The New York herald., 1873-03-17
Commissioner Van Mort, Collector Arthur,
Tom Murphy, Bliss, Davenport and
Others at the State Capital.
A NEW COMBINATION IN the FIELD.
The Fight Over the City spoils-The Father of
the Lobby at Work with the Governor
and the Mayor-An Executive
Veto Threatened
ALBANY. March II, 1879


pers men have glided hther and thither
with thoughtful brows and compressed lips. as
though bearing in their heads some weighty Sc
crets and fearful lest they should escape through
the ordinary channels Of communication. Midnight
trains have brought to the city prominent political
leaders. who with eyes hidden by down pulled
hats and with chins buried in upturned
collars, have plunged out OF carriages
into the hotels and rushed up TO rooms
already prepared for them, without looking to the
right or to the left. The doors that opened 60 let
them hurriedy in have been closed and locked
after their entrance, and thenceforth have been as
jealousy guarded the doors OF POand's
committee rooms in the early hours OF the Credit
MObilier investigation. The next mornings light
has seen these birds OF passage again on the wing
and anxious correspondents, who had just obtained
news of their arrival and hoped to catch them in
their nests, have been met by the startling inteli-
gence that they had already h0wn. Collector
Arthur, ex-COllectOr Thomas Murphy, Commits
ssner Van Mort and Hugh Gardner have been the
most prominent OF these mysterious visitors, aud
what they came for and why they came in such
secret manner have been the anxious inquiries of
all who were not favored with an insight into the
workings Of the inner circle.
THE POLITICAL JOURNEYMEN AT WORK
In addition to these fugitive leaders other promi-
nent managers, whe do the rough work OF the
party. and who are always to be darting
about In the political ocean like sword fish in ad-
vance OF the shark have also made their appear
ance in Albany during the past week, and have
been less reserved than their associates both in
their actions and in their OnversatiOn. Chief
among these Commissioner Davenport has been
observable, active, vigilant, dashing confident
as ever; ready to take responsibility prepared to
maintain his own side of the question against all
cOmers defiant q OnnASitiOn hria all ovar
with fight in what he believes to he the just cause
which means republicanism. pure and simple
and straight-Out administration republican
ism at that. Hugh J. Hastings the
editor OF the sparkling Commercial, Advertiser of
your city, has come next, plain and practical as
usual, locking steadily at the main chance aud adj
vising any policy, matter what that Is the most
certain to accomplish the object sought, openly by
some and covertly by others but sought lust the
same by ALTO w.t. the gathering in of the harvest
of municipal spoils to the granares OF the rcpubl-
can party. Ex-Unted States Assessor Il. ID. Web
ster as sly as old Joe Bagstock himself has been
present, of course accidentally, and has been
shrewdy questioning Senators and prying about
generally in manner which plainly indicates that
something is anoat and that somebody's pulse has
10 be felt.
THE OPPOSITION AT WORK
In addition to these and many other republican
politicians OF the same stamp we had last week in
this city, large and significant attendance of the
opposition ant-administration element, evi-
IDENTITY drawn together by the rumors that some
thing was wrong in the machinery OF the dominant
party, and tnat the wheels mad suddenly come to
standstill. RUFUS II. Andrews was prominent
among the busy crowd, and with him came host
OF liberals all bent upon mischief. 1t was whis-
pered that Rufus had double mlssi0n-to look
after the interests of liberalism in general and OF
Comptroller Green in particular The gay and gal
COn0Ver present. evidently
out for chances, and prepared to strike in at the
opportune moment Colonel Jones the ex-Captain
OF the port OF New York, was looking in the eX-
pectat0n OF something useful turning up, and
last, but by ne means least, Oliver Charck
the interests OF his railroad against the attempt
OF the Upisn college people TO get back from him
the land they sold him some years ago, and to open
erry but IN reality 10 watch matters lor his friend
Mayor Havemeyer,. and see how. the land lay for
a coup de legislation over the New York charter.
few wellknswn reformed 1amnany democrats
were also to be seen, quiet, confident and smiling
evidently laboring under the suppression that
and hopefully awaiting the moment when they
could return to the metropolis and carry the news
WHAT WERE THE MIDNIGHT VISITORS ABOUT?
or course the principal interest centred in the
ghOst-like appearance and disappearance OF those
important dronodtts persOnP, Van Mort, Arthur,
Tom Murphy and Hugh Gardner What business
had they to transact that could be done in so brief
o time ? Why should they 'come like shadows, so
depart" without leaving the lobby even plaus!-
Bile guess as to their errand 7 It known that
certain Senators had been seen by them-l do not
mean the word "seenn TO be taken IN its usual
Albany acceptation. They had been smuggled
into q sleigh and driven OIL from the Delavan to
Senator Woodin's rooms At Congress Hall, and had
been closely closeted with tnat useful legislator,
who has been laid up the dry dock for repairs.
for few days past. Other reliable members OF the
upper House had been captured and carried to
their rooms, and the Speaker OF the Assembly had
made one Of the number In the consultation what
ever might have been its subject. All this was
t..sn htTsr .a 1Alr n.1 Dff In
nature OF the conference, and hence there was a
nutter OF excitement ameng all outsiders and the
widest rumors found more or less believers.
THE LOBBY On THE SCENT AFTER GREENBACks
Probably on the principle that the wish Is the
father OF the thought sme report m hat M large sum
OF Van Mort, Murphy, Arthur ana company, for the
purpose OF persuadng the senate Of the many vir-
Lnes Of the twenty fifth section VI the charter, was
the most readily credited, and every hungry lobby
man and representative was prepared forthwith 20
commit himself irrevecably III favor Oi the Assent
bly mode OF appointment IN tile New YORK city gov
ernnent. OF course they were all reckoning With
out their host, for the reason that no money VIII
be used by the republican managers 10 carry tsc
charter through, even though 1t should never be-
come a law, while Commissioner Van Mort has NO
right 10 use such means even II he had the dispO-
sitOn to do so, inasmuch as he Is master OF the
situation already, and, as he can control the sen
ate. Is sure to win whichever side may IN the END
prevail. No combination can pssslbly be success
fu that does not include the Commissioner of Pub
lic Werks, Ter the leading spirit ol the senate
are all positively IN his interest and ready tc make
a fight in his cause at any moment # necessary.
WHAT THE VISIT TO ALBANY DID REALLY MEAN.
The truth is the visit OF the leaders 10 the state
capital in such hurried and mysterious manner
was necessitated by the damaging rumors that
had get ansat in regard to changes ana bargain
ings In New York, and the presence oil VAN Mort
and the rest was needed 70 set these at rest as
well as to caution their followers against certain
intrigues which are going on In the ranks OF the
opposition growing out OF reported alliance be-
tween the opponents OF the charter and Governor
Dix It Is said that Tom Murphy, coming fresh
nom washington, brought with him letters from
President Grant strongly urging the Importance OF
inc the federal administration to an active sup
port OF the municipal authorities In case Of Ne
cessity even to the extent OF the support given to
kellogg In New Orleans. These letters aud the
actual pgeseuce Of the leaders " Albany leveR