davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1873-12-30

The bankrupt law, the repeal of
which passed the House of Repre-
sentatives Internationally, is before
the Senate. In this body it is not
likely that the bill will he entirely
repealed, but modified. The bill
is now in the hands of the Senate
Judiciary Committee, who, it is said,
have entirely agreed upon the sub
ject and will report on the reassemb-
ling Of Congress. This committee
is opposed to total repeal Of the
law, but will favor q bill confirm.
ing the provision for voluntary
bankruptcy as it now stands. The
Southern and New England Sena-
tors are nearly unit against a
total repeal of the law, and in this
will probably be joined by Morton,
Thurman, Stevenson and other
Western men. In reference to the
involuntary features of the law, the
plan Of the Committee is to amend
the present act so as to provide,
that whereas now an individual
who allows his protested paper &c
lie over his fourteen days may bt
adjudged bankrupt at the instance
of single creditor, the period il
extended to thirty days; and be
fore the party can be thrown into
bankruptcy there must be a petit
ton by at least one-fourth Of the
creditors in number, and one-third
in amount. II is also provided by
the plan of the Committee that
two-thirds Of the creditors may
Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1873-12-30

Nothing is more notorious thar
that all the books of merit whicl
are issued from the public printing
office never reached the people al
all, or even the libraries of the
Congressional district. They are
sold, stolen or exchanged. Not
long ago two volumes of Clarence
Kings Exploration of the fortieth
Parallel" were published under d.
rection of the War Department at
cost of $780, 900 for 1000 copies.
They were on sale in the New York
bookstores for s45 a copy. How
did they they get to New York for
sale, and who sold them These
questions might easily be answered
by an investigation.
Booksellers at Washington drive
heavy trade in the best Of these
publications. They keep store
rooms filled with them, bought
from members of Congress at
merely nominal prices. The gro
GERS and butter dealers at the capt.
tol are supplied with unlimited
stocks of the fine and costly writ
ing paper used for bills and resolu-
tons purchased at there own terms.
And when the market is glutted,
as it was after the ranking privi-
lege ceased. and junk shops |
buy the documents at four cents Il
pound TO be reconverted into paper
and sold anew at four or five times
hat price to the public printer.
They were carried to these places
rom the Capitol last summer by
he cart load; and among them, as
We have occasion to know, was the
edition of the census,
With maps bound in half Russia,
md published in the best style
A copy of this census, in the or
ginal cover for mailing and fresh
rom the document room Of the
louise of Representatives, was
purchased for 40 cents, which rep
esented the price paid by the
unk dealer for ten pounds weight.
n the same shop were scattered
leaps of fine bindings, which had
'een rudely torn from the census
. unstable at the paper mills,
md costs tens Of thousands of dol
ars.
Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1873-12-30
Fire at East Saginaw.

About $3.50 o'clock "Wednesday
morning q fire broke out in the
building occupied by Soyer & Co.,
opposite the Bancroft House. The
Office of DR.. Lutte, rs well as sew
eral rooms occupied as sleeping
apartments, were completely gut
ted. An old gentleman named Tay-
lor occupied room in the third
story, leaped from back window,
falling on the roof of the Third
National Bank, TWENTY-FIVE feet be-
low. He was fatally injured, and
died within five hours. A girl who
also occupied a room on the third
floor was rescued by means of a
ladder. But for the efficient SER
vices rendered by the Holly water
works the entire block would have
been destroyed. The loss is esti-
mated at $4,000 on building, and
$500 on personal property. DR..
Lutte lost all his Office effects, but
was insured for $1,000. A man
named Fleming, who occupied an
room, lost $3.50 in money,
4 gold watch and other effects.
Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1873-12-30
Scarcity Of Currency.

