Rensselaer Union, Volume 7, Number 13, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 December 1874 — Page 2

RENSSELAER UNION. UIEB * HEALEY, Proprietor* - 5 —MU '«»■ # 4". RENSSELAER, - INDIANA.

THE NEWS.

Proclamation Summoning the Carliste to Surrender. Observations of the Transit of Venus Generally Successful. The Proetor-Moullon Libel Suit Compromfued. The Boy Pomeroy Found Guilty of Murder in the First Degree. Meeting of the lowa State Grange -Growth of the Order. Cool and Daring Express Robbery ',n Missouri. —~r= The Fighting at VlclUtburg, Itllsa.— Number or Killed. Etc.., Etc., Etc., Etc., Etc. FOKBICN. Paris dispatches of the Sth say the Roth's- ~ -cbilds had advanced 88,000,000 reals to the Bpanish Government, and the bankers ofMadrid 150,000,000 reals more. Rumors prevailed that Don Carlos was negotiating with ex-Queen Isabella. ■— At St. Petersburg, Russia, on the night of the 7th, the tide raised nine feet above the high-water mark, partially inundating the lower portion of the city. Over 1,000 persons of the poorer classes were driven from their houses. Dispatches from India received at Greenwich Observatory on the oth announce that the observation of the transit of Venus in that country had been entirely successful. Over 100 photographs had been taken. Successful observations at Cairo, Suez and Thebes had also been made. At Shanghai the weather was overcast and the sun obscured. A llendaye dispatch of the oth says Gen, Loma had issued a proclamation summoning the Carlists to surrender within eight days, and threatening to devastate the country occupied by them in case of further resistance. Telegrams received in London on the 10th say that observations in regard to the o f Venus failed in Ormsk, Oreusburg, Kasai, I'ralsk, Astraclian, Kertch and Tiflis, but were entirely successful at Yokonama. In the trial of Count von Arnim at Berlin the fact was developed on the 11th that his secretary had been instructed bv Bismarck to act as 4 spy open Ins conduct. The steamship Pelican, from Cardiff for Cork, was recently lost with all ou board. The passengers and crew numbered forty-six. Another cremation ceremony has been successfully performed in Dresden in the same oven in which the body of the wife of Sir Charles Dilke was lately consumed. No clergyman could be found to perform the burial ccremonj and a brief and impressive speech was delivered by a layman. The eremation is said to have been perfectly successful, with nothing to offend the senses. The insurrection in the Argentine Republic is over, and the Government has issued a proclamation granting amnesty to all political offenders.

. _■: - , 1>0:»IBNT1C. : The ’longshoremenV strike in New York is ended, the stevedores having come to an amicable understanding with’both men and shipowners. Further troubles are reported in the mining.regions of Pennsylvania, growing out of the needy condition of large numbers of unemployed miners. Lawlessness and crime are the order of the day in many localities. After weeks of consultations and conferences between the iron manufacturers and puddlers of Pittsburgh the latter inaugurated a strike on the sth, and over 100,000 workmen are thrown out of employment. A train on the Kansas Pacific Railway was stopped by obstructions on the track at Mancie, Mo., on the Sth, and five armed men entered, the express car, uncoupled it from the train and compelled the engineer to haul it away from the other cars, when they robbed ihe safe of Wells, Fargo A Co. of about $30,000. The passenger car was not entered nor were the passengers disturbed. Some" firing was indulged in, but no one was hurt. Reports reached New Orleans on the night of the 6th that large bodies of armed fieg'roes were on their way to Vicksburg to take possissiomof the Court Rouse. On the 7th Gen. Emory received a dispatch that a riot and fighting began on that day. An Associated Press dispatch of the same date says an alarm was sounded at nine o'clock in .the morning thatthe negroes were marching on the town. The citizens gathered en masse, armed immediately, and advanced to "meet the negroes on the Baldwin Ferry road. They were encountered on Grove street, just outside of the city, about 1300 strong. The commander of the citizens warned the negroes to disperse, but they refused, and immediately firing commenced on both sides. The negroes retreated about a mile, and again made a stand in an old breastwork and house, but were soon routed. The loss in this engagement was one citizen, Oliver Brown, killed, and about twelve or fifteen negroes killed, several wounded, and about twenty prisoners. On the Hall's Ferry road about 250 negroes were found and rooted after a short engagement, with several killed and wounded. The attack was made for the purpose of reinstating the negro Sheriff CroSby. It was reported that the negroes Were burning cotton-gins and dwellings in the neighborhood. In the Criminal Court of the District" of'Co*, lumbia on the 9th a letter was presented from the Attorney-General, saying, in substance, that the Government did not consider it advisable, in view of the fact that the Grand Jury which had indicted Harrington and others (defendants in the safe-conspiracy trial) had been declared illegal, to proceed with thp new trial at present. The Court directed a nolle prooequi to be entired, and ail the de* fendants were discharged. The news relating to the Vicksburg troubles received on the 10th was to the effect that the

