The New York Herald Newspaper, December 27, 1874, Page 6

NEW YOR K HERALD | tie BROADWAY ANO ANN. STREET. JAMES GORDON BENNETT, | PROPRIETOR NOTICE T0 su BSCRIBE RS.—On and after Janoary 1, 1875, the daily and weekly editions of the New Yorx Henarp will be sent free of postage. All business or news letters Fe telegraphic despatches must be addressed New Yonx Hepa. Rejected communications will not be re- turned, Letters ard packages should be properly sealed. an: LONDON OFFICE OF THE NEW YORK HERALD—NO. 46 FLEET STREET. and Advertisements will be Subscription received and forwarded on the same terms | as in New York. | AMUSEMENTS TO-MORROW, | LYCEUM THEATRE th NEVIEVE DE E ANGOT, at 82. Miss Emily Soldene. WALLACK’S THEATRE, Rroacway.—THE SHAUGHRAUN, at 8¥. M.; closes at vw PM Mr. Boucicaalt. | WOOD'S MUSEU Jit of Thirtietn t.—-AFTER DARK, t 415 P.M aLSP. M., closes at METROPOLITAN THEATRE, >. $85 Broadway.— VARIETY, at 3 P. M.; Closes at 10:30 rd « AND OPERA HOUSE, and Eighth avenue.—THE BLACK loses at P.M. NY PASTOR'S OPERA HOUSE, RIETY, at 8 P. M.: cloves at 1045 P.M RE. first. dnd Twenty-second M.; closes at 1020 P.M. Broadway sireets —U Mr. John OLYMPIC T No. 8M Broadway.—VARIBTY. Pm . | Closes at 10-45 | BOOTH'S THEATRE, ty-third, street and Sixth avenue.— corner_ of ROMAN HIPP! Twenty-cixth street _ and avenue.—BLUE REARD and FETE aT PEKIN, afternoon and evening, atzand& Eighth street—VARIET Y, at FIFTH AVENUE THEATRE, nth street and Broadway.—PYGMALION | SP. M.; closes at 10307. M. Miss | STS OPERA HOUSE, West Twenty-third street, near ‘ixth avenue.—NEGRO MINSTRELSY, &c.,at8P. M.; closes at 10 P.M. Dan Bryant METROPOLITAN MUS UM OF ART, Fourteenth street.—Open trom 0 A M.w5P. M, NIBLI Broadway.—JACK AND JILL, P.M. BROOKLYN THEATRE Washington street.—LED ASTRAY, at 2 P. M.; MEDEA and DON AR DE BAZAN, ato P.M. Mr. Frank Roach, Mrs. Comway. SAN FRANC Broadway. corner of 1 MINSIRGLSY, at 8 P.M. CO MINSTRELS, ‘nty ninth stree.—NEGRO | ses at 10 P.M, ON HALL pS gctay street-—BEGONE DULL CARE. Mr. M abe. GLOBE THEATRE, Broadway.—VARIETY, at 3P. M.: closes at 10:30 P. M. NEW YORK STADT THEATRE, Be wery.—SCUNEEWITTCHEN, ats P.M. ACADEMY OF M Irving place.—LOHENGRIN, at Miss Cary, mori Carpi, Dei Puente. BROOKLYN PARK THEATRE. KING JOHN, at 8 P.M. Mrs. Agnes Booth, J, B. Booth. | TRIPLE SHEET. SUNDAY, DEC. BER 27, 1874. NEW YORK, From 0 our ner senor this morning the probabilities , are that the weather to-day will be rainy, clearing up later. Watt Street Yesterpay.—A holiday mar- ket. Transactions small and prices without feature. Gold strong at 111ja112; money easy at 3 and 34 per cent on call. Foreign exchange unchanged. | | reproach to our municipal institutions cer- | brief term , bas actually pursued. Among the suggestions | done in accordance with the charter, he gave | notice of the removals to the Mayor elect, and | minded course receives the warm approbation - | looks only to fairness, | ; | | public good. It requires courage to pursue | Memories” of the season and of the year, and | sucha course; but there are good reasons |... 4 : | will invite his people to accept the joy-pro- M. Mile. Albani, | Taz Bart Was Up in the Park yesterday, and the skating season was formally begun. | The description of the scene and the rules which govern this amusement, which we print to-day, will be found interesting to all. | EL AR aries, | Tue Day Arter Caristuas was gioomy | enough at the Tombs, one hundred andsixty | persons having been arraigned at the Poliee | Court. This startling revelation of crime or | want is in dark contrast with the brightness of the Christmas festival. Kina Karaxava yesterday was presented | with an address of welcome from the Board | of Trade, which complimented him as the first real monarch who had chosen to per- | sonally examine the working of republican in- stitutions. His Majesty to-day will attend church, and we trust he will find Christianity as earnest in the American capital as it is in his own. i Tue Granp Dvuxe Nicnoxas, nephew of the Czar, who has been declared insane by an im- | perial ukase, is the same royal personage who, | some months ago, robbed his mother of her jewels to give them toan American adventuress. | That scandal is fresh in the memory of the | American public, and is, no doubt, the cause of | the declaration of the Grand Duke's insanity. There was no other way, probably, of dealing with his offence and saving the honor of the imperial family of Russia. Tue Bercuen Cask came up in the Brook- lyn City Court yesterday and gave the oppos- ing counsel opportunity for a spirited Pick- wickian debate, which had little to do with the question. It was finally agreed that the argument upon the appeal from Judge McCue’s order for @ bill of particulars from Mr. Tilton should