The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1880-12-30

t-uly outraged by peleInptOEy OTueI VI tue
railroad commissioners--who are clothed
with ample power-to reduce the rates to
three cents per mile.
THE commotion among the stock and
produce dealers occasioned by few fail
ures is not likely to assume the dimensions
of a general panic or financial revulsion.
1t is we'll enough for spectators to have an
occasional reminder that illcgitimate bust
ness is not the safest, and for all classes to
understand the conditions Of permanent
prosperity.
THE biennial session reform is nearly ac-
complished. Thirty one of the thirty eight
states have provided for biennial sessions,
and there is q probability that nearly all will
follow the example in the course Of few
years. In twenty states the sessions of the
legislatures are limited in most of them to
sixty days or less.
The supreme court of the United States
individual shareholder of an insolvent ma
tional bank cannot be compelled to pay more
than his full proportional share Of the
banks liabilities in order to make good the
deficiency caused by the inability Of stock
holders to pay their proportionate share.
On December 3lst, between and s
o'clock in the morning, the sun will be par
TALLY eclipsed, but the affair will only be
satisfactorily visible in Maine, the effect
lessening westward. Only three quarters
of the sun will be obscured from the most
favorable standpoint, the North Atlantic
and western Europe. This is the second
eclipse of the sun, visible in this country,
the last occurring January II, when ii was
total in California.
The Wisconsin Insane hospital has been
subjected to a thorough investigation by a
committee appointed by the governor, and
their report shows that the institution has
been miscrably mismanaged, particularly
in extravagant OUTLAWS, unauthorized by
law, and not required for the benefit Of the
inmates. Not to mention numerous illus
trations of extlavagance, such as the pur-
chase of paintings, ETC., it was found that
the Legislature appropriated $1,000 for
new barn, and the superintendent ex-
pended $4,000; all appropriation Of 81, 200
for stock was swclled to $2,000-and SO ON
through nearly all it's financial management.
The superintendent and trustees charge
each other with responsibility for these
abuses, and the committee recommends a
radical change in the management of such
institutions.
THE bill of Senator Burnside Of Rhode
Island, for the promotion Of education,
which has passed the senate and is now be-
fore the house, proposes to distribute the
revenue paid into the United States; treas
ury from the sale of public lands, letters
patent and consular fees, amounting annu-
ally to about 1900, 600, among the states
and territories and the District Of Column
bia, to be invested in United States PEI
cent. bonds as an educational fund. The
appointments to each state and territory
for the first ten years are to he made accord
ing to the number Of children over ten
years of age who cannot read and write
One-third of the income is to 60 to the en-
dowmcnt and support Of the colleges es-
tablished under the agricultural fund act
of 1862 until the annual income thus &C.
cruing shall amount to $3.50, 900; after that
the income over and above $780, 600 a yea,
shall be devoted to the free education Of
children between the ages Of and 1G years
of age.
THERE has been successful exhibition
of the Brush electric light in New York
The lamps were 262 feet apart, FOR twelve
blocks, and half way between each it wa
possible to read a newspaper. On the same
evening Edison gave an exhibition of hi
lights ut Melno Park, New jersey. The cx
hibition was made for the benefit OF tn,