The New York Herald Newspaper, January 23, 1874, Page 6

NEW YORK HERALD nga sRoaDway AND ANN STREET. JAMES GORDON BENNETT, PROPRIETOR, Sea oe All business or news letters and telegraphic despatches must be addressed New Yorg Henarp. Letters and packages should be properly sealed, Rejected communications will not be re- LONDON OFFICE OF THE NEW YORK HERALD—NO. 46 FLEET STREET. Subscriptions and Advertisements will be received and forwarded on the same terms as in New York. Volume XXXIX AMUSEMENTS T EVENING. GRAND OPERA HOUSE, Fifth, and aan tnira street -HUMPTY DUMPAY | AUROAD, 340 P.M; closes at 1046 P.M. Mr. GL. Fox. FIFTH AVENUE THEATRE. Trypan gene street and Broadway.—MAN AND WIFE, Syaa M.; closes at 10:30 P.M. My. Harkins, Miss Ada | WALLAOK’S THEATRE, Broadway, and Thirteenth street—-MONEY, at 8 P.M. gioasa at P.M. Mr. Lester Walluck, iiss Jeitreys BOOTH’S 1 ‘Bixth avenue and Twenty-third WRU, at 7:49 P. DL. ; closes a0 10:30 OLYMPIC THEATRE i Bleecker streets. — between Houston patina an NOVELTY NESRUAINMENT, at 3 M, , closes at 1 BROOKLYN PARK THEATRE, gpposite City Hall, Brooklyn.—KIT: OR, THR ARKAN- BAS TRAVELLER, at 5 P.M ; closes at l045P. MP. 5. ‘Chantraa. BOWERY THEATRE ‘Bowery.—SCOUTS OF THE SIERRAS, at $ P. atleoM. Mr, I Frank Payne. M.; closes GERMANIA THEATRE, Fourteenth —D5R MEINEIDBAUER, at 8 P. M.; ‘closes at Li :L5 METROPC ‘AN THE 0. & Broadway. VARIETY ENTERTAINMENT, at | x 7:45 P.M. ; closes at 10:30 P, NIBLO'S GARDEN, Broegway, between Frince and, Houston, streets — ROMEO JAFFIER JES! P.M. ; THE BELLES 9 P) M.; closes at 10:30 P. Vokes Family, Mr. Leftingwell. ACADEMY OF MUSIC. Foarteenth street, corner of trving piace.— ENGLISH OPERA—MABITANA, atS 7. M P.M. Mme. Van Zandt, Mr. Morgan. KELLOGG WOOD'S MUSEU Broadway, corner Thirtieth sire MONKE 2 P.M. ; closes at 4: ¥ CONTINENT, ot P.M. closes at 12M. “0. D. Dyron. TONY PASTOR'S OPERA HOUSE, No. M1 Bowery.—VARIETY ENTERTAINMENT, at 8 P. ‘M. ; closes at LI P.M. BRYANT’S OPERA HOUSE, Twenty-third strect, er of Sixth av . —CINDER- ELLA IN BLACK. KO MINSTKELSY, &c., at 8 P. ‘Mi. ; closes at 10 P. M. OBINSON HALL, Sixteonth street. ine PICOANINNIRS, at 32. M. and | BAIN HALL, Great Jones street and Latayette ears —PILGRIM'S PROGRESS, at 3 P. M. ; closes at 9 P. COLOSSEUM, Corner of Thirty-Afth Y NiawT, Pe closes at 1 P. eS aes ‘SHEET. a York, Friday, January 23, 1874, THE NEWS OF YESTERDAY. ————— To-Day’s Contents of the | Herald. “THE OURRENCY QUESTION BEFORE CON- GRESS! INFLATION PROBABLE”—LEAD- ER—SIXTH PaGE. ANOTHER BATTLE IN ACHEEN! NATIVE AS- SAULT ON THE MAIN POSITION OF THE DUICH! A REPULSE! THE INFORCED—SEVENTH Pace. LARGE INCREASE Of SPECIE IN THE BANK OF FRANCE! GOVERNMENT PREVENTS THE SALE OF A PARIS JOURNAL—AFFAIRS IN SPAIN—SEVENTH PAGE. ENGLISH FINANCES! SERIOUS ILLNESS ROSA—SEVENTE PaGE. A FORCED GOLD BASIS IN CUBA! INCRE. ACTIVITY AGAINST THE INSURGENTS! GARLIST EXILES—SEVENTH PAGE. TAMING THE KAFIRS! THE DIAMOND FIELDS | THRONGED WITH ARMED redler eel REBEL, UNDER “SUNSHINE!” SHAR WORK AGAINST THEM COVERIES—Fourrs Pace. OF MME, PAREPA- THE SHAMEFUL WASTE OF PUBLIC MONEY IN | WASHING. | THE FEDERAL BUREAUS TON! THE BITTER STRUGGLE FOR INFLA- TION—THIkD PaGE. MR. BQUTWELL ON FINANCE! IFF5! REPORTERS’ SALARIES RENCY—Firta Pace. MR. WAITE’S ELEVATION TO THE SUPREME BENCH CAUSES JOY IN TOLEDO! A PER- SONAL SKETCH! THE REASONS POR HIS COMPARATIVE* OBSCURITY AND KEY- STONES OF HIS SUCCESS—SeventH Pace. LIGHT TO BE THK TWIN MYSTERY—IMPORTANT NEWS—Seventa Pace. NORTH AND SOUTH AMERICA TO BE CON- NECTED BY CABLE THRUUGH THE AN- TILLES! THE “GEM” EXCLUDED—A BRA- ZILIAN CABLE—Fourts Pace. THE SPANISH-CUBANS STILL HARPING ON THE | VIRGINIUS CASE! THE V RY oF | GIBARA—BRITISH DRAGOONS—A TOMP- KINS SQUARE RIOTER CONVICTED—Firtu PAGE. THE RETENTION OF “ECONOMICAL” GREEN! A LEGISLATIVE SCHEME TO MAKE TR COMPTROLLER’S AND CORPORATION COU: SEL’S OFFICES KLECTIVE—TENTH Pacx. LOST TIME! BUSINESS MEN AND TRAVELLERS ARGUE FOR QUICKER TRANSIT THROUGH | THs CITY—THE FOG—EicuTH Page. WOMAN'S APPEAL TO WUMAN AGAINST A | TYRANT—NO CLEWTO THE NUDE CORPSE | FOUND IN THE RIVER—THE WINE AND | SPIRIT TRADE—EJGHTH PAGE. 4& REDUNDANT CURRENCY! HOW IT WORKS MISCHIEF! FINANCIAL BUSINESS IN RDAY—NEW YORK’S THE CUR- LATE Puvcusack Is Limzix 10 Coxe to grief. The probability now is that a new election will be ordered. Is this another indication of the new departure—another unloading of | monstrosities? Or is the case of the ill-used Pinchback sent back in order to avoid the un. | gavory disclosures that might attend an in- vestigation? Whichever may be the fact, it is probable that if Pinchback loses his seat he WHITES RE- | } DENSE FOG IN LONDON! | p | GOLD nes | RAILWAY TAR. | OWN UPON THE SIAMESE | NEW YORK HERALD, FRIDAY, JANUARY 23, 1874.