davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-05-10
Tile else OF C1TTO.

This case, which was decided in Philadcl
phia last week, would serve as a significant
i.drx to a foreigner of the political problems
which we have to solve, the efficiency of our
laws in solving them, and the caimness with
which the American, whatever his color, habit
ualy defcrs to the law. Cato, az our readers
will remember, was c0Ored man OF eXcep-
tional culture and good social positon-a pro-
fcssor in a cOllegc-one of the leaders, in fact,
of the very large class of educated and we'll
to-dO colored people who form in Philadelphia
a refined society Of their own, and much be-
loved by them. While passing quietly along
the street TO his dwelling Oh an election day
of the year when his race were first admitted
TO the polls, he was shot down by white
ruilian, VINO was permitted TO escape.
A man named Kelly was tried for the murder
last week. Perhaps there never was a ease i'll
which caste prejudice was SO strongly reused
or political chicancry brought more directly to
bear There was not probably single man of
Catto's race vino did not believe Kelly TO Oe
the murderer. while the managers of both
political parties showed an eager desire to
sacrifice this poor wretch, if by doing they
could secure the c0l0red vote. We all know
how far political influence tempered with the
courts in Philadelphia few years ago. The
Whisky Ring and Tammany were contemporary
in their reign and very nearly i'll their fall.
On the evidence, however, Kelly could not be
couyirtod in Difference therefore 10 the strict
letter of the law ne was set free, IN spite of
the cry for vengeance of one race and the
Willingness of the other to crafty them. In
France such a collision OF popular passions
with the tcchncality Of the courts would have
produced an cmeatc; even in England there
would have been omiuOus public meetings,
threats, angry crowds about the courts, as
witness the Kencaiy ease but the casy-goiug,
law-abidng Americans gave no SIGN of impa-
thence beyond, perhaps, n brief comment IN the
morning papers to the effect that the guilty
would not escape at the last; that murder
world OUT
The American, whatever his color, is begin
ming 10 have rs firm a faith in the divine Ger
tanty of justice as the Mu,,Glman. lie is
satisfied to leave the matter to divine hands,
perhaps little too often. The mills of God
grind SO exceeding sure that he does not
trouble himself to turn the crank. Another
case in Philadelphia illustrates this curously
Just now. \ great fire occurred in that city
twelve years ago, by which enormous oi-tanks
were burned and sixteen lives were lost. 1t
was known to have been the work of incen-
diaries. There was good deal of hard swear
ingas to the parties concerned, and murder Of
witnesses. One of the men interested comes
back now, makes what he calls a confession,
naming certain wel-known politicians as
guilty. Everybody talks and shudders, and
the hard swearing begins all over again. But
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-05-10
aims emenis ano aleetinas 10 Night.
Snnet 10 aorerrsemenIs.

AuusvNRN.s-3d pa0e-5th ana 6th coiupus
EoArp ASn Itoou~- Sd I'ugc 81 and an columns
BrsiNVsS CHANCT~-6h Eogs-5tn column
DIvlbEND NoIICIs-4h IGqc-btn column
Dry GuOus-h IGGe-ith column.
FINANCIkt-1N iQge-5ih and ON columns
TUuNtTrRH- 81 PdOf-3d column
ICf CRr .a-Gh IGCc-6th column.
INSTRUCTION IGQe-2i and 81 columns
IFCTUEfs AND MEETiNGs-3d Idgr-bth column.
LEGAL NoIICIs--GM IdQc-6th column.
N AcUfNFEY-.}d fq0C-3d column.
N ARRTE AND SLATE MANTEIS-3d PI1e-id cnlumh
MARRIAGES AND DTAIHs-5M PG0e-Gth column. 90,
NTsCEIIANEois-3d PGge-3d column; SIN Fdge-6th
column
MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS -Gh TdCe-5th column
NV PUnHCAriONs-6h IGOe-2d column.
lTurOs AIS 81 PIge-3d column.
IrAL EsIATE FoR sALH-CIIY-Gm Pd0e-3t column
BRpOKLYN-GM POgeA3d column; COUNfRN-bn idCe
18th column; ACTION sNEs-6h Idge-4th col
umn To ENCH NNGE-6h IG0c-ith column.
eALEs ny AUCuON-3d PCne-3d column.
kIECIAI NOrICIS-5M IdQc-Gth column
SITUATIONS WANTED MAItS-3d Fq06- atm column z
MAIEs-3d P0gc-ith, 9th, and 6th columns 800,
STEAMBOATS, AND kAILROADS-Gh IGgc-4ln anu ON
columns.
srEANERs. OCRAN-7h Pdge-6th column.
SUMNER BOAED-GM IdCe-6th column.
TEACutKs-CM IdGS-3d column.
To LET-CuY PR0rFRTY-Gh I00c-ith column; bR"oS-
IYN-GM I0g,-fth column COUNTRY on rage II
column; APARTMENTS AND UNfURNlSHLD Rooms
81 I0gc--ith column. go
To wnoN IT NAY CoNCERN-3d Pace 81 column
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-05-10
4vEPiCAY SECUPITyES.


