The New York Herald Newspaper, February 17, 1877, Page 5

THR STATE CAPITAL, Mr. Fish and the Reduction | itt of City Salaries. 4 BILL TO AID RAPID TRANSIT Confirmation of the Appointment of Smyth, Sturgis and Pillsbury. INTERVIEWS WITH MORRISSEY AND WOODIN ALBANY, Feb. 16, 187% ack of the two bouses bad s brisk session to-day an¢ & good deal of businese was done 11 was agreed which 1s onusual and adjourn over till Monday, continuing from phen wll Wednesday and adjourning over Washington's Birthday to Tuesday, February 21, PATERNAL LEGISLATION. There ts a paternal anc patriarchal favor ated a bill Introduced by Mr. Cowdin which ts strongly sug- gestive of Mr. Dorman B. Eaton. 11 is entitled, ‘*A bill bo further dofine and enlarge the powers of the Mayor of New York enty.™ The language of the bili reads like © Jetter of counsel, command and admonition from the Groat Mogul to one of his rajabs. It 18 devoid of le- gai verbinge, and declares that the Mayor shail be vigilant and active in keeping nimseif informed ef the* aotnge and neglects of the several departments and of the officers thereof, It sball be bie duty to promote economy tn the expenses and exert. hie influence to secure honesty, efficiency, &c. Whon he meaitates removing an officer he 1s to let him Know the reason im writing beforehand When he wakes ap appointment he may or may not send it for confirmation to the Board of Aldermen, but be may still send ip the name and give the Board eight days | to look at and consider !,. Then they may send their views about it to the Mayor, and if they please him be may act upon them or not as he thinks ft. Bhould he (the Mayor) do any act tor pecu- Qiary reasone he ehali be punished by one year’s imprisonment or a fine not exceeding $2,500, IMPORTANT SERIES OF REPORTS, Mr. Fish, from the Committee on Cities, made sev- eral highly important reports this morning, the first being the bill introduced last year tn the Senate by Mr. Woodin, but amended to a great extent, and also approved by the present Mayor, Comptroller and Cor- poration Counsel of New York city. It 18a bill calcu. lated to save & considerable amount of money to the city, and deals entirely with the | Detter and more economic systematizing of the financial business of the city government, The next one reported was Langbein’s bill reducing official salaries. It turned up amended 60 as to givo the Mayor, Comptroller and Corporation Counsel $10,000 each, the Aldermen $2,000, all the Police Com- missioners $5,000, President of the Fire Department $5,000, and the Commissioners $3,000 each; the Prosi- dent of the Board of Charities and Correction $4,000, and the other Commissioners nothing The salaries of the judicial officers named inthe billare notto be touched Minor salartes of clerks, &c., are to be regu- lated by s board to be composed of the Mayor, Comp- troller, Corporation Counsoi and Commissioner ot Public Works, Mr Fish also reported the bill which reduces the commissions in Brooklyn to a single commissioner, From this Messrs, McGroarty, Mitchell ang Tabor divgented, and the vill to reduce the salaries of Brookiyo officials was amended £0 as to restore the power of regulating these salaries to the Board of Alaermen, and the Dill to abolish the offices of Tax Collector, Register, Auditor and lreasurer in Brooklyn and have their dut dis. charged by clerks in the Compiroller’s department. A PRUS*IAN IDKA. Mr. Chris. Flecke proposes in a bill of bis to place al! the medica! force in the employment of the various. departments of the city of New York under one head or board, (9 be composed of a first class chemist and two physicians. That’s the way they manage such things in Prussia. BILLE WITHOUT SPONSORS. Sponsorship for many of the bills imtroduced to-day was disclaimed by the introducers. Among these was oue from Martin ‘Nachiman prohibiting anybody trom leasing a stand in avy market in the State who shuil not bea resident of the State for six mouths beforn tak- ing a lease or paid taxes for one year previous. An- other bill by Mr, Stein was an ‘‘old aojer’’ providing ter the payment of a clam of Warden tracey, of Lud- jow Street Jail, for the board of a number of prisoners, Lomptroiler Green refused to pay the bill, and it has been up and down here fer four or five years. * THAT POOL BELLING BILL. The bill to suppress pool selling was finally reported from the Judicmry Committee in its original torm— that ts, minus the amendinent prohibiting pool selling on railroad tracks. Lu consequence of Mr. Strahan be- ing absent, through a family bereavement, the bili was laid on the table. ti THE ANGER OP TOM ALVORD, When the title *canals’’ was reached in the cal! far reports of committees “Old Salt” jumped up flushed and burried and banded in areport in tavor of the pass. age of the bill to abolish the office of Canal Auditor. Baker, the chairman of the sommittes, promptly notified the Chair that he aud Messrs. Moore, Spinola and Bisseil dissented. Few were aware of the perturbed state of soul of both Bakor and Alvord at this moment, The evening pre- vious Alvord raised Hades in the committee by de- manding a report of bis bill, and shook his fist in the face of the Chairman and those who opposed it. The vote stood 4t0 4, but Alvord, roaring like a buli of Bashan, grabbed the bill, walked of and swore he would report It himself, and hedid, HOPE FOR RAPID TRANSIT. if a bill introduced by Mr. Ecclesine to-cay and drawn up by Mr, Simeon £. Church, who ts pretty well posted in such matters, ehould become law, rapid transit in New York wili be better able to ao tatto with its foes, The bill amends the Husted set passed June, 1875, and provides, tor confirming all the acts so far done d$ the Kile. vated Railroad. It makes legal and valid what has’ been deemed illegal and — invagrd. The last section contains the spies of the whole, And provides that no injunction shall be granted to restrain the building of a railroad authorized by the act, whero the injunction 1s asked for on acy alleged ground ot davalidity of such law or the iilegality of such etruc- ture or operation until after afull hearing has first been had upon notice; nor unless the plamuid shall file an undertaking, with two guretica, to bo approved by the court or judge, in the penalty of not less than $10,000 to pay all the damages which the defendant may sustain by reason of such injunction, nor in case of a provisional. injunction alter hearing and betoro trial or the final determination of the caso sball such dnjunction be weued if the delendaut shali flies ike seourity in a like amount as required of the piaintiff, to be approved in the same manner, conditioned to pay tothe plaintiff all such damage as he may recover in | the action if the injunction prayed for shall be finally awarded, i INSURANCE RESOLUTION. Mr. Purdy calicd up his resolution for a special mittee to investigate the insurance companie: and made along and glittering speech on the subject of insurance. Alvord also spoke and the question isa special order for to-morrow, SIGUT SESSIONS. A resolution was olfered by Mr. Fish to hold night fons alter the lst of March, which was BUSINES IY THE SENATE. Business was active in the Senate. An unusually large number of bills were Introduced and reported. BILL8 INTRODUCED. Senator Woodin, in introducing two bills, disclaimed being the Albany agent of the New York reform bill factory, He said that they bad been received by him from what sougee he knew not, and that he was vot thoroughly conversant with their contents; bat