davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
, 1874-02-20
ment Of tho malady. Tho sight Of 30 much mt.
urnl hair oil Mt onoo IN this degenerate day
would naturally have n etrong effect upon an nn-
bolat,cuA III EE.


Tho palma OF Congressman still Itch for the
forbidden, fruit Unable 10 rlny Mt aa!ary-grab-
bng directly, thoy aro casting about for way to
indirectly raise their pay. They think thoy have
found s,1ch way In tho restoration Of tfo
franlsing privilege. A Bit to restore it In now
ponfiing tn tho 1IorBc, II provides for tho FREQ
distribution Of public documents printed by a,,-
tlority Of congresu, md Of seeds supplied by
tho Agricultural Department., mud adds a bribo
to The pross by promising froo circulation Of
weekly pa,ora within tho county where pub
lislod, and froc exolango Dotveon publishers.
We trust TINT tho press ia not to bo bribod.
People who want public documents oan pay
for their tranamission, or, by waiting
h few mouths, Gun buy thom dirt-chcap
at tho nearest second d-hand bookstore. Tho
acod-furnishtng business, regarded in any other
light than as machine for spending money. has
boon coat1y failure. In TINT light 1t Inns been
conty SUCCESS. II It Is to 80 on, 1t should at
loast bo taxed Its poatago. But tho chiof eyil of
tho It'll s tlo fact tllst it Is tho first stop towards
full restoration of the old abuse. 1Ir. Ha1o, Of
Now York; haB already tried to substitute for 1t .
bill for full restoration. Tho constituents Of
Halo, Of Now York, should let him know what
thoy think about the mattor. Tho argument for
tho proaent bill has boen Of tho most puorilo
character. The House has been told that 1t
ought to pasait eifitdidn'tthop public docu-
ments ready for distribution, on which tho post
ago would bo 9122, ,000 would be sont by oxpreas.
Why shouldn't they be. And, again, tho House
haB 1earnod that tho various Executive Depart
ments havo special stamps issued to thom which
nro used by many pcraonB who l,avo no right to
do 30, aud that therefore Congress might as we'll
take it's sharo Of tho "swag" whom other people
tako tlloira. And, onco more, tho House has
boon gravely informed that tho abolition Of tho
frankiug privilege has saved nothing, becauHothe
Poss.Ofllco costs moro now than 1t did before.
The question Is Would not it cost still moro if
1t wero saddled with tho frauking abuso2 To
this tho answor mnst bo yes, for the saving in
ono month on ono railroad (the Baltimore l.
ohio) has beon officially reported at over $780,
600. Franking is fraud. Press and people will
rebuko this attempt ut new Balary-grab.
, 1874-02-20
THE BOSTON COLLECTORSHIp

Massachusetts Ia excited over the nomination
Of one ". A. Simmons blower and striker of
Bon Butlor, to tho Office OF Collector Of, tho Port
Of Boston. Simmons had previously boen 6u-
pervisor OF Internal Noyenuo for Now England.
Ho Ia q young MIN who oxeroiaos a controlling
influence among the "boya," and Ia potent at
primary mootings For two or three yeara But
ler has beon candidate for Governor OF Massa-
chusotts.' II hny part Of tho State holds him In
moro abhorcnce than auother, 1t is tho aristo-
cratic quarter Of Boston. Last year the contest
over tho election Of delegates was long and bit-
ter, but, despite tho hostility Of tie better cass
Of Republicans, tile City Of Boston sout Butler
Delegates to tho State Convention. THIS result
was attributed at tho timo to tho active intorfer-
oneo Of Simmons. who was ablo to eloot Butler
delegates ly tho FREQ use Of money, patronage,
and political terrorism. Simmons was
aided by tho United statos Marshal,
md togetaor they sont up tho majority
Of tho But!or delegates. From some as yot I'LL
known sourco It WAS suggested ut Washington
tint Judge Russell did not give satisfaction as
Collector, and that perhaps mission to South
America would induce his resignation. Russell
WIS invited to Washington, resigned tho Col.
lootolHhip, aud Simmons was instantly nominated
to tho souate. Then tho hand Of Dut!or WA
Visible in tho promotion Of his hcuchmau. All
tho Massachusetts dciegation iu Congress except
Butler aid Hooper protest against Simmons,
and hayo laid thelr protest before tho President
and Senate, with what effect remaina to bo seen,
: Tho Boston Aduertiser, after donounclng slu-
, 1874-02-20
THE sANBORN RASCALITY.

