davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-02-27
AN UNsATISFACToRY CONTRAST.

The fact that New York jury has at
last indicted Ives and Stavner for their
swindling operations in connection with
the Cincinnati, Hamilton and Dayton
Railroad is generally received as vindica-
ton of the public honesty. 1t is SO to a
certain extent, and yet it presents a rather
marked contrast with the immunity granted
to men who have adopted almost the same
methods and are ruling powers in rail-
way finance to-day.
There is no doubt that Ives and Stayner
deserve the indictment and will deserve the
conviction which stares them in the face.
They issued about S15, 900, 900 of fraudulent
securities on that road for which the CORPORA
ton received no return, and converted the
proceeds to their own use. This is nothing
but stealing on the wholesale plan, and
whoever does it ought to be punished as a
thief But it is not pleasant commentary
on our system of Justice if the men who do
that sort of thing successfully and retain
the money with its power, are left un-
touched, while those who fail in it, or lose
the ill-gotten wealth in other speculations
are punished.
Now it so happens that Ives and Stayner.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-02-27
SUCH IS FAME.


A WESTERN journal alludes to 'Mrs. Anne
liza Rivers. author of The Virginians.'
The editor of the London Times is said to
have spoken of Grover Ingalls,, Esq, retiring
Vice President of Dakota.
Mr.. CLEVELAND is known to the readers Of
South American newspaper as General
Cleyelandos, Governor of Washington.
A FARMER up in Vermont, having heard
much about the magnates of Wall street, is
very anxious to meet Russell Gould and Jay
Sage.
WE believe it was an Australian paper that
announced the election of General ex-Presi-
dent Grant 20 the Mayoralty of New York
State.
THE rumor that the Duke Of Westminster
informed Mr.. Russell Lowell that he had long
admired the poetry Of his brother James Is
without foundation.
WHEN the Queen of Spain asked Perry Bel
mont IL he thought Mr.. Oliver Wendell Blaine
would appoint Levi P. Harrison to . Cabinet
office, Mr.. Belmont fell in swoon with
laughter.
THE worst specimen Of the fame that over
takes a man who is helpless to ward it off
comes to light in the case Of an Englishman
who is said to have congratulated Mark Twain
upon the exquisite humor In his Burdette col
umn.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-02-27

Mr.. CLEvELAND'S administration was
destined to follow the precedent of its pre-
decessors in one point at least. Mr..
Arthur's Commissioner of Patents managed
to slip in decision for the Bell Telephone
the last thing before he went out of Office,
and Mr. Cleveland's Commissioner has done
the same thing, by decision given out last
week. The way in which the big corpora
tions manage to get in their work on the
home stretch is not very clear, but it is
intimated that the officials who oblige them
just before retiring to private life are not in
any danger of the poorhouse.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-02-27

through their reckless operations, have none
of the money left, which they plundered,
and it is also the case that two signal ex-
amples of the same sort of operations have
been in the ecourts recently, in which the man
ipulators, backed with their spoils, came
off scot free. In one of them, touching the
Gould manipulations of the Union and Kan
sas Pacific consolidation, the scale of issu-
ing fat securities was double that of Ives
and Stayner; and the men who did it were
accorded the remarkable privilege of send
ing their lawyers into the grand jury loom
to argue against their indictment with sig
nal success. In the other the total issue of
bogus values was not as large, being about
100000 in the famous Hooking Valley
case; but the men who made the money
and kept it, came out of the fight with flying
colors.
Wholesale thievery should be punished,
whether it is successful or not; but it is far
from thorough vindication of the princi-
Piles of law when the unsuccessful thieves
are punished and the successful ones are
made the ruling powers of the land.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-02-27
LAMONTs NOVEL STEP.

Colonel Lamont has introduced a novelty
in politics by refusing the back pay which
Congress obligingly voted to cover the whole
of his expiring term. He does so on the
ground that he accepted position, the sal
airy of which was fixed by law and he does
not wish to take more than the stipulated
sum. This is rather good reasoning, but it
is by no means certain that it will increase
the Private Secretary's popularity among
the statesmen. 1t presents a contrast, you
know; and the theory has been promulgated
that since the Constitution says that public
officials "shal receive" such compensation
as Congress may fix, they would be violating
the Constitution not to take it. 1t is GER
tainly contrary to the unwritten law of the
politicians, and is likely to get Colonel La
mont classed among the impracticsble Mug
wumps. But what he loses among the poll
ticians he will gain among the people.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-02-27
A NEW LIBEL LAW.
The Act Drawn Up by a Convention of News.
paper Publishers.