excitement was subsiding and business generally had been resumed The Governor’s proclamation denouncing the alleged riotous pro ceedilj£ IM calling on all good citizens to aid in UphqWlng the laws of the State,limned on thq Tth.yas responded to by a proclamation by the Mayor of Vicksburg, who claimed that there had up to that timebeen no riotous assemblage in that city; that the meeting of the unarmed taxpayers who requested the resignation of irresponsible officials who had Jailed to execute bonds was quiet and orderly, etc. ’ The lowa State Grange met at Dcs Moines on the Sth. About 200 delegates were present. The annual address puts the number of subordinate Granges iu the State at 2.ooo—an increase over last year of One hundred and nine smallerhave been consolidated. On the the Treasurer reported the receipts vear at $33,393.82; expenditures for y W $31,507.71; balance on hand, The State Agent reported tht b ~f lljH office for the vear it 'pj lc saving to the Grange by tlie 8t 4 t<j Agency is over $27,000. The Comr 4 ity ee ou j) le p.ailroad Tariff Law reported, that it was not the law they wanted and pad proved impracticable. rJThe actual i’.aint*cr of negroes killed in the fight at on the 7th is reported at I.V), fort_v .f jgbt 0 f whom were buried iu 1 oue iield 04, the 9th. \ Washington dispatch of the 11th says the lidministration r approves of the course of Gov. Ames, of Mississippi, ill'endeavoring tt> suppress the disorders existing iir that without.calling-for the assistance of the Federal Government, although the opinion ts expressed that, had lie acted fnorc promptly and gone in person to the scene of action, much bloodshed would have been averted. An earthquake shock was distinctly felt in the upper part of New York city, along the Hudson River, and in Connecticut on the night of the 10th. / Charlestown, W. Va., was the scene of a destructive conflagration on the night of the 10th, by which $200,000 worth of property was consumed. ... • jL The Southern Claims Commission has favorably passed upon about 1,000 claims, and a total amount awarded of about $750,000. John Neville, aged eight years, residing with his parents in West Hoboken, N. J., was kidnaped on the evening of the 10th while playing with a companion. They were met by a man driving a buggy who asked them to take a ride. Neville consented. A large number of citizens of Vicksburg have issued an address, giving a statement of tlic troubles there, ill which they charge a vast amount of official corruption, and defend the action of the citizens in the recent warfare, Claiming that they were obliged to take up arms iu self-defense. They say that “ Our people iu the tryiug circumstances in which they have been placed might well have doue more, and could not have done less, for the protection of themselves, their families, and their property.” QThe constitution of the lowa State Grange has been so amended as to reduce future membership to 100 delegates, and to provide for districting the State in proportion to the number of subordinate Granges. - , PERsON.It. The funeral of the late Mayor Ilavemeyer of New Y’ork city took place ou the sth. King Kalakaua and his suite left San Francisco for Washington ou'the morning of the sth in special palace cars. The New Yolk Court of Appeals lias decided in the case of Mr. Tilton against Mr. Beecher that the defendant has a right to have the bill of particulars asked for iu tlie court below. The Proctor-Moulton libel suit has been compromised, Moulton paying the costs amounting to about $5,000. Miss Proctor solemnly avers that there was no truth in the charges’ made against her as to her relations with Mr. Beecher, and Mr. Moulton admits that he spoke merely from hearsay. • Ezra Cornell, the founder of Cornell College, died on tlie oth at Ithaca, N. Y. In the lowa Episcopal Convention at Davenport, on the Dili, Rev. H. C. Potter, of Grace Church, New York, was elected Bishop on. the fourth ballot. He declined the appointment, and on the - 10th the Rev. W. It Huntington, of Worcester, Mass., was chosen on the third ballot by a small majority. His election was subsequently made unanimous. Gov. Ames,' of Mississippi, lias issued his proclamation convening the Legislature in extra session on the 17th to consider the Vi*ksbi k troubles. The trial of Jesse Pomeroy, the boy-mur-derer, was concluded in Boston on the 10th. The jury brought in a, verdict of murder in the first degree, with a recommendation that he be imprisoned for life. 1 Miss Julia A. Garretson lias been elected State Lecturer of the Grange in lowa, in place of Mr. Wilkinson, resigned. The trial of the suit of Tilton against Beecher has been postponed until tlie first Monday iu January. The attorneys for Tilton have, appealed from an order of Judge MeCue granting a bill of particulars in the Tilton-Beecher ease. The appeal is to the General Term, and is on the ground that the Brooklyn City Court shall not limit the prosecution ou the trial to proof of any particular day. King Kalakaua reached Washington on tlie 12th. aud his arrival was the occasion of considerable informal display. He was suffering much from a severe cold ou the loth, and i| was thought his formal reception, intended to come oft' on the 14th, would have to be deferred. • 1 POLITICAL. A Madison (Wis.) dispatch of the 7th says the Supreme Court had denied the writ of mandamus sought by MeDiil's counsel to compel the State Board of Canvassers to award McDill the Congressional certificate from the Eighth District. Gov. Woodson, of Missouri, has ordered an election 6n Jan. 20 for delegates to the Constitutional Convention. The Grand Jury at Frankfort,, Ky., on the 10th found an indictment against Thomas C. Jones, Clerk of the Court of Appeals, charging him with usurping an office established by the Constitution, ly being ineligible from the fact that he accepted a challenge to tight a duel. Jones gave bond in the sum of $29,000.

