davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-12-17
HOUSE COMMITTEE ON RULES.
AN EXPECTATION THAT 1T WILL REPORT IN FAVOR
OF ADDING TO CEBTAIN COMMITTEES
IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUSEI

An EXPECTATION THAT 1T WILL REPORT IN FAVOR
OF ADDING TO CERTAIN COMMITTEES
IBY TELEGRAPH THE TRIBUSEI
WAsHINGToN, Dec 16.-To-mOrrow will be the
third Monday in the month aud motions To suspend
the rules Of the House will be in order; but II Is
generally expected that the House viii adjourn
early upon the announcement of Mr. HaskelPs
death. although illness had prevented HIM from
taking his seat this session. Mr.. Reagan and other
prominent Democrats expect that the Committee
on Rules Will submit report tomorrow, which
will provide for the continuance duringlhe present
Congress of most OF the select commtteW
established, and also for the creation of now
standing committee TO be known as the Committee
OF Rivers and IIarbors.
Since the increase IN the number of Representa-
tives there has been considerable talk in favor of
adding to the membership of some OF the standing
committees that OF Ways and Means,
which is now composed of thirteen members. Aud
a few ambitious Democratic statesmen express lhe
hope that the forthcoming report 0l TIE committee
On Rules will provide some additional places on
desirable committees
Seven of the standing committees now consist OF
Is members each. Experience has shown that
number 10 be quite as large as adeccnt regard Ior
the public business will warrant: ,
It's sometimes extremely difficult to secure TIC
attendance of a quorum of a committee OF ID mem
bers.
The committees on Banking and Currency, For
sign Affairs Military Affairs, Naval Affairs, Post
Offices and Post Roads, Public Lands, Indian
Affairs Territories Mines and Mining, Coinage,
Public buildings and GroJnds DlStilct Oh COIulnla
.nd several others of less Importance, now c3nhist
Jf l. mcubers each and il is thought not WhOhy
improbable that the Committee on Rules may re-
commend an increase in the membership OF some
them.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-12-17
HOW CONTRACTORS GET RICH.

TAXPAYERS SUFFERING HEAVILY FROM THE
OPERATIONS OF J. W. o'GRADY AND OTHERS.
The unbalanced bid system, growing out OF false
estimates prepared by the Department Of Public
Works. from like cause led to similar results in
the Park Department. This was duo TO the fact
that street improvements in the Twenty-third and
Twenty fourth Wards are under charge OF the Park
Department, while elsewhere in the city they arc
under the exclusive charge of the Public Works
Department 1t thus comes about that the same
system of unbalanced bids made headway in both
departments. Commissioner Wales, in the Park
Board, however made an effort to stop the award
on one of these contracts That led to
the exposure ia the Board of tho method
of preparing false estimates, and IL was followed by
the quick removal of of the engineers employed
in the department Since that time there has been
a marked Improvement in the contracts and tho
estimates have not varied with the fnal ceturns to
any snch alarming degree as before.
No effort has been made in the Public Works De-
partment TO check the growing evil there bus
apparently the unbalanced bid system has met with
the full approval of Commissioner Thompson. Be
fore the exposure in the Park Board the prices
paid on different contracts made within two
OF three years for the same work varied in
an extraordinary manner. j. w. OGrady was
paid $50 cubic yard on one contract Tor
rock excavation, and S12 a cubic yard for the mo
work on another contract. For like work q.
Murray got $5 q cubic yard on one contra
so cents a cubic yard another. For rec
basins Bernard Mahon was paid 81 each a. J..
B. Deylin 800 each. For manholes the
varied from 81 to S55 each, and for lumb
thousand feet from cent to $i5.
THE swIYDuNG o'GRADY CONTRACT
An outrageous contract illustrating the working
of this unbalanced bid system, was that made ou
bids opened In 1881 for asewer in one-hundred"il-
thirty-ninth-st. This contract wns given to D. W.
O'Grady who had relative in tho engineer corr Il
the Department. Mr. O'Grady has received bLl-
anced bid contracts from the Public Works De-
partment; and, In fact, the same contractors APP
pear to have done work for both departments. Tho
estimates for the principal items and the bids on
the contract for the one Observation-Disclosures
st. sewer in thePark Department were rs followSi
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-12-17
4 HERMITS MYSTERIOUS DEATH.
[BY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRrBUSE.I

