davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
, 1875-01-22

There nrc efforts milking Mt Springfield to
abolish the State Board Of Equalization, hut
wo Inyo not Learned wl,nt is proposed to be
substituted therefor. So long rs the present
system Of taxation for State purposes by yal-
nation is adhered to, TINT Board, or one Of
some equivalent authority, is essential. The
Eoartl VIE created in the first instance to cor
rect abuses under the old, irresponsible 1rac-
tico Of assessments, and to abolish tllat
l,onnl without providing MI equivalent Board
would he 10 render tho ulatter Of State
assessments a farce. Wo think, however,
TINT the composition Of the State Boar,l
might lo wisely changed. 1t now consists
OF one member from each Congressional
District, with tho Auditor. This Board is
entirely too large for any intelligent or
prompt discharge Of its duties. Tnxation is
not levied by Congressional Districts, llor in
tho interests of counties, but in the interest
of tho whole Stntc. Tho law might, We
think, be appropriately amended by abolish
ing tho present Board, mud by milking the
Governor, Auditor, Attorney-Gcueral, Sccrc-
tary of State, and Treasurer, cr-oDico, +.
Eoartl to e'nalizo tho assessments. This
Heard would represent tho whole State,
woall be in possession Of full information,
would lave tho assistance Of tho Attorney
General, aud could actually perform tho lu-
ties more intolligently aud aquitably than
any Bonrd elected by districts. If the Lcgis-
1aturo propose to reform, the Board, We think
the reform might take this shape. A lnrge
annual expcuso would thus be saved to tho
State. and very much better Board Of
Equalization would DO substituted for tho
| preseut clumsy coucern,
, 1875-01-22

Presidents Rpecinl message to Congress as
timely and valuable, without any reference 10
tho rumorcd complications with Spain. His
reiteration of these recommendations within
so short time after his ann,7nt message is,
at lcast, evidence Of the very great importance
ho attaches to them; whether 1t hns moro
Significance than this or not lo hns not seen
proper to mako public. Ccrtainly if VIC aro
likely to havo war witt, Spain, Or oven il thero
is remote probability of it, the conamoncst
prudence suggests tho supply Of henry rifled
ordinance which Tho President recommends;
and, if there is no indication of such MI
event, it is infinitely better that money bo
expended in this direction than in the way at
additional expenditures on stone forts and
wooden ships.
Tint portion of tho message which refers
to tho conversion Of our / 900 large smooth
bora cannon into rifle should receive the i'm
inedinta sanction of Congress-. The money
asked for this purpose is insignificant ns
compared with tho demands usually nado for
grent public improvements. The lato
American experiments with riflcd cannon
show us to DO in advance, in this branch of
ordnance, of the European nations; and, if
$3.50 900, or twice that sum, will ennble
Us to arail ourselves fully Of this alyan-
tage, wo should not DO slow to appro-
priata it. The invention which has made
tho proposed change practicable is Il
riflcd stcel core, which is introduced into tho
old smooth.boro guns. Tho cast-metal guns
nro heated, which expands tho bore. Willie
in this condition tho riled steel core is driven
in, md, when tho iron cools. it shrinks on
tho core, holding it hard md fast. This steel
coro III found to add greatly to tho strength
OF the gun. Tho cannon thus reconstructed
is practically new weapon OF double strength
for longer range and extraordinary poaetrat-
ing power. In this manner, largo old-style
ordnance, rendered utterly useless by tho
improvements in iron ship-building, be-
comes thoroughly efficient As stated by
the President, a 10-incll glnootl-bore
can thus be converted into MI s-incll
rifle, capable of piercing over foot Of iron.
This 10 rather undertaking than overststing
the efficiency Of tile ncwly-invcnted rillo-bore.
Tho experiments nt Boston, some months
since, showed that these romodcled guns
drive bolt, at short range, through fourteen
inches Of iron, and into thick oaken wood be-
yond. At longer range The force was corrc-
spondingly great, throwing either bolt or
shell. Tic London Times, in commenting
on these experiments, said that, If they were
correctly reported, these new riile-cannon
could pierce and explode any iron-clad man,
of-wnr in the British navy. Certainly wc
II, Il f.:1 u. y IL.
, 1875-01-22

