Rensselaer Republican, Volume 17, Number 12, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 November 1884 — Page 7

The Republic an. RENSSELAER. INDIANA. G. E. - -. Pobubho.

The large Holstein bull Iroquois, for ■which $7,000 was recently refused, was killed recently, having suddenly become savage and gored his keeper. His quarters weighed 1,450 pounds after being dressed. - - , Jefferson Davis’ nephew having died recently, none of his name of his family now survive except himself. He has been married twice, but has no male descendant who bears his name, his only son having died a little while ago. ' ■ A Boston spirit medium was detected using a telephone in fiis cabinet. He his mouth to be filled with marbles and sealed with courtplaster. By attaching the telephone to concealed wires that ran to a confederate in another part of the house, he nevertheless produced, ghostly voices. Of the wheat imported into Great Britain for seven months in 1884 the United States furnished 13,773,980, a little over half, India less than one sixth, Russia about one-tenth, Australia less than one-tenth; 876,057,000 pounds of flour were imported in the seven months, of this the United States sent 599,603,800 pounds.

A French Deputy, very careless of his attire, paid a vacation visit lately to his constituency, and at the station was seized by a traveler, who put a valise fnto his hands to carry for him. The Deputy took it to its destination, but declined the 5 cents tendered him saying, “Thanks, no, I don’t need that; I have the honor of being your member.” The French Railway Companies are about to adopt an electric gate opener. A catch connected with am electromagnet keeps a gate closed. When a train approaches it closes the circuit, releases the catch, and the gate flies open- The last car on the train as it passes through opens the circuit, and the gate is again closed. The same device rings a bell violently on the approach of each train. s lIoLE-iN-THE-DAY,was a big Indian chief, bravo in war and cunning in the jwvwow, but Rev. Mr. Hole, of western Texas, makes a, bigger orifice than the red chief, according to the Kerryville 77;/e, which says: “Rev. Mr. Hole can run a horse-race, and can make it hot for his opponents in afoot-race; he also can jump a hurdle, sing a song, and at the end of the week preach a very good sermon withall. A lady in Schenectady, New York, hid in a closet so as not to be compelled to see a lady visitor whom she saw approaching the house. Accidently the spring-latch on the door caught and she was a prisoner. She rapidly consumed tho air in the inclosure. After four hours imprisonment, her husband returned home, missed his wife, and found her in the closet insensible. A short time more and suffocation would have produced death.

A Los Angeles, Cal., gentleman has brought from Guatemala a plant called the “melon shrub/’ which grows to the height of about three feet. It is an evergreen, with a beautiful purple and white flower, and bears a fruit shaped like a rifled cannon shell, about four inches long, by from two to three inches in diameter. This curious little shrub bears a melon of most exceleent taste, with the outside streaked vfith yellow and brown, and an inside the color of a canteloupe. The shrub blossoms and bears in four months from the seed. A certain collector in Syracuse must need a patent pair of pantaloons, judging*from his plan of operations. When a man persistently declines to pay he is called upon by this collector, ’ who wears a very large, tall hat, on which is displayed in gilt letters: “Commercial Agency; Collector of Hard Accounts. He calls every day until some arrangement is made satisfactory to both parties, or until the debt is paid. The collectors daily calls soon attract the attention of people, and his business is fully defined on his hat. The scheme is said to work first rate.- • Maj. Gen. Dillon, just appointed to the command of the Lahore Division of the Indian army, is one of the most notable veterans in that service. He served under Colin Campbell (Lord Clyde) in the first war with China ,‘ook partin the final campaign against the Sikes, and held a prominent place during the mutiny in the Oude field force, being severely wounded at Cawnpore. He was with Sir Hope Grant in his Chinese expedition, accompanied Lord Napier of Magdala to Abyssinia, and has since been aid-de-camp to the Queen. He belongs to the well-known Dillon'family of Ireland. President Woolsey entered the corporation as President of Tale College in 1846. After resigning the presidency, in 1871, be was re-elected to the corporation in the same year/ and has been a member ever since. He was graduated at Yale in 1820; studied theology at Princeton; became a tutor at Yale in 1823, and in 1831 was elected

