Saturday Evening Mail, Volume 22, Number 44, Terre Haute, Vigo County, 23 April 1892 — Page 1

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Vol. 22.—No.' 44

TOWN TALK.

THAT REPORT OF THE ST. LOUIS EXPERT CIVIL ENGINEER

Shows One Man'* Opinion, and now the Oilier SMe should lo Give* a Hearing— Democratic State Convention—Progrew of the City Campaign Very Slow.

The council committee appointed some time ago to investigate the sewer scandal and street paving contracts made a partial report last Tuesday evening, recommending the removal of City Engineer Cooper without any further ceremony. The recommendation was on the report of Robert Moore, the St. Louls.cxpert who was employed to examine the plans and specifications and give his opinion on the same. By way of introducing the subject Mr. Moore reads the council a lecture on the inutility of laying a public sewor through private property, something which always causes trouble and results in thy construction of a now one laid on ground free from private control. This is something which probably never struck the astuto mind of the committee on sewers, thought it is"patent to almost every other person. Then Mr. Moore goes into the subject, and by the cold rules applied to engineering, and the experience derived therefrom, goes on to demonstrate that the sewerage system of the city and the manner of its construction are all wrong. As has been before remarked in this column Mr. Moore and the Terre Haute system of sewers are not entire strangers to each other. In theirsuit against the city for damages caused by a defective sewor the Hudnut's brought Mr. Moore hereto testify in their bolialf. It is said that when on the witness stand the attornoy for the city handled him protty roughly, which may not hnvo increased his admiration for the systom, and it is on his judgment that the committee recommended Cooper's removal. Thus far Cooper has not been heard from in his own defense, and it is only fair that ho should bo boforo being summarily dealt with. His friends say that he has merely followed a system of sewerage which the council adopted twenty years ago, and that his plans do not dlffor from it in any materia' inspect. Tho truth or untruth of tlil^t&rPWwwily WlJwWiaiiiota.. 'If the present system was adopted twenty yours, ago and has been in vogue over since it seems reasonable to suppose that if tho defects mentioned by Mr. Moore existed they would havo boon discovered so mo timo ago. Three of the ox«lty engineers, Goo. Simpson, Goo. Grimes, and Capt. Fitch, are within reach, and doubtless can bo heard from on this subject. The oxport who lias been heard from is unknown here, and tho city engineer had no voice in Ms selection. He may bo the best engineer in the country, or ho may not. At any rate the city onglneer is entitled to a boa ring and should have it. If he wishes to submit export, testimony he should be heard, and if the testimony of his expert diffars from that of Mr Moore, a third person should be called in to deoldo between them. Sometimes a person is not so blaok as the testimony for the prosecution paints him, and no person should bo hounded to death until the evidence is all in. Cooper may bo guilty of everything which has boon charged to him, but he should at least

demned.

H' -1 "5^ .^v P'f YfeS-'Ji*1- it

heard before con

An extraordinary attempt is being made to turn this sewer scandal business to advantage to the Democratic ticket in the coming city election. When the Investigation started In it was supposed to be non-partisan. Republicans and Dem oerats were alike Interested In ferreting out the fraud, If any. existed, aud the proper punishment of the guilty regardless of the party to which thoy belonged, if evldonce ot crime could bo produced. If there has been any crime tho representatives of both parties are equally guilty, and it is foolish to attempt the conviction of ono party aud tho acquittal of tho other. If any wrong has been committed each party must boar an equal share of tho burden. Through this whole miserable business the Democratic councilman are on record as voting for every expenditure wlilch has Ween made, sowers, street paving and all. They have attended council meetings and caucuses which were held in private, away from the council chamber, of which tho public were ignorant, and from which tho public was excluded. The Democratic members were in for the new electric light scheme, the purchase of the water works, every sewer contract which has been let and the p&viug. Even when the exposure came one of them declared that be didn't know whether ho wanted the work of the last two years reviewed, beoanso If the city had been swindled it was a ease in which "where Ignorance is bliss 'tis folly to be wise." When tho engineer was suspended it was done on the motion of the Republican*, and his suspension would have been mad© jKrpctuai at tho last council meeting had It not been for Democratic roles. Why then should the odium of all tho evil which has

