davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1883-03-08
Taking Care OF his Friends, in the
Dying Hours of Congress.

1t did not require the last act of
Speaker Keifer to prove that the
American Congress, for the last two
years was under the parliamentary
direction of a very low-grade man.
The act referred to by the Washing.
ton correspondent of the PbiIa. Times
was the dismissal of one of the official
stenogrspers against whom nothing
was alleged and the appointment of
bis nephew in his place, besides ap-
pointing his son as private secretary
to draw pay during the summer months
The correspondent says:
"Tbe contract for stenographic work
is made for the year AT IS 600, the steno.
graper to pay his own expenses for as
sIstaDce. OF course, in such a contract
the stenographer takes into cansidera.
ton the po-sible length Of session and
the probable recess. The money expen
ded by him during the session is made
up in the summer vacation. In the caAe
Of the stenographer this is the lesiti
mate profit. In the case Of Keifer's ap.
p ,intee II 70 a sit ecure, a nine MN hs'
-alary without any pretention Of work
To do or meritofious work already done.
The speaker SIMPLY dismis-es compe.
tent employe and puts his hand into
the treasury and takes $4,000 and gives
it 10 his relative.
Keifer Is no longer Speaker, but he
has fastened three OF his family on the
Treasury for the summer, With no ser.
vices TO perform. Keifer will get his
pay as . member during this time. If
the Kelier family by this arrangement
pool their issues they will get about
$4,000 fordoing nothing. II the late
Speaker divides with bis relatives he
will not suffer any loss Of salary by rea.
son OF his retirement from the Speaker.
ship. This IL the way the matter is be.
ing commented on tod and the gen
eral verdict Of all parties Is that IL Is an
abuse Of power"
Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1883-03-08
Money in Elections.

Whatever may be thought Of the
doctrine taught by Mr.. Henry George
in his Progress and Poverty" he has
done good service by the thoughtful
article he contributes to the March
North american Rerie,o on Money in
Elections. There is no gainsaying
Mfr. Georges assertion that the use OF
money in elections tends to destroy
our institutions by poisoning the source
of the stream from which they draw
their nourishment and sustenance.
The evil Is one of comparatively re-
cent growth, and its extension is
alarmingly apparent to even superb.
Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1883-03-08
The House Appropriation Bill.

Referring 70 the work Of the House
Appropriation Committee the Patriot
has this to say complimentary Of its
work: " During the two months which
have passed since the organization Of
'he legislature the appropriation com.
nlttee Of the house has accomplished
splendid work.
There have been referred to that
committee bills appropriating in the
aggregate s9,722,34G. OF these the
riot bill amounting to s2,jO0,0OO and
the border raid bill aggregating 30
per cent. Of s2,G25,9l59j were mega
lively reported. The other bills re-
ierred to the committee appropriated
s. '19 ,3073l. Measures appropriate
rng an aggregate Of s2,9lj,393 were
reported afiirrnatiyely, having been 70
duccd in committee from the originals
to the extent Of 1892, 100. The bills
reported negatively, in addition to the
two above named aggregate s725, PA
q. The committee ha. in its posses-
sion yet bills appropriating money to
the amount ofslO3,OOO.
There is much to commend in this
record. The committee has labored
wisely and well to retrench when ap-
preparations were deserved and to lop
Il entirely when undeseryed. The de-
maud upon the treasury was importu-
nate aud pro1igate, but the committee
has stood firmly in defense Of economy
1t only remains to add that the larger
portion Of the bills afiirmatively repor.
ted are for proper and deserving
chartics."
Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1883-03-08
A Bad Practice.

