davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The New York herald., 1878-03-29
Tho Case OF Doorkeeper Polk.

We wonder if the democratic party is
going to perish of doorkeepers? 1t hos had
this disease now during two terms of Con-
gress. 1t was made ridiculous by its ''Biger-
man than old Grant," and it is now appar-
emily hesitating before Polk, who seems
to be "Biger-man- -thon-th whole-dem-
ocratic-party. We have read the evidence
about Polk taken before the Civil Service
Committee of the House, and it shows him
to be man unfit to remain n day
in the service of tho House. The ma
jority of the committee, oil prom
inent men, and four Of them DEM
ocrats, recommended that the Office of
Doorkeepcr be abolished and it's patronage
distributed, which would prevent further
scandal and disgrace. But it seems that
Mr.. Polk has patronage and influence
enough to delay the adoption of this sensi-
bic report, which treats him much more
mildly than he deserves; for, instead of
condemning him openly, it simply abolishes
the Office ho has abused. We advise the
democrats in the House not needlessly to
exhibit themselves as The mere tail of Mr..
Doorkeeper Polk. If they have not moral
courage enough to remove q glaring abuse
in the administration Of petty Office of the
House of Representatives they will never
get the country to trust them with the
federal administration.
The New York herald., 1878-03-29

present law by many institutions renders
inoperatIvc in their cases the whole
some provision that no savings bank
corporation shall invest moro than
fifty per cent of its actual net sur
plus in such buildings. Until the full
reports of all the New York banks are re-
ceived their present condition cannot be
satisfactorily compared with their last yenr's
statements. But there is every reason to
believe that the clearing away of some un-
sound institutions has been beneficial, and
that the close supervision indicated by the
action of the Attorney General in the case of
the SixpenDy Savings Bank will secure the
public against any repetition of the gross
frauds perpetrated under o more careless
management of the Banking Department.
The New York herald., 1878-03-29
Tho Papai Consistory.

Pope Leo held his first consistory at
Rome yesterday, the most notable thing in
which was the nomination of the Scotch
hierarchy, although the fact that he con-
fcrred the hat on our fellow citizen, Car
dinal McCloskey, may be of greater interest
to Catholics here. A Pope who will devote
all his energies to the purely religious side
of his station will do more good to his
Church and to the world in general than one
who gives politics large share of his at
tention. So far it would seem that His
Holiness has confined his political action to
quiet endeavors to remove misunderstnnd-
ings with various Powers, which were left
by his predecessor. These out of the why,
and it needs really very little to remove
them, the way will be clear for the cultiva-
ton of religion proper-not religion
plus ultramontanism. The re-establish-
ment of the Scotch hierarchy, SO long in
abeyance, was seriously entertained by
Plus IX., and its prompt carrying out by
Pope Leo shows the bent of his Church
policy. There will probably be nm out
burst of sectarian hatred in Scotland follow
ing this act of the new Pope, and the
extremists may even invoke the old anti
Catholic laws to nullify IL; but the result
The New York herald., 1878-03-29
The City Savings Il q X =.

The suspension of the Sixpenny Savings
Bank, coming Mt the moment of the publ
cation Of the official statements of all the
savings banks in the city, will no doubt in
duce searching scrutiny of the reports
The condition OF the banks generally mp
pears to have improved, If We may judge
from these statements; nevertheless it is
evident that many of them are still fur
from conforming with the provisions of
the existing law. 1t is not satisfactory
to find o bank with q surplus of six
thousand dollars and one item of its
assets, real estate Mt cost, SAL, 900; another,
whose deposits nre over SIS, 900, 600, with a
surplus of a little over $3.50, 900 and bank
ing house and lot among its assets at
$243, 900, besides other real estate at
$155,000. In ono report we find
among banks assets, banking house
and lot, $55O,0O0; other real estate
at cost, $4,000. and surplus OF
$725, 900. This bank holds over ten millions
OF deposits. All these institutions may be
entirely sound and secure. but it is to be
regretted that tho purchase of banking
houses and lots before the enactment of the
The New York herald., 1878-03-29
A Broken Club.

