davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune., 1876-12-23
THE RAILWAY WAR.

, puII kpYI pufNN's OPINIOS-MR. VANDERBILT VAN
otrsnED BY MEssEs. SCOTT AND GARRETT.
TO me Rditor or The Trtbune.
SIR; I have read with exceeding surprise
the reported interview with Mr. w. H. Vanderbilt vice
prcsidept ~ the NewYork Central Railroad, published
in your paper OF the sth ns regarding the efforts Just
made to settle the railroad war, the position his com
nany occnplcd n the and the results claimed
y hun IA ncal and IL had not so frequently
In the past opportunity judge Of the accuracy Of
your rrportct. should credit to the language
attributed to Mr. Vanderbilt when he "a reported as say
ing. $50 far from any concession having been made ny
~ every point which made have gained for New
York"
The railroad war began 10 April last, by Mr. Van
derbit Withdrawing his lines from the Western pool
combination for the expressed reason that IN conces-
sions allowed by his lines 10 those of Baltimore and THIS
city, u the Of the actual number OF miles less TO
these points from Chicago and st. Louis. than 10 New
York was working dsastrousy to his roads. which were
losing largely IN tglnc Ho therenpon reduced the rates
10 point which he supposed would bring submission 10
mis- demands, and announced It ns his ocy that mere
should no longer be discrimination N ne rats JTeghf
bsfreen ne Eastern eiiss and COMPETING points west Al
thai date the merchants Europe and those OF our West
orn cities could exchange products at tho same rates
for freight by all tn lines, and upon thls
point there could be no dispute Mo. 'ahuef-
blt announced this aa MS pohoy IN dehnIm ,etns. rs
compromise. however, looking " any Ont oTdt Fales
freight the West 10 Newly
Ralnorr will be agreed upon under aHy circumstances,
and vet when the agreement recently made and to wheh
b signature Is the rst In OrdeI, Is dvostcd OF al th
frauens matter simple understanding viii he found TO
raise The rates FOR freight with the percentage al
oW, Ia baltimore and thi city, which prevailed ut the
date he commenced from the principal ccnters
or trade In the Wos reference 70 the schedules or
rates In columns OF the daily press OF to-day Is SUM
cieut proof OF this statement. . -,
So far any concession having been made by Batl
more and this city, every point insisted upon has been
gained by ihem-and by reason OF the rn stand made
H. V..srs scott and Garrett IN defense 0f their Ie-
s4ectiyc cities onr merchants interchange traic
h INC merchants OF the West at rates from l3 to 10
nor cent below those OF NeW-YOrk
phiLaasiDhia Dec. 10, 1876.
New-York tribune., 1876-12-23
srETNwAY HALL EXITS INADEQUATE.

TO the Edttor OF The Tribune.
SIR: Following the just complaint of your
correspondent Major" concerning the dangers OF the
balconies In Steinway Hail. which you printed in your
issue OF Saturday, astOnshcd TO read in Mondays
TRIBUNE that the inspectors, having examined that
building excepting very mild objection 70 tho means OF
exit from "the upper balcouy"l had suggestion 10
make as they regarded the of ex ample 10 meet
any emergency"
At this rate the NewYork public must watchfuy In
spect the Inspectors IL Is certainly within your knowl-
edge and that OF every gentleman of your stafit is
simply notoriouthat tho means Of exit from the lower
balcony aro frlghfuy insufficient Instead OF being
ample To any emergency" they arc not ample to
meet emergencynOt tue very ordinary one OF deslr
ing 10 emerge" I'm decent comfort and with tocrabe
speed In the usual quiet and unfurried manner when
there Is no alarm excitement OF sort whatever
The "means" are one very narrow staircase, having
three turns" of them mnediateiy at the door OF
exit from the balcony, the door itself being very narrow
and involved with peculiarly awkward steps or stairs,
precisely calculated for preciptatng an excited crowd
tlrOug the fiimsy railing n fatal fall At the extreme
rear m the balcony there is another door OF exit which,
believe have but opened In the course Of q
long experience. ohAkP MAJOR
Neic- York, Dec. 1S, 1875.
New-York tribune., 1876-12-23
NO DANGER OF CIVIL WAR.


