davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1883-05-24

THE Express says the Courier
Journal is hedging; that it has been
for free trade and is now for tariff for
revenue only. That is about equal to
a similar assertion made some time
ago regarding the STATESMAN. The
Express said the STATESMAN was an
advocate of free trade, which the
record of its pages proves untrue.
Free trade is right in principle, but
since the government needs a reve=
nue. and must have it the
tariff is the most reasonable
means for its collection. But
the tariff should be adjusted so as
to raise not more money than is nee
essary for revenue. The necessities
of life and such things as are neces-
sary for development of the coun-
t-y should be admitted free, while
uxuries and things not absolutely
necessary for such development
should be taxed as much as they can
stand. The Republican theory has
been to tax necessities for the masses
most, luxuries least. The rule should
be changed.
The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1883-05-24

IT APPEARS the STATESMAN was
entirely correct in its assertion, that
the proposed convention of colored
people, called by Fred Douglass and
other self-constituted leaders, to meet
in Washington in September, is in
tended as means for controlling the
colored voters for the use of consti-
tuted Republican leaders. AT very
large meeting of colored voters
in Washington resolutions were
adopted denounclng the pro-
posed convention. In the reso-
lutions adopted they say they believe
the Convention is called for the pur-
pose of controlling the status of the
colored voters of the country, and to
advance the selfish purposes of the
local colored leaders of Washington.
They denounce in unmeasured terms
the call for the convention, and the
motives which prompted the call, and
ask the colored people throughout the
country to refuse to elect delegates to
the convention. In this way they
propose to defeat the schemes of
Douglass and others who,
without any following, aim
at leadership. The plan was
on the same ground that the STATES
MAN criticised the call. The Repub-
lican leaders see that the colored
voters of the country are tired of being
led around by the nose, and they have
induced Fred. Douglass and his col
leagues, who enjoy fat places at
Washington, to call the con-
vention, hoping that false allure
ments may hold the colored voters to
Republican allegiance for the strug-
gle in 1884. The perpetuation of Re
publican rule. secured through col
ored voters, would be reason for the
continuation in Office of these
stlf-constituted 81 negro leaders. This
is the plan, and it is not to be wonder
ed at, that the colored people all over
the country are repudiating the per-
sonal schemes of a bad set of men,
leagued together at Washington.
The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1883-05-24

IN OUR department reports of yes
terday appears "a statement of ac-
count, concerning eX-Comptroller
Brown, showing discrepancy of be-
tween four and FIVE thousand dollars
between assets on hand and amounts
chargeable as per books. Mr.. Sneed,
late chief clerk under Mr.. Brown, as
sumes all responsibility for the entire
financial transactions of the office.
Nobody can suppose for moment
that the discrepancy repre-
sents any real deficit; and
complete investigation will certainly
show the amount at issue mere cler-
ical mistake, or a loss of checks or
funds. The character OF Mr.. Sneed
places him above suspicion as to any
thing really wrong in his administra-
ton. Had his purpose been to appro-
pirate any of the public money to in
dividual uses he could have taken a
hundred thousand dollars, and the
penalty would have been no greater
than for small sum. But nobody,
as we have said, believes in any
wrong having been committed, and
the STATESMAN does not hesitate to
assert his honorable administration
as an officer. When all the entries
are looked into this will be seen, and
Mr.. Sneed asserts his ability to make
such explanation as will be entirely
satisfactory. Mr.. Sneed, on being
spoken to regarding the matter, said:
"My regrets are chiefly for the tenn
porary blot on the reputation of my
chief, Col. Brown, who had confided
to me trusts so sacred, and who
should be held by the public as guilt
less of whatever fault may be at
tributed to his subordinate, on whom
should fall all blame and response
bility."
The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1883-05-24

THE estimates for May demonstrate
that the wheat crop is to fall below
that of last year. They were made
by the agricultural bureau at
Washington, the Ohio state board
of agriculture and the Mil
waukee chamber of commerce,
and place the decrease at from seven
ty-fve to one hundred millions of
bushels. While there is ample time
for decided Improvement in wheat
prospects between now and the time
of harvest the general uniformity of
these reports of the present condition
may be accepted as Indicative of a
large shrinkage. Luckily there is a
good surplus of wheat left over from
the abundant harvest of last year, and
the four hundred million bushels that
win be garnered this year, judging
by the present prospects, is largely in
excess of possible wants for home con-
sumption. The probability therefore
of higher prices for flour is remote.
The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1883-05-24
Where the Blame Belongs.
independent Blade.


