The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-10-12
Tammany and the Croton Board-A just
Decision.

Tammany and the Crot0n Board-A just
Decision.
The case Of the Board Of Aldermen and the
Croton Aqueduct Board. which has been so
long before the courts and latterly awaited
the decision of the Court Of Appeals, has been
decided. The decision Of the appellant
court vests the presidency Of the Croton
Aqueduct Board in Mr.. Thomas Stephens,
who has now held 1t for number of years,
having two associates, the Board consisting of
three Commissioners, Mr.. Stephens being
president. Mayor Hoffman during his term
of Office denied the constitutonalty of Mr..
Stephens and that Of his associates continu-
ance in Office after certain date, and the
Mayor and the Board of Aldermen, who under
the charter have the right Of appointment,
nominated as president of new Board j. J.
Bradley, ex-State Senator. Mr.. Stephens
contested the right Of the Mayor and the
Aldermen to remove him, and when Bradley
came to take charge an injunction was moved
for and obtained enjoining him from taking
possession of the Office and its business till the
legality of the appointment and the action of
Mayor Hoffman and the Board of Aldermen
was submttcd.to the courts The case was
taken to the Supreme Court, where Judge
Ingraham decided in favor of Bradleys appoint
ment and against Mr.. Stephens. 1t was then,
on appeal, brought before the General Term of
the Supreme Court, when Judge Ingrahams
decision was reversed. Both parties finally
bro boI, haT,r tho rhaat
tribunal in the State-the Court of Appeals
where it has been hanging fire for some con-
siderable time, political influences having been
enlisted on one side to delay judgment, on the
other to press to final decision.
Thus the matter stood, while the business of
the department under the presidency of Mr.
Stephens was still most efficiently carried on,
though in the face of most adverse circum-
stances, the salaries of the employees for over
a year being unpaid in the regular form. The
decision of the court has brought great relief
to those parties, and it is subject of con-
graduation not only to Mr.. Stephens and the
employees under him, but to the citizens at
large, whose interests have never for moment
been neglected during the long period the right
to the Office was in litigation, that the appel
liant court has so wisely decided in the
premises.
The question Of commissions and boards
is to some extent q new one TO the citizens of
New York. but an impartial review and judg-
ment of their acts since they came into exist
ence must secure a most favorable verdict
from all right thinking men. The right to the
largest share Of self government on the part of
American citizens none will dispute; but when
our citizens chances OF this were becoming
more and more in danger from the overpower-
ing influences of political party in our midst,
it was fortunate turn of the political wheel
that gave us such independent commissions
as the Central Park Commissioners Board, the
Croton Aqueduct Board, the Metropolitan
Police Board and the Paid Fire Department.
These boards are as yet Independent of and
untrammelled by political cliques and political
leaders, and it behooves the citizens of New
York to draw as wide line of demarcation
between these various commissions and the
manipulators Of polt ical machines as it is
possible for them to maintain. The decision
of the Court of Appeals in the Croton Aque-
duct Board controversy is encouraging, and
ought to be accepted in the great light which
it presents to the people-one which may and
ought to guide them rightly in the coming
election-that the liberties of a people are best
secured through the purity of the bench, to
which 80 many Of the most vital questions of
their rights and liberties must from time to
time be submitted.