CONGRESSIONAL. The second session of the Forty-third Congress opened at noon on the *'li Y-ice-President Wilson presided in the Senate and Speaker Biaice/iu the H >use An order was Mgftcff Join the Senate fixing the hour of meeting at twelve o'clock daiiy until otherwise pro' vided... .Certificates' were presented of the election of George F. Edmunds, of Vermont, ■and William W. Eaton, ol Connecticut, as Senators for the term beginning March 4. 1815 \ j * committee was appointed to notify the Prv-i- j dent of the assembling of Congress.'. ..The’Pre-s- i ident’g Message was read in .both houses,. ..The joint Select Committee on the District of Colnmbia presented a bill placing the District under control of three Regents, appointed bv the President.... Bills were introduced-to revise

the law for the collection of cr.> tomf duties; for he relief of pre-qmpfon. iu it * die..trtci.i* of Kansas and Nebtrj,ki- anurouriatim'"Ur,,,od Mai vil/,settlers an ; lie V; eaaurv. In mtrtmuut _ CoinpIn the House four new members— Messrs. Schell and Chittenden (1 f New York. Carpenter of South Carolina, and Ftnrk of Ohio—were sworn i» 4. ..-.A hill was read to repeal | nc - mown as thu “Press-gag law ... ine President’s Message was react., ana or “® ri ’'j primed ...The Legislative, Kxecu* • Judicial Appropriation bill calling for f a!. dt; the Navy Appropriation bill calling , ft* VvOtk.: the Army Appropriation bill call•nS '-ft $*7,701,500; the Indian Appropriation “ . calling for $4,881,507, and the Fbrtifl'Tation Appropriation bill calling for SBSO,"<JO were reported from the ‘Committee on Appropriations aud mane the special order for Dec. 15. Dec. 16. Dec. 17, llec. Is and Dec. 22 1 iwpoctivctv... A bill was passed appropriating SSO 000 to purchase scales for tlAnse of the Postoffice Department.... A bill was Introduced exempting from the operation of the law requiring prepayment of postagmaases where the subscriplions were taken pnur to January. 1875.... Adjourned. In the Senate, on the Bth, hills were introduced—to reduce the salary rtf the President of the United States after this term to $35,000 per annum; for the constructionof United States Governnient telegraph lines between Washington, D. ( ..ami Boston; amendatory of Sec. tool the National C’.iirencv- act nf —Infrf—and—Seer —9 of the act olJulpiS, 1866.. A memorial was received from various publishers asking for u change of the Postal laws,.. .Adjourned In the House, on the Bth,n report from the Special Committee on the Arkansas troubles of the testimony taken during the vacation was presented and ordered printed.... Bills were iners aud fixing ike,jai.es;, to .prohibit Senators, Representatives and Delegates in Congress from acting as counsel or otherwise in suits or proceedings against the United States. ..Among the bids introduced were the following: For the extinguishment «f the Indian title to the Black Hills Reservation. Dakota: to substitute United States notes for issues of National Banks; lor an additional Representative from Nebraska: for free backing; to regulate elections iu certain Southern States; to amend the act to enforce the right of citizens to vote; repealing the increase of the President’s salary. _ In the Senate, on the Oth, several memorials were presented, among them one from the citizens of Kansas for an extension of time to homestead and pre-emption settlers ou public lands who have been afflicted by" the" locust plague... A list of standing committees was submitted and agreed to. Messrs. Davis, of the Committee on Claims, and Dennis, of the Committee on Agriculture, exchanging places ...Among the bills introduced were: Authorizing the Secretary- of War to ascertain the expenses incurred by Kansas in resisting the Indian invasion of 1874 ; relating to pensions, and providing for the payment of arrears of pen#ions .... Adjourned. In the House, on the 9th, the bill in reference to the railroad bridge at Omaha was postponed until the second Tuesday in February .... Various parts of the President’s -Message were relented.to appropriate committees... The bill to continue the Board of Audit, to examine and audit the unfunded or floatings debt of the District of Columbia, was amended and passed ... Adjourned. In the Senate, on tlie 10th, a joint resolution was agreed to, appointing the Hon. George Bancroft a memberof the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institute, iu place of Gen. W. T. Sherman, resigned. The House bill appropriating $30,000 for the purchase of scales for Postofflces was amended and passed.. .The House resolution to bind 100 copies of the Revised Statutes, without index, was passed... Executive session, and adjournment.till the 14th. In tlie House, on the 10th, a bill was Introduced and referred directing the Freedmen'e Bank Commissioners to declare an immediate dividend and to 1 institute suit against the Trustees, officers and agents of the company. with a view of holding them persottafly liable. ..The Diplomatic and Consular Appropriation bill ($1,344,785) was made the special order for the 33d....The Senate amendment, to the bill appropriating $30,000 for scales required in carrying out the lSw for the prepayment of newspapers was concurred iu, and the bid passed... .The Speaker announced the following appointments to fill vacancies on committees: On Arkansas Affairs, Scudder, ofNew Y'ork; Judiciary, Finck. of Ohio; Civil-Service Reform. Chittenden,-.of New York; Centennial, Schell, of New York; Invalid Peuaud Labor, also on Expenditures in the Naval diaanruncnt, Carpenter, of South Carolina.,.. Ad journed. Senate not in session on the llt'n. In the House, bills were passed—allowing the homestead and pre-emption settlers in lowa. Minne-’ sota. Nebraska and Kansas, whose crops were destroyed by grasshoppers iu 1874. to leave and be absent from their lands till May. 1876, without prejudice to their rights; Senate bill for the appointment of George Bancroft to fill the vacancy 111 the Board of Regents of the Sinilhgoniun Institute A resolution was adopted directing the arrest of Richard B. Irwin, now in New York city, agent of the Pacific Mail Company, for contempt in having failed to obey the summons of the Committee of Ways and MeantL who sough 1 his testimony in the ilithe close of the last session of Congress. Air. Irwin had promised to be on hand by the 15th Adjourned.

