New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-02-09

| frenzy nv the apathy these officers showed about
carrying out their pledges. There seemed TO DC
general impression among them that the Guy auu
| need their contributions About fortnight ago
the ward presidents of the W0rkingInens party met
to suggest some method of solving this prObiein'
| was discovered that there was no legal methoa VI
| transferring the money to the cty's account. Ana
furthermore, it was limited that the oincers were
10th TO part with so large share OF their siaIcs
| even were the way made straight ana ciear ioi
| them The Auditor and Sheriff were the only iu-
nicpal officers who attended the meeting. Inc A ,
ditor thought II would be suicdai ACT loL rl9
party TO revoke the salary pledge, but ne aeciaISu
that unfortunately he knew OF no way III winch ie
| money could be returned TO the treasury. Inc
| Sheriff was not so mid. He denounced the peupe
as impolitc but said he would try to keep it. Then
he addressed himself TO the bumptious politicians III
| these fore BILE words: "YOu are the most lncon-
| discourages Office seeking. and yet you have gone
down on your knees before me begging Tor appoint
| ments Before | would lower myself as you nave
| done, should rather have jumped INTO the nay.
give YOU fair notice after to-day that no one heeu
come to me for appointments" hen everyone tooh
| the floor and they had small-szed Democratic
| circus Several viruous members who got no
| Offices were incensed however that they nave nav
bill introduced IN the Legs ature declaring that
| the violation OF pledge maze DtlOIe du eIeChoh
| shall be "a felony.
Ofthe ability and the desire for reform displayed hy
the city officers perhaps the less sald the Detee
for them. In Office has there been any material
reduction of expenses while III nearly all the VICIOUS
| system of making a clean sweep OF most OF the oId
enplo, 6 mas been attended with the usual resuts'
In the Tax Collectors Office there have been many
complaints of caTelessnoss and lack OF: skill among
the assistants. The Architect OF The City Han was
| declared fortnight ago by local newspaper 10 DC
incompetent for his DOsitlOD, ana the most cOuFni-
cling proof gwen to bear out its statements Last
| week he resigned a position which IT Is conceded he
obtained solely the reward OF services rendered TO
| keamey The Civ and County Attorney had been
| in office scarcely SIX weeks wnen he was pre-
| scented with handsome gold watch ana chaln,
| the massive guard bearing III its centre
fine diamond. IL was represented 10 DC a
git from citizens" TO inc olhcer az a
nil. hio
interests As he had performed not single import
ant public duty, II was not apparent now nc
| could swerve from fidelity TO any alarming extent
| or why his moral equilibrium should he DaIIaslea
with a gold watch. i he citizens, II was discovered
were employees of the City Hall Commission VINO VINO
| were assessed according to their salaries ne
| diamond now blazes upon the ample front OF inc
represent ative OF law aud reform. The City super
vlsors make up n singular collection OF curlOS'tes
The majority seem 10 possess the mental stature
| and moral leaninRs of IA New-York Alderman. by
| vote OF seven TO five they have Just authoTlZeu
| the issue of a million and half to purchase Lake
| MeTced-a body of water winch has gwen rise 10 an
| immense amount of discussion. Whatever be the
quality of the wafer the action oil the supervisors
Is Illegal as the R0g rs Act which they protested to
| follow has been repealed. Moreover before cleo
ton. they pledged themselves not to purchase water
or water-works unless the proposition was sun
mitted TO the people. The Mayors veto will put an
end to this municipal farce, but the actors III u
seem &c have the Tweed conception oil Clty UoNerh-
| meDt III.
in State affairs a policy of mastery inactivity
prevails. The most pressing need OF tnls CITY ana
OF the state Is thar the VISIONS OF tue NOuSJlu-
ton IN regard to the courts should be approved Dy
| the Legislature. Since the beginning OF the year
all the legal machinery has been thrown out OF gear;
For a week there were no courts ana no recognized
officers of law in the State. Since the assembling ol
| the Legislature. only motions have been heard III
the Superior Courts there has been not slhRe
| Jury tual 4; even the probate OF wills has been
stopped. 10 an outside observer IT would seem That
| nothing coud be of greater Importance than 10
place the courts on firm legal footing. Yet much
| time has been spent IN discussing whether bill
shall be read once OF three times IN ful Ibe COnst-
tuition provide that every bill introduced I'D either
House shall lee read three times IN tulL ne senate
| bas voted 20 abide by the Constitution. The Assem-
blV has declared that TO read bill once IN iull ana
twice by title is sufficient. The disputed point has
been referred to the Supreme Court, which has Just
decided that except IN cases OF great urgency pls
must be read three times in full. The Chinese ques-
ton was taken mp with aacrity In the hrst DAYS OF
| the session, aud bill was introduced providing
| that all employers of Chinese should pay BIO a
! month license for each ab0Ter, under penalty OF a
heavy fine II Is doubtful whether this can be car
red through despite the fact that men OF ali parties
| meet on the common ground OF hatred OF the Chr
| nsse OF the many extreme measures which the
Constitution provides for the regulation OF railroads,
the suppression of dishonest practices in the control
| of mines the abolition of the laws costly delay-of
| these and Others the means OF practical enforce
! mont will furnish many tough problems.
| The Republicans In the Legislature seem defer
mined 10 carry out the provisions OF the Constitu-
ton. and 10 interpret 1t 50 az 10 give occasion lor
| a. little litigation as possible. Members OF other
parties appear 10 be working for political capital
rather than for the good OF the State. There can be
| little unanmity between such discordAnt elements.
! n is misfortune that the Legislature II MADE up
so largely of professional lawyers. as there would
be more work aud less talk were the representation
of business men larger The present Legislature,
| n was predicted would make economy lts watch
| word. Each WOrkngman Uhe term Is purely
| metaphorical was to pose az CATO; sterhy re-
| bukng extravaganza. But THIS role mas not
| even been attempted. Tho Legislature mas drlited
| into the WAYS of its predecessors Indeed. IL ~
stated good authority that the present senate mas
| n greater number of attaches than any preceding
one for twelve years. Is there motion 70 iurnlsn
| a comtnittee with an additional ornament In the way
of a clerk the WOrklngman favors II and votes lot
IT, The role of the economist is lett To lew he
publIcans. -, .
ton Of the new Constitution upon the prosperity OF
| the state the days of the WOrkingnens rule arc
| numbered. The strong element OF small house
holders and real worldngmen, which gave them the
victory In the late struggle, will never JOIN hands
| with them again. The new party has exhibited oil
the vices Of the older orgaDlzaons TO hope Tor any
| practical reform from 1T Is VAIN. Inc oanu-Ot
| demagoguos have fallen from the pedestal upon
| which ignorance and enthusiasm had placed them
| Kearney has ruined his influence by repeated ex-
amples Of cowardce His followers would iOrglye
ANYTHING else but his is the objectionable ain. 10
wade knee-deep in metaphOrcal gore at the Sand
lot and then to be found wanting IN the time OF
trial; to propose hanging Grant IN efhgy and then
10 stink around TO the Palace Hotel and sub
iect himself to repeated rebuifs in his
| efforts TO see the General to declare with
many oaths that he would break up public meet
ing or die In the attempt and then to be reduced 10
silence by a single police ofcer-these are lew or
| tho causes which have given the death blow to as
| blatant and ignorant demagOgue as ever cursed
| party. The Workingmen's party, without @ radical
| change Of plan, will make no record III the next
two Years which will entite 1t TO public respect and
suffrage. Its fatal weakness Is that II contains no
| able men TO counsel wisdom and moderation as the
| only means of longer lease OF power.
THE FIRE RECORD.