SIR: Under the head OF political Notes
YOU saw Gov Hayes will be next President, and there
won; be any blood spilled either" Correctl ! have
been a member OF e large trade Organization Tor %
years. and having held positions Of honor and trust
therein number years, my personal acquaintance II
necessarily large. have made II point since the
peWspapers began 60 talk about frauds" "hufling
tyrauts from their throne" &c. 10 get mp discussions
among workngmen Just tO what effect such news
p,uer articles had upon them. | have heard fc"
Democratic "howls," but rebel yella" The Demo
Gratis who talk fight" Americanborn citizens who
used 10 say 81 told you 50" whenever report OF n
ITuion disaster reached durng the and fOreigi
horn citizens who fcd 10 take out their papers duriug
pc war for fear uf draft Democrats who fought Tor
the Union not the who " talk hght' now, aho
they VIII help 10 put IN PRISON any one who hmls t'
interfere with the President hOm tue President OF thS
senate shall declare elected. There are also greet
many "Johnnys" IN our organization wLo have come
N0rth since the war ana Willis telr rympaihes aru win
guch men as WAGE Hampton h Southern local hnaiTs
they don't say much but thry gmiie dersyey when
niucn Mr. Editor you will md the "Johnnys" NJ well
a. the Yalks on the rlch SIDE II scrmmage should
take place LIT President OF the Sruate, IN the sen
ate Chamber declare Rutherford H. Hayes duy elected
President Of the United States, and Democratic dcdgh
faces viii not even "hOwl" but VIII "yelp' Ike "a
starved dog which has been kicked, and Will be ready TO
lick the hands OF those who kicked them prOYide iheN
can yet "A bono I'm the Hilapr ~ an Office. L. Z. IL.
RrOOllya A. L., Dec. l3, 1876.
New-York tribune., 1876-12-23
THE OREGON CASE.

THE GOVERNOR WITHOUT POWER 70 GIVE CIR
TlFICAIE TO THE DEMOCRATIC ELhCTOR.
To the EdttoT Of The Tribune.
SIR: There is an important point in the Ore
ron question which seems to DO rather ignored lost
sgbt OF in most or all of the discussions have Of
the status Of the Oregon electors and that IA the in
portant difference, ia legal point of view, winch there
must bo between the official canvass and false certif
cation Of it, Assuming the purpose OF the argument
that the official State is na and binding by
means assumes that certificate OF that
vass is equally or predomnantly but exactly the re-
verse for IL the official canvass is conclusive IL certainly
cannot reversed by the caprice OF the person O
whose simple clerical ministerial duty 20 certify
make record Of it, Now, If understand the matte:. it
is not and cannot be denied that the State
e in the Office Of the Secretary Of State OF Oregon
shows majority for all three OF the Republican electors
aud the plain and simple duty o! the Governor TO give
an official certificate OF that fact and That the only
ofcc had right perform In the case HIS duty
the matter simply and only ministerial, and he had
no more authority the vote Of the State
officially canyassed and properly recorded In the oiee
Secretary Of State than be had TO reverse each III
dyidua vote IN Tho state ana declare te lest 0i the
entire election Ia accordance with his own peculiar no
tiOns II 1t otherwise the Governor OF any State
might entirely reverse the official canvass, and declare
the vote according his sovereign will and pleasure,
and there would be redress Certainly then, while an
official state canvass may be final nOtorously false
certificate OF 10 cannot be binding upon anybody:
suppose, for Illustration, that appellate court had
rendered decision In case sustaining the Judgment or
the court below that the clerk for of his
own or which be had acquired should undertake in his
renittur that Judgment and IN bis nnandtte
should direct renircde nOpo Would anybody say that
snc6 mandate was entitled TO the sghest respect
that because he happened TO hold the oela position 10
certify the action OF the court thero was actually no
dress but that the mandate must be implicitly obeyed,
in spite OF the actual decision OF the cOurtI Certainly
not and writ o. M 1mr woan 20 me dccsGn OF tSa
in the present case. THOMAS r. How.
TaxL Uaa
New-York tribune., 1876-12-23
THE POLITICAL CRISIS.
nrropu1Nc TaE ELECToRAL SYSTEM.

