davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-12-27
BANK CIRCULATION.
A Forecast of the Action of the Banking
Committee.

Committee.
WASHINGTON, Dec. ga. II. Buck
ner. Chairman of the Committee on Bank
ing and Currency, is preparing bill to be
introduced when Congress reconvenes
which provides for the issuing of Treas
ury notes without legal tender quality to
take the place of bank notes going out of
existence. The purpOrt of the measure is
the same as that of a bill already intro
duced. The proposition to take off 1 per
cent. tax on circulation and allow banks to
issue on market value instead of par
value, is not favored by the Chairman of
the Banking and Currency Committee.
MIR. Buckner says that if the plan of Mr..
Knox is successful in avoiding cOntrac-
ton of circulation of bank notes it would
afford but temporary relief, and in seven
years from the present, when it became
| necessary to begin redeemlng the AZ per
cent. bonds there would be a recurrence
of the present trouble. The national
bank system cannot live without a ma
tiOnal debt, and as that debt is being
wiped out gradually and certainly, Mr..
Buckner is of the opinion that it is time
to prepare for a permanent circulation.
He is not favorably inclined to the re-
mOVal of the tax on circulation, giving as
his reason that while in the Eastern
States, where interest is low, circulation
is valuable. and worth all that
the government asks, in the
Western States, Mr.. Buckner SAYS,
franchises are still more valuable
because the rates Of interest are higher.
The originator of the proposed measure
is doubtful of the probability of any legis-
Iation on the subject during the present
term of Congress-, owing TO the diversity
of OpiniOn upon the question. To Mr.
Buckner's committee will be referred all
questions relating to national banks.
Representative Dingley, of Maine, heads
the list of Republican members on this
committee. Mr.. Dingley to-day said that
he thought that but two of the plans pro-
posed were practicable. One of these was
to provide for the issue of circulating notes
to national banks to an amount equal
to 80 per cent. of the market value of the
bonds deposited by them to secure circu-
laIiOn. After hasty examination of the
list of members of the committee. he said
that he was of the opinion that this plan
was the more likely to find favor with the
committee. He would not express an
opinion as to the treatment which the
other plan he had in mind as practicable
TO take the tax off national banks would
probably receive from the committee
formed. He now expresses himself as
we'll pleased with the committee as named.
He thought that it was strong COM
mittee and committee made
up of strong men who are
interested in the questions which are to be
submitted to them. The committee, he
thought, also, was well selected geograph-
Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-12-27
BUSINESS COMPLICATIONS.
$1,000 SpindIes stopped by the Failure
of A. ID. Smith q Co.

$1,000 SpindIes stopped by the Failure
of A. ID. Smith E Co.
PROVIDENCE, r. l., Dec. 26.-The firm
of A. ID. Smith & Co. have made an as
signment. The liabilities are said to be
over 81, 100000, largely due to Providence
banks. The firm operated two cotton
mills in this city, two in Johnstown and
one in Weonsocket, in all $1,000 spindles.
The failure involves the suspension of the
Providence Steam Mill Company
the GrotOn Manufacturing Company and
Franklin Manufacturing Company. 1t
is said at Bradstreets agency here that
they have rated Smith & Co. low since
1879. There is, they say, large property.
but mostly in plant, and the firm has been
working on large Indebtedness and in
sufficient active capital. The assignees
OF the firm are Royal G. Taft, c.. w. Car
penter and E. w. Mason.
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn, Dec. 26.-J. &
b. Lambert, dealers in dry goods, at
Huntsville, Ala, have been closed out by
their creditors. The liabilities are $685.
600. The assets are not known.
CLEVELAND, Dec. 25.-The liabilities of
Lamborn Gray, the bankers of Alliance.
who recently made an assignment, are
variously estimated at from 100000 to
S3OO,OOO. The assets are not known.
Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-12-27
The Enormous Business of the Dead
Letter Office



