New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-04-19
POLITICAL AND PERSONAL.
PUBLIC MEN AND AFFAIRS.
THE NEW MOVEMENT IN THE NAVY YARD-THE
..n-1..rr 1,l,,,Arrnrrr-u III AfIfRTHA.


The attitude Of many Republicans in regard to the
change 10 be effected In the Navy Yard by the intro
d,ct,on NJ Civil Service reform methods by secretary
| Tracy is surprising. At the meeting OF the hepun-
ucan General Committee last week. Franklin woodruff
introduced resolution approving the utterances OIL
the Secretary Of the Navy Some OF those present OK
presSed opposition TO the movement. The subject was
referred 10 the Executive Committee, which already
has under consideration the question OF approval OF
M netition nunerously signed by prominent Repuo-
lcans in the city, asking the Secretary TO take Just
such steps as he has already taken In the matter
The wise and cool heads IN the party approve the action
OF secretary Tracy believe that its wisdom VIII be
amply justified by the results In the words Oh Rear
Admiral Braine who as commandant OF the New-forK
Navy Yard may be regarded as thoroughly conversant
| With the situation: General Tracy VIII go down NJ
history as the Civil Service Reform Secretary OF the
Navy who had the foresight to discover and the Wis
dom to apply the remedy needed 10 redoem the navy
| yards Of the country"
The M effect of the distribution Of Federal patronage
by the party authorities has been felt by both parties
| in the last few years. When the Democrats secured
the Presidency the distribution OF Places in the Navy
Yard was ntusted to william A. Furey, secretary OF
the General Committee of the party. But he failed
| TO please so many seekers for places that when he
ran for Sheriff two years later he was defeated by
more than 1000 votes, although other Democratic
| candidates were elected by largo majorties
| Arrangements are making for the Investigation OF
public affairs in Brooklyn by the Senate COMMITTEE
on Cities, popularity known as the Fassett Committee,
next month The subject has been under consideration
| for long time and various dates have been named
for beginning the work. 1t now appears highly prop
able that as soon the Legislature adjourns the CON-
mttee Will begin its sittings in Brooklyn senator
Rlrkett is a member OF the committee and can doubt
| less aid greatly in putting bis associates upon te
| track of valuable information. william W. GOOD
rich, chairman Of the Republican General Conmtee,
aud General Stewart L. Woodford who is at the mead
Of the Municipal Reform Committee, will be the che
assistants OF the Fassett Committee as counsel The
| experience OF Mr.. Goodrich when serving in similar
capacity for the Assembly Committee Of which Colonel
Bacon was chairman, few years ago qualities nm ioi
the duty At that time such wellknown Democrats as
| John f. Parsons and Edward NJ. Shepard were asso
claed in the investigation of city and county AFFAIRS
| william VI. WINS, who did much OF the work Tor th@
committee in New York recently, may also LEM MS
energies to Brooklyn where he formerly lived
Mayor Chaplin relieved bis attention to official duties
on Friday evening by attending theatrical perform
ancewith his wife. An observer says that the usually
| mpassive features of the Mayor were relaxed III d
smile when one of the actors after several references
| TO n LAWYER named jerks said emphatically, Damn
| Jenksn While this could not be construed as rel
erence to the Corporation Counsel yet the similarity
of names caused laughter the part Of some OF the
audience.
Corporation Counsel jerks evidently dstrusts his
own ability 10 defend the Mayor from the charges nc
is resting under in regard to wasting the pubic iuhus
| in the purchase of the water supply OF the twenty.
sixth Ward. In the argument before the Court OF
Appeals last week. he had not only eX-Corpora'loh
Counsel De Witt TO aid him In presenting legal points
| but also ex-Judge Danforth Against TINS array Oh
eminent counsel whose fees must be PAID by the PEG
nile william j. Gaynor appeared unsupported and alone
and presented his side Of the case which Is Ill the H.
| terest of taxpayers and the public in general
/ J,dro TnEl ma
the Republican General Committee is severe loss 10
that body for he is man of wide experience in pubic
affairs of excellent judgment, OF wise counsel anu
possessing wthal deep interest in politics. BuU ne
Is not as young he once was, and the strah Oh a
tending meetings often pr0traced to late hour at
| distance from his home is not such as he cares to
rndereo Mr. Van Colt is one of the few men In the
CITY who is generally known exJudge, although nc
never held judicial Office. lie once hlled the semi
judicial Office of DisrictAtOrney, and thus came TO
be called Judge, just as ex-Unted states DistrictAt
| torney Tenney is commonly known by the same
| title Mr. Tan Colt IS lawyer of much experience
and success and he has long been resident OF Crook
| lyn Heights. His son. who bears his name hrst
fitted himself for the legal profession and then Dc
cided to become doctor. and has already won high
honors in medicine. Three years ago the first three
names from the First Ward upon the list of members
Of the Republican General Committee were Benjamin f.
Tracy Joshua NJ. Van Colt and stephen V. White
! Now all Of them by their own choice have retired
| from the body.
The late William H. Murtha filed many important
pubc and private positions in his career Of fifty years
| as anv man OF his age in Brooklyn has ever done
All the political hOnors that his party could bestow
upon him in Brooklyn save the Mayoralty fell TO MS
share He served in the Board OF Education and the
| Board of Aldermen, o state Senator, and filed
one of the most lucrative of the county Offices. Having
laid the foundation of an independent fortune, he
nroceeded TO enlarge 1T in position of great financial
! mnortance lie became a valued member Of several
great corporations in the last year or two by reason
of his wealth and ability as business man. But he
lost none of his interest in politics. although somewhat
| relaxing his active work. He possessed the con-
6dcnce of the party leaders throughout the State and
his adyioe WAS regarded weghty While yet young
man Mr. Murtha became an intimate friend Of Peter
Rice and year after the latter's death married his
widow and became stepfather OF his five children.
His home life was almost ideal. so much regret for
a death sountimely has not been felt in the com
munity for a long time
Mr. Murtha and some other residents of Brooklyn
for a haltcentury including Thomas n. Rocker,
recently admitted to membership In the Society OF Old
Brooklynites At the annual dinner Of the society
last month Mr. Murtha heard some wolns Ioculaiiy
said about his dress, and remarked You needn't say
anything about my clothes uiui' haVc any Nv al
when | came to Brooklyn"
Colonel Ingersolps lecture on Shakespeare in the
Academy Of Music sunday evening was listened o 10
by 200 persons, who healnH aPPeVi"Oe anu oU S
a 5g5t of a ahs lecture, which to the
I ba9rr Who was his own manager, were abOut
BOO His customary fee for SS@ e, os Is 900 no.
ero is reported as saying that he Is not rich enough
AZ recent meeting of the Constitution Club, at
No AZ Million ,hby 81 . the following onicers were
CHOSEN President Thomas E. Pearsall vee-president
John Gullioyle; secretary John D. Meyen3ofg; treas
nTer Johu F. Frost directors, John Demar, John
yG John NJ Raoken and Ce eSb in TINS fhs
CITY and represents the machine democracy. MI
Pesrsa is serving his sixth term as tss eSqe Hall
e he Substitution of electric lights for the circles OF
gas je which formerly heated te ebtS room aT TO an S
in circles Of fourteen lights each with one In the centre
underneath reaecors There are SIX o. the circles or
for Exhibition purposes. series OF 1Ocent lectures
On ART have been given in the hall this season with
Illustrations from lantern Slides