Judge Childress has received let
ter from DIR. A. n. Denton, Superin-
tendent of the lunatic asylum, writ
ten in response to his application for
the admission of Miss Mary Wood,
lunatic, into that institution. The
letter states that at present there is
no vacancy, and that the only way
that any addition can be received to
the present population prior
to the completion of the
new buildings, is to discharge
some already there. to make the ne
cessary room. This he says, is done
when a case is shown to be urgent
and to require attention more than
some present inmate In the cases of
Mrs. Pierce and Miss Wood, Judge
Childress has already shown him that
they are urgent, and that it is danger
Gus for them to be left at large, being
necessary to keep Mrs. Pierce tied
and Miss Wood in jail. Yet
notwithstanding these assurances
the superintendent now calls
for copy of the testimony in
the cases. The law does not require
that the superintendent shall be fur
nished with the testimony in such
cases. The statement of the county
Judge is sufficient and it showed
plainly that both of these cases were
urgent. Having admitted that he
can make room for such cases, the SUI
perintendent must shoulder the re.
sponsibility for the confinement OF
Miss Wood in jail, and the necessity
of keeping Mrs. Pierce bound.
The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1883-05-24
JAY GOULD AS A NEWSPAPER
MAN.

Jay Gould bought the New York
World from Tom Scott at the same
time hemade his trade for the Texas
and Pacific railway. He was led to
take both, because of Col. Scott's i'll
health and his desire to wind up his
affairs. He says it never occurred to
him, while he owned the World, to
use it for personal or political pur-
poses; that he had nothing to do with
it and left it entirely to the conduct
of its Democratic editor, who an
tagonized him politically and in
many other respects. He was telling
a reporter all about it, when he was
asked what he thought of Democratic
success in 1884. He said:
l think the Democratic party has a
most excellent chance to obtain
power. The public mind seems in
clined to give it fair show. Many
people want the parties so evenly bal
anced that if one does not behave
properly the other will get into pow
er.. / feel that way myself. The
tariff question seems to be the only
danger to Democratic success just
now, but then l care little about poll
tics, very little indeed. / want good
| government and the prosperity of
the country All my inter
ests are identified with the develop
ment and growth and glory and pro-
gress of this country, There is nothing
hollow or shallow about them. They
are all doing public good; they are all
public necessities. Take my railroads
| to Mexico. Take my southwestern
system which is developing that sec
tion. Take the telegraph. Take the
elevated railway system. Do they
not allrepresent civilization, progress,
enterprise and public good?
AS to the tariff question and the
World he said
l never interfered with its conduct
| in any form. Its principles were in
variably opposed to mine. | am a
Republican, and Mr.. Hurlburt is a
Democrat. l never interfered with
its management. / sometimes did
not even see him in a month. In fact
the best evidence of this is that the
paper, as matter of fact, never did
reflect either my sentiments or my in
terests, and yet L never interfered.
Take, for instance, the tariff question.
My every interest is in protection. L
did not bother. | did not interfere in
the least when Mr.. Hubert advocated
free trade.
The reason for Mr.. Gould's advoca-
cy of protection is explained in what
he says. His "every interest is in
protection" and of course he is for it.
But Mr.. Gould would be building
railways several thousand dollars per
mile cheaper without protection; and
he could then make concessions in
railway tariffs that he cannot now
make. The high price of railway
building and equipment is due
to the high protective tariff
system, and the money that
Mr.. Gould has expended in Texas on
railways would have built and
equipped four miles of road instead
of three. But we were discussing
Mr.. Gould's relationship to the New
York newspaper. He bought it of
friend for this friends accommoda-
tion, never used it politically or per-
sonally, and sold it the other day to
Mr.. Pulitzer, because he had no use
for the property. He is in better bus
mess.
The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1883-05-24

THE Southern historical and be-
nevolent association of st. Louis has
arranged for the publication of q
semi-monthly magazine reciting the
facts OF the late war in the south. Il
is to be entirely free from politica
bias, and all southern historical so
cieties. soldiers and people are invited
to contribute suitable matter for it:
columns. The first number viii ap
pear June /, entitled Confederat,
Annals.
The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1883-05-24
AN EVIL PRACTICE.