Professor of Greek. The venerable ex-president will bo 83 .years old the last of this month, and Las been connected withe the college almost continuously for sixty-seven years. He is now on the Republican ticket as a Blaine and Logan Elector. The agricultural returns of Great Britain, taken on June 4th last, shows that there are 6,241,127 cattle, 26.037,217 sheep and lambs, and 2,582,333pig5. Compared with. the number two years since, there has been Ail increase of 74 per cent, in cattle, over 7 per cent. in’’sheep, and nearly 3 per cent, in pigs. There has also been an increase in the acreage of grain crops. In Ireland there has been a decrease in acreage under tillage, but a sight increase in number of cattle, sheep, and horses, pigs showing a slight decrease. The long drought in Georgia has given vent to much superstition among negroes, who are holding meetings for the purpose of turning away Divine wrath. lu Henry County the negroes assert that a. child was born with three teeth, lived three hours and died, after having spoken three words. “Three dry years.” which the colored people interpret to mean three years of famine. On Saturday a black child was born in Troupe County, which died during the night. The attendants insist that it said before death, “Five years without rain.” These two incidents are firmly believed by colored people, who expect their literal fulfillment.

The telegraph operators of the country, says the Current may feel some' gratification in knowing that the great strike cost the Western Union $1,000,000. But what an uncomfortable thought it is—this fact that a whole industrial guild has no other employment than that which can be found at the hands of two employers, the Western Union and the Baltimore and Ohio Companies. For that matter we may say one employer, the Western Union. It is as tohugh a man were, the best shoemaker in the w’orld, and w r hen he asked for a recognition of certain rights, his boss might say: “Go learn some' other trade, it you don’t want to work for me on my terms.”

Cattle-raising is the chief vocation in Montana and the neighboring territories; but cattle-stealing is a vocation not far behind it. And the curious part of it is that there is no region in - the world wlieie horse and cattle stealing is attended with greater dangers. Defection is followed by certain death. The life of a horse or cow thief in that rude country is not worth the price of twenty feet of inch rope. There is very little of judicial law in Montana, but there is a good deal of concrete justice, which, perhaps, is quite as good. It is stated that fifty stock thieves have been lynched in the territory in the last six months. Seven were hanged in a group in. one spot and at one time a few weeks ago. And yet, in spite of this summary way of dealing with the thieves, the stealing business continues io flourish. It extends over areas hundreds of miles in extent—from the upper part of California to the British line and from Oregon to the Missouri River—and it is estimated that several hundred persons are engaged in it. They descend on the herd at night, separate as many animals as they can take care of, and drive them to distant points to be disposed of. It is difficult and dangerous to pursue them, as they frequently operate in gangs, and are more than a match for the small parties gathered to follow them.

In the last twenty-two years the national debts have increased from $13,000,000,000 to $28,000,000,000. This is apart from municipal and corporate indebtedness, which, during the past quarter of a century, have been added to prodigiously. The only nations that have succeeded in getting rid of any part of their national obligations are the United States and Great Britain. We are liquidating our indebtedness at a rate unexampled in the history of the world. Great Britain’s debt was greatest just at the close of the Crimean war, when it amounted to £825,000,000 sterling. At last accounts it was £783,000,000. The Egyptian war, however, will probably add another £25,000,000 to the national debt of Great Britain. But in all the rest of the world there is a steady and immense increase in the national debts, as well as in corporate obligations. Capitalists and bondholders are growing in importance and power, due to the rapid increase of national and corporate indebtedness. We hear much of the reign of the people, but the real rulers of the nations to-day are the plutocrats, the great bankers, money-lenders, and creditors of the government, and the great corporations. There will be a revolt some day against this unnatural domination, and a general agreement will be come to to repudiate debts. The only foremost nation which seems likely to honor all its obligations is the United States of America. “Many people,” chirps, a witty observer, “have a very peculiar kind of religion. It resembles the portrait which 4 the young girl wanted to have painted, which was to be a perfect likeness of her lover, but not recognizable by any one else." There are none so low but they have their triumphs. Small successes suf' flee for small souls.— Bovee.

CLEVELAND AND HENDRICKS.

