Saturday Evening Mail, Volume 22, Number 50, Terre Haute, Vigo County, 4 June 1892 — Page 1

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TOWN TALK,

SOME OF THE BEAUTIES OF THE NEW INDIANA TAX LAW.

How Taxei are Increased Without Raising the Bate of Taxation—The Need of Work Hodm Growing—The Prize Fight

Catulng Trouble—School Trustee.

The discussion of the new tax law Is becoming very warm In spite of -the weather and notwithstanding the fact that the political campaign ia still In the dim and distant future. This is particularly the case on the Democratic side of the house, where they seem to anticipate the impending danger, and are making every eflort to look ahead and settle the inevitable conflict in advance. Plate matter on the new tax law is being shipped from Indianapolis all over the state by the wagon load,'and for several weeks past scarcely a Democratic paper has been printed in the "rooral deestrics" which has not contained from one to three columns In defense of the tax law. The truth of the matter is that the law needs no defetfse. No good citizen objects to a fair assessment of his property so Jong as the same rule is applied to all alike. But people would like to understand why it is that with an assessment increased from $857,074,387 to $1,2-10,807,899 they are compelled to pay at the same rate for state purposes, and an increase of

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cents on each one

hundred dollars for the benevolent and reformatory institutions. The sum collected for state purposes for 1*91 actually exceed the amount collected for 1690 by 125 per cent. And the worst of it is that that the Increased sum wont meet theexponses. The appropriations made by the last general assembly aggregated $2,741,808. If the lei for 1891 is all collected, which is an impossibility, the state revenue would be $2,311,389, a sum $430,539 short of the actual needs of the state. From these figures it will be seen that If the new tax law is to help out the party that made it the assessment will have to bo raised several notches higher in order to keep the levy at the present tigure and insure an increase of revonuo.

In the list of states Indiana stands ninth as to debt, and it is all bonded.

sum lu 1890 touched $8,540,015, and Is now $9,000,000. This steady increase, which will be still further augmented this year, cannot bo reviewed with satisfaction by any good citizen and calls for a change of some sort. Tho party in power has had control of tho legislative branch of tho state government for {en years, during which time its financial affairs have been going from bad to worse. It was intended, doubtless, that the new tax law would bo tho moans of increasing tho state revonuo without raising the tax rate, but It has not done this— on tho contrary thero will bo an increased deficiency next year. It is ovldent that something must be doue, and that speedily. If the rato were raised to twenty-live cents it would no more than moot tho expenses and provide a sinking fund of small proportions. But the people are not prepared to stand anything of the kind, and will kick vigorously If it is tried. There are many who favor the plan of making the raise from corporations and licenses. Tins plan was spoken of by Governor Hovey in Ids last message to the legislature. Ohio, Missouri, Pennsylvania and numerous other states make tho saloons pay heavy license for stale purposes. Missouri taxes them$500 each, and also has local option. It la claimed by many that a retail liquor dealer's license at $500 a year would reduce the Ux levy to nine cents, even by turning $100 of it oyer to the school fund. Something of this kind must bo done, else the tax rate must bo. materially inereaifd or the state must borrow money and issue more bonds. Neither of the last two propositions will meet with favor and it remains for either party to accept the tirat or offer an acceptable substitute. The tax question is going to be the liveliest issue which has bobbed up in Indiana in many campaigns, and the battle will be lost or won on It this vear.

The tramp nuisance Is greater now than it has ever Veen before, and the demand for a work house has been steadily Increasing for months. In his last monthly report to the police commissioners the superintendent of police guvs: "Your attention Is respectfully called to the need of a stone yard. The city is being overrun with tramps who Infest the locality in the northeast end at the gravel pit. They go about the entire city begging, which has been a source of general complaint from our citizens all winter and so far this spring. We hare brought In as many as twenty big, burly able bodied tramps In one day. They want to be put in jail, for they say there they can get plenty to eat and have ao work to do. A atone yard would do away with a great deal of this nuisanco. The yard could be built at the jail yard and a great amount of broken atone could be turned over to the city without any cost. The only cost would for a watchman to take charge of the men, and this I am satisfied the com­

