davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune., 1883-12-12
IRISH AFFAIRS.
A TRIBUTE TO Mr.. PARNELL IN DUBLIN


WHAT lie SAYS ABOUT TIE SUCCESS OF IRISH
AGITATION.
DUBLIN, Dec. 1.-THE banquet gwen 10"
night in the Rotunda at which was presented 10 MI
Parne the National tribute was attended by persons
from all parts OF Ireland and Great Britain, as wen %
from more distant places Five hundred and eighty cN-
cts TO The banquet we're sold Great precautions were
taken TO prevent any but members OF the National League
entering the Rotunda during the ceremonies. Ahons
those present were Messrs Sullivan, sexton " plion
Bgear Grey Healy, OConnOr, and other members Vi
Parliament Lord Mayor Dawson presided MI Da'i'
in the course of his response to the toast Ireland
Nation" said that led by Mr. Parne they might peno,1
themselves on the threshold of heraldng III the
nation Lord Mayor Dawson then read the address 10
Mr.. Panen.
Mr.. Parnell. on rising to reply, was cneereu
for several minutes He referred to the formation o ~
Land League and said Never was there a moyemen5'
fraud in the carrying out OF which there was SO mu'H
Grafton displayed and such an absence OF GLlT nd Tho
law of habeas corpus has been repeatedly violated I1o
significant example being When FS2sSr 9Sssan" If the
liberals wish the Irish TO cooperate win Hleln i
there must he no more coercNS cmissra- ciIisr
lion that we have yet had in this country as a mnI
dcrous blow against the life OF our nation Sems vtIm4
panied 10y untold suorings on the part OF e ,hc
ThreefOurths Of the emgIantS from 1ea W h,os In
last year or two have 9Ge ToI and Montreal
n we are 70 be cmgrated coerced prefer to have
the dose administered by the Tories rather than by W3
in sIcen;s clothing, the wings. The present lr1sh
Executive is characterized by greater mean
ness and incapacity than any OF ns
Earl spencer came 10 ireland as sort o
Inferior botle-hoder 10 Forster. We are not suTpr&ru &
tbot Earl Snrnccr should do his best To initiate the pig
cot cocrcnnst who ever came To ireland, and that he
Should desire to give full play to the unDrdlcd Insult
and passions OF the foreign garrison IN he',o 'o;
We must he naticn II we wish win. Coercion cannot
last forever certain that rests with lrishinca 10
nj general election whether iIp'ih
or Tory Government shall rule England. THIS Is great
force that II We cannot rule ourselves We can cause
England 10 be ruled as choose ., D..
Mr. Dawson presented Mr.. P0rneu with check lor
23sOOO as a national tHhutc
CHICAGO Dec. 1.-THE following dispatch was sent ny
Lord Mayor Dawson TO Alexander Sullivan:
Twelve hundred Nationalist In meeting here IN hnnor
OF Parnc grce, America and send thanks Tor hcI sym
pathy.
Mt Sullivan rcUcd as follows:
Irish America sautes Ireland rc-cchoe' hc cicr' I"l
pa1ci and win never cease struggling with her liberty
until IL Is achieved.
New-York tribune., 1883-12-12
CONTRACTS LET UNDER THE NEW LAW