The encouragement given by the
committee on elections to the contes.
rant speculation in the last congress
made that business unusually lively.
and Mr.. Calkins, the chairman Of the
committee, must be well satisfied with
the progress he has made in establish.
ing the business upon solid basis.
Most of the cases were 70 entirely des-
tItute of merit as to leave no excuse
for their being present at al, only that
there was n fund on hand to pay de-
fcated Republican candidates, who
were mean enough to ask it. This ,ys.
TEN Of fraud on the treasury has been
fully commented on and condemned.
But comment and protest had no ei-
feet on the last congress to arrest the
base steal, or to adopt any rule to dis
courage this speculation in the future,
The report OF the committee in the
case of Bill OF Alaska, is about on u
par with Others. There being no ter
rItorial organization IN Alaska few
of the spectators assembled and pro-
posed that they would send Mr.. Ball
10 Washington rs a delegate 10 rcpr, :
sent them IN congress. OF course he
could not be received. This he
knew if he possessed sufficient in
tclligeuce to represent walru-,
hut the precedent was c-iabii-hcd--he
could visit the haGut- OF civilization,
aud avail himself of the fraud, e.tab
Iished and encouraged by congress, to
draw pay from the government to GOV.
er expense, Though the committee OF
election. refused to admit him they
made a report recommending that
four howlud. cir hundred and scren.
tyfre doliars be paid him out Of the
treasury. This claim, so totally want
ing in merit, has really more justice
in it than the thousands Of dollars APP
propriated by the 47th Congress to
reward the numerous seat thieves who
bad no excuse TO! their raids. and in.
deed no motive outside Of the question
of plumber recognized by the Repub-
lican cougrcss.
Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1883-03-08
Sharp Collections

Mr.. Sharpe, Of Franklin, has intro
iuccd bill in the House, providing
that all corporations now indebted to
The State for taxes on their capital
stock or any other taxes sccruing pri.
or to June :, 1879, must pay the same
into the State Treasury within sixty
days Of the passage Of this act or else a
penalty Of ten per cent. will be added
a. well as interest at the rate of twelve
per cent from thirty days after the
tax became due. The bill makes simi.
lar provision for the payment of bonus
on capital stock. Sworn statements
Of the receipts and expenses Of the
Eastern Penitentiary, the House Of
Refuge, the Deaf and Dumb IEstitute
and the Northern Home, all of Phila.
dclphia, were received among similar
reports from other institutions, in &C.
cordance with the new rule requiring
such information before appropria-
tious can be passed.
Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1883-03-08

THE legal fraternity generally will
be pleased TO know that Ovid +. John
son, Esq, of Philadelphia, has been
induced TO attempt TO re-write his
treatise on the law Of mechanics liens,
a subject upon which he has become
oft-quoteJ authority. The original
manuscript was destroyed, just after
its completion, in the disastrous FIRE on
Library street, recently.
Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1883-03-08

THE share holders Of the Pennsyl.
vania railroad company ought TO be
satisfied with the splendid manage
ment Of their affairs. The annual re-
port shows that the gross earnings du.
ring the year were nearly fifty millions
of dollars the net earnings within =
fraction OF fifteen millions. The sum
Of s6,S90.7l495 was divided among
the share. holders, and after paying all
fixed charges and expenses, 81 $780,
56007 was carried to the credit side of
profit and loss account, which foots up
s12,195, $50 IL. The securities held
by the company amount to sl12,657,. ;.
306 so at par value but the com.
pauy puts them on the books as worth
s51 ,O37, ,66S.44. The income derived
from them during the year amounted
TO over three and half million of dol.
lars--a sum almost sufficient to meet
the interest on the entire funded in.
debtedness. The business of the COM
pany has very greatly increased. The
gross earnings we're larger, as COM
pared with those Of the previous year,
by about Eve millions of dollars.
Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1883-03-08

MUcH has been said lately against
the fee system Of compensation for pub
lie officers, and the conclusion seems
TO be pretty generally reached. by
those discussing the subject, that all
fees should be abolished, and fixed
salaries for all officers, whether county
or state, TO be paid out of the public
funds. The question may have anoth-
er side, and the experience of Cook
county, Illinois, it would appear by the
following extract from the Chicago
Times is developing, to some extent,
that phase of the conundrum:
When in Illinois it was found that
several county officers we're enioyine
immense emoluments from the fees OF
their Offices, the efficient remedy, IL
~ and require that the surplus Of fees
be turned into the county exchequer.
What was the resultl The officer, no
longer SeaIous TO keep down the expen.
ses that he was not compelled to dis.
charge, or collect fees which we're not
specially beneficial ~ him, sAw his Office
become charge upon the county. With
n single exception no Cook county Office
IL now self-sustaining. The special trou.
BILE does not arise from the failure TO
collect In full, but in the distribution Of
the service that has been performed by
few low riced men among : great
many subordinA,es receiving high sala.
Ties.
Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1883-03-08