Tho information which the House Of Repro
sentatiyes is vainly seeking to obtain from the
Secretary Of the Treasury, rolativo to tho san-
born matchmaking contracts, is beginning to re-
voa1 itself in tho public prints. Tho Hartford
Conrant calls attention to two operations under
tho Sanborn contracts which should bo carefully
laid away by tho House for future reforouco.
Tho substance of these operations is as follows:
On the 2oth Of August last, throo detectives
under the Sanboru contracts arrived at Hartford,
armol with credentials which were satisfactory
to tile Collector, and commenced their work.
They lrstcalcd at the store Of George ". Williams
Co.. manufacturers OF Jamaica ginger, and
made a claim Of $1,000 for unpaid taxes al
legiug TINT tho ginger WIS patent medicine
and should have boon stamped. Tho firm
replied that they had obtained m opinion from
the Collector of tho District when tho ar
ticle was first put upon the market, and he had
decided that no stamp was necessary. Tho de-
toctivos insisted, however, after showing their
credentials, that they had como from Washing
ton with instructions to sottle tho business, and
In order to effect settlement, they would take
off one-half, provided tho money was paid I'M
modiately. After consulting tho Collector, and
finding that sauborn's deputies were acting by
authority, tue firm paid tho money and got re-
ceipt, as received "from John u. Sanborp,"
from Secretary Richardson III tho regular form.
Subsequently learning that tho whole proceeding
was irregular, tho firm nale q statement of
facts at Washington by counsel, aud are now in
8 fair way to recover their money.
The next operation Of these logalizcd conh-
donce-mon aud hlaokmalers under the k,anborn
contracts WAS the presentation Of q claim for
$4,000 to MeaBrs. G. H. Dexter d Sons, Of
Windsor Locks Conn.,, manufacturers Of " stnr
Paper" Which they alleged should hayo becn
stamped as patent medicine. As in tho other
case, they offered to compromise for $500 II
the money WAS paid Immediately. The firm
however, through their attorneys, managed to
put of tho detectives until they obtained an
opinion from Commissioner Douglass that tho
" Star Paper was not subject to tar.
Tho Infamous character Of tho contracts and
Of the law which enabled this man sanborn and
his unprincipled deputioH to blaokmail bua,ness-
menin this manner is clearly enough shown by tho
two cases mentioned above, oyon il thore should
never bc another fact developed. Tho existence
Of this law on the statuto-boolsa is disgrace to
tho Government aud MI insult to tho whole busi-
mesa community, md Congress- cannot afford to
delay ita repoal II 1t las any regard for its own
reputation, and docs not wish to be considered
as tho iudorBor of btRckmatlcrs.
, 1874-02-20

mons ns ward-bummor, tranod in bati school,
declares tint nuol, of tho corruption that has
worked itB why into tho politics Of Massachusetts,
"fs owing to tho actiyo porsopal cfforsu Of Mr.
Simmons" 1Ic Is represented IA Tho controlling
loador Of that clnsa OF tho population who, hav-
ing no opinions Of their own, aro roady to train
uider tho tag Of my loador who "paya woll."
Tho same papor recalls tho fact TINT tile conduct
Of Simmons laat yoar IN bol,nlf Of Dutor waH 40
outrageous as to cali from tho Republican State
Convention tho following resolution.
Fsoircd That willie VIC racognizo tic full right Of
every c't1zen to exlrcss mid act upon ha convictions
upon a questions Of pulc interca no person hold
Ing Federal oico has tho right to aec to influence tho
action Of hia autoruAtcs by exciting nir fears Of
loss Ut place II tholr opintonH actions ha differ
from h!5 own null we Gull upon tho President FORTH
with to remove every nblic olcor wllo Inns thus I'M
properly tnterforc with tho independence Ut tic Re-
Tuocans Of Massachusetts in tho management Of
es local concerns wherever tho faot proved to hia
satisfaction.
The Aduertiser thinks that this rob,,ko should
have prompted the Administration At Washing
ton to dismiss Simmons from tho ofEico ho
then hold, aud that such m act was tho "least
mark Of respect which tho president Ind It In
hie power to pay to Btato to which he oweB 30
much." It calls upon tile Republicans Of tho
State to Bond their romonBtrancos to Washing
ton, aud If their baro words Of last summon
moant anything, 1t was that tlls sort Of thing
must come to an end" Now tho question is, Who
IL to givo way? Will the Senate reject PreB-
DENTAL nomination on tho ground TINT tie nom
ineo Is n friend Of Dutler7 or will tho President
withdraw tho nomination because 1t III distasteful
to the "roBpoctablo" gentlemen who represent
Massachusetts in Congress- Isnot this another
illustration Of tile uttor degradation into which
appointments in tho Civil Service hayo fallen?
, 1874-02-20

