New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-04-16

The friends of the bills relating to the annul-
ment of the charter of the Broadway Rail. road
should be alert and watchful until after next
Tuesday, when the measures Will be discussed
in the Assembly. During this interval OF de-
lay some of the people Interested III the road
will doubtless do their best III their own Pc
culiar and skilful way to defeat the bills Pub
lie opinion, however, is so decidedly against
them that they cannot succeed unless ma
iority of the Legislature regardless of the
wishes of their unprejudiced and honest con
stituents.
Public opinion at present is particularly hos
tile toward persons accused of bribery or the
BETRAYAL of official trust, but we presume that
General Shaler's trial will be full and fair, and
that nothing except the facts will influence the
verdict. His public services have been distin-
suished and he has enjoyed many donors; yet
he merits Justice and nothing more. That he
will get probably, for the jury seems to be
made up of an intelligent lot of men-except
perbaps the man who never heard of General
Shaler or the charges against him. and the one
who never believes any statement Ill news
paper.
The indicted Aldermen received their first
legal rebuff yesterday. Jaehne was the
man who received the blow; but as all the
bribe-takers stand or fall together, it hurt the
rest of them as much as him. They can get no
more definite information concerning the evil
dence against them than is conveyed in the in
dictment, and that says substantially that the
time was the 29th of August, 1854; the place
the CITY of New-York; the amount 10000 !;
and the result, the crime OF bribery. That Is
the case which the Aldermen will have to
meet If they are innocent they do not need to
know any more in order to be prepared to prove
their innocence.
The temperance people of England ought to
be pleased by the statistics in the Budget
speech of Sir W. Vernon HarcOurt. Within the
last fiscal year the revenue from the tax on
alcohol was f971, 900 less than had been ex-
pected. and IL. 179, 900 less than for the fiscal
year of 1SS4-'S5. Within ten years the re-
CENTS from this source have decreased
$40, SOC, 900. Evidently good many English
men have reformed Tor died within decade.
or the times have been so hard that they could
not afford to buy drink. But the statement IN
the speech which will probably please the
average Briton most Is the one which an
nounces that the rates of taxation will not be
increased.
The Rivers and HarbOrs bill is now before
the House, and majority of the representa-
tiyes seem to be making ready to vote with an
eve single to the wishes of their constituents
Over fifteen millions are called for by the
measure, an immense part of which Is made up
of appropriations for projects which cannot
claim National or even real local Importance.
The money is to be put apparently where it
will do the most good politically. Here, for
instance, is one million for that great maritime
State, with its great bays and tide-water har-
bors, Kentucky, and another for Missouri; but
for this entire State of New-York, into which
is poured so much of the commerce OF the Ma
ton, only 1875. 600 is allowed.
In the havoc 1t wrought the tornado which
has lust visited three towns in Minnesota has
had but ore parallel in this country for several
years-that which moved down the north
western part of Grinnell. Iowa. on June II.
1882 and ravaged two or three villages near
by, killed sixty-four persons at least, and in
jured about $50. It's fortunate that these de-
strOyers keep within narrow paths. They NUM-
Der, on an average, more than hundred every
season between March and October. travel fifty
or hundred mules before dying out, and pos