Newspaper Page Text
EUronicle anD iStnlmtl.
WEDNESDAY - JANUARY 24, 1877.
EDITORIAL CORRBHPONDENCE.
Atlanta, January 16.
Me**r*. Bacon and I.caler.
The election of Hon. A. O. Baoon, of
Bibb, as Speaker of the House, and of
Hon. R. E. Lester, of Chatham, a*
President of the Senate, will meet with
the approval of the people. Both gen
tlemen were elected without opposition,
and this in itself is no empty compli
ment. To preside over either branch of
the General Assembly is an honor
worthy of any ordinary man’s ambition
and to be elected witnout opposition to
a position of this kind, is an evidence of
the popularity and capacity of the
Speaker of the Honse and President of
the Senate. Messrs. Lester and Ba
con are familiar with their respective
duties, and the business of both branches
will be conducted' with impartiality, in
telligence and dispatch.
t.ovr-rnar Smith.
The message of Gov. Smith speaks
for itself. It presents a summary of the
various reports of the different depart
ments of the government, and suggests
for the consideration of the General As
sembly measures thought necessary and
expedient. That portion of the message
on our Federal relations meets with the
hearty concurrence of our people. The
administration of Gov. Smith has passed
into history. When it is remembered
that Gov. Smith was elected to office at
a critical period and under the most em
barrassing circumstances —at a time when
our Federal relations were complicated,
and the existence of our State government
threatened with overthrow by the cen
tral power; when our credit was im
paired and our securities w®re at a heavy
discount—the people of Georgia will
give him full credit for the faithful dis
charge of the high and responsible trust
committed to his keeping. So long as
men are fallible they will make mistakes.
Governor Smith has disappointed the
expectations of some people. He has
made enemies by reason of the distribu
tion of official patronage in his appoint
ments and otherwise. Those who follow
him in the Executive Chair are liable to
similar mistakes. Asa whole, the ad
ministration of Governor Smith has
greatly inured to the benefit of the
State. The public credit has been re
stored from a sickly to a healthy condi
tion. The securities of the State—
at one time a drug upon the
market—below par, and without
purchasers —now command a pre
mium and are readily sought after
by capitalists. This was accomplished
daring the administration of Governor
Smith, and for this he is entitled to the
thanks of the people of Georgia.
Gov. I'obiuitt.
Gov. Alfred H. Colquitt enters upon
the discharge of the duties of his office
under surroundings and circumstances
that are flattering to his pride and com
plimentary to his character. Never be
fore in the history of Georgia has an
Executive been elected by such an over
whelming majority. His inaugural ad
dress will commend itself to all classes.
His views upon home affairs are in the
right direction. He is in favor of
rigid economy in every department
of the State government. His
views upon National affairs are
comprehensive and patriotic. They
will command the respect and approval
of every lover of constitutional govern
ment. The matter of General Col
quitt's inaugural, no less than the dig
nified and impressive manner of Us de
livery, left the most favorable impres
sion upon the multitude present at his
inauguration. Those who have hereto
fore looked upon General Colquitt as
negative rather than positive in char
acter will change their pre-ewjjceived
notions. They will find firmness and
decision, combined with intelligence,
virtue and culture. He listens atten
tively to the claims of applicants for
office, but he says neither aye nor nay.
He is as silent as a sphynx as to his ap
pointments, but as polite and respect
ful as a gentleman can be. He
has made no pledges, and therefore en
ters untrammeled upon the disohaTge of
his office. That he will do his whole
duty to the people in protecting and
promoting the interests of the State,
no mao who knows him has a donbt. In
the full possession of a vigorous man
hood, with intelligence, virtue, courage,
and the graoe of a trne gentility in man
ner and bearing, no man has entered
upon the discharge of a high trust under
more favorable surroundings than Al
fred H. Colquitt. That he will devote
himself with zeal and fidelity to this
high office, wo have no doubt. That he
may prove himself equal to any and
every emergency that may arise is the
hope of the people. And we believe
that in thW hope they will not be dis
appointed.
The County of Buncombe.
The organization of the General As
sembly, the inauguration of the new
Governor and the sound of harmless
thunder that is heard in the Honse
about retrenchment and reform, have
occupied the time of the members up to
the present. At tho commencement of
every session there is a great cry about
economy in the publio service, but my
experience is that it .all ends in bun
combe. There is more money of the
tax payers spent in trifling aod useless
debate than members seem to haf® any
idea of. The other day there was
lengthy discussion about appointing a
Chaplain. The State paid for the time
consumed enough to pay the salary of
three Chaplains. And so in reference
to other matters. But legislators will
air themselves. That is a privilege, and
they have a right to indulge in it at the
expense of the State.
The Seuutomhip.
The Senatorial question is mixed. The
skirmish lines are being advanoed, and
the triangular battle between Messrs.
Norwood, Smith and Hill is becoming
interesting. Senator Norwood and Gov.
Smith are on the ground, and it is said
that Mr. Hill will put in an appearance
before the election. His friends think
that one of those extraordinarily able
and brilliant speeches which he can
make would lead the hearts of legislators
captive and elevate Mr. Hill to the Sen
ate. There is an opinion that the con
teet will be protracted and that a dead
lock will ensue. In that event it is given
out that ex-Gov. Brown, who is now
openly for Gov. Smith, would be foroed
into the field ass compromise candi
date. It is understood that Gov. Brown
would accept the Senatorehip. Gov.
Johnson declines to enter the raoe, and
positively refuses to have anything to do
with the contest He is not insensible
to the office, which is worthy of any
man’s ambition, but he will not sere ruble
for it If tendered him he would not
feel at liberty to decline.
The Ccnventteo.
Convention bills have been introduced
in the Senate and House, Hon. Aumn
Candler, of Hall, who introduced a bill
for a Constitutional Convention in the
last Legislature, which passed the
Honse and was defeated in the Senate,
has again introduced substantially the
same bill. It provides that the election
for delegates shall take place on the
aeoond Tuesday in June, and that the
Convention shall meet on the second
•Tuesday in July. The ratio of repre
sentation is one delegate to every six
thousand inhabitants. The bill appro
priates the sum of twenty-five thousand
dollar* to pay the expenses of the Con
vention. It seems to be a foregone oon
clasioe that the Convention will be
•ailed.
rtiuH.
Mr. James ha* introduced a bill pro
viding for the issue of bonds bearing
per cent interest to pay the floating
debt and to provide foe the redemption
of all bonds falling due. Our recent
troubles in the Treasury Department,
whereby the State lost heavily, was
caused by the issuance of what are
known as the Nutt no Bonds. It is to
be hoped, should Mr. James bill be
come a law. that the State will be more
fortunate in the n< xt negotiation or ex
change of new for old bonds.
The Ceaariuees.
Mr. Evan P. Howell is Chairman of
the Judiciary of the Senate, and Mr.
Henbt McDaniel of the Finanoe Com
mittee. Mr. 8 tew art, of Spalding, ia
Chairman of tne Jndiciary Committee
of the House, and Dr. H. H. Carlton
of the Finance Committee. It was ex
pected by Mr. James’ friends that Jbe
would be made Chairman of the Finanoe
Committee; bat the appointment of Dr.
Carlton, who has been a prominent and
efficient member of the House for sev
eral years, gives satisfaction. Major
McDaniel ia one of the very best men
in the State. He ia a prominent law
yer, and his experience in both branches
of the Legislature qualifies him for the
position. Captain E. P. Howell wenrs
bis honors lightly. In addition to hif
being editor-in-chief of the Constitution
which has improved wonderfully under
his management, he is Presidentpro tern
of the Senate and Chairman of the Ju
diciary Committee. Mr. Howell wib
go up higher some of these days.
He understands human nature, and
can measure a man’s calibre as readily
as his illustrious preceptor. The las'
time wa took Capt. Howell’s measure
be was five feet high and six feet wide.
He has a large head full of brains, and
looks at you with a pair of eyes that are
full of penetration. Mr. J. D. Stewart
is a prominent lawyer of Griffin—the
partner of Judge Speeb. Major Ba
con appointed him Chairman of the
House Jndiciary. The selection is
a good one, and givee satisfac
tion, but other things being equal
it appears to the writer that the Chair
man of this committee ought to have
been given to on© of the old members,
any one of whom is eminently qualified.
Mr. Turner, of Brooks; Mr. Black, of
Richmond, or Mr. Hammond, of Thom
as, would have filled tho bill. P. W.
THE ELECTORAL, VOTE.
