New-York tribune., 1900-12-24

Some of our Tammany officials have their
hands at their ears and are listening with
dread for the howl of the wolf at the door.
When the president Of the Rapid Transit Com
mission and the chief engineer after thorough
inspection of the present condition OF the work
assure New Workers that the underground trains
will be running before the new century Is five
years Old every one interested in the prosperity
of this metropolis feels thrill of joyful antici
patton Mr.. Orr and Mr.. Parsons never talk
idly. They cautious in their statements
With genuine rapid transit in full swing, this
city will be so transformed as to amaze the most
sanguine.
II is not known that the president Of the
Health Board attributes the outbreak of small
pox to any vapors. odors or other emanations
from the asphalt pavements, though he probably
clings to his conviction that there may be more
in it than he suspects
reIenhone franchises in Russia sold at
auction recently The st. Petersburg local
government got the contract for the Cars IA
nous capital and will supply the service for
$27 so for each subscriber. How much better
off the telephone users in benighted Russia will
be than the helpless victims of the telephone
monopoly in this metropolis! Here the service
is feeble haltng and confused. and the rates
are intolerably high The incoming Legislature
ought to reduce the telephone tariff to reason
able figures. but 1t is not in the least likely to
do So and everybody knows why.
The multiplication of accidents with autorno-
bile vehicles emphasizes the need of "other de-
vices, other rules and customs" The ma
chimes are capital things long they keep
in their place and go right. Out OF place or out
of control they are menace and a horror.
State taxes in this city are not usually
sidered as excessively burdensome in compari-
son with the heavy load of municipal taxation.
and extensive sales of real estate in this vicinity
for the purpose of meeting the demands of the
treasury at Albany are not frequent Many
people will be amazed to learn that no less than
S5OOOOO is due the State on land in twenty
three counties. and the officials at the capital
are forced to resort to occasional sales at auc-
ton in order to satisfy just claims and to col
lect arrears. But there is no danger of lack
of funds at Albany which will cause financial
embarrassments. The Empire State is enor-
mously rich. and its credit is sky high
Dady's claim against Havana is likely to go
laundering down the aisles of time a good Sec
ond to the case of Jarndyce Jarndyce.
The recent local election at Long Branch re-
suited in the success of the element which is
opposed to the enforcement of the Sundays laws
and of the anti-gambling statute. In Saratoga
and in most of the summer resorts in the East
ern States the best known temples of chance are
closed on the first day Of the week. but in Mon
mouth County. the New-Jersey coast. the
faro tables and roulette wheels in the so-caled
"clubhouses' are held In readiness for all comers
Sundays at other times. 1t is q deplorable
state of affairs. The voters of New-Jersey de-
cided years ago that racetrack gambling should
cease in their State, and since 1893 every race
course betting ring between Cape May and Ho-
boken has been deserted. Yet the gambling in
the faro banks at Long Branch throughout the
entire summer every day of the seven in
each week is almost conspicuous and often
sive as it was formerly in the worst period OF
the Leadville and Cripple Creek mining camps.
Paris has a municipal debt of $3.50 900 000
nearly half that of all the cities of France
twice great that of London and one
third OF the local debts of all England Every
Partisan owes 800 more than every Lon