davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1878-03-15

AUDITOR SHERMAN has made the fol
lowing decision in relation to the law
governing the assessment Of property
and orders have been issued to Assess.
ors to follow the instructions in making
the assessment:
/. That threshing machines are taxa
bic as such, and are not included in the
term farming utensils"
2. That steam engines, when attach
ed to threshing machines, should be sep
arately assessed.
3. That wagons, when used by per.
o n who make livelihood by farming
are properly farming utensils.
4. That it is the duty Of the Assess
or when listing the property Of a person
Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1878-03-15
Care Of the Insane.

The Davenport Gazette mentions, in
the following not too complimentary
manner, the report of DIR. Reynolds, the
superintendent Of the independence
Hospital for the Insane. What it says
about the value of DR.. Reynolds sugges-
tions, regarding the care of the insane,
will be endorsed by all thoughtful peo-
pie who have perused his reports:
One of the best, if not actually the
best, of the reports from the State In
situations, is that made by DR.. Rey-
nolds, the Superintendent of the Hospi-
tai for Insane at independence. DR..
Reynolds reports have always been not
ed, not only for the thoroughness of the
informations as to the detailed practical
operation of his hospital, but also for
the intelligent suggestions as to the d.
%rection for continued improvement in
the system of caring for the insane and
so far as can be done by legislation, es-
tablishing means preventing the increase
Of insanity. In the recent report DR..
Reynolds says, my own belief is that
insanity is increasing, that the State
should assume the guardianship of all
insane who are not self-supporting, that
the marriage of all who have been at
any time insane, epileptic, or inebriated,
should be made a penal %offense, and
that all persons acquitted Of crime on
the ground of insanity, should be kept
in custody the remainder of their lives"
1t has become a fact Of universal rec
ignition hat insanity is increasing
throughout the civilized nations, and
that in this country it is not at all be-
low the average rate. The conclusions
are, evidently that it is the duty Of the
lawmakers to, as far as possible, estab-
fish safeguards against the increase of
insanity, and one direction in which
these should be made, is indicated in
the marriage prohibition recommended
by DR.. Reynolds. 1t is also the duty of
the State, as the report further shows,
to assume the guardianship of all the
insane. In other words, the State
should not only provide hospitals for
the skillful Gtreatment of the earlier
stages of insanity, but should also es-
tablish asylums for the proper care and
constant oversight Of the unfortunates
who have passed beyond the durable
point. DR.. Reynolds suggestions on
these matters deserve earnest consider
alton by the Legislature.
Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1878-03-15

SAM CLARK, of the Gate City, has
been to Washington, and the result of
his visit, or some %unrevealed incident of
it, is, that from a supporter of.the Pres
ident, he suddenly becomes his enemy.
He finds it necessary to give some rea-
son for this, and so he invents a theory,
hat while Hayes, on all occasions, talks
in a way perfectly satisfactory to Re-
publicans he in reality cares very little
for the party or its success, and that
the reason why he acts so-that is, at
tempts to put into practice the princi-
Piles of the Cincinnati Platforms that
he is afraid that the Democrats will
Gust him from office. To show that this
theory is his own patented property,
and also to demonstrate how much
clearer his political perceptions are
than those of other Republicans who
are supposed to have a fair share of sa-
gacity, our friend of the Gate Ctty
naively adds: eff this is his motive,
none of the thorough Republicans of
his Cabinet, at least, seem to have
guessed it." Just so, but how can they?
the billiards! We can't be all sam
clarke, you know.
Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1878-03-15
A WOful Discontinue,

