New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-01-23

would not be at variance with the temperature
IF the passion in this city for sky-scra2efs,
buildings which tower far up into the cionos'
continues few years .onger the aspect OF view
York when viewed from the harbor VIII nave
some resemblance TO that Of an irregular range
- lofty mountains. and may remind the spectator
Of the peaks of the Rockies. the Alps or the HIM.
alayas.
The political bosses about agreed no" 'ha'
the name Of the Mayor Is William l.. strong IL
is nard to convince bosses, but Mayor strong Is
the sort Of man that convinccs people
The members Of the Legislature ought to
realize early in the session that the decent people
OF New-York will not forgive them If they rail- 10
mako heavy reductions in the exorbltant charges
which pawnbrokers are allowed under the pres
ent law to extort from the poor and helpless.
b,g reduction in the exactions Of the pawn
brokers will be a practical measure OF rehet 70
neople who need relief sadly this winter NO
argument against the reduction OF pawnoroKsrs
fees that any sensible person could CONSIDER l''
a moment has ever been offered. Under the pres
ent law pawnbrokers are allowed TO fleece 'heif
unfortunate victims at the rate OF 80 per cent a
per cent a year for pledges more than 800 in
value. These charges ore plainly unlustihaoie'
The pawnbrokers run risks. They never ad-
vance anywhere near the actual market value at
auction Of the pledges which they take. Tnoir
business is entirely secure and safe. They are
NOT compelled to pay much for their licenses.
Their rents are not extremely high. Their clerks
and their employees receive small wages. The
pawnbrokers OF New-York as a rule are greedy,
crashing and rapac!ous c.ass They nave been
able To stave off adverse legislation for many
years by raising corruption funds for use al
Albany. II would be a reproach to this legisat-
ure IL IT failed to cut down their charges
President Cleveland has something else on his
hands besides Congress It's the Hawaiian ques-
ton.
Mrs Ben Hardin Helm. sister OF Mrs. Aora-
ham Lincoln. whom President Garfield appointed
postmstress at Elizabethtown. KY. mas oeen
mt OH, Of office to make room for hungry ana
thirsty Democrat. II will doubtless be explained
that Mrs. Helm was dismissed on the ground
that her presence in office served 10 Keep awe
the unhappy memories OF the war.
The combination OF bakers in this town shut
heir |
Flour Is go cheap that the bakers owe 1t as
duty TO the consumers OF the community To re-
duce the price OF bread They can buy all their
oour at. 81 low rates that their profits under
nr.sen, conditions are excessive and indefensible
The nav their men no more than they paid them
TON .vears ago No part of their necessary eN-
penses has been increased to any serious extent
IN the las, ten years while -four has fallen so
much In price that the combination prices Tor
bread are without excuse.
The trolley strike III wind IN Brooklyn is blow
ing increased earnings into the choppers
boxes Of the elevated roads over there.
The financial policy Of the present Admnstra.
ton finds its highest expression IN an EFFORT 10
restore prosperity by discouraging thrift through
the imposition Of an income tax ana IN an at
tempt to uphold the credit OF the Government
by increasing it's interest bearing debt by means
~ needless bond issues. II that sort OF botch-
work is really craftsmanship, 1t is clearly OF
brand that IL badly run down at the heel.
Singapore British colony where the United
States has sufficiently extensive commercial IN
terests TO warrant the maintenance of highly
m,nistrative and legislative strke-nay. almost
omen reyolt-against the home Government The
Legislative Council. the members OF the Chinese
Advisory Board the justices Of peace. and. In
fact all the leading officials of the colony, have
resigned and Il is stated that the English Gov
eminent ~ considering the urgency OF subject
ing the dependency to martial law. The issue
between the Government and the colony is very
simple Singapore is one OF the most valuable
coaling stations in the word, and OF such stra-
tegical Importance to England that 1t has been
decided to increase It's garrison and It's forthca-
tons Instead Of charging the cost OF this in
crease to the Imperial Government at home, the
latter has determined to saddle the expense
entirely upon the colony itself which means that
the revenue to be extorted from the colonial tax
payers, including a number of American mer-
chants. will be increased by just one-third of
the entire present amount. 1t Is only natural
that the people at Singapore should protest
agains. such a monstrous irpositon-that they
should be loud in their expressions OF a de-
termination not to pay the tax. declaring that II
It Is extorted from them they will have no other
alternative than to leave the peninsula. IL re-
mains to be seen how the conflict will be settled ;
but meanwhile affairs both administrative and
commercial In this, one OF the biggest of Eng
lands ports in the Orient, are In a state OF alb
solute deadlock.
Keep off the grass! that's the warning to
bosses posted in City Hall Park.
II the Commissioners Of Accounts whom Mayor
Strong has appointed prove themselves equal TO
the opportunities they will have Of laying bare
evils, abuses and wrongs In the various munich
pal departments which have been under Tam
many control. they will secure for themselves no
small measure of distinction, and they will earn
the hearty gratitude OF their felow-citizens.
Bicycle riders In brooklyn don't seem to care
whether there Is a strike or not.