Debate on the restoration Of tho franking
privilege took up tho timo OF tho House Of
Representatives yesterday. An amendment was
proposed, but not accepted, for tho Introduction
Of the English plan Of selling public documents
ut cost to people who wanted thom. One Of
tho arguments used againBt tho bill was that
Republican Congressman woro bound in honor
to fulfill the pledge Of the party in its plat
form Of 1872, to repeal tho franking
abuse md keep it ropoalcd. Mr.. Kasson
stated that tho effect Of the repeal last July lad
already become visible in diminution Of 80 or
so per cent In tho cost of mail contracts west Of
tho mississippi and north OF Kontuclsy and Ten
ncssee. nlr. Garfield called attention to tho fact
that the only way to abolish the printing abuse,
which cost $4,000, 900 q year, waB to abolish the
franking abuse. A number Of members who
will vote ngainst tho franking privilege arc in
favor Of allowing weekly newspapers to bo cir
culated FREQ within tho county where they arc
published.
, 1874-02-20
FREE DANKTN3,

FREQ banking does not necessarily involve cur
rency initiation. II everybody who chi deposit
s10o, ,00ol lu bonds at Washington ia allowed to
issue 100000 in National Bank notos, this will
not dcprcciate tho currency. a paper c,lrroncy
Is worth precisely as much Us the money In wlic,
1t is redoomablo. The National Bank currency ia
redoenab]e In greonbacks. It is worth, then,
just what groonbacts are. Now it no moro legal
tculcrs aro set ai1oat, their yaluo will romain
just about what It iB now. But II their value ia
unchanged, tho National Dank noteB roloomablo
IN thom will also have MI unchanged value,,
30 long, therefore, aa tho currency
is increased by tho iaBuo Of Natiou-
nj Bank notes, and not Of greeubacks,
thero can DO 10 depreciation, and consequently,
no imitation, for imitation, Us tho term is used
nowadays signifies an increase in tho volume OF
tho currency thnt causes depreciation, or, as itH
friends put it, "makos money cheaper" Frco
banking would work III this way: II tho banks
SGT afoat moro currency than the country could
use, ita value would begin to sink below that of
greonbacks. As soon aB this happened, tho
banks would be called upon to redeem In greor-
backs until the Buperiluoua part Of thoir issue
was again in their vaults. III this way deprocla-
tion bclow tho groenbaok standard would be
avoided and the volume OF currency would rogt-
lato itself. THIS Is substantially tho English
plan. Tho greenbacks correspond to tue Bank
Of England noteg, and tho National Bank
notes to thosc Of tho English country banks.
Our readers will find In the first volume Of
Tooko's History OF Prices" copioua extracts
from tue testimony Of English country bankers
on tho working Of tho system there, undor
suspension Of specie payments. This testimony
shows that tho amount Of currency they could
keep aaoas varied regularly with tho aoasou OF
tho year. During tho spring and fall trade, they
discounted freely, but soon after, stheir notes
were presented for redemption, until tue surplus
issue was again Btorod away III their vaults.
Whom tho Bunk Of England contracted it's issues,
theirs increased WHOM it Increased its Issues,
thoira contracted. In other words, the currency
issued by banks, which could legally circu~
expanded III preciue proportion to tie
needs Of tho country. It was thorough
ly elastic. Free banking would indirectly
aid tho resumption OF specie payments
in two ways. It would mako it possible to cou-
traot the greenbaok currency without paralyziug
business, because as tho greonbacka wore With
drawn fresh bank notes would bo issued to take
their place. And. again. it would help oontrac-
ton because tho now banks formed under it
would have to koop their reserves in legal ten-
doris, and thus good doal Of the greonbaok cur
ronoy would be withdrawn from circulation. Tho
congressman who aro opposing tho bills for
FREQ banking on aut-inaation grounds aro maxi
ing great mistake. Tho measure Is not u COM
ptomiBe with the other side. 1t ia straightfor-
ward stop towards specio payments. a
, 1874-02-20

