The record-union., 1894-06-02
new YORK REFORMS.
How Governor Flowers Veto Mes
sage Was Received.
Opening of the state Constitutional
Convention-work of the Tenement
House Commissioning Usual
Summer Exodus.
Irregular Correspondence of RECoRD-UNIoN.l

Irregular Correspondence OF RECoRD-UNIoN.l
NEW YORK, May 18th.
Governor Flower sent another veto
message to this city last night That 1t Is
addressed to New Workers there can be
no doubt, for it takes up the arguments
used by local reformers for the bill to ex-
cuse its rejection. The bill was that in
troduced by Senator Lexow, Chairman of
the committee appointed by the Senate to
investigate the Police Department OF New
York, to provide for an appropriation of
S25, 900 for the payment of the expenses of
the investigation. 1t was urged through
the Legislature by men who stand on the
platform of home rule for cities; Gov
ernor Flower vetoes it because it violates
that principle. 1t was pressed by the
men who charged that there was deal in
it between the bosses of the two parties;
the message explains that it shall not be-
come law, because it is alleged that foul
play would mar its usefulness. 1t was
declared to be necessity, because the
Fassett Committee in 1890 was believed to
have abandoned It's work in consequence
OF deal; SO the Governor throws it out
because of the suspicious conclusion OF
the previous committee.
1t was a clever message, well written,
sharply pointed, in argument sound, and
in the fundamental principles cited
sound. So much the angrieSt critics ad-
nit But was it sincere and what does it
mean? No one who knows the Governor,
and the influences behind him, believes
the message to be an honest one. in the
sense that it enforced genuinely cherished
principles. His friends to-day laughed as
they commented on it's ''audaciousness,"
and enjoyed the discontinue of the
men who had their own doctrines thrown
in their faces. They did not take the as
sertions In it earnestly. They were con-
tent to have one grant that 1t was sharp.
1t was sharp and it served the good
government men right. Some time ago |
pointed out that they were sacrificing
principles to the attainment of party gains
OF advantage by legislating to lit laws. in
stitutions, Offices and powers to passing
conditions; they were arranging the city
government TO 1T the men in, or to be IN,
control. They would increase the pow
ers OF the Superintendent OF Police be-
cause he is a trustworthy man, and those
of the Mayor because they believed good
man would be pat IN Mr.. GilrOy's place.
1t Is a good, a very wholesome lesson in
government and politics to have their
maneuvers baked by one of the ''ras-
Gals" who can say as they have been say
ing for years: "If there are people in
New York who think their local govern
ment is not good one, 1t is their privi-
lege and their duty to make it good. The
remedy should be the same there as IN
other cities Of the Stately the election
of good officers. The majority rules in
this country, and il the majority wishes
good government IL can always secure 1t
through the fearless exercise OF Suffrage
This is as much as to say that they must
not seek revolutionary upheaYals, the
inGiHo nf HnrNa pfV h1t
upon the slow gradual development OF
public opinion TIL it shall be ready to
change hands in the regular way; or that
reformers should not seat men in Office,
load them with power and then go back
to business TO forget about politics. They
must exercise the suffrage to make their
government good. That Is wholesome,
whatever its source, for it is the surest
way OF getting permanent Improvement.
All that ''grinds'' is the diagreeableness
of hearing g machine man say it. 1t
makes of the Governor a sphinx. He
stopped the bill giving full power to the
Mayor TO remove the heads of depart
ments in the same sort of a message. 1t
is said confidently now that he Will treat
the bipartisan police bill in like manner.
II he does he will have used only sound
principles to sustain his action with, and
it viii be easy to do, since his last two
vetoes have been so silently received.
W HAT - GIIOu6OUlsg uOW6N6Es 1S Iu6 III
clination to take his course as an indica-
ton of courage and of confidence of the
future. This view is very general; it has
been the subject of perpleXed discussion
among opponents of the Democratic
party all day. Men were asking whence
this boldness of Tammany and the allied
State Democracy. Could the Democrats,
who are shrewd and quick, hear what
have heard, they would see that the
Governor, who they call a dutfer, and
treat as safe only when under some
mans care, has struck good key.
Voters are credited with a respect for
hrmnesS in political conduct, selt-assur-
ance in leaders and simplicity in prin-
ciples. Should the machine take up the
Governor song as sung for him by some
sharp witted Secretary (the message is
unlike Mr.. Flowers own it might make
an unexpected hit"
Despair, however, not courage, is the
inspiration Of that message, just as cynie-
ism, not purity of heart, is its real tone,
and recklessness, not studied policy, is
its true spirit That is evident in the
laugh, the vindictlve sneer, with which
the Democratic politicians read it to one
another. They do not hope by hook or
crook to carry the next election even in
this city. The leaders have decided to
hold fast TO what they have. Therefore
the bill to give the Mayor more power
was vetoed. They will not furnish
money to enable Republican committee
to delve for campaign material and excuse
to turn out the office holders. Therefore,
the message OF to-day. II some one could
make some fun in the writing OF it, well
and good. But no politician of the Gov
ernor's faith see any courage in its
phrasing.
There might be some hope that the To-
cal feeling against Tammany could be
overcome, think that organizations more
astute leaders. Investigations, so far as
they have gone, have disclosed nothing
except individual corruption. "Aeelers"
have been sent to the island in large
numbers, as you know well, but the ma
chine not only was not shown to have
sanctioned their acts: II positively encour-
aged the punishment OF the indiscreet
Had these men been given any chance
whatever they would have proved, or at
least alleged, that their guilt was that OF
the organization. They would not have
gone so meekly to prison. They could
not charge anything against the machine,
however, because in stuting the ballot
box, etc., they had disobeyed orders. So
also, what was shown against certain po-
hcemen in the hearings before the LeXow
committee could not be traced back to
the Commissioners. Politicians have
covered themselves well where they have
been criminal, and the inquiries begin at
the wrong end. As l showed in the first
letter wrote to the RECORD UNION, the
Tammany system Of corruption has prac-
tically abolished petty pilfering, small
bribery. Where that occurs IN this city
the petty officials are acting on their OWN
responsibility, and clearly understand
that no influence will be exerted to save
them if caught. The Lexow COMMITTEES
men say they will proceed with the in-
vestigation without State funds. If they
do, they will capture only little thieves.
There is almost no recognition of the de-
yelopment of corrupt methods in metro
,,nlifnn ranliticS. Croker concentrated The