Chicago Daily Tribune Newspaper, April 20, 1878, Page 4

WHE CHICAGO TRIBUNE: SATURDAY, APRIL 20, I878—TWELVE PAGL Al o @Iw Tribwne, TERMS OF SUBSCRIPTION. Ti-Weekly, fartsof A ve w! , PeFyes: b orTol : Epecimen captes sent free. Glve Post-Oce sddreas [a foll, including Btate and Jeunty. Remlittances mayhe made either by draft, express, Post-Office order, or n regiatered letters, nt our risk, TENMS TO CITY SUBSCRIBERS. Dally, delivered, Bunday excenteil, 25 cents per week. Datly, deltyered, Bunday Included, 30 cents per week. Address THE TRIDUNR COMPANY, Corner Mad{ron and Deatborn-sts., Chicago, Nl Orders for the deliveryof Toz TRinrxxat Evanston, Englewood, and Iiyde Park leftin the counting-room willrecelve promot attention. e TRIBUNE BRANCH OFFICES. ‘Tz CnicAco TRIAUNE hae established branch ofMces for the recelptof subscrivtions and sdvertisements as follows: NEW YORR~-Ttoom 29 Zy{bune Bulldiag. F.T. Mc: Favnry, Mansger. i TARIB, France~Ko. 16 Ruo de la Grange-Datellcre, 11, ManLze, Agent. LONDON, Eng.—Americen Exchange, 440 Strand, ‘Bxxry F. GiLuie, Agent. BAN FIANCISCO, Ci ce Motele AMI SEMEN MeVicker’s Thentres Maditon street, between Dearborn **Tha Exlles.” Afternoon and evening. sad State. flaoley’s Thentre. Randolph street, between Clark and LaSalle. **Plak Dominoes.” Afternoon and aveniog. Tinveriy’s Theatre, ‘Monroe street, corner of Dearborn, Engagement of Kiralfy's Opera Douffo Troupe. **Tho Deluge.” Af- ternoon ana eveniog. Now Chicago Theatre. Clark strect, opposite Sherman Ilouse. Varlety performance. Whito Rtocking Park. Lako Bhore. foot of Washington strect. Exhihition gama batween tho White Stockings and Capt. Spaids dng's Picked Kine, at 3130 p, m. SATURDAY, ATRIL 20, 1878, Greenbacks in Now York yesterday woro reckoned at 993 in coin. A man yesterdny committed snicide nt Troy, O., nfter tho perpetration of a wife. murder so cruel that, during tho slow ebb of bis cold blood from a bardened heart, his oxnsperated neighbors wore with gront difll- culty restrained from burying him alive. “Par the Avonger,” tho Pittsburg hero who mado 1t his boast that he hind himsolf killed rovoral of the Philadelphia militin who undortook to savo tho cily from the hnnds of the mob last Jnly, has boen acquitted by a jury of his pecrs, and is a greater liero than ever. Ie is next to bo tricd for par- ticipation in tho riots, and, upon his aequit- tal, will probably bo tendered n public ova. tion in honor of his many gallant porform. ances. Another of those fenrful and wonderful iscovories of the benign protection afforded by the law to thioves, confidonce men, and the vicious closses in general Las just been promulgnted from Judge MoALvLisTER'S conrt-room. ‘Tho essonco of this latest lucu- bration scoms to bo that a warrant cannot be tssued for tho arrest of n criminal unless his anmo has boen first ascortained. It will bo z00d news for the burglar or pickpocket that ho cpunot bo pointed out to an officer bearing A warrant with tho name not given beeauso not known aa the mon who broke inte your %houso or lifted your wallot, As Tne Tomune bas intimated that the doairo of Mr. TrLToN to effccta reconcilin tion with his wifa moy have actuated hur ro- cont confesslon, it is dno to him that he should bo crodited with his denial of pny in. lontion to livo with her ngain, although he is contributing to her support, and with his doclaration that he had nothing to do with tho confesaion. Assuming that this s cor. rect, it throwa tho motivo of the confession Into mystery sgain, which {8 not at all re- lioved by Brs, TirToN's ingonions and senti- montal statement that one of Mr. Bexonen's sormons, inculoating tho duty of confessing sins, bad lod her to confess both hor mn and that of her pastor, An unfavorablo chango has como over the Europoan situation since the receipt of yes. tosdoy's dispatohes. It oppoars that the groat hindranco to the moeting of tho pro. posed Congross is Englaud’s determination to refoct Germany's proposition, namely, to baosa tho doliberations of eaid Congress upon tho revision of tho old troaties. It is stated in tho latest dispatches that tho British Gov- ernmant has flatly rofuied to entortain this proposal, and falls back upon their original domand,—the unrcserved submission of the Ban Btefano treaty to the Congress, Russin to abldo by the decision of that body, There is lesa hope umow that tho proliminary stop in the direction of penco, tho proposed Conforence of Ambassadors at Derlin, will bo taken., A more gloomy fecling prevails at all the European Capitals, and although the pence- ful efforts of Germany have not slackened, hopoa 8o recently entertained of an amicable sottloment havo given place to despondenoy. The Domoarats in Congress have very re- cently token a violent interest in tho fortuncs of Gen. Bnrzrns, whose claims upon their consideration have boon iguored for many yeary, snd who would have gune to Lis grava without a sign of thelr sympathy and regard but for the fncident which brought him for- ward a8 tho rival candidate with the Confoderate Gen. Fierp for the House Doorkeeporship. Ever since *‘tho vet- cran of {wo wars and the Honator of two Btates" wna thrust nside to tnake reom for tho oxtraitor with his latter. day repentance, Gon, Burzeos Las Loen the subject of much solicitude, which has finally found vent in tho passage of n bill by the Houso incrensing his pension from 230 to 8100 per month. It has taken a special act of Congress to romedy tho blunder which the Democratio party committed in the Door- kecper contest,—a Llunder which will prove too costly to bo'scratchied off tho books at the rate of $1,200 a year. The soft-monoy wing of the Domocracy in * Oougress, represented by two Presidentinl aspirants—Gen. Ewixa in the Ilouro and Daxn Voozuzes in tho Bennte—are in a deplor. able quandary. Their materinl for an iufla- tion platform upon which the Nationaly could be inducod to stand bas entirely dis- sppeared in consequence of the vir toal advent of spocie resumption ol over the ocountry., They have been lopelessly wrecked ond the rcsumption plan which rotary of the ‘Ireasury is carryiug luto effect with such sigual success, snd