take place to-morrow, when: the time for the trial will be fixed. Thus far the trial seems to have been not to appoint ony time whatever, Tue Cvpan Wan—The Spanish authori- ties in Havana, as will be seen bg our cable despatches, themselves admit that the patriots are as energetic and active as ever and have taken new steps to obtain their ends, The re-establishment of the Cuban Junta in New York and the organization of new armed expeditions are said to be among these measures, What prominent Cubans in this city think of the situation, especially in re- spect to the course of the United States, is shown in our reports elsewhere, NEW Y OKK HER ALD, Vance's Short and Srilliant Admi ation. For the last month we have had a better Mayor by accident than during the preesd- ing two years by choice, which is, perhaps, | tainly, but a high compliment to the personal character of Mayor Vance. We can recollect no instance in which a public officer turned so slender an opportunity to such splendid account. When the late Mayor was suddenly taken away and his successor came in by a provision of the charter there was a great deal of speculation in political circles as to | the use Mayor Vance would make of his | power. But none of the | politicians were acute enough to predict or even to suspect a course like that which he of made on his unexpected elevation to the chief magistracy one was that he would create | vacancies in the city departments for the sake of filling them with republicans, and thereby deprive the incoming democratic Mayor of the opportunity of making appoint- ments. This dishonoring surmise could have arisen only in minds habituated to the un- scrupulous sharp practice of party politicians and totally unacquainted with the character of Mr. Vance. He has made no gratuitous removals on trumped up pretences, but only such as were called for by causes which brought them in the clear line of his duty and would have compelled his successor to take the same action if he had not been an- ticipated. In making these justifiable re- movals Mayor Vance took no partisan advan- tage of the vacancies. Instead of filling them all with republicans, as he might legally have requested’ him to name the successors of the displaced officers. This honorable, high- of our best citizens without distinction of party. It is refreshing to find in politics a gentleman of scrupulous honor and perfect fairness, who scorns to take a partisan ad- vantage and respects the will of the people, as declared in the late municipal election. Mayor Varce could not descend to | anything bearing the remotest resemblance to a trick nor avail himself of the letter of the | charter to defeat its spirit. A course so can- did, equitable and high toned ‘‘wins golden opinions from all sorts of men’’ and gives Mayor Vance a secure place in the esteem and confidence of his fellow-citizens. There is no other instance in our municipal history of a public officer gaining so enviable a reputation with so brief an opportunity. Let us hope that Mayor Wickham will emulate Mr. Vance’s noble conduct and win equal approbation and applause during | the first month of his term. We are confident | that he will not give our citizens reason to regret that the republican, Vance, was not | elected in place of the democrat, Wickham. The only way for Mayor Wickham to gain laurels is by surpassing, or at least equalling, Mayor Vance in that honorable magna- | nimity which rises above the marky at- mosphere of low partisan politics and | justice and the | for believing that Mr. Wickham possesses it. He took an early opportunity to declare his independence of party cliques and leaders and his intention to be nobody's puppet, but | the actual Mayor of the city. If he makes | this declaration good, as we have no reason to doubt that he will, he will be as popular as | Mayor Vance has suddenly become, and may even eclipse him with his greater opportuni- ties and a longer tenure of office. He can do bolder and more acceptable things than a pro tempore incumbent of the office would be justified in attempting. If Mr. Vance were the elected Mayor, with two full years before him, there is no doubt that he would make a prompt removal of Comptroller Green. Even during his brief term of service he has over- ruled and thwarted Green's policy of wasteful litigation in an important instance, and his | constant opposition té6 him in the Board of Apportionment shows how he rates his fitness for the important office | he abuses. He has _ properly enough | refrained from his removal because the office is too important a part of the municipal ma- chinery not to be left fully in the hands of the party who will be responsible for the well working of the city government for the next two years. The