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Scraps and .facts. ? ~ ~ o ? The annual report of the auditor v of the interior department shows that n the amount paid for peusions during e the last year was $140,477,637. The g payment on pensions account for the ii fiscal year 1896 was $138,722,127, and c for the fiscal vear 1895, $140,558,641; t 1894. $137,119,554. and for 1893, $154,- p 552,214. The cost of the service last c year was $3.99 per $1,000; for 1896, 1 $47; for 1695. $4.00 ; for 1894, $3.77; b and for 1893, $3.35. n ? More people over 100 years old are j? found in mild climates than in the * higher latitudes. Accordiug to the v last census of the German empire, of a population of 55,000,000, only 78 have passed the 100th year. France, ? with a population of 40,000,000, has a 233 centenarians. In England there 11 are 146, Ireland 578, and in Scotland 46. Sweden has 10,-and Norway 23 ; " Belgium, 5; Denmark, 2; Switzerland, none. Spain, with a population of a 18,000,000, has 401 people over 100 " years of age. It is said that the oldest 2 person living, whose age has been proven, is Bruno Coirim, horn in Africa, and now living in Rio de Janero. I He is 150 years old. A coachman in Moscow has lived 140 years. ? The old discussion as to whether the rich are growing richer and the { poor poorer, has been revived. If we i are to believe Mr. Sherman's Forum J article, the contention is virtually set- i tied. Mr. Sherman gives the amount of wealth in the hands of persons with over $500,000 each in the -United _ States as follows: 200 persons at $20, 000,000 each, $4,000,000,000; 400 persons at $10,000,000 each, $4,000,000,000; 1,000 persons at $5,000,000 each, $5,000,000,000; 2,000 persons at $2,- 500,000 each, $5,000,000,000; 6.000 " persons $1,000,000 each, $6,000,000,- n 000; 15,000 persons at $500,000 each, tc $7,500,000,000. Upon this basis, which bi is admitted to be far below the actual d truth, we are confronted with the f, startling result that 24,600 persons Q now possess $31,500,000,000?more than half of the national wealth, real . and personal, according to the highest 11 estimate any one has yet ventured to ^ make of the aggregate amount. is ? New York Sun : The reception of w Mr. Bryan during his recent journey 18 through th west should be enough to u convince those too hopeful Republicans or oowardly Democrats in the east who thiuk that the silver question g has been settled and remains without r( living interest, that they are wrong. At Rapid City, S. D., for example, Mr. ^ Bryan spoke for two hours on "bimetalism,'' by which he means silver monometalism. The subject bas been discussed interminably, and many per- a] sons would not care to be talked to oi about it for two mortal hours; but ir 5,000 people from Rapid City and the 8J surrouuding towns were on hand to tc hear his address. When he arrived, S( "the entire assemblage rose, and waving umbrellas, hats and handkerchiefs, cheered frantically." By means of w phonograph and telephone hundreds 0) of persons in other towns heard his hi remarks, at the close of which he had e: to shake hands for two hours. All w this cannot be set down to curiosity ; if it means business. ? The Rev. Frank Vrooman, a prom- al inent preacher in the People's church, ce in Chicago, is going to Alaska to mine gold. Iu resigning his pastorate last Sunday, he said: "The only trouble about the Peop'e's church is, that it raises no money. It pays me nothiug, te and I have preached for nothing until ol I am getting into a necessitous condi- tL tion. It pays Dr. Thomas nothing h< either; but he is able to stand it. He 01 has accumulated some money by lec Sj turing and marrying, and is above want. As for me, I admit that it is a ( luxury to preach ; but it is a luxury I 0 cannot afford. I do not eveu expect ta to preach until I leave for the west, as 1,1 I shall need all my time and energies 01 for making preparations. I have dis- w covered to my satisfaction that a b( church that, believes nothing gives nothing. It is the hidebouud, ortho- w dox Christian with a believing sense of ^ hell that contributes to the support of the church aud the ministry. So, no more preaching for me." T ? A terrible collision occurred on the Santa Fe railroad, near Emporia, Kan- ri sas, last Wednesday. A fast mail, t,: going east, and the Mexico aud Cali- T fornia express, going west, collided. 1<> The latter traiu wits drawn by two si locomotives, and when the collision tL occurred the boilers of all three engines exploded, digging a hole so deep iu the ground that after a smoking car fell down on top of the three eugines, two w mail cars balanced ou top of it with- w out turning over. The westbound st traiu carried seven or eight coaches, tl carrying a large number of passengers tl who had been to hear W. J. Bryan ta speak at a county fair. Mr. Bryan d, himself was aboard, in a rear sleeper, but sustaiued no inconvenience except a severe shock. Twelve or fifteen 11 persons were killed and as many more w were badly wounded. The associated c< press dispatches which tell of the h affair, says that Mr. Bryan was one of ei the noblest men in the crowd of res- e: cuers. He