The New York herald., 1874-08-17
The Charges Against Mayor Have
meyer-A Trap for the Governor.

he must be politically less shrewd than We
have believed him to be. Mr.. John Kelly
remarks regarding the Governors letter can
leave no doubt of the object of the democratic
politicians. 1t has long been admitted that
the government of the city under Mayor Have
meyer has been failure and reproach on
the name of reform. The people know that
the present municipal 'Ring," if less boldly
corrupt than its notorious predecessor, is
equally indifferent to the interests OF the city.
Men of all parties are prepared to admit that
corruption and incapacity exist in several Of
the departments; that the appointments made
by the Mayor have been dictated by personal
friendships and interests and not by the pub
| lie good that money has been squan-
dered in some directions while false
economy, prompted by jealousy and NAL
ice, has in other directions crippled
public improvements and retarded the growth
and prosperity of the city; that while prog
ress has been paralyZel the public debt and
the burden of taxation have increased. Not
voice has been raised in defence of our pres
ent municipal administration, while on every
side it has been condemned for unfaithfulness
and incapacity, and it's apologists have only
ventured to plead the near approach of its
dissolution as reason why it should be suf-
tered to die in peace. Taking advantage of
the popular condemnation of the Mayors
official conduct and of the general manage
ment of the city government, the Tammany
leaders seized the opportunity afforded by the
illegal acts OF the Police Commissioners to
frame charges against two of their number.
They knew that the Mayor would refuse to en-
tertain the charges and would sustain the
Commissioners and they were not disap-
pointed. They appealed to the law and sue
ceeded in obtaining the indictment Of the two
Police Commissioners by Grand Jury and
their trial, conviction and sentence in the
Court Of Oyer and Terminer. The Mayor re-
versed the Judgment of the law by restoring
the convicted men to office. Thereupon the
Tammany leaders made formal charges against
MIR. Havemeyer and placed them in the hands
Of Governor DIX.
Thus far the Tammany politicians have
won an advantage, but it is only over Mayor
Havemeyer, who is repudiated by all parties
What follows? The Mayor makes rambling
reply to the charges, not attempting a refu-
tation of any of them, justifying his acts,
but putting in general plea of "not guilty"
The Governor next addresses a letter to the
trainers of the charges, asking whether they
desire an official investigation into the alleged
Irregularities Of the Mayor after the defence
furnished by that officer. Mr.. Kelly explains
the position he and his friends intend to take
in regard 10 this inquiry The charges made
against the Mayor, he says, are not denied,
hence the persons making them can see mo
necessity for any investigation" AS to the
criminal intent" of the Mayor in reappoint-
ing Messrs. Gardner and Charlick, Mr.. Kelly
believes it to be shown on the face of the act,
! but he ''leaves the whole matter in the Gov
ernor's hands, He has no doubt that the
Governor will remove the Mayor Indeed,
in the interest of justice and purity Of cleo
tions he cannot do less than remove him.
Mr.. Kelly takes that as o matter of course,
especially as new indictments have been
obtained against the Police Commits
sioners, which, it is claimed, will
establish far graver offences against the Com
misioners than those proved at the last trial
But the hope of the Tammany politicians is
that the Governor may dismiss the charges
against the Mayor, and thus become in man
ner responsible for all MIR. Havemeyer's illegal
and improper official acts. They desire to
raise the cry throughout the State that neither
in the reform Governor nor in the reform
Mayor can the people hope for protection of
| hall hov
certainly if the remaining indictments against
the Police Commissioners should end in con-
vicion the charge will not be without plausi-
bility and effect
But the charges made by Messrs. Kelly, o.
tendorfer and others are not the only ones
preferred against the Mayor 1t is little
difficult to understand why the Governor
should consult the wishes of the trainers of the
charges in regard to an investigation, since
the law seems to make his duty very plain. If
he considers the charges grave enough to be
entertained at all, and finds it necessary to
take evidence, it would seem to be incum-
bent upon him to order the examina-
ton of witnesses as provided by the
law. The last charges embrace the violation
of duty alleged against the Mayor in the mat
ter of the Grand Jury presentment against
the Commissioners Of Charities and Correc-
ton. 1t is alleged that the Investigation
undertaken by Mr.. Havemeyer was fraudu-
lent, and designed to cover up the misdeeds of
the Commissioners. This surely demands in
vestigation, for it is necessary to show what
the presentment of the Commissioners really
embraced; whether they have or have not
violated the law, and whether the Mayor has
sufficient indirect interest in the Department
OF Charities and Correction, through the
profits realized by his near relatives from the
sale of supplies to that department. to make