Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-02-21
An Important Election.

The municipal election in Philadelphia to-day
Involves interests OF more than usual importance,
as the question ut issue is really OF good bad
local government IN the future Political rings
had taken Such complete possession Of the city
that the citizens about two years ago were driven
to organize reform or independent movement
This movement comprised men of all politicaI
parties, and had for its object simply the election
OF honest 10 administer the affairs OF the city,
At the last municipal election the reforIners won
partial triumph. They elected several officials and
carried the lower branch OF the city council. But
the ring was still powerful enough to prevent any
reform local legislation and TO maintain the hold
1t had upon the city. This ring is composed Of
both democrats and republicans, the latter, how
ever being ii the majority and the dominating in
nuence- Party Interests have been made slbser-
Went to the ring. Where there was better
prospect OF electing democrat than
republican the ring ran a representative of
that party, and rice reYSa. The election
OF to-day is for members d. the select and COM
mon councils, and the reformers Went into it with
a good organization. acceptable candidates, and
ether elements OF success. The ring, however
WAS no less determined. Not only the offices and
places held by members Of the ring are at stake,
hut conviction and Imprisonment for their crimes
probably await them ii the Teformers succeed.
The people OF the city have been plundtred sys-
temltically for years with Us much TecklessneS5 as
the Tweed gang robbed New York The partial
power obtained by the refOrmors enabled them to
uncover some OF the corruption in the local gov
eminent The city gas works consumes 100000
tons OF coal per annum. and it has been shown
that the price regularly paid was one dollar per
ton more than the same coal sold for in open mar
ket- Thus the taxpayers have been robbed of
half million dollars year in this one tranSac-
uon- and the money thus fraudulently obtained
went into the POCKETS Of the members of the ring.
Every measure OF pr-cautiOn against election
frauls that could be devised has been put
In practice by the citizens committee
who are managing the reform canvass
to-day. Large rewards are offered for evidence Of
refeitinG. bdllot-box Stu!1ing, any other fraud
upon the ballot. Experienced detectives from other
cities are employed IL watch the polls The re-
form managers are quite confident that il they
can prevent wholesale frauds upon the ballot-box
the ring will be defeated: and for the benefit OF
Philadelphia, and in the interest OF good govern
ment. IL Is sincerely to be hoped that il will be
crushed.
The New YOrS papers, il will be seen, have some
words OF cOIunendation OF the action Of the Grand
jury In the star route cases In view OF the unanf-
nous decision Reached by the CT and jury in this
NATTER and OF the egHslly uHhcsitating verdict of
the petit jury in the Guteau case, is it not about
time that the papers of TIE country should stop
OF their filings about Washington co,rrts Washing
JCries and 'the low tone OF public opinion in
Washington In regard to official Scandals
There appears to be no material difference be-
tween the plans of Col Albert and Engineer Com
missioner Twlning for improving the river front.
Major winnings plan provides for a lake to be
eft in the flats above the bridge for ornamental
ton aud for flushing cut the Washington channel
at low tide: while Col. Abert'S plan suggests a
Canal connection with the Georgetown channel