davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-02-19

The developments in the Beecher trial yes
terday were of a more striking and sensa-
tional character than any yet produced. What
we have hitherto had has been largely repe-
ti,ion of the stories of last Summer. But the
appearance yesterday on the stand of Mrs.
Tilton's own brother, to give testimony
which he evidently thought must weigh
heavily against her, was as CHASTITY a
feature as the dreadful tragedy has yet ex-
hibited. The testimony in itself does not prove
great deal, but tho fact that it comes from
brother, and the obvious importance he
himself attached to it, must be sure to make
it an important element in the case.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-02-19

After all, the Senate is deaf to the petition
OF Mr.. Pincbback. While the vote OF yester-
day was not decisive of the main question, II
was generally understood that the adoption OF
Mr.. Morrill's motion to lay the subject on the
table would be gentle way of saying mo "
to the claimant. Despite Mr.. Mortons per
sistent efforts, crowned by an all-mght
struggle, a few Republicans joined with the
Democrats, and Mr.. Pinchback is still out IN
the cold. His chances will be poorer still alter
the 4th of March.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-02-19

In an action brought to restrain the Green
witch Street Elevated Railway from certain
extensions, rather unexpected answer was
given by the Company to a declaration that
it charged higher rate of fare than that TO
which it was legally entitled. 1t was replied
on behalf of the Company that the less rate
of fare mentioned had never been refused.
We suppose all the passengers hereafter will
economically tender five cents instead OF the
ten which they have been accustomed to pay.
1t may be presumed that the Company will
not make the same answer if the experiment
be tried even for single day.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-02-19

A letter from well-informed correspondent
makes some startling suggestions concerning
Pacific Mail methods at Washington now
There is no reason to suppose that such
an unreasoning blatherskite as Mr.. Rufus
Hatch would hesitate at any steps to save
a subsidy which he is foolish enough
to think vital to his Company, but
we have no means of judging whether
our correspondents information as to
q resort 10 the old ways is accurate. What
he says as to the impudent claim that the
subsidy cannot be repealed because it is a
contract is open to less dispute. Congress re-
served to itself the power to terminate the
contract at any time; and there could be no
better time than when it is proved to have
been obtained by gigantic corruption.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-02-19

If the election of Mr.. John Mitchell to the
British Parliament was merely intended to
convince the world that there was still disaf-
lection in Ireland, it was perfectly useless.
Probably not dozen men who had paid any
attention to affairs in Ireland believed other
wise. If the voters of Tipperary wanted
to set an example of dignifed alb
stention from the use of political privi-
leges, they would have done better to avoid
returning any candidate to Parliament, and
would have been more consistent. Mr. Mitchell
having been disqualified from holding seat
in that body, his SOD, by a kind of inherit
ance, is to be the next candidate. If the son
is also declared to be ineligible, then the
votes arc to be squandered upon compare
lively unknown man, whose only qualification
for candidature Is apparently bis disability to
hold Office. This system of warfare may be
irritating enough; but there is no reason to
believe that thereby the interests Of Ireland
will be promoted to any large extent.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-02-19

The passage of the bill for the Improvement
of the Mississippi River by the House OIL
Representatives without a division, while COL
SCOTS Texas Pacific Subsidy scheme hangs
fire. shows that Congress has at least just
appreciation of what the South really needs
for the development of its material resources.
But the Jetty bill passed yesterday Is ny no
means a sectional measure; its object Is al
mitted to be of national Importance, and the
means proposed seem to be the best and most
available yet devised. 1t will doubtless have
an easy and speedy passage in the Senate
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-02-19

Mr.. John Taylor Johnston has done pub
lic-spirited thing in applying for an injunction
against the Christopher aud feminist Cross
Town Railroad Company. to restrain it from
obstructing the street in front OF his residence
with snow. There is hardly street railroad
company in tho city which is not liable to
thousand similar actions on the part oil
aggrieved householders. If a few will prose-
cute them vigorously the whole community
may expect relief, and it owes thanks in ad-
vance to those like Mr.. Johnston who step to
the 'front.'
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-02-19