democrats are entitled to the Comptroller, and Mayor Wickham should have sufficient time to look about him and deliberately decide whom he will select to fill | so importanta place. But his mind should be made up on this point by the day -of his inauguration ; and, while Mr. Vance has been considerate in not precipitating upon him the necessity of making a choice before he is pre- pared, Mr. Wickham will have no excuse for delay when he is installed in office. He onght to take the first steps for the removal of the Comptroller on the very day he is sworn in. It is the most popular act he could do, and would be accepted by nineteen-twentieths of our citizens as the best guarantee of a wise administration. Mr. Green absurdly pretends that the gen- | eral disfavor into which He has fallen is owing to his immaculate honesty, as if he were a being “too bright and good for human nature's daily food.’ Even if this were not the hypocritical pretence which the public knows it to be it would be prepos- terous. Was there ever before a man who | made “‘honesty” 80 odious? Has this man | Green, who was tumbled into office by an ac- | cidental conjuncture in politics, without | election by the people or the free choice of | any Mayor, the assurance to hold himself up as the only honest man in the city? Does anybody believe that Mr. August Belmont or | | offer | hopper plague. 1 flannted in the faces of all comers. je a man blessed with constant good health never pa- rades the fact that he is well, soa man whose integrity is a part of his nature never thinks | of trumpeting to the world that he is an hon- | est man. When a person gets uncomfortable | about what he is pleased to call his “‘honesty,”’ attempts to trade on it politically, and does all sorts of odd and outrageous things to adver- tise it, people are apt to conclude that a repu- tation that needs such perpetual propping rests on a frail foundation. As a chaste wo- man shrinks from having her chastity made a topic of common discourse, as if it were & point open to doubt and requiring a constant | succession of proofs, so men of genuine integrity are offended by instead of courting testimonials to the fact that they are not knaves. Really honest men prize honesty for itself and not as political capital to trade on. They do not assume, as Mr. Green does, that most other men are rogues, because those who are virtuous themselves find it easy to be- lieve in the virtue of others. When Mayor Wickham removes the Comptroller he will have no difficulty in finding a successor whose honesty is not a perpetual source of discom- fort. We have already mentioned a few of the many excellent names from which the new Mayor could make a popular and creditable selection. Among them are—John J. Cisco, Frederick Tappen, President of the Gallatin National Bank ; W. Seymour, the ex-Presi- dent of the New York Stock Exchange ; John T. Agnew, E. P. Fabbri, of the firm of Fabbri & Chauncey ; Edward Cooper, John S. Hume and Abel Dennison, a retired merchant and President of the Warehouse Company ; and we will now add the name of George S. For- rest, at present one of the Commissioners of Emigration. It is a libel on the city to say that it has but one honest man competent to be Comptroller, and a ridiculous satire to contend that that one honest man is Andrew H. Green. e Christmas Thoughts in the Pulpits. The festival of Christmas and the approach- ing end of the year give the pastors an excel- lent opportunity and an additional inspira- tion, if they need one, to call men to repentance. Very many of our city pastors will, therefore, make these events the basis of one or more of their discourses to-day. The Rev. Mr. Alger will show how we may abuse as well as use these events in our annual retrospection, while Mr. Hepworth will help his people to take an account of moral stock previous to embarking on another year's voyage. He will also repeat his sermon of last Sabbath, by request, on ‘The Outlook from Bethlehem.” The Rev. Mr. Macarthur, teo, will have some thoughts to on Christmas and on the New Year as apropos to those who have allowed another year to pass without having made their peace with God. The Rev. Mr. Corbit will also preach a Christmas sermon this morning, and in the evening will take a peep into eternity. And as time and eternity are nearly related to each other Dr. Porteous | will probably tell us what they are and what | is their relationship. Dr. Miller will have something to say about the Christ child also, and Mr. Hawthorne will revive the ‘Sacred ducing elements ot Christianity instead of its melancholia. ‘‘The Star in the East’’ will enable Dr. Armitage to guide his congrega- | tion to where the infant Redeemer may be found, so that they can offer the material gifts | of their