France which has a greater pop
ulation than the United States,
which requires far less money as a
circulating medium, has, in fact,
$3.50, 100000. We in the United
States, have but half that amount.
France is what we may call a
finished country, in the way of
public improvements. In the
United States we are building up
new States every year. Immense
lines of railroads are being con-
structed. There are more miles of
railroads in the United States than
there are in the whole continant of
Europe. Enormous sums are re-
quired to move our crops to the
seaboard. Our building per year is
ten times as great as tina, of France.
Still our authorities pretend that
$3.50, 000,000 is too much money to
have in circulation in this country.
and that it ought to be further con-
tracted. Was there ever such folly
and ignorancel The greatest mis-
take that ever was made financially
in the United States was in reduc-
ing the circulating medium which
we held at the close of the war.
which amounted about to Sl,l00,-
100000. 1t should have been in
creased S500,000,000 or $500, 000,.
600 for the benefit of the Confede'
ate States, which had not taken i
before. Had that been done, hal
Of the debt could have been paiC
off, and there would have beer
no private or public distress
such as prevails at present. 1t i
the duty of Congress, at the pres
ent, to expand the currency yer,
considerably.-Cncinndti Enquiy
Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1873-12-30

In one hundred and five days the
currency has been increased
s31, 100000. On the first day Of
September last, we had sS44, 000,-
900 legal tender notes and s45, 000.-
900 of fractional currency in circu-
lation, making $3.50, 900, after
deducting what was held in the
United States Treasures. Now
we have sS72, 100000 legal tenders
sfioat, s4s,OO0,OO0 fractional cur
rency, or 420,OOO,O00 in all.
Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1873-12-30
House of Representatives, Q

House of Representatives, on
motion of Mr.. Dunning, chairman
of the Committee on Printing, or
dered $4,000 copies of the reports
Of the Commissioner on Agricul-
ture, which will cost 100000, and
probably more. This report is one
of chief humbugs of Congress, and
furnishes fresh evidence of the "re-
trenchment" promised by Admins
tration candidates in the last Presi-
dental canvass during the present
term.
Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1873-12-30
Congress.

Congress on Friday, says the
Saginaw Courier of the 25th, adj
journed until January 9Th, 1874.
Congress in its brief session before
the holidays, succeeded i'm raising
the price Of gold from 107 to l12,
and generally unsettled the business
Of the country, and has accomplish
ed but little more. The house has
repealed the bankrupt law, and has
also enacted another salary bill,
modified from the "grab" of last
session, but these measures we ap-
pretended, will be choked off in
the Senate. The 'jobs' have
scarcely yet been touched, but
these doubtless, are reserved for
the last days Of the session. We
sincerity hope that the members OF
Congress win transact their bust
ness as briefly as possible and go
home. Every day that Congress is
in session the business of the coun-
try is unsettled, and we may not
sxpAcf better times until the
Speaker gives bis benedietion, and
the peoples representatives shake
from their feet the dust and dirt of
the capitol
Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1873-12-30
take the estate out Of the Bank !

take the estate out of the Bank
rupt Court and terminate the pro-
ceedings. These are provisions
designed to limit the extortion
and greed of the Federal officers
by docking their commission and
other charges. The idea of the
Committee is to enact a reasonable
and well-considered bankrupt law
for the permanent legislation, and
thus avoid exceptional statutes to
be passed under pressure Of debit
ors during periods of financial dis
tress.--COmrier.
Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1873-12-30

The New York Tribune has a
pungent article on dead Head
Eloquence." 1t is well known that
dozens of men possessing more
brains than money make a not pre-
carious subsistence by writing
speeches for members of both
Houses who possess the money
minus the brains, and make very
bad work of delivering speeches
even after they are prepared, with
such aid, in brackets, as the follow,
ing fuse emphasis here") CLOUD
("deliberate and impressive') ('in
dignation and contempt must be ex
pressed in voice aud gestur,
throughout the delivery Of this par
agraph.") II you have any illu
sions left we should advise you t,
spend few weeks in Washington
when Congress is in session, an
obtain peep behind the scenes
you viii return sadder and infinite
ly wiser for the experience.
Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1873-12-30

