New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-03-09

uries and taxpayers.
rha trc;, of monopoly is over them all. The
Na,v-yorlr Cremation Society, which gathered
itself together last night to the nunioer u
TWENTY-FIVE persons, is to have all the cnai"0-
teristics of the other soulless-not 10 say
bodi,ess - corporations. Especial rates OF
ino;neratjon are to be granted to members OIL
tbe Society. while "active" members are 70
he reduced to ashes free of cost, though proo-
ablv not while still in an "achVe state
TINS introducing already system Oh nee
nasses 10 the furnace. There are also certain
insidious provisions respecting preferred stocK'
r. would seem to show that the ruling passion
can be strong even after death.
A CITY official of exceptional intelligence
he must be, for he has actually made soine
study of the cost of city governments ID otner
countries-says, in one breath, that New DIX
ia one of the most extravagantly governed
cities in the world, and then admits, In the
next, that he is against the Mccarthy bill,
because at is intended to hurt the Democratic
party" This is the best we can hope for IN
the way of municipal reform from the Office
holders. AS to what we can hope for
from the Legislature-that is sufficiently ex-
planned in the edifying announcement that
the ofIice-holders have abandoned the project
of forming "a combination against the DILL
relying confidently upon their belief that,
through inability and unwilingness of the
members to agree, the Legislature will do just
what the ofice-holders want them to do.
The four Republican vacancies in the Senate
are becoming the centres of political activity
Mr.. Frye was unanimously nominated yester-
day by the Republicans of the Maine Legs
lature to succeed Mr.. Blaine. Mr.. Fryes
election has been foreseen ever since
it became generally understood that Mr.
Blaine would lead the new Cabinet. Inc
transfer to the Senate will deprive the KepuD
licans of the House of courageous ana
skilful leader at time when their quota OF
men competent to command a majority Is
none too great But the promotion is de-
served. and will bring into the Senate a
faithful Republican who has had ten years
exnerlence in the House of Representatives,
In Iowa ex-CongTessman James W. McDhl,
who was a member of the XLllld ana
XLIVth Congresses, has been appointed Dy
the Governor in place of Secretary KirkWood'
In Minnesota, ex-Secretary Ramsey, who was
the leading candidate against Senator Mcmillan
a few weeks ago, is thought likely to be
appointed in place of Secretary Wlndom'
while in Wisconsin the ballOting for sue
eessor to the late Senator Carpenter has
already begun, ex-senator Cameron being Ill
the lead, with possibility that combination
with the supporters of another candidate Mr.
Dixon, may turn the scale at any moment Tor
one OF the other of those gentlemen.
The latest proposition respecting the street
cleaning comes from q physlclan-that the
city's convicts shall do the work. The dill
entities and dangers of such system in this
crowded city, especially with so little guaranr
tee that the necessary supervision would De
properly performed, are obvious. Perhaps III
time the city will be ready for a proposition
to abolish the Street-Cleaning Bureau alto
gether. If citizens were required by law to
keen the street in front of their stores and
dwellings clean, rs they are now required 10
keen the sidewalks free from snow and ice, IA
class Of street-sweepers who would Work loI
nav and on business principles would prob
ably come into being at once, and 1t Wouid DC
strange if private enterprise did not speedily
furnish tne apparatus III V"hi'o va
and refuse to Long Island, and distributing
il over the barren lands there. Or this latter
part could be left to officials. The advantage
in taking every branch of work which can be
properly done by, private hands away from
bureaus and departments, at least in city al
fairs. is that the law of demand and supply
instantly begins to work, and the action OF
the human brain is plainly perceptible. The
characteristic of municipal government as we
know it in these parts, is that such exercise
of brain power as is Indispensable in private
business never manifests itself No doabt 1t
would seem to the average citizen like bold
and venturesome act to abolish entirely the
present system of street-cleaning-and we
would not be understood as proposing it-Dut
it would be an interesting experiment to try
for o month or two.