davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-04-24

dressed beef for Chicago firms during the
next five years at As cents per hundred from
Chicago TO New York, and AZ cents to Bal
tlmore. The Sun declares that this will
not pay the actual cost of transportation, as
serts it to be clear violation of the inter-
State commerce law, and calls upon the
commission to interfere.
This view implies the idea which seems
to have become general in some quarters,
that the Interstate commerce law forbids
railroads to reduce their rates, or TO guaran-
tee that the reduced rates shall be perma-
nent Nothing can be further from the
fact. The law leaves the railroads at the
fullest liberty to reduce their rates; and all
that it does is to require that the rates shall
be published, and that those which are
given to one shipper on a certain class of
freight shall be given to all shippers of that
class. If the Baltimore and Ohio road has
made secret contract with certain dressed
beef firms to give them lower rate than it
advertises to the public, it has violated the
law and should be punished. If it has COM
piled with the law in making the rate open
to all dressed beef shippers, the effect of the
contract is simply to guarantee to the pub
lie that dressed beef may be shipped for the
next five years at the figures named.
The idea that the interstate commerce
law restricts the liberty of the railroads in
reducing rates is one OF the respects in
which that measure is most widely misrep-
resented. 1t would be monstrous for the
law to prevent a road from making rates as
low as it chooses to the public; and no
clause or section of the act reveals any such
purpose. 1t forbids the giving of undue
preferences by low rates to one firm or in
terest, and thus crowding tine rival firms or
interests out Of business; but leaves the wav
clear for all open and well-considered re-
ductiOns that any railroad may choose to
make.
As to the allegation that the rate of 45
cents on dressed beef will not pay the cost
of transportation, it is worth while to no.
tice that this is one cent per ton per mile on
a long haul, free of terminal expenses. This
is above the average trunk line charge on
all classes of freight, and is no more than
reasonable reduction on the previously ex-
cessive charges on dressed beef. If the
Baltimore and Ohio has complied with the
law in making this rate open and general,
the contract is one to be approved as in the
interest of the public.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-04-24
AN INSTRUCTIVE RETROSPECT.

The fact that Pittsburg is making large
expenditures in street Improvements, which
must be paid by assessments upon abutting
property, suggests a rather instructive
lesson from our past experience.
Fifteen years ago we had law enabling
the city to issue bonds for street improve.
ments, by which the payment assessed upon
property-owners for paving and grading
could be distributed over the term of ten
years Large Improvements were made
under the law, and property owners dis
puted the legality of the measure. The
litigation resulted in favor of the property
owners; and the result has been that i'm
provements were practically suspended for
many years. Now the property owners who
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-04-24
THE TOPICAL TALKER.
AJoke on Mr.. smileY-The Happy Ninety.
Three and Other Concerts.

Three and Other Concerts.
REPRESENTATIVES, Al SMILEY is rather
famous for playing jokes upon his friends
This reputation he has maintained, am told,
at Harrisburg. The other day. however, 1
heard that some years ago four very estimable
young ladies of Foxburg, Clarion county sue
ceeded in saddling pretty good joke on the
redoubtable Smiley by way of change.
Smiley was in Foxburg looking after the oil
business there. He knew all the townspeople,
and like everyone else at that day he fully ap-
preciated the charms of the four bellies of the
town, who we're always together, and had
earned the ludicrous name of "the Big Four /"
of course from time to time Smiley treated the
Foxburgers to joke. He was much liked
especially by the ladies.
1t happened that Smiley received instruc-
tions from the Standard Company to have a
trench dug from the battery of q oil tanks on
the hillside above the town, so as to catch the
oil should any of the tanks burst or be struck
by lightning, and carry it off from Foxburg.
Smiley and the Big Four had good deal of fun
discussing the contract, and he jestingly said
that he would pay any of the girls 80 cents an
hour who would work on the trench with pick
and shovel
The Big Four were not to be bluffed after
this fashion. They bought toy picks and shov-
els and spent several days about the trench on
the hillside. 1t was not an unpleasant place to
picnic. In a few days the Big Four took Smi-
ley's breath away by presenting him with bill
of SIS rs, and a statement from the foreman of
the work that the bill was correct.
Smiley paid the bill, and the Big -Four gave a
ball in his honor the next week. And SIS rs
did not pay for the ball, either.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-04-24
STONE FOR THE NEW P. ..
Another Cargo COming-Pattersou Appre
ciated in the Architects Office.

