New-York tribune., 1874-01-02

rate per annum The GLASS of covered wagons used by
the Government worth about $3.50 each the horses
are worth something Ike 500 each harness per set OF
two tOo and with reasonably good management, the
annual expenses OF each should not exceed $50
each set Of harness. O and the Of horses at the
rate of 70 cents per day. si7 co. Allowing each wagon
three years and harness same, and horseshoens
for each horse 81 each fortnight for three years sO2 we
have:
wagon.......s3 $3.50 90 Keeping horses. ..s1,Gt2 80
Two horses. ...... 400 90 HOrseshoeng 3O5 GO
Harness 2ag 100 60 Total ssll8 30
Repairs, years. 12O 90
go that one wagon may be said TO cost $1,000 80 per an
mum; and allowing six wagons to the Treasury Deplr.
ment the tota expenditure SHOULD not excoe2 -, per
s3l76-this item would purchase nine new wagons eac
year Either there are great many wagons; tU or .a
harness Teparssg5 provides one set Of harness lor
each new wagon The shoeing item-s!3l.at above es
innate. gives only 20 horses, and logically 10 Wagons
repaired "a cost OF s37 % each aud, by same course
The item Of street tickets $4,000 at five cents each
equal 100000 fares or 2is per day, not Including
Treas1ry oat and There four street.
car routes leading from the Treasury, and eacn car
twoud require hours and % minutes TO deliver these
persons How are the 274s tickets per day used
Ouep sqbef Why don't the Committee on Expenditures
examine the vouchers and nd whose board bills are
covered by conlhgeQi fund expensesl CALCULATOR.
Warrington, Dec. 26. 1873.
CURIOUS SCHEME FOR DIRECT VOTE FOR PREsl-
To the Editor OF The Tribune.
SIR: THE TRIBUNE has many times minated
ts belief that IL might advantageous to elect the
President by direct Of the people, but has not
that recoec indicated process OF election or nom'
nation. therefore presume that 1t VIII admit sugSes
tions the subject. The most important part ID tho
nomination and this needs change OF law 10 enable
the people to make 1t they please suggest the fol-
and t na sarh % Sthen e
place designated the letters TO be filed and the nomlua
tions recorded in books, open to journalists, that
they may report the numbers and the Dames Of nuen
scattering nominations, but they would be transferred
aud the election approached they would be eoneen-
dropped weekly until only two would remain to be
voted for. fee sufficient for expenses should should
give us the counsel Of tho most eminent
by trade Of whom few voters know anything. Men of
reputation would not early IN the seaS2n nominate
without personal knowledge OF their th hacs
Others and the multitude would nominate almost wholly
under such influence to ho% wneh % Way m nSy
longer the better Three years would not be TOO long
for eisqrey discnssion OF the merits OF ann
naliss would show how many men OF emnence III pri-
m Ha sOr on e would be
useful service to citizens who can do no better thal
adss o, OF s work would be- Considerable but less
than incur for the worse than Dnd guidance OF
two Invisible ollgarches composed OF men who hope to
gain more by politics than they can gain in private
business J. X. T.
'!Sl TeiS, York, Dec. 20, 1878. '
LEARNING WITHOUT BOOKS.
TO the Editor Of The Tribune.
SIR: / approve the sentiment recently ex-
pressed your paper that books not to be regarded
as the sole for the preservation OF literature
Let us 20 back tte In the Ph@drus Of Plato section
27o is the following remarkable passage:
when the God Theutse the mythic inventor 2, T,, OF
King Of Egypt, as the thing tha: would make the
Egyptians wiser and give them gss. sSa Of 1
Thsnnus replied: 90 most ingenious Theutte. he who
the utility or inuy Of his nyentions to the
Of them. And In this instance paternai ove OF your
this invention OF yours will forRetuness in the
learners souls because they will not use their memo
and not remember Of themselves You have found q
specific not for memory but for reminscence and you
be- hearers Of many things and will have learned moth
ing they will appear to be omnlscient and VIII gener
reputation Of knowledge without the reality"
contrast the msp who, without letters, could utter
such sentiment this, with the average NewYorker
that you meet day by day. amid the splendid surround
inGs of eIernas that have their tendency TO deceive
with " the appearance Of things" T.c.P
Detrot, Dec. &c, 1873.
THE NOMINATION FOR CHIEF JUSTICE, AN ARGUMENT
FOR AN ELECTIvE JUDICIARY
70 tAs Bditor Of Ths Trsbuns.
SIR: am in favor Of electing all judges by
the people, well those OF the United States Courts as
those OF the State Courts BECAUSE other
the system Of appointments deprves the great body Of
people Intelligent persons well a. ignorant, Of any
voice 10 their selection and brands every honest intel
eent man who has voice utterly unit to take part
10 the choice Of judges, and Classics him n the same
class with those considered ignorant, dishonest,
and dangerous.
You are opposed TO the election Of judRes and In favor
OF the appointing system. and you are not likely TO
change your opinion Ny mind Is open TO conviction,
but the nomination Of Attorney General Williams for
Chief Juatice OF THE United States has very strong
tendency to confirm me In my opnlOn that the people
Arc iust Is competent to select able pure and upright
men b, All the Office OF Chief Justice aud Associate
Justices ss the President Of the United States, and that
they are just as likely their combined tudg
souudy and wisely In tho election, tho Senators
of the United IN the use OF their power oI
eopnrDs ton and rejection
IL whst n sad OF Attorney General Williams be true,
aud the senate shall connrm him. as believe IL Will
what VIII be Your answer 10 tho views explcss
Eecto,,, N. j., Dec. %, lSI3 'E~
LIFE RATS AT sRA.
70 me Edftor OF The Tribune.
SIR: The frequency Of steamship disasters
suggests that attention should he paid 70 iferas All
rafts In the market too bulky and occupy TOO much
valuable space. What 10 required substantial con-
triyance which will safely noat the passengers until
rescue and when use. occupy az little room as
possIblo vessel carrying Q thousand oy more paS