The President-Elect Indicates His Policy Toward the Colored Race. The Vice President-Elect’s Views on Civil Service and Revenue ” Reform. CLEVEIAND, His Policy Toward the Colored Race and the Commercial Interests of the Country. Gov. Cleveland was asked by a reporter at Albany, the other day, if he was aware of the delusion among the colored people of the South that a change in a dministration would unfavorably affect their condi ion. Gov. Cleveland replied: "Yes, I have been astonished at the statement that there was an apprehension existing among the colored people that in some way their rights now secured to them under the laws and Constitution of the United States were in danger from the election of a Democratic President I am even told that some of them are led to suppose the result of the recent election means that they may again be made slaves. Ail this has appeared to me to be absurd, and I have been so sure that the slightest intelligent reflection would dislodge such foolish fears, that I can hardly deem any notice of them necessary. But there is not the slightest objection to calling the attention of all who are in the least uneasy or uncertain upon this subject to the fact that the title of the colored people to freedom and all the rights of citizenship can not be disturbed except by a change in the Constitution,'which it would be absolutely impossible to make. Besides, the present condition or status of these people has been so fully accepted by the entire country that no one should have the slightest idea that any attempt would be made to change it if there were any possibility of accomplishing such a thing. So far as the new administration is related to this subject, the whole country can be sure that the lawful power and jurisdiction of the Executive will be so exercised that the rights of all citizens, white or black, under the Constitution and the law will be preserved and protected, and all the advantages to which they are entitled by reason of their citizenship will be secured to them. There need be no tear that the Democratic party or its newly elected administration proposes to oppress or enslave any part of our population, nor to destroy the business interests of the country. We hope, on the other hand, to do something to benefit the people. It seems to me that the effort in that direction would be aided if mischievous croaking and dark imaginings should give place to an earnest endeavor to inspire confidence and to make universal a cheerful hope for the future.”

HENDRICKS. He Makes a Speech. Giving Some Intimation of What WiH Take Flace in the Next Four Years. Vice Thomas A. Hendricks spoke at considerable length in the Brooklyn Rink, on the occasion of a Democratic jubilee, in the course of which he said: I do not join you to-night for any purpose of rejoicing over the fall of our opponents. It js enough to know that they have fallen. I join you to rejoice, not that their flag has been trailed in the dust, but that ours flies in triumph over the land; not that they suffer the pangs of disappointment and defeat, but that we, the representatives of the Democracy, the politics of the people, are successful. But lam also sorry that after the result an attempt has been made to infuse into the minds of our colored people the idea that the success of the Democratic party meant the destruction of the rights and privileges of our colored voters. This is a great wrong. My fellow-citizens, as a free and independent voter, the colored voter entered the Democratic ranks, and, as a free and independent voter he will remain under its broad banner and principles. We have been for nearly the last quarter of a century suffering with great patience the rebuffs of the party in power with the statement that we were not fit to be trusted, but on the 4th day of this month millions of our fellow-countrymen- declared that we are to be trusted. I' thank the Independent Republican party and those of the ministry, of the bar, and of the other great professions, who have stood by our side in the hour of trial. The people of the United States have taken up the great question of reform In all and every department. When the Democratic party took hold of Cleveland and Hendricks .it was likened to the cry of the traveler in the sledge who was followed by the wolves: but Cleveland and Hendricks came out of the battle better than the traveler. I am ashamed to say that tfle campaign just closed was the most remarkable I ever took part in for calumny and falsehood. -But I knew when I heard all this going round that it would not avail, and I did not go out of my w£y to say One word, but just let matters take their course in Indiana, and so it came out all right. I do not wish to speak in terms of disparage mentof those who must feel the pangs of defeat, but I will ask the Republican party who gave them the authority to sit in judgment on the party of the people, and say that it was not safe to trust the Government in our hands? This, my fellow-citizens, has been answered by the voice of the people of the Empire State, as well as the other States, in no unmistakable terms. Let us be as patient now in the hour of triumph as we have been in the long years of trial. We, they tell us, will be responsible for the future of this great country. Yes, and we accept the great responsibility that will bring peace and* good government to the people ot the United States. It was God that gave us the power to set this great lesson—a lesson that we must abide by, and a lesson that I hope the Republican party will not soon forget—that the great work commenced and carried out by the pebpleof the United States on Nov. 4 last, when the Democratic party was once more placed in power, means nothing more or less than a government of the people, by the people, and for the people. Oh, you will see a very great change after the 4th of next March, when President Grover Cleveland takes his seat at Washington. , It has been decided by the people that there shall be a government executive reform, so that all the laws shall receive their just and proper construction—a construction that shall bring blessings upon the common people, upon labor, as well as upon capital; a construction that will be in accordance with the true intent and meaning of the legislators; that there shall be administrative reform, so that there shall be no longer any inability to carry the mails across the country-wlthout loss to the public treasury; so that there shall be honesty in all the departments of the Government.