A rocent decision In the Supreme Court of
North Caroliaa shows that thoro IL d prospect
for civilization III tnat State, after all. Tho case
was that of Richard Oliver, chargol with whip
ping LIs vito. 1t appeared from tho evidence
that lo ca'uo home drunk, and. things not snit-
luz him. ho broao up tho dIBhoa aud aomc Of tho
furniture, throw tho coffee-lot out Of tho will
dow, aud then went out and cut two awitchcs,
with Which ho 10 severely beat Ais vito that sho
WIS not ablo to work for weok afterwards. lie
waH afterwards arrested, and defended halaolf by
pleading MI old law Of tho State, TINT husband
had right to whip hlB wife, provided ha
usod Hwitch no largcr tl1an blu thumb.
lie was noyertheloas convicted, aud then
appealed against tho judgment to the
Supreme Court, which laid down tho tact that
tho courts havo advanced from that atyle Of
, 1874-02-20

Tho Supreme Court Of New Mexico has decided
that tho Pueblo Indians Of that Territory aro
eitizons Of the United States. This decision Ia
based on the treaty Of Guadaloupe Hida1go, but
tlere arc members Of Congress- s,-among thom
Shauke, Chairman of the Committee On Indian
Affairs, and Rainoy, tho colored Representative
from South Carolina, who hold that all tho H.
dana Of tho country arc citizens, under the late
constitutional amondments, and that tho way to
sottle the Indian question is to give the Ill
dams the game rights md bold them to the
samo responsibilities as tho whites and the ne
Eroes.
, 1874-02-20
SIMPLIFYING THE TARIFF,

The Importers, dealers, and workers Of tin
plateB in Now York. Boston, Philadelphia, Chi
cago, Cincinnati, st. Louis, aud Troy hnye me-
morialized Congress for tho cllango Of tho exist
ing ad ualoren, duty to specific duty Of ono
cent por pound. Tho reasons given for this
change aeom to BAow tho acknowledgements
Gated machinery Of the present tariff law. Till
plate Was first ta1cd in 1915, atthe rate Of por
cont al ualoren. 1u 1916 tho duty was raised to
ii por cent, aud In 1867 reduced to por cent
III 1862 1t WIS raiaod to as por cent, aud in 1879
reduced to IL per cent. There IL no spccia1 OBJ
jection to tho duty, as 1t s nearly all revenue.
Tho momorialists do not ask reduction, but
simply modification Of tho modo of taxing it.
Tho importation In 1879 aud 1879 waB to tho
yaluo Of $27, ,078, which, at ad uaoren1 ratio
Of IL per cent, would produce 81, ,005, ,782 rove
nue. Tho aotual weight of the plates imported
during the aame time was 1923, TAI, OH pounds,
aud, had the duty hoon ono cont por pound, tho
revonue would have boon 81, ,410, or Gill;
G4s Tor about $4,000 Year, moro then
1t actually was. Tho inoroased tax would,
however. DO cheap escape from tho
porploxtleB OF tho present syatom. Tho
law roquiros that tho ad ualorcm duty shall DO
computed at the current latos at the place and
timo Of shipment, adding to tleAo rates tho
cost Of transportation to tho plaoe OF shipment,
cartago, boxes brokerage, aud commission. If,
by my accident uty ono Of thoso items be omit
tod from tho Invoice, though its omission would
involve merely the dftroreuco Of fow couts in
tho gross valuation, the wllolo inyoce III forfeit
cd. aud tho importer ts subject to penalty twico
tho value Of tho goods. Nor is this all OF tho
embarrassment. Tiu.plates arc not n,ado In
England III advance OF orders or contracts. II
an importer In Chicago OR Now York contracts IN
Wales in January for tlu-patos, to bo delivered
in March at so shill!ngs box, Ao has to invoice
bis goods At 80 shlllIngs, though the market
value at tho limo OF shipment may have fallen
, 1874-02-20

