Newspaper Page Text
THE INDIANA STATE SENTINEL TrESDAY, JANUARY 2G 1875. TUESDAY, JANUARY 26. y ' Henry I Dawes, of Plttsfleli, was chosen to the Cnlted States 8en.tu yesterday, from Massachusetts. Mr, Dawe. has long taken an fccnorable pat in public life, and ts now the chairman'! the ways and means com laittee in '.he House of Representa tives, and' ex etffoo leader of tbe republican. party in that branch -of the Mtiooal legislature. Although he was '.roafftt under a slight -cloud at tbe time of. the Oredlt Mobiller Investigation, he esjiedtke censure that was so lavishly beat owdnpen the majority the congress men tavcrved in that scandal. And ust on tbA ere of his election to the Senate came tlae tcgry'ramor from Washington that he was one of the guilty parries in tbe Pacific jKsil business. Tbe Massachusetts legisla Tcre anewered that charge by granting: Aim the highest proof of its oonfMsuce and esteem. The Sentinel would like to tfelnk well of htm, and yet he has lone-roine pretty queer things. For in 8tKC,be went so far last fall as to straip 'the -täte of Massachusetts for his perty, making very bitter partisan speeches, and rrosaing over into Butler's district to assist ' ha re-electing that arrant rascal to congress. Mr. Darnell's bill, authorising the county commissioners to purchase all necessary ' books and stationery for tbo use of -county officers, passed the House Friday by vote that must have been gratifying to its champion and friends, wbo had pressed Its passage from the day of its introduction. As a whole, tho bill may be regarded as worthy measure, though it dees not go far enough. The Sentinel would suggest an amendment or two for the consideration of the "Senate when it comes up before that body for its action. The provision- for publication of notice for -competitive bids -should be more specific. Then, the prevision mak ing it a misdemeanor for county commie sioners to make money out of the county by charging more than the article costs, would seem superfluous, unless it should be so amended an to -coy er tho casesol perv eons sellint? stationery, or their agent wbo make it their business to travel over the state and engage in corrupting county officers. No other transaction with county officers is se fruitful ef corruption as is tbe present system of furnishing-counties with books and stationery. The fjentinel trusts that some senator will have -some such amendments prepared when the bill is introduced into that body. .i ,j Five members out of the eleven who com pose the committee on elections, favor the admission of Cannon, the delegate from Utah, to congress. Thus he is excluded by a aingle vote. Tbe objection to the -distin guished elder is that be has four wives, and tbe laws of the (United States regard bigamy as a crime, and provide for its punishment. Tbe edvocates f Cannon probably asgue that, as he is Saerely carry ing out the practice of bis re- lifious faith i a indulging in a plat ality of wlee. heabos&i suffer no proscription on ccoint of his polygamy. They regard bis xclusiost as persecution for -con-sience - sake. Certainly 'this ques tion a to what attitude the gov ernment thonkl assume to Mormonlstn is an intricate one, and tbe only -excuse for the earelesstetta with which 'the people re gard it lies h the bepo that Mormoaism, If let alone, will per Will out. of the land in a short tone. It is argued 'by many that the government' -need only shut its eyes on the evil and wait lor its extinction by natural -causes. The tide of emigration that tu et in will soon; it is said, a weep away tke Vtter-day saints before It, and it will be possible to form a new state from Uuth, ' in Which polygamy will be forbidden as it -is throughout the rest of the country. Hot it is the power and prominence of Karmonista that make it difficult lor the government to 'ncre it. i Ii is continually throating itself forward, as in tbe rcate of Gannon, and .'t often . seems impossible to -avoid -either tramp ling it under foot -of openly -acknowledging (ta rights. It dees not, like thai for more foal .and villainous foxai of sis,, fle Oneida community, seek -safety .in obscurity. The truth, vt tbe matter is that the course of the government toward Moirronlsm has been ilicg'cal and jatconsUtent, iut, as in hacia affairs true practical wisdcjt is often bidden .unctor apparcert -Inconsistency, our rulers .ncay nave acvea ror tbe -beat. There is one .point, however, in wklcb Moc caonism is vulnerable, and t wkJcb it ki the duty of .congress to strike. Tbe sect is mainly recrnitcd by the importation -of emigrants from .Europe, wbo .corns here, not as free agects, hat, as . it were, bound over to masters. They omeln like droves of cattle, see nothing of the land of which they are to 1-ecox.e .citizens, but are. carried off at railroad -sjieed .to the heart of Mor monism. Kucb migra tion has some of ihe features of that uotori .ous Coolie trafie oing on on tha Pacific .coast which Presilont Graift denounced so ' strenuously in LLa last