After brief career the Police Athletic
Club has ceased to exist, or rather it will be
permitted to drag on a sickly existence
until the last day of the present month and
will then close its doors on the world and
be at rest When the proposition was made
to encourage the members of the "fnest
police force in the world" in manly sports
and exercises, and to establish gymna-
sium at which their muscle might be de-
veloped, the HERALD warmly approved the
idea We believed that to teach the
mon the manly art Of self-defence" and
to train them in the good temper and gen.
erous spirit which are usually inspired by
friendly athletic contests wonld make them
moro efficient as officers and render them
less likely to adopt an ex-Commissioner's
maxim that brutality is an essential of q
good policeman. But it appears that such
treatment does not suit the force and that
friendly trials of strength and endurance
act upon them as the red flags of the mata-
dores act upon the bulls in Spanish arena.
The project is abandoned because Of quar-
rels and dissensions among the men. A
passion for breaking heads has led them to
try their hands at breaking up the club, and
they have succeeded. 1t is to be hoped that
the closing of the gymnasium will not dis
pose the force to practise their feats of
strength more freely than they have hereto
fore done on the unfortunates who happen to
come within the reach of the official locust.
The New York herald., 1878-03-29
PERSONAL INTELLIGENCE.

Tho latest shade Of pink Is called spank.
Comic papers Of Prussia satirizc Russia.
Bismarck wishes shat England should have Egypt.
The Queens government Is paying $500 for good
horse.
This Is the season OF the year when the milk pail
tans palo milk
After tho Arss sin Eve had leaf Of absence. In fact
she . ticket Of leat man.
Tho Duke OF Somerset has voice like ginger.pop
and a mind equal to the siz.
Mr. Nicolas Shshkin, Russian Minister at Wash.
ingtou, Is nt tho Cinrondon Hotel.
Secretary Schurz Is much improved In health, and
was at his oflcc for bait an hour yesterday.
Bob Ingersoll Is mentioned out West Indian.
He Is kindly thought OF us q sort Of r. Lutte.
sThe whig party will revive" "-Erchange. Do you
think We shall polievo ex.party evidenceY
Tho sky is very blue above; and TO many thou sands
In this country the future is very blue here below
Lord Ronald Cover arrived from Liverpool in the
steamship Abyss,nia and IL At the Hotel Brunswick.
Esop IN one of his fables tells how made soup
out OF stone and some warm water II has boon rc.
produced In an uptown restaurant administration
soup
Mrs. Marla NJ. Kicker, lawyer Of the District Of
Columbia, on Monday, won the acquittal Of ciicnt
charged with murder In the criminal Court OF Wash.
ipgton.
Dunbury Ne,os:-"Dio Lewis says a mao nccd not
sneczc unless he wants TO- Hc has figured Il up and
finds that by not snecziug man save nearly $ll
q year.
An English donkey (nos man, but real donkey
had 0ght with Tho donkey killed tho ram.
This shows that tho "nnis" OF q donkey pow
eriui than the ''pretaco" OF q ram.
G. W. Grimm, who acccp,aby served the govorn-
mcnt as Consul at tho Samoan Islands, has been
transferred TO the FIT Consulate This gentleman
was formerly Consul at Copsnhagcn.
military Court OF Inquiry Is sitting Al Montreal to
iuvcsugste the charges brought against Captain L. p
Berry, Royal Engineers him Of misappropria
ton of funds supplied Tor payment Of his mon.
Senator John Mofrissey LEFT tho Ashland House
yesterday nccnoou, at halipast threo o'clock, for
the steamer st. John, bound for Albany. He Was ac-
compnnied by hts WHO only, and appeared to be IN
much better heath than whom he Lett the city low
months ago for Florida 70 some Of his old fricnds
who called upon him at the hotel, no said --'i am
going up tho river moro propose to tako
rest at Saratoga whic Tor tho sake OF my hoath
and will tako active part In politics for some time
Mr. Morrissey met low Of hts friends at The picr
but requested thom TO allow MIN to depart without
aoy excitement.
The New York herald., 1878-03-29
NEW YORK HERALp FRIDAY MARCH 2s ls7a-YRIPLE SHEET

will doubtless be similar to that which fol-
lowed Cardinal Wiseman's nomination TO
the See of Westminster somo thirty years
ago. There were lampoons in Punch and
much popular excitement; but it all cooled
down. The better sense of the people
agreed that it was not the thing for law to
mcddle with. Lord John Russell, who led
the opposition, suddenly became silent, and
Punch caricatured him as little boy who,
having chalked 'No Popery" on Wiseman's
back, was running away, frightened at his
own temerity.
The New York herald., 1878-03-29

