New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-10-13
1 STRIKLvG CONTRAST.

4 STRIKING CONTRAST
There is marked difference between the two
candidates for Governor. One is a sagaciouS,
upright business man, and the other a tricky,
Inscriptions political lawyer. Mr.. Havcnport>
record as legislator and rs the financial officer
IT the Staff proves him to De above all things
an honest man and enc of sound judgment, and
a careful guardian of the public interests. Mr..
| lllls record j. blackcucd with the incildccablc
stains of his partnership with Tweed, ms SER
vile obedience 10 the demands OF the Tweed
Ring and the Eric Ring AMI with having been
Il Sharcr i'm the spoilS o. the Canal Ring lee ~l1-
ton. As Lieutenant and rs boy
ern0r he has sacrificed the public interest,
whenever they couhictcl with his personal and
political ends. How he has stood in the way ~
reform, placing the demands Of party BOSSES
above those Of the Mayors and city authorities
of Ncw-YoIk and Brooklyn, Is further demon
stratcd elsewhere in tO-lay's lEIBrNE. He has
shown hilGself equally rcgardless OF the inter
c,ts of the State, aud has occupied a great
mart of his tine as Governor IN running about
on political work, and in comforting with his
! old associates in the Tweed and Canal Rings
| In striking contrast is the stainless record of
! Ira Davenport. Ills administration Of the
Office of Controller stands unimpcachcd and M
! impcachable. His thorough mastery Of the
| financial interests Of the State wis shown in the
wise recommendations contained in his reports.
! re was a Jealous friend Of the cause Of popular
! education, aud tie Legislature adopted hi, sug-
| gestions on that subject his business sagacity
/ and desire for wise economy were shown IN
many ways The State had long been obliged
| I'll, int, fl,
nay its expenses Emancipation of taxes, for SIX
months of the year. MIR. Davenport saw the
folly of that course and in his report 10 the
Legislature he said "The policy Of the State
borrowing money to provide for Its living ca
"pcnses is as Objectionable as it would be IL
I" an indiydual-in fact, more so.' The Legs
aturc acted in accordance with this recon
mendat0n-and the State has since been spared
the necessity of paying large sums annually III
interest on money borrowed to pay running
expenses.
Another economical reform which he adyO-
Gated was in connection with the prisons. The
State is obliged to pay for the maintenance OF
convicts sent to penitentiaIics. At that time
the State was paying to these county lnstltu-
tons for the maintenance of large rumbcr Of
cOnvicts, though there were over 1000 vacant
cells in the State prisons. Not only was the
State paying for the maintenance of these con-
victs, but they were at work earning money for
the counties on prison labor contracts. Nh
Davenport wisely recommended that only short
term men and first offenders should be sent at
the expense of the State to county institutions
Mr.. Davenport did not hesitate freely to
criticise and refuse payment of the eXOrbitant
charges of some of the Democratic invcstigat-
ing committees in 1883. One committee
charged at the rate Of $50 a day for the living
expenses Of its members, and hundreds Of
dollars for liquors and champagnes. Had Mr..
Davenport been content TO pay these outrage
Gus bills the public would have been no wiser
and he would have been spared the enmty Of
some members of the Legislature. But he did
not shirk his duty, and called the attention OF
the Legislature TO the matter.
His administration of the corporation tax
law, which originated with Controller Wads-
worth, added greatly 10 the public rev enucs.
His recommendations concerning the erection
and improvement Of public buildings were cal
culatcd to save the State from a great waste
of public money. BY his course III taking up
mortgage on Wards Island, held by private
corporation, he undoubtedly saved the State
the loss of land worth over 50, 100000, and
saved further a large sum in interest money.
Many other facts in his faithful administra-
ton of this public trust prove him to be in
every way qualified to serve the State as Gov
ernor How striking is the contrast between
the record of such man and that Of the tricky
spokesman who heads the Democratic ticket.