Do you ask me if I am in favor of civil-service reform? Of course lam in favor of civil-serv-ice reform. lam not in favor of a,continuation of so many things that we have seen in some years that are past. The people are tired .of It, and they want a change. Do you desire to know from me what civil service I have confidence in? lam very free to say to you people to-night that 1 am not particularly confident of success after a schoolmaster’s examinat on. But I win tell you what I have confidence in, as it was in the days of Andrew Jackson. Let a true man come to lie President of the States, and let true men be called around him to aid him in the public service, and let these men resolve that the only test of qualification for office under them shall be honesty and fitness for the service, and you have civil-service reform. This great contest has established it in this country that there must be revenue reform. In his message of December, 1882, President Artnur informed Congress and the'Country that the revenues of the country exceeded by $100,000,600 the wants of the administration economically administered. A slight reform was made the next March thereafter, but after that the Secretary of the Treasury, your defunct Judge Folger —honored be his name; he is dead now—in hii last report to Congress, when he lived, declared that the present revenues exceeded the wants of the Government by $85,000,000 a year, and that is the last record on the subject. Now. my countrymen, you men of Brooklyn, you merchants, you business men, you laboring men, yon skilled mechanics, I ask you what is the standard by which the Government shall be regulated in the taxation of the people? President Arthur expressed it as well as I am’ able to express it. He said that the only standard should be the needs of the Government economically administered. But Secretary Folger. in his last report to Congress, said. “The question that now presses upon us is what legislate n will relieve the peopl-j ot the burden of unnecessary taxation. Ay, it is a burden, and it presses hard when it is $85,000,000 a year. How much for Obe country, if taxation were < educed wisely and judiciously, so as to leave it in the pockets of the people and in the channels of trade, would the $85,0<i0,000 do every year? What Is the position of the Democratic party upon the subject of taxation? I know of no standard of taxation except that taxes shall not exceed the needs of the Government economically administered. At the convention in Chicago the will of the Demo racy ot this great nation was express d in a resolution on taxation. Of course that resolution related mainly to -the tariff law, and now, if you please to give me your attention, I wifi state what the Democratic party at that convention declared. It is expressed in four propositions: I ' L Taxation shall not exceed the needs of the Government economically administered. . X Taxation shall only be tor public pur-

poms and not for private'gain and speculation, a. In the adjustment of the taxes care shall be taken not to hurt labor nor to harm capital. 4. Taxation shall be heaviest upon articles at luxury and lightest upon articles of necessity. These four oro posit ions express, the entire Democratic doctrine on the subject of taxation, and when that great convention at Chicago adopted that platform it wrote it in letters of silver brightness upon its banner, and that ban-> w-r it handed Grover Cleveland and Thomas A. Hendricks, and they said this is the banner, carry it out before the people and stand or fall by the banner. That banner has been carried before the indomitable.Democracv of Indiana. They say the tariff is a very difficult thing to understand. I think It is difficult for those who wish to make it difficult, and to Impose somewhat upon the country. .To me it is very plain, for it is written in these four sentences. • Is it possible that a convention of the people, con-istingof so many delegates, has been able to pass upon that difficult question of the tariff, and to express itself so that every' man, woman and child in so large and intelligent an audience as this is compelled to say "that’s right?" It is an tineomm -n.lndorsement of a convention, and after this you won't b ame me much for being a whole-soul-d Democrat, will you? If a party is so clearly right upon the subject of taxation, one of the highest powers of government, it cannot ba wrong much upon anything else. Taxation comes to a man's home and takes that for the public use which was his, is his no long >r, like the law of eminent domain, that takes private property for public use: like the law of the Government, that says to the young man in the bosom of the familv, "War has come and you must serve in the army,” this power of taxation is one of the most tremendous that the. Government compasses or exercises: and now, while I have submitted it. sentence by sentence, and in detail, to this great audience, the sentiment is that sot once, anyhow, the Democracy may be trusted. So next spring, it Gov. Cleveland shall call Congress together, the machinery will somewhat commence, not to de’troy. but to remove objections. -Did you know that the Republican Chicago platform on the tariff subject pledged itself to reform in the tariff so as to remove its inequalities and reform its excess? They pledged themselves to reform their own work. " : - 1 Since the war there has been no Democratic Secretary of the Treasury, all being in the control of the Republicans, and now, at the end of twenty years, they say to their countrymen, “Our legislation taxing you is not equal; it produces excess of revenue, and we pledge you to reform it” It is too late now. The time for repentance is not passed, but the time for good work to make repentance good is now passed. How is it that upon the subject of taxation the Republican party has dared to come before the great elements of power in this country, New York Ciiy, Brooklyn City, and admit the taxation is unequal? But we must have the equality of taxation, and the mauls going in that's going to have it that way.

