davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Portland daily press., 1876-03-03
philadelphia Bulletin.)

OuooCA WIN UaS uAOtCIs
During one of the few cold snaps that we
have had this winter the gas meter in Mr..
Butterwick's house was frozen. Mr.. Butter
wick attempted to thaw it out by pouring hot
water over it, but after spending an hour upon
the effort, he emerged from the contest with
the meter with his feet and trowsers wet. his
hair full of dust and cobwebs, and his temper at
fever heat. After studying how he should get
rid of the ice in the meter, he concluded to use
force for the parpose, and so, sezipg hot po-
ker, he jammed it through the vent-hole and
stirred it around inside of the meter with
considerable amount of v;gor. He felt the ice
give way, and he heard the wheels buzz around
with rather more vehemence than usual. Then
he went up stairs.
He noticed for three or four days that the in-
ternal machinery Of that meter seemed to be
rattling around in remarkable manner. 1t
could be heard all over the house. But he was
pleased to find that it was working again in
spite of the cold weather, and retained his Sc
renity. s. ....r
About two weeks afterwards his gas bill
came. 1t accused him of burning 100000 feet
of gas. and it called on him to settle to the ex.
tent Of nearly $350,O00. Before Mr.. Butter
wick's hair had time to descend after the first
Shocks be put on his hat and went down to
the gas office. He addressed one of the clerks:
"How much gas did you make at the Blank
works last quarter? t.
81 dunno; about million feet reckon"
SWELL you've charged me in my bill for
burning half million more than you made;
want you to correct it,"
LESS see the bill. Hm-m-m-this is all
right It's taken off the meter. That's what
the meter says" .t- ..
.spose'n en-, It does. I couldn't have burned
"Can't help that. The meter can't lie.''
"Well, but how do You account for the diff
ference?'
"Dunno. 'Taiut our business to 90 nosing
and peaking around after scientific truth. We
depend on the meter. If that says you burned
SIX million feet. why you must have burned it,
even II we never made a foot of gas out at the
works." ..a
ITO tell the honest truth" said Butterwick,
'that meter Was frozee, aud stirred it up with
poker and set il whizzing around"
Price just the same, said the clerk. 1--WE
charge for pokers just like we do for gas.'
''You amt actually going to have the audac-
ity to ask me to pay $S4O,OO0 on account of
that pokerr'
that would surprise you. Ply or we'll turn off
your gas"
"Turn it off and be hanged" exclaimed But
terwick, as he emerged from the Office, tearing
bis bill to fragments. Then he went home,
and, grasping that too lavish poker he ap
preached the meter. 1t had registered another
million feet since the bill was made out. 1t
was running up a score of hundred feet
minute. In a moth Mr. Butterwick would
have owed the gas company more than the
United States government owes its creditors
So he beat the meter into shapeless mass,
tossed it into the street, aud turned the gas in
side the cellar.
He is now sitting up nights writing an es
say on ''Our Grinding Monopolies" by the lish
of a kerosene lamp.
The Portland daily press., 1876-03-03
A Few Figures.

1t is now some ten months since Mr.. Bristow
dropped in, uninvited, on crooked.whisky fes-
tivites. What has been accomplished to date?
A dozen or more of the gang are snugly be-
hind the CRATES of the Missouri and Indiana
prisons; several others are awaiting sentencej
good many others have been brought to peni-
tent and confessing frame of mind. First and
last, true bills have been found against 253 per-
sons. OF these, are revenue supervisors,
collectors, 8 deputy collectors, 7revenue agents,
rs government gaugers and store.keepers, 50
distllers, GA rectifers 10 Wholesale liquor deal
ers, "a miscellaneous" OF the IL jury trials
to date, 13 have resulted in convictions, in ac-
quIttals, one in a disagreement. No less than
50 have saved trouble and expense by pleading
guilty. Property has been seized to the value
of 81, $50, ,724; the assessments upon dlstlllers
for producing illicit spirits foot up ", O,571;
the suits already brought on gaugers' bonds call
for S244. 900 more; total s., 1861, ,295. Suits in
large amounts have also been brought against
the dishonest rectitiers, but, as bonds are not
required of these gentry, 1t is not expected that
yery much will be recovered The sum actual
ly recovered into the treasury to date is stated
in the New York Herald (from which we take
the other fgures) at $195, ,503; it is believed at
the treasury that the close of the spring terms
at st. Louis, Milwaukee, Chicago and Evans
vile will swell this sum to Sl,000,000 more.
Meanwhile the making of Illicit spirits has
been cut short. Since the 10th Of last May,
no Case of fresh fraud, or attempted fraud, has
come to the knowledge of the government ofn-
GERS. The taxes have been paid on the nall,
aud there has been no leakage. The treasury
estimate is, that the governments Is IN some
$4,000, 0U0 o year by Mr.. Bristow's operatlons'
-Springfeld Republican.
The Portland daily press., 1876-03-03
The Fallen Secretary.