4'-i TERRE HAUTE, IND.,

done be shouldered on tho Republicans? Because a fanatic who has boon repudiated by his constituents and nine-tenths of his party assumes leadership and bulls his way through, ia that any reason why his party should be held responsible for bis acts? There has been no party work throughout tho whole business no party lines were drawn on any of tho contracts, or on any of the official votes of tho council. Democrats and Republicans aliko worked hard on schemes to spend the public's money and deplete the city treasury. The Republicans repudiated their representatives by refusing to re-nominate any of them, from ma3'or down, and by nominating the best men in the party for the various offices. Had the Democratic councilmen opposed the measures in question they could consistently claim credit for it and successfully fasten the blame on their opponents, but as they worked just as hard and voted just as strong for them all as did their Republican brothers, they tnust bear the blame equally—there is no getting aronhd it, atid they must face the music in spite of all the noise they make.

More in tores than usual was manifested here in tho result of tho Democratic state convention while it was in session in'Indianapolis on Thursday. This was probably owing to the split in the ranks here, asolswhero, on tho presidential nomination. As usual the politicians won, and although forced to recognize Cleveland as the choice of the Democrats/of the state, and pledging themselves to vote for him, it is evident thoy aro ready and only too willing to throw their influence for a mau in or# to their liking, which means somo candidate who, in the event of his election, would be more prompt and liberal in the distribution of the spoils. But if the politicians failed to stem the Cleveland tide they got in their work beautifully when it came to the nomination of a candidate for governor. All through the preliminary fights J. G. Shanklin had set himself up as the exponent of Cleveland and Cleveland principles. His mouth be had always with him, and that mouth was always for Cleveland, whether or not there was any occasion to so declare. •Mr. Shanklin firmly believed Cleveland to be tho only presidential candidate in the country, and that by shouting for bis favorite at all $6ttld nominate him for governor. He knows more about it now than he did before the convention, but the knowledge acquired from actual experience came too late to be of any value to himin this campaign. Though forced to recognize Cleveland as the choice of tho Indiana Democracy tho dologates drew the line right there, and when it came to the nomination of governor they knocked tho Cleveland leader so high that he is still floating through space, while Claude Matthews quietly walked off with tho prize on the first ballot. As is customary with Democratic conventions tho Republicans were blamed with all tho ills with which the countiy has been afflicted during tho present generation. McKinley was condemned in tho usual manner, tariff reform was declared to be the crying need of tho hour, and a demand was made for a constant circulation of a full and sufficient volumo of money, consisting of gold, silver aud legal tender paper currency at par with each other. Of course tho school book, tax and fee and salary bills were endorsed, because they woro Democratic measures, but every act of tho Harrison administration was condemned. The tlckot la intended to catch all elements. Tho candidate for governor is a representative of the farmers' element In politics. In the nomination of Smith for attornoy general the tax law is endorsed, but as Smith and Gall are synonymous terms, in this stato at least, it is difficult to conceive why the latter was placed upon the ticket, as tho former possesses a sufficiency of that articlc.

Tho city campaign thus far has boon moving along at a funeral pace. Neither party soeus to bo exerting itself to any groat extent, and the race seorcs to bo a sort of "go-as-you-please." Tho sewer scandal has boon discussed sufficiently to enable people to form an opinion which will govern most of them when It comet to voting. Both parties havo discarded their representatives who had anything to do with tho business, and as it cannot be considered a party affair neither party will gain or lose much by it, Tho people aro now after a council composed of good business men who will conduct the affairs of the city in a conservative manner, on sound business principles and according to law. They want men who Havo minds of their own and who will not allow themselves to be led around by tho nose by any •elfconstituted load or or advisor who may want to advance a pet scheme for perssonal end*. Thoy want men who will study sewral times boforo making contracts involving tho ex pond I tut© of thousands of dollars and probable scandal, and men who possess a knowledge of m«n when it comes to tho appointmeut of thoso who#erv«the«ityio positions of trust. Just now citi*ens aro more interested in the election of men who will put money into tho treasury

than in those*who only think of paying it out. Monwhocan make the saloons bear tho burden of taxation are more valuable than those who voted against tho saloon license and those who are continually suffering with moral jit*1 jams- when the word saloon is mentioned. The kind of men to put in thecouucil are .those who inaugurated the finan| cial system which made it possible to reduce the tax levy of §1.28 in. 1889.to' §1.10 in 1891. That is the kind of fiuancierlng the city needs, and the men who can do it are the persons who will be elected next month. »T *V "fc

