The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

V*' JRtgenrir |tamdcaltr. J. YAN SLTXB, Ptntusm. JfcfflENRY, ILLINOIS. "'W THE NEWS CONDENSED. :•• J> TBI KAST. .-4 -.v; n A «wm oontribution to th® Brookl̂ aaui- 4*1 is made by the New York Am, which pub- ^Jiahy what purports to be some reoently- . ' 4|lse0vered testimony. The statement Is that, mi Dec. 14, 1870, two weeks before Frank ffonlton knew and confronted Mr. Bcocher * , tirith the charge, Prof. Moses Colt Tyler, now tf the Michigan University, was by Oliver ohiiscn informed that Mr. Tilton had discov- ! < ftred the enme between his wife aucS her pas- Tjlei in Baku tu liavo uiaido auOnu ' 4 Ibie fact, and others corroborative in character, When visiting New York on the 2d of January, §876, and to have intended to repeat them be- ' / tore tho Mutual Council if that body had not •; failed to exist. The New York Mercury is authority for the ̂¥ ĵ̂ atement that a body of representative con- .. jjregationaliata ia about to be organized for the jptirpose of investigating the Beecher scandal mnfaampered by any side issues. It is stated ' afbat tide council will take the testimony of any t» having any knowledge of the alleged scaa-, including Susan B. Anthony, Henry u. wen. Elizabeth Csdy Stanton and others, , . »r will do all in their power to probe the mat­ ter <c the bottom, whether It end in fchs vin- • -fM.M^Iicatton-or condemnation of the Plymouth, pas- s#i THK magnificent residenoe of James Inger- •cll, the chairmaker of tho Tweed ring, near jloath Norwalk, Ct., WM burned last week. The loss is $100,000; tho insurance $80,000. A Boston journalist named E. D. Window .'lias developed into a first-class scoundreL He sunwsrd of -$-500,000 on forced ninM,i "' fc *Hind has left for parts unknown. a.ii 'V: At Northampton, Mass., a few nights ago, ;. Eleven disguised men broke into tit© house of •, f, -John Whittlesey, Cashier of the Northampton , Kationai Bank, secured Mr. Whittlesey and 'jfiamily, obtained the keys of the bank, and, • leaving one of their number as guard, six pro­ ceeded to the bank and attempted to break into he vault but the door and lock were too strong, nd they left without accomplishing their par- pose. •I;J THB Wa8T» " h; A mob of disguised men recently destroyed office of the News and Press at Cimarron, •r ..jjfow Mexico, and threw the type and material "Jtoto the river Hie Southern Car Company, 11 ,.,5®f Jeffersonville, Ind., hm joined the innu- Bierable caravan of bankrupts. The liabilities Amount to the trifle of half a million dollars tVilliam Harlan, the only son of ex-Senator Ian, of Iowa, died a few days ago at San o, whither he had gone in search of lealth. He was 24 years old Bovd, the no- <' "<k)rionB ooonterfeiter, has been triei<i and con- i'-'i-- °2?cte(* in the United States District Court, at .Chicago. Thk Minnesota Legislature has voted tl0,000 <• for the Centennial... .The trial of William VcKea the journalistic member of the St. Louis yhiskv ring, began in that city last week. It i ; i sixcites more interest there than any of the previous trials. Indiana has 667,763 children of school age, ' |luily 4,922 are illiterates. *Jh6 State has a snug * ' little school fund, stated at $8,799,191, and her ~school property is valued at §10,870,838. The National Poultry Association has just -H'-T l̂̂ ed a most successful exhibition at the Ex- w position building in Chicago. The display of * fancy poultry and fancy dogs is said to have "«• "feeen the finest ever witnessed in the country. ; •jjj*.. .A non-sectarian school bill is pending in •rTfhe Iowa Legislature....A letter received at ' Helena, Mont., from Port Pease, on the Yel­ lowstone Biver, says Sitting Bull's band of fiioux had attacked a party near Fort Pease, one man and yra^ndĵ g fiya ^^SffleC ̂ anofBw party cut off from the fort hyln- ans who numbered sevtsral hundred. It was feared that the entire garrison would be ma«- sacred unless speedily assisted.... There is a fresh outbreak of the Black Hills gold fever at jjbiemarck and other frontier towns. The pretty and vivacious little Minnie Palmer • tp playing an engagement at McVicker's Thea­ ter, Chicago, Minnie is probably the young­ est star actress on the American stage-- fceing just sweet sixteen. She belongs, lo a family of distinguished social posi- .; lion, has been highly educated, and rsaeesee dramatic talen* of no mean order.... Ettaias Warren, one of the largest real estate operators in Chicago, has gone into bankruptcy. * ;express i of the . , „ . .The_ Federal Grand Jury of Chicago has - ' ̂ turned Beverai more indictments against the I* tHJrhisky conspirators. Among tbe indicted are Anthony C. Ilesing, of the Stoats Zeitung, and Jacob Rbem, late Chief of Police. » - . . ; THK SOUTH. A rots at Nashville, Tenn., last week, de­ stroyed five stores, involving a loss of $75,000., - .... Whittle and Bliss, the evangelists, have •ommenoed a revival in St. Louis. •••<£ As audacious jobbery v.aa recently perpe- on a bauk at Comanche, Texas. Three . pen rode up to the bank, hitched their homes, #nd enteiing the building applied to the cashier lo get some money changed. The latter turned .: to the safe to get the money, and in an instant • the three robbers were over the counter, and had their revolvers leveled on the cashier and Itookkeeper. no one else being