The Act Drawn Up by Convention of News
paper Publishers.
HARRISBURG. February 26.-About 50 Penn
sylvania newspaper publishers and editors met
here this afternoon and adopted the following
law on libel, to be presented to the Legislatures:
Section 1-No action for libel shall be
brought or maintained unless the plaintiff
shall, before bringing suit request the defend
ant to publish retraction of the libel and
allow to the defendant D reasonable time in
which to publish such retraction, and to make
such amends as are reasonable and possible
under the circumstances of the case, and proof
of the publication of any retraction or correc-
tions shall be admissible in evidence under the
general issue on the question of the good
faith Of the defendant, and in mitigation and
reduction of damages. Proof of the failure or
neglect of the plaintiff to comply with the pro-
visions of this section may be given in evil
dence under the general issue in bar of the
action.
Section 2-Ii shall not be lawful for any at
torney at law to bring or conduct any action of
libel for a contingent fee or any understand
ing, express or implied, that he is to receive
any portion or all of the damages received as
compensation for his services, nor shall any at
tOrney at law advance any money or incur any
liability for the purpose of defraying the ex-
penses of the plaintiff in such action.
Section 3-No action of libel, civil or crimi-
nal, shall be brought unless the plaintiff or
prosecutor shall first give security for the pay
ment of costs, provided that in case the plaintiff
or prosecutor shall, by petition to the Court of
Common Pleas or Quarter Sessions of the
proper county, declare that he is unable to pro-
vide such security, the court may, upon being
satisfied that said plaintiff or prosecutor has
proper cause for action, allow him to bring
suit without giving security.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-02-27

The report that the Australian people
are delighted with professional American
humorlst of the name of Lincoln, and that
they will not let him return to this country
is calculated to make the people OF the
United States very friendly to the Austria
lians. As long as they maintain the state
of mind which prevents the professional
humorist from coming back to us, there will
be a warm feeling of gratitude in this
country toward the land of kangaroos and
bushrangers.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-02-27
DECIDED AGAINST THE FIDELITY.
A Case Involving 81 100000 in the West
ViruIpfo Sunran,a Court

A Case Involving 81 100000 in the West
Virginia Supreme Court.
Special Telegram to The Dispatch.
CHARLESTON, W. VA, February 26.-The
case of the Fidelity Insurance Trust and
Deposit Company, of Philadelphia, against the
Shenandoah Railroad Company, involving
about S1.5O0,000, has been decided by the
Supreme Court of Appeals of this State in
favor of the appellant, the Central Improve
ment Company. The DEGREES of the civil court
of Jefferson county were reversed, and the
cause remanded. The court holds that the
agreement of April. 1878, between the railroad
company and the Central Improvement Com
pany is valid and its specific performance
enforceable against the railroad company, and
that the Fidelity Company had legal notice.
The counsel in the case were Hon. D. B.
Lucas and Mcdonald and Moore for the Gen.
tral improvement Company and John G.
Bullitt, of Philadelphia; Judge Robertson, of
Virginia, and Caldwell, of Wheeling, for the
Fidelity Company.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-02-27
HUMAN FOUNDATIONS.
A Strange Notion That Prevails Among the
Asiatic Peoples.