THE Tax and Tariff Bill" has
been signed by the President, and is
now the las of the land. 1t falls far
short Of public expectation. Little or
no relief Is given the producing classes,
Three fourths Of the unnecessary tax
alton will still be collected. 1t could
not have been passed earlier in the
session. and fully nine.tenihs of those
voting for it did SO unwilingly. The
people asked for bread and they were
given stone.
Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1883-03-08

THE record made by the Democrats
in the late'Congress is a subject Of just
pride and graduation. 1t is clear,
patriotic and unstained by any act to
be ashamed of. If the same could be
said of the Republicans we should
gladly publish it.
Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1883-03-08

SPEAKER KEIFER got the vote Of
thanks the last session, that he missed
the first session of the 47th congress,
but it was a shabby one-S6 to s, less
than one-half the whole number of
members voting.
Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1883-03-08

PRoF. JAMES MALLTsTER, Of Mil
waukee, will. in all probability, be
chosen Superintendent of Public In
struction in Philadelphia. Educa-
tional timber must be scarce in the
city of Brotherly Love.
Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1883-03-08

HERR MosT is not meeting with the
success he expected. The American
workingman, artisan or labOrer Is too
content with his lot to be influenced
by the idle braggadocic of that coum-
munist. II is we'll for our institutions
that this condition exists.
Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1883-03-08

the tremendous lcvics made on capl.
taIists and Government employees are
rather result than q cause Of pOlit.
ical corruption. The election being
the initial point IN our political sys
TEN, 50 long a. it is to be gained by
the use Of money, and 50 long as it
cannot be gained without it, no sub.
.equent precautions will prevent cor.
ruption.
Mr. George points out that in yari.
Gus parts Of this country only rich
men can be elected to Office. The
lection contest between A-tor and
Flower in New York is cited as an cx
ample, in whicn over $4,000 va.
.pcnt, though the winner only spent
iwenty-odd thousand. The D-4.,a
candidate was consoled for canvas
that ought to have covered him with
disgrace 10y being made Minister to
Italy. What is this but u public rec
"shiuoh OF MI Astors course as hon
orable, and what must the lesson drawn
'nerc'Fom oy the voters oi that d.
met who had seen his unbIushIng ct.
iorts to buy a seat IN Congress All
who are familiar with the subject know
that the depreciation OF constituencies
where thi, progress is once begun j.
rapid. The number Of itching palms
increases with fearful rapiditv. Tn
fortunately this Wholesale corruption
Of the suffrage is not confined to the
cities. Spar,rly zettlcd Nevada and
Colorado are VIGOROUSLY Y rotten bor
oughs, and there are rural cou-tItucu-
cics all over the country where the
poison is rapidly spreading. The con.
ISOLATION offered TO Mr.. Astor wa,
public recognition that the use OF
great sums of money in a Congress.
ional election is legitimate. where there
ought instead to have been punish.
mcnt and disgrace for the men who
thus polluted the source Of political
morality. Very naturally Mr. Flow.
cr, though successful this time, vas
not anxious to continue to contest SO
costly district.
This deadly !eprosy Of the body
polite will not tie fully diagnosed
without keeping IN mind that its in
fictitious growth has been coincident
with the amassiug Of enormous wealth
by the holding Of corporate franchises
It il only a phase Of the millionaire
evil TO find refuge from which gran.
gers, and green.backers, and anti.mo-
nopolists have been so anxiousIy crop.
ing. Mr.. George offers a remedy.
which We can at least see would be a
paliation, but what certainty is there
that the money power will let 60 anv
Of the machinery which it has found
80 us full ? Mr.. George would make
it possible for even a poor man to run
for any Office by having all the neces.
sarv expenses both of primaries and
elections paid for by the Government.
Among other things he would have
the Government print all ballots. to
.o,o or = sororo,e sI;, tho ,ar,os Sc
INV va - IN'"'N ~ ~ s'A''N'' ~
Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1883-03-08

THE people OF Pennsylvania should
be thankful that Mt last we have
Governor whom no unholy influence
can awe.
Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1883-03-08

Hox. SIMON CANEEoN celebrated his
S4th birthday ON Tuesday last.
Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1883-03-08