Tho Illinois Statc-II House investigation Inns
apparently turned MP something that ought
to llaye been exposed TO tho atmosphere long
ago. The Committee reported to the Lower
liouse of the Legislature yesterday Tint tho
allowances for "wnstc, handling md profit"
have hcen nearer $40, 600 than $s;a1o, 900, rs
originally estimated; that some work has
been paid for twice over; that Teniten-
tiary labor has been pnid for Mt The
market-rrice fer FREQ lnbor; and that there
11nve been frauds Of grenter or less proper
lion running through thc whole tino Of tho
construction Of the building. It must l'o
said, before nny conclusions nrc hastily
formed, TINT tho Committee Of Investigation
WIS from tho first hostile to the interests up
on which it WIS appointed to sit in judg-
n,cnt; moreover, the report is merely pre-
liminnry, and cannot be accepted as at MI
final.
, 1875-01-22

1t begins to l0nk very 1lucn ha tltonGn alt.
B. i. ALLEN, erstwhilo of Iowa, bnt more re-
Gently Of Chicago, is n sort Of Western jar
CooKr Tho circumstances Of the failuro Of tho
bnnk over which he presided 10 not seem 10
be highly credtablo to him. Tic came to
Chicago with O great flourish Of tr1lnpets.
Like JAR CooEE, his wealth was estimated at
fabulous figures, nwny up in tho millions.
Like Jar COOKE, ho had played tic rolo Of
philanthropist an,l boncfactor. Liko JAY
CooEE, he inycstetl in railroads and wildcat
speculations, insteatt Of following the L.
yitinato paths Of tho banking bnsi-
ness. Like JAY COOKE, l,o Ind half
n tlozon banl5s located in various cities
mud states,-ono Of them in Now York. Liko
JAY CooxE. he was "s1rawlcd out " in nll Ill
rtctions, and was dabbling in everything, aud
carrying everything, from speculative rail-
roads to speculative newspapers. Like JAY
COOKE, too, he seems to have oarnedhis repu-
tntion for generosity md gool-fclowship at
tho expense of tho stockholders and deposit
ory in hs bank. But, unlike JAY CooEE, liz
has not lnado over his entire renl md personal
property for tho benefit Of tho creditors ofliis
bunk though, if llo did, tho resemblance
would reappear in the fact that tho property
Of both men is very generally pledged, and
likely to bo exhausted before tho creditors Of
tho banks can lie satisfied.
There aro so,no circumstances connected
with tho failuro OF tile Cook County National
Bank which Mr.. ALLEN must fully explnin
before ho eau expect to be roinstatcd i'll the
good opinion Of tho public The settlement
with Mr. SPENCER, whereby, in consideration
Of ST., 900, llo released tho former owner of
tho bulk of tho shares Of q guaranty whicl,
might havo accrued to tho benefit Of the
creditors, is one of them. The sweeping
conveyance of nil his own assets under mort
gage for m indefinite period to a New York
bnnking firm, Of which ho in member, IN
another. The conveyance Of Il mortgage on
his Chicago homestead and furniture to n
"prefcrred creditor" ut tho last moment,
is third. His throwing of uninl-
proved property, which he had taken in
lis own namo at high prices, upon tho bank,
is fourth. The withholding Of mortgages
and documents revealing this Btate OF things
ILL after tho collapse, is fifth. We arc also
informed that only certain stockholders wero
notified of thomeetingat which twas resolved
to close tho doors, while all the others wero
kept in tho dark.
AL these circumstances reflect but littlo
credit, as they now stand, upon Mr.. B, I.
ALLEN. Evory nann in business life is subject
to rovcrses and failurc, and there is nothing
dishonorable i'll it per Sc. Even bud manage
ment is frequently more to be piticd than
, 1875-01-22