THE OFFICES.

Cleveland Will Be Allowed to Appoint Men of His Own Choosing. No Probability that the President Elect Will Be Antagonized by the Senate. [Washington telegram to,Chicago Tribune.] SerAtor Sherman is reported to have said that he thinks Senator Cameron has been misunderstood in the matter of the suggestion that Republican Senators should organize to resist the confirmation of Cleve and’s appointments, and to have expressed the opinion that Cleveland’s nominees, unless some very objectionable ones were made, would undoubtedly be confirmed. In this opinion. Senator Aldrich, of Rhode Island, concurs. The views attributed to Don Cameron have attracted much attention here, and have caused examination to be made of the law and the powers of the Senate. The plan imputed to Don Cameron is impracticable. President Arthur says he will make no appointments before the close of his term, except where vacancies occur. It he could be induced to carry out tl>e supposed Cameron programme the attempt would be ineffectual, as it would be possible for the Senate Democrats to filibuster against executive sessions, or, if such session should be» held, the Democrats could postpone action until March 4, when under the law nominations would fall. The point would then be raised and doubtless maintained by the Democratic administration that all old officers who had been renominated and who had failed of confirmation would be out of office. The chief point in the Cameron scheme has been to seek to bring the tenure-of-office act to the ajd of the civil-service act to continue Republican officials in power. The theory is that this might be accomplished should the Republican Senators decline to refuse to confirm Cleveland’s nominations. They might do this on the ground that by declining to consent to the removal of efficient officers they would be carrying out the spirit of the civil-service law. The Republicans m the Senate, however, could not avail themselves of the tenure-of-office act unless they should, be able to keep the Senate in Contln|Uous session, for that act allows the President during the recess of the Senate to supersede officers for cause, -and to appoint temporarily to the places, requiring him, however, to present causes ‘ for the removal a? soon as the Senate convenes, when, if the new nominees are not confirmed: the officers would be restored to their places. It was under this law that the Senate prevented Andrew Johnson from removing Secretary Stanton. The Republicans/could not keep the Senate In continuous session if the Senators were disposed to enter into such a contest with the Executive. There is little doubt that the majority of the Republican Senators will agree with Senator Sherman that Mr. Cleveland will be permitted to appoint men of his own choice to the leading places, unless in special cases there shall be marked grounds for objection.

CONVENTIONS.

The Women. The sixteenth annual convention of the American Woman Suffrage Association was held in Chicago, Lucy Stone?presiding. Reports as to the SrogreSs of the movement were read by the elegates from the several States. From these reports it appears that Washington Territory is the banner district for woman suffrage, between 12,000 and 15,000 women voting at the last election. Resolutions were unanimously adopted, in which any other government but that embracing men and women in its franchise was declared unjust, unreasonable, and inconsistent with American principles, the remedy for which was, to be obtained by memorializing Congress to prohibit all political distinctions on account of sex; urging by agitation legislative and constitutional changes in their favor, and appealing to State and national authorities. , The Cattle Men. There were 1,200 delegates in attendance st the National Cattle Men’s Convention in St. Louis. Ex-Gov. John L. Routt, of Colorado, presided. A cablegram from London, signed by John Robinson Whiteley, Director of the General American Exhibition of 1886, expressed the hope that the convention would hold a live stock exhibition in London two Sears hence. A constitution and byiws of the proposed association were adopted, and that body will hereafter be known as the National Live-Stock Association of America, its general object being to promote the Interests of live-stock industry. After a long debate, a resolution was adopted praying Congress to open a national trail from the Red River northward to the boundary line between the United States and British America. It was also decided to ask Congress for an appropriation to aid in the suppression of pleuro-pneu-monla. A number of papers on pleuro-pneu-monla and other cattle diseases were read. The Tanners. . The tanners of the country met in convention at St. Lruis, and formed the Tanners and Hide and Leather Dealers’ Association of the United States. There was quite a large attendance. The Humane*. The eighth annual session of the American Humane Association was held at Pittsburg. There was a good attendance, and the reports showed a healthy progress daring the year.

