davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-12-14
CHANGES IN THE BUILDING LAW.

CHANGES IN THE BUILDING LAW
The Building Bureau of the Fire Department
will be unable after January 1 to excuse any
deficiency because of an insufficient apprOpria-
ton. For the present year the law fixed limit
of $3.50, 900 for the pay of that bureau, but I'M
der the Consolidation act, passed by the last
Legislature, the restriction was removed. The
Board of Estimate has appropriated $7S,700
for the bureau for 1S84-more than double
the expenditure of the present year.
There ought to be several other changes
made by the next Legislature in the laws relat-
ing to the Building Bureau. The Inspector
who is held responsible for any defects in the
inspection of buildings, should be permitted to
choose his own subordinates. Now he is
obliged to take such politicians as can meet the
requirements Of Commissioner Croker or Com
missioner Purroy. 1t is unnecessary to state
that the ability to do good work for the city,
and to earn their salaries, are by no means re-
quistes with those two experienced Dem
ocratic politicians. The extent of the Civil
Service examinations required by them is the
production of acquisitions for places signed by
John Kelly or Hubert o. Thompson.
That clause in the statute WHICH now allows
hundred and fOrtieth-st. ought to be repealed.
Below that line it requires the approval Of the
Inspector of Buildings to erect such structures.
If permitted at all the same rule should govern
in all parts of the city. The erection in the
northern part of the city of large frame tene-
ment-hOuses in close proximity to each other
is a source of great danger to life and property.
The size and uses of frame buildings in the
city should be strictly limited by law.
The most important requirement in new
law is one that will secure safety in places of
amusement. The great danger that turks in
such buildings in this city is only family APP
precated The rapid destruction of the old
Park Theatre, and more recently of the Windsor
Theatre and the Masonic Temple, plainly show
what may be the consequence if fire in such
building takes place during n performance.
The requirements for safety in places of amuse-
ment should be plainly stated III the law; and
such places should not be licensed until the
owner can show certificate from the Inspector
of Buildings to the effect that the statute has
been fully complied with. Then in case death
trap is permitted to be used as a place Of
amusement, the responsibility would be clearly
fixed on the Building Inspector.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-12-14
4 MELANCHOLY OUEST.

An account of one of-the most dismal quests
ever made by naval officers was given i'll let
ter from St. Petersburg which appeared in THE
TRIBUNE yesterday. When the news of the jean
nette disaster reached Washington toward the
close of 1881, Lieutenants Harder and Schuetze,
OF the United States Navy, received orders to
set ont for Siberia and search for Lieutenant
Chip and the other missing men of the ill-fat-
ed expedition. That search occupied the sum-
mer aud autumn of 1882, experimenting the
slcdging expedite" of Chief Engineer Melville
earlier in the year. Returning to Iakutsk late
in November without having found any trace OF
the men of the second cutter, Lieutenant HARDER
received instructions to take home the remains
of De Long and his companions With charac-
teristic American energy he made mid-winter
Journey to the tomb in the Delta as soon as he
could obtain permission to remove the bodies,
and returned to Yakutsk late in March. lie ex-
pected to begin his homeward journey at once,
and would have been able to do so IL the Uni
ted States authorities had forwarded alright
coffins to Siberia. Not having these metallic
coffins, he was forced to journey to rkntskto
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-12-14
amus.menis 0o-Nigbt.

.c,nyvy OF DEsIGN-Art Loan EXEMPTION: oo,
ACADEMY OF MUsIc-2--Ph ilna hl1.,,n i'n'"''"
AmEg1S 0Ssn az aonsE~s-"Orpheus and Eurydice'
pp.vsWo-s-" The Beggar STUDENT ,,,A.y
GRASp OPERA HoUsEas0TThe Two 3rPnaMni
HAvhhLi sor. pR frIT S:3O-"Delmers Daughters
MnTRoPoIfTAN OPERA HoUsE-SL," II B Sr1cr1
NEW PARK THEATRE0 ,,Ss-,n,oI rslnoe'' O-
srAYDAnD THEATRES" Estrella"
ar AR THEATRE-S-"KingL Lear"
TuIIII TUEATRE-S-" Fliedermaus. ,.n,.o+,on.p
THEATRE CoMIoUEm2 and 90" cs sTGem Beaten"
VII .cK;s THE ATRE-s-" The Road TO Rum.
sp AVENUE THEATRE-S-"A Partisan kop u
bTp AVENUE THEATRE-S-"M Monte Stlsto'
JzTp STREET THEATRE-S-" Fedora
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-12-14

