National Republican., 1883-04-02

remains unused in order that these gentlemen
may have a chance to magnify themselves.
This administration of public works is prac.
tically without responsibility. 1t is best that
q little light should he turned on their opera
tons. The evident determination to perpet-
uate their monopoly of authority is In itself
suspicious. irresponsible authority is always
dangerous alike to the parties exercising 1t
and to the public interests. The Post of this
morning says that il was agreed to offer Gen.
West the entire charge of tho financial de-
partment." If that means that there shall be
conferred upon him the right to investigate
and superintend the entire expenditure for
all purposes IL will 80 far to reconcile the
public to the action Of the other members in
approprating to themselves the whole cXecu-
tive powers of the board.
Mr.. Edmonds came into to the board not
only rs a junior member but rs democrat
appointed under republican administration,
all act of magnanimity which no one viii be
foolish enough to expect n democratic adj
miuistration to repeat should they ever gain
the asCcndcncy. These considerations should
have inspired q feeling of modest diffidcnce,
the very opposite to the spirit he has mani
tested. 1t was on his own motion that
he was assigned the duties which, by the
practical ubdication of Mr.. Dent had been
awarded TO MIR. Morgan. If he Is correctly re-
ported by the intcrvcwors it is not calculated
to inspire confidence in his character that he
is willing to convey u false impression in
denying that IL was on his motion that the
order of assignment published was made.
This is a mere play upon words calculated, II
not intended, to deceive. 1t is truo that that
distribution of duties had been such
under the Dent administration, and the
motion of MIR. EdmondS was to pcrpetuato
that, and to give him the entire line of au-
thority held By Morgan under the Dent
administration. IL is mere jCsuitiCal trickcry
to say that the duties were not specified in
the motion. The interest and the effect of it
was to give him the duties set out in the list
as published. This was done on his motion
and by the aid of Mai. Lydccker, and they
knew and intended that the effect was to
make Gen. West the mere iigurchead that
Dent had bccE. Not only was this the case
but his statement, as published by you, shows
that this had been agreed upon and un-
derstood before his appointment. Was
this understanding communicated TO the
President2 Was he aware that in appointing
II democrat he was couscnting to displacc the
republican member Of the board? Or was he
imposed upon and led inadvertently to turn
ing over the administration of the affairs Of
the district to the democracy? / don't know
and don't care what may be the political i'll
clinations of Mai. Lydecllcr, if he has any.
He will be found to bo for Maj. Lydeckcr and
the engineer corps. 1t will take time to
evolve tho true meaning of these acts and to
disclose heirmotives. Whether the motive Is
purely selfish or has for its purpose the transfer
of tho patronage of the district 20 tho hungry
democracy the future will tell. Mr.. Edmonds
is called a moderate democrat. just what
that mHy mean | don't know, never having
had any experience with that kind. | have
found them alike devoted to their party in
tercsts and INSCRIPTIONS in the means of fur
therng them. The fact that Mr.. EdmOnds
holds by a four months tenure may make him
slow to develop his purposes. But one of two
things is already made sure-the President
was either party to the understanding that
Gen. WU3t, his own appointce and the repub-
lican member of the board, should he deposed
and deprived Of all authority, or he has been
imposed upon and his confidence abused.
ID, c.