davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1873-11-12


cents.
Mr.. Hubbard maintains that the rates
can be still further greatly reduced,
and proposes the following rates $50
miles or under, 25 cents between $50
and 500 miles, so cents between 500
and 1000 miles, IS cents. By night,
1000 miles OF under, 25 cents, with an
average rate Of about As cents.
These rates Mr.. Orion substantially
admits in his report are possible, for he
says that with the duplex apparatus
which they are rapidly introducing upon
their lines they can perform double the
business on the same wires at a small
extra cost. If the postal system is
adopted the people will realize the ben
eft from these great improvements in
reduced rates. If not, they will all go
into the pockets Of the stockholders of
the telegraph company.
Two plans for uniting the telegraph
with the pOstOffice were submitted to
the last Congress, The Postmaster
General desired auth GRITTY to purchase
and operate all the lines of telegraph.
The other plan authorizes the Post
master General to contract with the
Postal Telegraph Company to transmit
ltele grams between all Offices, to receive
them at all post and telegraph Offices,
aud deliver them as they are now de-
ivered at the rates above named, five
cents of the rate to be paid to the de-
partment for the office work performed
by it. This plan relieves the depart
ment from all expenses Of purchasing,
maintaining and operating lines, fixes
the rates at low and reasonable CT argos.
prevents any Capitalization of power in
the Executive, and takes the telegraph
out OF the hands of private parties
three gentlemen, it is said, at the an
nual meeting, represented 100000, 900
out Of $40, 100000 of the capital of the
company. This plan was approved by
the committees of the Senate and
House, and will be brought before
Congress again this winter.
Mr. Orion says the Western Union
have checked all competition bought
out all competing lines, with two or
three exceptions, which are doing a
losing business and are in process of
being extinguished; that soon the
Western Union Telegraph Company
will be without substantial competitor
in the conduct of business which is
now in it's infancy, although transmit
ting over $4,000, 900 messages year,
and collecting, distributing, and fur
nishing the telegraph news to the press
all over the country.
We prefer to see the postal system,
as approved by committees of Congress,
inaugurated and the country relieved
from the danger of corporation of
such power, controlled by Mr.. Wander
| bilt and his associates.
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1873-11-12
DE M0rtuIs.
By MARGARET J. PRESTON.

De MertuIs.
ORTIZ
BY MARGARET ]. PRESTON.
To NJ B. D. - - -
This friend nova month or so only
Ago, and you smiled in his smile;
And when he grew weary or lonely,
You tested, to cheer him the while
He priced the sweet solace you proffered.
When for gloom you gave laughter instead
You are glad Of the gift that you offered.
Because-he is dead
And because he is dead we shall gather
The humanest relics there pc,
(All tenderer, dearer, the rafferty,
And pile up Pagan suffice?
Shall we speak of him, brows bending loWly?
Shall we whisper his name under breath
Is not life, in it's living, as holy
And solemn as death?
AS death What is death, but the ending
OF all that the mortal can claim?
The drop of the mantle descending
From the souls mounting chariot OF flame J!
Who wept for the prophet when guerdon
So grand was requiting all loss !?
Only grief for the lett with the Jordan
OF trial to cross
".
All! surely the angels who love us,
Must yearn with an ache of desire,
To point us the pathway above us,
Still bright with the trail of the fire
Must burn with compassion to urge US,
AS hopeless we gaze on the tide,
To smlte till the faith-smitten surges
OF doubt shall divide.
v.
So-speak of our friend who is walking
In his chorister garments of white,
With the calm that would mellow your talking
If he sat in your presence tonight:
Yes, name him with gladder citation,
With prouder contentment-and shred
No brightness from out his narration,
Because he is dead!
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1873-11-12
lThe Rennbtiran~


]. II. KEYEs, Editor and Proprietor.
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1873-11-12
The Postal Telegraph.
From the Boston Advertiser.

