New-York tribune., 1886-07-09


It is reported that the Democratic majority
in the House will presently vote to reduce the
number of House employees. They would be
entitled to credit if they should go about this
reform in earnest. for since 1883, when they
went into power, the list of useless Democratic
henchmen about the Capitol has increased i'm
mensely. Unfortunately, the proposed reduc-
ton, even if approved, is not expected to 20
iLto effect until next December 1t is impos-
sible, therefore, to avoid the suspicion that the
whole movement is insincere and intended to
serve merely as little party capital du ing the
fall elections. These being satisfactorily over,
the employees WHO prove to be faithful "work-
ers" may reasonably hope that the reduction
will be Indefinitely postponed.
The conviction of six of the Landgraf boy
cotters is an important result for this Is the
first case in this State in which the principle of
bOycotting has really been on trial. In the
case of Thesis the charge was extortiOn. But
now it may be considered settled that boy
cotting is a conspiracy, and that the men who
take part in 1t are liable to be punished. The
light sentences which Judge Barrett imposed
(the most severe is thirty days in the Periten
tiaryl will probably meet general approval.
vised, and were in ignorance of the law-con-
sidcrations which entitled them TO mercy IN the
minds of Judge and jury. But no such plea can
be made hereafter. and the courts can be
trusted, unless the practice cease Immediately.
to give the next offenders years imprisOn
ment the extreme penalty allowed by law.
Mavor Whitney is not insensiblc to the force
of public opinion, which has expressed itself III
a decided way concerning the action OF his Ex-
else Comm ssiOncrs but possibly his course
Yesterday was partly Influenced by the fact that
n mass meeting was to be held last night i'll the
church of which he has long been a mem bcr tn
protest against the licensing of a barr DOM only
a.few rods from the church door. The Mayor
doubtless wished to be in position TO make
fair defence of his own course and that of the
Excise Board appointed by him. At any rate,
be promised that fever licenses should be
granted in the future, and gave the Commits
sioners to uuders aud that unless .hey paid
some heed TO the iShcs of the temperance and
law abiding people Of Brooklyn, he would DO
his duty toward them" This means that he
will remove them. The people of BrooAyD
ought to insist that this promise he kept. The
excise problem is a hard one to solve i'll that
city Mayor Lows administration came far
sLOrt of giving satisfaction in this particular,
and it does not look as if the present Excise
Board could regain the ground il has already
lost.
The lengths to which OBrien, the Alto rney-
General, Will 20 10 put money in the pockets Of
O'Bncn the receiver of the Broadway urface
Railroad, are.shown by the wholesale restraining
order which he has obtained from Judge Ian
don away up in Schenectady. 1t prohibits
every body connected with the pending litiga-
ton OF interested IN the company from doing
ANYTHING IN the case witnOut permissi IN frsm
he receiver. This includes the city auth Dr-
ties, although it is dOO btful if Il e Judge had
the authority 10 restrain them--a question
which the Cor pOration Counsel probably will
look up Immediately. 1t has an important bear
ing Oh the Controllers power TO hold on TO the
$40, 900 paid by the officers of the Broadway
and Seventh Avenue Railroad Company for.
of course, the handling Of that neat little sum
4 one of the things which the receiver is after.