New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-01-03
be accepted and tolerated as the best that

Gull Uc SOt.
The rumor that Judge Robertson was to be
removed and Mr.. NJ. w. Cooper was to be
appointed Collector of this port will receive
renewed circulation now that the latter has
retired from business. But those wiseacres
who have the matter all settled will have to
get over the facts that Judge Robertson has
not resigned or been removed, that Mr.. Cooper
has not been appointed and that the President
has shown some intention to let well enough
alone 1t is encouraging to find that MIR.
Arthur hesitates in these days to do foolish
things simply to crafty politicians already
condemned by the people. The latest view OF
this supposed Custom House complication
will be found in another column OF this paper,
where Mr.. Cooper tells what he thinks about
it.
The occupation of part of the new Barge
Office by the authorities gives encouragement
that before long the entire building will be ready
for public use. The pride of w-Yorkers will
be spared good deal of modification when all
cabin passengers from abroad are landed at the
Battery and not at the various rotten piers that
disfgure our waterfront elsewhere. The docks
and piers in the neighberhOOd OF the new Barge
Office are the most respectable in appearance
which we possess. They are buit OF stone OF
a composite much like 1t, and are not Extensively
green, Shiny and slippery. First impressions of
New-YOr are anything but pleasant to the
stranger who is landed on our shores under
present arrangements. The drive from the Bat
terry up broadway, too, is more agreeable than
through the narrow, and not always clean, ways
of the West Side.
The decision of Judge Wheeler in the
United States Circuit Court is of Importance to
all persons having railway interests, whether as
directors or bOndholders. 1t was given in suit
brought against the Erie Railway by holders OF
preferred stock, who claimed that whenever net
profits are declared by the directors these
should be used to pay dividends. The directors
it seems had spent such profits for the year
eudng September 80, 1880, to build a new
track and in other improvements. Judge
Wheeler upholds the views of the bOndholders
The matter will undoubtedly be carried to the
Supreme Court, where possibly ii may be over
turned. In somewhat similar cases we believe
it has been held that the managers OF the roads
had d right 10 spend the profits in improve
ments if they saw best 1T the decision is
sustained, however, bondhOlders will greatly
rejoice, while directors whose hearts are not
set on dividends but on an extension Of their
roads will feel cOrrespondngly fetteIed
The public will be of one mind about the
killing OF Patrick MCGOWAN by Roundsman
Delaney. 1t served the ru6ian right. His
interference with the policeman was entirely
uncalled for, and the latter was justified in
shooting his assailant down. 1t is time that the
ruffians of New York were made to feel that
there is limit beyond which they cannot 20.
The affair calls attention to the freedom with
which such men as MCGOWAN go armed in
this city. Apparently the law against carrying
concealed weapons is of little or no effect.
The police justices have it within their power
TO do much to remedy the evil. When any
prisoner upon whom concealed weapons have
been found is arraigned before them this fact
should be considered an aggravatiOn of his
offence, and the severity of the punishment
should be increased. Such persons never carry
arms to defend themselves lawfully. They
have them to commit murder with if they fell
into difficulty great enough to make 1t neces-
sary to shoot in order to escape.
That the State Department has not lost all
interest in international affairs is shown by
the tact that the Cabinet meeting yesterday
was largely occupied in discussing the French
occupancy of Madagascar. In what particular
our commercial interests are in jeopardy in that
part of the world it does not appear. The
State Department plainly has a monopoly of
information on that point. But at any rate the
United States man-of-war Enterprise has
been ordered to visit that PARKWAY island,
apparently not to look after the safety
d" of American citizens, but into French OPP
erations" Perhaps Mr.. Frellnghuysen thinks
that France would be a safe country TO fool
with. Most people will think that our sister
Republic in Europe could give us as much
trouble as any haf-dozen States in South
America of whose dlspleasure our more tlnIid
citizens now stand in great awe. In view of
this trip of the Enterprise and the bold attitude
of the State Department it is reassuring to
know that the Secretary of the Navy and the
Advisory Board are in favor of completing at
once the four great unfinished monitors.
I his is only prudent We may need them of
for harbor defence when the feet from NADIA
gascar appears off our shores.
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THE GOgERNORS MESSAGE.