The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-04-20

Meeting OF Councils was held yesterday after
| noon.
Select Counoa.-The Committee on Schools re.
| ported an ordinance authorizing the erection of
| two school buildings in the First Ward one at
Ninth and Tasker, and one on Morris street, near
| Second street. Agreed TO-
A resolution was adopted directing the Com
mittee on Schools to inquire into the expe.
diency Of using Moyamenslng Hall Tor school
purposes.
Mr.. Jones submitted a resolution requesting
the Chiet Commissioner OF Highways to inform
council by what authority a railroad is now
pemg placed ON the river road in the Twenty
fourth Ward.
Mr.. Jones said he noticed men at work on the
road, but he never heard OF an act of Assembly
authorizing the road. The resolution was agreed
10.
Mr.. Van Cleye introduced resolution, direct
ing the Chief Engineer of the Water Works and
the Commissioner OF City Property to advertise
for proposals to rent the retreshment saloons
under their charge.
Mr. Gray proposed, as an amendment, to in
clude all other persons selling refreshments on
city property. The amendment was not agreed
to-yeas, s; nays, Ia. The resolution of Mr.
Van Cleve, was not agreed to-yeas 10; nays IL.
Adjourned.
In Common Council, the following communica-
ton was received from the City Solicitor:-
. MR.. ECKsTEIN, Clerk of Common Council Dear
SRI have carefully considered the resolution OF
Councils of the 9th instant, Inquirng whether the
third section of the act of April 8, 1861 gives the
Receiver Of Taxes the right to retain the five per
In my opinion the Receiver has the right to retain
the commission allowed by the law referred to- The
word IN thls connection means reward Tor cOllec-
tions made, and can conceive no other Intention
on the part OF the Legislature than to give the Eve
per cent. to the officer as a reward.
know of no decision under this act of Assembly
Very respectfully and truly yours,
f CARROLL BREWSTER, City Solicitor.
The petition from the hremen asking that the
State House bell be rang for fires at all times
was presented, and referred to the Committee
on Trust and Fire.
Mr.. Marcer reported an ordinance autho
rlZlng the Trustees of the City Ice-boat to
contract for the construction OF a new ice-boat,
to be built of iron, with new boilers, at an ex-
pense not exceeding 100000.
The ordinance was passed.
MIR. Marcer offered resolution providing for
the appointment of Joint special committee OF
three members of each Chamber who shall ex-
anime whether any improper means or innu-
ences, OF whatever character, have been used to
obtain the passage of the ordinance to cleanse
the streets of the CITY.
Messrs. Marcer, Franciscus and Hetzell were
appointed committee on the part OF Common
Council
The resolution giving the consent of the city
to the change OF the site of the proposed new
Court House on Sixth street. so that the front
on Sixth street shall be 60 feet and making the
building stand east and west instead of north
and south, as in specifications, was taken up.
Mr.. Miller moved to amend as follows: Pro
vided, That the securities OF the contractor be
referred to the Committee on Finance, and if
to Councils.
The resolution was finally referred to a Special
Committee consisting OF Messrs Hancock, Fox
Miller, Gill, and Allison.
ANTOINE PRoBsT.-There has not been
any change In the conduct OF Antoine Probst
indicted TOR the murder OF the Dearing family
and others, within the past few days. He mani
tests the same indifference to his fate, speaks
mildly when spoken to, but does not incline to
converse; eats his rations with an apparently
good appetite, sleeps well, as well as his hand
cuffs and manacles will admit of, and reads such
religious books as are furnished him by his
spiritual adviser. Quite o number of persons
have visited the prison in the hope of being able
to see him; but few have had their curiosity
grati6ed.
For the first few days of his incarceration
request made by the chief of the detective force,
that he should not be permitted to be seen by
visitors, was carried out; and since the assign
ment OF counsel by the Court, similar request
by them is complied with. Probst still adheres
to the story first told by him in respect to an
accomplice. Not only to his counsel, but to the
priest who visited him Yesterday, did ne declare
that he had confederate In the murder, yet
the police have not been able to obtain any
trace of such person as is described by him.
They have not however, abandoned the pur-
or falsity of his story. The weight OF the evil
dence and circumstances thus far developed is
against his ott-repeated and solemnly asserted
declarations.
ITODSI is WllII1S, ana MS COUNSEL Will COQSenI
to enler plea of guilty of killing the boy Cor
nehus Carey, upon the condition that he Is not
to be tried on the other bills. 1t is question
able, however, If the District Attorney agree
to this. And, inasmuch as 1t is essential to
bring out all the testimony bearing upon the
important question whether he was or was not
the only actor in the bloody scene, it will be
we'll If he does not sent TO it. From acquaint.
ances of the prisoner it has been ascertained
that he came TO this country soon after the
breaking out OF the war, tempted by the high
bounties offered, and that he at once en-
tered the army Actuated alone by a merce.
nary spirit he deserted at the first opportunity,
and several times in the course of the Rebel
lion enlisted and deserted; in other words,
he was a "bounty-iumper.n He has relatives
in good circumstances in Germany, and from
brother he received enough money, short
time ago, to pay his passage back 10 the
old country, which money he spent in the
haunts OF vice.
MEETING OF THE FRANKLIN INSTITUTE.
The stated meeting of the Franklin Institute
was held on Wednesday evening. Professor
Morton read his report on novelties in science
and the mechanic arts. Ia this, among other
things, attention was called to the use OF cork
in place OF india-rubber for springs of freight
cars and the like. The material strange as it
may seem, was found to possess an elasticity
and endurance superior to any other substance
which has been similarly employed The Presi-
dent, MIR. William Sellers, remarked in this con-
nection that such q spring, employed IN a
machine for forging, and subjected for years to
very heavy conclusion, had in no respect deJe-
rorated, and in fact mad operated in the most
admirable manner.
A breech-loading rifle was exhibited, as also
an arrangement for the temporary binding of
papers, documents, etc.
The process of monolithic construction by the
use Of beton or concrete, now largely employed
in Paris, was fully described, and description OF
gl,g9