pFFoRMING TIE ELECTORAL SYSTEM
n,opos,rIoN THAT THE ELECTORS MEET AT
w.sptNGroN AND DECIDE THE QUALIFICATIONS
or THEIR MEMBERS.
IN the EdttOr Of The Tribune.
Sro. 7 am 40 impressed with the gravity OF the
.;.,,ot;o, that cannot resist making an appeal TO
vour Judgment with the hope that your potent IN
fuence may be secured if my plan is reasonable
fbe electoral system has served the purposes Oh
tbe country for century. A clMnor has Deeh
osod AGAINST it. charging it with all the evils OF the
dav None of them belong to it except the oregon
ttar oil other ouestions would stand precisely as
tbev are To-day under Mr.. MortOn's or any other
system of popular election. They arise out OF the
determination of the question of who IS entitled W
the vote and whether it is Hayes or lliden OF tne
electoral tickets makes difference Inc thlhV that
ia wanted is tribunal to settle just snch Questions
they have always been a threatening danger Inc
Supreme Court ought not to be dragged INTO tne
poltcal arena for we lose the general sense ol lS
high position when doit Congress is united IN ltS
character and because it does not necessarily repre-
sent the popular opinion of the day. The House was
elected two years ago and more, the members ol C0
Senate two, four, and six years SINCE and the ds-
agreement of the houses leaves everything
That is the trouble now.
Nv nlan would be to choose electors heretofore,
bnt have them meet here in Washington, make
them iudges of the election and qualifications OF
their own members and wien they have settled al
contests have them elect President. we wOulu
then have tribunal of the highest character fresl
from the people, with full authority to settle all
disputes. They would inevitably reach concIu-
sion and that one all would be bound BY In SNORT
we yould have peace instead of threatened war.
6eO-YOrk, Dec. IA, 1875 a.
New-York tribune., 1876-12-23
FIRE APPARATUS IN THEATERs.

ENITOT NV ITEUUWts
SIR: The plan of displaying a small corps OF
remen adopted by OF the theaters, no doubt helps
TO command the confidence OF audience but could not
prevent o disaster similar 10 the one which occurred at
Brooklyn What is requiredis simply this: There should
be water pipes connecting with the street mains and ter
nnang In che orchestra boxone on each side OF the
front OF the stage Hose, with pipe having rose JET
nozzle attachment the end should he permanently at
tnched t should DC 0Cntriyed that the water could n
stany be turned by any member OF the orchestra or
a., Yrsons o.s,,pl To- that duty II fire should be dis
covered In its ncipent stage, tho rose jet would be
su1cent ana would but little danger by water or
n "A more owcrf stream should I've needed the jet
could be detached in moment with such means at
Hand t does possible that fire could gain any
IrntIyuv during performance, whiio employees are
pfcsrnt or certainly not before an audience could be
Iiety dispersed The very knowledge Of the existence
az sCh precautions would prevent panic and incline
e greater portion Of audience TO remain quietly and
see the tire Queuched. c.
Nec York, Dec. 10, 1875
New-York tribune., 1876-12-23
NECESSITY FOR DEEPER WELLS.

SIR: Without doubt q very large proportion
Of the wells and cisterns dry throughout the Large
section OF country visited Oy the drOuth Of the past
Summer and Autumn. hear Of farmers who are CON-
PEELED TO drive their cattle several miles each day 70
water see carried in pals, barrels, and hogs
heads at great expense of time and labor for use In many
households 1t does not appear to enter into the minds
OF these people that It would be better 10 spend little
time and labor deepening wells already dug or IN Dig
ging than 90 make slaves Of themselves al WIN
ter In carryag water know that the sinking OF very
deep well Is serious undertaking in some soils because
OF the tendency of the sides TO cave in But have been
told that tins difficulty has been overcome III various
WAYS without the expense Of curbng viii not some Of
your readers who have had experience III such matters
give the benefit OF that experience to the readers Oh
and priceless blessing STELLA
Red Hook. N. l.. Dec. 49, 1876.
New-York tribune., 1876-12-23
COUNTING THE ELECTORAL VOTE.
OPINION OF CHANCELLOR KENT ON THE PART
WHICH THE vICE-PREsTDENr TAKEs-THE ELEC-