The Question of Cheap Transportation.

At the recent session at Dcs Moines of the lowa State Grange, Grand Master Smedley, of vhe Committee on Transportation, made the following interesting i report: . - ; • The question of cheaper transportation is | one which to-day stands out in bold relief, j dwarfing all other questions of public policy. : In mv report to you at our last annual scssiou ; I endeavored to show the importance of this j question to the people of our State, and by carefully-prepared statistics show the amount j of local, municipal and governmental aid fur. ; nished to the various railways, together with I the corresponding ratio of taxation between ! railway and farm pro; erty. 1 also aimed to make clear the discriraina- ! tioii in rates between long .and short disj tances,and the actual cost of railroads per ! inile. It seems eminently proper that I should I at this time communicate to you whatever ot interest may have happened* during the year tending to throw light upon the i subject. The year which is just closing has [ been of interest as marking the first organ- ! ized effort on the part of the people and Gov-' I eminent to resist the eucroaebments of these ! immense corporations, and of determined resistance on the part ot the companies agaiust i such effort. j The last General Assembly of the State of I Wisconsin passed what is known as the • "Totter law," a law enacted by the legallv- ! elected representatives of the people, and approved by the Executive March 11, 1874. This law fixes the maximum rates of fare and freight on all roach in the State, such as was believed would ; leave ample margin for profit to the eom- \ panics; and provides for a thorough and conj tiuuous investigation into the affairs and do- | : mgs of the companies. Three,commissioners ! 1 were provide ; for and-appointed, whose duty j • i was to classify the different roads uude'r ! the law— to conduct the investigation, and to i report ali facts aud, information,to the next ! • Legislature. Immediately upon the law go-. : ing .intellect two of the most powerful eomj panics gave public notice that they should ] : disregard’ it —and regardless of the pnxla- j j ination of the G >veruor, who, an hat oath of i iTiYr-required him to do, was determined j tie law should be obeyed, they treated the , | law < f the State with'contempt. The ex-i | ecutive officers of the State proceeded at ! ! once t > test the question in the courts; and .by a dec i ion of the United States Court, July ; 4. ai.d a decision of the Supreme Court of : Wisconsin, Sept. To, the people were* sustained. 1 i The companies were finally compelled to respect the decision of the courts aud obt v the law; but they openly declare that they intend to apply to the next Legislature ’for its repeal, and have already carried the ease to the. Supreme Court of the Linked States. The spirit manifested by the railroads es that 1 * • demonstrates .very clearly that there-, straiuts of law were applied none too soon. • In our ow n State your committee, appoint,. ed at your 1 st session, met the House Committee on Railroads, and submitted lor their

