New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-02-11

One of the mcst remarkable features Of the
Worlds Fair movement is the absolute confidence
displayed by a large number Of cstimabc citizens,
including many Republicans in the political in
tegrity Of Mayor Grant. One would suppose
from the way in which these people talk and
act that the Mayor tie embodiment Of in
dependence and non-partsanshp and that his
record is such to make his Endorsement of any
project a sufficient guarantee OF it's good char
acter How any man who is at all familiar
with Mr. Grants administration Of this city's
affairs can entertain this view Of the Mayor for
a moment is difficult to understand but so long
as some people continue 10 have such faith in
him, it may be worth while TO call attention to
a few of the many things he has done to destroy
whatever claims he ever had for this trust in
his honor and vcracity.
Every reader of The Tribune will recall the
successful fight made by this paper last year
10 save the City Hall Park from spoliation at tho
hands of Tammany, but few know the full his
tory of Mr. Grants connection with the affair.
II is given now for the first time simply because
it presents an excellent illustration of the Mayors
methods. his untrustwOrthiness and his complete
subserviency 10 the interests of the Wigwam.
The idea of erecting municipal building in the
northeast part OF this park was warmly espoused
by the Mayor soon after he came into office.
No serious objection made 10 the proposition,
rs the public was led TO understand that the
proposed structure would be of modest duien-
sons, and entirely unObccionable from an
architectural point of view. Ernest H. Crosby,
now the American Judge in Egypt was then in
the Assembly. One day the Mayor
sent for him. lie called, and Mr..
Grant explained the project The Mayor
said he wanted to put up building that
bo oIo
he added, cover about the same space as is now
covered by the old Court House building and the
enginchouse at Chambers and Centre SITS.
IMPOSING on MIR. CROSBY
Mr. Crosby was favorably impressed with ths
plan, and accedcd to the Mayors request 10 intro
duce the bill that had been drawn for the pur.
pose supposing OF course that there no politi-
cal capital to be made ont of it by anybody lie
rested entirely upon his faith in the Mayors hon.
esty. The bill was introduced and passed with
out difficulty, the Republicans supporting it al
most TO a man, because Of Mr. Crosby's assurance
that it was absolutely non-partisan and entirely
proper As is too frequently the case with such
apparently innocent measures. particular at
tcntion was paid to the provisions or pbraseology
Of the bill; no one supposing that it was neces-
sary TO do so, in view Of the character of its adj
vocates. for "our handsome young Mayor" was
then generally looked upon something more
then mere tool Of Tammany Hall.
few days before the Legislature adjourned
the Board of Commissioners, consisting of the
Mayor Recorder Smyth, Controller Myers, Cham
bcrlain Croker Alderman Storm, Surrogate Ran
som, County Clerk Reilly and Register Slevin,
who by the law had charge of the work, began to
advertise for plans for the building Then for
the first time was learned by those outside the
Ton kba OH tor of
bill that the Mayor had succeeded in getting the
Republican Legislature to pass. 1t was found
that instead Of a building such as had been
promised. the new law permitted the erection of
huge misshapen. nOndescript affair. 400 feet in
length, 100 feet wide and as high as the archi-
tcctS chose to make it. 1t was 70 extend from
Chambers-st along Centre TO the plaza that
crosses the park in front of the City Hall. Com
pared with other buildings it would have been
as large as the City Hall and the Stewart Build
ing combined, about as big as the Federal
Building; that is, ii would have covered about
one and a quarter acres, or nearly 5i,OOo square
feet Think of such a grotcsque structure right
in front of the entrance to the Bridge ,
But this was not the worst of IL. The blI
provided that the cost of this monstrous pie
should be left entirely TO the Commissioners
named-that is to Tammany Hall. MesSrs Grant
and Croker could spend upon IT as much as they
liked 81 900 900 or 800, 900. In other words,
the whole undertaking was a well-planned JOB 10
secure practically unlimited amount OF plundes
for Tammany Hall. 4 political bunco game had
been played, with Mayor Grant as the roper IN
As soon as the discovery was made, steps were
Immediately taken by The Tribune 10 prevent the
consummation of the scheme. An amendment 10
! the law postponing all action IN the matter for
one wear. hastily prepared and sent 10 Albany.
IL was introduced by General Husted on the day
before the legislature adjourned. MI. orospy'
indignant at the way in which he had Deen de-
ceiyed, supported this amendment heartily, not
withstanding the fact that he had INTRODUCED the
! - il all of
cans. with the exception Of Frederick ); Glpps
and Hamilton Fish, jr The DemocrauS uoy-
ernor. by direction of Eddy Hagan the Mayots
! representative in the Assembly, refused 10 heip
pass the amendment, and, as unanimous consehs
was necessary to get the amendment To third
reading, II was defeated.
KEEPING UP THE GOOD FIGHT.
The Tribune, however, did not give up the
fight 1t continued to denounce the
scheme. and the other papers. with
one exception, Joined it IN doing SO.
But it was not until public sentiment against
the scheme became absolutely overwhelming that
the Mayor abandoned the undertaking. 1t was
generally understood in political circles at the
| time that the Big Four" had devised this munich
nal building scheme, after the failure OF their
lannon's Rapid-Transit bill-anOther "non-parti-
| san" project, by the way, that for time dc,
ceived multitude of people. who were dlSposed
TO think that some good thing had at last come
| ont of Tammany. When ex-senator Platt az
irst declared himself as opposed to this rapid,
| transit scheme he was denounced IN unmeasureu
terms but it would he difficult To find dlsln-
ercsed person to-day who will not admit thai ms
| oppostion to the scheme was timely ana well
founded. g. ,.4
| Hugh j. Grant is for Tammany Hall first, last
and all the time. lie has demonstrated TINS lace
one would think to the satisfaction OF everybody.
| lie proved it in making the Police board Wnose
| nonlpartisanship had been recognized by other
Democratic Mayors, a powerful Tammany ma
chine, an act that Senator Chandler declared yes.
trrdav 10 be the bodcst political wrong OF lhe
decade pcrpctrated north OF Mason and DlXons
line lie proved it by making the Board OK
~. .si.io- nj Cnrrcction which Onght 10 be ABOVE