New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-07-04

It was q crusty old mathematiclan--a bachelor OF
course-who wlttly described lovely woman as the
independent variable. He might have said the same
of the weather. NOthiDg-except woman-ls so glori-
ously uncertain. varies so independently, and IN
sucb utter defiance of all established rules. Here
have the weather prophets been busy for the last two
or three days prophesyng smooth things-promis-
ing us all sorts OF cooling winds and refreshing
showers and our painting. perspiring people
would have loved to have il So Even The
TRIBUNE's local observations, usually so accurate.
have actually limited at light rains as among the
probabilities. But, alas, all of DIR. Jenners signs
have failed the little cloud rising out of the sea
has vanished; the sun has glared out more hercely;
and the mercury has risen rapidly that even the
thermometers have been wrangling about it,
the authority in Union-square, which vouches
for itself as undeniably correct" differing
as much as twelve degrees from the
downtown bulletin for precisely the same
hour Nor have the almanac makers, who foretell
the weather from the passage of the planets
through the critical points on the ecliptic," had
greater success than their more sensible and scien-
tific rivals. Here is one who predicted for the
latter part of June, threatening sultry weather,
with very heavy rains and terrific thunder
storms about the Goth OF 3Oth." And another an
Iowa seer solemnly assures that July will be
windy and cool, and that storm period will occur
from the 1st to the Sd. Verify he is wise man who
knows what the weather will be tomorrow.
The Attorney-Genera has decided that the con-
structon of the Eight Hour law heretofore adopted
by the Government is all wrong, and that the
statute must be interpreted to compel the pub
lie authorities to give ten hours wages for eight
hours work. or in other words to pay their abOrers
20 per cent more than is paid by private
employers for the service. This
opinion will be an unpleasant surprise
to taxpayers. and to persons generally
who like TO see statutes construed by plain rules
of common sense. Mr.. Devens may be right in as
Stunning that Congress meant to do foolish thing;
but the public would have more confidence in his
Judgment if he had not other occasions
yielded to the failing, not uncommon in a
certain class of legal minds, to strain a doubt
full law for the purpose of getting out of il
the most foolish meaning Of which 1t is capable.
He ruled some time ago that the law with respect
to advertising would not allow the departments to
pay more than q small fraction of the minimum
rates of the cheapest decent periodicals, and, a
consequence, the Government announcements were
thrown out by every Journal which had the slight
est claim to be considered newspaper Practi-
cally the United States not able TO advertise at
all until this absurd and pedantic ruling was upset
the other day.
We begin to think that Congressman Glover is
q wag 1t is well known that his Democratic asso-
ciates, lacerated severely by his repeated expert
ments in fishing for fraud that they were obliged
for several weeks to take their meals of the mante
piece, declined to make any compensation
for the celebrated "experts" who guided his excur
sions. and that number of estimable
persons were thus left without pay because
they had been indisoreet enough to find what they
were not looking for. But among these unfortun-
ates was not the great and good Professor Wilcox.
who has, PERHAPS, contributed more articles 10 the