New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-04-27

account the fact that ironclads have rey0lu-
tionized naval warfare since the last conflict.
As the Khedive has failed hitherto to aid
his Imperial master when he really needed aid,
it is more than likely that he will find it con-
venient to be tardy in sending the $4,000 men
which it is expected he will dispatch to the
seat of war. The American officers who have
organized his small army of $4,000 men are
not likely to regard war against Russia with
enthusiasm. Fighting to enslave the Christians
can hardly be congenial work for them.
The two houses at Albany are not of one
mind about tie time when the new Code OF
Remedial Justice should go into effect, but
they seem to be agreed that the date now fixed,
which is but three days distant, should be
changed to date six months hence. The
Senate adopted such provision some weeks
ago, and the Assembly, in acting upon
it yesterday, extended the time year, max
ing the date May /, 1873. The Senate, how
ever, also took a vote yesterday on the pro-
posal to postpone for year, and defeated it.
The upshot of the disagreement will undOubt-
edly be a postponement for at least six
months-a delay which the advocates of the
revision will regard as dangerous to its final
success, but which the mass of the profession,
anxious to acquire a greater familiarity with
its provisions, will not perhaps regret.
According to q Turkish report the first en-
gagement of the war was fought yesterday at
Tchurullson, near Batoum-a port on the
Black Sea, in Asiatc Turkey. The Russians
were repulsed, with "the loss of 500" There
being no natural barriers between the Russian
and Turkish frontiers in Asia, it is evident
that the Russians had crossed into Turkey and
were advancing on Batoum when they encorn-
tered the Turks. From the small loss incurred,
it is probable that the movement was under
taken to divert Turkish troops from the
more important advance on kars. TN the
Danube the Turks have occupied kalafat with
the view of defending WIddin. The Rouma-
mans might have prevented the success OF
this strategic movement, but both the Russians
and ROumanians doubtless feel that they may
easily dspOssess the enemy should 1t be adj
visable to assail a point so far westward as
Widdin.
At the meeting Of the American Association
for the Advancement OF Science last Summer,
one of the most interesting discoveries an
nounced was the measurement of the speed OF
the suns rotation on its axis, by observing
the change that this occasions III the length
of the waves of light which issue from the
advancing or retreating sides of the sun.
This discovery has added largely TO the
fame acquired by Prof. c. A. Young
NOW of Princeton) in spectroscopic re-
searches At the recent meeting of the Ma
tional Academy, Prof. Langley described an
ingenious method by which this change of
wave-length is rendered more obvious. An ac
count is elsewhere given of this delicate ex-
pertinent. The method of rOf.Langley has
the great advantage OF distinguishing the lines
of the spectrum which are due to atmos-
pheric absorption from those that belong en-
tirey to the suns light.
The fact that the Assembly Railroad Com
mittee has decided to report the bill creating
a Board of Railroad and Telegraph Commits
sioners is one of the most striking evidences
we have seen of the character of Speaker
Sloans committees This bill has been offered
for several years in succession in both houses,
only to die quiet death in the hands of the
Railroad Committee. Speaker Sloan's Railroad
Committee, however, has the courage to report
it, though not, it may easily be inferred, with
out strenuous opposition from some of the
leading corporations, who do not pro-
pose to be supervised, examined, or in
any way Overhauled, if they can help
1t. 1t is only to be regretted that
Mr. Gilbert and his colleagues could not have
taken this action earlier in the session, so as
to give the bill fairer chance of finally becom
ing a law. As for the bill itself there can he
little question, except i'll some of the railroad
Offices as to its merits. 1t reproduccs sub
stantially the system of supervision that
has worked such good results in MasSaC IL
sets. That the great State of New-York
should not long since have adopted similar
system well illustrates the domination of our
railroads over our Legislatures, and this cause
for reproach we hope to see Mr.. Gilbert make
a determined effort to remove.
Mr. W0odin succeeded in securing yesterday
the one vote necessary to the passage of the
Charter bill which goes by his name, and for
the want of which 1t failed the day before.
When the points of difference between the
Senate and Assembly have been adjusted, the
bill will go to the Governor and, it is to
be hoped, will meet his approval. 1t is now
on its second trial, and ough, surely in its
second progress through the Legislature to
have been pruned of those mperfec ions which
made it necessary for Gov. Tildcn to veto it
last year 1t is complement to the Omnibus
bill, which we also hope to see Gov. Rob-
nson SIGN when the Assembly gives him an