New-York tribune., 1886-01-22

The private detective agencies are doing
rushing business of late in arresting first-class
desperadoes. Porter and Michael Kurtz, the
burglars and now Bowman the tOrger, have all
been caught within few days. But before
this is construed as severe reflection on the
official police detectives of New-Iork and
Chicago, it will be we'll enough to wait and see
if the private bureaus have sufficient evidence
to insure conviction. Arrest alone does not
send a law breaker to prison.
The three leading statesmen of England,
Mr.. Gladstone, Mr. Parnell and the Marquis of
Salisbury, made speeches on the address from
the throne, yet not one of them said anything
apparently that shows what he or his party
means to do. According to the cable the effect
of what the first two said was " to leave the I'M
preston that efforts will be made to conciliate
the Irish, and Mr.. ParnelPs speech gave evi-
dence of partial agreement with Gladstone"
SO much for being an adept In the art OF using
speech to conceal thought.
The express companies will be pleased at the
bill introduced in the Senate 10 increase the
rate of fourth-class postal matter-dry goods,
SAMPLES. seeds, etc.-from i cent per ounce to
cents. But farmers aud the residents of small
towns who get many small articles of merchan-
disc from distant cities through the mails, will
not like it at all, for it would deprive them of a
great convenience. 1t may we'll be doubted if
the interests of the Postal Department really
demand this increase. There is deficit in
the accounts of the service at present; but past
experience all goes to show that it will not last
long.
If the United States Senate were not digni-
fed body we should be inclined to think that
Senator Van Wyck was jesting. But under
the circumstances, one must conclude that he
was in earnest yesterday in introducing bill
making il misdemeanOr to insert in a contract
a clause requiring payment In gold. Really, Is
this not carrying legislative interference in
private xffairs too fart Why forbid stipula-
tion for gold2 Has man not right to barter
for gold as we'll as for wheat or tin, or iron, or
beads or silvers We are under the impression
that so long as this is free country Mr.. Van
Wyck's bill will not pass
A great deal was said at the time OF the
recent difficulty between the elevated railways
and the engineers about the intelligence whIch
the latter required to perform their duties, ana
about the care and watcbfulness which they
always showed. Doubtless this is true in many
cases but the accident at Slxty -seVcnih-sb. OH
the Third Avenue Elevated Road yesterday
indi ates that too often probably the fireman
runs the engine. When train is approaching
q station, as every one will agree, the engineer
should be particularly on the ofout; but in
this case the task was TUNED over to the fire
man. This seems to have been an inexcusable
bit of neglect which the manager OF the road
should not encourage. No lives were lost III
the accident, but the engineer canDot excuse
himself on that account.
We are glad to see that resolution has been
introduced at Albany, in the Senate, to investi-
cate the way in which the Broadway Surface
Railroad obtained its franchise. The matter
should be pushed until an inquiry has been
ordered. Then let the investigation be honest
and earnest. and in the hands OF the right men
who will act in good faith. 1t may be aihcnit
or impossible to prove corruption SO clearly