davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-06-12
LIE PARK fMPROYEMENTS-

| We publish this morning a careful report OF
the improvements which have been made dur
ing the past year in our public parks and
| squares 1t would not be candid to deny OF
| ignore the greatly improved condition of these
bright GASES in our wilderness of stone and
mortar. 1t is, however, to be hoped that
no one, seeing the changed and anchor
ated aspect of these green breathing places, will
commit the error of giving any credit for this
reason to the corrupt power in whose hands
rests to-day the destiny Of the city. A robber
who throws you pennies enough for a loaf of
bread out of your own stolen wallet is equally
undeserving Of the name of generous or lust.
1t is an invidious thing to seek in our fellow
creatures for dishonest motives to apparently
good actions, but these are forced upon attcn-
ton by the circumstances of the case and by the
character Of the men at the head of our NUM-
cipal affairs. When our Controllers report
comes out, if it ever comes, we may pos
sibly-though nothing is certain with so mys-
FERROUS and reticent gentleman our Mr..
ConnOly-gam some valuable information rs
to the cost to pay for all those little
benefits. 1t is perfectly safe to conclude be-
fOrehand that the city will be charged double
for all that is done, unless indeed, the Privy
Council should decide that whore tho s'v"l;"o
is so small tl.ao ~ VIII not pay to divide
it. it is more advisable to assume the
attitude of rigid honesty, and 50 throw
dust in the eyes of stupid public who will
be rubbing its innocent organs of vision the
next time a really substantial theft is going
through The corrupt and despotic oligarchy
which misrules us has grown so rich by steady
plumber that it would like now to indulge
in the luxury of decent report, if it were pos
sible, and partly with that end these improve
ments have been set on foot to win the
unthinking approval of citizens. 1t is not
likely that Tammany will allow this human
weakness to interfere with an eligible bust
ness operation, however. They will probably
steal all they want, and rely upon the green
grass and the graveled walks to fight for
them in the public estimation.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-06-12
THE DIPLOMATIC SERVICE.

Our new Civil Service Commission, If 1T
ever gets into working order, may find some
thing worth reading in the recent report OF
the Committee of the House of Commons
which was appointed last February "to in
duire into the constitution of the Diplomatic
L" and Consular Services, and their maintenance
con the efficient footing required by the
"political and commercial interests of the
country" The Committee express their dis
sent from the prevailing tone of unfavOrable
comment upon the Service. They regard it
as by no means useless or retrograde. They
find that it is, on the whole, carried on with
economy and efficiency, and that from time to
time valuable reforms have been introduced
by the Department Of Foreign Affairs The
custom adopted of late years OF requiring from
the Legations full accounts, not only OF the
political, but of the commercial and social
condition of the countries in which they are
situated, is one which greatly enhances the
practical value of the Service.
The recommendations made by the Commit
tee are in accordance with this view of the
case. Recognizing the practical usefulness OF
the Diplomatic Body and the rise in the prices
of living which has taken place OF late years
in every capital of Europe and America, they
recommend a general increase of salaries in
the subordinate grades, so that First Secretaries
shall receive minimum pay of $500 and Second
Secretaries a minimum of $3.50, these salaries
being subject to yearly increase after
stated time, end to additional allowances for
the acquisition of Russian Oriental Ian
guages. They also recommend that appoint
ments of heads of missions shall not be made
/ IL h., E,rn anI
that at the expiration of this period 1t shall
be for the Foreign Office to decide whether
the public exigencies make reap
pointment desirable. On the other hand,
it is recommended that longer period
than two years be assigned as the duration OF
the younger diplomatsts' term of service at
each court. They recommend the establish
ment of missions at the capitals of the South
American Republics. They are decidedly OF
the opinion that it is undesirable, in the inter
ests of the public, that the promotion in the
| DIPLOMATIC Service, especially in the higher
and more responsible posts, should be by way
of seniority, and recommend that the Secretary
| of State should be allowed, under his own
responsibility, to fill all vacancies by selection
and NOT by seniority, and that for all posi-
| TONS of importance he should not be even
restricted to members OF the Service, when
in his Judgment he can find more capable
persons outside OF 1t.
II is a fact worth noting at tins moment
when there appears to be a somewhat IN
definite tendency towards reforming the Civil
Service, and changing everything which now
exists in favor of something new that al
these iudicious recommendations OF the En-
plish Committeeman are steps III the diIec
ton Of the system upon winch our owl
service is constructed. The increase III tn'
salaries OF s,lbordinates. which makes II posi-
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-06-12
GENERAL PRESS pIsPArCnl

