New-York tribune., 1896-03-29

States In 1861; Wouldht tneie "~'
in the air?
The magnificent race between Oxford anu
Cambridge yesterday Is suggestive OF 'ous"
work for Yale at Henley next summer
Tho Archbishop of York has Just introduced
IN tho House OF Lords a bill favoring the Sun
day openIng of the public houses for an hour at
noon and then only for the sale of liquors 10 De
consumed off the premises The Bishop oi
Manchester proposed an amendment 10 the ei-
feet that they might also be opened for III
hour in the evening. during which time thelr
atrons should be allowed to consume theif
drinks on the premises. If they so desired AS
a commission Is now engaged IN consioer'ns
revision OF the license laws, the Archbishop
measure was for the time being postponed pu'
its Introduction demonstrates that the SUNDAY
opening question Is as urgent ana as oihicui'
to handle to everybody's satisfactlCh U" '"e
other side OF the ocean as here.
The country needs a new Custom House at
the port OF New York. and needs 1t on the site
of the old one.
II Mayor Gleason should grasp his famous
batte-axe and chop off the enactng clause OF
the Greater New-York bill. he would have a
great many more 1TleHuS 10 yel dl III ''" "~'>~
campaign. and might. in fact, be compelled to
adopt some other way of announcing his candl-
dacy.
A bill has been introduced at Albany with the
purpose Of deprlving the Mayor Of Brooklyn OF
the power TO pass judgment on bills arectng
that city which passed by the Legislature
Its introducer was Senator Wieman whose idea
is that the power to pass on bills should be
shared by the Mayor with the Board OF Al
dermen. Accordingly. his bill provides that
measures relating TO Brooklyn shall be trans
mitted to the Mayor and to the Common Coun-
Gil for their concurrent action. According 10
the revised Constitution. special bills concern
Ing cities OF the second and third class must De
submitted to the Mayors and Common Councils
Of such cities, but bills affecting cities OF the
frs. class are to be submitted to the Mayor
only The Constitution. however, gives the
Legislature power to "prcvide for the concur
rence Of the legislative body in cities OF the hrst
class" The point has well been made against
the Wieman bill that II Is unconstitutional, In
asmuch as the provision Of the Constitution re-
lates not to any one city Of the first class. but
to all the cities OF that class. II Is n question
OF construction. of course. bur on the face or Al
the intention OF the revisers Of the Constitution
was 10 make the practice uniform In all the
cities OF any class The bill has little merit at
the best. and In view of its doubtful standing,
1t will be well for the Legislature TO proceed
with caution II there Is intention Of enacting
| It,
Reporters who describe founding babies Few
| hours old as smiling sweetly at all beholders
ought to do one OF two things-they ought TO
get married or else stop writing about babies
-
| Two reform" Legislatures were elected lastfal
with an overwhelming Republican majority In
each. One has just finished ts work and ad-
tourned al Trenton. The other IL playing poll
tics at Albany New-Yorkers may well envy
the people Of New-Jersey their lawmakers.
Ex-Commissioner White Of Brooklyn. who de-
voted special attention to the question of water
supply while holding the Office Of Can:missione.
OF City Works. gives his hearty approval TO the
suggestion Of an investigation by committee
OF the Senate Of the water supply Of the cities of
the state. pointing out that commissions to ex-
anime this subject have been created in other
states as New-Jersey and Massachusetts,
Whether we ought not to have n permanent
commission for the purpose In this State may
soon become an open question. We are too apt
TO think that our sources Of water supply are
unlimited but II is becoming evident that In a
few years II will be necessary to find more water
FOR the vast number OF people assembled around
New York Bay. Private companies. too. are
looking out FOR water In the hope Of making
profitable bargains by selling it. 10 the cities
The Croton watershed has definite limitations
ard Long Island cannot be pumped dry for the
| benefit Of the cities at its western end. Some
! larger sources. either rivers or lakes. must be
drawn on in a comparatively near future. 1t is
well to look into the present water supply OF our
cities and make sure that 1t is OF good quality
This. We take II. is the purpose OF Senator
Brush's bill. But Il will coon be In order II II
is not already so, 10 turn an eye to the future
and lay plans for providing the metropolis with
water OF the best quality In unlimited quantity