The rebel claim business received a
most vigorous setback in the House
last Friday, which is thus described in
the dispatches:
The bill under consideration was the
one to pay ante-bellum Southern mail
contractors 1915, 900 for losses by the
breaking of the contracts at the out
break Of the war. The Republicans
have maintained that even if these
claims were originally just and could be
so proved the contractors deserved
no indemnity because they stole the
Government property in their possess
ion, violated their oaths and attempted
to destroy the republic. The Demo
Gratis held that these contracts were just
and should be paid. Mr.. Reagan, for
mer Confederate Postmaster General,
asserted that the Southern postmasters
were directed to account to the United
States for all moneys due. The evil
dence of the Confederate archives and
Confederate laws showed on the contra
ry that the Confederate Postmaster
General ordered the former U. S. Post
masters in the South to hold the money
belonging to the United States; that
that money was put in the Confederate
Treasury; that laws were subsequently
passed by the Confederate Congress
paying 100000 to those very mail con-
tractors for this same service upon the
express conditions, however, that if they
the contractors, should ever recover
from the Unit d States that amount, or
any portion of it, they should reimburse
the C%onfedera C Government or it's rep
resentatives for this payment of $780,
600; that the contractors were paid, and
eighteen vouchers signed by the very
men who are now seeking relief in this
bill'for 100000, are on file in the Con
federate archives here.
The effect was startling. The Demo
Gratis were COMPOUNDED. Reagan himself
was almost speeches., and seemed over
whelmed and surprised. An Intellectual
attempt was made to smother the bill
by re-committing. but it went we for
two weeks. The Republicans claim that
this result will unite them, and that it
has saved the Government millions Of
dollars, and effettually stopped this class
of claims. The records were a complete
surprise even to Reagan, who said he
had with the lapse of years forgotten
the records, and Blount openly said that
these claims should not be paid. Sever
al other Democrats expressed surprise
hat the archives should show such a
history as was developed in the debate
Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1878-03-15
Items Of Interest.

Three hundred and fifty colored peo-
pie, from all parts of the South, are
about to embark at Charleston, s. c.,
for Liberia. It is claimed that %, 1000
colored people, throughout the South,
have invested in the Liberia joint stock
Steamship Co., and that 10000 are en-
rolled to emigrate when the opportunity
offers.
A well-dressed man jumped into the
Mississippi from a barge at St. Louis on
Monday, and was drowned. He left a
memorandum on the boat containing
the following: Whisky did this. Take
compassion on my little boy. Signed,
D. Laven." The writing and papers
were identified as belonging to Domi-
nick Laven, a well-to-do peddler, who
had been on a spree for several days.
A baggage car from New York, on the
Lake Shore & Michigan Southern road,
was burned near Edgarton, 40 miles
east of Chicago, at 2 o'clock Monday
morning. About 5000 pounds of paper
mail, chiefly for Iowa and Nebraska was
burned, besides considerable valuable
baggage belonging to passengers. Be-
side others, M. L. Scott and daughter,
of Erie, lost $1,000 worth of diamonds,
Geo. and Mrs. A, B. Cornwell, of New
York, jewelry, clothing, &C., 1920, and
others less amounts.
A terrific wind storm visited Atlanta,
Ga, on the 10th. The storm burst upon
the city while the churches were filled
with worshippers, and blew with ire
mendous fury for two hours. When
the tornado struck the Episcopal church
the clergyman, with admirable presence
of mind, called out to the congregation
to throw themselves under the seats
This advice was followed, but not a mo-
ment too soon. The building almost
Immediately fell to pieces, burying the
people under the debris. The seats
luckily protected the great mass of the
congregation from injury, but eighteen
being more or less seriously injured, and
none killed.
Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1878-03-15

THE following letter from the Master
of the State Grange is printed by re-
quest. 1t is addressed to Thos. Gamer
on, and the aim, evidently, to show the
State Grange Agency sound. -ED.
BRO. CAMERON:-I forgot until after
reading your letter to say anything
about n agency. There was a large
number of debts on the agency left by
Bro. Day; he used the money obtained
for goods that would sell, to pay for the
very slow selling articles. The parties
finding their goods sold, naturally in
CURED for the money. Among the num-
Der was Beadle & Kelly, corn planting
men, Troy, Ohio. Bro. Carpenter gave
his agency note for over $4,000; paid
all but about $500, at time of last
State Grange. An attorney in Des
Moines had the notes. Mr.. Palmer,
Bro. Carpenters clerk, appropriated
$40 Of agency money; he was compelled
to refund; he started a report that the
agency was bankrupt, &c, &c. The at
torney came on Bro. Carpenter for the
money; it was not on hand, but there
was plenty of the slow selling goods
there. The attorney asked security,
and a mortgage was given on some seed
ers, corn planters, &c, as security. The
money will be raised from notes and ac-
counts due the agency, with the money
necessary for m%ortgaged goods, some of
which are already sold. The trouble is,
Palmer was brought up for-money, and
had to vent his spite. Our enemies are
always watching to get a chancec to kill
the Grange again, it has been killed and
died so often, but it wont stay dead.
The agency is alive and is doing bust
ness, and is ready to do much more, if
our people would send in their orders.
The savings made on pumps and espec-
tally on fencing wire is more than the
Grange has cost the people. The wire
swindle is not second to the Sewing Ma
chine swindle. The agency has been
the means of reducing the price from IS
cents to 8 cents for single wire and 10
cents for double, and the end is not yet.
Bro. Carpenter is not the man to be
killed, he is emphatically the right man
in the right place, and long may he
wave is the prayer of your humble
servant, y. Ii. L. BUCHANAN.
Mt. Pleasant. Iowa.
Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1878-03-15

