The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-05-03
CITY and STATE POLITICS.
Close Of the Legislative Session.
Party Maneuvring.
Preparations for the Fall
Campaign.
An Ex-Party Leaders View Of
the Situation.

The learned soIons who composed the Legisla
ture oil 1874, having concluded their labors, have
retired from the arena where they lately
exercised themselves In devising and carrying out
measures for the good OF the great constituency
whose representatives they were-the electors of
the imperial State and city of New York. Their
works, are they not inscribed In the Capit0li
Whether the result rebounds to their credit as
legislators and patriots, however, is question
for the people to determine in the iuture. Few II
any one amongst them In fact II threatened with
defeat at the polls in seeking again for reelection
could like the Roman OF old point to the capitol
Tor verdict In their favor. It was the Old legisa-
tive history Of the state repeating itself--the
same contest OF parties for the spoils and
for political supremacy, utterly regardless
OF the true interests OF the people,
The legislative halls closed, the would
be arbiters OF the political desnies Of the people
have retired to their several DISTRICTS there to
prepare for carrying out whatever combinations
and schemes the leaders may devise and enter
into to secure the great prlze to be commended for
IN the coming fall campaign. But during the past
session 1t Is undeniable that the party leaders
directed and controlled the action OF the peoples
representatives in all the measures that were pre-
sented for legislative action. 1t was the usual
programme OF ground ana lofty tumbling and
political legerdemain, with the puppet dance and
show thrown in. The principal actors were how
ever, behind the scenes moving the puppets at
tner will and while 1t was now Punch and now
JUDY that spoke to the audience 1t was all the time
either Honest Tom Murphy. OF the Custom House
party. or Grand Sachem John Kelly, who was be-
hind the drapery putting their words into the
mouths of the political automatons. 1t was indeed,
q -raree show" enough to make the grouudngs
laugh but the judiclous grieve, Mr.. Murphy and
Mr.. Kelly fighting as II determined to make .
''ghost" one Of the other, yet both ready to make
| compromises n division OF the spoils could only
| be agreed upon. This was. OF course, the bone OF
| contention over which they set their henchmen
and heutenants to growl and smart. Mr.. G. Bliss
did the 'heavy" business for Mr.. Murphy,
while Mr.. John Morrissey enacted the same role for
Mr.. Kelly, assisted by General Frank Spinola.
THE POLICE COMMISSIONERS BILL
alarmed both sides. Neither could or were will
ing to, trust Mayor Havemeyer should the bin
| giving him the appointing power to heads OF de-
partments without confirmation be passed as at
first framed The Mayor, with an eye to q renomi-
nation, played tho role OF the dsinterested and
selfsacrlhcing magnate that disclaimer against
being clothed with greater powers than those
which rightfully belonged to the ONCE when ne
entered upon It, He was just IN that strait when ne
could not boldly go over to either party. He was
in the middle Of the stream-a dangerous time to
swap horses-and so he went quietly with the cur
| rent, which left him on his feet, high and dry,
| without the necessity OF an open pledge to either
party. The Police and Park bill conferred upon
| him the power to appoint 20 ali vacancies in the
heads OF departments, but In view OF his term OF
! office now expiring lett him
NO vACAECIEs 70 APPOINT TO;
mains stat4 QUO It is the general opinion around
apportiOned Oetws ee''I the two parties saoAl 4
some OF the Dalky team hitherto belonging to sss
! Tammany machine that now threatens to bolt
Of Tammany in tile TALL CONTEST In an interview
with the great ex-secesstontst and ex.Apoll0 Hau
leader,
ciared that he wilf NOT IL tue present
many. He weighed, ne says. Mr.. Murphy and
and be win NOT have anything more to do viii
them. He adds that there never was more wido-
than az present Which, ' however, Is pretty Wen
balanced BY general detection In the Custom
THE niLcoNrESrs m THE rAMxANY CAMP
are old and reliable leaders, with strong array 81
followers one and all injected with the same ieek
the arbitrary and coerclve rule TO whion eli must
bow who expect to have voice or represen tation
saw Is so much under tae secret innuence eS y
Comptroller Green, Mr.. !. Morrssey and City Han
clique that he ignores the counsel and advice Of
| life-ong Tammany democrats who fought and con-
| quered under the Tammany standard in tho pest
The ex-Sherln IN reading the political horoscope.
with the signs or which he is so familiar and mich
he 70 propiuously cast for himself last iall pre-
diets troublesome time for Tammany. The Bren-
bined, he thinks, viii compel the Grand sachem TO
come down from his pedestal OF Sphinx-llke reserve
ana act with the whole party, instead OF with .
| Star Chamber jnnta OF them.
LOOKING INTO THE REPUBLICAN, oAMPs,
with the tactics and discipline OF which he Ia 20
In unr Cfn sa1.n
| OF disruptioE-that the solid masses OF the parry
are not with Messrs. Murphy, Bliss ana Davenport.
leth round winch TO rally the electors OF the city.
| Tammany mas been thoroughly reformed, so lar -
the tN o. me od Leaders and their expI
| what tangible benefit has resulted to the people
therefromf The most important onicial and pollti-
cal ofces are filled by men. not Of their choos-
THE POLITICAL RING MASTERS
at whose beck and nod they Weld the vast powers
delegated to them. The general feeling is that
a new departure must be taken this fell; that the
times are ripe Tor 1t, and that ticket Tor Mayor
with the name OF q citizen that would rally TO it,
support the masses independent Of party would
be sure to be elected. The ex-Apollo Hall leaders
win wholly depend upon the electors themselves
whether they will verify it or not.
THE CONTEST AS II Is-THE MAYORALTY-
is what we have to deal with now Under the new
Police bill the Mayor s clothed with powers that
render MIN independent Of the Board o. Alder .
POLITICAL drift under the lee OF one party or the
other. He Ia invited to least In the WtRwam. the
great chiei Mr.. Kelly will not be candidate for
Mayor, and II MIR. Havemeyer gives sunicient
pledges 10 do the behest OF the party faithfully Ia
all Things he may get ren0minated as the Tam
many candidate. There Is some gnashlng Of teeth
over this last move. Ex-Congressman smith ny,
Was oSmns ND sas Sa0H pay cd
| date. He, with the other aspiranta Messrs:
| Roosevelt, Chanler, William Wickham ana
| and Abram B. Hewitt have for the present ro-
tired to back seats to await events. This scheme
| OF the wise men OF Tammany however, may not
| fructfy as intended Mr. Murphy THINKS u
| would be good to secure Mr.. Havemeyer for him
sell and his party; 80, between the two, Mr. Have
iai.nx That