rNBALASCED BIDS OF THE WORST KIND APPEARING
IN RECENT AWARDS.
Mr. Thompson is trying to create the impression
that he put an end to the system OF unbalanced
bids when the Consolidation Act which went into
effect on April !, 1888, expressly by It's wording
gave him the power to reject all bids This is not
true The system is still in flOurishing condition
in the Public Works Department If the statute
rs ii existed before the Consolidation Act became
law was III any way responsible for the system be-
fore that time as Commissioner Thompson endeav-
ors to make it appear, in what way will he account
forletting so many contracts i'll the same way since
the law was changed A lage number of contracts
have been let on unbalanced bids since April l.
How much the city is losing in this way no one can
tell at present The loss depends in great meas
ure upon the developments under the con-
tract In the first place, the system
causes the city to pay OutraSe0usly
high prices. Then, if the returns on the completed
work vary widely from the estimates the loss is far
greater The law has in DO way been changed III
regard TO preparing estimates And until contract
is finished the records of the Finance Department
will not show just how fictitious were the estimates
on quantities. 1t is generally a good while from
the time a contract is let until the final vouchers
are presented TO the Controller. The whole WORK
of preparing estimates on the misleading character
in charge of the Public Works Department. Some
of this work is done by employees who are paid sal
aries of from So, 900 to So, 900 each. great deal
of it, however is done by persons specially employed
by Mr. Thompson for that purpose. Their bills, In
the case of single Improvement amount to $1,000
in some instances This is assessed on the property
owners, and in some cases figures as part OF the
excessive cost on which assessments are reduced.
EXTRAORDINARY VARIATIONS IN PRICES.
A comparison of the prices paid by the Public
Works Department on some of the sewer contracts
let since April shows the extraordinary vari-
ations that ruled before the law was changed One
firm is paid $40 80 for the same work done by
another firm for 50 As. j. Phelan got Sl65 each
for nine receiving basins on one contract, while
Mutt g. Kearns furnished receiving basins for
cent each. The prices for rock excavation, per
cubic yard vary from l cent to So and for lumber
from cent to $50. On other contracts already
quoted in THE TRIBUNE, for other street work. it
was shown that as high as $50 n cubic yard was
paid for rock excavation and $50 thousand feet
for lumber Very few of the contracts let since
April on unbalanced bids have get been COM
pleted and hence there is way to tell how great
will be the loss to the city.
A PROFITABLE TABLE FOR STUDY.
The following table gives prices on twenty-five
separate contracts let since April l. for sewer work
alone:
New-York tribune., 1883-12-12
DETAILS OF PAVING CONTRACTS.

VARIATIONS IN PRICES WHICH DO not RESULT TO
TIE BENEFIT OF THE CITY.
In executing paving contracts there is small
opportunity for unbalanced bids for the reason that
the Department of Public Works could find no cx-
cuse for false estimates except gross incompccncy.
But the prices paid by the city for the same work
vary in a great degree. Mr.. Thompson always lets
the contract whether the price bid is excessive or
not Thus it comes that Thomas Gearty has been
maid So 4S a square yard for doing the same work
that other contractors did for so per cent less Dur
ing the present year he has been paid for trap block
pavement - % per square yard and GO cents
square foot for crosswalks, both on one contract,
while on another contract for the same work he
furnished the crosswalks for nothing lin case the
estimate was correct, and received - 81 for the
payement-a difference Of over 30 per cent. Some
of these paving contracts amount TO large sums,
$50 900 to 100000, and a small variation in price
makes n great difference in results In thirteen paw
ing contracts let on the same day, the prices varied
in all. II was curious coincidence that the bids
varied so that all the unsuccessful bidders on one
contract were successful others opened at the
same time 1t is evident that system of letting
ont contracts for the same kind of work which
gives such results shown by the following table
docs not operate 10 the interest of the city:
New-York tribune., 1883-12-12
giving additional proof in at least three of the con-
tracts that the unbalanced bids are not checked
nnder the Consolidation Act

John Phean bid large price, 90 cents, for earth
estimated at 5000 cubic yards while he agreed
to take out 1900 estimated cubic yards of rock
at cent yard The probabilities are, according
to the developments in like contracts, that there
are no 1,SOO cubic yards of rock to be taken ont.
On this same contract Denis McGrath bid 81 80 Tor
rock 80 cents for earth and 60 cents for new curb.
Among other peculiar things in regard to these con-
tracts is the fact that James Slattcry, competing
contractor, is bondsman for John Phelan and also
for Denis McGrath. In a regulating and grading
contract awarded to J. D. Miner, only few weeks
ago. he receives the comfortable figure of 50 cents for
earth excavation estimated amount of 4,oOo
cubic yards, while for 1000 cubic yards of rock he
gets 81 63 a cubic yard. His bid on this contract
was $15025. What the returns will show remains
to be seen. The following will show the difference
between prices on two contracts let recently on the
same day:
New-York tribune., 1883-12-12
TREATY BETWEEN CANADA AND FRANCE.
THE COMMERCIAL RELATIONS or THE TWO CoUN-
TRIES TO BE IMPROVED.
icy TELEGRAPH To THE TRIBUNR.l