helped to carry out the j. dead and wounded and gave the great- . est atteution to their care. One poor c'' fellow, who was badly maimed, called h to Mr. Bryan and said : "I went to haar vnn tndav T am nmv dvincr and I) want to shake your hand and say God b bless you. If you possibly can, Mr. Bryan, get me a drink of water." u Mr. Bryan went into the fast mail car, it one end of which was burning, and Q came out with the water, which he gave to the suffering passenger. He brought out cushions for others of the '' injured, and was everywhere present to administer to the wants of the f< suffering. it ? From the Chicago Chronicle : The r treasury statement for August shows e that for the first two months of the tl present fiscal year there is a deficit tl f about $25,000,000. At|this rate the k'bole fiscal year should show a deficit f $150,000,000. The ouly thing rhich can prevent this enormous ainus sum is a policy of striet conomy in every department of the overnment. Pensions, public buildtags, rivers and harbors, salaries in all ivil departments, must he held dowD o the actual working necessities. But tensions will not be reduced. Ou the ontrary, they will be larger thau ever, 'here is an enormous list of public uildings demanded by the congressaen, and which, having been held ack so long by the policy of Speaker teed, will brook no curtailing. Fees, r hich under the Cleveland administrainn were derived from the consulates. rill now go to swell the pickings of fficeholders. But greater far than 11 these means of deficit is the new ariff. If it really does what it is inended to as a prohibitor of imports, it rill throw all other deficit makers into iie shade. There seems, therefore, o escape from a most disastrous year )r the government. She ^jorkrillr (Enquirer. YOItKVILLE, 8. C.: SATURDAY, SEPT. 11, 1897. - The Chicago Record is making a trelendous effort to induce the government > establish a system of postal savings auks. The postal savings bank, proyiing for the saving of small amounts om ?1 up, is a fixed institution under early all European governments, and is ) useful as to be regarded as practically idispensible. The need for it in this juntry is very urgent, and while there i no special reason for believing that it ill be established in the near future, it ; an unexplaitiable wonder that it was ot established a long time ago. ? Mr. George C. White, of Chester, has iven out for publication, a letter that he jcently received from a New York bankr on the subject of buying some bonds of 10 town of Chester. The name of the inker is not given. It appears, however, lat he had been offered the bonds, and though he thought that from every ;her standpoint they were a good iuvestlent, on account of having read a recent jeech by Senator Tillman, be preferred ? have nothing whatever to do with outh Carolina securities. While we have 0 doubt as to the genuinness of the letter, e have serious doubts as to *he sincerity f the reasons given for declining the Dnds. If the banker inherited the mon1 be is investing, or found it in the road, e have no index as to his calibre; but he made it himself, then we take it tat he is a man of too much sense to be raid of South Carolina securities bemse of Tillman. - Over at Johnston, in Edgefield counr, The Enquirer has ap esteemed conmporary called The Monitor. It is one ' the newsiest and best edited papers in ie state, as independent as the traditional jgon ice, and in about nineteen cases out ' twenty when it takes a position, its potion is right. During the late campaign, snnnortftd McLaurin as aeainst the her two candidates, and does not hesite now to say that the senator is the best an in the state for the position. But in le respect our esteemed contemporary is rong, persistently, wrong and seems to 3 incorrigible. It is a confirmed goldig, and all that the term implies. We ould try to teach it better; but our past forts having gone for naught, we are inined to give up the task in despair, here is left for us only one ray of hope, he Monitor believes in Senator McLaun in all things else, and on nothing is le senator so strong as 011 the silver lestion. We would have our friend to ok up the senator's old speeches 011 this ibject, and then tell us candidly what it links. - Nearly all of the newspapers that ere opposed to McLaurin in the recent Linpaign, are disposed to lay great ress 011 the fact that less than half of le Democratic voters in the state went to le polls, and they claim that this is to be iken as a repudiation of all the candiates, especially of McLaurin. Now, nee McLaurin has been elected, it does ot make any material difference; but e fail to see the matter in the light our intemporaries would have us see it. It as been our observation that interest in lections depend 011 various things, and xeept on occasions of extraordinary potical excitement, interest depends priuipally upon the number of offices to be lied, and the aggregate number of canidates asking for tbe suffrages of the eople. When all county offices are to e filled, for instance, the vote is generlly pretty full. Second primaries usally show a considerable lulling off, and i the