New-York tribune., 1882-02-22

for their failure TO nufy Providental laws.
Twenty-one wealthy. influential and much re-
spected citizens most of them Republicans we're
appointed a committee to clean the streets in deli
ance of the elements. bill comforting upon the
Mayor the sole power of appointing stree-cear-
ing Commissioner and making an annual appropria-
ton of n million of dollars to be expended 10y The
Mayor without accountability 0t auV uescrlp'"n'
was taken to Albany. That bill was iushed WIN
out debate through the Senate. | NentuTed 70 pro-
test against the policy Of conierrng arDlllry po" g,
with an unprecedented amount OF money upon an
individual. The Assembly proiectei the cly ny
amendments emineItly proper anu necessary, IIilit
INK the powers OF tAe Mayor ana feuutihS tIio aP-
propriatiop For the conservative action OF the
Assembly the Citizens Committee 0nght 10 oe hlosS
thankful for If the bill they carrleu 10 AIuSpH nau @
become law. ITS disastrous results Nonlu INV
overwhelmed them with modification fnd tclhplsc'
Mavor Grace in his appointment has zone, III taNIns
care of his Democratic Trends, Just Whal NC WI "a a
pected 10 do. and with proper llmltallons "h1' ~
ought 10 have done The Citizens Commttee must
have learned by this time that the Mayor WHOM
they endeayored to invest with iegal powers - a."
iro1-clad partisan The terms Of service oil Two Oh
our CITY indges expired last summer. Having maue
a good judicial record their reappointment was con
hdeutlv anticipated; but these Judges, tbouen "
means active or obnoxious a. poiit,c,ans 60,
Republicans and for tns reason only Mayor @ uiaoo
refused To reappoint them. TWO CITY Judges, leto
fore, of unlmpeachable character anu 'aP"1I.y'
were succeeded V two individuals whose only claim
upon the Mayor for judicial honors consisted IN tne
fact that they were among hr ein3crac ia contp Sa
it make out OF Mayor Grace as a" Cl'H oerNIco
keioImer.'
TIE sPoILs SYSTEM"
A new and essential element in Civil Service
Reform" is becoming prom nent. Candidates are
admitted TO competitive examinations and appoint
ments made irrespective of party. There IS no
longer any merit IN beng Republican. provided a
subordinate Office only Is concerned. This rule as
have already remarked. does not apply to heads OF
Departments The Collector. Naval Officer, sur
veyor and Postmaster appointed for their Snp-
posed devotion to the Republican party why
sbould not this constitute a valid claim in favor OF
applIcants tor subordinate Offices And this brings
ND the SpOils" question. No political sentiment
has been more vehemently or more generally de-
nounced than that " to the yictors belong the
spoils" This sentiment with proper limitations and
in the sense undersioO and intended by Governor
Marcy has my hearty approval Without being
avowed 1T has been acted upon by the Wing and
Republican parties for half n century. Every anti
Democratic President, with one exception, and
every aut-Democratic Governor of this state, have
rewarded their political friends with their share of
the spoils" of victory. make this broad state
ment understandngly. The exception was John
Quincy Adams. IN whose support during long and
exciting canvass time and money we're freely eX-
pended and in many prominent instances leading
and influential politicians sacrihced thrir party
Guty o. their country. But Mr.. Adams when
elected declared himself Independent, proving hun
Sc though the name had not then been invented.
" ivIl Service Reormer.' His Lr,t important ap-
pointmcnt was that of Governor linton 10 be VIM
lister t. Enyiaud. MIR Clinton political irlrud ol
General Jac ,-on. coull not honOrahiy accept an
Office from an Administration 10 winch be was OPP
posed non Governor Clinton, declensOn went
10 Washington as the earliest friend of Mr.. Adams
and a. the representative Of his party IN Tins state
TO ask for the appointment of General James Tai
madge as Minister 10 England. ! informed Mr..
Adams that without the devotion, hdriltV ana IN.
iurnce of General IaiWGdee during the protractch
and exciting legislative canvass CRAWFORD eltClors
would have been chosen. 10 all such cOn~ldefa-
tlOus the President was indifferent. kulns hing.
at an earlier day n distinguished Federalist who
had taken no part IN the Presdential election OF
1871 was appOn ed Minister 10 England Subse-
qucntlv at he earnest solicitations OF James Butt.
William Nelson. David GariHef, Jacob ltalght,
Isaac Ogden Latham A. Burroughs, James Mallery,
Jesse Clark Isaac Pler>ou, Charles Town ana
james Muet members of the Legislature VINO
broke from their Democratic moOrlngs ana without
" hose votes Mr.. Adams could not have been
elected. / returned to Washington to lhduce, II
possible recognition Of the party which had carried
the state by an Overwhelming alOrity. But i0r
the hearty cooperation Of Mr. Clay secretary OF
state, should have utterly failed. 18th hs assist
ance | obtained the appointment OF Henry
Wheaton. also IN Adams member OF the Leglsla-
ture. Minister TO Denmark. BeIond that APP
pointmeut victors" failed 70 obtain their re-
ward. This discouraged Our friends. and at the
next election the Democratic party recovered all
that il had lost. Mr.. Adams perslsenty refused To
punish his enemies or reward his friends. IN lN-o
he was a candidate for reelection. but having
turned his back upon the friends VINO elected him
IN IS2i he encountered the defeat that awaits any
Administration which disposes Of its patronage by
competitive examinations irrespective ot party.
Nec- lOrk, Feb. q, lo72. l. W.