The New York Herald Newspaper, May 10, 1877, Page 5

THE OST OFICE DISASTER Report of Postmaster James’ Commission. The Original Defects To Be Remedied—he In- structions Given and Work Performed. Sad Results of a Defective Truss. VERDICT OF THE CORONER'S JURY. Wasainoroy, May 9, 1877. The commission appointed by Postmaster James of New Yor, under instructions from the Secretary of tho Treasury, to inquire into the causes of tho lat accident at the Now York Post Office building havo made an extended report, After reciting tho fact of their organization and the witnesses examined, the commission proceeds :— THY FACTS DEVELOPED, The facts wre found to be as follows:—On Ji this letter was sent from the Supervising ol ly 11, 1874, rehitect’s “Taeascny DerartMent, Orrick oF Surkvasing Ancuitecr, duly 11, 1874 “To Hon. C. T. Huntnunn, Superintendent Post Uflice and Court House, Now York City: — “str—I send herewith plan and section showing the doe- sign for tho new court room to be found in the bullding on- der your charge in the third and fourth stories, as requested by the judges of the Court, You will procoed to romaye the floor beams and to nt up the room as shown in ti Accompanying plans, which you will please cnre- tully revise und “inform = me tt there is any You will see that a considerable jculty in carrying the same into effect, or if there nro rors in «vr plans, smount of urring will be required to carry out the desizn , which will be dune by the contractor tor the iron lathing hon wdecision is rendered in regard thereto, Very ro- jectiully, A. 6. MULLETT, Supervising Architect. In order to curry out the nbove inatructions of Mr. Mul- Jett a tier of beans, constituting the tuen fourth floor, was removed {rom the space now oceupied by the United States Criminal Court room, in order to give it increased heixht of ceiling, and x» brick partition wall then dividing the room transversely, was removed to in 48 Its longth, This briek wall, which nat also ex. tended throuxh the attic story of the carried a portion of the roof, was Instructions required to be aupnorted above the ceiling of the court room by a wrought iron girder, introduced ut the timo the wall was removed. ihe icloney the primary cause waich tually f Many 1. deep, placed side by aide, art by five cast iron separators or filling pieces, through each of which passed two one-inch wrought iron bolts, thin led to't This girder was formed ot two This girder, besides its own weizht, was compelled to su; prt 238 1-10 square leet uf attic floor, with its irot K arches and unusually heavy filling of solid ¢ re tse brick wats in also 743 square fect ot remainin; nuily to curry the the other story. twelve inches thic Additional load of 573% square fect of root deck, with Its fron beams, corruzated iron arches, concrete filling an topper covering, besides the accidental increased weight due to wind and No copy of the plan. referred t be found in th perintendent, es uNY Fecori there app written description of specitication for this girder: quentiy it is not possible commission to determine whether the demgr. for the girder was unde or approved by n office of the Supervising trangy Architect, Tho engincer of that office, Mr. Schumann, asserts that be never knew the dimensions of this girde: nor the method ot its construction, and two witnesses, M: ‘Thomas, muster mason, and Mr. Worms, iret they were directed by the assistant superintend Mr, Steinmetz, to form oa girder from two the tuken out of the floor, which was femoved to give increased heizht to the court root Thoms states that ho called the attention of Steinmets the insufficiency ot the girder, ana that he su; sted the introduction of a relieving arch over itin the ie wail teferied to, Mr. Steinmetz insists in his testimony that he warded it as sufficient, but #till had made uo catculution its stremath, SIGNS OF WEAKNESS. At a subsequent period, the precise date of which no testimony alsolutely esiablishes, the giraer was discovered to show digns of weakness, opening avout fvurtee feet wide und ten feet hizh was taken out of the attic wal to rerdowe it. the court room ceiling was furred and Dlustored iapnarenty i winter of 1874 wud 1875) the kitder was hidden from view. Xubsequently. the ceiling Grucked und fractures were noticed in the brick work, at the jamvs of the opening of the uttic wall above, ana it pe wi at Mr. Oaks! , the present sapervising in- tor in charge, di the attention Mr. Schumann, well as of Mr. Mullett. to the condition of beth ceiling id wall, and suzgested that the wh wall should be re- moved, and that Its pluce as a sup should be suppliod by u truss, und that M to recommend the substitution to Mr. Li Supervising Architect, aut fol'owing extract of @ letter from Mr. Mullett to Mr. compliance with that ‘kw Yorx, Dec, 2, 1876, “Jams G. Hitt, Esg., Supervising Architect :— “Sin—In makin: alterations in the original deslgus to pro- vide for the Criminal Court room n brick partition wall was left in the filth story, supported by a Leam that was not suitable und should have Leen condemned, Lt subsequently settled aud caused & crack to uppear in the cviling of the . Eilorts were made to remedy this by the late Assistant Superintendent by having a large opening in the Wall, This is not, however, an eflectual remedy, and L onr- nestiy recommend the removal of the wall und the insertion of # rouf truss in the other cases. Very respecttullyy “A. MULLS TT, “Supervising Architect New York Post OM On April 2, 1877, Mr, Onkshott addressed the subjoined letter tu Mr. Mill “APRIL 2, 1877. “sam G, Hint, Esq, Supervising Architect, Washington, 0, your ree tho settlement of w brick wall dividing th the filth story (now used as ® dormitory) ai tly uver the Criminal Court room. 1 nave caretully noted the set- tlement und fina that the in the court toom ceiling caused by the samo ic ts necessary.to port 101 those now in p 3 trusses were supplied y at a conteuct price nd proposal ol Messrs lying the additional lhe seen, is $205 67 tion in the adjuini by the Kellogg Bridge © $438 67 ech. knelo: vel i truss for thy wt $2: less than the contract price of the Kellogg Bridge Com - puny. “an view of the emergency of the case, 1 hve accepted the proposal of Messrs. Hewvelnit the work is properly preservatio building, I would respecttully request that the expenditure be authorized trom that appropriation, Very respect ully, T. HM. OAKSHOTE, Supervising Inspector in charge.” Mr. Hill approved the action of Mr. Oakshott, as ex- pressed in the fultowing cominunteation ; ~ “ERKASURY DEPARTMENT, Orricy OF THE SUPKRVISING ARCHITECT, April, 1877. § “Tuomas H. Oaxsnott, Supervising Inspector in charge of United States Post Uftico and Court House, New sore city :— “oin—In reply to your letter of the 2d inst. you are ad- vised that your action in accepting the proposiis of Messrs, Heuvelman, Haven & Co. tor supplying an iron tenes at a Haven & Uo. and, as nd repair of « pudlic 4st of $288 as w support for that portion of the root of the | building under your supervi large room in the filth story over the Cirenit Court room «made necessary vy the removal of an insecure brick wail) is upproved. You wit plense prepare ana certity vouchers for the work, which will be paid vy he disbursing agent, C. A. Arthur, Exq,. upon presentation, from inuds in his hands under the appropriation tor repairs and preservation of public buildiuzs tor 1877, Very respecttully, “JAMES G. HILL, Supervising Architect ” ‘Tne proposition ot Heuvelman, Haven & Co. referred to, which Mr. Uukshott had wecept plows s— ” §, Haven & Co,) RRTY STRAT. March 30, 1 immediately above the a " roof Post Otlice, shown now in place, yours, A momorandum in pe truss, ‘The construction and delivery fer the orders of Supervising 1 oy Onkshott. M Dougherty, also, under cis direction soured up the roof, re: moved the uttic wall, and the new truss was placed in posi- tion by contractors. PRIOR TO THK AC Mr, Oakshott stutes that, in consequence of other duties, he had but Jittie time ts devote to toe Post Ottiee, tuvush t thrones the building