case of third primaries, the falling 11" is still more pronounced. Now, in le primary just held, it must be renieniered that thcro was only one office to be lied, and only three candidates running >r it. After the first half-do/.en meetings was a foregone conclusion that McLauin would be the winner, and under the ircumstances the wonder is not that liere were 110 more votes cast; but that here were so many. LOCAL AFFAIRS. INDKX TO NEW ADVERTISEMENTS. Grist Cousins?Take especial pains to try to convince you that the Babcock and the Sayer A Scovill buggies are as good, if not better, than other buggies of their respective classes. Lewis G. Grist A Co.?Are prepared to tighten tires on vehicles and tell you why it is to your pecuniary interest to have the matter attended to without delay. R. J. Herndon?Announces the opening of a stock of new goods in his new building, opposite the Parish hotel. He also announces that he will continue to handle pianos and organs. John R. Logan, S. Y. C.?Advertises a lot of mining machinery, etc., to be sold in front of the courthouse door on the first Monday in October, as the property of the Hydraulic Reduction and Mining company, at the suit of W. W. Castles. Louis Roth?Offers to sell you New York cream cheese two pounds at 12J cents a Dound. or 1 Dound for 15 cents. He again calls attention to his California broiled mackerel in tomato sauce, and can supply you with currant jelly in mugs at 15 cents or two for 25 cents, besides loose in pails: apple butter and cranberry sauce and oak flakes in two pound packages. DOWN TO BUSINESS. Yorkville is to have a bicycle track, and that without unnecessary delay. The matter was decided at an enthusiastic meeting of wheelmen held in the Parish hotel last Thursday night. When the scheme was first projected, some weeks ago, it was the idea of the wheelmen to get things in readiness for the building of a track next spring. But within the past week this intention has undergone a decided change. It was suggested by some one that the start be made right now, and with remarkable unanimity the idea was promptly adopted. There were present at the meetiug some 30 or more subscribers to the capital stock of the proposed association, and the business at hand was despatched with much enthusiasm. Dr. A. Y. Cartwright presided as chairman,-and Mr. W. M. Propst served as secretary, and permanent organization was effected by the electiou of seveu directors as follows: John R. Logan, J. H. Riddle, W. B. Moore, S. L. Hobbs, C. M. Kuykendal, It. J. Herndon and A. Y. Cartwright. Without opposition, the organization was named the "Yorkville Wheelmen's Association." Somebody suggested that it might be well to go slow about the name "Yorkville but the warning did not seem to cause any special alarm. After the general meeting, the directors organized by the election of Dr. A. Y. Cartwright as president, W. B. Moore as vice-president, and C. M. Kuykendal as secretary and treasurer. The directors will at once proceed to get a charter for the association, and will also take options on various sites for the location of the proposed track. With all the options in, there will be another general meeting, and the stockholders will accept the proposition they consider most advantageous. Up to the present time, the capital stock of the organization aggregates $715. The directors think they will need about $1,000 or $1,100; but anticipate no trouble whatever in the raising of the money. ABOUT PEOPLE. Mr. Sam Moore, of Yorkville, is down with an attack of fever. Miss Bessie Mason is visiting in the Bethesda neighborhood. Miss Louise Ratchford is visiting the Misses Brice at Woodwards. Spartaburg Herald, Wednesday: Mr. J. Ed. Jefferys is visiting relatives and friends in this city. Miases Florrie Allison, Ida de Loach and Alice Spencer, of Yorkville, are all down with fever. Mias Kate Simmons, who has been visiting friends and kindred in this county for the past three weeks, left for her home at Gaffney, via Blacksburg, on yesterday afternoon. Mr. J. F. Glenn, of Yorkville, left yesterday afternoon for Gibson, Richmond county, N. C., where he will buy cotton during the present season for Chas. E. Johnson & Co. Sheriff Logan has been a wheel-horse in the promotion of the interests of the Yorkville Wheelmen's association, and Dr. Cartwright and, in fact all the other directors, were very anxious to elect him president; but he could not be induced to accept. The only reason he would give was the fact that he did not ride a wheel. Oscar Xeal, Clover's star wheelman, is a son of Mr. /. M. Neal, the well known Clover merchant. He is a handsome, manly little fellow, not yet seventeen years of age, and it seems to be the settled opinion among the wheelmen who saw his riding on Wednesday, that if he continues on the track he will be heard from again. Gaston ia Gazette, Thursday: Mr. Felix McLean has been transferred from the Narrow Gauge agency at Dallas to that of Lincolnton, and has already gone to work at his new post. Mrs. McLean came over to Gaston ia Tuesday night and will join her husband in a few days. Mr. J. S. Carter, of Lowrysville, S. C., succeeds Mr. McLean at