Conkling Prefers Money-Making to Politics.

[Albany telegram.] A gentleman who had a conversation with Mr. Conkling on politics says that the exSenator treated the discussion of his name as a fusion candidate with his usual contempt He did not know whereof any newspaper got authority for making him a candidate for Senator or for' any other office. He assured the gentleman that he was out of politics and in the,business of making money. «:- - - - A SNKAK-thtee entered the room of Steve Dorsey, tn a St. Louis hotel, and stole the sl.«w gold watch presented him. at the Delmonlco dinner just after Garfield's election, f

FAR INTO THE BILLIONS.

Commissioner Loring Reviews Earm Proy duction and Pleads for the Forests. In- the report of the Commissioner of Agriculture it is shown that*tbe value of meats hns increased from $300,000,000 to $800,000,000; corn, from $360,680,878 to $694,818,304; wheat, from $124,635,545 to $436,908,463; hay. from $152,671,168 to $400,505,783; dairy products, from $152,350,000 to $352,500,000; cotton, from $211,516,625 to $271,636,121, and other'products in proportion, more than doubling the aggregate value and increasing it, from sl,600,000.000 to $3,600,000,000 in round numbers. With good prices the current production of the agriculture of the United Stains can be little short of $4,000,000,000, and the values are those of the home markets, and not of Eastern commercial cities or ports of exportation. The Commissioner says: The wheat area fs so much beyond the requirements of consumption in this and other countries as to depress the price to a point unprecedented in recent years, favoring at certain points vhe use of wheat In feeding for pork production The cause of this superabundance is two-fold. First, the extensive settlement in the Northwestern pra'ries and the dry plains ot the Pacific coast; and second, the extraordinary period of comparative failure of European wheat for several consecutive years. The progress of settlement must be less rapid hereafter; and already has been followed by comparative plenty. These facts of products and prices point to the sharp necessity of adapting the production to the consumption, to supply the food products now Imported, to give remunerative employment to agricultural labor, and food in variety and cheapness to consumers. The Commissioner says that the destruction of forests is alarming, but he finds cause for gratification in the extensive planting of young trees in the Western States. He says that the destruction of forests for lumber is greater than the legitimate demand, and has resulted in burden* ing the market. Further discussing the subject, the Commissioner says: The great pine forests ot the Northwest are now depleted to such an extent that Southern pine is brought into competition with it in the Chicago market, and a perceptible inroad has been made upon those vast forests which cover so large a proportion of the Gulf States. The same reckless and wasteful methods of lumbering are pursued there which have so rapidly consumed the Northern and West rn forests. This condition of things makes it more imperative every year to endeavor to preserve the forests which form a part of the public domain, and to so guard and control them by law as to make them of the greatest and most lasting benefit to the country. The bureau is now investigating the culture of silk, in accordance with the act of Congress which made an appropriation of $15,000 for that purpose.

INTERNAL TAXATION.

