The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1873-04-22
Now York Letter.
rnc new city cbnr,er-Tho defeat Of Tam
,,a,r-Comp,roI.er <srccn-lA' r. Stew
NEW YORK, April, 10 1873.

FORM. Always a democrat, his adminlstra'
ton of the affairs of the Central Park, won
for him the confidence and respect Oh soou
men of all parties. His advent TO the oihoo
of COMPTROLLER as the successor OF the ius'-
gacious Connolly, was the first ehec'i'e sep
in the direction of cure for our niuhicip"'
grievances. IT was brought ABOUT Dy the Ju-
d;oiors management Of Mr.. Hayemeyer and
Mr. samuel ]. Tilden, to whom Connolly ap-
neaIed for counsel and succor when the awful
revelations of peculation, forgery and fraud
hurst upon an astonished public in the sum-
n,er of 1871. They insisted that he should
surrender Internationally, and place his
functions in Mr.. Green's hands as the nomi-
nal deputy, but actual head of the Finance
Department He had no alternative but com
pliance with this demand. This coup d etat
frightened the Ring. Hall rode sixteen miles
on Sunday to find Gen. Mcclellan and per-
.suade him to accept the COMPREHENSIVE.
But while Mcclellan hesitated the game was
lost. Mr.. Green took possession of the Office
and has held it ever since. Hall yielded at
last to public opinion, and appointed him as
Connolly's successor. He has defended the
Treasury against all sorts of unjust claims,
with matchless fidelity and ability. But in
doing so he has incurred the hostility of vast
numbers of persons whose plans he has
thwarted. Tthese men have been constantly
seeking occasion against him." They en-
deavored to influence Republican Legisla-
ture to abet his removal ON the score of his
politics, and yet his Interest opponents were
| democrats. The fact that lie has been scrup-
| ulously impartial in the execution of the du-
ties of his trust has alienated from him the
support Ct all that class of democratic parti-
sans, who regard the exchequer of the NUM-
cipality as legitimate spoil.
Fortunately, the honest public sentiment
which demanded Mr.. Green's retention has
been respected by the Legislature, and his
continuance in Office will compensate for all
| the other defects of the charter. He holds
the citadel which will prove an impregnable
| defense against the assaults of the numerous
| adventurers who spend their lives in devising
ingenious plans for preying upon the moneys
most important official in New York. His
power is immense The title of his office
symbolizes its prerogatives. In him rests
the chief hope ola long suffering people that
wise economy and strict accountability will
characterize all the other departments of our
local government, for the man who holds
the purse strings can always exercise po-
tent influence on those who surround
him.
Mr.. Andrew 81. Green is bachelor not far
from fifty years of age. He was educated to
the profession of the law and commenced
practice some twenty-five years ago, as the
partner of Samuel J. Tilden. His first appear
ance in the political field was in 1S4S when
he engaged with all the enthusiasm of youth
in the democratic revolt which led to the
nomination of Van Buren, and Adams, and
the defeat of Lewis Cass. He identified him
self with the anti-slavery democracy known
in this State as barn burners, but returned
to the fold two years later in common with
nearly all the rest of the gallant seceders
from the party, which was then sowing the
seeds of its destruction by a most AFFECT sub
seryiency TO the dictation of the southern
oligarchy whose motto was "rule or ruin"
But in spite of his allegiance to his order, he
never surrendered his individual opinions in
regard to the sin of slavery and regretted the
growing tendency of his party to lend itself to
the perpetuation of that fragrant national
wrong.
When the grand project of the Central
Park was conceived, he became prominently
connected with it, and ever since as Comp
trolle., Treasurer and Commissioner thereof,
has been the leading mind that directed and
carried forward the improvements which
have given to the people of this island that
beautiful monument of the foresight and wis
dom of its projectors. To him more than to
any other citizen are we indebted for the Judi
cous management, which made that magnifi-
cent enterprise an exception to the mal-ad-
ministration and waste which have been so
painfully conspicuous in all the other branch
es of the municipal service.
In 1870 the "Ring'' took possess;-,n of the
Central Park Commission and Mr.. Green
J
was virtually deposes.. He was nominally re-
tanned IN tne Doard but without salary or in
nuenre Mr.. Sweeney took the reins. The
!. result was that expenditures of most ex-
| trayagar.t character were authorized, and the
| debt of the Park increased with alarming
| rapidity. Mr.. Green's voice AMI vote were
always heard in protest against the prodigal-
ity which was eating out the substance OF
the people but he was powerless to prevent
the mischief he denounced. Between him and
Sweeney, and the creatures of the Ring there
could be nothing but inharmony. He OPP
posed them because they were unfaithful to
the public interest, they hated him because
| they could not use him. But time at
last ssets all things even" After an unchecked
reign of some eighteen months, Sweeney
and his confederates came to grief, and Mr..
Green, associated with Mr.. Stebbens, Mr.
Church and Mr.. Olmstead addressed himself
to the tasl. of bringing order out of chaos, re
storing them to their former condition, stop
ping works of doubtful utility and enormou
cost and saving a pundered community from
| iulItutT SpoiittiOh'
From this congenial sphere of duty he wa
called to the Finance Department. He toun
it in a state of utter Generalization. Loadet
down with debt, crowds of creditors clamor
ing at its doors, the city credit impaired, tn
employees of his predecessor around him, tn
Mayor hostile, and all the other Department
ready to conspire against him, it demands
the force ofa Hercules to bring such mas
of confusion and disorder into shape. MI
Green's highest praise is that he prove
equal to the emergency. With cool patienc
and unwearied industry he set about provid
ing means for carrying on the government
investigating the multitudes of claims tina
were pressing upon him, abolishing sinecures
| repairing leaks in all directions and curtailin
expenditures to the lowest point consisten
with the welfare of the city.
This is the man, whom the new char
ter has firmly established in his place. FL,
whom the Ring would have crucifed has be
come the chief head of the corner. 1t is no
merely personal triumph, but it is tri
umph ofthe people, solid gain to the tax
payers, an earnest of better things to come,
sign of promise in which every unselfish an
law abiding citizen will heartily rejoice.