New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-01-06

the Legislature got elected and counted out After
the contest was over bad II cents eft went to
man and says. to go 10 CalfomIa,' says !,
and haven't OCT the "spons'.' says he What 90
you wantl' told him and be handed me the money.
started, got shipwrccked at Acapulco. but finally
landed In San Francisco stayed there three months
and made little money. Then camc back Just Ia
time to learn that Jim Oakley had got franchise to
build road over my route in Long Island CITY.
went to lumberman and told him to send me a load
of lumber that night says he, whats yer standingP
Says l. MY standing is gold and laid II down before
him. The lumber was delivered. ] got my tracks,
and the next morning and my was at work
with picks and shovels layin' 'em down. Oliver
charlick came along. Says he. who's layin' these
tracks y says J. Me-. Says he. who your
Says !, Man name Clcason' says he, well, you
just stop this right away My friend Jim oakley's
got franchise this route. Says I, i don't care
q - for you nor Jim Oakley He went of, but tho
noxt day he sent for me and said II wanted anything
| could call on him.
swell, got my tracks down and bought a car,
and most OF the time drove II myself II always
crowded, and finally got another. and pretty soon
had the route going all the time. The town
was tough in them days, and had to hire prize
fighters for drivers. Once, while ! was drvin',
big fellow got and begun to clean out the car
went in and had IT hot and heavy. When
was done had to hitch up another boss and take
him across the ferry to Bellevue Hospital
soon found that the politicians was bound to
run my railroad They wanted everything, and at
last concluded I'd have to be politician myself 10
keep up with 'em.' SO l ran for Alderman on an,
Independent ticket The Democrats and the Repub-
licans both had men up, but beat em and was
elected. Then they thought they'd better stop
fighting me- and they made president of the Board
You want to my speech, the ono made on taking
the chair? Well, sir, here It s."
The Mayor hardcd out document entitled as foi
lows: "Extracs from the Public Record Of the Hon.
Patrick J. Gleason, tho Reform Candidate for
historic speech referred TO Will be read
with interest: "Permt me 10 remark
that there is subject which deem Of exceeding i'm
portance, and step In the direction of reform which
I have long been earnest advocate aliude 10 the
sovering, so far practicable, of all connection
between tho management of municipal affairs and
partisan politics. l believe that the concerns of
young city like should be conduct ted in precisely
the and the general principles
by which men are governed In tho management OF
their private business And here and now desire II
to be put upon record that am bitterly opposed TO the
socslled spells system that most unfortunately, has
now found its way into nearly all departments Of every
municipality.
perhaps, indeed, am more profoundly concerned
in the welfare Of Long City than any individual,
for Its prosperity is directly my own gain. Every
dwelling that is built here IS worth ten TO twenty
dollars 10 each year, and sufficient proof of this
Is contained in the offer have repeatedly made that
any person erecting house on the line of my routes
would receive from me, upon its completion, the
gratuty Of free pass for year, or funds with
which TO pay the interest upon thousand dollars
Indebtedness This offer l have made In good faith
by Of nducement to people to settle in the city,
and in the hope that streets vacant might be
speedily built up with residences and as result
benefits accrue not alone myself but to the whole
publc'
This speech, which is Justly regarded as ono Of
Mayor GIeason's abest deliveries, II not indeed,
the greatest effort Of his life, marked the beginn
of his exalted public AS Alderman he
bitterly opposed the Debcvoiso Ring, which was
then in complete power In the city, and he took
leading part the crusade against the booksellers,
who responded by making two attempts his
life Big Frank Mccoy. the burglar, told him
about them, and when the booksellers were finally
ralded and arrested, the Alderman appeared before
Judge Armstrong and went the burglars bail. Hc
done me a good turn said Paddy, and 1 amt
going to him In jail when these rich fellows like
Kelly and Bliss, are allowed to CO." 1t is not
believed that this generous action secured the burglar
vote for him when he ran for Mayor-and tho burglar
vote in Long Island is not, numerically, to be
despsed-but 1t satisfied Mccoy.
| Mayor Geason's term expires with the year 1889.
| His successor is TO be chosen next fall He ex-
be square fight between the corporations and tho
people. He points to the fact that Long Island
Ctty'S securities which were at discount when he
took Office, command premium my prede-
cessor," he said, paid $3.50 10 commissions for
the sale Of bonds l sold my funding five per cents
for 116, and my four and halls for 105. The
tax rate three years ago "a 81 on the 800.
Now 1t is So %, and If the Aldermen had been
honest and had applied tho unexpended balances to
the reduction Of taxation, 1t would have been 81 90.
| We didn't have a decent school In the city when l
took office. l am budin' four Of the finest in the
State, and If the Legislature had er passed my bill
last winter we'd have had Fire Department that
would have lowered our insurance ratios five per
cents
| They say the Mayor Is worth 100000 most of
it made In Long Island City street railroads. But,
| though rich and eminent, eloquent and buIdened
with affairs of State, he always drives his engine to
the fires, cats his meals In his office, and every now
and then no still runs his The people
cheer him wherever he goes, and especially when
he arms himself with and begins to hack
and hew at the Long Island Railroad.