New-York tribune., 1884-12-08
Mr.. 1HOMPSOY's SUCCESSOR.
HIS SCHEME TO cHEcKMATE TIE MAYol

HIS SCHEME TO CHECKMATE TIE MAYOR.
A PLAN TO GIvE.THE APPOINTMENT TO MIR. GRACE
TRYING TO MAKE TRAITORS OF TAMMANY
ALDERMEN.
Some of the Aldermen who were found at their
Sunday resorts yesterday wore unsettled air, as
if there still some unsettled counts in con-
necton with the voting away of the Broadway
railroad franchise. Ii whispered about that
the matter would not be altogether cleared up
until the question Is decided whether or not Hubert
o. Thompson is to control in the future the vast
patronage of the Public Works Department. Mr.
Thompson's term Will expire on Wednesday. and
the term of the Corporation Counsel will end on the
same day.
The gossip among the politicians is to the effect
that the men who have charge of the
Broadway railway and other schemes as inter
mediaries with the Aldermen also have contract
to keep Mr. Thompson in Office until the power of
appointment is lodged in Mayor Grace's hands. 1t
is reported that an effort will be made to secure
this result by tying up in committee any nOmina-
tion made by Mayor Edison, and Mr.. Thompson's
friends hope to control the votes of sufficient
number of Aldermen to prevent action upon the
nominations for Commissioner Of Public Works
aud Corporation Counsel A sangune MEM
Der Of the County Democracy said yesterday :
1--WE don't know nor care much whom the Mayor
will nominate We have the Aldermen. | hear talk
about Allan Campbell Fltz John Porter. John
Kelly q. b. Potter and others No Tammany man
can be confirmed presume Mr.. Kelly thinks that
all of his Aldermen are safe. He thought so once
before but we found enough of them who not
safe to turn Mr. Kelly himself ont of Office. We
must keep the Public Works Department and the
Corporation Counsel's office too. With the Presi-
dept-oect and Governor on our sidc arc not 20
ing TO lose this Tight
IMMENsE PATRONAGE OF THE DEPARTMENT.
II is evident. however. that all of Mr Thomp-
sons friends are not SO sangnine The large NUM-
her of contracts that he has been giving ont lately
ia taken "a an Indication that he hm7elf is not
rosiiive about remaining in oflnc. Nobody among
the politicians scoms tp know what the Mayor viii
iu. Tho Aldermen are 90 much in doubt ga eny-
body, hut they nie anxious to he cnied ioi amt
number uf thum hie annn tu q" on ui niiirei lhn-
many, lay tcluHhg 90 numinnte Aldclmeh Whp
,utod to give away tho broadway
itanohiip, hns lnu7encd iti hold urru
tium, lhompnnu frnnminAtvl hia Aldermen, and
has rewarded ihnm, Liberal ntomiauh have boon
made with Ahlrlmrn who VIII atith hN lh"mr1oh,
iii drpaflmrni IA pnint nt puliurn patronage ~
tho most inpmiAni Ia iho cltN GOV otumcnL la all
dlnon to the miliona wuioh ht rrceiNta in the d-
rect appropriation account he has tho power 90 ~
pond ~ lOuOOoO annually ~ 10 increase the wafer
SUPPLY SO one eao has ANY control over TINS
enormous expendiiro and under % he hrcs what
men he plelsr, pIys such salaries as hc chooses
and finds room 90 provide for many politicians
Then ho has the poWor to spend another million
IN opening howeIS. Ia regulating aud grading
streets, etc ali being wholly beyond the control OF
the lodId Of Estimate.
these are only few of the many ways IN which
the political power and patronage of his depart
ment are used without the fact appearing on The
surface. Ia connection with the Corporation C0un-
scl's oihco the Public Works Department will be
even moro powerful while the new aqueduct ls
building. Hence Mr.. Thompsons desperate efforts
10 retain the control of excite the Aeonest interest
IN political circles.