New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-05-11


| Apportionment yesterday in his efforts to re-
! duce the appropriation for the Excise Depart
| ment As one of the Commissioners of Ac-
| counts he has had some knowledge of the
reckless manner IN which the business of that
| department is conducted. Commissioner Mitch
| ellis statement that the increase in the number
Of inspectors has brought an enlarged rev
| enuc is absurd in view Of the fact that the
excise revenue in 1852 was $4,000 less than
! it was in 1875 under the same laws, and
| $173, 900 less than in 1865.
II is Governor Butler of Massachusetts, who
| is now twisting the tail OF the British lion. A
member of Parliament has given notice that
he will question the English Government con-
corning TIE Governors protest in regard to
| Irish pauper emigration. And it must bc ac"
| knCwledged that there is ground for many
| questions and answers on this subject. Mr..
Trevelyan's explanation, made last night, that
! a "proper proportion between The workers and
| nOn-workcrs had been carefully Observed
| has the merit of being diplomatic, if nothing
| else. There is room for explanation as to
| what the British Government considers
"proper proportion"
Coventry has a quaint history, some inter-
| esting points of which are sketChed in Mr..
Robert Z. Porter's letter printed in tO-days
TRIBUNE. But the interest its history pales be-
fore the stern facts in regard to its silk indus
try. When experienced weavers earn only
81 Sc per week there is indeed a call for sym
patty for the wOrkngmen. And yet the Free
Traders, if they cOuld have their way, would
t.tn IF ofto that
in the face Of the fact that since the adoptOnCf
tie protective tariff in this country its silk in
duStry has grown from a product of only
$6,5S9,17l and $500 hards employed to
product in $50 of $l1, O33, 0I5, giving employ
ment to 1887 persons. In the meantime the
same industry has been on the decline in
England, though it was established there as
early as 17i7.
Governor Cleveland will have a good OPP
portunity to use lis veto power in considering
the city bills now before him. The most inI-
pOrtant one is that in regard to the new aqUe-
duet. The Legislature disregaydod the wishes
of the citizens on that subject, and il will he
just as well if the Governor dsrcgardS the !
wishes CT the Legislature. The bill to increase |
the salaries of lircmen and policemen was |
vetoed by Governor Cornell, ami it will be
interesting to see if Governor Cleveland viii |
show il that matter equal fidelity to the tax I
payers ami courage to resist the opportunities .
Of the politicians The outcome OF ali the |
Democratic. palaver about municipal reform .
was the passage of bill extending the terms .
of the Aldermen to two years. Il would bc |
fitting end for the Governor to veto that .
measure, though it is Tot of much account
Iva oil toI for
get about the same set Of men each year.
The bills to increase the pay of District Court
i4uitors, and to provide more money for the
Commissioner Of Jurors Office and the Gen
cIal Street Railway bill all should be vetoed.
The work of reforming the Civil Service of
the city may lie began by Mayor Edison under
an act passed 10y the Legislature. The Civil
Service Reform bill which applied specially to
this city, and which made the reform obligatory
and provided all the necessary facilities for
it ont was killed. But there was in
cluded, probably inadvertently, in the state
measure that part of Senator Pittss bill which
the Mayor of any city having a
population of $4,000 to prescribe such
50 regulations for the admission Of persons INFO
90 the Civil Service of such city as may best
50 promote the efficiency thereof Under this
act the Mayor is authorized to appoint n Civil
Service Board and to examine candidates in
% respect to character knowledge and ability
q for the branch of the service into which
. they seek to enter and only such persons
IS fill the requirements established by the
Mayor can be appointed. The Police, Fine,
Health, Educational and Law Department, are
xccpted. That is an exception of very OK
eDsive character, but tie heads If those
departments can, if they choose, apply the
PROVISIONS of the act t. their respective
branches Of the Civil Service Of the city. Mayor
ldson is going to bring the subject TO the
attention Of lis "Cabmctn Under this law he
an, if he desires, establish regulations that
will prevent the Public Works and some other
departments from being exclusively used to
cward political fayortcs. There are 10000
PERSONS employed in the Civil Service Of the
ty other than day laborers, and over $1O,-
100, 900 IS paid ont annually in salaries. There !
vas much more reason for passing a munich
al Civil Service Reform bill than one for the
,tatc service. There is no provision in the 81
ct passed for the classification of the Civil "
service of the city, which is one of its great i
eods In the Educational Department there d
re now Coz annual rates Of payment, and in !
mother department there are 131 rates. The q
bsu,dity of the present system IS shown in c
he fact that there are 20 rates Of wages for {
a messengers. 4
UHISKEF AHD FOLITICS. i
The persons VITO did most to secure the q
lection Of tha Democratic Congress- last fail t