LowlH U. Austin, Of Austin. Tlorp & Co.. Ee7
York. 1lod in that city yesterday.
Boston had 100 flso.anrnls last year, and lss,
So, OF. .303 and expenses thereby.
Dr.. Kaao, OF Detroit, died In that city yet!
day. For twenty years ho llaa haon ono Of IL.
leading physicians Of Detroit.
Tho great-great- grandson Of Daniel De'ne
MI idiot. 1Ioro Ia q reflection on Irwin, liue.
descendant OF benjamin Franklin.
1t ia Horrible death to die, to be emall-Talkel
TO death. but tile Louisville Conrier-Joarna
small-ralkor can't kill Sheridan TINT WY.
When the Now York Sun is short OF beams
turns, az it did in the daya Of its infancy, to ths
nevar-fai|iug joke about Doacon Richard South
To road how MeBsrs. Dodaon 4; Fogg paraIsl
into court Mrs. Bar<lel1, Mrs. Elizabeth CIul
pins, aud tho rest, is refreshing revival jus.
now.
Mrs. Josephine Cable, the amablo wife of 7, T.
Cable, late President Of tho Rockford, llots
Island l. St. Louis Railroad, has been IGl h
rest.
joaquin Miller cut his hair on returniac.1
London, but preserved his poetic individually
by lonning green pan.aloouH. Ills cap and bea
will ba nssumed Inter.
It is not true that Biehop nobortaon has d..
posed the Nev. Dr. Holland, OF st. Louir. Il:
questioning the comfortable doctrine OF etelrI
damnatton during tho recent cold snap.
Miss Ada Dyas, it is said, is soon to pceon.
Mrs. A. 0akoy Hall. II tho marriage ia to tos
tho stago OF Mlss Dyas, m injunction siotl b
served upon her. The stage oanuot spare l,er.
Col. II. J. Green, woll-known Illinoisan, ar1
vsr ,tfea IN Wedr.saav ,,,obt NJ Omaha In,
tho afrect 1T wonnda rccoiyad during tha ael,
ut Nashville. Tam s.,
r,,,. H., T.. ....,
=, A. 49, ue'.a,.e1, s ...' "ass
e.., sas ~ ~ .a ~ .ts.a a. ,s.a a ss'"s4 y,
1;,.ae tA.a ,.as ~ ~ . e.aaa ~ "
a.rns ~ 'N ~-'S -A'''
t-'..4''s sssa"e"S' A''|'
hoeause 171n'oaa Saea Wealthy Me1'eau @
tneplo' eoi'' s.aopeo n.a WIG tno papers w
.'Ak'os sst1io" iuss' 3ust ~ snonsn itse
uotn a.ea a a. nau ~ hHs , ~ u. s'nss- 49,
pnoo' ana 'o' "-'AA AZ e'''N''''' MAN "'4'1''"
"e p'o'''o.
unf!hg 1ao an8'alaaon oi tno !'o4' ueo'::
fiunapnfogs, as paatof o1 ZIG Nof'h A"ho'ss ~
grogational Church. = movement Waa snads =
prevont II py several people, VINO t1oaee'a 's''
give them) SAID his sermons wore ZOO aaot''
And this ncas the iAas quarter Of tue ntos1eeoa
ceu'4iS'
Alexander Franz Eur Hosen lived in y
Petersburg, and Sarah Epskein In Ciucuna;.
nu.. .;as - IT,. ...i.s t.. ~ t-.~..,,, .or.,
ihe t1oee Of time casfloa .nef pnotograpn asF"
tho stormy seas aud ice-bouud waAtoB Ct IL
Eass' ana, ampel'ed oy love OF tne pnososrs11 1'
ho came to Join aud we'd Ills affinity SOU nla
away, And they vczo wedded,
Tho question which agitntes Brooklyn Ia
minor degroo Is, whether man who La. ts:,
aaa.asod - s16oof ,or aat,nctjon by = iuryls,
fitting person for tic Board Of Education IT.
T,nse,,s ID = 1t,t1. ,,ncortain ahont hIa t1rtv IL,
A!usela III Lts!1 uuoe8tH'a epout LIZ uutt' ~
auxiously waita to soe what Beochar will do
nI.ced IN a a,,n,,ar nrodtcanont.
'.vpa w. - 49,. 1 .aat top.oao ia ,a,nton,, ,r, 81,
, 1875-01-22

The Chicago produce markets wore iTcg-
ular yastsrdsy. Aess pork az aetlve, and de-
eHnod 20u per brl, closing at Sl7.75@l1so
caah, and e17S3 l.s@17.e6 for February.
LAs1 VIII relatively quiet, and "a per 1uo tbs
, 1875-01-22
INDEX TO ADVERTISEMENTS.