lBY TELEGRAPH To THE TRIBUNE.l
OTTAWA, Dec. 11.-Sir Charles Tupper, Cana
dian High Commissioner at London viii arrive here this
week from England to conclude commercial treaty be-
tween the Dominion and French Governments Sir A. T.
Gait when High Commissioner in 1873, attempted to ne
gotate similar treaty. but failed. Negotiations were
renewed in 1884, and within the past few weeks the basis
OF treaty to which both countries agree has been esaD
lshed. Canada heretofore has received no advantage
from Engands treaties with France This Is to be RENE
died In order to promote direct trade with France an
dtlona tax has heretofore been imposed on all Canadian
products cent to France through England This tax will
&c removed These concessions made on the under
standing that with the permission Of the BrltiSh Govern
ment Canada accepts French products under the most
favored nations clause also that the Dominion Govern
mcnt remove al yaOrem duty French Wines leaving
only specific duty Of one shilling per imperial gallon
The French also agree TO annual subsidy equal to
the subsidy voted by the Canadian Government 10 csta
llsh direct steam communication between Canada and
France A subsidy OF $4,000 voted by the Cana
dian Parliament last year. although nothing further was
done in the matter.
New-York tribune., 1883-12-12
EFFORTS TO SAVE ODONNELL.
MIR. SULLIVAN ANXIOUS To CoMuUNIcArE WITT
TIE JURY.

MIR. SULLIVAN ANXIOUS To CpNNUNlCAiL Win
TIE JURY.
LONDON. Dec. 11.-Evcry effort is being
made by the friends and counsel Of ODonncl 10 procure
rcspitc from Sir william IIarcOurt, Home Secretary for
the condemned man. Charles Russell, chief o tho coun-
sci for O'Donnc has written letter to Mr. Gladstone
forciIv drawing his attention 10 communication rom
A. NJ Sullivan also OF ODonnclls counsel addressed 10
Mr. Russell In reference to the alleged misrepresentation
by the jury Of Judge Dcnman' language In hs charge
The matter has been laid before Sir William Harcouft
and the United states Government, and Important In
duiries are proceeding In regard Ia IT, ,.
A NJ sullivan writes to The IlH NGV G7-fnr thai " -
essential To him the jurors who l'd and convicted
ODonnc In order that he may ascertain The coIccthc-
OF the statements which have been made ~ MI h-S'll
corrcspondrucc with the GoNcrum mt, hut says ttt "o-
citor Guy l. s unable to 1ud them Mr. sullivan says
he has no doubt tnat the members the Jury ~od come
forward n they knew that the life or death oi ODouur
hung upon the issue For want of this Information Ten
DAYS of the sixteen remaining ODounr since the trial
have been lost. Mr. Guys appeal through The press Tor
the addresses OF the Jurors sent To ID" prucpil
vspapcr. hut published by only one. Mr. sullivan
eIprGssc, udl atlOn a. such treatment, ana says that
all means knowing the Jurors has been denied the DC
fcndant's counsel during aud since The trial.
New-York tribune., 1883-12-12
CRIMES AND TRIALS OF IRIsDIEN.

