New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-06-02

thermometer in this city yesterday, 81, 10, 640
--
Persons arranging to lcare torn for the Spring
and Sammer months can hare THE DAILY
TRIBUNE mailed to them at any address, and
ctanged as often as they may desire, postpaid,
for 81 month.
Notwithstanding the letter of ex-GOv. Hayes
declining to run against Judge Taft for the
nomination at the Convention of Ohio Repub-
leans he is likely, his friends think, to receive
the highest vote to-day.
The Commission appointed to investigate
Canal construction having visited the localities
and seen for themselves the defects and frauds
of the work, are now about to call their wit
nesses. There is much to be told, aud their
sessions, which are to be with closed doors,
are likely to be protracted.
The public can afford to look on calmly at
the war between the railroads for the carriage
of the mails, since the POstm asterGeneral Is
determined to give the contract to the road
that is able at equal cost to give the best ser
vice. For the present, victory pcrches on Col.
SCOTS banners, but it will not be surprising
if the enterprising BaltimOreans start new
attack.
Lord Derby was very easily frightened. If
we may credit the denial which We now have
from Berlin, Germany, although troubled by
the fact that France was arming, neither en-
tertanei the idea of going to war nor intended
to request q reduction of the French forces.
This statement is worth as much as most. Off
cial denials, and we will be toleraby safe in
assuming It's correctness. Most of the recent
excitement appears to have been raised out
side of the countries chiefly interested i'll the
matter
It must be wounding to the tender sensibili
ties of Commissioner Smith and Secretary
Delano, that their aboriginal guests seem to
place so little confidence in their words The
chiefs were willing to sell their right to
hunting grounds in Nebraska. The differ
ences as to price were adjusted. Every
thing seemed lovely, when Spotted Tail an
nounced that one thing was wanting-the
money. He proposes to be paid, this time, in
cash, before he parts with his rights. Evil
IDENTITY he has taken lessons from past expert
ence with the functionaries that have him in
charge.
Although only preparatory to the greater
affairs of to-day there were lively times among
the Masons yesterday. They received the
Knights Templar from Virginia, Maryland,
Pennsylvania, Michigan, and this State. There
was an opening of the Grand Lodge at which
the Grand Master made his annual address, and
set forth with facts and figures the undOubted
prosperity of the Order. Then in the evening
there was "a banquet given by Palestine Com
mandcry of this city to st. Johns Comman-
derv of Philadelphia. But all these festivities
and ceremonies will pale before those of to-
day, when $4,000 Masons are expected to Join
in parade, and the highest officers of the Order
in the United States will participate in the
dedication of the Masonic temple, and the
Grand Lodge banquet will fill the evening
hours.
Another of the expedients by which the
Shepherd Board of Public Works saddlcd debt
on the City of Washington is described on our
fourth page. Their certificates of Indebtedness
had ceased to serve in payment of contract
Ors Assessments had been laid upon private
property 80 heavily that owners were giving
up in despair. A bill to extend the time of
paying the assessments was introduced into the
District Legislature. Doubtless such relief was
greatly needed, and was welcome enough to
the tax payers but the bill went little fur
Their. II authorized the issue of District bonds
to the amount Of the assessments. The bonds
were all issued forthwith, though many Of the
assessments were for work not done. The
green eightS,r as these securities are called,
have actually brought the citizens in debt for
impro vements that were never begun. who
shall say that there is want of financial
genius at the capital
The long affidavit Of Mr.. Ingersoll in the
civil suit against VIM. NJ. Tweed, which we
publish this morning, sheds clear light upon
the methods by which the Ring perpetrated
its gigantic frauds upon this city. One of
the principal difficulties hitherto experienced
! in this suit has been due to the destruction of
the accounts, books and papers. Mr.. ngcrsoll
states that he effected his part of this destruc-
! ton under orders from Tweed, and that SINH
lar instructions were at the time given to Gar
vey, Miller and others, accompanied by the
assurance from Tweed that that's Peter b..
Sweeny's advice, too" 1t seems as If
/ the force of impudence could no further
go than it is pushed i'll making the alb
sence of these very documents ground
of defense. Mr. Ingersoll gives the exact fig
ures of the division of spois, which was care
! fully regulated, Tweed getting % per cent,
| Connolly 20, Swecny TO- Watson and Wood
ward each; leaving 80 per cent to Ingersoll
to pay the bills, which were made sufficiently
large to cover this process The actual divis-
ion of the money is described, and on two oc-
casions Mr.. Ingersoll himself handed the par
Gel containing the ten per cent to Peter Ii.
| Sweeny. The witness seems to have made a
very clean breast Of it, telling his story