The charges against Gen. Howard
in connection with the loss of the funds
of the Freedmen's Bureau, of which he
was a commissioner, have been the sub
ject of judicial examination in the Grim
inal court of Washington, and the YER
dict is a complete acqulttal of Gen
Howard, it being shown that the funds
in question, were not in his hands OF
under his control, and that he was not
responsible for them. This is but a re-
affirmation of the judgment Of an army
court martial on the same charges, and
is a sufficient answer to the gross Sian.
ders heaped upon this brave and worthy
officer by the Democratic press,
Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1878-03-15
New HAMPSHIRE voted for Governor

New HAMPSHIRE voted for Governor
and members of the Legislature on
Tuesday, and the result is a Republican
victory, though with somewhat reduced
majorities. The Democrats and anti
administration Republicans, both hoped
for and predicted the success of the
Democrats, but the Republicans of the
Granite State, standing on the national
platform of the party, won the fight
against all odds. VIM. 4. Chandler, in
an interview before the election, de-
clared that a vote for Prescott, the Re-
publican candidate for Governor, would
be a vote of confidence in the admins
t~ration. This is the true significance Of
the New Hampshire victory.
Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1878-03-15

THE Inter- Ocean is cackling over its
suggestion of the use Of the bell-punch
in Chicago drinking places, like a pullet
over it's first egg. 1t is evident that
few of the Los suggestions receive as
much notice from its contemporaries as
this one, and, to tell the truth, very few
subjects so we'll fit its capacity. Let it
stick to the bell-punch,
Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1878-03-15

HEWITT, of New York, made a speech
in the House a few days since, in criti-
cism of the Presidents civil service pol
icy. Commencing with the Cabinet,
and then passing to the diplomatic APP
pointments, Mr.. Hewitt could find not
one of the selections made by the Presi-
dent worthy of commentator, or in
keeping with his pledges. His remarks
were so sweeping, and his criticisms so
ind scriminate, hat his partisan pur-
pose was plainly apparent, and the eff
feet neutralized. OF such appoint
ments as Kasson to Austria, Welch to
London, Lowell to Spain, and Bayard
Taylor to Germany, Hewitt found more
or less objection to them all. Com
PEELED to admit Kasson's experience and
ability, he objected that he was one of
the Visiting statesmen" to Florida, du-
ring the electoral struggle. Welch was
a highly respectable merchant, and an
experienced man of business, but he
thought the appointment was not a good
one for so important a post. Lowell
was a scholar and a man of letters, who
had done honor to his age and country,
but he questioned the fitness Of his APP
| pointment-and so with Bayard Taylor;
he was a man of experience, ability, and
| ripe knowledge of affairs, but somehow
he did not come up to Hewitt's stand
ard. And so some trifing and querulous
objection attached to every officer APP
pointed by the President. In fact Mr..
Hewitt's fault-inding harangue illustra-
ted more wildly the small calibre of the
| speaker than the shortcomings of the
administration. But there was one por-
ton of Hewitt's speech hat will afford
scant comfort for Sam Tilden and the
crowd that minister to his ambition. 1t
was the emphatic endorsement of Pres
ident Hayes title. Mr.. Hewitt's re-
marks on this point, were substantially
as follows:
He (Hewitt) wished to say distinctly
hat Mr.. Hayes held his title beyond the
reach Of any proceeding, political or
otherwise, except in his own conscience.
If there had been a wrong done it had
been done, not by the President, but by
the Electoral Commission. Mr.. Hayes
held his office by an irrefragable and sa-
cred title, and therefore he could afford
to march firmly forward in the execu-
ton of the pledges which he had given,
but if the President went on to the end
of his term classifying these pledges and
neglecting the performance Of his obi
cations, then the American people would
hold that the fraud had not been in title
but in performance.
Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1878-03-15


