New-York tribune., 1884-12-11
strongly advised TO make no NOM ma lions until
the ten days limit has been reached unless u can
be shown that the nominees will he confirmed
COMMENTS ov THE SITUATION.


the ten days limit has been reached unless ~ can
be shown that the nominees will be confirmed
COMMENTS oN THE SITUATION.
good deal OF comment was caused by the course
of District-Attorncy Omey John +. Deven aud
District-Attorney-clect MARITIME in urging Thomp-
sons name upon the Mayor IL was said by many
persons that only the influence of Mr. Oney as
District-Attorncy prevented the Grand Jury wh'ch
investigated Mr. Thomvson's office from present
ng indictments and that its strong arraignment
of his administration ought at least to have kept
Mr.. Olncy from urging rhompsons rcappointmeht'
The fact that all of the iudict ncus found against
Ihonpson's suhor,inates remain untricd by thc
District Attorney also tho subject oi c'nimeht.
One report which was much talked aoon, was
that votes favor of the rctcntton ~ MI ihnnp-
son were worth as much az So.voo caoh, inls
gossip about "hcodlc" wae heard on every sue,
don't see" sad cx.Adcfman Tuomcy why ~
should hc wotih So much to Thonrson ~ rr'nan ~
ohoe until Mr. Giacc comes IN. Ito WI never mp
point Thompson, lie II too Hnnft m'n a'l nas
loo much at stake o. take any such burden on MS
back
Tins opinion was expressed by Others, hut before
the afternoon was gone the explanation was heard
on ali sd"s IL was stated hy q welLknown poll
tician as follows; There has hetsi deadlock ~
the Aqueduct hoard on certain questions IN regard
10 tho aQucduct contracts, Mr.. Thompson mas
been anx 0us to do certain things in favor OF ms
political friends, hut has been opposed by the
Mayor, Controller and another Commissioners me
Board is Just about TO award ino
ing an expenditure of millions of dollars.
There isa peculiar provision IN the law which does
not require thom to be awarded to the lowest re-
sponsible bidder. majority of the Compassion
can award the contracts to the highest bidder or
TO any bidder whatever. YOu can readily see the
opportunity this offers for favoriiisin we an
know that the expenditure Of the twenty or thirty
millions of dollars which this work VIII involve
not ONLY means fortunes for the lucky persons hut
means also the control of great political patronage
Now as matters stood Yesterday Thompson could
not control the awards Bat to-day Controller Grant
went out of Office and the new Controller.
Board. He was nominated by Thompson, who cX-
pects to get his vote. Now II Is greatly 10 tue al
vantage OF certain contractors to keep Mr.. ihon-
son IN Office until the contracts are awarded hat
explains why all his supporters III the Board OF Al
dcrmen voted 10 adjourn until Monday and against
fixing an earlier date 1t Is the present Intention
70 award the contracts on Saturday. In iacI, IL
was supposed that they would be given out to-day
but Controller Loew ASKED Tor an adJourhmeht
until Saturday"
III answer 10 AN inquiry as 10 who he contractors
that Mr.. Thompson desired to favor, thIs Seh-
tleman sad = " o,D: ~
Dutchess County. lie has put III bids under tie
name OF O'BrIcn 4 Clark. and licnan Clark, ctc
Mr. O'Bren is Il wcll-known politician, formerly
"a member of the Assembly. He was elected a
member of the Democratic state committee when
Robinson was Governor ana was supposed to be
friendly In Ta,unany when elected. But
he aftcrward joined the ranks Of
the Manning Thompson Democrats aud soon
after obtained valuable contracts NJ the tintoI
and Sing Sing Prisons which Tammany charged
wcr. rewards for political trcachery. Govcrnor
Cleveland was urged to make O'l'ricn Snpcrin-
tendcnt of Public Works. but OWING 10 OBriens
reputation as a politician ho refused. There was
good deaf of scandal in regard to OBrcns and
Smith VI. Weeds conncc;iin with the contracts at
the Clinton Prison. O'liren now turns up as Il bid
der for aqneduct contracts