—TRIPLE SHEET. Ourremey Question Before Con- greesInfation Probable. Mr. Dawes, the Chairman of the Committee of Ways and Means, reported a bill yesterday to fix the amount of legal tender notes at four hundred millions. This bill, it is said, was prepared by Mr. Beck, of Kentucky. It de- claves that the provisions of the law existing prior to the act of April 12, 1866, are in force so as to authorize the amount of four hundred millions of legal tender notes to be kept in circulation, and that the total amount issued or to be issued shall never exceed that amount, The bill coming from the Committee of Ways and Means indicates that the object of sanc- tioning the whole of the legal tender reserve, forty-tour millions, is more to relieve the necessities of the Treasury than to favor ex- pansion for the sake of increasing the currency. It is known that the Secretary of the Treasury has drawn already the largest portion of the reserve. The bill, no doubt, is to logal- ize that act beyond all question of legality hereafter and to afford additional means to the Treasury to the extent of the balance. Those who favor expansion will, of course, support the measure from another motive, for they maintain that we have not enough cur- rency. Judging from present appearances, the bill will be passed. This movement is undoubtedly a retrograde one, and will tend in a measure to postpone specie payments. The remark of Mr. Cox, that it is ‘a relapse into barbarism,’’ is perhaps too strong,. for, although it is inflation, and to be regretted, the amount of legal tenders remaining to be E | put in circulation is small and is not likely to have much or any perceptible effect upon the price of gold. Indeed, the almost foregone conclusion that there will be inflation to the extent proposed has had no influence up to this time on the gold market. Senator Bout- | well takes the proper ground that there should be neither expansion nor contraction, To use a well worn but an appropriate simile, Congress is all at sea, without rudder or compass, with regard to the finances and currency of the Republic. The ablest men of both houses, irrespective of party affiliations, entertain views directly opposed, and scarcely five members can be found of the same opinion. Almost every one has a theory of hisown. Yet it is the subject that occupies } the most attention and provokes the widest discussion. Indeed, it is upon that more than upon any other that the material interests and | prosperity of the country depend. In former | times the mfluence of the federal government | did not bear so directly upon the business and material welfare of the people. Before the war the revenue was small, taxes were few, comparatively, there was no national currency, and the several States and State institutions operated more upon the individual citizen and national debt, the issuing of government paper money as a legal tender, the organiza- tion of a national banking system with a national currency, together with the necessary imposition of heavy taxes, have placed ina great measure the wealth, industry and busi- ness of the country at the mercy of federal power. Hence it is that all eyes are turned to Congress and the administration for the means of extricating the Republic from its abnormal financial condition and to place its affairs and the currency on a substantial basis. The debate in the Senate, which began last Tuesday and continued during the week, and which is now postponed, is upon the resolu- tion reported by the Finance Committee early in the session, declaring ‘‘it to be the duty of | Congress to adopt definite measures to redeem the pledge made in the act of March 18, 1869, and directing the Committee on Finance to report to the Senate at as early a day as prac- ticable such measures as will redeem this pledge, but will also furnish currency of a uniform value, always redeemable in gold or its equivalent, and so adjusted as to meet the changing wants of trade and commerce.” The resolution, though not showing definitely the object proposed, and not giving any idea of what legislative measures should be adopted— being, in fact, merely a neat piece of general- ization—we may form some opinion of its scope and meaning from the speech of Mr. Sherman in the Senate last Friday. | The gist of the whole argument he made was in the one expression that ‘Congress is | bound, both by public faith and good policy, | to bring our currency to a specie standard.”’ | The Senator proceeds upon the presumption | that the non-interest bearing legal tenders are | not only a debt, but a debt due, and that the nation is dishonored by not paying this debt. The act of Congress authorizing the issue of these notes did not fix any time for their re- | demption, nor do these notes bear on their face anything about their redemption or the time in which they would be redeemed. Govern- ment has given them the character of money, | asitbad a right todo. They do not constitutea | debt due. Mr. Sherman assumes that nothing | can be money but metals having the govern- ment stamp on them, and that the stamp of the government on paper does not make money, though all the business of the country for years has been based upon the legal tenders. The expediency or policy of redeeming | these notes is another question. If the | fmances of the government would be im- | proved and the prosperity of the country pro- moted by their redemption, and the govern- | | ment could command gold enough to make | that practicable, every one would say let the greenbacks be redeemed. But we do not see how adding four hundred millions to the | | interest bearing debt, thus imposing an ad- ditional burden of taxation of over twenty millions a year upon the people, can either | improve the national finances or promote the prosperity of the country, for that is what redemption means. Then there must and will be a paper currency, even if we come to specie payments. By the uniform currency advocated by Mr. Sherman, after the redemp- tion of the greenbacks, we are to understand, we presume, the national bank currency. Thus the nation is called upon to assume an additional burden of over twenty millions a year and to give that much to the } national banks in addition to the twenty millions or thereabouts already given to them. | These favored institutions are to have all the profits of a national circulation, amounting to | something like forty millions a year. Then where is the gold to come from in order to Tesume specie payments? It has been pro- will find his tongne, and the mysteries of New | posed that the government buy two hundred Orleans politics may yet be brought to licht} millions or so from Europe. Bonds would have to be issued, of course, to pay for that, | evenly balanced. out of darkness, his interests. The creation of an enormous } | be much heavier if the Michigan street bridge | carried down the stream will probably all be and the interest bearing debt would be atill further and largely increased. The whole policy is to overload the people, who are already heavily burdened, with a vast aug- mentation of the interest bearing debt. Greenbacks would come to par if we imported less and exported more, and a favorable balance of trade should cause gold to flow to this country. Our production and exports would never be increased, how- ever, by contracting the currency or by in- creasing the tax burdens of the people. The proper compromise between these con- flicting opinions, and, probably, the best for the country, is neither to contract nor expand the currency. But the first thing is to avoid the apparent necessity of issuing more govern- ment notes by reducing the expenditures to the actual revenue income. Those who favor contraction must necessarily contemplate in- creased taxation. At least that would be the result of their policy. The people would cer- tainly object to more taxes while the govern- ment has an income of nearly three hundred millions. Nor will it be wise to inorease the non-interest bearing debt simply as an ex- pedient to bridge over present difficulties. If more currency were required for the business of the country it should be issued for that pur- pose only. But, as was said, it would be well to let the present volume remain in circulation without adding to it, for in that way the country would grow up to a@ specie basis. There should be, however, a more equitable distribution, so that the West and South could have a fairer share. It has been said that the currency should be made elastic in some degree to suit the varying wants of trade. How this is to be with a metallic currenoy we are not informed. Elasticity might be at- tained with our present currency if a portion of it, at least, were made convertible into bonds bearing a low rate of interest, and these reconvertible at the pleasure of the holder. There may be wisdom in the multitude of counsellors, according to the old maxim, but we fear that will not apply to Congress in this j matter of regulating the national finances and currency. The English Opera Season. To sing in one's native tongue may be con- sidered as a surer and shorter road to general popularity than the most