Another Cargo Coming-Pattersou Appre-
ciated in the Architects Office.
Special Telegram to The Dispatch.
WASHINGTON, April 23.-At the office of the
Supervising Architect of the Treasury word
was received to-day of the arrival at Baltimore
of the vessel L. H. Patrick, with cargo of
about 200 tons of cut stone from the East Blue
Hill quarries for the PIttsburg postofice This
will be sufficient to complete the walls of the
building to the top of the upper story, exclu-
sive of the stone parapet 1t is expected that
this will all be set early in June and the roofing
can then be commenced at once. A large
quantitity of stone is lying cut at the quarries
in Maine, but at last accounts no vessel could
be secured to transport it. About l,SOO tons
will be required to complete the work, towers
and all.
a deal of gossip is circulating about the
Bureau of Architecture In the Treasury De-
partment in regard to the conclusion of the
department to'remove Patterson and reappoint
Malone as Superintendent. There are MANY
architects in the draughtsmen's room who
have been long in the service, who take great
pride in feeling that the affairs of the office are
being conducted with regard to excellence in
architecture rather than success in politics
and some of them are not slow in expressing
intendent is more for the purpose of furnish
ing berth for politician than for necessity.n
said one ofthese old draughtsmen to-day, 'but
it does seem strange that such man as Patter-
son should be forced out for political pur-
poses.n
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-04-24
PEOPLE OF PROMINENCE.

EDWARD B. HILTON, Son of Judge Hilton,
of New York. was married yester day at ST.
Johns Church, in Washington, to Miss Doro-
thy Phillips.
Mr.. GEORGE MEREDITH is said to be
writing, not one novel only. but two, at which
he works alternately. putting down one and
taking up the other as his humor of the oc-
casion suggests.
THE Presidents father-inlaw, DR.. Scott, is
in active demand by countless persons seeking
positions under the Government. He is the
recipient of hundreds of letters from people he
knows and from those he never had the pleas
ure of meeting.
CAPTAIN MURRELL, of the steamer Mis-
souri,, which rescued the passengers and crew
of the wrecked Danmark, was rendered an en-
thusastic reception at the Philadelphia Mari
time Exchange yesterday He was presented
with handsome gold watch.
SIR JULIAN PAUNCEFoTE, the new British
Minister to the United States, arrived in Wash
ington about o'clock yesterday afternoon on
the New York limited express. He was ac-
companied by his secretary and Mr.. Michael
Herbert, the Charge of the legation and was
met at the station by the Legation attaches
Last evening he was entertained at dinner by
Mr.. Herbert.
GUDBRAND VIGFUssoN, the famous lee
landic litterateur, who died at Oxford the
other day, was full during his last days, of
homeslckness. He longed to see and feel the
snow once more before he died. The wish was
denied him, but, as though in irony, it has
fallen heavily uponhis grave almost as soon as
itwas closed over him. A more kindly hearted,
genial companion than this simple, though
scholarly, Icelander never lived; with him die
a multitude of Icelandic traditions. Saga lore
and Edda meanings, which his life was too
short. with ali his work, to NIX upon cotem-
pOrary records. He died of cancer of the
liver,
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-04-24
uNnENoNsTRATED PREMISES.

The proposed survey for a canal from
Lake Erie to the Ohio river finds no favor
with the Philadelphia Times. The argu-
ment of our cotemporary is that there was
once a canal from the Ohio to Lake Erie,
and that the railroad has superseded it.
The logic Of this argument would be more
convincing il the Times would show, first,
that the railroads adopted no unfair
methods in crowding the canal out of ex-
istence, and would explain, secondly, how
it is that, if the Ohio river can carry coal at
one-fiith the railroad charges, water route
could not carry coal and ore, which are the
chief freights of Western Pennsylvania, at a
marked reduction on the presentrates. When
our Philadelphia cotemporary makes these
points clear its arguments may be eCpted
as something more than an expression of
the Pennsylvania Railroads hostilities to
the revival of water transportation in the
State. But until that has been done there
will still be some cogency in the inquiry
why water transportation which has demon
strated its economy for heavy and slow
freights, should not be given an opportunity
TO transport the freights that are at the
foundation of Pennsylvania industries.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-04-24

