New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-08-02
Increase in one year over 40 per cent ss4 10


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EASTWOOD, ms,or.... .'.''.'''''"''''''" oop' zoe
Increase in one year over 40 per cent. ~ es4las
From this period, the Ring has been prosperous
and certain insiders have made fortunes. Unde
MI. Wood they seemed to have no difficulty, unless
with that stubborn "Old Fiage,' as the CONTROLS
was called by them, and he was generally brough
to terms through siege at law, as 10 the Lowber
property Casa job which is said to have cost
nearly $4,000. Mayor Temann was kept in pro-
found ignorance of the doings of the Ring; and,
although be made several Efforts to get at them he
is to this day quite ignorant Ofthe names OF its MEN,
beers and OF most Of their jobs. Mayor Wood is in Of
fee again, and no men worked harder to put him
there than those who are now the Ring leaders;
though no ono acquainted with our vrtuOus Chief
Ms gstrate can for moment suspectthat he knows
anything about the secret conspiracy, in whose
hands he is as clay in the hands of the potter.
1t is scarcely necessary to q Jude to the "bg
I" thin gs" of recent date, now outdone by the ia
panese enterprise. 1t is to this Ring that We owe
the shameful Battery swindie; the disorg anizahon
of the WiamsbuIgh Ferries; the defeat OF the
plan for putting the Post ia the Park; the
daily violation of the Charter 10 refusing 20 contract
for the Street Cleaning; the reiardaticn of the
Central Park by refusing to issue bonds; the ex-
pensye and unreasonable extensions of Belgian
pavement in remote and unfreqaented streets; the
doubling and treblDg Of expenses for celebrations;
the shameless extravaganza of public printing;
the foolish if not wasteiu prodigalty in "repairs
I" and supplies" aid many other notorious outrages
upon the people at large. Individuals too, suffer
quite as severely. Let any man come to the City
Hall with ever so just bill against the City, and
he ill be put off, until quite accidentally friend
of the Ring huts that few dollars paid to such
an outsider will induce the Board to put his bill
forward. If it is large claim, and the charges
are high, ten or twenty per cent. for some chsr.
table purpose will save the trouble of an inquiry
il to the items, and make it " all right" Confirm
ing contracts is good business for the Ring. For
instance: street is directed to be graded; the
contract is advertised, and the work given out the
contractor going on and getting part CT hs pay
only until the job is finished. He fluids cay $4,000
balance in bis favor and wants the money. The
Street Department report the work done, and all
correct; bat the confirmation hangs fire In the
Common Council, the members knowing very well
that. sooner than wait months for bis money, the
contractor will stand very hand some per cent,ge.
Studied and Intentional delay has ruined some con-
tri ctors, and brought q great many 10 terms.
Hence shrewd ones take good care to keep on the
right terms with the head cOnspiratOrs.
OF course the work of the Ring is done by trusty
outside agents, who communicate only with the
leaders in zach Beard; most of the members are
very quiet and know nothing of the real business,
cententipg themselves with voting as directed, aud
packetiDg the consequences. The Ring is never
broken up. The more active members know its
yalue too well to be counted out, and consequently
take good care to secure their return, often at
immense outlay. When the public SEQ desperate
struggle for nomination to the Common Council,
in district where election Is pretty sure, they
NAV be certain that the rival candidates have
powerful desire TO be in the Ring; and there have
been instances in which this desire was 70 strong
as to cost the nominee several Thousand dollars in
the shape of on inducement for the other man to
back out Of the convention.
The election being over, the old members Of the
Ring come together to secure control OF the Boards
by choosing the right sort of President in each
since very much Of their success during tbs year
depends upon Parliame ntary tactics and favorable
rulings and decisions. OF course, we cannot imag
inc that any President has been IN the Ring; but
it il curious TO see how they innOcently and acci
dentally do just what the conspirators desire
Having arranged for the two Chairmen, the new
members are carefully studied with view to
making up the organization for the ysar. They
are divided into three classes: those who must be
taken in those who would not or dare not go In,
and those whe are on sale whenever their votes
are desirable for all figures from 50 to $500. If
the May or is easy in biz views, and not likely to
veto the big jobs the Ring need embrace only a
bare majority of each Board; but, if there ID
likely TO be trouble it is safer to got in twothirds.
TIE smaller number is Of course preferable, since
every additional member reduces the dividends.
Thus organized, the Ring is formed; one or two
agents, in no way connected with the city govern
meDt are selected to work upjobs and business pro-
ceeds. Every important matter that offers is first
canvassed in the Ring, where it is agreed ut what
figure il may pass, or if there several bidders,
it goes off to the highest-proyided he is safe. The
public see reports Of these jobs, and take II Tor
granted that they are all right, and that their fell
low -ctizens have regularly petitioned for them.
They do not dream that nobody ever asked for
them at all; that they were invented in the Ring
solely for the purpose of getting money out OF the
city, or the who stands godfather. Who Pc
e a az Of Fort (,anapyaart Who