New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-08-06

Special Agent Bracket, TO whose zeal and sagacity
the revenue service is indebted for 50 many IN
portant captures. is said to be greatly concerned
about the proposal to compromise the suits against
the National Line Steamship Company. Although
we believe him 10 be wrong his feeling is
quite natural. By dligent investigation, Captain
BracKett believes that he has secured evidence
enough 10 condemn the steamships England and
Denmark for smuggling carried on by pei ~ officers
and other servants of the company; two OF the
criminals have been tired and convicted and are
now in Jail; others have forfeited their bonds
and the agent who has been the means OF
accomplishing these results hopes that the
company will be held 90 the full penalty for
which il has become liable. This, however
unless it can be shown that the owners of the
ships were morally rs well legally accountable for
the wrong done by a conspiracy of their employees.
does not seem equitable. The object of the Gov
eminent is not 10 get all 1t can out of
the steamship companies, but only to col
lect the revenue. The owners and command
crs OF vessels are bound TO exercise vigilance In
preventing any violation of the customs laws;
but lust how far these foreign traders may fairly De
eonired 10 play the part of detectives for the benefit
of the United States Treasury il matter Of opinion.
When all precautions have been taken, the Snug
that the shipmaster must always prevent
frauds by the sailors is 10 demand that
he shall be more expert in detecting crime
than the criminals eau ever be in cOncealing IL,
which OF course is an absurdity. Severe penalties
are properly imposed in order 10 exact OF the owners
that sharp supervision over their servants which
they alone are in position TO exercise; but we
have no right 10 demand that their servants shall
never ontwit them, aud hence the Government is
empowered 10 remit as much of the penalty as NAV
seem proper upon consideration of all the circum-
stances. The main point 10 BIO considered Is the
degree OF negligence CT which tho company may
have been guilty
The great objection TO the use Of excursion
cars on the Third Avenue at night is the ex-
raordinary labor and watchfulnesS required Of the
conductor when the East Side Young man is
troubled-as he often Is after midnight-by a tenn
porary inability TO find place for his head.
When Sarah is along with him. Bill knows
what to do with his head, and then Of course
he is all right. In the ordinary close cars, with
seats rugged fore-and-aft, ne can BIO wedged be-
tween two upright passengers But in the new
style OF excursion car, open at the sides, with
passagc-way down the middle and room for only
two on seat Bill alone, after conviyial evening,
becomes n serious problem. If he takes the inside
seat he droops over the aisle 30 much as to become
an obstruction If he tries the outside his head in
terferes with the columns of the elevated railway.
So the conductor is perpetualy picking hlm up, un-
I'll. By good fortune he finds pillow on the necks
and shoulders of some manipulating people on the
,eat behind and 80 he sleeps the sleep Of the beau
tiful and good.
IL used 10 be said Of Cardinal Do Luca. tho new
Pontifcal Secretary of State, that he never could
be made Pope because he would look so absurd in a
tiara He is short, with long nose holding a
great quantity Of snuff, and in figure and general
bearing he has been compared TO NJ Theirs IN a
sock II his appearance, however, Is not imposing,
his manners are dgniied and pleasing. and he is apt
in the oOurtesies Of courts, having learned the trade
of diplomacy, like his two latest predecessors by
successful service as Nuncio at one or two of the
Continental capitals. He is Of humble BIRTH and he
il seyenty-three years old and what is still to
his credit he is an experienced journalist having at
one time edited a religious and learned periodical
with marked ability. He enjoys tho distinction,
somewhat rare at the Vatican, Of speaking Eng
lish.
1t is announced that hereafter the socalled trade
journals will have to pay postage at transient rates
where they cannot make oath that the copies
mailed go to actual subscribers who have paid
the subscription price. II this Interpretation
of the postage laws should be enforced,
it will make an end of what has been
a pestilent advertising humbug, and win teach the
dubious advertiser, who il perpotually hunting out
cheap ways 10 be humbugged, the old lesson that,