Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-12-27

oniy evening psper soutb Of Philadeiphia which re-
celyes eIcIusivey The Associated Press dispatches.
II egins to look as If the plan suggested by
Mr.. Morrill, for the settlement of the controversy
In Maine would be adopted. Gov. Garcelon's
reply to Mr.. Morrill, indicates willingness to
submit questions In dispute that have not
hitherto been ad1udicated, to the supreme court
of the state. While the court would not have
Jurisdiction over the matter the disputed GER
tifcates OF election, If the two parties now con-
tending for supremacy in the legislature will
agree to abide by the courts decision, there
need be no further trouble. The points in dis
pute are based upon constructions of the con-
stitution and the laws, and certainly there Is no
better tribunal to decide such questions than
the supreme court Of the state The people of
the entire country would rejoice In a peaceable,
quiet and just settlement of this difficulty and
the arbitrament of the supreme court would be
received with more confidence, more satisfac-
ton, than any other mode of decision. Very
naturally the legislature would, in passing upon
the contested cases, be swayed more or less BY
partisan influence, but the supreme court Is
above that, and hence Its decision would be re
garded as a true construction OF the laws. 1t
might be possible for legislative body to vote
itself from majority to minority In order to
do justice, but as no such record has ever been
made In the political history of this govern
ment, the public mind does not expect 1t In
Maine.
There are $50, $50 persons engaged in business
I'm New York city, and OF this number only
1s,sO9 pay taxes on personal property, and only
1859 were willing to admit that they were
proper subjects for taxation. 1t is very proba-
bic that the same sort OF statistics would make
equally as poor an exhibit for many other cities
OF the Union.
Superintendent Walkers determination to
keep politics out of the census work is generally
approved, but he will no doubt meet with a
good deal Of opposition In carrying out his plan
patronage Is dear to the hearts of Congressman
:tEd they have been counting upon distributing
abe positions provided for in the census bill
among their respective supporters and workers.
There Is, perhaps, not single member Of either
House who has not received scores Of applica-
tons for appointment to these Positions and In
many OF the delegations comprising members Of
both parties agreements have been entered into
for the division Of this patronage This indicates
that Mr.. Walker will not have the support of
Congress In behalf OF his non-partisan plan.
Therefore, he will have to depend upon the ap.
pointing power to select men well qualified for
the work regardless Of their politics. 1t is diff
cult to induce democrats to consent to this, be-
cause they say that, as the administration is re-
publican it will naturally lean towards that
party in its selections. Each party Is very jeal-
Gus of the other in this matter for the reason
that the enumeration of population will affect
representation IN Congress. There Is, probably.
no man who will not admit that the census will
command more confidence If 1t can be kept free
from the influence Of politics Superintendent
Walker realizes this and he is DESTROYS, so be
says of completing census that will be a
ri oil ayh i,,
it's features 1t is to be hoped that he will sue
coed in enforcing bis plan Of the work.
The legislature elected recently in Louisiana
will consist OF 81 democrats and republicans
In the senate; Is democrats, Ii republicans. 2
independents, and solitary greenbacker. in
the house. The greenbaekers ran candidates in
very MANY of the parishes, and, prior to the
election announced that they would be able to
control the Legislature If the result is an indi-
cation of the financial belief of the people, they
are for the hardest Of hard-money.
1t is now proclaimed that the republican
managers in New York have determined TO put |
through, at the coming session Of the legisla- |
ture, law restoring the metropolitan police |
system. New York city, Brooklyn, Staten |
Island and YOnkerS will constitute one police |
district and the control OF the force will be In
the hands OF republicans appointed by the gov |
ernor. Under the New York law the police |
count the ballots cast at elections and the con-
troll OF the force will, 1t is claimed, be OF great
use to the republicans Under the present
system the local democratic authorities have
control OF the police, and the democrats have
divided the board OF commissioners equally
between the two political parties, though they
could have had every member of it had they
chosen. After the democrats have sought to
create and maintain nOn-partisan police
force, 1t is hardly TO be supposed that the re-
publicans will undo all that has been accom-
plished and make it partisan body. Some OF
the politicians may, and no doubt do, desire it,
but the real leaders Of the party will probably
prevent any such scheme being put into effect.
AT least, they ought to prevent it.
The Lynehburg Ne,rs (democrat) advises the
members Of the Maine legislature who were de-
feated by the people but counted in by the
governor, TO ..refuse to accept their seats" 1t
says: '.If men are honest, 1t is quite easy to
make things right, no matter how much they
may be for the time awry."
Such influential southern papers as the Rich
mond state. Nashville American, Augusta
Chronicle, Charleston Ne,cs, Mobile Register,
and Times and Picapne Of New orleans, en-
dorse the Bayard resolution, and call upon