New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-05-26

pr1slng. we suppose tnaJ ~ cAhnVV 0oAi"''J
embarrass the Company, and yet, IL 1t cannot
borrow while money goes a-begging IN wal.
st. at 2ia per cent when can 1t borrow
A little moro attention to the just demands OF
the public, and a little less resistance 70
legitimate efforts like that to rid our streets OF
the telegraph poles, would pay better In the
long run, though even that would probably
have no present effect upon the facility OF
making loans.
Personal feeling between the counsel en-
gagged it is to be feared, befogs the case of the
United States against the smuggler Lawrence,
almost as much as the legal issues that have
been raised. From the statement OF District
Attorney Bliss, it looks as though loOphole
for the deiverance Of the offender has been
made by unskillful management on the part
of the counsel on the other side of the ATTAIN
tic. If such is the case, there is certainly
additional danger from the efforts to enlarge
the aperture on this side. Nothing hurts the
cause of good government more than the
escape of malefactOrs through the meshes of
the law
The Governors Committee appointed to in
vestigate the work on the canals has returned
| lloiu itc JOuuCys AuC LiiSt ehO Ohesihp'e~A"j
| and some of the lateral canals have been ex-
aminod. An unusual feature of this investi-
CATION is that portions Of the work were
actually torn down, so that they could be fully
inspected. The researches were made before
the water was let in, and there seems TO be
reason for hoping that they were thorough and
intelligent. The next step will probably be to
call the witnesses who were selected at the
localities during the examination. In spite OF
| the proper retcence of the Committee, 1t Is
already evident that the defects of the work
astonished them and almost exceeded belief.
Crowded quarters and absence of ventilation
seem to be the rule in all our arrangements
for what is quantity called in the reports the
accommodation of prisoners. The details
given of the daily experience of the unfortu-
nate people who fall into the hands OF the po-
lice, even for single night, are worthy OF
barbarOus age. 1t is to be hoped
that the improvements suggested by the
Prison Reform Association will be carried out
in good faith, so that at least some OF these
abuses may be alleviated. If they are to keep
| their present condition through the heats of
/ Summer, waiting, perhaps, for the Legislative
Committee to investigate them, pestilence
may be started in these Black Holes that
would be a hundred times more costly than
the changes urged.
plan for the entire reorganization of the
Northern Pacific Railroad is submitted by the
| Committee that was appointed to look after
the interests of bondholders. The proposition
is to sell the road to new corporation, whose
members are named in the report. Then, in
order to retire the outstanding 1910 and land
warrant bonds the interest due on them, and
the floating debt, there shall be issued
| $51 100000 of preferred stock, to have the
advantage over other stock of per cent divi-
dend common stock shall be issued in addi-
ton, up to the limit of the charter and first
mortgage bonds shall also be issued, to the
amount of $4,000 per mile of finished road,
to provide for new construction. The CONVEX
sion of bonds into stock would of course
Tighten the stringency with which these secu-
rites have hitherto afflicted the Company.
A very serious charge against our hotels is
brought in the report of the Superintendent OF
Rates and Surveys presented to the Board OF
Fire Underwriters. Out of the entire number
no one was found free from known conditions
of danger; "a out of the SO have frame
mansard roofs, SO wooden cOrnices, 40
unsafe laundries or driving rooms, and
there is long list of similar peIis.
Of the defects designated in the list
half the hotels have four each. But by far
the worst of this story, is that there is no
prospect of reform. When these dangers are
pointed out to hotel owners, they reply, the
report says, that they can get all the insurance
they want on things as they are. If this be
correct representation of the facts in the case,
the present peril Of our citizens who dwell in
hotels demands prompt interference 1t is evil
dent that while combination of the insurance
companies might effect this object, their jea
ousics and eagerness for business postpone such
action indefinitely.
The end of an evcntful and on the whole
disgraceful career has at last been reached.
The present reform officers of the Erie Rail
road-the men who have boosted that they
were earning dividends and have tried to
brOwbeat or silence the newspapers which told
the truth about their action-are to apply to-
day or tomorrow for a recelvership of the
corporation which they have managed into
bankruptcy The belief of the Street is that
some of them are loaded up to their eyes with
"short" contracts and that they are likely to
make as much out of the abandonment of the
effort as they have been charged with making
out of the spasm0dc struggles to keep the
Company aflOat. 1t is but few months since
they were barking in full pack at THE TRID-
UNE and other journals which analysed the
statements of Mr.. Dunan, their former auditor,
and expressed the belief that he told the truth.
Next, they loudly challenged investigation,