hands as well as the homage of their hearts. Green’s Economy. Mayor Wickham will of course require from Comptroller Green an explanation of his relation to the misconduct for which the Commissioners of Charity were so properly removed by Mayor Vance. It appears, and the fact was shown in the Henarp nearly a year ago, that bills in excess of one thousand dollars were illegally incurred by the Com- missioners ; but these bills were paid by the Comptroller. How was this? Was the Comptroller deceived? Where, then, is that vigilance for which he makes the city pay so enormously? Was he a party to the game of the Commissioners? Where, then, is his honesty? It does appear that he must have been one or the other—either a party to the game or a dupe of the players—and the Mayor | should call upon him to explain which he was. Good-natured people would like to believe that he was a dupe only, but there are difficult facts in the way. He is, for instance, peculiarly on the alert for games of this sort. He fully appreciates that the most important function of his office is to watch against them. He has greatly increased the burden of clerk hire, ostensibly that he might the better be prepared for this service, and yet his prepa- rations are a bald failure., Could his experts not see through the thin pretence of a division of bills to make smaller sums than a thousand dollars? Nonsense. If they were experts they knew; and if they knew it was Green's duty to require a contract before the payment of the bills. In that duty he failed. For what reason? This is as much a case for his removal as tor the removal of the Com- missioners. Boors anp SHogs ror tae Neprasxa Sur- rerers.—General Brisbin, writing from Omaha, Neb., thanks the Heraup for its efforts in behalf of the sufferers by the grass- It is gratifying to know that an abundant supply of clothing is anticipated from the benevolent. Boots and shoes for ladies and children are what are now most urgently needed, and the mention of the fact is only necessary to indicate to the charitably disposed the character of the donations which | at this momeut would be most acceptable. Mr. Royal Phelps or General McClellan or | the other gentlemen of high standing to whom Mayor Hall offered the Comptrollership’and | who declined it, thereby reducing him to the necessity of appointing Green—does anybody believe that any of those gentlemen are infe- rior to Mr. Green in integrity? But who of | them all would have incurred the detestation which has fallen on the present Comptroiler ? It is some other quality than ‘‘honesty’’ that | has made him the most odious man in the city. There are gentlemen enough with whom hon- | esty is so habitual, so mucha part of their | nature, that they no more think of parading | it as distinction than they would of drawing attention to the fact that they wear clean linen, Itis too much a thing of course to be | | the Curva anp Japan.—Elsewhere we give an | accurate account of the negotiations by which, perhaps, was averted the war between China | | and Japan, that seemed imminent as a conse- quence of the Japanese expedition to Formosa. Our correspondence will well repay an atten- tive perusal on the part of all persons interested in the relations of the two great | Eastern pupils of Western thought. China never made a more characteristic appearance ji in any negotiation whatever, and the pecu- liar tone and temper of the resolute and prac- tical Japanese are equally clear. The ulti- mate point in the case—the actual result of negotiations—was given first in our Bierne soite weeks since; but the story of the negotiations is now told for the first time, The Homicide in New Orle: Three hot headed gentlemen in New Orleans have behaved very foolishly, and the result is that one of them is in prison and may be tried tor his life, another is dead, and the third, though not in personal danger, is to a great extent responsible for the misfortunes of the others. The intense excitement of society in New Orleans may be measured by the quarrel between ex-Governor Warmoth on the one side and Messrs. Byerly and Jewell on the other, the details of which are given by our correspondent elsewhere. Differing in opinion about the propriety of having separate street cars for negroes, these gentlemen turned a public question into a private quarrel, gnd have established nothing but the fact of their own folly. We print the statements of both Warmoth and Jewell, and regret to say that both appear equally guilty of a grave offence against public order and the law. Because of their influential positions, the one in politics, the other in journalism, both Mr. Warmoth and Mr. Jewell should have sought to tranquillize, instead of exciting, society in New Orleans. That city is like a