New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-02-03

been without them until now. A bill was ID
troduced in the House yesterday for the III
corporation Oh such association IN the DIS
trict of Columbia. Lite being short at the
best, it is in order to suggest whether tue
title conveyed in the Washington dispatches
a Society for the Protection of Children
would not be an improvement on that IN use
here.
1t may be inferred from the care with when
NJ de Lesseps is having the Panama Canal
route surveyed, that he has become convinced
by personal inspection of the need for much
further information on the subject, winch
was so generally desired in this coun-
try. In making these explorations he deserves
the heartiest encouragement from all nations,
and especially from this, which has done more
than any other to acquire and impart accurate
knowledge of the Panama, Nicaragua and
Tehuantepec routes. The political aspects OF
the question are an altogether different matter,
and can be comprehended best in this country.
Perhaps NJ. de Lesseps dlscerned this when
he resolved TO pay us a visit.
Mr. Clark, who was Superintendent of Pub
lie Works, is no longer in office, but be must
be somewhere In the flesh, and the public
would like to hear from him. 1t was alleged
many times during the last campaign that the
force of men upon the canals was largely In
creased for Democratic purposes, and
resolution apparently seeking information
upon that point was lately adopted IN
the Assembly. The reply of the Canal
Auditor shows that there was expended
for extraordinary repairs between October L,
1873, and January 81, 1879, $4,000; and
between October /, 1879. and January 81, 1850,
$4,000. The increase is more than 60 per
cent. There may be an explanation. If there
is, no doubt Mr.. Clark will make it.
The possibility that reform in the markets
would begin with the marketmen has prob
ably never suggested itself to anyone, but our
local columns show that this novel movement
has been proposed at least. At meeting yes
terday of those interested in the Washington
and West Washington Markets. report was
presented from committee frankly recommend
ing the reformation of abuses which the market
men themselves had created. 1t was sug-
gested that those who had stands fronting
on the sidewalks were in the habit OF
obstructing them i'll an unjustifable
and wholly illegal manner. 1t was
also stated that the practice of hiring
boys to call out to passers-by, and urge them
to come in, had become n public nuisance.
But the most remarkable recommendation Of
all was reserved until the last. THIS was that
it was absolutely essential for those who were
guilty of making short weights or of sending
home an article inferior TO that which had
been bought to bring their evil ways to a
quick stop. 1t fairly takes away the
breath to be told that these things
were sand fright out in meetn'." 1t
is to be feared that dealers who have offended
before in these particulars will not cease to
offend now. but there can be no question OF
the soundDess of the advice they have re-
ceived. The change which the public de-
mands in the market buildings is of less i'm
portance than the change in customs thus
urged upon a class of marketmen which may
be small, but which is, IN any case, too large.
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