New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-04-26
POLITICAL AND PERSONAL.
NOTES OF PUBLIC MEN AND AFFAIRS.
MUNICIPAL REFORM TO BE SECURED - THE
PORTRAITS IN THE CITY HALL-MAYok
cHApIN,s POLITICAL FUTURE.

CHAPIN'S POLITICAL FL 1Oh@'
Much interest Is felt in the announcement OF 'n.
names Of the men to constitute the
the Municipal Refom Committee OF the kepuoiio"A
General Committee This sub committee will formu-
late the plan OF action IN securing the needed improve
ment in the city government and change III '"o
methods of using the taxpayers money General o'o"
art l.. WoOdfOrd. the chairman OF the commune "a
Municipal Reform, has the power OF appointment" "'N
it was thought that he would announce the names S
terday, but he did not return to town from AiDanS'
where he has been for several days There VIII DC
five men Amounted on the subcommittee and General
Woodford and w. W. Goodrich, president q the UGH
eral Committee Will be associated with them d Ca
oTco members The composition Of the cOWhiI'eo 10
eagerly awaited. 49,
The action of the various Republican Ward AsSo-
Citations last week in regard to the lntrOducl'h VI Wv
Service reform methods in the Navy 1aru was Va y"
cided approval or silence in regard to the SuDJeoV'
awaiting further developments In only one or TWO
meetings did any one voice dsapp oval, ana the views
Of dissent were not favoraby received NO DeCer sign
could be given Of the harmony and loyalty preNdll'e
In the party under the wise management Ho" ~
vogue. Chairman Hirsh. Of the Executive Cohi''c0'
said that the nrst order by Secretary Tracy was sur
prise but when he sent his dispatch to kear--\ulai
Brane explaining its scope, it relieved ali the deul
authorizations. The wisdom Of having only competent
men for foemen was apparent, and II would result III
reform that would put the best men In tie most l'
pottant places. .-,.. 81,
The CITY Hail contains n gallery OF portraits OF
public men, in the Common Council CHAMBER. vi l''
walls hang nfe-size portraits Of George washington
and Henry Clay, one on either side OF the presiuc
platform. on other sides of the room hans
twenty two portraits Of the eX-Mayors OF the Guy
many of whom are dead. The latest portrait 10 DO
put in place was that Of exMayor Low, Tor tie hrs'
one painted for him proved unsatisfactory ana II was
removed Although william VI. Chase was the ar'lS''
the result Of the second effort is by no means as sue
cessfu a. the freSs Of Mr.. Low had hoped 1t repre-
SCENTS him in standing position, beside table Inc
attitude Is not cn and in comparison with the other
uortr3ts near II the picture is not wholly satisfactory
IL hang, between the portraits of cN Mayors schroeder
and Hunter w.D may be cl$5sSd with MN as felorih
Mayors although by the Limitations Of the charter
they found themselves far more nmpered ana re-
,rctcd in carrying out their reform ideas than ala
Mayor Low under the new charter, which Mayor
schroeder when state senator, had much 10 20 "lu'
securing
The future political career Of Mayor Chaplin IS a
subject Of much interest. He has been conspicuous
figure in Brooklyn politics for ten years having maze
his start bv election as member Of the Assembly In
l--1 He was political accident that year. for there
seemed little hope Of his election in the strongly Ike
publican Nth District, until Frederick liees was
nominated to oppose him. Mr.. llceg was an uhcom-
promising adhecnt Of the Stalwart faction Of Rcpub
leans, and the Story was started that he mad eA-
pressed eradication over the dastardly ASSASSINATION
OF President Garfield. lie denied the story but the
denial could overtake and destroy the report and
the result was the election OF Mr. Chaplin. lie was
then a lawyer in a small way in York. and had
nominal connection as counsel with the Long Island
Railroad Company. Now he IS worth a large amount
Of property and has paving investments In railroads
and other enterprises in the Far West. Whether Mr.
Chaplin secures the nomination for Governor, or Is re
nominated for Mayor or Is put in the field for state
senator in the Id District. represented by John
e. Jacobs. il is not likely that he Will be allowed 10
sink into political oblivion with this year
No man was better known to the politicians and
public men Of the city than TON" Barry, whose I'M
timely death AZ the age Of forty four was recently
recorded. From his great size Mr.. Barry, who stood
six feet two and had broad shoulders and an erect
bearing was known among his intimate friends as
Big Tom Barry a German newspaper man not
familiar with the intrlcaCes Of the English language
misunderstood his thus spoken and referred TO
him as Glctom Barry The same newspaper man
in the Blaine campaign spoke of casting anchor
to he wind IN trying to quote casting an anchor to
wiudward1 Mr.. Barry was a conspicuous figure at
all political conventions in the city and the majority
II and National conventions for the last score
Of years He had nconsiderabe part in the shaping
Of local nominations Al the County Convention last
fall he actively aided in the movement that nominated
William Kramer for sheriff and defeated Colonel Michel
When he WAC on the stah Of The New York Herald
he reported the explosion Of the steamer Wested with
a., great loss Of iii. uuaded and wrote six columns Of
the account for the next days paper with such accuracy
81 detail that his facts taken for the official report
by the Coroner. Mr.. Barry was managing editor OF
The Brooklyn onion" after it had been purchased OK
Henry G. Eowcn by Loren Palmer He was the chief
political writer for The brooklyn Times after Mr..
Palmer sold The Uuion.7
The Republican, have gained a valuable recruit in
the Third Ward In George W. oakley who was Park
Commissioner under Mayor Whitney. lie is a wealthy
livery stable keeper and has host, Of friends. In the
parade in honor Governor cleveland in his campaign
for the Presidency i'm Mr. Oakley drove the coach
in which IN" candidate rode He has become disguised
with the Erule IN local Democratic affairs ana Joined
the Third Ward Republican Association last weeh ana
WITS made heartily welcome.