THE latest grave issue raised in connec-
ton with the New York Centennial is
whether the tune of America" shall be
played by the bands on that occasion. The
objection is that the tune really originated
in Europe, and has been used to furnish the
music for the British hymn God Save the
Queen" If an occasion should arise when
the performance of that anthem is appro-
pirate, the opinion of the old clergyman who
did not see why the devil should have the
advantage of all the good music, would seem
to be pertinent. There is no reason why
monarchy should monopolize that impress
sive tune.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-04-24
SNAGs FOR THE REVENUE BILL.

The revenue bill which has been one of
the expected acts of legislation in this State,
10! these many years, is generally asserted
to have struck snag. The snag is in the
shape of an amendment to the bill, allowing
those taxpayers who are taxed upon moneys
at interest, to deduct from their appraise-
ment the amount of debt on which they are
paying interest at the same time. Thus if a
man holds notes and mortgages for $4,000,
and at the same time has his own note out
for $1,000, he would be required, by this
amendment, to pay taxes on the 81, 900 sur
plus.
This would seem no more than simple JUS
tice as applied to private persons; but in its
application to corporations it opens the gate
for very general exemption. Nearly all
corporations count not only their bonded
Indebtedness but their stocks among their
liabilities, and the application of the rule to
those items in corporate balance sheets
would leave nothing for the corporation to
be taxed upon. 1t does not seem that the
difficulties raised by this question are insu-
perable, yet it is asserted that the new reve-
nue. bill would be actually reduced to
a nullity by the adoption of this
amendment. 1t is interesting to notice how
prompt the Philadelphia journals, who
largely represent the interests that are to be
taxed by the new bill, are to jump to this
conclusion, and suggest that after all the
Legislature might as well abandon its at
tempt to enact comprehensive system of
State taxation. We observe that the es-
teemed Philadelphia Ledger is quick to de-
clare the bill ga patch upon an already
patched-up mass of revenue legislation, q"
and to declare that it is mockery and mis-
spent time to continue to consider it.
So far as the bill itself is concerned it
ought not to be impossible to reduce its
provisions to equitable and well-digested
shape The difficulty seems to be not in
the character of the measure itself, but in
the disposition of the Legislature to fool
away time in junketing or in private non
sense so that the needed work of the session
is net performed. So long as the statesmen
regard it as more important to provide en-
tertainment for themselves and the State
militia at the New York show, than to pass
the measures which are demanded by the
people, the prospects of even the revenue
bill are very slim.
If after the failure of Congress to enact
the tariff legislation that has been an
nounced for year, the Legislature of Penn
sylvania proves unable to pass the revenue
bill, out of which the State has been
cheated for three or four years. further
commentary upon the utter futility of legis-
lative pledges will be unnecessary.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-04-24
FREAKS OF ELECTRICITY.
Queer DoiDgs of Current in the Air During
Severe Storm.

Queer DolDgs oil Current in the Air During
Severe Storm.
Special Telegram to The Dispatch
BRIDGEPORT, Conn. April 22-Reports of
the. severe electric storm on Saturday mig mt
are beginning to come in from the suburban
villages. The first bolt that fell in Putney, a
village in the north end of Stratford, struck
Henry Johnson's blacksmith shop and tore off
a wing or shed, without injuring the main
building. The electric current, however en-
tered the main shop and made free with
articles of iron and steel. A large hammer was
welded solidly TO the anvil, and the tips of 100
horseshoes were melted off. The tires of two
cartwheels were torn off, and the former YIELDS
were melted apart.
On the main road to Huntington a small red
house which has stood as a landmark for IS
years or more was struck and the interior COM
pletely ruined. Not sign of the lightning IS
work is visible from the outside. but not room
in the building is left intact. Only one person
occupied the premises, an old colored man
upon which he lay is about the only object that
was not splintered. He had to return to his
couch and wait for daylight to come before he
could surmise what had struck his shanty.
In the upper part of Fairfield the first bolt
that fell struck horse and an OK at the oppo-
site ends of a large barn. The two animals
were more than hundred feet apart, yet both
were killed and not sign of the lightning
could be found elsewhere around the building.
1T Milford big hole was excavated at the rear
of the village drug store but not particle of
the earth thrown out by the lightning was to be
seen on the premises
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-04-24
A CLERK In GREAT LUCK.
He weds a Widow Worth 100000 and
Wins a Lottery Prize.