THE REPUBLICAN, NATIONAL CONVENTION
Ex-senator Frye's plan forapportioning delegates
to the next Republican National Convention had
been made public two weeks earlier, a sentiment
might have been aroused in the Republican
press which would have forced the Commit
tee to adopt it. But the interval was too short,
and the National Convention was so near
that it was possible for the opponents of any
change to dcprecatc it on the ground that 1t
might seem to be in the interest of some one
candidate, or against the interest of some other.
There is no reason, of course why we may not
reach conclusion satisfactory To the whole
party, in the next Convention, upon a basis of
representation that has been followed In all the
preceding Conventions but much will depend
upon the way in which the Southern States use
their power. They will have 30 per cent of the
votes in the COnvcntion,-thcy must not forget
that one hundred per cent of the electoral votes
needed to elect the Republican candidate must
come from the North.
The National Committee has not dealt with
this matter of representation with the diligence
it should have shown. The Convention of 1880
directed the committee to "prescribe method
or methods for the election Of delegates
"within the next twelve months" That duty
was not performed until last January, after
lapse of thirty months, and then only the
method of securing district representation was
dealt with. The Chicago Convention of 1884
should direct the National Committee to pre-
scribe a method Of apportioniDg delegates upon
the basis of the Republican vote due care being
taken, as in the Frye plan, to give all districts,
whether they are able TO get Republican votes
counted or not, fair representation. We
believe the masses of Republican voters want
more exact system of representation, and we
venture to predict that if the coming Chicago
Convention directs the National Committee to
provide one, the performance of the duty will
not wait thirty months.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-12-14
UuaT Viii RE DONE ABOUT 1T.


This argument is put forward by those who
defend the system of unbalanced bids The en-
gineers of the Department of Public Works
must make their estimates OF the amount OF ex-
cayation from surface Indications not having
authority or funds to make openings below the
surface for the purpose OF discovering inc
actual character of the work to be done, ana
consequently they sometimes fall into errors.
The contractors, on the other hand before bid
ding on a work thoroughly examine it by Dig
cling below the surface and closely observing
every indication They thus discover the errors
of the engineers and take advantage of them.
But this does not show cOllusiOn and if 1t did
suggest it, how are you going to prove 1t And
what are you going to do about 1t !
SuppOse the engineers repeatedly make such
errors, and that these plumbers are invariably
against the city's interest and in favor OF the
contractors7 Such condolences might not be
legal proof. but they would fully Justify an alert
and honest head of a department i'll putting 1t
ont of the power of such engineers to make
more blunders for such contractors. If, further
more. it were true that the contractors, each
for himself, could discover these errors by so
simple examination, how does it happen that
where several bid the same favored contractors
always get the contracts Is it not because the
honest contractor 'labOrS under the dlsadvant-
age of having his bid known to the dishonest
one who is bidding against him
As to what is going to be done about it, we
don't yet just know. But we do know what
public opinion did in like instance several years
ago, in spite of patched-up Flaws plausiby quoted
to Justify as legal frauds which were then being
carried on, and which were only proportionatcly
greater but not one whit more defcnsiblc than
those which are now being perpctratcd under
the name of unbalanced bids"
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-12-14

he could not be allowed $4,000 for work on
Riverside Park the whole item might just as
well be stricken out; and if he could not have
$40 900 for paving the transverse roads he
wanted but $4,000. There is, OF course
much work to be done in Riverside fark'
and it is the business of the Park De-
partment to do the best it can with the
money allowed to it. Much can be accom-
plished with 5000. A halfloaf is better than
none.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-12-14

In the light of the revelations made in to-day )
TRIgUNE it is evident that it will require some
thing besides a change in the statutes 10 reform
the administration of the Public Works depart
ment. The intent of the law in regard 10 con
tracts under the Street Improvement Fund Is
nullified by a system of false estimates and I'M
balanced bids. But when it comes to contract
ing for supplies and materials to be paid for out
of other funds, by system of 1899 orders Mr.
Thompson altogether evades the statute
Special care was taken IN drafting this law to
provide against just such an abuse of its pro-
visions as has grown up under Mr.. Thompson.
Hence it is evident that no law, however iron
clad, will make public officer honest or eff
cient when he designs to be otherwise. 1t is
clear that some radical measures will have to be
taken to relieve the city. of the increasing
burdens unjustly imposed upon 1t by the
reckless administration that now rules in the
most important branch of the municipal govern
ment.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-12-14