twiee wach day, On ue Hill, aceoupanied by Mr, Onksbott, ed the Port Uflice and walked thecuzh the room where cident oveutred, the temporary shores being stil ia position, Mr. Hil tostifics that lis time was limited, whe was on his wey to Albany, and that he did dot attempt to inspoce eritteally any Work in the bnildin His attention, however, was directed to the thet that the russ war set in its place, On the following day, May 1, Wr. Dougherty, the fureman in charge, having rep rtrd the trons te be complete, withont iy rived of Mr. Guxshott to | that cifect, but apparentiy under his implied permission, proceeded to the temporary shcres with great care. fug at the south end of the truss, whien the corridor watl, he successively raised slightly Denn with'a screw shore, remuved the temporary s atiowsy lowered che bean apon its seat on the top rd OF thy truss, ‘The last shore su cenioved way nearest the north end of the truss and on the easterly side. cil explniny the character of this this truss proceeded un- DENT, rested on eh roof THE ACCIDENT. Within three to five minutes alter it was taken out the mnuive of root whock this new truss was de parry f floor below, a calamity whieh has occ nod the present service of the A i of the talon trays with theo standing, whieh was to bee tio new sme, reveals the fact of ences. (A plan of the model truss, made from netnal measure. mont taken by t fs appended to the report And marked CA." also a plan of Che new truss, » miluciy Measured, as it Now lies, marked “B,"” Phovugraphie repre sentati ne of a porth 1 the fallen truss are wis adued. A plan a panies this repurt.) ‘ne ratter’ M,N,’ with its ties and braces to the vers tica) strut O, "is wholly omitted, and this strat belie neither b to its shoe ner butlt inte the wall, stood free Without lateral support. Khe root beams, Instead of abut: Ung hitto and consequently beactine the upper chord. in the new truss, as they did in the original aad adjoining one. simply rest itand were noe secured to it im wny way. The New (rigs Was Kose oF Kio nine Inches ers Hepth, nud consoutentiy is proportion of supertinons stronctn (the factor of salgty) was correspondinaly redi without lateral support, The root bes instewd of 4 Hing nto aud consequently bracing the upper chord of the Iruas to whieh In the old tris they are seared by angle frons wid bolts, costed hon it and wore not in any way se zured Wit, Tle teins Was decreased in depth about nine inchos, and, consequently, the proportion of snpertiions stremgile (the twets inished. eo adjac ral important differ. tified t epee: Il the contrie: oocasion by Mr. Mr. Oakshott tors for the tra this Haven-to mease accurately the truss adjacent tothe irises to be substicated forthe wall and to duptiente it ex- Actiy;_ also that suimeanentiy he directed Mr Haven Tren the trnsy bedily about nine Inches, so that tre t fame world rest upon, instend of hitting against the Huecbel bars forming its top bord, and that this and wa tn ctuwan in the dopth of these channel bars was the only duane ho permitted or knew of; he further statew they he ard. ve wetenthon to tite seh materials turnisted oY Wie tncen. ne it wns ne randum or Me. Haven‘s be @esio’ Dimin forming Lis estimuie; this meworandam order | strike | Commence | ppork | in the construction of | was hh ‘aslip of paper and is written in pencil. (Vopy an- nex MR, HAVEN'S CLAIM, Mr. Haven claims that this memorandum was an exsen- that he was nos calles upon todo tdown on it, and that, as por model-—via., ity princival rafter al und to the wdjacent strat werd ot enumerated in it—Ue was Hot required to supply them, in bis opinion as this principal rafter was also uses ordinary rafters ot the Mansard roof, the truss without it or any substitute for it; that in hie root weight was better pliced with the roof Deams resting on the top chord of truss than it they were abutted to it and secnred by angle irons, and that in his opinsen no other method of securing the roof veat the chord of t! Mr, O. M he had never accepted or | directed the shores to be struck the difference, but jt unimportant, that he did not report is wo’ Mr. siderod i Onkshott, y tHe VIDRNCR and measurements and compu. tations made by the commission prove—- Firt—That the girder introduced under the wall when the alteration was made inthe United States Court Roow was so Insufficient that it must have long axo failed had it yen 0 fact thas the brick wail witch It supported was # particularly sound and Tong one, that it proved to be not only practically selt-sustaining, but also con the principle that it contained &@ natural arch) to have been able to nold. the weight of th roof besides, and that the suid girder cien: reportion that when now relieved, the wi rom all the weight ofthe root and'all the weight of that portion of the itwell above its natural lin which runs at an angle trom the nothing but that it happs good tron, ana floor has never b by ‘an ordinarily grows revented 1 Court room beneath fro een th ceno of afar mot uceident than that wich has now occurred in. above it, The girder hus now x detlection of five and ones halt Inches, with length of thirty five leet two and ano half iuches between its bearings, ‘The extent of the cracks in tho celiing of the Criminul Court room did not necos- surly indicate exact curvat t danger trom, the girder, for the cetling staining power iudependent of the floor ow which tt ix hung, as is Proved bythe fuct that many ot its suspending rode loose (the floor has sagged in places more than the cetlin As th ngth of the virder iy impaired, wlthough the main lond it intended to curry ix removed, and as under ‘no conaltion is it strong enougo to support with # sufficient margin of sulety that portion of the Hoor above whieh it is still called upon to carry, your Commission, under tne cir ances, may be excused if they recominend thut It « materially strongtiened or that its place be sup: plied by a.new und properly proportioned uirde Second—The windora of the order ty remove the wall and sQpply Ite place with a trum by manifest. | hird- ‘Tho root trusses adjacent to the truss that fatlea, | which curry substantially tie sume load, are proved tu be sufficient to support the root with safety. Pourth—The letters of April 2 und 33, from Mr. Owkshott, Superintendent, to Mr. Hill, supervising Architect, and of Mr. Hillto Mr. Onkshott, prove that @ contract was an- thorized for # truss which would have been adequate to support the roof, | h—The tact that important clements of stability and strength in the model truss are not found inthe new truss explain its taiure. ‘The omission of a rafter with its brac- ing, which was a main reliance fur the safe support of the end of the horizontal portion of the truss above was the primary cause of the tccident. Its omission left the whole weight of one-half of 573%, square tect of roof, with ts iron beamn«j corruxated iron arches and unnecessartly heav concre“e, sino of the metal rooting and accidenial load, to be borne by aw single strut 1% inches i forme’ of the IW-inch chanvel bars, having 2' inch flonges, their web being 914 inches thick and thetr se tional «rea ench 32-10 imehes, pliced back to back inches the first 14 feet 8 ineh base there are but two separation which passes a 3% inch bolt. ‘of fracture the girder, cy be t constructed of @: room + of which from the through exch of "The strut stood mbsuiutely | free and without laternt bracings. It was manileytly at | terly incapable ot sustaining the load places upon it, and as muxt have been expected erippled (be ate | polnt threo feet below jon with the truss, As no pro- Viston wax made to. bré the top chord of the truss later aliy, either by bolting the deck beams ot the roof to it dl- reetly or wit angle irons or Ly notching them on to It, it was deficient in lateral stiffuess and iu danger of failure of crippling the upper chord. 