New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-03-12

SS4,
shoulders upon those of the people at largo Until
this fact Is forgotten Democratic newspapers would
do well not to spend much time In looking for notes
in the eyes of the Republican party.
The stock market declined little more yester-
day. as was not unnatural in view ofthe strife about
| freight rates both East and West. The average
price Of forty most active stocks at tho latest sales
was sos 80, against sos 20 on Monday, and $8S 90
on Saturday. Tho highest average reached this
year for the same stocks was $71 81, February 81,
and the lowest $50 70. January 81.
The English comic papers have lately been max
ing great deal of fun of Mr.. Gladstone because of
his alleged skill in wOrd-juggIng exhibited in
defence of his Egyptian policy. This subtlety,
however. has always been characteristic of the
Premier, as tho following story indicates. When
Gsrabaldi first went to England he was welcomed
with immense enthusiasm, and certain amiable
bUsybodies at once formed plan to marry him to
a wealthy widow But when this notable project
came to be discussed, somebody threw q damper
omit by stating that Garabaldi was married al
ready, and by asking, "What will you do with his
living wlfep Upon this a wit suggested, "Fll tell
you what to do with her. You must get Gladstone
to explain her away" And no doubt the grand
old man" would have succeeded, had success been
possible in such an undertaking,
Yesterday O remarkable decline in the amount of
gold certificates outstanding took place. of which
no explanation appears unless it is merely one of
the phenomena of Treasury bookkeeping. On
Monday $74,7S2, 800 III gold certificates
ported as outstanding-that is, not held by the
Treasury itself. On Tuesday the amount
ported was only $7O,3s6,O3O. The decrease of
$4,398,36O cannot be attributed to actual receipts
of that amount in any day. and if it represents
the receipts for several days then for the first time
reported all together the statements are becoming
a great deal less valuable than they ought to be.
Nor is it easy to see how SO large amount of GER
tiicates have been received without much
larger decrease in the gold held by the Treasury
than the $174S,796 actually reported. The
Treasury revenues do not amount to the difference
$2,Gl7, 900, even in the most busy days
One would not grumblc SO much if the chronic
Democratic incapacty to do anything had mani
tested itself when there was nothing but partisan
work to do. But just now this Democratic Con-
gress has a grave responsibility to bear. Gold is
leaking out of the Treasury almost every day in
largo amounts and meanwhile the amount Of silver
is accommodating. A short act that could hurt no.
body, suspendng silver coinage and the issue Of |
silver CtrlHtatei Nutll larger demand 1Of SOcH
money had appeared. would save the country from |
danger of great disaster The measure proposed !
by the New-York Chamber of Commerce, and in /,
troduced yesterday by Senator Miller, would De |
Of service. But Democratic Congress is tolerably
certain to show itself incapable Of doing anything
just when there is any good thing that needs to be
done.
The annual report Of the Board of Police Justice
for the year ending in October last like nearly all
other city reports is placed before the public sew
eral months behind time. The number Of prisoners
arrested and brought before the Police Courts last
year WIS 70,701, an increase of 1884, or 5.73 per
cent over the previous year. This increase Is at
trbuted to greater vigilance on the part of the
police in making arrest for yagrance, disorderly
conduct and violation Of the excise laws. EmbezZle-
ment and obtaining property by false pretence no
longer appear as separate Offences the distinction
between them and larceny wisely having been abo
ished by the penal code. An embezzer now stands
on the same footing as any other thief The change
in the law in regard to violation of the excise law
so as to enable such complaints to be disposed Of
by the Court of Special Sessions, has proved beue-
fetal Persons arrested for this offence no longer
have immunity from punishment because their cases
cannot be tried at the General Sessions owing to
the crowded calendar for other reasons. Last
year there were 3,Sj2 convictions by the Special
Session Court for violations of the excise law. AL
though the punishment very light, rule it
aided materially swelling the total of fines col
ccted during the year, the amount being SS0.355
an Increase of nearly 81, 900 over the year 1882.