-Four years ago, Mr.. Gardiner G.
Hubbard, of this city, in an address to
the Board of Trade, stated that the
tariffs of the Western Union Telegraph
Company were high, arbitrary and ir-
regular; that large reduction in rates
could be made without a elimination
of the profits, which would increase
the business without a corresponding
increase Of expenses, and that still
further reduction of rates and of tariff
could be effected by the adoption Of
the postal telegraph. He has advocated
his reform before Congress, and OBJ
tanned favorable reports at the last
| Congress from com mittees both of the
Senate and House. Mr.. Orion, in his
annual report to the stockholders of
the Western Union Telegraph Compa-
ny, says these efforts have induced the
company "to proceed more rapidly
with increasing the facilities and
reducing the rates" than they should
otherwise have done.
The average rates in 1869 were 81;
now, according to this report, they are
81. Offices then, 3, 1859 now, $40, a
reduction of 49, per cent. in the rates,
and an increase of so per cent. in the
offices.
Mr.. Hubbard said that large reduc-
tions in the rates could be made without
any dinainution of the net profits This
Mr. Orion denied, alleging that the ex-
penses increased in proportion to the
business, and that large reduction of
rates was therefore impossible.
The net profits when the average rate
was 81 were So, 534, 600; at 81 they are
So, 857, 900, with an annual saving to
the public of 81, OOO, 900 in the reduced
rates. Then 6, 548. 900 messages were
annually transmitted now 10000
Mr.. Orion says no dividends have
been recently paid. This is true, but in
the meantime the company has doubled
it's business, added fifty per cent. to it's
miles of wire and other property, has
purchased and now holds nearly twenty
per cent. of it's bonds and 100000
stock in other telegraph companies,
amounting in all to $4,000, The
price of their stock was then $33. 12aa
per share, is now $50, and has been as
high as $780, The company has thus
proved the truth of the position as
sumed by Mr.. Hubbard, that large
reduction of rates would be followed
here, as it had been abroad, by an in.
crease of business and net profits. Mr..
Orion very plainly intimates that no
further considerable reduction in rates
will be made. These rates are now
higher than those of any other civil
1zed country. The local rates are
For twenty-five miles or less, twenty
five cents; for over twenty-five miles
and under fifty, fifty cents for over
fifty and under one hundred, seventy
five cents; with an average rate, as
Mr.. Orton says, Of sixty-one.
The rates abroad are as follows
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1873-11-12
THE IMPERIAL SURGEON.
Paris Correspondent New York Times.

An Incident which Shows Napo1eOn's
Doctor Much More NapOIe Onic than
Napoleon.
, 1873-08-12

Prof. 0oldwin Smith, who now edits tho Cana-
dian Monthly, has written an ARTICLE In that
magazine, in which ho sharply oriticiaes tho
Canadian Pacific scandal. In tho course Of his
criticism, he commonta upon Sif John A. Mao
donald in tho following bold language: 'With
tile exceptions Of tho Lord Chancellor Macoles-
field, the South Boa Bubble offenders, and Lord
Melville, Sir John 4. Macdonald Is tho frat, NO
boliovo. since 1858. who has brought the stain Of
corruption on tho nnrno OF tho British priyy
Council. In Ills case, considering what tho con-
nectionH OF Sir Hugh Allan wero known to bo,
tho dirk limo Of corruption is dcopenod by q
shade OF treasou." In concluding his nrtcio ho
takos tho following gonora1 yiow Of tho case
It Is grcatly to bo laruentod that party-triumph
should DO in any Why mixed up With tho olana Of tho
whole nation TO juBtice. II tho Conservatives feol
tempted untior the influence Of party feeling long
personal attachmont to defend what cannot bo defend
od let them remember that nothing Is loft to DO con-
served here but political honor aud morality: mud
that those gone, public lfe In Cannda will become O
gamblIng-table, from which, IN tho end, The most
proAgato alyenturar will assuredly sweep the sakea.
It ia ca1amtous affair.
, 1873-08-12