Four million three hundred and seven
ty-nine thousand one hundred and ninety.
eight letters strayed into the Dead Letter
Office during the last year; 3,346, ,357 of
these were not called for at the post of
fees to which they were sent: rs, ,S65 were
sent in from hotels because the departed
guests had left no addresses for forward
ing their mails; 175, ,71S were insufficient
ly paid; 1,345 contained forbidden arti-
cles, lottery tickets, and the like; $50, 1877
were enormously or illegibly addressed :
and 1879 letters bore no address what
ever. Of these letters 15,301 contained
money amounting to '$32,647 %. Besides
that, 1905 letters contained drafts,
checks, money orders, ETC., to the amount
of 1881, ,994 At. Moreover, &C, ,137 letters
contained postage stamps, and 40. .125 con-
tanned receipts, paid notes, and cancelled
obligations of all sorts.
With this remarkable showing of more
than 81, 100000 gone wrong, too much can
not be said in caution to those who con-
fide letters and packages to the mail. The
money thus collected at the Dead Letter
Office is turned into the Treasury. The
goods and merchandise from the packages
are sold at auction, and the Christmas and
fancy cards are done up in packages and
sent to the children's hospitals and the
orphan asylums of this city.
A whole history Of possible anguish and
heart burnings is wrapped up in the col
lection of 50, 100 photographs that came to
the Dead Letter Office in a year, and in
jured and resentful swains, angered rela-
tives and friends may know where some
Of their treasures have gone to. The pho
tographs are preserved, and this portrait
gallery of the Post Office Department
numbers up into the millions, beginning
with miniature that was lost in the
mails fifty years ago.
Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-12-27
MARITIME MATTERS.
Japanese Sailors Terribly Frostbitten In
Connecticut Waters.

NEW HAVEN, CONN, Dec. 26.-On Sat
urday afternoon last the bark Mohawk
sailed from New York through Long
Island sound for Calcutta with cargo of
oil. She had on board crew of twenty,
capt. Grassland commanding. The pierre
ing cold weather of Saturday and sun
day had a terrible effect on the crew.
Nine of them were so badly frost
bitten that the bark came to anchor
eight miles from the New Haven
lighthouse. and He'll Gate pilot rowed
70 this city yesterday to report the case.
Today nine Of the crew were brought to
TINS city on tug and put in a hospital.
All nave their hands and toes frozen
The crew were shipped from New York,
and are mostly japanese. Two of them
VIII have to have their feet amputated
One OF the crew who was aloft Tuesday
morning lost his hold and fell to the
deck. lie died five hours afterward. He
was japanese, Is years old.
PITTsBURG, Dec. 26.-This morning the
steamer ID. b. Wood, owned by John
WOOD " Son, of this city, while waiting
to pass through lock No /, on the MonOn-
gahela river, was caught in the strong
under current tow and swept over the
dam. The barges sank. but the steamer
was saved. Inc loss is 1000.
This evening another accident occurred.
The steamer Reindeer, owned by Magnus
d Son, was swept away while attempting
to make landing. She caught the guard
of the Ben Wood, owned by j. NJ. Wood &
Co., and carried that vessel along with
her. The velocity of the boats was fright
ful. The steamers Venture, Little Dick
anu John Case were badly damaged, and
other vessels received slight damages at
the dam. The Reindeer parted in the
middle and caught fire. She is total
loss. Her crew were saved.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 26.-The Depart
ment of State has been informed of the re-
cent regulation of the Peruvian authori-
ties requiring that all vessels arriving in
Peruvian port must be provided with
bills of health certified to by the Peruvian
Consul at the port of departure, in default
OF which they will be subjected to quaran-
tine and fine.
PHILADELPHIA, Dec. 26.-The agents
of the American Line emphaticaIly deny
the report published to-day that the line
is to go out of existence should the pro-
posed sale of four American built steam
ers be consummated. Besides these
American vessels, there are five English
built steamers on the line.
LONDON, Dec. 26.-The hull of the
steamship Saint Augustine, which was
swept by fire Sunday, December 16, in the
her way from Manila to Liverpool, has
been tOwed into the harbor of COrunna,
Spain.
HALIFAX, Dec. 25.-The steamer Ma
rengo arrived here this morning with the
national line steamer France in tow, the
latter having broken her main shaft. The
France is from London for New York.
Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-12-27
AT THE NATIONS CAPITAL
MIR. BUCkNER'S BILL FOR TREAS
URY NOTES FOR BANKS.