unless sowethin®cun be done to stop this ruinous probed onghly ps to ronder it impossible for cise, stranded by the Sec- return to prospority on a sound specie basia, the political fatnra is a droary blank. It will Lo remembered how wunwillingly the ultra-inflationists supported tha Silvor bill, percolving it wonld prove an effectivo lubri- cator of the wheels of resnmption; but they did not forgseo that resumption would actu. ally oceur, and that the carrency of tha conn. try would beinflated by the nnlooseningof the atringa that have held the honrded gold from circulation long before the political campaign of 1878 was falrly inangurated. Thoir fail- ure to understand the good they wore doing isnow n source of keen regrot, and How to Undo It isnow the question of the honr. A movemont is under contemplation in the Honse to start the currency agitation again, but thero is no probability that it can com. maud the strength necessary to interfere with tho steady progress of sctual resump. tion. The Memorial Diplomatique notes the re. coipt by the French Government of an invi- tation from the United States to take part in an Intornational Conferonco on tho silver question, It wants to know whother the delegates of tho United Btates in that Con. vention will constdor themsolves bound by tha ratio of 16 to 1 established by tho Silver law. If thoy do, it declares that the Con. ferenco would not bo a real Confersnce, but morcly an attempt to obtain the adhesion of other Powers to o point already decided. 'Lhe text of the clauso which provides for the Conference doos not, in the opinion of tho Meonorial, sustain any such interpretation. Tt snys, in fact, that.the object of the Con- fereuco s to be the adoption of & common ratio between gold and silver, and does not limit the Conforence to tho sccoptance or re- jection of thoratio fixed by tho law. Ac- cording to this view, tho ratio of 16 to 1 established by the Unitod States s to bo re- garded, the Afemorial says, as liablo to bo modified by the Conferonce, in which caso a now law will bo necessary, Among tho nnmerous benefits to the rev. enuo and to the honest importors cortain to rosult from tho labors of tho Treasury Com. mission now at work, tho complete exposure and downfall of the mammoth 8ilk Ring in Now York is destined to be ono of the most important. Tho Commission has already this gigontio fraud so thor- to continue the Ring ita oporations, which, it becomes manifest, could not have beon carried on without the corrupt colln. sion of officinls in the New York Custom. Touro, s well as of tho American Consnls nbroad who have certified to fraudulent un- dervaluntions by manufacturers of silks and other goods upon which an ad valorem duty is colleoted. Tho arrangemont botweon the their agonta in New York, whereby eilks worth $1.50 wore consigned at n valuation of 80 centa por yard, could not possibly bave Leen succossfully worked withont tho co- operation of the Custom-Iouse officers, and it willbe the Inbor of tho Commisslon to discover and locato tho systematio sssistance which the ringsters have received. European producers and At the Thursdsy ovening meoting of the City Council Ald. Currentox tried to intro- duco a remonstrance against the use of Doed. ford (Ind.) stono in the new City.Jiall. It is charged that ** the differonce in color and formation will produco an unsightly con- trost, and that the offcct will bo unfortunate, and ought, if possible, to bo provented,” It is quite probnblo that the signers of tho re. moustrance formed thelr opinions upon hearsay, and not by comparativo cxamina. Uon, Specimens of tho Bedford stone, mch ns is to bo usod, present but a slight differ. once of color from the Lemont etono that is beirg put into the walls of the Conrt-Houso, Tho Bedford is o shado darkor tham the Lo- mont, bnt the degree is so emall ns to bo barely percoptible at n littlo distance off, A year's oxposure to the atmosphero will ronder tho Lomont stone the darker of tho two. Astotho quality, thoro con only be one opinion: the Bedford is by far the su. porior, Tho Bedford stons has n granite grain, while tho Lomont is o laminated, seal. | ing stone. will be ns perfoct as whon first pat in tho walls. Who can say as much of thoe other ? Tho pooplo must not allow thomselvea to bo deceived by the falso crics set up by tho dis. appointed mombers of Epwix Waxen's stono ring. The Bedford stone {s not only altogother tho best materlal, but it s the cheapest, ‘The lowest bid for Lomont stono waa that of ToxuinsoN & Rzep,—$636,000, ~—whilo tho same firm bid to do the work with Bedford stono for 877,634 or $58,807 loas monoy. That sum {8 certainly worth saving theso hard times. stono bids ranged higher. Tho city would ba very foolish to give more money for an inferlor article than it has to pay for n supe- rior one, no matter if Ep, WaLxen'a ringsters aro disappointed. Tho Oity-1fall will cost Lulf n million less than the Court-Touse, and tho County Commissionors' Ring don't like to have this disparily starlng thom in the face, s it will give riso to disagrecable (ucstions Fifty years from now the formor The other Lemont and damaging suspiclony, Wa print clsowhero the form of a petition to tho National Iouso of Reprosontatives for tho passago of a *‘ Now Immediate Trans- portation law." The petition has been pre. pared iu this city, and, in addition to being presented to all importera here, will be for. warded to nll the ports-of-entry cities of the West for tho siguatures of importers doing Lusiness in such cfties. In couclusion, the petitioners submit tho draft of a bill ' which is intended to remedy the defeots of the law of July 14, 1878, with a request for its pase soge. The proposed bill is simple and con- It does away with all tho useloss vorb- iago of tho law of 1870, ropealing in toto cight sections thoreof, Tho luw of 1870 excopts frouts tho priviloge of inland transpor- tation *“wine, distilled spirits, and per. ishable and explosive articles, or articles In bulk” Thoe proposed Ilaw mokes no exception, but admits all merchandiso to this privilege, It also doos away with tho present reyuirements for entry and bonding at tho cosit ports, requiriug that foreign merchandise ariving in New York or any other coast port, destined for interior ports, shall bo at once delivered to bonded com. won carrions. In a word, the proposed law is intended to romedy the defects of the ex- isting law, by placing importors at interior ports on an exact cquality with importers at coust ports. Uuder tho proposed law tho voyngo of importation is made to continue, without legal interruption, until the goods aro placed in the custody of the Collector of tho port of final destivation. Wo trust this petition will bo promptly circulated ; that it will reccive tho signature of every importer or would-be importer in tho West ; and that then it will bo placed in tho hands of the Wostorn Ropresentatives in Congress. 