New-York tribune., 1886-02-16

Mr.. Morrson's tarid bill, so its author says,
would reduce the revenue OF the Nation twenty
millions. OF this zen millions would be on
account of lower duties on sugar; hve millions
by increasing the free list; and the rest by
promiscuous tariff f-tinkering. This estimate Is
In the nature of guess, and the Republican
members of the Comm ttee on Ways and Means
will certainly not allow the measure to be
rushed through their room without a searching
examination. The business interests of the
country will want to be heard in this matter,
too.
The Governor of New Mexico has doubtless
struck a popular key in a communication adj
dressed by him to the English managers OF
New Mexico cattle company, the stock OF
which is also held by Englishmen but cOnsid-
-ering that the matter in dispute is a fight be-
tween cowboys and Mexican sheep herders, it
seems a trife forced. An Englishman owning
property in this country has as much right to
defend it by force, if necessary, as native
born American. Perhaps this ought not to be
yet it is so, and when this sad affair of the cow
bows gets into the courts, the Governor will
find out the truth even if he does not know it
now.
There does not seem to be any good reason
why the owners of property west of Central
Park should not begin to number their houses
where the streets actually begin. 1t is, of
course, possible to smile and remark that
person who objects to living at No 312 West
-th-st.n solely because it is not No. 12," is
silly. Yet if it is a fact that many such people
exist and that property over there will not sell
SO well under high numbers as low, why not
grant the property y-0wners' requestf Nobody
will be harmed and many people may be
pleased. Moreover, the greater the valne OF
houses and lots. the greater the amount of taxes
paid on them into the city treasury.
The counsel of the Senate Railroad Com
mittee processes much more confidence than
ANYBODY else feels, that the missing Aldermen
will turn up as soon as they know they are
wanted for the purposes of this investigation.
If they do not appear that, of course, will be a
confession of guilt, for they cannot all produce
n doctors certificate, as John Keenan, has been
able to do, to the effect that they will probably
be sick at Lakewood until the committee
adiourns. Unfortunately their absence will not
enable the Grand Jury to indict these Alder
men, and condemnation without punis hmeDt
they will not mind so they have really got an
advantage of the public. But il any one
doubted before that this investigation was
needed the disappearance Of these men must
settle all doubts in his mind.
The American steamship companies do not
worry much over the POstmaster-G Generals s
latest attempt to annoy them. In the first place
they do not believe Congress will pass his bill
to make them carry the mails and take just
what Mr. Villas happens to feel like giving
them; and in the second place, if the bill
should become law, they think it would not
be sustained as constitutional. There is no
doubt that the companies can be compelled TO
CARY the mails, on the same principle that
allows the State to take mans land if neces-
sary: but adequate compensation must be
given for the land or the service, or the act
would be unconstitutional. Adequate compen-
sation is all that the companies ash, yet that is
nrecisely what MI Villas is determined not to
give.
Apparently the President is casting about Tor
a loophole of escape in his controversy with
the Senate about papers. In his reply through
Mr.. Garland. Mr.. Cleveland simply said he
did not think public interests would be pro-
NOTED by the production of "papers and doc
uments - relating to removals from office.
Through Mr. Lamar however. he replies that
the papers asked for are ~uEoiicial papers,
intimating thereby that they are of confden-
tial nature. But he does not say so frankly,
and he fails entirely TO get around the point so