The alleged deficiency in the ac-
counts of eX-Comptroller Brown will
certainly be traced, as we have before
stated, to errors in clerical entries of
accounts. No one believes there is
any criminality connected with the
matter, but the affair is suggestive of
changes that ought to be made in the
handling of funds. The comptroller
should collect no moneys. He should
be purely the comptroller of public
accounts, drawing warrants on the
collectors and other debtors of the
state for sums due. No money should
be paid to the comptroller. All
revenue should be paid directly to
the treasurer, who is the
money officer of the government. 1t
is certainly more simple to issue a
warrant directing the treasurer to re-
ceive moneys from state debtors than
for the comptroller to receive them,
and have his separate bank occount
for collections and deposits. The
comptroller should simply see to the
correctness of accounts in favor
of the state, and certify
them to the treasurer. He
should not receive dollar.
Certainly his responsibilities are great
enough as the accountant of the state,
and no other responsibility should be
required of him or be assumed. Prac-
tices prior to the administration of
Mr.. Brown are open to the harshest
criticism, but Investigations are new
in this line. 1t is well, however, that
this inquiry has been prosecuted, and it
would have been better for the state,
probably, had Investigations been in
order long ago. There should be clean
balance sheets, and the safety of every
administration should be made to de-
pend upon them. 1t is said Mr.. Brown
took matters as they fell into his
hands, and so they were taken before
his official term, and no one, probably, |
knows where any error may have be-
gun. The present comptroller has,
therefore, inaugurated wise plan, and
the precedent now established may
be of value so long as this improper
practice of the comptroller in hand
ling moneys may be continued. Up
to this time, and the practice is still
continued, the comptroller has been |
performing the functions of two
state officers. Every dollar due the
state should be paid directly to the
treasurer, the comptroller merely pre-
senting the money custodian with |
the proper evidences of amounts to |
be received from debtors.
The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1883-05-24

THE Newport News, Republican,
in commenting on the proposed col
ored peoples convention.says "While
we have the profoundest respect for
those cOlored citizens, who, in the face
of the disadvantages of the old Sys-
TEN, have risen in the scale of intel
lectual ability, and who have
shown fitness for almost any position
that may be assigned them, we sin
cerely regret that any of them should
appear, just as race distinctions are
beginning to pass away, and demand
their perpetuation. If it is proper to
ask an Office for a man because he is
colored, it is equally proper to refuse
him one for the same reason. If such
an issue is olce raised and urged on
the one side, it will soon come to be
on the other; and when the strife is
made again between the black
man and the white man, as
such, there can be no doubt
as to the result. The
majority will win" The foregoing
is prayerfully commended to the at
tention of the Boston Advertiser;
there is a severe candor in the Ian
guage quoted that requires no COM
ment. This is pointed enough, and
would seem to indicate the party pur-
pose we have referred to in the Re
publican leaders having the colored
people called to meet at Washington.
These leaders see the colored people
are inclined to kick out of traces, and
what they want to do is to harness
them up afresh with material that
will thoroughly prevent kicking.
The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1883-05-24

ACCORDING to the decision of the
supreme court in the Illinois railroad
cases, unless the grant in the charters
of companies of the right to fix the
rate of freights and fares is declared
perpetual and irrepealable, the state
retains its supervisory power and may
alter freights and fares from time to
time as it deems judicious. 1t will
now be in order to overhaul old char
tiers and see to what extent the right
of regulation remains at the option
of state legislatures.
The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1883-05-24

THE Dublin Freeman's journal
says that the plot Matched in America
was betrayed, and that the name of
! every conspirator who left New York
and of the ship on which he sailed was
cabled to England, so that the police
were able to watch the conspirators
from the moment of their arrival
there; and that a member of the gov
ssrning council of the conspirators
could alone have given information
1t is barely possible, however, that al
this is bluff.
The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1883-05-24
LIFE tables prepared bv an English

LIFE tables prepared by an English
scientist show the present average
life period to be 1913 years for men
and 419 for women, an increase of
about two years for each sex over the
average of thirty years ago. This in
crease has been largely in the work.
ing classes between the ages of
twenty and sixty years. The New
York Medical Record believes it
largely owing to the prevention of
zymotic diseases.
The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1883-05-24

SAN ANTONIO, May 17.-Another
divorce suit was granted to-day.
A $3.50 trotting race, best three in
five, mile heats, with three. starters,
is to come off on Saturday.
Gen. Augur, department comman-
der, has ordered Maj. Dodge, acting
paymaster at Galveston, to return to
this post. The paymaster's Office there
is abandoned and the opQIAr
of the building used as , the
Office there is notified of its surren-
der.
Additional recruiting rendezvous
have been established in this depart
ment lat Fort Brown. Fort Duncan
Fort Mcintosh, Fort McKavett, Fort
The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1883-05-24
THE. Desert News congratulates

The Desert News congratulates
the Mormons on having recently OBJ
tanned federation for their sect in Nor
way. A council of bishops decided
that the saints were not Christians
and hence not entitled to federation,
and thereupon an act was passed by
the Norwegian parliament. iberaliz-
ing the laws sufficiently to include
the Mormons.
The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1883-05-24

Green manures produce best results
on sandy or gravelly soil, deficient in
vegetable matter. On black soil,
especially if wet, it. is better to feed
the green crop, and put it on in the
shape of manure. The nitrogen is in
better shape, and there is less danger
of humic acid from slow decomposi-
ton of green herbage in cold soil.
The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1883-05-24
TuE New York Herald thinks tbal