'That thoy will act promptly in tho matter cancot bo doubted. Wo lcarn laving boen n party toa corrupt bargain regard to Louisiana affairs that compromised both himself nnd the President, to which Marroews roplies there are no such lot- dircetly impugn Mr, Conzrmva's rapntation a8 a truthful gentleman, and he cannot afford debate or to physical combat, If the former, 1ot tho two combatants hiro o hall with the understanding that tho contest shall not ond until ono or the other is talked to death, If as bottle-holder, somathing to do and keep him still for awhilo, thankfully tho people of this conntry would sccopt any situation that promised ariddance of their brawling garrulity, they would promptly follow the coursa wo have indi- cated, nud givo us n long ond grateful rest, cepecially o rost from Coxeriva. Of courso overything would have beon right hnd CoxgLma only beon the power behind tho throne. Tho most serious chargo made against the Presidont by him is that his ap. pointments have beon bad. Of course thoy are, bocause CQowuia did not dlotato them. Of courae ovorything that is Is bad, boeauso it did not omanate from Conx. LING, of the exhibition of a soro hend oven though Now, lot the champlon of tha sorchends and the champion of the Administration have it out, and thereaftor hold their peace, ed to the goneral public, and to add, in the ahapa of judgmonts agninst the city,over one million dollara to be raised by general taxa- tion. from privato aonrces that all Wostern mem- hers of Congress are deeply interested in the pending investigation of New York Custom-House frauds, and that they are pre- pared to give the Commission their henrty support in any monsurc recommended for their prompt suppression. portation from tho interfor for various dis- tances, In this way they havo drawn from the Treasury tico miliion dollars, A3 n mnt- ter of fact thoy nre, nccording to the decis. fona of tho Customs Division of tho Trens- ury Dapartmont, entitled to about £400,000 more, Bat, nufortunately for them, tho appropriation for that purpose is exhausted. It {s now nsked by the Treasury Department that this sum bo included in tho Appropria- tion bill. And it is on this estimate or rec- ommendation that the Houeo Approprintion Committeo have instituted an invoatigation. Our Washington dispatchoes show how those claims have boen manipulated. Of courso the bulk of them camo from New York, and they bear marks of almost unfathomable crookedness, y Wa havo taken the. tronble to refer to tho roport of the Sccretary of tho Troasury for the year 1877 for enlightenment on this sub- joet. Wa find that tho list of customs-re- funds included in tho report for tho fiscal year ending Juno 30, 1877, fills fwenty-nine pages, Tho total amount of refandsis $546,- 867, Almost one-hinlf of this grand total— 2270,671—is mado up of ** charges nud com. missions.” That ia to say, nearly ono-half of tho cnstoms-rofunds for tho fiscal y1nr 1877 consista of chimu froh thirteen to ticenty-siz years old! Theso claims present another cnrions feature, Tho intorest and costs far exceod tho original claims in amount. The clnims pnid during tho flscal year 1877 are composed ns follows: Principal, $100,274; intorest and costa, $1061,207. 'That is to say, the principal sum of the claims is 40 per cont of tho whole, whilo tho interest and costs s 60 por cont. Assuming that tho ag- gregatoof two million dollarsalrondy refunded was similarly composed, £800,000 consisted of monoy netunlly paid by importers, and $1,200,000 of interest and costs. 1t would bo nn interesting inquiry for the Committeo to nacertain what percontago of theso customs.refund claims go to tho origi- aal partfes to tho controversy, and what to tho sharks who proscenta them. Doubtless 1wost of tho mercantile houses originally in- terosted in the casos have disappeared from tho mereantile world. Thoso probably ara represented by mousing lawyers. In looking over the llst wo noto one vory im- portant case,—that of E. 8. Suenyuax ef al. On the 26th of Decembor, 1876, thoy ro- coived from tho Treasury Dopartmont the bandsomo snm .of D13,868 principal, and the handsomer sum of 820,644 costs and in- terest; and on tho 29th of tho same month, only throo days later, they recoived $15,121 principal, and ®18,676 costs and interest,—n grand total of §6G8,511. ‘We trust the House Appropriations Com. mitteo will probe this subjoct to the bottom, and that the Bivonan and Hixps Commission will at lonst nscortain what proportion of tho claims emounnte from Gon, Cmzsten A, Arntuon's Collection District. oud nmong them Capt. Eaps, that tho fur- ther embankment of the river will only tond to riso tho hed and oxtend tho mouth of tho river still farther into the Gulf, as it has nlready been cxtended from Now Orleans to where it is now within a brief period ; that tho grenter longth of the outlet will rondor tho floods still higher and more dangerous, ond that new and higher embankments will constantly be noeded, 1If this theory {a cor- rect, then all the resonrces of tho Govorn. ment will not suffice to protoct tho Missis sippi lands from tho overflow of the *‘ Juno " rise under the cmbankmont system. Copt. Cowpex's plan will also nssist the efforta of Capt. Eaps to keop the mouth of tho river clenr, for thoro will then Lo leas mud carried down to tho mouth to wash ont the jettics, and the