TOLEDO, Dec. 16.-WOrd reached this city
late this afternoon OF strange fatality which occurred
near Curtss station, the Wabash and Lake Erie Rail
road, ten miles from Toledo About mile and half
south Of Curtis lived TON" Hayes, hermit, who
owned small property the woods and lived by himself
In hut. He would permit any one to trospaSs
upon his property and threatened to shoot one who
might So He therefore let severely alone by his
nedchbors the of whom lived about half mile
from his hut. Last Tuesday afternoon this neghbor.
German saw bright light in the direction OF llayess
hut He and few others started toward il, and found IL
In flames; but remembering Hayess threat, II was some
time before they mustered enough courage to go upon the
premises Thinking, however, that they might render
him assistance they finally approached the cabin ana
found Hayess body lying upon the floor The naes pre-
vented rcscuing him. however and hc burned
crisp. Some OF the neghbOrs OF the opinion that
HAYES was murdered, and. the cabin, with his body
burned to hide the The body too badly burned
10 nd any OF wOund and s quite probable tnJ
the cause OF death will always be u mystery.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-12-17
4 MINISTER RUINED BY SPECULATION
fay TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.


TOLEDO, Ohio, Dec. 16-A sad case came 10
light here to-day. The Rev. Mare Emery entered 'ne
ministry several years ago. He was young man 0.
talent with bright prospects, and was placed In charge Oh
he Methodist Church at Smiths Ferry, Ohio, about t"o
years ago. He gave general satisfaction and left the place
with an unsued reputation to transfer bis abors 10 'he
First Congogaton Church at Sugar Grove, Pennsya
MIA This was about months ago. He was young anu
handsome, and became a general favorte, especlaly
with the ladies Of his congregation One DAY early III
November Emery hired livery carriage and drove west
ward from Sugar Grove and since that time no mas no
been seen In the vicinity. Three weeks passeu
and nothing being heard from him his affairs were looked
info IL was discovered that he had left debts peinn
him 10 the extent OF $500 This included note lor TlOo
indorsed by NJ. B. POwley, note on the sugar uIoI9
Savings Bank. for 500 and other notes hedDy ploi
nent citizens together with board bill Tor SZ iue u
poor widow He left behind him property Vainod
$3.50 which includeda horse carriage, harness. colns
books sermons and other dTticlcs. MI.
These were sold at public auction three weeks ago
library netted S100 Emery's salary, amounting 10 SEoo
was ist about due him when he disappeared therefore
his excuse Tor his sudden departure could nary nnNe
been financial embarrassment. The vehicle Win "uyn
he departed was found after at the neighbOnE VIZ
lage OF East Hickory. Emery now turns up ~ lOeuo'
and has written letter TO his former parlshonerS az
Sugar Grove asking for their forgiveness lie says ne
was ruined by speculation, and has been wandering ABOUT
from place 10 place In IA crazed condition lie Is NO"
without home and friends, and is penncsj.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-12-17
THE POLITICAL RIOT IN. EW-ORLEANS
STATEMENT OF ONE OF THE PRIsoNERS-CAPTAIN
FORTIER'S ATTACK.