7 CAUSES OF TILE ACCIDENT. ont accident ix due to two causen First—Ybat the truss erecteu did not correspond with that recommended by Superintendent Oukshott, approved by Suvervising Architect Hill and appureutly contracted tor by Messrs, Henveiman, Haven & Co Second—That the shores were removed and the truss was ‘bjected to its load before it was examined by 4 person competent to determine if it was constructed in coaformity with the contract Your commission considers that it is perhaps a fortuna ct tance that this accident, sad as ft is, h t on of the radical weakness of the hidd United States Courtroom, the continu- w source of Jeopardy, and tho commu. nity hus great reason to be toanktul that they bave been seen dthe details of a calamity tar more appalling in its e Finally, the pi je girder A. J. CAMPBELL, tronworker. NAMUEL LOWDEN, Builder, W. W. ADAMS, Superintendent of Buildings. D. JARDINE, Architect. Wott, Gs DNEY, Carpenter, WM. LAIMBE! ‘nairman. Mason and Builder, THEO. W ectetury. inginver and Architect. THE VERDICT RENDERED BY A CORONER'S JURY IN THE CASE—THE UNITED STATES GOVERN- MENT RESPONSIBLE. The imquest hela by Coronor Eilinger upon tho vic- tims of the Post Uifice disaster was resumod yesterday in Equity Court chambers, The tiv ‘v tness called was Mr. Mullett. He testified as tol. - MR, MULLETI’S EVIDENCE, I rovide in Washington; 1 was the supervising ar- chitect of this building til tho Ist of January, 1875; while haviog charge of the dilice the Post Orice build- ing was built, under my Supervision ; in the spring of 1s74a change was contemplated jn the Post Office, consisting In the removal of a floor and a wall par- | tially supporting the rool, which was the original pur- pose of the wall; the wall was removed on the fourth floor, und my tnstructions were to remove the wall, to the root; when I leit the changes referred to were 10 process of being carried oat; there was no plan mado atthe time, as such was not required, a simpie order being suflicient; so much as | can ascertain the alterations were approved of at the urchi- tect’s office in Washington; the floor upon which the upper wall rested carried the weight of the same, as weil as that partof the roof; I was the supervising architect at the tine of the construction of the Post Office; 1 was familiar at the time with all the details of the plan; 1c.pnot remember at prerent the max- finum welghts calculated at the time; all [ remember is that 1 examined tbe plans and calculations at tho time, and that 1 checked and approved them, but L cannot tell at the present inoment any particulars; they are matters of reourd; they were prepared in the office by Mr. Schumann and approved by me; I w out of oflice before the removal of the upper wall, bu my directions the time were to remove the en- tire wall and replace it by a truss similar to thoge adjusted in other parts of the building, and my directions were cither written or verbal; | do vot remember which were por ou the subject at that time to Mr, Steinmetz; [cannot now tell the weight of the roof calculated at the time; I was aware of the | fact that the rool was supported by the brick wall; the question of removing the upper and lower wal's first was a matter of detail which I left to: the Superintend. ent, Mr. Steinmetz. GENERAL STXINMETZ'S TESTIMONY. General W. G. Stemmetz the next witnosa, Hi. snid:—I[ was educated at Treves, in Germany, and was qualitied as a survevor; | have also b.en a civil eugin- eer, connected with tho Co'ogne Raliroad; | was alto connected with the constructiun of u road at Wetzlar; subsequently 1 studied architecture; 1 was em- ployea by the United States government sev- eral times; I had charge, as assistant super. intendent, irom 1870 to 1871, of the building of | the New York Post Office; the plans and drawings all came direct trom Washington; I leit the office in Oc- | tober, 1875; the roof ut that time was complet there was @ plan—a section showing the alterations contemplated; the books will also show it as a matter ot record; I should judge there must be a written order | authorizing the change, Joseph W. Barton, inspector of building material and construction at the Post Otice, ing at Jersey | City, was then examined. He stated:—There are some plans showing the changes which had beep made in the third and fourth floors; a letier author:zing such changes was received from’ Washington (copy ot lot- tor offered in evidence), but I cannot find any of the plans spoken of im the’ letter; the orders to remove the wall came from Wasbington and I exe- | Cuted them to the extent shown by the plans and according to instructions received; it was not my duty to examine the buriding myself in regard to details of execution; I merely executed the orders | given and superintended the architectural work cut in the upper wall on the attic story was tn on verbal orders. THK MAN WHO MADE THE TRUSS Wilson D. Haven, the vutider of the trast examived, He said: was next ‘On the 29th of March last Mr. Oakshott told me that he required a truss in the filt | story siniinr to that already turnished by us: he gav me general instructions as to what he wanted; we put in offers tor some of the booms, braces, &c,, lor the tron work of tho Post Office; 1 was asked, with relerence to the present cuse, to furnish a proposal for what I would erect @ similar truss to that al- | that the cost of the truss w: | nothing of the cause of his absence, his failu ready erected; our proposal was accepted; 1 talked | with Mr, Oaksbott about tne subject; I was asked | by him to use aine imetowl of seven ‘channel iron; | | our foreman was in charge of the work; be was in- | siructed to make tt satisiactory to the goutiemen in | | churge of the Post Office; one of the fire rods gave | out; it was a defect in the iron very difficult to dis- | cover. } Michael Schwartz, a mechanic, had heard Oak-hott | | and Dougherty converse about ‘he virder on April 10, | and Jacob Webber, who made the girder for te con: | | trocting firm, noticed that the beams supporting we | Fool and resting 06 the truss deflected, bat aid not | | speak to Oakshott about it. Vhe evidence being now completed the jury was | charged by Coroner Ellinger and withdrew. © After ing oat soveral hours they returned the following verdic Tue VERDIOT, | The Coroner’s jury duly sworn to inquire into the cause of the death of Dennis Fleming, Charles H. Rob- orison and Patrick Jobnson, find that they came to iheir death by the faliiog of a portion of the roo! ol the New York Post Office en the Ist day of May, 1877, We jurthor fied that tho immediate cause of the fall- | ing of said portion of the roof to be from im- | proper and imsuilictent construction; but that the | | prinwry cause of the disaster as attribu table to the imcompetency of tho agents of tho Trensury Department charged with the erection | and completion of this builning, and that the United | States goverament is responsible for tis calamity. Wo turtber find that an excessive quantity of concrete wns used In the covering of the root, and that the loud thereby imposed upon the irun rool bewms and ibeir supportexceeds the weight for which the iron con- struction was originally designed by more than three handred per cent; thatall of this ss owing to incom petency on tho part of A. 1. Mullett, supervieng architect in Charge at the tine the rot was designon, and his local cmployés, and Cuat the civil engineer, the only party appearing before us com: petent to design and compute mothods — of struction, has, according to the testimony, bo authority in carrying out the construction. His tun © entitely advisory, and that the sapery nployds, not themselves techoieally | yd to recur to bis advico when | | the jury propose looking turther in| | of the $30,000 in cash to Benjamin | be recerpted for, but claims | session, | cal Kank and $12,000 of the money was withdrawu changes were mado by their authority. It appears that on the removal of n° wall ov the fourth story, the ree mainder of the wall og the Mtth story lett sta ba order of A. B. Mullett, supported accoraing fo his di- rection, was supported by two light fifteen-inch ‘ron beams, competent to carry only one-quarter of the weight imposed upon thein; that this wall was re- cently taken