New-York tribune., 1874-03-07

mand of Philadelphia for three million ap-
preparation for their Centennial is sufficiently
emphatic. A vote of SO against to II for the
appropriation would seem TO DO sufficient to
make the purpose of the Senate clear even to
the mind Of Senator Cameron. And the pur-
pose of the Senate in this matter is clearly in
accordance with the sentiment of the country.
The schemes now pending at Albany for
paying twenty odd thousand dollars each to
certain of our State regiments have an Ill look
on their face, and they look much worse when
it is understood that their sole sponsor is MIR.
| Charles S. Spencer. The statements given
elsewhere concerning their character em6ody
such accurate information as The TRIBUNE
reporters were able to obtain but, independ-
emily of this it may be fairly said that the
mention Of the schemes, and of Mr.. Charles
S. Spencer as their responsible advocate,
should be sufficient to teach legislators to let
them severely alone.
The third lecture of DR.. Brown Sequard
fully equals its predecessors in interest. He
puts Quietus upon the horrible stories OF life
remaining in tie head after decapitation. An
explanation is given of the reasons for using
the extraordinary doses of strychnine that are
now occasionally administered with success in
certain alarming conditions of nervous disease.
Perhaps a stranger method of cure was never
invented than that which he describes in a
case of hystelia. But the great value of these
lectures is, after ALL not so much that they
relate experiments and incidents of q most
unusual character, as that they make these
illustrations the means of clearer insight
into the mechanism of the human frame.
| Further arguments and testimony before
the House Committee of Ways and Means
| yesterday place the defenders of the Custom
| house spy system in most defenseess con-
dition, The Boston cases were brought before
| the Committee in fOrcible manner, the
| famous Jordan, Marsh g. Co. seizure being
the most prominent of these. No unpreju-
| diced person can consider the plea made by
| these simple statements of fact without being
convinced of the righteousness of the whole
system. After such an exposure it is not
wonderful that Gen. Butler is trying TO COM
promise on q modification of the law and that
there is CONSERVATION in the New York Gus
tOm-hOuse.
The expected attack by Mr.. Beck of Ken
lucky on the Administration party for extrava-
gance in expenditures is still delayed, but the
outgivings as to his proposed line of argument
do not promise distinguished success for
him. Mr.. Garfield has the reputation of beng
very careful and accurate in his statements,
and it will be difficult to break the force of
his figures and facts. This Mr. Beck seems to
think it his duty to do, instead of selecting
weaker points In the Administration front.
But the trouble after all with Mr.. Becks
argument will be that it is 80 manifestly
partisan effort for partisan purpose. If it
overshoots the mark in the least as it is very
likely to, the effect of it will be to help rather
than hurt the Administration.
1t was, upon the whole, great piece of
good fortune that the combined committees
of the House and Senate Oh Public Buildings
and Grounds to whom the matter was re-
ferred, were unable to agree upon model
for the Farragut statue, for which the money
has already been appropriated. We would
not for moment question the ability, taste,
OF judgment Of the average Congressman In
matter: of art, but it does occur to US that
time to the study of political, economy and tho
science of government that their art education
must have been somewhat limited. The ap-
pointment of commission, composed of Sec
retary Robeson, Gen. Sherman, and Mrs.
Farragut, to select model for the statue, is
an assurance, at least that the work Will not
be monstrosity or job.
The Secretary Of the Treasury has sent to
the House another small installment of Infor-
nation relative to the SanbOrn contracts. lie
is unable, however, TO furnish all OF the d0su'
ments which have been called for, as the
manner in which documents are kept in the
Treasury Departments seems to be somewhat
demoralized. A copy of one of these, how
ever, is herewith furnished the Secretary by
THE TRIBUNE it will be found in its proper
place a Tho mislaid memorandum ia request
from one of the revenue farmers that District
Attorney McMichael of Philadelphia be di-
rected to squeeze" certain corporations, the'i
names of which We print. The correspond
ence and accompanying facts viii fortify the
universal opinion that this business Of collect
ing the revenue by contract was one Of the
great scandals of modern politics.
1t is difficult to avoid feeling of indigna-
tion at the unjust course of the French Gov
ernment toward its political opponents. On
the theory that criticism of its policy by a
newspaper of moderate republican principles
was subversive Of public order that newspaper,l
was suppressed. Another journal. which advised
President MacMahon to resort to q coup dttot.
was allowed to appear without suffering any
penalty whatever. although its Ofense was an
aggrayation Of The other The chi0f erplaus-