Commerce and industry cannot afford to
have investors deceived in respect to the valve
Of their securities Dealers, we presume, are
able to take care OF themselves. But the c0uu-
try is robbed whenever false impression. bring
disaster to individual holders or buyers, and
the injury is equally great whether the false
information Is favorable or mfayomble to a
particular security. An elaborate comparison
has been made between the market value OF
stocks Of twenty-tlTec companies in April,
1878, and on Apui 2l, 1S77, and the reported
net earnings and the dividends declared mt diff
forcnt periods. Il was asserted tha: "there
is hardly any correspondence between the
"dppreciation in the shake capital and the
"course of the net earnings and that
ian average decline Of f0Ity-one per
"ccnt in the market value of our best
"diyidend-paying stocks, while there is
"no falling of in their dividends. i,
"simply a mOnstrous eXtraragance of specu-
"lation; it is the consequence Of an unmiti-
" gated craze Yet the tables given TO sup
p0It this assertion embrace the net earnings
and the dividends of 1875 instead of 1877
two years ag0-for eight out of the twenty
three roads. Inasmuch as nearly all the loss i'm
market value of stock has been since 1875.
and large proportion of it since 1876, the
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-05-10
THE NEWS TINS MORNING.

FoPEIGN.-The Russians are concentrating to at
tack MukhtarP ashas position at the Soghaniu Noun
tains. -- BraIla has been bombarcd again. --
The German eaITisons in Asace and Lorraine are to
be strengthened. == Public opinion in Roumana
favors a declaration of independence.
DoMEsuC.-The army will be reduced to 10000
men. =- The subject of specie payments is being
considered by the Administration. -= Mr.. Cow
dns bi for the reduction of taxation of national
bank stock passed the New-Yorl Assembly. --
An explosion in q coal mine at Wadesyile, Penn.
killed seven and injured six miners.
CITY AND SuBUIBNN.-The cororers jury in the
po.t-Ohice disaster blamed 4. b. Mullctt and the
Government agents generally. = Various losses
70 the revenue and abuses were pointed ont IN the
('u,,om-hou,e inquiry. = Corporation Counsel
Wmtry has reported to the Attoney-General the
results Of his examination Of Tweed. -= Anxiety
is felt for the City of Brussels 10 days ont from
New-YoIL. -= Anniversary meetings were held
by the American Tract Society and other assoca-
tons -= Tie Walter Brown collection Of paint
inrs was sold for S23.Ssj. == Gold, loG7s lO1,
1O7ls Gold value of the legal-tender dollar at the
close. $3.50 couts Stocks weak and lower, closing
irregular.
TnE WEATHER.-TmBUNE local observations In
dictate clearing followedby fair weather. Thermom-
eter Yesterday, 199. so, 4so.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-05-10

The editor of Tile Austin CTexas) Statesman
who was personally acquainted with the late Parson
Brownlow, pays this tribute TO his memory: He
WAS personally the most generous Of men, and
most devoted and tenacious IN his attachments.
and the very poor IN East Tennessee never
knew such "a friend When Knoxville was once
ravagcd by cholera there was nut Of poverty and
wrctchcdness that did not have t pale watcher by the
bedside Of the paguestuckcn in the person OF the yo
lent hghtng paIsOn. when Brownlow's Wing WAS the
mos; successful newspaper in money-making in the
South the editor and proprietor who rallied out so Bit
terly against his partisan enemies, gave money to the
poor aud helpless every where until lie himself al
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-05-10