Our friend Bailey, of the DEBORAH
Republican, says that he received, a
short time since, a circular letter from
the New York Eraminer and Chroni-
Gle, a leading organ of the Baptist de-
nomination, asking a mutual exchange,
&c, and that after looking wei a speci-
men copy of the paper accompanying
the proposition, and finding that the sill
yer bill was therein denominated the
Pickpockets' BILL" and that other
shameless epithets were applied to sill
yer advocates by it, he concluded to de-
cline the rendered courtesies. We re-
ceived the same circular, and we
declined the 'courtesies," also, but not
especially for the reason that Influenced
our friend Bailey. Our reason was, that
we were asked to do SIS worth of ad-
vertising for the privilege of receiving a
paper, the subscription price of which
is $3.50, if we remember correctly. It
was the checklist proposition we have
received for many a day, and we doubt
if any secular journal has impudence
enough to equal it.
Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1878-03-15

CHARLES L. WILSON, the proprietor
Of the Chicago Eveaing Journal, died
at San Antonio, Texas. on Friday last.
MI. Wilson was a resident of Chicago
80 years, the greater part of which time
he spent in building up the Journal,
which is his best monument. He was
universally respected and welded much
influence. His death will cause no
change in the Journal, which will re-
main under the same editorial and bust
ness management as before.
Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1878-03-15

The subject of regulating the rail
roads of the country is engaging the at
tention of Congress. A bill has already
been framed by the House Committee
on Commerce, and by it, unanimously
recommended for passage, embodying
the best points of all propositions, fol
the regulation Of railroads, and embrae.
ing in it's features about all the reforms
demanded by the public, 1t is radical
in its prohibition of all rebates and
drawbacks and all combination contracts
and understandings, by which one per.
son can secure cheaper rates of trans.
p%ortation than another.
Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1878-03-15

JUDGE McALL1sTER, of Chicago, the
same whose rulings in the Sullivan-Han
ford murder trial created 50 much indig-
nation, has decided hat the city ordi-
nance forbidding the sale of liquor to
minors, is unconstitutional and in con-
travention of the laws of Illinois, and
has released a saloon keeper arrested
for violation of it. It would seem that
the l~aw-defying classes have a SURE ref
uce in Judge McAllister.
Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1878-03-15

who makes a livelihood by farming, to
value all his farming utensils, and from
the aggregate thereof deduct the exemp-
ton Of 5000, and the overplus MUST BE
ASSESSED, and is subject to taxation.
5. That the term farming utensils
includes any and all implements which
are in ordinary and general use on the
farm, and necessary to persons who
make a livelihood by farming-hence
wagons, reapers, mowers, plows, harrows
and the like, being implements IN ordi-
nary use thereof, are included in the
term.
6. Sewing machines are not exempt
under the law, and therefore should be
assessed.
Z. Improvements, and buildings cree
ted on real estate since the last assess
ment of realty, cannot be assessed in
the intermediate year. Real estate is
not subject to assessment except in ev-
cry second year-but any descriptive
theory which has been omitted may be
assessed at any time by the officers des-
ignated in the law.
Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1878-03-15