Last year it was said that Horace
Greeley would play the mischief
with the finances. Poor Uncle
Horace has "passed on and we
should like to know who it is that
''plays the mischief with the finan-
ces now.
Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1873-12-30

lack Chandler has favored Con-
gress with a few plain spoken
truths. When the Republicans were
voting themselves a holiday of two
and half weeks, he said: ave
have now been in session three
weeks and have accomplished alb
solutely nothing in that time. We
have alarmed the country a little
raised the price of gold few per
cent; deranged business somewhat;
done no good to anybody or any
thing; and now, having accom-
plished nothing, you propose to run
home and rest" Very sensible,
Mr.. Chandler, but it is question
whether it would not be blessing
to the country if they were to re-
main at home, or, better yet, if
they had never left home at all.
Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1873-12-30
ALPENA WEEKLY ARGUS.
Tuesday, Dec. so, 1873.

Orders have been received from
Washington to stop oil work at the
Brooklyn Navy Yard, and to resume
the usual working hours. Several
workmen have been discharged.
Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1873-12-30
NEW STODr 49,

struck the swells in the open-and
and l guess being sick made me
a little clearer-headed, George.
Perhaps we can yacht for three
months and DO greater in the other
nine, can't wei Speak-can't we
And you'll forgive my being, for
Just once, little, a very little,
harum-scarum, won't you!
George bloomed.
The Weekly Kansas chief. [volume] (Troy, Kan.) 1872-1918, 1873-12-25

The editors and politicians of Kansas are max
ing great deal of fuss over a very small matter,
IN abnsing the Governor for the appointment OF
Judge Crozier to a short months seat i'm the
United States Senate. 1t may be that Crozicr
was not the best man for the place, but if the
Governor had appointed the angel Gabriel, he
he would still be denounced by every newspaper
and politician in Kansas, outside of the Gabariel
ring Inc fact Is there are too many rings and
cliqucs in Kansas politics. There are too many
great statesmen, with aspirations ranging all the
way from alderman to President. We hope, how
ever that when the legislature meets for the cleo
tion Of Senator, it will choose from among them
all first-class man, who will honor the Senate
and the State.-S Loais Globe
The Weekly Kansas chief. [volume] (Troy, Kan.) 1872-1918, 1873-12-25
One Of the "Reforrns.n

We notice that several members elect of the
Legislature, and number of other persons in
looking around for subjects for retrenchment and
reform, have selected the Office of County Super
intendent of Public Instruction as one to expert
ment upon. Indeed many would favor the aLo-
lition of the Office, it not that the trainers
of the Constitution wisely provided for the Office
in that instrument. But it is contended by some
that the Office is useless; by others, that the
salary is too high; and b. others, that the Office
is needed only during few weeks in the year.
1t is singular, that many people, when about
to retrench, begin with schools, as if they were
a useless luxury, that could be thrown aside at
any time, without any Inconvenience. And in
the complaint about high taxes, seven ont of ten
pcrsons will select that part levied for school
purposes for special Oljurgation, and lay the
whole burden upon that one item. We have
known taxes to reach eight and nine per cent,
about one per cent being for school purposes
the balance for railroads, extravagant improve
ments, and general mismanagement. Yet that
school tax has been held up as the cause of the
whole mischief, and generally by those through
whose mismanagement or ineficiency the taxes
have been made high If there be any rich, fat
",
wealthy married gorilla with one silly half-wit-
ted child, then you are sure to hear of the ont
rage of robbing men TO educate other peoples
children! We have always contenled, and do
still, that people can better afford to pay the tax
levied for schools than for any other purpose:
and it is among the last that should be dispensed
with.
What sort of system would the schools of a
County fall into, if the services of central Su-
perintendent were dispensed with, or employed
in few weeks of clerical Office work. And
what kind of things shOuld we have for Super
intendents, if they were given but a couple
of months employment in the year, with salary
no higher than the wages of stable boy, COM
pelling them to seek other employment for their
the balance of the time, and. as a |
matter of course, taking their interest and atten-
tion from the Office, and concentrating them upon
the business that engaged most of their time and
produced their greatest incomei
1t will be sorry day for the Reform move
ment, when they innugurste a warfare upon our |
common schools, or, under the guise of reform
and retrenchment, cripple them, and destroy their
efficiency.
The Weekly Kansas chief. [volume] (Troy, Kan.) 1872-1918, 1873-12-25

