4 t r] o ib une. Twin* of tsubkcrlpMon, PATAUIJS Hi ADVANCE Daily Edition, per year, by mail Triweekly Edition, per year, by mail. unday Edition, per year, by mail Weekly Edition, per year, by mai1..... Ports oi a year at Uie same rate. To prevent delay and mistakes, be sure and give Post Office addizss In fall. Including state and county. Eemittaisea maybe made either by draft, express, Post Office order, or In registered letters, at our risk. TERMS TO CITY SUBSCRIBERS t Daily, delivered, Sunday excepted, 23 cents per week. Dally, delivered, Sunday Included. 30 cents per week. Address THE TBIBUNE COMPANY, No. 15 Canal-st., Chicago, 111. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 15. IS7I. To Country Dealer*. The Tnicrxr. is furnished to coimlry dealers at the rate of ir, per 100, espivss charges ami postage additional, pnyah'n in advance. Wc arc prepared to fill orders prompt B*. Tribune ComcaXV. THE COMMON COUNCIL. The recent astounding exposure of black mailing aud corruption in the Common Coun cil has led to explanations on the subject of the citv priming from two witnesses, whose testimony wc copy: From tho Cliirag.i Times. It was proclaimed in the hearing of the Time* z eportcr. on ostwday, that one ot the urjprietors «.l Hie winning sheet had been publicly charged, in the lobby of the Connell, on the mghtof tbe election, with having paid SJ.OM for the city printing, and that he did not deny the accusation, lie will, without doubt, prove, to be one of the spiciest witnesses when the Investigating Com mittee begins to hold sessions. From the Chicago Evening Post. When Tun Tuim xi: enjoyed the emoluments of the city printing, the price was 20 per cent higher than at the present lime; and, when a proposition ■was made in tho Council to cut down the rate, The Tribune drew its check for (.too—the sum deemed Mifticieutto quiet tho qualms of tho agitating Al dermen,—and the price for advertising remained as before I If tbe Post ha-; paid $;»,ooo, or any other hum, for its election as corporation newspa per, it will naturally seek to divert atten tion from that circumstance, in one way or another. Whal it says about Tin: Tuibunk in the foregoing paragraph is utterly aud un qualifiedly false. What the Times says about the Po*l may be true, or not. We hope it is not: but we demand that it be investigated, along with the other charges against the un blushing scoundrels who have converted the Connell Chamber into a den of thieves. If the Pont has paid s:;,uoo into the Alder manic pool, in order to get tbc city printing at the present rates, that fact ■would go to show that the oiler of the Mail to do tlic for onc-foarlb less was a fair one. and that the Po*l itself could afford to make tbe same offer,—the being about oue-fourtb of tbc gross profits of tbc city printing to journals of that class. The offer of tbo Mail ■was to donate this sum to the City Treasury* That of the Post (if any donation was made was to corrupt tbo Aldermen. 'But tlic public have a right to demand that tbe city printing shall be done, not merely at the price which a newspaper can afford afhr paying one-quar ter to the Aldermen,but at tbc price it would be done for without paying anything into a corruption fund, Bargains made with the “nineteen’* may be interesting to the public in other ways, but they don’t count in fixing the price to be paid for the city printing. The Mail has offered to do this work at one fonrtli less than the existing rates. Its facilities for doing the work arc equal to those of the Post. Its circulation is about the same. The Council proceedings and cor poastiou notices would be as easily read in the one as in the other, and by as man 3' peo ple. ‘Why, then, should a higher price he paid to the one than the other oilers to do it for The public arc watching the proceedings of the riugwith eager and unabated interest. It is aafe to say that no whitewashing com mittee will be tolerated. If the truth can not be rea died through an investigation by i lie Council, it will be done by a grand Jury. XEUMBTHX A27D MOETON. The controversy in the United States Sen ate over Judge Trumbull's motion for the appointment of a Committee on I'etrcnch inent is remarkable chiefly for tbe fact tha: there should be any controversy at all. The Senate and House have had a joint Commit tee of Ivetrenchmcut for several years, and this committee a .rear ago made a report showing, from testimony taken, the general immorality of the civil-service system and Hie demoralizing effect upon public officers resulting from the manner iu which they were selected. This report showed the un necessary espensiveness of the system, and recommended various reforms to coircet various abuses. Tbe Chairman of this committee was Senator Patterson, of New Hampshire. When Congress met, it was resolved by certain self-constituted ad ministrators of legislation that this commit tee should not be continued; so, on Wednes day. Mr. Anthony, of lihode Island, who is always selected as the organ of secret con claves, ottered a resolution providing fora standing committee of investigation and re trenchment, to consist of seven members, to be elected by the Senate, and have power to investigate and report upon such subjects as may be committed to it by the Senate. Mr. Trnmbull moved to amend by a provision directing the committee to inqu re into the expenditures in all the branches of tbe gov ernment service; whether any, and also what, offices ought to be abolished, and what salaries or allowances ought to be re duced, Ac.; also, giving it power to sit dur ing the recess of Congress. Here was a direct issue. Under the one resolution the committee was to be limited to inquire into such matters as a Senatorial caucus might direct under the other, the committee might investigate any fraud or abuse, and even inquire into the affairs of the New York Custom House. If there be any need of such a committee at all—and that need is confessed b3* Authou3*’s resolu tion,—why place a restraint upon it? Why require that, before it investigates the af fairs of the Treasury Department, it must get permission of a secret caucus, and be bound to go no further than its special license If the committee is to be nothing more than a sham ora fraud —a of honesty,—'Wll3* restrain the committee as to the matters of its inves tigation? The former committee ventured within thepreemets of the New York Custom House, and the result was uufra grant. There are, perhaps, a hundred other places where the hand of reform is as strongly needed to put. an end to shameless abuses. Must the committee of the United States Senate,before ifcdare inquire whether no men are employed in a place where only ten are needed, first apply to a caucus of the Senate, and ask permission to report the abuse The reasons given for tins limitation of the ;uriscliction of the committee are most ex tinouliuary. Mr. Edwards and Mr. Conkling old* rt to lolling the committee investigate frauds, on the ground that there are no frauds: and the Senator from New York, speaking from personal acquaintance with Tom Murphy,declares that the men now hold iug office under the Federal Government will compare favorably with those who served under Washington. For this reason he op poses any investigation, unless expressly or dered hy himself and his caucus companions. Seuat orMortou, while takingtlus same gen eral view of the immaculate hands who collect and disburse the public revenue and per form the duties of official position, laid it down as the law, that