channel at the Dolta will be deeper and cloarer. The emal! nmount of money required to make thin ontlet espori. mont compared with tho vast sum necessary to build tho 1,200 miles of hugo embankment experiment ought toinduce Congross to grant tho nocessary appropriation for Capt. Cow- peN's plan, and await its operation before ‘beginning nny work on the other. The val- 1o of his plan can be detormined oven this year, if taken in hand ot once. THE LANCASHIRE COTTON-SPINNERS, One bundrod and twenty thousand cotton. epinners in Lancashire, Eng., havo been, or goon will bo, thrown out of employment be. oause one-fifth of their numher, living in the two towns of the district, have refased to consent to o reduction of pay. This com- bined strike and lock-out began with a no- tico of n 10 por cont roduction in wages. Many of the operntives agreed to the new terms; othors offered to compromise onn reduotion of 5 por cent; still others held out for the old rates. Tho compromise terms would probably have beon secepted by the employera if all the operatives had con. sented to them. Tho obstinacy of the spin. nors at Burnley and Blackburn—24,000 in all—broke off negotiations. They decreed strike, The mastors mot them with a notice of lock-out, promising to shut down work evorywhere in the district nntil the strikers came to torms. This lock-ont will atop 200,000 Jooma nnd 0,000,000 spindles, and mako idle 120,000 work-people, four-fifths of whoni ara willing toaceept the proposed terms or n compromise. It scoms harsh and eruel, but it is o nocessary act of protection ; for tho practico of tho trades-unions iato levy contributions upon those members who aro enrning wages in order to snpport those who aro on strike, Thus tho masters of one town are made to contribnta money to dofent tha musters of another. 'fheir only safoty under such circumstances, they claim, is to stop wagos all around. * Tho merita of tho cnse, as botwoon the omployers and operatives, dopend upon the necessity for the roduction in wages, Of this thiero seewms to Lalittlo doubt. Tho man- ufacturers have lately been unnble to com- niand poying prices. Their stocks hiave been constantly incronsing and their sales dimin- ishing. Three serlons obstacles have com- bined to keep tho consumers awny from them, Amerioan compotition has boon, for the first timo in many yenrs, nctive nnd suc- cossful. It hns arison principally from tho roduction of wages in this country due to tho panio and hard times. Amorican prints Liave been sold in Manclhoster, thus verifying tho old paradox that coals may be carried to Nowoastle, Socondly, tho Conti- nental compotition has become important. France, QGermnny, Bolgium, and Austrin bave built up manufactorios which have claimed nnd obtained a share of the trada at home and in foroign markets. Thirdly, the markot has been constautly falling under tho influonce of England and Germany in bull- ing gold. The demand for gold, following the attergpt of Germnny to mako it tho sola curroncy in thot country, bas Incrensed its valno ns mensured in all othor commodities, Colton priuts have declined largoly as mens- ured in gold. Wagos have risen bocauso thoy are paid on the gold bnsis, Tho quan- tity of manufactured goods that formerly pnid wages will no longor enfflce for the pur- pose, 'The wages-fund Laving thus beon cut into, tho only alternative for the manufac. turers is to manufacturo without profit or reduco wagos. Tho rats of proft bolug al. rendy lower than the curront intorest on moncy will permit them to take, they have ordered a reduction In wages, failing which thoy have shut down thoir mills, The nien must accept a reduction of wages or quit work indeflnitoly. No striko against a roduction required by o falling market ovor was or over can be successful, for it is op- posod by natural laws moro powerfnl than any combination of men. When tho wages- fund is exhinusted, wages can no longer bo paid. When it is insufficiont to pay the old rato of wagos, and the profits and intorost of capital have beonroduced below thominimum, a striko is a proposition to tako part of the capital from tho employers and hand it over to tho workinen,—or, in othor words, to con. sumo the meanus of roproduction, which maintain both capitalists and laborers. Ina controvorsy of this description the employ- era havo the force of evonts in thoir favor. Tho longer they hold out, tho better their circumstances will become, because the in. crenso In tho value of their surplus stocks may bo more than sufliciont to covor the loss cnused by the idlencss of their capital. Thoy cnnnot loss more by stopping work than by paylng out in iages more than tho wages-fund, unless, fndoed, the dlfer- onoo {s gmall aud promiscs to bo only tom- porary, under neithor of which conditions, it {s presumed, would thoy order a roduction. If tho circumstances wero difforent, and the markot were rising, tho workingmen would bavo tho current in their favor, and thoy would ultimately succeed, bocause it would be cheaper for tho omployors to pay them their duo proportion than to contest it and fail of tho advantagoe offered in the mnrket. 1t stablo prices provailed, nofthor side would Do likoly to propose a change, bocausa thoro would thon be no motive to incrense or ro. dueo woges. - Thero ean ba no guestion that the murket is now falling. Henco the wftike In Lancashira is against renson and mast fail, THE CONKLING-MATTHEWS WRANGLE. Benator Coxerniva, of New York, is ocen. nying altogothor too mnoh space in the pub- lic attontion with his alleged interviaws, his doninls of intorviews, his explanationa of intorviews, and his griovances agninst tho Administration. 