New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-10-31
4 SC1VDfLOTS ALLIANCE.

No person has yet had the hardihood to deny
that Gfovcr Cleveland and Hubert q. Thomp-
son are political partners and intimate friends.
me Ncr- Fork Times denounced Thompson 4" as
second only to Tweed" As a lame excuse for
supporting his candidates for President and
Mayor, The Times now says ihat it knows of no
favor Cleveland has done for Thompson. And
yet when the Governor approved what The
Times designated as the Infamous aqueduct
lob it charged him with authorizing the big
steal in the interest of Thompson and the
corrupt politicians" adding that they have
received the aid and comfort which they sought
from a COMPLIANT GOVERNOR 1t said further:
rcckcssucss absolutely criminal has been exhibited
hy the Department OF Public Works. IN refusing to take
effective measures TO stop the OF water in order
that this huge aqueldct job might be promoted
But the approval Of that measure was only
one OF the many evidences of this political part
nership. The most glazing WAS the veto OF the
Tenure of ONCE bill. That act was intended to
secure to tie next Mayor the power TO appoint
successors to Thompson and other officials
whose terms expire this year. To save Thomp-
son the Governor vetoed this important reform
measure on the alleged ground that It's purpose
was obscure, and that it made no provision for
the appointment of other than the immediate
Successors 10 those officials now III Office. As
Section 1O6 of the CITY Consolidation Act of
1852 made full provision for filling all such
vacancies, the Governors reasons were mani
testify absurd Bat they were given just before
the Democratic State Convention, when the
Governors approval OF the bill would have lost
him Thompsons support, and consequently his
nomination for the Presidency. For similar
4, g ,t,o
charges against Sheriff Davidson until after
they had been in his hands six months, and
when il would be too late to reach q decision be-
fore the election. Nearly one month of that
time he spent on n vacation III the North Woods
The Governor in all his acts and appoint
ments has protected Thompson An ndisputa-
bic evidence of this scandalous alliance was the
Governors approval of " like" Murphy's bill
10 reimburse Thompson from the public treas
ury for all the costs. counsel fees and expenses
paid or incurred" by HIM ain any proceeding
" to remove him from Office or for the proper
presentation and justification of his onicil
"conduct before any body or tribunal lawfully
Investigating the same" In approving this
outrageous measure the Governor compelled
the city to pay for the three lawyers Thompson
employed to impede the Legislative inyestiga-
ton into his conduct in 1882. As if To- make
the alliance more marked, be actually vetoed
the small appropriation to pay the one lawyer
employed at that time to aid the Senate Com
mittcc. In doing SO the Governor gave this
ridiculous reason:
No reason exists why the people of the state should
called upon pay the expenses Of investigating local
department in the city Of New-York.
The counsel for the State was not paid. there
fore, but the taxpayers were compelled to pay
for Hubert o. Thonpson's three lawyers and
all other Of his expenses, without any provision
being made for auditing them Still worse.
Judge Westbrook, who was under official
investigation and was acquitted of wrong
doing. secured an appropriation of ~, 300 TO
pay for his counsel The Governor vetoed it,
saying:
This committee merely To investigate the conduct |
OF Justice Westbrook and report II an inquiry set
on foot ty the Assembly for it, own Information II
was entirely competent and improper for the com
uttee IL 1t desired conduct its inquiry ia secret
and with closed doors. There Is no prctcnsc that
his counsel appeared there otherwise than the request
and upon tho retainer OF private client and upon tho
sunerance Of the committee
Hence. the Governor refused TO permit Judge |
Wcstbrool to be reimbursed for his payment of |
counsel. though the committee had the power
To make n report in favor of his impeachment. |
The committee which investigated Thompson,
under exactly similar circumstances was with.
out the power to even recommend impcach- |
ment. But Thompson was permitted three law
yers mt public expense. with an allowance for
incidentals, while the counsel for the State was
refused payment, and also the counsel for Judge
w estbroakl Dare any man say that these facts |