consideration a synopsis of a law which, in Seir judgment, would meet the necessities e ca#e. The General Assfentblvj however, saw fit to disregard their suggestions, and enacted a law, which was approved. Thi* law - fixes maximum* rates for freight and passenger fares, and provides against unjust discrimination. It does not, however, provide for any complete System of investigation and provides for no general supervision or enforcement of the than such as the Executive Council tlf the State Government can give. Tlie intentruj of your committee was to; simply provide against discrimination—to by law require each cope pany to take the cars pf other companies as low as they transport their own over their own lines, thereby inducing competition, aud tn provide-- through a competent commissioner, for a complete and continuous investigation into the general methods of ritifwuy luimugement—and by.- thiß- moans prepate tlie way for future legislation. While tlie present law was doubtless designed in good faith, it is difficult to understand why some of the essential "requisites in such legislation Should Have been omitted. Ten thousand dollars were appropriated to aid in any prosecutions commenced for its infringement; but practically every citizen suffering from the aggression is left to fight his own battles single handed and alone. Taking the valuation of railway property in the State placed on it by the officers of the companies, we have nearly $100,000,000 invested in this kind of property; and to protect the citizens of the State against the encroachments of this immense capital slojooo were appropriated. The citizen who must (to gain redress) tight his owni way from the lowest to the highest court iu the nation,, finding opened to him at every step the most de-* termiiied and tlie best talent in the country, may well ask, is it lhe duty and province of Government to protect the rights of the weak against tile-aggressions of the strong? If it was the purpose of our General Assembly to economize and make the expense 4yf the-State Government as low as possible, they no doubt succeeded, because the appropriation will not carry one suit through the wbole range of tlie courts as it ought to be curried through. But whether that eeonomy is conducive to the best interest of the commonwealth and calculated to redeh the end in view, I leave to your intelligent judgment. There lias been a good deal of adverse criticism in regard to our Railroad law, and many public journals have had a good deal to say about -“Grange legislation.” The injustice of this will be seen when we remember that hut a single one of the suggestions of the State Grange Committee were incorporated iu the present law. A majority of the railways of the State have complied with the requirements of the law, but some of the strongest companies openly and flagrantly disregard it. -The officials say, when interrogated, “Yes, we know that it is the law of the State, but it is not ouk law.”

Tlie action of these companies is not only a direct insult to the sovereignty of the State, but is without precedent in Ute history of any State or country. The question now before us is, have we in the States of lowa and Wisconsin a second government or corporation whos’e laws aud edicts are ofliigher authority than those enacted by the legally-elected rep"resentatives of the people? Judging from the history of the past year it would seem that practically, this was the case. If tliis is true, has not each county, yes, each township or individual, the right to set at defiance any legislative enactment? Under the operation of the new rate of freights, in some few localities where competition formerly made low rates even those companies who substantially regard the law niay take advantage of it to charge maxfmum rates, thereby advancing prices from these localities. .—.

This circumstance is made use of to bring any railroad legislation into disrepute. None, however, but those possessing a very limited comprehension of the subject can be influenced by so weak an artifice. THE I’EOPLB AND THIS QUESTION. The importance of this subject to the industrial aud productive interests of the State are but just beginning to be understood and appreciated. We hazard nothing in saying that the resistless march of intelligent thought, that conviction which comes trofu ail. influence jpore mighty than statutory enactutknts, more potent even than combinations of organized capital, will, with sure, resistless inarch, make this the question which must and will secure the patient, determined attention of not only the State Governments, but the Federal Government as well. When one remembers that lowa is a producing State aud that nearly all its products must find a distant market it" will at once be seen that this question is one of vital imporUaiee, PRODUCTIONS OF OUR STATE, as shown by otlieial returns, are as follows: After providing for lull subsistence for the population and live stock, we have thefollowieg for sale aud export: Buskets. Wheat 20.054.000 Corn 72.2V4.563 Potatoes.. 4.650.967 Oats * 14,032.385 Pounds. Batter 13,788,949 -Cheese—;rrrrr.7."T” 7777:....... 7 ’~ 543,870 Beeswax. 3,325 Honey 426,607 Tobacco 71,792 Flax 695,57 S Wool 2.967.043 Beef. ~..212,982,750 ALtltton.- 6.599.000 Pork aud bacon. 553,944.500 This is exclusive of a large product of horses mules and hogs, or tin aggregate weight of surplus,products equal to 37291,153 tons.

The present cost of transporting this surplus to Liverpool market is not less than $72,405,366. To this immense sum must be added tire amount paid as freights on return commodities westward. Of tlie price paid per bushel on wheat to Liverpool, nearly one-half is paid 'as freight between the farm in our own State and Chicago, notwithstanding The munificent aid given to railroad companies by .the people. The United States Committee on Transportation send us the result of the fullest investigation, upon sworn testimony, and from exhaustive analysis: “ That if proper and perfectly practicable provision by the Government lor increasing aud cheapening the means of transportation were made, it would lessen the cost thereof fully 50 per cent, below the average of existing and past rates of freight charges each way—and would at the same tiine nearly or quite double the aggregate of shipment and productions, which are now prohibited by high rates of charges.” Here is a statement of facts from competent authority which can be brought home to the thought and understanding of any farmer. Leave even 35 percent, of the money now paid for freights in the hands of the producer, whenr it justly belongs—and aud to this the possibility of a paying maiket for many products which arc now valueless owing to high freights, and the condition of the lowa farmers would be an enviable one. Senator Wade is reported to have said that “every acre of good farming land between the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers, reasonably improved, will be worth SUX> per acre withiu fifty years.” It is evident, however, shat this prediction will never be fulfilled while the cost of transporting our products to the markets of the world is as gre.it as now. Indeed, unless there is a radical change, we shall be shut out of those markets. SoTar as our bread-making cereals are concerned, our great competitor in the English markets is Russia, and we Aid that horn iB6O to 1864 the relative shipments between the two countries were as follows; Russia furnished the Liverpool market with 47,0UU,00p bushels. The United States furnished 137,000 000 bushels. From 1868 to 1873, 1 Bi/shele., Russia furnished .117.t00.000 The United .{states furnished IHLOUO.Oto The increase in the Russian export for tiYe j years' was 70,000,000 bu ffi Is, while our decrease for tlie same time Was 11.000.00 u bushels. When we understand that Russia has out* just begun to adopt the handling of grain by

