New-York tribune., 1876-12-21
evenings sale realized $176,S22, making the
total thus far over $315,000.

total thus far over $315,000.
A mistake on the part of switchman is
assigned as the cause Of yesterdays accldehU
on Che Elevated Railroad. The question may
be properly asked, whether the SAFETY OF
trains on a single track road should depend
solely upon the faithfulness of each switch
man. The danger of collisions on such road
is of course unusually great, and special pre-
| coutious would seem to be needfu. There
are several devices for signaling TO the loco
motive engineer the position of switch that
he is approaching, and some OF these are
automatic, showing what actually has been
done instead of what the switchman thinks
he has done. If the Elevated Railroad Is to
continue business on a single track it will
need such safeguards. There is, however,
reason for congratulatiOn that the strength OF
the roadway proved sufficient for the extra
ordinary strain of this accident; that the Gals
did not leave the track, and that there was
I neither loss of life nor serious injury.
Peace or war between Turkey and Russia
now depends upon the attitude OF England
and the occupation of Bulgaria by foreign
troops. If England firmly resolves to abandon
Turkey, the Sultan and his ministers will
make concessions which may satisfy Russia
Should, however, the British Government play
the same part as the Aberdeen Ministry did
prior to the Crimean war, the Turks will be
obstinate and uncompromising. The tone of
public opinion in England is now strongly in
favor of nOn-interventiOn, and can hardly be
disregarded by the Ministry. The bulgarian
question is more peTplexing. Should Belgium
agree to quarter troops in that province untll
the proposed reforms are made practical real
tiles, British distrust would disappear and
Russia would feel satisfied. But there is little
reason to expect that Belgium any more than
Switzerland desires this police duty The time
of the Hessians is past. Until this problem OF
armed occupation is solved, all other consid-
eratiOns are of minor account. 1t holds III the
Eastern question almost the place which
slavery did in our civil strife.
The action of the House of Representatives
Yesterday upon Proctor KnOtt's resolution was
simply monstrous. Three resolutions were
submitted for its approval, and of these three
it chose the very worst. The resolution OF Mr.
HurG went as far in the direction of aiding
investigation as justice would allow, but it yet
net fishing for evidence as the House proposes
to engage in. Mr.. Lynde's resolution took the
ground that the House has the power to COM
pel the production of kilograms material TO an
investigation, but this position, 1t seems, did
not satisfy either Mr.. Proctor Knott or the
House. The resolution in which the former
could get no other Democrat to join him the
latter passed by almost party vote. ms
resolution, which has now become the formal
opinion of the lower house of Congress
so clamOrOus, too, for the peoples
rights l-declares that "there is moth
cling in law rendering communication
transmitted by telegraph any more privileged
" than communication made orally or dn any
" other manner Whatever This means simply
that telegram can no longer be secret; once
written, it is the property OF the H0use oi
REPRESENTATIVES.. As the House is its own
Judge, both as to the kilograms it wants ana
the steps it will take to get them, this decision
is one of the highest Importance to the great
public, to whom the use of the telegraph III
private and confidential transactions is bccom-
ing every day more of a necessity. President
OrtOn has now great opportunity to bring
this issue to a speedy trial Let him resist
this iniauitOus process TO the last, and confer
lasting benefit to the American people by
setting a limit which Legislative encroachmcnts
on popular rights shall not exceed.
Mr.. Hewitt's charge against the honesty of
the New-York Post Office may well be called
startling; it il absolutely incredible No one
will question for a moment his own faith in
the accusation which he makes, or infer
that any personal reflection is cast on
Postmaster James, of whom Mr.. Hewitt
has spoken so highly in times past; but he
muss be lab0ring under some delusiOn. The
New-York Post Office, under Mr.. James, has
become probably, the best conducted office in
the country, and its management i'll every
detail, has the confidence of the whole