powder magazine just now, and a duel might have been like the application of a torch. Because Mr. Jewell said in the Bulletin that Mr. Warmoth was a thief, and Mr. War- moth in his card intimated that Mr. Jewell was a liar, was no reason why they should outrage modern usages and disgrace American society by agreeing to fight a duel with pistols atten paces. Duelling has become ridiculous when it is not criminal. The code of honor is a farce when it is not consecrated with blood, and a barbarism when its results are fatal. Thus, when the affair is considered as a@ merely personal one, the challenge of Mr. Jewell and the acceptance of Mr. Warmoth must be set down as un- worthy of intelligent men; but when the inflammable state of society in New Or- leans is remembered their action deserves to be branded as a public crime. Of Mr. Byerly’s assault upon Warmoth we prefer to say little, for he has expiated that error with his life. He seems to have been the aggressor and to have had no immediate provocation for the attack. Warmoth undoubtedly stabbed him in self-defence, though how far such a defence was justified by his personal danger is a question only to be determined by the tes- timony of the witnesses. In this wretched affair some explanation of the troubles in the South can be found. There can be little hope for people who are governed by duellists, or by leaders who claim the right to settle their grievances by an appeal to blows. Warmoth, Byerly and Jewell dis- played a contempt for law which has been too common in the South and which must be replaced by respect for it be- fore anything like prosperity can be restored to that section of the country. When Governors and editors resort to duelling and street fighting what patience can be expected from the people their example influences? The danger is that the spirit of defiance and irresponsibility which they exhibited as indi- viduals may animate whole classes of the com- munity, and that the declaration of Governor McEnery that “the wrong just perpetrated by the Returning Board is one which would not be submitted to by any free people’’ may become the excuse for armed rebellion. We ask the conservative people of New Orleans to remember that such methods of revenging their wrongs can only result in the creation of greater evils. The death of Byerly, the terrible misfortune which has fallen upon Warmoth, and even the threat which Jewell has since that fatal brawl repeated, should be a warning to both parties, and especially to men who are supposed to be the leaders of public opin- ion in the State. A Special Operatic Season. Every lover of good music will be delighted at the announcement made by Mr. Strakosch that three special operatic performances will be given this week at the Academy. The only regret will be that this enterprising impresario does not see his way to giving usa longer season. We suppose the fault lies with the public, for Mr. Strakosch has certainly en- deavored to provide for the musical wants of New York with a liberality that ought to have commanded success. The first performance of the special season, given to-morrow, will be a remarkable affair. There wil] be gathered our royal visitor, King Kalakaua, Governor Tilden, Mayors Wickham and Vance and a host of other distinguished people. Beauty and fashion will throng the Academy to do honor to royalty, and the queen of song, the charming Albani, will be wel- comed back with unabated enthusiasm. “Lohengrin” has been selected for to-morrow evening's performance, so that His Majesty King Kalakaua will return to his subjects with a thorough comprehension of what is meant by the ‘music of the future.” Ever-delight- tul ‘‘Trovatore” is set down for Wednesday, and on Friday the season will be brought toa close with ‘Don Giovanni.'’ We hope the public will not fail to mark their appreciation of the sterling work done by Mr. Strakosch in supplying operatic per- formances not unworthy of London or Paris at considerable risk. The support given to the opera in the earlier part of the season was certainly not so generous as Mr. Strakosch hada might to expect. Now that the hard times are drifting away the enterprise of the manager should receive substantial tokens of public approval. Comprrot.en GREEN demands ¢ and has re- ceived in the city estimate nine million three hundred thousand dollars for payment of in- terest on the city debt. Some of the debt bears seven, some six andasmall portion five per cent interest. Averaging the interest at six and a half per cent the amount appropriated represents a debt of about one hundred and forty-four million dollars. But this interest account is still deceptive and fraudulent. is based on the bonded and funded debt and revenue bonds, The city is liable for interest and stocks. ten million dollars are now in suit against the city. will cost the city seven hundred thousand | dollars a year additional interest, and some of It | | i | SUNDAY, DECEMBER 27, 1874.