present. They then went through the safe in a quick style, •enuring $5,500, after which they mounted tneir iioroee and made their escape before the alarm could be sounded. Col. W. Offitt, Democratic ex-State Sena­ tor from St. Landry Parish, La.,"was recently assassinated by unknown parties, near Wash­ ington, La--Doc Man gum, a noted guerrilla /on the Union side during the war. was recently assassinated while at work in hits field near Bayannah, Tenn., his body being riddled with balls. The assassins then placed the corpse on a horse, carried it away and threw It into the Tennessee Biver. WASHINGTON. IT is said that the real obstruction to Pinch- back a admission to the Senate at present is the question whether there is a de jureGovemment . in Louisiana. Until this question is settled by the Committee on Privileges and Electians, Pmchback will not succeed in obtaining a vote S, ; J»«f the Senate.. ..Tiu House Committee on $ 'V:*. Approbations lias completed the Consular k * and Diplomatic bill. The estimates of «last year were $1,352,385, and the amount appropriated £1,351.285. The pres­ ent bill appropriates $911.147. The salaries of the Minsters of Great Britain. France, Gcrtna- ny and Ilusaia are reduced from $17,500 to JT• y#l4,000 each. The Ministers to Spain. Ann*.i« SCI. ^Brtteil, Mexico, Japan and China "from $12 <i00 1 -Mta $10,000. The Minister to Italy from $12,000 li jito $8,000. The salaries of all other otti<»w • -are reduced in about the same proportion . .Senator Cliristiancy has introduced a bill v i'1 j, ^looking to the punishment of polygamy in v '^tJtah. K proviuos that in any trial for i>ig«ny '••.•'Wjor polvgamy, it be sufficient cause for chal- -."^engefind for the rejection of any juror, dr«t, \ me has moie titan one wife living in said Terri- • Kktorv, whether married by ordinary rites, or by A • f ifche so-called sealing ce> emony; or, second, P.. ' that he t^lieve" it morally right for a man to ve with more than one wife. If the panel is --^|«iu« exhausted, laiesmeii may be suir-monea (i till the requisite number of jurors be obtained. £ ' Thk oommittee appointed by the St. Louis ^.Bailroad Convention to wait upon the Presi- .dwit as»d present him with copies of the reeo- %&•' "hihouu aud prooeeduigs of that body fulfilled thdr missum the otner day. cod President Grant is represented as saying that he would like to see a competing line to the Pacific con­ structed, but he.Oid not say he would like to see such a oompeunff line constructed by a Gov­ ernment guarantee of bonds ...Hie Bouse Military Oommfttee will reoemmend the teauafer of the Indian Bureau from ttie Interior to the War Department II Is Mid that the Waye and Means Committee MM preparing a mat surprise for theoonntry, wd that there shortly be sprung upon the House a Tariff bill radical in its changes The free list is to be increased, the tax OK tea and coffee restored, the customs revenue to b© col- i«eiwl from articles on which a specific dutv can be and the cssmiicater? the tariff system abohshed. With these changes it is said the revenue force of officiate can be largely reduoed, the opportunities for smuggling and evading duties very much di­ minished, and the cost of collecting the revenue out down in every direction. The Western Democrats favor the revival of the income tax to offset the tax on tea and coffee, but it is not believed such a recommendation will be adopted. The note of Secretary Hah to Minister Gush­ ing has been published. It embodies the views of our Government on Spanish misrule in Cuba island for the past seven years, and recites the numerous causes our per pie have for com- pLint as relates to the manner of carrying on tbe war there, notably the barbarity practiced by Spain and her evident inability to bring it to a close. The fact of slavery existing at our very doors forms an important feature of the grievance, and the leading foreign powers are called upon for their friendly offices in sug­ gesting reform. The attention of Spain 1m called to these facts • fif Americans, seized without form of law, must bo released; Americans must have their fall rights in Span­ ish courts, and Burriel must be tned and pun­ ished, according to Spain's promise The Ho ise Libmry Committee aro preparing a bill giving to newspaper publishers and editors the sa;E3 right, to aend Hiamascript for publication thiough the mails thut authors now have.... A large number of members of Congress themselves as opposed to a disturbance tariff to any important extent. Thk bill introduced in the House by Gen. Hurlbut, of Illinois, to provide for cheap trans­ portation, proposes to adopt some of the lead- ng features of|he Belgian railway system. The bill contemplates the building of a double-track freight railroad from New York to Chicago, Council Blufh, and St. Louis. It is proposed to have the Government guarantee the interest on the bonds at $12,000 per mile, for which a mortgage is to be given, the United States to have the only mortgage. There are to be no stockholders. Five Com­ missioners are to be appointed by the Govern­ ment, who are to have control of the stock and bonds. The plan is to pay all stock certificates within the life of the bonds, aud to leave the railroad at the end of thirty years absolutely free in the hands of the Government....The House Appropriation Committee have