A Strange Notion That Prevails Among the
Asiatic Peoples.
AsrRANEG notion prevails in the East regard
ing the value of human bodies as foundations
for public buildings. The belief is not con-
fined either to race, creed or locality.
When the last mail left, says the London and
China Telegraph an idea had got abroad
among the coolie population that number Of
heads was required in laying she foundations
of some Government works at Singapore; and
so there was general fear of venturing out
after nightfall, lest the adventurer should be
pouneed on and decapitated. One might have
thought the ways of the Singapore Government
were better understood. That such ideas
should get abroad about the requirements of
Government, even in China or AMMAN, is curl
Gus enough: but the British Government of
the Straits above all others! Yet there it is:
the natives had got it into their heads that the
Government stood in need of $50 human heads
to insure the safe completion of certain public
works. and that 4S0 of the number were still
wanting.
A VERY similar panic occurred at Shanghai in
connection with the building of the Cathedral.
The idea got abroad that the Municipal Coun-
ell wanted a certain number of human bodies
to bury beneath the foundation Of that edifice;
and a general dread of venturlng out after
nightfall-especially of getting past the Cathe-
dral compound-prevailed for weeks, with all
kinds of variations and details. A similar
notion was said to be at the bottom of the riots
which broke out last autumn at Saul. For
eigners-the missionaries for choice-were ac-
cused of wanting children for some mysteri-
GUS purpose; and the mob seized and decapi-
tated in the public streets nine Korean officials
who were said to have been parties to kid
naping victims to supply the want. This,
however seems more akin to the curious desire
for infantile victims which was charged
against missionaries in the famous Honan
proclamation that preceded the Tientsin mas
sacre. Sometimes chlldren's brains are wanted
for medicine; sometimes their eyes are wanted
to compound material for photography.
A CASE came to us, however last autumn,
from Calcutta, which is so exactly on all fours
with this latest manifestation that it would
almost seem the idea had travelled like an epi-
demic and broke out afresh in a congenial
atmosphere. Four villagers of the Dinagepore
district were convicted last September of caus-
ing the death of two Cabulis and injuring
third, for the precise reason that they had been
kidnapping children to be sacrificed in con-
nection with the building of railway bridge
over the Mahanuddi. A rumor had got abroad
that such proceedings were in contemplation,
and when these cabulis came to trade with the
villagers they were denounced as kidnapers
and mobbed. Two were killed outright, their
bodies being flung into the river; while the
third after being severely handled. escaped by
hiding himself.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-02-27

THE new works on the line of the Penn
sylvania Railroad, near Walls, by which
Turtle creek is to be made to flow where it
will do the least harm, and new freight
yards, round houses and stock yards estab-
lished, is recognition by the Pennsylvania
Railroad of the Importance of its Pittsburg
traffic. There is no doubt that the improve
ments will add materially to the facilities
of the great corporation. One of the great
est booms will be the reported transfer of
the incubus of the stock yards from East
Liberty to Stewards station, with the con-
version of their present site to frst-class
residence property.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-02-27
MADAME IDA SERVEN

Entertains Select Audience With Elocu-
tionary RendifiOns.
Madame Ida Serven, well-known elocution-
ary lady, appeared last evening In University
Hall, on Sixth street, before a select audience
to read some of the choicest gems from Long
fellow and other poets.
From the works of the great American bard
she rendered "The Lovers Errand," 'King
Robert of Sicily" and ''OldsSt. David's at
Radnor." The lady also sang 1.-THE Bridge"
by Longfellow: "The Day is Done" by Balfe,
and at the termination of her large and varied
Baby"
The audisnce appreciated Madame Serven's
efforts. She will give two more entertain
ments here this week. Thursday and Friday
evenings.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-02-27
LABOR AND PROHIBITION.

Measures in Behalf of Both in the Illinois
Legislature.
SPRINGFIELD, ILL, February 26-In the
House to-day bill was passed providing that
when an employe sues an employer for wages,
if judgment is obtained. the employer shall pay
the claimants reasonable attorneys fees and
costs. E--r
In the Senate a bill was introduced proyid-
ing for local liquor license option by counties
and wards. The bill is modelled after the Mich
igan law, with notifications to remedy the de-
fects which caused that law to be declared un-
constitutional.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-02-27
WHY SPEND 1T THAT wAY7