A Policy of Reduction in the Future Indicated. [Washington dispatch to Chicago Daily News.] There is every reason to believe that in his coming message President Arthur will repeat the recommendation he made two years ago in favor of the repeal of all taxes on manufactured tobacco, cigars, cigarettes, and snuff. Secretary McCulloch has frequently declared himself to be in favor of wiping out all these tobacco taxes, and if is confidently expected here that he will join the President fir urging Congress to take this step. The total receipts from the in-ternal-revenue taxes on tobacco, cigars, snuff, and cigarettes amounted to a little over $26,000,000 during the fiscal year 1884. The movement in Congress last session in favor of the repealing of. the tobacco taxes was very formidable. Two or three attempts were made in the House toward the end of the session to take up what was known as the fruit-brandy bill, the object ■ being to attach thereto an amendment wip- . ing out the tobacco taxes. The repealers were surprisingly strong in numbers, and • the support which they will receive from the President and Secretary of the Treasury this winter will doubtless greatly encourage them. There is an impression in the Treasury Department that Secretary McCulloch will recommend a reduction of the whisky tax to 60 or 50 cents a gallon. The prospect is that four movements against the surplus revenue will be made this winter. One is in the shape of ' the pension bill which passed the Senate last winter and is now on the Speaker’s table. This bill, if passed by the , House, would absorb about $25,000,C00 an- i nually. Another is the Biair educational ■ bill, which was passed by the Senate Last J winter and is now in the House. This j would swallow an average of $10,000,000 a year for eight years. A third is the tobacco-tax-repeal scheme, which pro- . poses to wipe out over $26,000,000. i A fourth is the proposed Spanish treaty, which will be presented to the Senate for ratification. If ratified by the Senate and carried into operation by an act of Congress, this treaty would do away with over $30,000,000 of revenue. All of these movements will have numerous supporters, and there are in prospect several sharp parliamentary battles. The interesting question is: “Will the surplus revenue be reduced by a reduction of taxation or by an increase of expenditures?” It is regarded as wellnigh certain that a majority of the revenue-reformers in both branches of Congress will prefer to maintain the status quo rather than consent to a repeal of the tobacco taxes. They aye opposed to getting rid of these taxes in advance of a reduction of customs duties.

Attitude of the Senate Toward Cleveland.

It having been reported that Senator Thgalls had said that he would vote to confirm Cleveland’s appointments, the Senator was recently interviewed, and confirmed the report. He says: “In my opinion, the nominees of Cleveland should be confirmed unless there are objections other than political. A Democratic Senate rejected none of Hayes’ appointments. The unwritten law of the case is for the Senate to assume that, in case of removal by the. President, he has ample cause for it, and it has been the courteous custom of that body to so regard it.” Senator Ingalls doubts the constitutionality of the tenure-of-office act, and says he thinks it ought to be repealed.

CHIPS.

Maj. Gen. Hancock will retire in February, 1888. Bartholemew Binns, the English hangman, has been deposed for getting drunk. Mr. Winans, of Baltimore, who rents about a quarter of a million acres of deerforests in Scotland, has this season killed 150 stags. Miss Nellie Leboeche, a daring aeronaut, fell from her balloon at Eufaula, Ala., and suffered a severe shock, but had no bones broken. Editor Hendry, of the Livingston (Montana) Enterprise, says that Montana will withing five years lead all the States and Territories in mineral and meat production. In Denver one household out of every five ia without a Bible.

POSTAL AFFAIRS.

Reports of tho First and Third Assistant Postmasters General. The annual report of the First Assistant Postmaster-General shows that the number of postoffices established during the year was 3,414, an increase of 161 over the preceding year. The number discontinued was 1,260. a decrease of 361; a net increase of 522. The whole number aj postoffices on June 30, 188,1, was 50,017, an increase of 2,154.1 The nnniber filled by Presidential appointment was 2,323; the number filled by the appointment of the Post-master-General was 47,694. During the year 11,953 postmasters were appointed. The net increase of postoffices during the year is much larger than any increase lor several years past. The increase was divided among sections as follows: New England States, 49 ; five Middle States, 225 ; fourteen Southern States and Indian Territory, 1,070; ten States and six Territories in the West and Northwest, 707; three States and three Territories on the Pacific slope. 3,104. The greatest increase in any of the States or Territories was 156 in Texas. The increase in North Carolina was 126, and in Pennsylvania 124. The only decrease was in New Mexico. Comparing the number of postofflees in the different states the six highest on June 30 were: Pennsylvania. 3,840; New York. 3,122; Ohio, 2,707; Illinois, 2,167; Virginia, 1,982; and Missouri, 1,968. Of the Territories, Dakota had the largest number, 837, exceeding the number* in either Massachusetts, Maryland, or South Carolina. It -is recommended that the free delivery system be extended to places of 10,000 inhabitants, provided the postal revenues amount to SIO,OOO yearly. The attention of Congress is invited to the importance of erecting buildings for postoffices in all cities of 20,000 inhabitants and upward. The annual report of A. D. Hazen, Third Assistant Postmaster General, shows the number of postage-stamps, stamped envelopes, and postal-cards issued during the year was 2,166,130,396, and their total value $41,515,877. There was a decrease in the value of issues of ordinary postage-stamps of $1,229,735. The total deciease in the value of all issued, including postal-cards, stamped envelopes, postage-due stamps, and wrappers was $1,397,442. The weight of second-class matter during the year, not including free circulation within the county of publications, was 94,479,607 pounds, the postage on which was $1,889,592, an increase of $184,414 over the previous year. The whole number of pieces of undelivered mail matter received in the Dead-Letter Office, including 278,618 pieces on hand, was 4,843,099, and of this number 31,479 were misdirected. There were destroyed 2,539,477 letters, and 17,513 parcels of fruit, cake, etc. Among letters opened, 13,052 contained money and 19,014 drafts, etc. Of letters sent to foreign countries, 210,436 were returned as undeliverable. The total number of letters and parcels registered during the year was 11,246,545; the amount of registry fees collected $957,059, an increase of $30,509. The loss of registered letters during the year amounted to 1 out of every 21,795 pieces mailed. This is the smallest average loss since the organization of the registry system.