reasoning obviously rests upon very siehueI
and uncertain foundation. An unmltSateu
craze arising from the actual or SUPPOSED
collapse of a road within the past lonr months
will not be easily cured by assertions that IL
earned money or paid dividends in 1879 or
1876.
1t is high time that the public should cease
to bc eullcd in this way. Every railroad has
the power to make a precise statement OF us
condition. earnings, expenditures, ana debts, 10
the first of every month. If any company re-
fuses. when its stock is dIstrusted, to sustain
il by such statement, the natural and just
presumption is that it does not dare to make
known the facts
The real cause of decline in the market
value of stocks is not an unmiiigated craze !;
If is clear understanding of the fact that
dividends have been and can bc borrowed ana
"net earnings" conlrived by adroit railway
bookkeeping. and yet the company may be
rushing into the gulf of bankruptcy at light
ming speed. When a company Is ping up
debts. the earnings not increasing meanWhie,
forty thousand abOred articles viii never con-
vince a stakeholder of average common sense
that the stock is safe security for his money
But that is precisely what the railroads III
question have been doing. The list OF twenty
three companies, which is gong the rounds Of
papers anxious to please directors, en-
braces two companies which paid no divi-
dend in 1873, and which, for other reasons,
have no proper place in the companson-the
Union Pacific and the Western Union. 1T in
cludcs also the Delaware, LackaWanna and
Western and the Delaware and hudson,
which, as has been fully shown In these
columns, are subjected to very heavy RESPONSE
bilitics by their leases Of other properties, but
during the period in question the Lackawan2a
has also increased It's stock outstanding by
&G.2OO,0OO, and the Delaware and Hudson
has increased its stock T50OO,Q0O and its
funded debt about - 600, 900. The list also
includes the Columbus, Chicago and Indiana
Central and the Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne and
Chicago. which are leased to the Pennsylvania
road. and are necessarily distrustcd whenever
il is distrusted. and the Dubuque and Sioux
CITY. which is leased to the Illinois Central,
AMI in Ike manner shares its fate. Fifteen
roads rrmain-thc Chicago and Alton, Burling-
ton and Quincy, North Western, Rock Island,
1t. Paul, Cleveland and Pittsburgh Cleveland
and indianapolis, Erie, Illinois, Lake Shore,
Michigan Central, Morris and Essex, New
York Genital, Ohio and Mississippi, and Pan
anna. The stock Of these roads has increased
from $451, 900 in 1873 to $l72,395,OOO
in 1877, and their funded debts from
$50, 1864 900 to $3j0,58L00O' Is it any
wonder that with actually decreased net earn
ngS, and with such an enormous increase OF
stock and mortgage debt, the yalHe of the
stock has dcclinedl BIT in justice one other
road should be added-the Pennsylvania
because il is the corporation to which several
are leased. Adding its debt as stated in Poor's
Manual'for 1878, and by the report Of COM
mittee of stockholders recently, we have the
following cOmpaIi-On
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-05-10

DAILY TRIBUNE. Mail Subscribers. SlOpcr annuiu.
SEMI-WErKIy TRIBUNE. Mail Subscribers, - per an
NEIKLI tribune Mail Subscribers, - per anhum'
Terms cash N advance.
Address. THE TRIBUNE. New-Iork.
pcysons upchc 10 obtain THT lRDUNF m any o. the
trans boafs on hotels IN rLchit is usually SOtd r con-
~ far0r bg informing this Once Of ttc circumstances
Tn town auver,crs can leave their for THE Tribune
,t128S BROADWAY lstst 500 Us. t ST. cor etl'c
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-05-10

the whole matter will be suffered to drop ont
of sight, and be left TO the grinding OF the
aforesaid memorable mills. There may be
little too much of the national virtue of easy
natipnce
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-05-10