An article in a city cotemporary re-
counts the details of the plan for raising the
streets in Allegheny above the track, and
very clearly shows not only the advantage
Gus grades which can be made by putting
the streets over the tracks, but the other
reasons which make that far preferable to
the plan of putting the tracks above the
streets. 1t also gives the engineers estimate
of the cost at 81, 151 600, of which the lead
ing items are s4O6 600 for filling in streets;
S513, 900 for raising buildings and smaller
amounts, required for the plan of making
solid ground at the new level.
But why spend million dollars in filling
in, and raising buildings, when less sum
will probably give Allegheny what she
wants to much better advantage. The lower
part of Allegheny need not be filled up as
useless. 1t can be retained for factories and
warehouses and the present streets left for
subways, to be used for teaming to and from
these warehouses and the depots. Leaving
the old ground at or below the level of the
railway tracks all this territory-making it
the basement, so to speak, of the Northside,
it would be extremely eligible for the re-
ceipt and shipment of freight Allegheny
should, if it utilizes the idea, try to give all
competing roads chance to reach this dis
trict which could be made the entrepot for
vast business. The upper region traversed
by viaducts or elevated ways for the ordi-
nary street traffic would be above the tracks
and at the same time in close juxtaposition
to the shipping depots.
We do not believe that these viaducts
would cost as much as the 5000, 900 estimate
for raising the streets solidly; but if it did,
the worth of the new arrangement would be
twice as great. 1t is worth while to get out
of the old rut in considering new ideas.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-02-27
LONDON BURIED IN SNOW.
Business and Traffic Suspended-Methods
Used to Clear the Streets.

Business and Traffic Suspended-Methods
Used to Clear the Streets.
London had very severe snow snow storm
on last Monday week. For time business
wass brought to a standstill and vehicuar
traffic was suspended. The London Times says:
''The task of clearing the London streets of
the snow accumulation was set about by the
various vestries and local authorities soon after
midnight, and was carried on throughout the
day. In this way employment was found for
thousands of persons in want of work. and the
traffic, though greatly impe6ed for time. was
ultimately conducted with less difficulty and
delay. The asphalt. in particular, was danger
GUS to horses, whose suHerings and struggles it
was painful to see. The sun broke through
the clouds at ftfu1 interval, and thus hastened
the process of melting and evaporation. In
the Strand water from the hydrants was freely
used in dissolving the snow, which was then
swept in liquid state down the sewers"
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-02-27
NO BIG OFFICES DESIRED.
The Colored People Want IN Equal Chance
for Minor Appointments.

BALTIMORE, February GA number of
prominent colored men from Maryland, Vir-
ginia and the District of Columbia, met in this
city to-day and issued call for q conference
of colored Republicans to be held in Washing
ton March l5 They hope to have representa-
tives from every Southern State. and say the
object of the conference is to urge upon the
incoming administration the necessity for the
adoption of a conservative policy in the treat
ment of the race problem.
The signers of the call say they will not insist
on the appointment of colored men to i'm
portant offices but will urge that they be recog-
nized as citizens and be placed on an equal
footing with white applicants for minor ap-
pointments under the Government.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-02-27
THE WORLDS CARRYING TRADE.
England's Share of che Tonnage Some
Significant Figures,

Before dealing with the shipbuilding figures
and features of last year. says the Consular Re-
port, it is perhaps worth while noticing the
leaps and bounds by which Great Britain is dis
tancing all competitors for the carrying trade
of the world. Ten years ago 67.5 per cent. of
the total trade of the United Kingdom was car
ried in British bottoms; by the end of the de-
cade the percentage had advanced to 1855 per
cent. AT the beginning of 1878 the British flag
covered 43.1 per cent of the ocean trade of the,
United States; the percentage has advanced to
50.7 per cent. During the same decade the pro-
portion of the total trade of foreign powers
covered in British bottoms has likewise ad-
vanced as follows: That of Italy from 3O.9 per
cent to 4S4 per cent; that of France from 1914
per cent to ALI per cent; that of Holland from
50.7 per cent to 5L9 per cent, and similar in
crease in favor of British tonnage has taken
place as regards other countries.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-02-27
WISDOM AND MIRTH.