com­ menced work on the Legislative Appropriation bill on the following basis: To reduce all sala­ ries over $1,200 10 per cent.; to reduce the force in all departments 20 per cent.; to in­ crease the hours of labor from six to eight. The increase in the hours of labor equalizes the reduction of 20 per cent, in the force. Two hundred and six now bills were intro­ duced in the House last Monday The House Judiciary Committee have prepared a bill allow­ ing persons to testify in their own behalf in criminal cases...,The House Committee on Appropriations will recommend that, the sala­ ries of members of Congress be reduced from -f5,000 to $4,500... .The bill appropriating $1,- 500,000 for the Centennial celebration, is very unsatisfactory to the friends of the measure. An important amendment adopted on motion of Mr. Springer, of Illinois, deprives the appropriation of tho char­ acter of a gift, giving it the character of a loan, aud makes tho United States a preferred credit­ or, in ease the enterprise is prolitafale. The entire million and a half is to be returned to the United States before any dividends are paid to the stockholders. The second amendment takes the management of the fund out of the hands of the Philadelphia people, and places it under the control of Gen. Hawley, President of the Commission, and his Government associ­ ates, who are required to give bonds in 500,000. Some of the Philadel liia people claim that the bill is of little value to them iu this shape, as it will compel them to mortgage the buildings IT is said the House Postoffice Committee will recommend, as a measure of economy, tko abolitkm of the fast"mail trains. . GENERAL. Mb. Sabokht, of California, has introduced in the United States Senate a bill for tne es­ tablishment of a postal telegraph system, of which the following are the main features: Every postoffice in the United States situated at a point on any telegraph line shall also he a telegraph station at which any telegraph company maintaining such line may es­ tablish and operate instruments. The charges lor telegraphing shall be fixed by the Post­ master-General, but must not exceed the fol­ lowing : For ten-word messages less than 250 miles, 10 cents ; for distances between 250 and 500 miles, 15 cents ; from 500 to 1,000 miles, 25 Cents ; and for all greater distances, 50 cents. The Government is to have the right to pur­ chase any liue accepting the privilegea of this bill, at any time within three years after com­ mencing operations under it, and at actual cost, with G per cent, interest added. The town of Barbourville, W. Va., was the other night the scene of a deed of horror. Ed­ ward Williams ^nd Mrs. Meling, who had been arrested on the charge of having murdered the latter's husband, were taken frotn their ceL'" into the court-yar^, where Williams was hanged alter a full confession of the murder had been wrung from his unwilling lips. The woman also made a confession of her share in the crime, admitting that she incited her paramour to the deed. She begged piteously for her life, and though the crowd of lynchers voted unani­ mously for her execution, her sex saved her, not a man among tnem having the hardihood to place a rope around a woman's neck, and she was returned to her cell. IT is stated from Washington that tbe House oommittee to whom was referred the investiga­ tion of recent outrages on the Texas frontier are considering the question of recommending to the President the propriety of issuing a procla­ mation declaring martial law in a strip of coun­ try bordering on the Bio Grande. POLITICAL. The Republicans of the Maine Legislature have unanimously adopted a resolution desig­ nating Mr. Blaine as their choice for the Presi­ dency. A State Convention of Ohio Republicans will meet at Columbus on the 29th of March. Mb. Biaine prognosticat s that Mr. Hen !ricks will go into the National Democratic Conven­ tion with a stronger individual strength than any other man, and thinks he will be the nom­ inee Senator Sherman has written a letter to State Senator Buxpa, of Ohio, strongly urging Gov. Hayes for' President, and advising that Ohio send a delegation pledged to his sup­ port to the National Convention. The Virginia Republican Association, at Wash ngton, have declared in favor of jBlaine as the Republican candidate for President.. A National Convention of Prohibitionists have been called to meet at Cleveland, May 17, for the nomination of a Presidential ticket.... David A. Jerome, of Michigan, has been ap­ pointed a member of the Board of Indian Com­ missioners The Kansas Legislature has passed resolutions thanking Representatives in Congress for defeat!!!" the bi!l "raiitin** am­ nesty to Jeff. Davis....An Associated Prews telegram from Washington says: '-The atten­ tion of the Pi evident was called to-day to state­ ments that he had declared to Senator Conk- ling that he would not be a candidate for re- nomination, and that he would favor Senator Conk ling for the nomination. The President tuat he hmi ijiui uu conference with Senator Conkliug, nor with any one else on this subject. Neither had he written anv letter in regard to the matter, lie further said that he had no doubt of the election of the Bepub- liMn tiAmitiAA '• ' • crats of Oolumbus, Ohio, are about to establish a daily organ.... .Gen. Ben. Harrison, a