New-York tribune., 1874-11-21

nclency, ne hndS, Is IN respect 10 tne IorCo VI
teachers. Their numbers and their pay are
too small. Increase of both is needed, and
the proposed reduction of their salaries would
add to the difficulties of the situation. As
the Board of Aldermen, after examining
the subject, have expressed themselves unfa-
vorably respecting this reduction, it is hoped
that the Board of Apportionment will recon-
slider the matter. and if they do not increase,
will at all events not diminish the salaries OF
the teachers who at the best are as hard
worked and poorly paid as any class In the
community.
One of the most satisfactory of the annual
reports at this season is that OF the Patent
Office; one reason being that the bureau IS
self-sustaining. Ex-COmmissiOner Leggett re-
lates several circumstances showing progress
and improvement. Though the number of ap-
plications for patents has diminished, the pro-
portion of those that are granted has much
increased; this result following the wider cir
culation of official reports of inventions.
whereby applicants learn sooner than formerly
what has been done to anticipate their dis
coveries. An index of all patents from 1870
to 1873 is promised and digest for reference
suggested, both of which can probably be cir
culated at a price that will pay their cost,
while they will prove of great service to in
ventors.
The extraordinary number of unemployed
persons in this city at the approach OF Winter
makes it important to ascertain what are
their prospects for relief. We present on
our fourth page complete review
OF the situation, showing how serious
is the problem presented, and likely
how far the various organizations Tor relief
can nope to meet the demands upon them.
Last wear the relief associations were taken
by surprise; this year they have the advan-
tage of experience and preparation Dut all
the aid that benevOlence can supply Is
to be exhausted before the opening OF
business in the Spring. We should be better
pleased to chronicle the revival of enterprise,
new factories started, new buildings going up,
than the increase of soup kitchens and benevo-
lent societies but when business langu'shes,
charity must be active or the people starve.
The three strikes in this city are all virtual
failures. For every man who quits work
there are ten idle ones eager to take his place
at any sort of wages. 1t may be some days
yet before the strikers clearly see the mis-
takes into which they have been led by blind
leaders. But then 1t may be found that the
vacant places are permanently filed. We
have hard Winter before us, with less to
encourage employers than in any season for
the past ten or twelve years. Every trade is
full of unemployed workmen. There are two
idle men standing ready and anxious to take
every place that shall be made vacant, and
the question with thousands is not just how
high wages they can get, but whether they
can get any wages at all. Employers are
often in an equally hard case, and the ques-
ton with them is not whether they can
afford to pay the present wages, but whether
they can afford to pay any wages. To refuse
offered work and inaugurate strikes III such a
season is madness.