out to be replaced by an fron truss, and reported to the superin- c, by the ‘tendi| rehitect at Was local superintendent her approved by him, but no special dra for the pew truss and its outer support; that the un- derstanding between the local superintendent and the iron workers wag for 4 truss fimilar to another truss then tn the building. It appears that neither the local superimiendent nor said iron firm bad the neces- sary technical information to correctly understand the Junctions of tho truss needed or bow such a truss sbould be constructed, aud that in consequence its supports gave way as soon as the temporary props supporting the roof beams were removed. Furthermore, we are of the opinion that the method now in vogue in the Treasury Depurtment in Wash- ipaton of designing and coustructing government structures throughout the United States demands in- telligence in local superintendents, in this or similar emergencies, which the government has certainly not | in this case been successtul in securing. VACATING ASSESSMENTS. AN IMPORTANT BILL BEFORE THE LEGISLA- TURE—MILLIONS OF DOLLARS INVOLVYED— THE CORPORATION COUNSEL'S OPINIONS, Mayor Ely bas transmitted the foliowing communt- cation of Corporation Counsel Whitney to tho Speaker of the Assembly relative toa bill now before tho Leg- islature, entitled, ‘An act to facilitate the removal of clouds and apparent liens upon title to real estate’? :— Orrick ov Counset or Conroration, ww Youk, May 4, 1877, Hon, SMitH Evy, Jr,, Mayor Sm—I have examined 1, now pending in the itnte the ret ery short and exeoedingly comprehensive: it gives aright of action “to remove apparent or alleged | or clouds up-n title created by and to pron validity of any instrument, deed, contract, mu ii private weit wy be on file 0 gaze, pub- affecting or re- { record with ent within this ‘The second section provides the grounds upon which the action may be maintained :—"F i rrepulnrity, legal ine lidity or error charged or compluined of with terpect to 1 Hien, instrument, deed, contract, mortgage, public rd or proceeding, of private writing,” and whe eh defect Is patent or otherwise. 1 wilt endeavor to make plain just what this bill does, It affects buth our taxes nnd asxessinents, onnider first the sulject of anness for the vacation of 1. It provides # new form of acti Assessment Anew chuses of action or grounds for the vaca- ment, form of remedy against unjust and fraudulent assexsments is by summary petition to 4 Judge of the Su- preme Court, with right ot appeal to Supreme Court, Gen- eral Verm and Court of Appeals, (Chapter 333, Liws of 1858, and the amendments thereto ‘Laws of 1874; section 27, chapter 383, Laws of 1870). ‘The present system o. procedure in these cases bas been in practice for nenrly twenty years, during whieh time hourly every question that can arise ‘has been betore the courts and been adjudicated, and the law and practice he become settled and systematized. Itis simple, summary und expeditions. It gives author ity to either reduce or Vacate assessments us the facts may WAFFAnt There is certainly no occasion for anew form of remedy in these enses. But (2) the real viclousness of the bill is, that it enacts new clauses ur grounds ior the vacation of assessments, likely tu resuit, Ifthe bill_should be bussod, in the loss.o inillions of ¢oliars to the city of New York. V Local improvements in New York city are made and paid for by the municipality out of moneys raised by the fusue of bonds, and the city relies upon the ussexsinents, whieh, in due course of procedure, come to be levied upon the prop- erty benefited by the Improvements for the means to pay mda. ar several yur priot to 1872 these proceodings were couducted with great carelessness, and at all times itis dificult to so conduct thom that ‘technicul irregularities thall not occustonaliy occur. * For several years: (ivean to 1872 the courts had held that vunder the thon existing laws any “irregularity” was sutll- cient to warrant the vacating of An assessment, and a very large nuu if unxeastents had been vacuted, amounting in the nggrogate to millions of doliars, whereby the ex- pense of costly improvements were shifted from the prop- erty owners benefited thereby to the shoulders uf the gen- eral public, and millions were added to the already enor- mous city dybt. The evil resulting theretrom the Loxixin- ture sought to remedy by chapter O80 of the Laws of 1872, prohibiting the vacation of assessments “theretotore fin! posed” upon any other ground than fraud, except in certain specified cases of repavements, This prohiyition was ex- tended by chapter 313 of the Laws of 1874 to all assess ments “theretotore or thereatter imposed.” It would seem that these provisions of law furnished the nocesnury and just protection buth to the city und to the property owners, permitting the vacation of assessments upon the ground of fraud, out not tor technien! Irreguluritios in the course of the proceedings. The enacting of these provisions of law had the effect to check and substanttaliy to stop the vacation of anussments, jy this bill the old rule Is restored, and any technteal “irregularity” in the making or performance of a contract, in the publleation of the ordinance in corporation papers, OF AL any stage of the proceedings, will be suificient to authorize the vacation of an assessment. It would not neem to be an auspicions occa The prove for the door to be thus opened tor the increase of the burdens of | $3,780 in cash, $5,880 991n electrotypes and our municipal deot, nsider that to provide new grounds at this time for t! ssments would be very prejudicial to the vacation of i lic interest Tho hall ulso affects assessments for t! Under the existing laws ay porson ‘aluation made ot his property tor purpor missioners of ‘Tn: and thoir decision may bi rtiorarl when reasonable and m n for nspection—vie., b tweeu the second Monday of January ani the tirst day of The Commissioners are also nuthorin-d to remit or reuuce # tax alter it has been Iaid and wi the delivery of the tax Ist to the Ri 2 These provisions are cxleulated to affor vemvdy In all cases of unjust wie wood requires that tuxe: eedily na possible, and that ali correctio i to the tax list itself should be made onticmation of the tax, Lt is not well, ther fore, to multiply modes whereby their collection m “dor e providing that eflicte dross ri wrong be secured, aud such y Recured by the laws now in force relat- ° By this bill, if it should becom had been completed und the t fact without any limit as to tine, an action can to vacate any assessment for the purpose of tux: irregularity or technicul defect in 4 Teunnot suppose that the nature of this bill dL trust such re 6 wil rd'to it that it may not become a law, eetiully, W. ©, WHITSEY, 1 to the Corpor NEW JERSEY MUTUAL. oxsi waKens nr means are certain ing to taxation in the eit: am, sir, yours r Coun: BENJAMIN NOYES NOT IN NEWARK—HIS TRIAL ‘TO-DAY—GOVERNOR ROBINSON AND THE RE- QUISITIONS, On Saturday last Mr, Benjamin Noyes lott Newark tospend Sunday with his famliy in Connecticut. Ho was to be back on Monday. It was tho first time ho had left Newark, though at liberty to go anywhere | within a day's journey since his arrest, Hoe had not returned up to last evening. As his trial is set down for to-day, and as his counsel and bondsman know to ap- pear in Newark up to yesterday created considerable gossip if not excitement in oMcial and insurance cir. cles, Judge Guila, Noyes’ bondsman, expresses tho fuliest contidence that Noyes will turn up. Mr. Noyes bas been at the Astor House in this city during a portion of the present week. In the event of bis non-appearance for trial to-day his bondsman has been tully indemnified ag: jt ihe joss of $5,000 bail, It is believed that the trial will be procecaed with whether or not Mr. Noyes is present. According to the New Jersey statutes a person that bas turnisned ball in answer (oan indictment has adinitted the ju- Tisdiction of the court, excepting in cases of felony, GOVERN OMINSON’S POSITION. A letter bas becn received ai Newark Irom one of the State officers wt Aibauy, 1a which he says that Gov- ernor Robinson would not grant the papers aske Until 4 was substantially shown that the offence NEW, YORK HERALD, THURSDAY, actually committed in the State of New Jersey, Other- ‘wise, supposing the offence to have been committed in this State, he cuuld not properly consider them tug tives trom New Jersey jasti The letter intimated | that should this omission in the papers vo sup. | pled Governor Kobinsou would give the maiter | another bearing, The point thus made is considered | to bea stroug auc, and it 14 possible that new and cor | rected indictments will be presented, | The Granu Jury will resume active investigation to- | day, Ainong tiose who have been summoned to ap- | peur belore thei are It, (. Martin, Henry A. Jones, | | D, V. Fackter. Henry W. Smith, George J. scheme: horn, F. J. Muatiigan, J. A. Canniff, Daniel J. Noyes | and the bookkeeper ot the Chemical National Bank. From this list of witnesses it would appear that tho transter vex which | Ver has becn in his pos- | ere drawn on the Chemi- | n | the day following the tran-fer of assets. 