STATEMENT OF ONE OF THE PRIsoNERS-CAPTAIN
FORTIER's ATTACK.
NEw-ORLEANs, La, Dec. 16.-J. d. Houston,
now in the parish prison. makes the following statement
AS chairman OF the Executive Campaign Committee
Of the Mel Emery faction of the Democratic party 1t was
nv duty on the day Of the recent election TO receive all
complaints and visit the various polling places through
out the city, In the performance Of that duty rode In
cab alone to the Seventh Ward poll. During my stay
disturbance occurred, followed by pistol shots Moving
from the spot where the disturbance was going on and
while walking across Moraes-st suddenly found my,
self confronted by Captain Forter and within short
distance of him. He held pistol In his hand, and m
stantly, without provocaton or warning, hred point
blank al me the bali striking my breast fully and square
w. and leaving under the impression that IL had enter
ed my body. Believing myself wounded made an cA-
animation possible and found that the ban tOi
Fortier's pistol had struck button on my walscoat
crushing It. cutting through thickness OF my vest,
lodging In the other, and causing severe confusion on
my chest Learning later In the day that an order id
been issued for my at surrendered myself
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-12-17
Mr.. wALEs,s EFFORT TO STOP THE swISbLE.

MR. wALES's EFFORT To STOP THE sWINDLE
Commissioner Wales, who had not been long in
the Park Board when the bids for this contract
were opened in 1851 had his suspicions aroused by
OGrady's bid, and tried to stop the award Of the
contract. Ono of the engineers was removed on
suspicion of colluson with the contractor in making
out tho estimates Mir. 0'Grady however, gave
notice that he would apply for mandamus to COM
pel the Park Board to award him the contract. The
CORPORATION Counsel was requested to oppose the
application. He replied, that while he fully appre-
ciated the evils resulting from unbalanced bids he
must decline to oppose the application for man
damus on the ground that "thc prevailing opinion
was that the lowest bidder had an absolute rightto
the contract"
As the Corporation Counsel declined to oppose the
applcation for q mandamus the contract was
awarded to O'Grady, and, OF course, 1t turned out
that instead of ten cubic yards of rock he took out
n much larger number. The total was 29S yards
and he received on that sIA,ss5, and on his en-
tire contract sI6,lJ6-nearly Serea hundred per
cent moro than his total bid. If the estimate had
not been fictitious there could have been no such
loss TO the city.
As showing how the success Of unbalanced bids
depends upon false estimates contract given to
OGrady by tho Park Department for sewer
in Observation-Disclosures furnishes
q good illustration. In this he bid
called for 100 cubic yards aud the returns showed
that only 80 cubic yards were taken out. Hence
while Mr.. OGrady's total bid was $6,42i he only
earned $5,SS5. This was the result OF the action
taken by the Board in the previous case.
SIXTY PER CENT MORE THAN HIS BID.
A contract made by the Park Board in April,
1851, with Bernard G. Murray for sewer In One
hundred-and- and-thirty-sovcnth-st. is another one
founded on misleading estimates and unbalanced
bids In this case the estimates called for 80 yards
of rock excavation, but the return showed that S6s
wards were takeE cut. OF course on this item
Murray's bid was high-$5. Eight other bidders
offered to take out for less money-two bids
being for $2 cubic yard and two for S3.
On another item in the estimate, cement Murray
was next to the highest bidder and nearly as much
again was furnished as the estimate called for. But
the prices paid under this contract were not so ex-
cessive as in many instances in the Public works
Department. Murray's total bid was -~o,oso ans
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-12-17
REORGANIZATION OF THE SENATE.
tEPUs1AcAN CAUCUS NOMINEES TO RECEIVE THE
PARTY VOTE.

tEPUBLIcAN CAUCUS NOMINEES TO RECEIVE THE
PARTY VOTE.
IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUSE.l
WASHINGTON, Dec. 16.-The motion to proceed to
q election of officers Of the Senate viii be opposed
thcDemocrats tomorrow, and allowed to lie on
ne table until the following day, in order to give
Them an opportunity to hold u caucus and deter
nine their course in regard to reorganization. The
umors that Senator Malone and those of his col
eagues who voted in the Republican caucus for
lhe nomination of Gorham will prevent the cleo
tion Of the caucus nominees by absenting them
selves from the Senate chamber during the casting
Of the vote. are pronounced TO be without founda-
zion and to be mere idle gossip. The Senators who
opposed General Mahone's candidate feel assured
that the caucus nominees will receive the full party
vote. They. seem TO think that General Mahone's
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-12-17
RUMoRs ABOUT FRANCE AND HAYTI.