JosEru MYERS & SoS, cloak man
ufaeturcrs, Philadelphia, have sus-
pended. Liabilities, $4,000.
Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1883-03-08

LIEUT. GOVERNOR BLACK has de.
termined to call a special election in
Chester county to choose success.
cor to Senator Everhart, who has been
elected to the 4sth Congress. Here is
another opportunity for the staIwarts
aud half.breeds to test their relative
strength in the harmonious party.
Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1883-03-08

WHETHER or not the Republican
Congress. which has just gone out of
existence, is chargeable with betraying
the people in not providing relief from
the onerous war taxes, there will be no
excuse for any neglect on the part Of
the next congress. Instructions to
them we're clear, pointed and direct.
Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1883-03-08

" MiLEs WkLEER.
Secretary
Morris tribune., 1883-11-07
THE NEW SPEAKER.

The war that is now going Gu in
Washington among the democracy
for the speakership of the house of
Representatives, show how eagerly the
leaders OF that party scramble after
highest position, and where glory is
won, and political capital is made at
the expense of the little fish which
can never get into such water, From
that position enemies are killed, and
friends advanced with the mere roll
of the speakers eye, when the most
worthy, is for the future advance
ment of party is put down, and the
least so, is raised up. This with the
scramble for the spells of war, hurled
that party in fight within its own
ranks out ofpower, and placed i'll its
stead. The republican party, which
was not one half as strong in number,
but legions in the strength of its love
OF country, and governmental princi-
pies. The most popular man for
speaker, will be the one who can be
=
used to the best advantage ly those
whose Influence shall place him i'll
that position, provided his immor-
tality as Il democrat has been histori-
cal throughout the land. AS for his
principles, it would be an item OF
strength in favor Of his election, if he
never had any at all, then there would
be none for him to cOnstrue at his
party's expense. The Sonth has not
yet shown his hand, but as that is to
| be the land Of the next presidential
democratic majority, it claims will be
highly favored, without any regard tc
| northern sentiment. The amount Of
| legislation that will be done for the
benefit of the people, will depend alto
gether upon the speed they make i'll
laying their future party plans, fol
party success. Themselves first, anC
the people second, will be the watch
word Of the democracy as it always
has been heretofore.
Morris tribune., 1883-11-07
WAR IN CHINA.

England has not had a war on hand
for long time, and the British cabi-
net has come to theconclusion that they
must dip in somewhere to try the
strength of her new fleet, if nothing
more. France and China have been at
loggerheads for nearly year, about
matters in Tonquin, with fair pros
pect that France will crush China,
and get sufficient territory to pay all
her expenses. This England cOnsid-
ers will injure her interest in China,
and cut off a large part of her prof.
table trade and she cannot think of
allowing France to do anything of the
kind. France blockading the ports
of China would be an unpleasant sight
for the British cabinet, as China sup
posed it would be; and the cabinet is
half inclined to prevent France from
accomplishing this object just as
China again expected. The Chinese
have not from the first feared France
because they were quite certain that
England would find an excuse, or
that it would be her interest to come
in and do their fighting for them
But there may be question, if China
is not more badly used UP in the end
with Fngland's assistance, than it
would be if France was to take all it
claims or is seeking to gain. Eng
land Will demand if victorious, the
payment of all expenses of her fleet,
it's losses and damages, and the pay
ment of her army employed, and
what will he left remaining OF China
and lind her nationality after that,
| will not amount to much. France
has been making war arrangements
for sometime, and is calculating upon
| an expensive campaign, and may
prove more of an obstacle to Englands
backing than has been thought posi-
| BILE. The sympathy of the United
States now leans towards France.
Morris tribune., 1883-11-07
CIVIL RIGHTS TROUBLE.