grand­ son of the late President Harrison, is being strongly pushed for the Bepublioan nomination for Governor of Indiana... .Andrew Shuman, editor of the Chicago Journal, is mentioned as likely to receive the Republican nomination for Lieutenant Governor of TlUnois. rOKltlOK. The Pope has had another serious attack of illness... .Ljubobratch, the leader of the Her zegovinian insurrection, lise rosiguc-d The report that Cortina*, the Rio Grande bandit, has been rclesssd by the Mexican authorities is denied. The National Rifle Association of England has resolved to accept the invitation of the Na­ tional Association at New York, to organize a team to represent the United Kingdom in a match for tne championship of the world. Victor Hugo has issued an address to the Senatorial delegates for Paris and France, in which he asks them to found a democracy which Shnli £uu fuioigu b? ubiuiluOll, CtVli W&l by amnesty, ana distress by education. Thirteen passengers were killed and a large number wounded, recently, by a collision on the Great Northern Railway of England... .The wife of Sir Hugh Mackenzie, the distinguished Canadian statesman, recently eloped with a dashing young army officer....The London Times, reviewing Secretary Fish's note on Cuba and circular to European powers, says tho grounds of complaint exdlttsivaly refer to tho United States ana Spain, and third parties can­ not participate' in the negotiations wifch' any prospect of international advantage* Spain and America, it B&ys, must set* tie their differences for themselves Rubinstein, the great pianist and composer, is threatened with total blindness Cardinal Antonelli is seriously ill... .The sugar crop of Cuba will fall SO per cent, below the average, and the tobacco crop is almost a total failure, Deak, the great Hungarian statesman, is hopelessly ill.... Bismarck is confined to his room with neuralgia. Spain, in view of the recent communication of Secretary Fish, to the various European Governments, has hastened to announce to those powers her policy regarding affairs in Cuba. The promise is made (a very indefinite one at best; that when the Carlisle are sup­ pressed, Alfonso's Government will turn its attention to the Cuban insurgents and crush them out in like manner The cremation of the corpse of the late Chevalier Rossi was con­ ducted publicly in the Monumental Cemetery at Milan, Italy, on the 24th of January. Reinfobcements of Mexican troops are being sent to the Rio Grande--From San Domingo comes news of violent storms, attended with severe loss of life and property... .The famous French race-horse Gladiator is dead. .. It is stated that the European Governments have reserved their replies to the Amerioaii note on the Spanish-Cuban question until they have exchanged their views . . . Armenian Christians continue to suffer perse­ cution at the hands of the Turks Turkey has notified the powers of her intention to in­ vade Montenegro The German penal code has been amended so as to apply to Count von Arnim's case The Spanish elections have re­ sulted largely in the success of the Ministe­ rialists A serious financial collapse is re­ ported in the city of Riga, Russia The London Times' Constantinople corre­ spondent writes that he has been positively as­ sured that the Sultan owns £8,000,000 in the Turkish debt, and that he has exacted full pay­ ment of his dividend, refusing the half ooupon paid other creditors Another revolution has broken out in Northern Mexico... .It is charged b/ the London Times that the nvi|ucuu uionno iLi vuo uuo ut the United States Direct Cable Convpswy are not, accidental, but are the work of London stock-gamblers, who invariably contrive to learn of the breaks hours aad in some cases days before the damage occurs and is duly an­ nounced A Berlin telegram says the in­ surgent leaders in Herzegovina have issued a proclamation declaring that the Austrian pro­ gramme is unacceptable, thoug 1 suggested by the powers, and calling upon the friends of liberty to answer it with a continuance of thf war and by stouter resistance. &£ lican nomiuee. Bkm. Butlkb, it is said, will come out at a candidate for Congress this fall... .The Demo- FOKTY-FOUBrHCONtiRESS, Thursday, Jan. 20 .--Senate.--Bills were in­ troduced: By West, to recover from the Pacific railways the interest due on their bonds; by Allison, for the construction of a bridge across the Mississippi Kiver at Sioux City; by Cliristiancy, providing for the pun­ ishment of polygamy in Utah; by Sargent, for the establinbuient of a postal telegraph system.... Morton continued his speech in support of tht reso­ lution appointing a oommittee to investigate the late election in Mississippi. # Home.--The House devoted the entire day to the discussion of the Centennial Appropriation bill. Friday, Jan. 21.---Senate.--The SenaU de­ voted the session to commemorating the lift and services of the late Vice-P.esident Wilson. luJo- gieB were delivered by Boutweil. Dawes, Hamlin, Cragin, Cameron, Morton, Anthony, Ingalls, Bogy and others Adjourned to Monday, Jan. 24. House.--The House passed, after an animited debate, the bill for the retirement on full pa} of United States Judge McCanoless, of Pittsbuigh, Pa., in consequence of physical disabilities The House took action on the usual resolutions in hoaor of the memory of the late Vice-President Wilson. Eulogies were pronounced on the virtues of the de­ ceased by Warren, Harris (Mass.), Keiley, Knott, Clynier, Kasson, Banks, Lynch, Huribut, Lawrence, Lapham, Reagan, Joyce and Blair, after which the House adjourned. Satubday, Jan. 23.