The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-03-07
POLITICS In NEW o r.

The Case of Collector Hedden-The Broadway
Inquiry-An Abundance of Corruption.
Special to the indianapolis Journal
New YORK, March 6.-The interest taken ia
Collector Hedden, of the County Democracy, by
United States Senator Warner Miller, has caused
considerable newspaper comment. The expla-
nation is simple. For three years the leaders OF
the County Democracy have been making deals
with the Republicans. 1t was in pursuance OF
these deals that General Shaler was made presi-
dent of the Health Board, that William r. Grace
was elected Mayor, and that Republican Judge
S~edgewick vas renominated by the County
Democracy last fall, while Democratic Judge
McAdam was dropped from the ticket. Now the
deal has been enlarged, so as to take in the
United States senatorship. Miller's term expires
on the 4th OF next March, and the Legislature
elected in November will choose his successor.
The Democrats are straining every nerve in an
effort to pick up weak Republican Assembly dis
tricts. Hedden is Warner Miller's Trojan horse.
By securing the collectors confirmation the Sem
ator insiduously captures Troy. The leaders of
the County Democracy simply agree to run can
didates for Assembly in each of the twenty-four.
city districts repelling all efforts at fusion with
Tamlnany, and the job is done. The Repub-
licans regain in the city all that they lose in the
country, and the Legislature is saved for a Re-
publican United States Senator. Miller's knife.
moreover, cuts both ways. The lost country
districts might be owned by rival candidates.
whereas the captured city districts would cast
their votes in caucus for Miller. 1t is a shrewd
move. Miller, however, has been frequently
tripped in similar schemes. and he may be cheat
ed in this.
The crater of the Broadway railroad investiga-
ton is still choked. Just enough stones have
been removed to indicate the glowing heat Of the
lava beneath. Meantime four of the aldermen
who voted for the Broadway bill in 1884 have
virtually defied the Senate ami by joining
the new and hungry aldermen elected last fall in
voting away street railroad franchises, that, taken
in a lump. are equal in value to the Broadway
grab. Nor is this all. Billy Moloney, the recog-
nized depository of all aldermanic boobies, RS
turned to the city on the morning OF the day on
which these franchises were given away. and de-
parted before shutdown. He was Seeing" the
aldermen anew, apparently, while Roscoe Copk-
ling was loudly calling for him in the halls of the
Post Office building. More astonishing still, the
four 1884 aldermen who were not swamped by
the tide of public indignation at the late elections,
protected Jake Sharp's interests by voting against
the franchise for a cable road. All this indicates
that the city politicians are satisfied that Conk-
ling has bitten off more than be can chew, and
that they fear no Broadway or other expose.
The dissatisfied ones have been salyed, and no
confessions are held in reserve.
The very atmosphere seems to De rife with DO
litieal corruption. Not long ago a commissioner
of emigration openly accused his brother commis-
sloneFs OF haroorlng and protecting thieves ana
worse scoundrels in their employ. The thieves.
however. were well heeled politically. and no IN
vestigation was made. The newspapers sput-
tered over the charges, but the ~virtuous commits
sioner was throttled by his colleagues, and be
made no second cutlery.
This week the cover slipped a little on the
great $50, 600, 600 a~queduct job, and some scald.
ing steam escaped. No colony of moles ever
worked more noiselessly than have those aque-
duct commissioners. They have been burrow-
- 1870. AA-.A - ~ 49, -
sight. Now the engineer of construction. an
officer of the United States navy, specially de-
tailed, openly charges corruption. He accuses
the chief engineer of thieving, and says that the
grossest violations OF contracts are winked at.
1t is only O glimpse of what is going on under
ground, but it is enough to indicate that the city
is being robbed of millions, and in q way that
would put Tweed himself to blush