The contempt cases against Proprietor Allen and Editor Fiahback, of the Express, came up for a bearing-in the Supreme court on Tuesday, and yesterday an opinion in which the whole bench concurred was handed down reversing the decision of Judge Taylor. In sub stance the decision says that the alleged contempt must be so clear that there can be no doubt about it that the judge himself cannot assert facts existing in his own mind as against the answer of defendants that in the casp in point the answer must be taken as a verity, and if the judge believes.the facts stated are untrue, that issue may be tried and tho judge can testily to the facts within his knowledge in a'proper prosecution. Ia conclusion the decision says: "It follows, from the conclusion we have reached, that the appellant was entitled to an acquittal on his verified an swer, in this case, and should have beon discharged. The finding of the defendant guilty was contrary to law and tho court erred in overruling appellant's motion for new trial. Judgment reversed, with instructions to sustain appellant's motion for now trial and to discharge him." It is needless to say that the decision voices public opionion, and the case is oue which calls attention in a very forcible manner to tho crying necessity for legislation in the matter of contempt of court cases. As tho law now stands, or ratb"er as the absense of law makes it, any man may be thrown in jail for contempt of court under uny pretext whatever and must lie there until ho serves out his sentence or is released by the order of a higher court. If he is released there is no redress for him, and no matter how guiltless he may ha beon he must bear the stigma. Tbis is jvrong. Tliere i^r»o gtoator^^ son why a judge should try a case in which ho is the prosecutor thanAhat he should bo sole judge in a murder caso, in which be has no direct interest. Contempt cases like the one in point are rare, but when one does appear it attracts wide attention, and the occasion seldom happens in which the cour gains the best of it. Courts ought to be beyond the reach of criticism, but it is doubtful that they ever will be so long as appointments and elections to the bench aro a part and parcel of the political machinery of the country. Still, if they took cognizance of all which is said ooncerning them by newspaper critics each one might establish a contempt department fortunately very little notice is taken by courts of pross criticism, which, if true, is bound to be vindicated, and which, if false, will be its own punishment and condemnation. While it is truo that the jn.!lciary*should be above criticism it should merit the confidence which perforce must be placed in it, otherwise it must expect criticism in plain language.

Thero has been some dispute as to the election of councilmen for the long and short terms, and as to the right oj members who were elected last year holding over as representatives of wards for which they were not elected. Thus, there are holdover councilmen for tho First and Fourth wards, but in each of these each party has two candidates this spring, whilo in the Seventh and Ninth wards members will hold another yoar who were never elected for those wards. At the time the Sixth ward was created John G. Heinl was one of the Second ward councilmen and the change moved him into the Sixth. It was held, however, that be would continue to represent the ward for which ho was elected, and that the Sixth should elect two men, which was done. In regard to the election of now councilmen Section 8 of the city charter says: "Councilmen shall be elected by the legal voters of their respective wards, and one councilman from each to be determined by lot at tho first regular mooting after their election, shall hold his office one yoar, and the other to bo determined in like manner shall hold his office two years, and annually thereafter, one councilman shall be elected by tho legal voters of each wird, and all of said officers shall hold their respective offices daring their respective successors are

terms, and until their elected «nd qualified."

The will of the late George D, Durham was admitted to probate in the circuit court this week. It in dated August 14, 1S7S, and was signed in the presence of Samuel C. Stimson and Richard Dunlgan. After providing for the payment of bis debts it leavee the residue of his property to his wife, who is also designated as his executrix,

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SATURDAY EVENING, APRIL 2-3, 1892.

A MA M'Q ffQQT?PV A TTfTNTQ

TtflS GENERATION.