1t 18 for the | alleged division of this money among them What Henry W. Baldwin, H. H. Trenor, A. G. Fay, B,C. Frost and J. H, Steadweil were indicted. Mr. given bail in Nowark, though he signified bis intention | of doing so some duys since, At the trial of Benjamin | Noyes, set down for to-day, a number of »itnesses are | to be called, Among them ts Mr. Stedman, who once | ‘The eliecks given | haa a long contest widh Benjamin Noyes mi Connect. | cut, the former bong at the time Superintendent of | Insurance, LAUREL HILL'S DEFENCE, May 9, 1877 | To run Epivor oy tum Herat deny the statement madu in your report of tho Daly sulcide, publishea on Monday, that the parties who wore interfering with che Into unhappy Mr. | Daly's property bad come from Mr. Fioherty’s house, I never mentioned Mr, Flaherty’s name im any torm | or shape, dire or tudirecity. Tho offenders were suppored to belong to Wiliamsbarg and strangers to Laurel Hill, WILLIAM O'GORMAN, A NAUTICAL GYMNAST. ‘There is a schooner lying off Staplcton, one of the | satlors of which has for seme time past been amusing | the idierson the dock by gymnastic performances, He ascends to the rope or stay. Which extends from one inast tothe other, and tuere yriorms trapeze acts which woaid do credit to a circus peric He is a Baldwin has not js subject Of special attraction to the coroners. THE ANNIVERSARIES. AMERICAN FEMALE GUARDIAN, HOME MISSION- ARY AND AMERICAN TRACT SOCIETIES, The forty-second annuul meeting of the American Female Guardian Society and Home tor tho Friendiess ‘was held at the Home, No, 29 East Twenty-ninth street, yesterday. Mrs. Wykofl, of Brooklyn, offered the Opening prayer at half-past ten o’ciock, Singing and the reading of Scripture followed, and the various re- ports for the year were read. The Board of Managers was clected, and the following officers will be re-elected at a meeting to be held on Wednesday next :—Presi- dent, Mrs, C. C, North; Corresponding Secretary, Mrs. 8. R. 1. Bennett; Recording Secretary, Harris Wilson; Visiting Secretary, Mra. S, M, Amblor. Previous to the morning session a prayer meeting was held in tho committee room on Thirtioth street. At one o'clock tho Board adjourned for lunch, meoting in attwoP. M. The children, to the pumber of 250, assembled in the chapel and Spent an bour or so in singing and other exercises, The well known Quaker lady, Mrs. Isaac Collins, ad- dreased the children on temperance and religious sub- jects. The exercises concluded ut four o’clock, From the secretaries’ reports it appeared that during tho past year the Home has sheltered 1,018 inmates, “1,429 persons have been aided, and the whole number of ape plications, &c,, personally attended to numbered 15,0: Homes have been provided for 127 children— by adyption and otherwise-—aad thirty-three children nave died. The Home bas in charge eleven industrial schools,in which the pames of 6,476 children havo been registered. Upward of 13,000 garments have been distributed, 59,000 leaves of bread disposed of and 7,000 visits made by the teachers and committees. The receipts of the society, from January, 1876, to January last, Were $66,959 $8; expendiures, $72,062 51. Th children for whom positions have beeu obtained are regularly written to and visited. HOME MISNIONARY SOCIETY. Tho fitty-tirst annual meeting of the American Home Missionary Society was held at their rooms tn tho Bible House yesterday alternoon, at tour o'clock, Mr. Charles Demond, of Boston, Treasurer of the Mas- sacbusetts Home Missionary Society, presided, and the meeting was opeved with prayer vy the Rev, Wiliam M. Taylor, D. D., of Now York, Ort Was read and adopted, The annual report of the Executive Committee wus also adopted and ordered to be printed, On roport of a commitice. of nemination ‘4 list of officers was ciecied for the ensuing year, The President elected was Rey. Theodore D. woolrey, D, D.; Treasurer, William Henry Smith, and Recording Secretary, Austin Abbott, There were also thirty-lour Vice pr.sidents, filly directors, tnree corresponding creturies and ony auditor elected. The soctoty then aujourned, and the newly elected Board o: Directors met to appoint tie ExecuuveCommittec, The tollow- ing commitioe was appointed :—Members ex oficeo— Treasurer William Heury Smith, Recording Secre- tary Austin Abbott, Corresponding Secretaries Rev. Davia B. Coo, D. D.; Rev. Alexander H. Clapp, D. D.; Rey. Henry M, Storrs, 9. D. Other members—Mr, John B. Hutctinson, ‘chairman; Mr, Christopher R. Robert, Simeon B. Unittenden, Rev. Richard 8, Storrs, D.D.; Rev. Willham J, Budington, D. D.; Mr, Calvin C, Woolworth, Rov, William M, Taylor, D. D.; Mr. Jobu Wiley and Mr, William G, Lambort. AMERICAN TRACT BOCIKTY. The American Tract Society met at the Presbyterian Church (Dr. Crosby's), corner of Fourth avenue aud Twenty-second syee yesterday morning, at ten o'clock, when the summary ol iis Onancial and other work for the year ending Mareh 31, 1877, was read, The stringency of the times has had the eltect of cur- tailing the operations of this as well as of all simiiar eocicties for the past year, but the exhibit still shows largo outlays and corresponding results, During the year flve of the vluest members of the Board have died, Four of these were Vi Judges Shepley, of Maime, and Haines, of New Jersey Bishop Janes und Lucius Hopkins, of New York. resident Stearns, of Amherst, was a director, Tho Dew puviications issued were 132, thirty-one of which were volumes, the others comprising pamphlets, leaf. Jets and cards. Nine new books and tracts were issued 10 Gerinan, ove volume in Spanish, one in Portuguese and tracts in French aod Danish. The periodical de- partmont, which embraces six different issue: sel t- supporting, Gratuitous distribution of buoks to the amount of $44,200 44 bas been made, The receipts for the yoar have been, including $109,726 14 in dona- tions atid legacies, $441,198 26; to which add $8,071 43, balance of sinking fund account and balance in the treasury April 1, 1876, maxing the total resuurces for the year $449,209 69, The expenditures in the various: departments of the society for the year, including $1,615 14 to sinking fund accouni, 0 been $441,119 74, leaving a balance tn the treasury of 149 95, During the year 209 culporteurs, including 3 students, from 18 colleges and theological semi- baties, have jubored 1 32 of the United States and in some of the adjoming British provinces. They held or addressed 6,037 reliyious meetings, made 152,553 family visits und conversed on personal religion or prayed with 98,370 families, During the year closea 1,827 27 1 home publications were donated by the society. Dur- ing the thirty-six years the socicty has been in ex- ence the time employed in colportage has been equal to the service o! one man for 61,015 mooths. or over 5,084 years. There have veen 10,866,645 volumes sold, 2,859,728 granted, 480,970 religious meetings held or addressed, 11,839,730 family