The Centre reporter. [volume] (Centre Hall, Pa.) 1871-1940, 1871-10-27

we CORFU flk4NA ~ AtI44 tA-ie 8na AAAa4if
years prevailed in tho municipal gov
ornmenl OF NoB York says the World,
is handled with great. but undue, elec-
lionecsing effect hy the Republican
presses and orators ia ali parts Of the
countrA Nothing could seem more
plausible on . superficial view, or ) So
Iallacious ia lhe light OF .ac.s, Peo-
pie in other States. who have no exact
knowledge vi our domestic history or
legislation. are easily deceived when
asked to Look at the Two broad facts
that New York City has been for
years the rhiaf stronghold 81 ihe Dem
oeratic parry. aud that is municipal
goyeumclt has been for years scam
dalonsiy .orrap.. Bat when the Dcm-
ocra.ic party l. held responsible i3r
the corruption. she most iuportan;
part uf khe situation is lcit out uiView.
During lhtse Iwelvc or fifteen ycars %
llagrAnl abuscs, New York has not
been sell governed by its Democratic
voters. bu g has groancd under am odi-
ous outside government imposed upon
It hv Republican Legislature 81 Al
bay The pcoplo Of the city have had
no liberty: they have been bound ~
CALLING Albany ieticrs; all this scand-
aious corruption Is the direct lreii oi
arrogant and yrauuical Republican
legislation.
/ Fifteen years ago. in the Presiden.
,ial election Of 1856, the newly formed
Republican party carried this State
/ high-aud.dry for Fremont, and re-
ta.ned It's asccndancy ia the Legisla.
ture until last year Bat while the
State was republican. the city has been
invinciblv Democratic. Ii the muui~
cipality had not been . place Of Prodi-
eious wealth and great necessary ex-
peudilurc. the Republican legislature
would have permitted il TO retain the
same right OF selfgovcrumcnt rs other
localities. But the large sums which
pass through the treasury OF this vast
aud growing city, were too strong a
temptation for Republican cupidiiy.
The Republicans could not endure
that this money should be disbursed
under Democratic direction. They
ere unwilling that the numerous city
Offices should be filled by Democrats.
They accordingly perverted the pow
ers of legislation to impose on the city
an exlraneous government of their
own creation. They thereby enabled
Republicans TO exercise authority here
where the Democratic party has long
been in n majority Of three to one.
The corruption which aitlicts and dis
graces the city grew, grew up under
this outside Albany domination, n
gainst which Democrats have always
protested. II is absurd to charge the
Democratic party with state Of
things which was imposed upon them
by outside Republican domination IN
defiance of their strong remonstran-
ces.
The most rotten part Of our muni-
cipal system, since 1851, has been the
Board of Supervisors. Deduct from
the catalogue Of frauds those which
originated in that Board. and nothing
very startling remains. But the
Board Of Supervisors was q tcpubii-
can creation. By q cunning coatrl.
vance half of it was given TO the Re
publicans, although no Republican
could have been elected 10 Il in this
! Democratic city. lt was made 10 con.
sist of twelve members, but no elector
was permitted to vote for more than
six. The consequence was that the
/ Democratic ticket of six names, and
/ the Republican ticket consisted also OF
Isix. The six Democrats were elected,
and the Mayor was compelled by law
| 10 appoint the six Republicans, thus
giving The Republicans one half of
the Board. This equal division shield
ed lis transactions against party criti-
cism and exposure, and removed one
of the chief restraints upon corruption.
Bat when the FIRST halfand-half Board
had been elected, Republican Legis-
Ilature took still more eiiectual step
for protecting it in the perpctration of
frauds. A law was passed for dividing
the elected members and the appointed
members into six Glasses each, and eX-
tending their terms of office to six
years. One Of the elected members
and one of the oppointed members were
to go out each year, leaving always in
office five-sixths of trained and veteran
corruptionists who could not be reach
ed by the people or held to any re-
sponsibility in the elections. 1t was
flsl 81 organized as to free it from all
party responsibility ;and then its or
eanization was 50 changed Us To free
it from all responsibility to the people
by the great length of the terms Of