OPINION OF CHANCELLOR KENT ON THE PART
WHICH THE vICE-PRgsTDENr TAKEs-THE ELEc-
MONS or 1901, 1925. AND 1Sif.
70 the EdftOr OF The Tribune.
SIR: The Hon. jeremiah s. Black, an able
jurst but strong partisan, has recently declared that
the President the Senate cannot count the vote Of
State when objection is made Even II the Senate and
House differ upon single electoral there will nc
choice therefore the election Of the President will be
thrown into the House. Chancellor Kent entertained
different opinion In the first volume OF his Com
1nentares in his lecture OF the President" after
alludng TO the election OF electors their meeting In
December the casting Of their votes, and the manner
they shaIl be transmitted TO WASHINGTON, he says:
The President OF the Senate the second Wednesday
I'm February succeeding every meeting OF the electors IN
fhe presence OF both hOuBee OF Congress- opens AL te
eertdeates and the votes then TO be counted The
Sonstitution does expressly declare by whom the
votes ara 10 counted In The case OF questionable
votes and closely contested election, this power may
be alimpOant aud, presume, In the absence OF az
Legislative provision the subject that the President OF
me Senate counts the votes and determines the result
aud that the houses only spectators TO
witness the fairness and accuracy OF ths transaction and
to act only II no choice be made By the electors
Ard In the of the elections IN 1901 ana lS25 rs no
choice made the House Of Representatives retired
New-York tribune., 1876-12-23
FIRE SIGNALS.

To the Editor OF The TrtbunG
SIR: Fire Marshal Ready, in his official re-
port on the Brooklyn calamity, truly says, Immediate
notice to the Fire Department Ia the first step
in cases Of fire." IL would be surprising to one eSpe-
renced in matters pertaining TO the Fire Department TO
know how few people comparatively understand how
effectively to 20 work TO extnguisn fire or gwen
how to give ALARM There many new residents In
New-YOrk, aud not few old residents perhaps, who
have no knowledge whatever Of the ire-aarm system
and Of the correct way TO summon hremen. Would 1t
not do much toward giving people In theaters presence
of Inind, through acqnantng them with the means Of
safety AT hand IL every play-Dil programme con-
tanned in q conspicuous place description o the theater
exits and the means provided for eNtinguishlng nre
Familiarity in this ease would increase selfpossessiOn--
an element OF safety quite necessary as reform IN
architecture. H. A. W.
Aein- YORK. Dec. 10, 1870. a.
New-York tribune., 1876-12-23