The iron Coast Survey steamer, now Dudlng'at VII.
iugton will sail for the Pacific Coast about the Isl OF
september. Profs. AgassiZ and Hill OF Cambridge VIII
make voyage this vessel for the purpose OF taxing
deep sea Soundngs all the way along the route ana wiz
make collections of specimens OF natural history lor
Cambridge University. The Secretary or the Ifeasuy
has written 10 the Secretaries Of State ana Navy
that naval and diplomatic officers may be lnsuuo'o"'
afford facilities to the exploring party. ,,.al Paw
The services OF 3l6 Assistant Assessors OF ~
enue have been dispensed with since me Isl VI t.y
last and further reduction Of 100 Is es .s
the present month. At low estimate W. -, r,,
already made Will effect asaNlhS III "Ss''7 w.
OF over $4,000 per annnin ~, -,oted his order ot
MAY prescribing the attachment OF ine Anioi az ei
inci 10 cars containing bonded merchhhuis' 10
and from the limited States % Canadi the oecre'aiy
ftar fborough investigation having pecone sdtsntu
H. ioat t nresent In CIboms0ns OAR ana sldchle
~ - nra desirable for this purpose; ana COST only
~ 49,. acb while the American sedlOck costs -, ana
al cents for seals each time Us u =, - ,...
stta Cthan Claims Commission held an ADJOURNED
l.V - nosterIay and finally acted on the rules ana
which were ordered 10 be printed. Brron
oh,r anneared for the first time, and formally ac-
,S The office Of umpire. notice will soon he Is
& NV the Department OF state for the presentation OF
claims. e-.-,.,.... ,...o..... 81. s,aa,,hoa,s
o,ans for the government OF licensed pilots on vessels
aroneIed by steam have adopted resolution cOntlhu-
nS the rules in operation until the new resusons
under the recent act Of Congress- shall be promgad
The resolution has been approved by the Oh tue
Treasury who has ordered the same To be 70
all pilots the lakes, the seaboard, and the Western
rivers Immediately.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-06-12

The tremendous victory in New-IIampshire,
which cOnvulsed with delight the Democratic
party last Spring, from one end of the Union
TO the other, has finally slmmered down to
very small entirety. The Democrats, finding
there was no choice by the people and very
close vote in the Legislature, availed them
selves instantly of all those indirect influences
which are the chief weapons of their Organiza-
ton. The result is before our readers a
bare majority in Joint Convention, and a
Democratic Governor for the first time in
sixteen years. This is a lucky accident for
the astonished Democrats, and will not happen
again.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-06-12

| Ma tor ,o,,,, men TO live with frugality upon
| tbo;r nav Immediately upon their entry into
| a. .ar,;ce the shortening Of the terms OF
M;.;s,srs and Iengthenng those of Secretaries,
.I,a creation of missions in South America, and
,he abolition of the claim of mere seniority to
nromotion, all bring the English system nearer to
our own They still retain those excellent
features which we would do well to adopt from
them, if it is possible to redeem this shred OF
patronage from the bad uses to which 1T Is
usually pnt in Washington. They insist AZ a
sine qua non upon thorough knowledge OF
French, written and spoken, upon good hand
writing and a capacity for pr6cis writing, before
entrance into the service. But these being
given, the Secretary Of State is to exercise his
discretion az to ether claims and qualfca-
TONS all of which are to have their due weight
The system of competitive examination is not
considered well adapted for securing the best
class of public servants in this Department.
1t would require very little change to make
our service az efficient and capable as any in
the world. The system is even now very nearly
unobjectionabe The salaries are large enough
for decent living, and not enough to make
them the object of pecunary ambition. The
theory of appointment is that the President
is free to select from the whole mass of cult
waited and capable citizens precisely those who
are best qualified to represent the country with
distinction and success. 1t is not profession
for lifetime but there il never the slightest
difficulty found in obtaining for the important
posts the very best talent and culture
the country affords, and for the sub
ordinate places educated gentlemen who
are willing to devote q few years to
the agreeable task of gaining a knowledge of
the world under the most favorable auspices;
in both cases, with no hope of permanence or
of pecuniary gain. The only thing in the way
is the ignorant greed of the Yahoo politicians.
who threaten and bully these coveted places
out of the hands of President and Secretary,
and find them Apples of SOdOm as soon as
they have grasped them. If Congressman
would release their hold on these positions. and
if the Secretary of State, always surprising him
capable and honest man. should be left free
TO make the best selections in his reach for all
vacancies, no further legislation would be re-
quired to make our Diplomatic Service AZ that
it need be.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-06-12
Gesu'Uork Daily erib1a'1e.
MONDAY. JUNE 1s. 1871.