ambitious efforts of an artist on the lyric stage in # foreign language. There is a greater degree of sympathy and mutual understanding attained between the singer and the audience and more real enjoy- ment and appreciation on the part of the latter. This was exemplified during the last two nights at the Academy of Music, where Miss Kellogg appeared for the first time in this city in English opera after long and distinguished services on the Italian stage. Her reception has been hearty and en- thusiastic, and, warmed into confidence and spirit by the friendly demonstrations of her hearers, the prima donna has gained a suc- cess of an emphatic description, surpassing anything that can be adduced in her Italian opera experience. In this new field of lyric art Miss Kellogg may be considered as baving struck a popular vein which will not be easily exhausted. The field is an extensive one, and the only danger to be guarded against is in abandoning the legitimate répertoire of Eng- lish opera for flimsy translations of Italian works. It is easier to please an operatic ear by presenting a work in the language in which it was originally written than by attempt- ing on adaptation foreign to its very spirit. There is every reason to expect that Eng- lish opera, with such a popular prima donna and with a well selected company, can be made a permanent success, as it appeals to a larger public than any cther branch of the lyric art. The highest form of lyric art is, of course, Italian opera, but it requires an amount of refinement and musical education which practically limits its sphere in this country to New York city. English opera is less costly, more easily understood, and there- fore adapted to the musical wants of the prov- inces as well as the metropolis. The Kafir Revolt. Ashantee, Natal and Acheen—these are the three possessions which at the present time are costly pieces of property to their possess- ors. Our correspondents at the different scenes of strife are describing to our readers how white men fight the savages, if Ashan- tees, Kafirs and Acheenese can so be called. Each war presents different aspects of military campaigning, reckless adventure and un- profitable bloodshed; yet each one, we believe, is a blow dealt for the promotion of commerce and the advancement of civilization. This morning our interesting letters from Natal, describing the origin and progress of the Kafir war, need never have been written if the gov- ernment of the colony had taken the simple precaution of keeping arms from the turbu- lent natives. As well might the United States distribute fifty thousand rifles to our Western Indians and expect them to become Quakers as for England to permit an avalanche of fire arms to descend among tribes like the notori- ous Kafirs, trusting to their loyalty to British governors. These three wars have all been the outgrowth of a stupid colonial policy on the part of England and Holland, both Powers having simply reaped as they have sown. Burrazo Has Generatty Escarep serious damage through floods on the breaking up of the ice; but this season she has not been so fortunate. The flood in Buffalo River yesterday has caused a loss reported at nearly a million of dollars, and which will should follow the Ohio street bridge, which gave way yesterday morning. As it is, some of the finest elevators have suffered much damage, and the vessels which have been more or less injured. Purapevpus has been greatly excited on the question of her municipal nominations, the leading papers taking strong ground in favor of an independent candidate in oppo- sition to the present incumbent and the nomi- nee of the republican party. But, in spite of the efforts, strong as they were, in behalf of an independent nomination, both parties chose strictly partisan candidates. The rea- son is one that is very effective in political “What Might fave Seon.” The story of the Virginius is now a part of ancient history, but our able umorsanips. the ‘Tribune, gives it a sort of posthumous in- terest by rehearsing the adventures of famous filibuster during the period she was under Captain Smith’s command, and show- ing “what might have been” if our govern- mental eyes had not been closed to her pirati- cal doings. Perhaps it is idle to waste might have been” has been so effectually swal- lowed up in what has been. Nevertheless, the Tribune's reflections will not be without utility if they serve us as a warning for the fnture and impress upon us the lesson that “there must be no more playing with fire.” The almost ridiculous vexations and perplex- ities to which the American Consul at Puerto Cabello was subjected