Capitol ground, and in that building, I believe, Aaron Burr made his farewell speech as President of the Senate and Vice President of the United States, upon which occasion the assembly was so effected by his eloquence that tears even trinkled down the cheeks of grayhaired Senators. From the time of the rebuilding of the Capitol, both Houses of Congress have continued to assemble annually within its walls, in the halls assigned to each house respectively. Eight years ago, the public purse having become exceedingly plethoric, and our national legislators feeling the necessity of more room in which to accommodate their increasing numbers and decreasing dignity, an appropriation was made for the erection of a north and south wing to the old Capitol, to be used as halls for the Senate and House, and rooms for committees. The work was immediately begrn, and now the two wings are solid realities of brick and marble, and together with the old building, form one of the most imjwsing structures of the world. I have not space now to particularize, but will probably do so at another time. Suffice it to say, that the south wing

has been so far completed, that the members of the lower House made an exodus on the 16th ultimo from the old hall, wliich is consecrated by the memory of

Clay, Calhoun, Webster, Jienton, and numerous other glorious lights of Statesmanship, and made a lodgement in the new the gilded and filigree appearance of which has been likened to Taylors restaurant in New York. It is certainly in strong contrast with the republican simplicity of the old hall, and its gewgaW decorations, which Capt. Meigs calls a "harmonious blending of colors," are not, I am inclined to think, such as would favorably impress the democratic mind of the country. Its accommodations, however, are far better than, were those of the old hall. The members have more'' room, and the gallaries will seat at least one thousand more spectators. The auditorum, which was thought to have been arranged on scientific principles, is in some degree a failure. While it is not a whispering gallery, as was the old hall, the voice of a speaker seems to ascend to the ceiling and then come bounding back with a crushing explosion, which is very disagreeable. The new Senate chamber will not be completed probably for a year yet, and time will be taken to secure it against some of the apparent defects of the chamber of the House. I have digressed somewhat from the purpose with which I started out in this letter, but I will conclude by saying that since the layiug out of the city of Washington, by the Father of his country, in 1791, it has "rown to bo a city of about fifty thousand inhabitants, while the District of Columbia, as it remains now, contains a population of about seventy thousand. Being the National Capitol, the permanent and transient population of Washington is made up for the most part by a congregation from all States and nations a small Eortion only of its adult citizens being native and the usiness prospects of the whole populace are either directly or indirectly connected with the operations of the Government. Sigma. For the Locomotive. OUR CITY SCHOOL TAX. Can the school tax, levied by the City Council of Indianapolis, be collected by law ? Iu order to auswer this question understandingly, it will be necessary to go back to the founding of Common Schools in the City, and briefly examine the laws in reference thereto from that time to the present, and the action of the city authorities thereon. The town of Indianapolis was first incorporated by an act of the legislature, approved February the 17th 1838 ; but this act contained nothing on the subject of schools. Local acts 1838, p. 25. Indianapolis was afterwards incorporated as a City, by an act of the legislature, approved January the 2Gth 1847. Local acts 1847, p. 57. By this charter the City Council was authorized to lay off the city into suitable districts for Common Schools, and by an ordinance to provide for erecting the necessary buildings, and appointing suitable teach ers therefor; and it authorized the levy and collection of a tax, for this purpose, by the council, not to exceed one eighth of one per cent, on the annual assessment. It was, however, provided in the act that the council should not levy the tax unless authorized to do so by a majority of the legal voters in the city ; and to ascertain the sense of the legal voters on that subject, a poll was directed to be opened, at the regular city election, on the last Saturday in April 1847, and each voter in favor of establishing City Free Schools, was required to endorse on his ticket "Free Schools," and those opposed to the Schools, " no Free Schools. The vote was taken, and a majority declared in favor ot City Free Schools ; and thus tho system was inaugurated. This charter continued in force until the 7th day of March 1853, when, by a vote of the City Council, the Act entitled, " An Act for the incorporation of Cities," approved June 18th 1852, wa3 adopted for the government of this City. In order to understand the reason of this, it is necessary to state