--Senate.--Not in session. Hour.e. --Nothing of interest transpired in the House, only a brief session being held, and that was mainly devoted to the discussion of the Centennial bill. Moxday, Jan. 24.--Senate.--Goldthwaite pre­ sented the report of the Committee on the Alabama Legislature, and the testimony taken by the com­ mittee in regard to the election of George E. Spen­ cer as United States Senator. Referred Davis' lesolution to investigate tho books of the Treasury Department was virtually killed by being referred to the Finance Committee... .Morton ictroduecd a bill to establish a mint at Indianapolis A bill was reported from the Cemmittee on Railroads to ex­ tend the time fur completing the Northern Pacific Road lhe Chair laid before the Senate un­ finished I usiness, being the resolution of Morton in regard to the recent election in Mississippi The Senate had a loug debate on the bill to provide for a commission to investigate the alcoholic liquor traffic. House.--A large number of bills were introduced under a call of the States, including the following: By Hurlbut, to provide for the cheap transportation of freight between the Atlantic,,and the Ohio and Mississippi valleys; by Whiting, for the improve­ ment of the Illinois River; by Lapham, fixing the first Monday in January as the time for the meeting of Cengress; also, a constitutional amendment P1r°1^iut? to. change the commenc- ment of the Presidential term from March 4 to May 1; by Hulton, to abolish the tax on spirits distilled from irmt; by Waddell, to classify and equalize the Kites of postage on manuscripts intended for pub- ncauon; by Wikt*, for repairs of levee along the MiscisHippi River in Illinois; by Morrison, pre- paratory to the redemption of United 8t»tea notes wni.^re',A1,m,uUo11 of payments ; by A. h. ^ a constitutional amendment r?a^ors and Representatives from appointments to or removals from providing for a Civil Service ' y ,^llBOa (Iowa), a constitutional V pK?vi,dinK that the term of a tive shal. com.M^nce on the 1st of Janu- thfi i " of M»rch ; by Cox, to abolish tnh«i<™»iiHa)Ub i? ' 1,y flcaleK, t> reduce tat on wl"8ky: .by Hereford, to restoie to the pension rolls of p-'naionera of the war of 1812 the names of perwns struck off for disloyalty.... A res­ olution v. as adopted ookmg to a fre-h innuirv into ine Pacmc Man corruption. .. Several other investi­ gating resolutions were adopted. Tuesday, Jan. 25.--Senate.--Sargent present­ ed a petition, signed by a large number of ladles, asking that the right of suffrage be conferred upon the women of the District of Columbia Sher­ man's bill to appoint a commission to inrriV- the liquor truffle was passed. The" "bill limits the operations of the Commission to the Territories and District of Colur. bia. Thi- was the effect of the Christiancy amendment Morrill in­ troduced a btll to est iblinh an educational fund end apply a portion of the proceeds of the sale of public lands to public education... .Cam. ron pre­ sented a petition of citizens of Wisconsin askiua an amendment to the Constitution of the United States for the abolition of the Senate and transfer of the pawns of that body to the Hons* of Repre­ sentatives. Houitf .--Upon a call of the Speaker for committee reports, several of the committees were heard from upon matters of minor Importance The bill transfeninf the custody of oertaln Indian trust bonds from the Secretary at the Interior to the Treasurer of the United States was passed.... The bill appropriating £1,600,000 for the centennial cele­ bration was passed by the ploso vote of 146 yeas to 730 nays Knott, from the Judiciary Committee, reported a bill to reorganize tho judiciary of t.l>« United States. 4M~ommitted. WEDNESDAY, Jan. 556.--Smote.--DIE Senate proceedings were barren of interest....The Cen­ tennial bill, as passed by the House, was referred to the Committee on Appropriations Most of the day was spent in discussing Ingalls' bill to protect the pre-emption rights of homestead setUers as against land-grant railroad adventurers. ifow<(?,--The bill repealing the act passed at the last session, increasing the rate of postage on third-class mail matter, was passed without divi­ sion. Tbe present bill reinstates the postage as it was before--one cent for two ounces The House indulged in au ammateaviehaie on the bill, reput­ ed from the Appropriation Committee, proposing a large reduction in the appropriation for the West Point Military Academy. <>i< & , WASHINGTON. Pensions--The Centennial Bill--The Texas Raelfle Railway Pa-eject--Our Kelaf,|ons with Spain; War Improbable. t i [From Our Own Correspondent.! , ; WASHINGTON, Jan. 22, 1876. As compared with hat week, the pres­ ent has been ons of quiet and peace and serenity at the metropolis. Everything has been lovely. There was, indeed, a slight drawing of "bad blood" in the early part of the week, when the Amnesty bill was again up, but the skirmish did not last long, and did very little good or harm to either side. Meantime the House has got down to seri5as work, and the Senate is ever ready to move on in its slow and