The Issue to be Devoid of the Legal
Tender QuaIity-Mr. Belmont Vir-
tually the Head of the Foreign At
fairs Committee Judge Erskipe,s
Successor Still in Doubt.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 26.-AIr. Bland.
Chairman OF the Committee on Coin.
age, Weights and Measures, has
not become sufficiently acquainted
with the members Ofthe committee to know
their views on the subjects to be consid-
cred during the present Congress. He
himself favors recoining trade dollars
into standard dollars, and thinks that the
issuing of the latter should not be stopped.
Mr.. Bland is of the opinion that mint
ought to be established in the Mississippi
Valley, and because of the advantages
offered at st. Louis favors that CITY as the
place TO be selected.
MR.. cox TO DECLINE.
Mr.. Cox, of New York. who was an
pointed Chairman of the House Commit
tee on Naval Affairs, has informed an in
Innate friend, a member of the House.
that he will decline to serve on that com
mlttee when Congress recOnyenes. The
reasons assigned for Mr.. CoX's refusal
Affairs viii have comparatively lit
tie before it during the present
Congress, and that y years service in the
House entitled him to the Craftsmanship
OF the Foreign Affairs Committee. His
friends say that in that position Mr., Cox
contemplated advocating a number of re-
forms in the line of reducing the number.
OF foreign ministers, Vesting cOnsuls.
with diplomatic power when necessary
nd INN
to make 1t more powerful agency for the
advancement of the commercial interests
of the country.
Mr.. SPRINGER'S DIssATIsFA ACTION.
Mr.. Springer, who desired the Chair
manship of the Committee on Elections.
but who was made Chairman OF the Com
mittee on Expenditures III the Depart
ment Of Justice, also cOntemplates de-
clining when Congress reassembles.
giving as his reason that both he and his
constituents have been insulted by his
omission from important committees.
IMPORTANCE OF BELMONT's PLACE.
Very few members were in the CITY
Christmas. Those here from their talk
showed that whatever acrimOnv or dis
content arose from the formation of
Carlisle's committees had practically
vanished. The only point upon which
there is now any general criticism is the
fact that young Perry Belmont is, in
being given the second place on the For
eign Affairs Committee, elevated above
;. ;. Cox. Representative Curtin, who is
Chairman of that committee, is very old,
and Mr.. Belmont will practically take his
place at Its head.
THE HOUSE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIA-
TONS
held its first meeting this morning. II
was decided to prepare, if possible, the
pension, fortificatiOn, consular and militia
ry academy appropriation bills during the
recess so that they might be presented in
the House when Congress reassembles.
Mr.. Randall, Chairman of the Committee,
will announce tomorrow the names of
the members who will have charge of the
bills during their consideration.
Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-12-27
THE CHINESE CHRISTMAS.
CelestiaIs at Washington Celebrate Il
Day "AlIee Samee Mclean Man"

Washington Special Ne30 York World.
'EYlas, dis belly blig dlay for Cinnamon.
1t allie samee as Melicanlman Chlistmas,' y
said one Of the most prosperous Chinese
laundrymen of this city to the World cor
respondent last evening after celebrating
the Chinese Christmas with great enthu-
siasm.
Chow do you celebrate the occasion ?'
ESamee like Mclean man-eat, dlink
and gilt dunk"
The pagan then, after some persuasion,
led the way to a downtown laundry,
where was found a motley gathering of
Celestlals who were in the midst of their
religious ceremony. One, who appeared
to be the director, had taken an elevated
position on an ironing table and was bob
| bing his head up and down and chanting
weird song. This was Chang Flu, the
orator OF the day. At the conclusion of
the chant, the Cinnamon, who stood
around in semi-circle, raised their hands
| implOringly, at the same time casting
their eyes upwards and repeating their
prayers, of which a phonetic report pro-
duces the following jargon: "Oui-we-
-kIn-Sln-S sin -oui -mah - wah-kY-
bozz." The ceremony is known as ':wor-
Shipping heaven"
When the prayer had ceased and all had
partaken of rice, Chung Flu descended
from his improvised platform and led the
way to an inner room. Here a sumptu-
GUS banquet was spread, consisting of all
the Chinese delicacies and some of the
American luxuries. A noticeable feature
of the feast was three suspicious looking
bottles, labelled in large gold letters
Gin" The banquet room was gaily dec
GRATED for the occasion. The principal
object was a cabinet representing the
armament. 1t was a skeleton frame COW
cred over with sky-blue tissue paper, the
latter being perforated. Through these
perforatiOns the light from several can
dies beamed forth, making the whole
scene resemble that of the sky on starry
night. On top of the cabinet were sew
eral candles, which threw dim, yellow
light over the room.
At the conclusion of the banquet the
W0rshipers knelt before the cabinet and
offered a series of prayers. Then the
whole party in single file ascended to the
roof and spent half hour in concluding
their days devotions.
At the Chinese Legation the day was
celebrated by the Ambassador and at
taches in grand fashion. The ceremony
consisted in worshiping heaven, and was
a much more dignified proceeding than
that before described. A devout member
of the Legation acted as nigh priest and
conducted the devotional exercises.
Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-12-27
MANY PoCKErBoOKs STOLEN.
A Detectives Views About PiekpOckets
and Their Victims.

