New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-05-18

last session of Congress- Though the individ-
ual amounts are not large, their sum is con-
siderable, from the number Of changes that
have been authorized.
The protest of Brooklyn citizens against the
issue of bonds for 100000 toward the con-
struction of the Hampstead Reservoir is well
timed. The tax payers of that city are already
very heavily burdened, and before there is such
an addition to their load they are naturally
anxious to be informed as to the condition OF
the work contracted for.
Attorney General PierrepOnt begins with
good piece of work. He has issued an order
prescribing the particulars that must accom-
pany all petitions to the President for granting
pardons. An inadequate knowledge of the facts
of the case, it is said, has too often preceded
the use of the pardoning power. Whether this
ignorance may or may not excuse some OF the
Presidential pardons of the past, it will not
apply to the future.
On our second page is letter from London
giving an account of the debate In the British
House of Commons on Lord HartingtOns reso-
linton in regard to the Press. MIR. Disraells
speech in favor of the OdiOus restrictions es-
tablished by the rules of the House is
shown to have been the weakest he ever
made The sharp criticisms to which he
has been subjected for the part he took, can
scarcely fail to render him more circumspect
in the future.
We publish to-day series of letters giving
further details of the outrageous treatment to
which the Pacific Mail Steamship Company
subjected its cadets" Under the pretense OF
proposing to give an opportunity to learn nav
igation, and by requiring an expensive outfit,
the services of gentlemen's sons were obtained
10y the Company. Once on board, they were
kept at mental occupations, denied time for
study, and treated with systematic indignity.
These letters more than confirm what we have
previously said on this subject. and clearly de-
pict the results which followed one of the
follies of Mr. Rufus Hatchs management.
The action of the Board of Aldermen in
sending a special committee to Albany to
urge the Governor to sign the Moore or Com
mon Council bill for rapid transit, reflects the
general interest taken by our citizens IN TINS
subject. The enactment of either that bill or
the one in charge of Mr.. Hustled, known also as
the Governors BILL would be great gain to
the cause of rapid transit. We have, however,
regarded the Hustled bill as the most care
fully drawn, ana most likely to achieve the
desired ends, of all the measures that have
been brought forward on the subject during
the session. This bill is making good pro-
gress, having been ordered to third reading
in the Assembly, after three hours debate.
In the suit of Dion BOucicault against Joshua
Hart, to restrain the latter from presenting
play called "The Skibbeah," alleged to have
been plagiarzed from "The Shaughraun,"
argument was made, yesterday, in the U. s.
Circuit Court, but no decision was reached.
Counsel for the defendant argued that public
representation of drama is publication of it,
and makes it common property. and that the
plaintiff had not complied with the law as to
filing copies in Washington, and consequently
could not hold copyright of the drama alleged
to have been pillaged. 1t would be pity if
the omission of a technicality should involve
the loss of the plaintiffs property, and if, as
we understand, Mr. Boucicault is naturalized
citizen, he forfeits no right of property by any
sort of publication of his drama.
The issuance of a proclamation by the Gov
ernor of Missouri calling on the people Of the
State to observe Thursday, June 3, as day
of fasting humiliation and prayer, on account
of the threatened grasshOpper pestilence, indi-
Gates how serious is the danger which the
people who suffered from this plague last year
believe to be impending over them. Only they
who have witnessed the ravagcs of the grass
hoppers over the fertile fields of the West can
have any idea of the extent of the devastation
which they are capable of producing.
There may be differences of opinion as
to the efficacy of prayer and fasting
in turning away such a visitation of PrOvi-
dencc, but there can certainly be no imprO-
pricty in this confession of mans helplessness
and dependence, and the recognition of Higher
Power than himself. Meantime it is well enough
to remember that to labor is to pray, and that
Providence helps them most who help them
selves. In addition to fasting and prayer there
should be some application of sense and reason
to the devising of methods to meet the emer-
gency.
CROOKED CONGRESSMEN.