Wilmington daily commercial. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1866-1877, 1875-02-20

JI-DfATH OF REV. DIR. PATlIbUN-A NEW JOUR-
NAIIsIIc VESIuRE-lnE SEVERE wINTER-THE
RIVERS AND TuEsTREETs-DEATH AT A MArQUER-
AIDE, ETC.
Special correspondence Of the Commercial.
PHILADELPHIA, Feb. 10.
We have had our little election and everything
moves on much as ever. So far from the Po-
lice Magistrates proving novelty tho election
was in point of excitement and popular interest
one OF tamcst ever held here, the vote being very
light The cold weather of Tuesday had
something to do with this, doubtless,
but tho more potent reason for the lack OF in
terest lay in the facts that Republican predomi-
nance was so evident that members of that par
ty did not think it worth while to make any spec
ial effort, and that the opposition for their part
knew that the struggle WAS unavailing. III Re-
publicaue had realized, after the day opened,
that tho Democrats were coming out stronger
than they anticipated, there would Of course
been rally to get out the party vote, and go
perfect Ia political organization in the cities at
our day that this is not as difficult Il matter as
it may seem to be,--but no such contingency
arose, and the reserve force which
votes right when it does vote
lut never goes to the polls unless escorted
there, was allowed to indulge it's questionable
repose. The result as you have been Informed
was a substantial Republican triumph. The
work of the Reform club came to exactly moth
ing and the Union League is the truo victor OF
the hour. 1t is quite natural that the League
should be somewhat jubilant. 1t took very
bold stand in the matter, forced the party to its
view and insisted on reconstruction OF the tick
ct. This done, it elected that ticket. 1t is
political event of no little Importance Phila-
delphia is the leading Republican city and the
League has shown that it is the headquarters of
the Party here. shall we find 1t taking larger
share in public affairs on the strength OF this
| triumph? Perhaps the next President may be
nominated at Broad and SAMSON streets.
By-the-way, how are We to style these new
Police Magistrates Alderman 80 and so went
"uippingly on the tongue" but to say Police
| Magistrate Krickbaum or whatever the name
may be is awkward and cumbersome In Eng
land these officials are addressed as plain Mr."
but it is too much to expect that the royal Amer
lean with his love Of title will submit to any such
simplicity. Squire" 10 too primitive. How
would Justice" do 1t would not be surpris-
ing to find the Police Magistrate finally
dubbed Judge"
Tho complication between the Pennsylvania
and Baltimore and Ohio Railroads is ono Of the
principal topics. if indeed it does not outrank all
others. It is part of our faith here to swear by
" the Central" and sympathy is OF course all on
the side Of President Scott 1t would not be
possible to get any other sort of view expressed
by philadelphia Journal. With all this local
feeling, however, our people recognize that in
President Garrett, Colonel Scott has no mean
antagonist The wholesale reduction of rates
on the baltimore 4 Ohio Road fell like bomb
in Railway Circles. There at first a pre-
tence at the Fourth street Palace that
tho Pennsylvania could hold her own
Notwithstanding this cutting under OF her
rivaD through superior equipment and the
guarantee of greater comfort and speed to
travellers. But the money consideration il all
powerful, and reduction Of thirty to forty per
centin rates by transportation company travers-
ing virtually the same territory as another com
pany which makes no reduction can scarcely
fail to make things uucommonly lively,-for ev-
erybody but the Stockholders. When the H. d
U. reduction was announced 1t was sad that Tie
Pennsylvania could not follow suit as 1t WAS
bound by the convention OF last summer,-tlle
convention which Mr.. Gairett would not join,
not to reduce rates without the consent Of all
the trunk lines concerned. The question at
present is the Melancholy Danes, -" Should he
break 1T now Z"
Nccess;ty knows no law and it can be safely
said, the Saratoga Convention to the contrary,
that the Pennsylvania has but one or two things
to do, either to give the i. IL o. the New York
outlet VIII ch it asks else accept the gage OF
battle lower it's rates, and fight II out to the end
Taking the latter courae, and winning, COL
Scott will DO Railway KING without dispute /;
but il he is beaten either way the monopoly OF
the PENNSYLVANIA company-whch means Rail
way monopoly generally--is broken, scarcely to
be reconstructed in our day. 1t is very pretty
fight as it stands aud becomes hourly more in
The position OF Philadelphia, Wilmington q
Baltimore r II is not the least peculiar OF the
aspectss of the case. 1t is represented
neutral in the contest. it's interests
being largely connected with both the principal
parties. But in view OF Col. Scott's aggressive
ness it is difficult to see how this neutrality is to
be maintained. To-day, for instance, 1t is an
nounced that no cars from the President Street
depot Baltimore will be allowed to run over the
P. W. & b. to New York. BY this 1T may be
seen what a many handed agency "the Central
is or assumes to be. The President st. depot is
the main distributing centre of the p. W. & B.
but because 1t is connected.wlth the B. o. depot
Col. Scott orders that p. w. u d. passengers
and freight must come by way Of Charles street,
I N 1u inn "
Potomac--the pernsylvania's "feeaer. Neutral
ity under such a weight may be too dearly
bought.
The Methodist church has sustained great
loss in the death OF Rev. X. II. Pattison ID, d..
which occurred this week. DR.. Pattison, was a
J man Of extraordinary influence in his church,
: and it has been said of him that he had more
power in its councils than many Bishop. He
had been that sort of under Bishop, Presiding
Elder, and was gentleman OF distinguished ad'
ministratve power. More clergymen were col
lected at the funeral than have been seen TO-
gerher on any recent occasion and the opinion
was freely expressed that worker had been lost
) whom it would be impossible to replace.
This is not the very best time imaginable TO
start newspaper but Col, Mcclure is not to be
> put off apy longer The Press disappointment
his persistence, and he did not allow himself to
be cast down. In buying the Press he would
have come into .possession of complete and
well established newspaper ; in obtaining the
| Age he has only secured the Associated Press
i franchise. That is, in a sense, indispensable in
, morning paper, but it gives very different
, start from that Which he would have had in the
, other case. The Age itself will disappear and
Q leave no1 sign. 1t Las been, first and last, an
unfortunate enterprise. There is considerable
curiosity to sec what kind Of paper Col. Mcclure
will make OF the new Tn,es.
The condition Of the rivers is unexampled by
: anything OF late years. The Schuylkill has been
i solid for weeks. On several occasions when tue
. ice cutters have been busy in opening great
! stretches of water those samo spaces have next
!, morning been in renewed condition for the
= skater. Many people living opposite the lower
park cross the ice habitualy to their homes, thus
avoiding the detour necessary to reach the Cal
lowhill etreet-we cannot any longer say the
"Wire"-Bridge. No doubt the Delaware would
be also tight opposite the city it not for the
: constant patroling of the ice boats. They have
I | served to keep open channel up and down the
0 city front, and the ferry boats with this assis
a tarce have managed to keep few main tracks
fairly free in making the Camden trips. These
combined efforts have thrown the ice into strange
o shapes Blocks have been forced high upon
: one another on the bar stretching ou
from the Island, and the tide rising upon these
i, | obstiuctions and continually augmenting then
. through the freezing pro ,ess have constructed
" the elements OF polar scene which appears
y auite formida DE from the wharves. Now ant
u again mass will become detached, and verta
| ao;lo oIo IA I'm IN