TIN WEATMER.-Thc. depression in the form
Of great barometro trough has moved cast ward
% the Atlantic coast, attended by very heavy
rains and frequent thunder storms in tho South
Atlantic aud East Gulf States. It is now ccn-
Iral ovor New York and New Jersey, and
h followed by gradually rising barom-
etcr. But tho latter docs not extend
westward in o considerable area, and already
che margin of another depression from tho Pacific
n moving into Minnesota. The winds are high
on tho western margin Of tho depression, but in
no case Of extraordinary velocity. An enormous
rainfall has resulted from tho movement Of this
storm. and 1t is probable heavy frcshcts will be
caused in the Mississippi, Ohio and tho Atlantic
blopo rivers. Tie temperature has risen decidedly
In the Eastern zone Of States, but has fallen
In tho West. This decrease will prove only n
temporary ono and We may look for return of
tho high temperatures in the West within ono
Or two days. The weather in New York and its
vicinity today win be cloudy and warm, with
rain, followed by colder and clearing weather.
Homurow It VIII be COOL and partly cloudy or
fhir, With strong northwcstcrly and northcrly
Winds
The New York herald., 1878-03-29
Tn. Public Pork. ana Squares.


The memorial of Mr.. Samuel B. Ruggles
to the Legislature, touching the conspiracy
for the confiscation of Washington Square
will be read with great interest by our
citizens, whose indignation has been SO
strongly awakened by the nefarious at
tempt. In giving brief history of the
laying ont of the modern portion of New
York Mr.. Ruggles has brought together n
strong array of significant facts. They
prove that the wise foresight which en-
powered Gouverneur Morris and his az
sociates, in 1907, "to lay out the
streets, roads and public squares Of
such ample width as they may deem
sufficient to secure free and abundant
circulation of air." and which subsequently
gave stimulus to the opening of our down.
town breathing places, has resulted in a
remarkable increase of the assessed value Of
property in neighborhoods SO ventilated
and improved. When our citizens arc thus
thought devoted by the wise men of the
past to securing these city lungs to be kept
"forever open, the sinister nature Of the
operations of the would-be confscators will
be seen in very clear light. The history of
the successive efforts and impulses which
gave us Washington Square, Gramercy Park,
Union Square, Tompkins Square, Stuyve.
SAINT Square, Madison Square and the whole
system of large parks up town, is succinctly
told in Mr.. Ruggles' memorial. The i'm
portance of all these breathing places in
sanitary point of view has been pointedly
shown by our best scientists; their utility
as the pleasure grounds of large pent-up
population, where the wearied eye may be
refreshed by the sight of natures green
in sward and leaf, has the testimony
of all our citizens; but it is also
worth while looking carefully at the
fact that the title to none of the squares
above mentioned cost the city q single cent.
Two of them, Gramercy and Stuyvesant
squares, were donated by the owners the
others Washington, Union, Tompkins and
Madison squares were paid for by assess
ment on the property holders in the vicin-
ity The appreciated value Of their property
was to reimburse them, and doubtless did,
Wuuo luCOmpaEuUio Ocucut Wtto OcotOWeu
hygienically on the whole city. At the same
time the records prove that the increased
value of property in these neighbor-
hoods led to their assuming still
greater proportion in the payment of
taxes. The lands, then, were taken
for city purposes under the solemn contract
that they be kept forever open;" they
were paid for by the adjacent land owners
on the ground that they bettered their
property. On the strength of the validity
81 this contract the property retains its
high taxable value to-day. 1t is in face
of these circumstances that the fat-witted
conspirators proposed to begin the work Of
confscation by locating their armory job in
Washington Square. Apart from the wrong
to the people, the detriment to the public
health and the robbery of the property
owners, they would lower the valuation to
such an extent that their solitary plea of
'economy"-the economy Of robbery
stands out as brazen impudence.
The New York herald., 1878-03-29

WALL STREET YEsrERDAY.-The stock mar
ket was very active and strong. Gold advanced
from 1O1l the opening price, to 1918. Gov
eminent bonds were dull and somewhat lower,
States dull and railroads strong. Money
on call was easy at 4l2 5 per cent, closing ut
tho latter rate.
The New York herald., 1878-03-29