as thoy Bedmed to treat of the important subject of retorm in the government of the city of New York he offered them Jor the consideration of the Senate, An exams. nation of those bills, bow®ver, showed almost con: opted. slusively that the band of that great theoretical re- | 1 lormer, Dorman &. Baton, has vot yet obtained a rest. Uwe for three yearsin which the New York Tunnel Company are to begin work, and another increasing \ the compensation allowed to tho New York lulaut Asylum for taking care of foundlings and nursiug mothers. DILLS REPORTED PAVORASLY The bills to restrain bankers and indiviaual brokers from imposing upon the public and to protect the pubs lic (rom unauthorized banking; defining the powers of | the Health Officer of the port of New York and liold- | ing bim and his assistants personally responsible for peas in fumigating vessels were reported tavorably Senator Gerard’s vill striking a blow at the Hunter's Pornt ot! factories waa, on motion of Senator Jacobs, recommitted. This is the bill which the Common Council of Brooklyn instructed the Kings county mem- bers to oppose. STATE OFFICIALS CONFIRMED. The Senate was in executive session an unusual length of time, The combination which was fore. shadowed ju this morning's Heuatp bas evidently been effected, and when the doors were opened it was ascertained that Jobn F. Smyth had been contirmed for Superiptendent of Insurance; Amos B. Piiabury, Superintendent of Stato Prison id Hozekian Sturgis, Caval Appraiser, Pilsbury" mination was unani- mous and tho timo was cobsuimed over tho confirma. tion of the other two, BRADLEY'S ELMIRA REFORMATORY BIL, Senator Bradley sent in thirty petitions in favor @t bis bill gubstituting reformatory for Line soutences in tao cages Of prisoners sentenced to the State Rotorm- suilicient | y deaths which might occur through their careless. | | i { | the party tor | never so hard, and all aman wants to do now to run | for the best offico in the Stute is just to save tho troas- atory at Elmira, These petitions emanate not merely from ber Pines ager’ ‘but bear dates trom al! por- tions 01 State, aro signed by many persons who are active in 1D cause of prison tp Pemig * THE MORRISEY REYOLUTIONS, At @ joint meeting of the Committees on Cities of the two houses, this afternoon, to consider the Mor- resolutions, it was agreed that Sevator Woodin preside ag chairman and Mr. Hamilton Fish, Jr., am secretary; that the first ropiiar meeting be beid next Tuesday afternoon and even! in the Senate chamber, and that the Mayor, ing C wsioner of Public Works, C Simp ae om: ¢ Works, Corporation ent of the Board of i i bo Pre: jee, and Mr. John i. Strahan and Mr. Dorman B. Eaton be invited to eome before the commitiee and make whatever suggestions they may bave to make in regard to the proposed bill tor the botter government of New York city, YINWA OF JOUN MOKRISSHY, Speaking to your correspondent on the subject this morning Mr. Morriasey said:—‘These eighty-seven “bille concerning New York inat now in the hands of the two houses should be chucked, s0 to peak, into a Machine, and the good ones separated from the bad, Then, when you have flung away the bad ry let tue good ones be sliced down tothe good ‘that is im the 4 plank ous your bill with nothing else than plain, square and condensed reform provis- ons. Let ail tho reformers be invited to come ap and give their views one way or the other, Here te one fection tO put this department into that where it ought to be, and shat department into the other, and 80 00. Now, when you have got your bili completo, swith the Joint committee or a majority reporting in ita fuvor, they sun’t go back on it in ether house. They'd be atraid. It wili be no man’s bil! then, but a people's Dill, for whem and for their interests, and be will bes bold man that attempts to beat it,’ WHERE SKNATOR WOODIN SEES A BAY:NG. Senator Woodin happened to come along about this time, and taking Up the subjectol conversation said :— “Well, Lepall keep pusbing these bills of mine so as to be ready for any emergency, it will go no harm to rei iy passed through the Senate should all trnis fan! Morrissey—Your party bas the power to see all my resolution calls for done, Woodin—The iiea is good 1 know, but the question is whether a consolidation or omuibus bill like ihe one calied for wouid not excite a combination proportion. atcly Jarge ip eppositvon. That 1p to say if you prow vide in one bill to cut down and amaigamate teu or twelve departments are you nov likely to bring up a lobby multiplied as many times? Morrissoy—I have no fears of that. These bills, like an army tn battle, are easier to veat in detail than when united sod. You can bet one bill and make it deluy many more until all of them get pushed into the end of the se: and are droppod for want ot tine, Woodin—l see¢ where a short provision would save the city about $800,000 a year, Thore, for in- Stance, ure the Fire and Police departments, | Wheo the sala: ft the :acn im these departments were raised it was provided jn the tax levy that when greenbacks approached or rose to par they should suffer a reduc- tion of twenty per cent. That reduction now woult eflect,tho saving I state. It would allow each man on the police force $900 a year, which is a sum of larger purchasing value than $1,200 was ten or twelve years ago. Morrissey—It would be a good thing to put qown the figures for all those coming on the force alter this; 4 but we have bigger fish to fry pow than the police or the firemen, We want the officials with the princely salaries to feel atouch of the retrenchment knife, and unt you do that the people won’t believe you mean reform, THE PROVOKING THING ANOUT IT, Senator Woodin walked off, saying bo would do his share oi the work, and Senator Morrissey continued: — “ie i erying outrage to think of all the grown men, strong and able, that are walking around the atreets of New York glad to get the price of a cup of coffee or # bowl of soup, and then to consider tho lot of fellows there are drawing §2,000 aud $3,000 and $4,000 each out of the treasury for doing nothing avall, Men with money and men without money aro {ua perfect tover at this sort of thing. Keliy and Ely have missed a big opportunity. Think of Ely talk- ing of being willing to have ten per cent taken off h salary! Didn’t be know that no matter what was dono with the salaries of the others his was \hardly likely to be touched? Ely should have made a bold stand for retronchment in the beginning. The whole city was at his back, He should have demandea economy all round and he could have enforced i. The charter gives the Board of Apportionment the power so limit expenditures. There is no democrat in the Legislature who reahzes the situation, and I don’t think the republicans are, any better. Why, sy, i‘! the republicans oniy knew their power and how to use It they imight keep the democrats out for the next twenty years. ‘fhe party that lightens the taxes and reduces expenses is the people’s money. ‘he times were ury u few thougund dollars, To’ the hard-up people of New York party {s nothing and pennies are every- thing.” This much ts evidence that the Senator from the Fourth district takes a right and {celing view of the subject in questio THE CI HEADS OF DEPARTMENTS CONVERRING AS TO 178 DISPOSITION—SHALL IT BE DUMPED IN LITTLE HELL GATE? At the meeting held at the Central Office, Polico De- partment, in accordance with the resolution of the Board of Aldermen, approved February 13, 1877, there were present the Presidents