The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-08-23
TIE CITY TRNSTS BOARD.

IHb CIII IhOOJD DOhhD.
The passage of a law placing the ad-
ministration of all the trusts held by the
city in the hands of board of gentlemen to
consist of the Mayor, the Presidents of Select
and Common Councils, and twelve citizens to
be selected by the judges of the different
courts, was heartily approved by citizens of
all parties, except the members of the ditfe-
rent rings who had an interest in
the mismanagement of the funds
entrusted to the city for specific uses.
1t was everywhere felt that to
allow greedy politicians to control any longer
the enormous wealth represented by the vari
Gus trusts held by the city would be a scan
dial and disgrace, and that the only way in
which an honest administration could be Sc
cured would be by removing them out of the
sphere of party politics altogether, and
placing them in the hands of men of we'll
known probity of character, who would be
above suspicion. The benefits of such an
arrangement as this has been shown in other
cases, and as our courts are at present constl-
tuted, with an able and honest judiciary,
public opinion generally designated the
judges as the proper persons to appoint such
persons to manage the trusts as would be IN
every way desirable. In compliance with the
terms of the law, therefore, the judges met
on Saturday, and made the following appoint
ments-
Chief Justice Thompson named Henry NJ.
Phillips, Judge Read named William b.
Mann, Judge Agnew named William
Welsh Judge Sharswood named Edward King;
C,g Ind
Thayer named Alexander Biddle; Judge Ali
son named c. H. II. Coils; Judge Brewster
named George II. Stuart: Judge Ludlow
named JAS Campbell; Judge Hare namedJ. H.
Nichener; Judge Peirce named j. G. Fell;
Judge Allison named James l.. Claghorn for
Judge Stroud, who refused to make any no.
mination. OF the twelve trustees thus APP
pointed, Messrs. Phillips, King, and Camp
bell are Democrats, and the other nine are
Republicans. This board is entirely satisfac-
tory in all respects, with but two exceptions,
and these are the appointees of Judges Read
and Allison.
Mr.. Phillips is well known as an able lawyer
and a gentleman Of high character. Mr..
Welsh is a merchant, and has an unimpeach-
able reputation; Judge Edward King is an
able lawyer and is considered a valuable
member of the board Messrs. Benson and
Biddle are brokers, we'll known as liberal and
public-minded citizens; Mr.. Stuart is a
wealthy merchant, and is known to the public
as an active agent in the promotion of reli-
gious and charitable enterprises; Judge James
Campbell was formerly Postmaster General
Mr.. Michener is a member of the firm of j.
H. Michener q Co.; Mr.. Fell is a merchant
who has always taken a great interest in
public affairs without becoming a politician,
and the same may be said of Mr.. Claghorn,
the President of the Commercial Bank.
Mr.. Mann is we'll known as the friend of
Judge Allison, and Mr.. Coils, although the
fact may not be generally known, is the pro-
tege of Judge Reed. Judge Allison, it will be
seen, appoints the friend of Judge Reed, and
the compliment is returned by Judge Reed
appointing the friend of Judge Allison, a
| pleasant little arrangement that the public
generally will scarcely approve of very
heartily. We have nothing whatever to say
at present about the ability legal or other
wise of Messrs. Mann and Coils. but it is
certain that they are not the proper men to
place on such board as this, if for no other
reason than that they are generally unpopular
and that they have not the confidence of the
community at large. Messrs. Mann and Coils
have extended regulations as political wire.
pullers, and whether this reputation is de-
served or not; it will materially impair their
usefulness as administrators of the city trusts
and will place all the transactions of the
board under a cloud of suspicion. Should
the board not meet the expectations of the
public, should byany chance its administration
of the city trusts be considered blameworthv
Messrs. Fell, Claghorn, Stuart, Welsh. anC
their associates will be likely to escape cen
sure until it is proved conclusively that the,
are in fault, while public opinion will from
the first point to Messrs. Mann and Coils a.
, the creators of difficulty, and upon them vii
be imposed the task of vindication.
One great object that was had in view i,
the creation of this Board of Trustees was t.
/ take the management Of the trust out of tn
hands of just such men as William B. Man
and Charles H. T. Coils. Judge Read an
5 Judge Allison knew this perfectly well, an
S their appointment of these persons is delib,
= rate violation of the confidence reposed
e them. There are plenty of lawyers
0 the city of Philadelphia as learna
@ and as astute as either of the abov
S individuals named, who have never sole
= their regulations by descending into the dirt
l. pool of politics; there are plenty of me
chants, professional men, and in fact, men
{ all classes of life, who are fully capab
a every way, and who would have given sati