THIRD PAGE City, Suburban. anh Conn!ry Real
E.s Waat. r. ont' sG. aaa M Gs1ans ns inst cts
h!NIlI hAt!f:.i!at'f'ad TiEh',fsh;c. etc.; ctc
BETfST11 Pht}E-Ainusc,nonts, t>ccnn StcAmsh[ps
Legal Fur Sale, Proposals, sfcdlcal Cards. otc. hto
, 1875-01-22

ORIENTAL LODGE, No. 81. 4. T. A. M..Specis1
nn tiA {Er.lasl rsuninE at ~ otlock, fof
"'@-' - - il. N. TUCKER, sao'y.
, 1875-01-22

. CiItCAGo MUal.i'M-Atonroo ptrrst. between Dear
horn and Htate, 4'Thfeo Yeas In MRn-1Eap."
, 1875-01-22

GRAND NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. street, opposite
Ehermau i1nusa. Kelly i Leon's Mlnstrs11. " LIS
trace the Duko.h
, 1875-01-22

HOOIEYa NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. atrent between
Ullrk and Las,alis. "Magnn1in."
, 1875-01-22

tt'vlCK FRS T1fEATRg-a afndl'en street. hetween
n4Arhorn Anf ntAte. Engagement Of thb 6tsAkosoh
UperA-Troupe. " Ernari.'
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1875-03-25
THE INTRRNATIONAL COMPRO-
MISE.

A New York letter writer to the Calves
ton Nesos, who seems well posted upon the
subject he discusses, says that considerable
dissatisfaction prevails in New York among
the stockholders Of the International Rail-
way, at the result of the late legislation in
this State concerning their interests. The
large stockholders are especially dlssatis-
fed. Being bankers, they are at = loss to
know what to do with lands which have no
nominal value. They also recognize that
in the proposed settlement no advantages
have been gained, which could not have
been gotten years ago, without all the ex-
penso of waiting. Another thing which
operates toward this dissatisfaction is the
present stringency Of money matters. The
bonds, they claim, would have enabled
them TO readily raise money to continue the
building Of the road. The writer seems to
think, however, that sober thought may
suggest to the company that the settlement
proposed is the best that can be gotten, and
the company may therefore set to work to
place its affairs in proper condition to pro-
coed with an enterprise which has already
cost $l5, 600, 600, and which 1t is impOlihc
to suffer to decline IN value. The writer
sinks that self-interest viii force the build
ing Of the road to Austin, and, before a
great while, to San Antonio; that the dis
satisfaction now evinced viii soon disap.
pear, and nothing retard the prosecution Of
the work on the route. He thinks that,
ultimately, this rOad win pass through
Mexico. and then Austin viii be one Of thu
most important cities on the great inter
oceanic line.
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1875-03-25

THE character of the outrageous swindle
interjected surreptltiously into the postal
laws, for the sake of increasing the postal
revenues to offset the privilege Congress
men were voting themselves of franking
some hundreds of tons of bound boredom,
can be strikingIy illustrated by explaining
that it makes the postage on transient daily
and weekly newspapers practically prohibit
tory. In fact, the transient postage on
many of the larger and heavier journals
amounts to more than the subscription price
and postage together when they are regu-
larly mailed to subscribers. The absurdIty
of such system is self-evideut. One cent
is fair rate of postage for transient
newspaper, and the Forty-fourth Congress
will no doubt vote to return to it.
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1875-03-25

