The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-06-01

The Vacancy I'm the Park Commtssion.
In selecting a successor to Mr.. Wales in the
Park Commission it is possible that the
Mayor may SO far disregard public opinion as
to appoint an agent Of Comptroller Green or
person probably respectable enough in
character, but known only as political wire
puller Mr.. Havemeyer's appointments have
not heretofore been such as to inspire conf
dence in his choice on the present important
occasion. But he is ambitious for q third
term in the City Hail. SO that before his Off
cial life closes he may be tolerably certain of
burying the veteran Matsell with police
honors, and Of securing a number of other
vacancies in the public departments through
the natural workings of time. Under these
astonish the community by his official vaga-
ries, ordinary prudence should suggest the
danger of bringing upon the Park Department
similar scandals to those which now blacken
the reputation Of the departments Of Police
and Charities and Correction. It will scarcely
be safe for Mr.. Havemeyer to outrage public
decency much longer, and after the exposure
made by Mr.. Wales any questionable appoint
ment to fill the vacancy caused by that gentle
mans resignation would be regarded as sufh-
cient ground for the removal of the Mayor.
Central Park has heretofore been the
pride of the city, and all that has been objec-
tionable in its management has been traced to
Mr.. Green. While active Commissioner he con-
trived to draw more than ten thousand dollars
q year out of the Treasury for his personal
services, although filling what was supposed
to be an unsalaried Office. No other Commits
sioner since the Park was first pro-
jected has displayed such mer-
cenary spirit. Since Mr.. Green has
been unable to draw money directly from
the parks he has sought to control the
patronage and the action of the Department.,
and, according to the showing of Mr.. Wales,
has fastened upon its funds an army of in
competent and unnecessary employees. The
very fact that the Comptroller interferes in
any manner with the appointments and ex-
penditures of an independent department.,
whose acquisitions and bills he audits and
allows, is itself an evidence of venality and
corruption. Colonel Stebbins, the present
President of the Park Commission, may as
suredly be trusted to put stop to this scandal
and to protect the interests of the people,
But he cannot do SO single-handed, and it
rests with the Mayor to decide whether, by
the appointment of such citizen as Leonard
w. Jerome to the vacant commissionership,
he will secure the reforms SO much needed
or make the Park Department as no
torious as the Police or Charities and Cor
rection and drive every honorable citizen out
of the Commission. Colonel Stebbins and
Mr.. Jerome are gentlemen of high social
position, of wealth, taste, leisure and energy.
They are familiar with European parks and
know well how to make our own popular and
enjoyable with comparatively insignificant
expenditure. They have no political ambi-
ton to subserve, no incompetent friends to
provide for and no interests save those Of the
people to study. The Mayor has the sole re-
sponsibility in the matter. He can appoint
Mr.. Jerome, he can place the Commission in
the hands Of Mr. Green, or he can inject some
political wirepuller for purposes of his own.
But consequences OF a more serious character
than he may imagine may result from another
abuse of his power.