While the plan proposed by the joint
committee of the two houses of Con
gress for counting the electoral vote is
not free from objection, it is probably
the best that oould have been adopted,
under the circumstanoes, to settle the
publio miDd and give assurance of a
peaceful solution of the political mud
dle. The very faot that it is signed by
such good and true men as Bayard,
Thurman and Ransom, of the Senate,
and the staunch Democrats of the Honse
committee, is proof that there is safety
in the agreement, while the refusal of
Morton to attach his signature is am
ple evidence that it does not suit ex
treme Radioal views. The Supreme
Court Judges who are to constitute a
part of the triplicate tribunal have been
selected for their impartiality, and it is
to be presumed that’they will not so far
ignore the obligations of the oaths they
have already taken as well as the special
oath they will be required to take as
members of the Commission, as to dis
regard the law and evidence in the oaßes
which will be placed before them for
their consideration. The Democrats on
the Senate and House Committees cer
tainly did not belieye Shat they would
so stultify themselves, or they would
never have signed the report. That the
evideuoe and the law in the oases of the
contested States point to the eleotioD of
Samuel J. Tildbn as President of the
United States, there cannot be the
shadow of a doubt. The future is full
of the brightest promise.
The bill which the joint committee
presents provides that the two houses
shall meet in the Hall of the House of
Representatives on the flyst Thursday in
February, or two weeks sooner than is
now provided by law, to count the elec
toral votes. No electoral vote or votes
from *ny State from which but one re
turn has been received, shall be rejected
except by the affirmative yote of the twe
houses. Where there is more than one
paper purporting to be the return from a
State, snch returns shall be submitted
to the joint commission for their de
cision as to which is the legal return,
When the commission shall render its
decision to the two honses, the counting
of the votes shall proceed in aooordance
therewith, unless objection is made
thereto, in writing, by at least five Sena
tors and five members of the House of
Representatives, and such objection is
sustained by tba concurrent yote of the
two houses. Tho bill makes full pro
vision for the arrangement of the joint
session of Congress and all the details
connected therewith.
The four Justioes of the Supreme
Court, wbn are to constitute a portion of
the commission under the bill submit
ted, are Nathan Clowor#, of Maine,
appointed by Buchanan iff 1856 j Wst.
Strono, of Pennsylvania, appointed by
Grant in 1870; Samuel F, Miller, of
'lowa, appointed by Lincoln in 1862,
and Stephen J. Field, of California,
appointed by Lincoln in 1868. Justice
Clifford is a life-long Democrat. Jus
tioe Field ia a brother of David Dud
ley Febld, who was recently elected to
Congress by the Democrats of New
York, and, if we are apt mistaken, is
also a Democrat.
The report of the joint committee
gives general satisfaction in Washing
ton City, and is regarded aa iudteatiye
of the election of 1 ildew and Wheeler.
No room for Hayes is seen in any of the
features of the proposed bill.
TJhIK ASHTABUI A HORROR.
It is to be boped that a thorough in
vestigation will be made of the Ashta
bula disaster, and th it the hiatus will be
placed where it ought to fall. Several
charges have thus far been put out for
examination for example, that the
bridge was not built of lb® best iron;
that it was weakened by a ebaag* IP h*
construction after the original plan had j
been drawn, and that it had been often
spoken of as inseoure. Such minors,
however, are apt to fly about on the oc
currence of any bridge disaster, and it
is certain that the bridge bore well the
heavy test strain of six locomotives.
Still, every point should 1 e cleared up.
Avery serious fact is that, with a steam
pump at hand, and plenty of water and
hose, and with the prompt arrival of the
fire brigade, no pain* were taken to pnt
out the fire. Wa* it because the rescu
ers were so horror-stricken that they did
not know what to do. or was it because
they did not suspect that many persons
might still be burning in the oars ? Itia
said that the firemen were ordered not
to play on the cars, and were exhorted
rather to rescue and help those that had
already got out. If so, it was a terrible
blunder. They should have thrown on
the water even if only to prevent the
dead bodies from being consumed be
yond identification; and possibly they
might have also saved one or two lives,
though of this there is little probability.
Conference after conference has
taken place between the representatives
of the Porte and the European Plenipo
tentiaries, but the Eastern question
seems as far from settlement as ever.
Eh nAnting is announced as final, bnt
the next telegram tells us that another
has been decided upon. The Turk seems
likely to come out of the affair with fly
ing colors. Russia's attempt at bully
ing has so far proved a signal failure.
Grant evidently knew what he was
about when he sent his ambiguous die
patch to Gen. Auour. He was in hopes
that the latter would take upon himself
the responsibility of recognizing the
Packard government, and that what
asked by Congress to explain the inter
ference, he would act as he did fn the
case ol Roger and South Carolina by
pointing, accusingly, to the officer thus
made a cat’s paw of, and saying in the
language of Macbeth, "Shake not those
gory locks at me; thou oan’st not say 1
did it.” Auour, however, was too sharp
to be made a saenfioe to please Grant.
COUNTY.
Wajankan Ablaze Wlti MiUlarj.
Editors Chronicle and Sentinel:
On Wednesday, the 17th, it was my
good fortune, with several citizens of
Augusta, among whom I noticed Capt.
J W. Clark, John M. Adams, H. A.
Brahe, and others, to be present in
Waynesboro on the occasion of the s< c
ond annual contest for the improvement
in horsemanship and sabre exercises of
the "Wilkins Cavaliers,” commanded by
Capt. J. Pinckny Thomas. They had
invited the "Bnrke Hnssars,” command
ed by Capt. J. J. Dobbins, to partici
pate with them in the exercises, and the
“Stonewall Rifles,” commanded by
Capt. W. A. Wilkins, to be present and
witness the contest. The cavalry were
formed on Myrick street, under the
command of Captain Thomas, and pre
ceded by the Waynesboro Cornet Band
mounted on a wsgon drawn by four fine
mules, marched up Peace street and
through Liberty to the ground in front
of the cemetery, where the battalia®
maneuvered, according to Upton’s tac
tics, for some time before the contest
began. The Stonewalls were soon upon
the field, and it really presented a very
martial appearance, which would have
done credit to a much more populous
town than Waynesboro. The contest
ants were soon advanced in line to the
front, about twenty-three volunteering
from the two companies, the judges
selected and assigned their post, the
bngle sounded and No. 1 advanoed to
he charges, and so on. Result—Private
L E Jones, B. H., 47; Corporal Simeon
Bell, W. C , 46; Sergeant Y. W. Fulcher,
B. H., 46; Sergeant M. E. Green, B. H.,
44.
The tilting was splendid, and when
over the three companies formed the
three sides of a hollow square, when the
Cavaliers medal of a beautiful design
was presented to Corporal Simeon Bell
by Captain Thomas, in a speech that
would have done credit to a more prac
ticed orator. The wreathes Were then
delivered to the Knights by Col. Jno. D.
Ashton in one of his usual well known
efforts. The ladies having been selected
and plaoed in a carriage were crowned
by the Knights from horseback, Private
Jones crowning Miss Jennie Hack, from
Richmond, as Queen, who has won
many hearts and received the honors on
former occasions; Corporal Bell crowned
Miss Mattie Miller, one of Augusta’s
beauties, as first Maid; Sergeant Ful
cher placed his wreath upon the brow of
one of Milledgeville’s lovely and popular
daughters, Miss Minnie Garrett; Ser
geant Green selected Miss Bartow Oli
ver as the lady of his choioe, one of
Scriven county’s belles. After the caval
ry were through a very handsome flag
was presented by Miss Dora Gresham
in behalf of the ladies of Waynesboro to
the "Stonewall Rifles.” Miss G. deliv
ered a very beautiful and appropriate
speech, in a olear and concise manner,
and was responded to by Capt. Wilkins
in a happy and appreciative address.
After these ceremonies the committee of
ladips appointed soon spread upon the
tables such a feast, “ye gods”—sumptu
ous, profnse and elegant. You know
Burke county’s reputation for such, and
this was one of the best. At night the
ball was given at Masonic Hall, where
were assembled beauty and loveliness in
all its phases. Augusta, Athens, Mil
ledgeville, Jefferson, Riohmond and
Scriven counties were represented, and
your correspondent declines to individ
ualize, hoping that some abler pen will
send you a more elaborate desoriptiou.
Richmond.
NORTH GEORGIA.
The Snow Storm—The Cl 4 , J , ue*4aj'.
{Special Correspondence Chronicle and Sentinel .]
LaFaybtte, Ga., January 10, 1877.
As I have not seen anything in your pa
per from North Georgia, I thought I
would give you a short account of tHe
snow storm which oocurred in this sec
tion on Sunday night and Monday
morning—the last night of the old year
and the first morning of the new. It
lasted for fourteen hours, and during
that time there were from twelve to six
teen inches snow fall. Some of the old
est inhabitants say that it was the largest
snow storm that has been in this coun
ty for forty years. It was clear Tues
day morning, and the wind from the
North, so that by night it was very cold,
and Tuesday night, the 2nd of January,
will long be remembered by the people
of LaFayette as the sold Tuesday night
of 'll. The thermometer on Wednes
day stood 14 degrees below zero, t’ne
lowest that it has been at this place foi
many years. The oldest citizens say
that it was the coldest morning and day
that they ever felt in this section. There
w®s a great deal of suffering among the
poor for wop,d. This may seem strange
in a country where tfleye is wood on
every side, bat the snow was sp d ee P
that it was very hard to get any wood.
