New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-12-21

omen direct water route for steamers anu
barges from the Mississippi River 10 Chicago
would be of great advantage to the gram re-
cions of the Northwest and to the city, when
is their commercial centre. 1t would not cost
much to cut d canal across the pralrles 10 the
Illinois River and enlarge the old narrow
canal now connecting that stream with Lake
Michigan. But why ask Congress to furnish
the money? New-York built the Erie Canal
Why shonld not Illinois open the Hennepm
water route, which can be dug for One-tenth
of the amount this State has spent for the
benefit of the West rs well as for her own
advantage, on the channel from Lake Enc to
the Hudson
The project for Tariff Commission is last
maturing in Congress Mr.. Morrill's plan for
Commission of nine members to be appointed
by the President from civil life has been
adopted by the Senate Finance Committee III
preference to Mr.. Gmland's, which cOntem-
plates a mixed body composed OF three mem
hers of the House, three OF the Senate, ana
three from unofficial life to be chosen 10y 'he
six The general idea OF an unprcJudlced an"
DISTINGUISHED Commission to go careiutiy over
the tariff schedules, gather Information as TO
the effect of each duty on industry ana tfadc'
and report their conclusions to Congress- Is
received with a good deal of favor by the cOnn-
try at large. Congress may be expected to give
il shane aud effect, for two rCaS0ns-ilst, the
idea has evident merit and popularity; ana
second, its adoption will put Oft for a year at
least general discussion of the tariff question
in its theoretical and practical aspects, for
which most members are i'll prepared. with
the exception of a few dogmatsts who are al
WAYS ready to prancc about on their hobbies,
the members of both houses would be glad to
delay the aIduous work of tariff revision until
they are much better informed than they feel
themselves to be ut present. We therefore look
for the passage of some Commission bill at an
early period in the session.
Ex-senator Timothy O. Howe, of Wisconsin,
is nominated for POstmaster-GeneraI to sue
coed MIR. Thomas L. James, of this city. To
say that this change is in the interest of the
service would be blank foolishncss. Mr..
James by the general consent of those quail
fed to iudge was the best equipped Postmaster
General we have had for u generation. Mr..
Howe is a supplemented, sincere, narrow
politician, of the most vehement COnling ana
anti-Garicld type with not whit more
training or fitness for the Post Office Depart
inent than he has for War, or the Navy.
The innocent OnlOOller will wonder why
an ldeally-ft man for the Post Office.
who was also a COnkling man, should be turned
out to make room for another COnlIinS man OF
no fitness at all. TO understand this mystery
some knowledge Of the inner workings of New
York politics is necessary Mr. james WAS IN
deed COnklng man, but he once failed III ms
loyalty This was when, after the AdmnlStra-
ton, of which he was a member, had nominated
Judge Robertson for Collector Of the Port, and
Mr.. C0nkling had thcrcupOn pcremptorlly de-
manded that Mr.. james should forthwith
retire from that Administration. Mr.. JamcSs
reply was. "Tell Mr.. COnklmg | am fifty
years old to-day" Whoever supposed after
that that Mr. Arthur, who had al
WAYS belonged anyway to Che anti
James, anti Cornell wing of the Conklng fac
ton of New-YorI Republicans, would long
tolerate Mr.. James in his Cabinet was Jolly
green Bat of course Mr.. James resigned"
After the New-York President had PIT
another New-Yorller into his Cabinet, il
would seem to be time. Personally,
not a word is to be said against Mr..
Howe. lie is an honest, amiahlc,
almost loyabe old man. 1t is his misfortune
that his family should be connected with the
defence of the Star Route rohberi"s and this
fact will add TO the mislormcs of the Arthur
Administration, if, through any chance the Star
ROntc prosecutions should break dOwn--Gencral
Arthur hasnow changed majority the Garfield
Cabinet. OF its seven members, Garfield took
four from the wing Of the Republican party
that nominated him and three from the wing
that opposed him. OF the -four from the
majority wing three are already retired every
one being succeeded by a faithful representa-
tive Of the minority while Mr. James
is now also replaced by more
faithful minority representative. All
this is clearly within the Presidents right.
He knows whether he wants TO make his Adj
mnistration represent the whole party, or
only the wing of it that was beaten at Chi
cago; and nobody will question his right in choOs
inc Cabinctadviscrs to do exactly what ne wants.
We wish to say further word in praise Of
General Arthur for his nomination of Judge
Horace Gray to the Supreme Bench. We have
not been enthusiastic over most of his higher
appointments; and it gives us, therefore, the
more pleasure to repeat that this one is
as good as it could be. 1t deserves the
warmer recognition because il WAS made in
the face of very strong pressure from the men
who surround the President, and the faction
with which he has been identified.
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LOSS or THE JEANETTE.
The Jeanette has shared the fate of the
Tegethoff. That vessel disappeared of the
coast of Novaia Zpmlia in 1872 and was never