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mittee on streets and bridges would furnish without any cos*: to this department." The city has labored long and earnestly with the board of county com missionnrs for the establishment of a work house, but it has been time and labor spent in vain. Once the prospect for a work house was bright, but for some unaccountable reason the project fell through. There is certainly no reason why this county should not have a work house, but there is every reason why It should have one. Just as long as comfortable quarters and good meals are provided at the jail, at county expense just so loug will the jail continue to be filled with tramps and bums who know a good thing when they see ic. But put them to work and in that manner compel them to pay for their lodging and meals and they will give the town a wide berth in their aimless wanderings. This was the experience when the city had a stone yard before, and it would be the same again, If the city cannot have a work house, by all means let it establish a stone yard and abolish the tramp nuisance,

After all it seems that the authorities of Clay county are going to do something about the prize fight which occured In Clay City last week. Our neighbors on the east do not relish the insult which they claim was thrust upon them by Terre Haute toughs, and are determined to resent it by a prosecution of all who took any part in the fight, either as principals, seconds or spectators. Informations have been filed in the Circuit court against Lloyd and Farmer, the principals. Farmer has skipped the country to avoid arrest, and if he will only stay skipped the community will be that much better off. Lloyd, the other principal, is still in Brazil, and it is said will face the music. The prosecuting attorney claims to have a lis* of the names of all those who attended, and says he will prosecute every one of them. This is not cheering news to the gentlemen who contributed liberally of their funds and presence to make the affaira success, and who now regret very much that they had anything to do with it. The man of business, tho professional man and the clerk who holds an important position, together with the society swell, cannot very well afford to be prosecuted for a lark of this kind, and if the prosecutor

this time they are ready to a man to swear by all tho saints in the calendar that they will never, no never, be guilty of such Indlsoretlon again. The chanoes are that If the proseoutor won't do this many will start prematurely on summer vacations, and will find it convenient to postpone their return until the breeze has blown over or their friends can effect some kind of compromise for them. Prize fighting in Indiana is attended with difficulties which do not surround the sport In more favored localities nor does it seem to be a healthy pastime if the faces of those who attendod can be taken as an index during the past week.

City affairs have boen very quiet during the past week, but there is no telling what anothercouncll meeting may bring forth. Tho regular meeting will be held next Tuesday evening at which time a school trustee will be elected to succeed Nick Boland, who has held tho position now for about nine years. Some time ago it was announced that Charley Hoft had an option on the appointment and would secure it when his parly meets In caucus, but as the meshes of Charles' drag net are becoming worn by constant use a small fish like school trustee may slip through in fact there is a strong probability that it will. But Charley still has bis courage with him and believes he will be elected. Boland is just as confident as Hoff, and has certainly boen .there long enough to know the ropes, which he is pulling io a manner calculated to tim the sails to the. prevailing breeise. These two gentlemen are making all the fight which is being made, and they seem to be making it quite inteusting for each other. Neither seems to think that there is a third can* didat©, and both would be very much surprised if neither got the pluiu. Still, it is a violation of no confidence to say that another name has been mentioned, and judging by recent experience It requires no great stretch of imagination to see a dark horse in the lead when king caucus sits on the matter. The position pays the munificent sum of two hundred dollars per year, and Is one of the most important and responsible In the city. The bond is very heavy and is such that not every man can give. Thero are no visible perquisites, and the members disclaim all knowledge of the existence of anything of the kind. By the way, It was the Democratswhoelected the l%*t Republican member of the board, and the Republicans might return the compliment by electing an anticaucus Democrat.