by the vagaries of the vessel; his eager but vain attempts to ‘throw her off? on a United States man-of-war; the troubles of our Consul at Maracaibo, who denounced her as a “damned pirate” to his administration, all prove that it was the plain duty of the gov- ernment to put a stop to the fraud that was being practised upon our flag, and: justify Tribune in charging to its neglect the butcheries at Santiago and the loss of the five million dollars which the Spanish seizure has already entailed upon us, There can be no doubt that we shall now be expected to punish the flagrant violations of our neutrality laws, which appear to have been proven against the Virginius, before we can insist upon the pun- ishment of the Santiago butchers or press for compensation to the families of their victims. Indeed, it will be fortunate if we escape the payment of damages to Spain for the negli- gence of which we have been guilty. There will be some compensation for our losses and humiliations, however, if the Vir- ginius troubles lead us to more circum- spection in the future. We can no longer afford to neglect the duty we owe to friendly nations, to adopt the tone of the bully when our omissions subject us to insult and outrage, and to back down from our position when we are met by resistance and defiance. We must either resolve to maintain our standing as a first class Power, faithfully fulfilling all our international obligations and firmly enforcing all our just demands, or make up our minds to be nothing more than a business and commercial nation, submitting patiently to insult and putting up with in- juries as best we may. In the former case we must strengthen our navy and tgke such a po- sition on the high seas that a third rate Power like Spain will no longer be able to sweep our flag from the ocean and threaten our coast with devastation. In the latter case we must be content to leave our national honor in the hands of other Powers, and to notify Americans that from the mo- ment they leave their native soil they must expect no protection from their own government, so that they may either give | up foreign travel or pass themselves off as Englishmen when abroad. At present we are neither the one thing nor the other. Itis true that we succeeded in securing the sur- render of the Virginius in a damaged and dis- graceful condition; but this was due to the temporary crippled condition of Spain and especially of the Spanish navy. At the very moment the surrender was made our Consuls in Cuba were subjected to insults which would never have been offered to British representa- tives. The Virginius trouble may be repeated at any moment when Spain is less embarrassed and has her whole navy at her command. We should at once make up our minds to put our- selves in a condition to maintain our national honor in a better cause than that of the Vir- ginius, or abandon the character of a first class Power, sell our vessels of war, dismantle our ports and settle down as a nation of peace- ful and non-combatant traders. Mayor Havemeyer’s Discourse--The Sor- rows of a Municipal Sairey Gamp. It is not surprising that Mayor Havemeyer should scold and complain in the singular document which he laid before the Common Council on Monday last. He is no doubt a disappointed man; disappointed that he was not endowed with the power to fill all the municipal departments with the old cronies with whom he has been accustomed to hobnob for the past half a century, and disappointed that the selections he has made: of public officers have not been appreciated by the peo- spleen in a political veteran whose garrulous- ness is equal to that of the famous Sairey Gamp when he finds himself snubbed by the party that has elevated him to power and unable to help him- self. But we cannot see why he should in- flict on the citizens of New York a message wearisomely long for the sole purpose of gratifying his personal pique and jealousy, We might at least have expected some intelli- gent allusion to the great interests of the metropolis—some encouraging words for those public improvements of which the city stands so much in need, and which have remained paralyzed ever since we.were fortunate enough to secure a reform municipal government. But Mayor Havemeyer has no word to sy in favor of the great need of the city—rapid transit. He can pick and carp at the Department of Public Works, he can abuse the Legislature, he can puffan incompetent Comptroller, but he cannot see that the million and a quarter of people in New York are suffering for want of the means of rapid locomotion, and that a steam railroad is vital to the city’s future prog- ress