KILLING AN ALLIGATOR.

The Adventure ot a Pennsylvania I'ouii® Lady in an Arkansas Swamp. [Little Rock telegram to Chicago Times.} The monster alligator which has inhabited the swamps near Tucker’s Lake, Jefferson County, is no more. For many years it ruled supreme for a radius as several miles around its marshy home. The community avoided the swampy lair, and terror and dismay overcame those that were compelled to venture near. It remained for Miss Dottie L. Steck, of Bellwood, Pa., to remove this incumbrance, which she did with a dexterity that would cause the ordinary female heart to shudder. The young lady, who is visiting relatives in that county, whose residence is near the lake, upon hearing the alligator story, determines! to capture the thing. Being accustomed to adventures at her home in the Alleghenies, she laughed at the idea of serious results, and, in company with two young ladies and several gentlemen, set out to accomplish her purpose. The party soon struck the trail and tracked the alligator to his den. A hole in the sandy bank indicated the locotion, and a few minutes’ digging revealed the object of the search, ana the ominous growls and furious lashings that arose from the spot informed the adventurers that the king of reptiles was within. The egress from the den to the lake having been securely stopped up, the enraged beast found its avenue of escape cut off, and rushed up and down its bed uttering wicked growls, furiously lashing the mud, and scattering the water in all directions. Pieces of timber and fence-rails were pushed into its mouth, only to be crushed and snapped off by its ponderous jaws. A rope and chain, made into a lasso, was thrown over the brute's head. Then he was suddenly jerked to the bank. The appearance of the monster in the midst of the venturesome party created a panic, and all save the heroine beat a hasty retreat,selecting the further side of an oak as a place of safety. With gun in hand, the young lady stood within a few feet of the now thoroughly enraged beast, which was growling, struggling, and slashing its tail on the ground in a frightful manner, and when the opportunity presented itself she fired both barrels in rapid succession. The aim did its work. The alligator gave tremendous lurches and roars, and expired. Both shots had entered one of the few penetratable places, at the base of the jaw. It measured a fraction over ten feet in length. The hide was removed and is in the possession of Miss Steck.

The Internal Revenue.

Deputy Commissioner Rogers, who has had more experience with internal revenue legislation than any other man in Washington, gives his views of the probable action of Congress as follows: “It looks to me as though the present system of collecting internal revenue taxes would be done away with. Congress will probably pass a law collecting taxes on spirits by stamps. The office of revenue agent will be abolished, and the prosecution of small violators of law in the South will be abandoned. In some sections where moonshiners abound we dare not send officers to make raids, because word has already been passed around to kill them. I think that Congress win abolish the tax on beer and reduce the 'tax on spirits from 90 cents, as it is at present, to GO cents per gallon.” The most popular “Turkish” towels now in the market come from Philadelphia. .This goes to show that an ordinary towel by any other name can attain a premium for popularity. Two rafts of pine logs from Lake Superior towed into Cleveland covered a space, one of five and the other of eight acres, and contained 5,000,000 feet ot lumber. Minibteb Lowell has sent cut * denial of the story that he would take up his residence at Oxford, England. German immigrants avoid the cotton States. r