visite made and 6,470,346 1umilies conversed with on personal religion or prayed with, BROOKLYN Y. M. ©. A. The sum of $6,000 has been pledged to the Brooklyn Young Men’s Christian Association, and it is to be used to pay off part of the debt of $7,500 at present exist ing against it. The associativn, therefore, will not sui peod, A PASTOR'S TROUBLES. REV. MR. M'CAFFRAY'S CHARGE AGAINST POLICE OFFICER FOLEY. Officer Foley, of tho Twenty-first precinct, was brought before the Police Commissioners yesterday on a obarge preferred against him by the Rev, Mr. McCat fray, of No. 658 Lexingion avenue, The specification relate that on the evening of the 22d of March this officer arrested the reverend gentleman outside of bis church without a warrant or any evidence to justify such a summary proceeding. Rev. Mr. McCaffray stated the case in very forcible language, assuring President Smith that he was locking up bis church on Third avenue, near Thirty-seventh street, and was about retiring peacetully to bis home, when Mrs, Leavitt asked Officer Foley to “arrest that man,” and Foley did so, never inquiring whether the charge avout to be prelerred against the prisoner was for an offence committed on tha: night or ot “Sr. President,” said the Rev, Mr. McCuallray, who Was attired in sombre black of clerical cut, ‘lis olficer thea took hold of mo and despite my protest marched me along the eastern side of Third avenue to full view of a crowd vo! perouns whose attention was attracted to tne by tho officer saying, ‘I’ve got bin.” The arrest was altogether maliciously mado and car- ried out in an anofficer-like manner.” In rebutial Ofticer Foley stated that he had been directed by his sergeant to go to the place where he found Mr, McUa‘lray, whom he did not take to bo a clergyman, and Mr. aod Mrs. Leavitt, who with their iriends were, indignant and tureatened to injure Mr, McUallray for having done something to the lady, She called upon the officer to arrest Rev, Mr. McCaffray, saying, ‘He has assaulted me," “Did he lay his hands on you?" satd tho officer, ‘He did," replied the lady. ‘He ycaugut me by the bands, kissed me, and, asking me to go inside the church with him, made improper proposals waut yoo to arrest bim for indecent assault.” Then Foley went on to tell that he asked = MecCaffray about the charge and ho inade no special denial of it, Belleving that the affair bad taken place oo that evening rather than on the Thursday week previous, ho took all the people to the station house us much'to save Rev, Mr, MeCaffray from personal Violence from Mrs. Leavitt's {riends as to have the thing cleared up. the officer had acted indisereetly 1» not akking at what (ime (he assanit bad been mase; but air. and Mrs, 1 i as well as a brother ofliver, Foley’s statement. This officer put in as supplemen- tary defence that he bas been on the force more thin ten years and hos never had acharge preterred against him by a citizen, Rev, Mr. MeCaltray bad no wit ses. Nouction was taken by the Commissioners. CONCERNING THE DOC Tne Dock Commissioners at their meeting yesterday Aiternoon recvived from the Police Board a letter re- questing them to make a survey of Hart's Isiand, and to furnish estimates of t around i. As the totter was couched in somewhat vague terms the Commissioners decided not to con- sider the request unul they should ascertain just what the police authorities wap AU @ previous mecting of the Dock Commissioners the French Transatiantic Company, which pays $50,000 @ year rent for its pier, asked to bo excused trom tur. nishing the $60,000 security demauaed, and setung forth that they had erected upon tbe pier a shed and other improvements to the vatue of about $50,000, which in case of their failure to pay a single quarter's rent would be jorieited to the city. This the com- pany thought was guilicient security of their good = fart The seioners = wrote for tue opinion of the Corporation Counsel as to whether they had power to waive security im such a cause, and | Yertoruay they received trom that official an opinion ing iorth Chat they bud (ull power to do as they thougut bess, Thereupon it was decided to tet the vompany lave the pier without security on condition that it pay the rent quarterly iw advance. ‘The oiler business transacted at the meoting was of a merely routihe character. NORTHELN The stockholders sof the Northern Pacific Ratlroad Company held a meeting yesterday forenoon at No, 23 Filth avenue, The action of the Directors at a meet- ing held earlier in the day was reported, At the Directors’ meeting the Finance Committee reported adversely ou the placiog of a mortgage on that portion 01 the libe now 1 wperation on the Pacitic const, The contemplated Hnisuing and equipping of the branch to the Pingaliup coal feuds, it ts beieved, can be accom. biished without issuing a mortgage. “PAGIFIC. ‘The treasurer's re- | General Smith thought | corroborated | ost of erecting eriv work | MAY 10, 1877.-TRIPLE SHEET. OUR SOLDIERS’ GRAVES. COMPLETING THE ARRANGEMENTS FOR DECO- RATION DAY-—BOTH BLUE AND GBAY TO BE REMEMBERED. The following circular bas been issued from tho New York Department Headquarters of the Grand Army of the Republic, with reference to the manner of observance of Decoration Day ;— Heapgvantens Derantaxnt or New Youn, GKAND AUMY oF THe REPUBLIC. inl Room 19 Trixiry BurLDING, No, 111 Broapway. Naw Youx, May 7. GENERAL ORDERS. NO. 4. T, On the 30th inst, duty sud inclination alike will call ie as in the past, and strew with flowers the windowless’ pulacos of rest” where repose the mortal re- mains of our comrades gone before, The Commander is gontident thas uo oficial adjuration ix necessary in order to inipel every comrade to do his full share, in order that the cervmonies of that occasion may alike do justice wo the deeds of the dead and the insthicts ot tie nearts of the liv: In no manner can we inculcate ro largely in the minds of the rising generation % spirit of devotion to coun- try ax by showing them on such oceasions as Decoration aA the em in which those who died tor the nation ure eld. IL The races this opportunity to repeat the suggestions which it was lis privilege to make one year Ago, vig. :—That wherever practicable memorial services be held in the evouing as well as in the day; that sue vices be held in sowe public hall; the clergy generally in- vited to participate, an re, that while paying Our respects to the memory of the dead, we do not lorKet the elalins of the livin; but that the cpportuuity of such ink xervices be embraced tu present to the public the ity of a Soldiers’ Home in New York, and collections taken ‘therewfier im wid of the fund. We shall hover have perfurmed our tull duty to comrades dead and comendes living until we have tu m the poor: houses of the state the GM Are dragging out @ aingraced « {iT With the gradual but ¢ tant thinning 6 ranks by the hand of Death it 1s evident to all that iu a of our organization will be num: and our decora- In view of that fuet tt is recom: rnest effort be made b. all toextend hope and th y within a few ye only the gray but the last resung Iuces of all loved ones yone before ‘will, as by «common mpulse, be made to blossom with th weet of iragrant flowers, By no oth 01 ie much to give nizitio tality, while lasts, as by this founding ta its heart «future nativnal ob 1 their vicinities m cordial Decoration Day and par. payment of tribute to departed valor. |W: ntuxe ground uf the vietor in the doad xtrit well afford to periorm thirnct, On the battle tei ht their lives stinply we woutd pr idron of ali of uy the blessings of the Union, was no personal hatred in it all, We conquered, and these remain American citizens—our brothers, with equal mrrdes of New York and Brooklyn, ave to the bivouse ot the dead of both armies, at Cypress till Ve not tried to bei soldiers as may now be invitation to turn out wi tichpate in tI OUR COMPLAINT BOOK. (Nore.