TO the Edtt0r or The TrtoHHe'
SIR Advices from New-YOrk bring rumor
that President salomon is making overtures TO
France for the annexation Of Hayti think IL VIII DO
found that the French cOnsus have for long time been
laying the train for annexng that island As rule tney
French consus) are restless, intriguing BODY rs VIII
ness their dongs in Tunis, TOnqun, Madagascar ec'
Their adyancement-he red ribbon 80 dear to French
mans heart-depends upon their success In intrigue
trust that our Government w without any tergvers-
tom at once make it known that will not allow ne
annexation Of Hayti to any hrstclass Power we must
never forget that the spirit that animated the Frencn 10
annex Mexico in order TO arrest progress as Natoh
still exists The French hbustering In various parts
Of the world must that they do not come Wtnlh
our jurisdiction.
pan sooner later destined to ose or to be forced
TO sell Cuba We should make 1t o cGstS bett were she
TO sell It to either France England There can be but
one purchaser OF Cubathe United States. We must act
with the same rmness with regard to Hayt ana not al
low any Grsclass Power to get possession orlt' INC
darling project OF the FrenchtO unite the Latin races
under the leadership of Francois designed 10 De cou
terpOse expansion. We cannot allow elIner TnB
land France TO within our lurlsdlcIiOn eI
keep what they have. The status quo SUITS u.s. IOr
works in our favor Even Germany, II she becomes lIsC-
class naval Power, must not be permitted 70 annex & VI
purchase within province. trust, MI EuItoI, YOU
viii be able to support these views m your powerr
nal. L.
Paris, Nov. Is, 1888.
I'VE might be able to do. so if these boulevard
rumors did not impose so heavy tax upon credu-
1itv-E6
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-12-17
A NEJV TRUNK LINE.
THE BUFFALO, NEw-YoRK AND PHILADELPHIA
DELAWARE, LACKAwANNA AND WESTERN
TRY TELEGRAPH TO TIE TRIBUNE

TIE BUFFALO, NEw-YORK AND PHILADELPHIA
DELAWARE, LACKAwANNA AND WESTERN.
[BY TELEGRAPH TO THE rRIBUNg.l
BUFFALO, Dec. LEON November % dis
patch from Philadelphia sad ut is reliably stated tha'
negotiations have been completed by which the Buffalo,
New York aud Philadelphia and the west shOre
are to be made part Of new trunk hDe'
The Buffalo road IA to join the Andrews road
at Newcastle and thence go to Akron, o. From that
point railroad 65 miles long Il be built 20 Chicago
Junction. where connection will be made with tho Balti-
more and Ohio. Tho line 10 be built Is to be put
under construction ut once, aud oil the roads
ydeyote per cent OF their gross New England busl-
ness towards the interest bonds The Buffalo, New
York and philadelphia and the West shore. will soon
begin building the road from Brocton on the Inc oil inc
former Cleveland there Join the Cleveland Columbus
Cincinnati and indianapolis 20 give the West Shore Road
a Southwestern outlet"
The dispatch contained number OF errors The roads
interested had not then cOmpttod their arrangements
THIS WAS accomplished within short time how
ever, and OF the hnppicst dreams OF Presi-
dent J. W. Jones and General Manager
Oliver Watson since their Identification with the Buffalo.
New York and Philadelphia Is now TO be realized
The arrangcment or plan haS Two
eaaGs t nf be 4 me Of dm 1fiS the @ ' is' p
the Buffalo. NewYCrk and Philadelphia Thi. system VIII
used 10 Olcan and thence over IL Rochester division
the Lackawauna and Pittsburg 10 Perkins
VILE, where connection WI De 81 haa "a Win i, tHr
The agreements FOR the line have been signed 10y Tue IN
fercnt roads The second branch II for new trunk hnc
which viii begin Win Tue hallihoIo ana ONO , oG'
OF Chicago, over the Wheeling and Lake Eur
TO Akron, the Plishurg. Cleveland ana Toledo 70 Sew
Castle, the Buffalo, New York and Phil1d,phn nom
Newcastle TO Olcan. and thence over the Rochcs-
ter division Of that road to the Mr7t shore June
ton where connection will be made with the
West snorc No specific agreement ha been signed with
West for the that doubts entertain
ether persons.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-12-17
MORE UNBALANCED BIDS.
PARK DEPAR qMENT CONTRA OTIS.
ROCK EXCAVATION PAID FOR AT AN ENORMOUS
PRICE.