"Squecbob," that well-known, old and reliable
correspondent of the Kansas Chief, who never
sacrifices time squandcrs railroad passes for
the sake of being "upon the spot" but who,
from his accurate knowledge of Tie political ele
ments of this State, and of the temperament of
its chronic aspirants can, sitting in his Office,
fnrty miles away, give a better report of the do
ings of legislature OF convention, and sean
more closely the motives that govern either,
than can nine teDtbs of those who, on purpose
visit the capital during the late governor senu-
torial fight. After reading "Squeebobs" account
of the interviews with the various candidates.
it would be worse than useless to question the
veracty Of the narrative; bnt We must beg
leave to inform him that Marsh Muriock was rot
present, either in person or by proxy. But if
will pacify him. we will acknowledge that he
properly and specifically portrayed "onr weak
ness" upon that question, which we presume is
more than Anthony, Reynolds, Hudson OF Kal.
!cch, the gentlemen mentioned in connection,
will neutrality-suspicious. Eagle.
The Weekly Kansas chief. [volume] (Troy, Kan.) 1872-1918, 1873-12-25

TAKEN IN.-We have had our experience in
being "sold" by sharpers and humbugs, who wish
to get their advertising free, and eau therefore
afford to laugh when We see others caught up
Our friend of the Hiawatha Dispatch is one of the
latest victims. short time since, firm in New
York, who are making money by humbugging the
public, sent Autographed communication to the
papers throughout the country, purpOrting to be
testimonial in faver of advertising, and giving
their experience in the business. They start out
by sppending copy of the advertisement which
they had inserted in the papers, and follow up
with glowing account of the benefit it has been
to themselves and to the laborng classes through
ont the land. Now, this was designed for nothing
else than to get their advertisement inserted. and
their business puffcd at least S. worth in every
paper in the country. free of charge. The Dis
patch is the only paper, thus far, that has bit at
the bait,
The Weekly Kansas chief. [volume] (Troy, Kan.) 1872-1918, 1873-12-25
In a Rad way.