The boys, however, had a great deal of
sport catching rabbits, Wednesday
and Thursday. It was quite amusing
to see tfiem wading in the snow,
knpe deep, sometimes up and then
down ; but they seem tq relish it.
They were also hunting deer and turkey
till the deer became unfit to eat. The
sportsmen around Ringgold caught ten
deer around there iq a few days after
the snow, one man, a Ifr. Edwards,
eatohing six, but they did not have much
success in the turkey hunt. And still
there are no sigDS of clearing off, the
sun shines for a little while, and then it
snows for an hour or so. The snow has
now covered the ground for eighteen
days, and it is now from six to twelve
inphes deep. Oar streets are like a sea
of glass, and 4 is almost impossible to
walk pn them. N®ariy of our streams
are or have been frpjsen pypr- Ohica
mauga was frozen oyer oi Wednesday
and Thursday, the 8d and 4th of Janu
ary, for the first time in many years. We
are in hopes that the worst is come and
gone, and that we will have some pleas
ant weather in a few days. The farmers
say that this heavy snow will be good
for the wheat. LaFayette.
PAG p-fUIKM.
A Bystyn proper Gpte Eyen WUp a parfy pf
PrSCflpaJ JoUeys.
[Boston &iobe )
A certain insurance broker of the high
est respectability, who prides himself
on his family name, etc., so far forgot
his position in society as to attend the
recent glove fight at Revere Hall, which
had such a tragic ending. After the af
fair b® was 80 indiscreet at to tell
several' pf fib; intimate friends of the
faot, and as a consequpppe they met him
at his office the following mPlWftg a
told him, with great earnestness, that
an officer hap pajlpd' summons for
him to attend tho inywDgalfpn as a wit
ness. Tho insurance mm
alarmed for the consequences if h®
should be summoned to appear, aud
was not seen about the streets for
several days. Dame Rumor says he
went to Providence. At all events, he
returned to business a day or two since,
apd, having seen the joke, laughed
heartily af bis timidity and gullibility,
but the wnil® b® meditated a deep aud
terrible revenge, Having completed bis
arrangements, h# told bis friends that
the joke was so well played upon bim
that he would treat, aud so he in
vited twelve of his business asso
ciates popperDed in the affair to
an oyater ' supper at the Craw
ford House. Tue offer gladly
accepted, and, as yesterday ffte the
time appointed, the thirteen gentlemen
were ushered into a private dining hall
at the above pa t*4 house, where a
table was laid in a moat tempting man
ner with flowers, celery, and aB the
usual adjuncts of a fine supper. The
gentleman who gaye the entertainment,
of course, oocupvaJ the head of the
table. In a few atutabje remarks he
invited the company to test the savory
stews pla*od before each, suiting the
action to the word by swallowing a de
lusions bivalve bimteti. ?fee company
were not Mow to follow spti, opt as
each applied his spoon in ihp bpwl be
fore him, n look, irat of horror, then
of disgust, and finally a jovial smile
overspread his countenance. Each paus
ed to examine his find, and what was it?
A tiny rag baby ffjth pale face and out
stretched arms, a* if appealing for
mercy. Anon it would sink 8d then
bob up again as if possessed with life.
In a row of laughter the party ad
journed, acknowledging themselves fair
ly "sold,” leaving'the insurance man,
in deep and evident satisfaction, enjoy
ing his genuine stew, ft is needless,
perhaps, |o add that the conspiracy
was eonooctad with the approval of the
bead cook ol the hcsp, Michael Smith
who entered heartily mto tfre fun of
the thing.
REVENUE FRAUDS.
Haw the Saathera Statea Deiraad Uaele Saw
Oat af HU Seat Earatac*.
Washington, January 19.—The Cabi
net to-day had nadsr consideration an
official statement from tbs Cojpffisaion
er of Internal Beyenu®, saying that
them is an immense increase of frauds
noon th* revenue by the fllicit distilla
tsoo of spirit*, and great difficulty in
eufoeetug tbe rersnas tews in several
Southern States, pnrttenMy North
ern Alabama and Georgia and Nortfc
Carolina. Great fraud* in te® m*ufao
tnre of tobaooo ia North Carolina at#
also reported.
In order to assist the revenue officers
tosafOte® the laws, troops are requested,
and alter consultation between the
President and Secretary of the Treasury
at the Cabinet to-day, anjorder was sent,
by direction of the President, to the
General of tbe Army to put the neoee
sarv instructions to the Commander of
of the South for that
purpose.
THE ELECTORAL VOTE.
and how to count it.
Fall Repart ef the Jelat Electoral Comuiil
tees—Aa Electoral Caatatieelon, Composed
ot Five Meaatoro, Representative* aod Su
preme Coart Judcee, to Decide Upon the
Deahtfal state*—A Remarkably Clear, Coo
rise aad Equitable Proposition.
Washington, January 18.—In their
report submitted with the bill, the com
mittee on counting the electoral vote
say they have applied the utmost prac
ticable study and deliberation to the
subject, and believe that the bill report
ed is the best attainable disppeition of
the difficult problems and disputed
theories arising oat of the late election.
They speak of the difficulty of reaching
a conclusion; they do not deal with ab
stract questions, save so far as they are
necessarily involved in the legislation
proposed.
The report implies that legislation
may be had on the subject in accoord
ance with the Constitution, but the
committee think that the law proposed
is inconsistent with the few principal
theories upon the subject.
The bill is only directed to ascertain
ing for the purpose and in aid of the
counting what are the constitutional
votes of tbe respective States, and
whatever jurisdiction exists for such pur
pose the bill only regulates the method of
exercising it. For this the Constitution
gives warrant, and therefore the law
proposed is not inconsistent with that
instrument. The committee regard it
as of far greater moment that the will of
the people should be legally carried out
than that the question of who shall be
President for a prescrib and term. They,
therefore, endeavored to frame a fair
aDd impartial measure.
The Legislature and the Judiciary are
represented in the tribunal in equal pro
portions. The composition of the ju
dicial part of the commission looks to a
selection from different parts of the Re
public, while it is thought to be free
from any preponderance or supposable
bias, and the addition of the necessary
constituent part of the whole in order to
obtain an uneven number of tbe com
mission is left to any agency the farthest
removed from prejudice of any existing
attainable tone. It would be difficult, if
not impossible, the committee think, to
establish a tribunal that conld be leas
the subject of party criticism than such
an one. The committee felt bound by
the highest duty to let no bias of party
feelings stand in the way of a just, equal
and neaceful measure for extricating the
question from the embarrassments that,
at present, surround it.
The committee conclude as follows :
In conclusion, we respectfully beg leave
to impress upon Congress the necessity
of a speedy determination upon this sub
ject. It is impossible to estimate tbe
material loss the country daily sustains
from the existing state of uncertainty.
It directly and powerfully tends to un
settle and paralyze business, to weaken
public and private credit, and to create
apprehension in the minds of the people
that disturb the peaceful tenor of their
ways and mar their happiness. It does
far, far more. It tends to bring Repub
lican institutions into disoredit; to cre
ate doubts of tbe success of our form of
government, and of the perpetuity of
the republio. All considerations of in
terest or patriotism and of justice unite
in demanding of the law-making power
a measure that will bring peace and
prosperity to the country, and show that
our Republican institutions are equal to
any emergency, and in this connection
we cannot refrain from the expression of
onr satisfaction that your committee,
composed of equal numbers of both par
ties, have fortunately been able to do
what has been attempted in vain hereto-,
fore, almost unanimously agree upon a
plan, considered by them all to be just,
wise and efficient. We accordingly
recommend the proposed act to the pa
triotic and just judgment of Congress.
[Signed] George T. Edmunds,
F. T. Frelinohuysen,
Rosooe Conklino,
A. G. Thcrman,
T. F. Bayard,
M. W. Ransom,
Of tbe Senate Committee.
H. B Payne,
Eppa Hunton,
Wm. M. Springer,
Geo. W. MpCrary, -
Geo. F. Hoar, ,
Geo. Willard, 0
Of the House Committee.
The BUI.
A bill to provide for and regulate the
counting of votes for President and Vice-
President and the decisions of ques
tions arising thereon for the term com
mencing March 4th, A. D. 1877.
Be it enacted, etc., That the Senate
and House of Representatives shall meet
in the Hall ot the House of Representa
tives at the hour of one o’clock, past
meridian, op the first Thursday in Feb
ruary, A. D. 1877, and the
President of the Senate shall
be their presiding officer. Two
tellers shall be previously appointed on
the part of the Senate and two on the
part of the Hons® °f Representatives, to
whom shall be handed, as they are open
ed, by the President of the Senate, all
the certificates and papers purporting
to be certificates of the electoral votes,
which oertifipates and papers shall be
opened, presented aud acted upon in the
alphabetical order of the States, begin
ning with the letter A, and said tellers
having then read the same in the pres
ence and hearing of the two houses,
shall make a list of the votes as they
shall appear from the said oertifioates,
and the votes having been ascertained
and counted, as in this act provided, the
result of the same shall be delivered to
the President of the Senate, who shall
thereupon apnopnpe fhe state of the vote
and the names pf tfle pprsons, if any,
elected which announcement shall be
.deemed a* sufficient declaration of the
persons elected President and Vice-
President of the United States, and to
gether with a list of the votes, be en
tered on the journals of the two honses.
