New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-12-06

careful scrutiny, DOM OF tDOSe WHO now nOlu
and those who may hereafter apply for the
more important positions, might serve to pro-
tect the public, while it would guard the re-
putation of the police
Some of the most prominent Of our financial
institutions have been so unfortunate of late
as to be suspected of insolvency the Nation
al Trust Company seems now to have inherited
the bad luck of the Union Dime Savings
Bank. The company having availcd itself of
the privilege of asking ten days notice, eX-
cept where depositOrs were really in need of
the money, it will be easy to await the result
of the Bank Departments examination, which
will soon be concluded. The National Trust
Company has always had the reputation of a
conservative institution, and, during the panic
of S73, showed exceptional GOODNESS and judg-
ment. It's last reported surplus is small, but
the stockholders are liable for a million dol
lars, in case of need, and for the present. at
least, dopositOrs may as well possess their
souls in patience.
Mr. Conklng now has the Republican mem
berS of his committee unanimous against the
confirmation of Messrs. Roosevelt and Prince,
IN case they should be Teapp0inted. Mean
time, on both sides, it begins to he asked,
whether it is necessary that this controversy
shall cOntinue whether either the Admins
tration or the Republican party Is in cond-
ton to afford the luxury of such fight, and
what either side can gain by it. The
Cabinet Is no longer unanimous for the
renewal of The old appointments. The
Senate will be perfectly satisfied with
~ tod laf
some of the Cabinet are satisfied with Cen
eral Arthur. Meantime the hearts of the vir-
tuous Democracy are bursting with indigna-
ton at the shameful prospect of any recon-
citation which should deprive it of a chance
to split the Republican party.
An excellent suggestion has been made,
apropos of the publication of the narrative OF
the PolaIis Expedition. 1t is that such vol
umcs as this, issuing from the Government
Printing Office, shall he sold, not given away.
This rule, it is thought, should apply to all
issues of a scientific kind, such, for instance,
as reports of surveys and the compilations OF
tbc Naval Observatory. There seems to be no
good reason why this change should not be
made. Scientific people that need such books
can for the most part afford to buy them; to
uascieutitic people the volumes are worthless.
Under the present system of free distribution
through members of Congress, the whole cd
tons of several valuable works, which men of
science would gladly have bought at reason
able price, have gone to old junk dealers and
the paDcr-mills and as the type is distributed
after printing, no copies can now be obtained.
The capture Of Elena directs attention anew
to that part of Bulgaria east of the Jantra,
where there there has been no heavy fighting
since last September, when Mehemet Ali had
10 halt before the Russian dclcnccs on the
LON, and was soon replaced by Suleiman, the |
defeated aSsailant of the Shipka Pass. Suleiman |
himself found the CMrewitch's army too |
strong for him, and instead OF attacking il, he |
Withdrew his forces southwark, and dis |
posed them So as to watch for Gen
cral Zimmcmau's threatened advance on |
Siistria, and at the same time guard |
the railroad from Ru>tchuk to Shumla The !
Czarewitch and General Zimmerman being both
inactive mt pres.n Suleiman has evidently sup
posed that inc can force back the russians on
Iinoya. and cut the line Of communication be-
tween he troops ON the shipia Pass and those
posted along the Jantra. In this movement he
is attempting more than he can expect to ac- |
c0mpli,h. At Elena he has only struck |
an outpost nineteen miles from Tif- |
nova, where the Russians are in greater !
number, and may readily receive reinforce
mcnts. Before he can advance TO that city, it
is probable that the CzmeWitch will assume
the offensive, and by counter movements COM
pei Sulciman 10 fOregO any advantages that he
may have won. Judging from his foolhardy
attempt at Shipka Pass, it Is not improbable
that Suleman is again engaged III a fruitless
project.
Judge Humphreys, of Washington, long ago
exhausted all the capabity OF establishment
that could well be accumulated within the
District of Columbia, and probably decision
and 10 utternce of his could now surprise
anybody in those parts. But the out
side world, which is not within the Ia
dius Of his court, may look upon his
opinion in Senator Pattersons case with raised
eyebrows. His decision that Patterson was in
Washington for the purpose of discharging
his duties as Senator, though the application
fox his cxtradition was made before the last scs
sion opened, and Patterson was in Washington
weeks, if not months, before, may safely be
left to the lawyers but even The laymen have
right to an opinion OF Judge Humpheys's eX-
traordnary dcliverance about the prisoners
chance Of fair trial in South Carolina.
Though the application is made in legal form
by the recognized authorities of that State
the Judge talks about Z" the passions of
" faction" as if it had been made by
vigilance committee, and pompously re-
mands Mr.. Patterson to the Senate to
be tried there. The Judge Will not