DUBLIN, Dec. 11.-In the Court of Queens
Bench today before Cmef Justice MAY, the tnal Of
Robert Elliott and other, the charge Of conspiracy to
murder william Smythc. Of Barbayill was continued
After some further formal evidence had been takcn the
cosc for the Crown was closed DR. Boyd counsel FOR the
defence commented upon tho fact that Elliott had not
been tried on the charge OF murder for which he had been
indicted and said that more shallow and unsatisfactory
evidence than that which had been evoked in this trial
had never been given by the Crown in an important
case.
dspata to London containing report Of tho pro
cccdns in the trial of Elliott the case for the Crown
is colap,ng as the approycrs In their testimony con
tIadict cdCl other
SLIGO Dec 1.-THE trial OF Michael Dillon for the
murder of Constable L,tOn, at LOughrea. In August,
ISL was begun here to-day.
-Four of the nine who pleaded guilty yesterday 10
he charge ~ conspiracy 10 murder Martin Lyden, of
(onncmara County galway, were to-day sentenced to
ten years penal scryitude
LoNDoS, Dec. 1l.-MaOr MHJendie the Government
Inspector of Explosives has made official report upon
the explosions the Metropolitan Underground Railway
at the Pracd street and Charng Cross Stations, the
evening Of October 30 lie repeats his heretofore eN
rcsscd conviction that the dynamite used in the charge
mn each case was dropped from the trains In the Pracd
A. case the charge exploded prcmaturcly lie considers
that these outrgrs have distinct connection with those
attempted at Glasgow and elsewhere.
New-York tribune., 1883-12-12
W4y1ED TO MARRY MISS GARFIELD.
rpy TELEGRAPH TO TIE TRIBUNE

CLEVELAND, Dec. 11.-A lunatic from st.
Ious was arrested here this afternoon For several days
he has been caller at the Garfield house. lie claims 10
be lincal descendant Of George Washington Hc says
,t hs pa,nc "a George Washington and he desires 10
marry Miss Moc Garfield at once. The police were IN
formed Of his actions this afternoon ana superintendent
schmitt detailed an officer 10 arrest him.
New-York tribune., 1883-12-12
CORNELL UNIVERSITY INSTRUCTORS.
inv rr,rcp,pu TO THE TRIBUNE. !

DY TELEGRAPH TO TIE iIdhuNi
ITHACA, n Y, Dec. 1l.-At II meetihS Vi 'hu
Executive Committee OF the Board Of Trustees OF Corhe
University last night Charles Dudley Warner was ap
ponted nonresident lecturer recent Enssh tTLae
and Albert H. Toman, A. b., Of johns Hopkins onNci
sy was elected instructor la AngIOSaAoh an" " ''A''
u TOfCssOr COrsOn In his department
New-York tribune., 1883-12-12
IEart6 Rock New cnrbiDg Now flaggin
INUVh NV WI U77'-' wv
] McKim & Son. 20 SO 30 "a ~
i SlattprV --........l 40 AOI .OU 80
NrARLY rnREE rIMEs TnE ESTIMATE.

NEARLY THREE IlMES TIE ESTIMATE.
1t was shown in Sundays TRIBUNE how Commls-
sioner Thompson only five months ago made con-
tract with John Brady to make earth excavations
at 50 a cubic yard. That was only one OF sew
eral contracts on like unbalanced bids made with
Brady. In November, 1881 Commissioner Thomp-
son made a contract with Brady for regulating and
grading in Eighty-eighth-st The total of Brady's
bid was $0,ISO; the amount far earned, as
shown on the Finance Department books Is
s2a,I2O-or IOS per cent more than the
bid, and the returns arc not all in
vet. This, of course, was the result OF the
usual false estimates made in the department The
estimate on rock and earth excavation compares
with the returns so far as follows:
New-York tribune., 1883-12-12
,rouy INTO 4 STREAM AND DRO WNED
IpY TELEGRAPH To THE TRmUNE.l

POUGHKEEPsIE, n. Y, Dee. ll.-hugh Stah-
ton propetoro OF restaurant on M'dSoha'e'' Albany
Ift Caseton last night In light buggy for home The
-, hocaruc frightened on the road, and running away
inset the buggy, when stanton was thrown into sea
oi water from bridge and was urOWhed
New-York tribune., 1883-12-12
SELLING OLD NEWSPAPERS FOR NEW
tnr rrIEGRArn TO TIE rRIBrNE.l

