The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-03-09

SiIo" OnnnS0o Ahdue III bnen, ana Gne luul-
viduals who constitute the commissions can,
without the slightest difficulty, make their
offices perpetual.
In the event of a vacancy occurring in
either of the proposed boards from any cause
whatever, the remaining members are en-
powered to fill it for the remainder of the
term of five years. The same trick is being
played here as was so successful in New
York. Honest men are placed upon the diff
ferent boards in order to quiet suspicious.
These gentlemen, if they accept Office, will, if
they oppose corrupt schemes and endeaver
to have the public honestly served, be
tormented in every possible way. vilIainies
for which they are not responsible will be laid
to their charge, they will be made to bear the
blame for scandalous practices which they
never sanctioned, and in the end they will
either become as corrupt as their companions
or they will be forced to resign in disgust, to
be succeeded by those who are not only
willing but anxious to avail themselves of the
magnificent opportunities for plunder
afforded them by every section of the three
bills now under consideration.
The commissioners are each to draw q
salary of $4,000 per annum for their valuable
services, but is there any property-holder in
this city innocent and unsuspicious as to sup
pose that our eighteen commissioners will be
satisfied with such paltry amount when mill
lions can be pocketed without let or hindrance
of any kind? The modern American profess
sional politician does not work for nothing,
and the commission scheme is nothing more
nor less than device to fill the pockets of
certain trading politicians with as much
facility and with as little hard work as possi-
BILE, at the expense of the taxpayers of Phila-
delphia.
The Board of Police Commissioners is au-
thorized under the bill creating it, to appoint
a clerk with salary of $500, aud an assistant
clerk with a salary of $1,000 The other
boards are given larger liberty. The Board
of Public Works is empowered to appoint
such officer or officers, and to employ such
agents and persons as they may deem neces-
sary, to remove the same at pleasure, and to
JiS tie compensation Of tie persons employed.
There is nothing whatever to prevent the ap-
poiptment of any present inhabitant of the
County Prison or the Penitentiary to the
Office of clerk or assistant clerk at salary of
SO, 600 or more per annum, and our readers
may rest assured that the clerkships to
this board will, both in regard to sala-
ries and perquistes, be offices worth
having. 1t has been observed
in New York since Boss Tweed became the
ruler of that city-Mr. Tweed holds the posi-
tion of President of the Board of Public
Works-that the force of laborers upon the
new City Hall is always largely augmented
just before election time, while upon other
public works it is not possible for the gangs
of professed workers to find enough to do to
make even decent pretense of being busy
The same thing will be seen in this city if
the commission bills pass, and every doubtful
precinct will be colonized with voters pledged
to vote a straight commission ticket. The
citizers OF Philadelphia have little choice
enough now, but they will have none at all if
the proposed commissions get into power,
and every Philadelphia delegate to the Legis-
lature will go to Harrisburg pledged to advo-
cate and vote for any measure the men who
send him there may demand.
The Water Commissioners will be endowed
with the same unlimited power of appoint
ing officers, agents, and laborers as the Board
of Public Works, and between the two boards
there will not be the ghost of chance for the
independent voters to make their influence
felt.
This exposition of the pro posed organiza-
tion of the commissions will suffice for to-day.
Tomorrow we will resume the subject from
another point of view, and exhibit the iniqui-
tous character of other sections of the bills.