to 25 sllllIngs boz. II, on the othor hand, tho
market rlico Mt tho timo OF shipment Inns ad-
vancea to o5 Hhl1ings. the p]a'os hnyo to DO Iii.
voiced at iat raso, t!lougl. tho goods woro actu-
ally bought ana paid for Mt 30 shlltings por box.
Whom tlsoHo goods renal, tho United States
thoy laso to bo inspected, aud thoro Is an
examination Of tho English market reports,
md ali appraiHoment aud rcappraisomont and a
volume Of oathH hayo to DO taken, md an agent,
or brokcr employed to get tllom through tho
ouHtofl-Aouao. Tho amount Of duty to ho paid
OH giyon weight Of plate varies With overy
cargo. BY change Of tho duty from ad caloens
to specific, all this complicated detail would DO
avoidod, aud tho whole process at tic Custom-
House would DO roducod to tho moro voiehing OF
tito tin-patcs. Thoro would 10 no room for falBo
invoices. no need Of falso swonring, and tho
Government would got ita lawful revenue ut alt
times. It was through tho aforesaid complex
and involved syetom Of computing duties that
Phelps, Dodge Il Co. wero black1nailod to tho
tuno Of s27l 900 By tho Villains of tho New York
Custoln-Houao.
Auo SOAhlAtSAtlO4EP VI l1lG lAIll AfQ 1llUBtTAkHQ
BY this case, but they arc also shown In tho
rateB Of duty OIL cotton goods. Tho scale OF
duties ia curiosity. Horo It is:
!. Cotton Tissues exclusive Of joang donlmp, drill
dnga weighing over ounces to tho sul,aro yard,
mud not over 100 threads to tho inch Including VAR,
and lling-colorcd, ~ cents per squaro yard aud TO
per cent al palorem.
2. Sumo, Weighing less than o,,ucos to the aquhre
yard with over 100, and not 140 threads to tho
sqnato inch 61S centa por square yard, and 20 por
cent dd paiorem.
.. Same az last, with over 140, and not over 900,
threads to tho square inch, " couts por square yard
anl 20 per cent ud raioren..
4. 8anc, with over 2o0 thrcals por Bquaro inch,
saue duty M No. ..
The Custom.1louso oi1lcor who appraiaoB cot.
ton goods has to bo an expert in dynamics,
microscopy, monsuration, and tho market value
Of tho particular goods at tic place Of ship
1nent. Hero iB tho compound tux, tho Bpociae
and the al ua|oren,, fixed In 1864, ton years ago
wien cotton was go cents per pound, and re.
tanned to this datc, though tho War las boer
over nino years, MI d cotton isselng for IL cents
por pound III Now York.
, 1874-02-20
sENAToR LoGAN's LoYAL MoNEY-MAR-

