New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-05-06

Inspector EsterbrOok must receive attention
at the session of the Legislature just
ended. 1t was bill which did JUS
tice to honest builders and yet protected the
| public from avaricious owners who cared
| nothing for the safety of their tenants so long
| as they did not have to pay out money IN
needed repairs. The Senate passed 1t; but the
| lobby of the Assembly was able to put it OIL
| from day to day until it was too late. Several
| attempts to call it up on Friday failed, natur-
ally. The measure did not have the support 1t
had right to expect from the Fire Commits
| sioners 4; and the treatment which it received
in the Assembly gives weight to the popular
opinion that even good measure cahnoV so'
enacted as law in Democratic Legislature
unless there is money back OF It,
There has been much unnecessary denuncla-
ton recently of the Harbor Masters OF New
York The abolition of their once WAS
recommended by the Governor early laSt
winter and the plan was heartily applaudeu
in quarters where the value of these ohlclas
IN fine maritime commerce of this port was
NOT realized. Now the fact is the Haroor
Masters are as necessary to the regulation OF
the shining in the harbor and on the rivers
rs the police are to the traffic on our streets.
They hinder INSCRIPTIONS ship officers from
infringing the docking and pier privileges OF
others and prevent unnecessary delay in the
movements of all kinds of sailing craft. The
fees which they collect are earned, and while
they cannot be collected legally, the ship
owners pay them willingly. The wages OF
these men undoubtedly should be on some
legal basis, and they should be appointed
probably by the National Government. The
bill Just passed at Albany. therefore, was not
the best that could have been suggested
by any means, but it certainly is fortunate
that it cannot he properly construed as turn
ing out of Office the HarbOr Masters who are
now mat least until their successors are an
pointed The shipping interests of the port
would be sadly crippled if it could be-
We publish this morning interesting sketches
of three of the busiest centres OF Christian
activity in NewYork City-Gracc Church, the
Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church, and the
Broadway Tabernacle. In the popular view
too often these houses of worship are only
places where rich and fashionable people gather
on Sunday to he entertained by interesting
sermons and fine music. Those are the things
which are seen, and Judgment based on them
alone is faulty, if not false. 1t Is IN the things
which are unseen by the careless observer that
the power and glory of these religious
bodies lie. Their church buildings are
only the outward and visible sign of great
inward and spiritual grace. The sketches to
which we have referred show how actively the
Christian men and women who revolve around
these centres are at work in every department
of benevolence and piety, and how widespread
and great is the good which they accomplish.
The results are to be seen III numerous
missions reading-roOms, homes and charitable
societies of all kinds which scattered
throughout the city-nOt to mention the varied
help extended to the needy in other parts of
the country and in other lands. To think no
evil of such churches it is not necessary to be
charitable; it is only necessary to be well
inf