of the Board of Health, the Board of Harbor Commissioners, Major Gen- eral Newton and the Commissioners of tho Police Do- partment. The proceedings were conducted as usual with closed doors, Mr, 3. A. Wales, President of the Department otf Doel was asked to take the chair. Professor Chand. ler was secretary, He read the preamble and resolu- tions of the Common Council, after which General Smith stated that the proposition before the Commis: sioners was to take into consideration the ‘filling in of Little Hell Gato with the refuse of tho city; that it would give a place for two years to deposit the dirt and ashes, at a saving of over $100,000, General Newton submitted his letter to the Bureau of Engineers mm Washington and their reply, He stated that the cross currents in Little Hell Gaté and the Kills Is due to the difference of levels veuwee n Lutle Heil Gate and Haren River, which aiference is caused by the large, rocky obstructions in fieil Gate, 8. H. Wales’ opinion was that the process of filling Littie Hell Gate would not intertere with the plans of the department for the improvement of tho water front of the city. The proposition was one of great importance. Vrofessor Chandler approved of the proposition, and thought the use of the proposed material below the bight water line would not resait in injury to the pub- he health, CAPTAIN SNOW'S OBJECTIONS. Captain Ambrose Suow, president ot the Harbor and Pilot Commissioners, said:—'*My objection to this is that the city is resorting to a siipshod way of disposing Of 118 street sweeping material, and that it is only a sort of makeshift and that itis even questionable whetuer itis inthe general imterest of the city that that place should be filled up, That is a question with me, I bave no idea that it would burt itup. Only I doubt whether I should fill 1 up it the city wero mine. My leeling about the disposition ot this stutl is that we ought to have suitable barges, operating by their own steam power, to carry it to sea, und that the outlay for doing that would be almost trifling, consideribg the great amount of money this city spends for general purposes. When people want to fill up iots and sunken ground let them come and buy material trom the city.’? The gentleman alluded to the exceileut plans in use in the cities of Cork and Glasgow, Tho following resolutions were adopted on motion of General Smith, Captain Snow voting in tbe negative :— Resolved, That the project of Siling up the Little ielt 1a vs Gate is entirely feasibie, not detrimental to commer igation or hoaith and of great benetit to the city of New York, aud that bills should be at ouce propared auth ie this work. ‘ Kosvlved, That the Sunken “Mendows being privnte prop sy cannot properly be considered by shis eyutorsnen, Kesvived, That the chauuet known as the Bronx Kills bee Ing necessary to commerce, cannot properly bv closed with out detriment to the interests of the city, & H. Wales—I ask one of the Commissioners of Police how many such barges |t would require to transport the refuse of the city to the dumping ground out to aca, Poitce Commissioner Wheeler thought that would be enoug: President Smith stated that he had mado a rough estimate of the amount of ground they would make in two years—it would be about thirty-two acres, By using this place tor a dumping growid, tn adaivon vo the making of thirty-two acres of laud ivwontd be a saving to the city of $100,000, The conference then adjourned until Fobruary 19 at two P.M. ave Senator Wagstaff jptroduced a bili extending the | POLICE BOARD MEETING. Ata meeting of the Police Board yesterday Officer Gannon, of the Mounted squad, was pres siver medal and au approprowte ket of resolutions as a reward for bravery dispinyed by bim in stopping a runaway team of horses im the Contrai Park at the tisk of big own Life, Otlicers Gillespie, McLean, Gaylord ana Glinn were dismissed the deparcinent, Phe contract was awarded to D., Hodgmau & Co. for supplying rubber hat covers for the force at $9 per dozen. ; The resolution of the health inspectors relative to° the removal of ashes and garbage was read and referred to the Strect Clean Bureau A FORTUS Mra. Eliza Sehneder, of No. 636 Fast Eleventh street, yesterday appeared atthe Fifth street stavon house and stated that she had visited a few hours be fore Mrs, Walburga Raed, who occupies the first hoor, front, of No, 120 Seventh street, She was taken inte a dark room to have her fortune told, aud wae there robbed of over $13. Captain McCullough detailed Os ficer Lindsay to investigate the case, Lhe residence of the fortune teller was: visited and the premise: searched. The moncy was not tound, but the wom was arrested and arraigned before Judge Wandeil, at Kssex Market, whero she Was discharged, investiga- Lion showing that there Was No evidence to Justily uct commitment for trial. navigation to fill | } dill of that | ported by the Comm | | | } wee in 1862, od with a | THE PACIFIC RAILROADS. | 1 DEBATE IN THE SENATE ON THB BILL PRO VIDING FOR THE PAYMENT OF THE INDEBT- EDNESS TO THE GOVERNMENT, Wasuixotox, Feb. 16, 187% | Tho Senate to-day resumed consideration of the bill | to amend the Pacific Railroad acts, so as to create & sinking fund for the hquidation of the indebtedness due the government by the Pacific railroad companies, She pending question being on the atnendment of Mr. Booth, submitted on Wednesday inst, to the second section of the bill reported by the Committee on Ratl- | roads, eo as to provide that tho Central Pacific aud | Union Pacific roads shall each pay imto the Treasury | of the United States $750,000 per jum, in equal sem}-annuai instalments, until soch sume abali, with Interest thercon, be sufficiert, when added to other sums to the credit of the Sinking Fund, to pay of extinguish the government bonds at maturity ad- vanced vo said Companies, with six per cent imierest thereon from their respective dates untii paid. In- Serest on all sums placed to the credit of the Sinking Fung hall be credited and added thereto semi* annually, at the rato of six per cent per annum. Provided, however, that if the foregoing provisions shall prove insuMciont to extinguish the government bonds end int § thereom a} maturity as aforosaid, the semi-annual payments shall be increased to such | gum as will bo sufictens for that purpose i Mr. Wast, of Louisiana, opposed the amendment, and argued tbat it would cause more trouble and lite gation than the dill of the Judiciary Committee, . Mr. Boot, speaking Im favor of the amendment, Baid hia only objoot was to make tne dill of the Rail- road Committee 60 good that its prosens friends would | Dot support it 1 SYRRCH OF MR, BLAINE. Mr. Buatyn, of Mame, said he was opposed to the various provisions of the bill reported by the Commit. tee on Railroads, The ffih eection of that bili, allow. ing the companies to anticipate their semi-annual Payments discounted atthe rate of six per cent, bad the power of infinite mischiet in it, He was opposed to the proviso inthe third section making 1t a cond. tion that thb government should patronize the roads mm the transportation of freight, &c. The officers of the government should be left free to select she best und cheapest means of transportation. On the other hand, be did not meun to say that ne coud sup- portihe bil of the Judiciary Cotnmittes. That bill meant a lawsuit, and Congress could not do a greater dujury to the United states Treasury than to pass a ‘This bill meant the jaw’s delay, the law's ancertainty, and thus far the law’s