There is likely to be great excite
ment in the next congress over the re-
cent decision of the supreme court OF
the United States, upon the civil rights
bill. Until this decision was made, it
was being considered as about settled,
that the colored people in the South,
were entitled to all the rights and
privileges of any other citizen Of that
country, and that they were entitled
to the same redress for all and any
wrong, as others, but as the court
could not see that congress had any
authority over what it terms these do
nestle affairs, the colored people down
there are all broken up, and are'about
where they were in many respects,
before slavery was abolished. The
state courts will not afford the least
protection to this class, and it is now
supposed that the whole question OF
what might be termed the negro's
rights. will absorb the most Of the
time of the next congress, and per-
haps remain unsettled for years to
come. AS the democracy are in power
in many Southern states, even where
there is strong republican majority
against it, no constitutional amend
ment could be passed that could have
tendency to restore peace and quiet.
1t is unfortunate for both north and
south, that this whole ground, and
those old battles are to be fought over
again, unsettling the future welfare OF
the country for all time to come
This question will find its way into
the Presidential campaign and open ii
up to white heat before the close OF
the present year, unless the democra'
cy take steps at once to recede from its
obnoxious measures, but as such meas
ures are a part of the Fundamental
principles of the Southern democracy
it is presumed they will be chung tC
until the result is most disastrous tc
the country at large.
Morris tribune., 1883-11-07
THEIR EVIL DEEDS.
Items of Unrighteousness FROM
Different Points.
Arrested for Numbering Their Child
-.-Crime In the EaSniO---Iewey
the Fraud---FOrger
Captured.

MILWAUKEE Wis, Nov. Ga Princeton
dispatch says: "Mrs Ellen Long, widow,
and L. S. Whittemore, the father of the boy
found in the river with his throat cut,
have been arrested for the murder.
The detectives who undertook the
case had their suspicious turned to
Mrs. Long because of rumors
that she once attempted to poison White
more's wife, and failed Searching his house
they found bloody clothes, which she had
been wearing up to the murder, and a
butcher knife and two razors stained with
blood In the well on her premises was found
club with blood marks. The neigh
bors say that criminal intimacy
existed between the widow and White
more, and that it was known to his
lO-year-oid son, who was probably thus dis
posed of to stop the scandal The boy was
missing ten days, but the father made little
effort to find him. The theory is that the
boy was killed by Mrs Long i'll her cellar,
and that the father carried the body to the
river and hid it in the place where he pre-
tended to first discover it ten days later.
Mrs. Long is daughter of ex-County Judge
A. H. Myers.
Morris tribune., 1883-11-07
RACE TROUBLES IN VIRGINIA.
Intense Excitement Over the Dan
willie RIot---A Readiaster Account.

RICHMOND, Va, Nov. 6.-The riot at Dam
vile Saturday night produced intense excite
ment all over the state. White people in all
sections are indignant over the outbreak and
causes which led to it. A disturbance oc-
CURED at Fredericksburg. A white man,
talking about the Danville riot, was over
heard and attacked by a negro. There was
lively fisticuff, and the negro was soundly
beaten.
WASHINGTON CITY, Nov. O. Commissioner
Evans has received communication from
the internal revenue agent at Danville, Va,
stating that the recent riot was instigated by
white men; that the negroes were inoffensive,
the only threatening language used be,
ing that they intended to vote at all
all hazards Collector Rallston has been
bitterly denounced by the whites for en-
couraging the negroes to stand firm Tho
probabilities were that Rallston would he
assaulted upon returning to Danville. He
had already received notice from Masonic
friend that he had better remain away from
Danyille
Morris tribune., 1883-11-07
PeterSOn'S Air.ShiD,

Chicago News: \ certain Caat.
Carl Petersen has invented new OBJ
long, horizontal, flat, reefable gas
vessel.' He decribes it in that way
but the common run of folks will be
well satisfied to call it an air-ship
which is what it is intended to be.
This gallant captain eff experimental
and fiighty tendencies is resident of
Brooklyn, and it may be presumed
that he is a Scandinavian by birth,
if his name is to be any guide. Men
of his stock have always been daring
navigators, and it may he that Inherit
ed tendency to ship-building Joined to
natural and quite excusable desire to
escape from the city of many churches
and startling theological novelties,
has prompted his invention.
The captain says that when he conf
pletes his ship, a working model of
which he promises to .eXhibit before
Christmas, she will cross the sea at
the rate of sixty miles an hour, her
course being first up for may thousand
feet, then down again, until in five of
these plunges. or "tacks" as he calls
them, she will arrive at Liverpool,
where she will quietly drop, down in
to st. Georges square, discharge her
passengers, and be ready to return to
to America.