New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-03-08

Ii is a cOmmendable crusade which Mr.. Chand
Ter has begun against wastefulncss and extrava-
gance in the United States Senate. In his letter
to the committees which regulate the expenses
Of that body Mr.. Chandler shows that the ratio
Of employees TO Senators is about four 10 one AT
an annual cost 10 the Government of nearly
100000. for which the public service receives
no equivalent benefit. and he makes an earnest
plea for economy and reform The abuse is of
long standing. and while an OCCASIONAL spasm
of economy has struck the Senate the tendency
has been constantly toward increasing expendi-
lures Of the public money. In these days Of
Treasury deficits and bond sales to pay the run
ming expenses Of thu Government the Senate
would do well to set an example to other de-
partments by a judcious use Of the pruning
knife.
There appears to be little abatement In pop
ular feeling in Spain against the United States,
and from the great cities Of the Kingdom, in par
ticular from Cadiz and SaragOssa, come news
OF fresh manifestations Of animosty These
disturbances can only tend to increase the over
whemng difficulties which the Spanish Govern
ment Is now called upon to face; and, In view Of
the situation at Madri. which Is acknowledged
in every capital in Europe to be critical in the
extreme carl only be regarded as impair
IL is not by breaking the windows Of consulates
and tramping upon our flag in the streets that
Standards are likely to assist their rulers in the
retention Of Cuba.
The advantages Of smooth streets are so mani
fold that II Is satisfactory TO learn from
article published elsewhere In our columns to-
Cay that the cobblestone and the granite block
are practically doomed, and that except in cases
Of steep grades asphalt alone Is to be used for
having the thoroughfares Of the metropolis.
Nearly all Of the special appropriation OF $1,000
600 last year was devoted TO laying down asphalt,
and IL il intended that the remaining S2OOO,OOO
available for the purpose shall be expended In
the same way. This Is news which Will be
hailed with satisfaction by merchants, who real
lze that a smooth roadway dimnshes the cost
of yehcular transportation by 80 per cent by
wheelmen, and, above Ill. by those who have
at heart the sanitary welfare Of the city; since
II Is far easier to keep clean an asphalted thor
oughfare than one paved with Belgian blocks.
The only danger that might imperil the execu-
ton >f the project is the bill now before the
Legislature asking that none but American
asphalt should be used for public works. Should
this measure become law, 1t would have the
effect Of checking the present decline In the cost
Of the material aid increasing its price to such
an extent as to interfere With Its use on
nomicai grounds.
II Is not only III civilized countries that wom-
an plays a predominant role In the direction Of
the course Of events, but also in barbarOus
lands, where the fair sex Is generally supposed
to occupy a position Of moral and social In
feriority beyond the conception Of their Western
sisters. Thus. in China 1t has been the EN-
press-Aother who has retained In her hands
Cor nearly twoscore years the control Of that