uncer. tainty had been a certainty ugainst the United States in ali conflicts betweon the government and the com- panies. The government had vot nad juck inthe courts. A burot child dreaded fire, and he wanted to keep out of the courts, He was in favor of some bill to haves settiemont with these companies. If noth. ing should be dune toward a settlement at the end of the present century the companies would owe the government over $200,000,000, if the government ; should then tuke possession of the roads it wouid be at a cost of about $110,000 would not be a profitable bargain. had been a good deal sud about these railroad companies beimg grasping monopolies, They were only men; they hau a valuabie picce of property and they pro- Posed to keep it, to appeal to the courts and fight to the bitter end, : He was in favor of somo adjustment which would ve Just to the government and fair to the railroad compa- nies, The umendment submited yesterday by the | Senator from Jowa (Mr, Allison), ia the nature of a substitute; be thought, appeared to be J 6 16 named no specific sum to be paid, but lelt that with the sec- retary of the Treasury. He hoped so remain in Con- gress long enongh to sec a session go by without & railroad bill in it, but he was atraid he would not be gratified if such a bill as that reported by the Judiciary Committee should be passed, The railroad companies were in a position more udvantugeous than the govern. ment itsell, and they could continue the litigation at the expense of the government, MR. BOOTH’S AMENDMENT, The amendment of Mr, Booth was rejected—ycas 24, nays 25, us lollows:— Authony, Bailey, Bogy, Booth, Chris- tiancy, |, Cooper, Marvey, Kernan, McDonald, MeMilian, Merrimon, Morrill, Ogiesty, Randolph, Kobert: Sou, Sargent, Saulsbury, Stevenson, Woodleigh, Walluew, Whyte, Withers, Wright—24, .. esses. Allison, Barnum, Blain Cameron of Pu, Clayton, € awes, Dennis. Dorsey, Gvidthwatte, Hitchcock, tugalis, Johnston, Jones of Fla., Kelley, orwood, Patterson, Telier, Wost—z8, Mr. Boot then withdrew another ametidment sub- | mitted by him on Wednesday, giving to Congress power to alter, amend or repeal tho act. Mr. Cuxistiaycy, (rep.) of Mich., moved to strike out | the sixth and seventh sections of the bill reported by the Committee on Kuailroads, which provide that the | act shail be construed ag a tinal scttloment betwee: the government and the companies if accepted by the companies within tour months of the date of 18° p: sage, and so repeals all acts and parts of acts, In Of these sections Mr. Chrisuiancy proposed to insert a section providing that Cougross at all times have power to aiter and amend as well as repeal the act, Mr. Cnarrex, (rep.) of Col, submitted an amend- | ment to that of Mr. Christiancy, so as to provide that the act should be construed as a tinal settlement be- | tween the government and the companies, if within | four months after its passuge it ve accepted by the | companies, and ‘providing said companies shail faith. fully comply with all the provisions of the act and | shall not be jn default of any of the instalments when due, Mr. Dawns, (rop.) of Maxs.,, spoko of the rights of | the government und the railroad companies, und said he was in favor of an amicable settioment with the companies, and would therelore support any bill to avoid litigation, He was in favor of Congress reserv- ing tho power to alter, amend or repeal the act, but not in the shape proposed by the Sevator from Michi- gan (Mr. Chrisuancy), whieh was rt of a double barrelled arrangement, Mr. Cunsstiaxcy spoke in favor of his amondment, and said all he Wanted was to have these railroad com. panies Jay aside a fund to pay their indebtedness to the government, Mr. MoMin.an, of Mion., agreed with the Senator from Michigan (Mr. Christiancy) as to the power ot Con- Gress to alter, amend or repeal the act now before the | Senate if it should become alaw, and aiso the original | acts of 1862 and 1864, He argued that Congress hada | right to impose this legisiauon upon the ratiroad com- panies whether they accepted it of not and, therelore, he fayored the bill of the Judiciary Committee, | atwell, Bruce, ling, ‘Cragin, jordon, Here: Mr. Wapiaign, of New Hampesnire, said ho had no bitter bostuity against these ratiroad companies, but there were many pe@ple in this country who had tw work bard to pay (heir taxes and get a living; their money went into the Treasury of the United States, and should not be taken out for railroad companies. He was opposed to the bill reported by the Committee on Railroads, because he bdelieved it was wrong. He opposed’ it because he saw the samo men throngiog the Jobbies to-day and urging its | passage who had imposed upon Oongress in | ormer years bills the evils of which Cougross | was Irving now to get rid of, He was opposed to the | bil of the Ratiroad Comimitice because it would com- | pel the government: to send fretght over the roada named, and at such prices as the companies might fix and determine, ile saw in this bili grounds for new | land suits, He argued that these companies were not | entitied to public sympathy. It has proposed now to | pass a new bill fur the benefit of the companies, and,’ | bo matter how many rovber‘es might be concealed un- | Ger it, Congress was to have no right to alter, amena or repent it, Mr. Wrst, of Loursana, said he thought the Senator | from New Hampshire (Mr. Wadieigh) used rather | harsh and uncalled tor expressions, The Railroad | Committee bad thie matter intrusted vo it by thesen- | ate, and the Senator who bad just taken bis seat | should not lose sight of the fact what the matter was 110 the attention of Congress by the Kxecutive | nent of the goverome: He orgued thatthe | oniy diflerence between the bills of the Commitwee on | Ratlroaus and the Committee on the Judiciary was that the former propored a settioment with the con- | seat of the companies and tho latter a settlement with: | out such consent, | Mr, MeMitnay said he was not in favor of making | an agreement With the railroad companies, recognizing | rights of these companies, ie acgucd that Congress | had full power to legisiute fn the matter, Mr, DAWES sald was not wise for Cougress to leg: islate as if nobody bad any rights which the govern. meat of the Caited States was bound to respect, Mr. Boorn, of Calitoruia, in replying to the remarks | of Mr. Dawes, was interrupted by the Jatter, who suid | that the Senaior from Cuittornia had not understood | om, Mr. Boot, in repiy id no man since the days of Salleyrand Had so Understood the art of saying what he did not Mean and menning What he did pot say as | the Senator from Massuchuset ts, | Mr. Dawss said such « remark Was indecent and out of place 1m this body. Mr Wavceiit reterred to the passage of the original | and raid ti it had beew stated then that the | railroad companies woold not expected to pay the interest on bubus as it became due nu wun Would have dared to put himself on revord in favor ot the bik that We asked now was thot these companies be | compelled to pay their debts, as they were abunduntly able to ide, Mr. Urrencock, of Nebraska, referred to the debates th 1962, and argued tbat the goueral tenor theroot was that toe interest should not be pant LE the companies | as 11 became due. | Mr, Dawns said a motion made in the House of Rep- | resentatives that the companie Pay the mterest ax it ve Mr. Hrrencock (reso year, wuthorizing eine should be required to me due was voted down, ing) referred to the wet of last 4 Feinensnrewment of