New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-02-19
1HE SITUATION ~ LOCAL POLITICS.

lie SITUATION IN LOCAL POLITICS.
According to present appearances the New
York Democracy are diligently engaged in
cutting their own thrOats. Unless they can
show more sense in the management OF the
great trust into which they have fallen, it il
process that the public will regard with
philosophy.
The quarrel began over the effort on the
part of the Mayor to remove certain officers
in this city. Probably some Of them ought to
be removed In effect we presume that some of
them soon will be. We assume that practically
Mr. f. Delafeld Smith may as well be con-
sdered out of Office now. We assume also,
that Mr.. Commissioner Van Mort has had
enough of it, and is likely soon TO retire. AS
TO Controller Green, the prospects are not so
clear, but that the Mayor is likely soon TO
have several vacancies on his hands seems rea-
sonably probable
He was not satisfied with these however,
but insisted on prompt removal of Mr..
Delafeld Smith and the Fire Commissioners.
The Governor asked for his reasons. The
Mayor deliberately and argumentatively re-
fused to give them. Thcreupon the Governor
calmly delays his approval. 1t must be adj
mitted that prima tacie the action Of
the Mayor was incOnsiderate, if not
frivolous, and that the course Of the Gov
ernor is at once judciOus and digniiicd But
what are they going to do about it2 With
ont the Governors approval the Mayor is
absolutely powerless. The Governor can take
his own time, consider the question al his
leisure, and do as he plcases
Thereupon Tammany, which seems to back
ol,lo tbo f,,,lt
tho Governor cannot be made to respond
promptly to the Mayors initiative, the Legis-
lature can give the Mayor absolute power.
Hence tho Costigan bill. The Governor
shows his hand in frank opposition, and
Democratic split is openly developed
in the House. Nevertheless Tammany
carries the day. and appeals to the
Republican Senate to approve its action. The
Republicans may think it worth while TO do
so. and leave to the Governor the response
bility of vetoing the bill which Democratic
majority has passed.
The most obvious feature Of the situation is
the amazing folly of the Democrats. Either
they must now bully their own Governor into
submission, or they must submit to be beaten
by him in an open effort to seize upon
the patronage of the city. But there is
another feature of the situation equally OBJ
yious. 1t is that all this trouble has arisen
from the persistent effort of each party when
ever it got in power to tinker the Charter of
this city to further its own partisan ends. If
the people of NewYOrk can be honestly and
fairly given self-government, it will be great
boon. If the proffer of self-government is
only to be made in order that some party
NAV reap the benefit, and a set of officers
now elected may gather in the spoils 1t is a
barren gift.
Controller Green meanwhile evidently
appreciates the fact that his own official
life depends absolutely on the frmness
with which the Governor continues to
extend his protection. Apparently an
ticipating the possible failure Of this,
he has submitted to the Board of Alder
men what must be regarded as very
skillful defense of his administration. Ii
is an elaborate statement in regard to
the finances of the city. He shows that it still
requires the utmost vigilance and determine
ton to save the tax-payers-and that class
includes the entire population-from being
robbed. At the same time the Controller
shows, what The TRIBUNE has 80 often stated,
that the city debt still grows at the rate of
ten million dollars year. Progress in that
direction must be stopped, or insolvency is
merely question Of time. If the Legislature,
instead of wrangling over COstigan's bill,
would summarily repeal all laws authorizing
the contraction of permanent Indebtedness,
we might, in the course of year or two,
ascertain whether we have not already taken
on our shoulders as heavy load as We can
hpar