practical measures to be adopted that short act De
drafted and r,uroaded through the LEGISLATURE COM
peIling the gas companies to aBx "stopcocks" or
cut.os in the sidewalks opposite every building winch
is supplied with gas
would also suggest that the same act OF the
tre should compel the gas companies to lay TWO dFc'
"stopcoeks or "cuofs" to every place OF worship
theater music hail. museum manufactory or store OF
where any large number OF persons coDggae ana tnae
the owner OF such binding should be compelled Dy In"
to have two distinct systems OF lighting u
for lighting the working parts, auditorium &c" VI
the building, and the other for lighting only tne pas
sageways aud corridors and Of ngress ana egess
to said building need scarcely point out that were sncn
plan propose made penal enactment, VIII iun
power TO fire commissioners or 0tner proper
10 enforce its benign provisions that indispensable Dut
terribly destructive agent gas could DO quickly rel-
dered useless OF adding fuel to the names III
almost all buildings tue Is always kept turned oD
AZ the meter and thus when hre occurs, and the cell
ins and floors begin to tumble, the gasppes break ana
out pOurs tho infamm9be and uncontrolabe olenlent
But In of fire just let the proper officer apply his gas
key 90 the tur1O" In the sidewalk ana the WORK OF
putting out what portended to be terrible c0nfagratlon
would be very easy anair AnOthef aaVahthse VI .pe
English system the American is this: In case the
gas consumer does not pay, the gas company can
stop his supply without informing hum OF their ntel
tiOns and without removal of meter as in tile American
system. The gas companies should be compelled at
their own expense to place the "stopc0cKs or turn
off, In the sidewalks. They well afford TO do 80 1or
II the English companies have TO incur TINS expense ano
are able Co pay 10 per cent dividends and give large DO
besides by supplyin gas at Onehan less tnan
Hew-YOrk or Brooklyn gas companies there must De
side of the Atlantic. There cannOtbe doubt that the
terrible loss life at the Brooklyn Theaer was caused
by the sudden extinguishing Of the gsgis along the
these lights could only be t out when the officers were
satisfied the burning building was free IRON human De-
ings "FArHER FRANKLIN"
Aelc- York Dec 2l. 1876
New-York tribune., 1876-12-23
THE MERITS OF CARBONIC ACID GAS

SIR: Your suggestions in' to-day's issue re-
spectng the practical lessons to be learned from the
Brooklyn disaster stand out conspcuousy in contrast
with the many vague schemes for avoidance OF such
calamity in the future and the old commonsense adage
that preyentlon is better than cure" Tho precauton
having remen and hose hand 70 assist in the emer
gency Of an alarm are excellent and should be made
compulsory either by legislation or the righteous ndg
nation OF an aroused public. While easily accessible
means OF exit are very desirable experience has taught
by lamentabe results the faacy OF relying wholly on this
means of security. The public have been informed
through press OF the assistance OF freextngushe
and tier value as prompt and trustworthy security
against res their ncipiency and with the lesson OF
the Brooklyn Theater In their minds, would 1t not DO
wise for managers OF like places to investigate fully tie
merits of carb0nic acid gas agent for extnguig
fires when first discovered GEO. H. CORfIELD
Nshc- York Dec Ia 1875.
New-York tribune., 1876-12-23
A cooI.HEAphD DEMOCRATS PLAN.

TO the EditOr Of Thc tribune
SIR: As an honest man and Democrat
am In favor Of this Inc Of action:
J. The small Republican mnjorties In sOath Carolina
and Florida must be respected.
@ The most thorough Of both sides OF the dis
pute I'm Louisiana after which, it is proved that the
actual majority" for Ton not the result OF far
f and free election, and that the disturbances alleged
made difference Of 10000 more votes, the Hayes
electors should not he challenged by pnblc opinion or by
the House Of Representative
3. The Tildcn mauoOys in oregon Is contemplate and
should I've disGOwed
L. To call mass meetings at this iuncture Is boih
wicked and foolish. We want calm thinking ana less
partisan bl0y ing.
D. The man or party that rcsiss Ilayess inaugura
ton or tries TO ebarSs his administration provided h'
gets legal majority OF should be treated ns rebel
with contempt II BE- simply camoIs, and wIh snppres
sion by force " he nut, upa fist voted Tor Idcn bht
would not have had believed him capable OF the
Oregon business. A. L. r.
NeraIk n. j., Dec. 10. 1876
New-York tribune., 1876-12-23
MIR. TILDEN,s METHODS.
THE OREGON CASE AND THE FRAUDS OF 1864
POLICY OF BLUsTER-wHAT TIE PEOPLE WILL
NypT rSDTpR