1t is favorite practice with some Kansas pa
pers, when another paper chances to differ with
them on certain subjects tn charge that it is &C
tuated by corrupt motives. The Crozier appoint
mcnt is one of those questions In their eyes,
every person who does not denouuce that ap-
pointment, is corrupt. The Junction City 7iib-
u"e is one of the papers that is wild on the sub
ject of purity, and slashes around promiscnusly.
II asserts that the appoint naent of Crozier was
purchased, and that only those papers endorse it,
whose editors were bought by Caldwell.
In the first place, how does it know that the
appointment was Purcbase,li 1t speaks positive
ly, and with great assurance One who talks
that way, should know whereof he speaks. What
is its knowlede in the matteri or what evidence
has it to base SO bold charge uponi Let us
have it; and if there is anything of it, we shall
help to denounce the appointment.
Now, as to the editors being bought by Csld-
we'll In the first place, if every one of them
was bought by Caldwell, what obligation wosld
he be under to endorse Crozieri Caldwell is polti-
cally dead, and what effect can transaction
which he may have made three years ago, have
in ifiueneing person to endorse some other man
at this timef As for oursef, we have seen no
cause to denounce the appointment of Crozier,
nor any sense or justice in it. We know it is a
favorite hobby with some men, in referring to ms,
to mention something in connection with s, 600
We have got used to it, and begin to like it
would like the 81 900 still better. But leaving
us out of the count, where do you find those
bought up editors endorsing Crozieri There is
the Iribsnes neighbor, the editor Of the Junction
Union, who denounced the election Of Caldwell
from first to last; yet he can see nothing wicked
in the appointment. The editor of the Topeka
Commonwealth openly denounced the election OF
Caldwell, yet he strongly endorses the appoint.
ment of Crozier. The Torkingman's Journal, OF
Columbus, would have assisted to hang every
man who voted for Caldwell, and its mission is
to oppose monopolies, yet it cannot see any rea-
son to denounce Crozier.
On the other hand, how many of the editors
who are denouncing the appointment, were nc.
cused of being bought by Caldwell, or by Pom
eroy last Winteri The editor of the Tribune
seems to know all these little corrupt secrets
will he please enlighten usi Will lie tell us
what crime or corrupt act Crozier has ever been
guilty ofi-whether his character is not respect
able, and his condnct gentlemanly i-whether he
has ever done an act detrimental to the interests
of the Statei We want to hear what the editor
of the Tribune kRows about it-not what he guess
es, or believes or has heard rumored by disap-
pointed men, or any wild rampaging beyond the
limits of the question. Anybody can get mad
and froth; but cool off, and let us have "your
reasons, Jack; your reasons"
The Weekly Kansas chief. [volume] (Troy, Kan.) 1872-1918, 1873-12-25

" Southern editor announces his intention of
ing hall one Of sufficient dimensions be found for
the purpose ofholdng Of the of Beau
tful Snow"
This reminds us, that only last week we had
an application, by mail, to settle dispute az to
the authorship Of Beautiful Snow"-(whcb we
published almost year aso.) 1t was stated
that some claimed the authorship for prosti
tute in Cincinnati, while others contended that
it was written by Mrs. Sigourney. Beautiful
Snow" appears to be one of those waits of un-
known or doubtful authorship, which, having
struck popular chord, are eagerly claimed and
fought for by various ambitions scribblers. A
prostitute died in Cincinnati, and copy of the
poem, in manuscript, was found upon her person.
She had probably found it going the rounds ap-
preciated it as applicable to herself, and copied
it. Major William H. Sigoumey, of New York,
who committed suicide few yesrs ago, (and not
Mrs. Sigourney,) had claims for its authorship set
up for himself, by some admiring friends, who,
for time, stoutly stood mp for him, and then sub
sldec- But the credit appears to be more gener-
ally conceded to J. W. Watson, who has estab-
llshed pretty COED claim to the authorship.
The Weekly Kansas chief. [volume] (Troy, Kan.) 1872-1918, 1873-12-25

A MERIToRIOUs 0RGANIZATION.-Iti is now four
years since the Odd Fellows of Kansas establish
cd Q sort of insurance association in the Order,
called the "FuneTal Aid and Widows and Or
phsns' Protective Association" Any Odd Fellow
or his wife, in good health and standing, may be-
come member, by paying a small fee; then,
upon the death of any person belonging to the
Association, the family of the deceased receive q
sum of money equal to one dollar for each men,
Der; and to keep up the funds, and provide for
delinquencies, each surviving member is taxed
$1.10. The Association increased slowly at first,
for it was new, and not understood. But it is
now being both understood and appreciated, and
the increase is steady, and, for the times, rapid.
The last death occurred several weeks ago. and
the widow of the deceased received 81 ,O19, that
being the number of members at the time. In
four years, there have been only "a deaths, or an
average of 6 per year, costing average of $500
per year for insurance. This is the cheapest in
surance known. In the four years, only 194
members have suffered themselves TO be dropped.
This includes neglect to pay assessments, sxpul-
sions from the Order, removals. aud all other eau
ses except death. URder the circumstances, this
Is q very small number, and speaks well for the
promptitnde of the members, and the apprecia-
tion in which the Association is held. We under
stand that the Masons have recently organized
similar Association.