Upon such reading of any such certifi
cate or paper when there shall be only
one return from a State the President of
the Renats sfiall call for objections, if
any. Every objection shall be made in
writing, and shall state plearjv and con
cisely and without argument the ground
thereof, and shall be signed by at least
one Senator and one member of the
House of Representatives. Before the
same shall be received, when all objec
tions so made to any vote or paper
from a State shall have been re
ceived and read, the Senate shall
thereupon withdraw, and such objec
tions shall be submitted to the Senate
for its decision; and the Speaker of the
Hpqse of Representatives shall, in like
manner, submit ®uch objections to the
House of Representatives for its decis
ion, and no electoral vote or yotes from
any Star® front Vm/te b, 4 ( ' ne re t urn bas
been repeiyed sbaU b® rejected, except
by the affirmative vote of tb® tv. o
houses. When the two houses have
voted, they shall immediately again meet
and the presiding officer shall then an
nounce the decision of the question
submitted.
Sec. 2. That if more than one re
turn or paper purporting to be
a ’ leteyn from a State shall
have been teefeiyed the Presi
dent of the Senate, purporting to be
the certificates of electoral vote given at
the last preceding election for President
and Vice-President in such State, unless
they shall be duplicates of the same re
turn®, all snch returns and papers shall
be opened by Mw te the presence of the
Honses when met as afqrcpaid, and read
by the tellers and all spoh returns and
papers shall thereupon b® submitted to
the judgment and decision as to which
is the true and lawful elected vote of
such State, of a
Commission
Constituted as follows, viz : During the
session of .each Hpuse, on Tues
day next prnpeeding the first
Thursday in February, J.§77, each
House shall, by piva pope vote,
appoint five of its members, who,
with the fly® Associate Justices ot
the Supreme Cogrt of the United States,
to tm ascertained te hereinafter pro
vided, shall constitute Qotmi M1 ° D
tor the decision of all questions upon or
in respect tolsuch double returns named
in this section. On the Tuesday next
preceding the first Thursday in Feb
rnarv. Anno Domini 1877, or as soon
thereafter as may be, the Associate
Justices of the Supreme Court of the
United States, now asagnpd te the
First Third, Eighth and Ninth Cir
cuits, shall select, in such a manner as a
majority of them shall deem fit, another
of the Associate Justices of sod Court,
which Ave persons shall be niem
bers of said Conussion, and the
rmrson loagest in tee Commission
ofadd five Justices shall be President
of said Commission. Th® members of
said Commission shall respectively take
and subscribe the following oath ;
or affirm, as the case may be, that I will
impartially examine and consider all
questions submitted to the Commission
w***
the Secretary ot the Benate.
When th® Commission shall haye thus
organized U sbaJJnoTb® in th® power of
eitheTtona® fr tee saipoor to
witSrawJny of
SsLTfcit a&sa
farther communicated to tbe Senate or
House of Representatives as tbe case
may be, which body shall immediately,
and without debate, proceed by viva.
voce vote to fill the place so v: cate.l,
aud the person bo appointed shall take
and subscribe the oath hereinbefore pre
scribed and beoome a member of said
Commission and in like manner, if
any of said Justices of the Supreme
Court shall die or beoome physically in
capable of performing the duties requir
ed by this act, the other of said Justioes
of the Commission shall immediately
appoint another Justice of said Court, a
member of said Commission and in
snch appointments, regard shall be bad
t© the impartiality and freedom from
bias songbt by the original appoint
ments of said Commission, who shall
thereupon immediately take and sub
scribe’the oath hereinbefore prescribed
and become a member of said Commis
sion to fill the vacancy occasioned.
The CommUfiloa at Werk.
All the certificates and papers pur
porting to be certificates of tbe electoral
votes of each State shall be opened in
the alphabetical order of the States, as
provided in section one of this act, and
when there shall be more than one such
certificate or paper, as the certificates or
papers from such State, shall so be
opened, excepting duplicates of the
same return. They shall be read by the
tellers, and thereupon the President of
the Senate shall call for objections. If
any, every objection shall be made in
writing, and shall state clearly and con
cisely, and without argument, the
gronnd thereof, and shall be signed by
at least one Senator and one member of
the House of Representatives be
fore the same shall be received.
When all snch objections, so made to
aDy certificate, vote or paper from a
State shall have been received and read,
all such certificates, votes aßd papers
so objected to, aod all papers accompa
nying the same, together with snch ob
jections, shall be forthwith submitted to
said Commission, which shall prooeed
to consider the same with the same pow
ers, if any, now possessed for that pur
pose by the two Honses, acting sepa
rately or together, and by a majority of
votes deoide whether any and what
votes from sneb State are the votes pro
vided for by the Constitution of the
United States, and bow many and what
persons were duly appointed electors in
suoh State, and may therein take into
view snch petitions, depositions and
other papers, if any, as shall by the Con
stitution and now existing law may
be competent and pertinent in
snch consideration, which decision shall
be made in writing, stating briefly
the gronnd thereof, and signed by
tbe members of said Commission agree
ing therein, whereupon the two Honses
shall again meet, and snoh decision
shall be read and entered in the journal
of each House, and the counting of the
votes shall prooeed in conformity there
with, unless, upon objection made
thereto in writing by at least five Sena
tors and five members of the House of
Representatives, the two Houses shall
separately concur in ordering other wife,
in whioh case snoh concurrent order
shall govern. No votes or papers from
any other State shall be acted upon un
til the objections previously made to the
votes or papers from any State shall
have been finally disposed of.
No Debate* Allowed.
Seo. 3. That while the two Houses
shall be in meeting, 'as provided in this
act, no debate shalDbe allowed, and no
question shall be put by the presiding
officer, except to either House on mo
tion to withdraw, and he shall have no
power to preserve order.
Seo. 4. That when the two Houses
separate to decide upon an objection
that may have been made to tbe count
ing of any electoral votes, or votes from
any State, or upon objection to a report
of said Commission, or other question
arising under this act, eaoh Senator and
Representative may speak on such ob
jection or question ten minutes and not
oftener than once; but after such de
bate shall have lasted two hours, it shall
be the duty of eaoh House to put tbe
main question without further debate.
Arrangement of the Joint Sen9ion*
Seo. 5. That at suoh joint meeting of
the two Houses seats shall be provided
as follows : For the President of the
Senate, the Speaker’s chair; for the
Speaker, immediately upon his left; the
Senators, in tbe body of the hall upon
the right of the presiding officer ; for
the Representatives, in the body of the
hall not provided for the Senators ; for.
the Tellers, Secretary of the Senate and
Clerk of the House of Representatives,
at the Clerk’s desk; for the other of
ficers of the two Honses, in front of the
Clerk’s desk and upon eaoh side of the
Speaker’s platform.
No Adjournment.
Such joint meeting shall not be dis
solved until the count of the electoral
votes shall be completed and the result
declared, and no recess shall be taken
unless a question shall have arisen in
regard to counting any suoh votes or
otherwise under this act, in which case
it shall be competent for either Hoqse,
acting separately, ip the planner herein
before provided, to direct a recess of
suoh House nqt beyond the next day,
Sunday excepted, at the hour of ten
o’clock in the forenoon, and while any
question is being considered by said
Commission either House may prooeed
with its legislative or other business.
Seo. 6, That nothing in this aot tball
be held to impair or effect any right
now existing under the Constitution aud
laws to question, by proceeding in the
Judicial Courts of the United States,
the right and title of the persons who
shall be declared elected or who shall
claim to be President of Vice-President
of the Uuited States, if any suoh right
exists.
Seo. 7. That said Commission shall
make its own rules, keep a record of its
proceedings aud shall have power to
employ spph persons as may be neoes
sary fqr the transaction pf its business
and tbe execution of its powers.
The report is signed by thirteen mem
bers of the committee, Morton only dis
senting.
The report of the joint committee is
received with general satisfaction. It
will be combatted by the more nltra
members of both parties. It is regarded
as indicative of Tilden and Wheeler,
very sensible people see no room for
Hayes in any of th® features of the pro
posed hiU.
The Democrats of the House held a
caucus to-night, Gen, Hnnton discus
sed the proposed bill. Another canons
for consultation will be held Monday.
A PHILOSOPHICAL BRIDEGROOM.
Hi* Affianced Elope* With a Rival, Where
upon He Marries Another.
[From the St Louis Times.]
