The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-03-01
TIE PHILADELPHIA CONwJsSyovs

OF farming out the government OF the city Of
Philadelphia, that Tweed the king Of the
Tammany ring in New York, was at the bot
tom Of it, and that $1,000 was the price
offered for vote in the Legislature in favor
of bill establishing these Commissions.
On the same day that we wrote thus a special
despatch from Philadelphia, TO the Pittsburg
Commercial, announced the same fact.
Since then other newspapers have taken mp
the matter, and, in almost every case, have
condemned it in unmeasured terms. The en-
gineers of the scheme attempted 10 purchase
the silence of the Phiadelpha papers, but
signally failed. Every one of the respectable
daily journals there, both Republican aud
Democratic, have condemned the project as
an attempt to plunder the taxpayers and TO
override the rights of the people
This very general discussion has called out
many OF the facts relative to the origin, pro-
gress, and design of this movement A few
of the weakest and meanest Republicans in
the city, joined by few Democrats of like
social and political character, conspired TO
capture the city government and TO divide
the public patronage and the private plunder
among themselves, their associates and
hackers. Two of these Republicans and one
Democrat made pilgrimage to New York, TO
learn fIom the great sachem of the Tammany
tribe how to ''set up the Job" Mr. Tweed
entered very enthusiastically into the scheme
and went SD far as to offer to supply the cash
necessary to put it through" 1t was at
this fist interview that the idea was
advanced that this would be practical way
of capturing the city and turning its majority
over to the Democracy During several years
past, in the State outside of Philadelphia the
vote between the political parties has been
nearly even. The ma sjority in the city has
usually decided the election; whatever
party, therefore, can cast a large majority
vote there, may count with reasonable GER
inf tha ID
was put forth by Mr.. Tweed, much.to the de-
light of the Democratic and one of the Re-
publican members of the self-constituted ex-
ploring expedition to New York. The other
Republican was not quite low enough to be
party to such treason to his party. He was
shocked at the suggestion and withdrew.
This envoy extraordinary returned and
made due report to the couspirators. 1t was
then determined to organize other commis-
sions, to be clothed by act of Assembly with
plenal power In their respective departments
A Commission OF Highways, with power to
lay out, open, grade, and pave streets without
application to court or other authority, a Com
mission OF Police and Fire, with an increase
of the police to 2000; Tax Commission with
authority to levy, collect, and disburse the
public revenues. The commissions are So
constituted as to be composed of five men,
bers, two of whom are staunch Democrats
two fair Republicans, and one namby-pl lm by
Republican, who will sell out cheap The
Police and Fire Com mmission is
to be composed of seven men,
bers--three Democrats, three Republi-
cans, and the Mayor ex-offico There has
been a vast deal of doctoring, cathartical and
surgical, done and endured in the efforts to
fix up these commissions so as exactly to pro-
vide for all contingencies. There is great
difficulty experienced in finding an honor
able Republican willing to be crucified be-
tween two thieves. 1t is necessary, how
ever, to have some one as a fgure-head to
give respectability, associated with two vii
lains and two Democrats. A score, more or
less, have been named, but none will lend
themselves to this infamous conspiracy to
rob the people
The city government now, in every depart
ment, excepting only the police, is Republi-
can, and at the next election the people will
choose Republican Mayor, thus making the
departments harmonious in politics The
proposition to organize commissions is de-
iberate and well-considered conspiracy to
seize the government, to gain control of the
Legislature, for the purpose of repeating the
registry law, so that any required majority
for the Democrats may be recurned in the
city. Thus Pennsylvania is to give its cleo
toral vote for the Tammany candidate for Pre-
sident in 1872. Its executive and legislative
departments are to be made Democratic,
and all are to be managed in the interest of
the New York Democracy; that is, the worst
elements of both the Republican and Demo
cratic parties have conspired to snatch, for
purposes of plunder, the Government of the
United States from the control of the more
liberal and respectable portions of those par
ties. New York city and State is already
solely under the selfish and extraVagant rule
of those conspirators; the next attempt is to
be made in Philadelphia and Pennsylvania.
With these two powerful and populous States
firmly in their clutches, further conquests
will be easy and rapid.
Of course, the Democracy in the Legisla-
ture are expected to vote solidly for the bills
establishing these commissions; the Republi-
can majority in the House is to be overcome
by bribery. Thus far it may be possible for
the conspirators to go, though we shall not
believe, until compelled to, that SO much
Venality exists in the House of Representa-
tives. For Governor Geary to afix his Off
cial signature to these bills is impossible.
No man conversant with the history of his
public life, or protesting even the most
limited knowledge of his character, will,
for an instant, entertain the idea of
his lending himself to such an infamous
schme. We understand the leading con-
spirators say that friends of the
Governor are put on the commits
sions, and they will secure executive ap-
proval of the bills" 1t is false! No
man who is true friend of Governor Geary
will even brook the insinuation that there is
ture to acts of the nature and scope contem-
plated by these vampires. To bills asked for
by the people, favored by the public press,
oh - L.. n