The Of the French Government VIII SHORTY oe re-
moved to Paris The orleans Princes have resigned
their seats as Deputies The Prince Imperial Is spoken
of a. candidate for the Assembly NJ Pyat is now said
To be concealed in Paris == The italian Parliament
has ratified the Treaty Of Commerce with the United
sfates-The revolution continues in Guatcmala.==
An American Consul has been assaulted in Manitoba.
- The Italian capital Will be removed to Rome on
July !.
The United States loan makes slow progress in
Europe. = severe tornado has caused great dam
axe in Massachusetts. Mrs Fairs death-waIrant
has been signed and given TO the Sheriff === Two
County Commissioners in Pittsburgh have been fined
and imprisoned for bribery. == steamer has been
burned in Baltimore. === An extensive fire has Oc-
cured at Trout Run, Pa.
The statue OF Prof. Morse was unyailed at Central
Park and enthusiastic meeting held at the Acad
envy of Music in his honor. -== The Spring Racing
Meeting AZ Jerome Park opened brilliantly. == The
Central Oil Works, on the North River were burned.
&c. shot his wife on her way TO church in
Brooklyn, L. ID. 1919 Gold. 112l 1923. 1923. = Their
pomcter, Saturday GO. 100 49, Sunday, 7lo 80, ne
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-06-12

Americans erect statues to their fellOw-cOun-
trymen but rarely. Still more rarely in this
Republic are monuments of any sort set up III
honor of living men and it is not possible to
recall Just now any living citizen of this coun-
,ry more deserving of a lasting memorial
the free-wil offering of men of all shades of
opipion-than the illustriousinventoro of the cleo
tic telegraph. The Inauguration OF the Morse
ttatue on Saturday last, an account OF which
we print this morning, was an event winch
was as noble as it was unique While the
massive bronze stands to commemorate the
service which the great inventor rendered to
civilization, it cannot be said that our genera
ton is altogether ungrateful
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-06-12

Under the caption of Mathematics for the Peo-
plep The Public School Journal of this city asks the
following conundrum: Messrs. Hall, Connolly
Tweed, and Sweeney, who have made themselves
the custodians of the public purse, under the
name and title of Board OF Appor
tionment,' have decided that the Depart
ment of Public Instruction shall not be
permitted to take for its wants this year more than
$780,, 75O The estimate of the Board of Public In
structon shows that for this year the sum of Slsi
coo will be required for teachers salaries alone Now
as the Department of Public Instruction have mel
ther reduced the force nor cut down any OF the Sal
aries we would like some taxpayer with ma'no-
NAUTICAL turn of mind to explain how they are golis
to steer clear of becoming hopelessy bankrupt 90,
htions. with the names of those sending them VIII
appear in our next" ..II
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-06-12