THE OREGON CASE AND THE FRAUDS OF 1854
POLICY OF BLUsTER-WHAT THE PEOPLE WILL
NOT ENDURE.
To the EdftOr Of The Tribune.
SIR: It seems that Mr.. Tiden, not content
with seeking an election to the Presidency with
mon anxiety" Is trying to force the American peo-
pe 80 violate both the spirit aud forms Of law and 10
accent him. in spite OF their adverse constitutional
verdict and OF the yerdics of legal tribunals expressly
ogsanized to decide doubtful cases. lie tried first to
pick the OF the door shut against him in Oregon by
technical irreguarty proceeding so disrepuabie that
Il has lost him the sympathy OF farmBded men OF both
parties No amount Of legal hairsptting will reconcile
honest citizens such bubble. Men who were willing
or anxious 10 believe that he not prvy 10 tne frauds
OF g6s when the Tweed Ring stole the vote OF New
York now discern In the who attemps this shame
ful crime the operator who, IA chairman OF the
Democratic Committee, was really responsible for the
other.
display Of Democratic indignation How much he has
at heart the honest and judicial settlement of this
roversy apparent from the method he takes to secure
decision To inhnme the public mind II possible, by
partisan appeals and half statements at mass meetings.
rky intimate aud anarchy II the decision u
not ndde III his fav0ri 10 carge usurpatipn, anu 10
ingenious cOncealments OF vital truth ana talk O evO
utonary manipulation next March, 10 coerce The peace
loving and law-abdlng into an accordance OF ms
demandsths is the policy already igauguraed Tninly
vailed under false regard Tor the Constitution anu
tie rights OF the people, aud of the "peoples rerre
know the difference between patriotism ana partlsAh'
ship. They Wiling to learn all tho truth aDont
will not consent 10 the iickery Oregon to the
stamping out of the Republican vote In the South by
violence, the election OF Mr. flden by biustcr at
Inasa meetings. e. w.J.
Ne,cYork, Dee 49, 1876.
New-York tribune., 1876-12-23

and voted and the Senate admitted to be present
as spectators.
In note he says:
In determining the result Of the election for President
in lSIl II was decl red by Joint resolution OF tne Wo
of Congress that person be appointed on the
part of the Senate and two the part OF the House OF
Representatives who were in the presence or tEe Two
houses to make list of the they should DC ue-
clared aud the result declared to the President ot e
Senate who TO be the presiding officer, ana 10 an
nOunce to the houses the state OF the vote ana e
persons elected The VicePresdent IN that case broke
he seals OF the envelopes of the votes and delivered inc
same over the teers to be counted the teilers nav
~ read counted and made Duplicate liss Of the votes,
tbgy were delivered tOfhe VcePresdent ana rean
and he declared the result and dissolved the JOINT
meeting IL
Trenton. ~ j., Dec 10, 1875.
New-York tribune., 1876-12-23
THE USE OF GAS,

THE ENGLISH CUSTOM OF HAVING CUTOFF At
THE sIpEwALK-wHAT MIGHT BE DONE wlIES
THERE WAS A FIRE.
To the Editor OF The Tribune.
SIR: In England the gas companies are COM
PEELED by law to place "stopcock" cutoff" In the
eurbstono opposite the building supplied with gas, and
thero England IL 10 much the duty, in OF fire, for
the proper officer Ia turn o" tho gas from the burning
building 1t is for tho proper officer to turn on the
water at tho water mains.
In America 80 long the only means OF turning on
the gas from a burning building is by getting at tho
"atopcock at the meter In dark llar. which Is almost
invariably inaccessible under the most favorable crcain
stances long shall continue to read OF terrible loss
OF io aud properly by ro. would suggest, tie mos,
New-York tribune., 1876-12-23
THE LATE DIR. SEARS.

TO she Editor OF The Tribune.
SIR: notice that A. S. Barnesr& Co. have
corrected the made in your obituary notice OF Dr.
Sears the effect that he not stated editor Of
The International RerieV. The corrgendum together
with the fact that mention is made Of his connection
with any similar publication, would justify the supposton
that he had DIR. Sears editor and proprietor
OF The National Quarterly Rerrsc The first number o.
that publication issued In January, not june l5oo
DR. Sears was his SD, not 57th year. at the time OF b
death He man OF marked versatility. doing mos
OF the writing for his ponderous publication, within tns
range OF whose criticism everything came.
JAIIU DE WITT MILLER
Cross Rirer, N. T., Dec. IL, 1876.