New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-01-24
A GOOD NAN TO RFJEOT

1t is safe to affirm that the State Senate will
not be called upon during the entire winter to
discharge more important duty than the one
that lies just before it. We refer to the duty
of dispOsing of the appointment of John ODon-
nell as Railroad Commissioner. The Governor
las no responsibility in the premises. Under q
stupid and utterly indefensible section OF the
law creating the Railroad Commission he was
compelled to send this individuals name to the
Senate along with those Of the two Commits
sIoners of his own selection. All the other
nominations that come before the Senate dur
ing the session will he in reality the Governors /;
they will be his appointments "by and with the
advice aud consent of the Senate" But, OBJ
vlously, ii Mr.. O'DOnnell becomes a Railroad
Commissioner it will he an accurate account of
the appointment to state that it was made by
the Senate by and with its own advice and COLI
sent
If it can be made to appear that Mr.. O'Don-
nell is fit man for the place, then we want to
see him promptly confirmed. But we submit
that the evidence thus far does not show
him to be fit man. The newspapers with
out regard to politics, have already called at
tention to one of his disqualifcatiOus. 1t ap-
pears in the fact, Of no small significance as an
indication of character athat ever since his
name was sent to the Senate he has been fit
ting about the Hobbies of the Capitol, Industri.
ously button -holing members for 0'Donnell.
First-rate men are above that sort OF vulgar
self-seeking. Second-rate men, who see in IA
great office not q great opportunity to serve
the public, but merely so much salary and per-
quistes for their own benefit, are not above 1t.
But Mr.. 0'DOnnelfs rejection can be urged
upon more serious grounds lie processes to be
an Anti Monopolist." II is as distinctive and
thorough -going Anti Monopolist that he was
presented to and appointed by the Governor.
But the charge has been made and has not been
successfully refuted that he is the thing that
he despises "a special rater. He did not hest
tate III the near past TO accept a special contract
which gave him an advantage not possessed by
all his neighboTs, and so the suspicion is justi-
fed that he Is an Anti MonOpolist for revenue
only" Aud there is third weighty objection
TO Mr. O'Donnell. Tile Utica Herald, one of
the most reputable journals in the interior of
the State, asserted several weeks ago that its
Judgment as to the improperly of his nominal
ton was largely based upon several letters
which he wrote while the Railroad Commission
bill was under discussion in the Legislature last
spring, " in which he distinctly threatened that
the Commission would be used as an engine Of
oppression and discrimination against certa in
communities under certain conditions" True,
Mr.. O'DOnnell denies that his correspondence
was susceptible OF any improper construction,
but it is noticeable that he has steadily de-
clned to allow the letters to he published. The
declination does not look well for Mr. O'Don-
nell. 1t looks better for The Heralds charge.
Let the Senate call for the letters and peruse
them before taking action on this nomination.
There is consideration Of quite another sort
that may we'll constrain the Senate to reject
Mr.. O'Donnell. When the three nominations
for Rail road Commissioner were sent to the
Senate THE TRIBUNE took occasion to express
the opinion that the two for which the Cover
nor was responsible had not met the best ex-
pectations. 1t affords us pleasure to be able to
state that the expressions that have been elic-