Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1875-02-18
PHILADELPHIA.
our SATURDAY LETTER.


-DEPREssloN In THE rKADE-TuE oIRARD Es-
rATE-THE JAY COOKE BANKRUPToY-A THEATRE
CAL REVIVAL, DO.
Special Correspondence Of the Commercial.
PHILADELPHIA, Feb. 13.
Politics have taken turn that is without To-
cal precedent. This time it Was not enough,
merely, that conventions should nominate can
didates for the people to vote upon. Other con-
vontions stood behind, and carefully went over
the cut-and-dried work Of the regular bodies,
making very practical mot TO say revolutionary
amendments. or this intention you have been
informed, and within these last daysit was made
evident that there WAS to be an effort to let the
people csme nearer the important matter Of
choosing candidates for Office than they have
hitherto done. There arc many persons who
think they are exercising Tie right of suffrage
to the usssost whom they vote for certain in
dividual presented to them for that purpose
or else refuse to vote at all. The Union League
and the Reform Club are giving these easy going
individuals . few elemental lessons on suffrage
responsibility, and the results will be watched
with interest,"
Tho League having thrown ,ts great influence
in the scale in determining AZ Republican body
the value Of the Republican nominations for po-
lice magistrate, and having as the result OF this
criticism decided that two Of the nominees were
unworthy OF support, the public waited curious.
iy to see If the managers would accept the Broad
street dictum, and come down. They did 30 very
gracefully. The obnoxious candidates were in
duced to return their nominations and new men
were named in their places. This was a substan.
tial recognition Of tile Republican leadership OF
the League and there il reason to believe that
the club is very much set up thereby. The re.
suit il Of course not due alone to the political
weight OF the committee Of So, but to the force
behind that committee, the many hundreds OF
-I.kx, ti..,u aud
social standing largely represent the Republican
party in Philadelphia Tho League is OF course
now pledged to the reconstructed ticket aud viii
use effort to elect it.
On the other hand there is the rival political
organization-the Reform Club. Though not
80 old or wealthy as the League the Reform Club
is very ambitious, and its friends say it will
shortly make it's mark not only in local but in
national politics, And what do these reformers
do in the matter OF securing good men for Po-
lice Magistrates? They take the singular course
Of providing two tickets, each composed OF un.
exceptionsble names, and Of which tho voter
can have his choice, One OF these tickets is
composed three -fourths OF the Republican nom
inees and onefourth Of the Democratic, and the
other is three -fourths Democratic and one
fourth Republican. The Republican
voter is assured in accepting one of
the Reform Club tickets that he will vote
for the best men oil his party ticket together
with certain democrats who are better than the
Indifferent material at the bottom Of that ticket
(although passed by the League, which could
not afford TO be too crlticaD while the Demo-
crat who may take the companion ticket has a
parallel and similar assurance. Tho Reform
Clubs position is strongest in(this, that it stands
entirely impartial between the two parties and
desires only to see the best men elected. Party
ties however are so strong that the show OF fair
ness which the League has made, acquiesced iii
by the managers, will probably be enough for
the great bulk of voters Oh that side,-and
Democratic boiling il uncommon. Still, the
spectacle is novel and instructive, and will no
doubt arrest the attention Of men interested in
public affairs.
urally occasions tumult here. Petitions have
been unanimously signed and sent to Harris
burg, contending that the passage OF the bill
would be cruel blow to tho material interests
of the city. The Board of Trade is very active,
also, in demonstrating the injustice OF leglsla-
ton which would deprive us Of our most valued
exports, and prostrate an extensive business
interest. 1t ia certainly lively question, yel
it seems hardly worth while to become undul,
exercised % abe about it. o1 The psnnsylvAn, ataIa Il
the matter to allow the s.at que
to be changed. Those who have faith in tina
company need surely want no other assurance
that everything will come out right, and those
who have not that faith,-well it can only be
said OF them that their education has beel
shamefully neglected.