:,|SL Dissartation on Modern Society—How it Comes to be "Written Up so Volnminously by the Daily and Weekly Tress,

and what Society would Really like.

A great deal of interest attaches to the oct^ine and practice of Christian Science in this pari of Indiana, and in this connection the following dissertation will fbe pertinent and instructive. The article is called forth by the fact that a woman lias just been tried and acquitted in San Bernardino for'causing death by Christian Science medication. The victim or ipatient was a mail carrier, some thirty years of age, and the woman accused was Xalled in to act as nurse a few days before he died of acute meningitis. During her charge as nurse she not only refused to permit the attendance of any physician, but she would not even let tho sick man be seen by his family, and merely told them that ho was getting better aud needed only rest.

For several reasons tho trial was of unusual interest. A statement was made by one of the witnesses showing briefly but definitely the singularly unscientific and dangerous principles of this new system of healing. "If I were called upon," she said, "as a Christian Science healer to attend a man who was delirious and who had a swollen eye, and the eye began to protrude from its sockot, and was a gradual growth for six days, with

Christian Science I would not think it

necessary or proper to call in a surgeon The Master teaches us that the truth will cure all kinds of diseases He healed Sickness in all its forms—fever, blindness, palsy, leprosy. Christ's cures were hot gradual they were instantaneous. Christian Science claims to heal as the Master healed it is the same truth that *he Master taught, to go out into the Vorld and preach the Gospel and heal the sick it is upon that platform that Christian Science works and no Other." If this means anything, it means obviously thatthis so-called science is founded absolutely on miricle, and rejects wholly tho relations of catlse and effect, which alone are recognized by either science or common sense.

The influence of mind "iSfaop' matterj $?fno6c faUfegestidWi, iber personality

-xit

the physician, and oven careful dietary, are all equally rejected by the Christian Scientists as essential or operative, although deemed by modern physicians to be in many cases no less efficacious than the drugs which used to be their solo reliance and although it is only by the accidental existence of one or other of these agencies that any cure claimed to be due to Christian Science is rationally explicable. In the light, then, of this declaration, Christian Science must be regarded as out of all relation to the facts of experience, and qdite as ineffectual for good as the administration of broad pills, less useful, indeed, than bread pills, when as in the San Bernardino case the patient is insensible and incapable of faith or hope. I

Editors are what might be teimed intellectual caterers. They supply their readers with the variety of mind-food their mental appetites crave. Judging from the fact that in most of our daily and weekly papers entire columns exploit the doings of so-called society, it would seem that the American public is extremely anxious to be instructed in the secret mechanism of that intricate automaton. Woro it not for this curiosity on the part of the public we should probably never have seen the recent eccentric antics of New York's somewhat original social clown, publicly performed in the columns of the American preas. Without public patronage such a mountebank would sink from sight within his own insignificance but it is the craving of the multitude to know the doings of tho few which makes such a performance possible.

As a matter of fact the best society is not at all formidable. Its chief desire is

plicated mechanism which dances mar-

often presented to the public pross.

principal of natural selectioa. A fow

to bo lot alone, and were it not for tin- ing been a resident of Indiana, and a askad "publicity" would perform its qualified voter therein at any general antics within the quiet of its own con- election, shall have absented himself fines. Society is a frivolous bit of com- from tho state for a period of months or more since last so voting, or nly along with the satisfaction of being who shall havo gono Into any other well fed and well clothed but it is cor- state or sovereignty with tbo intention tainly not tbo impossible giant which is of voting therein since last so voting, or daring any absence in another state

This thing society, in a free land like or sovereignity, shall have voted therein, ours, is merely formed according to the since last so voting, and also any person

peoplo of congenial tastes and accom- dent of the county in which he resides plishmenta meet each other frequently at iea»t six months before any election, thoy laugh and talk and gossip they eat shall before being entitiled to vote at and dance and are amused in each others such election in this state, register in company and they form a set. Others the office of the clerk of the Circuit may do the same but in a free country court of the county in which he resides, notice that he claims to be a legal voter in such county. Snch registration shall be made at least fifty-nine days prior any such election, and the notice to

