Wilmington daily commercial., 1875-07-31
FIRST EDITION.
PHILADELPHIA.
OUR sATuR DAY LETTER.

| THE NEW YORK MONEY EXCITEMENT RAILWAY
| TEST cAsE-TnE NEW PARAMOUNT BRipdI-BAsE
BALIr-TnE CHAMIToNslTIP-cIIICAno's RFFonr
| To SWEEP THE BOARD, 40, &c.
Special Correspondence oJ The Commercial.
PHrLADELpmA, July 80.
Tie Centennial Board Of Finance has at Inst
taken the bull by the horns, and none tao soon
We all know tho money question to be at the
bottom OF tho Exposition problem People in
plenty will be found to exhibit their wares and
to come to the show; architects, contractors and
artisans, it is now assured, will not fail Us; all
that remains IL that means shall come in TO pay
for the work as it progresses. The Board Of
Finance has Just issued an address to the public
which is squarely to the point Briefly, it il that
the funds in hand have been exhausted and that
q million dollars will be required to scitlo the ro-
naming bills for building account, to ray moth
ing Of money necessary for fitting up the build
ngs and grounds. The Board apparently realizes
that nothing is to be expected from the country
at large, hue that fact docs not discourage it.
II once more appeals to Pliladelphia aud the
old system OF diyeion and trade committees IL to
be put again in operation. 1t has long been ap-
parent that the Exposition finances were fright
fully marred-not through any fault of tho Board
but by the shameful neglect OF Government
yet We must do tho best he can. Those who be-
eved in the hearty corporation of distant
States We're snroly very ignorant or very credu
lous. Congress- should have known better, ard
did know better.-but II was cruelty indifferent.
So, after all, either Philadelphia must foot tho
bill, or tho contractors must be given notes to be
redeemed out OF tho Exposition receipts. This
last will, | believe, be the result.
Tho city ha3 given amply and
cannot be expected TO do much more.
Some subscriptions will doubtless como in, but
the bulk of the two millions that will be requr-
cd before the opening of tue Exposition will
it IL feared-hayo to como finally out OF the re-
ceipts. OF course there will be means OF rds-
ing the money OH such security, and there is no
danger of work ceasing, but it is disappointing
not to find the entire receipts sot apart for run
ming expenses and the repayment OF share
holders. As to the condition of the work moth
ing could he more favorable the mechanics
of your State, especially, are overwhelmed with
compliments on all sides. The progress OF
Machinery Hall is something marvellous. IL
will DO finished long before the contracted time.
ES-Priest Gerdomain IL bold man even IL
he In not u juiclous one. Not dismayed by the
recent attempt to mob him, at which time 1t WAS
made sufficiently clear that there WAS an ignor-
ant, reckless element here ready and anxious to
take his life, Gerdemsnn follows mp his admirably
cool conduct on that occasion By delivering hlr
promised lecture attacking the Catholic Priest
hood. Midsummer lectures are not deemed at
tracttvo as n general thug but Gerdemann
proved very great hit. The audience was
enormous, and ii horticultural Hall had been
who wanted TO get in. There was no disorder.
eytra police precautions having been taken. Al
it to be il the front at any possible disturbance
tho Mayor himself WAS present, and aftor the
lecture escorted Mr.. Gerdenann 10 his carriage
and drove away with uln. II seemed to bn msdo
test case, in view of the threats OF breaking
IN tito meeting, whether full freedom OF speech
was 10 DO allowed in Philadelphia on exciting
religious topics. IL need hardly DO said that the
ex-priests attack npon Catocl-m-Or rather
upon tho pTiCsthood-waa very bttor IL MAS
strong and forcbe throughout, aud often
reached plano Of decided eioquence. Gcrde-
mann is of parts, and it is easy
to under stand how tho church should havo beou
anXious to retain him. aud also how 1t hates HIM
now tint ho has become an apoHtatc. He
charged the priests with deliberate and system
lied GorruptiOn with physical eNcesses and inn
proper use Of church funds; described their al
legged protgacy, immoraiity, gluttony, aud
drunkenness; and exposed the plot, as lie
termed it, to conquer tho United States and at
taoh the country to Tome. Every thrust, whetf-
er rGaaOnablo or absurd, was received with
cheers. lEo appeared, in fact TO dernonstrato
his caso as to tho worthessness Of some OF
the priests; or if not tho persons free
y named by him have iine opportunity
OF "proyiug character" As an instance OF the
personal nature Of this remarkable speech, the
speaker aaid Bishop Wood commanded that a
fne banquet bp spread upon tue iinshinS OF st.
Bona facius' church, of which Gcrdemann was
pastor The Bishop hoped that the 'feed"
would be u better QUO than that which had just
been given by an "Irish priest on some similar
occasion, and wished the bill Of fare and tho
wine l.hG Submitted for his approved. That BAN
anet cost sl00J-paid for Of course by the servant
girls pennies, coaxed ont Of them for tie sup
port OF tho iufalbo church. The picture drawn
of tho debauching of the prieHts--lnd IN matters
even worse than drinking and gambling. winch
must leave TO be impiied-was u terrible one.
1t is generally felt that the matter cannot be al
lowed to so rest and that Gcrdelnaln must be
answered.
Tie New York money excitement caused but
little excitement here. On the first receipt OF
the news, stocks went down and gold went up
tho inevitable see-saw-hut very fow hours
showed that there was no fear of panic such as
set in upon the failure of Jay Cooke " Co.
Duncan, Sherman S Co. did little business
from philadelphia, who have been heard
from. Neither do onr citizens travelling
abroad have further to go than DreXel ~ Co.'s
to obtain credits recognized in every European
Capital TO be as good as any in the world. The
folly of parting with good stocks under the pree-
sure of q mumeutaly " street excitement was
shown III this rs no often before, but the
recovery was rapid that losses were not great
Such arc the times for the spider TO p nnce ont
aud catch tho bowil1ercd and struggling ily.
The chap with his wits about him-and with the
| "ready" in his pocket, of course has but to
| sally ont of his den ut the periods when weak
| lineed stockholders arc ttmbhng about III order
| to make money by the mere twist OF ms whist.
There are 80 many railway riders in these days
| that a case brought before Il Police Magistrate
| relative to the right of Companies to charge an
added fare if tickets not bought in advance,
will attract attention. The magistrate found
| that the Company had not tho right. IL ID only
a matter of five cents in this casetle difference
| between the lS cent and % cents fares on the
| Germantown II. R.-but it will serve 10 well as
| greater sum. Tho case will b2 carried to the
| Gnher courts, where the doughty magistrate may
| be humbled or sustained. but one way or another
| a yexed question may be settled. Common
| sense IL againet this rttle in
all instances, particularly in such
n case as that of the Germantown road
| which Is no more than u street line, worked by
steam instead or horses. With as much propri-
| otv rides in the city passenger cars might nc
| forced to submit to an extra charge unless thcy
bonght tickets before entering the vehicle.
Alter an unacccuntabe DELAY tile " upper
deck" Of the new FarIuonnt Bridge has boon
opened to travel Cars run both ways unon it.
bv "turnouts" in tho manner ] referred to somo
time back, until the new i'oor OF tlie :" lower
deck" can DO laid. The Bridge is All
immense Improvement to tho section
and ~ the admiration Of oil visitors. II s nov
city TO ride along on loyel with the chimney
tops of tho Calowlill street houses that fact
will give you on idea OF the elevation, The ap-
proach OH tho western side neccssltntos great
amount of gradlng-private as well ~ public. \
few houses are left, nuhappily, below the street
level but In most cases the changes will increase