dignified gait. PENSIONS. The only important- bill of a general nature yet passed by the House is the Pension Appropriation bilL This ap­ propriates about twenty-nine millions, being only slightly changed from the estimates made by the Government, and reduces the amount required for last year by hb very considerable sum. There was no substantial unanimity in the passage of the bill. The Senate will make few changes. There has lately been a great deal of discussion here upon the general sub­ ject of our pension list. It is said that many abuses exist; that large numbers of men who are as stout and hearty as Hercules regularly draw pensions for wounds* or disabilities re­ ceived in the service; that many are borne on the lists who never smelt gunpowder or saw a squadron in the field, some of these fraudulently repre­ senting persons who have been dead and buried these many years. Not a few of just such cases es these have been un­ earthed. On the other hand, there are large numbers of persons who are in justice entitled to pensions who do not receive any, either through their own neglect, or the delays, technicalities and circumlooutionary antics of officials Of the kind caricatured by Dickens "lamfly. Abuses of this kind are doubtless incident to a pension list so great as ours, but they are now receiving un­ usual consideration on the part of emi­ nent men of all parties, so that we may confidently expect that some of the evils complained of will be cured during this yery Centennial year. THE CENTENNIAL BILL. The debate in the House on the bill appropriating $1,500,000 to complete the construction of the Centennial buildings at Philadelphia has been more pro­ tracted and acrimonious than was ex­ pected. The report of the committee lor the appropriation was unanimous, and it was then supposed by almost every one that the bill would go through swimmingly on the tidal wave of good feeling. The debate on the bill, which at this writing is still progressing, shows that the measure is by no means as popular as the proposed exposition. Constitutional objections have been made to the bill, and it has received unfavor­ able criticism as a mere scheme to bear Centennial stock also, so that it cannot go through with a hurrah, even if it shall succeed at all, which is now regarded as not a little doubtful. It is noteworthy that party politics has had nothing to do with this bill or the debate upon it Mr. Beagan, of Texas, ex-Confederate Postmaster-General, and Gen. Wail dell, of North Carolina, have advocated tie bill no less earnestly than Judge Keiley himself, or Mr. Fry a, of Maine. Perhaps the ablest speech ' against the fcttl was one by Mr. Tucker, of Virginia, while one of tne best, if not the very best in its behalf was by Mr. Harrison, of Chicago. Both of these gentlemen are Democrats. Whatever may be the frte of the bill, the Centen­ nial will go on. That great national show will not be postponed on any accoim. The original pro­ gramme will be carried out about as announced. Whatever of good there is in it will begot out of it, with the aid of Congress i' possible, without if so Congress shall will. No earthly power can prevent th) American people from having what ti» boys used to call *' a high old time" at Philadelphia in thus year of jubilee. THE TBXAf PACIFIC RAILROAD. In the absence any important legis­ lative results in Congress further than above stated, l*t me refer to a matter which is now receiving much con­ sideration here--the proposed bill to aid in the completion of the Texas Paci lie Railway by 6 Government guaranty of its bonds to t»e amount of $40,000 a mile. Col. Thomas A. Scott, President of the Company, also of the Pennsyl­ vania Railroad Conpany* and well-known as one of our big *' railroad kings," is in the city, doing allbe can for this project. He made an urRUbent before the Com­ mittee Oi jt ucmu jtuiiruuus lutti evening, and it »s understood that a majority of the oommittee ii in favor of his scheme. I learn ftom excellent authori­ ty, however, that u view of the pending Presidential election it is not at all likely that Congress will tot upon the measure at this session, but that it will receive early and perhaps favorable action at the next session. Snowing that the people of'the Northwest have very decided -son- viofcions upon the subject of gnats to railway corporations; I thWrtate this prognostication of one of the most knowing men at Washington, that the aforesaid Northwestern people may have ample time and opportunity to in­ form Congress of tneir views on a ques­ tion of such vast practical importance. OTO RELATIONS WITH SPAIN. Fl hAi*A ig A grest deal of comment and talk in political circles about our relations with Spain, growing out of the unfortunate situation of affair* in Cuba. It has even been hotly as­ serted that we are on the verge of a war with our ally of revolutionary times. I have inquired as to the actual situation from a few men of all others most likely to know the exact truth, and am happy to state that the probability of a war between the United Stales and Spain is exceedingly remote. I am also happy to state that men of all parties in Congress agree that we have no cause of quarrel with Spain, There are those who believe that our ^ Government ought to recognize belligerent rights, of the insurrectionists in Cuba, while