and prosperity. He can sneer at the splendid plans of the late Dock Commission, and congratulate himself that his commis- sioners are doing only a little patchwork and tinkering. He can bewail the annexation of the Westchester towns, lamenting that the city he ruled over in the earlier years of the cen- tury should step over the boundary of Man- hattan Island and dreading the day when it may stretch along the main land until it absorbs Poughkeepsie. But all this only proves that he has been mentally enjoying a Rip Van Winkle sleep for the past twenty-five years and has not yet fully awakened. The best counsel we can give Mayor Have- meyer is to cut loose from bad advisers and to write no more messages. The experiment b movementsa—each of the old organizations ex- pects to win at the election in February, and, consequently, reform is not so important as it would have been had the chances been less of going back a generation to govern a city that is chafing and fretting for an opportu- nity to dart forward ona career of magnifi- cent progress and prosperity has proved a failure. The people bave learned a leson tears | York, if it does not march ov over “the saddest of words,” now that “what | land’ to Poughkeepsie, will ina I from which they will profit next fall, and when Mayor Havemeyer retires he will no doubt take with him into private life the ven- erable officials with whom he has filled such ee offices as were at his disposal. Our next Ex- ecutive, it is to be hoped, will have lees to say about his personal grievances and more about rapid transit, dock improvements, annexation and all those grand schemes by New “main ears at least march out of reach of the bewildered imagination of our present Chief Magistrate. Rapid Translt—The Proposed Third Avenue Elevated Railroad. The bill introduced in the Assembly to grant a franchise for an elevated railroad along the Third avenue to Harlem bears a suspicious appearance upon its face. The incorporators named in the bill are mainly the directors and stockholders of the Third avenue horse car line, with a sprinkling of ancient politicians who have no particular reputation as railroad men, except it be in making money out of the franchises. The annual report of the Third avenue road shows that, with a capital stock of the two million dollars, its groes receipts last year were over two millions and ita net earnings close upon a million, or nearly fifty per cent upon its capital Rapid transit would injure no other city railroad so greatly as it would injure the Third avenue, and the question which will occur to every mind is, whether the stockholders of this richly paying route would be likely to give up voluntarily business which pays them back their whole investment in two years to embark in a costly speculation whose profits, however good, could not be expected to be anything like so large? The suspicion will force itself upon the people that the incorporators may seek this valuable franchise only in order to exclude other projects, and with the intention of preventing the construction of a steam railroad, at least for two or three yéars to come, so that they may be left for some time longer in the enjoyment of their present enormous profits. We have had experience in the past which should guard us agajpst this danger. It is just possible that the stock- holders of the Third avenue road realize the fact that rapid transit cannot any longer be delayed, and hence desire to seize upon the project of a route along their present line and make the best out of it that they can. But the fact that the interest of a wealthy city road is represented in the Dill is not calcu- lated to excite confidence in the scheme. As we have repeatedly said, we are indif- ferent in what shape rapid transit may come or to whom its certain advantages may accrue provided we secure the construction of a steam railroad or railroads through the whole length of the city in as short time as possible and with the certainty that the cost of travel will place it within the reach of all our citizens. But we must not be cheated in the matter, nor allow another underground will-o’-the wisp to lead us astray. The subject is one too vitally important to the people to be trifled with or gambled with, as in former years. We have reached a point in our career at which we must have the means of travelling from the Battery to the Westchester border by steam cars in half an hour or abandon all hope of the further growth and prosperity of the metropolis. Rapid transit is now not alone our great want, but our absolute neces- sity. It is on this account that the people are willing to favor