SECRETARY SHERMAN and Postmaster james
have called in District Attorney Woodford to
aid them in putting Commissioner Davenport
Put of his cosey quarters in the Post Office build
ing. The District Attorney ought to appeal to
General Hancock and the commandnnt Of tho
Navy Yard for n couple of regiments of soldiers
and four or five ships of war.
The New York herald., 1878-03-29

A Compliment 10 Comptroller KAlly.
Yesterday was rather proud day for the
head of the Finance Department Of the city.
The mercantile community makes dis
tinction, of which the HERALD several
months ago set them the example, between
Mr.. Kelly the Tammany politician and Mr..
Kelly the finance officer. There is wide
difference of opinion among our citizens re-
specting his merits in the first named ca
pacity, and o majority of the eminent
bankers and merchants who signed the ad-
dress which was presented to him
yesterday probably repudiate in toto the
methods by which Mr.. Kelly controls the
politics Of the city. But in spite of their
dislike of the politician they are constrained
to indorse tho officer. No person who
knows the city we'll can go through the list
of signatures appended to the address with
ont recognizing the most intelligent, solid
and respectable business men in this COM
munity of all shades of politics. If we have
among us any competent judges of o sound
business administration they are 10 be
found in this list of signatures. Their ad-
dress to the Comptroller is not only de-
served compliment but considerate act of
expediency. 10 q right-minded officer
the highest and most valued reward
of useful service is the appreciation
of the best part of the community, and to
q man who has been accustomed to be
fouted and abused, but seldom praised,
such recognition must be peculiarly grnte-
ful. It is we'll that Mr.. Kelly should know
that he hos two sets of constituents of very
different orders, and when he finds that the
better order is disposed to do him Justice
he is more likely to court their appreciation
than that of the other sort. MIR. Kelly
having by his excellent conduct as On off,
Ger won the esteem of our principal men of
their continued appreciation. Let us hope
that his zeal as a partisan will be
somewhat tempered and abated by
a consciousness that he stands we'll
with that part of the community who are
the only competent judges of his adminis-
tration as an officer. But there is one evil
dence of success which oil alike can UNDER
stand-namely, steady annual reduction
in the rate of taxation. 1t is hoped by tho
signcrs Of the address that next year the
rate may be reduced TO two per cent on the
assessed valuation.
In this connection We call attention to the
Comptroller's detailed reply to the inquiries
of tho Legislature respecting the city
finances. This fresh document contains
much valuable information supported by
pertinent statistics.
The New York herald., 1878-03-29
TRIPLE SH e e II
NEW YORK, FRIDAY. MARCH 30, 1878.

IMPORTANT NOTICE TO ADvERTIsERs.-To
insure the proper classification of advertisements
Il is absolutely necessary that they he handed in
il before eight o'clock cpcry evening
The New York herald., 1878-03-29

THE SuymrFs arc kept pretty busy by the
mconshiners and tho Molly Maguires. Fisher,
executed yesterday at Mauch Chunk, was ono
of tho principal leaders Of the infamous society
which has been for many years the terror of
thc coal regions. A horrible confession was
made by one of tho two brothers hanged in
Tennessee. Although only twcnty-thrcc years
DID he confessed to having shot nine men.
The New York herald., 1878-03-29

PORE LEO yesterday performed the only re-
manning ceremonies incident to his elevation to
the popcdom-namely, his profession of faith
and the taking of the usual oath. lie also de-
1ivered an allocution reorganzing the Church in
Scotland, conferred the hat on Cardinal Nc
Closkcy and appointed two American bishops
The New York herald., 1878-03-29

The SEASON AT Newport this year promises
10 be unusually gay, and, from the preparations
Jhat are making, the beautiful watering place
bids fair to be more attractive than ever. Sew
ernl elegant villas nre building, and the cottages
generally are being improved and beautified.
The New York herald., 1878-03-29

ATTORNEY GENERAL DEvENs, who was asked
somo time ago for legal opinion by the House,
politely replies that all his law is for the Presi-
dent and the heads of departments. His refer
ence to q long line of democratic authorities in
support of his position is a pretty good point.
The New York herald., 1878-03-29

One HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS for the
eighty three pictures of ex-senator Latham, OF
California, sold last evening, was far less than
their cost or their value.
The New York herald., 1878-03-29

The PRICES OBTAINED at tho great horse sale
yesterday were better than those of the first day,
and the sellers as rule are satisfied.
The New York herald., 1878-03-29