Lexington was the scene pf quite a
little episod® in the form of a dual w®d
ding w4bta the pist few 4 a J B,
facts are ®s fpllows : A yoqng gentle
man by the name of Tolbert Hipkland,
residing two and a half miles lrom the
city, on the Dover road, had arranged
for his nnptials with one of Lexington’s
fair damsels, a Miss Fannie JenniDgs,
and all arrangements had been complet
ed for the consummation of the happy
event at the time appointed at the resi
dence of the father of the young lady.
It appears that a Russel Cather, of
this city, had been also paying his ad
dresses to this same young lady for some
time past, and on the day preceding the
day set for the wedffiog callep to see th®
lady and proposed an eloppmpnt with
her on that very day, to which she read
ily assented, and on that evening, after
the family had retired, bpth she and her
trunk were stealthy spir ted away from
her father’f dogjioile. and she apd her
lover, after considerable difficulty in
procuring the services of a plergyman,
were united in wedlopk, and crossed the
Missouri river that uight at the dead
hour of midnight, where awaited them
a carriage to convey them pn their bridal
tour and in search of tbeir honeymoon.
Morning came, apd soon thereafter Mr.
H. appeared in town only to th® realisa
tion of tbe fapt tljat th® bird had flown
and that he s® m 4 in ®4 a voyager in searoh
of a wife, but was destined pot to re
main so loDg, as the sequel proved. In
the family of the father of the young
lady there w® 8 also another young lady,
poor but estimable and quite pretty, to
whom he had offered the comforts of a
home —Miss Alice Haywood. Thither
Mr. H. bent his way on learning the
faithfulness of his affianced, and ar
ranged that the preparation for an ele
gant w®Bding supper should not be for
nangbt, apd that be and Miss Alice
should be married at the appointed time
and place at which he was to haye been
married tp Miss Fanpie. Ip the course
of the day those facts were quickly cir
culated and known and discussed by all.
The clergyman whose services had been
secured by Mr. H. met him and jocular
ly remarked that he W°phf expect him
to call for bim at his residence at the
hour apDointed, to which Mr. Hicfcland
replied that he Wpulfl. Trpe to appoint
ment he called for the parson at the
hour set with a close carriage. The par
son, not knowing just what shape mat
ters had taken, in a sort of semi-bewil
derment entered the carriage in quest of
the solution of this wonderful and ca
rious affair. Finally the carnage was
brought th a stand-still and fhe parson
invited to aljght and enter the honse,
which, to his great surprise, be ssw was
the same one fo which he had been
called tp perform the marriage "of Mr.
Hickl&nd wite tep young lady who had
so mysteriously and unexpectedly eloped
with another B!*rijr. 0n entering he
found a pleasant Company assembled,
and soon thereafter united the aforesaid
Mr. Hickland to the beautifnl and esti
mable Miss Alice Haywood, after which
the eveniffg was spent delightfully, and
the wedding supper proved not to be
spoiled for the want of a wedding.
INAUGURAL BANQUET.
THE BEAUTY AND CHIVALRY OF
ÜBOKGIA.
Brilliant Heeeptlon of Governor Colquitt—
Distluguiafced Peroonaeo—Atlanta Joined
by Her Sister Cities.
The complimentary banquet given to
Governor Colquitt by the citizens of At
lanta transpired at the Kimball House
last evening, and was probably the most
brilliant social event ever known in this
city. Its magnificent success and the
excellent management which, despite so
many difficulties, rendered it a dignified
and graceful affair from beginning to
end, reflect honor upon the oity and es
pecially upon those gentlemen who were
zealous in preparing for this
Great Social Fete.
It was a moet fitting tribute to a Gov
ernor who has been called to his honors
by such a unanimous voice of a great
people, and the presence of distinguished
citizens and fair women from all parts of
Ge rgia prove that it was a general ex
pression of hearty congratulation.
Gov. Colquitt has just reason to be
proud of such a compliment, while the
people have honored themselves by the
beautiful method in which it was pre
sented. . ,
One who looked on last night might
easily have been reminded by the bril
liant soene and joyous presence of all
around him the glory of ante bullum
days, and the luxuriant magnificence
that made them happy with many a pub
lic festival.
At an early hour ladies and gentlemen
began to assemble in the parlors of the
hotel, and soon a steady stream of
guests poured in. The arcades, corri
dors, dining room, ball room and par
lors were all beautifully decorated with
evergreens and flowers, and hung with
the National colors and the Georgia coat
of arms variously executed. The magnif
icent chandeliers were glittering in un
wonted brilliancy, and the whole of the
grand building was illuminated and
alive with the presence of the happy
throng.
The management was so perfeot that
in spite of the immense crowd no in
stance of confusion or disorder occur
and every attention was readily be
stowed on all who came.
Governor Colquitt, his wife and daugh
ter reoeived in the first arcade near the
entrance to the principal parlor. Be
sides the formal introductions and con
gratulations of the occasion, the Gov
ernor received many a hearty shake of
the hand from his old friends and those
who were proud to be kuown as “Col
quitt’s men,” when days were more try
ing than now. Very near the Governor
stood ex-Governor Herschel V. John
son, with his usual graceful and impres
sive bearing. Ex-Governor Brown was
also near by during the earlier part of
the evening and seemed thoroughly to
enter the spirit of the evening’s enjoy
ment. General Toombs was tne centre
of attraction immediately to the Gov
ernor’s left, and was in one of his finest
conversational moods. The flashes of
his unique wit and the unbroken flow
of genial humor which snimated his
conversation were enjoyed by many.
There was a number of other
Distinguished Georgians
Present, among whom were Judge Jack
sou, Mayor Angier, Judge Schley, Sena
tor Norwood, Col. T. J. Simmons, Hon.
L. N. Trammell, Judge Tompkins, Gen.
Young, Attorney-General Ely, Judge
Pou, and many others. Nearly all the
members .of the Legislature were pres
ent. President Lester and Speaker Ba
con took quite a prominent part in the
evening’s festivities. Many of the staid,
old members fcrgot how many years had
slipped over their heads, and were found
among the gayest of the gay.
The Ball Uoom
Was such a brilliant scene of beauty
and fashion as is seldom witnessed. The
toilettes of the ladies were magnificent,
and reflected credit upon the taste of
Georgia’s daughters. Such assemblages
of female loveliness arrayed in such a
scene must be wielded by a master
hand. Atlanta’s belles were out in force
and obtained a full share of the honors
of the evening.
Macon was represented by the Misses
Lamar and Miss Johns.
Columbus was illustrated by Miss
Bed, Miss Mays, Miss Epping, Miss
Flournoy and others.
Augusta presented Miss Dugas and
Miss Davies.
Athens was honored by the presence
of Miss King.
From Covington were Miss Henry,
Miss Hendrix and others.
From Madison Miss Pou, Miss Foster
and otheis.
From Forsyth, Miss Lampkin and
others.
From Albany, Mrs. Lee Jordan, who
who was the “admired of all admirers.”
The music was furnished by Prof.
£ohultze’s fine band, and it was univer
sally admired.
Every foot of space in the grand ball
room was oocupied in the quadrilles and
waltzes. The floor managers did their
full duty, and the ball was as oomplete
a success as can be imagined. The gal
lery was crowded with spectators who
did not take part in the dances. While
crowds were enjoying the jolly quad
rilles or the
Maiy Waltzes,
The attendance in the arcade and the
parlors seemed unabated. Every corri
dor in the huge building was occupied
by promenaders. The number of ladies
and gentlemen present could not have
been less than eight hundred, while the
lobbies below were crowded with gentle
men who did not enter into the festivi
ties.
At twelve o’clock supper was an
nounced. The orowd was so large that
the dining haU was completely filled
twice, and many did not go in at all.
The magnificent bill of fare was a tribute
to the taste and enterprise of Mr. Mc-
Ginley, the courteous proprietor.
The tables were adorned with all va
rieties of beautiful cakes, on some of
which there was the finest icing that
taste could design or art execute. Pyra
mids of fruit and vases of flowers aided
in producing a beautiful effect that
seemed more like fancy work than the
result of pulinary genius. Jn the centre
of the rpom was a magnificept represen
tation of the Georgia ooat of arms in
icing, which was very generally admir
ed. The supper was served by an ample
number of polite waiters, and its deli
cacies were enjoyed by all who entered
the hall.
After Supper
The dancing and promenading was con
tinued. The older members of the party
began to retire slowly, but the enjoy
ments of the younger and more excitable
were protracted to a late hour. At last
the band struck the sad, sweet strains
of “Home, Sweet Home/’anfi as if loath
to leave, the happy revellers bade adieu
to the scenes of an evening's unbroken
pleasure,
Everybody went heme glad that the
inaugural banquet had been tendered,
yet more rejoiced that it had resulted so
magnificently, and most delighted that
Georgia has a Governor whom the peo
ple so delight to honor with the beauti
ful courtesies of sooial life as well as
with the graver and grander rewards of
executive office.
