The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-06-21
THE NEW YORK COLLEcroRsHIP.

The Chances Of Hubert O. Thompson and
the Hopes Of Mr.. Robertson.
epecial to the Indianapolis Journal
NEW YORK June 20.-The question who shall
handle about one hundred and thirty millions Of
Uncle Sans dollars every year during President
Clevelands administration is excitingly mootable
among New York politicians. The nearest to
the truth that diligent inquiry can get yields
only strong probability that Secretaries Man
ming and Whitney have made a choice of man
to be appointed collector of the New York
custom house, but that the President has not
ratified their decision. They wish to let Hubert
o. Thompson have the coveted place. That
would consistently be part of the plan to blot
Tammany out Of the Democratic party. Thomp-
son was the head and front of the County De-
mocracy, which was organized chiefly by Whit
ney, under the guidance of Samuel j. Tiden,
whose cherished desire is to eliminate Tammany.
The look of it now is that Tammany is as good.
or bad, as stone dead. The County
Democracy organization is complete,
and it possesses all the city and
county Offices held by Democrats, along with
national recognition. It is this situation that
has played havoc with John Kelly's nervous sys
tenn, and sent him to an interior sanitarium as
all but hopeless invalid. Among the profes
sional statesmen of this city there was at the
outset no. manner of doubt that Thompson
would get the colectorshin He had been the
commissioner of public works, position COM
manding more patronage than any other in the
municipality; and his potency in the campaign
which elected Cleveland, while not SO great as
he and his friends made out, was considerable
enough, in the estimation of him and them, to
ehtitle him to something very tangible in the
way Of recompensory appointment The pretty
clear understanding is that Manning and Whit
ney deem it essential to the prosperity of their
party in this pivotal State that Thompson shall
be made collector. In behalf of this view it is
urged that during Thompson's administration as
commissioner Of public works no scandal issued
from his Office, though he was once the subject
of legislative investigation.
However Mr.. Cleveland's reappointment of
the Republican postmaster Pierson, because he
had been business like official and not an Of
fensive partisan, gave to Collector Robertson a
sudden and unexpected hope of continuance in
Office. Mr.. Robertson at once set about the
strengthing of his position. When he was COM
manded from Washington to report upon certain
abuses which notoriously existed in the customs
service he threw all his whitewash into the gut
ter, and used the blackest ink in writing the
absolute truth. This has shaken up the import
ers as they have not been used to il many year,
| and has aeitated the employees OF the custom
house immensely. These latter have not known
what to do about it, but as a rule they have
concluded that their salvation depended on the
straightforward answering of queries, no matter
whether Robertson or new collector was the
upshot and the consequence is that the
Treasury Department is in receipt of more
and truer statements of the collection business
country. Robertson is quite hopeful that, in
view of his slight activity against Cleveland in
the campaign, and his disposition to get into
harmony with Cleveland's policy, he may be re-
appointed.
One Of the moves against Thompson is to
make conspicuous his social acquaintanceship
with ex-Superintendent of Police Kelso, who lost
Office and respect at the downfall of the Tweed
| reign. Kelso has applied to Cleveland for office
on his own account, and that fact is being used
to prejudice Thompson. The national impor
| tance of the matter lies in its effect upon the
forthcoming political campaign in this State. and
the desirability of victory in the fall for the
Democracy, as a reproof or Endorsement of
Cleveland in his own State