New-York tribune., 1873-04-09
TIE FIGHT FOR PATRONAGE.

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TIE FIGHT FOR PATRONAGE.
THE CUsTOM-HOUsE PEOPLE INVADING TIIE BOARD or
EDUCATIoN-THEY ARE DEFEATED IN THEIR FIRST
ATTRMPT-TIIE FIGHT TO BE RENEWED TO-DAY.
From information furnished THE TRIBUNE,
good authority, appears that bold aud unscrupu-
lous conspiracy has existed for some time 10 gain con-
troll the Department of Education of this city by the
Customhouse party that its large and extensive
patronage might be made tributary TO their own per-
sonal ACKNOWLEDGEMENT Few people who are not con
with public school matters have idea of the
great opportunities for pecuatiOn which afforded in
the administration OF the Department affairs and the
chances for political manpulatOns in the appointments
Of principals teachers iantors, &c, in the numerous
schools throughout the city. Thus, when It ls
considered that the revenues OF the Department OF
Education amount nearly $350O,0O0 annually, being
last year $345s which, with other departments Of
the city government under the control, could be
increased to much larger II Will he seen that here
is a rich field for pecuations. This is especially the
case the purchase and distribution OF supplies, which
form large portion OF the expenses OF the Department
and afford abundant opportunity for fraud, either by
those interested raising the amounts Of the charges TO
the Board above the contract prices and retaining the
difference, by buying excessive quantity OF aru-
cles and dspOsng Of them for their private benefit In
addition to for speculation there resides
The public schools of this city includng the Grammar,
Primary Evening and Colored, with the City and Nor
NAL College and Model Training School, number
in all about 40. in which about 2soo principals
and teachers employed together with tanitors,
assistants, engineers &c. Hence it will DC apparent
that the of the appointment Of these coming az
they do from every part OF the city, may be made the
source OF much political power by securing the influence
of friends OF teachers making wire puers OF the lam
tors &C. az has been done in times past. Recognizing
the great power which would accrue 10 them through
the control of all this patronage the Ring early deter
mined to Y its grasp upon the public schools and Tor
this purpose under the OF other persons intro
duced the Legislature al the beginning Of the so
sion an reorganzing the Department Of Public III
struction which, with some notifications, has become
law ,ynopsis OF this act has already been given IN
THE TRIBUNE y tins law the powers OF the new Board
OF Education made much greater In the matter OF
appointments than those Of the old Board tSe Ring
being determined 70 get All the patronage ~ possIDy
could.
All that now remained the selection OF
men suited their purposes when the Custom-house
people would everything their own way Great ef
fors it is asserted. then made Ia induce Mayor
Havemeyer TO accommodate them IN this respect and
name such persons for the Offices OF Commissioners as
they recommended, when they would have smooth sail
ing, their men having been fixed for their purpose.
Here however their calculations were disappointed and
upset. for the Mayor determined 70 nominate such men
"a
board whose members are acknowledged on every eide
to be able and upright Fooled the attempt Obtain
the Commissioners they wanted. they next set 70
work manipulate the organization OF the new Board
and elect president and clerk IN their own interest
To do this they were obliged 10 WORK behind
q mask and put forward some one for the office
of President, who personally unOlJectionable but
whom they considered their interest. CcIDmissOner
James Cushing, jr. selected for the nomination,
VIM H. Nelson being the opposing candidate. Beiey-
ing that they could use him, the Ring put forth every
possible effort Mr.. Cushng's election AT the
meeting on Saturday afternoon large number OF the
politlcians interested in attendance including
Isaac H. Bailey, jackson g. Schultz, aud Others. II s
stated that many of the gang very loud and posi-
tive In claiming the success Of Cushing, which they
even offered u wager 500 to SIS. Ola members OF the
Board declared they had never witnessed scenes 20 die
graceful even in Tweeds time. BY this bold confidence
II is believed they hoped 10 influence few hesating
members and obtain their ends II is also asserted that
they had gone to have wine aud other refresA
nens prepared certain place OF resort for grand
Jubilee over the victory The Board however adjourned
until Monday without organizing and when il met again
il was noticed that Of the more conspicuous pol
iticians we're absent Those present. however kept mp
bold front, and claimed, with show OF earnestDess,
10 have 16 votes for Gushing. The result again dsap
pointed them, for Gushing received only four votes
The Custom-hou people then perceived that their
only remaining charce lay securing the selection Of
the clerk OF the Board and the control OF the important
committees For the position Of clerk II Is understood
their candidate is Frederick G. Wagner, now Deputy
Tax Commissioner. The effort 70 elect clerk at that
meeting as also attempt 60 make 1t the order OF the
dav for the meeting he'd this afternoon, was de-
feated thus checking them In this direction, for the
present at least and the formation OF the Standing
Committees OF the Board published below, Will, It is
believed dspel completely the other hope as the most
tmDortant ones are strongly composed Of who
known TO be beyond reach Of the Rings influence.
The President OF the Board OF Education announced,
Yesterday the following as the Standing COMMITTEES OF
the Board OF which there TWO more than In the old
Board
Fnanoe-vermlye Cu.hi,s Dovd Bssrj,! and stliguan.
T..ehers-HAlsteAd, Kelly DOvd, Trad, Brown
Buiding,-DoN Patenon, Lewis. Hoe Tort,shA
suppes-Besrdsey Matbsssob, Hsed, Weinore, sbd Ho.
Audiuug-west Trsud. jenkins Cushing Kelly
stes Of Schoos-Paenon, KaDIOth, 1o"sehd NewiJ'
Lewis
Cour,. Of stuie,-Brown Man. Pan, Trad. and feni
V,Seboo Observation-Disclosures Hoe Segmsn, jenkins Cushts
Normal Sehoos-Fsn Brovp Klamrotb Tosnseri Hsht'id
Evening sehoos-Mihewson To,EseA Jahps Tud, VeH.ye
Colored schools-Cushing Paterson, West WGmofe De"d
Warming and Venuauon-Io Matbssos Cushing Be.ri'y ana
Kelly
Bv.Iaw.-Townsend Man BeArisley, West. Fart
The XXIst Assembly District Republican Association
met last evening a. No. 2sl3 Third-aye, william Haw,
IT, in the chair Resolutions oougratulang the Mayor
ON the recent appointments n the Board OF Education
were adopted, but atera stormy dscuhsoh were l''uh
sidered aud laid over.
TELEGRAPHIC NOTES.