Tho County Commissioners yoatorlay aftor-
noon postponed action on tho report Of tho Joint
Committee On tho Court-IIo,lso Plans awarding
promiumB to D1atz, Gay, and rillcy, ,anl in the oven
ing tho Common Council reoornmittoa tho report
to ita Committee on Buildings and Grounds
With instructions to report what would 10 tho
coat Of tho three plans thoy submitted. It is
said, howovor, TINT thia ia moro protonso, tho
rcal object bolng to soouro modification Of tito
report in ordor to deprive Matz Of
tho first premium and give 1t to
some other architect. 1t is stated TINT eight Of
tho f1ftoon County Commissioners will. for tho
samo roaaon, ut tho next mooting, initiate tho
action Of tho Council. It aooms, from tho
Btatoments OF members Of The Joint Committee,
and Of tho Board of Public Works, that decided
majority OF thom must hnve voted against Mntz's
plan and In favor Of Tilloys, and ths will afford
thom an opportunity Of correcting tho clerical
error in their report. Tho German mombors Of
both bodies arc against this roforence; tho
othors, with few cxcopttons favor it.
, 1873-08-12

The August shower OF netoors was not q
brilliant SUCCESS, as soen from Clicago princi-
pally for want Of 8 clear sky. But goodly
number must have been visible from tho
suburban towns, as fully twenty wero aeen in tho
space Of one hour on Sunday evening from amid
the smoke OF the city. As usual with tho August
meteors. thoy radated from point in the con-
,stellatio1 Persons, not far from tho wonderful
variable star called Mgo1, or the demon star.
There was, however, q noteworthy exception
to tho general rule. Mttlo past 10 o'clock, "a
unuaually bright meteor passed slowly through
tho constellation Ophiucus, dying out very near
1y in tho direction Of Unu1sulhay. It loft
brilliant light in Its trail, which was visible for
several seconds. Tho meteor was passing
toward the sun, in a prolonged elliptic orbit, aud
Skinned through our atmosphere without fall
ing to tho earth. A rough calculation made
ut tho timo led to tile conclusion
TINT tho cnrth's attraction detcctea tue
motoor from its original path go much as to
cause 1t to proceed in noarly right line towards
tho sun, instead OF pursuing orbit around him.
Tho probability In. therefore, that our earth has
virtually destroyed the identity Of the meteor,
though uusblo to appropriate it's matter to hor-
self and that the hitherto wanderer will, q
few days hence, fall into tho central body Of our
systom, generating leat by the concussion, which
will in some moana compensate for the gradual
waste Of sun energy in 1ightingand warming tho
bodioa that circle around him.
, 1873-08-12

Southern fnrmcrs arc beginning to feel tho
came grievances and the Same neod for organi-
cation in sell-dofenao as tho Western aGricul-
turiats. Attention has alroady been called to the
the Grunge is widely favored, and tho Ramo
movement Ia in progreaa in Virginia. The
farmcrs Of that State believe that there is q
tsclt but effective combination among the NOR
chan.a of tho State to Keep up the prices Of their
goods, and to subyort this oppressive system
they mean to form themselves into Oranges.
Ono object to DO accomplished by this means
will be tho ability to purchase whnt they need
1t wholesale prices, az IL done by the Western
Qrangers 90 successfully,
, 1873-08-12

