The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-05-26
VIII the Governor Now Give some
Attention TO New York Citys

Y Wickhams removals IS taken away by the
adjournment of the Legislature. The pre-
text has been that the Governors time has
been 50 occupied with his canal Investigations
and the multifarious duties which fell on him
during the session that he could not command
time to give the subject bis deliberate aiten-
ton. This community has been OF the
opinion that il was rather dissemination than
want Of time-and, perhaps, a personal
pique at the Mayors hesitation to send
him the details Of the evidence-that
has melted the Governor to treat
Mayor Wickham with such supercilious
indifference The people Of this city have
been unable to aivest themselves of the sus-
picion that the Governor has been yelling his
real motives under the convenient plea Of a
pressure Of other duties. But the Legislature
has dissolved and this plea will no longer
avail, although the Governor is seeking TO
extend it over the ensuing thirty days. With
the dexterity Of which he is so great master
he has informed an Albany reporter that he
will be overburdened with official cares for the
ensuing month. He says the adjournment has
left two hundred and forty bills in his hands
for examination, which he must sign within
thirty days if they deserve his approval
The amendment OF the constitution which
prescnbes this limit Of time is excellent but
there is probably not one bill in fifty of whose
merits 50 capable man as Governor Tilden
cannot jUd y by one deliberate, careful read
ing. At the very utmost there cannot be
more than dozen bills in the whole batch Of
two hundred and forty which require investi-
CATION and research, especially if he has
watched legislative proceedings with proper
vigilance during the period between the intro
duction Of the bills and their final passage.
Moreover, he has the valuable assistance of a
most compstent private secretary. Mr..
Stebbins, who was induced to resign q place
on the commission for revising the statutes to
accept this confidential post, has more minute
acquaintance with the laws Of the State than
the Governor himself, and with the aid Of so
good lawyer Governor Tilden is under no
necessity Of bestowing laborious attention on
the mass Of minor bills which present no
questions Of difficulty. Five days in the thirty,
or one day in six Of the whole time allowed him,
will be ample for considering the few bills in
the whole number which can occasion doubts
as to the propriety Of signing them. There is
kind of charlatanism in parading the whole
number as if each would present points OF
difficulty, or as if common sense could be
smothered BY futile arithmetic.
Having thus demonstrated that the Gov
ernor is burdened with no duties which can
justify a continuance Of the neglect and post
ponement which are SO disrespectful to the
chief magistrate Of the city, we have a right
to expect his immediate attention 10 the cases
Of removal which have been nearly five
months before him. This long delay is the
more surprising and unaccountable from the
fact that before the Governor went to Albany
to take the official oath he was confdentially
consulted in relation 10 one of the most inn
porant Of these removals, and left the city
with an implied understanding that he would
sustain tho action of the Mayor. On
the very day that Mayor Wickham
was sworn in he made formal and elabornte
charges against Corporation Counsel Smith
and summoned him to answer. 1t was no
secret that the charges and arraignment were
drawn up by Mr.. O'Conor and they were
stated in the most vigorous and incisIve style
Of that great lawyer. II is a fact which is
equally true, though less public that that
accusatory document was read to Mr. Tilden
before his departure for Albany and that be
expressed approval Of its general tenor and
substance, though criticising some Of its Ian
cuacc. Those consultations and that assent
4 1 49, - ,YI n,
action Of the Mayor Unless he was acting a
double part and raising expectations he
meant to disappoint he had made up
his mind as 70 the propriety Of
removing the Corporation Counsel before he
went to Albany. In view Of these facts bis
subsequent plea Of a want Of time to look into
the case is preposterous What new light
dawned on him: Why did he ''go back on
the Mayor after giving him this encourage
ment? II il ridiculous 70 say that he could
not find time 70 examine q question which he
had already decided on the charges drawn by
Mr. O'Conor and accepted by Mr.. Wickham
IA Mayor ever had reason 70 suppose be was
proceeding on surer ground in any public act
han Mayor Wickham had in his at
tempt to remove Mr.. Smith. We
wish some Of Governor Tilden's organs
acquainted with these facts would try
10 yindicate his good faith in encouraging
Mayor Wickham to undertake a removal and
then making him appear foolish BY involving
him IN fasco. This trick vas not played
upon political opponent but upon political
friend And why? Until some authorized
nouthpiece oftha Governor shall put better
face upon It the public will continue 70 be-
lieve that the reason why the Governor did
not keep faith with the Mayor was his deter
nination - save Comptroller Green. The
hard hits Al Green in tho Mayors Message
aroused the Governor resentment that
known friend II his should be treated with 80