New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-03-18
THE FIRRMEN AND THE ASSEM-
BEYMRN.

We had occasion, not long since. to call atten-
ton to one Of the political mischieis Of the pres
ent Firemens organization. After stating that
they were 1900 strong, we said:
Inevitably. they viii control political party, OF
political party vii control them. Having sufficient
Dumber and ample unoccupied time, this oody Is aoo
TO control all the caueuses OF party There /, not
man ia that party strong to be able TO resist item
In party nominations. They are therefore. obh 70 uie
tate ,erus Ne city officers who hold the Keys :" toe
treasury and IL enables those who stoop low enough 70
be popular witt tho scmen to control and override all
tie better members Of thru party The enect OF t.ss
red the grade OF men that hold the pubhe ouces
the party Being 90 large extent without bones the!
are able 10 vote early and often without regard TO the
penalties for fraudulent voting. Tins may explain why
80 large a shATe Of hremsn are IN the common
Council
The following private circular furnishes al IL
lustration Of the mischief to which We referred,
and the manner and methods resoried to by the
Fire Department TO control the action oil The
party with which it acts:
"lPERsoSAl-j
To A grea, number Of active hremen are
very much ncrpscd and Justly So At the Indifference
nanaesied by the Heads OF Department. in the passage
Of the act before the Legislature for PAID FIRE Dt
pARrNpST When IL 10 taken into consideration that
tho fBe Department and their friends almost unanl'
ousy sustained a the past Nv" elections Al persons
up election who employees or under the control
~ the Heads OF Departments. on heir soiciation-in
doing which hremen took rough chances lss 70. are
apdrs they have right TO De inoensed Had II not
been for then action the charges made against bremen.
and especially "bunker" would not have been so o.,
and injurious a. ey were before the Committee OF
the State Senate.
lyon kaor that the eXsStions OF frenen and their
friends secured the election of your Jr'ends, Aldermen
Nolan q Bricn. Brce and Mastersor. which gave the
control of the Board Of Aldermen 10 your Interest IL Is
In their districts where the greatest complaints were
made Of the voting from bunk rooms, and the action OF
hremen The Lremen knor that tbey secured the con
troll of the Common Council 10 the Heads Of Depart
mentf And they also knon that they helped ma
terialy TO the nomination and election Oh the
following named persons to the Legislature to please
the Heads Of Departments; Jacob l.. smith. George
Loutrel Edward SeebscLer-all Of whom are employed
by the Controller together with Alexander ward I'd
ward s. Maloy Thomas j. Creamer. employed by the
Street Commissioner with four Others over whom the
Heads Of Departments have T,eidf igtEspce. whose
names do not appear employees III the Corporation
Manual. ....c,.-
alton 10 the Assembly TO please the Heads Of De-
partments' They ask in return. and expect that yon
viii instruct your rprfsenfa'rts TO use an '9eir enc
for the maintenance OF the present FIRE department
II IL not asking too much. With the influence you
possess the bill for Paid Fire Department can be de-
ieated. VIII you make an effort for
FRIENDLY but not FOGETFUL FfRENFSF
This document is sent az a circular to the
Heads of Departments whom it menaces, and
is understood to have been one of the means 10
compelling contributions of money and the ap-
plication of other influences to defeat legisla-
tive action for the reform of the Fire Depart
ment Considering the immense power of this
organized mass OF men, whose practice at cleo
tons is to "vots early and often" he would be
bold man in the Democratic party who should
neglect to give heed to the admontion con-
tanned in the document The vote in the Legs
lature and the action Of numerous Democrats
in New-York, who we know condemn the pres
ent system, prove that this movement OF the
iremen has had its effect.
Rumors are prevalent that large sum of
money has been provided through this influence
OF the Fire Department, which it is claimed will
be the means Of defeating the bill. 1t is said
that the tiremen are so sanguine of success that
they ore yenturing wagers upon il. Let it not
be overlooked that the defeat of the bill is I'm.
possible without the completely Of Republican
members Of the Legislature. 1t is not expected
that any Democratic vote will be cast for it. |
They are bound hand and foot by their mas.
tiers, the "bunkers" Of the Fire Department. |
Municipal reforms must always be made with.
out their votes, and by votes that are independ-
emit of their constituency. We do not believe
that this most beneficcnt measure, needful to
the welfare of the city, is to be lost by Republic
ran votes. We have a right to claim that there
is not Republican in the Legislature so def
,ient in understanding or virtue as not to give
{ his cordial support Nevertheless. delays and
lesitancy have raised the question Of doubt iu Il
lI a..- a...s ..a tI.