TUE TRIBUNEs MONTHLY CALENDAR.
The large AVures Of tie small ones
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1875-02-27
THE SUPREME COURT REPORTS,

A bill is now peading in the General AS
sembly to make the Office of the State Kepor
ter of the decisions of the Supreme Court a
salaried office. 1t is human to err, and we
have no doubt that the State Reporter, sur
rounded byand imbibing the tendencies OF
Springfield associations, would be very hap.
Ply to become pensioneron the taxpayers
sumptuously at their expense. 1t is a wise
constitutional provision that taxes should be
uniform, and the corollary to this proposition
is, that the benefits should be uniform also.
In the pending bill the latter feature is en-.
tirely ignored, and the people are unwilling
" made to assume Il burden for the benefit of
class. If the reports are too numerous,
ana 1t is too grevious burden Upon the law
yers to buy the reports and pay for them, let
the existing law be so amended as not to re,
quirc every case heard and determined IN the
Supreme Court TO be published in the reports,
and let only those be published as are Of i'm.
portance to the profession, 1t is Il bad prece.
dent TO tax the people 10 make books cheap.
er which are used only by the lawyers.
Neither can the party who are now in control
of our Legislature afford to compromise their
hold upon the people by adding burdens for
the benefit of the reporter, or the lawyers. II
this bill is to pass and become law, there is
only one way in which it can be made to bear
the test of scrutiny and satisfy the people, and
that is, to so amend the bill which is propos
cd to cheaper the cost of books to lawyers
onehalt, by inserting section which shall
provide that whereas lawyers now charge ten
dollars for the trial of cause before Justice
of the peace, they shall hereafter charge but
five dollars; and whereas they now charge
from fifteen to five hundred dollars for the
trial of a cause in the Circuit Court, they shall
hereafter charge from seven dollars and n
half to four hundred and fifty dollars for
equivalent services. In this way the uni.
formity in benefits might be preserved.
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1875-02-27

II. Watson Webb, of Cairo, Illinois, two
years ago a member Of the Illinois legislature
ard man of decided ability; at home regar
ded as a first class lawyer and moving in the
highest social circles, has disguised his
friends and the community in which he lives
by deserving an excellent and devoted wife
and several helpless children, and clipping
with widow Of Cairo, of more than doubtful
reputation, with whom he had been on crimi-
nally Intimate terms for some time past The
fugitves are said to have gone to California,
but as to fleeing from the disgrace of their
position and the goading OF a guilty con,
science, they might as well have fed to the
next town. There is no escape for such so
entirely certain as plunge to the bottom of
The Mississippi.
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1875-02-27
THE SUPREME COURT NONSENSE,

J The Aurora Beacon talks az If 1t believes
the movement of Mr. Garfield, in the legsla
ture, to remove the supreme court for the
northern grand division from Ottawa to
Aurora, was serious one. What earthly
reason could be given for such a quyotic
movements Aurora Is in no respec. as &C
cessible by railroad to all parts of the district
as Ottawa, and is just fifty miles from the
Centre, while Ottawa is as nearly as possible
at the exact geographical center Besides
Aurora has no building comparable with
that at Ottawa to accommodate the court, and
has VIGOROUSLY the poorest hotels of any city
of Its size and pretcntions in the state, while
Ottawa is noted for the excellence of its lead
ing hotels. Oswego would be preferable to
Aurora. That village has at least respect
able court house for which it can have no use,
and can't have any meaner hotels than
Aurora,
But, says the Beacon, if we can't have the
court at Aurora, we are in favor of the con
solidation at Springfield Why?
The BearoR don't condesCend to give any
reason why, except sort Of inferential one
that Springfield should have the court he
cause it is the state capital. That is Just the
reason why the court should not be held there
The capital is where the lobbyists and pro,
fessonal corruptonists gather; where living
Is fast and extravsgant, where hotel rates are
high, and where the court, if anywhere,
would be most likely to be surrounded by all
the worst influences in the state.
If all the state institutions should 60 to
Springfield because that mudhole happens
to be the capital, then why not move the FL
gin Asylum to Springfield, or the various
state institutions at Jacksonville, the State
Normal School, the Champaign Industrial
College, the pcnitentlary &c, &C.,
Hitherto our state has pursued the policy
Of distributing those Institutions to different
localities, and Il is sensible policy, The
expense IN supporting the insane at Elgin is
less than at jacksonville, and the saving to
the people in transporting patients from nor
thern Illinois to Jacksonville is enough every
year or two to cover the expense of erecting
the asylum at Elein. So the saving to llti
giants in having the Supreme Court come to
them instead Of being obliged to pay law
miles to find the court and live at expensive
hotels, is great enough each year to pay all
the tritling expense the erection of a few
buildings and the purchase CT a few more law
books involves
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1875-02-27

