New-York tribune., 1885-01-02
CHANGES Al TIE CITY NAIL

Mr.. Thompson has wisely concIuucu 10
abandon his Notifications in the Department OF
Public Works and Mr. Squire with cOlors dying
will take possession to-day. Whether this Is a
complete surrender or simply a capltulatlon
wish secret terms. which will retain large
part of Mr.. Thompson's idle and worthless
garrison on the pay-rols, nobody except Mr.
Thompson and Mr.. Squire seems to know and
they will not tell. Any way. it is gain to
have out of Office the chief of the County
Democracy, for no one can be found to parallel
him in high-handed and shameless misuse Of
public trust for partisan ends. Mr.. SQ"ire
seem, greatly to enjoy his peculiar position as =
New Years puzzle which no politician can
guess. The Tammany men are sure he Is in
sympathy with them. Members of the County
Democracy are confident that they have the
biggest and warmest place in bis heart Mr.
Edson's friends believe that he is first and fore
most an Edson Democrat. The only politicians
who have not clapped mortgage on his
affections are the Republicans, but even they
feel happier that NJ. Thompson Is gone.
Mr.. Kirk enjoyed immensely the first half OF
hi, New Years Day. For twelve hours he was
Mayor of New York, duly sworn in by justice
of the Supreme Court, distinction which he Is
never likely to delight in again. Up to noon
Mr.. Kirk was an extremely important person =
age. In rhe later hours of the day his lustre
was a good deal dimmed, though there was n
sort of li1gering glory, an after-glow, as 1t
were, about his path. He could not help
chucklny over his appointment OF chief
clerk, whose brief, bright dream OF power
lasted only about two hours. He chuckled still
more over his appointment of that doughty and
pertinacious warrior, Colonel L. I. Wood, as
CORPORATION Counsel. But Mr. Lacombe, with
chilling disregard of the cOurtesies of the day,
barricaded himself In his Office fortified him
self with legal opinions, and declined 'o
surrender. Colonel Wood must fight il out III
the courts, and as Mr. Lacombc has all I .
advantages of possession, the Colonel may after
all never taste the sweets for which he has 80
long been yearning
Mr.. Grace gayly accepted the copgratulntio' =
of the day. His temper did not seem at oil
soured by his loss of the chance to appoint a
Commissioner of Public Works, though his
friend Charles p. Miller was futtering around
in the distress and pcrplexity OF chicken
whose head has been taken Oft. Mr.. Grace has
great opportunity. He can be OF immense
service to the people of NcwYork. He has
had ample experience and Knows the city we'll
He has shrewdness, resolution and energy He
can make himself felt in every department In
the Excise Department, which is now managed
in the interest of the corner grOg-shops in the
Police Department, which is not alwaysa terror
to certain classes Of ovil-dOers; in the Park
Department, which has been so successful in
botching almost everything it has taken mp; in
the Dock Department, which has seemed bent
on sinking al the money it could get hold of
under water; in the Health Department
which appears to consider that this city should
pay for sanitary work on the scale Of Il
fashionable physicians fees; in the powerful
Board of Estimate and appointment, which
might save millions year to the Taxpayers
and does not. Mr.. Grace is ambitious. lie
has q future if he will serve the public veal.
His former administration was marked by
much tnat was creditable, but was hurt by
some extremely unwise appointments. The
worst mistake he can make is TO try to build up
Grace party here. Let him be the Mayor OF
no man. of no party, but always and every
where the Mayor of the whole people.