oithor to tho vatuo Of tho frarolltscs granted or
to tho oxtont Of their oxorciso.
q. Tho gross rocoipte Of q company may 10
taken ae A measure OF tho yaluo Of it's franopoa,
or Of their enjoyment, aud a tar mns 10 lnid
thereon.
According to this, tic Slate OF Illinois
may ta4 a11 tho lailroad corporations 1t, thia
stato upon their franchises, md may uBo tho
B,lm Of tic groaB receipts Of tho company Ms n
valuation Of tloso franchiaoB. If tho State hnyo
tho power to Thus Ink Tho franchises, separately
from mud In addition to taxation on tho ronl
ostato and otllor tangible property Of tho COM
paalos, then municipal authorltios may tovy
taxcs for local purposes on tho samo franchisos.
Thoro is, however, no difficulty whatovor In
tho way Of m amicab!o arrangement betwoop
tho State and railway corporations for tho pay
mont into the State Troasury Of axod por-
oontago Of the gross receipts Of all these compa-
MICS, In lieu Of all gonornl taxation, State and
municipal; nor would thoro DO tho lonst Difficult
ty in providing for tho equitable npportionmont
Of this tax among tho several counties, accort1-
ing to thoir respective tntoroBt thoroin. Sucl
m arrangement would DO tho best possible ar
rangomont for tho State, because It would havo
q conatantIy-increaHing source Of rovonuo;
It would bo beyond all question the tairost modo
Of aecortaining tho valuo Of franchises and Of
tho railroad property. Thoro would bc no varia-
tions o. now In 1ocal assessment; tl,oro would
be no costs nor expenses, nor delays in collect
ing tho tax, nor could 1t be defeated by the miH-
conduct Of local officers in lovying or collecting
To tho railroads 1t would be direct re1iof from
tho complaints and harasBing pursuit Of .
swarm Of local tnx-ofllcors in every county,
first to tho stato and thon to each town, county,
and city on its limo, n railroad company would
have but ono tax bill to pay ouch yonr. It is
possible that tho railroads would pay constdor-
ably moro tax than they now pay but whom tho
blaoktnail tho extortions. and tho cost Of utiga-
tion growing out of controveraeB with tho legion
Of tax-of1}cora arc added to tho taxes now paid,
tho railroads would find that it Is choapor to pay
directly into tho State TroaBlry d full Tux on q
fair and honest valuation than to DO fore7or
pottifogging and oquiyocating with tho public.
Tho franchises and property Of railwaya aro valu-
ablo; they are special privileges, and those hold
Ing and enjoying them ought to DO willing to con-
tribute liborally to tho support Of tho Govern
mont. Railroads can do no aot moro just In
itaclf nor ono bottor calculated to concliate tho
! public, than by frank offer to pny to tho State
and tho local Goyornmonta fair ratio OF taxa
ttnn
, 1873-08-12

President Grant laB boen in consultation with
Gov. Austin, of Minnesota, and Mayor Drackett,
Of Minneapolis. who cndeavorcd to convince him
TINT tue conduct Of the Manitoban authorities,
aud tho irritation Of the people Of Minnesota,
who threaten to take tho matter into their Own
hands, make 1t necessary for the Government
to intercedo sharply and promptly. They got
NJ other answer from tho President than that
tho Secretary Of State WIS his advisor
in such matters, aud that thoy might rest as
cured the rights Of American citizens would be
protected. Tho English Minister at Washing
ton and Secretary Fish have Ind several inform
al talks about tho affair, hut it has assumed no
diplomatic Importance.
, 1873-08-12