BALTIMORE, Dec. ia large number OF
mon from New York have arrived here with stacks OF Old
y,iooa Police Gd.ete extros issued at the time OF the
celebrated Sullivan Ryan fight In New-orleans' "hen
INV are selling rapidly 10 the gullible rs extras OF a
aYyIv fou,ht battle. They have thus fooled several
tbonSnnd persons. Fully onehar believe contest mas
f,sfA A..n
New-York tribune., 1883-12-12
NOT BOUND TO ACCEPT IMPROPER BIDS.
AN IMPORTANT SUGGESTION BY A LAWYER ,wH
nm

AN IMPORTANT SUGGESTION BY A LAWYER WHO
HAS STUDIED THE SUBJECT.
The law firm of Allison & Shaw has made a
specialty of business relation to the vacation and
Modification of assessments for city improvements.
Mr.. Shaw, when asked yesterday about his expert
encc in these matters, said
"The number of unbalanced bids for contracts
before 1850, when Commissioner Thompson came
into control, was comparatively small The old
Jobs of work which the city began to do by days
labor before 1873 were many of them unfinished
when the Charter of 1873 went into effect. These
fingered along for several years but had nearly all
been completed in 1850. Therefore since Mr..
Continued ON second PAGE.
New-York tribune., 1883-12-12
MR. SKINNER AND THE TRADE DOLLAR
10y TELEGRAPH TO THE rRIBUNE.I

WASHINGTON, Dec. 11.-Reprcsentatiyc SKIN
uers bin for redemption OF trade dollars differs IN o2o
or two particulars from all the other measures
proposed IN relation that subject IL provides that tho
Treasurer OF any Assistant Treasurer OF the United States
shall redeem trade dollars when presented IN sums of SO
or more He them at the current market Viuo
OF silver bullion OF like weight and equal uencss and pay
for them n standard silver dollars The trade dollars so
redeemed are to bo regarded purchases of bullion
within the meaning Of the compulsory provision OF tho
Silver Coinage net OF February 1878, ana are 10 De TO
coined.
uulsory provision Of the Silver Coinage act gives th
Secretary Treasury power 10 have sch amount OF
silver coined from lime to time he may deem necessary,
md reduces the bullion fund the purchase Of silver
bullion FROM So, ,000, 600 10 ~ ,OOO,Ooo
New-York tribune., 1883-12-12

In this case the total estimate for
excavation was G,G50 cubic yards. while
Is, 800 cubic yards have already been taken out
a difference so great as to lead to suspicion OF
fraud on the face of il. The price paid for earth
excavation, 81 10 a cubic yard, is 200 per cent
more than another contractor offered to do the
work for and to that extent greater than the value
of the work. while the price paid for rock is mp to
the value of the work, as shown by the bids Of
rcDutable contractors.
New-York tribune., 1883-12-12
THE BOLIVIAN COMMISSIONERS.

LIMA, Dee. II, via GalvestOn.-Ll Bien Pub-
leo states that the Bolivian Commissioners arrived at
Santiago Chilli and within fOrtyeight hours after their
presentation arranged peace, the conditions OF which
WOnld enable both armies 10 lay down their The
1000 troops Of CaccreB recognize the present Govern
mcnt. His submission has made good impression
New-York tribune., 1883-12-12

attack formerly directed against the Government on ac
count OF the Alabama claims settlement and said he be-
leyee that that convention one OF the highest tr
umphs Of diplomacy
New-York tribune., 1883-12-12
POOR PERSONS CRUSHED TO DEATH.

TUUh PEhSUNS CRUSHED To UEhIH'
Moscow, Dec. 11.-An immense thrOng OF
poor people gathered to-day before the house OF a
merchant lately deceased TO receive the money that If
usually distributed at the demise Of a wealthy person
The pressure great that several persons were
crushed TO death and four severely injured
New-York tribune., 1883-12-12
CANDIDATES FOR SERGEANrArARMS.
ley TELEGRAPH To TIE TRIBUNE,

ALBANY, N. Y, Dec. 11.-Newton Dexter OF
this city, announced to-day that he Is candidate Ior
sergeant alarms of the Assembly For two years MI
nextcr has been one Of the clerks of the Republican
state Committee George A. Goss, OF Monroe County,
who at one time held the oce Is also Candidate lor 'o
,.aitin an
New-York tribune., 1883-12-12
MR.. TENNYSON,S TITLE.

