The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-10-18
A Strange Candidate for Mayor.


A courteous note comes to us from Mr..
ELY ROSENBERG:
ITO THE EDITOR THE suS- Sir: Seeing your article
in reference to Mr. NATHAN srRAUs, stating he
incompetent Park Commissioner and not 1t TO hold
public ONCE. notice that although you make the
above broad and bold statement you do not mention
facts. I would like to know In what respect Mr..
srRAus WAS incompetent, and what his misma mage.
OF once consisted OF. MY for asking this
ia simply the interes; am taking In this present cam
pagn, and nothing more. ELY ROSENBERG"
The Office OF Park Commissioner, to which
Mr.. STRAUSS contact with public life has
been confined, does not usually fill a very
large place in the city's administration. A
man might be a fair Park Commissioner
and not necessarily n good Mayor; and
frst-rate Mayor might easily not be a famous
Park Commissioner. IL Mr.. ROSENBERG
sends us this letter because his absorption in
business has left him ignorant, or because
he has forgotten how every artistic society
in town and every newspaper have de-
nounced and protested against the extraordi-
nary exhibitions of vandalism and indiffer-
ence to the public rights, with which the
Park Commission has discredited the city
since last November, the New York news
papers are open to his inspection. Mr..
STRAUSS conduct of his office in its
strictly technical duties is known to all.
Also the public has had full opportu-
nifty to contemplate, until the last of them
disappeared few days before the NOM
ination, the signs, NATHAN STRAUSS
Milk Depot" and the accompanying refer
ences to my other depots," which, while
Park Commissioner, Mr.. STRAUs succeeded
in placing over his booths erected in the
downtown parks. Contrary to the becom-
ing rule OF all known philanthropists, such
personal signs have marked every one OF Mr..
STRAUSS bureaus OF semi-charity. II is
needless TO say that this vulgar exploitation
of official influence for personal en-
terprise, this insulting abuse of pub
lie property, for IL was nothing less
than that, never before occurred in the
history Of New York. We judge from Mr..
ROsESBERG's note that he is not a citizen
requiring discussion for true estimate OF
such administration in public Office. We
will call his attention therefore TO certain
other features OF Mr. STRAUSS official life,
also of public record, which he may have
had less opportunity TO know OF, and which
bear from another side upon Mr.. STRAUSS
pal Government OF New York.
For example On the 10th of January the
Hon. HENRY +. Rowland appeared before
the Park Commissioners TO plead the legal
rights of some property along the Speedway,
which the Commissions first plan for side
walk ON one side only away from the river
front, walled up completely. Judge How
LAND asked for second sidewalk on the
theory OF his clients legal right TO it, and
because without it, there would be discrim-
nation between his client and the more IA
yored owner on the opposite side. Right or
wrong, the Park Commission, sitting, Of
course, as a court, was bound TO consider
the question as one OF law, irrespective OF
its members individual predictions for
special plan of parkway This is the way
the official notes Of the hearing before the
Commission present the present candidate
for Mayor;
Judge HowLAsD: When It came to the question OF
) speedway In the Central Park
commissioner sTRAUs; Look here; there was
never any speedway in the Park Intended You mis-
that That's the reason don't take much stock
In your argument to-day"
Mr.. STRAUs thereupon exclaimed that the
case was settled. IL had been voted on.
The Commission had voted TO have but one
fOotpath along the driveway, and one it
should be- After a second suggestion that
this was a question of law, the report pro
ceeds
Nj sTEAUs don't care nythlRs about H. am
sOlAs on with this work"
After motion that the point be referred
70 the Corporation Counsel, the regular
legal adviser OF all city departments, the re
port has this;
Nj sTEIrs: No. air; be Is my lawyer. We are
ssttlihs this thing"
This remarkable attitude toward law
showed again in he RORth u April. Eksa.