New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-06-15
4 sy1LI-uyNDED GOVERNOR.

Tho pubIic will not be disappointed with
Governor Hills unfair treatment OF the DIS
left in his hands by the Legislature, because
| there was no expectation that he wouiu act
otherwise. From the beginning OF his career
| as member of the Tweed Legislature up 10 the
present time he has been known only as a
scheming laundering politician. He went ont
of his way as Lieutenant Governor to make a
speech defending Hubert o. ThompsOn's I'M
balanced bids and 5000 orders, though docu-
mentarv evidence of their fraudulent character
was before him. Coming into the executive
chair by accident, he at once disguised the
friends of good government by an attempt 10
get q little patronage for the Democratic
ahalls" in New-York and Brooklyn IN the ap-
pointment of census enumerators Falilng IN
that effort he showed his spite by multiplying the
existing census law and defeating the consti-
tutional requirement on the subject lie even
goes to the length Of vetoing small approprl-
alton to reimburse the Secretary of State 1or
complying with that statute.
In q like manner the public interests have
been sacrificed to personal and partisan ends III
the treatment of many important bills. Inc
Bridge bill, urgently demanded by the many
thousands who daily cross that structure, has
been killed to please Mr.. Ottendorfer and GER
tain Democratic politicians. The Governor
makes no effort to sustain his veto, further than
alleging imperfections in the bill. 1t has been
shown time and again that these "imperfec-
tionsn would not interfere with the successful
working of the measure, and that no harm could
result from them. The Governor chooses to
disre gard these arguments to please Boss" Nc
Lauehlin and the men who control the patron
agen For that reason thousands of persons
must be compelled to endure discomforts and
AN unnecessary waste of time every day for at
least another year. That veto is a part of the
price the Governor pays for the support OF Nc
Laughlin's delegates in the next State Conven-
ton. Another consideration was given in kill
ing the two reform measures to make the Clerk
and Register of Kings County salaried instead
of feed officers. The present Democratic in
cumbents of those two Offices realize $780, 900 n
year each, which goes largely to maintain the
ring in power. These bills gave the Supervi-
sors the power to fix the salaries at rate not to
exceed SIC, 900 each. The Governor says that
it is improper to make these officers dependent
upon the Supervisors for their salaries. A more
shallow p-etence for vetoing bill was probably
never given. The present District Attorney
and other Kings County officers are paid sal
aries fixed by the Supervisors The Mayor and
other city officers are paid salaries fixed in a
similar way. That is the essence OF the home
rule theory of government which the Democrats
assisted by the Governor have pretended to
espouse.
1t is hardly necessary to follow the Governor
further in his demagogic course. When the
politicians were not concerned about measure
the Governor gave some consideration to the
public interests. But whenever such course
would conflict with the will of the Democratic
"bosses" the public interests were sacrificed.
Pretending to seek economy, he approves bill
to increase unnecessarily the salaries of officials
in the Fire Department, thus imposing a large
additional burden on the taxpayers OF this city /;
and also signs bill to pay for advertising Or
dered by the Tweed Board of Supervisors, though
the claim had no standing in court; and he has
localized other claims defeated in the courts.
But small and necessary appropriations, such as
that for the State Board OF Health, the Fish
Commission, and the Emigration Commission,
have been vetoed. Such a course may COM
mend Governor Hill to the consideration of
Democratic convention, but it will certainly
disqualify him for promotion by any act OF the
paonle of the State