The fall of Gen. Belknap is most mourn
full event. and will do much to aggravate the
mutual distrust which is growing so preva
lent in our politics, business and society. 1t
is thing to be treated soberly aud sadly, and
will be subject of deep sorrow and regret to
everybody who has an iota Of pride in the
nation; yet it will be caught up eagerly by
the opposition press and used with sort of
atrocious glee as source of partisan COM
plaint against the administration. Exactly
how the President is responsible for this
grave delinquency it will be impossible for
iair-minded people to see. When he ap-
pointed Gen. Belknap to place in the Cabi-
net the action received general approval, and
ever since he has been regarded as above sus-
picion, and has not been even charged with
malfeasance or improperly by the keen
scented carrion crows of the opposition press.
He enjoyed alike the confidence of the Presi-
dent, Cabinet, Congress and people, and his
misconduct is equally shock to all. The
attempt to make anybody but the Secretary
himself responsible for his action will be
grossly unfair. He has misused his great op.
portunities and has violated the confidence
universally accorded him. He, and he alone,
is responsible for bis conduct, which no care
or foresight on the part of his associates could
have prevented or detected.
The Portland daily press., 1876-03-03
The Nominations.

The Republicans of the several wards were
successful in making list of nominations
which we have no doubt will meet the hearty
support of the rank and file of the party.
The caucuses were generally large and har.
monious. In some instance there are those
who have not secured the candidates they
desired, but from what we hear the acquies-
cence of the rare minorities to the will of the
majorities has been most marked.
Now that our nominations are made, it
becomes every Republican who desires his
party to hold the ascendency in the city to
set himself to the work of winning victory. 1t
can be done by personal effort-by laboring to
get full vote. Every man counts in this
fight. A halfdozen men in ward may turn
the scale and the party negleHting to get them
out will lose.
An excellent feeling pervades the Republi-
can voters; yet we must not forget that our
enemy is in earnest and will do all that mon
ey can accomplish. They will be out in
force at every point and we must meet their
reckless desperation with earnest and per-
sistent work. We believe that if thorough
personal work is done by the seven hundred
Republicans out at the caucuses last night,
we shall be made glad next Monday evening
with CHEERING VICTORY. ~
The Portland daily press., 1876-03-03


Last year the PRESS spoke of class Of citizens as
denzens of the slums of the city; and before that
stigmatized them as Irish attle."-Aryus.
We challenge the editor of the argus to
produce from the editorial columns of the
PRESS any such words as ''Irish cattle" in
connection with the voters of this city. If
the editor of the argus cannot find such
term, will he own up as becomes fair per-
son who finds himself in the wrong. Pre-
cisely what we did say after the election last
spring is as follows:
The thorough organization Of the rumselling inter-
ests and the lavish expenditure of money and labor
was not met by corresponding effort on the part or
lawabiding people-hence the signal triumph of this
interest" The large majorities OF Wards and 4
which are chiefly inhabited by our naturalIzed fellow
citizens could not be overcome by the RepuDhcan
maJorities in Wards 8. 8, 6 and q.
1t is the Argus which spells negro with two
"gs," and in its funny seasons puts "Pat, the
pig, Biddy and the children" in one small
room on Fore street. The PRESS does not
base the right of suffrage upon race or color !;
but when it sees the reckless leaders of the
Argus party bringing up men by the score
who cannot read their ballots and cannot in
telligently state their residence and the time
they have lived in the city, it purposes to ask
if intelligent reform can come through par
ty whose majority corresponds to the number
OF such men, such managers, by any means,
fair or foul, can vote.
The Portland daily press., 1876-03-03