THE McGarrahan claim, for possess
ion of the New Idria quicksilver mine
in California, is now pending before the
Senate Committee on Public Lands
McGarrahah's claim is founded on an
old Spanish patent. Some time since
by dint of hard work he got his claim
acknowledged by the California courts
and the Land Office at Washington, and
obtained his government patent. AT.
forwards, however, by bribing Of mem
bers Of the California Courts, as he
says, McGarrahan's title was reversed,
and the mine remained in the hands of
the New Idria company. He is now
pushing his claim again before the
Senate Committee on Public Lands,
and has engaged Honorable Jere M.
Wilson, +. G. Ingersoll, and Matt Car
penter to conduct his case, while that of
the New Idria company is in the hands
of Jeremiah Black, Judge D. S. Wilson.
of this District, and the ex-chief clerk
of the Land ofice-Curtis. The attor-
neys Of the Company claim hat Nc
Garrahan's Spanish patent is a forgery,
that every decision in his favor by
the Courts was procured by money; and
that McGarrahan organized a company
after the fashion of the Credit Mobilier
with the stock Of which he purchased a
number of Senators and Representa-
tives, whose names are given,-among
them Jas. F. Wilson, formerly member
of Congress from Iowa. We should say
in passing, that McGarrahan has testi-
fed that he did not give Mr.. Wilson any
stock, and furnishes that gentleman a
clean bill of health so far as he is able.
On the side of McGarrahan it is prom
Used that it will be shown that his claim
was set aside by the most fragrant bri-
berry and corruption, involving some of
the highest dignitaries in the land, in
Guiding California judges, and others.
As it looks from the showing of both
sides, there is very little equity and a
great deal of chicanery about the whole
business. It is but another chapter in
the record of reeking corruption that
attaches to the Washington lobby. W.
give the above brief sketch of the main
points of this celebrated case only to
satisfy the curiosity of our readers to
know what Judge D. S. Wilson is doing
in Washington, and why it is impossible
for him to be present in Iowa to per-
form his official duties at this time.
Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1878-03-15

New YORK CITY capitalists are get
ting alarmed at the increased shipments
from New Orleans, and other southern
ports. They may we'll be looking for
their l~aurels. Vanderbilt tells the peo-
pie that they have a work to do as we'll
as railroads, if they expect to retain
their supremacy.
Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1878-03-15
The Congressional Nomination.

We publish in this issue an editorial
article from the DEBORAH Republican,
broaching the subject Of the next Re-
publican nomination for Congress in
this District, and by implication, invit-
ing an expression of the Republican
press Of the District, regarding the pro-
priety of a second endorsement by NOM
nation of the present Congressman,
Hon. T. w. Burdick.
For ourselves, and with confidence
that we reflect the sentiment Of the
great a of the Republicans of this
section of the District, we can see no
good reason why Capt. Burdick should
not be his own successor, but on the
contrary, many reasons why he should
be returned to the place he has filled so
c~reditably yet so modestly. For a new
man, and in the minority, Capt. Bur-
dick has made a very good record, and
though he has not sought for promi-
nence on the floor of the House, he has
still developed those qualities which
promise for him a career of marked use
fulness. He has the personal charao-
teristics, and weight of character that
win for him respect and influence, and
to these are added an independence of
thought and expression that preclude
| the idea Of weak or mercenary action
We especially admire Capt. Burdick.
that he has no trace of the ~demagogue
about him. His principles are not sub
ordinate to what are supposed to be his
selfish interests. He has opinions of
| his own, and he has no hesitancy in ex-
pressing them, whether they accord
with the passing popular whim or 9th
erwise. This is shown by his position
with regard to financial issues. There
is, in the unsettled political situation of
this District, every temptation for a de-
| signing and insincere man to make capt.
tai for himself by fostering popular dis
content, bawling himself hoarse in de-
nunciation Of capital, inAaming ignor-
ant passion and setting himself forward
as the champion Of the poor man against
the wealthy. Instead of this we find
Capt. Burdick not solicitous to catch
the inconstant breeze of popular favor,
but holding to well settled principles on
the financial question, and, when the oc-
casion calls for it, giving expression
with force and pungency to the faith
that is in him.
This is u estimate Of Mr.. Burdick.
Not that he is a great man, but that he
is an honest and candid one, and as such,
! we can support him heartily.
Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1878-03-15

THERE is no excuse for those who
drag their weary and disordered bodies
into our company, when a few doses of
Ayers Sarsaparilla would cleanse their
murky blood and restore their health
and vigor. Ye muddy victims Of bill
ious disease, have some regard for your
neighbors, if not for yourselves.