Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-12-18

Should the legislature OF New York enact a
law requiring presidential electors to be chosen
by congressional districts, this would give to
the republicans, so it Is estimated, 20 OF the
electors and to the democrats 15 Then should
the legislature OF Maine Invest the power to
choose the electors in itself this would give the
democrats the seven electors of that state
This might lead to the adoption of similar
policy by all the other state legislatures con-
trolled by the republicans, and that would give
the advantage to that party. The democrats
could only thus control Indiana, Maine and
Oregon, OF the northern states, which, with the
1873 electoral votes of the South, would give
them, together with the 10 districts they might
carry In New York. a total of 49, or seven less
than would be necessary to elect. The next
legislature of California must be elected in Sep
TENDER, 1880, and they might possibly carry that,
but that state would only add 6 to their 17S
electoral votes, leaving them one vote short of
majority. Then, in all probability, the policy
OF sharp practice having been adopted by both
parties, Congress would seek some preteXt for
throwing out state in order to make the 1874
democratic votes elect President. But should
the practice OF changing the manner of choosing
electors be confined to New York and Maine
the republicans would make themselves sure of
20 and probably 20 votes in the former state
while losing but in the latter However,
should 1t be determined by the New York legls-
lature to change the law for choosing electors,
why not adopt the plan that is suggested for
Maine? Why not provide that the electors shall
be chosen by the legislature and thus assure the
entire 35 to the republicans? This is phase of
the case that does not yet seem to nave been
entertained by the democrats. If the parties
are going into grab game why not grab all they
can get? The better plan will be for all parties
to follow the course that has heretofore marked
Presidential elections. Let the people choose
the electors.
Is it not about time that Fifteenth street.
along the Treasury front and at the inter5ec
ton of New York avenue, should be put in
complete order, and kept so for while? On no
street OF the city, we venture to say, is there 50
much driving as on this short thoroughfare, and
yet there has hardly been day for six months
past that it has been in decent condition. while
at times it has been almost impossible. Cor
poratiOns and private individuals seem to have
both the right and the will to tear 1t up at plea
sure, with no one to modest or make them afraid
There may possibly be good reasons for occa-
sional disturbances of its surface, but there can
hardly be anything short of official neglect in
some quarter that will explain its chronic con-
dition of bitches, ridges and mud-holes Who Is
at fault, we know not; but it Is time for some
body In authority to give the matter the atten-
ton it deserves.
1t will be long time before Cincinnati can
hope to have another republican national con-
vention held within it's limits. The republican
papers outside of Ohio all protested against
Cincinnati, and here is speciman protest from
the st. Lous GtObe-Democrdt: "As between Gin
cinnati and Leadville as the place for holding
the Republican National convention, we are for
Leadyille all the time. The vigllantes are active
in the latter place, but they are less to be
feared, In the matter of fair play, than the vul-
gar gang of bull-dozer5 who filled the hall OF
the Cincinnati convention to beat Blaine In
1876"
Foreign financial operators are now, to con-
siderable extent, making their remittances to
this country in American bonds instead of
specie One million dollars In bonds came In a
single shipment the other day. The result of
this Is that the importations Of specie are grow
ing smaller.
somebody will have round bill of damages
to pay one OF these days unless drivers of COW
cred wagons, such as are used by express COM
panies, grocerS, butchers ETC.. are more careful
how they manage their vehicles In our thickly
crowded streets. On the seat they generally
occupy they are prevented by the side curtains
HUH seeing Wnat may pc on either Side OF them,
unless they make a special effort to that end,
and 1t is no uncommon thing for them to make
short quick turn in the street without any
sign OF warning or interest in other peoples
welfare, and as though utterly oblivious or care
less of the fact that there is any other vehicle
than their own in existence. In a walk toward
the capital the other day we saw no less than
three narrow escapes from recklessness of this
sort. In one instance Of the kind a collision,
which threatened damage to both life and prop
erty, was only avoided by extraordinary cool
ness and good management Of the lady driving
buggy, containing herself and two children.
which came very near being run down In this
way by one Of these brutality careless jehus,
who, because his wagon was unusually strong
and heavy, seemed to be entirely regardless of
the safety or rights OF any one.
The price OF quin1ne has declined nearly one
fourth since the repeal Of the duty on that
drug. Increased Importation followed the re-
peal and the price has fallen fIom S. 40 an ounce
in last June to s255, now, for French, and s275
for the American articles.
Don Cameron at the head of the national re-
publican committee will no doubt show himself
true chip OF the paternal block in the way of
organizing republican victories. and as all the