'•&.V

boor but it is not

O vi)01jiA) AlIUDOt classify tho two species, and without the aid of a lord chamberlain, acting with CHRISTIAN SCIENCE AS VIEWED BY

Wni-

necessary publicly to

royal authority, the work could proba bly never be accomplished satisfactorily. Society is governed by the law whioU gives a man tho right to select his own friends, and no amount of public advertising will ever induce the well-bred man to invite the boor to his tablo. The latter may succeed iu establishing a newspaper claim to social distinction—: aad no doubt he may possess qualities which entitle him to such publicity—but there will always be somo people who do not forget that ho is still a boor. The well-bred hostess who sets out to give a dinner, invites to her houso tho people whom »he considers well-mannered, agreeable and amusing, without stopping to consider whether their names are contained in tho pub ished list of the first hundred and fifty, or have ever been mentioned in public print at all. The person whose friends are only chosen for effect, is a snob and of course there are snobs in society as well as out of it, but they aro invariably recognized and avoided by people who appreciate tho true qualities of a well-bred person.

There never will bo a dofinediftristooracy in this country, because our laws do not recognize such an institution, but there always will be people who desire to eutertain their frieuds, and they will always reserve to themselves the right of selection. It is foolish to imagine that all people are equal. Providence has failed to create any two of us with the same intellectual, moral and physical

liU but in this froe land we are

all

onDortuuities. If wo are

given equal opportunities. If we are created with the instincts of a boor, we shall probably bo found enrolled among the boors but wo should blame no oue but Providence for our misfortune. Society has no need of social arbiters, bocauso each person should perfoim this duty for himself. This is the reason why such a pretentious person as New York's self-constituted lord chamberlain becomes ridiculous, and, like the social columns of the papers, he is an unnecessary adjunct of American social life.

Let poor society alone. Don't talk about it so much, and the dough-faced giant which the newspapers have raised will become a harmless, merry fellow whose chief concern is to bring a little gaiety and pleasure Into this work-a-day 'mo*

This Wabash clyb will repeat its minstrel performance in the opera houso next Tuesday evening. The performance given some time ago T^as a surprise to the large audience which witnessed it, but even that excellent entertainment promises to be excelled next week. A number of new features have beon added, and several now accessions to the list of stars have been secured. The sale of seats commenced at Button's this morning with a rush and the audience promises to be one of the largest and most fashionable of tbo season.

The way young people marry after Lent reminds one of sheep jumping over the fence when tho top rail is removed. Vorily it is a storm after a calm —the rush of waters when the levee breaks. Marrying is so much a matler of habit with tbo human race that to refrain from it forty days gives greatly increased velocity. This being leap year the ladies are to blame for all excesses iu this regard. The gentlemen have formallv and publicly surronderei nil their rights. The girls must no longer say "that they never have a chance." Tbey will miss the glorious calling of sowing on buttons for some fellow by being timid. Daring lent they have taken their violets in one band and their prayer books in the other',and waged unrelenting war on the bachelors. It is said that they anticipate positive extermination of the homme sole. There won't be ono left to tell the tale. So comprehensive is the scheme that even editors are considered eligible.

It is not generally known that the last legislature passed a registration law like this: "Any person who, hav-

il is only a matter of individual opinion as to which is the best society, and there would seem to be no way-of deciding tbis mooted question, A person is _. tisoslly foutid In tits psrtlciilsz drcto fot shtllrtato roch pOTOft's n&aiOj aou which his tastes and accomplish meets place of residence (by which shall be best fit him, and if he la dissatisfied with understood bis lodging place), both at his entourage, he should qualify himself the time of registration and during tho for some other set by becoming eligible period of four months prior thereto," for It. Of course there are countless violation of the law is made afelo little signs by which, the world ever, the punishable by imprisonment for not gentleman is distinguished from the' less than a year and disfranchisement.^? mm&mm

1 t. AJIA «Aut

who shall not have been a bona fide resi-

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-'I

Twen ty-seconcl Year

SATURDAY TO SATURDAY

SOME OF THE LOCAL HAPPENINGS IN AND AROUND THE CITY.