BUFFALO, April 23.-The aged widow of
General G. A. Scroggs was this morning mar
ried to James Albert Stitt, drygoods clerk, q
years DID, with whom she became acquainted
less than year ago. The wedding was origin
ally arranged to be celebrated to-day in st.
Thomas Church, New York City, by Rev. John
W. Brown, an old friend of the Scroggs family.
For some reason not known here, but suspected
to be Discrimination on the part of Dr.'Brown
to officlate, the arrangements were altered, and
the wedding took place in st. PauPs this morn
ing. Mrs. Scroggs is said to be 81 years old,
but she claims to be younger.
She did not look over 50 as she swept down
the aisle of the cathedral this morning clinging
to the arm of her youthful and much less
robust lover. Stitt has lately resided at Mrs.
Seroggss elegant home in Pearl street. He is
above the medium height, dark complexioned
and has full heavy face set off by neat black
mustache- There appeared to be less than a
score of years difference between the two. Only
few friends of the couple were present. John
Stitt, brother of the bridegroom, who is a
Toronto business man, and Mrs. Elmer H
Whitney,an intimate friend of Mrs. Grover
Cleveland. we're the witnesses. The couple left
for New York on a West Shore morning train
and will spend their honeymoon in Eastern
cities. Mr.. Stitt last week won a 500 prize in
a lottery. Mrs. Scroggs's fortune is estimated
at S300 600
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-04-24
LITTLE PLEAsANTRIEs.

"Brown is a collector, isn't he?''
stYes. He is the original dun Brown
-Harper's Bdzar.
"And will you always love me, George?''
81 will if you behave yourself and don't cut up
any didoes.''
The match is oG.-BostOn Courier.
At the shining portals.-St. Peter-Hello,
therel Why don't you come in?''
Sanity Shade running away)-Not much; I
lust caught sight of my wife in there To1pn
Topics.
Fully ALPHABETICALLY, L hear you
are going to housekeeping?''
eyes Darringer?''
'swhat have YOU got toward iI?''
"a wife. .''-Detroft Free Press.
inexpensive Amusement.-Miss Point
Playce (in the foyer at Wheeler's)-Mercy! We
can't go to the matinee at all! L have left my
tickets at home. and haven't cent about me.
What'1l we dOg
Miss standpipe-Let's go shopping. Toledo
Blade.
Mr. Brown-Nonsense, child; there are no
such things ghosts.
Miss Brown (emphatically)-It tell you, pa, I've
seen one
Mr.. B. Observation-Disclosures?
Miss BIN the play of ''Hamlet. "-bostoa
Courier.
Served him right.-He-Can't have just
one kiss before go? Only one.
She-And il let you have one you VIII take two
won't you?
He-No. won't; indeed won't
She-Then you shan't have any.-IsrTe Hauts
Erpress.
Politics VS.. Letters.-First little girl
NV pa is a great councilman, and gives contracts
for sewers and things. Everybody has heard OF
him.
second little girI-My pa is an editorial writer
on great newspaper, and helps to make history.
Everybody will hear of him when he dies.-Nelo
York Weekly.
The Early Bird.-"I desire to apply for
the position of gauger recently held by my old
friend Jones. who was found drowned dav before
yesterday have just come from the funeral -
sorry smith, but the place has already been
flled.''
$50 quick? Who got the jobgs'
''The man who discovered the body aoating In
the river, OF course. ii-BostoR Hsraid
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-04-24
SQUIRT GUNS AND SULPHUR.
Admiral Tracy Tells How to Drive the Red
Ants From the White House.