Both sides of the story of the killing of j. p
Matthews at Hazclhurst, Mississippi, on election
day, are given in our Washington dispatches.
The leading Democrats of the State are evil
IDENTITY fearful as TO the effect likely to be pro-
duced on the country at large, unless the i'm
preston that this affair was a political murder
IS removed. They indulge, therefore, in sweep
ing denials which are not always to the point.
1t is not denied, for instance, that Matthews was
warned not to vote nor that he was shot down
without due prOvOcatiOn, at the polls, by
Wheeler, one of the peace officers of the day.
If the Democratic side of the story is true its
adherents can easily prove it by measuring out
exact Justice to the assassin. Plainly he ought
to be hanged or sent to State prison for life or
for a number of years. like another murderer.
But since the day of the shooting Wheeler has
been elected town marshal and only lost the
Mayorality by three votes. This does not look as
if the Democratic authorities of COpiah County
would vindcatc their assertions by giving
Matthew's murderer his deserts.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-12-14

An excellent suggestion was made yesterday
at meeting of the Military Service Institution
on Governors Island by General Alexander D.
Webb 1t was to the effect that the officers OF
the National Guard should be invited to join the
Institute. The Army and the militiamen OF
the country really have much in common, ard
closer intimacy between the officers of the two
organizations would undoubtedly help both. 1t
would broaden the ideas of the National Guard
officers to be associated in this way with men
whose entire time is given up to military SER
vice; and possibly the Army officers might
sometimes obtain valuable suggestions from
their fellows in the Militia. Moreover, National
Gual dsmen exert considerable influence on pub
lie opinion and legislation, and they could, II
they wished, do much to secure a more liberal
policy toward the Army. The admission of the
Militia officers to the Institute would also help
dispel the popular, and possibly unjust, belief
that officers of the regular Army have an unre-
publican notion that they are much better than
anybody else.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-12-14

The selection by the Republican Senators of
General McCook as Secretary of the Senate is
an excellent one. General McCOok was an able
Congressman, and he is sound Republican, of
the highest personal character. Moreover, he is
thoroughly qualified for the place. and will do
much to restore to il the old honor and dignity
with which it used to be regarded. We presume
his election is secure. Certainly the Senate and
the country will have every reason to be salts
fed with the Secretary they have chosen from
New-York.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-12-14

The verdict against the Germania Life In
surance Company, at Norwich, yesterday, was
virtually one against nineteen companies, for
100000, interest and costs. The Dwight
case has been in litigation for four years, the
companies claiming that Mr.. Dwight secured
his policies through fraud. 1t was also more
than insinuated that he committed suicide
Notwithstanding this defeat, the companies do
not seem disposed to give up the struggle
Although the amount involved is larger
than in any other life insurance contest yet
seen in this country, the companies say that it
is not so much the amount of money as the in
terests of their honest insurers that they are
fighting for. There are many thousands OF
men IN America carrying life insurance, and to
their heirs, who will in most cases be widows
and orphans belong the $475, 900, 900 of assets
of the insuring corporations. 1t may be said,
without reference to the Dwight case, that de-
signing people are eager to secure some of this
money by fraud, or even by suicide. And the
guardians of it feel as much compelled to ward
off what they suspect to be the attacks of this
class of robbers as bank men do to protect their
trusts from burglars.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-12-14

The death of the ruler of Anam is stroke of
ill-fortune for the French. Hiephema was
placed on the throne last July by the peace
party of the Kingdom after revolution which
followed the death of the late Tuduc. Within
three days after the bombardment of Hue
which occurred on August Is, NJ. Harmand
was able to dictate treaty of peace to the new
ruler. This treaty made the French protectorate
over Anam absolute. The Anamese troops
which had been sent to Tonquin were recalled
and the diplomacy of the kingdom fell under
the direction of French Resident Minister
Probably this will all be changed now, and
France may be obliged to conquer Anam over
again. The Chinese will be quick to give the
present ruler all the help he wants to repel, or
expel, the French invader.
Mr.. Wales President of the Park Depart
fnent, has often acted as q check upon the wild
and foolish schemes OF his fellow Commission
ers, and on the whole there has been consider
able to commend In his course in the Depart
ment. But he certainly did not appear to add
vantage yesterday at the meeting of the Board
Of Estimate and Apportionment. The esti-
mates of the Park Department for 1884 were
under consideration, and Mr.. Wales said that if
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-12-14
Business Notifies.
TRIBUNE TERMS TO MAIL SUBSCRIBERS