Items of Interest tb Headers of The Mull who Thirsts for Information Concerning 1'asslnj Events at Home, Local in their

Nature and Inteiesting iu Character.

Tbo notorious Bill Hicks was in town this week, but at the urgent request of the police he moved on.

W. P. McCarty, of Marion, who has been visiting here sinco tho funeral of the lato John Cleary, returned home yesterday.

The flobert rifle has frequontly beon getting in Us work of late, 'ihe itllots who use this weapon should bu punished to the extent of tho law.

An Indiauapolis man has secured tho contract for sinking eight driven wolls to soft water in this city. Two of them are for the car works company, and will have pipo eight inches in diameter.

A Republican club was organized at New Goshen this week by Alyin M. Illggins, A. J. Thompson and Nidm as Filbeok. The officers aro: President, \Y. C. Ryan secretary, S. N. Strole.

The members of St. Stephen's church elected the following officers this week: Senior warden, Stephen J. Young junior warden, Lewis B. Martin vestrymen, John S. Beach, Joseph Strong, A. C. Ford, James D. Bigelow, George Longman, William Mack and George E. Harrington.

The Ellsworth paper mill is being thoroughly overhauled preparatory to being put in operation again. The old machinery has all been replaced with the latestimprovements, and when completed it will be'run to its fullest capacity. The mill is still In tho trust and will bo under tho management of Frank Fairbanks.

Of late years there has been a great change in the quality, style and manufacture of ready made clothing, and now tho man must be badly deformed who cannot obtain a good fitting garment if he goes to the right place. And just hero we wish to remark that tho largest and best assortment of.ready made clothing ever brought to Indiana is to be found with Goodman & Hirschler, flO and 412 Main street. No old goods, tho

Ices

which will suit all customers,' Last Monday an elephant, said to bo the largest in tho world, passed through the* city over the Vandalia, bound for •Kansas City. Tho animal's name is "Rajah," and ho weighs about 10,000 pounds. He is nearly thirteen feet high, travels iu a car built specially^for his accommodation aud his journey caused tho railroad company to take special precautions with all bridges over which he had to pass. Besides his rajahship there were iu the same car five monkeys, one sacred bull, a number of snakes in glass cases (not bottles), several parrots, a chimpanzee and two men.

Harry Trogdon, who was recently convicted of manslaughter in the Clay Circuit court, has beon sentenced to five yoars imprisonment and was taken to the penitentiary this week. At a former trial he was given three years, but being dissatisfied a new trial was obtained with the result stated. The case has been appealed again, but it is believed that tho last Verdict will stand. James E. Piety, who assisted in the prosecution, was allowed $200 for services rendered by Judge Taylor last Saturday. The friends of Trogdon's victim also retained for the prosecution the firm of Davis A Robinson, of this city, and a prominent attorney of Brazil.

In the Circuit court last Monday a temporary restraining order was granted the C. fc E. J. and C. fe I. C. railroads in their suit to prevent the treasurers of of Vigo, Clay, Parke, Fountain, Warren, Benton, Newton, Jasper, Porter and Laporte counties from levying to collect state and county taxes on tbo assessments made by the stato board nnder tho new tax law. With the exception of Vigo all the counties named objected to the jurisdiction of the court, but no ruling was made on that point. Arguments to make the order Jerpetnal will be heard on Wednesday, May 4th, when 4t is expected the attorney general will bring his mouth over from Indianapolis to bo heard in the case.

Sixty-seven fir© insurance companies doing business in this county have complied with the Firemen's Pension Fund law, and have filed tbeir reports with the county auditor, showing their business here for six months ending December 31,1891. During that time tbey have collected in premiums $12,934.20, in this county, and have paid losses during the same time amounting to $18,336.04. The amount paid to the pension fund by them was $443.38. The largest business was that of the Phenix, of Brooklyn, which collected $5,661.86 in premiums. There were eight companies who paid losses exceeding their receipts twenty reported no losses at all, and eight paid losses which in each case amounted to lass than five dollars. There are said to are about ninety companies doing business here, and those who have made no report will be looked after.