Since the safe robbery of last Saturday night no clue has been found to th| thieves, nor la it likely that any will be unless they are caught In the act at some other time. The work la not done by home talent that much la certain, and It was doubtless dene by the same persona who opened the safe in Hers* harass mo months ago. Work, of a similar

nature has been done in the surrounding towns of late, but the perpetrators have in no instance been caught. It is well understood that this gang of burglars have their headquarters In Chicago, and that all these expeditions are planned from that city. Similar robberies jflp reported in many cities surrounding Chicago, and the officials in all cases seem to be at sea. In a city like this it is a very easy matter for two or three strangers to put in an appearance, remain at separate hotels for a day or two, crack a safe and get away safely unless caught In the act, or known to the police. But how can the police know these notorious thieves on sight unless given an opportunity to make their acquaintance? Other cltie3 frequently send men to large gatherings In cities where such characters are known in order to see them, but this city would pay no bills for any such purpose. However, merchants could materially assist the police In the protection of their property if they would only place their safes where they could be seen from the outside as an officer passes along on his ronnd«. In the cases where safes have been cracked here they have been hidden from view of the passer on the sidewalk, aj»d as long as safe blowers are encour-' aged in this way they will continue their operations.

Some time ago a young man giving the name of William L. Wright appeared among the good people of Rosedale, a little town about twelve miles north of this city in Parke county. He was from Henry county, a locality noted for the superior quality of its short horn cattle, and claimed to be a Campbellite preaoher. He dispensed the gospel for a time, but finding it did not pay forsook it to follow the devious ways of the law. In the course of time he made the acquaintance of a rioh old bachelor named Alanson Davis, who loaned money in the neighborhood on good security and interest in advance. One day in Juiy, 1890, Mr. Wright appeared before his friend Davis with a note for $7,000 signed by himself with W.- R. McKeen, James Cox, J. T. H. Miller and A. C. Ford, of this olty, and S. F. Catlin and Marvin Case, of Parke county, as sureties. Davis cashed it, and when it fell due a year later Wright jrene,wed it. the sam\ eodortq^

note for $4156 with the same endorsers, and still later another one for $486, both of which were cashed by Davis. With so much money Wright was very lavish in his display of fine linen, and made occasional trips with female friends to parts unknown for health. The neighbors became suspicious and started an investigation. They learned from Davis that he had advanced Wright the money on the security named. The alleged sureties were interviewed and pronounced their signatures forgeries. Mr. Wright is now behind the bars of the Parke county jail, while Mr. Davis has levied on his visible effects. About SS000 will cover the loss sustained by Davis. It is thought the time has not yet passed when the gold brick swindle and confidence operator can make money in Parke county.

Suit was instituted in the Circuit court this week by Mary Ward against Thomas J. Ward and Michael Ward, jr., for $10,000 damages. The plaintiff is the wife of Michael Ward, sr., and the defendants are her stepsons. She alleges that the defendants concocted a conspiracy last March to get rid of her and obtain control of her husband's property. The alleged conspiracy consisted in having her declared insane and placed In, jail preparatory to placing her in an iusane asylum, to which she was refused admittance on the ground that the statement, finding «tnd certificate of the insanity committee did not show her to be insane and were not satisfactory to the superintendent of the asylum, after which she was released from custody. The complaint further alleges that she has been denied shelter at her home, not even being allowed to go there for her clothing, and is now dependent on relatives and friends for a living. She also charges that the defendants had her husband adjudged insane by the Ciicuit court and had a guardian appointed to manage his estate, from all of which acts she has suffered to the extent of her demand. The family is one of the most prominent in Fayette township, of which the elder Ward was one of the earliest settlers, and they are all in good circumstances. T' L"

Mrs. Martha Crandell, widow of Joshua Crandell, died very suddenly at the home of her daughter, Mrs. George Durham, in Honey Creek township on Thursday morning. She had been in feeble health for some'time, but her death, which was caused by heart trouble, was unexpected. She leaves four children: Mrs. Geo. Durham, of Honey Creek township Mrs. J. K. Graff, of this city Mrs. T. O. Embry, of Kansas, and Horace Crandell, of California, The funeral takes place this afternoon, the interment being In tho Durham ceme-

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The Republicans of Riley lowQ»hip organized a campaign club on Tuesday evening wiUitUlriy-fourmembers.