any scheme that means busi- neas and promises success, and it is on this account that the Legislature should carefully guard against trickery or jobbery in any measure that may be proposed. The safest and wisest plan would be the passage of a bill creating a thoroughly respectable and reliable commis- sion, with power to build the road on the city’s credit, or, with the concurrence of cer- tain of the city authorities, to allow its con- struction by private capital under such regulations as they may deem proper to impose. We should thus get the whole subject within the control of 6 local board in which the people would have confidence, and the result would be no longer doubtful. The Commissioners would have the power to build two viaduct or elevated roads, one on each side of the city, or to build one road, or to grant a restricted, charter to a private company for the construction of. one or both. They would be restricted to no single plan, but would be at liberty to adopt the best that might offer. Such a law would not possess the taint of jobbery; there could be ple. We can allow for some exhibition of 4 no suspicion that its design might be to defeat rapid transit altogether, and it would take the subject out of the hands of the Legislature and place it under the control of those who ‘are interested in it—the citizens of New York. Will not some public spirited Senator or Assemblyman turn a deaf ear to the lobby and introduce such a bill? Germany aND France—Tuz Power or Brsmazcr.—The French government has is- sued an order forbidding the sale of the newspaper L’ Opinion Nationale. Otber papers haye been put down in a similar way and for similar reasons. French papers have been speaking freely regarding Bismarck’s anti- Catholic policy, and in consequence Bismarck has been growling. The growling seems to have had the effect intended. The French government listens and obeys. Not only does it suppress newspapers ; it writes conciliatory letters to Rome. The Assembly has begun to be alarmed, and the members of the Left have submitted an interpellation of the govern- ment, which, after violent discussion, has been laid on the table by a majority of one hun- | dred. Too much submission to Berlin may prove a source of danger to the MacMahon | government. Ovr Firstar Srreets.—The filthy condition of our streets has been the subject of general complaint for some time, and unless the Street Cleaning Bureau show more activity the discontent is likely to assume considerable proportions, There is no excuse for the accu- mulations of slush and refuse matter, not alone in the poorer parts of the town, but even in the principal thoroughfares. The large appropriations made by the city for street cleaning ought to secure for the citizens immunity from mud-covered streets. The Police Commissioners, who are charged with the supervision.of the work, will receive the best thanks of the people if they will compel 9 more efficient use of the broom. Unusual ex- ertions are necessary to prevent accumula- tions of refuse matter in the streets, and we wish to geo the rosyonsible authorities show The report of the Commissioners of Emi- gration furnishes a good deal of infor- mation of great public interest. It shows that the tide of immigration flows to the United States with undiminished force. More than three ‘hundred thousand persons have landed at this port during the past year, and well nigh one-third of the whole number have made their home in the Em- pire State, The increase of wealth-producing power involved in this large accession to the population isa valuable gain to the nation, and the public will be glad to learn that the authorities at Castle Garden are alive to the necessity of protecting the interests of the im- migrants. Many thousands of the men whe seek homes in the United States are unable to speak English, and for these the inter. position of Castle Garden agents is in- valuable in preventing fraud. The Germans and Irish furnish nearly two-thirds of the whole immigration, the balance being made up by contingents |from many nationalities. Provision is made for the relief of the dis- tressed and the care of the sick. The Labor Bureau exercises a careful supervision over the immigrants who remain under their charge, and during the year obtained em- ployment for twenty-six thousand per sons. With the object of preventing abuses no one is allowed to employ immigrants of either sex without presenting satisfactory recommendations to the Commissioners, In " order to render the bureau more efficient and to afford greater protection from fraud to immigrants, several recommendations have been made to