The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-04-27


turns Above all. we deprecate procrastina-
ton.
The vagaries OF Political Reformers.
One year ago, after the success of the con-
bination between the republicans and the re-
formers in New York, the political leaders on
that side prepared new municipal charter,
which. after much pickering and bargaining.
was licked into shape to suit the views of the
allies. and became law. This charter gave
the power of appointing the heads Of depart
ments to the Mayor, subject to the approval
Of the Board of Aldermen. proposition to
give the Mayor the sole appointing power was
opposed by the Custom House republicans be-
cause they did not care to trust wholly to Mr..
Havemeyer, and believed that with one of
their own friends at the head OF the Board Of
Aldermen they could rely upon that body to
check any eccentricities on the part Of the
Mayor. 1t was not long before they
discovered that their doubts Of the
Mayor were justified, while their con-
fdence in the Aldermen was misplaced.
They demanded so large share of
the spoils that Mr.. Havemeyer, who had an
army of ancient friends and associates of his
own to pension on the city, refused to honor
their drafts. Then came an open rupture in
the allied camp. Mayor Havemeyer de-
nounced the Custom House republicans as
rogues who plotted all day to rob the people
and gambled all night to rob each other.
The Custom House republicans in their turn
abused Mr.. Havemeyer and assailed his APP
pointments Before the charter had been in
operation four months, in August Last they
said: -s'Of all the mistakes ever made since
the reform campaign opened the most mis-
chievous if not disastrous, was the election
Of Mayor Havemeyer. Mr.. Oakley Hall,
especially after the destruction Of Tammany,
was far less dangerous" At one time they
declared that the wholesale robberies' Of
certain Tammany oficeholders were likely to
<sbecome mere petit larcenies compared with
those of Mayor Havemeyer's reform officials. "
On several occasions they charged the Mayor
with promoting his private interests and
entirely disregarding the public well
fare; Of appointing to Office publishers
of bawdy newspapers and silent partners in
faro banks;' of making corrupt bargains
with his appointees. ssWhat cares Have
meyer for the law?" they asked, when accus-
ing the Mayor of shielding his subordinates
In attempts to extort illegal fees; and they
pronounced his official acts ''public
scandal In excusing themselves for sup
porting such man for Mayor they said in
September last -
II he has faisiHed all his promises and disgraced
his past career the shame falls upon him, not upon
the Custom House republicans VINO supported MIN.
percentages as Matsei and CharicK to ONCE, or do
all IN his power to render the entire reform move
o
are not to blame. Az matter OF TACT, however,
the Custom House republicans said as little as they
could well help in favor OF Mr. Havemeyer, and
said that little late In the day.
One might suppose that no good citizen or
no honest man could desire to place increased
power over the city government in the hands
of man thus treacherous, incompetent and
INSCRIPTIONS. But the political situation
has changed. Mayor Havemeyer has struck
q new bargain with the men who denounced
him 30 bitterly few months ago, and who
were in turn branded by him as gamblers and
Cuoot6 no ID W klVo VAo OuSLOm hOubC Ic-
publicans two-thirds OF his future appoint
ments, it is said, provided the Custom House
republicans will renominate him for Mayor.
So bills are introduced by republicans in the
Legislature to sstinker'' the charter of last
May in such q manner as to invest Havemeyer
with the sole appointing power, and to turn
out all the present heads Of departments next
May The Mayor-whose election was ''mis-
chievous if not disastrous, whose policy is
founded upon q careful consideration of
private interests and an entire disregard of
the public welfare" whose acts are "pubic
scandal" who shields dishonest ofici ais and
justiAes extortion, is to have the absolute
and uncontrolled authority to appoint every
officer under the city government and two
thirds Of his appointees are to be selected
from men who ''plot all day to cheat the
people and gamble all night to cheat each
other" Truly the vagaries Of these political
yeformers are wonderful to contemplate.
THE RESULT Of the New York rapid transit
struggle in the Legislature seems likely to be
the passage of number of crude and con-
flicting laws and no railroad for the suffering
people of the city. New franchises will be
given or sold to corporations whose only
object in securing them is to kill rapid transit
altogether old companies will be rehabil-
itated and afforded another opportunity to
make failure additional privileges will be
accorded to roads which, at the best. can give
but trifiing relief to the people, and if CON-
mission bill should be finally passed it will
be in such shape as to be of little practical
value. The fact is that the s'Nfodocs," as the
purchasable members are called, have pre-
vailed over the honest representatives. and
the prospect of relief in the matter Of city
travel by the present years legislation is but
very slight
FATAL RAILROAD ACCIDENT