Dallas. Mrs. Carter is expected to join him today, and they will then occupy the brick house next to the Matthews hotel. CLOVER RACES. Clover did herself proud last Wednesday afternoon. It was the occasion of the opening of the splendid new nice track, just completed by the wheelmen of that place, with a series of interesting races. There was present a large number of visitors. They were there from liock Mill, Fort Mill, Gastonia, King's Mountain, Yorkville and the surrounding country. Many went in buggies, carriages and hacks, some on bicycles and others on the train. The train crowd was principally from Yorkville, and included about a dozen lady cyclists. Altogether the crowd was one of the largest that has visited Clover for several years; but that made no difference on the warm-hearted hospitality of the good people there. Every citizen seemed to have an idea that the whole crowd was composed of his individual guests and acted accordingly. There was a wait of several hours alter the arrival of the train before tho races commenced; but the delay was not at all tedious. The people were delightfully entertained, and the time passed off with remarkable swiftness. The race track is something to be proud of. It is located iu a natural basin of the creat granite formation which spreads out a rock floor over the eastern portion of town. There wa9 just "enough earth on this particular spot to serve the purpose of the wheelmen in giving the track the necessary pitch, or incline for the curves, and with a comparatively small amount of work, there has been constructed a track the like of which there are few to be found in this section. As yet there is no enclosure or grand stand ; but these things the bicycle boys will look after later. The races com inenced at about 4 o'clock. The crowd was large enough to more than half surround the track, and it was so everybody could get a good view. A very noticeable vein of good humor pervaded everything, and underneath this there was a deep zeal for the honor of Clover. Town pride is wonderfully strong up there; but different from many other places, it is no stronger than the remarkable generosity by which it is almost invariably accompanied. The races were under the general management of Mr. M. L. Smith. Mr. Meek Smith acted as starter. The judges were Messrs. W. M. Propst, of Yorkville; James White, of Rock Hill; and Charles Dilling, of King's Mountain. The first race was a half mile, open to all comers. The starters were S. L. Meacham and John Ardrey, of Fort Mill; Geo. Swift and Abernathy, of King's Mountain ; and Oscar Neal, of Clover. From the start, it was clear that the race was between Meal and Ardrey. Ardrey is the champion of the county, and when the Clover people saw their man pushing him close their enthusiasm was aroused to the highest pitch. Ardrey led until within a hundred yards of the finish. Both seemed to be almost fiying. Suddenly Neal spurted a wheel length ahead. Up to this time Ardrey had been too busy to look back ; but upon realizing theseriousness of the situation, be put on all the steam he could command and commenced a steady gain. But it was too late. The work had already been done. The men passed the finish line like bolts from two catapaults, and Clover's man was a half wheel length ahead. Time, 2.211-5. Clover went wild. Neal was the biggest man in town, and everybody seemed to want to hug him. The next race was a half mile, open to all comers. The starters were Joe Reynolds and Hunter Mauney, of King's Mountain; wnismiin, .ionn jsmuo nuu Will Jackson, of Clover, and John Ardrey. Ardrey won with apparently but little difficulty in one minute and eleven seconds. The third race was a half mile, open only to boys under 14. The entries were Paul Neely Moore, of Yorkville; Hutchison, of Rock Hill, and Hope Brison, of Clover. The first race the judges decided to be a tie between Hutchison and Brison, and, after an interval, the heat was run over again. Brison was the smaller of the two. The Clover boys refer to him as "the kid." He does not own a wheel; but rode a man's heavy roadster. Sitting in the saddle, he could scarcely reach the pedals. At the start, Hutchinson led and seemed to be going out an easy winner. Presently, Brison slid down off his saddle 011 to the frame rod below and got to business. It was an odd looking sight; but the manoeuvre resulted in a significant change. He began at once to steadily gain on Hutchinson, and then forged ahead. This lead he kept until the end of the race and he went out an easy winner in one minute thirteen and one-fifth seconds. His riding was pronounced by many to be the most remarkable of the day. Young Brison was also accorded an ovation. Captain John J. Smith led the yelling, and had no apologies to make. "Why, tbat'sjny boy !" he said. "That's the boy that stays in the store with me, and didn't I tell you he was going to beat 'em? Whoop-ee!" The fourth race was a quarter mile, open to all comers. The starters were Meacham, Jackson, Dilling and Abernathy. This race presented no especial features except good, steady riding. Meacham won in thirty-one and one-fifth seconds, and Dilling came in