Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1882-12-09

journals Of all suggestions in favor of
s economy and REFORM - as the policy of
Democratic administl alton. Upon this
live topic the press of the party and those
to receive its official favOrs are
fully awake. To he sure, and as is right,
there will be some variance as to the
best means of accomplishing the reforms
upon which all are agreed, and whether
the necessary caucus to consider them
shall be called in exactly the way that
has been suggested, or in some other, is
not material to the issue.
1t is enough to know that every one
of the candidates for speaker, to whom
this suggestion has been made by the
INTELL1GENCER,p publicly and privately
declares himself to be in favor of the
ends sought to be reached. Messrs.
Faunce, Sharpe, Ziegler, jenkins, Amer
man, Hasson, McCrum and Walker are
all understood to he not only in favor of
prompt dispatch of legislative business,
an honest and impartial apportionment
of committees, a policy Of retrenchment
and reform, a looping off of all sinecures
and supernumerary hangers on to the
House, but in their canvass for speaker
they are opposed to trades and huckster
ing upon other offices and with candi-
dates for them.
For = party in control of one branch
of the Assembly to have reached this
point is great step forward. The
Press may content itself with the assur-
ance that in good time the abuses to be
eradicatel ut Harrisburg VIII be specific
ally pointed out, the sinecures to lie
abolished will he duly designated, etfec'
tive means will be found to convene =
Democratic caucus to consider them. and
vigorous measures will be adopted t0
abate them.
THERE seems to be general protest cr
the part Of the New York clergy against
the proposed representation by dramatic
company Of the SORROWS Of Gethsemans
and the sgonies Of Calvary. Eminent di
vines of all denominations regard with
horror the threatened "Passlon Play
NOTHING funnier has been reported i'll
recent news than the fire at a vegetable
soup factory in Orleans county, n. y,
which was extinguished by promptly pour
ing on 1000 gallons Of cider from tank
that was near at hand. In this cold snal
that was a cheerful kind of confagration.
As might have been expected some OF
the famous historical paintings in the 70.
tunda of the capitol at Washington have
been injured by the late fair held there.
Fortunately the harm can be repaired. and
it will not have been suffered in vain if il
prove adequate warning against the i'll
taste and gross improperly of desecratine
that building with such shows.
THE divided skirts aud tho hygienic pet
ticoat having proved hopeless failures, ant
the Woman's dress reform association o
London will offer prizes this winter for a
design intended to do away with the in
conveniences Of the present styles, with
out making too marked departure from
"the distinguished characteristics @
female attire" The problem is be!,evei
to be 4 difficult one to solve.
AT last and after a romantic course O
legislation the government gets the legacy
of $3.50, 600 devised to it by the late JOSEPH
L. Lewis, and it will DO felt in the next
monthly reduction Of the federal debt.
The incident of a private individual making
such bequest to the government has no
parallel in this country, and the interest
attaching to it is enhanced by the curiou:
efforts of conspirators to steal it by trump
ing up bogus widow of tho deceased.
THERE has been promptly reported tt
Congress a bill providing for two cent let
ter postage. The present rate was estab
lished under Filmore's administration ant
the time has certainly come for a further
reduction. Ten letters are now sent t.
one of that day, aud the postal burden ha
become an immense consideration in busi
ness transactions. Three cents per hal
ounce-and in large proportion of case.
for quarter ounce is very far in excess
Of the ordinary freight and express
charges. The government should do bet.
for nv its natr0nS
THE "great American desert ha
long been eliminated from our maps ant
now that iuexhaustible springs have beer
found by the government artesian
we'll diggers, such arid lands as exist il
our western domain may be artifi:ally irri
gated whenever the restriction of the graz
ing grounds more favorably situated vii!
warrant tho expense. Large acres o.
pasture lands. on which grass grows
though water does not run. can be sup
piled with wells for watering stock by
reason of the success which has attended
the recent government experiments in this
direction.
Ohio Republican board of canvassers in al.
lowing the congressional certificates to
those who were equitably entitled to
them and tho refusal of the board to split
hairs over returns made out differently.
but all intended for the Same person, it