Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1884-12-25
The Day Before Christmas in New Yorl

: ,
Snow-storm which began this morning SER
iously interrupted the holiday trade, which
is usually the largest here Christmas eve.
The streets were blocked with drays, and
the delivery of goods on time was impossi-
bic. The express companies were at their
wits end, and freight and travel on the
railroads in this vicinity was greatly inn
peded The holiday business was practi-
cally suspended, and the stores were nearly
emptied of the immense crowds which
have thronged the shops and streets the
past fortnight. Business, though quite as
general, has been neither as large in vol
ume nar as profitable as last year. The
hard times, however have not diminished a
general good cheer and flow of benevolence
| visible throughout the city The snow
storm now prevailing adds zeSt TO the
Christmas preparations, and many dollars
to the poor. General FiM John Porter,
one of the Charities Commissioners, makes
! the taxpayers q left-handed Christmas
present in the statement that there
are at this moment 1900 per-
sons in the public institutions,
considerable percentage of whom are pro-
| fessional Migrants, who purposely procure
q commitment to the almshouses to be
maintained at the public expense during
/ the cold weather To-day little business
! Brokers have resolved to devote from II TO
TO their peculiar boisterous advertisements
which always characterize Christmas eve
there. Some of the Produce Exchange
members are petitioning the Board OF
| Managers for permission TO use the big
| tradingrOom for the reception proposed.
| AT the other Exchanges there is like dis
position to intermit in favor Of the hoh-
| day. The Christlnas-card business has
fallen off this year fully % per cent. Put
MANS Company's sales of cards in 1882
amounted TO $4,000. This year they have
less than $1,000. In Wall street the offices
are almost entirely deserted, little Or no bust
ness being transacted. The brokers were all
at the different Exchanges, where fun was
| fast and furious. Hats and coats We're torn,
paper thrown and flour distributed over the
| brokers' heads. At II O'Clock the galleries
Of the Stock Exchange were jammed with
! ladies and brokers to witness the customary
! Christmas Eve entertainment. The floor
committee marched in with flags, followed
| by two Scotchmen with bagpipes, who
could scarcely be heard owing to the
shouts, wells, catcalls and enthusiasm of
the brokers. Then came Il quartet of
French horns from Harry Miners
| Thcater who made circuit of the
| Exchange. playing popular airs. Two
| tall ladders were erected, and three
professional acrobats went through Il per-
| torrance in mid air. Then came Jig
dancers, a banjo solo, and finally a negro
vocal quartet, i'll evening dress. At this
point commotion was observed near the
| New jersey pool of the Exchange, a
number OF the older members commenced
| to offer and bid for stock, with the evident
| intention of putting an end to the festivi-
| ties. The Chairman of the amusement
committee appealed to the Chairman ofthe
| Stock Exchange, but he ruled that the
members were III order and had a right to
transact business The quartet commenced
to sing. but could not be heard above the
confusion, and the occupants of the gal
leries gradually left the building.
Holiday Recess of Congress.
WASHINGTON, December 9th. - The
! House. with only fifty members present,
adopted the Senate amendment, which
provides that the recess shall begin to-day
| Wednesday,, and last until January 9TH,
and then adjourned to January 9Th. The
Senate, after a short executive session, also
adjourned to the same daye.
The Brotherhood of Locomotive EnGi-
neers "Inquirins Into Things"
ST. LOUIS, December 2lth.-The Griev-
ance Committee Of the Brotherhood of
| Locomotive Engineers, who have been in
| secret session here for several DAYS have
waited upon Colonel Hoxic, third Vice
President Of the Gould system, to know
| the intention Of the roads in regard to re-
ducing wages It IS understood that the
| Gould system wishes the passenger train
engineers to lay Off certain trips and per-
nit the freight engineers to take their
| places 50 that the latte, whose pay has
fallen off considerably under the depres-
sion OF business, may earn better wages.
| This suggestion has caused the trouble
| Chief Engineer Arthur will arrive here to-
night from Cleveland, his presence being
necessary to solve the difficulty. The rail-
road authorities think there will be no
strike, but the engineers say one is very
probable, as they clam their wages are to
! be reduced January LIST.
The photographers and Their Grievances.
| PHILADELPHIA, December 9th. - The
Pres learns from i leading telegraph oper-
atOr that the new organization, with which
| they intend to resist a reduction Of wages
and other threatened encroachment of
the company, is as much a secret society as
is the Odd Fellows. 1t was organized
three years ago. One of its objects was to
abolish the system Of teaching students
| Operators in country offices and city branch
| offices were teaching all their relatives and
| friends, who had brains enough to learn.
| telegraphy, and as d result the market was
| OYercroWded, wages reduced, hours in
| creased, and such rules created that we
could not stand it any longer The organi-
cation numbers nearly 5000. Only first
class men belong We are making it hot
| for incompetent operators on the wires.
We have private signal among the mem
| bers of the organization, by which we can
IL
ant and uncomfortable for them By work
ing 50 hard and fast, taking all the advan-
tage we can, that for a year and d half
these fellows have done enough service to
be entitled to six months vacation. Our
organization is very much like the Brother
hood of Locomotive Engineers, and, tinan-
| cially speaking, our condition is ready 10
meet any emergency.
The Chinese Indemnity Fund
WASHINGTON, December 24th.-Scnator
Pendeton to-day favorably reported from
the Foreign Affairs Committee the bill in
| trOduced by him to repay China the re-
mainder OF the Chinese indemnity fund
now in possession of the State Department
In their report on the bill the committee
| say the amount paid by China was largely
in excess of all Just demands against that
| Government, and every Administration
| since tins tact was aScertMned has earnestly
| recommended the repayment of that ex-
cess. The committee concurs in this view.
| and says that il believes the wisest policy
on the part of this Government is to deal
with transparent justice, and even liberal
ity, in its intercourse with all nations
especially those of another race and civil
izatiou.
Masonic Temple Partially burned.
CINcGNNATI, December 24th-The Ma
sonic Temple, large building fronting on
Third street, was partially burned this
morning. The Temple is the property Of
Nova Caesarea Lodge Of Masons, was built
at cost of 100000, and is insured for
S125, 000-much more than enough to cover
the loss on the building. The principal
item of loss is that OF the Scottish Rite,
whose property was on the third and fourth
floors. Their loss is estimated at $4,000 to
$4,000. Enoch T. Carson's Masonic libra
ry, worth $4,000. and containing many
works impossible TO replace, was wholly
lost, buS Ensured. The losses to the other
Trtgl. ut