New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-04-18

When property holders understand that they
are responsible in measure for what their
lessees do, they will inquire into the character
of their tenants with more care than at present.
Most persons who are familiar with the de-
tails of the shocking Newhall House disaster
will be glad to know that George Schelier' the
barkeeper, who has just been tried on charge
of setting fire to the hotel. has been acquitted.
So far as the facts have been published, 1t has
long seemed evident to impartial readers that
there was strong effort on some ones part IN
Milwaukee to make Scheller scapegoat for
the hotel managers and the proprietor's sins
of omission touching repairs and precautions
against fire. 1t did not work. Scheller mas
been acquitted. and the shouts OF JOY WIN
which the verdict was received are in pleasant
contrast with the threats OF lynching ut'ereu
when the poor fellow was arrested.
Bills to increase the patronage ana power oi
the heads of departments in this city Tor poih-
| zeal purposes come so thick and fast at Albany
that it is hard to keep the run CT them. Inc
last one was introduced yesterday In the
| Senate. II authorizes the Department OF PUB
| lie Works to take measures to ascertain where
there is waste In the water supply OF this city,
! and to check It. Unless this bill really means
an investigation of the Department OF Public
Works there is no call for it. Onr local author.
| tiles have power to take whatever steps they
see necessary to check the waste of Croton.
Such matters come easily within the jurisdiction
| of the Board of Estimate and Apportionment'
They will act when they see fit. Let the AS
| sembly keep ITS hands off.
The report which Captain Rettig, of the
| steamship City of Merida, has made to tho
| United States Inspectors in regard to the COLI
sion off Cape Hatteras week ago puts some
what different face upon the accident. Earlier
| reports indicated that no one was to blame or
| that both captains were. 1t now seems that the
unknown schooner was run into from the rear
] by the steamship because she showed no light
on her stern. Evidently no blame a ttaches to
| the captain of the Merida, for the vessel in
front of him was not seen until it was too late.
| 1t is hard to understand, however, how any ex-
| perenced seaman, such as the officer i'll charge
of the schooner probably was, should neglect to
show his stern-light. Recklessness of that kind
| seems like tempting Providence.
| The defence of the Irish assassin Curley has
the same weak basis as that of Joseph Brady
an attempt to prove an abb through friends
| and relatives. His witnesses yesterday were
his father-in- law, who is also q relative of two
of the other prisoners charged with completely
| in the Phoenix Park crimes, aud barkeeper
| and plumber. Human nature is so painfully
! weak that it is easy to understand how relatives
under such circumstances as these might read
| lily swear falsely to save Curleys life. AS for
| the barkeeper, he weakened on cross-examlna-
| tion, 1t /, little wonder that DR.. Webb and the
| other counsel who were assigned to defend, first
Brady, and then Curley, wish to be relieved OF
their work when this case is finished. There is
no satisfaction in building defence on
nothing.
The College of the City Of New-York stands
| on different basis from other colleges in the
country. 1t is a city institution, supported by
the taxpayers as the capstone OF our puellc
| school system Therefore it should be entirely
under the control of men responsible to tho
people either directly or indirectly So it is at
| present The Board of Education appointed
| by the Mayor is its Board of Trustees IL it
were aa endowed institution even in part there
might be some reason for the bill which has
Just been introduced in the Asst mbly provd-
| ing that three alumni of the college shall act as
trustees with the Board of Education. Under
present circumstances the bill is unwise.
| President Webb is ex-offcio a member of the
Board and through him the trustees are kept
| constantly informed as to the needs OF the col
| lege Are the men behind this measure ready
| to put three graduates of the Normal College
on that institutions Board of Trustees
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