The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-11-23

@~~@~e
mate Of the French steamer Caciqus, put of in
boat to save the crew Of . wrecked vessel,
but al save one Of them were drowned by an
immense wave which swampsd the boat
The number Of hurricanes sweeping over the
whole world il extraordinary. Can our scien-
tito men discover no laws BY which they can
calculate their approach and warn the people
to prepare for tAems
Peter Ceoper's Charges Against Hoffman,
Side Defence b. O'Gsrnan.
The terrible attack Of that shrewd political
general, Peter Cooper, upon Mayor Holman.
as the head Of the plundering "rings" who
have run the city expenditures up to twenty
four million dollars year, has stirred the
blood Of Corporation Counsel Richard O'Gor-
man. The dashing, eloquent and poetical
young Irish patriot, with the true spirit of his
countrymen, rushes calamity into the scrim-
mage and gives the venerable Peter Cooper
and the Citizens Association Z taste OF his
"swate Irish shillelah" with . rollicking enjoy
ment Of the fun delightful 70 behold. So far
as his letter is defence Of himself against the
Csok 0OoPOA AuoACtuAOue ~ 40 CnuICAy uuuCSC0-
sary and might as well not have been written.
No person blames him for making good
round sum out Of the fat Office bestowed upon
him by his sympathizing countrymen Indeed,
he would have increased his popularity had he
bluntly declared his intention 10 make five
hundred thousand dollars out of the city, to
turn it into gold and take it over to Ireland to
aid in getting up another "rising." Other
Fenians have been guilty of the contemplate
meanness Of robbing the poor Irish servant
girls out of their scanty wages, and 1t is rather
to O'Gorman's credit that he prefers to make
his money out Of a corporation rich enough to
sqnander twenty-four million dollars year
upon all manner of municipal cutpurses.
Mayor Hoffman is the real culprit in all this
reckless expenditure Of the peoples money,
whether in the shape Of pensions, expenses
and fees in tina Corporation Counsel's depart
ment, or of the notorious new Court House
jobs. The city charter makes 1t the
duty of the Mayor ssto exercise q con.
slant supervision over the conduct and
acts of all subordinate officers" and
not dollar can be drawn from the treasury
until the warrant that calls for it has been
countersigned by the Mayor. This is wise
provision Of law, its object being to give the
one responsible head, the Mayor, the power to
check all extravagancs and corruption and
protect the treasury BY finally Withholding
his signature from q warrant il he should have
any reason to believe the account fraudulent
or unjust The exercise Of this power Is the
highest duty devolved upon the Mayor, and
hence it is that the charter requires him to ex-
ercise constant supervision over the conduct
and acts Of all subordinate officers His veto
Of measures passed by the Common Council is
mere bagatells compared with this. The
veto can be overridden by two-third vote.
The refusal to sign warrant drawn for any Of
these corrupt jobs puts final stop to them,
and cannot be overcome unless by an appeal
to the courts, involving an exposure Of the
rascality. A mayor who writes Puritanical
veto message for the eyes Of the people, and
then aids the rascals ho has denounced to draw
their plumber out of the city treasury, COM
mits fraud upon the community. Cant Is no
fair equivalent Tor cash.
The taxpayers should bear in mind that
every dollar plundered from the city treasury
must be first allowed and approved by the
Mayor, and that all the corrupt jobs and ex-
travagant charges by which the taxation Of the
city has been run up to twenty-four million
dollars q year have been approved and en-
dorsed by Hoffman. 1t is for this service that
he is made the candidate Of the Tammany
ring, the SUPERVISOR ring, the Aldermen's
ring, the Councilmen's ring, and every other
ring about the City Hail. They are
his warm supporters now because they
rants next year, while any other Mayor will
withhold his signature and break up all their
schemes Of plumber. They have compelled
him TO sign for six or even seven millions
more this year than last They would compel
him to sign for six or seven millions more next
year than this. Every respectable man who
desires 10 save the city from ruinous taxation
should support John II. Anthem for Mayor,
and finally break up all these rings and secure
an honest chief magistrate for the next two
years. Darling should make Peter Cooper's
terrible indictment against Hoffman the basis
Of his withdrawal from the contest, and exhort
all his political friends to support Anthem. He
is called upon - patriot, reformer and .
good Grant man, to decline to embarrass the
present contest between honesty and respecta-
bility on one side and all the big and little
rascals Of the city upon the other. II he will
respond TO the call Anthem will be elected
Mayor by magnificent majority, Fernando
Wood will be driven to shave of his white