no person could sug gest an investigation into tho civil service without being an enemy of the administra tion. To ordinary mortals investigation can only bo feared by those whose conduct will not bear publicity but the Senator from Indiana charges that it is an act of enmity to investigate and vindicate the purity of :i public officer. Taking the remarks of Sen ators Edmunds, Conkling, and Morton as indicating the ideas of the majority as to ihc existence of abuses in the civil service and frauds and peculations in the public ser vice, tbe country can form an idea of the extent to which the caucus will ever permit the standing committee to inquire into airy official improprieties. Do these Senators §0 underrate the popular intelligence a« to suppose that their supres sion of investigation will not be understood? J Jo they suppose that the country is ignorant „f the fact that the civil service is in a bad j way? Do they suppose that, by vouching for i tlie purity of every mau holding ofllce uuder j the government, they cau overcome the evi dence to the contrary which is furnished by the officers themselves? Do not the Trosi dent and 1 lie Secretary of the Treasury ac knowledge the necessity of reform, and speak of the healthful results which have attended the feehle efforts to that end already made f Senator Morton proposes to resist any cflort to reform the civil service, and to meet the universal demand of the country by a bold denial that *lll3’ necessity for such reform exists. The country will not accept this de nial. particularly when it is accompanied by a refusal to permit an investigation into tbc expenditures in all the branches of the government service whether any, and also what, offices ought to be abolished,and what salaries or allowances ought to be reduced,” The KepiUdican party and the people of the country will not be deceived by such a pro ceeding: and, whether Mr. Morton consent or not. tbc people- will, perhaps, hud a way to accomplish the reform without asking his co-operation. 6.00 2.30 2.00 FEES OF COUNTY OFFICERS. The Board of County Commissioners have an important duty to perform in the matter of arranging the fees of County Commission ers. Two things must be borne in mind: The fees of the Clerks of the Courts, and of the Recorder of Deeds, will be payable into the County Treasury after November next. The compensation of Jill those officers is to be paid after that time from the fees of the offices. Due regard must, therefore, be Uadliu arranging the fees that they will produce enough to pay this compensation. How much will he required for this purpose The salaries of all the Clerks of Courts, Treasurer, Sheriff, Coroner, and Recorder of Deeds, are not to exceed, in each case, that allowed to a Judge of the Circuit Court, which we suppose will be about $7,000. But in addi tion to these salaries there arc to he paid the compensations of the deputies aud as sistants. These compensations nro to be fixed by tbe Board of Commissioners. It Is easy, therefore, to ascertain, to a reasonable eertaiutj*, how much he the expenditure of each office, and this expenditure must in every case he paid from the fees aud com missions. Before the board can take action upon any proposition prescribing the amount of fees for each service, there ought to be an examination, thorough aud efficient, by com petent and experienced persons, as to the amount which each ollice hooks from each source. This is necessary for intelligent action before any reduction is made. Having ascertained the lawful revenue under the jircsent scale of fees, aud know ing the amount required for ex penditure, the board can then mature a complete scale of prices which will pro duce the required amount of revenue with as little excess as possible. The tax upon the public should be kept down as close to the required revenue as possible; a surplus of fees will forever Invito an increase of sub ordinates and an increase of compensation. There is no danger of not having competent men to perform the work at fair compensa tion. Where ten thousand dollars will run an office, if there bo a surplus of an equal sum, there will be found a way, through the employment of additional deputies, to eat it all. The establishment of salaries in stead of fees was never intended to he a source of revenue; taxes ought not to be imposed in that way. Litigants and dealers in real estate ought not to he taxed to build bridges or Court Houses. They should be taxed to pay the expense of performing the duties required by them, and no more. The man who has a deed to record ought to be taxed only the cost of recording it and of procuring the record. Fees for clerical aud Sheriffs* services in suits ought to be collect ed only' to cover the actual cost of the ser vices rendered. Annually these fees ought to be reduced in a percentage equivalent to the surplus of the previous year, and the fees and the expenses should be kept as close as possible to each other. When the Board of Commissioners have ascertained the actual earnings of each of fice, and from each kind of service, they can prepare for legislative action a scale of fees that will produce revenue equal to the pay ment of the total compensation of each cilice. That scale, thus intelligently pre pared upon actual information, will not be objected to by any person in the Legislature who does not mean to act dishonestly to ward the public. To render this measure complete, all fees should be required to be paid in advance. Every deed placed on record is paid for in advance. Why not re quire that a deposit for .Sheriffs’ and Clerks’ fees bo made in every case where an atii davit is not made that the suitor is unable to paj*? Every order and entry made in a case should be contingent upon the pay ment of the fees. If this latter rule be adopted, the fees charged in suck cases may be reduced, perhaps, 40 or 50 per cent. Those who do pay now have to pay double fees, in order to settle for the fees of other suitors who now pay nothing. No injustice can bo done to any person. Why should a man be entitled to file a bill in chancery, or sue out a writ in assumpsit or trespass, without paj-- iug therefor, as well as the man who has a deed to put on record? In both cases the matter is of purely personal Interest, and the public generally, or other litigants, ought not to be required to pay the cost. CHICAGO AND THE COPYRIGHT QUESTION. Wc trust that neither the objections of Mr. Carlyle, nor the feeling of British au thors ami publishers against the copyright piracy of American booksellers, nor even so dreadful an event as the ■withdrawal of Mr. George AV. Smalley from the Anglo-American Association, will hinder seriously the noble work in which Mr. Thomas Hughes, Mr. Burgess, and other English gentlemen arc engaged, of making up an initial contribu tion of books to the Chicago I'roe Library. As Mr. M. D. Conway remarks, in a late letter from Loudon, “A library is hardly to be regarded as a benefit confined to the lo cality in which it exists. It is in every sense an advantage to English authors and pub lishers that Chicago and Strasbourg shall have good libraries.” The mention of Stras bourg by Mr. Conway is iu allusion to a sim ilar enterprise iu behalf of that unfortunate city, which has been pushed forward with great success by Mr. Truebner, the London publisher. Whatever British authors, publishers, and philomaths may do in behalf of Chicago on this occasion, may be regarded as done in magnanimous disregard of a fault of the American