Mullett adheres to his new role OF declining
to be ready with the oral" When the ar
chitects yesterday tried to find out whether he
knew what the parailelosiam of forces was,
he drew in his vocabulary and his breath,
and looked whole concrete roofs at the jury.
Mr.. SINNERS bin to prevent the frequent
change of textbooks in the public schools has
passed the Assembly by handsome majority
which ought to be repeated in the Senate.
The measure enbOdies q much needed reform,
which a little additional effort will now secure.
The ttbits Of the Custom-house testimony
Yesterday were furnished by Mr.. Bach. The
first was that the fifty clerks who serve under
him are competent "wijh ten or twelve eXccp-
tions." The second was that his complaint
against two Of his clerks for misconduct WAS
followed by their transfer to another depart
ment at higher pay. This will do for orc day.
The most important fact Of the day to the
citizens of Ncw-YOrk is the Omnibus bill,
which has passed both houses of the Legisla
tme and is now in the Governors hands.
When so portentous and radical measure has
reached tins point, every semlcolon and every
adycrb become of importance, and We there
fore give. on another page, the entire act IN
the shape in which the Governor has received
1t.
Mr.. Covdn has won a signal triumph in the
Assembly, finally passing his bill to Tighten
the load of bank taxation in spite OF two
previous failures. This result has been achieved
by much patient argument and labor, and proves
that the average rural members distrust Oh the
average banker and all his works can be over
come 10y an intelligent and persistent showing
of facts. 1t is to be regretted that the lateness
of the session makes the passage Of the bill
by the Senate seem very prcblcmatical.
In Asia Minor, the Russians are gaining
ground. They are now in strong force south
of Kars, having evidently left part Of the
army to guard that fortress. The Turks con-
tinue to act on the defensive, having lost the
audacity and vg0r which they displayed in
the last wal in this region. If Russia is wait
ing for a great victory in Asia prior to be-
ginning operations on the Danube, she may
suf,er serious delay. The nature Of the con
Hict in Armenia will not allow of the tardy
movements which are possible in Roumania
Senator Woolin announced last night in the
Senate that the Committee on the Rcappor-
tionmeut of the State would meet on Friday
night. The Legislature has now been III
session more than four months, and has al
ready exceeded the ordinary length of Legis-
latlres. 1t can hardly last more than two
weeks longer, and yet, If we are not mistaken,
Tomorrow nights meeting will be the first
that this Committee has held. This postpone
1oent to the eleventh hour Of one of the
most important duties Of the session is making
a farce of "A serious business.
Under Secretary Eyarts the American flag
bids fair to be respected by our neighbors.
Our Washington dispatches this morning give
- ,,o.4.,.I.yi, announce
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-05-10

ways impoverished. Bitterly ~ he was denounced ana
fercely he hated party leader n was bevs.
safe, where BrOwnlOw, the man and private citizen VA.
personally known, 10 denOuDce his name or deeds 49,
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-05-10

ment that hereafter the policy of the Admin
istlation toward the irresponsible officials OF
the Mexican interior, as well as the cattle
thieves of the Mexican border, is to he Yigor-
Gus and mcompromising. If Mr.. EvartS VIII
make the American flag good for something
as q protection to American citizens IN other
parts of this continent, he will win the lasting
gratitude of his countYymeu.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-05-10

Stoc,............. $50 .. 80 700 $-il-J6O00
Furd.r! lcbt....... %. $4,000 l~JG1,2'D
DiyiIcnds........... 3o.65l,OJO 26GJ2oo0
With decreasing dividends, whether bor
rowed or not, and an increase OF $4,000, GOO
in stock and debt within four years, is it
strange that the market value Of stocks de-
cliucs The fatal fact is that enormous obi
cations have been created which have priority
to the stock. No less than %195,711,0 OO has
been added to the bonded debt-mOre than II
per cent Ct the entire funded debt IN 1913.
1t does not seem at all remarkable chat, after
such an increase OF the mortgage indebted
ness, interest on which must be paid before
stockholders can get anything. the value OF
stocks has declined over 40 per cent. Nor is
it in any sense for the public interest to con-
ceal the tact that our railways are in trouble
because they have been reckless III cXpcndi-
ture and wanion in creation of debts.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-05-10

A curious Illustration of The manner in which
courts may be made to subserye the purposes
of artful politicians is set forth on another
page. The Corporation Counsel Of Brooklyn
has never had the reputation for aStuteneSs to
which this revelation clearly entities him. 1t
appears that he successfully used the Rcpub-
lean Mayor and Common Council Of Brooklyn,
the Attorney General, and the courts OF the
State to secure his retention in Office, notwith-
standing that he is a Democrat Of notorious
Ring antccedcnts. Breaking with his old asSo-
ciatcs for social reasons, he brought suits
against them on charges Of conspiracy, and
fcigncd zeal so successfully rs actually to secure
his political pTcfcrment at the hands OF the
Reformers An examination into the charges
ON which the suits were brought led us year
ago to express doubts OF their success. Now
the RefoImers themselves despair Of them and
begin to suspect that it is not wise plan TO
accept leaders from the enemy's camp. But
they will probably learn further on that their
cause was about as weak as their leader
Of all the iuries That have been inyestigat-
ing the Post-Onicc disaster that impaneled by
the Coroner was likely to he listened to with
distinguished architects and several practical
builders and maSons. Their verdict, which Is
sustained by that of Postmaster James,
commission also made public to-day, is given
on another page. 1t leaves as little OF such
slight professional reputation as Mr.. MUllott
may have enjoyed as Mr.. Muiiett's roof left OF
the poor fellows who were the subjects OF the
inquest The jury find that Mr. Mulett added
500 PER cent to the weight OF his roCf with
out adding to The strength of its support, and
declare that asst grew out Of this and other blum
ders, the accident was due to his incompe-
"tency." This is a hard word, which Mir. Mullett
nav digest at his leisure For once, ne has given
the pubic something serious to think about
Incompctcncy" which sacrifices property is
bad enough, bit incompctcncy" which sacli-
fees life is intolcrable; and the fact that the
Jury find it necessary to reflect severely also
upon the persons recently in charge Of the work,
including the present Supervising Architect,
will not help Mr.. Mullett at all in the public
estimation.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-05-10