THE commissioners selected by the Gov
ernor to locate the two penitentiaries are
Messrs. Lang, Of Falls, Brown, of Gregg,
Gregg, Of Cherokee, Dryer, Of Bexar, and
Ed. Burleson, of Hays. A donation of the
site OF two hundred acres is required and
since the western penitentiary must produce
woollen and cotton yarns and cloth, its site
will be fixed with reference to accessibility
by rail to cotton fields and to coal and water.
Each Of the commission will be much in
clined to favor his own locality, and since
none represents this city, as a member of the
commission, there is perhaps nothing to
be gained by directing attention to the
facts and local interests involved. Since
the international and Texas Central con-
verge at this point and the Austin, Pacific
and Missouri, Kansas and Texas roads will
soon meet at this same point there is every
reason why the great cotton and woollen
mill should be built just across the river.
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1875-03-25
ABOUT THE CHANGERS.

The Charleston Nescs and Courier says il
has been asserted that the Grange move
ment is in its decadence, and that the in.
terest which was formerly so generally felt
in the Order is rapidly dying out. The
facts scarcely justify the assertion. The
monthly bulletin of the National Grange,
dated the first instant, shows the total num-
Der of subordinate Oranges in operation as
90, 547, the aggregate membership of which
might be estimated all the way from 1880,
900 to 1000, 900. The number of subor-
dinate Oranges organized in 1874 was II,
941, or about 1000 more than were organ
lied during the six years existence of the
Order prior to the year named. The amount
received during the year 1874, by the Ma
tional Grange from subordinate Oranges,
in the shape of charter fees, etc., was $179,-
COS, against $161, 615.43 received prior to
Lnat year. Dur1ng tho existence of the
Urder ninety-three Grange L----oOsEs0TT-
dated, thirty-one have become defunct,
and Iii have had their charter re-
voked. The cost of materials sent
out to subordinate Oranges by the National
Grange, in 1874, was $40, 541.9O. This
data, which is obtained from trustworthy
source, is pretty conclusive evidence that
the Changers are neither dead nor sleeping,
and that the accessions to this Order last
year were larger than those of all previous
years combined The time must come, Of
course, when there will be falling off in
the number of new Oranges organized,
since in many of the States such organiza.
tions exist in every county, and there is nc
room for more. Iowa, which for years led
all the other States in the number Of
Oranges, now stands No. on the list, with
zoos: Missouri, with 2O16, and Indiana,
with 2Oi7, preceding her. Illinois follows
with 1867, and next comes kentucky with
1917, and Ohio with 1149. The Order
still seems to flourish most in the Southern
and Western States. The great State Of
New York has but 500 Oranges, and Penn
sylvania only 4s2, New Jersey Sc, Connec.
ticut 8, and Massachusetts, but SO.
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1875-03-25
LAWYKns ANp Eprrons.


Oliver johnson, one Of the witnesses in
the Bcecher-Tilton case, is singular sort
of man. While holding the distinctive
views Of the UniversaIists and spiritualists.
he has been for several years managing cdi-
tor Of an orthodox paper, first the Iadepen-
dent and then the Christian Union. In the
latter he has been the virtual editor, Mr.
Bcechcr being little more thar a figure
head. johnson has been practicing gross
hypocrisy, or else he regards theological
opinions with indifference; or, is it not true
in the North that an editor, like a LAWYER.
is a tradesmanl Both have intellectual
wares for sale, and deal with the highest
and best bidder. Beecher found in John
son the best possible ''religious " editor,
even though johnson bea confessed pagan,
denying the existence Of God. He was q
mere conduit pipe, through which Beecher
talked piety and Puritauism to people and
pulpits. A lawyer is ready to defend OF
prosecute, and only hesitates wheH inviting
fees draw with equal force in opposite di-
rections. If johnson had not filed the
ghostly chair some outright hypocrite may
have taken it, and johnson has been
honest, ever asserting that editor johnson
was good Presbyterian, while the man,
johnson, accepts extreme Darwinianism.
We have seen Republicans shaping the
course Of Democratic newspapers and Demo
Gratis laundering in the pages of Republic
can journals. When condemned they an.
swered ST we were not here some one would
come to do the work as well or better and
while, therefore, we wrong no one we secure
bread for ourselves and families" In truth,
down East and even in st. Louis, no one
can tell how an editor votes because he fills
chair in a newspaper Office Of clearly de,
fined partisan status. In his Office, he il
one man; on the street, quite another, and
editors become, like lawyers, professional
men," Here, in the South, we have ever
been accustomed to deem each employee on
the pages of newspaper responsible for its
utterances. The absurdity involved is pat.
ent when we reflect that no two men concur
in religion or politics and no one man can dc
all the thinking for daily newspaper. The
newspaper is the combined thoughts Of
many people deriving inspiration from as
many sources as there are books and news
papers. Despite this fact we cannot very
well understand how a Republican can be
the political editor of a Democratic organ
or how that heather Johnson conducted SC
satisfactorily to the editor and the public
that eminently pious newspaper the Chris
tiaR Union.
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1875-03-25

