New-York tribune., 1874-12-02


good news to the many Eastern men VINO own
buildings or mortgages in the Lake City,
The era Of reforms will have indeed begun
if those projected in the Treasury Depart
ment are carried out, for it is reported that a
thorough overhauiDg of the Custom houses Is
to take place. This will spoil their useful
ness as political machines. Well, when TINS
process of cleansing reaches this city, 1t VIII
find an abundant opportunity for its Augean
labors at the corner OF wall ana WnNam-sts.
Gov Aliens message to the Ohio Legisla-
ture, and Gov. Chamberlain's inaugural address
at Columbia, 5. c., are documents that Will
bear contrasting The Ohio Governor gives
statistical figures showing the honest manage
ment of the State finances and the general
prosperity of its great interests. The South
Carolina Governor promises for tho future the
reform, economy and honesty of which bis
State has experienced so little.
Brooklyn is not much 1attered in the report
| of the Special Agents of tho Post-Oihce De-
| partment. The recommendation that the
| Brooklyn Post-Ollice be abolished is perhaps
an unwelcome one to politicians across the
river; but when the report proceeds to say
that L" Brooklyn is mere appendage to New
"York, lodgng-room for the great metrop-
"olis,n it will certainly stir the bile of every
Long Islander, from Greenpoint to Red Hook.
| If there is any truth in the reported insanity
| of the Emperor of Russia, the circumstance
may give rise to some apprehensions. The
| Hereditary Grand Duke IS well known to
have q strong antipathy to Prussia, and, IN
| case of q regency, it is not at all improbable
that the policy of Russia will be such as to
encourage France to renewed hostilities with
| Germany. Whether true or not, the report or
the Emperor's illness painfully reminds us OF
| the slight basis upon which the peace Of
| Europe rests.
A question of grave importance that will
| have to so to the Supreme Court for decision
results from the disagreement of Judges Bond
and Hughes in the Petersburg election cases.
Judge Hughes pronOunces the Enforcement act
of 1870 unconstitutional, and declares that tho
citizen derives his right to vote in State cleo
tons from tho State, and cannot be deprived
of it by act of Congress. The bitterness OF
feeling IN which that act was passed has so
far passed away that the question of its con-
stitutionaity can now be considered without
being made political bugbear.
The pubic will be more ready to-day to
echo the commentator which THE TRIBUNE
yesterday bestowed upon our new Mayor,
when the interview with him in another
column has been read. The Mayor takes q
most sensible view of his position, and puts
Ill
cates may have cherished of his endeavOring
to turn the Commissions upside down during
| the short month of his term, in an effort to
secure partisan advantages for the AdinlDls-
traton. MIR. Vance evidently thinks he has a
future and is unwilling to do anything which
may sacrifice his present good standing with
all classes in the community. We are war
ranted, therefore, in expecting from him a
quiet and satisfactory administration.
| Economical measures, andan endeavor to bring
| the expenditures within the appropriations, are
| the chief features described IN the Quarter
master G eneral's report. Although of course
somewhat hampered by the necessary reduc-
ton of force and wages, the Department has
succeeded in managing its affairs efficiently.
| OF fifty Southern railroads that bought ma
terial from the Government after the war,
sixteen are still in debt, and it is quite time,
! the Quartermaster suggests, that these claims
be pressed. Among minor recommendations
| is one that officers of the line should receive
additional pay when acting at military posts
as assistant Guartermastels. There is some
information OF general interest respecting the
increasing usefulness of steam launches.
! Several of these vessels have been obtained by
purchase or construction, and they take the
place of both sail and row-boats in harb0r.
How Congress should control the railroads
is the burden of the report of the Railway
Committee presented to the American Cheap
TRANSPORTATION Association now in meeting at
| Richmond. Very stringent interference is sug-
| ccsted to prevent stock mutations by railroad
| companies, and to confine them to their regu-
| lar business. The Committee thinks that
"the establishment of an exclusive freight
"road from the grain-growing region to the
"seaboard would have a great moral effect )"
but nothing is said about the great effect on
the morals of Congressman when they have
its management. There are some pertinent
suggestions, such as to make it penal Of
fense for a public official to accept or use a
free pass, and to forbid Members of Congress
from being retained in railroad lawsuits; but
as it is Congress itself from which such legis-
lation is 20 be demanded, it is not likely to be
obtained in haste.
THE RIGHT MIN IN TIE RIGHT PLACE.