New-York daily tribune., 1866-02-21

6au COluulSIOn. IN ioOa, uV"oNoi' "Hoo WV
Board presented report severely rejecting on
msny of "Gov. Seymour's friends" for
their part in the July riots Of the previous year.
the Governor determined on removing them
and nominstcd-as he had the unquestionable
right to do-AIeSsrs. Bosworth, McMurray and
Powell. three Democrats, in their places.
But the Senate was against the Governor and
would not confirm these nominees: so that VIC
were threatened with two rival sets Of Police
Huthorities-Messrs. Acton ard Company hold
iug on By the right Of possession; while Judge
BoSwOrth and his associates had title, though
not strictly perfect, under the Governors com
mission. 1t was in this dilemma that tho recent
Compromise Board" was constituted: the
Governor taking Bosworth and McMurray.
while tho individual referred to" was allowed
to retain his two pet appointees. But no one
ever dreamed, nor pretended that this mon
partisan arrangement was anything more than
a mere make.shiit 10 tide over violent conflict
of authority between a Democratic Governor
and Union Senate. Had both been of one way
of thinking, the Police Board would have Ger.
tainly assumed the bipartisan complexion
with which it vas first created under the
auspices of 1.-the individual" and Mr.. Little
john.
As TO Mr.. Littlcjohn's other record IN regard
to non-partian legislation" We may cite a
few samples. In the early days Of the session
of 1860. while he was Speaker Of the Assembly.
a bill was rushed through under his auspices
forbiddng the Common Council of our City to
dispose Of or give away any franchises or grants
for city railroads This bill was at first widely
applaudcd as an indication Of legislative hon
osty. Here's richness for yOu," shriekcd the
intelligent and independent press; and it be-
came for some few bIei. glorious and happy
weeks dream of the public tLat, if fresh city
railroad privileges and charters were to be gwen
out. they would be disposed of to such capitalists
as MeSsrs. A. L. Stewart, A. H. Emo, John j.
Phelps, and OthCr citizens Of property and char
acter, who had offered to pay many millions
into the public treasury for such grants.
In brief time, however, these bssiul illu-
sions were dispeled: five city railroad grants OF
the most " non-partisan' character being at
once rushed through the Legislature under Mr..
Littlejohn's chariotecrship-so " non-partsan.'
indeed. that they gave away and divided public
rights and property in the streets worth many
millions of dollars, in equal proportion between
the Republican friends Of Mr.. Littlejohn and
the Individual referred TO" on the one side.
and the supporters of those gentlemen in the
Tammany Democratic ranks on the other.
One word more.
Mr.. Liitlejohn expressed smazement il not
horror. that Speaker Tremain should have
quilted the chair during the passage of the
Health bill TO explain his ruling of point Of
order oil the floor. Has he forgotten that when
those five iniquitous, though non-partisan"
city railroad bills, passed under his own aus
pices a. Speaker, had been rghteously vetoed
by Gov. Morgan, he. Speaker Littlciohn, quit
ted the chair and took the floor against the
Governors veto; and that it was under the
spell of the strange ascendancy he always
seemed "a hold over tho Assembly that those
FIVE "non partisan" bills passed into laws not
withs,andne Gov. Morgan'S emphatic protest
Wc have done