New-York daily tribune., 1858-10-28
rEwyoRx DAILY TRIBUNE, THURSDAY OCTOBER % 1853

legislative career in the Boayd Of Councimen in
IsJA-'55 but as the Know-Noihings were IN the
majority in both years, he had 8 slim chance-so
slim that in 1855 he did not serve On any o 'he
Committees. Next year under the auspices o'
Fernando Wood, he was chosen Alderman, STEP
ping into tie shoe. OF the redoubtable harry
Howard of the Bloody Sixth Ward Mr. tlanc!
was sn active partisan, and although his size
were in minority for the srst year OF his ser
vice "a an Alderman he became the head OF COM
pact clique. who We're strong enough to have their
own way in most things, backed, ~ they were, oy
the two. thirds power of the Mayors veto. The
extru, agance which had been brought 10 periec-
ion by the Forty Thieves. was carefully kept alive
and fostered BY Clancy and his friends. There were
increases Of $500. 600 for the Poor House, S3o,oo
for the Board of Health. S56,ooo for interest,
$4,000 for repairs, $4,000 for salaries,
100000 for street cleaning $4,000 for
schools. So. 600 for lamps AMI other items,
making an aggregate increase IN 100
over i.55 of SI200,000. Near the close of
le.6. the celebrated Lowber trade was offered,
and in violation of the spirit of the Charter, SIM
pie resolution was put through directing the Con-
troler TO give Sl9G coo for block of ground which
the assessors put down at about $4,000, aud TO
tvo.thirds Of which il wss showu the claimant had
no title. Clancy was the early and persistent
friend Of Lowber, and was one of the eleven to
eight who voted to buy this property in December,
Ic56. For the want of one more vote, the job was
then postponed; but early in lS57 it Was revived.
and on the Dist OF January il was gagged through
the Board of Counclmen, without giving chance
for debate. In the other Board il was hurried
| with all dispatch, and finally passed February l9
Clancy and fifteen others voting for AID five against
it. So scaudalous was thi. bargain that Mayor
Wood lodged the responsibility of indorsing it,
allowing ii to become = law by lapse Of time.
When Mayor Wood set up his dicta in place Of
the law, and nstisatcd riot and bloodshed, John
| Clancy was his obsequious friend. When Wood
! it that redolent specimen Of honesty Mr.. Charles
DeyliD, Mr.. Clancy was party consenting to the
outrage. When. after his condemnation by the
Court Of Anreas, Wood Siolatcd his promise to hold
The city chargeless and put in his claims to be paid
for rebellion, Mr.. Clancy was earnest in rushing
the SIUUUO through thc BOdTu Anu "hic MS
friends and foes were gathering rich harvest from
the City Treasury in these and other ways Clancy
was not idle in bis own behalf, IIe is the editor
and, we believe, chief proprietor Of a newspaper.
aud as soon as his party got into power,
resolution was passed for which he voted
himself making that 8 Corporation paper at
its own charges. although the Charter makes
ii misdemeanor for any Alderman to be
thus interested in work done at the city's cost.
by such and other means, Clancy and his friends
succeeded in running up the taxation of the city for
lc57 to 81, I00, 900 more than in ls56, making a
total Of more than eight millions for last year
against less than four millions for the year previous
TO the election Of Kelly, Clancy and Herrick, who
now aspire to the posts Of Sheriff, Clerk and Con-
gresham.
VIII the friends of good government think of
these few among the many similar facts in the
official career Of the men with whom we are deal
ing and judge how far they are likely to contribute
to honesty snd economy by voting for them