New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-03-21

objections made to the proposed numbering OF tho
hours of the day up to "a. One OF the ob-
ections is that thirteen o'clock, seventeen O'Clock
and the like are very awkward expressions. Mr..
Dowd suggests that there moro syllables IN
any word required by the proposed system than
there are In eleven O'CLOCK" that 1t is no harder
to write 23:45 than it is to write 11.45 p. M, and
that the new form could not be misunderstood.
while the old form Is often dislocated In kilograms
or in printing. rendered completely blind by tho
dropping Of the o. IN" or p. M" The objection
that the clocks would need to be altered Mr.. Dowd
answers by showing that paper dials bearing the
figures 13 to "a could be fixed upon the clock
just inside the present circle of figures. IL concid-
ing with while in striking, % O'Clock say, could
be indicated by striking two-three, after the man.
ner of fre-bells The proposed system would cor
tainly make longdstance timetables intelligible,
which are now beyond tho comprehension of a
trained intellect and its advocates cheerfuly pro-
pose to go discussing it till they have carried IL
through
The Boston Post says, "Put down Massachusetts,
among the doubtful States" Yes, and while you
are about it put down Iowa and Pennsylvania as
equally doubtful.
The independent voter has arrived. During Pro-
lessor 4. j. Pbelps's lecture before the Yale Law
School the other day. on Independence In Poli-
tics y Just as he was saying Now the coming man
in this country-and he is coming-is the lnde-
pendent voter" the door opened and middle
aged. Notwithstanding gentleman entered and
quietly seated himself He evidently did not I'M
derstand the ripple of laughter that ran over the
audience when Professor Phelps, equally uncoD-
scious of its cause continued "He Is the man
whose feet are beautiful upon the mountains for
he brings glad tidIngs."
The California Democratic State Central Commit
tee has appointed June 10 for the State ConVen-
ton. which will be held at Stockton. At meeting
of the Central Committee a resolution indorsing
Governor Stoneman's call for a special session Oh
the Legislature was passed, after considerable OPP
position This seems to indicate the present as
tendency of the communistlc element OF the party
The amendment to the Civil Service bill. exempt
ing the Police Department from its operations. ha
a peculiar significance. The inspectors of election
and poll clerks come under the head of that depart
ment. These officials hold Office for enc year, un-
less sooner removed though there being only one
election in that time their actual work is all done
IN the months of October and November There
ore 1913 inspectors and poll clerks at the present
time bnt the number will be increased this year.
as there will be addition to the number OF cleo
ton districts. Each inspector and poll clerk re-
ceives seven dollars ard fifty cents day, during
the time of registration and election. These APP
nointmepts are now made at the instig alton of
party leaders 1t is important bit of political
patronage. Ifthe Civil Service law appledto these
places, only such persons could be appointed as
met with the requirements prescribed by the May
or While this would not interfere with the .'oit-
ical division of the inspectors, it would exclude
many persons now named at the request OF the
Democratic "halls" Two years ago 600 lnspec-
tors were so ignorant of the duties of their office as
to be unable to meet with the requirements OF the
law: hence, they could not draw their pay until an
enabling act had been passed by the Legislature
Last year there large number or inspectors
and poll clerks who again failed to comply WIN the
law But as no one objected to their drawing pay leg
isatve interference was not again found necessary
1t is Of great Importance that only qual1ed men
should DO appointed to these places, for when
reason the Senate should amend the Civil Service
bill so as to include the Police Department In its
provisions.
The Cortland Democrat out III favor of these
nominations: For President Roswell z. FlOwerOf
New-York; for Vice-President William 5. Holman
of Indiana" This is indeed ticket we'll calculated
TO delight the popular heart. But we are afraidthat
Indiana will insist 1t is what John Van Buren, used
70 call kangaroo ticket" strongest In its hind
legs"
bill is before the English Parliament prohibit
ing the wanton shooting of pigeons by shooting
clubs, etc. Much opposition is being made to the
bill by sportsmen, although many of those who adj
vocato the useless slaughter of pigeons were loud in
their denunoiatlon of vvsecton for scientific pur-
poses Pigeon-shooting, however, Is admitted by
good Judges to be bastard kind of sport and there
is little doubt that public opinion will before long
compel its abandonment. Glass-ball shooting fur
nishes all the requirements of pigeon-shootlng'
without tho cruelty of the latter.