New-York tribune., 1875-09-04
BRITISH TOPICS.
INTERNATIONAL ARBITRATION.


Mr.. PLIMsoL-oFFICIAL RESPONSIBILITY IN
FRANCE.
,reoM rrrB REGULAR CORRESPONDENT of THE TRIBuNsl
IoxpoN, AUG. 2t.-The verdict against England
in the Delagoa Raw arbitration has made arbitration
more unpopular than ever in this country. 1t is not
disputed that Marshal MacMahon has decided impair
TALLY II is no. much disputed that, on the case
submitted to him. the decision is fair one. IL Is
not pretended that the possession of Delagoa Bay Is
of much consequence to England. But look here'
saws John Bull, eve have had three arbltrauons'
thu Alabama, San Juan, and now Delagoa, ana all
three have gone against u.s. ana We dont like lt' II
looks as il foreigners were only too happy 10 give
England blow when they get a chance. Anyhow.
we have failed TO win even one out of three" And
that bundle of practicalities whom We call an En-
elishman, with his rooted contempt for ideas and
rooted habit bf Judging principle by its results,
buttons up his pockets tightly, mutters an
oath or two and thinks he won't have
suv more arbitration at present. / DO not
surpose one Eneshman in ten knows, or con be
made TO care where Delagoa Bay IS what the dis
pute is about or whether it has gone to the Portu-
rnesc or the Hotenots tonly there are no more Hot
tentots). But he has a sore memory Of Geneva, he
dislikcs giving mp anything re has got, he thinks
the Government ought not to have put IT in the
mower Of a Frcnchmau 70 deal with English terri
tory and he rather means in future to settle his
quarrels IN tie odfashioncd way.
Mr. ScndsmOre's retirement from the Post-Oifice
costs tjat institution we are told tie neat sum Of
$4,000 and is cheap at the money Length Of
civil service in tins comfortable country entities
man to pension. Once appointed he has practically
a lifeteuure of his Office If nc leaves it after q
certain term he is entitled to the pay of it all the
same the pay hearing greater or less proportion TO
his ac.nal salary according TO the duration of his
service He may commute This pension, and this is
what Mr. ScTdaInOre has done. That enteTPrislng
funct0nary had salary la;terly OF $4,000 year,
and his pension would have been some two-thirds Of
il. | srpnuse. The Communication amOunt is settled
on life insurance principles, or something near
them. The sum is tidy one. and ought
tc ccnhlc MI ScudGmore 10 get out OF his longstand
ing onhargasSlnentS and start fair In Turkey lhat
iss country where government officials not ex-
peced to Euddlc away their incomes in paying their
debts. The question whether Mr.. Scudamoro was
invited to resign from the English Post-Otfce, or
merely snubbed systematically till he could stand it
no lonccr is az open one But the truth H. he has
been collv looked on since his private troubles COM
pelcd his temporary retreat TO Boulogne, and since
his gigantic uiSappropTiation to his pet toesraphs OF
million sterling 10 which he and they had no
right. Inevcr heard that he was suspected OF using
puhlic funds for private purposes. But there was
an obvious unftucss in keeping a man who was
always IN want Of fivc-pouud note i'll position
where he bad-for a tine-almost unchecked con-
trol of unlimited sums. For years be he'd been
despot-he was the Post-Oifice. Latterly-aftcr the
million business-he had Mr. Stephenson BlacAwOod
Of the Treasury set over him, and was watched his
spcndings looked after, his plans hampered, his
orders overrulcd His autocracy was at an end, ard
when investigation showed that his telegTaphs had
oil q ua
and were bankrupt, OF, at besr, paid only their
working expenses it became evident that the time
had arrived for MIR. Scudamore to go.
With him doparts Mr. Frederic Hill, another fixture
at The Cenc-I Post-Oifce, and relic of Tic old
regime: an incarnation of red-tape which Mr. Scud-
arlore was not, his fault being perhaps too great
readiness TO cut il, when untying would have done
"a we'll or better. Now that these two men are
gone people are taking courage to say that inc
British POst-Oiice is not, after ALL liz all respects
the best Of all possible Posi-Ofhces-that in many
things il is far behind tie Continental Offices which
Is true. fear it Will remain true so long as 1t Is
made 10 pay-the POst-OtfiCe side Of it-%3, 100000
n wear prc e. a sum Oh which the Chanceloy of the
Excbeauer r,ckons as part of his budget, and
which springs frolu of the most odlouo and least
economical forms of indirect taxation.
This mornings fines cOntradicts III big type the
believed. that the value of card-cEeating and
c,shis,cd Major HGrbord's commission had been
allowed hlm. This means also, let us hope that
Col Baker is not to get his money either. 1t Is not
100 much to say that both men might have carried
their claims through but fOr public protests against
them and but for the Queens refusal 10 allow Col.
Baker to resign. The feeling in behalf Of the latter
i nov think stronger than l have heretofore
described il. | mean the feeling Ill society. Per
haps nothing hut the Quccn's personal interference
would have proved powerful enough to oyerrule the
Influences exerted in Col Bakers behalf. an sorry
to have to say this, but il seems Col. Baker Is
thought to have behaved well after the outrage. 1t
is urged that his not trying to blacken the
character OF the girl piece of naI-
lincss sufficient to condone his previous
vlilainy so he is admired because he
did not whiuiper IN the dock-as if it were not a
soldiers business to be brave. lie is paid for that.
AGAINST Mr. Justice Brett's pariiality toward the
convict in the matter of his treatment in Jail the
feeling among the working classes Is growing daliy
more bitter. They have not forgotten nor forgiven
his severity to the gasstokers. am told he rather
Ike uupopulality-tl thinks tmakes hIm more favor
ite IA tie social circles whose recognition he coves
Two ur three other cases similar to Coi Bakers are
coming on, il which the offenders belong 10 the
middle or lower classes and people are cunods 10 see
what will happen. This dilemma ls proposed.
Either an indecent assault is not doomed criminal or
slameful-which making Col. Baker "iirst-cass
mistomeanant." like prisoner for debt asseris-or
it s IN the first place every rough and Ghertine Is
encouraged TO give the to his passions al the eX-
pense of every unprotected woman. In the other,
tue lenity of the sentence Col Baker was an eX-
ceptioD which will seriously impair the confidence
OF Engshlnen in the hnpartiality Of the Judges.
Either conclusion is depiOrable.