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OBSERVATIONS,

lOtiS, WHEN A dOOD IS NbT DESIRABLE. 'yfef r*f a 1 iti®14*1

it Broaden tfce AttvtiaintanceS—How. Much Into Small Apartment

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of advice is. given as to the

bes||^^Dd of stimulating the memory ^f^&system of recollection are jl- and^Will bear fruit if perils disj|o'wed, but no one ever sug7&worwottld.be an excellent thing at |c^r*^,"io forget. A good "for cm for table than

Mattery,",

It is the-bringing up

spIMMOVs tbal^frm-« so harvThe revival of f«dIjg memothe heaft wounds, and can bury in the past the i^jglightejftnd hurts the sooner ^^d%ill heal, We haye all met wft|t'rf&fortutods, all encountered sor—tr&h< had distressing failures, cherished hopes dashed to the knoWHhatWemust buckle gin agairiv^Now is there any d, in peeping alive the rethat whicfh will always hurj^jMtfeverwe think of it and whioh thg^g&spe$dlly forgotten is the more ealed? What matters the hurt

When it ha^jded out of our It is onlf thetransclentprick •f and why puncture the tender tore than ia necessary Learn pe^fly to forget the wrongs, the crosses n^nappointments and keep alive the recn&^abrance of the glimpses of sunshiifjB^he days.when skies were cloudless*'and life will be brighter and happie^vhen you have acquired a reliable

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Tprblrcle of A mau's acquaintance it^ notlbroadened by the faot that he lives in b|g"city. 'Unless it is a part of his bu^^ 'to make acquaintances he is not tfMVjr to know as many people in Newliric as if lie lived in a country towW^yt* Geems paradoxical to the provlnC'rJ^bufcH is true. There are many an reason* lor'this. In a crowd £20,000 people Ih'aye ljttle desire *n ^J©)rky5

half a

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a wfSSirpeople would make It uncomfortable for you if you showed a disposition not to encourage acquaintance in a big city a man who pushes his acquaintance Is looked upon with suspicion. The larger the human aggregation the more exclusive classes of people become. The vast ramifications of society in the metropolis—and I mean Boc'.ety in its broadest sense—and the shortness of human life make restriction imperative and a carefully selected circle of acquaintances highly desirable. This selection is a growth and depends wholly upon the individual. No man has aright to complain because a particular other man or a set of men do not care for his company. In his turn he doesn't like other particular men and denies them his society. No patience or sympathy need be expended upon those who sneer at some particular set tiiat will not receive them. The world is big enough for anybody who craves the society of his fellow creatures without treading on anybody's toes or tearing off anybody's coat tall. Yet in New York thousands of intelligent men and women spend their lives and fortunes in the effort to get into social circles that don't want them. And when they do so unsuccessfully they are ready to "cuss", the oxclusives up hill and down. -7 V,"'***

Every woman understands hiow to pack a trunk so that it will hold ten times more than a man could possibly get into it, and the average woman is gifted with a knack of filling up the smallest room with a hundred more unnecessary trifles (so a man thinks) than he sees any place br reason for. A man's method is usually to consider a room furnished when just what is necessary for his comfort is within four walls. Pictures, bric-a-brac and kftick-knacks are utterly superfluous, curtains only obscure the light and keep out the air, rugs are regarded as pitfalls for the unwary aad scarfs or tidies can cause a man to do more inward swearing than anything else on record. Therefore a man's room, means an absence of all that is so dear to'the feminine heart. A woman revels in her surroundings and the more she can crowd into her room the better she feels. There is a certain apartment in our mind now about twelve feet square in which the ingenious occupant managed to get an upright piano and stool, a foldingbed, a chiffonier, afbook-case, a couch, three easy chairs, two good-sized tables, a piano lamp and screen, besides thirtysix pictures and trifles galore, and yet that room does not look crowded, only cosy and comfortable, and the man who is privileged to sit there enjoys tbg "homeyness" of it all, but on the day of moving stood in the hall and kept repeating in despairing accents, "Where will we pat all these things?" That woman knows how to put a half a dozen articles in one corner and only arrive at an artistic and graceful effect where other hands would make a hodge-podge