PRODUCING THE DISPATCHES,
flip Western Union Telegraph Executive
Committee Agree to Produce All Dispatches
and the .Manager. Are Released From Cos
tod]’.
Washington, January 181.— -The Exec
utive Committee of the Western Union
Telegraph Company appeared before
the House Committee on Privileges and
Powers, and were released from their
subpoena, upon producing a resolution
of their body directing that all dis
patches of a political character Bhould
be produced,
A committee of three. was appointed
to act with a like committee of privi
leges and elections of the Senate to ar
range the details for examination of
these dispatches.
Telegraph superintendents, managers
and operators who are here or etft route
will be discharged upon putting in au
appearance.
The House will pass a resolution dis
charging Barnes, the manager, from con
tempt.
Before the Committee on Privileges
and Elections, Colonel Felton had no
recollection of sending a dispatch to
Senator Kelly that Oregon could be de
pended on for one vote. The commit
tee appointed a sub-committee to ex
amine tfie telegrams, in connection with
the House committee.
The evidence of Superintendent Bren
ner before the Committee on Privileges
and Powers was confined tq the manner
of handling the dispatches. He was
discharged.
SELECTING senators.
Hear Nominated From Mamaeltaaettit—Bat
ley Gaea For the Short Term Frem Tenaes
aee-The Dead Lock la lUinoio. *
Boston, January 19. — Geo. F. Hoar
has just been nominated on Hie fifth
ballot for United States Senator. The
ballot resulted: Hoar, 146; Boutwell,
47; Abbott, 62; Bollock, 2; Seelye, 1.
Sbbisgfibld, 111., January 19.—17th
ballot—Logan, 99; Palmer, 87; Ander
son, 1$; Haines, 2; Parish, 1.
Nashville, January 19.—James E.
Bailey was elected for the short term on
the 78d ballot.
We oan recommend our readers to use
Dr. Bull’s Cough Syrup in all cases of
Cough, Cold, Ac. It only oosts 25
cents a bottle, and is warranted to core.
LATEST FROM THE CAPITAL.
Retrenchment Bill—Appointments Deferred
—The Inaugural Ball a Grand A(Tair—At
lanta’s Liberality—Augusta and Knaxville
Railroad—The Senatorship.
[Special Dispatch to the Chronicle and Sentinel .]
Atlanta, January 18.—Mr. Fry’s (of
Fulton) bill to reduce the salaries of
Governor, Judges and other officials,
was discussed by Mr. Fry at length. It
was made a special order for next Thurs
day on motion of Mr. Black, of Rich
mond.
The bill fixing the bond of Tax
Collector of Fulton county at fifty
thousand dollars for State taxes and
twenty-five thousand dollars for county
taxes, was passed. The bill provides
that the Tax Collector shall pay into the
Treasury whenever he has as much as
five thousand dollars on hand.
Nothing important in the Senate.
It is thought that the Governor will
defer the appointments of Judges and
Solicitors for the present.
The Governor’s reception and inaugu
ral ball, at the Kimball House, last
night, was a grand affair. The enter
tainment does great credit to the libe
rality and public spirited citizens of At
lanta, who paid all the expenses. The
reoeption was attended by a large con
course of people. Governor Colquitt
and lady received the congratulations of
the people. The ball was graced by the
presence of a number of handsome and
finely dressed ladies. The supper was
all that oould be desired in quality and
quantity.
The oharter of the Augusta and
Knoxville Railroad was considered by
the Committee on Corporations this af
ternoon. Senator Freeman, Dr. Wilkes
and Mr. Walsh appeared before the
committee.
Dr. Wilkes made a foroible address in
the interest of the measure. The bill
provides that the State shall endorse
the bonds of the road to the amount of
ten thousand dollars per mile.
The Senatorial question is occupying
a large share of attention. The canvass
is pressed vigorously. The friends of
Hiu, Smith and Norwood are very ac
tive.
The following bills were introduced
Wednesday :
Hen ate.
By Mr. Reese: To amend the garnish
ment laws of the State.
Also, to amend section 483 of the
Code, in relation to distress for rent.
Also, to amend the law in reference to
tenants holding over.
Senator McDaniel offered the follow
ing :
An Act to declare parties to suits or
proceedings in the Courts of this State
incompetent witnesses, except in the
cases therein specified.
Section 1. The General Assembly of
the State of Georgia do enaet, That par
ties to suits in proceedings in the Courts
of this State shall be incompetent wit
nesses, except in cases pending at the
time of the passage of this act, and ex
cept in eases where suoh parties would
have been competent to testify, under
the laws existing prior to the passage of
an act entitled “An act to declare cer
tain persons competent witnesses, as in
the aot set out, and for other purposes.”
Approved December 15, 1866.
Sec. 2. That all laws and parts of laws
in conflict with this aot be and the same
are hereby repealed.
Also, a bill to amend the homestead
waiver act of 1875, so as to enable any
person to waive homestead and exemp
tion in notes or other written contract.
House.
Mr. Johnson : To amend the act
amending section 4814 of tbe Code
so far as applies to Richmond county.
Also, to amend seotion 4560 of the
Code.
Mr. Black : To amend section 2617 of
the Code.
Also, to amend seotion 4272 of the
Code.
Also, to amend the act incorporating
the Trustees of the Ma c onio Hall, Au
gusta.
Mr. McDonald : To exempt from tax
ation home-made kitchen furniture to
the amount of S2OO.
Also, to exempt from taxation all
cripples, maimed and disabled soldiers
of the late war, and the widows of sol
diers who were killed during the war or
died since the war to the anfount of
SSOO.
Mr. Fry: To transfer cases from the
Superior Court of Fulton oounty, where
the Judge is disqualified from presiding,
to the City Court of Atlanta.
Also, to amend the Constitution of the
State of Georgia. The bill makes the
term of office of Governor two years in
stead of four; of Supreme Court Judges
six years instead of twelve; Superior
Court Judges ftur instead of eight
years; makes Solicitor-Generals elected
by the people; abolishes the offices of
Notaries Public and ex-officio Justices
of the Peace; increases tbe number of
Supreme Court Judges from three to
five; creates five District Courts of Ap
peal to be composed of four or more
Judgeß of contiguous circuits and one
Judge of Supreme Court; reduces the
homestead from $2,000 to SSOO realty,-
and from SI,OOO to $250 personalty; kills
all bonds issued or to be issued, under
any pretense; establishes salaries, eto.
Senate.
Atlanta, January 19.—0n motion of
Judge Reese, the House resolution ask
ing the Governor to delay the appoint
ment of Judges and Solicitors was taken
from the table. It was amended by
striking out that part requesting the
Governor to delay the appointments,
but asking his views on retrenchment
and reform,
Bills Pawed.
To amend the law as to the attach
ment against fraudulent debtors.
To regulate the sale of railroad, bank
and other stock by executors and ad
ministrators.
To provide for the lease of convicts
and the appointment of a physician who
shall look after the health of the same.
Mr. Black, from the Seventeenth Dis
trict, introduced a bill to allow manu
facturers of domestic wines tq sell the
same without license, #
Haase.
A number of local bills were intro
duced.
Mr. Black, of Richmond, introduced
a bill to refund certain taxes to tbe New
England Life Insurance Company,which
had been double taxed.
The Finance Committee will report in
favor of Candler’s bill giving tbe Clerk
of tbe House one hundred dollars per
day, and Secretary of the Senate sixty
per day to do all the clerical work. Last
year tfiis work cost tbe State nearly
twenty-two thousand dollars. If this
bill passes it will not cost over seven
thousand this year.
Mr. Hill is expected to-night. To
morrow night he speaks, W.
The following wero introduced in the
Senate Thursday:
By Mr. Reese: To define the law of
insurance companies.
Also, to amend tbe Constitution so far
as it relates to a per oapita or poll tax.
Also, to create certain liens and to
amend the lien laws.
Also, to provide for submitting the
question of tax for qoQnty school pur
poses to the voters of the counties.
Also, to provide for the appointment
of school trustees for sub-districts in
the counties.
Reducing the Iqllflar].
Under the resolution of Mr. Stokely.
the Speaker appointed the following
oommittee to report upon the practica
bility of reducing the Judicial Circuits
in the State:
Stokely, of the Cherokee Cirouit;
Hammond, of tbe Southern Circuit;
Turnbull, of the Western Circuit; Port,
of the Southwestern Circuit; Cox, of the
Coweta Circuit; Miller, of tbe Macon
Circuit; Corker, of the Augusta Circuit;
Anderson, of the Flint Circuit; Wade,
of the Middle Circuit; Hawes, of the
Albany Circuit; Evans, of Abe Middle
Circuit; Key, of tbe Qomulgee Qironit;
Humber, of (he Chattahoochee Circuit;
Cloud, of the Atlauta Circuit; Pickett,
of Gilmer, of Blue Ridge Circuit; Lang,
of Brunswick Circuit; Stewart, of Chat
tahoochee Circuit; Mcßae, of Ooonee
Circuit; Freeman, of Rome Circuit.