laws which refuses cop3*right privileges to foreign authors. .Such an act should go far toward hasteniuga correction of the fault. That the refusal of the American Congress to concur in an international cop 3*- jight protection to authors, is a grievous wrong to a class which wo ought to cherish, will hardly be disputed. The reason which has been alleged for the encourage ment which our government lias hith erto given to literary- piracy is, that it cheapens literature and enables the people of this country to read good British authors at prices which all cau afford. But even iu that selfish sense, which ignores all question of justice, our polic3* reacts to our disadvaa tage: for, by refusing to insure to literary and scientific talent a due compensation for its labor, we arrest the development of such talent; we must p.l3' out our money for poorer literao* wares. Whore, then, is the benefit, even to readers, of such an attack, b3* a great government, upon a small baud of authors, whoso independence is little enough at best, and upon whoso work the public largely depends for its edu cation There is some comfort in noting that tho day when justice will bo done on this copy right question is drawing nearer and nearer, and that tho opposition which has hitherto been made by influential publishers has been mostly withdrawn, as those publishers have themselves discovered that literary pi racy is not profitable where competitors are so numerous. Probably the first advance made by legislation on this question will be a law permitting American houses to take i ut copyrights oh new English works, in be half of tho author. This will bo recip located by similar measures on tho part of Great Britain, whoso laws are already much more liberal than ours, inso much that several American authors have taken out British copyrights within tho past few years, by residing “constructivelyin Canada for a brief period. Then will follow our abrogation of all distinction between native and foreign authors; all who cau show such promise of popularity as to con stitute an inducement to publishers being allowed to protect by copyright their in come from their works. Aud now that Chicago has become, as it were, materially interested in the feeling which exists in England on this interna tional copyright question, we uro especially glad to bo able to say t hat the roicc of Tub Tribune has ever been in favor of the re form which is now sought. M c have never neglected any favorable opportunity to get in a word in favor of a jttxl law, which should give authors, both American and foreign, their simple rights, and redeem the governments of this country and England from their present attitude of robbing a sin gle honorable profession of men and women of the just reward of their labors. The New York Chamber of Commerce is about to ask the United .States Government to make it a donation of $800,000: th la, to sell It, for s2oo,ooo,the site of the old Nc w Vork Post Office, admitted’ to be worth $1,000,000. The grounds on which this gift is asked are, first, that the site, when purchased, twenty years ago, only cost $200,000. over and above the $500,000 which the merchants of Broad and 'Wall streets gave toward it; and, second, that the New York Chamber has over been an exceedingly loyal and pat riotic body. It has, indeed, been so, and has been liberal also, as Chicago has fresh cause to remember. Nevertheless, Chicago cannot endorse the Now York Chamber’s memorial on this subject, for the simple reason that it is not founded in justice. Country before friends, is the duty of every citizen; hence, we have no hesitation in rec* ounuending Congress to lay the New York petition on the table, just as it would, if lb did its duty, dispose of a similar application from the Chicago Board of Trade, which, the other day found itself turned out of house and home under circumstances of peculiar embarrassment, but which has not yet been tempted to ask any aid from the government. A strange controversy Is now pending be tween tho Executive of North Carolina and tho Governor of Florida. Acting Govern or Caldwell, of North Carolina, some time ago issued a requisition for the capture of Milton S. Littlefield, who was described as a fugitive from justice and then in Florida. This document being shown to Governor Reed, of Florida, he declared that it was not in conformity with the act of Congress, and refused to issue a warrant for the arrest of Littlefield. Whereupon Governor Caldwell has issued a proclamation offering a rowaid of $5,000 to any person who will arrest tho said Littlefield and deliver him in the State of North Carolina. To this proclamation Governor Reed responds by oilering a reward of $5,000 for tho arrest aud delivery to any Sheriff in Florida of any person kidnapping, or attempting to kidnap, or take from the State, the person of the said Littlefield. Hans Breitmaun’s ethics of political obliga tion— l»at any man who gifes me his fote— Votevcr his boledlc-ks pe— Shall alfavs be rogartet Ash bolfdlgal friomlt py mo. arc undoubtedly tho accepted doctrine in rul ing political circles at the present time. For the Chicago Common Council market, how ever. it should, perhaps, he altered a little in the first lino, thus— Dat man who puts up s2oo— his boledicks pe, Shull alwsiysbc* regartet Ash boluligal frleuclt py mo. THE LAW COURTS. Convictions and Acquittals in llic Criminal Court. More Mechanic's Lien Suits Against the Bigelow Hotel Property. Criminal Court. TEN YEARS OF PRISON LIFE. William Stack, indicted for an assault with a deadly weapon (a knifoj upon one Joseph Smith, was found guilty, and tho penalty of his offence Used at ten years in tho Penitentiary. It would seem, from tlic evidence, that Smith, who is a German, and a cooper by occupation, had at tended a meeting of Ills trade’s union. As he was returning he heard tlic cries of a female. He -.proceeded in tlic direction of the sound, and discovered a woman struggling in tho anus of a man. Upon inquiry ho was in formed that the man was attempting a ravish ment. He thereupon released tlic woman from Stack’s grasp, and, in that so t, received eight separate stabs from a knife plunged into him bv the convict. A CHARGE OF FORGERY KOT SUSTAINED. Henry Short, George Wilson, and Francis La marth were jointly tried and as unanimously ac quitted under an mdietnienf charging them with forgery. It was said of them that they, at buffa lo, forged the name of 15. 