annual message. The country ought to receive with open hospitality all emigranto who come lther jsm free agents, led by a spirit .of enterprise, but it ehtVÄi see to it that no class is introduced lieJumb cattle to subserve the avarice or auiWlVm of others isolated from the knowledge M the rights and privileges ot American Ireemta.. Senator Morton has promised Ui bring forward, at the earliest opportunity, his measure for amending the Constitution .by changing tho present provisions for theelvo t'on of a president and vice-president. Ml.. Morton's plan is not, by soy means new, to the country, as i: wa3( inide tbe suljec of considerable discussion y hen first suggested. It may be described as one cf those measures, so common wiibin late yeais, that are designed t)tet aside the agency of tbe states iu thej jnanaement of caticnal eflalrs. It is, in "x, such scheme as tends to the centrall C&tion of power and will therefore be apt to provoke grave discussion on Abstract principles apart from its practical workings. It brings up the old question as o whether tbe revolutionary fathers were right in re quiring tho ' people to speak through organized political communities on sundry Important matters, , or whether they should . set directly in all public issues. At present each state casts ber electoral vote solid for whatsoever candi date receives the most rotes in tbe state, and in case the choice of the executive should de volve upon the House of Representatives the congressmen Of every state are not supposed to act as Individuals, but taey are grouped together, as representing tkeir several states, and each groupessts but a single vote. Thus a majority of states is, in euch a contingency, required for an election. Senator Morton's substitute for this system has the merit of being simple In its terms and can be put ; into operation with great "case and ceadlness. In tbe eyes of the Heetinel its -great defect la that it is based almost exclK3lvely on the idea that nothing is worthy of consideration in our government except the mere power cf num bers. The bill provides for the choice of president and vice-president by the direct vote Of the people. To secure this object each state is to be divided into districts equal in number to the repre sentatives of tbe state in congress. The districts are to be equal. in population and are to be composed of contiguous territory. In electing a president, each district casts one presidential vote, And that vote is cost for tbe candidate receiving the highest num ber et individual votes in the district. In addition to these presidential votes, given by diatricts.each state casts two presi dential votes, to be given to the candidate receiving the highest number of the in dividual votes cast in the state. The candidate receiving the highest number of the presidential ' votes , cast , is de olared elected. Tbe j plurality system is adopted throughout, and this is certainly a grave detect in a law regulating such an important matter as the choice of tbe chief magistrate of the nation. It is probable that tbe author of the contemplated ' amendment designed to throw the task of erecting the new districts - and managing the elections into the hands of congress, and the privilege of gerrymandering the. whole United states would have been a terrible temptation to the party in power. That inducement to carry out the scheme exists no longer. Grant's Warlike Xescaa;. The message of President Grant urging upon congress the necessity of making ap propriations for the armament of our sea coast fortifications is the subject of a great deal of comment. Tbe meanest and cnost narrow winded Interpretation given to the message to that Mr. Grant is merely recommending tbe ar mament of our forts with rifled canqpn, in order to secure to certain parties the great job of turning the 1,294 ten .inch Rodman guns, now in possession of tbe government into eight inch rifles. The only ground tor supposing that the president 'is thus. wittingly. or unwittingly, o-operatine in a great fraud is tbe report published in one of the New York papers not long ago, that this business of rifling smooth bore guns had proved, so far as carried on, an expen sive failure. ' It is a matter, however, that Mr. Grant ought to understand thoroughly, and, if the people could depend on his hon esty, and were sure that he bad examined the question for himself instead of taking the word of some favorite subordinate, they would not hesitate to accept his judgment on harbor defenses, and the rifling of can non as . lüpal. . His appeal for -cannon of heavier metal is even more earnest than that for the remodeling of the Rodman guns. Aside from this suspicion of mere jobbery, a startling oxpianatloh-of the mes sage is suggested, to the-effect that the pres ident Boeing the approach of a foreign war is anxious to prepare the nation tor the immi nent encounter. Tbe terms of the message Ure not such as world convict the president of warlike designs except it be adopted as a rale . of interpretation -that state papers always mean more than they say. The tenor of the dooument is not by any 'means a tierce, urgent one. It mewly argues for the gradual armament of our sea ooast defenses-with the only kind of guns that re effective against modern iron clal vessels and asks for a moderate annual apprapriatlon t carry on experiments tend ing t secure suo fta armament in the ohaj?9st and readier .tyle. The work is-oa3 which Involves veara of slow labor, and. In the opinvn of the president, the country oughv to set about ii once. The message may, terelore, be regcrded as merely a repetition of the old maxim: "In tiaae ot .peace, prepare for .war' Inasmuch however as it is not natural rio humanity to make preparations fr an improbable event the advice of the president In regati to preparation .'may be taken as prima facie evidence of tbe possibility of a collision with some foreign nation. Of .eourse tkereis but ooe nation with which a quarrel isat all probable .at this junctu reand that is Spahl. It is asserted tbattien. Gtant is strongly disposed to take up arms in the cause of Cube and it is well kaown tkat there is a strong sentiment la the country tu favor of such a policy. Many people are getting tired iI the imbecility of the Spanish government, "vr.li ose flag at hosae and abroad, now floats over one scene of mis erable anarchy, aad thousands would spring forward to take prt in a crusade for the li Deration ot the wtlve Qut-en of the An tilles. It is hinted that the republican party, which achieved so ntnch glory In the civil war might regain some of its lest popularity in a foreign one. As a rartisiaui meas'f therefore, a war would be-" told Jke for ki longer tenure of power. Iu enthusiasm oi'such a struggle the v1 Pf the ad ministration might Loor a tfroe forgotten, and amid the clash --rms Hi? nation would 0Mandovore arc ug to iced to tbe loss crow II. 0ici.il liberty. To men willing toriskevery tbioi tor party success it would, cl course, be idle to urge tbe debt, dan ger and crueltv conseaaent upon war. On the whole it may be said that tb 4 warnings of General Grant are by no mriM bold or strong enough, if he haj the sll'trteet notion that a foreign war threatens The whole policy of tbe natio n has been to act the call to arms were never agai to resound inrougn me isuu. me . people are easy careless, over 'confident, and the richest cities o( the country, some ot which woud be of alolutly vital importance in Cf.aeot invasion, are left almost delenseless. It would be an easy task lor an eneuiy's fleet to destroy New York, Boston 't Baltimore. Buch bold self reliance may be well enough so long as tbe nation proceeds on its way with tbe idea that it will quarrel with none of its neighbors, and that none o! its neighbors will want to quarrel with it; but if the chief magis trate really sees reason to urge con gress to prepare for war as if the United States were set down in tbe heart of Europe amid armed rivals, then his words are worthy of Berious attention. It is time to repudiate him, or els?, trusting in his good sense, prepare lor the fight, -which heseems inclined to bring about. Spain is a very weak nation, but she has some very strong (hips, and these words of the mes sage are very true ones: "Ti.econtaut ap- peals for legislation on the 'armament ot fortifications' ought no longer to be dis- regarded if congress desires in peace to pre 4 pare important material, without which future wars must inevitably lead to dis- aster." Law Mailing. It was the custom years ago for school teachers to post a set of "rules" conspicu ously in the school-room with penalties of violation attached for the government ot the little kingdom. It never worked well. By cunning evasion the mischievous managed to get in their misdemeanors so as to raise disorder, while the slight lapses of the better sort suffered penalties out of all proportion to their guilt, When the better doctrine of self govern- ment came, of which Horace Mann was the great apostle, there was belter order and less torture In the schools. Within certain limits the same principle applies to the laws of the land. It is very hard to beat It into the heads oi very good people that compulsory virtue is no virtue at all. It is a bogus article, and won't stand the tes,. If these people, who clamor so much for laws prohibiting a vari- ety of things which they do not endorse, will analyze carefully the structure of their own minds, they will find that the element of intolerance predominates over their re gard for the public welfare. Good people ... - . nave always Deen more or less intolerant. That is the natural tendency of humanity when when it happens to .be on the rieht side. If I am right . and you are wrong on any question, I be - gin very mildly to expostulate and persuade you over to my side. But if you prove ob - stlnate and pig-headed in your perverse no- tions it is not long before I am reaching for the thumb-screw to compel you to recant, That is human nature, especially