Of consumers, has not boon improved, but, OH
tho contrary, 1lhs oterioratod during tho laat
decade TINT, for The first tino In tho hiatory OF
this young, fortilc, and prosporous country, tho
consumption Of food has actually beou reduced.
Yot ono class Of 1aborora, and that q 1argo QUO,
has boen emancipated from Blayery during this
period. -Four millions of conaumorg. formerly
supplied by masters whose profits depended UP
on economy In tho subsistence of thoir tabor
hnyo boon sos to caro- for themselves without
habita Of economy, or oxporenoo In tho mood OF
It, Tic wages now oarnod by thom would sup
ply far moro than their former consumption,
and 1t is tho universal testimony that they are
not yot thrifty, as class, but wastoful, and
promo to indulge their desires and appeiitea, as
would DO natural to people SO long enslavod
and 30 recently enfranchised.
Another fact rendors this reduction Of oon-
sumption still moro strange. Tho aggregate
wen}th Of tho country haa greatly increasod,-so
greatly tint, oyon whom tho fictitious over
statement resulting from fictitious currency is
reduced to gold values, thoro romains for overy
man, woman, and child In tho country $500 In
gold against e45t in 1860 (alavoa not counted as
property. II this increased woalth had boon
equally distributed, an enormous iuoroaao OF
consumption must have resulted. Even II It
had boon distributed in the aamo proportion as
tho woa1th Of tho country in 1860, 1t is plain that
tho consumption Of food must have generally
advanced in consequence Of tho greater ability
Of tho great majority Of consumers for satisfy
ing their desires. That tho consumption Of
food has not increased, ovon though four
millions OF formor B1ayes havo been liberated,
and seven thousand millions added to the woalth
OF tho country, only provos that Since 1860 wo
have boon piling up wealth for the few. without
improving tho condition Of the many. 1tprovoa
that tho groat minority Of consumors hnvo
boon growing poorer, 1oas ablo to satisfy even
tho simplest wanta Nor will 1t escape notice
that this has occurred in a country blessed with
cheap land, choap food and for institutions
which stimulate enterprise and industry to tho
utmost. Surely, every candid observer will i'd
| nit, tho distribution Of woalsh must havo boon
affected by somo artiacial influence in most re-
markablo maunor, II, notwithstanding tho
wealth Of tho woalthy has 60 vastly inczoased,
and four millions Of porsons have also been lib
eratod from aervitudo tho quantity Of food con-
aumod per capita has decreased.
, 1873-08-12

The New York 1ribune's Grange correspond
ent, writing from 0alesburg, ILL.,, hazards the
following statement:
So great m interest has THE CH1oAno TRIBUNE
taken III tho matter that, at eaat occanion, s
reporter has attended farmers meoting With Free
Trado resolution already prepared, aud las urged II
nron the Committee Oh Revolutions
Which Is not true. On ono occasion gen.
t1eman who was regularly-appQfntoa delegate
to q farnors' convention, and ia himself a
farmer, offered such resolution, and, aubse-
quently. without our solicitation, sent ua ro-
port OF tho Convention. The resolution waB
adopted. and the report vas published. Tho
difference hotweon this state Of facts and that
, n.cl tho Tribune correspondent Ian sent
4:xsad will undoubtedly occur to him AZ boing
fs>fs4lal.
, 1873-08-12

Those funny old Joey Bagstocks, tho Maasa-
chuaetts Democracy, haye Determined to ata'1d
by tho organization, to put up straight ticket.
aud to yote for B,itlor at tho Republican prima-
rieo, as thcy did two years ago. Indeed, it is
suspected by the anti-Butler Republicans that
tho Democratic stage-load, or majority OF
thom, iptond to vote for Butler in tho election if
he gots tho nomination. The Irish and the
Acknowledgements MO said to rlefer him to any
other candidate,
, 1873-08-12

