New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-04-06
not show desire to aid the Butler-Sprague
combination to any extent.

"
combination to any extent
The Panama Canal scheme certainly has
busiucss-like lock-. A son of Count de Lesseps,
now in this city, says that 1000 men are at
work upon the canal, only small percentage
of whom suffer from the climate. Six large
dredging machines have been purchased, ana
there seems to be ample evidence that the
canal is no visionary affair. Ii there Is any
prospect that it will be successfully completed
in 5SS, we cannot but rejoice, no matter now
much we may regret the fact that the waters Oh
the Atlantic and Pacific were not first united
under American enterprise.
There was general expression yesterday OF
the great public loss in the death OF peter
Cooper. Now that he is beyond the reach vi
human words it 10 some satisfaction 10 kho"
that he was not one of those men WHOSE
worth 10 only appreciated after death. tributes
of regard were paid to him by the various puolic
bod,es. including the Board of Aldermen, vi
which lie was for four years member. bnt
il was yery different body when Mr.. Cooper
was a member from what it is now. Wheh lie
first became an Alderman the population Oh
the CITY was 123,OOO and the Beard OF Alder
men not only administered all the puDilc
affairs bat it elected the Mayor.
One of the strongest features of Mr.. Glad
tones administrations has been the magnlhcent
ability ne has shown in managing the finances
The budget presented al the House OF Com
mons Yesterday is an excellent showing. Tae
fiscal year ended on March 81. hence the new
Chancellor of the Exchequer, Dir. Chlders, mas
been prompt in presenting the estimates.
The receipts last year were 1882, 559.44O and
the expenditures $I32, OS3, 160, leaving sur
| plus of S476,2SO 1t is estimated that there
will be a decrease in the expenses for the pres
ent year OF about 81 100000. which will
| leave a surplus of about S. 100000. This in
cludes an allowance of abont $40 100000 to
| be used in reducing the national debt. 1t is
gratifying to learn that there was a large de-
crease in the consumption of spirituous liquors.
| though the revenue was reduced $23.oooooo
| from that cause. The war in Egypt cost
Sl7,S34,56O, and it is more than doubtful If the
English Government will get from it any corre-
! spending benefit. But it certainly was much
| better investment than the Afghan war, costly
legacy from BeacOnsfeld, the expenses OF winch
the present Government has been called upon
70 nav to the extent of $38, i5l.60O. The
| Gladstone administration is making COM
| meudabe move toward reducing the national
debt. which now reaches 1900 900.
Mr. Childers proposes some welcome reforms,
one of which is a reduction to 12l2 cents for
kilograms sent to any place IN Great Britain. The
nor capita cost of the English Government is
S11 rs as compared with So 10 for our own.
| The Office seeking dema gogues had slight
| set back III the Assembly last night. Inc pro-
posed amendments to the city charter were re-
committed by vote OF 1S to As An amend
ment TO give the Mayor the sole power OF ap-
| Monument and removal was lost by the close
| vote of As to 46. 1t is whispered that canvass
of the Senate shows that body to he evenly Ill
yideG in regard to the amendments, with the
| exception of one not over scrupulous memher'
who is put down as uncertain. Under
these circumstances 1t Is doubtful whether
apy such Office grabbing scheme can be
passed this year, unless there is better guar
antee that Iammany Hall will not profit to the
detrimcnt of tile other factions. charter
tina, is championed by such unprincipled Demo
Gratis as Murphy, Spinola and Benedict Is self
condemned in the eyes of every honest man
The arguments that are relied upon to pass
this ubiquitous scheme were shamcicsSl,
avowed by It's sponsor, mike" Murphy, in tho
debate last night. Without foundation in fact
he ntimatcd that there are G,0O0 Republican,
holding Office under the city government, 2,SOt
of whom are from the country. These 2,oOt
places lie proposes TO distribute among ti'
country Democrats in return for their votes
And after that statement fOrty-s Democrats
voted to pass the bill, without even granting n
hearing to the people of this city. That is thu
way the Democrats have been fulfilling thc
Civil Service Reform: pledges ever since the
Legislature met