New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-08-02
For coUysEL AyD Iys7RUC7ION

FOR COUNSEL AND fNS7RUCTTON
The reform of the Civil Service in the Fiji
teenth Assembly District of New-fork has
brought on a crisis. All the world is no doubt
aware that the Republican organization IN that
District has been managed for long time by
the New-YOrk Custom House, the business OF
collecting the revenue from import duties IN
Gliding, as it would seem, the running or the
Thirty -ffth-st primaries, and the prepara-
tiou of the lists of persons authorized TO vote
at the same When the order for the discs
adjustment of the machine WAS made public, a
number of Custom House gentlemen resigned
their positions in the Association, and
the average metropolitan Democrat thereupon
took an extra drink. under the delusion that
Republicanism in the Fifteenth Assembly Dis
trict would be heard of no more Never was
politician more mistaken. The Republican or
ganization in the Fifteenth Assembly District
is more lively than ever. Some OF the custom
House members, encouraged by the new inter-
pretatitns placed upon the disesiabilshment
order, resolved to stick, ard among them was
Mr.. Henry G.. LcaSk, who Is the President OF
the Association and IN Examiner IN the Cas-
tom House. This distinguished officer has
announced in a public and defiant manner that
he will "tender his resignation when he gets
ready. and not before" II may be imagined
with what feelings the rash persons who re-
signed before they were ready listened to
this unexpected declaration. They and their
friends came together the other night at
special meeting of the Association, fairly rag
ing with zeal for the reformation of the Civil
Service and the publication OF politics. They
said they were going TO bounce Mr. Leask.
Respect for their beloved Chief Magistrate
wouid allow them to do no less. Until "A Late
hour of the night the struggle for reform went
on. both sides cracking heads, dismembering
furniture, shying water-picherS, brandiShlng
walking-canes and propellng fists, until the
Secretary put the archives under his arm and
,ropucd ont of back window, and somebody
sent for the police. KS at fans Breitmanns
famous party,
"T4o company fghted with taie-!rg5
TIL the constable made ~. ~ Stop
Come ont of ibis. boys SAID dilapidated
combatant "this whole business S uncon-
"'stushnul.p
The proceedings were brought TO an indcci-
>ivo close BY two policemen who led Mr..
I.eask's chief champion home "to keep them
"roushs from putting head Oh him." But
on Tuesday night the Association met again,
and the reformers lost no time in setting
about its reorganization" The story Of what
.hey accomplished remind, Ms 81 that eycntful
night when the late Artcmus Ward attempted
10 reOrganize Betsy Jane. As one by one they
stepped forward to vote for Lrask's retirement
and a new dead, Mr.. LcaSk, assisted by several
policemen, put them ont Of Tie room, and
when the ballots were counted il appeared
thnt the Leask faction had l3j votes and the
opposition only %. ThcreupOn the malcon-
tents got up n new meeting Of their own,
while M Leask and the police stepped around
into the Fichth-avc. and ordered supper at
convenient saloon.
If we have devoted TO this contest rather
more time and type than an affair of such
modest proportions may seem To deserve, 1t is
because il teaches a valuable political essen.
IL is battle that tests the stuff of the soldier,
and il is a contest like this tbat brings out
the best qualities of the Custom House ma
chine. We have been told great many times
that it would be all up with ,he party if we
should lose the services ii t!.0so able, adroit,
experienced and seli-sacii-ciTg men, who
sprnd their lives drawing e"'ares from the
Federal Government aud r-turn.ug IN equiv
alent in services TO the iOcN political organ
izaions. There has always been more
or less mystery about tie Jatlre of such
services; and it is interesting and instruct
i've Ia see the able AID seii-Sacriiicing
men at work, to know what they do and
inst how they do it. 50 it IS veil to throw
open Che doors now and then, I'D let MS see
the machine III operation. Slch M exhibition
will show Us what fa,al mistake the Presi-
dent will make if he persists III throwing this
beautiful piece Of mechanism ou' of gear how
suddenly the Republican party will drop out
of the respect and affection OF the public if
the countenance Of the Custom iouse is to be
taken away from it. Or an WI, perhaps, mis-
takeni CouId the Repubic'n party get along
without this sOrt Of management