—Letters intended for this column must be accompanied by the writer’s tull name and address to insure attention, Complaioants who are unwilling to comply with this rule simply waste time tn writing. Ep, Herat.) BROOMS THIS WAY. To tHe Evitor or tuk Herauo:— Please call tho attention of tho Street Cleaning De partment to Fifty-tourth street. 1t has not been cleanee since last summer. HS Q CLEAR THEM OUT. To rus Evitor ov tue Herant 1 would ask through your valuable paper way the police captain of the Twenteth preciuct allows a gang of loafers to congregate on the corners of Eighth ay nue and Thirty-eigoth street, insulting every tomale and passers-by. Hod. A DEAD GOAT. To tux Eprror oF tHe HeRaLy:— A dead goat bas been lying 1m front of my house for three days. Tho policeman No. 1,212 says “Go to hell, and notify the bealth tolks. EP. W, A QUESTION OF FINANCE. To tax Epiron or tuk Hkkatp Can you spare me a littie space in your Complaint Book” to ask what they are going to do with the pro. ceeds arising out of the moneys pail for licenses tc keep dogs? PRO BONO PUBLICO, UNRULY CHILDREN. To rux*Enitor or Tux HenaLp:— Is there uny way to reach the unruly chifdren of the rich? lu Forty-firat street, between Fifth and Madisoa avenues, there are filtcen or more children living mainly on the north side of the stroet. They have SHOW and other balls, bean shooters, pistols with capt among their lesser amusements, Last winter ono of our neighbors had three panes of large size gla broken, and no one did it, of course. If spoken many reply impudently ahd pay no attention. The police chat with them, and never interfere with chulk marking or whistling. While | write ihey are going from plot to plot tearing up the young grass aud poit ing each otner, Is there any way to make them stop away trom the stoops and graes plots of people who have no LITTLE TOMBOYS. MANURE AND SWILL MILK, To Tux Eprron or Tue HeRALD:— onthe graves of the Uni Confederate d tokens of remen J, sweet needs no excuse; St commands ‘Yo such # apirit must this ecuntry I plishments whieh, im the Iture are to plisc hizher on the rull of nations than she hus ye And ay we stand, clasving lands on our Memorial il remembrance be difficult to » h under the willow: a Western horizon of the Republic ‘alt shall be enabled to witness auch a promise of future 1 tonal glory ws sball amply recompense tur ali the toil, fering and bloodshed ot the past. V_ Post Commanders and the Chairmen of joint Memorial committees throughout the Department are requested to s-nd complete reports of the services in thelr several loculi- no it may ties to the Chaplain of the Department, J. Hl. Burnard, Viymouth, Chenango county, d isy command of JAMES TANNEK, Department Commander, Gxo. B, Squines, Assiotant Adjutant General, THE PUBLIC OFFICES AT THE NATIONAL CAPI- TAL ORDERED CLOSED. Wasninaton, May 9, 1877, The following notice bas been addressed to the beads of tho departments and to the Public Printer:— Sin—The President directs me to ay that the several des partments of the government will be closed on Wednesday the uth inst., to enwble the employes to participated in th decoration of the graves of the soldiers who fell during th revellion, Iam, sir, your ubediont servant, W. K. ROVERS, Secret ARMY OFFICERS AND THEIR PAY. Bostos, May 8, 1877, To Tak Epitor or tHe HkRaup: The army has to go without pay for tour months Officers with families anu children to educate live up tothe last cent of their salary every month, They will be obliged to hypothecate their pay accounts for this period ut ubout 100 per cent per annum. That 18 about the charge demanded by those who ‘shu pay accounts, Why will not some patriotic men of Wealth offer to advance this money to oificers at seven per cent interest? It would bo an entirely sate invest- ment avd would be an act of true philanthropy. 1 don’t require this tor myself, as l am among tho few fortunate ones having sume resources outside of my pay; but 1 feel for the distress of the old officers with famihes, Will you agitate the subject? For obvious reasons please not mention my uame, but call ne ARTILLERYMAN. LAW AND LIQUOR, EFFECT OF THE FAILURE OF THE STATE LEG- ISLATURE TO MODIFY THE EXCISE LAW—WHAT THE LIQUOR DEALERS SAY AND WHAT THEY ARE DOING. The Liquor Dealers’ Azsociation, represented by Mr. Harry Cunningham, the president, gave up any farther hope that the State Legislature would relievo the liquor trade from the difiiculty it finds itself in by the recent decision of the Court of Appeals when a ram was recotved carly yesterday morning saying “the Excise fight is lost.’ Mr. Cunningham said:— “We are only beaten on one flank. They have det cided against our rights as individuals, or rather aguinst the rights of those who are dependent on us; but beyond the logal reading given to the decision of the Court of Appeals they have established nothing. ‘The license law of 1857 was allowed to remain in force until 1877, It was only alter having mulcted the liquor mon of licenses for twenty years that it w discovered that the jaw should be repealed. Why should it be repealed? We have coniormed with every phase of it, and if they chovse to resu-ci- tate dead and decayed decisions against us we can only throw ourselves on the common justice of the peop.e, It 1 not a question now of whether those wuo sell liquor bave been beating the License Board, but wuether a map who pays his money for the privilege ol carrying ou Lis business 18 Ww be allowed to do so if people opposed to him in opinion do not like it. A gro- cer or shoemaker might just as easy have his shop closed by a rival because the rival wanted a clear teid for himself ax tho barroom keepers can be suppressed by legiatation,” The east s.de liquor dealers are rather disposed to be combative, und are ingenious in their mode of evading the letier of the jaw, One of these said yesterday to « reporter of the HxkaLp, “I couldn't run a beer saloon without selling liquor tm it. Five outof ten ot the men who come to my places—for I have four of them— want spirits, and if TE cannot provide thom with them they go somewhere else. Yot in two of my stores I couldn't possibly find room tor three beds, “I intend to put them up in the other two,” Ih many of the Baioons the conditions of the law had been complied with by placing very small covs in very dark closets, ‘Ihe brooklyn Board of Police and Exciso Commis- sioners yesterday sent a generul order to the captains of the several precincts instructing them to report as to the character and repatuvion of applicants for inn- kecper’s licenses, the exact number of «pare beds and bedding kept by them lor the accommodation of trav. eilers, and us to whether they cau furnish meals, TEMPERANCE IN JERSEY. The seventh annual convention of the Catholic Total Abstinence Union of New Jersey was held at Grand Street Hail, Jersey City, yesterday. One bundred and thirty delegates, representing thirty-four societies, wore present, by Hennessey, Burke and Keser, of Jersey City; Corri- gau, of Hoooken; MeNulty, of Paterson; Hollana, of | Trenton; McCarthy, of Dover; Hogan, of Harrisou, | and Scuneioer, of Passaic, Father MeCarthy was | elected chairman. | After the exumination of credentials Father McNulty, | of Paterson, was iected president of the union for whe ensuing year, and William J. Convery, of Trenton, Rast The uew president delivered a stirring address, Prayer was then offered by Father Hennesse: the Convention adjourned, In the wns a temperance gathericg in St. Micha choolhouse, at which several andresses on tem which h | ance were delivered and great enthusiasm was mani. | | fested. ee os) a NO COMPROMISE. ing at No, 91 Greene street pending bis departure for Europe, was ewindled out of $238 by two Ltalian con- flaence men named Giuseppe Colombo and Giuseppe | porchto, They were arraigned betore Judge Wandell atthe time and held for trial, Officer Teraro, of the Court Squad, while working up another similar case, yesterday discovered that Borthaut had secured pa sage tor Europe on the amer Cann ceived from iriends of Colombo and Torchio the full amount—238—i0 hea of an order on the prop- erty clerk for that amount, taken from the two men. Herthaut was brought before Judge Way afteruoon, and