—TRIPLE SHEET. interest for which the city is actually liable [ will therefore greatly exceed nine million three hundred thousand dollars; but this sum is enough to show the taxpayers at what a reck- less rate we are heaping up the burden of debt. “Home Rule” for New York City. In the platform of the Convention which nominated Samuel J. Tilden Yor Governor is @ plank which declares in favor of ‘home rule ; to limit and localize most jealously the few powers ititrusted to public servants—mu- nicipal, State an1 federal ; no centralization.”” This language is sufficiently plain and em- phatic. It isa concise statement of a princi- ple that has long been recognized as a cardinal one'with thedemocracy. Time and again that party has protested against the interference of the federal authorities in State affairs and the intermeddling of State authorities with the affairs ot New York city. The democrats of the Legislature of 1872, of which Mr. Til- den was a member, opposed that provision of the city charter which gives the Governor a veto power on removals of heads of depart- ments by the Mayor. Their opposition was based on the sound principle that as the Mayor is atthe head of the municipal government, is charged with the duty of seeing that the duties imposed upon the several heads of departments are faithfully performed, and is directly responsible to the citizens of the me- tropolis for his official actions, he should possess the absolute power of removal, inde- pendent of the Governor of the State. They opposed the provision further on the ground that it was special legislation, applying to the New York city government restrictions not imposed on other cities of the State. Their objections to this feature of the charter, as well as their general protests against similar legislation, are embraced in that portion of the democratic platform we have quoted— “home rule; to limit and localize most jealously the few powers intrusted to munici- pal officers."’ Governor Tilden accepted, approved and was elected on this platform. This is a suffi- cient disproval of the rumors that he has pledged himself to save Comptroller Green from removal by Mayor Wickham, through the use of the veto power, conferred for political purposes by a repub- lican Legislature on a republican Governor. Governor Tilden is an honorable man and a democrat, and he would not violate the obli- gation he voluntarily took upon himself when he accepted the democratic platform and the democratic nomination. He would scarcely be ambitious to initiate in his administration of the State government the policy of favorit- ism and personal triendship in appointments and removals that has worked so injuriously in the city government for the past two years, and that is so disgraceful to the administra- tion at Washington. It will be the duty of Mayor Wickham to remove Comptroller Green from office as soon as he has the power to do so. Governor Tilden would not sacrifice his personal honor, his party fealty, his avowed principles and his future political prospects by interposing any obstacles to this removal. Mayor Wickham’s Daty—What Should Be His First Act. The proper management of the city finances is the most important work in the mu- nicipal government. An intelligent, compre- hensive and well defined financial policy is | the best safeguard against mismanagement in all the public departments. Since Andrew H. Green has held the office of Comptgoller the people have not been vouchsafed any full information’ as to their financial condition. In the Board of Apportionment, to which is assigned the duty of fixing the amount to be levied annually by taxation for the support, of the government, one of the members de- clared, a day or two ago, that it was impossi- ble to obtain from Comptroller Green a full and satisfactory statement of the city debt. Here ist board called upon to provide what amounfeof the public money shall be ap- propriated for interest, and the financial officer of the city is unable or unwilling to tell its members how much the city owes, In removing the Commissioners of Charities and Correction Mayor Vance charges upon those officials criminal violation of duty in having made purchases of supplies, without con- tracts, in amounts forbidden by the law and at fraudulent prices. The removed Commis- sioners could not have committed this official wrong if the Comptroller, whese duty requires him to scrutinize such accounts, had not been neglectful of that duty ora willing party to the offence, The Corporation Counsel, who seems to do his best to prevent needless litiga- tion, reports hundreds of suits against the city involving about ten million dollars. These are necessitated by the obstinate refusal of the Comptroller to pay debts owing by the city, against which he is advised there is no possible defence. These evils should be terminated by Mayor ‘Wickham as soon as he enters upon the duties of his office. One of his first official acts should be the removal of Comptroller Green. The charter requires the Mayor to ‘communicate to the Common Council at least once a year a general statement of the finances of the city.’ No particular time is fixed for this statement, but in view of the unsatisfactory condition of our financial management it cannot be made too soon by Mayor Wickham. It is a duty he owes to himself to enable the people to know their exact financial condition and to initiate @ new financial policy at the commencement of his term of office. He cannot do this until he rids the city of financial charlatanism. His removal of Andrew H. Green will be indorsed by Governor Tilden in accordance with demo- integrity in the Comptroller's office our finan- cial affairs can soon be redeemed from their present confusion, Pertis, THE Forcer.—Spencer Pettis, the forger, who is now residing in the Massachu- setts State Prison, tells a story, which will be found in our news columns, of the manner in which he was imposed upon in the Bolles | is very anxious for the Governor to sign, If these should ail be recovered they | and if that functionary only complies with his request he promises to come to New York and reveal much about the recent forgeries of them have been running for two and three | railroad bonds and throw a flood of light debts not yet in suit, which is withheld by Comptroller Green, all of which bear seven per gent interest, The | years and some for alonger period. We owe | besides on the true character of the New but the payment of | York detectives, The latter, he insists, are using their influence to prevent him from getting out of prison, A Good Beginning. The removal of the Commissioners ot Charities and Correction by Mayor Vance is a good beginning in the work of purifying and reforming the municipal departments, The Department of Charities and Correction has been in no greater need of reform than other departments of the city govern- ment. There has been so much of personal intrigue in the municipal offices that the pub- lio interests have been almost wholly over- looked. The Fire Department, the police, the Finance Department, the docks, have been managed as though they were the personal per- quisites of their heads. One Police Commis- sioner has claimed this appointment, the other that. One Dock Commissioner has had his friends to provide for and another has been in a similar position. This Fire Com- missioner has been watchful of one con- tractor’s interests, while his associates have looked after the interests of others, In the Finance Department the people have been altogether ignored, Its pragmatical head has assumed not only to be supreme in the management of the city finances, but to rule all other departments of the city government. The Comptroller's Office and its bureaus have been asylums for the partisans of its chief, and have cost the city double the amount for which they could be managed as business offices, The work of purification commenced by Mayor Vance can Show be vigorously pursued by Mayor Wick- ham. Its necessity is acknowledged, and the changes demanded cannot be attributed to partisanship. As the most important reform is that relating to our financial policy Mayor Wickham’s first duty will be to deal with the Comptroller. When he has turned out Andrew H. Green and placed the city finances in capa- ble hands he can then turn his attention to other departments and complete the work s@ well started by Mayor Vance. PERSONAL INTELLIGENCE, Short dresses produce corns. Mile. Albani arrived at the Clarendon Hotel last evening from goston, Mr. Theron Barnum, the St. Louis hotel man, ts at Barnam’s Hotel. Ex-Goyernor Thomas P. Porter, of Kentucky, ia staying at the Fiitn Avenue Hotel. Mr. Lawrence Barrett, the actor, is among the latest arrivals at the New York Hotel. Congressman Samuel J. Randall, of Philadelphia, is registered at the Hoifman House. In some of the new styles there is no change. Poor relatives are cut the same as last year. The best preparation to keep a lady’s hand “free from chaps” 1s a report that she has no money. Commodore keed Werden, Commandant of the naval station at New London, is quartered at the Everett House. Mr. Max Strakosch, Signor E. Muzio and Mlle. Donadio have taken up their residence at the Everett House. Herr Pestel, Councillor of the Dutch Legation at Paris, has been appointed Minister for the