The Portland daily press., 1874-07-11
New York Letter.
The Municipal Middle -Havemeyer Con-
temtiblc Rather than Dangerous.

temtible Rather than Dangerous.
New YORK, July o. 1874.
The municipal drama has degenerated by
this time into broad farce HaYemeyer's latest
performances are so fantastic that they in
measure dsarm evaporation. The old fellow
used to gibber in an incoherent way something
about getting his Dutch up" and so gave the
impression that he made up in obstinacy what
he lacked in sense. People as a general thing
like pluck so WE'LL that the display of it ex
cites a certain degree of admiration, even when
it is unaccompanied by Judgment and thus it
happened that Notwithstanding the Mayors
acrebatic feats, be contr:ved to mitigate pop
ular contempt somewhat by encouraging the
| notion that he was bul-headed i'll his stubborn
| ness, and couldn't be frightened. But the
| suddenness with which he caved in as soon as
Kelly and Clinton pointed their siege guns at
| him, shows that he possesses as little courage
| as gumption. And that is why the ridiculous
| feature of the middle he has brought about
obscures the stupidity and lawessness of it,
The ink was hardly dry on the commissions of
| his henchman Charck, and his henchman's
| henchman Gardner when their designations
were TAINTED in the public eye. That was the
| finishing touch to Kavemeyer. Til that mo-
ment, he might have got the doubtful credit
of being the most wiful and perverse man of
his time whom nothing could scare into a back
down. But after such an exhibition Of pus-
silanimity, he became an animated target for
the SCOTS and jeers of men of all parties, oc-
equations and associations. There wasn't
man left, outside of the little knot of Office
holders he had created-and very few even
in that circle-wno didn't sheer at him in the
liyeliest fashion.
But if Havemeyers surrender was craven,
his mode of relieving himself of his embarrass-
ment was laughably characteristic. He seems
to have a greater liking for Matsea than for
anybody else. 1t amounts to fondnees as near
ly as man of his nature can feel such senti-
ment. 1t expresses itself in grunts dare say,
but the two men bear much the same relation
to each other as subssted between Dogberry
and Verges. So no sooner had be got Char
lick off his Enthusiastically diminishing his
risk of removal by Gov. Dix-than he flies to
his aged companion, lays his hand upon his
shoulder, and pronounces him 'sthe most sense
less and fit man to be constable of the watch"
Then, presto! the superintendent becomes
Commissioner, and the whole city exclaims-
with an air which seems to say ''there can't be
any thing more ridiculous than thisP'-"what
next?''
And then follows scene in which the May
or figures as manager but not actor. The four
Commissioners meet-Duryea who has held Of
flee a little more than a year-Dispecker.
whose official life is ''but two months DID, not
two. Voorhees,, just transferred from the Ex-
else Board and the aforesaid Matsell, more
aged than venerable. And they take ballot
to see who shall be President. Dispeeker votes
for himself, Matsell for himself and each of
them has one vote beside. There is tie. The
lovely Dispecker by selecting whom in pref
erence to Judge Rowland the Mayor so recent
ly astonished even his acquaintance,
'sgoes back on his eccentric patron without
the slightest conjunction. These fellows rend
each other now. They will rend their Creator
by and by, when He has ceased to have favors
to bestow. The consequence of this persistent
devotion to number one is a dead lock-a sus-
pension of payment of salaries, and of course a
further declenson in the order and discipline
of the force All this comes of Havemeyerislns
but the people of New York have borne SO
many crosses, that they ought to have learned
patience by this time.
certainly hope Gov. Dix will decline to ex-
ercise the power of removal. 1t is barely
possible that might bring about a langud reac
ton, and create a little sympathy for the de-
posed official-whereas, if Havemeyer is left to
i himself, he will go out of office on the 31st OF
Dec next, as utterly without friends and sup
porters as any man who ever held an elective
post. He is going under so fast that it is as
unnecessary as it is cruel to accelerate his de-
scent
1t is curious to notice the kind of names that
are mentioned in connection with the place
Matsell has just vacated. Nobody is so obscure
or so common that he is not deemed eligible
1t appears to be taken for granted that some
body who 10 of account personally. political
ly or for executive ability will be -snIaefed
This feeling is signifcant as indicat lg the ut
| ter hopelessness which has taken possession OF
the people of any good thing coming from such
chief magistrate affiicts us now. And it is
just because Havemeyer has lost all his influ
ence and importance, that the best thing which
can possibly be done is to let him serve out bis
term and disappear from the public view. How
ever unchartably one is disposed to view his
motives, it is very certain that he is painfully de.
ficient in practical wisdom and hasn't capacity
enough to be at all potent for mischief. There
fore if he is quietly let alone for the brief re-
mander of his official days. he will be the
cause of less harm and disgrace than if he were
harassed with prosecution and driven out Of
office. YARMOUTH.