The incidents of the Beecher trial during
the past week have been, upon the whole
rather racy. After the evidence of Kate
Cary, the wet nurse, that Mrs. Tilton had been
accustomed to meet Beecher IN her bed room
and sit on his knees saying that she felt $50
So" followed by that of Mrs Tilon's brother
Mr.. Richards, who had caught Beechcr and
Mrs Tilton in an equivacal position in Til.
tons back paror one day; came Mrs. Moul.
ton, who testified that Beecher had repeated.
ly confessed his guilt to her, had whned to
her about it, talked of suicide, and been en-.
couraged by her and lifted out of his despoa.
dency by her kissing him on his forehead
and telling HIM TO never mind, and so on
Then unexpectedly the prosecution announc.
ed that they had no more witnesses to call
and "rested." The opposite s,de were so tax
en- by surprise taat they asked for an adjourn
ment over Wednesday, which was granted
and GA Thursday, Mr. Tracy commenced a
Two days opening speech for the defense.
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1875-02-27

The Chicago Tribune degrades itself by
Joining in the senseless howl of the Spring
field Jouraa! over purely imaginary "bur
eau OF correspondence alleged to have been
organized by speaker Haines, consisting of
the various legislative clerks The degrade.
,ion Of the Tribune is infinite when to this
howl it adds grossly false and malicious
attack upon lady of Kendall county, who
had the good fortune to be elected one of the
assistant engrossing clerks of the house. The
lady was elected by a free vote of the house,
and Is no more indebted to Speaker Haines
for the position than she is TO Josef Medill
The lady referrd 10, IN all that is elevated and
refined in woman, is as far above these vul
gar attacks of the Tribune, as the editor Of
sheet by such attacks, must lower himself in
the estimation Of all honorable men
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1875-02-27

which the supreme court has decided must
be paid back to the taxpayers, was used by
the county of Edgar in paying the principal
of its county railroad bonds proceeding
winch, though illegal, all the people OF the
county are satisfied WITH and the county board
appeals 10 the legislature to legalIze. Az to
how this can be done, the Legislature confess
es to be conundrmm that stumps it,
The senate on Tuesday very sensbIy de-
cidcd against the passage of a bill to incur
the useless expense of taking census of the
state in 1875.
The house on Wednesday decided to take
up bills on the third reading 80 as to give
the senate something to do Among the
bills thus taken up was Branson's bill to
extend the jurisdiction of county courts, so
that "the terms of the county court for pro.
bate matters shall commence on the third
Monday of each month during the year, and
shall always be open for the granting of let
.ers testamentary and guardianship, and for
the transaction of probate business, and hear
ing applications by insolvent debtors tor dis
charge from arres; or Imprisonment, and all
matters cognizable at the probate terms shall
also be cognlzabe at the law terms. The bill
was passed.
In the same way the house passed a bill
estray notices hereafter to be pub
llshed in the county where the estray is taken
up or, ifno paper Is published there, in the
nearest newspaper, instead of in the Spring.
field JoUsal, as now required by law.
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1875-02-27
SECRETARY robson ON THE RAGGED
EDGE,

