New-York tribune., 1885-03-17

to KhartOum gave the Russian oIlciaiS 'ho m
preston that O march could be stolen upon tne
British and the mountain passes north OF heraI
occupled and fortified. This would have piace1
them within striking distance OF herat anu
have ciyen them an opportunity for intriguing
9TH tbs Persian section of the population.
Tbe Brinsb Boundary Commission, however,
gave warning speedily to the Government anu
the Ministry instead OF preserving Ill .no',
Mia tactics. assumed hostile and determlheu
ottitnde The Russians advanced their lines
without securing the commandingposi'ions WHICH
tbev coveted; and instead OF pressing Oh
toward Herat they are now forced to halt ana
70 have recourse to diplomacy. well content II
thew are allowed to hold their present poSi''oh'
p1n RUSJNESS FOB THE LEGISLATORE.
Senator Timothy J. Campbell In MS own
choice yernacular, is "agin" the clty treasury
last wear he pushed through the Legislature
number of bills requiring payment OIL oio
claims appregating a large sum. Ihey were
for services alleged to have been rendered many
,,oors aoo nv sTonyn Hartman and other we'll
known Democratic ward politicians. Many OF
those claims originated under tho iweeu
regime. They had been repeatedly rejected pS
the city officials and by the courts. Du. ooV-
ernor Cleveland, being candidate Ior h'sno,
office, approved them. ENCOURAGED py 'iia'
success. @Timn Campbell and his frlehds nave
brought forward this year a fresh lot OF claims
The present Governor, like his predecessor Is
q candidate for Office. His course In dlsmlsslng
tbe charges against the Sheriff, who is rims
chief nolit,cal ally, no doubt encourages the
ho,ief that he will also be found willing tO.help
these claimants at the expense OF the CITY
treasury.
There are claims pending against the city for
alleged services to the amount OF about one
million dollars. If the door is 10 be opened at
Albany for their payment they VIII douotiess
multiply with wonderful rapidity. Since
Andrew n. Green was Controller the city has
not been charged with illiberal;y in refusing to
nav salaries. 1t is the most liberal paymaster
of any municipality in the country. ANY claim
rejected by the authorities, 1t IL sale 10 say mas
no show of legality. But If 1t is many sense
inst claim the courts will not refuse payment.
Hence there is no excuse for the course OF
Senator Campbell in asking the Legislature
to force the city to pay such claims as that oil
Lawrence Collins for $500 for alleged
services as court messenger fifteen years ago.
Ten years ago this claim was taken by Collins
into the Supreme Court; and now II Is brought
before the Legislature. Senator Murphy has
introduced a bill to cover similar claim maue
for Joseph Steinert, who says the city owes nm
several thousand dollars for services as clerk
of district court thirteen years ago. Another
one of Mr.. Murphy's bills is to legalize claim
of J. A. Monaghan for salary as district court
clerk eleven years ago, and still another il to
pay an old advertising claim OF weekly news
paper.
There are a number of similar bills before the
Legislature. Two cover old claims for alleged
services many years ago in the Surrogate's
office, and another is for alleged expenditures
made thirteen years ago in fitting up an armory.
The injustice of the Legislatures attempting In
any way to pass upon such claims is self
evident. Members who report them from COM
mittecs or who allow them to pass in the closing
hours of the session, rs was done last year, will
not find it an easy matter to explain their
course to inquiring constituents about election
a..