Admiral Tracy Tells How to Drive the Red
Ants From the White House.
From the New York Evening SUM-
"Shiver my timbers for land lubber, if 1
don't believe you're trying to send red ants to
Davy Jones' locker with squirt gun, my
heartyr' and the Secretary of the Navy gave
his trousers hitch and slapped the President
On the back in his bluff old sea dog way.
admiral Tracy" said the President as he
rubbed his shoulder and made wry face, ''you
are, if.you will pardon me, you are very demon
strative. Admiral"
But, blast my eyes, sir, can't help being
kind of taken between wind and water. sir, to
see you trying to drive out those ants with a
squirt gum"
Uncle Jerry sent it to me from the Depart
ment of Agriculture" said the President; "and
he recommended it very highly, too."
"Oh, Uncle Jerry be blowedr' cried the sturdy
old sailor man. "He may know something
about grasshoppers and potato bugs, but he's
no good when it comes to red ants. The only
thing to do for red ants is to fumigate the ship
Il mean the White House."
"But-'
"But, nothing. 1 know what am talking
about. Get half keg o. sulphur and put it
in the hold-or 1 suppose you'd call it the
cellar-and set her off with match. If she
don't Knock the toplights out o. those red ants
in no time you may holystone my head You
just try it, my lad that's ALL" and the head of
the new navy rolled away, singing as he went:
Yo, heave, o!
The ants must CO.
Or Ben IL be driven crazy, o!
Yo. no. no. heave, o no!
AS for the President, he had stopped working
his squirt gun and was sitting before his desk
the picture of despair, while the red ants pried
into the State secrets which they found among
his papers.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-04-24
AN UN-BALANCE.

When the leaves begin to waken
From their winter slumbers long,
And the atmosphere is shaken
With the rohin's merry song,
When the April's necrumancy
Softens all the stars above,
Then it is n ''young mans fancy
Lightly turns to thoughts of love-
Then with face drawn out and solemn,
And with all his senses dumb,
1t takes hours to add column,
And the balance will not come:
For his thoughts are of u charming
Little lady in the town;
And his brain is fairly swarming
When he sets the figures down.
So 1t follows that next morning,
When he opens up his book,
He's an object for his scorning,
And there's sadness In his look,
And he questions much HIS talents
When he seesit written plain
That his figures gave the balance
'How l love you, Maud Elaine''
-Aarper's Basar
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-04-24
Buffalo BiIp. Greatest Effort.

The Hon. William F. Cody. of Buffalo Bilp'
fame, is in New York preparing for the trip to
Paris which he proposes to make with his
''WildSW est show. A number of cowboys
are here, and Thursday they will be Joined by
800 Indians in fresh war paint and new
blankets. Nate Salisbury, Buffalo Bills part
ner, has been in Paris for the past two months,
and everything IS in readiness for the cowboys
to whoop it up May 15, when the big exposition
opens. Colonel Cody has chartered the Persian
Monarch, and Saturday the aggregation of
cowboys, Indians and bucking ponies will sail
for Paris. After the Paris exposition London,
Madrid, Berlin and Vienna will be visited.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-04-24
PENNsYLVANIA's FULL SHARE.
Over Ten Per Cent of the New POstmasters
Are From the keystone State.


WASHINGTON, April 23.-"One hundred and
seventy" was the announcement at the Post
office Department when the inquiry was made
how many Democrats had been beheaded to-
day. Only Is, however. were for Pennsylvania.
They are as follows:
Joseph Frederic. Auburn; A. A. Carter, Au-
burn Center; ]. H. Davis, Barclay; Charles Fin
cile, Bath; W. r. Yeager. Bingui; w. H. Min
lex Cherryville: Jacob Ebey, Ebey's; NJ. N.
Reynolds, Factoryvllle; P. NJ. Leitzel, Fleming
ton; F. NJ. Case. Kersey's; L. B. Carlisle, Luth-
ersberg; w. C. Timms, Morton; ]. H. Hecks,
North Towanda; ]. A. Walter. Natrona; P s.
Calf, Somer's Lane; Samuel Weckter. Terre-
hill; w. F. Anderson. Walnut; c. F. Gillespie;
Whighill and c. G. Smith. WrightsviIle.
Following are in West Virginia: F. NJ. Fer
relI, Burnt House; John Grimes. Frozen Camp;
E. C. Goff, Goff's; W. W. Baker. Hamlin; T.
Gloves. Hebron; H. W. Deem, Jackson Court
House; Charles Thornton, Maggie; NJ. New
man, Milton, and ]. NJ. Wease, Sandy.
Among the postmasters appointed by the
President to-day were the following: Samuel c.
Moore. at Findlay. o., vice W. c. Hammaker,
nominated but not confirmed, and John W.
Steele, at Oberlin, o.