New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-05-07

faith Of any in human nature, the manner oil It's
acknowledgment ard punishment must have
done something to restore it.
AT first SIGHT, a representation by this coun-
try at the Worlds Exhibition of 1873 seems
To be endangered 10y the p0stponement OF
Congress until October. Not to be represented
handsomely at that exhibition would be seri-
ous calamity to American interests, and, LSere
the reinforcement Of the extra session really
an obstacle to immediate official action, tie
country would join with Mr.. Evarts III de-
ploring the delay. But is there need OF wait
ing longer before appointing an American Com
missioner The experience of 1867 should
not be forgotten. 1t was necessary that a
commissioner should be appointed as early as
the Spring of 1863, and our Minister at Paris
was accordingly asked, in April, to act in that
capacity. A special commissioner was also
appointed in the same month, serving without
conversations The whole Summer was de
voted to profitable work and before Congress,
late i'm the Winter foowi.g, had formally
accepted the invitation of the French Empire
our preparations were far advanced. 1t is
easy to believe that the country will approve
Of similar action now, if it can be properly
taken, with reference to the invitation OF the
French Republic.
Underwriting can scarcely have been a very
profitable business last year, according to the
figures of our State Insurance Superintendent,
in his annual report as to fire and marine COM
panies The gross assets of the concerns do
indeed show slight increase, but tins is due
to the accession of more capital than was
Withdrawn 10y Che usual changes in the mum
her of outside companies doing business in the
State The income of fire and marine conpa-
MES Jointly was less than that of tho pre-
vious year, and the percentages of losses
to premiums and of expenses to income
were greater. The amount of fire risks written
in New-Yorl fell OIL the year before per
cent last year, about 7l2 per cent. The re-
CENTS fell off the year before il per cent !;
last year, IS per cent. From the foregoing,
an effect of the lowering of the rates Of iusnr-
auoe in New York can be plainly seen. But
the fire losses actually paid incre ied III the
same ueriod-more tlAan IA per cent the year
before, and per cent last year; total of
over % per cent, during years in which there
haze been no very disastrous fires. These figures
are very significant; they accord with the
general experience of fire underwriters, that
fires are most frequent and costly when gen
cral business is depressed; and at the same
time the amount pald to the companies for the
insurance is diminished.
If any good citizen supposes that the Demo-
cratic politi clans would be at all modest about
| organizing the police force openly in the inter-
est of Tammany Hall, let him observe how
promptly they changed the face of the Fire
DEPARTMENT the first day they got control OF
it. Mr.. Pcrlcy was removed from all his
offices by the vote of the new member,
and they were then divided between the
| two Tammany Commissioners. Mr.. Pcrley
had certainly made good chief iii a
department in which he had some previous
! experience, and although Serious charges had
/ been made against him, in common with tho
other Commissioners, the Mayors recommends
tion for his removal had never been acted upon
by the Governor His administration has been
such that business men undoubtedly owed to
him something Of the reduction in insurance
rates, of which the larger share was due TO
competition. Now, however we shall prOba-
bly, have q Fire Department run less " like a
factory" and more like branch of Tam
many HALL Business men who prefer not to
| pay higher insurance rates than they do now
| will hardly like the prospect; and the whole
community which has known in times past
the horrors of "a partisan police, will not be
treasured Ivy this exhibition Of greedinoss.
/ Our great hope is in Mayor Ely. Let him
stand fast.
| NM, C,yDDEp cEoCrON