LONDON, Dec. lit is reported that the
poet Tcnpy sons tile will be Baron TennysOu Deyncourt
OF AldWOrth.
New-York tribune., 1883-12-12
UOMEy,S RIGHT TO gOTE.
tnrnr,rrn.rn To TILE TnInUNE. |

IBY TELEGRAPH To THE TRiBUNEI
ALBANY. Dec. 1.-Superntendent OF Pubic
Instruction Rugglcs to-day, In contested school mees
case hanped down opinion sustaining the law VI ieoA
New-York tribune., 1883-12-12
THE TROUBLES or FRANCE AND CHINA.

ADMIRAL COUIBET MATING FOR REINEORCE-
MENTs-IIE ATTITUDE or GERMANY.
PARIS, Dec. 1.-the Government has re-
c,iyed telegram from Admirable COurbct, dated Hanoi
December . IN which states that ne Is awaiting the
arrival Of tue reinfOICements which board the
transport Corrczc before beginning the attack sontay
and Bac-Ninh
LONDON Dee. 1.-The Paris correspondent Of The
Times Gays after the vote Of yesterday In the Cham
ber OF Deputies the TOnqHin Credits bl China must
abandon all hope Of France retrcatng from the position
she has taking In tho negotiations. Tho tmo has come
for the neutral Powers 10 dspc the Illusion. Of the Chi
nesc upon this point and urge upon China the
sity Of Cancellation.
BguIS Dec. 1.-THE North German GascLe referring
to the statement In speech delivered by the Marquis Of
Harrington, the British Secretary az state for War; at
Accriugnn December l. that the British Government
had received utmatOn from the German Government
that H. willing To cooperate with England O protect
their subjects and interests In China IN the event Of
brtwccn France and China says that Germany has
merely acccdcd 10 desire O the British Cabinet that the
two countries should cooperate with the pro
lection of their respective subjects, and that manifcs
tton either against France China could have
pccn contemplated. The sole object of such cooperation
il to protect Europeans In the event OF outbreak stint
lar 10 that which occurred at Canton.
New-York tribune., 1883-12-12
THE ALABAMA CLAIMS sETTLEME

LONDON, Dec 1l.-Earl Graville, Secretary
Of state for Foreign Anrs, speaking at Loeral meeting
in London last evening referred to auson made to
New-York tribune., 1883-12-12
MIR. ROBINSON SEEKS INFORMATION.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 1l.-ln the House to-day
Mr. Robinson Of New-York, presented resolution OF In
oury calling the Secretary OF the Interior for inform
alton concerning the purchase Of public lands by foreign
nobiemon socaed and titled aliens, with their names
and the amount OF purchased and also for such In
formation ~ may enable tho House to formulate s"en
laws us shall prevent the establishment Of land monopo
lies and landlord systems In our country ana pfo''uo
against having the public domain fall under tho power
aliens also calling the Secretary OF state Tor hora
ton concerning theArrcs imprisonment anu 'o''o "
Ioh q wh.elocs a citizen OF tho United states and resh
a.,t ~ Brooklyn by the Government Of Venezuela IN
1879 and the steps taken TO have wheeiocks ciaim
acknowledged by yenezuelai also calling on the sanss
New-York tribune., 1883-12-12
PRICE THREE CENTS.
FEDERAL CAPITAL TOPICS.
SENATE REORGANIZATION.
fBY TELEGRAPH TO THE rRrBuyrI

THE MATTER PROBABLY TO BE DISPOSED OF TO
MORROW.
New-York tribune., 1883-12-12

Continued on second Page
Daily Los Angeles herald., 1883-09-05
President Arthur Joining In.

LAKE MIxsErosKA, Mimi, Sept. A.
The Hotel Lafayette is filled with the
guests Of St. Paul, who will attend the
banquet given this evening in honor of
Henry Willard and party. The dis
tinguished party which had already
gathered to aid this city in her celebra-
tion. was this evening augmented by the
arrival Of President Arthur, General
Sheridan and party.