the Union Va. sconumMsts opposed to tbe bout thie legisietion. The road and it was found that (he company had been cheated outol lands and bonds tor two or three miles of the road, and tue result of this economy was that the government bad 10 pay $100,000 oF $150,000 to the Union Pacific Company. Mr. Unagix. of New Hampshire, favored the bill re. | tev on Raitroads, and argued that ules this or a sutlar ViIT sboUld be passed tue | country would get nothing (rom these companies, fhe diseassion was continued av length by Messrs. Wright, Morrili, West and others, ‘The amendment of Mr, Chatlee above referred to was agreed to—y eas 30, nays The question then being of the amendment of Mr. Christiauey as amended by Mr. Chanvo 1) was agreed to yeas 36, nays 15. The question then recurred on tho amondment of | | fotel licenses wero arranged was investigated, any of the clerks paying the license, The clerk of the Mercantile Appraisers called tn @ short time for an alleged amount duc of $ | A copy of the resolution was shown bit | tte | trom receiving or paying out deposits until the accru- | usual,’ | into the hands of a receiver, and this fact, NEW YORK HERALD, SATURDAY. FEBRUARY 17. 1877.-TRIPLE SHEET. Mr, Booth, submitted on Wednesday last, to strike out the fifth section of the vill reported by the Railroad Committee, wnich aliows the company to anticipate their semi-annual payments discounted at the rate of Bix per cent, &o., and it was agreed to without divi 9 10 romain in sere bill to-might, (Several Senators—'On, no! we won't do that’) Mr. ALLison, of lowa, modified the ame it sub- mitted by him yesterday in the nature of a anbstituie 50 af tO provide that the act shali take effect upon tis acceptance by the railroad companies within four | months from ‘its passage. The Senate then, at five o'clock, went into executive i Session, and, when the doors were reopened, took a re- cess until ten o'clock Lo-norrow morning. FRAUD I PHILADELPHIA, 4 STEAL OF A MILLION A YEAR—SERIOCS CHARGES AGAINST THR MERCANTILE TAX | APPRAISERS—WHAT BECAME OF THE MONEY FROM HOTEL LICENSES—-A LUCRATIVE CIN: TENNIAL BUSINESS. : Purapeurnta, Feb, 16, 187%. Scandalous revelations are beginning to come to Nght, showing that, througo the manner in whieh the Mercantiie Tax Appraisers in this city bave beon conductidg tneir affairs, the State Treasury bas deen swindled out of about $1,000,000 per annum. The medium through which these discoverics are being brought to light is the State Municipal Reform Commission, recentiv ap- pointed by Governor Hartranft te inquire into the government of the cities of the Commonwealth, This body bas been sitting in private session tn this city, and have made such tnquirt ite the practices of the Mercuntilo Tax Appraisers and other officers that tt i said that when they conclude their inbors they will present a report — showing maladministration of tho most serious character. Thore can be no possible doubt that start- ling revelatione will soon bo made, as 18 1s Known that evidence bas been taken by the commission proving conclusively that i the offtce of the Mercantile Tax Appraisers ‘irregularities’? have occurred, showing that the State has jost » very large sum of money ‘usessed as mercantile taxes ands still Iarger sum through the bad management of those ‘appointed to i assess and collect these taxes, FOR INSTANCE, According to the testimony ef persone iatcty ex- amined there were last year over 1,000 hotels and similar places in Philadelphia that should have paid @ State tax of $700 each, Yet in only two cases, so farasthe commission have discovered, has an amount exceeding $50 veen paid into the treasury tor anyone. It nas been shown that the proprietors of somo of these hotels paid an amount approximating the $700, but in these cases only $50 ever reached the oity treasury out of the sum collected in cach, The testimony bas also revealed that mercantile taxes, amounting, sometimes, to $1,000 for a single place, have beca exempted on payment of $10, in con- sideration of certuin amounts paid to outside partics to **fx things.” Sometimes whole blocks !n the busi+ centres of the city have been relieved of their assessments tn this shameful manner, the trac tion of the tax upon them actually paid into tho treas- ury being 4 mere song. It hus been calculated, stated above, that tho logs to the State from this source bas been $1,000,000 a year, The manuer in which shis atapendous steal has been conducted will be best urderstood by an extract from the evidence taken at the meeting of the commission on Wednesday jast, where the method by bya +18 ‘she experience of tho Hotel Aubry, an establishment built tor Centennial business, As Centennial hotels were almost innumerable in this city guring the Exhi- bition, and as the same practice was frobubly resorted to with them all, some idea of the amount of money len can be imagined : THe HOTEL AUBRY, In May last, at the time of the Exhibition, the Hotel Aubry Company was informed that the iicense hang- ing up in the barroom mugt be paid for, The Treas- urer, Mr. James W. Packer (who was tho witness examined), accordingly proceeded to the Mercanule Appraisers? oflice and inquired as to the amount to be iy The cierk said the license would cost $275. Mr. ker drow a blank check and told the clerk to Mil it up. This he did, making 1t payable to cash," and then threw it in a drawer, saying it was ‘all right.” “It may be all right for you, but not tor m claimed the business-like Treasurer. ‘i don't genet ly pay away money in that style. [ want a receipt, “Lcouldn’t give you a receipt for {t,’? the clerk an- swored, apd bolore Mr. Packer could respond the clerk hurried into the. front room and held a consultation with cortain partios, Returning thence he suid to Mr, Packer, ‘You'll bave to goto the Continental Hotel with me." Betore doing so, however, the Treasurer ob- tarned bis check,and on the way ho learned that the chief bartender of tho Continental Hotel, Mr, Donahue, was to Feceive the movey. Mr. Donahue was notin and Mr, Packer lett tho check, promising to stopat the office in a tew days and settle the account, When the Treas urer went to the Hotel Aubry, in the afiernoon, he found the clerk in waiting, and was then that he could get a recoipt for’ his check. Mr. Packer was not ready to settle it just then, promising to attend to the matter in a few days, Onthe tollowing day he visited the City Treasurer's office and discovered that $61 25 had been paid in for the license, Ata meeting of tho Board of Directors of the hotel a few days suvsequeutly a resolution was pussed forbidding the superintendent, Mr. Storer, or He thereupon took the license away. There was some tulk of a suit boing eatered against the company, dut when Treasurer Packer and the President of the com- pany visited the city treasury they were assured that the office records could be used as evidence that the Heense had been paid. As the clerk of the appraisers had told Mr. Packer that Mr. Donahue had p: the money Mr. Packer called on that gentleman for an ex- planation “It does not make any difference to you whether you pay the money to Mr. Tittermany oF in the City Treasurer's office,’ replied Mr. Donanue. “Lam a property holder,’ said Mfr. Packer, “and 1 won't alivw any one to receive that money except the city, and if the itcense is not returned | will expose the whole transaction. Jam willing to pay $61 26, bat not $275." When Mr. Packer returned to the hotel the Ap- proiser’s clerk was in waiting with the license, He wok the $61 25, and gave the recoipt. These facts wero vouched for by amember of the commission to-day. CRIPPLED SAVINGS BANK, j THE CITY SAVINGS DANK OF PROVIDENCE A SUFFERER BY A. & W. SPRAGUE—LEGAL STEPS TAKEN TO REPAIR THE Loss, Provivence, R, L, Feb, 16, 1877, Another savings bank bas come to grief, the City Savings Bank of Providence, When A. & W. Spraguo jailed the bank had a large amount of their paper, but not enough in the opinion of tho directors to impar standing. Since that time they havo received six and a half per cent per annum on the Sprague notes, but owing to tho non-payment of tho last dividend the bank trusteos have asked a temporary injunction restratoing them ing interest shall make good the deficiency. Depos- irs aro advised not to dispose of their books. To accommodate those who are in want ments loans on their books to nearly their full value, The trustees think that at the most “there will be a temporary juss of interest, and we expect ina tow mouths to be able to pay and receive deposits as They tursher state that the Court permits them to temporarily retain all their assets until the ine lerest on the same shall restore the existing deficiency, which they believe ts not over seven per cent. AN EXAMINATION TO BK HAD. Yesterday the trustees made application to the Gov. | ernor for the appointment of a distaterested comm: sion to 6Xamsme Into and report concerning the condi. | tow of the bank, The Governor appoinica Royal fatt, Alexander Farnum and William Kinney, who have accepted, and who have already begun their task. DEPUSITORS ALARMED, | When Albert Gailup, of New York, of tho firm of | Hoyty Sprague & Ca. recoMiy tailed’ he turnished a | list of creditors in which he gave not only the entire | indebtedness of the latter firm, bus miso a large amount upon which the City savings Bank Was in part, i not Milly, secured by foal estate mortgages. Tuts news | aused a number Of the heaviest depositors tc draw thes accounts, and tho trasives recognizing the smaller depositors might be obliged to bexr ihe extra burden of the suspended paper, determined to take action to protect them as above stated, VINANCIAL CONDITION OF TUK BANK, Last Novembor tlie State Auditor, im bis report, | stated that the City Savings Bank bad on de- posit $1,081,282 20, the Haviiities being placed at | ,078 U8 and the resources at tie sane Ngure. The wumber of depositors wus 2,815, including 613 who tad deposited $1,000 and upward, 458 of 3600 ana | under $1,000, and 1,747 of less than $500. | Iv is bolieved that a yenr's suspension of interest Will restore the vank to a sound baste, {1 is feared that the institution will eventually fall | in view of the developments of the Frankiim Institatiou for Say- ings, by the exorbitant charges of the reeeiver, causes the ‘depositors to be very despondent as to the tinal result Of auct a move, Further developmenis wiil be Watched with peculiar interest. THE STATHEN ISLAND MYSTERY. Tho body of tho woman found dead at Tompkinsvillo (a still ‘at the Couoty Poorhouse unrecognized, al- though many persons viewed {t agai yesterday, The livery nen about Stapleton are now making a “good thing’’ out of the people who desire to seo tho corp which is #ix miles away (rom the ferry landings, Mr. Oats, the undertaker, says that inquiries bave been made at Dis establishment in rogard (o over thirty dil. ferent inissing young Women, It is thought by inany [CENTRAL PARK. informed | | Making an average per month } Commissioner Martin's paper is one wh arrange. | are in progress by which they may obtain | Mr. Martin’s Self-Adjusting Estimates and How They Work. CALCULATED TO PLEASE EVERYBODY. Our Great Pleasure Ground Slipping Off 'ts Snowy Mantie. ——e H During the depths of winter, whon the ground is ueually covered with snow, and the pleasant jakes of |, Central Park are bound up comparatively few of the | general public, take much interest in this great lung of New York, The wearted thousande who seek a breathing spell m our spiendid Park are prevented by the m- clemency of the weather from doing #0 for at least three or four months, Therefore, + would seem that in the winter season Dut sinall outlay should suffice to keep the Park tm reasonably good order, The summer time ts also a slack portion of the year, for then the flowers. trees, shrubs and plants are tn full bloom—dame Nature has donned her mantle of green, | and the towers and diossome which adorn it want Hittle, if any, prawing or dressing at the gardener's hands, Consequently thore are but two -ousy periods in the year when Inrge nambers of taboring hands. gardeners or their assistante can be advantageons! | employed in the Park. It is not quite clear that these important facts are sufficiently allowed for tn the estimates of Mr. Commissioner Martin, who hag an in- | genious way of bis own whereby he makes it appear, on the one hand, that things are going to rain in bis | department for want of money, and on the other hand | | that 1 is possible to maintiaim the parks atan even | | more economical rate than thai of Insi year, In fact, | Mr, Martin adhores to she wes that the parks? esti- mates mustbe greatly augmente i, while he t# resolved | to carry them on with whatever cin ve convenientiy | squeezed out of the Board of Apportionmert He wants more money to putthe parks in frst rate order, but ie willing to oblige the public by investing what. everamount may be made available. PRESIDENT MARTIN'# REPORT. Mr, Martin recently submitted to the doard of Park Commissioners a report, in which he says that the | appropriations for maimtenance for the year 1877 are so greatly diminished, compared with the previous years, As to require very decided roductions ot expenses in all branches of expenditure, The Commissioner then goes on to compare the appropriations of inst your | with the current twelve months, as follows;— Expenditures. 76. 1877, Saiarios.. + $59,000 $45,000 Pohee., vee 86,778 90,000 General maintenance, 174,000 145,000 Museums ene 90, 30,000 Harlem R ° 1,006 4.090 | 26,000 | Bronx River bridges.. = Surveying Twenty-third ‘Twenty-fourth wards, City Hail pavernent, and H Totals The re therefore, equal about of 1876. These maintenance expenditures are divided into tho | following three general classes, | THE FIXKD SUMS FOR SPECI | | + $456,116 } year's estimates would 0,000 as compared with thoso | | | Telegraphing, &c...... MOtMIN sot ts 2c4i0 oe yee $56,800 | In the above items it is hard to see how $3,000 can be saved in the feed for horses and animals that were supposed to have been all along on regulation tare unless they are starved. ‘The same principle may a be applied to the care and keeping of thess anima The secund cinss of expenditures is on account of | men employed about or in buildings. The outlay under this heading was $22,200 Inst year, and rt is put | down at $17,480 tor 1877. al Under the third class of expenditures are placed the men who do the work in the parks and thoir foremen, | This section includes the following works:—Roads and j bridle roads, paths. vurf and grass, plantations, trees | and shrubs, skating pond and ice, greenhouses, traus- vorse roads, drainage, repairs of buildings, seats and signs, lakes and water. HEE Appropriation for 1877 Deduot the first class PITULATION, $1 $175,000 5,300 000, 00 Deduct second class, .. This leaves tor third ciass,. $5,060 It 18 impracticable to sustain the parks on this sum. Tho decrease 18 apparent by the following comparison An appropriation reduced one-half will leave a propor. tion availavle for the third or valuable class of ex- | peuditure reduced seventy or eignty per cent, | 1875 187 1877, Maintenance expenditure, .. $303 $208,573 $17. Deduct ciassus 1 and 2,... 