THE MASSACHUSETTS contested election case
has been settled by the admission of Mr.. Dean,
which adds another to the democratic majority
in the House. General Butler voted for him.
The New York herald., 1878-03-29

The probabilities are that in Neo York and its
cieinity today /! UiN be cloudy and ,ca,m, ,cih
rain, fotoced by colder and clearing heather. To-
rosroc il sciH be cool and partly cloudy or fair,
with strong nortt,cestcrly and norfhcrly ,cinds.
The New York herald., 1878-03-29

THE WHIsKEY BELL PUNCH made its ap
pcarance in the Legislature yesterday. Its re
J ccption was not very enthusiastic.
The New York herald., 1878-03-29

A COOP DEAL of interesting information is
given in the report of the State Prison Associa-
ton, elsewhere printed. Particular attention is
given to the condition of the insane, the accom-
Wodations for whom are very inadequate.
The New York herald., 1878-03-29

A REDUCTION of one dollar thousand in the
tax OH cigars has been agreed upon by the Ways
and Means Committee
The New York herald., 1878-03-29

Mr.. BLAm's absurd resolutions to invcsti-
gate the title Of the President have been passed
by the Maryland House of Delegates. 1t is
hardly probable that the Senate will repeat the
I'LL
The New York herald., 1878-03-29

Foreign Secretary publicly repudiatesf In
the first place he prefers Russia alone for an
enemy instead of Russia supported by tho
other European Powers that would be
represented in n congress. The other
Powers might so far support the pre-
tensions of Russia that England would find
herself in the position Of resisting their
joint action, and she wishes to escape that
great embarrassment by preventing n
congress, if possible, and by avoiding
ENHANCEMENT with it in any event.
She shuns the responsibility to the
general Judgment of Europe formally ex-
pressed in the decisions or declarations of q
congress. If she takes time by the forelock
and plunges into war with Russia now
she will escape the restraints that would be
imposed on her action by the moral weight
of the assembled Powers. She cannot
afford to fly in the face of the deliberate and
solemnly promulgated judgment of Europe.
and seeks to evade this difficulty by pre-
venting the assembling, or at least fore
stalling the action, of congress. She
thinks she may thus fight Russia without
incurring the reproach of disrespect to the
other Powers.
In the next place, Lord Beaconsfield
probably thinks that the argument founded
on his failure to support Turkey whom she
might havo been q valuable ally is over
strained. To be sure, Turkey is crushed
and helpless but, on the other hand, the
victories of Russia have been won at tre-
mendous cost. Aside from the fearful loss
of life the finances of Russia have fallen
into state of utter dilapidation. She is
in no condition to stand the strain Of
another great war. She needs at least ten
years of peace for recuperation, and Lord
Beaconsfeld probably thinks that if
she is vigorously assailed now in
her weakened condition by nation
whose resources are unimpaired she
cannot long maintain the struggle.
He prefers that England should fight
her now rather than at some future time
when she may have recovered from the ex-
haustion of war which has broken her
finances and destroyed her credit. If Rus
sia is now forced into another great war in
what money market can she negotiate loan
even for paltry million of roubles? But
for the purposes of such war the resources
of England are exhaustless, and Lord Bea-
consfeld's policy is probably Influenced by
this comparative view of the resources of
the two nations.
The New York herald., 1878-03-29
MUSICAL AND DRAMATIC NOTES.


Tho experiment OF shooting human being from
cannon will DO tried Monday evening ~ tho Lon.
don Circus Tho success Of the show thus far has
been very great
The nrss scenic rehearsal Of "Uucle Toms Cabin"
takes place to-day at the Finh Avenue Theatre The
scenery all Mr.. J. Clarke takes his farewell
benefit At tho Filth Avenue this evening He will sail
at once Tor Epgiand.
The success Of Miss Maggie Miscnei a. Fanchon At
tho Standard Theatre has induced tho management to
prolong its presentation indefinitely. Next wednes-
day afternoon special complimentary performance
will be gwen for the enjoyment OF the dramatic pro.
fession.
The experiment OF Mr.. =. b. Pugn In giving opers
by the Pappenhsm-Adams company Al the Phi!Adcl-
ph,a Academy Of Music Al loss than tho New York
theairs prices 10 proving very successful On Tues.
day evening 'Trovasors was sung before largo and
brilliant audience. with Psppcnhcim, Adams and Ads-
iaids Phillips IN the ossI "Robsrs the Devn' 70 70
Be sun1 se-nishts