Nether- lands at Washington. - Judge Charles Daniels, of the Supreme Coort, ar- rived in this city yesterday irom Buffalo, and ts at the Grand Central Hotel. Congressmen James B. Beck, of Kentucky, and William E, Niblack, of Indiana, have apartments at the Fifth avenue Hotel. A Brooklyn man with a “club foot was much” comforted by @ married man who admitted having a clubped head. —Brooklyn Argus. Chicago thieves complain that the jewelry they aré compelled to steal out there is the kind of which you get “your chotce for one dollar.” Messieors Ranc and Melvil Blancourt, distin- guished for their relations with the Commune, | have at last been expeiled from the French As- ' semoly. Ivs truly astonishing how the papers, while they | persist in charging a man a dollar an inch for ad- vertising when living, cheerfully give up a whole column of space for nothing when his obituary comes along.—Sunday Times. An Italian Prometheus, Giuseppe Bragni, in- vented a galvanic battery of great power, of | which, however, the professors at Verona had no great opinion, so Bragni committed suicide by put- Ung on the whole force and grasping the handles. The Mikado of Japan has personally expressed, through Sir Harry Parkes, British Minister, bis thanks for the irtendly services performed by Mr. Wade, British Chargé tn Pekin, in the settlement of the Formosa question between China and Japan. A contemporary asks, “What are street lamps | fort The man who doest’t know what a street | lamp 1s for 1s hardly fit to sit in an editorial chair and mould public opinion. Street lamps are for weary yonng men to recline against at midnight | when they forget the way home.—Norristoun Herald, Mrs. Nathalie Pollard's entertainment at Stein- way Hall, on ruesday evening, will comprise, among other attractions, a discourse on ‘Life at Washington.” If Mrs. Pollard is not qualified to discourse on that topic we shouid like to know who is. A crowded house 18 looked for, There was recently drawn in vhe Russian con. scription a young man who nad made such pro- gress in bis studies as to have been graduated im law and to have reached a high position in the civil service, He had to go to the army all the game, but the government accords that, while in the army, he shall’be regarded as absent on leave Irom his civil oftice. Fortunately spiritaalism and sleight of band are likely to become synonymous terms, Hermann could beat all the mediums and give them poats. ‘The advantage 14 that you are not required to ex. plain the tricks of a conjurer on the alternative of asserting that they are superaatural phenomena If you cannot explain them; but this 1s what is ree quired in the case of mediums, ART NOTES. ‘There ts on exhibition at the Somerville Gallery &n interesting collection of paintings. Tnere are several works by native artists who have studied abroad which displuy great power, and show clearly the benefit our young men derive from study in the European art centres. A landscape by Dubois is especially worthy of note for the splendia quality of the work, Itis a strong study from nature, and the Way in which the light and shade are treated is worthy of the strongest come mendation. The atmospheric eftects, too, are well rendered. Several works by James Crawford Thorn, an artist who won much distinction in Europe, form part of the collection, Among these, “A Religious Procession of Brittany Peasants on Christmas Eve” and “A Brittany Shepherd Watch. a A | ing His Flock,” are fuli of charming sentiment, | cratic principle, and with a man of brains and | and are painted with unusual technical skill, There are a large number of works by European artists, and though the examples are not o: the highest merit the collection will well repay a visit. ‘The Lotos Club held its art reception last night, and a goodly display of paintings by our native artists was made upon its walls, These art re+ ceptions are very enjoyable affairs and do the artists and the clubs @ great deal of good, Among the attractions at Goupil’s gallery are lt beautiful busis by Lawlor, the well kn on all its just debts, as well as on its bonds | forgery case by sharpers sharper than himself. | abe ‘ ‘ iy 8 Claims to the amount of about | He has a petition for pardon, which he | London sculptor. The head of Argyra espectally ta classically beautiful. The modelling is at once delicate and firm, and the execution bespeaks the trained chisel. Several young American artists who have lately retarned from Kurope are going back in disgust. They are better patronizea by foreigners than by their own countrymen, David Johnson has just completed a charming picture which he calls “A view at Ramapo” and an otnér landscape, which we consider his bowt work. It is @ view at Warwick, painted wilh unusual | strengta,