1o is takiog up n great denl of time in Congress that ought to bo devoted to public business, and ho is taking up too much spaco in the public prints that ought to bo given to more important nows. The public also is very tired of Mr. Covrriva's spitos and opinfons®of peo- plo against whom ho has griovances, as well as of CosgriNa himself. If Cowxiiso conld discover some . way that would sottle his griovances and ond his lsmenta. tions now and forever, he wonld confer an inestimable favor upon an afllicted people who are tired of listening to his croaking, No ono man, however large bis self-conaeit may be, can hope to mako himsclt futeresting by continually thrusting his sore too beforo the community, not oven a man of CoNE- risa's self-importanco. He should thera- foro ond it ns speedily ns possible. It is of mo use for him to nseault tho Administration, whon tho Administration will not mako a contest with him, It iaab- surd for him to belabor tho President, when the President pnys no attention to him. .He must have something palpable and taogible and recalcitrant to nseail, and then an fssus might be made and nresult secured. Ifis prosent system of tactics is of that profitiess sort that will lnst foraver. Tho bost thing that ho can do is to solect somo recognized champion of tho Administration who will Lit back and mako o square fssue with him, and no bottor man can be found than STANLEY Marragws, who, Mr. Coxerine himsolf snys, is not only 8 rolativo of the President, but was placed in tho Sonate by him, and to bo his factotum. Srantey Marruoews has ol ready given Mr. CoNgring suflicient provo- cation,~in fact has indircctly questioned his voracity. Ilo (CoNgring) charged him with DEARBORN-STREET OFENING, Of course, any notion or proceeding by the City Council or by the officors of the City Governmont which tonds to incroaso tho finanoinl embnrrassmonts of tha city finda n prompt and unserupulous asdvocate and champion fn Broney's Times. Tho repeal of tho Dearborn-strect-opening ordinance furnishes & possibility to add $1,100,000 to tho city’s linbilities, and forthwith Stonev's Times inslata that thot sum bo added to tho public debt to bo pald by taxation, nnd then the payment of the {az must bo resisted be- cause tho city had no power to incur tho lability. To avoid thot precise difficulty, the Conneil should have refrained from passing the repenling ordinance, and the Mayor onght now to voto it. The condomnation proceedings awarded to the owners of property $1,122,011 for ddam- nges; the chargo for bonefits was 13004,000. ‘The damages excaeded the benefits $218,000, A special tox waa lovied to the amount of $174,000, and tho romainder, £44,000, bo- came a charge on the goneral tax levy. The city hins collectod o part of theso taxes and has paid them ont. Somo of tho * benefits” hiavo been collacted nnd paid out to the per- sons entitled to damages, To this extont the condomnation proceedings have become complete, The City Council, at its meeting on Mondny last, not only rapoaled the original ordinance under which tho strect has boen practically opencd, and on the line of which permanont improvemonts have been ereotod, costing the owners nearly 300,000, but the Council instantly passed another ordinance providing for new proceedings to opon the dlready opened atraot, and dirccting new proceodings for condemning the prop- orly in the stroet on the samo line, Now, if the strect had been opened under the old or- dinanco, and {s alrondy in the possession of the city as o public highway, then tho city must conceda that the original condemnation proceedings had been accopted by tho city, nnd the street had bocomo public property, for which tho ownors had become entitled to compensation nunder tho award: It could not condomn ns private property o streot which is alrendy n public highway ; and the whole procceding to practically vaeato n stroet, and thon instituto proceedings to condemn the land and open the samo strect ngain, is ono of thoso farcical procoedings which, a8 wns well said in this paper o fow days ogo by o member of tho Dar, would be laughed out of any court. This double procceding to vacate land and open s strect, and aftor the street had been oponed to declare tho strcot vacated, and then open it ngain, is to oreate a complicnt- ed serica of liabilitios to aud from proporty- ownors and the ecity which involves n mill. ion or mora of doilars; and nll this is caleu- Intod to incronse tho fioancial difoulties of tho city, to draw in quostion tho last lovy of taxes, special and genornl, to disputo pre- w~ious payments to tho city and by the city, and all this being in the way of producing financial coufusion, difficulty, and embar. rassments, {8 justin the line of Srtomex's Z'imes, whoso greatest mbition is to forca tho city to disband all governmont and all taxation, and hand over the public peaco nnd privato proporty to o *‘ voluntary gov- ornment " of the mob, Wo take no share in producing any such lamentablo stalo of affairs, We insist that the Council should have passed neithor of those ordinances,—certainly that it should not havo neted hastily and unadvisedly, and procipitated o condition of circumstances that may rosult in Loavy responsibility by tho city. Tho caso moy have a now aspect if tho courts shall find that tho city has gone too far to now repudiate tho original action, In that caso the effect of tho repes! will bo to rolensa all persous from any lubility to pay asgessments for benefits, oud leavo to property-owners the right to rccover hy jndgment from tho city the whole amonnt of damoges, or $1,122,011, with intorest. Tho tax warrants for tho asscssments for this work are now In the bands of the Coun- ty Collector, and, as this repeal will fur- nish o protoxt for mnot paying the tax, Sroney’s Yimes finds now cvidence of the * patriotic spirit” which pays no taxes, and demnnds the abolition of all govern. ment, If theso proporty-owners shall, bo- causo of this repeal, obtain judgments against the city, then, instoad of Leing called upon to pay the tax for their benefits, thoy will compol uext yoar a goneral lovy of $1,142,000 to pay themn their damages, It was becausa of the possibility of this complication, nnd of the transfer of this large amount of pri. vato dobt to tho shoulders of tho already burdened city, that we have protested againat this hasty action, and urged that tho Mayor voto both ordinauces, in order to obtain time to nct iutelligently and advisedly in tho matter, ‘fug Cutcaco Tniwune has no Interest in this mattor, save that of the general public, When it is proposed that all tho special taxos of private persons ehall bs repenlod, and a general lovy made to pay private debts, then in tho name of the general publio we protest. 