the Legislature which deserve attention, The first aims at obtain- ing cheaper transportation rates over the different railway lines, for both pas- sengers and baggage. Some enactment is also called for which will prevent the prac+ tice of switching off emigrant trains, which in- volves a great injustice to the unfortunate passengers. These recommendations ought to receive immediate attention from our law- makers. The city and State of New York have a special interest that every facility and protection shall be afforded to the people seek- ing homes under our free institutions, because immigration affects directly our prosperity. ‘Tre Trovsiz in Gzant PanisH, Louisiana, last summer, it will be remembered, resulted in the arrest of seven persons, who are stil? held under the Ku Klux act. No trial has been accorded (hem, and they have not been permitted to give bail for trial. There seems to be no excuse for such delay as this, and it is in such culpable administration of justice by the United States authorities in the South that a return of good feeling towards the gov- ernment is made impossible. Tur Crvm Ricuts But—A Protest From Grorora.—Resolutions have been passed by the Georgia Legislature in denunciation of the Civil Rights bill, now awaiting the action of Congress. The resolutions affirm that the effect of the passage of the bill (which pro- vides, among other things, that whites and blacks shall be admitted on a footing of equality in public schools) will be to break up the public school system of Georgia, and that all appropriations for such schools will be withheld by the Legislature should the bill pass. As this bill closely approaches the question of social equality between the Southern whites and blacks, these Georgia resolutions are simply a warning that the forcing system of Congress may be pushed too far in the reconstructed Southern States. A wise government, in its efforts to reclaim the loyalty and respect of a conquered people, deals cautiously with the prejudices of race and caste which for centuries have been the groundwork of their social system. Inviotapmirry or THE Maris.—That lettera in the Post Office sfll be absolutely sacred from prying curiosity and that any tampering with them is a crime are accepted notions with the people, and they are good notions to encourage. If there is any reason to set them aside it is doubtful whether a mere suspicion that the letters are the cover to some violation of the law is a good reason, and the deter- mination of the Postmaster, therefore, not to surrender letters to the Customs authorities will meet the public approval. He does all that can fairly be required when he furnishes information of the destination of suspected letters, and the authorities can pursue the subject as well outside as inside the Post Office. Lecronzs ‘ro Lapres.—A series of lectures is being given to women, under the direc- tion of a committee of ladies of the Sorosis, upon the “Hygienic and Moral Influence of Dress.” This is a practical way of treat- ing the subject of women’s rights. Many women, otherwise intelligent and well edu- cated, are compelled by the conventional rules of society to adopt Fashion's arbitrary dictum, to the sacrifice of personal health and com- fort. We trust these lectures will be attended by many well thinking and sensible women, and that much profit to themselves, as well as to man and woman kind generally, may result therefrom. Tue Communists wm. Propasty learn & useful lesson in the conviction yesterday of one of the Tompkins square rioters and his sentence to three months’ imprisonment in the Penitentiary. A few more such examples will probably convince our foreign friends that America, while a land of liberty, is not safe place for the mischievous advocates of Communism. MARYLAND EDITORIAL 4 ‘ASSOOLATION, ‘WasuinaToy, Jan, 22, 1874, ‘The Maryland Editorial Association met here to~ day and adopted resolutions requesting their rep- resentatives in Congress to use every proper infla- ence to obtain the repeal of that ‘thon of the Pos. tal law forbidding the iree exchange of news; ers and free circulation in the counties in which Rh hey are published. DEATH OF A MASSACHUSETTS 1 POLITICIAN, Boston, Jan. 22, 1874, George W. Lobdell, State Senator from the First Plymouth district in 1872 and 1873, died at bis rem- dence in Mattapoisett yesterd THE SANITARY CONVENTION. WASHINGTON, Jan. 22, 1874 Only eleven delegates are tn attendance at the Sanitary Convention. Dr. Mary Walker took part in the discussion relative to the sdoption of a constitution, but tt was pretty well indicated Ro present that they “Gd hot need let aaaune-