others do not think the time lias yet come for such recognition. So, unless there be some political coup not now .anticipated, we shall take our centennial enjoyments undisturbed by apparitions or realities of the rugged front <4 grim-vi&aged war. L. M. N. Humor in Newspapers. There is a great difference between American and English newspapers. The latter, while aiming to be truthful, dig­ nified and impersonal, are heavy and dulL The American journals, while going the whole length in news-gather­ ing enterprise, find space for " spico," and nearly all have their little " squibs " in the editorial columns, and departments of lignt paragraphs, original and se­ lected, with some such head as " Odds and Ends," "All Sorts," "Chaff," 'IFrivolities," "Varieties," "Jocosi­ ties," or "Fun." Our weeklies espe­ cially devote a fair share of space tp the "rich" things that are "going the rounds," and many of them give in each issue a column of humorous paragraphs as productive of healthful mirth as a first-class comedy. I believe the American newspapers do no great harm by making their readers smile ; but if it is an offense so to do, it is one of which the English press is sel­ dom guilty. True, the English have their humorous papers, Punch, Judy, and Fun, which occasionally " get off good things," but, take them one day with another, they are very grave oom- r'ed with American humorous papers, you pay threepence for Punch, and if you get your " threepenny 'orth " of fun out of it, you certainly get a dollar's worth of the article out of a ten-cent American humorous paper. I have been led to make these ootnpar- i.1 * j, jubwxib uoubuoo au ^vuucuuiu xiut long since saw fit to inform me'that ihe papers " 'oine " were Incomparably superior to the American papers, adding, in a bantering way : " Why, in England, we laugh at the American papers 1" Upon the suggestion that probably they did "laugh at our tumorous papers, which was more than he could do at the English humorous papers," he manifested a lively disposition to change the subject, and exhibited a sudden and wonderful intoMat < inweather, WbMr he remarked was "bloody 'ot."--Secrets of the Sanctum. Ooean Cables, Many of our readers, whose pursuits in life do not bring before them famil­ iarly the great and multiplying achieve­ ments in the different departments of civil engineering that are taking place in all parts of the world, will be surprised to learn, from the following table, how many ocean cables over 500 miles in length have thus far been successfully laid. The data are taken from the Journal of Telegraph : Tear built. From Length of milt*. 1866. Ireland to Newfoundland 1,896 1867. Malta to Alexandria, Egypt .' 925 1SC2. Brest to Duxbury, Mans., via St. Pierre. .3,383 Buahire, Persia, to Jaak, Beloochistan.... 605 ' St. JPierre to Duxbury 749 1870. Suez to Adeu, Arabia ....1,469 Aden to Bombay, India 1,818 Porthcurno, Eng , to Lisbon 823 Gibraltar to Malta 1,120 Madras to Penang 1,408 Singapore to Batavia 557 Malta to Alexandria, Egypt 904 Ratabano, Cubs., to Santiago, Cuba....... 820 '• Java to Australia 1,082 1871. Singapore to Coehin-China 629 Saigon to Hong-Kong 975 Hong-Kong to Shanghai .1.100 Shanghai to Japaa, and thenoeto Liberia.l,200 Antigua to Demarara, West Indie* 1,208 Porto Rico to Jamaica 6§3 1878. Falmouth, Eng., to Lisbon......... 1,150 V.ilentia to Newfoundland. 1,900 France to Denmark S60 Pernambuco to Para, Brazil. .1,882 Alexandria, Egypt, to Brindial, Italy 930 1874. xjiebon to Madeira 1 633 Valentia to Newfoundland 1,900 Madeira to Bt. Vincent. 1,800 St. Vincent to Brazil .1,963 Jamaica to <Jolou, S. A 660 West India to liio Janeiro 1,240 Jamaica to Porto Kieo. 882 - Rio Janeiro to Bio Qmnde de Sal 840 1876. Ireland to Rye Beach .8,000 Beside these, there 71 ocean cables less than 100 miles long, and 40 between 100 and 500 miles long. Driving Back the sea. ^ ' The people of the Netherlands are about to undertake one of the greatest engineering operations ever known--the attempt to reclaim the land buried under the waters of the Zuyder Zee. The scheme has been the dream of suet asive generations of Dutchmen, and now the Dutch engineers have matured a plan for pumping the Zuyder Zee drv, and the Chambers have sanctioned the un­ dertaking. The Zuyder Zee is a sea flood which broke >n upon the villages and farms of a prosperous district, and formed a huge shallow gulf in the heart of the Netherlands some sixty miles in length and 210 miles in circumfernce. A broken slip of land forming several was the result, the land having been from time immemorial protected by embankments, and held as the result of a perpetual struggle between man and nature. The Znyder Zee was the result of an eruption which occurred in the twelfth century. The proposal to re­ claim this land was first made by an < ngineer named Digg«jlen, in 1849, and repeated by Beyerinch in 1875. The pian proposed is to run an iuimeuistj raised dike across the Zuyder Zee. The dike will be 164 feet wide at the bottom; twenty-six feet above the water, and twenty-five miles in length. The area to be incloswd >-nd redeemed in the Zuyder Zee is estimated at 759 square miles, or 485,775 acres. A Hundred Years Ago. . This year, 1876, is full of memories for everjr day in the year. The mind is irresistibly carried back to the men and tones of a hundred