106,000 106,000 Leaving for cles 3.......8 $07,575 $09,000 | ‘This leads to the following conclusions :— First—the propricty of the reduction of the wages, Sccond—The suspension of the work im winter and midsummer, and its more active prosecution im the spring and (all, At the very best it will pot be practicable to keep the Parks tn their usual fino condition, Even it an | appearance 16 kept up, it will be at ihe cost of a far greater outlay in the tuture than would be necessary now, Some part of the necessary work of the Parks must be suspended or neglected, and this will lead, | necessarily, to irreparable injury. Thg details of this | work and the disasgrous result of tht reductions we must make are set forth in the accompanying reports of Mr, Oimsted and Mr. Munckwitz T OF THE SUPERINTENDENT AND ARCHITECT. — | The report alluded to in the concluding p ragraph of h was ree cently submitted to the Board of Commissioners by | Messrs, Fred Law Olmstoad, Jandscapo architect, and Julius Muncckwr ‘uperintendent of the Department | of Public Parks. The following extracts trom this | document will be sufficient to show what these gentio- men think on the subject:— Under: the circ any radical i je n ly: departments of maintenance 0 vo adopted, however, certain conreanencs are to be expected, | to which the attenion of the Hoard should not fail to b6 ven. A certain part of the duties of maintenance, and thas | part which hay the most pubic attention, which hasalways | omployed she Ineger number of men ant taken tie larger | are of the outli | iple charac: ti the seats in place tho water flowing in the work in this class of dw public neo complal nd nearly always may be ri Ww the foreman responsible tor it, foreman looks sharply after th shorthanded of pressed for time, loaves other work It may be desiravle e point out the fallacy of s that this pulley can be pushed further in the tn’ Tt les in the fact that w! nil the class of Nes of which the object ts the diate conventer of the public in the parks has been performed, tant, most ditticut what under yatern of municipal management might ostly part of the maintena to be provided for, This Js the provident servation of she value in the fixed property lodjed in the parks and the provident development of value in why | antauons. itis probably within bow to say that the the departa ean expend during the preseot year in the part of its dngy w tbe equal to the bait of | ‘owe pur evnt of the capital whi ¢ city Nas invested in | the jeoperty to be kept in repair, a p tion which toany | one #ho knows the character of that property and the con: | ditions on whic it tegrity de le must be rece id fs absolutely inadeq da. | | The come tings of th avaliable fort gent examitiation ot the mid executing desiravle r a nid be. s are sure to be fels by the fore thw year Js past. One of the eo tages is 40 dilaptanied tas ite ase has been disconvinues others aro ieuky; several require Ei seighided AY maoy of th fixed soate have fallon to pteces, The movable seats, a b wear and she constant wetion of the «matter of economy, lave @ fresh coat What i6 be more than eonper ES i A DY RAVE fn the rust of f and rotting aut spiiniering uf the wuodwork, The had no paint im the last two years, and none ean be management of public shall daly 18 noe slinply one between. the per fociect of cortain oper bit Inrgely one of thie knowiedge, good jndument, personal interest and taithfule ness of the men who shall be employ witeh will, in any ‘eane, be dome, How so, may be vrietl | indiented,” ‘There are varions places in the Central Far where, within a apace hor much larger shan the rou in the Hoard sits, there 1s oceasion, i the ordinary | taowing, the wathering | plautations, te reuse with their | pecial le of recetetng enp ign of the socal ity, For example, tn partis the bay of brond lawn, she surf of wuieh It ts 1 keep closely mown, and on which dead lenves or any other plants than cortw Erasses are a nish, Over $i » slate should be s ” there ho manure, except same rubbish which is an injury so the adjoining wrt A third pars is ® Ruoll betweon aud about the rocks of which & | soon become | cry, which gave this resort for that purpose, | Helen Ru | 37 Bond street, 1m this erty. | plainants that they havo veen swindled in some in- and plants have been willed Contrat one nat the beanty lost which iy vat tosigned and exhibit, But sive! to D competent oe ation ast» needed “in” these bas of late years been employed to Sify acres to be Ir. art of the men Gf this clues were auspended iu. order “to save wager, and half « ianis, usually protect incom Gred for the winter ‘The meu omaploNed st" leas wanes te the place of those suspended often pulled up aad fe weeds and rubbish plants which haa been cursed qi care during she summer, For wat of proper ioree will be this 10 thinning of the plantations, ne prun- Ings, and even the dead and dying trees marked lass sum. mer for removal must be su! to remain eumperere of the f Th considerations are placed thus plati fore Bo. ra i ore thee it See fully a Mg at 4 reer ns about to be offered are made with no ex. ‘ot y one of the divisions of the force proposed that an; will be adequate for the work which should be dona, 1B EXOTICS TO BE SOLD aT ONCE. To redue Needed outiay for ¢ nd lessen the dni of the smaller numbereof skilled (or the horticultural work (one sardener in charge bedding, of ground) it bs i ding pian J. sixty ner tion of the sinall parks with «de whoily, Aud shat of she Central Park mainly, discosted, and thi Bout Bait the present exotic collection be aat once sold au the honses Teicction 1# also proposed in she namber of gaslights to be Durned within she email pastes WIR ACTCAL CONDITION OF THE PARK The writer took jJengthy stroll im Central Parg yesterday afternoon, and did not fod ttim the depl Abie condition which tue reports of the Ps U4 #\ouers ang their subordinates imply, mau carriage way aud the small skating pond a ng squad of men Were at worl ting a di ugh the gard rock, which is to draw the oul wi trom a dairy near by. This must be quite an expe: unuertaking, and 118 bard to see how 1 will, completed, repay the cost of dog 1, On the eas, ado of the curling pona are a pair of ornamental woodeo structures, presumably imtended to accommodate those who may wish to witness curling matcbes during the winter. They are pot finished, and the steps which should lead from the sidewalk’ to these aholter houses are separated from the publie by an ugly chasm several yards in width, Generally the seats ate in a good state of repair and the rhade also, excepting In a Low spots here aud there northward of the skating ponds, re the I thaws bave made them soft, Atsuch places old planks are laid along the road, which does not mm. josed in which is is contained. A still further | Prove its appearance, bus whea the winter shail baye . passed and the frost left the ground these spets will hard again. Ib wae noticed yea. terday that some carts were at work sprinkling the carriage roads. ifthe men und animals thus employed bad wny ether work to do their tine was wasted 10 thie occupation, for there was no dust on the way to mo- Jest the most fastidious person. 