Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-08-02

must IN al c0Sss dc"OmpT1y the order. O:h.r-
s0tse the 7o"per cHnnot he sent.
The failures among fire insurance compa-
MES, and the heavy losses which many of those
surviving have suffered, in consequence of the
depreciation of Government and other securi-
ties, underwriting in rates, and, in many in =
stances, extensive fires, cause the insurance
departments in the various States to exercise
a n UNUSUAL degree OF care in their supervisory
duties. At the request of the superintendent
of the New York insurance Gooartment state
mentS of their financial condition on the lSt
of July have been prepared and sent in by the
companies in that state. The exhibit in itself
is not a pleasant one. as it shows that several
of the companies are in condition to close
their doors in the event of single fire of mag
nitude; in some the capital stock is i'm
paired in others the expenses considerably
exceed the income, and in only few
caUany indications of prosperity be found
But the insurance men are not discouraged
and explain that in many instances heavy
losses, incurred last year have not been paid
until this year, thus accounting for the for
midable sum total Of expenses for the first six
months of 1873 1t is not known whether the
information obtained from these semi annual
statements will cause the state authorities to
forbid the further continuance in business of
any OF the tottering companies. But at any
rate the demand for more frequent exhibits of
the condition of companies, through which the
authorities and public can keep constantly
posted, establishes good precedent. A care
full supervision of the insurance business in all
the states will be a benefit not only to the pub
lie but to strong and well established compa-
MES. 1t tends to protect the one from the
plunderings, and the other from the competi.
fIrF1 of .f.aEaf I,,,to 49,,
~~~O-
When consumers of beer have shown that
they are paying war prices for the beverage
or as much now as when money was worth
only half of its present value, and labor cost
twice what 1t does now, three courses are open
to brewers and retailers. The first is to dis
prove the statements of consumers; the second
is to acknowledge the justice of the claims of
the beer drinkers, and reduce the price; the
third Is to pay no attention TO the clamor of
customers and to retain the old price. In
this event the internal revenue officers, who
re doubtless thoroughly convinced that the
Profits on beer are exOrbitant, may be ex-
ected TO recommend an increase of the tax
n the article, and thus appropriate the two
( ntS, the cause OF the squabble, for the bene-
g.. OF the United States. Advocates of ice
later and other opponents of beer will be de-
/ GIFTED that the popularity which comes from
heapness will be denied it, and the revenues
Z, the government increased.
imong the projects. approved by the Inter
n lonal Literary Congress, which mt at
is last June, was that of founding an in
ic.Iatioral literary assOciatiO 1, open to the
Il. cTaTy societies and writer's OF all nations.
y plan of organization offered by Blanchard
il .rold, the English representative was
adopted. 1t provides that members of the
International committee shall establish in
their respective countries societies on the
pan OF the celebrated literary ocety of France
which called together the international con-
areSS. Corresponding members arc to be az
pointed in each country, who shall furnish
InfoI IN itlOn on all subjects of interest
to the great republic of letters Books
Will be exchanged between the different c9un.
1rles, and each literary society will facilitate
reproduction, translation, and negotiation for
the purchase of copyrights. The headqu ,rters
q the international committee are at Pals,
and the next congress will be held in Lon lon.
June, 1879. The establishment on a firm ba lis
OF an international society of men OF letters,
bInding the different sections of the world
more closely together, is contamination to
be hoped for. Ii is about time that We vera
making up our minds to have the international
congress meet IN this country. Some curi-
ouSIy constituted persons would no doubt pre-
fer glimpse at gathering of the great
writer's OF the world To steady gaze at innu-
merable statesmen or generals.
The fame won for France by the Suez canal
encourages expeditions from that nation look
ing TO the digging of an ter-Oceanic canal
through the lSthmuS OF Darien. One recently
passed through New York on its way to
france Nine or ten liueS across the isthmuS
have already been surveyed by exploring ex
petitions sent by different governments or
individuals. All that nov remains to be done
is TO appoint an internd,iontl commission to
select route, find the governments or CAPT.
ssaaiiiSStS willing to risk over Il hundred million
dollars in the enterprise, with competing rail-
roads crOSSIngth the iSthmuS, engage the orr ginal
or a second De LeSseps to attack the work,
with its seven or more miles of tunneliug, and
in course of time the canal will be completed
-~-s~~
A case of general interest, since nearly
every one is either employer or employed, was
decided in a New York court recently. A
clerk engaged from year TO year at fixed
weekly wages was discharged before the
expiration of his time, and sued 10 recover for
the whole year. The agreement between en-
ployer and employed, though only verbal
one, was sustained. and the plaintiff obtained
q yeIQlct III his favor.
The wheat gamblers who, in the last few
days, have run up the price of that product to
81. 10 in Chicago, aud to 81. in Milwaukee,
have perhaps made great deal of money,
Corresponding losses have fallen on other
business men, whose impaired credit will
affect unfayorably the many with whose in
terests their own are closely connected A
succession OF such swindling operations ruins
linz tote
down, and as the ruin spreads men wonder
that there is panic.
Business in the Pennsylvania coal regions
Is going through one OF its semi occasional
suspensions, These stOppages and reOpenings
remind one OF the Permanent Exhibition.
The WEEKLY STAR, now ready, contains
all the News Of the Week the Potter Inquiry
our Correspondence from Summer Resorts the
Great Solar Eclipse the Labor Riots Kearney
the California agitator; Lively Local Notes