that kind which fs. strongly impregnated with right- eousness. And out of it arises tbe dlsposi- tion to legislate evil out of existence. As if the world could be redeemed from its viciousness as you would keep a boy out of rUrhlflfhvmittiner him to bed in the dav time. Negatively, he is a very good boy while under tbo blankets, but, in fact. stimulated by tbe invasion ot his rights and self-respect, he lies there hatching worse schemes than he would ever have thought of out In the sunshine. He gets wickeder every minute in ' plans and purposes to be executed when opportunity of - fers. In the matter of law making, tbe se - curity and rights o! individuals de - mand protection from the license of tho vicious. Beyond that, law has no basinets with thex perverse to reconstruct them on the pattern of tbe pious. That is an under - taking not to be attempted by coercion, but but another class of influences. A bill was offered in the Senate last Friday by the member from Sullivan, who presented it to satisfy the man who drew it and not as tbe expression of his own views, which well il lustrates the crude ideas existing in regard to the true domain of law. Its design is to annihilate ' all the evils of excess in tbe use of intoxicating liquors by the severity of law. The pro- visions are so stringent as to be ridiculous, and the penalties tor violation likewise strike at tbe existence of tbe jury bjs absurdly severe,' It simply reflects tbe tem.but seeks a more economical and con spirit of the author, without considering the yenient appllc atiori of it. A correspondent, state of society or the rights of those who writing in favor of the measure reducing diflr with him in opinion. lie is the victim of a bad philosophy, based on Intolerance, to reform evils by forcing .men to do right. There is more than tbe simple mistake of failure in this error. Tbe coercive system counteracts all the power of th persuasive plan ia reformatory work. Moral suasion is rendered inert when force begins. Herein lies the utter failure which has befallen the work of tho wvnaeu tu reforming intern per- rd(. übe real power of that class - lies wholly -ki moral suasion. In .coercion by law thev have not sufficient crength to compass tie end proposed if it were possible at a.11, .aad by attempting that method. they lose what influence they ether- wise might have. Coaxing and driving do not work well together oa tbe human animal. Tbe instant the latter is begun, the former may as well be wholly aban doned. But correcting evil by overwhelm- Ing legislation Is not tbe folly of women only, nor xmfi&ed to the vexed question I of tbe liquor traffic. Tbe inexperienced lS?is!ktor is beset with like fallacies, and ii every member's notion should be adopted, I "the world itself could not contain tho books' of Statutes whlcb should bo written. Tw o weeks of session have brought forth 400 bills, J lessoce, andthfresre six weeks to come. I This shows the biroLir feudencv towardi statute making, which grows cut of the Uea of- rcendiag all mlstakrs and lighting all wrongs by law. How the minds of men disagree in regard to what tbe law should be is shown by the fact that a score of ditl ere nt bills have been offered on the same subject. Ab a mode of suggestion and comparison the 00 altlphcity of bills proposed is an advantage, provided they can have full consideration, so as to secure what is meritorious in each. But statute making is a business of such mo ment that before a law is placed upon tbe list. It should pats a most searching ordeal by the bigbectt wisdom attainable. The mischief entailed by a bad law is greater than that resulting from the absence of law on tbe subject. . As predicted in theSentlnel of Wednesday morning, the legislature of Indiana met at noon, and in joint assembly elected Joseph E. McDonald, United States Senator. The vote taken on Monday gave him seventy- six voices, the exact number requisite to an election in case all the members of both houses, amounting to 150 representatives and senators, were present. Yesterday his vote was Increased to seventy-eight, and, as there were live absentees, his majority was advanced to Ave soventy-three votes being requisite to a choice, it may be said, la a general way, that the election was a remark ably pure and fair one. Indeed, it is a rare thing to see so important a point honestly carried by such a close vote. For a prize so tempting to personal ambition, there U generally a desperate struggle, and the corrupt use of money Is almost inevitable. During the contest just closed, however, the independents were in a hope less minority and thy lepublicans were not organized for victory, no prominent candi date flinging himself into tbe straggle. Tbe democracy were strong enough to win if able to control their strengh. Thus the only chance for making money out ot tbe election lay in the attempt to blackmail the nominees of that party by threatening a bolt, fortunately the meanness ancWdiBhon cojr fcuKflne xor sucn an attempt -were confined to one or two members who could be spared without risk, and Mr. McDjuald, when approached Vj behalf of one of them. qnietly remarked, that if he couldn't go to tho Senate without the rrupt use of money be was content to stay at iome. He would neither purchase a vov himself nor allow his friends' to purchase one in his behalf. It may be added that under a serious trial than that caused by in- dividual dishonesty, Mr. McDonald stood firm. On Monday night a paper was signed by several well meaning, but enthusias tic inflationists, propounding to Mr. McDon aid, lor written answers.several questions in regard to the financial declarations of the party platform. To answer in accordance with his previously ex pressed opinions, might cost him some votes; to answer in accordance with lheir wishes would simply stultify himself, and Mr. McDonald calmly remarked that the caucus which had nom- I f .a l a. a a s t . mm uu nu. uuuueu mm i nH ac- tion or of any restrictions placed upon him. He could only refer the inquiring gentlemen to his well . known utUr- 1 ances and opinions. Tbsy have doubtless. o sober second thought, become aware oi 1 tbe wisdom of his course. To yield to their I wishes would have merely shown that he was a man without principles or opinions, and unfit for the position of Senator. One incident connected with the election is worthy of special notice, namely, the at tempt to put two prominent democrats in tfae field against the party nominee, and the prompt repudiation of the measure by I the recognized representatives ot these gen tlemen. The Hon. Jesse H. Ileno first I put in nomination William S. Holman. Mr. Given, of Dearborn, immediately with drew Mr. Holman's name by authority. I Mr.Reno.nothingdaunted.then named as his candidate the Hon. D. W.Voorhees. Where 1 upon Mr. Havens, of Terre Haute,promplly I withdrew Mr. Yoorhees. The coarse ot Mr. 1 McDonald's rivals In thus pledging them 1 selves loyally to his support has been just 1 and honorable, and the pretentious gentle- tnen who declared themselves too good to I support tbe nominee of tbe caucus may taarn lesson in good discipline from tbe 1 leaders of the party. In addition to the bill Introduced into the legislature, providing for tbe commence ment and prosecution of criminal actions by n information, another has been brought forward providing for the reduction of the numbc of grand and petit jurors from twelve to six. The former measure is revo lutionary in its character and fraught with many dangerous possibilities in the way of fraad, injustice and prosecution J for personal kjalice; the latter dees not the number of jurors, rnakes the following interesting statement: The grand jnry sits on an average for five weOcs in every county in the state at a cost of f 180 per week, or 9000 per year to each, county, and there ' being ninety-two counties in the Btate the total cost Is ?S2,b(X). The petit jury will average to each county in tb state twelve weeus per year at a cost of 180 per week, or $2,160 per yar to eacb county, or 1198.720. to whlh add $82,800the cost of grand juries, ani we bare a total of $281,520 as the expense 'of Jurors under the present system, wirfle of that amount, to wit: ?U0,780 I would be saved. Let us see how it would affect this (Marlon) county. The ' grand jury sits ten days each month, or 120 ' days per year, at a -ost of thirty dollars per day, or t3,G00 per year. The Criminal Court has a potit Jury for fifty weeks, the Civil Court for thirty weeks, and tho Superior Court for forty weeks iu ' each year, makiug a total of 120 ' weeks per year, at a cost ot glSO per ' week, making a total of J21.600, to wblch add $3,600tbe cost of the prand jury and ' we bav a total of 250 ttat is paid by thisrounty an no ally to Juries. If juries are 'HcedtosIx JurymeojOce-feailof tbatsum, T..: 312.000. would be isaveJ ner vaar. In per year. th9 above calculations ni estimate has been tnade of what would be saved in mile 'age, on account of extra sessions, of there 'duced expense of boarding Juries, and in 'other way?, which would be no inconsider 1 ble sum. Wt," have nover yet beard -ad-: 'vancod one single good reason Tfhy "c" coma not investigate or try wen as twelve. If there t i is one let some one make it known.' Something more important than a mere question of dollars and cents is Involved in the administration of justice, and, while economy should be studied in tbe affairs of tbe government, the Sentinel is of opinion that no reform in jurisprudence can be put lurwa purely on the merits of Its cheap IM reduction of the number of jurors from twelve to six, however, seems v" e wen grounded In reason, and perhaps the strongest opposition it will encounter will arise from tbe old fashioned prejudice of voo people in favor of that heritage from a liberty loving ancestry the trial by "twelve good men and true." It might be wen to retain tbe old number lor tbe grand jury and In certain capital criminal cases giving the system ot smaller icries a chance for