noteworthy addition to the literature Of the long
conflict between the rival claimants for the discovery
Of aunsthesia has been contributed by DR.. j. Marion
Sims 1t is an attempt to put the facts in chrOno-
logical order DIS. Wells, Morton, and Jackson are
the three whose names have in popular fame been
most closely associated with the discovery To
these DR.. Crawford ". Long of Georgia should he
added and Dr. Sims thanks, should be accorded the
priority The obstacle to quick acquisition of this
title TO fame which stood in the way OF DR.. Long Is
thus quantity stated: lie was waiting to test his
great discovery in some capital operation. He lived
in an obscure httc town where there were no rail
roads aud no ponderous machinery to MAIN his fel-
low-men. and the amputaton of a leg or arm was an
era in the life of a country doctor. While he was
still waiting for larger operations before commune
eating his discovery to some scientific journal, the
labors of Wells and Morton and Jackson and Simp-
son burst upon the world DR.. Longs first use OF
ether as an anHsthetic in surgical operation Is de-
termined as in l. -. The rival discOyerers were IN
general uufortunate Wells committed suicide while
insane: Morton died of congestion Of the brain
Jackson is hOpeessly insane. and confined IN an
asylum DR.. Long is Old poor, and hardened with Il
family These are the American discoyerers-Dr.
Sims urges that TO them their survivors pecnnl-
airy recognition is fairly due. Sir James \. Simpson
received high honor from the British Government
for the discovery of Che anGsthetic use OF choro-
form and the service he had performed for human
ity was thus fairly recognized. Dr. sims thinks
that the sum OF 800, 600 ought to be appropriated
by Congress, and divided between the families Of
Drs Long, Wells Morton, and Jackson.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-05-10

Removing the supporting pillars has always
been regarded as among the most dangerous
work in mining, and is rarely intrustcd to men
who have not had considerable experience.
IT might be well TO inquire whether this
and Other suitable precautions were taken
in the Vaudeville colliery before send
ing the men to the fatal work. The
mine in which the disaster occurred had
the reputation of being dangerous in respect
to ire-damp, and as this condition is not OF
very frequent occurrence in our mines, the
work seems To have called for more than the
ordinary prudence in every respect. The pre-
cautions required by the Pennsylvania laws
after the Avondale disaster have much re-
duccd the mortality among miners in that
State; it may be worth while to ascertain
whether those laws have of late been fully
obeyed at the Wadesvillc shaft.
Judging from the annual report of the Silk
Association of America, the past year has not
been one of prosperity to our silk mdnuiactur-
ers. In the early part of 1876 the market for
goods was greatly depressed. In the Summer
and early Fan the price of raw silk increased,
and finally doubled, while the prices Of goods
here responded only feebly. The crisis in the
silk business in Lyons sent goods here in
quantities that depressed our market, especially
as they were passed through the Custom-house
on underyalucd invoices. Occasionally, also,
the workmcn in the mills struck. Finally, the
price of raw silk has run down to almost as
low figure as before the rise, and manu-
facturers who bought their stock largely at the
higher prices cannot now make goods at the
usual profit. Still, they console themselves,
having hopes that President Haycs's admins
tration will bring about reform in the
Custom house. and a full enforcement OF the
tariff laws
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-05-10

Under Secretary Evarts the American flag
bids fair to be respected by our neighbors.
Our Washington dispatches this morning give
still greater emphasis to yesterdays announce
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-05-10

The Assembly has passed bill defining just what
o. do..r ,,,4 should weigh The bill regulating the
siz, nj spring chickens and the complexion of the
o,r,y .,uash still sticks in the Committee on Grey-
anccs.