1t the City Govormment i3 sceking new om- barrassments, and inviting new additions to debts it cannot pay, wo protest hgainst tho proceeding as ill-advised and dangerous, aud tending to break down'all effort to extricato tho city from its financial troubles. With the merits of the original award of bencfits and damoges we havo nothing to do ; that was amatter to be settled in the courts, and, if finally unjust, thon the city should have obandoned it at the time. But at this late day, on the very eve of collecting the tax, after having occupled and possessed the strect for years, to attewpt to repeal tho past action and institute new, all in ong breath, looks tous very much like a job to tranafer the wholo cost of opcuiug Dear- born streot from the private parties interests with the Bouthornors by which tho Nicmorrs Government waa placed in power as the con- dition of Mr. Haves obtaining the Prosi- dentinl chair; but Marrnews denies the soft impoachment, aud charges that Coxg. 110 himeclf wns party to a bargain with tho Democrats to dofeat tho counting of the Eleotoral voto of Louisiana for Mr. Hayzs, Mr, Coxxriva hns intimated that Sranzey Marruews had writton lettors with THE MISSISSIPPI-OVERFLOW PROBLEM. Wo direct particular attontion to a lotter which wo' print this morming, written by Capt. Jony CownpeN, nn old, intelligent, and cxporienced river man, who, as we believe, bns discovered a practical and cconomical remedy ngainst the overflow of tho Missis. sippi cotton lnnds. Thore s abill now pond- ing 1n Congress which approprintes £250,000 for another survoy prelimivary to tho vast loveo scliomo, which, when carriod out, will cost not less than 100,000,000, and proba. bly much more, and then bo a failare, But evon nless mmonnt than itls proposed to nppropriatoe for another proliminary survey will suffico to put Capt. Cowpex's plan into practical operation, and part of the timo ocoupled in surveyiug for omo schome will sorvo Lo test tho effency of the other. Capt. Cownen's plan s slmply to conneot the Mississippi at o pomnt some seven miles bolow New Orleans with Lake Borgne, which fa in fact n bay, nnd on a level with the ocean. ‘There is now & fall of somo fourteen foet betweon Now Orleans and the mouth of tho river,~n distance of 120 miles,~wherens the proposed connection with Lako Borgno would give this fall of fourteen feat in six or seven milos. ‘The river is now protected by embankments at this point, which provents water from flowing into the marshos and thence into Lake Borgno or the Mississippi Hound, only ecight milea distant from the river, Capt. CownEN now proposes to build two eide lovees parallel with each other, about a milo npart, to protecttho plantations from overflow ; then cut the presont ombank. ment of tho Misalssippl and allow tho overflow water to run off into the bay. This strip of o mile wide will direct tho Missiasippi high wnter into this now chaunel, and corry off tho flood mto * Lake Borgno.” To do this it will only ba necos- sary to purchase some G10acres of plantation lands nnd 8,840 ncros of worthless swamp londs, to pay for clearing the awamps of troes and brush, and for building the two side embankiments to hold the water from spreading over tho plantations. In thus se- curing o fall of fourteon feet in n distanco of woven or eight, instead of 120 miles, tho sur. faco of tho river will bo lowered 4o aa to re- duce tho averago flood.tide four, five, or more fuot at Now Orleans, stillmoroat Natcliez, and still more nt Vicksburg, whore tho river is narrower, ‘Tho break of tho river over the ombankmonts ot Lake Pontcharteain, which is above Now Orloans some distance, hay demonstrated the practical operation of this process, ‘This outlot changed a fall of sovon. teen foct from o lougth of 160 miles to tho river mouth to tho same fall in about alx miles into Lake Pontchartrain, aud since this ontlot was forced through by tho overflow of Bonnot Carre, tha aversge flood. tide has been reduced 4 feot 8 inches at Now Orlonus, 8 foet 2 inchos at Natches, and 0 feet 8 inches nt Vicksburg., Auother fall of 14 feet in soven wiles, which now goes 120 wiles, will mnke suother proportionate re- duction. Whou tho river is low, there will bo but a shalow flow of water into Lake Rorgne; but when the river is high the water will mako a chaunel for itsclf a mile wido and 12 or 16 feet deep, emptying into tho Souud and relieving tho entire river be. tweon New Orleans and Memphis. We have heard little of damage froin ovorflows on the lower river bottoms sinco the Misaissippi broke through Bonnet Carre iuto Lako Pont. chartraiy, thrée or foar years ago; we shall hoar nothing of them when Naturo shall b assisted in making aunother and larger out- 1ot into Lake Borgne. This experimont, which is certainly based upon a reasonablo and soientific theory, and which has the effect of tha Lako Pontchar- train outlet to confirm ity operation, will cost less than is proposed to spend on the work of surveying alone for the general levee system, and afford the necessary rolief im. mediately, The whole work can be com. ploted in & fow months. But the goneral lovee system contemplatea the expendituro of from $80,000,000 to $100,000,000 fora mere exporiment, tho success of which is rondered excoedingly doubtful Ly the results of provious eforts in the same direction. It is belicved by many cowmpetent cogineers tors in existonce. Now, thoso declarations to let thom poss unnoticed. 