A NORTHERN gentleman, writing from
Austin to his home in the Northwest, says:
"The change from ice, snow, sleet and
wintry blasts to green fields, blooming trees,
budding flowers, golden sunshine, and soft,
caressing breezes, is most inviting to those
who have passed through more than three
months of the severity of an almost Sibe-
rian winter. We love Missouri, the State
of adoption, fondly and we'll; but we love
Texas more Her immensity in extent is
almost incomprehensible she has more pro-
ductive soil than any two States in the
Union; wider plains, richer prairies, the
greatest number of rivers, purer and balm
Ter atmosphere and more enchanting land
scapes; more and cheaper acres for the
home hunter, lower taxes, and better
market than the rest of Gods heritage can
boast of -
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1875-03-25

A REGULAR line of steamships now plies
regularly between Norfolk and Liverpool
and Bremen. It is owned by famous
company of scotsmen, Allan Bros. If the
International road were completed, the
trade and travel of Texas alone would fur
nish more freight than Messrs. Allan's for
ty-six steamers could accommodate. The
railway lines from Chattanooga to Lynch
burg and Norfolk are again in perfect con-
dition, the bridges in Eastern Tennessee,
recently washed away, having been rebuilt.
Jacques, McGhee and Malone are the great
railway men of the South.
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1875-03-25

A CORRESPONDENT writes to the STATES
NAN about the meeting of certain judges
and late State Senator at San Antonio,
out of which he expects to see matured a
Congressional candidate, and another State
Senator. And then he wants to know
when 1t became proper for gowned and be-
wigged gentlemen to befoul the ermine in
the arena of partisanship9 We cannot
answer, and have reason to state that the
lnftar -Elisites, IIuurvve inquiry respect, mas
been led astray and completely deceived.
We have been vigilant, too, and know that
the meeting which created these impress
sions had for its purpose no such object as
the letter writer mentions.
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1875-03-25

built, the land is valuIess, and if the road
be extended to the Rio Grande, the wealth
Of the State viii be so enormously increased
that the loss Of S22, 600. 600 signifies moth
ing. But there can be no loss when that
which is lost IS now worth nothing. So
true is this that the danger is that the own
ers Of the international cannot use the
land as a basis Of credit. If this be true,
the absurdity Of the argument affecting the
enormous loss sustained by the State in
granting lands to the company Is practically
demonstrated. The road must be built at
any cost, and at any cost it is cheap, and
the State is enriched by its construction be
You'd computation.
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1875-03-25

ATTORNEY GENERAL WILLIAMS is re-
ported to have stated that, after the adj
journment of the extra session of the
Senate, he would resign, and accept a
foreign mission. Now, that we have
steamships and telegraphs, and the world
isn't more than 5000 miles in circumfer-
ance, if 5000 when the foreign mission
business was established, all these sinecures
should be abolished. People don't care to
be pIundered to send deadbeat parsons like
Simpson, and swell-head lawyers like Will
liams to strut among European noblemen at
European courts. Foreign ministers and
plenipotentiaries should be knocked on the
head entirely.