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sad to see. It is this kind of a creature that is the genuine home maker, and while he despairs man looks in and is compelled to admire the deft touoh and genuine skill that contrives to put so much in so small a space without the faintest suspiolon of orowdlng

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A m$n always claims that he is much less extravagant than a woman. He harps on dressmakers' and milliners' bills, gives long lectures on his own economy, and ends up by saying that he can dress.well on one-fourth the amount a woman expends on her wardrobe. Of course he could, for he only wears onefourth as much clothing as a woman. We do not mean that he goes about minus the proper amount of raiment, but he has no need or occasion for the hundred and one things a woman must have just to add the finishing touches to her toilette. "Let her go Without them," growls some old bachelor or economical husband. Very well, then, let man dispense with collars, neckties and cuffs, for are they not the extra bits of grace to his essentially severe get-up? When a man buys a suit for $30 and expends $2 more on these trifles he is fitted out so far as his actual costume is concerned, but. a woman's gown means exactly three times the price of the material. Each frock means lining, canvas, skirt braid and rubber faoing, belting, whalebones, hooks and eyes, and then the material and extra trimming as elaborate as the purse will permit. A man with three suits, an overcoat, a respectable hat, gloves, shoes, neckties and olean linen can be always well dressed. He need not think of a hat to match each suit, and shoes, gloves and parasol besides. What would one jacket be to a Woman? She must have an ulster, a dressy garment and one for every day wear. The item veils and hairpins is no little uncon-•kdfci-eci trifle then belts, blouses, ribtbohsSi&d all sorts of pretty odd$ and e^ds that make her all the more attractively feminine. The question of underclothes as reliably as any thing|jould tell how much more expensive is woman's apparel than man's. Let him do his best he can only wear silk, but she can seW ruffles of lace on the finest fabrics, robe her dainty limbs in silk, don petticoats th%t to the inexperienced would seem like ball 'gowns and pay $25 fot her corsets before she even pays out one if alio "truly" woman, as the ohildren say, she will love jewelry with all her heart. She must have pretty rings if her hands are small and her purse is not, all sorts of lace and stick-pins, bangles, gold combs and hairpins, necklaces, chatelaines, bouquets and bonbonnieres in fact, there is no end to a woman's desires, while a man rigged out in onetenth of what a woman wants with all her soul, what is really a necessity, not the luxuries quoted above, would look effeminate and silly. Therefore, there is no virtue in a man's economy, while the woman who can dress well on a moderate amount is a marvel in these days of tempting and expenslve,finery.

The bicycle on the sidewalks has become such a nuisance that something should be done to abate it. The ordinance on the subject provides that it shall not be ridden on the sidewalks on Main street from Second to Tenth Ohio from Second to Ninth Second, Fifth and Sixth streets from Cherry to Ohio inclusive, excepting the sidewalks on tho north side of Cherry from Third to Fifth on Walnut and Third and Fourth streets from Cherry to Poplar inclusive excepting the sidewalks on the north side of Cherry and the south side of Pop lar streets. It further provides that no person on a velocipede on any of the sidewalks shall pass a pedestrian, or any person standing upon any sidewalk or crossing, at a speed faster than a walk, and any person riding a velocipede shall at all times give way to all other persons on the sidewalks or crossings. Thero is also a heavy penalty attached for violation of the law. The ordinance is good enough as far as it goes, but It doesn't cover enough territory. On several streets in the south end where the walks are covered with children in the evening these bicycle riders go at a break-necl$ speed, and if pedestrians want to escape injury they must get out of their way with alacrity and dispatch. It has bocome so that pedestrians have no rfgbtei which these bicycle riders are bound to respect, and they care no more for the law than they do for pedestrians. Men who can hardly ride in a buggy attempt to ride the bicycle on the sidewalks and succeed in falling all over everybody except themselves. Frequently women are run down by them, yet they go right along without let or hindrance. A few of them should be fined to the extent of the law and then the chances are that all would behave themselves.

The spring races are oft The weather has been so bad that it has been impossible to work the horses into good shape and make such time as the reputation of the Terre Haute track demands. In consequence when the entries closed last Saturday night they were found to be very light. As the action of the association has been anticipated for some time the announcement was not a surprise.