TRIBUNE TERMS TO MAIL SUBSCRIBERS
Postage free in the United States
Year 6Months. Months
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Rv Postal Note the remitter will please write on the O'e
.for THR NEwYoRX TRIBUNE"
BRANCH OFFICES OF THE TRIBUNE.
Advertisements publication In TIE TRIBUNE ana hs
fooT1ng branch offices in New-York city; .o
Main I1ptown Ofnce, / 299 Broadway, a. n 10 p H.
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IN OTHER CITIES. 60,
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New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-12-14

Mr.. Parnell, at the Dublin banquet, refrained
from making any reference to ODonnel. The
branches of the Irish National League would do well
to follow his example. ODonnell was not the agent
of any secret league or conspiracy. He acted upon
his own responsibility in numbering the infamous
Carey, and was in no sense representative Of pub
lie opinion In Ireland. Why, then, should the Ma
tional organization interest itself in his fate and
The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1883-11-25

JOLIET, Ill.,, Nov. 23.-Another inter.
esting event in the Mooney murder case
transpired there yesterday evening. The
skull Of Anderson, the murdered prs.
oner, which was offered in evidence
during the trial to prove the stab
In the ear coming out Of the mouth, carry
ing away one Of the molar teeth, and the
possibility OF which wound the expert
physician for the defense denied, has
mysteriously disappeared. The
skull was in charge of DR..
Campbell, the prison physician, who
kept 1t in the basement under his
off ce In a bucket. Desiring to remove 1t
to place Of greater safety. to
offer in the new trial, which
had been granted the doctor yesterday eve-
ing went to get it. The bucket was there,
but the skull was gone. This destroys one
of the most fatal eviden.
ces against the prisoner. The
attorneys for the defense yesterday filed
petition for change OF venus, stating that
the infammatory condition OF
public opinion in this county
against the defendant male it i'm
possible for thier client to get fair trial.
The case will probably be taken to Coo
County.
The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1883-11-25
A Fashionable Dinner.

NEW YORK, Nov. 24.-One oft hand
soonest entertainments OF the kind ever
given In this city was the lunch party
rendered yesterday afternoon to James
McHenry, the London railroad king,
by Mr.. and Mrs. Thomas Powell Fowler,
at their residence, No. 80 East Sixty
eighth street. The rooms were converted
into bowers Of palms, amid which were
scattered small, round tables, 10 the centre
Of which were placed great baskets Of
flowers, while at the plate Of each Of the
ladies was large corsage bouquet of roses.
The mantels were banked with flowers
and in the hall a screen OF palms hid the
musicians from view. The menus were
very handsome, bearing the coat OF arms of
Mr.. Fowler, below which was painted the
name of the guest, Those present
were Mr.. James McHenry, the
Ri. Hon. viscount Bury, viscountess
Bury, Mrs, Keppe and Miss Hide Keep
pie. Mr.. Henry Irving, Mr.. land Mrs. B.
F. Cunning. Mr.. and Mrs. Albert Bier
stade, Mr.. Samuel Elliott, Mr.. Bran
stoker, Mr.. aud Mrs. Thomas II.
E0sal, Mr.. Albert Pulitzer, Mrs II.
NJ. Benedict, Miss Ellen Terry, General
and Mrs. E. F. WlnsIow, General Hor.
ace Porter, Judge and Mrs. John r..
Brady, Mr.. and Mrs. Charles Scribner,
Mr.. Stephen Massett, Dr. and Mrs. Hos
Ter and Mrs. James Grant Wilson.
The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1883-11-25