Added to Committee*.
Messrs. Jones, of Polk; Taylor, of
Merriwether, and Perkins were added
to the Committee on Deaf and Dumb
Asylum at the request of the committee.
Messrs. Ragsdale and Davis, of Bibb,
were added to the Committee on Agri
culture at the request of the committee,
Examining CvqugMtea,
Messrs. Whittle, Walsh and James
were appointed as the committee on the
part of the House to examine tbe Execu
tive Mansion.
Senate.
Atlanta, January 20.—Nothing of
interest, except an executive session to
consider appointments.
Judges Pottle, Tomkins and Lester,
and Solicitors-Geueral B. H. Hill, Jr.,
of the Atlanta Circuit; Preston, and Sea
born Reese, of the Northern, and Smith,
of the Eastern Circuit, were confirmed.
Henna.
In response to a resolution of inquiry,
Treasurer Renfroe replied that he re
ceived no fees or perquisites from his
nfijoa His salary is two thousand dol
lars, The Secretary of State received
last year two thousand salary and five
hundred from fees.
The Convention bill will oome np next
week*
Dr. Carlton introduced tax and appro
priation bills. .
A resolution increasing the clerical
foroe was tabled.
A message was received from the Gov
ernor strongly favoring retrenchment in
every department. He recommends
that tbe Judicial Circuits be reduced to
thirteen; that Inspectors of Oils and
Fertilizers receive salaries, and that the
present fees go into the Treasury; that
printing expenses be reduced; that the
clerical force be curtailed; that the com
pensation of Tax Collectors and Receiv
ers be reduced. If this retrenchment be
carried into effect, $15u,000 a year can
be saved. Tbe message was referred to
tbe Finance Committee.
Ms Hill is making one of bis grand
and characteristic efforts to a large au
dience in the House of Represenatives
Hall to-night. P. W.
The following bills were introdaced
in tbe Honse, Friday:
Mr. Corker: To change the time of
holding Burke Superior Court. Refer
red to the Judiciary Committee.
Mr. Beid, of Morgan : To create a
commission of fish and fisheries in
Georgia. Referred to Committee on
Agriculture.
Mr. Black: To refund to the New
England Mutual Life Insurance Compa
ny, of Boston, taxes paid th'ough mis
take. Referred to Finnnoe Committee.
Mr. Scruggs : To regulate the pay of
the Commissioners of Glasoock county.
Referred to Judiciary Committee.
Mr. Polhill: To provide for the ap
pointment of trustees for sub-districts
iu each oounty. Referred to Commit
tee on Education.
Also, to provide for submitting the
question of a supplementary tax for the
support of public schools to the owners
of property. Referred to Committee on
Education.
THE MENAGERIE.
How tbe Animals Are Getting Alans, and
What They Eat—A Chat With the Keeper.
The animals in the menagerie attach
ed to Howe’s Great London Circus are
having an easy time at the Parade
Ground. Visitors, with a few excep
tions, are not admitted, and the animals
and those who Gave charge of them have
the great tent all to themselves. While
the show is oa its travels there is a fixed
hour daily for feeding the pets, but at
present iJr. Hedges, the assistant man
ager, direots the keeper each day at
what time to distribute the food. Yes
terday this offioe was performed be
tween 11 and 12 o’clock. The dinner
for the carnivora, which consists of raw
beef, is cut up in the proper propor
tions by Mr. Richard Drisooll, the keep
er. The lions are given twelve pounds
of beef each every twenty-four hours
(they could probably eat fifty), the ti
gers the same quantity, the panthers
seven pounds each, the jaguars seven
and the hyenas three. -The elephants
are given a bushel of oats and as muon
hay as they oan eat. When the food is
brought forward for distribution a per
fect pandemonium prevails. The lions
and tigers roar, the hyenas give vent to
the most unearthly shrieks of maniac
laughter, the panthers jump exoitedly
from side to side of their cage and show
their glistening white teeth. Even with
the strong iron bars between him and
the beasts, the visitor uDGonsoioUsly
shudders at this concert of wild sounds,
this exhibition of savage brute nature.
The keeper, however, goes about the
feeding process in a matter of faot way
much the same as if he was giving a
meal to a litter of kittens. The pieces
of red beef are picked up carefully one
at a time and chuoked through the bars
by the keeper.
The Feeding Over,
The din ceases and the menagerie sub
sides into its wonted quiet. On Sun
days the animals, as a general thing, are
not fed. “Once in a while,” said Mr.
Driscoll, “We buy a few dozen chickens
and give them to the animals on Sun
day, just for a change of food.” Us
ually, however, Sunday is fast day in
the menagerie.
While the carnivora are regaling tliem
selves on beef the five elephants in the
centre of the big circle are eating their
hay and oats as quietly as the most
sober-sided dray horse.
Mr. Driscoll is evidently very fond of
his pets, and talks about them in a way
which is deeply interesting to the lis
tener. We paused a moment before tbe
cage of tbe great Afrioan lioD, “That
fellow,” said the keeper, “is a mere
baby, being only five years old. He is
a black mane, but as vou see he is just
beginning to turn. He is too young yet
for his mane to show black, as it will
when he is older.”
We pass on to the home of the royal
Bengal tigers, magnifioent fellows, with
soft velvet paws, beneath which their
Formidable Claws
Are cleverly hid. “Take care that you
do not go too near,” said Mr. Driscoll,
“they will permit the keeper to go close
to them but let a stranger get within
reach and they will make a sudden grab
and an arm or a hand will be bitten off.”
fleauties they were, but their sleepy,
reooherous eyes told of a savage, fero
cious nature underneath, which only
wanted opportunity to develop itself.
“Ah ! here are the pets.” A fat con
tented looking lioness and three oubs.
“Now, arn’t that sweet ?” your average
miss would exclaim. True my dear
young lady, but—at a distance. The
keeper goes up close to the bars and
gently taps my lady lioness on the nose.
She, quiet good easy oreature, looks
mildly into his face and puts her cheek
against the opening between the bars.
The keeper fondles-kisses her and she
is evidently well pleased. The little
cnbs, year old babies, put their heads
jauntily on one side and look on at the
pretty scene, “She looks tame, doesn’t
she?” remarked the keeper, “but'it
wouldn’t do for a stranger to try that,”
“Ugh 1 ihe ugly brutes,” and so these
are hyenas. Four legged ghouls as they
are, they are among the most repulsive
of the brute creation. But with the
keeper they are as quiet and tame as
that beautiful but formidable lioness
we passed a while ago,
Bnt this is indeed a
Pretty Creature.
A frisky, sleek little zebra. Mr. Dris
coll goes up to it and takes its head un
der his arm. The animal rubs its nose
gently against the coat sleeve and is
evidently fond of petting. “I can har
ness that fellow and drive him any
where,” said the keeper, “but ten men
who were strangers couldn’t do it.” A
pretty good evidenoe of this was soon
given. The zebra had displayed so
much gentleness with Mr, Drisooll that
one of the bystanders thought he would
try his hand at pettiug the little fellow.
But it didn’t work worth a cent. The
ears went back to au angle of forty-five
degrees, the legs showed so evident a
disposition to kick, and the general ap
pearance of the beast was so vicious
that the amateur at onoe abandoned the
job.
“Now, boys, here are tbe pets for
you.” Ponies hardly larger than goats,
gentle little fellows, ready for a romp or
a ride. Be at the sale, young reader, if
your heart is set on a pony.
The elephants, five in number, are
yet children, being from eleven to thir
teen years of age. Three are females
and twolmales; on one of the l itter only
are the beautiful ivory tuska beginning
to make their appearanoe.
Besides the animals mentioned there
are a great variety of monkeys, deer and
others ip the menagerie.
The panthers wereeaught at one time,
whan oubs, in Texas.
When the animals are fed every par
ticle of fat is cut from the beef. This
is done to prevent them from becoming
too gross, which would be the case if
they were treated to high living without
exercise. It coats now about twenty
five dollars a day to feed the menagerie.
The animals are all in fine condition,
aud just in their prime, being, in tech
nical parlance, well seasoned.
Tbe WjUster*. Wile,
The minister's wife ought to be select
ed by a oommittee of the churob. She
should be warranted never to have head
ache or neuralgia; she should have
nerves of wire and sinews of iron; she
should never be tired nor sleepy, and
should be everybody’s drudge; she
should be cheerful, intellectual, pious
and domesticated; she should be able to
keep her husband’s bouse, darn bis
stockings, make his shirts, cook his
dinner, light his fire and oopy his ser
mons; she should keep np the style of a
lady on the wages of a day laborer, and
be always at leisure for “good works,”
aud ready to. receive morning calls; she
should be Secretary of the Band of
Hope, the Dorcas Society, and the
Home Mission; and should conduct
Bible classes and mothers’ meeting;
should make olothing for the poor and
gruel for the sick; and, finally, she
should be pleased with everybody and
everything, and never desire any reward
beyond the satisfaction of having done
her own duty and other people's too.