1p some places tl wire fene’ng is out of repair, and on one side of the walks the kes through whicb the wires passeo were missing; but tho replacing of thpse useful tines of dem jon wil! cost bute mere wif, At the mati sume of the siats on the seate near the musie stand are missing of broken, and ought w be re- placed. With the above siight exceptions the state of the York, so far as could be judged by the eye of the com: mon observer, seems to be eulistactory enough. There is plenty of room ior the weary thousands of our citie zens to enjoy themselves In the way inteaded by the nd nothing is be seen in it that would be offensive even to the etic eyes of the retuned visitors who frequently seek there recreation and fresh air, And, by the way, if the Park Commissioners cannot agree with the Board of Apportionment, why not appotnt an investigating commission to see What ts the mateer between these two bodies ? ORIENTAL GOODS, The conclusion of the sale of Uriental goods drew a large crowd of tadies and gentlemen tothe Messrs, Leavitt's Clinton Hall salesrooms yesterday afternoon, ‘These sales of bric-a-brac seem to find quite as much faver in the ladies’ eyes as does the social ketuledrum. Carriages surrounded Clinton Hall allthe afternoon, while their fur-cloaked owners inside vied with one another as to which should possess the choice bite of porcelain and the Gnest rags. We should like to sce the bouk sales as fashionable; the ladies de not kuow what they mias by not collecting Hbrarios, | The goods offered yesterday fetched excetient prices, the highest emg for a pair decorated Nunkin porceiain vases, $66; Cu. hese crackle ware umbrella stand, $27 50; a Goross bronze {unnel-shape vase, twelve inches high, $22 50 of rich!s | clorsonne cnamel tan shape tray, $20, Chinese porce lain umbrella stand, $30; a duplicate, 3 & bOS, | clowonné enamel, oa bronze, $19; tea jar, cloisonne | enamel on bronze, $25, cloisonné enamel bronze bowl, $25; round — placqu cloisonne enamel, on Sronze.'$27; another more elabor 2 30; glvisouné: euamel tea jar, eight inches high, 22; u Japanese sword, $31; a pair of cloisonne vases, tuliptops, $68; «large clo:sunné ename! placque, a fine specimen. $126; another, amailer, $105; a cloisonné vase, $80; a pair of Chinese porcelain vases, with raised tigures, $115; a teakwood sereen, four folds, mbroidered centre beneath glass, $240; 2 tire screen, $90; the Persian rugs brought from §29 to $50, tb Coulas from $10 to $23. THE NEW FRENCH MINISTER. M. Max Outroy, the newly appointed Minister Plent- potontiary and Envoy Extraordinary from the Repub- lic of France to Washington to succeed M. Bartholdi arrived in this city yesterday on board the steamship Canada, of the General Transatlantic Company, which | left Havre on the 3d inst. The new Minister and suite Janded at hall-past ten: o'clock and were welcomed upon the pier by M. [. de Bebian, agent of the company, and a delegation of French citizens and sev- cral attachés of the French Legation at Washington. M. Outrey was formerly First Secretary of Legation in thie country under M.de Monthelon, and whie acting in that capycity married an American belle, Misa soll, daughter of Mr. William Russell, who Jong lived on Br y, just north af Bond. sireat. me, Outrey is a neiwe of Mr. Churles H. Russell, 6x- President ot the Bank of Commarce, and cousin ta Colonel Delancey Kane. M. Outrey has been French | Minister to Japan, and one of bis chiidren was bora io that country. CONVENTION OF IRISH SOCIETIES, SHsLL ST. PATRICK'S DAY BE CELEBRATED WITH THE USUAL PARADE? The convention of the Irisn societies of the city met last evening at Hibernia Hall, on Prince street, aud was largely attended, most of the Irish societies of every branch being revresented. Mr. Thomas Kerrigan | presided, and Mr. Andrew M. Cary acted as secretary. Mr. Hugh Murray was appointed treasurer, to fill tne vucancy caused by the death of Mr. Timothy Dorson The main object for which the Couvention bad been called—the discussion of the arrangements for the proper celebration of St. Patrick's Day—was postponed until the next meeting. Mr, Cary gave notice that oo shat should introduce # resolution to test the various organizations os to their reat opinion in reference to the parade. The depression tp business wae felt by all the societies, and their treasuries, ax a rule, were so depicted that they would find 1% it to meet the expense. If there was any money to spare tt should be given toa fund for the pury of building a central hall as large as Cooper Institute, in whieh ail Irish soreties could have their bead: quarters and hold public meetings, The Anctent Order of Hiverniaus wore setting them a good example tn this respect and wi own, The suggestion of proved by most of tho delegates present and will be thoroughly discussed at the next meeting, 4&4 VERY OLD DODGE, A nurber of lotters have been received at the Mayor’s office impugning the honesty of a firm of Jewellers named Russell & Co., doing business at No. {t 1s claimed by the com: stances, The programme Is alleged to be as follo Circulars ate sent throughout the country from the firm to hundreds of persons, stating that they have drawn certain prizes in a fottery, William Powers, of Springfeld, N. H., sends a communication in whieb he encloses the circular which he received, and which says:—" You are hereby notified that your joint interest iu Laramie City and Topeka (Kaysis) lottetiog have resulted bake drawing a gold wateh and chain valued at ‘The 10 per cent asseased by the com- mittee upon all the prizes makes the amount due on your prize $20 percent, You will please send that amount by express, Post Office mouey order, or registered letter to Messrs. Russoil & ©o., jewellers, No, 87 Bond street, New York, and they will forward ul ‘ig to you by express. you preter they will Bend it by express ©. O. D. tor the amouns of percent age., Should you, after examining the grticles, desire lo exchange the prizes for any otber ti! of similar value tn Messrs. Russell & Co.'s stock you can do 40." Iv appears that articles have beon sent in some in- stances whieh are set down as worth $200 when they would not realize $21f sold, Whether this firm ia guilty of not remains to be xeon. The matter has beea placed for inv hands of Captain Walsh, of the City NoT Henry Summersgill, a pedier, doing businces oo Grand street, Williamsburg, was in his store yester. whon a young tan called and asked why a gold watch and chain he had ordered on Wednesday had hot been sent to room No 50 Fifth Avenue Hotel, Now York, as ordered, Mr. Summersgil! eaid, “i owas pot present when {) was ordered Are you the ono as ordéred 107"? “lam,” pomp. ously replied the stranger. Then suavely replied the Jeweller, “Why don’t you pay for and take it your. sell? & think I had,’ reflectively speal “Detter police to find out who y No the words uttered than tho stranger madi a dash for the door and was speedily lost in the dis. tance, Williamaburgers arc too wide awake for such operators, There are no hotels over there, and to send to one In this city 18 too thin a subterfuge, COLUMBIA COLLEGE, The students’ somi-annual exhibition of Columbia specinl soll has been placed for a particaler class of shrate 4 which shontd trail out irreguinrly no that the woman who visited Staten Island on Thurs. day, and offered to pay U6 oxpeises of tho burial, can, if she 60 pleases, veil who the dead woman 1s, tow Over this Md share show mow! ba ore ‘0 vo be Cans with die- of trees save the expe! crimmation, veh aa College took place at the Acadomy of Music Inst signs, It was not only largely attended, bat was a very Har'isae "Yue Toay Yivade Wf lhe studests, eure preosnt in force,