New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-03-14
magnifed, and yet the truth be most de-

magnifed, and yet the uuth 10 inosV "0
plorable
1t strikes us that the majority of the JOINT
Legislative Committee on Apportionment Is
entitled to a generous measure of commlsera-
ton. They are aware that the Democratic
managers expect them so to rediyide the Con-
grcssiOnal districts as to secure large Demo
cratic gains. They are also aware that they
cannot accomplish this precious piece OF paru-
sanship without resOrting to the most Dare
faced and fragrant sort of gerymanderlhE. II
remains to be seen whether they VIII decide 10
have respect to fair play or to the parry
bosses.
We sincerely hope that some good may come
of the attempt to obtain National legislation
to protect our harbor The Committee on
Commerce has made a favorable report or the
bill to prevent the throwing of refuse from the
streets and from steamships into the bay, and
the violation of its provisions is made a mis-
demeanor punishable by fine and imprisonment.
Eight special officers are to see that the stat
ute is enforced. The State law on this point
has seemed to be pretty wide-rcachng, but
there has always been a hitch in the admins
tration of it, and load after load of refuse
continues to be dumped in the harbOr.
Whenever any question of good morals
comes up in Congress the Democrats may be
counted upon to try to avoid committing
themselves in favor of right and decency.
They always have done it, but of late the
spectacle has been frequently repeated Last
week they struggled hard to avoid making
record concerning the appointment OF COM
mission to investigate the effect of the liquor
traffic in this country lest they should offend
their many adherents in the gr0gshOps through
on; the land and yesterday they did all III
their power to delay tie Anti-POlygamy bill
apparently lest they should offend the advo-
Gates of indecency and RIGHTEOUSNESS. Such
efforts ought to disgust all self-respeCtng
Democrats What little reputation the party
has left is getting to be regarded like that of
the witness who leaves the stand without
teStifying lest lie should criminate himself.
1t is to be regretted that the Governor of Ne
braska felt obliged to call on the Regular Army
for assistance to maintain order in Omaha
during the strike in progress there. The
trouble seems hardly to have been serious
enough at first, at least, although now that one
man has been killed its dimensions may be
enlarged The circumstances ale not at all like
those which made it necessary to call upon
the Army a few years ago when the labor
troubles extended through many States. The
employers shOuld be protected in using whom
sOcVeT they choose tC do their work. but the
Governor could probably have kept order with
the militia if he had shown lirmness. After the
appeal for National aid the strikers possibly
thou chit they were a great deal more dangerous
and powerful than they had supposed, and it is
not at all unlikely that they felt forced to make
serious trouble when they found ont what ex-
tensivc preparations were made against them
1t is deplorable that life has been lost. The
situation should be extreme before the baYO-
nets Of frcenen are pointed against other free
men who are dissatisfied with their wages. 1t
may be taken for granted that threats in most
cases mean little, especially if the authorities do
not become panic stricken.