trial In causes of less importance. LEGISLATIVE Nt.1I.VART, TCESDAT. hknatk. Petitions on temperance were pre- senieu rrom several counties and referred a petition was offered by Mr. Friedley, vi iwrence, asaing a redaction In the number of grand Jurors and a reduction in their juidictIon : a hill nmrMin. uiai wins snouia De reo penetl m case of the tndoflnilli- uinu oi a posiuumoas c hill post poned : Senate bill No. 54, to extend the J mlu dictioa of Justices oi the peace to liiigailon lor WHS w uu uuuer, ana to cases in any part of the couniles in which hucy in o. whs recoramutea lor amendment: con oiuci auic uixu;siuu WHH IDUi. in WHICH VfTV g,..c ,rio bii'iwu iu i ne pro posta measure Jbat it was alle that th re in Vor. i popular demand for enlarged Jurisdiction of Justices of the peace; a bill lor the protection of unu wkb luuriiuueiy poBiponea Dy a vote of two to one : Mr. feed, of Mart In muntr. nfrv.r. ol ution in regard to the celebiated d-cision of me nupreme ixuri in me case of the Lalayette Bloomlngton ic Muncle Kalhoad Com pany on me constitutionality of the tax law, in which it has been reported that money was ud to hain on decision, aud aklng that a committee of three oenatora be appointed to inaulre Into and In. vextigate all the cbareesand mattem inH thlnn connected with said transaction, and report the same to this body; Mr. Harney, of Montgomery. TT1 At awl trtat Via 1.-. 1 P Judiciary committee, which, after considerable uai luo irsuiuuuu ui rfiHrrun lm rna uiBcuBhien, was agreed to; in tbe afternoon, at - -1 funuaui k a concurrent resolution of both lions, balloting for a United chanan, Pratt and Thompson were pot in n'oml nation and balloted for aa fni imm u.n.n.u mates senator io avm ; mmin mhivih.h r. S?iPrati' 15; Thompson, 7; Buchanan, ; several' offered, and the Senate adjourned. uiiu auu ituiu inoa m minor lmnnr im HousE.'-The bill of Mr. Kennedy, providing iorme prosecution of crimimals on Information Was lost by 48 to 47: tha Ifmiwrinu wm mittce reported a substitute for the temperance bills before it, providing for license fees and Ignoring local option; steps were taken to In vestlgate tbe southern nri.xon ; hiiiawo in dueed amending the nog tax law; reeulatln -v xiim imnis oi reirencnment : amending the assessment set; fixing fees for mayors and Justices of the peace; reducing fees of state and countv officrx: other petitions presented and referred: ar rangements made to meet in Joint conven tion to settle the senatorial question at 12 to-day; affidavit of J. H. Willard, with reference to that interesting Criminal I read and referred: election of ITniti ,J senator McDonald the favorite; a bill was of fered amending tbe assessment act, pased to third reading on tu-iMnKlnn of ihami.. -i it. introduced aad passed to eecond readicg nnder tbe rules: Amending an set for the incorpora tion of towns: flxinz felooies: nnwrinimr tha amies and fixlne Imi of i4tinua nf ih. . ho authorize women L hvimo Vsaam Kam SL business firm, and fixing their liabilities: Etvns anst memorials were received from erSnLaDce. reformers on that topic: from f. " in favor of compulsory education; for for thP,f lhe affa,r" ot L - ,tale Prliwn uth; apVroÄIyiT J A11 WtonNE8DAT HEXATK. Assistant SCiUrv Hmlth urenti a communication that his of clerks is in- sufficient to perform all tbe won required by law; he asked the repeal of th low h. manding a fun copy of tbe Senate oZ for tbe secretary sf. Ute wKbin ten day. afv., t-, .lu v. .u .vnwi, , .u ...u ucu force; petitions were offered on temperance, one for the protection of f jsect destroying birds and one for the repeal of tbe law which taxes pre- a . . .a " miums on me insurance; several bins were re ported by standing committers with rwnm mendatious to postpone, and reports concurred In ; among these was Senate bill 61, to make the property of married women liable for debts; it eucitea an extenaeo debate, bat was finally in definitely postponed ; a like report was returned on the bill to tlx the interest on judgments at the same rate an in the original contracts; the discussion oi in is question was not closed at noon, me nour for joint convention to elect a United Htales senator; it was called up in the afternoon and made the special order for Thürs- asy, air. uj semaa, ot Cass, having me floor, and wishing to t?eak at some length ; the special oraer to consider a resolution asking mat local option be embodied in a bill for regulating the liquor traffic was postponed till Thursday of uexiwnn; jir. itoi cajiea up me concurrent resolution fixing tbeelection of state officers for to-morrow; it was agieed to postpone action on the concurrent resoiuUon to Kebrnary 17: an amendment was also agreed to making the state librarian the last officer vn tbe list to be voted for. IIoV.se. A blil fixing liability of countv clerks and prescribing duties of tb same was ordered engrossed on recommendation cf the Judiciary, as was the bill exempting irom seizure aad sale IÖ00 worth of property belonging to beaoa