|. The Citv and County of Now YORK pdeht-
oo1 - oroo> QUO Isavs the ContrOller) SS2,05S,-
-tA ~ oil Of this aggregate, sl77S4,063 con-
| 80 sc stocks and Bonds now held by the
| Con,r,;s0;oners of the Sinking Fund-that il to
COW NV the City herself-which is of course to
bo deducted, leaving actually owed but
eeA s74.G5i. Then, again, further sum of
| sto9f5,5OO is reported Temporary Debt"
incurred for certain Street improvements,
which individual property-Owners are expected
to repay. But we note that nearly Three Mil
lions of these are designated "Central Park
Com. Imp. bonds" or department of Parks
{" Imp. bonds" which we guess the City will
have to pay so that we are not sure that the
note which asserts that they are payable
" from assessments" is not misleading. If
they are assessments upon the Central Park,
who will pay them but the Cityf
Messrs. NJ. o. Roberts, John j. Astor g. Co.
(of course, putting faith in the Controllers
figures) last Fall certified that the entire City
Debt was S69,005, 498 whereof $20,36l oil was
owned by the Sinking Fund, leaving the City
actually in debt but $4S GA 4S7. We are uB-
able to reconcile this statement with tho ex-
hibit now made. They closed with the asSer-
ton that "At the rate at which tho Tedemp-
" ton of this Debt has been provided for
during the period of the Office of the pres
cent Controller, the whole City Debt, as
"above, will be extinguished in less than
"twelve years" Can they have meant the
merit twelve years 1t seems to us that
twelve hundred years would not suffice to ex-
tinguish the smallest conceivable debt at the
rate Of our present progress.
Mr.. Connolly, we must presume, meant to be
lucid and instructive. 1t must, therefore, be
the fault of our ignorance: but when he speaks
of $1,000, 900 Accumulated Debt bonds" we
do not understand him. How was this large
amount Accumulated ~ For WHAT BY
whom Has it been accumulated" by the
private settlement of claims against the City 7
If yes, who were tho benefciares of such
settlement9 Give us light! The $3,2OOOOO
incurred in building our new Court House
must have been lavishly dsbursed for, surely,
no one who needed palace and had oceans of
money would give $2,OOO,OOO for that structure.
We should consider $1,0OO,OOO much nearer its
true value. How, then, came the City to owe Six
Millions and q Half of accumulated debt"
May we know7 Mind that there is another
item of $2,745,000 for Floating sDebt Fund"
stock.
The seditious riots of 1868 appear to have
cost the City $1,843,C0O, all of which she still
owes. Our CrotOn Water-Works, Central Park,
Lunatic Asylum, &c, have cost many Mil
lions, and are well worth them. SO far, well.
But it is plain that, while the Nation is
steadily reducing both its Debt and its Taxes.
our City is going large on the opposite tack.
She owes more than she ever did till now, and
her Indebtedness is still increasing. AT all
events, it was, down to the list of May.
Are We 20 have a New Departur" in Finance
as we'll 40 in Democracy We surely ana
sorelv need it.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-06-12
TO CONSUMERS or COIL.

There is danger that consumers of coal, IN
their anxiety to escape the extOrtion of those
concerned in the production of the article,
may commit the error of being over cautious
in their purchases. Many persons suppose
that, as the miners are all at work in the
coal regions, the supply will henceforth be
large and the exceedingly low prices of last
November again prevail. Hence it is that re-
tail dealers in coal complain of slack de-
mand, wholesale dealers find difficulty in dis
posing of the regular supplies from the mines,
and prices are lower than could be expected,
all the circumstances being taken into con-
sideration. Without any desire to influence
the price of coal one way or the other, we
invite attention to a few facts which have an
important bearing on the question of the flu
ture relations of supply and demand.
The quantity of anthracite coal sent to mar
ket from the 1st of January to the present
date is 100000 tuns short of the amount sent
in the corresponding period of 1870, the totals
being 5,S00,000 tuns in 1870 and 100000 tuns
in 1871. The increase in the quantity of btu
minous coal sent to market is only 100000
tuns in favor of 1871. Purchasers in those
sections of the Union reached by anthracite
have taken 2,75O,0O0 tuns of coal less than in
1870, taking both sorts into account. Now,
there is no reason to suppose that the Eastern
and Middle States are going to burn
less coal in 1871 than they burned
in 1870. On the contrary, the average
rate of increase in the consumption has of
late been about 100000 tuns year. During
the remainder of the season, if the market is
kept well supplied, production must regain the
100000 tuns which it has lost on account of
the strike.
Last year, from the LIST of August until the
1st of December, the end of the season, all
the regions were at work, there was no inter-
ruption from strikes, and coal was poured
into market at the rate of over 100000 tuns a
week. What we gain this year must be mostly
won between this and the LIST of August, or IN
the next seven weeks For the last week re-
ported lending June 81 the figures were $4,000
tuns, against $4,000 tiins for the corresponding
week in 1870. Then the schuylkill region was
idle, cutting oil about 10000 tuns week from
the supply. AT present the Lehigh region IL
| standing still. no agreement having ~ YET
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-06-12

manner of doubt that the white avengers
would have brought swift charges to
the military authorities themselves. But
the exterminators who, according to Arizona
report, had already declined to turn out and
pursue q raidng party of Apaches were not
willing to leave to the military the punish
ment of the Indians on the reservation, but
sailed forth and killed men, women, and chill
dren. This proceeding, done quite out of hand, as
it were. is now sought to be justified upon 1ne
pretext that the Indians had been commituhs
OutrageS; as if the military guard when pro-,
tected them could not also have givo" ',o
alarm had they made savage raids OH '"o 'o'-
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-06-12
THE MIDLAND RAILROAD.