Another effort is being made to reduce pass
enger railway fare to five cents-or falling that
to make those companies refusing to make thu
for the privilege OF charging the fare now de
manded. Representative Bardsley has intro
duced bill at Harrisburg declaring that an.
company charging more than tive cents far'
shall pay yearly tax of $500 on eacl
car where such extra fare is asked. Th
probabilities are that il forced to 3 choice thu
companies would rather pay the tax than relln
quish the present fare, but il they did even SO
the result would be considerable accession tt
the revenues Of the city. Wa all know five
cent fare would be ample the companies nov
making tremendous protits-protits exceeding
by far any known returns from invested capita
hereabouts. But having such All uncommon,
good thing it is perhaps not unreasonable LAX
ing men as they are-that they should desire =
keep it, Perhrps the most ihGignant ride
would do the same thing precisely II he had tht
chance.
The annual meeting OF the American Iron all
Steel Association was held this week. 1t wa
not joyful meeting. The Panic has nowhef
been felt more dsastrously than in this import
| ant interest and the worst feature of the case
that there ia not even yet the slightest sign OF
reaction or couree iron il being CONSTANT
, consumed but there was an over large produc
ton in 1878 and the stock on hand at the ou'
Z bre ak of the money troubles suifced for Ion
while, under the light pressure made upon il
Railways repair their tracks only when absolute
, ly compelled to do 80, and all extensions an
of the trade may be sufficiently gathere
from the fact that over half Of all the iro
furnaces of the country were "out G
blast" on the 1st of February. The proportio
OF "bown out - furnaces has been speedll
increasing and has now reached the lowest poir
, marked since the panic began. Iron men car
not say whether the downward run viii stop her
r or whether furnaces will continue to CLOSE
Q The association is very severe upon Congr et
! for its unlimited granting of lands, and the eI
| Mt al tn buIIi rAilruA1a which
/ not needed. 1t ia affirmed that the depressu
Ia is largely owing to these causes.
j. The Ledger calls attention to the interesti
d fact that the income from the Girard Estate
l. growing at Il rate which persons unconnecte
ii with the Trust have never realized. The pr
a perry is all now, or may easily be made, higl
q iy productive The suburban lots have been a
!, preached by the city and are desirable for built
!. ing purposes; the coal lands have been opent
|. and found to be very rich; the expenses Of Il
10 college steadily decrease On the Pnssyul
" Road Property, alone, it ID stated, ten tlousar
Al homes might be erected, yielding million III
half dollars year. 1t requires NJ, stretch
the imagination to see comparatively early ds
when the yearly income OF this magnificent o
tste will be many millions of dollars. This Ca
n not all go to the education of orphans. the who
oi municipal expense could be betrayed byit. VIII
O. will it be, say III one hundred years? But it
u nothing to worry about, however we may spec
y late.
le An effort was made this week to secure Il
VI discharge of Jay Cooke 4 Co., as bankrupts, Al
re thereby effect an absolute settlement with til,
~ creditors. Very few OF the interested parti
OF were in attendance and another adjournme
es was had The proposed basis of settlement W
'ir Is per cent in cash and 85 per cent in Northc
n, Pacific Railway bonds. Depositors who had
I'll their savings in the house, and who now of
p times badly need their money, think this Offer
eS rather discouraging one, but it is no worse til
'H' has been anticipated for long while. 1t is VI
~ possible the bonds may yet be AZ good az g
TX for those who can wait, but it is poor comfort
90 men who want the money they have worked HI
ny for, to hold these certificates for the benefit
nd their heirs. Ia there any human method of c
re- culsting the misery caused by that gigantic II
Gu ure?
ire Miss Nelson has caused an excitement
amusement circles by reyiving Shakespeare
Comedy OF Measure for Measures . play 80 seld
performed as to be practically obsolete. ]
Ia, impression created by Miss Nelson's Isabel
or, was not deeply satisfying. although this actr
a ia one who is always pleasing to the eye. ]
are play s offensive to the taste of this age, and
ey. task Of thoroughly cleansing it, without destr
be ing the whole fabric OF the piece, is next to
ae psssible Furthermore, if purified, it could n
ia or be good acting play. These facts suifcie
uc- ly explain its being ''shelyed" 30 long.
op- 1SDEx
nd