MARKED IMPROVEMENT SEEN OF LATE, BUT
SOME MATTERS STILL NEEDING AMENDMENT.
Some specimen contracts made on unbalanced
bids in the Park Department are given to-day.
prompt removal by the New Park Board Of
the engineer who made the estimate for con-
tract on which $50 cubic yard was
paid for excavating rock led to marked inn
provemcnt in the contracts in that department.
The contacts who profited by the unbalanced
bid contracts in the Public Works Department.
also engaged in similar work in the Park De-
partment. There appears to be wide differ
ence even at this time in the prices paid to
different contractors in the Park Depart
ment for the same kind of work and material
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-12-17
EXTR4TAGANC And DISHONESTY.
IpYTFLEGRApn TO TIE TRIBUNE ]

CLEVELAND, Dec. 1G.-George c. Tracy, a
prominent young Iwyer, and well known in society has
left for parts unknown. He has left hundreds OF debts
behind him. and his finely furnished Offices In the Black
son block have been stripped OF their furniture Oy his
creditors His leading business that OF patent attor-
ney and poor mechanics placed their patents Ia his hands
and advanced money 70 have them secured They claim
that Tracy has never done thing and simply put the
money into his own pocket s Walters placed rail-
straghtener Tracys hands TO have patent taken ont
lie was poor man, and II took great deal OF pnchhs
10 raise Tacys and the additional fees OF the Patent
Office He called q number Of tim but Tracy made
some excuse. He has made up hs mind that Tracy
simply placed the money in his pocket Tracys DOWNFALL
resulted from his CXtrayagauce
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-12-17
FLIGHT or AN ACTOR.
JBv TELEGRAPH To THE TRIDUSr.l

CHICAGO, Dec, 16.--Last evening gat McVickers 8
Theatre the curtain had barely fallen the closing act
OF the Glass OF Fashion,, when two consables VINO did
not belong to the play were heard inqurng for Frank
Mordaunt settle outstanding account contracted by
the insolvent " Old shipma,es" Company The agile
Morlaunt who weighs $50 pounds, overheard the con
yersation from his dressing above, and
concluded TO get out Of the building. Hastily selling his
clothes and fastening his gpsack about his neck he made
his escape through the window and by way OF the fire.
escape ladder, descended to the ally. policeman
called to weird white shape 10 halt" but the fleeing
actor escaped. Mr.. Mordaunt departed from the city by
tho O'Clock train The c1nstables waited In the shallow
of the darkened stage until their patience exhausted
and then found their bird had flown hundred miles
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-12-17
rRLSoNERS sLANDER EAcH OTHEE.