11. Kidder, Muster Me chanic ot the Lake Shore A* Michigan Southern Kailroad, requesting conductors and Chief En gineers of railroads to pass them, as efficient workmen, upon their roads, upon the pass thov came u> this city, As tho law of such a case, ft wassiatcd by the Court that: If Slmrt ami Gaffney, alin* Wilson, were found inn freight car of the company. iu tills countv, without lawful right to oecupy the same, ami if. when arrest, ed, they claimed a rigid of occupancy hr virtue of tho pretended pass, that pass being forged, they having knowledge of theforgery. then a verdict of guilty should be rendered, and possessing of the forged instrument should hr held to he pi e.sumptivc proof of the forgery. And. upon the part of the defendant, that bv the stat ute of Illinois, it must he »hmvn that the fo’rgerv was to the personal InJuty of Kidder, and that if tho for gery was committed outside of this State, then the court* of this State had no cognizance of the act, if there was any doubt as to the absolute act of forgerv bv the prisoners. WIFE STAimER. Dennis Smith was charged with having stabbed his wife Catherine. The blow took effect in her shoulder. When tho case camo on for trial the wife could not be found, but her daughter testi fied. She proved a case, but sentence was sus pended unon the convict. Superior Court, An action on tJie case was instituted by Peter ,7. Connelly against Douglas rl. Taylor, in winch the damages are laid at SIO,OOO. [The nature of the ease is not stated.) UIOKI.OW HOTEL Edwin Lee Brown tiled his petition asking for the declaration amt enforcement of a mechanic's lien upon the Bigelow Hotel property. This is the fifth or sixth such proceeding. —Against the same defendants, and to affect the same propertj*. the Northwestern Manufacturing filed its petition to enforce a lien claimed, as it is alleged, lor furnishing a heating apparatus. ASSUMPSIT, An action of assumpsit was commenced by George D. Tate against John C. Nelson, in which the damages are laidat SI,OOO. —A like action was commenced against Walter N. Woodrnil by Charles Ilincklev A: Co., In which demand is made for $3,612. —An action, in similar form, was commenced by Edward F. Doro against Peter Muller and Ileniy Scharzo. the demand being for $4,000. INSURANCE CASE. Suit was brought against the Safety Deposit Lite Insurance Companv, of Chicago, upon de mand for S3OO. RAILWAY MATTER. An action on the case was commenced bv Isaac MeClnry against the Chicago Northwestern Ballwa.v Compan.v and the Northwestern Trans portation Compan.v, upon a demand for SI,OOO. County Court. ADMINISTRATIONS. Henry Wilkinson was appointed to administer upon the estate of Nellie Wilkinson, under bond Ol JCO.OOO. —SMsannah Wells was appointed to administer upon tho estate of Matthew Wells, under bond of $1,200. —Catharine Kinney was constituted adminls fratrix of the estate of Thomas Kinney (lateß* her husband), under bond of SO,OOO. CiAURDIANSHH*. Simon G. Myers was constituted guardian of Samuel M. Myers, under bond of $50,000. Circuit Court. JUDGMENT. By confession, judgment was rendered in favor of Andreas Hoffman, against Lambert Blum, for $401.70. MECHANIC’S LIEN, A petition was filed by Jacob L. Schuroman, against William E. Smith and others, to affect Ia)18 1 ana 2 of Block l. Hayes’subdivision, and Lots 12, in and 14 of Block 45, Carpenter’s addition. REAL ESTATE. Instruments riled for Record on. Thursday, December 11. CITY PROPEBTY. Ualsted et, uof Indiana! st, 20x140 ft. with im provements, dated Deo. 11; consideration, $3,000. Lots, in Stevens’ Subdivision of LotlC.inßleck 2. In United States Bank Addition, dated Dec. i consideration, $l3O. _ West Erie st, between Lincoln and Robey fits, 48x1211-2 ft, dated Nov. 11; consideration, SI,OOO. Wabash av. between Twenty-flrat and Twenty second sts, of, 25x120 ft, dated Dec. 1; contidera tion, sa,ooo. Halßted Bt, between Polk and Gurley fits, e f, COM2.'ft, dated Dec. 12; consideration, SO,OOO, Quinn at, 200 ft be of Wrong st, sw f, 25x120 ft, Dec. 0; consideration,§7so. Undivided hf of Blacks 1 and 2 of Race Pear eon s 1." acres in w bf. so qr. Sec. 23,30, 13, dated Nov. 13; consideration, $20,000 Lots oto 14, in Block n of DavidS. Lee’s addi tion, dated Nov. 14; consideration s*> o-'S Fulton st, 24 ft oof Paulina at. s "f. ”24x123 ft doted Oct. 25; consideration, $3,200. Keenon st. e of Wood et, nf, airioo ft dated Juncls,lß7o; consideration,sl.so. SOUTH OF CITY LIMITS. Lot 16, in Dunoan’a resubdivision of Block 7 of Taylor Krclsrb’s o bf, nw qr, Sec. 4, 33, 14, dated \ug, l; consideration, S4OO. THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE: FRIDAY, DECEMBER 15, 1871. Second Meeting of the Ontside Stockholders in the Republic Insurance Company. Report of a Special Committee on the Company’s Financial Condition. Stockholders Advised to Pay Their Assessments as Levied by the Executive Committee. The country stockholders of the Republic Fire Insurance Company, to the number of perhaps two hundred, met again yesterday forenoon at llarmouia Hall on Lake street. A. Dudgeon occu pied the chair, and J. R. Payson officiated as Secretary, Reporters were not received, in propria persona, still a few might bo detected by experts hanging on tho verge of the meeting, They took notes under considerable disadvan tages as regards the nomenclature of the foreign orators whoso florid rhetoric it did one good to listen to. After the formalities of the opening of the meeting were passed, the committee of one from each State appointed on the previous day, reported as follows: T» the Sli'Cl.iuildfrx aiid Directors of (he Republic Fife Inxvrancc Cvwpami: Oknti.kmkx: Your committee appointed to report upon the financial condition of ttie Republic Fire Insurance Company, respectfully report that we have examined the Secretary's statement, and gathered Ktteh Information from tho Secretary and tho Execu tive committee, and from other sources as the limited litre allowed, and wo And that they present actual lia bilities of thoeompanvaro substantially as follows: Total certificates of indebtedness issued at -I. S and Vi months 834.08182 Chicago claims proven 1,100,000.00 Chicago claims not proven 500,000 00 Marine losses 13,000.00 Losses by tiro elsewhere 50,000.00 Amount needed to cancel jtolieies 273,000.00 Total liabilities. Cash assets In the handaof this company Citsli on deposit iu U. S. bank noUs Total 8 512,333.00 Total Habilitlesover rash assets 2,320,701.00 We find that 50 per cent of the entire subscribed stock Is equal to ?2,35C.709. In view of these facts yonr committee would recommend to this meeting that the stockholders of the Republic Piro Insurance Company should promptly* pay Installments of 10 per cent monthly attheiimo Indicated by tho Executive Committee until the necessary sum is raised to liquidate tho present liabilities of tbo comjiauy. That then it will be for each complying stockholder to de termine fur himself whether ho will continue or will sever his relations with the company. J. S. McCuat-VX. Chairman. j. B.Epmonhs, Secretary. .A motion to adopt the report called ont an ex tended discussion, and considerable opposition •was made to the propositln to settle by ten per cent, monthly instalments, and to all propositions to continue the business of the. company. Tuo country stockholders enacted the role or burnt children, and showed most wholesome dread of the lire. They had heard enough of underwriters to last rhemtbc full term of their natural lives. If too much was not asked of them they would dotheir best to pay, but If the assessment was made too heavy they would resist, or evade judg ment to tbc best of their ability. Nearly all who spoke wanted the machine stopped at the earliest moment consistent with decency and honor. One gentleman said Chat he didn’t want to bo compelled to continue business after the debts were paid. Judge Murphy thought so, but ho begged leave to differ with that dignitary. Legal knowledge was not all that was needed In this cose. Let Chicago losses be paid as soon as pos sible on the best terms consistent with honesty and honor. In the meantime let no new business be transacted, and no other liabilities Incurred. A Voice. What do you mean by new business What is to bo done if any one wants to come in and surrender Ids policy I” The speaker went on to say that ho only refer red to the assumption of now risks. A Voice. Arc not other losses to be settled as well as Chicago losses 1” The gentleman repliedthat ho supposed some provision would be made for that. Mr. Blackburn said only enough money should lie collected to pay