elevators, and the cost of their freight is diminishing, and that our grain-fields are re*, ceding yc#r by year fioni the seaboard, the prediction is not so visionary, that wtfen Ku*. sia lias .driven us from tlie markets of Europe she will become our active competitor in the markets of Portland and Boston, unlea* cbfcoper ifiea?.*of irauepoi tution are provided. The people of lowa nave struggled for the means of transportation and life by increasing Abe number of roads. They have afded aud encouraged their construction in every possible way. They have done this under tue delusive hope that competition between them would lower tlie cost of transportation to the lowest just and compensatory rate. In doiinr this they have imposed upon themselves heavy aud burdensome taxation —and now find that instead of bringing into the field a competition they have not only doubted tlie power with which they have to contend, but they have quartered upon themselves a ppw and expensive organization which must be supported from the products of their toil. During the last ten years a spirit of railway aggrandizement has taken possession of the. slrongest companies, since which the work of centralizatiou and absorption has progressed to an extent unparalleled in the history of the world. We find these monstrous aggregations of money power now such that they have practically banished competition. We find them,, in fixing the rates of charge upon the products of the soil, meeting in eojn--111011 conspiracy and asking hot what is just and, compensatory, hut “ w liat will the property bear.” 1 \Ve find, in addition to all this, that they are using this immense capital for the base and unworthy purpose of perpetuating gnd augmenting their already Jiangerous ascendency: 9 Tlie picture here presented, which shows a 'great people and their productions iu the thrall of unscrupulous capital, is one most humiliating to a free people. But as important as is-the material and financial aspect of the questions before us there is another and if possible a graver issue involved—and that is, the power and stability of the Government. No oue who has studied history will tor a moment believe that anv people will for another decade respect a constitution, a code of laws, or a government which fails to take care of and foster values like these, constituting, as they do, the entire productive interests of a commonwealth. Disguise it as we may, the questions before us to-day, and questions which must be met, are: Is the Government to be for the purpose of fostering the industrial interests of tlie whole people, or is it to be made subservient to the behests of the organized capital? Are the people to, through their representatives, control the management of tlnse publiccorporations? or are’tlie managers of these corporations to control the people? Are these large capitals represented by public corporations the creatures of the law? or are they over and above all legislative enactments? Is the creature greater than the creator? It may be necessary to say that in the final adjustment of this question the people have a desire to be more than generous toward those public enterprises so necessary to our prosperity.

Indeed, were any other’guarantee required, the munificent donation to the railways of our State of over $33,000,000 in land and money, given eheeriully and as a free gift, would be all sufficient. No one desires or expects the roads to be operated at a loss. If they will but meet the people half way, if they will submit to the honest, actual cost of their roads, a fair and impartial investigation, “ permitting the heat of honest search to evaporate the water in their valves,” if they will not exaggerate their operating expenses nor duplicate any portion of them with thejr construction account; if, in making up their statements, they will credit the short and tributary lines with the rebates whteh they are entitled to for gathering up the business for the through lines, will honestly report their gross receipts, and, above all, will observe all legislative enactments with the same faithfulness which private citizens do, the people will most cheerfully submit to the heavy burdens they have imposed on themselves to aid them and will also submit to tariff rates that Will myet all legitimate expenses of any kind or nature and to pay dividends on the real cost to the owners of at least 10 per cCht. It is to he hoped that men owning and controlling railway property will, for their ..gWp fpterie»t-’aa"well"aß the Tnterest~of tlftr people. accept the grave questions before the country to-day iu a spirit of intelligent consideration.

I would add one word to the future legislators of our State. 1 would speak with deference, but with a realization of the grave duties Which will devolve upon them. Compare for a moment- the pains-taking care of every other Government beside our own — notwithstanding that the question strikes at the very life and prosperity of our people, *ur legislators have hitherto neglected Us very essence and beginning. Not a single step has been taken to provide the necessary information which could lead to intelligent legislation; no systematic effort has been made to.ascertain the eondi-_ tion, extent, burdens and necessities of our internal commerce, and very inadequate means have been provided to enforce the legislation already had. The people who have dotted these broad prairies with farms, and whose interests are languishing, no longer ask but demand a different line of eonduet. —It is also a duty resting upon us as citizens that wc make legislators that are equal to the emergency. Not only is needed a realizing sense of a reform in this direction, but the ability to intelligently inaugurate measures for its accomplishment. * May every citizen in our State have a realizing sense "of the gravity of tills subject , and be influenced in his actions by an intelligent understanding. •

FACTS AND FIGURES.

