New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-07-20

which, to be sure, was shown long ago--of
some principle of selection whereby only
men having some notion OF practicable
methods of dealing with the Indians shall be
placed in such positions.
We have probably seen the last attempt to
adjourn the Legislature without electing the
second Senator. Or if we havenOt, il will simply
be because the Conkling members have grown
so fond of butting their heads against a stone
wall that they cannot renOunce the habit. Mr.
Andrews yesterday moved TO amend his reso-
luton for adjournment by making the date
Thursday of this week This was defeated by
vote of 81 to 81, and the resolu-
ton was then voted down. Last week
similar motion was carried through the
Assembly by q vote of 60 to 81. On
that occasion fifteen Conllling members voted
for it, Yesterday only eleven Conllling mem
bers did so. These included the unbribed
Bradley and Mr.. Tittlebat Tuthill, and, for
the rest, We're among the smallest men in the
Assembly who are controlled by some of the
smallest bosses in the State. This fail
ure should show even Mr. Conlling
that he cannot adjourn the Leeisla-
ture. The presiding officers in both houses
are against him, and will show no favors to
his reasonable projects The Senate is firmly
against adjournment, and after tins vote the
Assembly may be rated on the same side.
Contrary to the usual rule with such
bodies, every day the Legislature remains
IN session now makes it less pos
sible that it shall break up without
performing its duty. 1t is useless to
expect that Mr. Conklngs folly will der 'rt
from him; he has been brayed in mortar
these two months, and it has not departed yet.
But the men who are supporting him must see
the inevitable, and seeing it, should accept it
the quicker the better.
The resolution adopted by the State Senate
yesterday ordering an investigation into the
Health Office at this Port will prove to be
step in the direction of good government if
the investigation is conducted in the right
spirit. 1t is alleged that the fees and pcrquis
ties of the Office are very large ; how large
probably few persons really know. Popular
rumor puts the figure all the way from
$4,000 to 100000 year. and the Senator
who offered the preamble yesterday estimated
it at $4,000 1t would be a foohardy
person who would undertake to deny the alb
stract proposition that this sum, or any sum
III excess of Il just compensation and theme cs-
sary expenses. belongs to the State and not to
one of its officers; and it would he an ingenious
person who should show why this rule should
not apply to the Health Officer as well as to
the Secretary of the Treasury at Washington
or the Postmaster at New-lork. The influence
of such offices with large incomes from fees
and little of the responsibility that attends
publicity must he hurtful Their existence is
certainly a contradiction of our whole theory
of government Federal, State and municipal
and the opportunity to put one of them on a
business basis, and remove it from the class
OF the great spccuatiOns of politics. should be
welcomed. As we understand it. this is not
an attack upon the present Health Officer, but
upon the system We hope the committee
will demonstrate this in their conduct OF the
inNnsti Iinn