second. The fifth race?one mile, open to York county riders only?was another exciting event. It involved a supreme test between John Ardrey and Oscar Neal. The Clover people had worked themselves up to high expectations, and a number of Fort Mill boys were becoming very much interested in their champion. But the Fort Mil) boys were game. "I'll bet Neal '11 beat him," said an admirer of the Clover scorcher. "Ten dollars to five he don't," answered a young man from Fort Mill. The banter was not accepted, and whether there was any betting the reporter is unable to say. The starters were Oscar Neal, John Ardrey and John Smith. Pretty soon after the start, Smith began to fall behind, Ardrey shot out slightly ahead, and Neal followed a close second. In this order they flew around the track until within about a hundred yards of the third quarter. Both Ardrey und-Neal were down to it l'or all they were worth. Ardrey was close on the inside of the track, and Neal tried to pass him. He appeared to be gaining slightly ; but the space was so narrow that he changed his mind and made for the other side. Jnst at that moment his wheel struck a rut in the track, twisted to one side, and the rider went headlong to the ground with terrific force. He fell and rolled together a distance of some 20 or 30 feet, and the big crowd was horror struck. It looked like the plucky young man was killed. \V. J. Davis and others were on the track almost in an instant and carried Neal to the dressing tent. He maintained from the first that ho was not hurt; but an ugly contusion on the side of his face and a limply hanging arm told a difterent story. There was no more racing for Clover's champion on that day. In the meantime, Ardrey, who slacked up after Neal's fall and almost abandoned the race, was warned to go on. He finished in 2.40. It afterward developed that although badly shaken up, Neal was not seriously hurt. The last race was a two mile, open to all comers. The starters were (leorge Swift, I. I). Robinson and John Smith. The race was won by Swift in five minutes and fourteen seconds, with Robinson second. The handicap race between Dr. A. Y. Cartwright and Captain \V. R. Smith, announced in Tim Knui'Ikkb of Wednesday, failed to materialize. It developed that the announcement was only a bit of pleasantry on the part of the correspondent who sent the names of the entries. Captain Smith does not ride a wheel; but told the reporter that he was willing to try it afoot. Customers, how ever, kept the captain so busy at his gin that he was unable to get out to enjoy any part of the fun. CHARTER STUDY. Pursuant to the call of the town council of Yorkville, about 30 voters assembled in the courthouse last Tuesday evening to discuss, and hear discussed, the merits of the general incorporation act, for which it is proposed to surrender the nreuont. ohnrter of the town? The meeting was called to order by Intendant Lowry, upon whose motion Dr. J. F. Lindsay was called to the chair, after which Intendant Lowry proceeded to make a statement. Among other things he said that when the present couucil came into office, it found a debt of $1,480, and it has been the policy of the council to pay off that indebtedness before making any improvements. It had paid all but $750, and bad in the bank some $000, so that at this time the town is practically free of debt. If this debt was paid, then there would be nothing left with which to do necessary work on the streets. The council had picked up a good bargain in a rockcrusbing outfit; but had no money with which to operate it. "If we can get the money, we .are in a position to do work on the streets which will increase the value of your property 20 per cent. Under the old charter we find that it is impossible to borrow $2,000 in installments of $500 each. Under the new charter, we are advised by our attorney?and it is my opinion also?that we can borrow all the money we need. It is not the intention of the present council to increase the tax levy one dollar." He went on to say that during the year and a half that be bad been intendant, it bad been bis experience tbat tbe town bad about $1,000 annually to use for improvements. Some fl;nA " ** J* m?tr%ei nAAOCDartT tn noxr Allt fnr UI bUig 11/ noo UQVOOOWi J W/ r*mj .w. bridges, and there was left for work on the streets, ouly the remainder augmented as it might be by fines, etc. "Now, we w ish to do such work as is necessary all at once, and we want' the power to borrow between 92,500 to ?3,000, to be paid back out of the regular two mill levy." Continuing, Intendaut Lowry read section 18 of the general incorporation act relating to the power to borrow money, and construed the same to mean that money could be borrowed under it upon motion of the town council without the necessity of submitting the matter to a vote of the people. Then he. went on to mention as another objection that had been raised against the new charter, the allegation that the mayor could receive a salary. There could be no selfishness charged against him on this score, however ; because it had been shown that there would have to be a new election in the event the new charter was