The Portland daily press., 1877-09-04

Foolish scheme-A Bakers Dozen Of
Goyerpors-The Board of Aldermen
Mr. Cornell, the Naval Omcer and the
Administration--GniI HamiIton's Let
tiers.
NEW YORK, September 1st., 1877.
We have just reached the end of one of the
finest summers New York has witnessed for
years. The weather has been for the MOST
part temperate we have had neither drought
nor deluge, no epidemic nor unusual mortality
has visited rs and ''the kindly fruits of earth"
were never more profuse in quantity, luxurious
in quality or reasonable in price sIt has been
great season for people in moders ate circum-
stances. Food, fuel and apparel have all been
extraordinarily cheap. There has been no
suffering save among the sick and the unem-
ployed. For the former class public and pri-
vate charity makes ample provision. For the
latter it is doubtful whether any adequate re-
lief can or ought to be afforded. The only
effect Of trying to take care of them seems to
be to multiply their numbers and encourage
their helplessness. Organized benevolence
could take no more phianthropical form than
in promoting migration to climes in which
nature offers liberal Compensation to Industry.
The experiment of trying to mitigate the ev Is
of poverty by almsgiving has lamentably
failed. The benefciaries of these scanty doles
have increased more rapidly than the means Of
assistance. Soup houses have proved nurser-
les OF communism, and rumshops primary
schools of politics. The highest duty of hu-
manitaranism is, not to give bread, but to find
work for the idle-to put them in the way of
earning their own living and to refuse to help
those who will not help themselves
Mr.. Robert B. Roosevelt, millionaire by in-
heritance, an ex-Congressman by the grace of
the Democratic canvassers q gentleman by
birth andieducation, and lawyer by profession
has addressed a communication ostensibly to
the Mayor, but actually to the public, boldly
recommending to the authorities gigantic
scale of public Improvements for the purpose
of giving work and wages-especially the lat
ter-to the men who have nothing to do
have no disposition to question the excellence
of the motive which prompts this PROPOSE
sition, or the sincerity with which 1t is enun-
ciated But however diligently Mr.. Roosevelt
may have studied the code, he has evidently
paid very little attention to the laws of polit-
ical economy, or else he would have discovered
fatal defect in his plan in that it would
much more certainly augment the number of
municipal stipendiaries than 1t would diminish
their importunacy for aid New York is pop
ularly supposed to be the paradise of tramps
already If there is any doubt about it now,
there would not be after such scheme as Mr..
Roosevelt suggests was put in operation. It
would increase our population, very likely, but
only of non-producers, of whom we have q
burdensome excess at all times, and especially
during an epoch of depression such as we are
just emerging from.
1t stands to reason that there is scope enough
on this broad continent fori all the muscular
force that can be applied to its development.
The real end to be sought is the bringing OF the
work and the worknen together. Then New
York wouldIproit byltheir labor instead of be-
ing taxed for their support. There are in
round numbers aihundred thousand persons in
the city, reckoning both sexes and all ages, who
taste the bitterness of indigence. II they could
be transported to fields. that languish for lack
of tillage, it would be better for them and for
those they would leave behind them. Any con-
trivance which tends TO keep them here, how
ever specious its appearance. is impracticable
aud worthless.
Ths Governors. are coming here next week
and the Chamber of Commerce has volunteered
to enact the part of host during their visit
There are only dozen or so of them, as far as
heard from. including substitutes and terrific
rial functionares! The Board of Aldermen
would have liked to take charge Of this. recep-
tion, but there was no appropriation out of
which they could defray the expenses. There
were such prodigies of extravaganza in the old
days of municipal wastefuiness, that the treas
ury has been guarded since by statutory pro-
hibitions which are not easilyl surmounted. It
Is just as well, perhaps. The guests will re-
csiye quite as much hospitality without being
made to feel that they are adding feathers
weight to the burden of the ax'payers. When
the question came up before the sub committee
of the Chamber as to whom invitations should
be rendered, Mr.. Spaulding, prominent mer-
chant and a strictly orthodox Democrat too,
by the by, said the Mayor should be invited to
| take a leading part in welcoming the visitors,
but remarked parenthetcally that for his part
he advised leaving the Aldermen out, as he had
no respect for them. There happened to be re-
porter in the room. and he, true to the instincts
of his profession, made note of the observa-
tion.. and it was conspicuously published next
morning. 1t is not improbable that this little
contre.tenlps will diminish the number of AL
dermanic participants in the festivities. although
the suggestion Of Mr.. Spaulding was negatived.
and cards are to be sent to the City fathers.
/ The adage that ''the truth is not to be spoken
/ at all times" fits this incident perfectly, but
there is no denying that the Objectionable criti
i cism expresses the sentiments of the reputablo
citizens of whoml Mr.. Spaulding is worthy
i representative. Although there are several
excellent gentlemen 10 it, our local legislature
is not, as a whole body endowed with eminent
wisdom or disinterested patriotism. But then
it possesses very little power apart from its pre-
rogative of confirming or rejecting the Mayors
nominees. That affords them an occasional
opportunity of showing the negative side Of
their craftsmanship and the display they usu-
ally make of themselves at such intervals,
strengthens the public faith in the good policy
of keeping them within the restrictive limita-
tions of the charter
Mr.. A. B. Connell about this time is the OBJ
ject of no inconsderable amount of news.
paper attention. He holds the federal
situation of Naval officer of the
port and the political Office of chairman
of the Republican State Committee. Under
the new dispensation 1t is not permissible for
one man to hold both these positions. Never
theless Mr. Connel does retain the two, and OBJ
stiuately refuses to relinqulsh either. 1t
is impossible to compel man to resigo. The
alternative is transparently plain. The admin
istration must remove him or permit its order
in respect to office holders to be disregarded in
his case. The dilemma is an awkward one;
there are difficulties on both horns Of it; il he
is turned out, there will be an issue precipi
tated that will assuredly evoke the action of the
state convention that is to be held on the 18th
of September. II he is let alone his seat in the
state committee will then be vacated by expr'
alton of the term of his appointment Indise
Greet friends of the administration, most oi
them as it happens very recent and somewhat
equivocal converts to, or professedly penitent
backslders from, the Republican faith. are
L n ar-nr Cor hseI T,A kIa