New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-01-04

The voters of the Myth and XVIII Congress
Districts in this city are beginning the cam
paign which Mr.. Croker, by suddenly recalling
NcsSlS Fellows and Fitch from Washington
to fill places under the municipal government
forced upon them. That performance was real
~ Il striking Illustration Of the manner in which
New York is governed Nobody has ever deemed
it worth while To pretend that the transaction
involved any worthy principle or was designed
to promote any public interest. II merely suit
ed Mr. Cookers purposes TO shuttle his cards
in that way-to ill couple of vacancies here
by creating couple of vacancies il the House
OF Representatives. which. in due time. he could
utilize to the advantage of himself and Tam
many Hall. OF course he hadn't suspicion
that his candidates for the seats deserted by
Fitch and Fellows could by any possibility be
defeated ut the special elections, for the Demo
cratic majority in each district was so large
AZ 10 appear absolutely imprcgnablc prior 10
November {. That was The only consideration
of Il public nature 10 which Mr.. Croker could
he expected to give Il thought. Probably IL
never occurred to him that the question of cost
might seem important To persons who earn
living by hard work and pay their taxes with
difficulty And even if he had thought of it.
that argument would have appeared utterly
contemplate to the opulent dispenser Of
budget Of S}S.O00.O0O.
But most Of the voters OF Ncw-York outside
the official circle. are unhappily compelled 10
pay some attention To- prcuniary questions.
And just nj this time. when tens Of thousands
in this city are out of work and suffering from
hunger and cold. or perhaps just saved from
that extremity through the compassion of their
fellow men, their present condition diScouraging
aud prccariOus AT best and the future almost
hopeless. Il good deal Of thought is likely TO be
and ought to be given TO the Wan;On act which
was designed 10 intlict upon taxpayers the cX-
pcnSc of special elections for tine qualification
Of an individuals selfish whim. The cost. 10 be-
sire, will not be very large, measured by Tam
many standards; only about SG0OoO: not even
three times the salary Of the City Chambcrlain;
not more than half seasons profits from
successful racing stable, but yet probably
enough to keep 1000 persons from starving and
freezing for three months.
There is just one way in which the voters of
The MYTH ard XVIII Congress Districts can
make these special elections profitable not only
10 those who have got to pay for them, but TO
the whole country. If they elect two Demo
cratic Congressman they Will have profit Of
any sort 10 show in the House OF Represent
ativcs, but only loss of cash here. There is
not the slightest reason 10 suppose that Mr..
Croker'S candidates will be an Improvement
upon his late i"cumhcnls. But, If the voters
who have had This necessity thrust upon them
convert il into an opportunity and make the
best use of il. they can derive a large return
from Mr.. Cookers private investment of public
funds. The Republican nominees are fit in
strumcnts for the accomplishment Of this ex
cccnt object, and ihcirl election would be at
once salutary rcbuke 10 tyrannical and profit
gate bosses and Il substantial service 10 all the