New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-04-21


jypon general principles somebody deserves
;mneac,mept In that State. and it is to be
boped the Committee have begun with the
right man.
The Ah.olu,e Removal bill was killed yes
,erilay in tho Senate by vote OF TO Ia.
The substitute reported by the judiciary Com
mittee is said to DO satisfactory to everybody
including the Ring. This, if true, is the reason
why it will be passed. and ut the same time II
good reason for believing it ought not to bc.
Seven municipal positions, in as many de-
partments of tho City Government, will become
vacant on May /, and there are already at
least twenty eight we'll known candidates for
the offices then to he filled. Mayor Wickham
promiscs TO select only men in whom the pub
lie can have confidence. Beyond the express
sion of this commendablc resolution, he keeps
his own counsel. 1t is perhaps needless to say
that tho present Commissioners are Wiling 10
accept renewed terms, with the possible ex-
ception of one. and he, as pronounced he
publican, can scarcely hope that bis claims will
be considered by Democratic Mayor.
The strike of the labOrers in Brooklyn
Yesterday presents q curious complication In
the building trade, tho builders being placed
by it in such position between two classes OF
workmcn that concession to both is impossible
and to grant the demands of one only leads to
a strike Oh the part of the other. The brick
layers and stCne-masOns are content to WORK
ten hours for S., but the laborers upon whom
they depend for handling material have struck
| for eight hours and no diminutiOn OF wages.
II their demand is granted, the bi1cklayers
and stonc-masons will have to come down to
| eight hours and corresponding decrease OF
wages against which they will strike. 1t is an
interesting feature of the situation that many
of tho striking labOrers have been sheltered
and fed at the public expense during the
| Winter when there was no work to be had
The importance OF strict code Of rules for
tho inspection of steamboats, and sea-SOing
| vessels which shall require of master and owner
| a reduction Of risks to the minimum aud the
furnishing of every possible appliance for the
saving of life, is only appreciated when the
| occurrence of sOme destructive marine disaster
directs public attention to the subject. At other
| times little or no notice is taken OF the meas
urcs adopted by the authorities to compel
steamboat owners and transportation compa-
MES to provide to the utmost for the safety OF
passengers. We publish herewith the additions
and amendments to tho general rules and reg
ulations for the management and construction
of steam vessels lately adopted By the Board
of Supervising Inspectors and approved by the
Secretary Of the Treasury. 1t will be seen that
the amended rules increase the precautions
required to DO taken against marine disasters
| hoy IF ipfpr mot
only to owners and masters of steam vessels
hut to all persona who have occasion to intrust
themselves or friends to water conveyance
There is only one thing better than having
good rules, and that is to have competent and
faithful inspectors to enforce them.
THE TRIBUNEs exposures Of the details OF
the enormous frauds upon tho public in the
| management of the canals, joined with
thorough Overhauing OF the system and the
methods of tho system under which they have
grown Up and fiourished, have had the effect
10 excite very general discussion of the
whole matter, and to bring out from many
sources deiiuite propositions and plans for re-
form. To this discussion tho letter which we
print this morning from the Hon. George
Geddes il valuable contribution. Mr..
| GcddcS has long resided on tne inc OF INC
| Erie Canal, is familiar with its history and
management, and may he considered as i'll
some sense an authority i'll canal matters. MIR.
| Geddes favors IA tho best course. placing in
the hands of the Governor, subject to the APP
prOya of tho Senate. the appointment of the
canal officers, giving him the power of le-
moval in case an officer is found incompetent
for his place. But as this would require an
amendment to tho Constitution, lie suggests
the appointment of an Inspector Of Public
Works, with such powers a. can be granted
under the Constitution. The advantages of
this plan arc pointed out, and some of the OBJ
jcctions to other propositions arc stated Mr..
Geddes writes understapdingly, and his views
upon the subject will be read with great inter
| est.