New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-07-12
A RING-RULED CITY.


strength OF his candidacy there cal be no question
RING-RULED CITY.
THE PITTSBURGH RING-Irs LEADERs-ITs METHODS
IFS DEFEAT LAST FALL OWING TO TIE IN
CREASE or TAXATIoN-wHAT MAY HAPPEN THIS
YEAR.
IRON STAFF CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNE
PITTSBURGH, July GA heavy municipal
debt constantly increasing taxation iipaved strce's
full of ts and holes where traffic is the heaviest ana
elegant bouleyards in the remote suburbs where
nobody lives; essential improvements wholly neg
ected or projected expensive scale that their
compilation is predetermined; indignant taxpayers,
and officials grown suddenly rich on small saia-
ries-those are few Of the unfSihng signs OF %
ringruled city. They ali exist In Pittsburgh Tue Khot
OF Republican politicians who administer the AFFAIRS Oh
the city for their personal benefit is not as close cor
poration as was the old Tweed Ring iii Newfork nor
are its methods OF plumber quite so systematic ana
thorough as those Of the Mysterious Pilgrims In
Philadelphia. In proportion to its opportunity
however its operations have been pretty extensive
The chief manager Of the Pittsburgh Ring, according 10
general belief Robert W. Mackey, State treasurer OF
Pennsylvania who is potent in caucuses ana conveh
tons and rarely fails the nomination OF the
men he puts upon his slate. He might be called the
Boss" in obsentd. for he no longer lives here having
taken up his abode in Philadelphia County and city con-
ventions always bring him back, however and probably
for pleasure tndn lrOnt no puIio INC "Hte anu
makes the puppetdelegates dance. The Ring is not,
however despotism like the old Tammany Ring. Since
the dealt OF Col Phillips Its former Chief there has been
no dominant mind in il to compel obedience for although
mighty IN conventions Mr. Mackey is not on the gronhd
10 assert constantly his authority and Is usually content
with parceng the best Offices for his friends without
troubling himself the details miner arrangements
or the methods by which comfortable fortunes arc made
I'm few years out OF the profits Of petty places Among
the active of Mr. Mackeys coadutors may DC men,
toned C. L. Magee, City Treasurer; r. M. Snodgrass,
City Controller; Thomas Steele, Collector OF the fOrt
and George b. Chalmers Appraiser OF Merchandise the
two latter being Federal appOntees In their train are
host of saaried appontees and more select cobort OF
Councilmen whose positions, although without pay or
lawful perqusites are the most prontaoie OF any.
Councilman who cannot buy himself fine house IN inc
suburbs after three years OF service ana make the
city grade and pave broad avenue out to II Is consid
cred duh fellow.
Among the sources of profit open to the Ring politician
the most fruitful at present the waer-works and
the opening OF streets In the suburbs Formerly inc
City Hail was the " Big Bonanza" but that has been
nearly worked out, leaving only the dirty sediment OF
numerous scandals and hafdiscovered frauds. When
the water begun it was under an act OF the
Legislature which strictly limited their cost TO S3OOOOOO
Already nearly 81 100000 have been expended and the
works are not nearly finished There have been fve or
ak investigations held by committees OF coun
ellis but as soon rich Lead OF evidence Is struck
the inores stopped ana DO tahgipe report Is c'o
made I'm ono OF these Investigations 1t was shown that
tho city had paid $4,000 for work never done
IN tho pumping works, and as much more Tor hcti
tious labor on the ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS when pro-
duced no further effect than TO cause the Committee 10
cease further operations and avoid making ieport ~
IL said that two three members of the Committee were
houdsmen of the contractors who made the fraudulent
charges
while the streets in the heart of the city are in shock
inc condition being without exception badly paved and
shockingly filthy 900 600 have been spent recently IN
the suburbs constructing magnificent avenues SIX Ut
seven miles long. where an ordinary country ROAD
would afford all needed transit facilities To pay for
these exravagant improvements bonds have been issued
which arc to be redeemed from the proceeds Of taxes
colectd from the Of property abutting on the
new avenues In ten annual installnens' Great prices
have been paid for shoddy work In paving, bridging,
grading and sidewalk laying, the contractors growing
rich after dividing the profits with the members OF the
Ping Everybody on the Council Committee on streets
has Of course prospered financially TO extraordinary
degree during the construction Of these avenues In
many cases the ordinances providing for the opening OF
the avenues passed In fragrant disregard OF the pro-
tests OF property holders whose lands we sadded WIN
taxes that amounted nearly cOnhscaton An instance
4. related Of q long street that was run through
scanty district directly to the mont gate OF an
official whose country house thus made accessible at
the OF the helpless Landowners who were made
10 pay for the Improvement
The Pittsburgh Ring did not get Ialrly 10 WORK utii
1871 Before then members, although long In power
had contepted themselves with moderate gains but after
the el.ction OF SIP had strengthened the republican
Marty In cy STATE and county they concluded that there
as no need OF being modest any longer Inc municipal
daht i'm that IN round numbers So,sOO,OOO
Now n "A over 81 800 900, and million more must he
mt on TOD 10 before the can ne completed
Since they settled down TO business IN earnest tle KING
have ouadruped taxation besides ping up this load Of
delft While reducing the rate Of assessment from ~
mills 10 IS they raised the assessed value OF property
san the old bass OF S2OOOO00O UP 10 the cash market
VaIne Of 600 and the result was that the col
ctons which Welded In 1s73Dnly Si2 426 In 1874 pro
nceI II 76l An This increase OF taxation III upit
~ great business depression produced the political rev0
iution which gave Allegheny County 10 the democracy
s Fall after bad been held by the ltepubeans Tor
years The revolution has not spent its FORCE TOT VIZ
,opuar INDIGNATION has not yet been abe 10 reach ns
chief offenders who hold the municipal onces Hostli
t,y 10 the Ring on the part Of the burdened tax err
win allow Itself In the state election next November anC
il wond NOT be at all surprising II Gov artaDit shOuit
ne defeated BY the vote Of this city. Inc argument
former Republicans who have abandoned tneif party ahe
mean ~ vote the Democratic candidate of governor
ocycr he may Ii brief and To the point Ihey 40,
that the corrupt Ring which Expresses them was hachec
AN party aud that the only way " XII Is 10 striKe
that party. 80 $500. - r,,y y,,pr -,
o., he tod IN detail the various schemes 10y WHICH h
Ring has thriVen. Letting contracts al nigh prices iO
n,r a. r, and dividing the heavy profits with the con
@ .. b. .he fayorite method Of bleeding the Treasury
% 81 s,tet too because the contractors and tle
IN ,,, nc, A. the officials, are equally Interested u
, - c.ct tler criminal ttan'actions The islne