1o must roply, but in roplying wo insist that he shall hang all his griovances upon tho issue of the con. tost, so that wo may hoar nothing moro of them in future, Ie might challengo him to tho Intter, lot them settle the question by an old-fashioned, square, stand-up game with hard gloves, Both gentlomenhave some mus. cular powers, wo bellove, that must be out of practice. As Doxraormeny Bramm has nn itch for notoricty, ho might bo soleoted That wonld give him If theao threo gentlomen know how Tho poople undorstand all this, nsad know that it is on this account Coxxrivna's hend s gore, but thoy are tired it have Conkung's imposing front lock, NEW YORK (USTOM-HOQUSE FRAUDS, Our Whashivgton dispatclios of yeatorday prosent s now phase of Now York Custom. House frauds, and in this phase it would ap- pear that the thioves in New York muat, of noceasity, have accomplicos in the Troasury Dopartment, By the law of March 8, 1851, it waa provided that, asa part of the forcigm markot vaJuo of merchandise, oll costs aud’ charges, excopt insnrance and comwmissions ot the usual rates, should be included. This was the law down to June 0, 1864. At tho Ilnst-nnued dato o now law was onacted which mode it more plain that all inland freight oharges (from any point—no matter how for inland—to tho port of export) are proper clemonts to be cousidered in ascor. taining tho truo foreign dutinble market value of imported merchadise. The law of 1851 wns plain onongh, and, undor it, it wan tho practico of Collectors of Unatoms to ex- act duties on all guch charges. But when tho law of 1864 was cnncted, it was 60 much moro epecific and mandatory on this sub. jeot that the importors conceived thoe idea of recovering ol tho dutles thoy had paid on account of such charges during the period from March 8, 1851, to June 80, 1804,—thirteen years, They held 1 {1) That no commission was fixed by law, and that the actual commission, whothor less or greator than 2§ per cent, was (ho true dutiable commission, (2) That only such charges should be added as accrued before merchandiso sot out on a determined destina. tion to the United Blatow. (8) That in cascs whero goods wero purchased fres on board nothing ' on account of charges could bo roquired to be added. Iaving estab- lishod this thoory to tho satisfaction of the Customs Division of the Trensury Depart. ment, aud perhaps to the satisfuction of & court, we kuow uot, the importers of New York bave beon making up cases to fit the theory. Thas is to ssy, they have been proving tothe satisfaction of tho Customs Division aforesaid that during the period from 1851 to 1864 they paid 1 per cunt or one-half of 1 per conf, commaission or no commission, whereas they hod paid duties on 2§ per cont commission; and that their ncrcbandise was inva riably placed * frco on board " at Liverpool or Havro, whereas thoy had becn chargod dutics and freight-charges for inland trans. THE ETHIC3 OF THE LAW. The Suprome Court of Wisconsiu Ling al- rondy renderod two decislons that will pass into tho judicial history of the conutry as fine specimons of logal morality. 'Che case which collod out the opinions roferred to was that of Wiant v, Ilinpsxorr, firat tricd in tho OCircuit Court of tho Milwankeo dis. trlet, where Wionr obtalued judgmont against Rinnsxorp in the sum of 32,000, and apponled to tho Bupremo Court by tho de- fondaut. TLouis Rivvakore ond his nssocls ates weore indicted nnd on trinl for defrauding tho rovenuo in the manufacturo and enlo of orooked whisky, and, ofier ono membor of the firm had beon fined 85,000 and suffered nomioal imprisonment, and a dozon others of tho Ring woro under trial for their ap- pearanco; this defendant, Lous, was mat. urally **on the raggod edge” of despair, and ready to avail himsel? of any expedient that promised to turn Lis atops from tho open door of the Ktate's Prison. At tho crjuoal stago of the trial the plaintiff, Wianr, ap- pears boforo the footlights, 1t might be suld in parenthesis hera that Dr. WionT is a learned ‘man, a flne scholar, ‘who hos made some substantial contributions to tho literature of tho country, and is quito at homo iu the domain of law, religion, mediclue, scicncs, or politics, and a gentlo. man by instinot and education. The Ohlef. Justice speaks of his * eminent abilities and general accomplishments,” but does mnot allow thew {o blind bim to the othical points ju tho case. Wiaut suos for foes, not as an attorney, for ho did not appear as such in tho case, but as o mediator, scting between Rixpszopy and tho nttorneys of the Govern- went who wore prosccuting tho case. Wionr represented and Rinoszorr believod that he (Wiour) bad great influence with the Gov- ernmont’s attornoys, and that, through his wediation and influeuco, he could. so- curo o compromise of tho case, avert the disnster and disgrace thon festly imminent, and thus valuablo ond legitimnto wervices to tho Rnil defendant, Rixnsgarr, Affer Rixpsrove o8- eaped from’the grip of the logal trap, ho ry, fused to pay Wront for hLis Horvices .. ngreed npon, honce tha snit to recover, and, v;hnln judgment was obtained ngainst h’im h; the lower court, ho apponled it ¢ of Inat resort. R L5 oo, The opinion of tho Conrt i w, Chiof-Justice Ryax, and {8 80 novel r:::t::lfl: that it must atlract universal attontion nmong lawyers. Tho Conrt roviows the casy at great longth, and while it does not deg; nate the rorvices of Wianr 4 corrupt, 5, stamp na dishonest the action of the Govern, mont's attornoys who agreed to nlcnd. clemency to RiNpsxorr upon the condition of his turning State's evidenco, it noverthe, Joss holds that **such contrnctys o8 santlally violate morality and public policy,” and ought not to Lo enforced. The m;, ethienl conception of the legal profossion, ny Leld by tho loarned Chief-Justico, jg \;nll oxpressed in the following oxtract: Agreements tending to obstruct the Vo of Juetice In AT Jeon dogren haye b:;l;l" :‘x“'v'.‘"' by il conrle, overywhere, Held vold In o4 do not, however. old thle agreoment volq. ypt the snccial authority of any casa or class of eares but upon urlncl‘vln ranning through al) lhecn‘-'. and of hizlicr oblization than any. We migi s many; but wo conld not bend down this Court ihe sanction of such on agreement ir thery we, . not a nrecedent in the booka to austain uy, = "¢ 1f n profesafonal retainer 80 to influcnce a patije proectitor could be sanctloned, wu nco no foau Why n retalner might not bo aplield 10 Lo e an attorney or counacl In (ho direction of his ;. Yyata cilent's Interest; nav, #0 to inflnence a Jur, fn tho box or a Judge ‘spon the bench, Al sury things ore not more violations of professonst cthica; they are onteide of rmh-nlrmnl Tunction, ‘The profcsston of the Iaw ia not onu of Indirec. Hon, circnmvention, or fntrigue. 