PAVING BRICK.

THE/CHERRY BRICK FAIL ON THE ABSORPTION TEST AND MUST GO.

All Stand tlie Abrasion Test Fairly Well, but When it Comes to Absorption others are Not In It—How tho Inspection will 10 Conducted.

The paving brick for Main and Sixth streets have been undergoing the final tests this week under the direction of City Engineer Fitch and the counoil committee apppinted for that purpose. The engineer's report will be submitted to the council on Tuesday evening and until that is done the document will not be given to the papers, although its purport is known. The tests this week were for abrasion and absorption, and the brick selected were taken at random from the tops of the piles as they lie on the streets. As ha^ boen stated before there are three kinds of brick among thdse here—vitrified, medium and cherry. Three tests of thirty brick of each kind were made. Contractor Ivlnser was present when the tests were made, and before they commenced expressed confidence that they would stand It. The specifications provide that the brick must not lose by abrasion more than five per cent, of its weight in a ninety minute test. The trial was made at Parker's foundry, where the •rattler" was used. Into it was put with the brick heavy sash weights and smaller pieces of iron. In the first two tests the rattler was not half filled and the brick lost from 7 to 16 per cent, of their weight, the loss being in ohips broken off the edges. On tho third test the rattler was filled twothirds full, and at the end of uinety minutes it was found that the loss was only 3 per cent., or 2 per cent, above the requirement of the specifications, tho loss being fine dust ground from the edges and corners. At the oonoluslon of the test Mr. Kinser objected to it for two reasons, viz. 1st—Because the brick had not been thoroughly dried 2nd—Because the rattled was not sufficiently filled to make a fair test.

The absorption test requires that "the bripk must not absorb more than two per cent, of their own weight in water, Shall not contain li me of suoh a quan tlty J* ui eaii$e dlpiutogrtttioi|,or cracking V( ten days soaking in w»ter." The selections for the test were made in the same manner as the abrasion test, and there were three tests often bricks each. They were placed in water 48 hours. The hard and medium stood the test all right, absorbing oz., or 1-5 of one per cent. But the cherry brick did not fare so well. On the first testeJght of the ten failed utterly and the other two barely got in, while in the other tests they absorbed from 2% to 6£ per cent. This last test means that all the "cherry" brick must go, and will not bo used in the pavements. Just how many of these there are it would be impossible to say. Various estimates have been made, and they range all the way from 3 per cent to 33% per cent. Capt. Fitch refuses to give an estimate, but from all that can be learned they will probably not exceed 5 per cent., which means a loss of about 150,000 brick, unless the contractor has an agreement with the party from whom they were purchased that they should be returned if they failed to stand the test. Mr. Kinser apparently takes It good naturedly, saying that if the brick are rejected he supposes he will have to stand It.

The committee appointed by the council to inspect the brick consists of Councilman Georgo Haller and Andy O'Mara, both of whom are practical brick makers. They will probably begin their work next Wednesday morning, commencing at the east end of Main street, each taking ono side of the street. Contractor Kinser will furish each inspector with two laborers, who are to handle the brick. The "cherry" will all be thrown out, as will also all broken and ill shaped brick. All that are rejected are to be hauled away immediately, so that when the laying commences none but good brick will be on hand.

As the brick question has been settled probably tho weather will follow suit, and if does probably brick laying will then commence. It Is to be hoped as thbse brick piles are daily becoming a greater nuisance.

The number of pupils enrolled at the State Normal school at this time is 980, many mare than has ever attended the institution at one time before, and fully 180 more than there are accommodations for. From the way in which the attendance has been increasing the enrollment next spring will be not less than 1,200. At its next session the legislature will be asked to make an appropriation for additional buildings, such as aro very much needed, and if the request is not complied with tho attendance will have to be limited, and many who desire an education here will be compelled to go elsewhere. The graduating exercises this year will be held on Thursday, the 30th instant. The senior class numbers GO, of which number fire will be selected to read essays.