We understand that Gov. Hoffman hesitates
to sign the bill extending State aid to the
Midland Railroad, on the ground of popular
aversion to pay taxes for the promotion of
local improvements. The principle here recog-
nized is sound, but we deem its application
mistaken. We deprecate reliance on the State
to originate any Railroad OF kindred work,
no matter how urgent its necessity. The State
il not, us the Union is, the owner OF vast
areas of unpeopled territory, whereof the
value is quadrupled whenever it is first
traversed by Railroad; she cannot, therefore,
afford to do for such work what the Union
often can and should do. But the farmers of
the rural and hitherto secluded region mainly
traversed by the Midland have taxed them
selves heavily in aid of this work. they have
raised over S6,OO0,0OO toward its cost and the
State is now asked to add barely S1,OOO,OOO-
her first and last contribution. 1t seems to us
that the inevitable enhancement of taxable val
ues throughout the region trayersed by this Road
fairly entitle it to the State aid provided by
tho bill now before Gov. Hoffman, and that he
may wisely and providently accord it. We
hope to hear that he has decided to do 80
in which case we expect to ride on the Mid
land from this City to Lake Ontario some time
next Summer, and to rejoice with its friends over
an achievement for which they have labored
80 patiently, 50 arduously, and so efficiently.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-06-12

been arrived at between the miners and oper-
ators. The supply now coming to con-
sumers is consequently reduced $4,000
tuns week below what it would
be were all the mines worked. 1t thus appears
that all we are now gaining is the difference
between what Schuylkill and what Lehigh
strike keeps in the ground, viz, about $4,000
TINS week. There certainly seems to be a
possibility that October and November may
find the market inadequately supplied, es-
pecially if the consumer, by holding off too
persistently, depresses prices to degree suili-
cient to check production.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-06-12

An American Consul in the Winnipeg coun-
fry has tragically revenged insult to his d.
plomatic dignity. A violent assault having
been made rpon his person by drunken
soldier of the Dominion, the grieved repre-
sentative of the great Republic fed to his
consular quarters and-hauled down the
Stars and Stripes We do not understand
that the flag was lowered as token OF sur
1ender to the intoxicated Winnipegger, nor
yet because the Consul by that act withdrew
violated dignity from the soil of the Dominion,
but the Banner of the Free happened to be
flying in honor of the Queens birthday. There
S. something heroic in thus refusing 10 honor
the birthday of a Sovereign whose drunken
soldiers are also abusive.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-06-12

THE TRIBUNE makes it a ground of railing
against the Virginia Legislature that some OF Its MEM
beers voted to have portrait taken Of Robert E. Lee
World.
The World lies as usual. THE TRIBUNE
has done no such thing. 1t was The Wortd
which stated that majority of the present
Legislature of Virginia had, by party vote,
ordered a 5000 portrait of the distinguished
Rebel Gen. Robert E. Lee, and refused to
order like portrait of the eminent Union
General and Virginian, George II. Thomas.
Hereupon, The TRIBUNE" railing" at no
one, finding no fault with either vote-simply
asked The World to complete its statement,
by saying which party had so voted to honor
Gen. Lee and disparage Gen. Thomas. The
World dare not state the simple fact, but does
not hesitate to tell dozen lies to evade it.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-06-12

Hard upon the announcement of the resig-
nation of their seats in the Assembly by the
Orleans Princes comes an absurd report that
the Prince Imperial-he of the Baptism OF
Fire-is to be put forward as a candidate for
The Assembly. The story has an element of
absurdity in it; but to see this child put for
ward by the adherents of the imperial pre-
tender at Chiselhurst would certainly be so
grotesquely funny as to move alike the pity
and the mirth of ChristendOm.