New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-01-23
"strike" has been managed in the interest Of
tho operators from the first.

tho operators from the first
Civil Service has always found its most dan
gcrous enemy in the average Congressman.
His "shrlekS of locality" have alarmed the
friends of reform; and now it is once more
gravcly proposed that the Washington
among the Congressional districts ana
States, something after the fashion or the
naval and military cadetships. TO this com
plexiOn the so-called reform has been steadily
coming; and it has lately seemed to be the
inevitable termination of the long struggle to
put the Civil Service above the scramble OF
small politicians. 1t is almost unnecessary 10
say that the gentleman who has the chlcI
credit OF this last scheme for division OF the
sp0ils is Gen. Butler.
Senator Boutwell's speech on the finances,
yesterday was something like disappoint-
ment. SO far as the Administration has any
financial policy, the ex-Secretary OF the Treas
ury is supposed to represent it. Senator
Schurz, in his admirable speech. lately charac-
terized the scheme of finance heretofore dimy
outlined by Senator Boutwell, as ga do-nothng
DOIlCy.' III 1Dust Bt COuito'Vu th"' WIZ ''S''"
of the Senator from Massachusetts, as ex-
pounded yesterday, do not belle the epithet
Of one thing Mr.. Boutwell, is quite sure-the
Secretary of the Treasury should have power
to expand and contract the currency at WILL
This point is most sharply defined in the
midst of the generalties of the Senator's
speech. Such a proposition as this, coming
from such a source, is not unexpected, per
haps but it is nevertheless alarming.
The last of the series of six lectures by MIR.
Proctor was delivered last night, and will be
found in full upon our eighth page. 1t offers
the most recent speculatiOns on the birth and
growth of the solar system and the present
condition of the sdereal heavens. Mr.. Proc
tor sets aside to great extent the nebular
hypothesis of Laplace and the fire-mist theory
of Herschel, offering in their place story
of the growth of worlds that is neither
difficult of comprehension nor belief, and
is more in accordance with recent researches.
Mr. Proctor took occasion to pay very high
but well deserved compliment to Prof. Daniel
KirkwOod of Bloomington, Ind. whose brief
but admirable contributions to THE TRIBUNE
we have had recent occasion to notice 1t Is
probable that THE TRIBUNE extra with the
entire series of Mr.. ProctOr's lectures will be
ready for issue tomorrow.
The Reformers of Brooklyn are just
now rejoicing in the possession OF a
positive Mayor who has a mind and
policy of his own. Hugh Mclaughlin,
who Is Cor rather was) the political Boss OF
the Ring in that city, lately demanded the
appointment az Mayors Messenger of a noted
and indicted bailot-bOx suffer, one OF the
many whom Britton failed to prosecute. The
result was a civil refusal on the part of the
Mayor Later the same Boss demanded the
appointment of friend of his AZ Assessor.
Mavor Hunter preferred another person. and
declined the request ThereuDOn Boss
Mclaughlin swore he should not be
confirmed, and the Mayor made the
sensible reply that he could make
good nominations as long as the Common
Council could reject them. And he did nom
mate his man, and the Council, In spite OF the
Boss" confirmed him unanimously. McLaugh-
lin now declares that Mr.. Hunter shall not
again be Mayor, but we venture to say that IT
Mr. Hunter will stick to the policy enunciated
in his reply, and continue to nominate men so
fit for office that the Common Council
can't afford to reject them, he can be Mayor
of Brooklyn Just as long as he likes. The re-
Spouse of the people to his sentiment Will be
as unanimous as that of the Council was to
his nomination, and not whit less hearty.
The whole story is told elsewhere, and will
furnish good reading and encouragement for
our friends in Brooklyn.