Morning journal and courier., 1886-02-13
EElTORIAL NOTES.


 The Massachusetts house of representatives has adopted by large majority-the vote was 177 to 50-the resolution embracing constitutional amendment abolishing the poll tax qualification for voters. This is much more than the required two-thirds majority, and it is probable that it will secure the nec- es4sry votes in the senate.
 An Armenian student in Providence, Rhode Island, has given his opinion of New Eng land weather as follows: In my country good weather-in rain time all rain, in snow time all snow; but here, weather too different, too much-yes. Ut is sadlytrue that New Eng land weather is "too different, too much yes."
 Indianapolis has, it is asserted, suffered more than any other city of the same size in the country since 1873 from dishonest and incompetent bankers. A list is given of nine banks which have failed in that time and the average loss from swindling money transac- tions is reckoned at $250,000 year, and during that time not one bank official has been punished for embezzlement or fraud of any sort.
 There is bill before the Massachusetts employers and employees. This bill provides for State board, whose functions would be advisory mainly, like those of the railroad commissioners. A bill before the New York legislature provides for both central State board and for local boards to be chosen by the parties interested. All questions would go first before the local board and it's decision would be final unless an appeal were taken to the State board. The idea of local boards seems to us good one.
 At the beginning of next month party organized by the German New Guinea asso- citation will start from Hamburg. The com mand of the expedition has been intrusted to Dr. Schraber, one of the staff of the Ham burg observatory, who was chief of the scien- tif1c expedition sent in 1882 to, the southern hemisphere. The preparations are almost completed. Six experienced foresters have been already sent on in advance Fifteen block houses have been constructed some at Hamburg, some in Norway, to be put to- gether at chosen points in New Guinea. Forty Melays have been hired in Java to act as bearers and servants, and five persons will form the staff of the party. Their ex- plorations will be confined to the portion of the island which is under the German pro- tsctorate, and will, it is expected, occupy about three years.
 The Rev J. H. Scudder of St. Paul has added to his popularity by preaching ser mon in favor of tobogganing. His text was, ''Aake joyful noise. Serve the Lord with gladnsss." In the course of the sermon he said: ''Tobogganing is cheap and demo cratic diversion, and anyone who can summon up the courage can take whiz himself. It stirs his blood up nightly and makes every hair stand on end. By the time he has reached the end of the slide and drawn his toboggan back again, he is in warm and physically hilarious condition. He feels his youth coming back to him again, and is sud denly seized with a desire to make some kind of frightful noise. Thank Godt say, for tobogganing, that drives dull care away. God smiles upon such scenes as these, and if we are truly his children we can serve him as well by sitting on toboggan as by kneeling upon a hassook. Then let us go on and enjoy it, both in the name of health and the name of the Lord. The Cincinnati committee of one hundred have prepared bill entitled "An set to es- tablish an efficient unpartisan police" for the city of Cincinnati. It is an elaborate af- fair The police power and duties are vest ed in the mayor and four commissioners, two of whouer must be from each political party, wke are to make oath, among other things, to maintain the police free from partisan dictation and control.' Members of the DO. lice are appointed by the mayor. with the approval of the commissioners, and all ap- pointments above the lowest grade are to be by promotion from the next grade below. No member of the police force can be e deie- gate to, or otherwise take part in, any caucus or convention except to cast his vote when | he is entitled to do so. Interference in any manner in elections is made good ground for dismissal. No one can be member of the l force who has been convicted of any crime or misdemeanor or engaged in any calling 1 contrary to law. The superintendent of DO