OFFICIAL RESPONSIBILITY IN ENGLAND.
The resignation Of Mr. Lowe, Chancellor Of
tho Exchequor Of England, and OF Mr.. Baxter,
q Secretary OF tho Treasury, has been the result
Of m official transaction Of hind which, onco
exposed in England, ia fatal to tho Minister who
performs it. Americans who aro familiar with
tho socor, Chorponning, Fort Smelling, and SYM
dicato atTairs, in which tho several Secretaries Of
our Cabinet were notorioua1y involved, and who
have read that another Secretary in a former
Administration accepted $40 900 from tho Pacific
Railroad Company, whose affairs wore under hia
charge, will read with surprise tho comparatively
triaing doroiiotion Which, coming to tho know1-
odge Of tho public, compelled the British Cham
celior of the Exchequer to resign.
Tic Chancellor, having authority Of law to
contract for steam nail-service between Xanzi-
bar and tue Cape OF Good Hopo, in Africa, made
IN agrceusent with the Union Steamship Com
pany at tho rate of G2G,000 year, overlooking
tho fact that an offer had beon mado to do tho
! same heryico by tho British India stoarn Com
pany for ell, 900. The contract was for num-
bor Of years, md the amount Of tho difference,
capitalized for the term, reachod Csc, GOO. All
| thu papera relating to the contracts we're laid
| boforo Parliament before any action tho two
Offers wero among the papers, but, 90 clearly wag
that for tho LESSER sum overlooked, that, whilo
| the sondor itself waa presented, no mention
WAS paado OF It in the official list OF papers COM
municatod to Parliament. Mr. Baxter actually
signed ind certified this 1at Of papers, aud yet
he had noror seon the papers. No corruption is
alleged. All that ia charged is grosa caroless-
mons, through which tho Minister hastily Awasd.
cd contract to ono company at a higher an
nual ratio than was asked for tho same service
by another company. As soon as this matte,
became public, Cabinet meeting was held, and
both Mr. Lowe and Mr.. Da1ter resigned, though
TO do 80 caused reorganization Of tho whole
Cabinet, compelling those OF the memberl
who arc also members Of Parliament to stsni
for reelection.
Tho tino has been when a like respect fo
public opinion would have cauBod the promp
resignation OF any mombor of tho American
Cabinet who was dotectod in any official dolin
quenoy involving money, especially II tho trans
action eavored Of corruption. Unfortunately,
different spirit prevails. Tho decay in officia
pride ind Integrity iu thia country Ii renderc'
more conspicuous by this instance Of the higl
respect for public opinion shown by these tw
British Ministers.
, 1873-08-12

re Chicago produce markots woro rathor
,aue actiyo yesterday, except in provisions.
heas pork was nomiualiy 5c per brl higher, at
el5.BO@15.o0 eaAh, and S15.00@15.95 sellcr
Boptembor. Lard ysas inactive aud 1rm, at
7N@8o per Ii for winter, and 73a@711o
tor summer rendered. Meats wero quiet and
firm, at 71G@so for shoulders, 0>1@o5Go for
short middlos, and 10D12o for aweot-plcklod
hama. Lake freights were active and
80 lower, at 4>1c for corn to buffalo. High
winea wore dull and 15@lo lowor, At 0015@0lo
per gallon. Flour was active aud = shado highor.
Wheat was active, and advanced % on options,
closing at 81,20 cahh, sl.17s@ seller the month
and 81. IL so!los September. Corn Was In fair
, 1873-08-12


Wo have heretofore noticed the discussion go
ing on In tho papers Of the State upon the
proper mode Of taxing railroad property, and
observed that there is strong tendency toward
the plan OF taxing railroads upon gross valua-
tion Of $50, 900 por mile. This would give as
tho taxable valuo of tho railroada in this State
about a325 000, 900. instead Of about $40, ,000080
as at preaont. Wo have suggested that auch n
proceeding would defeat itBolfi that taxation
m,1st DO uniform AZ to the property upon Which
1t IL assessed, anl that railroad property cannot
bo assessed Have by that uniform rule proacrbed
BY law for the valuation Of all property for taxable
purposes.
Wa hava auggcsted that there might be aomo
equitable rule adopted by the State for tho taxa-
tion of railroad corporations which would obvt-
ata tho proaont uncertain, irregular. and compll-
Gated system. In recent case, appealed from
pannsylvapia, tho Supreme Court of the United
States hold that it waa lawful for tho State OF
Pennsylvania to impose tax OF threo-fonrths
Of per csnt upon the groHa racclpta Of rail-
road and other transportation companies. Whilo
tho Court affirmed its previous decisions, that no
| State can lovy ta1 upon freight transported
from State to atate 1t hald that the tax on gross
receipts was not tax upon frolghta any more
| than tux upon tho real estate and other proper
ty Of the companloa The Court established twe
points upon tho subject Of btato taxation of oor
poratious, which arc not only important but aug
goHtiye:
/, 4 State may tax the franchises Of ita carry
lug companies, AMI the tux may 10 Proporsione'