''This is the pickpockets' harvest" said
a detective who is employed in large
fancy goods store. t'You have no idea
how many pockets are picked every day.
Not only are pOcketbooks taken out of
ladies' pockets, but also out of their hand
satchels, which they carry in front of
them. | know of a dozen instances last
week in which ladies had been robbed.
and in no one instance was the pick
pocket caught"
''Do not the proprietors of the stores
make any effort to prevent it?'
"They do all they can, but the thieves
are too sharp for them. They have de-
teetiyes and employees pacing up and down
in the aisleS, but il does not seem to do
much good. They have also to look out
for shoplifters, who are now around in
large numbers, and who, Notwithstanding
the utmost vigilance of the store
keepers, manage to carry off a large
amount of goods. Many women whom we
suspect we can do nothing with,
for fear of making a mistake. If
the ladies would only be a little care
full they would not be robbed so easily.
They carry their pOcketbooks loosely in
their hands, and keep their eyes looking at
everything else. They get in crowd and
soon comes the cry, "My pocketbook is
stolen." Everybody gathers around and
the pickpocket escapes. The hand-satch-
els are regular temptation to thieves.
Most OF them are kept closed by two
knobbed wires, which snap together. A
twist of the knobs opens the satchel. Pick
pockets can twist them as easily as any
one else.
"a few days ago." the detective con-
tinued. "a lady was on her way out of a
store in Fourteenth street when she saw
that her satchel was open and that her
pocketbook was gone. Il have been
robbedv she called out. The next instant
she was surrounded by women, five of
whom told her that they had just been
robbed, too. The proprietor of the store
was called, but he could not find the thief.
who had evidently slipped away as soon
as the theft was committed. They are not
likely to wait around, you know. The
lady said that not more than second
elapsed between the time that her pocket
book was stolen and her discovery of the
loss. She thinks that some Of the five
women who told her that they had been
robbed were in with the thief Possibly
she is right"
Are these pickpockets men or womenF'
"Ihose who work the inside of the stores
are mainly women. The outside pick
pockets are chiefly men. All of them do
their work so neatly that It is almost i'm
possible to detect them. The only thing
to do is to be alert when in a crowd. Inn
agine that every one is going to rob you,
and act accordingly"
Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-12-27
OEio's Colored Citizens

COLUMBUS, o.. Dec. 26.-The State
Convention of coiOred citizens assembled
to-day. There was a large attendance
from all parts OF the State. w. S.
Thomas, Of Delaware county, was tenn
porary Chairman. He stated that the
object of the convention was that the
and more disregarded, taking as a wit
ness the Danville outrages, show such a
condition of affairs as to render necessary
an organization for the protection of all
rights belonging to all citizens. The
decision Of the Supreme Court on the
civil rights law was generally discussed.
Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-12-27
To Aid Negroes to Emigrate.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 26.-An organiza-
ton to be known as ''The Emigrant Asso-
clatlon" has been formed among the col
ored people of this city for the purpose, as
set forth in the constitution, of helping
colored people from Southern States to
emlgrate and locate. The officers elected
are: President, W. II. Scott: Vice Presi-
dent, NJ. II. Howard; Secretary, j. w.
Niles; Treasurer and Assistant Secre-
tary' A. NJ. 2. Carey; Directors, w. Baum
OF the District Of Columbia, NJ. Howard
OF Missouri, w. d. Scott of Alabama, j.
y. CisnOr Of Louisiana, NJ. A. S. Cary of
Georgia, j. w. Niles of Arkansas, j. b.
Jones of Texas, and A. S. Stewart of
Florida. The constitution provides that
a prospecting and locating committee
shall be appointed, and that every head
OF family entitled to locate on $50 acres
OF government land shall upon paying
$40 to the association receive help in get
ting to his place and have assistance for
one year afterwards.
Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-12-27