that magistrate thought proper to com mit him to the House of Vetentio fault of $1,000 bail, Lo insure bis presence as & Withess against Colombo and Torehio, rit G THE FOUNTAIN GUN CLUB. Tho certificrte of incorpor: Club, ot the couaty of Kings, was approved y jon of the Fountain Gan terday tho game laws and ordinances, to prevent the uniawful nd inhumaa destruction of game, and for improve: Mont in the use of the gun, The club 1 nleo designed to bring together ju social tntercourse the sportsmen of the couuty, | Court. The club ts organized for the enforcement of ides the Joliowing priests:—Fathers | | | A few days ago John Berthaut, temporarily rosid- | | having te- | Li yesterany | by Justice Barnard, of the Kings County Supreme | T would respectfully ask yeur kind permission to cal) attention by means of your ‘Complaint Book’ to the disgracetul and unhealthy condition of the lots situate in East Fifteenth street, between avendes Band é, It is @great nuisance. Scavengers’ trucks nd carts stand there during the day while the proprietors of tue manure damp aro baving manuro hauled vo and fro, The attention of Mr. Bergh, and wealth authorities also culled to the cow stabies in rear of these lots, The cows are confined in ciose, dirty stables, being ted oa swill, rotten apples, &c, 1t 18 viso almost impossily to stand tbe smelis arising trom these lots, and muc of the prevailing sickness among the children of this neighbortood must be caused ‘by this nuisance on loig Nos, 610 to 612 Kast Filtecnth stre GPM. REFORM IN THE TENTH WARD, To tux Epirorn or THE HERALD:>— Eldridge street, between Rivington and Stanton, 1s a disgrace to the ward. No decent woman can pass by without being insulted by tema’ of ill repute, My wife was insulted tast week, and complaints at the Tenth Precinct stati on house did not relieve us of this uisance, If Captain Kass would take a waik throu: that block in the evening he would see tor hi that it ts really so. Wall the Police Commissi ploase send us that hero, Vuptain Wiisiams, for a litwie while, aud we taxpayers will be bappy' to receive bim? GM. CHURCH SEATS FOR STRANGERS. To tax Eviror ov tie Heratn:— Some weeks ago | walked a Jong distance to attend service at Dr. Hall's Church, Filth avenue, When entered there were not a dozen persons in tho b of the chyrch; 1 stood nearly an hour, and, un: from exbaustivn to remain standing longer, returned No soat was offered me por did pent for providing any. ELDERLY LADY AND A CHURCH MEMBER, home, seo any are A CHANCE FOR EXPLANATION, To tas Epitor or THe Heratp:— Some months ago a monster entertainment was given at tho Hippodrome, and it was advertised that the proceeds were to be given to the poor of the Twen! first ward. Some of the prominent politicians of thay ward were upon the committee having the matier in charge, aud | should like to ask them what has bees done with the proceeds? TWENTY-FIRST WARDER. A CRY FROM HIGH BRIDGE, To tuk Epiror or tuk Hexary:— Sinco you have successfully pushed your way into the dense jungles of Alrica and the swamps ot Florida, notto mention, iast, though not least, the burribie highways and byways of New York city, I entreat you to aid us, who, though living in one of the most beau- titul environs of the city, yet flud it nearly as tn cessible as either of the above places as far as rapid transit 1s concerned, Woy will not Mr. eroit give Highbridgeville more trains at bours to suit busi- ness men and women? The Eighth avenue road would do a clever thing to put dummies at once upou the upper part of its road and so accomplish rapid trausit for a large and grateful number of persons who now depend upon it for daily carriage to and from the city. CROCUS, BOTH SIDES OF THE SPITZ QUESTION. To THe Evtron ov tux Henauy 1am surprised to see that you are raising such a hue and cry against the Spitz dog. “To say that the bite of a Spitz dog is more venomonous and capable of pro. ducing bydrophobia oftener than tho bite ofany otter member of the canine race 18 simply absurd. the temper of the Spitz is more quick and dtiai l grant, but thatit shoud be exterminated for this | for (he tmagimative wea of 18 bite being more harmful is ubjust and barbarous, a. J To Tue Evitor or tar HeKaLo:;— | Since you have doue so much good In the matter of Spitz dogs, will you kindly see what you can accom- plish in getting rid of a more dangerous vrate? In the rear of No, 310 West Thirty-eighth street, back of « pair of stairs, 14 kopt a dog as iarge as a good sized bear, as Diack aod as euvage, The stairs being opon the dog can easily put bis bead through of around them and | seize any pe who may be ascending. [ have nur rowly escapod twico only vy jumping three or iour | steps. The dog ts chained, but bis chain is 80 long that he hus plenty of play, and, if t were short, sue Strongest of chaius is liable Lo break with the sudden Jerk of bis ponderous body flying at any person be may AN OLD SUSSCRIBE To tur Epiron ov THe HeRKaLo;— Tam surprised at the extreme course you have taken in regara to tue Spitz dog. I am an admirer of tno canime race, and naturally feel indignant at the ery that is being raised against the same, particularly the Spitz dog. “My experience does nut carry out your views, [think the Spitz dog as harmless, as regards bis bite, as any Other dog. Go Tt DANGERS OF THE PARK. To THe EoiTor oF THR HRRALD :-— Last Sunday ovening I took a young lady friond for astroll through the Park. We sought seats near the entrance at Broadway and Eighth avenue, but were compelled to walk on until near a pile of rocks we | discovered @ seat, Which wo took, Being protected | from the chilly wind by some bigh ground aud shrub- very and rocks ucar us, wo sat comtortably, chatting together, We must have sat thers some time, for my | companion remarked, “I think it must be late; t heat | no one waiking through the Park.’? L looked at my Watch, but could pot ee the Hae, The lady rose, aud suddenly she remarked, “Look! there Ix some one | coming.” | turned quickly, aod against the gastigncs trot sunken street close by I observed a tur crouching down and approaching under cover oi tho | shadow inave by the high ground. | was rather | startied, ax was the lady, aud I supposed at once that some Man intended to deal me 4 viow and fob te in | that foneiy part of the Park, [was unarmed, without | weune even, aud leit very much cone When the tm | os - bad @ tady with d ho ran to us veture | aware that he had been diseow we had time to know what to do or what to expect, | and serzed tho lady by the arm, She at once drew | buck and exciimed, “Don't you dare to touch me,” | aud then 1 saw toal it wasa Park policeman, Now, | sir, | cannot conceive woat object the rough fellow | had im approaching us to the manner he did. We were sitting Near a walk, HOt at all covered from View. Que | figures couid be seen distinctly against the sky by any one passing by. We mnade no attempt at coucealneut and our pversation Was carried of in a loud vor and frequently with laughter, The excuse the tellow guvo wien | asked bim what he wanted was, lt is | time (0 go out. 1 desire (o call the special attention of the Park Come | mivsioners to this unwarranted case of impertinent | jutrusion by the policeman; for if they will wot eri. | ploy proper persons to guard and protect visitors | to the Park, and will” retain raltians who xo avout at dark, secreting themselves, in order | that they may pounce Uupoa respevtadle w10 who go out for a breath ot fresh air, who. in if ibeir own affaira, and Who do not violate any Lawes o propriety by sitting in & public park 10 plaid view of all people passing, then they must pot be surpriaed if some time respectable people take the law into the t hands and there and ten deliver a custigation lo , Which he go richly merits, Beiwg aware that Lhadt no means of defence aod that ruffian could call tor assistance, and in consideration for & tiinid, nervous and Sick giti, who With me malt be compelled to spend a night in a station howe —a lerrible disgrace Lo a respectable | Lied matin gy but moved on meekly.