The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-06-28
The PoIiticnI Rinr Triumnhs.

An last the Committee on Law has consented
to report on the case Of Frederick A. Van
Cleve. After delaying the question as long as
it dared, and until its action was in the mouth
of every citizen, it finally submitted two re-
ports, each signed by six members; the one
favoring the claims of Van Cleve and the
other opposing them. Charles M. Wagner,
the accessory" in making the report of the
Committee, made speech which was worthy
of the immortal Bunsby. He stated that Gas
the Committee was equally divided the ques-
tion ought to be indefinitely postponed" That
is the judgment of "head what is a head"
As half of the Law Committee discovered
that the Assistant City Solicitor had no right
to his position, and as the question was such
nice one that the Committee was exactly
equally divided, therefore it was not a ht SUBJ
ject for discussion Such 4 conclusion is pre-
posterous. What question calls more earnestly
for official action than the one which is so
far unsettled as to have a committee equally
divided on it2 If such a case does
not demand an expression of opinion on
the part of the local Legislature, we really
do not know what kind of an issue they ought
to settle. But the other reason given by the
accessory" is as logical, but decidedly more
indicative of the reason for the subsequent
action of the Chamber. He stated that che
considered it an insult to have to submit such
reports to Select Council, after that body had
elected Van Cleve." Here is the real cause
for the indefinite postponement of the ques-
ton. The Chamber had made a ridiculous
blunder as well as an illegal action, and now
it had not the manly courage or good sense to
correct its previous errors. It's stupidity was
so gross that it did not see that it would be
better to have the matter rectifed by ITSELF
and not by the Courts-for before the Courts the
case must come. Colonel Page opposed the
motion to postpone indefinitely, but the
majority meekly assented to the evasion of
the law, and fearful of meeting the question
of Van Cleve's eligibility by a direct vote,
postponed it by division of 16 yeas to nays.
So the case is dead, so far as Select Council is
concerned. The law is evaded by the aid of
the corrupt clique of which c. M. Wagner is
the head and Van Cleve the pet.
In Common Council the same farce was
was greatly intensified. The resolution of Mr..
Hetzell, declaring that Van Cleve had no
right to his position, came up, and was ably
supported by that gentleman and Mr.. Little
ton. Against them were pitted Robert NJ.
Evans and Joseph B. Hancock. What the
decision would have been had the settle
ment depended upon the ability of the advo-
Gates and not the partisanship of the members,
it is unnecessary for us to state. Evans said
that Mr.. Hetzell {" had not offered the resolu-
ton as matter of principle but for party
purposes" Bravissimo Evans accusing
another of acting for party purposes! Evans
saying that another does not act from princi-
pie Does the man think that his whole poll
tical life is unknown to the public Does he
think that his own record is so far un-
known that he can pretend to lecture an
other because of party principles? The peo-
pie have ears, and hear, and eyes, and see. They
know that every act of Evans life is for effect
and not for principle, from his buncombe
speech on the Presidents reception to his
action in the matter of the Gas Trust. And
for him to prate of party purposes is too much
for Philadelphia to treat seriously. Really,
Mr.. Evans, your joke is good one, but it tells
rather strongly on yourself Yet still, it is as
cutting and as potent as any of Douglas Jer-
rold or Tom Hood. Then Hancock rose. Evans
had almost reached the bounds of absurdity,
but after him the deluge. Hancock, the man
Who says he lives by politics, did not think that
Councils had anything to do with it, and COM
mended the laudable ambition of Van Cleve.
Laudable ambition, then, consists in grasping
place to which you have no right; in sacri-
ficing the interests of a constituency in order
to put money in your purse; in holding on to
an ill-gotten place, with all the people sneer-
ing at the avaricious evasion of law. This is
laudable ambition, according to Hancock
Well, we would never have guessed that such
was its name.
But the Evans and Hancoczs rule in Com
mon Council. The resolution was passed by
the following vote;-
Yeas-Nessrs Armstrong. Bardsley, Calhoun,
Eager Ear oest Evans Franclscus; hancock Harrl-
Ogden, Orsm, Palmer. Potter, Ray, shane Shoe
mage f %son snsoH boR Gn
Hsney Harper, Hetzel j, LlLtleton; Martin, !; o.
Ger, Presdent-l5.
Now there remains no alternative. The
question must be settled by the courts. There
the law will be followed, and not personal or
pecuniary influences allowed to rule. We call
on Mr.. James Lynd, as representative of the
city, to test the question before the Bench,
| nd iatA n, u i -. IL.