New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-01-13

that the asylum al Flatbush is well managed
Or at all events that the charges brought
against it are greatly exaggerated. feop'o
who accept as fact the reports made to the
State Charities Aid Association respecting the
bad condition and mlsrnanagement at Fiat
bush, will not need to be convinced that o
better insane asylum is wanted III Brooklyn.
It is announced that the attempt, which failed
last Winter. to obtain legislation rcmedylng
existing evils in the police system, Is to be re-
heated, and that these important measures VIII
be introduced In time TO admit of their passage,
which was not the case last year. Many OF the
reforms which they seek to bring about are
greatly needed, and the fact that they excite
the bitter opposition OF the lower grades OF the
police service will only strengthen the preva-
lent belief that they are for the public good.
When the patrOlmcn set about raising fund
to buy ND the Legislature, as they did last
year, the average citizen will make up his mind
that the legislation which this money is to de-
feat would stop leaks somewhere. The police
bill has the floor.
Mr.. Charles Francis Adams. ir., in letter
to Mr.. Garfield adverting to the Ashtabula
disaster. recommends the creation of United
States Bureau of Railroad Statistics. Any
recommendation on that subject from Mr.
Adams is entitled TO respect and will doubt
less receive careful attention. The chief OBJ
lection to the scheme is that there are already
too many bureaus at Washington. 1T statistics
only are wanted, this work might easily be
added to that of the present Bureau of Statis-
4. no fo hone
that new bureau at Washington with
railroad affairs as its speciality would ever DO
the work assigned to it with half the con-
scientious fidelity or he of half rs much use
as the Railroad Commissioners of Massachu-
setts-unless indeed Mr.. Adams himself should
he put at the head of the new institution.
The unexpected has happened again-as
usual. just as President Grant seemed TO have
put away partisan considerations from MS
| public acts, and was winning by his patriotic
bearing the respect and admiration OF the men
who have criticised HIM most severely, and
even of those who have mallgned nm,
he smears over the whole picture with
one sweep of his pen. He has placed Mr..
Murtagh again at the head OF the WASH
ington Police Board, although that gen.
| tlcman is resting now under the charge Of
having cOncOcted vile conspiracy against the
| reputation of Member of Congress, and
although Congress sent to the President only
three DAYS ago a bill abolishing the Board,
| which both Houses had unanimously passed,
largely to get rid of Mr.. MuTtagh.
If the latter were ready to show
himself an innocent man, President Grants
action might seem more excusable; but Mr.. Muir
taghs attorney spent the whole of yesterday
irving TO establish, not his clients blamecss-
ness. but his accuser's inefficiency as chief Of
police. After this, there is no telling when
Boss Shepherd may be appointed Minister to
France or Mullett sent abroad to enrich the
language of courts with his picturesque pro-
family. To put it mildly, this acton is chaiac-
teristic
Prince Bismarck's dispatch to Baron vol
Werther, the German Minister, criticising the
extreme sIowness of the Conference, and dis
approving of its successive concessions, Is a
| well merited rebuke to the ten dlplomatlsts
| who have for over a month been fencing with
| the Porte on the Eastern Question. The Ger
man Chancellor's frmness and candOr are
dsaernible Likewise in the note which he
| formation. In that document Prince Bismarck
reiterated his disapproval of the compro-
misses accepted by the Conference, deem
ing them derogatory to the dignity of
Europe, and calculated to impair its combined
| influence. The effect of CHS strong Ian
guage is seen in the approaching departure of
Baron Won Werthtr, and his declaration at the
| Conference on Thursday that he would con-
cede nothing more. Prince Bismarck's fiat may
also be dscerned in the resolution adopted
yesterday by the Plenipotentiaries when they
met at the Russian Embassy. They there
decided to reasonable formally on Monday and
demand q categorical reply from the Porte to
their proposals. They will give the Sultan and
his Ministers three days for consideration. and
will leave Constantinople on Friday if their
terms are not accepted This decision brings
the negotiations to critical stage. War may
not follow Immediately the expected refusal by
the Turks of the obnoxious conditions, but 1t
is clear that the likelihood Of permanent peace
will have entirely disappeared.
| ---------
| TIE GIST or THE MATTER.
Two important contributions are made to