The rumors which have been current tor
some time past of questionable practices in
the navy department at Washington, and
which received a new impetas from the re,
cent attempts to burn the navy building, have
within a week or two assumed definite form
and consistency. Some legal proceedings in
New York lead to pretty close investigation
into the affairs of the banking house of Cooke,
McCulloch & Co, of London, and although
very strenuous efforts were made to keep the
evidence taken in the case out Of the papers
some newspaper correspondents have been
prying into the matter and made the Hiscov
cry that, during the panic of 1873, when the
London banking house aforesaid was on the
verge of blowing up, it received very timely
aid in the shape of two drafts, for 100000
EACH from Secretary Robson. Robson call.
cd these drafts, which were for gold, payable
In the city Of London and we're part Of the
appropriations for lhe navy placed under
Robeson's control, deposHs, to be drawn
against at his pleasure; but it seems he has
never drawn against them for the obvious rea
son, that his checks would have gone u pre-
test If he had; and the only security he ever
took for this enormous, deposit" was about
100000 worth of railroad iron, which had
already been mortgaged TO double its value,
and which has since been sold
The upshot of the whole business is, that
Robson loaned the house of Cooke, McCul.
loch & Co million of government money to
save them from going by the board with the
rotten concern of Jay Cooke & Co., of which
the London house was a mere branch and
that the government has 20 sort of security
for the money and in the end will lose it |
Robson had no semblance of legal right or
power TO make the loan; is no better off than
if he had converted the money to his own
use, and ought to be proceeded against by
he government as dcfaulter
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1875-02-27
NEWS ITEMS.

For the first time in forty years North river
was sufficiently brdged with ice at New
York city last week to enable persons to cross
on foot.
General Jackson received thirtysix votes
for United States Senator, IN the West Vir.
gina Legislature. II is honorable to human
nature that it cannot be wholly Invested of an
abiding reverence for that sterling manhood
and incorruptlble political honesty and IN.
tegrity which the name Of Gen. Jackson al
ways recalls, though its manifestation
may be ever so fatuous.
The Rockford Register reminds its readers
that there is lady in that city over 100 years
of age. She is Mrs. Stiles, and has seen one
hundred and seven summers. She is now
lively and well, and often walks down to
Main Street.
Farmers in the vicinity of Cairo predict
that the wheat crop will be very light this
year. They also think the recent cold wealth
er will have a tendency to put quictus on
the ch;nch-eugs.
The Executive Committee of the State Az
rIcultural Society at Springfield, on Tuesday
last, located the Illinois state Fair for two
years at Ottawa The Age congratulates OF
lava 1t Is beautiful little city in the heart
of one of the best farming sections of the
world-{R<fustrial Age.
Van Dieman's Land has its grasshopper
plague and in December-early summer
there-the district where they are was strip
ped of every green thing, and even clothing
and leather were Gevoured. The only hope
of the remainder of the country was in the
starvation OF the insects before they reached
maturity.
The Supreme Court has reversed and re
manded the case of Walker Us. Albrecht-
which was tried some time ago at Princeton,
in which the plaintiff recovered verdict of
$4,000, fer selling beer to her husband, by
the defendent
Jesse Pomeroy, the Boston boy devil who
was found guilty, several months ago, Of
murder ia the srst degree, has been sentenced
to be hung, all efforts TO have his sentence
,c Imprisonment only having
failed. I
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1875-02-27

Rhode Island has imposed upon its Gov.
ernor the apparently impossible task of dis
covering within it, boundaries site large
enough tor the erection of a new State House.
Joliet not only showed her ability to ape
Ottawa in the erection of an opera house, but
has also succeeded, in imitation of Ottawa
In organizing club on the model of out
Audubon club, occupying, as our club did,
the front rooms on the second floor of the
opera house. When the slowheads of Jolie,
find out that the Opera House at Ottawa Is
burned down, they will try to initiate that
also
Rabbi Brown, of Peoria, the eloquent He
brew divine who lectured in Ottawa a month
or two ago, has challenged Bob. Ingersoll to
an open discussion ofhs atheistic sophlstries.
Bob seems in no hurry to accept
Hon. r. f. 1revelick tell in Detroit abopt
week since and broke his arm. His numer.
Gus friends in Illinois will regret to learn
this, and all will hope that he will be suf.i.
ciently recovered to attend the Cleveland
convention on the 18th of March
Judge Drummond, on an agreed state OF
facts submitted to him by the standing com
mlltee of this diocese, has rendered a very
able and conclusive decision that the recent
election OF DR.. DeKoven as episcopal bishop
OF Illinois was strictly in conformity with ali
the laws and usages OF the Church,
Earnest Ortweip the butcher of the Ham.
nett family near Pittsburgh last April, was
hanged on Wednesday, and no one can say
he did not deserve his fate. His victims were
five in number, Mr., and Mrs. Hamnett and
three children.
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1875-02-27

