Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1895-03-02

remedy Will be that may be brought
forward and to what extent it may be
thought advisable to pass a national
law remains to be seen. But the re-
publicans. at any rate, are not troub-
ling themselves about that feature OF
the matter now. 1t may be that the
investigation will accomplish its own
purpose without the necessity for leg.
islation by Congress, for there are
already evidences that the democrats
in the Southern States are alive to the
political necessity of revising their nm
Just election laws in fashion 50 as to
make them accord more nearly to re-
publican forms of government. Steps
have been taken in this direction rs
the result of the fusion between lhe
republicans and populists in n. G., II
state where election frauds have been
notorious in the past
TORPEDO BoATs--PrOposals were
opened at the navy department for
the construction, exclusive OF armn-
ment and torpcdOes, Of three metallic
twln-screw sea-going torpedo boats OF
about 1873 tons spIacement, with n
speed of u knots maintained for Mt
least two consecutive hours. The APP
preparation of Congress allows $500,
600 for the construction of the three
vessels which, with all their materials,
must be wholly of domestic manufac-
ture. The bids were as follows: Bath
iron works, Bath, Ne. department
plan, all three boats, $l42, 600 each,
total, $42G, 600. Union iron works,
San Francisco-Department plan, one
boat $l35, 900, two boats Sl29, 00C
each, three boats 500, 600 each, total
$3.50, 900; modified plan, one boat
Sl25, 600, two boats Sl2O, 900 eHch,
three boats $216, 600 each, total S34S,
900; modified plan, larger boat 24O
tons displacement and % knots speed,
one boat $243, 600 HerreshofE manu-
featuring company, Bristol, r. L.
Modified plan, three steel of 1873 tons
for Sl13, $50 each, total $34l, 800 /;
modified plan, three-bronze hull,
aluminium top boats for $l3S, 900
each, total $414, 900; modified plan,
one steel boat $ll3, Sl5, two compos-
itc boats $l3S, 900 each, total all three
$3.50, S1j; modified plan, one compos-
lite boat $l3S, 900, two steel boats
Sl13,S5O, total $3.50, 700. The pro-
posals will be thoroughly examined
and the modified plans considered be-
fore an award is recommended.
GREAT RUSH For The PLACE
The remains of the late Minister Gray
in Mexico are scarcely cold, yet there
is the liveliest sort of speculation be-
ing INDUCED in as to who his success
or is to be. The very day his death
was announced the name of Senator
Ransom OF North Carolina, who will
be out of office after March 4, was laid
before the President by one of his adj
miring friends who wanted to see him
cared for. No sooner had his name
been mentioned for the place than
quite n chorus of Endorsements went
up from fellow senator's, in which it is
said some of the republicans Joined,
for the courtly and dignifed Old gem
tleman is man of many personal
friends, and will retire from the SEN
ate with only the kndlest of wishes.
A NICE QUEsTIoN-An eminent
New York lawyer declares that, in his
opinion, the bond contract entered in
to secretly between Mr.. Cleveland and
the agents of the Rothschild loan syn
dictate, and which Congress has re-
fused to sanction, is void, or voidable
at law. The point was raised in the
recent debate in the House. The fact
was called to Mr.. William l.. Wilson'S
attention pointedly by Mr.. Van Voor-
his of New York that the Cleveland.
mont-Rothschild contract is O
mere executory contract; that it con.
tains no covenant by either party,
therefore binds neither. An "execu.
tory contract" as the lawyers call it,
is really no contract at all. 1t is void,
or voidable. The courts would no,
enforce it, because there is no actua
covenant or agreement in it to Ell
force.
rat ODeyed Orders.
/ While In front Of Petersburg, General
Butler received word that his favorits
horse, Almond Eye, had been acciden.
tally killed by falling into II ravine. Up.
Oh the departure Of his informant, he
ordered an Irish servant to go and skin
him. "What! is Almond Eye dead ?"
asked Pat, What's that to your Do
as / bid you, and ask no questions"
Pat went about his business, ard In IN
hour or two returned. "Well, Pat,
where have you been all this time n
sternly demanded the general. "Skin.
ming the he e. your honor" Does Il
lake nearly Two hours to perform such
AL opt ration!' mo, your honor; but
then, you see, 1t tuck bout half an hour
to catch him." replied Pat.
Professor Langley's flying machine
on the trial trip flew 200 feet and drop.
ped. Whereupon the critics are inclin-
ed to poke fun at the ship and the in
ventor. But before the hilarity pro-
ceds further perhaps 1t would be well
to remember that when the first At
lantic cable was laid It worked for n
few minutes and then went on strike
and quit work for many months, while
the scientific world called 1t fiat fail
ure and chimerlcal scheme.