New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-05-11

rates of taxation providing the Court OF Appears
sustains this decision, about the amount WHICH
the Controller expects to derive from the per
cent tax. 1t is difficult to see that the city gains
ANYTHING by the agreement, except perhaps u
make sure of a tax in case of an adverse decis-
ion by the Court of Appeals and it must be al
mitted that it is precedent of doubtful wisdom
70 make. using Mayor Cooper's words, a con-
tract in lieu of taxation"
That new River and Harbor Appropriation
bill should be autographed and framed anu
hing where present and future generations OF
iobbers and lobbyists may gaze upon 1t with
admirin.s awe. It contains appropriations
amounting to So, 100000 good part OF which
no doubt represents valuable work which must
he done. but much Of which will merely go to
fertilize the deestrict." Unless we are much
mistaken, no River and HarbOr bill has ever
before been swollen to such size. Our ASH
ingtOn dispatches state curious dilemma Will
regard to the bill. 1t is usually forced through
the House under o suspension OF the rules
without a word of debate Mr. Reagan, CHAIR
man of the committee was lately i'll favor OF
sending it to the Committee of the Whole LOT
discussion and amendment. II this is DONE
the total appropriation is more likely to be
doubled than to be decreased. This won ID
only add to the calamity, unless, indeed, 1t
killed the BILL But the only sure precautlon, on
the other hand, is to pass q bill appropriatinG
$S,5OO,OOO, without giving any member Oh the
House the opportunity to discuss it, or amend
it, or do anything but vote upon it. This stu
alton is o shining tribute to the purity of Con-
pressional motives and the quality of Congress
sional wisdom.
The Grant bolt in Chicago proves that the
third-term workers realize the straits they arc
in. Only desperate and defeated men bolt IN
this way. 1t is not easy at this distance to say
on which side lay the strict parliamentary
right. But this much is plain-that the Grant
men found themselves in hopeless minority
in the Cook County Convention, and that with
the very first words of the proceedings fierce
dispute began, which ended in the withdrawal
of the Grant delegates and the holding OF two
Conventions. The regular body elected fifty
eight Washbume delegates to the State Con-
ycntion, thirty-fOur for Blaine, and not one
| for Grant; while the boilers elected nincty-twC
| Grant delegates. The bolt was, of course, pre-
arranged, and may have an important influence
upon the Presidential canvass. If Genera
Grant has a majority Of the delegates to tho
State Convention outside of Cook County, NJ
one need wonder to see the boiling minority
delegation admitted, and Grant delegation tt
the National Convention thus secured by
more fragrant outrage upon the rights of Re
publicans than has been attempted in the nam'
of Grant In any other State. When it is re
membered that the third term leaders now bas
all their hopes of an escape from defeat upon
solid delegation from Illinois, the meaning o
the bolt becomes plain enough. They will stOl
at nothing to win this advantage. The pat
triotic Republicans of Illinois owe it to tn
country to see that General Grant Is beaten out
side of Chicago as well as inside.