New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-11-24
MP UEILNlN'S RESTG MILTON.

,rh ro,irsu,cnt Of Assistant District Attorney
Wellmau. who sent his resignation 10 Colonel
Fellows Yesterday will deprive the city Of the
services Of a brilliant and successful prosecutor
MIR Wellman's connection with criminal cases
Of extreme importance has been cr'dl'Apie I"
him and essential 10 justice. The trials OF
lnnc list Of election thieves last WINTER result
inc IN the conviction f many Of Them and com
Da,lirc the rest 10 confess. constl'h''d unuv'
tho circumstances then existing a r'm1rka'l'
record Ny h.s Vigilance. energy ana sNhl III '''
performance Of that complicated and aniuonS
task Mr. Wcllm1n amply earned the Appr'o''!o"
which was cordially bestowed upon h'm. lie
nav. r.,iroe * he saws. because h. has noted
ds,,s,t,on 10 crticSc Colonel Fellows for
permitting him TO practise in The CIV" courts
in accor,iance with the conditions under Whl'h
he a,ceDirl and has held his place III ne i'!S-
,r'cr-Atiorueys office His unwillinsne'S {" sun
ice; his superior to ccn~urc ON This account J.
hoco,ninely exprcsscd. but probably is mol Ms
chief reason for resisning II Is SAL" u ASSUME
,hat Mr. Wcrman has not felt entirely com
Portable in his recent association win plH,
tric,. Attorney whose gross Incompetence ana
neglect not only anger and inJure 'h' com
lnunity. but also tend 10 dS'r'u'' ""! ''"'
identified with his administration.
Though the city is about 4! lose Vaiu'o''
official. Mr. Wcllman cannot be blamed I''
resolving 10 return 10 private NE III la'' I'I>
good reDuie will be rather cnhanc'd 10y DIS
voluntary withdrawal from an Once "h'h j.
50 ahomnably mismanaSed II Is lu'' III" '.''
10 saw however that his capacity ana uS'lui
ness are not in the slightest degree lh'"lN"i !"
tn. General arraignmcnt Of his chief or in III"
fi.t. lsx 4 -
made responsible for the management Of Grim
,r,I prosecutions now in prospect. We have 40
doubt thar Mr. Wcllman. if he were assigned
70 these cases with full liberty Of action, would
fry Them with admirable vigor aud skill. Nor
do We wonder that the present SITUATION OF III
fairs in connection with the DiStrict-Aiorn'y
Office appears 10 nm sui"'l'"' '"''' |
getting ont OF II.
Nv his alu>iOn 10 current crlicISmS upon 'l'
custom of permitting Assistant Disrict-Ati"r-
news 10 practise IN iLc civil courts MI N'Iiim'h
nroyjdos a peculiarly fit opportunity for saying
that these criticisms relate 10 a serious abuse
Of the public welfare and patience. though he
Is convinced that under the circumstances th"y
do not fairly apply to him. The fact is that The
Districi-Atiorncy' office is managed on Il S''lc
If gross extravaganza. II supports altogether
too many oN'ildll ana uHu'lN'lh'N '''i'''
who are constantly getting in each other way
if not In the way Of justice. The staff ought
+, be cut down 10 dimensions which would re-
uuire every member Of it 10 devote 10 the ci'y
all Tho time which the people pay for II that
were done. we should soon know who Were quail
flied for The work and The number required 10
nrrform il efficiently. 80 sensible citizen wants
10 have public officials harshly treated, ami 1t
is true that the conditions - which employees
Of the District-AttOrncy's office are at times
Subjected are depressing and exhausiing; but
il is Il certainty that the force could he largely
reduced with perfect justice both 10 those as
missed and 10 those retained and with great
advantage to the community The same thhs
il tr,lc Of the Corporation COunscls Once, ana
we believe Of all departments of the mnHhc-
inal government without exception. Inns
obuse is likely 10 arise In the management oil
nublic business whichever party IS In CONTROL
II has been developed to monstrouS proportions
under Tammany rule and the new admhstra-
tion will have to encounter the temptation 10
nornetuate if in n greater or less degree. But
This is one Of the very evils which the people
rose I'D TO put down; and one of the very worst
Of them They will take an early opportunity
TO express their Indignation If it Is permitted
I, va