of households: a minority tcmpei&nce bill was . ported from that commit tec, and, after animated discusion, was ordered prlntsd; the normal scnool Dill (n:s) was referred 10 tie committee on education: Mr. .McDonald elected United Htates senator in Joint convention; a bill introduced providing for the education of rlored children: a resolution to Investigate the O. A M. railroad to asceilain if the company is complying with its charter; hogs to have rings is their noses.' THURSDAY, i Ben a iv.. Keport of the trustee of tbe Wabash and Erie canal was laid before tbe Sanate, and or dered printed; petitions were offered on temper ance and other subjects; reports from standing committees on some bills of minor importance; the resolution to memorialize coneress on behal of the Mexican soldiers was taken up out of its oraer ana passed ; a resolution was adopted looking to a thorough investigation of the tr.au- f Kernen t of the prisons by tue prison c mmlt ttws; a resolution was oll'ered asking the im proveme u of tin Ohio river by the governent, and referred to lhe committee on fecial rela tions; twenty-ore bills were offered. Senate bill .No. 2o, mak in crisis changH n me iniity- lourtc jauiciat uisitict, was ,-assed nnder sua- pension of the ruies: Joint chventiou to hear the temperance- wo:ncu at 31 o clock. Hocse. The bill rcstrlfn the power of county commMoiu-r to appropriate more than IIO.W'O for public work 'without a vote of the eple, wss made the special oercf bueiness fo Tuesday al lernen next; the trustees of tb Wabash and irie canal yesterday sub mitted ttoelrrenort. "htch wss ordered printed: the- 17ih of February was fixed as the date of election fcr fuiug the offices of the state institution: the movement to amend tbe assessmest law was given a backset; a iolnt resrfluUon, asking cobgress to appro priate for mipraving the upper Ohio river, was passed t tue secona reaaiag; Messrs. iienaer- son,FrKner .and jonnson or uearbnrn. were prfutei a eommittee of three to investigate IHW-Mi'i. rauroau iiouse: om amenaingtn set, providing for the assessment of city bonds, was read- and passed to second reading?: Um bill amending tue act to Incorporate the Ind.'ana iirticuuuiai society was passed to stcond reading. Joint Convention. Tlie Ladies' Temperance .Association reported a petition on thai topic, signed by ov.r twenty-one thousand ladies, over and above the ae cf eighteen years. r irltd peeches were tnrule by Mrs. Walltet, Mrs. Avaline and Mrs. lUbinson. ram ay," fc-'ENATE. Messrs. Eoime, llowafd, Ijiiuoj feed and ixen were uamw a a speaji: cciuntit tee todraltabill on dcceienU'es'.ats; temper ance pel ition from Putnam, and Posey coun ties; a resolution by Mr. Hirn'ghsussn to furn Iho eacli seL-afcr with copies of lhe retorts of stale emceis lor tn was adopted bills were of- feied, ih mot Important oue biug Senate oiu i Of 17.', by Mr. Baxter, oi" Wayne, rovidirg lor a state hoard if pmon x)mmijsioner.4, wuh full I Ci t w v av- lace. control of aU the state prisons and their man ifrmy m,ore b,ll OB liquor licence; Mr. J. ,i fewlutlon asking the commutes- on elections to report their acttrn on the lUxtcr irEL.J??' wnlch WM adopted; Mr. Boona wJ?tj?TNti for action: re- Jerred to Judiciary committee; Senate billfo,o STfii wWileha.ulns' oro- prinU-d; several bills were read tbe second time. Ilousa. The bill amending tba tax delinquent advertisement law was reported fron? the Hi!idr00m ith favorable indorment and ordered engrosaed: It arovldes that bat cents per description shall be paid for publica-' Ä???"11111 t" notPotadverUed to? sale If the owner has sufficient personal pron erty to meet tba llabllilty; t ha Senate lolnl IrÄif lBTi"t.1f5rt th VflattsolVsouto tSi?rit?n WM adP11 5 terape-t of temperance rtiiion,one praying tnat drunkenness be made !ChnM1Ddt,hl,he Baxter bill be sustained a bill lncre&Kinir ih.in.ii.tu . .lr."a of the peace In civil, nderlmalca-a Joint resolution to memoraUixe congres Ta half of the i surviving soldiers of the Maxlcat war.wa adopts ; the resolution to memovailuS fET J the lntest of tte lmproVemTni of the Ohio river, was also aa t pted ; a bill provtd ing for . state board of hetlth was passed loa second reading after a diosslon te art amendatory of Bthe act tairSSfS' ml l fh.ih,IüSrailÄ S.omt'ny sVtalzen up, reaJ the third time, and passed. FATAL KEROSENE. A TURK HACTB LADT BDRNKD TO DKVTH HT rf0010 LAMP-TH DASGKRS OF CARRTINO KEROSENE LAMPt IX DANOEKOCS X TKRWBL" CA OF 80FFEK1SO. The Terre Haute Express, of h i gives the facts connected with a rnoa lamentable and fal accident to an estima ble lady of that city: One of the ,i.w t an saa accidents occurred Wednesday even- mg, aoout ii:30 o'clock. at the. ICOIUVdtO Oi 11 I. Smifi mn.t. west corner of Virst an r.Sicith i a machinist, formerly in the employ of the Eagle Works Comnan v. r7,t ißie W orks Comnanv. but at present a nfgnc enzineer at fr.,.!;,,!.