q Great Success.
The fourth annual reception and entertain
ment Of Darling Council No. s8S Royal Ar
canum, was held in Cyclorama Hall last even
ing. The programme in the early part of the
evening was lively and entertaining. Gernert
& Guenther's Orchestra was present and fur
nished the concert and dancing music. The
Alpine Quartet sang some of their choice Sc
lections, and were repeatedly recalled. Mr..
John A. Srrouse's solo was excellent. All of
the members were in good voice.
Charles V. Lewis gave some of his dialect
specialties. A trio consisting of Messrs- John
Gernert, violin; G. F. Cooper, cello, and
Charles Gernert. piano, played selection. Mr..
Gernert's violin solo was musical treat
Miss Klttie Fullerton is rapidly becoming a
favorite elocutionist. and her recitations last
evening will only add to her reputation Her
rendition of "Monnaie Musk" with the con-
cluding graceful dance, is very taking. Miss
Mamie Jones pathetically related the misfor-
tunes of an inventors wife.
8. U. Trent, Esq, made a short and pleas
ant address on t9Our Ordern His remarks
were both witty and wise. At the conclusion
of the entertainment dancing was the favorite
pastime until an early hour this morning.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-02-27

Mr.. GOULD heartily and naturally in
dorses the agreement among gentlemen.
1t is the regular method of securing a final
success for his policy of forcing water into
the investments of the nation and making it
stay there.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-02-27

AFTER all the fuss, it is no more than
fair to recognize that General Harrison
went from his home to Washington with
about as little ostentation' as any President
for generation. Indeed, it is difficult to
see how he could have done it any more
quietly and with better taste, in view of the
determination of the public and press to
make as much of the trip as possible.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-02-27

THE feeling with which the Californians
mourn the departure of the late Mr.. Flood,
are emphasized when they look over their
mining stocks and reflect that the shares
which he sold to them for 5000 each are now
worth about So.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-02-27
FOB PROF. PROCTOR'S WIDOW.
Queen Victoria Grants Her. a Civil List
Pension of e1OO a Yenr.

From the Newcastle (Eng.) Chroniele.1
Thevery numerous readers of Mr.. Proctor's
works will be pleased to hear that his widow,
who is now in Florida, has been informed by
telegram that her Majesty, acting on the
recommendation of Mr.. W. H. Smith, in pur-
suance of memorial signed by many men OF
science and others. has been gracIously pleased
to grant civil list pension of f1O0 a
year to Mr.. Proctor's widow. Among
the signatures to the memorial were
the names of the Duke of Argyll the
TSpdaT api IL Prof HpIieY SIR Iobn Tnbboc ISi Sir
Henry Roscoe, Sir L. McClintock, Sir Robert
Ball, Prof Piazzi Smythe, DR.. Copeland, Col
onel Tupman, Colonel Herschel, DR.. Huggins,
Messrs Clements Markham, Grant Allen, War
rem de Ia Rue and many others.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-02-27
Our New States.
From the New York SUM-

The four new States will bring an area about
equal to that of Maine, New Hampshire, Yer.
mont, Massachusetts,, Rhode Island, Connecti-
cut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania,
Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia,
Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana combined. 1t is
an area three times as great as the British
Islands. more than three times as great as Italy,
more than 10000 square miles in excess of
Germany. A very thriving area it all is, too.
which will soon add to the census wondrous
figures of products and population as well as
of acres,
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-02-27
The New Microbe.

From the New York World.1
The new microbe of diphtheria discovered in
France is said to be light-gray in color and to
lave rounded extremities. This description is
rather vague, but anybody meeting germ
bearing the above characteristics win kindly
hand it over to the Board of Health.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-02-27

THE predictions of the Eastern press are
that the apple crop is going to be short this
year. Considering the mournful pictures
drawn of the hardships of the farmer who
cannot make up his surplus apples into
cider, if prohibition is enacted, this looks
like direct dispensation OF the crop liar
to prevent the farmer from having any sur
plus apples.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-02-27
PNEUMATIC GUNS FOR THE PACIFIC.

An Appropriation to Purchase Three of
Them Agreed To.
WASHINGTON, February 28.-The Senate to-
day resumed consideration of the army appro-
priation bill. Mr.. Stewart offered an amend
ment, which was agreed to, appropriating $751;
500 for the purchase Of three pneumatic dyna-
mite guns, 15-inch caliber, with the necessary
machinery, ammunition and carriages to be
placed and mounted for use on the Pacific
coast.
The item of $4,000 for officers quarters at
Columbus o., was, on motion of Mr.. Allison,
restored.