adopted, and he did not expect to be mayor again. He could, however, by having office hours and giving two hours a day to the matter, employ another policeman and more than pay the salary of mayor and policemen. Intendant Lowry also said that in the event of the adoption of the new charter, it was not the intention of the council to surreuder the present charter until November or December. Mr. J. S. Brice, attorney for the town, was the next speaker. He also read section 18 of the general incorporation act, , and fairly and impartially discussed the merits of the new charter, especially the features in which it differs from the charter under which the council is now supposed to be operating. Mr. Brice said that while he remembered having been asked questions as to the money-borrowing powers conferred by the general incorporation act, he had not said that the council would have any more power to borrow money under this general act than under the present act, for, it is a fact that such is not the case, tie thought that the council would have the same power to borrow money in anticipa- i tiou of taxes that it has now; but it could ; not legally borrow for any one year any more than the amount of the special tax i levy pledged. A larger amount than the | tax levy could only be borrowed upon j corporate bonds, issued upou a vote of \ the people in accordance with the requirements of the constitution. In answer to a question, he said that if the council could borrow $2,000 on its own motion, it could borrow $10,000 in the same manner. That the town council would have the right, under the new charter, to vote salaries for its members he did not think there was any question; but he did not think that there was anything wrong in : paying for such services. It was also true that under the new charter, the council would, on its own motion, have authority to levy a tax of ten mills on the dollar; but that it would do so he did not think was probable. He also stated that the general incorporation act provides for two year terms, the division of the town into six wards, and the election of one alderman from each ward. He said also that when the present town council breaks loose from the present charter, it will have to go out of office, and there will have to be a new election. Hesnggested that the general incorporation act might be amended so as to limit the levy to two or three mills, or that the question of tax levy might be made an issue in each election for municipal officers. Taken all in all, j he could not see that there was any special reason why the town should surren- ( der its present charter and take incorporation under the general act. Major.Jas. F. Hart appeared, presum- | ably as a special advocate ol' the position of the town council, and, unlike Mr. Brice, took a one-sided position in favor ( of the change. He indulged in some sarcasm at the expense of the "nowspapers" as he put it, and suggested as one of the > advantages of the proposed new charter, | the fact that it would necessitate a new i election, at which could be elected a town i council that would please everybody. At i the outset of his remarks, he said that i under the proposed new charter, the i council could borrow money for corporate purposes, and gave the idea that there would be no limit to the amount that ( could thus bo borrowed. Before couclu- t ding, however, he said, in effect, as Mr. < Brice had said, that there would be no power to borrow money except in antici- 1 pation of the taxes. He referred to the i fact that the town had been coniiued to a 1 levy of 20 cents 011 tne ?iw tor years, una t claimed that the idea of trying to main- 1 tain a respectable government 011 such a s revenue was ridiculous. It could not i light the streets, it could not employ nee- 1 essary policemen for patrol purposes, and 1 could not employ watchmen to guard the j town at night, etc. He thought the coun- t oil should have power to raise more 1 money. While be did not think there was any danger in the provision of the charter allowing a 10 mill levy, he was willing for an amendment providing that in no event should the annual levy exceed 30 cents on the $100. But the question of taxes was not by any means the most important. In his opinion the most acceptable feature of the general incorporation act was that provision dividing the town into wards. This would secure a more representative government and put a stop to so much kicking about partiality, etc., in street improvement. He expressed himself also in favor of a change of the name of the town from Yorkville to York, and gave as a reason that ville, which originally meant village, gave an idea of smallness. He said that if a majority of the voters said so, the change could be effected. Warden Moore gave his reason for wanting a new charter. He said it would ' enable the council to borrow money and give a legal note for the same. Another reason, was that the town is now in debt to the amount of $750, and under the new charter this amount could be carried forward, which would be equivalent to borrowing. The council bad not anticipated anything except the crushing machinery, and with the $750 