the liabilities of the company. If that was what the committee meant, why didn’t they say so. That committee was not bound by what one man might say. but by its records. The intentions of tbc committee should be made known in plain language. An under standing with the Executive Committee w«* very much needed. An assessment of 80 f e( .Qt was asked for, but was not needed; An assess ment of 40 per cent, 50 per cent at the outside, certainly would bo enough. Various other gentlemen spread their views be fore the meeting, all anxious to secure tin* lowest assessment possible, and to get out of this bus iness as speedily as they could. Among the reit was an Indiana gentleman, who talked in the same general strain, but. more *c&rgetically. He said that the people of Indiana had been subdued by tbc ague into u state of mildness, very agree able to contemplate and exceedingly easy to deal with. They would pay nil Just debts with alacri ty, but more bo could not say for them. They entertained tire opinion that they had some rights that could not he infringed. Not to put Coo line a point upon it, if pressed to tbo wall, they would resist to the extent of their legal means. If their property had to suffer, they would turn over some of their splendid hoop-polo lands in Jasper and Posey Counties, the great value of which was known to all the world, have the whole matter settled up, the lands rated at the top notch, and sold to pay their Chicago liabilities. They known thing or two, did tho people of Indiana, and, to use tho words of the venerable Mrs. Salrey Gamp, they were not to bo Impoged” upon. There was much more talk to tho samopnrposo, (ifUntiuHnw. The defunct Republic was alluded to ns a dead carcass, a noisome stench in tho nos trils. which the people of Chicago could have af ter the breath was out of it if they wanted it. All who mingled In tho war of words thought that 10 per cent assessment would be ample for all purposes. If a low, and yet ample assessment were made, tho money might be paid in by tbc time of tho January meeting. Thp widows and poor men who hud been bitten would endeavor to do tbelr best, and by that time tho required per ceut might bo raised. The following substitute was proposed for this suggestive portion of the report of the com mittee: I.Wrdcc*?. That in the opinion of this mooting, the Chicago mid other 10.-ses should bo adjusted and set* tied ns soon as possible, and on the best terms that can he honorably obtained: hut that in the meantime no new business shall be transacted, nor any liabili ties incurred: and that no demands should properlv bo enforced, beyond what is necessary to pay the losses of thccompanv. The resolution was shorn of a portion of its awkwardness by omitting the word propcrlv." and changing should to “may,” and finally adopted after a protractod wordy warfare. Blr. S'ubbs, of .Fairfield, lowa, six feet tall, and broad In proportion, rose with a diminutive piece of paper in bis hand, to make a speech. Ho be gan by praising himself for having been quiet so lar during the proceedings. Tho gravity of the business in hand could not bo overrated. It af footed the whole country as well as Chicago. There was nothing in the world at this present moment so elephantine, so unworthy as the Republic Insurance Com pany. Two hundred people had gathered in that hall to talk over its affairs. Four thousand peo ple in all parts of the conn try had Invested money m it. These people went Into the company, not only to parry onl certain great principles of honor which were inherent In them,but to make money. Honor was a nice thing in its way; money'-making was also a nice tiling. Human nature is human nature tho world over. To uso tho words of tho immortal Dickens, “She's a rum'im, is natur.” But wo had been taught that law and tho principle of honor are synonymous terms. Tins was tho doctrine of tho com mon schools. We drank in this with our mother's milk. If the law says that wo must make excessive payments, why tho speaker sup posed that it must he done. But where was this money to come from I Was there a reporter pres ent 1 The speaker cast his eye around the hall, and then began to roll out words of learned length and thundering sound. Not alone from tho land where the orange blooms, tho citron grows, and the pomegranate is fairest of fruit, or from the diluviallands of aguish Indiana,from tho broad savannas of Illinois and lowa, or tho hyperborean regions of Wisconsin and Minnesota, but from tbo wild detiles of tho Rocky Mountains, and the far-off slopes of tho Pacific, where tho Oregon rolls and hears no sound save his own dasliings, etc. Was there u reporter pre.-ent If there was tho speaker cared not If he caught up these dolicato thoughts and had them wafted to tho four quarters of tho globe. Here there were manifest evidences of an In tention to stille the speaker. Loud cries of “Go onl Go on Blr. Stubbs. I shall go on. [Loud applause, mixed with laughter.] A voice. If tho gentleman has a resolution, let him present It. Mr. Stubbs. I irill read it. It is as follows: That the Executive Committee ho request ed to appoint a sub-committee of three of their own number to confer with those having financial claims on the conipau}*, and to ascertain at vvJial amount a coQi]iromiso can be effected for cash to be paid by the Ist day of March, 1572. ami to report at the annual moeting in Jnuuarv next. Twenty-five per cent of the stock owned In Fairfield can possibly bo collected. Perhaps that was a fair average in other places. But if these people in Fairfield were pressed so hard they might demur. They might not respond readily. All people in lowa did not agree in sentiment with this meeting. A circular was being distrib uted, calling a meeting of tho disaffected stock holders in that Slate, to ho held at Burlington to morrow (Friday), at 12 o’clock. Tho speaker didn't know the objects of the said meeting, still the meeting was going to be, and the gentlemen there assembled would not agree with this meeting. If tho money were paid in monthly instalments it would be frittered away In current expenses, etc. If pay ment of assessments were to be enforced, the Fairfield stockholders would have the prosecutors on the hip. Fairfield courts were notoriously slow and by giving security, trial might at any time bo put off for twelve months. Mr. Stubbs was gliding off on to lowa’s war record, where he was brought up with around turn by gentlemen calling him to order. Tho speaker also suggested that the war record of lowa was slightly foreign to the subject. Tho oration closed with some allusions to tho municipal debt of Keokuk, some general remarks, and a repetition of tho inquiry whether a report er was present. The resolution presented by Mr. Stubbs was adopted with enthusiasm. A resolution to settle with all policy-holders was met with cries of ‘‘nonsense,nonsense!*' Where is the'money to come from i” and other derisive cat-calls. Tho matter was referred to the Executive Com mittee. The meeting adjourned without day. At an informal meeting held immediately after ward. tbo following resolution was adopted: Jteoleetl, That each of the Directors here assembled advise all stockholders to pav their assessments as levied bv the Executive Committee, or sooner, If they choose, until all liabilities of the company are dis cliarged. _ A .Safeguard Against Fire in Frame Buildings. Davenport, lowa, Dee. lu. To the Editor of Tht Chicago Tribune: Sm: As suggestions, looking to a safer mode of erecting buildings as regards rendering them nearer fire-proof, seem to bo in order, through your columns I ask leave to lay before your read ers a proposition or plan concerning the erection INSURANCE. .