What is to be done about turning HE pu
tr!d waters of the Chicago river into the Hi
nos? If the water is so poisonous as to kill
the fish, as it is certainly now doing, and
causing the waters of the Illinois, at all all
holes IN the ice, even in winter 10 stink equal
10 the Chicago river IN It's rost putrid state
in midsummer, what must the ultimate effec,
be upon the health OF the entire Illinois val
ley? Or upon Peoria, which must not only
breathe the noxious vapors of the polluted
stream, but drink its poisonous waters? |,
will not be long before the turning of the
DRAWINGS of the filthy city this way will raise
bigger political stink than the waters do
now,
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1875-02-27
ANOTHER LOUISIANA REPORT.

The report of the subcommittee that went
TO Louisiana in December last, though COM
posed of two radicals and one democrat, was
so unsatisfactory to Grant and the other rad
cal leaders at Washington, that 1t was felt
necessary to save Grants management of
Louisiana affairs from utter disgrace, to send
another committee 20 New Orleans and patch
up state OF facts more agreeable to his in
perial majesty. The second committee has
returned, but though composed of much more
committee, the report is substantially the
same, They agree entirely with the first com.
mittee that the story about intimidation at
the election last fall is without foundation;
that at that election there had been "A fair and
full registration of voters and free and
peaceable election, at which cleer conserv.
alive majority was elected to the lower house
of the Legislature, of which majority the con
servatives were deprived by the unjust lille.
gal and arbitrary action of the returning
board
These facts settled, the condemnation of the
whole military management of Grant based
on the false assumption that the carpet.bag.
gers and negroes were in a majority in that
state, becomes hidcous outrage. The mill.
tary interference with The assembling of
the legislature in January and the torcible
expulsion of the conservatives from the legis.
lative chamber and the installation of a rad
ical rump, becomes an outrage against liberty
as gross as any against which our fathers
took up arms in 1875. In view of the facts
settled by the Investigation of these commit
tees, but one honorable course is open. The
same military power which expelled the fairly
and honestly elected conservative representa-.
tives OF the people from the legislature should
be employed TO ut.them back, andhaving un.
done their wrong the military should be
Withdrawn, and the people of Louisiana left
free TO work out their salvation in their own
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1875-02-27
THE ILLINOIS CANAL.

In response TO a resolution Of the legisla
tuse the Commissioners OF the Illinois &
Michigan canal laid before the house last
week a very interesting report in regard to
the business and management of the canal
for the last fifteen years.
The report shows that while the canal was
in the hands of the foreign bondholders the
total salaries paid TO officers, agents and men
employed continuously was :SS1 ,301 % year
while under the commissioners the same sti
ponds during the year amounted to but 3d.
050,--a saving of 2,2492 5 per annum
There are several very interesting tables in
the report, which bear with equal favor on
the present management. The report closes
with the following general summary:
Bushels corn by canal in 1873. 1868 900
Bushels corn by canal in the last9
years ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. Ia, O34 34S
saving by canal per bushel, say
cents. Saving in storage, say
/ cent.
Amt saved to producers on corn
by canal, 1874, at > cents. ..-..$ S3lS4 90
Estimated saving on all other
freights by canal in ~ 80. 226,54700
Estimated saving on corn by Ca
nal in the last l9years. 80. 6,2Ol III 90
Estimated saving on all other
fIeights in last 10 years ...... 496l ,3730O
Estimated saving on freights by
canal from 1913 To 1856. 4,307 $1,000
Total saved in 10 years $1,000. IL. l63, 900 95
Grand total saved since lSiS.. e.. 1925, $40 %
Gross total collected since 1913. 5022 067 90
Gross expenses same period. go. 2,l69, 7S4OO
Net income. ................... 2,S52, 2s3O