New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-01-10
THE U4YOR'S PATRONAGE.

In the latter part of his two years at the CITY
Hall Mayor Edison came to the conclusion that
the terms of office of Police Commissioners
French and Mason had expired, and he nomi-
mated Mr.. French for a new term and filled
Mr. Mason's chair with Mr.. McClave. Mr.
Mason had previously expressed good deal OF
dissatisfaction with his place, and an aversion
to retaining it, but when the Mayor with I'M
expected suddenness committed him to the
peaceful obScurity of private lite, Mr.. Mason
came TO the conclusion that Police Com
missoncrshp was not bad thing after all. So
he made a fight for il, but was disarmed with
painful abruptness by the Acknowledgement,
who refused to give his consent to quo Tdrrdnfo
proceedings in Mr. Mason's behalf.
We must admit that Mr. MaSon's case merited
sympathy, but neither Mayor Edison nor At
torney General OBrcn had any to spare. 1t Is
not often that public official is transformed
into private person with such GREATNESS
promptness and finds private life so little to his
liking. Mr.. Masons plight seems to have
touched the tender heart of Mayor Grace. 1t Is
true that his letter to the Corporation Counsel
urging that the Attorney General be now re-
ouested to reverse his decision and allow Mr.
Mason 10 DIDCttu, II iiOA oSNchS'D'' I''''P'''
by compassion for the ex-POlice Commissioner.
Mr.. Grace puts his urgency on the ground that
tbe questions involved in the cases of Mr..
French and Mr.. Mason must also be considered
ia connection with the terms OF President
Asten, of the Tax Department, Chamberlain
Laidlaw, Park Commissioners Wales and Olliiic,
Dock Commissioner Laimbeer, and Mr. Canl-
field. the Commissioner of Jurors. But perhaps
tenderness for Mr.. Mason is at the bottom of it
all. There is no question of the right OF Mayor
Grace to appoint the successors OF all the
officials named above except Mr.. Canlield. The
only doubtful point is as to the dates when the
terms of these successors will expire. But their
terms will not run out while Mr. Grace is
Mayor. and we are likely enough to have legiS-
lation abolishing some OF these Offices
altogether before q new Mayor comes in. Can
we discover any sufficient reason for Mr.
Grace's anxiety except his yearning that
Mr.. Mason may be made happy To accom-
plish that end, he proposes yexatious and
costly litigation for which of course the city
will be asked to pay. Mr.. OBricn's summary
decision quoted the plaintive Mason effect
ually. 1t is moi clear that the public will gain
ANYTHING by reopening the hoodgates OF his
tears.
The Corporation Counsel has followed the
MAYORS suggestion, aud has written a letter to
the Attorney General, asking him to reverse
his decision and give free course to Mason to
20 on and be gloriiied. Mr.. Lacombe at the
present juncturc would be quick to discover
Astounding merit in any suggestion from the
Mayor who can put forth powerful hand in
the thick of Mr.. Lacombes battle with doughty
Colonel Wood. We advise the Attorney
General to be exceedingly deliberate in upset
ting his own previous judgment. And just here
CHASTITY suspicion creeps into the shudderIng
mind. Is it possible that Mayor Grace is more
anxious to get chance to put man OF his own
in the hapless Mason's place than to restore
that worthy person to the full enjoyment OF
his former dgnities? The Mayor always had a
| gittering eye on those two Police Commits
sionerships which Mayor Edison prccipitately
filed. Can ne be more DESTROYS of filling those
two places to his own liking than of settling the
question which he lays before Mr.. LacOmbe IL
this be so, our theory that he was moved by
magnanimty toward Mason becomes hollow
| mockery But the City Hall is full of hollow
| mOckeres.