The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-12-08

A Curious Political Earthquake-Transfcr
of Our Local Government TO Albany.
For long time the people Of the city of New
York fought for release from the tyranny Of
rural rule-that is to say, against the usurpa-
ton Of their municipal prerogatives by an
irresponsible and anti-sympathizlng radical
majority in the Legislature. The long fight
finally eliminated in the adoption last year Of
new City Charter, and the municipal
machinery has been working tolerably smooth
under it for some months. The Common
Council has been recognized under this new
Charter as body with soul and some
with by coordinate branches of the civic gov
eminent. Some of the small ward politicians
have been gratifled with elections as aldermen
or assistant aldermen, and, while being salts
fed with the position and the prospects of
public plumber, have been quietly relieved
from the necessity of begging for higher and
more responsible and more lucrative employ
ments. This state of things, we repeat, has
been in existence for several months, and every
thing was supposed to be working smoothly
and tremendously, when, 10! like thunder
clap from cloudless sky, comes recon-
mendation from the Mayor that certain jobs, in
which there is money
Which the same it's unnecessary to explain
shall be taken from the hands OF the Common
Council and transferred, as formerly, to the
tapdor m orc;oo IF orr r,,raI consina AZ Alho,u
Here is q political earthquake passing all COM
prehension, and now comes in the lament of
the true Common Councilman. ''What have
/ DONE" he asks, ''that should be so basely
treated? Why did / give my time and my
money and the money Of my friends to Tam
many when was assured that would have
it back tenfold by some nice little paving con-
tract or putty pavement job? Have oul
leaders no mercy upon us who have been stig
| matized as poor miserable common scoundrels
Have they no bowels of compassion for us
Do they suppose a paltry four thousand Q
year will supply us with hot suppers at Delmo
nico's or cold crunches Of wild duck and Piper
Heidsieck anywhere else? Let them pause
and ask how it would be with themselves
under similar circumstances"
Seriously, Tammany may expect to hea
some growing at this restoration Of the OLE
and Objectionable radical policy, and that, too
under democratic rule. The Legislature Il
beset by greed-mongers enough already, with
out having this temptation of municipal job
berry disturbing its sensibilitics and tamperinl
with it's honesty. Besides, these jobs whel
they come before the Legislature will be ma e
nifed immensely as compared with the it'll
pickings and stealngs of our Common
Councilmen. A small ten thousand dol
lar affair will, by the transfer, grow
into hundred thousand dollar job,
hundred thousand into round million, ant
SO on to the end Of the plucking of the poo
public goose. Our legislative halls will becom
more than ever the hotbeds of startling scheme
in the way Of railroad grants and canal subsi
dies, arcade denominations, high taxation AM
extravagant expenditures everywhere N
smal-potato politician can make stand there
but such opulent personages as Alexande
4. Stewart, John Jacob Astor, Marshall o
Roberts and others can have their full swing
ring or no ring. The valiant Senator Mix
Norton will become hero if he keeps hi
eyes wide open, and, when the session of tn
Legislature commences, lay heavy han
upon the stupendous jobs already in process
of incubation, and which will come before th
body sooner or later. With barely majorit
in the Senate the democrats cannot afford I
daily with any measure of doubtful publ
policy, or encourage the rapacity of the horde
Of hungry seekers after legislative favors.
JOHN III. SURRATT comes forward among til
list of prominent lecturers. He delivered
lecture at Rockville, Md, last night, in whic