years ago. Wash- togtem was then in his prime, a few weeks less than forty-four years old, nr>d in the full bloom of his magnificent manhood. Franklin had just completed ttoe«M»o!re and ten years, but wa» still hale mid hearty, and ripe in wisdom Mid experience, j ohn Adams wm in his. and Thomas Jefferson in ms thirty-third. Washington was with tiiearmy at Cambridge, and Franklin, Auams and .Jefferson were at l3 delphia, working the Continental Con­ gress up to the point of mafcinp the- Declaratioa of Independence. dot°di„a ^ „ 7, T-- .. ^ciaciuemiiii\ortx* Carolina, there was a poor, f#berlea* httle boy, in hi3 ninth year, named An­ drew Jackson. And in Braintree, Mass. there was another little boy, also in hia ninth year, named John Quincy Adams. These little boys both became deeply embittered against England; and of them, when grown to manhood, dealt her terrible blows, one with hfeWord, and the other with his pes. And thteer two little boys, each going his separate way~-one through poverty, and fiaroe frontier contests, and the wildest scenea of war, and the other through the uni­ versities of America and Europe, m»4 foreign courts, and high official honors. --came into collision forty-eight years- afterward as opposing candidates in one <« the most envenomed Presidential contests this country has ever known. It is well for us to let our hearts go out in affectionate remembrance erf the- sages and heroes of a hundred years ago> the fruits of whose wisdom and courage we now enjoy. ( How Two Bogs iiined on a steak. The Green Bay;(Wis.) State Gazette relates the following fable: "A large? dog belonging to one of our citizens* and who usually accompanies his wumjmr to market in the capacity of porter, was- intrusted with a tine steak, securely wrapped in paper, to carry home. The animal grasped the parcel between teeth and trotted homeward beside his master. A short distance from the butcher's the gentleman entered another store, leaving the dog with the parcel standing on the sidewalk. Shortly two vagabond-looking curs arrived on the spot and began sniffing about. Finally, the larger of the two curs began growl­ ing and barking at the guardian of the steak, who stood this sort of thing for some time in a calm and dignified man­ ner, till, finally, his bullying torment­ ors probably having applied some op­ probrious epithet to him, he opened hut mouth to reply, and of course dropped the steak on the ground. The vagabond cur retreated, and the other dog, now fully exasperated, set off in pursuit of him. In an instant vagabond cur No. 2, who had been standing off 'ft aftawt distance, apparently a silent spectator of the scene, sprang forward and wised the steak in his mouth, and put off in an opposite direction. Not long after, and in an alley not far from the scene of thia little episode, were two curs holding a high festival over a rich, juicy stebk, and these two ours were the identical ones engaged in the transaction pre­ viously related. Who can say that this ion ot>„ was not a Put up job between these two ,, putcaste of canine society^" !r What is an Inch of Bain?--An Eng­ lish aore consists of 6,272,640 square inches, and an inch deep of rain on an acre yields 6,272,640 cubic inches of water, which at 277,274 cubic inches to the gallon makes 226,225 gallons ; and as a gallon of distilled water weighs 10 lbs., the rainfall on an acre is 226,225 lbs. avoirdupois ; counting 2,240 lbs. as- a ton, an inch deep of rain weighs nearly 101 tons per aore. For every hundredth of airmen a ton of water falls per inch. A BOTFAXIO man dreamed that he going over the Falls, and he had his wife by the throat when he woke up. Next night she hml a dream and brokft bis nose as she struck at an Indian, THE MARKETS. 9 Q 19 ! 13tf§ if# S 10 @6 40 , i aa @ i as # @ 63 . 47 @ 80 90 # 94 AO BO <&ao is 12*® lajt 800 5 ;s 6 90 4 as 4 80 IS 6 80 i m z 43 8* NSW YOBK. BBBVBB IIoou--Dressed COTTON Floue---Superfine Western..... Wheat--No. 2 Chicago Coau. OATS Bn PORK--New Mess.... .......... Labs--Steam..................." CHICAGO. Bkxtu--Choice Graded Steers 5 75 Choice Natives 8 25 Cows and Heifers 2 80 Good Second-ctaas Steers 4 SO Medium to Fair 3 75 Inferior to Common 2 75 Hogs--Live 7 00 FijOUB--Fancy White Winter 7 00 Bed Winter.... 6 50 Wheat--No. 1 Spring L 07 No. 2 Spring 98 No. 8 Spring 78 COBN--No. 2....' 42 OATS--No. 2 si Bte--No. 2 ®7 Babley--No. 2 79 ^ __ BnTTKB-Fancy at 9 n Eaas--Freeh.. if q 19 Pobk--Mess 19 as 019 M ia* DETBOIT. Fiovm--Choioe White Ambers Whkat-Extra No. 1 White No. 2 White Amber Oobh Oats. Era BARLKY--No. 2 .. BUTT**.... Eaos <; I POBK--Mess .........19 50 LABD lav CATTLE 4 00 Hoos 6 50 ST. LOUIS. WHEAT--No. 2 Bed. L 53 COBS--No. 2 89 OATS--No. 2 ..1 84 Ew-No. 2. 68 POBK--Mesa. 19 50 Labd. 12 Hoas 6 SO Cattle 3 so MILWAUKEE. Wheat--No. 1 No. 3 COBH--No. 9 OATS--No. 2 RTE Bablet--Mo. a.. . . . . . CINCINNATI. Whe*X~NBW « 25 5 75 1 39 1 2® 1 18 1 as 83 40 70 1 80 18 18 $ I S ^ 0119 0 1 ar d «* e « 1 07 1 00 45 82 81 95 Oobh Oatb Rye POBK--Mess.. .. 1 35 40 .. 85 78 ..20 00 TOLEDO. WHEAT--Extra l 89 Amber....... 1 25 Cobn 44 OATS SE EAST LIBERTY, PA. Ho«8--Yorkers 7 20 Phiiadelphias . 7 M Sheep--Common to Fair 8 75 Bert 5 00 » a» 022 09 :vW I'l a. w &19W 0 12 0 7 26 0 0 1 » 0 1 01 « «T. 0 U % tt 0 9® a 1* 0 4a e » 020 aa <9 is l 4# i1 0 10 01 «9 e (• 0 • m syii