New-York tribune., 1874-05-30


they throw on the English character.
Out of 07 aspirants for military honors at
West Point 80 were sent back to school yes
terday because they could not write, spell, or
cipher or were not familiar with maps or
grammar. This is not fattering commentary
upon the educational system of tho country in
its elementary stages. The cOlOred candidates
all failed.
A Washington dispatch to The TRIBUNE
says that Solicitor Banfield has been requested
to resign. This is somewhat tardy admoni
ton to one of the Treasury officials who have
just been condemned by Congressional Com
mittee. Possibly, Messrs. Richardson and
Sawyer will feel relieved; the Solicitor has
been the scapegOat of the Assistant Secretary's
sins. Mr.. Sawyer has all along protested that
he was dependent upon Banfeld. But the
official view has not been the popular one.
Most people will think that the notice to quit
which has been served on the Solicitor should
have included the Secretary and his Assistant.
Massachusetts, politics, owing to the singular
! picturesqueness of one prominent figure, con-
tinue to afford diversion to the general pub
| lie. The letter printed on the first and second
pages of The TRIBUNE to-day gives just
summary of the present situation. Our cor
respondent goes over the gubernatOrial can
vass, and puts Gov. Talbot in the fore front
| of promising candidates. For the next Sena-
torship falling due there is less to be said
with pOstiveness. 1t is just as well. consider
ing the unexpected conclusion of the last
Senatorial canvass, to avoid anything more
than glittering generalities Oh this subject at
present.
The President has issued q proclamation
| formally announcing the extension Of the
| provisions and stipulations of Articles XVIII
and XIV. of the Treaty of Washington over
| the Colony of Newfoundland. BY Article
| XXXII. of that Treaty it was provided that
the agreement between the United States
and Great Britain in regard to the coast
fisheries should include Newfoundland when
the Legislature of that Colony should consent
thereto. This has been accepted by the afore-
said Legislature. and all of the waters of the
British American dominions on the North
Atlantic are now covered by the reciprocal
| agreement.
Two of the decisions rendered by Judge
Brady yesterday are in striking contrast, one
coming from the head and the other from the
heart. In brushing aside the technicalities of
the appeal to the General Term of the Su
preme Court for mandamus to compel the
Presiding Justice to sign the Tweed bill of
exceptions, he lays bare the subtleties of legal
lore in rehearsing Latin phrases and citing
authorities. In refusing the application of
Joseph Clifton for the custody of Teresa
Small, the little waif whom the police rescued
from a den of iniquity, the humaner aspect
of the law is disclosed as the Judge sternly
rebukes the father for his shameless indiffer-
ence TO the fate of his daughter
The amended bill relating to mOieties now
pending in the Senate is less satisfactory than
many friends of CustOm-hOuse reform would
desire. Nevertheless. so far as it has been
perfected it is a considerable advance on ex-
listing legislation on that subject. 1t gives
fixed salaries to officials, instead of contingent
| fees and dividends; and, among other changes,
| proposes to subject to forfeiture only the
| undervalued or otherwise irregular items of
an invoice instead of the entire invoice,
now. The Objectionable feature of the pres
ent bill is the section relating to books and
papers. Should this become law, however,
the present system of arbitrary seizure will
be shorn of half its terrors, and another Con-
gress may abolish it altogether.
A bull providing for a gradual reduction of
the Army passed the House yesterday. The
majority was very slight, and it is not thought
possible that it can pass the Senate. One of
the most prominent features OF the whole
military question just now is the proposition
to remove Army Headquarters to some point
westward. Timid people see in this the
application of leverage which may
move the seat of Government to the
Valley of the Mississippi at the very
least. The alarm is somewhat needless.
1t is said that the provisO that Army Head
quarters shall not be removed from the seat
of Government, except in time of war, was
defeated in the House yesterday on account of
the unpopularity of the gentleman who offered
it. The proposition was made by Gen. b. +.
| Butler" tie leader of the House."
The new movement toward communism
among the Mormons, described in the letter of
correspondent on another page, may prove
of Importance. Hitherto the interference of
the Mormon Church with the possession of
property has been principally confined to the
system Of tithng and the regulations under
which new accessiOns were accepted. 1t is
generally known that upon their first entry
into the Church the majority of members made
over their property to it, afterward receiving
back certain amounts. But what they subse-
quenty acquired, except tithes, has hitherto
been their own. The new system is intended