Here are some figures on hog and hominy: The Journal of Agriculture says that " one bushel of corn makes I*ol pounds of pork,. and deduces the fact that when corn sells for 154 cents per bushel pork costs 1| cents per pound; when 17 cents, pork 2 cents —or when pork sells for 5 cents per pound it brings 45 cents per bushel on corn; when it sells for 4 cents it brings 32 cents on corn.” The applications for stamps for the prepayment of newspaper postage for the first month of the new r year already aggregate $500,000. The Postofiace officials, how-ever, consider that this sum exceeds the probable -monthlv demand. The estimate of the annual revenue from this source is $4,000,000. The department does not expect that any considerable amount of the newspaper business will go to the express companies. —lt has been estimated that of 10,000,000 women in America, 11,000,000 wear calico dresses, more or less; that .the spirit of economy has, during the past year, induced them to forego one dress apiecffirom their,outlay; that the average calico dress contains eleven yards, and that, consequently, there has been a loss to the trade by this retrenchment of 121,000.000 yards. This is nearly the entire product of all the mills of Massachusetts for a year.

—Only' two years ago all the resources of our 600 blast furnaces were taxed to their utmost to supply the, demand tor iron. The product of the furnaces for 1873 was estimated at 3,509,000 tons, while the estimated consumption of all kinds, of iron for the same year was placed by those supposed to be most thoroughly conversant with the business at 400.000 tons. This year the product of the blast furnaces will probably not exceecfrlaO,000 tons, if as much. The only way to account for this state of affairs is to frankly acknowledge that the consumption of 1873 was largely overestimated. A fair estimate would probably "have placed it at 300:000 instead ,of 400,000 tons. —A' T. Times. : ■ ,

—Cotton manufacturing -has increased in the I sited States nearly 38 per cent, in the last tour years. Toe huge, drastic, griping, sickening pills, constructed of erode, coarse and bulky ingredients, are fast being superseded by Dr. Pierce’s Pleasant Purgative Pellets, or SugarCoated, <J meentrated Root and Herbal Juice, Anti-Biliuu- Granules—the “Little Giant" Cathartic or \\fuhu)/t in /‘anv Bhvsie. Modern Chemical Science enables Da Pierce to extract Horn the juices of the molt valuable roots and herbs their active mediHtial principles, which, when wprked into ii^tUu,Pellets or Granules, *<ane!ii Uirr/er than maslard seed , render each little Pellet as active and power--fuLaa-a large pill, while they are much more palatable ami pTeasanf in effect. Dr. Ika A. Tuayzu, of Bacousburg, Ohio, writo: “I regard your Pellets as the best remedy for the conditions for which you prescribe them of anything I have ever used, so mild and certain in effect, and leaving the bowels in an excellent condition. It seems to me they must take the place of all other cathartic pills and medicines.” Lyon A Mac-Omber, druggists, Vermillion, D. T., say: “ We/think they are going to sell like hot cakes as soon as people get acquainted with them, and will spoil the pill trade, as those that have used them like them much better than large pills.” The Latest TT.iotPii of Temperance. —We congratulate the temperance -world on the sticeessievervM T here attending the use ot Vinegar Bitters. Cert 1 inly no preparation containing alcohol las 'accomplished' such cures of hiala--hum fever, biliousness, dyspepsia, rheu- . maH am. impr complaints.' constipation, and general debility as we hear of front all quarters as the results of this famous vegetable specific, No true philanthropist will regret to see spirituous liquors expelled from medical use if they can 0;: safely dispensed with; aud that they en notueeessary in anr ease of siciness, whatever its character, appears at last to have been demonstrated. If public opinion is capable of making any impression upon tlie minds of the Faculty they will ere long introduce the most popular of modern medicines into the hospitals, and prescribe it in their pracice. The mi 11 ions have given the article 1 fair trialg it has more than answered their expectations, and no theoretical opposition can shake their faith in it. 13

Newspapers, Silver and China Given Away for Christmas.

The Excelsior Magazine is giving away newspapers free for one year to their subscribers, and in some instances papers with their chromos framed. Every subscriber who orders through said magazine a sewing machine will receive gifts of gold or best triple plate, silver tea service, etc., or china dinner set pf 101 pieces. Send twenty-fire cents for sample copy of magazine, or inclose stamp for circular. Agents can make enough on this before Christmas to keep them for one year. Office 59, No. 157 La Salle street, Chicago, 111. I * ’Safe, Permanent and Complete—Wilhoft’s Tonic cures Chills and Fever, Dumb Chills and Bilious Fevers—those Titans that kill their thousands where this remedy is unknown. It cures Enlargement of the Spleen. It cures Hypertrophy of the Liver. It hurts no one. It "cures all types of Malarial Fevers and is perfectly protective "in all its effects. Try Wilhoft’s Tonic, the great infallible Chill Cure. Wheelook, Finlay & Co., Proprietors, New Orleans.Eon Sale by all Druggists. - by £ - —.A,— This notice is addressed to ladies only. If you want to make your husband, father or brother a handsome Christmas present, give him a carton of Elmwood Collars. You can get them at any gents’ furnishing store. Be sure to get the Elmwood, because it looks and fits better than any other. DyballV finest candies mailed free to al parts at 60c. per lb. Address Dyball, Chicago. The - Northwestern Horse-Naii. Co.’S “ Finished” Nail is the be st in the World.

