New-York tribune., 1874-05-21

unuer Lieut.. Wneeler, WIN inap' VII"
descriptive of Prof. Marsh's discoveries oi
Fossil Horses, illustrated; the PrOceedings VI
the National Academy of Sciences at WASH
ington, and other interesting matter.
Mr.. Murat Halstead is 30 Thoroughly tra'neu
and so successful an editor, that what he mas
TO say about the duties OF editors anu
of newspapers will command general
attention. The extracts from Ills ad-
dress to the Kentucky press, else
where printed, are full of his quaint and
Characteristic simplicity and straightforward
ness. They tell a great deal of wholesome
truth about the business of making news
papers, and may be carefully studied by all
who either make, read, or trade with them.
The House of Representatives does not seem
to be nearly unanimous on the subject OF
speedy adjournment When the Senate reso-
luton fixing the date at June % came up,
Yesterday, there were enough unwilling mem
bers to prevent its being considered, ana IL
was only by passing new resolution that the
House was able to show that majority were
in favor of the Senate proposition. 1t ls SAID
that some of the Western members are afraid
to GO home, on account of their failure to
show their constituents anything for the ses-
sion's work. If this feeling were to become
general, Congress would never adjourn.
There was q great waste of logic and temper
in the House yesterday Mr.. L. Ii. Roberts
had claimed for the Republican party the
credit of initiating reform in the Customs
Service. This random remark reused the ire
of those who thought they knew better; and
there was general attack all along the line.
The whole debate seems a little premature.
The reforms are not yet accomplished. 1t IS
immaterial now who deserves the credit OF
beginning them. When the Senate has finished
the work which the House has so well begun,
we shall all be glad to credit both parties who
favor these needed reforms with being re-
sponsible for their final establishment.
DR.. s. G.. Howe, who was left in charge of
the variable interests of the Samana Bay
Company, has arrived here with a queer story
about an American naval officer. 1t is repre-
sented that the commander of the United
States steamer Canandaigua, when he learned
that the Company had been elected from their
leased premises, swOre rOundly that he would
avenge the insult which "the flag of the free"
was supposed to have suffered. 1t was
thought from the gallant tars fiery de-
meanor, that he would blow the island out
of water at II a. m. on the following day.
But when the fateful hour arrived, he thought
better of it, and reflected that that was :" the
Lords day. in which it would be immoral
to blow Santo Domingo out of water. The
island is safe. Nothing has been done to dis
turb the safety of the little Republic, and DR..
Howe has come back feeling very much dis
appointed. If the commander of the Canaan
dagua had kept his hasty word, he would
have had leisurely but most uncomfortable
repentance.
Topics of great importance were considered
yesterday at the meeting of the Social Science
Association. Mr.. Flagg's paper on the Farmers
Movement presented a brief digest of what
has been undertaken by the Oranges. Presi-
dent Gilman gave an interesting account of
CalifOrnia's progress, and defended the State
against certain popular aspersiOns. Mr.. David
A. Wells dscoursed on the true principles of
taxation, pointing out where existing systems
are at fault, and claiming that a tax levied
upon only q few articles, tangible property
and fixed possessions, would, by the principle
of diffusion which he explained, apportion
itself equally throughout the community.
Prof. Benz. Perce, lately of the Coast Survey,
gave the details of a system of ocean lanes or
paths for steamers, whereby collisions could GER
tainly be averted. Mr.. G. G. Hubbard pointed
out the defective operation of our railroad
system and stated the possible advantages of
Government holding an interest in one or
more lines of road from West to East in
our report the papers of Messrs Wells and
Hubbard are given in full.
For months past the retention of Mr.. Sec
retary Richardson in the most important
place in the Cabinet has been a public scandal
and disgrace. At last the Ways and Means
Committee have been shamed into resolution
of want of confidence, which is to be soon pre-
sented to the House. There will then be an Op-
portunity for frank expression of opinion
concerning the Sanborn business, the specie
resumption business, and the general idiocy
which has marked the management of the
Treasury Department wherever dishonesty
was not suspected. 1t is known that the
President has long been looking about
for successor to Mr.. Richardson,
but that he has been deferred from
removing this hopelessly incompetent
official because of the public criticisms. 1t is
just possible that the Ways and Means Com
mittee may succeed in convincing the Pres-
dent that the public criticisms afford the pre-
else reason why Mr. Richardson should be re-
moved. and that forthwith. Certainly the
finances of great nation in time of ex-