The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-03-11
SATURDAY, MARCH IL, 1871.
THE COMMLSsIONS-A NEW APPLL-
CATION OF AN OLD FABLE.


the proposed new commissions is that Coun-
ellis are sometimes dilatory in providing for
municipal wants 1t should be remembered,
however, that they rarely fail to respond to
any unequivocal manifestation Of public
opinion, and even if they were as negligent
and inefficient as some of the advocates of
the commission wish the public to consider
them, it would be infinitely better to suffer
such minor ills as flow from inefficiency than
the destructive disasters that result
from unbridled, irresponsible, and
corrupt rule. This community cannot
too carefully ponder the moral of the fable
of King Log and King Stork. The frogs,
impatient at the inactivity of King Log, who
certainly did them no harm, and who at
least afforded them a conf fortable resting
place, petitioned Jupiter for change of ad-
ministration-for a new monarch that would
do grand things in their pond and display
untiring energy. In response to their petit
tion King Log was deposed and King Stork
inaugurated in his stead. For brief mo-
ment the frogs were delighted with the change;
and as they surveyed the grand proportions
of the stork, and contemplated his capacity
for activity, they rejoiced in the change.
But, alas! the honers of Inauguration day
had scarcely been completed before King
Stork commenced devouring his new sub
jects. His activity was displayed solely in
this fatal direction; and though the frogs
petitioned to Jupiter for a restoration
of the old rule, he left them to
suffer the consequences of their folly, and to
choose between being gobbled up by their
gormandizing monarch and emigration to
more favored ponds where King Logs still
ruled.
In this old story Philadelphians may read
their fate if the Legislature passes, and they
submit to- the new commission bills. Their
streets may be lined with rotten wooden
pavements; land for new water works may be
taken up at any point between the Delaware
and Lake Erie; lew police stations may be built
on every street corner, and the city may bris-
tie with pompous, well-fed well-paid, grasp
ing, grabbing and greedy jacks-in- Office;
but the taxpayer, who pays for all this folly,
the house-renter who repays with compound
interest the tax exacted from the landlord,
and the workingman whose labor forms the
foundation of all wealth, must be doomed to
hopeless and incessant toll that will make life
burdensome, so that gangs of brazen robbers
may be enriched at their expense.
In the presence of danger like this it
behooyes all honest men in the community to
unite heartily in the movement started by
the Mayor and Councils for self-protection
against their legislative foes. If these men
must be bought to do their duty, in Gods
name let them fix their price, and let it be
paid by direct appropriation from the city
treasury, rather than that they should
sell for q few base coins priceless
liberties which tens of millions cannot
redeem. If they are determined to barter
away the city, let them grant the small boon
of an open auction, so that three-quarters of
million of people may see, face to face, the
sinister features of the private bidders against
their rights, and learn, dollar for dollarl and
cent for cent, how much the whining syco-
plants who beg for the suffrages
of Philadelphia have the hardi-
hood to demand for abstaining from the
preparation of gigantic political wrong. 1t
is pitiable, oh, fearfully pitiable! that the in
dignation of this community is voiceless in
the legislative chambers, that schemes are
concocted and promoted there which are
manifestly aimed against her welfare without
a word in her behalf being uttered, without
one champion rising to defend her. The
murderer calls to his aid trained advocates,
the criminals of every grade employ high
legal talent to defend them; but in the great
Court of the Commonwealth, held in the
Capitol building, whole city full of people
are at this moment threatened with the most
terrible of political dangers, and yet they lack
an advocate, and it is rumored that
majority of the tribunal which is
to decide upon their destinies
have been influenced by corrupt means to
pass judgment against them. In such an ex-
traordinary dilemma it is difficult to decide
what practical course is best to pursue, but,
as starting point, there can be no question of
the propriety of making such manifestation
of public opinion as will leave on the legisla-
tive mind ESQ far as such thing may be pre-
sumed to EXIST no doubt of the intense aver
sion Of just citizen of all parties to the pro-
posed commissions. If this fails, it becomes
practical question whether an appeal to the
Legislative pocket should not be made In
self defense the city may be forced to outbid
the sordid hucksters who ara on the oint OF
buying, for thirty pieces of silver, what it
will cost Philadelphia tax payers millions to
redeem. II is terrible to be the slaves of the
miscreants of the capital, but, if no other
course is open, let them be implored to name
Aha rrica of our thraldom To declare the sum