New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-04-22

| business remains to be done. somo of which
after all might better be left undone. Unior-
tunately il is not so certain that this sort OF
business will be neglected. Witness the pro-
ccedngs of the Assembly yesterday. Both
the Third-ave. and Vanderbilt Rapid Transit
bills were ordered to third reading with all
their Objectionable features. Fancy the Bow
ery in winter. with three or four rows OF iron
columns barricading the present horse-car
tracks. Each Company is given authority 10
elevate its rapid transit line upon two or more
rows of columns planted in the middle OF the
street. "Cheap and Nasty"
| The statement that bill to reorganize the
| Government of the District OF COLUMBIA Is III
preparation will surprise nobody. IL Is not
| necessary for the Congressional inquiry 10 20
further TO prove that the present Government
is failure. The Capital has been adorned ana
improved, it is true, but at an expense winch Is
simply monstrOusly in excess OF the real cos''
During yesterdays proceedings In the Coniiiii'-
tee of investigation for example, 1t was DroushI
ont that the much discussed street work was
measured so as to give the contractors from
fifty to one hundred and fifty per cent more
than they earned On single contract the
Board Engineer measured up excavations IN
such q way as to make $4,000 yards appear 10
be 49, 900 yards. Nobody will be simple enough
TO suppose that the contractor In such a case
was the only person benefited while the clti-
zens were cheated. Who shared In the division
of the plumber is not fully known. govern
ment which permits such frauds fails In Its
proper mission.
We publish this morning an unusually full
and interesting account of the condition OF
the Savings Banks of this State. 1t appears
that the amount to the credit of depositors
increased only $2330OO during the year 1873.
With the exception of the year 1862, when
there was decrease, this is the poorest show
ing since 1868. The aggregate of deposits was
Sal, 100000 on the 1st of January, 1858, and on
the 1st Of January, 1874, it was 2S5,0O0,OOO, or
nearly seven times as much as sixteen
years AGO. Three-fOurths of the deposits are
held by banks in the three counties OF New
York, Kings, and Westchester. During the
| last half of the year there was net with
drawal of nearly eight millions of deposits, IN
! excess of money lodged and interest credited.
| Some withdrew their savings from fright,
others for speculation, and others still from
necessity. The Superintendent, Mr.. Ellis, has
collected some very interesting statistics show
! ing the effect of the panic in inducing the
withdrawal of deposits from these different
| motives.
| The latest occurrence at the Erie office is
alarming. The chief bookkeeper tells Mr..
| Watson that ex-AuditOr Dunan's statements
about the garbling of the accounts are sub
stantially correct, and refuses to make up the
| figures for Mr.. Watson's forthcoming report,
| in accordance with the changes which Dunan
| declares to have been unwarranta5ly made.
! Like Dunan he has held highly responsible
Office at a liberal salary; but he tenders his
resignation on the avowed ground that he
will not falsify the records We have refused
to pass any judgment on Mr.. Dunan's statements
until President Watson should be heard, but
! we assure Mr.. Watson that he is wearing out
the patience, not merely of the general public,
but even of those who have most implicitly
| believed in him. If the bOokkeeper tells the
| truth, Mr.. Dunan's charges are sustained. III
| he does not tell the truth, he ought to be in
State Prison. The matter cannot be ignored
and if Mr.. Watson has any explanation to
make he should not lose an hour in making It,
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