The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-01-23

Tao Legislature and tho Tax Levy-ssNlns.
rod" Tweed and His Little Decoy Game.
1t Is d wonder that some one among the
large number of divines who preached in this
city yesterday did not think of the following
text for a sermon -
And Cush begat Nimrod: he began to be mighty
one one IN the earth ne was mighty hunter before
mighty hunter BEFORE the Lord."-Genests X, g. Q.
1t will be remembered by those Of our
readers who are versed in biblical history that
Cush, the father Of Nimrod, was the son Of
Ham and the grandson of Noah. 1t win not
be necessary for us in discussing this branch
OF the subject before us to ascertain whether
the Cush referred TO was a progenitor of the
distinguished publicist Caleb Cushing of the
present age, or whether the Ham mentioned
concerneth our own Hamilton Fish, or, finally,
whether the ancient gentleman mentioned by
the name of Noah was relative Of former
well known Hebrew magistrate In the criminal
courts in this city. 1t Is sufficient for our
purpose to know that Nimrod was in his day
as great hunter, perhaps, as Robert B.
Roosevelt, Congressman elect, Is in our own
day, and that he came of an ancient and very
respectable family. Now to our point and It's
application.
The great hunter Of our day is to be found
tn the Albany Legislature. His name is Will
liam M. Tweed, otherwise known as Boss
Tweed, Big Six Tweed. Americas Club Tweed,
or, as we propose at present to call him,
'Nimrod" Tweed, the mighty hunter Of the
biggest game to be found in our public manors
and Corporation preserves. And it would not
in this connection, we think, be straining
biblical point to say that, ii he be not lineal
descendant of the sorey tried Job of early
Scriptural days, he at least can claim the
credit of being the father of many sorely
tried Sob" of the present day. Nimrod
Tweed, knowing trick or two in the way Of
bagging game, adopts the old hunters dodge.
He lays his traps and hoists his decoy flag
red or black, as the case may be. The poor,
unsuspicious victims, seeing the signal, are
led, just as wild ducks are deceived by decoys,
into the meshes of the willy hunter, and arc
slaughtered or bagged at will.
In this manner is our Albany Nmrod decoy-
ing the callow deer of the municipal reform or
citizens party in this city, headed by that
hoary but credulous old buck, who ought to be
up to such small tricks-the venerable Peter
Cooper. Nimrod Tweed has hoisted decoy
signal, in the shape Of a proposed reduction in
the city taxes, and the deluded Buck Cooper,
ing it is 'good thing" until he
finally falls into the trap and 'mself and
his fellows are at the mercy of Tweed and
his wary marksmen. This is the intent and
meaning Of Tweed's new tax bill. 1t proposes
a reduction of taxes but it places their appor-
tionment and fixes the standard of values in
the hands of three or four gentlemen-highly
respectable gentlemen, no doubt, but who will
have opened before them such enormous temp
tations that to resist them could scarcely be
expected in these days of legislative corrup-
ton. Although there may be variety Of
opinions in regard to the tax levy, the present
system works well enough. The Legislature
as a body is supposed to have a more general
and conscientious supervision over the items
of extravagant expenditure in this city than
quartet of worthy gentlemen who may or
may not have axes to grind, but who, whether
they have or have not. will always be open to
suspicion. The immense pecuniary power
proposed to be vested in the hands of these
few gentlemen is one that should be jealously
guarded and should not be bestowed in hasty
manner nor at the dictation Of any one man.
Nimrod Tweed may crack his whip over the
DO oc =
and the Albany correspondent of our con-
temporary, the Times, may aver that
Tweed himself has no interest in
this contemplated radical change in
the mode of assessing and collecting taxes in
this city. But we hope in the one case the
lash will be disreyarded, and we do not be-
lieve at all in the correctness of the latter
statement. There is too much of the Tweed
interest involved in the proposed new bill to
allow it to be gwen the go-by through feel
ing of Indifference and as to shame having
any influence in its disposition, that is quality
not yet known to Jingle the blood Of men who
are after such stupendous game as that for
which they are preparing at Albany to give
the ''view haloo!"
The members of the Legislature are the re-
cognized guardians and protectors of the
people, In their hands is placed the power Of
seeing that an equitable system of taxation is
adopted for the metropolis. To them do the
people look for protection against the en-
croachments of those who would interfere with
their political liberties or pecunary interests;
ond 40 thew act in the matter now under con-
sideration so will they be held and esteemed
by their home constituencies. They will re-
turn to their official duties at the Capitol to-
day no doubt much refreshed and fortified by
their religious exercises and devotions Of the
Sabbath. And after the prayers of the chap
-. a,.odt for tho