Petroleum is the great foundation of
most of our chewing gum, said New
York cOnfectiOner. You see that marble
ike block on the counter. A few days
ago that came out Of the ground in Penn
sylvania a dirty, greenish-brOwn fluid,
with smell that could knock an OK down.
The oil re6ners took it and put it through
a lot of chemical processes that l don't
know anything about, and after taking
out a large percentage of kerosene, good
share of naphtha, considerable benZine,
a cart load or so of tar, and number
of other things with names longer than
the alphabet, left us this mass of
nice clean wax known as paraffine. There
isn't any taste to it, and no more smell
than there is to china plate. We will
take this lump, cut il up, and melt in
boilers. This piece will weigh 200 pounds.
We add thirty pounds Of cheap sugar TO
il. aud flavor it with vanilla, wintergreen,
peppermint, or any essential oil. Then
we turn il out on a marble table and cut
il into all sorts of shapes with dies. After
II is wrapped in oiled tissue paper and
packed in boxes it is ready for the
market. You can imagine that somebody
is chewing gum in this country when
tell Yon that lump like this one Will
make 10000 penny cakes, and we use one
up every week. There are dozens oi
manufacturers using almost as much OIL
the wax as we do.
Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-12-27
Crossing Lances with Lottery Com.
many.

PETERSBURG, VA, Dee. 26.-Proceed-
ings were instituted to-day by the Com
mOnwealth Attorney against the Dismal
Swamp Canal Lottery Company, by a
nominal arrest of the company's agent
in this city. The. ease was SGT for hear
ing before the Mayor on Friday, when it
will be sent to the Hastings Court for trial.
The object of the proceedings is to test
the legality of the company to sell lottery
tickets here or elsewhere in the State, the
company claiming to have the right to do
so under an act of the Assembly passed
in the year 1916, while the Commonwealth
claim that said act is without authority
Of law
Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-12-27
Archbishop Perche Dying.

NEW ORLEANS, Dec. 26.-Archbishop
Perche has.for some weeks been in failing
health, and four days ago became unable
to leave his bed. Last night his condition
became so alarming that it was deemed
imperative to administer the last sacra-
ment, which was done. The Archbishop
suffers more from age than any sickness
and is gradually sinking. His death is
expected at anV moment,
Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-12-27

WASHINGTON, Dec. 25.-The most
prominent names mentioned in connec-
tion with the succession to Judge Erskine
are those of Mr.. Farrow, Judge Cunning
ham OF Atlanta, and George A. Mercer OF
savannah. The papers on file in behalf
of Mr.. Mercer are most influential. They
were gotten up when President Arthur
was in Savannah. 1t Is now generally
understood that Mr.. Mercer, whois a rela-
tive of the President by marriage, could
get the place if he wanted it, but that he
does not want it. Mr.. Cunningham is
very strongly indorsed by the bar of At
lanta and vicinity. The President has not
yet accepted Judge Erskine's resignation,
or given the whole matter any attention.
The only thing certain is that Farrow will
not get the place.
Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-12-27
A Pin In His Brain.


<<tNF NNso k@AVsJ <(cHtV0Uts
A story which partakes largely of the
incredible is told of Mark HOgge, a farmer
living near West Quincy. Last Saturday
Hogge took an old shotgun with a loose
breech pin and went out shooting. He
rode on horseback about a mile and hall
from home and dismounted. Soon after q
flock of wild geese flew over him and be
fired at them. The breech pin blew out
and Embedded itself in his brain, the con-
cussi0n for time knocking him sense
less. At length rallying, he gathered the
scattered fragments of his gun together,
mounted his horse and rode home. He
complained of a terrible pain in his head,
but he and those who first saw him sup
posed that the hurt was nothing more
than a severe scalp wound. A surgeon
was sent for, who made an examination,
and discovered the steel pin driven into
the brain fully an inch and a half. 1t
was removed, and though the brain oozed
out in considerable quantities the man
lived, and still lives, with a faint prospect
OF recovery. This story is incredible, but
is vouched for by the best of authority.