The Baltimore american believes that the
Republicans of Maryland are almost unit in
favor of the nomination of Mr.. Blaine for
President. 1t says there is also friendly
feeling toward Mr.. Bristow, and probably the
ticket of "Blaine and Bristow' would meet
with general acceptance with Maryland Re-
publicans.
The Louisville (Ky.) Jefersonian Demo-
crot, fortunately, is published only once
week. 1t is rather too solemn for everyday
reading. The first page of its latest issue is
maihly occupied by two letters, one of which
Is headed, "As Mr.. Davis and his associates
uiu not commit treason, amnesty is not an
appropriate remedy" and the other, "The
luea OF 'sacredness' in public debts discussed
and repudiated." '' ''O
IL Is noticeable and lamentable how com.
pletely the name of Governor Tilden has been
wiped from the Democratic slate. Sevmour
beyond all Question, leads him TODAY az tbe
choice of New York, And all because the
Governor wtnt too far on the Canal scheme.
and yet not ar enough. He left one landing
and had not courage nor mule-power to make
another, nd tied his boat up on the Flats.
A reform b,gun for sham only causes dust
and confus on, makes nothing, and builds
nothing.
The Albany Journal has been counting up
the fruits Of three months of Democratic as
tendency, and finds these results: Eighty
rebel officers in Congress; the power of the
committees in rebel hands; the arrogant as
sertion OF the rebel spirit on the floor of Con-
gress; the presentation of a host of rebel
claims; the development Of rebel Democratic
revolution In several states; the encourage
ment of petty rebel insults on every side; the
nj At,s0 - Al
rency.
1t seems a little strange even in these days
OF "conciation" to find the Washington cor
respondent Of the Augusta (Ga.) Constit,.-
tonatist writing: "The Republicans are en-
deayoring to make capital out Of Senator
Gordon's Atlanta speech, as they did out OF
the address OF Gen. Toombs and the Ander-
sonville speech of Mr.. Hill; but the record of
Gen. Gordon as gallant soldier of the Com
federacy, and the Conservatism and patriotism
that have characterized bis political career,
must render their efforts nugatory."
The Democrats in Congress are slow to
learn the lesson of prudence. 1t might have
been supposed that they had by this time re-
cognlzed the loss in popularity which is sure
to follow display ON the part of Southern
members OF ill feeling toward the North. But
the mistake of allowing Mr.. Hill of Georgia,
to display his well known sentiments was
again repeated Wednesday, nor is it clear that
Mr.. Cox was very successful in retrieving the
position when he replied to the speech OF Mr..
Hoar. The party leaders will have to take in
hand such malcontents as Mr.. Hill, and check
their effusions, or else disavow their senti-
ments. Otherwise the public will begin to
think that sectional antipathy at the South
still exists and is favored by Northern Demo
crats.-N. Y. Tribune.
The Portland daily press., 1876-03-03
Silver ReSumntiOn.

The question Of the substitution of silver
coin for our fractional currency is becoming
of practical Importance, and circumstances
are conspiring to favor the change. The
rapid fall in the value of silver, its de-
monetization by Germany, the restrictions
upon its coinage by other nations, and the
vast yield of the Nevada mines will enable us
easily to keep the required amount in circu-
lation. There will be no temptation to hoard
it, for 1t will command no more than its face
value in greenbacks. 1t can be easily OBJ
tained, and the Treasury has already in its
vaults one-half the amount required. 1t will
cost less to keep in circulation than the ex-
pensive paper change. 1t will be quite as
convenient as that change, and far pleas
anter to handle, and it possesses the decisive
advantage that it has considerable intrinsic
value.
or course because of its depreciation in
value as judged by the gold standard it must
be used as token coinage, and its issue
must be 90 restricted that it will suffer no
considerable discount. At present it is de-
preciated in the money markets of the world
because there is too much of it in circulation.
As in this country we have too many paper
dollars, and so they circulate at discount.
in some other countries there are too many
silver dollars, and so the value of them has
fallen. We must not repeat our mistake with
paper. We must coin only limited amount
of silver, as France and Belgium do, so that
we can keep it at par with gold. Otherwise,
when gold resumption takes place we shall
have too much silver, as we now have too
much paper, and gold will be driven out Of
circulation again by the cheaper currency.
But if the coinage be properly restricted, and
no man be obliged to take more than small
amount of the cheaper currency, gold and
silver will circulate side by side as the Eng
lish sovereign and shilling do.
The Portland daily press., 1876-03-03
WITH the swagger of "what can Won d