ST. Louis, Nov. ~. Passengers who
started South FROM here on the Iron Noun.
tain road last Thursday night, got back to
their starting point this morning and are
now bllleted around at the different hotels
waiting for the departure of this evenings
Cairo Short Line train. They are In an un.
pleasant frame Of mind and are by no
means spariug OF criticism Of the way they
have been treated since they left. NJ. G.
May, OF New Orleans, who was on the
train, said this morning:
"There's lust about eleven train-l
OF people arrived back here this morning
after having been prevented from pursuing
their journey by the Arkansas flood. We
lay over at Arcadia, Mo-, with num-
Der OF other delayed trains. This train
was to go over the Belmont branch OF the
Iron Mountain road to Belmont and should
have left the main line at Bismarck, but /,
went on to Arcadia hoping to 20 by the c.
A. V. line on to Charleston. This proved
impractica6le and the train after being de-
lnyed at Bismarck from l a. IN. to 8 p. m.
yesterday and at Arcadia until 5 p. m. was
allowed to return to St. Louis. We want.
ed them to cave earlier so that we would
be sure to catch the Cairo Short Line train
last evening, but although we arrived at
Plum street three quarters OF an hour be-
fore that trsiEsitarted, such delays oc-
Cured there that we arrived at the U1ion
Depot too late. The whole affair has caused
great dissatisfaction. The food, OF
course could pot be helped, but the pas
sengers, We think, ought to have been bet
ter treated. We bad TO pay for all our
meals. To-day, although the conductor of
the sleeper assured us that we would get
full rebate when we got back to town, was
informed at the Pullman office that such
was not the case, that the conductor spoke
without authority and that we would have
to pay again for our sleeper this evening.
There were thirty Of us on the sleeper, and
I'm going to see If lot OF US can't get to-
gether to-day and make a protest against
the CHARGE
Owing to the wsshout near Poplar Bluff
no trains were started on the Iron Noun
tain Road for points below DeSoto. Ar
rangements have been made with the Mis-
souri, Pacific railroad TO carry all the Texas
travel until the damage has been repaired.
The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1883-11-25

NEW YORK, Nov. 24.-Owen F. Plum
kett, cgarmaker employed in his BROTH
er's factory, at Nc. 81 Bowery, was shot
dead to-day by dissoute fellow named
John Sculen. Sculen worked at the bench
near the murdered man on the top floor
Of the building. Between the two was an
other workman. Without any known
cause Sculen drew revolver and fired at
the other workman. The ball missed its
mark, when Sculen recocked the weapon
and fired at PIunkett, who fell dead. He
has been arrested.
The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1883-11-25
6rain.
CHICAGO,

WHEAT-Novembe 95H; December
96h; Feb. 9Sh; January ok; May
/ OAK.
CORN-November 49H: December 94S;
January 49S; Nav 53S: February 49H.
OATS-November 29H; December 29k;
year 29H; May 33S; January 29k.
ST. LOUIS.
WHEAT-Stronger; at 81 OF b.
November; $l02 December: year
81 Ok b; 81 04HG0l OAK January; Feb
ruary 81 06S; May 81 10X@f.
CORN - Dull; 49h0x November; 49k
b. December; year 49&; January
t8X b.; Feb. 40; May So b.
OATS - Firm; FIX November; De-
cember % b; year y; January
29I.; May 82k.
NEW YORK.
WHEAT November S.; Deem
Der 81 10; January 81 IL; February
81 l5k; May 81 1917.
CORN-November -: December COZ;
January elk; February 6l,t; May 62H.
OATS November -; December 38k;
January 07S; February 80; NAV Dk.
The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1883-11-25
THE MARKETS,
NOVEMBER "a.
Live stock

CHICAGO.
CATTLE - Receipts 1900, steady,
exports 50 1906 80; good 70 choice
shipping quoted at 70 40 0a8 90; common
to fair ~ 1905 60.
HOGS Receipts $4,000 active and quiet
and 50l0c higher; light at "a 1904 IS;
rough packing "a l504 80; heavy packing
and shipping 81 86C05 20.
ST. LOUIS.
CATTLE-Exporters So 1905 40; rood
to heavy do 50 6Ot46 10; light to fair 81 250l
8 rs; common to medium ~ 1904 90; fajt
to good Colorado 81 0OC35 40; southwest 50 10
"a So; grass Texans So 00ta4 10; light to
good stockers ~ 5O(63 70; fair to good feed.
ers IS 7jt64 %; common to choice native
cows and heifers " 25C14 90; soallawags Of
any kind ~ 0O92 40.
HOGS-Receipts 1913 head; shipments
1917 head. Market active, York.
ers selling at "a 1904 40, rough mixed
at 81 6OCd4 IS, and butchers steady at 81 81
"a 80; packers paying "a 6O(64 70.
SHEEP-Commsn. medium & light 81 GOA
10; fair to good 70 25(03 50; prime y eC
"a 90; fair to good Texa ! q 1od
10.