New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-01-01
POLITICAL AND PERSONAL
PUBLIC MEN AND AFFAIRS.
THE POSITION OF MAYOR BooDY-HIs ADMIN

THE POSITION OF MAlOh
IsTRATIOS CLOUDED.
Tie first ycnr of the administration of Mayor Body
closes under almost great cloud as the first year
of the second term Of Mayor Chaplin 1t WILL readily
be remembered that the scheme 70 unload the property
OF the Long Island Water supply Company upon the
city at an exorbitnnt price. through the Mayor,
Controller and City Auditor, stopped two years
ago as the transaction about 10 be cOnpleted by
the suit which was begun by william Zlegler The
exposure OF tho willingness Of Mayor Chaplin to per-
NIT the city be swinded ruined his public career
and the suit cifectually stopped the sale Mayor
Body likely TO Lave his future clouded In the same
way by the Willingness with which lie has lent HIM
self to the schemes of the who prohtcd by the
fat contracts involved In the expenditure OF SooVo
for the celebration on October II OF the columbus
anniversary and the dedication Of the Memoria! Arch
The Grand Jury has been making an exhaustive IN
quiry into the matter and has not set completed Its
work, which may result In indictments where they
are little expected.
The action OF the Supervisors In paying one OF the
enormous bills Incurred In connection with the same
celebration has already resulted In suit TO secure
the repayment Of the money TO the county. This
will be followed by suits TO secure tie refundlng
the money paid by the city authorities for Ike Illegal
expenditures. As these payments We're upon vouchers
signed by the Mayor. Controller and Auditor. they
viii he made co-dcfendants with the who received
inc money! II Is HrIu ny tolHltt'Hl ii"s'fS 'i'N
tie Mayor and other city authorities acted without
q shadow OF warrant In the matter and that the ex
penditurcs were wholly Illegal. Tie Mayor defends
himself on the ground that he h1s only followed tho
precedent set by lis predecessors, but the matter
viii be brought to court for legal settlement.
taxpayers suit under the Tildcn act be brought
10 secure the return Of the money the city treas
ury.
Another cloud hansln: over Mayor Boody's admin
IL In .fsic 4.
causei by the predicament In which his Fire Depart
ment j. placed 10y the action OF the insurance com
panIcs In ralsng rates. Under the present city
charter tho Mayor + sensible for the entre ai
mnistraton OF the city government. lie has the
sole power Of appointment and removal Of heads OF
departments. Any charer OF in"rciencT reflects upon
the Mayor himself. He accepted Fire Commissioners
Enn, a. h. DID the Other heads Of departments from
Mayor Chaplin. making individual selections for
the places TO BE- filled The charges against Ennis
were such that Mayor Chnplns fcapponiment Of
him caused much unfavorlhc comment. The only
excuse that Mayor Body has made fCr Keeping him
In Office f. that be- understood that hc Fire Under
writers asked Mayor Chaplin 10 appoint him. Tie
icicatlo Of Cnlc Ncyns. despite his prostitution Of
hi, Office to political ends involved In the reap
pointmcnt Of Ennis Ncyns has managed 10 keep
himself from h.comiuc involved in ans open scandal
since his with telephone and electric Hight
companies inv silsatcd by TIE Assembly Com
mlttcr The ilvohti,m I'm giving ont contacts In
the department. the lack Of discipline In the com
panlcs shown by The many charges against tie men
which come before "a" Commissioner. the sCanda.5
In rcrapl TO N" examinations for poscns. and the
allegations that lrcmrn when tLcy should be in the
,n-lnc hos to pond 10 calls glzzing IN beer
shops aye al matters that the Mayor will ~ called
upon TO explain, and II will be- asccrla!n,d whetAc:
he Lnows any morr about TIL important branch 81
the city government than he says he did about the
rum Bills which H. signed evidently with his
eyes shut.
Tho election ~ chairman % the Republican Gen
eral Committee 81 King County will take place 4
week from Tuesday. order T. vote under The
present by laws It will b, nccc~,arv for the member,
- qualify by - o'clOc, III" nisht OF the meet
Ing. The selection II chairman is nc, ntrly to b.
unanimous. III" frerds OF W. j. Uniting. OF the
iilih Ward. calm majority Of votes. Tn name ~
David \. Baldwin. Ih'O1 IRE Il. Wills. Chester J..
Lawrence W W. Goodrich ard oihcrs have been more
less talked OF. but who viii Leaf the opposition u
iutting j. uncrrtai3. Mr. lUitllng i a practical
politician who ha> done excellent ~ III for the Re
pulicnnS IN hupc"slv Democratic district for years
lie !, Si1utlN opposed 10 IN" REORGANIZATION Of the
party on III" Philadelphia system AMI Will be- opposed
for Office by H. afvO 1T =. NJ. Battling says The
thing now for Ecpubcnns To do l. t. get together
W" can accomplish NJ effective work by an election
district system. The present ward system Is god
enough ~ there arc workers 10 devote Themselves 10
what should ~ cone. Sec what have done u
me f1ftli Ward. iollevc the Republicans could own
THIS town II they would ouly hustle