*2,8.19,081.82 332,095,00 159,m00 ofwoodon buildings; which. la the writer’s optn lou, ought to be enforced by law in every city and town in the United Scales, to the end that millions of dollars might be saved annually. Let me briefly illustrate: In an ordinary two-story frame house the flues will average 25 fee* In height. If a lire be made in one, at its base, with a combustible material, say shavings, a good draft will take tbo flames to the ton in three sec onds, with a rush ami n roar. Now if, previous to starting the Are, a tight fitting cap be put on top of the flue, uo such thing will lake place. Yon cannot by anv means force one spark up inside tbo flue and, if you succeed in getting the fire started at all, it will be all on the outside. On the same principle,-if a hole he cut through thohaso-board in any outside wall of a frame house, as now constructed, and a lire ho started with the same material as mentioned for the Hue. how long will it take to get a blaze to the top and all over the house, as tbo spaces between tho studs and joists ore just so miny, and tho host kind of flues I Every one is conversant with the difficulties of putting out au incipient tiro loca ted in the walls of a frame house. If found, it Is always hard to get at. If holes arc made, it only adds to the danger by creating more draft. Now. I claim that all this can he remedied, to a great degree, by using a system of slops, to be put in when the frame is erected,and of the same material as tho frame, cither studding or Joist, in their respective places, to bo fitted in tight, with faces flush at right angles with the frame, as often as is deemed necessary, say every four feet. Tho stops put in tho floor timbers would an swer every purpose for bridging. All partition walls should have such stops, and as frequent as the outside walls. In large houses of difl’erent rooms, floors arc often laid so os to meet under partitions witli open points. This should' not bo allowed. Stop all draft. Ido not claim that, if all tho frame houses which were so speedily reduced to ashes in your great lire, hart been built after this plan, It- would have been of umch avail; but Ido claim that, in your ordinary, every-day fires, it would bo of in calculable benefit, especially as au aid to the ef forts of firemen. Yours, Ac. A Farmer. THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS. Mancel Talcott Elected Felice Commis sioner to Succeed Mr. T. B. Brown. Rules Concerning (lie Purchase of all Kinds of County Supplies. The Board Resolve that They will Have Nothing- to Do with Con tracts, Etc. Pursuant to adjournment the Cook County Commissioners met in tho County Treasurer’s office yesterday afternoon, Commissioner White in tho chair. There were also present the fol lowing Commissioners: Ashton, Crawford, Har ris, Harrison, Hcrting, Hitchcock, Jones, Loner gan, Pahlmun, Roellc, Skelly, Stearns, Talcott. THE ELECTION OP A POLICE COMMISSIONER. The hoard proceeded to tho special order of tho day, which was, by resolution, the cleotion of a Police Commissioner in place of T. B. Brown. Commissioner Loncrgon nominated Manccl Talcott. Commissioner Hitchcock seconded the nomina tion. Ho was a man who was capable, and would give satisfaction tho people. He would not hesi tate to support him because he happened to he a member of tho board. Commissioner Ashton thought it would he in compatible withwhat he thought right, that a member of the board should also be a Police Com missioner. If he designed to hold both positions, if was contrary to his (the speaker’s) views of propriety. Commissioner Harrison’s views coincided with Mr. Ashton’s. He believed tho nominee was ca pable of filling both positions. lie was prompt, industrious, energetic aud quick. He regretted that no equally good person had beet* found. Ho would have been glad If some such man had been brought before tho hoard. Ho would like infor mation how far tho Board Cd Police was responsi ble to the Board of County Commissioners, If ho gave his vote to Ownnii3id«»'*«r. Talcott. it would ““‘’-'"'.aniling' that ho vrould ffltrc trtu Commissioner's Board. Commissioner Stearns regretted that there was not another man on the West Side who could be chosen. There was one man absent now from tbo board. Commissioner Wahl, who might not qualify. Tho board could not spare Commis sioner Talcott, Ho could not bold both positions. The county needed him. He hoped tho Commis sioner would withdraw his candidacy. Commissioner Talcott said he was not consulted as to lib candidacy for tho Commlasionershlp on the County Poard. He could not decline It. When Mr. Brown’s resignation was tendered ho was pressed by the gentlemen in tho neighbor hood to accept tho appointment. Ho had de clined twice; but on tho third occasion ho had accepted. Ho saw no Imperative reason for his not holding botholllccs, but, out of courtesy to the board, he would certainly resign the posi tion ho was at present holding. If elected. It, therefore, lay with tho board to determine whether his seat were vacated or not. Commissioner Ashton said it would be a very bod precedent for the board tojestablish—the elec tion of a member of its own body to office, hestlll retaining his scat. Ho desired to ask the Commissioners if they could consistently elect him, should ho retain his seat as Com missioner. They could not say they would not vote for him as a member ot tbc* Police Com mission. Though he had not examined It as a legal proposition, by tho charter of tho city it was required that tho Police Commissioners should give their whole tlmo to the duties of their ofllce. To to do in both oflices, he believed, was quite impossible. Ho would most cheerfully and willingly vote for Mr. Talcott on tho understand ing that ho would to resign his seat in tho board. The Chair appointed Commissioners Lonergan and Jones tellers. A vote was taken, resulting as follows Whole number of votes cast, 13; necessary to a choice, 7: Talcott, 13. Mr. Tnlcott was unanimously elected Commissioner Talcott replied in u broken voice, exhibiting considerable emotion. His resignation was then banded to the clerk and read. Commissioner Crawford moved to postpone tho consideration thereof indefinitely. Commissioner Hitchcock suggested that if it was true that it was legally improper for Com missioner Talcott to hold both positions, it would ho well to look into it. Commissioner Crawford amended his motion by moving to lay tho resolution on the table. A vote was taken resulting as follows Yeas— Hcrtimr. Hitchcock. Jones. Lontrgan, Paid man. Roclle. and the (.'ltainuau,—B. ■Soys— Ashton, Harris. Skelly, Stearns, Harrison—o. COCNTV HELP FOR AN INVALID. A petition from Mary Tigh, requesting tho hoard to authorize the purchase of a “support" for the knee ol her daughter, now lying in tho hospital with a wounded knee, she being unable to purchase one herself, was presented. The pe tition showed that without tho “support” tho physicians of the hospital were unable to make a permanent cure. •The prayer of the petitioner was granted by an unanimous vote. SUPPLIES FOR THE COUNTV. The Committee eu Finance, to whom was refer rcdjtho question of purchasing supplies, reported the following resolution: AV.