The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1874-06-02
New York Letter.
Municipal MIDDLE in New York-Comp-
treller Green and his Man, Havemeycr
How young Lawyers make Fortunes.
NEW York, May 81, 1874

New YORK, May 81, 1874
In former letter / descanted upon the de-
moralization and confusion into which the gov
eminent of city affairs had fallen in conse
quence of the obstinacy, stupidity and incapac-
ity of the Mayor, and his fatal Partially for
the society and coupsels of men whose malign
influence was constantly betrayng him into the
commission of acts so grotesquely childish that
he has become more an object of commisera-
ton than of anger. 1t is easy to see how far
bad example will go in injecting the entire civil
service, particularly when it is set by one whose
position is SO conspicuous, that whatever of
good OF evil he may do becomes at once the
subject of observation and comment through
out the whole community.
Thus it has happened that all the depart
ments of our complicated municipal system are
drifting into loose, dsjointed condition. with
out order, conference or symmetry. There is no
concert of action, no spirit of harmony in Of
fetal circles. Every man, holding place, is
law unto himself, and so far from seek
ing the cooperation Of fellow officials, re
sents advice assistance as an interior
ence with his prerogatives. In some cases
there are open qlarrels of the most i'm
who ought to be in perfect concord and init.
mate association. More frequently there are
secret jealousies, which take form in intrigue
and conspiracy, the actors exhausting their in
genuity in DEVICES for thwarting and under
mining each other. The Mayors selection of
commissioners, has been so capricous that
members of the same board, meeting together
day by day, and between whom the public in
terests require the friendliest consultation,
m aintain an attitude of mutual hostility which
they have not the grace to conceal or disguise.
This deplorable sta tie of things has grown
chronic and permeates pretty much every
branch of the localgovernment 1t is not gen.
orally known how universal the moral contain
ination has got to be. Occasionally the public
get glimpse of the condition of affails. The
recent letter of Salem II. Wales resigning the
commissionershp of public parks lifts cur
tain which has hitherto concealed from all but
the initiated few, the reasons which have i'm
paired the efficiency of one of the most popular
divisions OF the city cover nment Mr.. Wales
to be sure merely conveys hint of the actual
truth, but the curiosity which his letter has
awakened, will not be assuaged by any thing
short of complete recital of the petty annoy
ances, vexations, and intermeddling imperti-
nences.which in one short year, have made this
once coveted post of honor intolerable to SEN
sitive and self-respecting gentleman.
1t will be impossible any longer to withhold
the fact that this Board, composed of citizens
who derive no compensation from the places
assigned them, and who deserve great common
dation for the time and labor gratuitousy be-
slowed in the care and conservation of those in
MIGRATING resorts, for innoxious respiration
which have been aptly called the ''lungs'' of
the metropolis, have been hampered and leased
in VARIETY of ways-their authority set at
Notwithstanding forced upon them WITH
out their consent-their administration subject
ed to an odious espionage-and their body treat
ed as if it were an adjunct and dependency of
the finance department..
For all this, the responsibility is divisable be-
tween Mayor Havemeyer and Comptroller
Green. But inasmuch as the stronger mind al
ways predominates over the weaker Mr. Green
is justly chargeable with the larger portion of
the blame. l am not among those who find
nothing to praise in the official career of the
Comptroller. His personal integrity entities
him to high consideration. The circumstances.
under which he assumed control of the finances
of the city constitute in themselves the strong
est claim to the generous judgment and patient
forbearance of the people. 1t was no small
task to raise and rebuild the wreck which
came of the piracies of the Tammany Ring.
That he has endeavored to protect the revenues
from further plum 1ering; that he has honestly
sought to do his duty and relieve the tax pay
ers from unnecessary burdens are points in his
favor which suffice to outweigh many grievous
faults. But it must be admitted in all candor. |
that Mr. Green has made an objectionable mis-
take in attempting to usurp the authority and |
exercise the power which the charter properly |
vested in cognate departments There is |
enough for him to do in all conscience within |
the sphere of his own office, to occupy his time |
and satisfy any reasonable measure of ambi- |
ton. Nevertheless, he is perpetlally interfer-
ing, not only with the Park Commissioners
but with the Commissioners of Ac-
counts and the Commissioner of PublicWorks,
and every little while the community is scan
daiized by controversies arising out of this in
termeddling propensity.
NOW II Mr. Green could be persuaded to con-
fine himself to his legitimate duties he would
not Only promote the peace and dignity of the
municipal service, but he would perhaps be
abba to bring something like order out of the
financial chaos in which he found the ex-
cbeouer, and from which he has as yet made
very little progress towards extricaton. 1
make every possible allowance, for the embar-
under which his Herculean task was
begun. He found the treasury depleted, the
city debt enormous, myriads of claims unpaid
and unaudited, and every thing at loose ends