18 fs the fune. tion of the profession to promote, not 10 obstragy, the ndmintetration of fustice. ' In litigation, 3 Inwycr becames the altér ego of his cliont: sng professional retatner reata In-absolate and sacreq confidence, Tint tho duty imposed by profession rutainer in directand open. Professional fope. tlon ia excrcired in tho slchit of the worid, jio. fessional learning and ekill nre the onty trug yrg. fessional strenpth. Forenule ability {- the only trug professionsl influence on tho contan of fus. tce. Trivato preparation gooa to this onfy gy sharpening the mvand goes to battle, Professionaf weapons ara wielded only in open contest. No weapon s professional “which striken in the The work of the prolossion fa oy open, becanse it fe moral. © No retainer in wrong mani. render gueenttily ® rofess A lawyer may devote himeell profeenion. Rlly o tho legitimato’ busineas of M ‘iieats oot hecannot be retained In whatovor may not b rightfully anid lawfully done, He may defend 5 ‘wrong done in the past, but he cannot prlvy to tho doirg of B wrong ntho present. The profession In not ainless, but Ita sine are nil unprofessiona), When o meminor af tho Iar I8 privy to' tiie wrong. dnlml: of his client, he §s his client’s accomplice, not his lawycer. In courte or other caaual irioys nals, biefore the great tribunal of public oplnfn, o lawyer may openly, npon open retainet, sdvo. catolils client's cause, howaver bad, and be within the function of hia profcesion. Dut a lawyer who othorwise uses porsonal or professional influence 1o hend justice in favor of his client: who nses any Influencu for his cliont upon the administration o: Justice, except open professionnl service and ag. Vocacy; who eroke by revice or Intrigue advantage for nie chient in_lltiuntion, Is outalde of pro fesslonul dnty and function; 1s acting in his per. #oual and not 1u his professlonal capaclty, The judgmont was roversod and tho cause romandod to tha Court bolow for now trial, whereupon Wionr moved for a rehearing, and in Lis argument cited tho United Btates statute whioh authorized and justified his action ond that of the Government's aitor. neys; to which tho SBupromo Court replies that it conslders the statute roforred to *im. moral,” and that *¢it will not bo enforced In tha courts of this State.” . ‘The proprioty of a Btato Court boldly deolaring that an act of Congress will not bo enforcad within its jo- risdiction becouso it holda such a law tobe contrary to pnblic policy is not likely to bs generally concaded. ENOLAND'S INTEREST IN EGYPT. Mr, Epwanp Diceyr prints in the April number of the Nincteenth Century n well considorod article on *England’s Policy st the Qongress.” Ho dwella particularly on tho valuo of Egypt to England, and the com. parative unimportanco of all the other inter csta that ontor into aud constitute whatis known ns tho Eastorn Question, Egypt lies in tho way of tho routo to Indin. Whoaver has possossion of it can closo or embarrass the communieation of all other natlons with India. Euglish intorosts requiro the nesur- anco of freodom to English war-vessels and & blockade of the vessels of othier nations in timo of war, This nssurance can only bo given, it is ovident, by tho occupation of Egypt. Noutralization on the guarantes of tho Powers will not do; for, as Alr, Dicxr obacrves, tho guarantco of the Poworsbas not of late yonra boon respocted. England, Franco, and Anstrin guaranteed the integrity of 'Turkey ns ngainst the very Power which has just now plucked and divided it. Tho guarantce of tho Powers did not save Luzombourg in 1870, and will not save Belgium whon any Power grows atrong enough to seize and koop it. The joint oocupation of the Dells by France and England, which imight be desirablo on some accounts, cannot bo ex pocted for several rensons, Franco bas adopted since 1870 a rigid policy of non- intorvention in foreign affairs, and it s not likoly that sho will depart from this policy for an inducemont much inferlor to others sho hos rojectod. Morcover, a French partnorship in the cannl might under some circumstances bo inconveniont, pnrl(aulu'll it Franco shonld sock to concilinte Russiafor tho furthoranco of European intcrests. The iudepodence of Egypt is another proposed solution of tho difiiculty whioli cannot be ontertalned by Eogland, Egypt containt none of tho oloments of true independence. Governod by & profligate Prince, sud too wonk oven to limit Lls exactions, tho pooplo. have fallen Into the condition of sorfs, with 10 tios to bind them to tho Governmont sud no mind to substituto o betlor ono in ita place. Egypt bas so long boen raled by doputy that sha has forgotten Low to rulc heruelf. At the firat signal of intor- vontion on bebalf of tho foraign croditors sho would beg for tho protection of some Enropean Governmant, and might throw her- sclf.into tho keeping of tho onc most ude friendly to England. This brings tho srgn ment to the fundamontal fuquiry, “* Wby may not affaira be permitted to romain 88 thoy ore?" Tho trus auswor is, that the Sultan is still supromo at Cairo, and the Tussiaug are supromo at Constantinople, It is o mere question of time, therefore, it no attompt is made to preveut it, whethoer Rus- slan influcuco shall bo prodowinant in Egyp; England can much less afford to Lave th ocour than she can afford to witnoss tho dis momberment of Tnrkey in Europe. Her Kn; torest in to provido for the safety of Euyxl; firat, and leave tho rest to take caro of jtsell. Mr. Dicey intimates that tho timo for it fng Egypt bay passed. Ho moans, be 8aY6 that the timo for taking it without sirong oppoution has passed. Buch ch‘d“‘g: are always in order, providing they sre o2 mended to the senso of Europe by 8 clent forco, and nobody bas o strong w““:; clahm to urge. The suggestion i, that would be moro prudent for England 0 demaud Egypt os the prics of her consent “: the treaty of San Btefauo than fto “L“: and object to the treaty now. This s l'u: proposition. England may have Egypt ‘:N the consent of the other Powers, for sako of peace, but she can never hopo to bave it ond maintain her quarrel with Russis. Tbe