THE New York Herald thinks that
all counterfeits presented at national
and state banks should be branded
and that congress should pass a law
making the branding compulsory. In
this way. it hold /, the secret service
would be greatly aided in its work of
coping with the counterfeiters and
the people relieved from being so fire.
quently victimized.
The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1883-05-24

THE New York World says that
the enthusiastic unanimity and "pre.
vlousness' with which the Republic
can newspapers urge the candidacy
of Mr.. Randall upon the Democratic
party should of themselves suffice to
command for him the distinguished
distrust and emphatic opposition OF
every "liVe Democratic newspaper"
The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1883-05-24

THE owners of cotton mills
throughout the North are beginning
to realize the effect of southern COM
petition. 1t is reported that the rail-
way managers have refused to give
special rates to nothern manufact-
urers, as it has heen the custom here
fOfnrn
The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1883-05-24

New YORK state has 6642 miles of
railway, 2616 of which are doubled
tracked, with sidings amounting to
3057 miles, making in all 1875. The
total capital stock and Indebtedness
of the companies owning these roads
is S., Jos, ,O5l 400, or about $4,000 per
mile including all tracks.
The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1883-05-24

THE Comanche Chief says that an
assay of the Russell silver mine, one
mile south of Mineral Wells, proves
that silver ore abounds in that COM
munity. The ore turns out sixty dol
lars to the ton.
The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1883-05-24

THE metropolitan papers are defin-
ing dudine, the feminine of dude. She
wears mashed gooseberry colored
hat and high collar; her clothes are
a tight fit from neck and hand to bot
tom; she carries sharp-pointed par
asol in lieu of the dude cane, and is
often accompanied by an English pug
tacr;ar
The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1883-05-24
TALMAaE gives this pen-picture d

TALMAeE gives this pen-picture of
Samuel ]. Tilden: "a few days 1
saw in railway car the sickest-look-
ing man ever saw out of bed; his
chin and hands afflicted with the
worst palsy ever saw, either in or
outside of a hospital. exciting the
pity and sympathy of al who looked
at him. He is one of the candidates
for the presidency. This Is the pathos
and tragedy of political life, that a
man win clutch at its baubles thoNkSl
he stands with both feet in the graves
The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1883-05-24

THE civil service commission has
concluded to start at once on tour
of inspection. Mr.. Eaton will be as
signed to Philadelphia. New York,
Boston and the fifty clerk offices on
the Atlantic coast. Mr.. Thoman will
go to Cincinnati, Louisville and
southern cities. DIR. Gregory will
visit Buffalo and points in the north
4, not
The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1883-05-24

THE demand for large stock ranches
in the west has subsidized. The land
law now in force virtually, it is said,
results in free pasturage of state lands
for the next two years.
The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1883-05-24

GALVESTON, May 16.-The supreme
lodge of the Knights of Honor have
just adjourned until 10 a. m. to-mor-
row. The following is a bri # synop.
sis of their proceedings: The supreme
treasurer was instructed in case a
subordinate lodge, in transmitting the
assessments, send an amount less than
the amount due, or the reports be
informal, to Immediately return
the money and papers for
correction, but in case the
sum exceeds the amount due he is to
credit the correct amount and retain
the balance, The report of the COM
mite on laws was completed as far
as it applied to the general laws of
the order and was adopted. An
amendment was passed to the effect
that all subordinate lodges should
amend their constitutions so as to
conform to the new constitution
adopted by the supreme lodge.
The committee on laws will hold
the floor upon the assembling of the
lodge in the morning.
izing the supreme dictator to appoint
from the members of the supreme
lodge, holding over an orator, whose
duty it shall be to de-
liver at the next session of
supreme lodge an Grafton setting
forth the growth, principles, objects
and usefulness of the order. The
supreme lodge voted that when it
adjourns for the session that it be to
meet in the city OF Chicago on the
second Tuesday Of May, 1884.
A report is current in the city that
Jacob Kohn, shipping clerk of the
wholesale grocery house of Ullman,
Lewis & Co., has embezzled $1,000 of
the firms money and skipped the
town. Before the purchase of
the business by Ullman, Lewis
& Co., Kohn held the same position
with the firm of Marx & Kempner.
He is quite young man and enjoyed
the confidence of his employers till
recently. His downfall is attributed
to wine, women and cards. The firm
are silent about the affair and it can
not be ascertained that any effort is
being made for his arrest. He is well
connected here and it is intimated
that his relatives will make his em-
bezzlement good.
Tonight the chief of police received
telegram from Deputy Sheriff FAINT,
of Houston, to arrest and hold James
Montgomery, baggage master, on the
Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe railway,
between here and Houston, on the
arrival of the train tonight. The
nature and amount of the embezZle-
ment could not be ascertained.