KET.
Senator Logan has made discovery. It Ia Of
about equal value with the speech on finance for
which he demanded attention on the ground that
ho had studied tho subject during the spare
hours OF two whole weeks. Ho has discovered
that TIE CHICAGO TRIBUNE and tho Cincinnati
Commercial, and ali other papers which say tlat
the monoy-markets are easy and the country is
not going into bankruptcy for want of q fow
mora ah1nplasters are deliberate liars. He has
found out that the money-markot OF tho street
III truly loyal, to wit. extremely tight, while
tho money-mnrket OF the editorial sanctum is
dialoyal and easy. Conscious that such atato-
ments, resting only upon his own word, would
not command inHtant md implicit belief,
he got Forry, Of Michigan, to provo them by
reading lottor from Missouri spccu1ator
stating that no bank would lend him ST, 900, and
who is therefore convinced that money Is tight.
After such convincing proof, Senator Logan foIt
that no argument WAS necessary, and therefore
usednone. Aftor few moments OF beating upou
his desk pounding upon tho floor, waving hia
fists high in air. he finally regalnol the tenn
per ho had lost over the monetary reports Of
The TRIBUNE aud Commercial, and sat down,
not, however, before ho had assured sonator
schurz (tho reader OF the mondacous roports)
that he (schurz) could not "show such articles
in the Inter- Ocean," aud could not "produce
from the Inter- Ocean any article declaring that
money was plentiful In the West"
It is but too evident TINT Mr.. Logan
has not read tho Inter- Ocean. No bla,no at-
tacles to him for tho omission, Of course, but
1t Is with unfeignod regret that wo confido to
tho Senator that the Inter- Occan Inns Joined tho
lcaguo Of diHloyal and reok!eas journals Which
willfuly aud naliciously describe tho mouoy-
market aB easy. Tho Senator has confoundod
tho paper and its late proprietor. Mr. scammon
Inns created moro financial stringenoy among
Nevertheless, his newspaper insatB upon aayiug
that money il abundant. II Alr. Logan will con-
suit the file Of tho inter. Ocean, he will tlnd tim.
the mendacious Ahoot says, IN its issue Of
Wednesday, Feb. 10; "rho demand for
money is only moderately active, aud
tho supply Of loanablo funds quite large. p. .
Money Id decidedly easior, aud parties
| can obtain accommodations readily ut tho legal
ratio Of intoroat." On Thursday, 1t boldly de-
claros: IL Money Is easy in all quartoru. and
bankers arc ready md willing to accept good
short-dato paper at regular ratoa. p. .
Money ia easy III all sections Of tho country.
. Borrowers arc READILY accommodated to
ths extent Of their requestg." Gu Frday, II
continues. "Tho money market contlnuos III
Ia Guar and comfortable condition. .
, 1874-02-20

The State Senate has passed the resolution d.
roofing tue Governor to appoint Commissioners
for d Southern Ponitentiary. This pcnitentiary
is to be erected out Of an appropriation Of $780,
600 made in 1867, but there is Homo question
whether this Inns not lapsed, ind It is said that
Coy. Beyoridgo will not appoint the Commits
sioners unless the appropriation is renewed by
the Legislature. A motion to reconsider the
hxod likely.
, 1874-02-20

The Independent newspapers in Oregon and
California arc making rapid progress in cirou!a-
tioh md influence since they have refused to
obey tho dictates of tho Railroad Ring. Tho
Salem Statesman says that independent journal-
isln is paying handsomely. The Marysyillo Ap-
peal Which was formerly q railroad organ, and
which lost tho Government advertising when it
Advocated the election OF Gov. Booth to tho
United States Senate, says that Its subscription
list Ia rapidly incroasing- The sacramento
Union, which was excluded from the cars Of tho
Central Pacific Railway Company, Inns become
tho strongest paper Oil the paciiic Coast. The
Oreg0aian, tho sale Of which has been forbidden
Oh tho cars of tho Oregon Il California Railway.
says 1t has roason to be thankful for tho pro-
hibition. In fact all Of tbnso aud other journals
OIL tho Pacific Coast aro not only rejoicing at
their emancipation from tho thraldom OF rings,
but arc delighted and surprised to tlna that 1t
NAYS.
, 1874-02-20

All tho school-clildren and teachers Of the
give the Geological Museum at Cambridge a
perpetual endowment in honor Of Agasslz. Me-
1norial gorvices are to be held On his birthday,
AIay 28, At which timc contributions may DO
, 1874-02-20

An examination Of Ohief Grain-Inspector Har-
per'a books md official conduct is now being
made in this city by tho Board Of RAILWAY mud
Warehouse Commissioners. They have not yet
made public any Of tho results.
, 1874-02-20

Before any confirmation has boon had Of tho
story Of the expulsion Of Capt.-aon. Jovollar
from Havana, another startling rumor comes
TINT United States Consul-General Hall laH boon
driven out Of the city BY the Spanish mob. Ho
is reported to have taken refuge on q British
rat1.of-war