that a convention was elected in 1850, to revise the constitution of the State, which convention assembled at the capitol, on the first Monday in October 1850, and after alengthy session formed a new State Constitution, differing very materially from the old Constitution. This new Constitution was submitted to a vote of the people, adopted and went into force on the first day of November 1851. Under the new Constitution the State Legislature had no power to pass local or special laws for the incorporating of Cities. The Legislature, therefore, passed a general law authorizing their incorporation. This general law granted more extensive powers to the City Council than the charter of 1847, especially in the right to levy a much larger tax for general purposes. To secure these enlarged powers was the principal reason for its adoption. In adopting this general char- : ter, for the government of the City, the City Council, as ' a matter of course, lost the power to levy the tax for j purposes which was authorized to be levied by the Scho 1 charter of 1847, and there was no power given, in the j new charter, to levy a tax for any such purpose. So far, then, as the new charter was concerned, the ability to carry on the City Free Schools was lost with the power to levy the tax for their support. But the Constitution of 1851, made it the duty of the general ! assembly, to provide by law for a general and uniform system of Common Schools, wherein tuition should be i without charge, and equally open to all ; and, by virtue ' of this constitutional provision, the legislature passed an Act entitled, "An Act to provide for a general and I uniform system of Common Schools, and School libraries, and matters properly connected therewith," which : was approved June 14th 1852, 1, R. S. 1852, p. 439. It is unnecessary to state fully the provisions of this act It provided for the annual assessment and collection of the sum often cents on each one hundred dol lars of property taxable for State purposes, and declared that the amount so assessed and collected together with certain funds, fines assessed &c, should be called the Common School fund, and be applied to the support of Commom Schools. It provided the mode and means of carrying on the system, and distributing the fund among the people of the State. It also provided that the voters of any township should have power, at any general or special meeting, to vote a tax for the purpose of building or repairing School houses, and purchasing sites therefor, providing fuel, furniture, maps, apparatus, libraries or increase thereof, or to discharge debts incurred therefor, and for continuing the Schools after the public funds should be exhausted, to any amount not exceeding annually fifty cents on each one hundred dollars of property, and fifty cents on each poll. It also provided that incorporated Towns and Cities should constitute School coi-poration?, independent of the townships in which, they might be situated, and should be entitled to the proportional amount of School funds to which the number of children between the ages prescribed by law would entitle them ; and should by trustees elected by the people, or by officers ajpointed by the corporation, perform all the duties required of township trustees, prepare and file with the County Auditor all the reports required of, and be subject to all the liabilities of such trustees, should have power by a vote of the qualified voters of such corporation, or by an ordinance to levy a tax for the support of their Schools after the public funds should be exhausted, for the building, repairing and hiring of School houses, for the purchase or leasing ground therefor, for the furnishing thereof, for the establishment or increase of School libraries, and for all other incidental expenses. By the surrender of the charter of 1847, and the adoption of the general charter of 1852, the School System established under the charter of 1 84 7, was swallowed up in and became a part of the general system created by the act of June 14th, 1852 ; and the City Council lost all right to tax for that purpose, except so far as the right was continued or granted by the last named Act. a tu rt'.i.. i ci i funds to an amount in proportion to the number of children, between the ages prescribed by law, in the City ; and the additional power was given, by a vote of the people, or by an ordinance of the corporation to levy taxes for the support of her Schools &c. after the public funds should be exhausted, the same as given by the statute to the voters of each township. By virtue of the power thus given, the City Council, after the adoption of the general charter of 1852, levied an annual tax for the support of the City Schools, of about twenty cents on each one hundred dollars worth pf Erope'rty in the City, and has collected the same, with ut few exceptions." This tax thus levied and collected in the City, together with the proportional amount received from the State, formed the City School fund. Any one can see at a glance, that the power given to the'townships and to the City to levy this additional