-.ofwd. First, That from and after the time when these resolutions take effect, no supplies of any kind which It is tho duty of the countv to provide, shall bo purchased in any other manner than by contract, with the lowest responsible bidder, alter proposals shall have been duly advertised fur. except such articles as it is Impracticable to specify in advance of the time when the same will be needed. .Sceoiul, That within ten days after tho adoption of these resolutions, and annually- thereafter, on tho llrst Monday of December, tho County Clerk shall adver tise for five days in daily newspapers published in the elty of Chicago,for scaled proposal sfor furulshin all blank books, stationery, fuel, subsistence stores, medicines, wearing apparel, or other article* which may bo required during the ensuing calendar year by the County of Cook, so far as such articles can be enumerated lu advance, by tho officer or em ploye duly authorized to make requisition therefor; such advertisement shall specify as nearly as nos siblo the quality of the articles' wanted: that the same shall be delivered at such places in tho country as may bo required to enter Into bond with two sure ties to bo approved by tho County Clerk in a sum suf ficient to guarantee the faithful performance of the contract, and that the countv reserves the right to reject all bids if deemed expedient to do so. 'third, That all supplies of books, stationery, or other articles necessary for tho use of the several courts shall bo furnished upon the requisition of the respective Clerks thereof, approved by the Judges. All tho supplies, of whatsoever kind, needed for the Poor House and Insane Asylum shall be furnished upon Joint requisition of tho Warden and physician thereof: all supplies forthe County Hospital upon tho joint requisition of the Warden and County Physician, and all supplies required by tho County Agent upon his own requisition; each and all of which requisitions shall be made from time to time, as supplies of tho several kinds are needed, and which, before being tilled under tbo contract, shall be submitted to this board or to such committee thorcotras may be ap pointed tojconaldor them respectively for approval. Fourth, That all articles required for the use of the county, which cannot ho enumerated in said adver tisement, shall bo furnished onlv on requisition of tho department requiring them ns specified in tho lore going resolution, which requisition shall in like man ner bo submitted to this board for approval, and shall thereupon be purchased by tho county agents, but payment shall not be made until the account shall nave been dulv audited by this board. Fifth, In order that contractors mav be able to offered their goods at the lowest prices, payments shall be made promptly in cash Immediately after tbo bill*shall have been audited. On motion, the consideration of the report was made tho special order for Monday afternoon. KO INTEREST IN SUPPLIES. Commissioner Stearns offered the following re solution Befuiml, That no member of this board shall have any control directly or indirectly, or am* interest whatsoever in any materials, goods, wares merchan dize, stationery or supplies that Cook Counts* may n puiroforu.se or cause to ho used, nor shall ho orthev receive any money in any way. directly or indirectly for commissions, or any gifts or presents for any sucu material used by said County, from any source what ever during his or their term of office. The resolution was unanimously adopted. The board then adjourned until Monday. —Tbe story is told of a witness in an English court who testilied with great minuteness as to tbe color of tbe wax used la sealing a will, tbe kind of matches taken to light the taper, and other particulars, when tho seal proved to be only a wafer, bad its parallel tbe other day in tho Superior Criminal Court In Boston. A noted individual named Spencer Peltes was on trial for forgery, and a witness was produced to prove an alibi, who swore that the prisoner was in New York on a certain day, January 27, 1866, and pro duced a diary in confirmation of the statement, testifying that the entries relating to tho affair werd made at the time. Tho diary being exam ined by the District Attorney and the Court, It was found that it bore tho printed date of 1369. It was not considered necessary to cross-examine that witness. —A new club, the Knickerbocker, designed to ho tho most fashionable and exclusive in Now York, has started and has purchased B. William Duncan’s Fifth avenue mansion. The members are limited to three hundred, and the clnh will bo composed of the Knickerbocker families. The initiation fee is 91, 1 000. THE GRAND DUKE. Arrangements for His Recep- tion in This City. Two Floors of the Tremont House Secured for the Prince and His Snite. General Sheridan’s Plans for a Grand Buffalo Hunt on the Plains— Spotted Tail’s Indians Engaged to Assist* Of course, everybody knows that the ({rand Duke Alexis is coming to Chicago. Such was his object in first planning the trip to America. To see Chicago as she Was before tho lire had been for years a desire of the Muscovite Prince; but to see Chicago after the fire was of vastly more im portance to him, and ho has been gradually* mold ing his arrangements to the end tliat he might reach our city at a time when the great metro politan wonder of modern times exhibited both tho picturesque rains of its former splendor and tbo remarkable spectacle of solid rebuilding in midwinter. He will come soon after Christmas, and it is his express desire that his leisure may not ho impaired by the wearisome formalities of a great public reception. Ho will submit to these inflictions at Milwaukee and St. Louis, which* cities, having nothing in themselves of interest to anybody, arc fain to supply their painful deficiencies by a grand splurge. In Chicago, Alexis has arranged to have his spare time to himself, in order that he may derive, by close personal examination, a fair idea of what tho city really Is aud was. He feels, too, that it would not he just tho right sort of thing for Chicago to divert from tho funds necessary to restore tho city ,and provide for her destitute people in the meantime, the outlay which would ho incurred by a big display lu hi honor, for he knows that if Chicago should un dertake tho reception business at all, she would not do It by* halves, hut would organize an uflalr which would cast wholly in the shade all the at tempts so fur made in that direction. Therefore, as has been said, His Imperial High ness will exclusively reserve for Chicago the honor of a visit solely of observation and inter est, so that when he gets back to St. Petersburg and tells tho Governor about his trip, he will say, in his frank and unafVectcd way, that there's some style to a city like Chicago, where tho peo ple let a fellow alone, and give him a chance to look around and learn something. While In this city the Grand Duke will interpose his royal ex tremities beneath Mr. Drake’s mahogany at the Tremont House, comer of Michigan avenue and Congress streets. Hero two entire floors will bo sot ax>art for tbo imperial party, which Sir. Drake is advised, will bo made up as follows: His Imperial Highness, tbo Grand Duke Alexis; Ills Excellency. C. Catacazy, Russian Minister: Ills Excellency, Vico Admiral Possiet; Hla Excellency, W. F. Macbim, Council lor of State; Count Olaonlief, Mr. B. Bodisco. Consul General of Russia to the United States Count Shouvaloff, Dr. Condrin, Lieutenant Tudcer, of tho Imperial Navy, and Mr. Shirked, Secretary of Legation, together with a retinue of light attendants. The apartments reserved for the party will ho six