WITH the swagger of "what can you do
about it," the Argus gives the public to
understand that it is perfectly proper for a
member Of committee of the city govern.
put half of an appropriation into his own
pocket yet it will grow indignant in capitals
at the offense of Secretary Belknap which
was taking part of the profits of suttlers
Bad, it is true, but no worse than using a
position on the city government to give hima
seasons employment at his trade. The
Mayor, the chairman of the Committee on
Public Buildings, knew of this transaction
and sanctioned it while no political associate
of Gen. Belknap dreamed of his crime.
The Portland daily press., 1876-03-03

SENATOR JONES of Nevada, who is in
favor OF silver resumption, is preparing bills
to carry out his IDEAS. The points of these,
as given to correspondent of the Chicago
Tribune, are as follows: ''The first provides
for the coinage of silver dollar of stand.
ard which will raise it from the present scale,
which is, as compared with gold. 14.95 to l,
to about l6 to /, which shall be legal tender
to the amount of $50, except for duties on
imports and interest on the public debt. The
second provides that, upon deposit at the
treasury or sub-treasury of silver bullion,
certificates shall be issued for not less than
$40 each, and shall be legal tender, except
for duties on imports and interest on the pub
lie debt. In short, they will be United States
silver tender notes. representing the precise
amount of bullion on deposit for coinage.
The bill further provides for monthly sales of
Government bonds, say $3, 900 900, for gold,
to be applied in the purchase of silver bullion
to be coined into dollars, for the redemption
of outstanding greenbacks; or, if greenbacks
can be purchased cheaper, in the purchase of
greenbacks direct. Ia other words, to fix
the silver dollar as the standard of the green
back-the silver dollar being not that now
coined, but that of the value prescribed by
senator Jones's bill say, as he contem-
plates, in the ratio to gold of 1 to 49," AS
for the objection that this plan still leaves our
currency below the worlds standard of value,
the Senator argues: "Silver has an intrinsic
value, while the greenback depends wholly
upon credit. Outside the United States the
greenback does not circulate; but London
pays gold for our silver. Besides, silver is
the currency of not less than 100000, 900
OF people in the Indies, upon which England,
seeking to grasp the vast undeveloped trade
of that country, has failed to force the gold
standard. France, Spain, Belgium and
Russia are hesitating about the demonetiza-
tion of silver. Why is it not time that this
country, with its 45,OOO,OOO population, its
vast resources, its surplus for export, which
the world can't do without-its mines-why
should not the United States set the example,
ana instead of copying after Great Britain,
resume on the double standard? It would
have powerful influence npon the nations
now hesitating about it, to maintain the
double standard.
The Portland daily press., 1876-03-03
Work, W ork for Fessenden!


The Washington Star says that Congress
man Holman will withdraw as a candidate
for the Democratic nomination for Governor
OF Indiarla, and use his influence to secure
the nom nation of Mr.. Landers, the green
back no minee.
As th,, sickle of time wrestles along among
the Pre- sidential candidates, it very much
looks as though Jimmy Blaine, all the way
from Ma inc, will be the survivor of the har.
vest and the nominee by reclamation of the
Cincinnati Convention. - Lincoln (Neb.)
Journal.
The Portland daily press., 1876-03-03
RELIABLE EVIDENCE.

Mr.. H. R. STEVENS:
Dear Sir-I will most eheerfully add my Testimony
to the great number you have already received in ia
vor Of your great and good medicine, VEGETINE for
do not think enough can be said in its praise, for
was troubled over thirty years with that dreadful
disease, Catarrh and had such bad coughing spells
that it would seem as though never could breathe
any more, and VEGETINE has cured me; and do
medicine as VEGETINE, and also think it one Of the
best medicines for coughs and weak sinking feelings
at the stomach, and advise everybody to take the
VEGETINE for can assure them it is one of the best
medicines that ever was. MRS. l.. GORE,
Corner Magazine and Walnut Sts., Cambridge Mass
The Portland daily press., 1876-03-03

INAsNUcH as Mr.. Reed the city Solicitor
never saw or heard of the communication in
the P REss of Wednesday signed ''T'' before
it was published, the three column attack
upon him in the argus seems utterly uncal-
led for. The purpose of the editor of that
paper is too obvious. They always answer
argument by abuse; and inasmuch as they
cannot meet the facts and inferences legiti-
mately drawn from them, they take refuge in
a TRADE about other men and matters.
The Portland daily press., 1876-03-03

The Observation-Disclosures" as they now
begin to call themselves, can only logically
sustain their position when they explain
how the government can, any easier than
another debtor, pay its notes and at the same
time leave them in circulation. They know
it cannot be done. and they are in reality
opposed to paying the notes.
The Portland daily press., 1876-03-03
"Though'iess Boys"

