New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-06-08

| Philadephians are not numerous, DuV lts ch"i-
acter as one of the few well-ordered watering
places on the coast seems likely to be preserved.
| 1t is well that there are one or two Capine'
officers of whom we rarely hear except In CON
nection with some measure OF reform. lh's
remark may be applied to Postmaster-Ienerai
| Jewell He is now on the track OF the stra"
bid contractors who have disgraced our pos'''
service in the South and West ana puii' up
great incomes at the expense OF the Govern
ment. Mr.. JEWELS policy with view 10 'he
reformation of abuses in this matter seems
we'll considered. and is likely to go Tar III inc
desired direction.
Judge Davis, in his charge to the Grand
! Jury in the Court of Oyer and Terminer yes
terday. spoke of extortion by public officers In
the shane of excessive fees He did not know
| that any complaints would come before them,
Int. he suggested, ait was altogether possible
"that some such Oflenses had been committed
ain their cOuntyr The charge was certainly
well-timcd, when an ex-Sheritf has been try
ing to secure the payment of questionable
charges and Police Captain has been on
trial for receiving money illegally. proper
attention by the Grand Jury to the conclud-
ing norton of the charge, in relation to the
practice of calling all homicides murders,
would save time and money, and probably go
! far to secure convictions for such crimes.
The Committee on Streets of the Ncw-f0rk
Board of Aldermen, to whom were referred
the sweeping resolutions of Alderman Shandley,
eondemnng Police Commissioner Disbecker's
acts, and requesting the Mayor to prefer
charges against him, have begun hearings on
those charges. Mr.. Disbecker's counsel pro-
| tested against the Committees action, on the
! ground that, as the Police Department Is
branch of the City Government independent
of the Common Council, the Committee bad
not sufficient authority. But the Committee
concluded to go on. Some testimony was taken
concerning the filing in of the Harlem flats.
II this investigation had less appearance OF
being prompted by desire 10 injlre Commits
sioner Disbecker, on account of his asserted
efforts at Albany against the Street-cleaning
bill. favored by the Common Council, it might
command more respectful attention than it is
now likely to receive from citizens generally
At last we have a decision which seems to
affirm the constitutionality of the Civil Rights
act. It was rendered by Judge Morrcll of Gal
weston in the case of the manager of theatcr
who refused to sell certain colored women
seats in the place of amusement under his
control The defendant was fined $500. All
previous decisions and judicial charges so far
&c we are informed have been adverse to the
constitutionality of the act, but none of them
were rendered by courts of high grade. 1t
is to he hoped that the interest manifested in
this Galveston case may lead to its being
al N
Supreme Court of the United States, where
the question involved may be definitely
settled. In the mean time Judge Morrcls
| exhibition of temper toward a newspaper III
return for an honest criticism OF his rulings
will not lead sensible people to place high
estimate upon his qualifications for giving
calm decision on subject of such Importance.
The movement begun by Gov. Chamberlain
of South Carolina in the name of Reform con-
tnues to excite comment, with great division
OF opinion as TO its scope, purpose and prob
abe ISSUE In the Columbia letter given on
another page staff correspondent of The
| TRIBuNE concludes his history of this move
ment, and reviews the present phases of polit-
zeal sentiment IN South Carolina. Gov. Cham
berlain would seem to have fought good
fight again the cOrruptioDists, winning in
almost every battle although the enemy was
bold, confident, and INSCRIPTIONS. Thus
far his administration has been marked
by a series of surprises which have
been agreeable to none more than to
those who opposed his election on the ground
of his reputed questionable relations with tho
robbcr gang who reduced the State TO bank
l1iptcy and made its name bywOrd in the
politics of the country. 1t is good sign that
the leaders of this gang are now his bitter
enemies. He has only to persevere, and with
the hearty cooperation of the Conservatives
and honest Republicans, South Carolina may
! be redeemed.
The want of activity in the building trades
which prevailed all last season, and the eau
ton shown by capitalists in entering upon
| large enterprises i'll construction this year,
have naturally depressed the price of labor.
| In another column comparison is made be-
| tween the wages paid in several well-known
! trades this season and those which the labor
ers demanded last year. The trades unions
have been forced TO yield to the pressure of
the times, and their leaders are not
so blatant in appeals to resist capital
as they were in more prosperous days.
| The check 10 the often Overweening arrogance
! and aggression of these labor organizations
| cannot but be wholesome. Long continued
| lack of employment has made many working
men throw off the burdens of these societies.
| which insisted on debating where they should
work. and for what price, while their pockets
were drained to supply fund for possible
! strikes i'll the future. While the changes in