The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-09-20

llAhed. The people paw 80 mucu per cent on rn0ir
property and earnings every year TO make funa for
the expenses OF administration and OF this fund it IL
certain that at least onealf will 90 to men who hang
about lobbies and help to make the laws for the
people. II was so In England under every premier
who conducted the politics In the eighteenth CEN
\tury. France has never been without a political
corruption fund. We who behold the present ex-
ch'emeut in plaster politics forget that the excite
mei has occurred every year within experience.
ThereNare always two parties camoring for reform
the politicians, who mean 10 have one set turned
that they themselves may so IN, and the people,
who anxious that no corruption shall exist, but
who are never allowed TO participate in the means
to be used Ior>this accomplishments
In the present excitement 1t Is evident to dlspas-
sionate observersWhom the virtuous politicians Of
both SIDES have nos succeeded In binding that the
plaster frauds to- lie traced to the plaster Jobs at
ing fund for Two generations OF politicians. When
ever the party in power in this city has desired to
Seen compelled to give country legislators a CHANCES
at the Court House for compensation. The present
CITY mot fO Wh sos
that all bills for work done on the Court House
should be paid Iney have haze been mn, paid
formed political contract which the highest trlbu
nal OF the State imposed upon them last winter:
cider mills, ward clubs and seaside palaces. The
Court House still stands, and we have no doubt Will
many winter to Come. The question Il snail the
New York republicans have hall the sway or all
They are trying 70 get ALL This is the meaning Of
reform.
What the end OF the fight will be Is easy to be seen.
The democrats OF thus state must give up the AS.
semDiy ms winter Every politician IN lne Stale y
alarmed because therc has been plaster III politics
ana lie ts not richer by another cornice. The rush
for Court House plumber Will be unprecedented.
Meanwhile Tammany Is stolldly lighting for her ac-
custOmed half; and IT seems somewhat small
plucklng one federal goose and bali OF laldinauy
gander, should now demand the brace. Yet they
will gam che Assembly. But for Reuben f. FentOn
they would have the whole bird. He Will nos
BY PRESCRIPTION, and while Tom Murphy leads inc
Republican Convention aud enjoys federal patron.
age that Senate cannot be republican. Fenton VIII
United States Senator. While Justice Nelson lives.
and COnkling is not the Supreme Court Justice IN
this district the republican party must remain con-
tented with half the corruption iund. the people
must not deceive themselves with any hope that
Committee OF seventy or any committee VIII reduce
the rate Of taxation; me Citizens Association dia
the hands Of one or two politicians VIII not effect
any more, The question Il, Shall Tammany own
the cOmmlttee or the committee own Tammanyr
The advantage IN politics Is on the side Of the
owners; they get half the swag and all the broker
age Tho people who breathe the air or freedom
must be content 70 pay an average OF two and
quarter per cent on their property for that privilege
one per cent for improvements, half per cent 70
each political party anu the quarter for brokerage. e
Is plain that the city cannot be run on the Two FER
Cent law. Ii Is quarter per cent too little But et
us remember a story or Charley Mnott once tho
great and eccentric superintendent OF the Erie Rail-
way whO when the directors met to de 5lde whether
they should discharge the entire force OF Erie con-
ductors for bgYing costly houses ana expensive
watches with railway collections, said s'Well,
gentlemen these men have got the watches and the
houses. SO far as can learn they are all supplied.
you've got to buy these watches and houses all over
again." fLAiN lfLh.