New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-04-02

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field Smith. 1t is not whit too positive.
Mr.. Smith may have entered the old Ring late
in the day, but he went in unequivocally and
unhestatingly, and. az was exposed Mt the
time. for the very purpose of the conspiracy
now fully developed. The old Ring Charter
gave the Mayor power to appoint certain
officers for FIVE years. Within a month-we
think, indeed that it was within fortnight
of the expiration of their respective terms
the old Mayor and Corporation Counsel en-
tered into bargain with certain members OF
the Custom-house Ring, of whom Mr.. Smith
was one, by which OGOrman resigned and
Smith was appointed in his place for five
years to como. Mr.. Smith, now retained by
this new Charter, is the appointee of Tam
| many. He holds Office against the wishes of
the present Mayor, elected by a popular Re
form vote of citizens irrespective of party.
Mr.. Smith conspired with the Tammany
officials to thwart the will of the people, and
no more holds his Office with their consent
than O'GOrman did at the date of his resigna-
| ton.
Henry Smith, the President Of the Board
of Police, is VIGOROUSLY the friend OF
Tweed. Not only politically confed-
crate he was personally the intimate OF
| Tweed. He was jointly interested with him
| in banking and business affairs, which went
awry when the Ring failed, and have never
been satisfactorily wound up to this day.
| For his conduct in these matters The TRIB-
UNE has again and again sharply arraigned
him; but the journals and the party Oganiza-
ton which were then equally Outspoken III
| his condemnation have since found reason
| either to ignore him or to treat him with con-
sideration.
AS Smith was the friend, so Van Mort was
| the instrument of Tweed. He had no import
ance save in that capacity. He derived dig
| mty and power simply because Tweed, when
forced to resign the Commissionership OF Pub
| lie Works. dictated the succession in favor OF
| Van Mort. Mr.. Tweed refused to leave the
office which the people demanded until the
conspiracy to defraud them was completed by
the appointment of Van Mort. The Commits
| sioner of Public Works thus specially re-
tanned by the CustOm-house Ring Charter,
against the wishes Of the peoples Mayor,
| is nothing if not the creature OF the Tammany
Ring, whose chief dictated his appointment
| and cOmpels his continuance in office. Mr..
Stebbinss retention is of no significance. In
his position he is not necessary to the success
of the Ring The President Of the Public
Parks has always been as fifth wheel TO the
coach But it is absolutely necessary to have
in possession of the Treasury member of
the King in full accord with the others
Therefore, Controller Andrew ii. Green,
always pronounced in opposition to Tam
many and a sore obstruction to the designs
of the Custom-house, must be removed. How
is this to be donef A direct vote of the SEN
ate yesterday omitted his name and office
from the excepted ones in the clause above
quoted. By the amended section the Mayor
is to nominate him or some other person for
the position. The Ring Aldermen will GER
tainly reject Mr.. Green; and we doubt not
they will also reject every honest nominee
Mr.. Havemeyer may name. So out goes Mr.
Green for some doubtful successor.
Thus the new Charter openly retains the
instruments of the old Ring, and drives out
the most positive opponents of corruption and
iobbery. The whole scheme has been sys-
tematized conspiracy; how clearly so only this
amended section will indicate to many who
have followed it less constantly and closely
than we have been compelled to do. When it
is remembered that the heads of the old Ring,
William NJ Tweed, Peter b. Sweeny, and
Richard b. Connolly, are the partners with
Thomas Murphy, the head Of the new Ring, IN
real estate speculations involving millions of
dollars, and depending for success on the car
rying out Of old schemes the full magnitude
of the conspiracy can be understood by the
most simple.
Does Gov. Dix mean to join this band of
| cOnspiratOrsi