parlors, with bed rooms aud bathrooms adjoining, a private diningroom for the Grand Duke and suite, and eleven bedrooms No extra effort at elaborate ornamenta tion will bo made in the rooms, which will simply be rendered as elegant and comfortable as anybody* could desire. Those of the Grand Duke will bo m tho northeast corner on the second Uoor, commandinga magnifi cent view of the lake harbor and the rulnod portion of tho South Division. Mr. Drake will exercise his accustomed good taste and judgment in providing for the comfort of the party during their stay, and it is fair to presume that the* will not have to complain of JiflYibS been lodged in a llOiv- COndUCted on [mmi-uiu i«Ktu. Alexis will pafis a day in this eity, thenee going to Mil waukee for a day, then returning to remain another day here, and then departing for St. Louis. His course, thenceforward, Is not fully ar ranged, and will bo affected by his conclusion as to tho acceptance of General Sheridan’s invita tion to participate in a grand brtiEnlo hunt on tho plains. The General has already forwarded the proposition, and now awaits a reply, it i 3 purpose to proceed, with tho Russian part/; an(l a few of his staff ofticers, by way of the Unloii Pacific Railroad to Fort McPherson, Nebraska, seventeen miles from Platto Station. This dis tance will bo traversed in ambulances, and from the fort tho party will proceed sixty miles south, on horseback and by ambulance, to tho point where buffalo now exist la almost unparalleled numbers. The camp will have been previously sent forward from Fort McPherson, so that ev erything will have been made snug and comfort able by the time tho party arrive. A thousand Sioux Indians, under Spotted Tail and Whistler, will be on band to participate in tbe hunt, and to show tho Grand Duke how buffalo are killed en rrylc. Such a spectacle has rarely, if ever before, been witnessed, and it is doubtful if its like would a ever occur again. Tho opportunity is one worth a thousand times the trouble, and Alexis may rest assured that it be tails to avail himself ot it he will forego one of the most remarkable and Interesting affairs conceivable. Some fears of unfavorable weather seem to be entertained by the Grand Duke, but General Sheridan pledges his extended experi ence on the plains in giving assurance that he will sec to it that neither trouble, dlscomfort.nor delay arise on this accoimt. Ho is In receipt of the following letter from the otllcer in command at Fort McPherson, under date of December 10: Dkak (iF.XKRAi.: I enclose you a note from Mr. Todd Randall, agent with Spotted Titll. The weather In delightful here now. Tho days are almost as warm as Indian summer. Yours truly. E. M. Hayes. Lieutenant TJ. S. A. The enclosed letter, referred to bv Lieutenant Hayes, Is dated Black Wood, December 5, and is as follows: Sir Spotted Tail will meet the party coming at the crosslugof Wilson Creek. Please inform rae wh«n the pat ty will he there and 1 will have them in readiness. The Indians are all doing well and are perfectly satis* tied. Toon Randall, U. a. Sub-Agent. RECORD OF GOOD FEELING. A Grand Allegorical Picture for Chicago’* New City Hall—Letter from the Editor of the Lon don Graphic to mayor ftlcdill. The following letter, which fullycxplalns itself, was received yesterdayby Mayor Medill: THE GRAPHIC OFFICE, 190 STRAND, W. 0., I London, Nov. gy, isti. j To Hnn.Jofeph JfeillU, Jlayor of C/i icaI’ 0 lll fduM By order W.M. Tf clyboUß^ See, pro tcm. jtlasomc. °*.unainess as may be pre-ented, will be held kSSf&SSS&r. >RY 00003. SHAY, i-iW.ffllW, Will offer, Friday, Dec. 15, a new and attractive stock of Ladies’ Bows and Scarfs, Gros Grain Ribbons, Black Gimps, Colored Fringes, Velvets and Plushes, and Velveteens in all colors. We have the largest and best assorted stock of Black Gimps; and can match all Dress Goods in Colored Fringes. We invite our customers to look at these goods. HOLIDAY GIFTS. ELEGANT Mil His! BROWN PRIOR, 659 WABASH-AV., W ill exhibit, on MONDAY. own importation of Paris and London Novelties, hi Velvet and Silk Rouse Coats, Dressing Rohes, Silk and Cashmere Mufflers, Kid Mils, English Driving Gloves of superior quality, Rich Handkerchicls, Cases, and Canes; Carleton, Lorhc, Windsor, DeJoinville Scarfs and Square Cravats, quite new: together with an unequalled stock of MERLVO, ANGOLA, and CaUTTTA CLOTH UN DERWEAR. The Ilia above soml. bavin* uern c.-dereil previous to the late* fire, for our ‘“VtiIDAV TILADE. will offer extraordinary PLEASE CALL AND EXAMINE. NEW BOOKS. mzw BOOSSS. LUCIA: HER PROBLEM. •A. NOVEL, l‘y Mi-s Amaxha M. DoudLAf*, author of Ju rmst." With Fate Against Him,” etc. Guo vol. 1" mo.. cloth, price yt Miss Douglass is now one of the niost'bVunanY nov elists 1:1 tin.- country, anti this new story will add greatly to her reputation. MRS*. EDWARDS* NEW STORY OUGHT WE TO VISIT HER? -A- NOVEL. By Mrs. Axxu; Ei>\v.\i:ns t author of “Archie Lovell.” “Steven Lawrence, Yeoman,” “Susan Field ing.” etc. One vul., s vo., paper st.oi cloth 1.75 111. AN ENTIRELY NEW EDITION OF OUR POETICAL FAVORITES, With 100 Paces of New Matter. It is hclieV^ l lUat this is the best collection of Po ems ever made. OnevoL. 12mo, tinted nailer, bevelled boards, price $2.00 Full gilt, price -7S Tnrk«->-. BECESm PUBLISHED. justim McCarthy’s new story LADY .ILDITII, A TALE OF TWO CONTINENTS. One vol., sxo, elegantly illustrated, bound in nrr pur, price One vol., 8 ro, elegantly illustrated, bound iu cloth, price OVERLAND. A NOVEL. By J- W. DF.Fontrvr, author of “Kate Beaumont." otc. One voL, svo, bound In paper, price at 00 bound In clotb, price i.Ti Either of the above scut by mall on receipt of the price. SHELDON COMPANY, GT7 Broadway. New York. PERFUMERIES. GILLETTJITUS&CO. SAVE IN STOCK Alexis Boquet, Barney’s Tea Rose, Lubin’s Genuine Extracts, Fancy Per fume Boxes, Fine Toilet Soaps, Hair Gils, &c. MICHIGAN-AV., Between Vanßnren and Congreas-sta. BUSINESS CARDS. Boors, Basil, Blinds, WINDOW FRAMES, i&OLDIAGS, BRACKETS, STAIRS, STAIR EAIUAG, BALISTERS, POSTS, AC. We now have on hand the largest and mod com plete stock of goods in onr lino in the West, and aro prepared to till orders promptly. Goods delivered free of charge. Otlice and manufactory'. Corner Weit Ttrcnfy-secomi and rn!on*sts.» (Lumber District!. _ I'ALMEIt, PCI.LEP. CO: EAGXJ? XEOMTOUWDBT, (Established In 15-10,) SAMUEL J. CRESWELL, Jr., 512,814, SIC, and SIS Bace-st.. PHILADELPHIA. Iron Fronts, Stairs, Girders, Lintels, Columns, etc. etc. Light and heavy Water Pipes. CIIAS. HOFFMAN, Watchmaker and Jeweller, (Formerly S3 North Clark-at), *26-1 MILW AXJXCBIC- AV. TLtGGIi B CO., Commission Merchants, For the «alo of DRESSED HOGS, CRAHr. Ac., O Wr°j W.hiilnrton.»l.. C!,Uaw lPTite€orrc..i.on(lrnro. rOB SALE. A Decided Bargain. House and Lot 1381 Indiaua-av., Has rooms, 7 large closet?, furnace, gas fixtures, hot water. ihjwls. etc., brick cellar. Only SI,OOO cash, bal ance easy- APPLY on the PBEKISES. Safe For Sale. A fine Fire and Burglar-Proof Bankers' Safe, made by Schumacher Johnson, Milwaukee: 1,000 lbs. Burglar chest, with combination lock, inner door, and first-class In every respect. Will be sold cheap. HUGH MTcLANNAN CO. Office Shot Tower Building. 1,000 BRXS. CIDER. We have for sale, and shall keep constantly ou hand. Michigan Cider, nuuuiiactun d in years IST 1- All warranted pure. CURTISS A CARTER. Produce Commuslou Merchants ami De;dcr* m Do _ mestlc Dried Fruits. 127 Michigan-av. m SKATES AND SLEIGH BELLS. SKATES Sl* BELLS. J. JL. WAYNE A II NORTH CANALS**