THE KEEKING CODE.
A Duel Between Two Carolina Negroes,
Democrat and RepnWlean—Polhlee, Net
Wmu, the Ctme,ui Bnekets of Blood
Hntlt. '? •. . .
WtanNdroN, January 20.—Two South
Carolina negroes fought a duel at Fair
Bluff, in thiaState, yesterday. Qae was
a Democrat aid the other Republican,
and they fought about politics. There
were four exchangee of shots and one
was wounded three timee dangerously
and tbe other wounded in the right arm.
The affair created great excitement,
whioh was intensified by prominenoe in
the pnblio mind of the recent Bennett-
May affair.
THE DISASTER Ilf BENGAL.
An Official .Statement Concerning the Results
Produced by the Storm Wave.
The Bombay Gazette thinks the late
cyclone in Eastern Beng 1, iu conjunc
tion with the destructive storm-wave
which it caused, will be remembered as
one of thG most terrible events in the
history of the present generation, if not
the icost terrible event of the kind that
has ever happened in the history of man
kind; the deluge itself, now that the
probable geographical limits of that
great disaster have been estimated
could hardly, in the early history of
mankind when it occurred, have pro
duced a more wholesale destruction of
human and animal life than did the
storm wave winch swept over a large
portion of the coast'of Eastern Bengal
on the night of October 81 and Novem
ber 1.
Au official minute, by Sir B. Temple,
respecting tbe effects of the oylone and
storm wave, says: “I visited tbe Islands
of Snndeep, Hattia, Shahbuzpore and
tbe western coast of the river district of
Bachergunge. Iu all the localities visited
I took the number iu each of the vil
lages, and had the preoise mortality in
each house ascertained in my presence
on the spot, to prevent the possibility of
deception. From authentic data thus
obtained I was able to chtok the local
estimates and measure the aotual mis
chief done. Messrs. Reynolds, Bever
ly, Dr. Weir and the looal officials ac
companied me. Wo apprehend that in
an area of 8,000 square miles about
1,152,000 persons have been suddenly
thrown more or less in danger, of whom
•215,000 must have perished. This is only
an estimate. The exact number is not
known yet,and perhaps never will be. The
storm wave rose to a height of 10 or 20
feet. The Noakally people think it
came from the sea np the Megna with
salt water, and then that the cyclone
turned it round and rolled the fresh
water of the river down; the refluence
caused the piling up of fresh and salt
water which rushed over the surround
ing districts; drowned bodies were car
ried great distances; corpses began to
putrefy before the waters retired. The
Mahometan population have no crema
tion, and the masses of corruption of
hnmau and animal bodies were frequent,
presenting a sickening spectacle. Many
corpses were seen at sea; the bodies of
living and dead were borne across the
arm of the sea from Bundeep to Ohitta
gong, the former clinging to. the roofs
of their own houses. The foroe of the
inundation appears to have lasted from
midnight to 2 o’oloek iu tbe morning.
By daybreak there was much subsidence
of the flood, and by noon the survivors
came down from the trees and regained
terra firma. The boats, great and small,
which constitute the only means of car
riage in these tracts, ty e all lost. The
Noakally authorities were thus bereft of
resources for moving across the floods,
and this was a very hard oase on tbe
Hattia Island, where tho people were
three days suooorless. In the Bucher
gunge district the boats were saved, but
much wealth was lost almost entirely,
in the shape of agricultural crops or
cattle. With the exoeption of Dowlut
khan, a trading town, whioh was clean
destroyed, 8,000 inhabitants, a quarter
of the number, perished. On approaoh
ing it we steamed for two miles through
the creek; the banks were strewn with
human bodies.”
The India correspondent of the Lon
don Telegraph writes that three waves
in succession, varying from ten to twenty
feet in height, swept over the doomed
district. Many who survived the first
shock were overwhelmed iu the second
or third wave, and drowned before they
oonld reach a place of refuge. The wo
men and children naturally were the
most numerous victims, though some
were washed into the branches of trees
and thereby saved. The trees, indeed,
were thickly peopled that dreadful night
until daylight broke, and then it was
found that not a few had escaped from
drowning only to perish of cold. In one
tree a man hugging a pig was seen close
to a young woman clasping her babe to
her bosom. The latter two were alive
and unhurt, while the two former were
stiffened in death. The long sharp
thorns of the mader tree saved some
scores of women by catching their
dresses and holding them fast till the
wave had passed onwards.
THE EMPRESS EUGENIE.
How Blie Watt Seen by Annie Brewster.
[New York World. 1
The Empress did not come until 1:30
o’clock; and when she arrived she seem
ed perfectly unconsoious of having in
convenienced any one. There was an
undignified bustle about her, as if she
were hnriying herself to get through
some unnecessary but uninteresting busi
ness; and she had a light, trifling, co
quettish way and movement. Not only
her manner, but her appearanee was
a terrible shock to me. I have not seen
the Empress of France for over twenty
years. She was then in the full bril
liancy of her beauty, a young wife, a
young Empress 1 Through all these in
tervening years of her grandeur and
Vicissitudes I have never lost the mem
ory of her rare beauty. Whenever I
have thought of her during these last
years I have pictured her as a quiet,
handsome, melauoholy widow, dignified
and elegant. But no suck agreeable per
sonage appeared the other day. She was
dressed quietly enough, in a very simple,
ugly English black cloth oostump. The
skirt was extremely short, without
fipunoe or any other trimming, except a
broad black braid. This costume had a
long, loose jacket, and she wore a sim
ple English hat of felt. Her feet were
trim, and she minped about on her toea
and high heels. But she was painted
red and white and black. Her eyes were
darkened, and also the eyebrows and
eyelashes, and you could see the paint
on her lips. Then upou her head was a
re dish-blonde wig. “Why, she wears a
peruke!” was tbe whisper among the hid
den observers. There was no mistake about
it. You oould see the peruke form in
the front hair. This false hair waa
waved over tbe forehead and arranged
iii long tresses at the baok. Her bead
looked l;ke a well made up barber’s block.
Iu her hand she carried a large yellow
oane of the style of the ooqaettish
marquise canes of the days of Louis
Quatorge. She carried it us a caprice,
not as a supporter, for she played and
toyed with it, pointed at tbe pietnrea
and twirled it about in her hand.
WILL EUROPE YIELD I
The Porte Now (Were Home Propoaafg— Will
the Power* Entertain Them, I* the Ques
tlp.
London, January 29. A dispatch
from Constantinople to Reuter’s Tele
gram Company says the Grand Vizier
was summoned to the palace yesterday.
It is stated thatthe Ottoman plenipo
tentiaries will present counter propo
sals at to-day’s sitting of the conference,
with the object of conciliation. Should
tbis be tbe oase, it is not easy to fore
see what will be the attitude of Europe
an delegates. Yesterday they were un
derstood to be disposed to declare the
conference at an end, but if the Turkish
proposition s should appear worthy of
examination, it is not impossible that
the conference will be adjourned until
next week for arriving at a decision.
A Reuter dispatch from Moscow says
to day’s Gozette, discussing the result
of the conference, concludes as follows :
Europe baa lowered her prestige by her
compliant humor. As the Po*te has re
fused the proposals, Europe must now
enforce her original demands, instead
' of a modified scheme of the conference.
London, January 20. —Tbe Porte in
forms Servia that the armistice will not
be renewed, Turks will march on Bel
grade by March the first, unless Servia
treats directly with Turkey.
Spring Trade I'rosprrU.
[New York Correspondence Philadelphia Led
gw.)
Business men are talking very hope
fully of the prospects of the coming
Spring trade, and it is proper to say let
ters from their correspondents and
agents, from about all parts of tbe coun
try, rooeived within the week or two
past, are of a character to abundantly
justify it. The details would make a
eolnmn of good reading for the Ledger ,
but it is enough to say here that the
reasons whioh they bring to tbe support
of their statesmens are suoh as cannot
well be disputed. Stocks of goods of al
most every description are unprecedent
ly low and prices are'probably down to
points beyond Which there can hardly
be a “lower deep.” Another year of
dose economy and saving has increased
the ability of the farmers aud most oth
er classes to take advantage of the op
portunity thus presented to oome into
the markets The weak spots in the cred
it system have been unearthed, and it
is believed we have about got through
with bankruptcies and failures. Money
is so abundant, and the opportunities
for profitable investments are so scarce
that the capitalist class will be less re
luctant than they have been since the
panic to embark in new enter
prises. As to the political dispute,
there are bnt few merchants or business
men now who anticipate other than a
peaceable adjustment of it. As long as it
is undecided, of course, it is felt to be
more or less of a “skeleton at the feast,”
but the skeleton is not expected to tar
ry with us in any event after the second
[Tuesday of next month.
Only two member* of the Michigan
Legislature resort to oough drops be
fore making speeches. The others were
born with lots of circulation in the
mouth. 1 : ; *>•’ i