Omaha daily bee., 1910-03-27
Property Valued at Millions is Sold
to Favorites for Pittance.
MRS. CLEVELAND is IN PARIS
Wife Of Former President May Meet
the Returning Hunter.
PARIS TO SAVE LANDMARKS
VIII see that the Destruction of Its
Historic spots IL stopped or
at Least CurtaiIed--
some Restored,
BY PAUL VILLIERs.

PARIS. March 2s,--(speciSl to the Pub
fishers Press.)-Only a snort time ago
told how the graft exposures In the United
/ States had caused somewhat cynical
amusement in France, aGd quoted some
opinions of the "holier than thou order
expressed by some Frenchmen who pro-
fessed to believe that scandals like those
which have been shocking the Americans
were no longer possible here.
The question as to whether or not the
recent exposures of graft in France come
as a punishment for this feeling OF SNUG
superiority l will leave for the psycholo-
gists, and only record the fact, that 1t is
apparent from the exposures of bare
faced thieving piled onto what may be
called legal robbery in the management
Of the church seauestrston fund, to-
gether with the evidence of graft OF the
most sordid kind in the management Of
municipal finances, that not only has
France nothing to learn from America, but
the most accomplished grafters OF New
York and Phiadeiphia could we'll afford
to take the trip across the ocean in order
to take lessons from the French masters
of graft.
Examples of the Robbery.
In the matter Of the church sequestra-
ton funds It has been shown that not
only has properties worth millions been
sold for plttance to favortes, but the
state has been robbed of the greater por-
ton of the pittance.
Then take the Marseiles hospital site
scandal, which has just developed. / doubt
IL anything In New York's history Of graft
can very greatly surpass IT,
The case In brief is as follows: When the
French government distributed the pro-
I - nj ,fN
ecclesiastical domains. a sum of 1,750,OO0
francs was given to the town OF Marseilles
for the benefit Of a local charity known
as the Hospital du Marine. site of land
was to be purchased in the first instance.
This was secured for $4,000 francs. 1t is
now found that land adjacent. and Of
larger area, was sold for $1,000 francs The
deal" in connection with the land for the
hospital now calls forth serious imputa-
tions against certain Marseilles notabil-
ties.
And this is only one case. There ara
others Not since the Panama scandal has
the community been so scandalized.
1t can be said for France, however, that
some Of the big grafters are likely to
wind up in jail.
Mrs. Cleveland In Paris.
1t is possible that MIS- Grover Cleve-
land will meet Mr.. Roosevelt when ho
comes to Paris next week. Mrs Cleveland
has been the guest of Prof. and Mrs. Mark
Baldwin for a few days, and has ex-
pressed great desire to meet the dis
tinguished successor Of her distinguished
husband.
Tariff Not Yet Settled.
Regarding the tariff situation with the
United States optimistic views are stin
] In rir
u am able to state that reports of a sus-
pension of negotiations are without founda-
tion. Negotiations are, In fact, being
actively continued. Principles. 1 am in
formed, have been agreed upon and dis
cussion now is upon details. France is
willing TO concede what will not interfere
with its other treaties. The American
government has, 1t is said, receded from
its position that 'all or none of our
minimum rates must be granted American
exports. Paris is confident a mutually
satisfactory settlement will be reached.
Preserving the Landmarks.
Paris has decided that the destruction OF
its ancient landmarks shall cease or at
least he curtaled
The owner OF a house in the Place des
Vosges, who had altered It's facade. has
been ordered to restore It in conformity
/
in that square.
This historic square is built on the ground
on which stood the Hotel des Tournelles,
in which Louis XII died, and before which
Henri III was killed by Montgomery in
the memorable tournament of 1869. 1t was
Henri V who, in 1905. had the plans drawn
up in the style Of the great Spanish plazas.
and when II was finished the splendid
square was first known as the Place Roy
lac. The wonderful interest attaching TO II
will be understood when It is mentioned
that Madame de Sevigne was born in the
house bearing the number one which was
inhabited later on by the Due de Saint
Simon. Rachel dwelt in 1853 at No. O.
which had been the Hotel de Chaulnes.
No. 4 was the Hotel de Breteuil At No. S.
the old Hotel de Rotrou. NJ Ranc. the
politician and journalist. who had a verit-
able cult for the Place des Voges. spent
many years and there he expired. Thir-
teen was the Hotel de Rohan Chabot. Is
the Hotel ormesson, II the Hotel de Cha
bannes. Here also we find the Hotel de
Richelieu. occupied by the cardinal after
he gave the Palais Royal TO the king. Six
was the Hotel de Lavardin, built by the
marshal Of that name, and II is perhaps the
most celebrated OF ALL as Marion Delorme
lived there. Victor Hugo also dwelt in
! that house. which lie only left when he
l went into exile after the coup detat, and
now 1t contains the museum devoted to
relics OF the great poet.
Among the inhabitants OF the ersWhile
: Place Royale were Conds. Turenne, Cling
; Mare. Saint Vincent de Paul. Madame de
Langueviie and De Thou. Famous duels
] were fought In the square In the old times
! Every one OF these mansions, indeed. teens