- hmt iy rIliil:',Sn VRualJy 'eaves home some what before 12 o'clock, mirinif- ki. liL getting sapper before he leaves. On the 5it,l?H"es"on-hlid t gone far until , r""'" numn.took the large tabla l?m? -a?d. ta.rtd to down for soml -Ii l.... is sur- little beloi face of the tne ;, kiuuuu, ana miss ne a step, pitched forward and down the few remaining steps. The lamp meanwhile had fallen from her eraso to th atAn. v ground, and shivered to fragments, tbe coal oil spreading with rapidity, smashing hr -wk-?-i"P erably and the flames sprang and aiaost foot of the steps tho blaze reached a calico dress that hung upon the wall and set it on " bQr?i.DK P tne ceiling. In the hor rible condition in which she found herself, sho Instmctlv SDrantr to a tUrir?., a I to ner left and onenmv it Mt...! self a mass of flames, growing more appall ing every instant, and hllUOAnmiwI . . I. lienry Hale who sat there reading her. He grasped an overcoat ht .i.i loosen it for the hook; then sehiing a small shawl tried in vain to smother the flames, when a yonne steoson of Mr h.ii t,...v: Stewart, seeing tbe flames enveloping hi father, seized a bucket of water and dashed it on them, snbduing tbe fire about the up per portion of ber bodv Sales then bad more success with them b ow, nut tne unfortunate lady Cf HER AOONT, rushed for the outer door and fell upon the small steps leading up into the back yard. air. öaiesmmniing down too, in his eager and elrnest efforts to save her lite, in which his right wrist was sprained, and his bair beard and eyebrows were sadly scorched. Mrs. Smith's terrific, soul-piercing screams aroused Mrs. Sales, wbo eima to the rescue. a uumoer oi citizens rusbed to the outer fence, which w too hieh to allow them climb over in time to be of any assistance " thwart, wno, in Mr. Smith's ab sence, slept with her. had come to the res cue, as also her brother, O us. Stewart, and .""j Kunr mrnsa ma poor, tortured lady into the kitchen. The remnant of her ÄL1""1 L0 fr0m her- I RraÄttat -11 tblt T w"a lerTwas a pieeTf iDer me size cr a common aDron. Mr tj,,.r iui and ZL "ummonV as was a physician,. rharrhTr j "lrlou P to ber nJr r and 6ver7 poaaible thing, done to- relieve her of her no hTN the Ply-oia could offer a?m f h6r recovery. Her fearfully burned, and her hai, i nearlv all burned frow her head. But the ost terri ble burns wtre about her thighs, and rant ing vp almost to her waist, her hip, beinV awfully burn-d. Uer sufferings wer In tense, but she is said to have borne them with great patleace, requesting Mrs. Sales to look after her little ones, saying: "Yon have been a good mother to mm Nh tainedher consciousness until alonr in tbe afternoon. when Bke relsnsArl mm .n conscious state, and remained under the in fluence of an opiate.. Dr. Young was called in last evenine. but eonlrl ri k ..tw husband and his little atep daughters no more eneouraeement than th ttan.i.n. physician, and advised that the same treat ment be continued. Lster. Mrs. Smith died is mfnnfää Ka.TSAa k 'f fi la8t eveilig. having lingered about 19 hours after the accident. voonnEEs and paciwc mail. THE KLATTOM OP fun- rw AND . "i w. VOUÄMKr nru rw PACIC MAIL IK VEST2Q ATI0S. conainVS'1IaUte JoQrDal inst. D W Crhe"esOWiDg ,eUcr fr0Ja the Uon Voo jeeompanied by editorial comment: On MoMo" , ' J .i . -rr evening tbe atten tion of Mr. Voorhees wK . 7 T ..... A A called to the Insin uation, for it amounts to . sp:ial dispatches to thj00' jn th Uzette and other papers, that hwr ntv mentioned in connection with tbt16 wj? Mail subsidy. In ten minutes after tbe following dispatch was forwarded him: "Tebrk nArra, Ixd January IS, 1S75. The Hon. William K. Niblsck, or tbe lion James B. Beck, Washington. li.c! "Specials to lhe St. Louis Democr CiLcinnati Gazette and Chicago iDter-Ocea seek to implicate me In tho piH,- t .n subsidy on Dillon's testimony. No greater uu"rno was ever perpetrated. I took leave of absence May 21 m r tbe balance of the session, knowing ncthiog about the bill. I had no thousand dollar biil about that time, nor the tenth of it, and I made no de posit of any amount with any one. If nec cessary for my vindication, summous me at once. i court and defy investigation. I , Dever heard tell of tbe lobbv in tbe interest of the subsidy. My innocence Is absoluta and must be made to appear. Answer. D. W. VOORHBHJ." In answer to his request in the foregolüg dispatch Mr. Voorhees received a summons yesterday to which be at once responded by starting at two o'clock lor Washington. lie denounces the Insinuation as an unquali fied falsehood, without a siede clrcumsLanr of any kind or description to sustain it, and eagerly embraces tbe cgportunity to mpf t it in person before tbo commif.Mrf inrcstlsation. This is the first timA in long conp-resÄontil rareerlhst Mr. Voorhees' name was tjter mentioned betöre a com mittee of Investigation, and knowln him as we do we have rot the faintest arr rnheii- Eion cf dvnaga to his reputation. Mrs. Win. Af. Tweed has lately lost the use of oae eye by tbe accidental explosion a capon a pistol iu the I atidsof oce of ber sons, yhile the wespons was close to her