The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-02-21
MEN AND THINGS IN NEW YORK.
Written Tor thu Indianapolis Journal.
General Sickles for Mayor of New NC

WTittoH AoF tHe indianapolis journal.
General Sickles for Mayor of New York
Local politics present an interesting phase
Here is Gen. Daniel e. Siekles running into the
ranks OF the Tammany Democracy and there
are Comptroller Loew, Senator Michael G.
Murphy and Congressman Timothy J. Campbell
making break for the fold of the County De-
mocracy. All are shrewd politicians and none
OF them makes move without careful calcula-
ton. Let us see what it means. The County
Democracy is credited with controlling the fed
eral patronage in the city. and the Tammany
Democracy is said to dispense the State patron
age and the Offices under control OF the sheriff
and county clerk. The municipal patronage is
worth far more than both State and federal pat
ronage combined The most of it will fall with
in the gift of the mavor-elect next fall. Under a
law passed by the Legislature two years ago he
will be perfect autocrat When terms expire
and vacancies occur, he will appoint whoever he
pleases, commissioners of police docks, excise.
parks. and other departments, expanding an ag-
gregate of over $50, 600. 600 year. and there is
no one to say him nay The power of confrma-
ton has been taken from the Board of Aldermen
by the Legislature and the mayors power is now
absolute The admission of General Sickles to
Tammany indicates that he is to be the Tam
many candidate for mayor next fall With the
crutches OF this hero of Gettysburg in the front
it is opined the eagle Of victory will again perch
upon the banner of the old organization. And
with both State and municipal patronage in it's
grasp. it could crush the breath of life from all
rival Democratic halls. With Sickles once in
I'D
and the master may climb to much higher
spheres.
AS to the change of front made by Loew
Murphy and Campbell, they are governed more
or less by personal considerations. The Comp
troller is probably chagrined because his brother
Charles E., was not allowed to succeed John
Kelly as leader of Tammany Hail. 1t was under
Charles z. Loew's patriotic leadership that Tam
many won her victory last fall Murphy and
Campbell were chiefs in Irving Hall That or
ganization seems to have been ground into -four
between the upper milestone of Tammany and
the lower milestone of the County Democracy
Both Murphy and Campbell preferred to be dis
tlnct leaders in the County Democracy to train
ing as privates in Tammany Hall. There are big
stakes to fight for next fall and the fighting
promises to be terrific. Its effect will certainly
be felt in both State and national politics
Interest In local politics this week. however
has been subordinated to the interest felt in the
Broadway railroad investigation. The testimo-
ny thus far shows that So, 49, 900 were raised to
secure the franchise and build the road. The
cost of the road itself was about $l60, 600, the
lawyers got $1,000 and the promoters gobbled
$1.240, 900 in stock and bonds. This is shown by
the testimony of Jacob Sharp, Richmond and
others. The question now is, what has become
OF the remaining 81, 852, 900. The Inference de-
ductive from the past action of the Legislature
and Board of Aldermen is plain. Most of the
money was spent in bribery. Current rumor
says that $500 600 was spent in driving the orig
inal bill through the Legislature, and that
it cost $4,000 more TO defeat the cable
railroad scheme in the Assembly. for the passage
of that bill would have taken the life out of the
Broadway franchise. Ii this is true. it leaves
over $780, 900 for the Board of Aldermen of 1888,
whose consent to the building of the road was
necessary That that board was. bribed is un
doubted. Hugh j. Grant now sheriff. and John
q. OConnor were the only aldermen who voted
against it. 1t is said that the dissatisfaction
over the distribution of the Doodle was so great
that few members, in the height of their indig-
nation, made admissions which have finally led
to the present investigation. When Roscoe
Conkling consented to act counsel it is alleged
that these men agreed to come to the front and
tell what they kne~ Possibly their cupidity
may have been gratiied since Jacob Sharp went
on the stand. At all events, there seems to be a
hitch somewhere, for the men are not forthcom-
| ing. Conkline, following the example set by
Tilden in the Tweed investigation is said to have
secured the bank accounts of some of the alder
men, and to have ascertaned that q few of the
poorer aldermen bought expensive houses soon
after the bill passed the board. Politicians say
| that while the Doodle was being divided in the
| City Hall, an alderman, who was once mayor OF
the city for twelve hours collared $780, 900 in a
| lump and walked off with it. defying arrest. He
| is now reputed to be worth $3.50, 000 The mem
| bers of the board of 1885 deeply interested
| in the investigation. No mama fell in their
term. The cable road was disposed to put up a
| Doodle, but those who were members of the board
| of 1884 had their Broadway bonds to protect
| and they ramorseessly shut the door in the face
| of their hungry brothers.
AMOS j. CUMMINGS.
Mr.. Gowen and the Reading Railroad.
| The man whom the cool, crusty and astute J.
| Pierpont Morgan finds resolutely opposed to him