FREEHOLD, y. j., Dec. lG.-Since the recent
arrest Of the members Of the DrImm gan Of petty rob
bcrs and their commitment 10 the Monmouth County jail
the prisoners have been making all sorts Of charges
against each other especially the negroes among them
The stories told Of the firing OF business blocks In Red
Bank by different member, OF the certainly false
and there is no reason for believing that Henry Lane
coored man was murdered by Henry Jackson. also col
ored Lane took passage the steamer sea BIRD at Red
Bank for Newly or In September He was under the IN
nneuce nquor the timc aud probably fell overheard
His body found "a the Shrewsbury River near the
Highlands Of Nayesnk several days after he boarded the
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-12-17
O'DONNELL DIES TO-DAY.
HOW HIS LAST HOURS WERE SPENT.

HE SMOKES AND IS CHEERFUL-AN APPEAL FROM
VICTOR HUGO.
LONDON, Dec. 16.-0Donnell passed good
night and continues cheerful His appetite is fair but he
enjoys smoking more than eating. He was visited this
afternoon by Father Fleming and another priest and was
attentive to their exhortaOns The srces reticenee Is
observed by the prison officials. special guard OF
twentyfour is duty inside the prison day and
night and several detectives stationed outside The
streets In the vicinity Of the prison empty and quiet
Some uneasness being felt about Binnss drop, it was
thoroughly tested to-day and the machinery was again
Overhauled. II seemed to work well The exclusion OF
representatives Of the press from the prison and the d
Guilty OF obtaining information cause much
The execution will certainly take place at o'clock Mon
day morning.
LONDON, Dec 16.-The police leaving duty at the
prison this evening report that 0Donne continues as
hrIn as rock. Every one is much impressed with his
ODOnne is fully prepared to meet his fate, but
has remarked that hs death will be avenged on England
Victor Hugo In his letter to Queen Victoria says that
the Queen OF England has shown more than once her,
greatness OF heart and that the Queen VIII grant the con-
demned man ODOnne his life and accept the unanimous
and profound thanks OF tho civilized world.
Victor Hugo has written to Queen Victoria asking her
20 pardon ODOnnell
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-12-17
HORSEWHIPPED FOR An INSULT.
Try TgLgGEArmroT the rRlBryE. |

10
PEORIA, Dec. 1G.-Last night Mrs. Reynolds,
while on her way home, was iusulted by" Hemp" Boy
Ian. a commission man. Her took friend named
Smith, drove TO BOylaus house, Knocked and asked
Boylan TO step ont This he finally did; whercupOn
young Reynolds eprang upon him and administered an
uun,crcigul horsewhppinr. BOylan danced with pain,
and cried 10 his wife t. bring hi5 revolver She was 40
friItcnel at She dd do IL, and Boylan had 10
dirc iutn Reynolds thOlgit he nd been sufficiently
nunscd Several called at this police station 10
,ay Eynoldss nc and the scandalOus air has created
a great stir.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-12-17
IN MEMORY or LOST FISHERMEN

GLOUCESTER, Mass, Dec. 16.-McmOrial ser
vices for the lost fishermen held to-day at the Uni
versaist Church by tho Rev. Mr. Rider The services
were deeply impressive. At their conclusion collection
Of $40 was taken for the bercsved families As FAR
known these fishermen leave twenty nine widows and
thiriynve children. but the number Is probably much
larger Two vessels overdue " proven 10 be lost
will swell the number Of vessels lost to twelve, with prob
ably l5O men The number Of lives lost during the year
win NOT fall much short OF 200.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-12-17
SUFFOCATED BY GAS.
ley rELEGEArm 10 THE rRIpuXE. ]

BALTIMORE, Dec. 1G.-The Rev. George Nor
rs aye scy enty-ye, former distinguished clergyman Of
the Presbyterian Church, now retired was discovered
this morning In his at his boardngbousc No. 12G
MulDc1y-st unconscious from gas, which he had care
lessly blown upon retiring last night. He died few
hours later or late he had become abscntmndcd and
had blown Out the gas before. lie native of Scot
laal and unmarried lie was prominently connected.
Among his relatives j. H. and ". w. Spence Jr, Of
the wei known shipping firm of Spence, Montague Co.,
baltimore and NewIOrK.