Vegetable Pulmonary Balsam I Most ipE roved, reliable and well-known remedy for Coughs, olda and Consumption. Get the Genuine. Price Ip small 50c. Cutukb Bkos. A Co.. Boston.

THE MARKETS.

NEW Y ORK, 7)e’c. 12,1874. BEEF CATTLE. .... SIU.OO @813.00 HOGS—Dressed . ...... 8.50 © 8.6214 Live 6.50 © 7.25 SHEEP—Live 4.75 @ 6.25 COTTON—Middling 14%@ .14% FLOUR—Good to Choice ...... 5.05 © 5.75 WHUAT-No. 2 Chicago ....... —1.10 © 1712 CORN—New Western Mixed 90 @ .93 OATS —Western Mixed 68 © .6814 RYE 95 © .98 BARLEY 1.45 © 1.50 PORK—Western Mess.,.. 20.00 @ 20.25 LARD —Prime Steam .13%© .1314 CHEESE 1214© .15% WOOL—Domestic Fleece 43 © ,65. CHICAGO. BEEVES-Choice $5.50 © $6.00 Good 4.25 © 5.00 Medium 3.75 @ 4.25Butchers’ Stock 2.50 © 3.50 Stock Cattle 2.50 @ 3.50 HOGS—Live —Good to Choice..; —6.75 @ —7.25 SHEEP-Good to Choice 4.25 © 5.00 CHEESE—New York Factory.. .1414© .15 Western Factory. . .14 © .1414 BUTTER-Choice Yellow ■ .31 @ .38 EGGS—Fresh 2t © .25 FLOUR—White Winter Extra.. 4.25 © 6.50 Spring Extra 4.00 © 4.75 GRAlN—Wheat—Spring, No. 2. .8914© .89% Corn—No. 2 7414© .74% Oats—No. 2 5314© .53% Rye—No. 2.5. 94 © .94(4 Barley—No. 2. 128 @ 1.28(4 PORK—Mess, new.... 19.50 @19.60 LARD 13 06(4© 13.1214 WOOL— I Tub-washed 45 © .57 Fleece, wa5hed......... -40 © .4" Fleece, unwashed 27 © .34 LUMBER-First Clear 50.00 @ 52.00 Second Clear 46.00 @ 48.00 Common Boards..; 11.00 @ 12.00, Fencing 11. to @ 12.00 “A” Shingles ‘.V- 3.00 © 3.25 Lath 2.00 © 2.25 CINCINNATI. FLOUR—Family, new SS.CO © $5.50 WHEAT—Red 1.10 © 1.12 CORN—New 73 © .75 OATS 58 © 6* RYE 1-09 © 1.10 BARLEY—No. 2 1.30 © 1.35 PORK—Mess 19.62%@ 19.75 LAKPvt hk.. i...... .7 , ST. LOUIS. ,\ BEEF CATTLE—Fair to choice $4.50 $5.50 HOGS—Live 6.50’@ 6.75 FLOUR—FaII XX ... 4.70 © 4.80 WHEAT—No. 2 Red Winter.... 1.(614© 109 CORN —No. 2 New 69 @ .70 OATS—No. 2 New 57 © .5714 RYE—No. 2 l.Cfl © 1.02 BARLEY*—No. 2 1.32(4© 1.35 PORK—Mess....:., 19.37%© 19.50 LARD , .12%© .12% MILWAUKEE. FLOUR—Spring XX $5.25 © $5,50 WHEAT—Spring No. 1..,. 9114© .91% “ No. 2 88 -@ .89 CORN-No. 2 72(4© .73 OATS—No. 2 .52 © .53 RYE—No. 1 93%@ .96 BARLEY—No. 2 1.28 © 128% CLEVELAND. WHEAT—No. 1 Red $1.10%© $1.11% No. 2 Red 1.0514© l.to CORN—New 71.%© .72 OATS —No. 1 State 57(43 ,58 . . DETROIT. WHEAT—Extra sl-15 @*1.15% CORN 74%@ .75 OATS v 55 © .55% TOLEDO. WHEAT-Amber Mich fl.f-B%© $1.08% No. 2 Red....... .... 1.05(4© 1.(6 CORN—Mixed, new..c:'%@ .70 OATS—No. 1 ©6 © .15(4 BUFFALO. BEEF CATTLE $4.30 @55.75 HOGS—Live ........ 6,50 © 7.40 SHEEP—Live 400 © 5.25 EAaT LIBERTY. CATTLE- 8e5t................ $6-50 © $6 62% Medium.... 4.75 & 500 HOGS—Yorkers 6to © ,6.70 Philadelphia.... 7%5 © 7-50 SHEEP-Best: 490 © 615 Medium., ■ 4.15 © . ■ “ “* ' ••" ■ • ’V' ’ i -