New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-07-31
he on whom he could impose his stolen verses
and his dreary and unsavory prose

Nothing is more entertaining In this dry polsti-
cal season than to watch the chickens OF William
Jennings Bryan as they come Familiarity home to
roost Time was when he. who now claims to
represent all that is brightest and best In the
Democratic faith. was bolter himself. 1t hap
pened in 1893 when Frank Irvine was running
the Democratic ticket for Judge Of the Su-
preme Court OF Nebraska. Mr.. Irvine had been
nominated on a sound-money platform and
Bryan was supporting Populist In reply 10 a
letter from Mr.. Irvine. Bryan wrote statement
Of his reasons for boiling, In which were con-
tained the following cheerful assurances Of per-
sonal esteem for his correspondent:
regret that our people chose for slaughter de-
serving man. They ought to have selected some
for the falling off Of the Democratic vote have
spoken to you thus frankly and conhdentially DC.
one which fear awaits you this fall
These kindly expressions are only equalled by
the tender. half-regretful words Of Thomas E.
Watson in last weeks issue Of The Peoples
Party Paper: I'VE love you, Billy. but d-n
your company"
The question whether or not Hoke Smith will
resign Is one that nobody in Washington seems
able to answer There are two men In the
country who answer it. and one or the other
Of them ought to answer 1t without further
delay.
The decision Of an English Court that a bcy
Gle Is not vehicle. but a pair Of skates invites
commentator for its ingenuity, but can hardly
be considered final. 1t is desirable that the
character Of the instrument be authoritativaly
defined that the wheelman may know pre-
cisely what he is riding and what responsible
ties and immunites belong to the practice. The
one for damages against company
insuring against accidents from any form OF
vehicle. and the skate theory Is an adjudication
In its favor but 1t Is not likely that the Injured
plaintiff will submit to it without appeal. The
court Of final resort would appear to be the
dictionary. and that. unless plain definitions are
to be set aside sustains the vehicular preten-
sions Of the conveyance as clearly as 1t does
those Of the wheelbarrow, about which there
has never been any contention. All wheemen,
and those they have or may run over, are IN
terested in the decision we'll as the insurance
companies. and 1t is important that 1t should
not only be sound In law. but conformable to
public sentiment, which is favorable to the skate
In it's proper form. but opposed to such an am3i-
tious TRANSPORTATION that which the court de-
crees
1t is gradually becoming clear to officials high
and low that the Civil Service provision Of the
revised Constitution is not a mere congeries Of
meaningless words 1t means something. and
the people knew what they meant when they
put it there. By-the-way, what has become OF
the great effort of the Hon. ABE" Gruber. to
have that section repealed? Has the Hon
''Abes" zeal faltered so soon?
Compare all the perfervid words of Bryan and |
his windy denunciatons and tinsel cross and |
crown with the calm keen. unanswerable words |
of Thomas B. Reed. Put up all the Popust |
rhetoric afloat and measure II by one paragraph |
of the Maine speech: Boosters are worth moth |
ing Deeds are facts and are for ever and ever. |
Talk dies on the empty air. Better pound OF
performance than shipload OF language.
And there are in history shiploads OF Repub- |
lican performance to balance pounds Of Populist |
language.
"Harper's Weekly" has come out squarely IN
favor of Mckinley and Hobart A true Jour
nal of civilization" could not, with any show OF
consistency. take any other course We welcome
It back To its old associations, and should ne
heartily glad to see it permanently resume It's
place in the party of real progress and reform.
The Dock Commissioners do not seem TO ao-
preciate fully the services of the dockmasters
under their control one Of the first things the
present Commissioners did when they took ofhHe
was to cut down the salaries Of the dockmasters
from 50 300 to 81 800 a year This salary ao-
pears to he too scanty when the duties OF the
are considered. Under the present
regulations Of the Dock Department. DOCK
master to perform his work properly must be
a man of more than ordinary intelligence ard
business ability. He is responsible for large
sums of money collected from vessels at the
wharves The duties Of the dockmasters have
been increased a great deal in various wass
since Tammany Hall was beaten. Reform AID
economy are excellent things for the taxpayers.
but the taxpayers do not desire or expect cap
able men to fill important places at absIrdty
low salaries.
With the large amount or ram that we nave
had this summer, there can be no danger or a
water famine the present year 1t is pleasant
to be reminded. too. that the quality of the
water furnished TO the city is good, and that
practically all causes OF contamination In the
Croton watershed have been removed
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