provided for he was satisfied that it could get along. The talk about levying 10 mills he said was "bngaboo." With six wardens, in proportion to population, the town would have stronger representation than the state has in the legislature, and as all the wardens would be taxpayers, he thought they could be trusted in the matter of taxation. Warden Parish said be favored the new charter because it was right. He did not believe that the council would have any more power to borrow money under it, than under the present charter; but it r would have power to levy additional taxes, which it should do when necessary. What he wanted was to do some work on the streets, and for this purpose the council needed ?2,000. He did not care whether the money was raised under the proposed new charter, or the present charter; but if anybody would lend the amount specified, we would be willing to continue under the present charter. Messrs. W. R. Carroll, S. M. McNeel . and G. H. O'Leary offered to lend the g750, previously mentioned, at 7 per cent, if the council would give proper security ; but the offer was not accepted. Warden Parish called upon Warden McElwee for an expression of opinion; but Warden McElwee had nothing to say. He then addressed himself to Mr. Propst and said : . i "Let us hear from you. You are a member of the 'sewing circle'." "I came in after the sewing circle was organized," replied Mr. Propst. "Then you are a member of the'kindergarten," continued Mr. Parish. "I'll have to accept that," replied Mr. Propst in a tone which indicated that be thought the name rather appropriate than * otherwise, and there was laughter. Mr. G. H. O'Leary said he was opposed to the new charter principally on the ground that it meant more taxes. The town had been run on two mills for years, and two mills are sufficient for rresent needs. He could not agree with that the- 4 ory r.f finance which argued that the borrowing of money involved no danger of running the town in debt. If one council should expend in one year, the reve nues of the town for three years, there would be no revenues available with which succeeding councils might put up monuments to themselves in the shape of fountains and broken wasbpot drinking troughs, and as there would be no other way in which to raise money, there would necessarily be an increase of the tax levy. .He was opposed to any increase of taxes, for taxes are high enough now. Including taxes on railroad bonds, state, county and educational purposes, the people of Yorkville now pay over 2 per cent, in taxes, or 22 mills. His own taxes amounted to as much as 91 a day. Such high taxes were calculated to keep away capital for one thing, and then also they wore oppressive. Whatever might be said of the probability of a 10 mill levy, he was not willing to trust auybody, not even himself, with power to make it, and for these reasons, he thought it best to continue under the present charter as long as its provisions could be enjoyed. In reply to the reference tothe"brokeu wash pot" drinking trough, Intendant Lowry said that the people up town had as much right to a free drinking trough as the people down town. Mr. W. R. Carroll asked the intendant if he knew who put in the drinking trough down town. Inteudant Lowry replied, no. . ^ "You don't?" asked Mr. Carroll, in surprise. "Then I'll tell you. It was put in by a private individual?Mr. T. B. McClain?at his own expense." Intendant Lowry?Yes; but we furnish the water iree. Mr. Carroll?And so do you furnish it free to your wardens, too. , Mr. W. Adickes said that there was no danger of a 10 mill levy, and that such t.ilU u'oa "tnmfiinlflPV." and "DOOVCOCk." whatever those things are. As the result of the discussion, it developed that the ouly material differences between the present charter, are as follows : The present charter provides for government by an intendant and four wardens, whose terms of office shall be one year, while the new charter provides for government by a mayor and six aldermen, with a two years' term of office. The present charter allows the selection of intendant and wardens from any portion of the town, while the new charter provides for the division of the town into <ix wards, and the electiou of a warden from each ward. The wardens, however, ire to be voted for at a central box along ,vith the intendant by the whole people, i ind there is nothing to prevent a gerrymandering of the wards in any manner :hat the town council might desire, thus making this provision a nullity. The present charter limits the amount \f t?m Ibvv that can be ordered by the own couucil to two mills. The new iharter extends the limit to ten mills. < The legal right of the town council to Sorrow money even to anticipate taxes, s very doubtful, and it is just as doubtful under the proposed new charter. Unler either charter, the note given to se:ure money so borrowed must be eudorted by the members of the council as ndividuals. Otherwise, the amount canlot be collected by law. Of the fact that mde: neither charter can the council dedge the taxes of any year other than he year for which the money is bor- 1 owed, there is no question, and except A