New-York tribune., 1877-03-08

itself of any misstatement in the application
for policy-might open the door to extensive
frauds upon the companies. There is vide
difference of opinion as to the working OF nom
forfeiture restrictions in Massachusetts,, such
as it is now proposed to apply i'll this state.
Senator Cole has reused himself and his
Committee at last Mr.. Baker has had his
hearing. and the Public Works bill has been
reported, with more amendments, we suspect
than are good for it. The principle on which
Mr. Baker framed the bill, that there should be
no confusion of the financial and executive
departments of the canals was certainly
sound one. and the Committees amendment,
vestng the power to appoint paynaSters Ill the
Superintendent instead of in the Auditor, does
not seem wise. The bill il, nevertheless, not so
mutiated as we had reason to fear 1t would De-
and if the Senate will pass it promptly, there
will be more time to get 1t into shape accept
able to both houses Not day should be lost
in completing this work.
Russia has suddenly departed from her re-
serve and has resolved to remind the Powers
that her note asking what they intend to do
is still unanswered. She allows it TO be under
stood that she will regard the Treaty OF Paris
as annulled unless the European nations VINO
were parties to it fulfill the obligation
they assumed to protect the Christians.
Throughout this Turc0- Russian quarrel the
Car has shown this Difference to the public
opinion of Europe and baffied all attempts to
place him in the wrong. His present position
is logical, and will force each Power to show
its hand. The situation is rendered more
critical by the rising in Bosnia, the delay ID
concluding peace with Montenegro, and the
circular which the Porte has issued accusing
Russia of wagng war indirectly against her.
The bill giving power to the Board OF Edu-
| cation to transfer uneXpended balances comes
| up in the Assembly to-day. The Board is in
| charge of very important work, and has
| been seriously crippled by the cutting down OF
the current years estimates nearly half mil
| lion. Of which $4,000 is taken off the al
ready low salaries of the teachers. The pres
ent bill will not entirely remedy the evils re-
sulting from this short-sighted economy, but
| it will at least enable the Board to make the
most of its meager appropriations, ard should
therefore receive prompt and favorable action.
We believe some of the expenses of the
Board of Education may be properly reduced,
and that salaries generally in the city govern
ment should be greatly curtailed; but the sal
aries of teachers are dispropOrtionately low
now, and there are a thousand places for
economizing before they should be touched.
President Hayes is on the track of more re-
forms than one. As an incident to his greater
undertakings, he proposes to make the wee
! President really member of the Government, -
| to make the fifth wheel Of the coach OF ser
vice,-to put an able man to good use in
stead of leaving him to the dull work OF keep
Ing order in body where order keeps itself.
Mr.. Wheeler is to be consulted as much as he
would be if he were in the Cabinet and is to
be invited to head a commission to
visit during the recess the States that
may still be called disputed, and consider the
possibility of adjusting all difficulties. The
work is one for which the author of the LOuisi-
ana compromise is well fitted, and precedent
| which will restore the second officer of the
| Government to something of his former infiu-
ence and rank in the State, will be one to be
grateful for.
The situation at Washington is exciting and
| sensational, but not necessarily alarming. Mr..
| Blaine has, in a striking manner, enforced
the point that if the Hayes electors
| were lawfully chosen in Louisiana, and
| it. by the certificate Of the same Return
inc Board on the same ballots, Packard had a
thousand more votes than Hayes, it is impos-
sible to unseat Packard without declaring that
| HAYES should be unseatcd too. The PROPOSE
ton is a tolerably plain one, and there is no
| hot fri nf Mr lie
to dispute it, Mr.. Blaine has also read
q dispatch from South Carolina, ind-
eating on the part of President Hayess
advisers desire to have Gov. Cham
berlain abandon the contest with Hampton.
If it be true-as even the Democratic Commit
tee rep0rted-that the same returns which in
dicate the choice of the Hayes electors show
also the choice Of Hampton, tins seems an
equally plain matter; and Mr. Blaine will
| urObably conclude that it is not time yet TO
be alarmed over a suggestion so reason
able on it's face. Mr.. Banes effort to
have kellogg sworn in was beaten by COM
bination of the solid Democratic vote with a
few of the more Independent Republican Sen
ators, and with MIR. COnkling. There is no
particular occasion for alarm even here. Sena-
toIial applicants from Louisiana have been sent
TO this committee a great many times before,
and the friends of President Hayes have no
reason TO make haste just yet to concern
themselves over the present action. The
President is not compelled to deal immedi-
ately with the Louisiana case The Senate,
which has at least equal responsibility in the
premises, has taken hold of it, and the cOun-
try may well wish it joy of the effort to
settle It, If the Senate in times past had