Wilmington daily commercial., 1875-11-20
FIRST EDITION.
philadelphia.
OUR sAruR RDAY LETTER.


YARD-THE MOODY REVIVAL CRITICISED - THE
HII.T oAsE AaAIN-cITY AMUsEMENTs, dc.
Special Correspondence Of the Commercial.
PHILADELPHIA, Nov. 10.
Controller Hancock having presented his re-
port, the city finances and the question of the
tax rate for the coming year continue to ex.
ercise all holders Of property. The SO rate
which I referred to last week IS the only
one despite its burdensome character, which
would see us entirely through our troubles, is
almost universally condemned by tho Finance
Committee OF Councils; who now have the mat
ter under consideration. The nervousness Of
these gentlemen under the prospect Of having
to offer this unprecedented rate to tax
payers il easily understood but ii the decision is
absolutely necessary to municipal welfare, it
would surely show the most strength to meet
the emergency boldly. 1t is certain that = cow
ardly policy Of exped ency has thus far only re-
suited in throwing us further and further be-
hind in money matters, and this being the fact
ordinary common sense shows the remedy, and
the dose must be taken, whether agreeable to
the taste Or not. But the committee is nervous
and holds the question under further advise
ment, taking time, as one OF the members said,
''to feel the pulse of the public" The gentle-
man and the committee may be assured that the
true sense of intelligent men Ia that an honestly
sufficient rate must be adopted, no matter how
onerous it may be. Any other principle can lead
only to bankruptcy.
Another important financial topic has bean the
refusal OF the Court OF Common Pleas to grant q
mandamus compelling Councils to create loan
of 81, 900 for the improvement of the Park.
The Park Commission applied to the Court for q
decision of this question, Councils having failed
to raise the money the Commission claimed Was
needed, and it has met with this decided repulse.
The Commission seems to have over estimated
it's power, which is strictly subordinate in money
matters to the authority of Councils. That body
can alone raise money, nor is it to be subject to
the dictation OF any board Of commissioners.
The Park Management can spend funds entrust-
ed to it at its own discretion, but it has nothing
to say as to the raising OF those funds. This ia,
in spirt,Judg Thayers decision, and it is accept
ed as good law, even while it is admitted that the
situation ia an awkward one. For 1t is realized
that the money for the adornment of the Park at
this time is genuinely needed. The Judge went
aside to say much in his decision, and to pay
compliment to the gentlemen OF the Park
Commission, implying that whatever funds we're
entrusted to them would be honestly spent.
But much as he personally felt on that point he
was constrained to say that Centennial improve
ment and cognate matters did not come be-
fore him Ill passing upon the case. Now that
Council has saved It's dignity it must do some
thing definite on its own account In this matter
of Park improvement. II is to be feared that
even II money is.. forthcoming, time has been
lost which it will be impossible to make wholly
good.
order, as it should be for the visitors from far
and near, next summer, Centennial prepara-
tions go on just the same. There Ia no falling
off in the activity and earnestness, which moth
ing but visit to the grounds will enable any
one to adequately realize. New buildings OF .
supplemental kind are commenced every day,
and each day sees, also, the exhibition buildings
grow visibly nearer to q completion. The fnal
painting is now being given TO the main build
ing and the flooring is being actively laid. The
dome of Memorial Hall is being rapidly finished
and the interior of the Hall swarms with arti-
sans putting on the closing touches. In fact
the buildings are all practically finished, with
the exception of Agricultural Hall, which Will
also be done in good season. The money quest
ion begins again to assume unpleasant proper
tions and the feeling that Congress must give
prompt and worthy help, grows very strong. It
is believed that body can not refuse at this stage
of the enterprise and when 1t has been prov
en- that nothing is to be expected from distant
sections of the country. The principal Centen-
niaI events of the week were the visit of the
delegation of New York merchants, and the
laying of the cornerstone of the WitherBpoon
statue. John Witherspoon, in whose honor
this memorial is to be erected, WAS an eminent
Presbyterian Clergyman, President Of Princeton
College, and signer OF the Declaration Of Inde-
pendence. He WIS the only clergyman who
signed that document. The present move
ment is the work, manly, OF Presbyterisns
The monument will consist OF granite base
and statue of the Reverend sgner, and will
be an important addition to the art treasures
of the Park.
So apt are we to be influenced by the things
Immediately at hand in our lives that the first
thought of many Philadelphian, in hearing
the rumors of trouble between the United Statet
and Spain, this week, was Of the effect OF such
possible complication on the Centennial Expo
sition. They reflected not 30 much upon the
general disaster of naval war, or of the results
OF having our ports blockaded by Spanish cruis
complication would bring to the projec
on which Philadelphia has set 30 grea
stake. Undoubtedly it was scare
although we are now trying to laugh 1t OH. All
the foreign advices are pacific at present yet the
| Navy Yard has not shown so much activity II
many day as is now there discernible. The new
sloops of war are by order Of the Navy Depart
ment to be finished as rapidly as possible, BY
private hands il necessary to secure proper des
| patch, and number Of iron clads have been pu
in commission. The @ Alert" and Alliance
have both been ordered to sea, 1t is supposed z
Cuba. Yet another order from Washington di
| rects that the monitors " Passaic," " Wyan
dotte" and I" Nantucket shall put to sea at once
They will probably leave on Monday for Norfolk
to receive supplies. Altogether, Commodore Pre-
| bic has been this week one OF the busiest mel
| in Philadelphia, for this avalanche OF order
| reached here in the midst of the work of remova
from the old Navy Yard to League Island Every
| thing has gone on, however, in an orderly ant
/ energetic manner.
| The revival movement is coming 10 "a
| head" and attracts, in different ways much
| attention. The matter has, for sufficiently de
tailed reat ons, been treated with strong respec
| and consideration in this correspondence but m,
constant desire to let readers have all sides OF
| case induces one to mention,some OF the adveis
feeling Of the hour on this topic. 1t is charged
BY some very earnest people that the talk o
| Observation-Disclosures" by, and on behalf OF tht
reviyalists is all bosh that they are Yankee
who have gone into the thing to make money
and that they are making more than they coult
in any settled parish work, In the first place al
| expenses are borne for the meetings by the peo
pie they visit This is no doubt proper, but TIN
Eyangelsts risk, or sacrifice, nothing. 1t COS
800, 600 to alter and furnish the Market stree
depot for the Philadelphia meetings, though w
NAV be sure an effort will be made to get thi
money back or some of it, by collections. Then
while Moody and Sankey are not paid for thei
services lirectly,it is claimed that they are max
ing fortunes on the hymn-books used at tn
meetings. They get royalty Of ten cents o.
every book sold, and it is even said by som
censorious people that the whole movement is
monled speculation for the purpose Of sellini
the hymnal. But there are many other person
who do not believe these stories and, whethe
or no, il the revival makes q certain class o
people, hard to reach in ordinary ways, bette
citizens, parents and neighbors, 1t is tru
blessing.
Readers O the COMMERCIAL will doubtless re