New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-11-03
CITY COMMISSIONS.
A CARD FROM THURLow WEED.


NOT BITTER AND UNRELENTlNG PARTISAN
TO the Editor Of The Tribune.
SIR: 1 beg to submit through the columns OF THR
TRIBUNE brief rejoinder to ex-Congressman Has
kins reply TO my letter of the Slst utimo. am
surprised. in the face Of facts which Mr. Haskin
virtually admits that he regards me as " the most
selfish oureentng and bitter partisan living In TINS
country But Mr.. Haskin, unconsciously, sup
pose, refutes his own accusation by holding me
responsible for the creation of nonpartisan Comms
sons. 1 cheerfully confess the soft impeach.
ment" And in so far as may have been influential
in securing good government for the City OF New
York, through non partisan Commissions, claim
to have been serviceable to the metropolis
The first reform in that direction in the estab
Iishment of the non-partisan Board known as the
"Ten Governors" of which Isaac Townsend Simeon
Draper. Edward C. West, Washington Smith and
other good men were members. OF that Board the
late and cstmable Mr.. McElroy who died but a few
DAYS since. was a valuable member. My next
responsibility. in what Mr. Hask1n considers VIOLA
ton of the Constitution, was in the creation of a
non-partisan Board of Emigrant Commissioners,
consisting of Cuban c. Verplanck. Robert b. Min
turn William +. Havemeyer David c. Golden
Gregory Dillon. Jacob Harvey and others. to whom
the protection of emigrants was intrusted, and by
whom those ample and muDfcent homes for desti-
tute and sick strangers upon Wards Island were
erected subsequently, when encroachments upon
the channels of navigation seriously obstructed our
barbor and as seriously threatened our commercial
prosperity an appeal was made to the Legislature
for protection. While bin for the appointment OF
q Commission to establish exterior line upon the
Hudson and East Rivers pending, strong iniu-
ences and combinations at work to secure the
appointment of Commissioners favorlng powerful
interests was in close communication with Robert
Il. Mnturo, who. in the best sense Of the term was
merchant prince" and who, in view of the con-
ficting opinions and interests existing, asked me, by
letter TO designate Board, at once enlightened
independent, and honest. and which would act with
ont favor or bias. upon a question that so deeply
affected the prosperity of the city. That letter was
shown to Gov. Clark who, while strongly urged to
make very different appointments, allowed rue to
indicate Board, which he promptly accepted That
Board consisted of Geo. w. Patterson Preston King
James Bowen. John L. Talcott and Gen. Totem
How well and how faithfully that Board discharged
its duty the present condition of the harbor testi
fes.
Ny next offense was in the appointment OF Cen
trail Park Commission my responsibility IN relation
to which was wholly accidental. The bill author
ling the location and construction of Central Park
came up for consideration in the House of Assembly
at au afternoon session. The section creating a
Commission was. usual, reported IN blank. NO
of my friend Minturn interested myself in favor OF
the BILL was called upon for the names OF Commits
sioners The Hon. James w. Beekman and the
Hon. E. d. Morgan, then Senators, differed on the
question of location Mr.. Beekman being in favor of
"Joness Wood" .and Mr. Morgan for the present
location | could not consult Mr.. Beekman, and
Mr. Morgan was out of his seat. AS the matter re-
uured immediate attention, handed in the names
Of Charles II. Russell, James E. Cooley Robert Dill
lon Andrew II. Green, and Others. In this form the
bill passed the Assembly, but when it reached the
Senate Dan Sckles.' as said, at the sugges
ton of ex- Congressman Haskin, had tom Fields's'
name inserted as Commissioner
Then came the establishment of non-partisan
Metropolitan Police Board. for which labored dill
gently for three years. and which was finally ac-
complished when the political power of the State
was divided the Legislature being Republican,
with Horatio Seymour for Governor. The nom
partisan Police Board consisted of Thomas G.
Acton William McMurray w. S. Bosworth and
John G.. Bergen. under which, with my late friend
John A. Kennedy, as Superintendent, our citizens
enjoyed the protection of the best regulated and
most efficient police ever known.
Then followed the non-partisan Board of Charities
md Correction. For the passage of that law both
parties held me responsible, and inasmuch as 1t
vested the power of appointment in the City Con-
BIZ.
Robert I. Haws. asked me to name the Commits
sioners responded by banding him the names of
Simeon Draper Isaac Bell. Moses H. Grinnel and
James B. Nicholson, two Republicans and two
Democrats Under that Board, for five years, the
cause of humanity, the interests of taxpayers and
the character of our City Government We're
bumanely economically and vigilantly regarded.
When new appointments were to be made Demo-
cratic Controller asked me to nominate the two
Republican members of the Board: in response to
which request gave him the names of James Bowen
and Owen w. Brennan, who, with Messrs Bell and
Nicholson, were appointed. That Board continued
10 discharge its duties with equal diligence and
fidelity until under law of the last Legislature. it
was reformed by Mayor Havemeyer
Iaccept, also the reproach of Mr.. Haskin, in hav-
ing participated actively in the creation of nom
partisan Board of Supervisors; and however fatally
that Board became demoralized in later years, /
MAINTAIN that the policy sound, and that during
the first years of its existence the city had an in
teigent honest and patriotic Board of Supervisors
Instead. therefore, Of regretting the share have
had in rescung the City Government from purely
partisan influences and dividing the duties and
sponsibties equally between capable and upright
men selected from both parties, feel just pride
in having possessed the power and the disposition
OF contributing 80 much toward good government.
In further proof that am not the " bitter and
unreenting partisan" that Mr. Haskin represents
me, should, were / a resident Of the IXth Con-
gressional District vote for Richard Schell, the
Democratic candidate for Congress, for the reason
that when Jacob Thompson, e. G.. Clay, George
Sanders. and other Rebels were in Canada, conspir
ing to burn the City of New-York, introduce con-
tagon into the Union army, and assassinate
President Lincoln, a call written by Mr. Clay for