~ Tue LUttOT W We ITeSS.
am not one of those thoughtless boys who
voted for Gen. Fessenden in caucus Indeed,
had intended before Wednesday to vote the
Democratic ticket. / was brought up in that
school and my only two votes thus far have
been with that party. was first set to think
ing about the tendency of the Democratic party
when the Mayor refused to let Devlin have
City Hall to lecture in. Wednesday went mp
to the Aldermen's Room and there witnessed
the reckless attempts of the Democratic mana
gers in the city to crowd the names of men on
the voting lists who were net sufficiently intel
ligent to tell how long they have resided here
when asked to give the month, or define the
street ON which they live-men who say that
they have resided in Portland three months,
but cannot tell the month when they came
men who after long questioning give their resi-
dence in some other towD,-men who cannot
read and will always vote under the dictation
of crafty leader. When I come to realize
that three or four hundred men of this class
are. the hope of the Democratic party in Port
land and that our leaders must cater to their
bigoted prejudices to get their votes, as the
public has recently witnessed in the case to
which have alluded, it is quite time that in-
telligent young men should vote with some
other party than the Democracy.
Portland, March 2, 1876. SCHOOL.
The Portland daily press., 1876-03-03
All Diseases of the Blood.

If VEGETINE will relieve pain, cleanse, purify and
cure such diseases restore the patient to perfect
health after trying different physicians many reme-
dies suffering for years. is it conclusive proof if
you are sufferer, you can be cured? Why is this
medicine performing such great cures? 1t works in
the blood, in the circulating fluid 1t can truly be
called tie Great Blood Purifier The great source Of
disease originates in the blood and medicine that
does not act directly upon it, to purify and renovate
has any lust claim upon public attention.
The Portland daily press., 1876-03-03
Gained Fifteen Pounds of Flesh.

SOUTH BERWICK, Me-, Jan. II, 1872
81. X. STEVENS, ESQ.,:
Dear Sir-I have mad dyspepsia in its worst form
for the last ten years. and have taken hundreds of
dollars worth of medicine without obtaining any re-
lief In September last commenced taking the VEG-
ETINE, since which time my health has steadily Inn
proved. My food dgests well, and have gained fif-
teen pounds OF flesh There several others in this
place taking the VEGETINE, all have obtained relief
Yours truly
THOMAS E. MOORE,
OVerseer Of card room, Portsmouth Co.'s Mills
The Portland daily press., 1876-03-03
What I Know About vegetine.
SOUTH BOSTON, NAV 9. 1870.

81. R. STEVENS, Esq:
Dear Sir-I have had considerable experience with
the VEGETINE: For dyspepsia, general debility and
impure blood, the VEGETINE is superior to anything
which have ever used. / commenced taking VEGF-
TINE about the middle of last winter and after using
few bottles it entirely cured me Of dyspepsia and
my blood never was in so good condition as at the
further particulars relative to what know about
this good medicine to any one who will call or ad-
dress me at my residence. 1856 Athens street.
Very respectfully,
MONROE PARKER,
1856 Athens Street.
The Portland daily press., 1876-03-03

SYMPTOMS-want of appetite, rising of food and
wind from the stomach acdity of the stomach heart
burn, dryness and whiteness of the tongue in the
els sometimes rumbling and pain costveness, which
is occasionally INTERRUPTED by diarrha; paleness Of
the urine. The mouth is clammy, or has a sour or
bitter taste Other frequent symptoms are water
brash papitation of the heart, headache and dsor-
ders Of the senses as seeing double, etc. There is
lection of the Spirits disturbed sleep and fghtful
dreams.
The Portland daily press., 1876-03-03
GOOD EVIDENCE.

CINCINNATI, Nov. rs, 1872.
MIR. Il. R. STEVENS: -
Dear Sir-The two bottles Of VEGETNE furnished
me by your agent my wife has used with great bene.
fit. For long t1ne she has been troubled with diz-
illness and costiveness; these troubles are now en-
tirely removed by the use of VEaETINE.
She was also troubled with dyspepsia and general
debility, and has been greatly benefited.
THOMAS GILMORE,
229& Walnut Street
The Portland daily press., 1876-03-03

The Boston University School of Medicine
turned out seven women doctors Wednesday,
one of them leading her class Of tkirty-one
and reading graduation essay. There are
new sixty-two women students in the
School.