New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-08-20


in amount per capita and percentage OF real estate
valuation The expenditures show an increase OF
1eS per cent over 1890: and in considering this item
attention Is called to the fact that the amount OF
interest remains practically unchanged. and that
with this item eliminated the increase over 1880
amounts TO 297 per cent" The operating expenses
of the waterworks has increased from sssH2 in 1888
to $liO16 in 1894: the Fire Department fund from
sol .0i9 in 1883 to s25S.S2i in 1894
II would appear from Mr. Johnstons tabulated
| statements that Aldridge and his supporters with
considerable cleverness. have concealed the OF
their city government by bonding the city and
| carrying floating debt That would keep down
the annual levy In 1888. when Adrdge came
into power. the bonded indebtedness S2Si.01;
in 1894 II was S62lOOo. increase OF S.3S7e0
But as stated there is a floating debt Mr.. john
stons exhibit dscloses the fact that the taxpayers
owed sl.SiSc27 in addition the bonded debt OF
SS62l.O00
AN EFFORT AT REFORM
The Good Government Club organization was
founded reform this extravaganza of government:
Mr. Aldrdge is too expensive boss" to be longer
continued in control OF the city government OF
Rochester. About month ago a small body OF
patriotic citizens Of Rochester held conference
and resolved to make an earnest effort TO reform
the government of the city on non-partisan Lines
1t deemed especially needfu to initiate such
movement this year, since the Mayor OF Rochester
elected this fall Will probably have granted 10 him
by the Legislature of 1896 greatly Increased powers
Either. then. the new Mayor will have great OPP
portun.ty for mischief or much power to lower the
citys expenditures and off slnecurlsts Those
in attendance this conference were not cheese
parers They believe that growing city must
expend large sums Of money upon its streets and
waterworks But they do not want horde OF men
employed by the city for political purposes who
make return to the city in labor for the money
they receive from Il; The gentlemen who attended
the conferences referred to elected an "organ-
zaticn committee to establish Good Government
clubs. and this committee In turn chose Joseph T.
Alling. a member Of the firm Of Alling & Cory.
wholesale paper dealers, their chairman. Mr.
Alling has a large acquaintance with the young
men OF the city. He has been greatly interested
in the work OF the Young Mems Christian Associa-
ton. devot:ng much of his time evenings TO aiding
IT, He has been president of the V VI. c. A. for
eight years. He also has the largest Bible class
in the United States, and, perhaps, IN the world.
under his every Sunday. and thus again has
come in close contact with young men. But. aside
from this. owing to his lifelong acquaintance with
the business men of Rochester. his election as
chairman good choice.
HOW THE MOVEMENT WAS STARTED.
The Organization Committee Of the Good Gov
eminent Club movement began its work quietly
and for short time attracted no attention from
the politicians. The members of the committee
began circulating small handbook containing the
following printed declaration of principles;
Declaration of princples:.we believe III, that the
they are controlled by political rather than by nus
the party of choice in State and National issues
we hereby affirm our purpose TO disregard party IN
municipal elections. and vote for men who stand
l. City government on business principles. in the
interest of the people. not In the interest OF any
2 City appointments and removals according to
fitness. because of party membership or political
| influence.
These books were circulated with instructions 10
having them In charge to obtain the signatur
OF only five persons to each book. and then return
them TO the committee. The committee were sur
prised at the swiftness with which the books sent
out returned to them with signatures. Members Of
all kinds of political parties signed the books APP
parenty. Rochester was just In a mood for re
volt against Aldridge. The books were signed by
every class OF citizens. but especially by the resi-
dents In the poorer parts Of Rochester. and by
poor men generally. There can be no reason for
this except that the owners of the little homes in
Rochester feel the weight of taxation.
Mr.. Aing and his associates pointed out that the
Indebtedness Of the city great that in effect
there was a 10 per mortgage upon every one Of
! the 600 buildings in Rochester. Whatever the
reason nearly twenty-five hundred persons it
soon learned. had signed the books of the Good
Government Club organization and thus committed
themselves to its platform OF non-partisan. bust
ness administration for Rochester. The news
of the surprising success of the organization of
course reached the OF the politicians. and they
at once began making inquiry regarding the men
at the head Of the movement and to seek to get
them into their control.
ALDRIDGE BECOMES ALARMED.
Aldrldge is especially alarmed by the Good Gov
eminent Club movement. and it is an open secret in
Rochester that he has abandoned all thought of
nominating Norton w. Lewis. his candidate for
Mayor and is seeking to persuade the men
at the head of the Good Government club organi-
cation to favor with whom he has
private arrangement" The leaders OF Good Gov
eminent clubs however. show not the slightest in
clination to listen to the overtures of Aldridge
The present week Mr.. Alling chairman of the
Organization Committee, has been busy organizing
the various clubs in the wards OF Rochester. The
names of the who have signed the declaration
of principles of the club have been classified by
wards The gentlemen In a certain ward. for in
stance. invited to meet Mr. Alling and some of
his associates in room. OF the Powers Block, and
there the aims of the organization are carefully
explained to them. The constitution of the gen
eral organization OF Good Government clubs is read
to them 1t contains the following interesting com
mands in relation to membership:
Membership-Any citizen. irrespective Of party
Recommended by the Membership Committee as here
matter provided. may be eected by the Board of
it is provided. however that no one shall be eIlg
bic membership who holds any city or ward Office,
elective or appoinve who is an officially recog
nized candidate for the same, and the candidacy.
election appointment Of any one VINO Is already
| a member shall cancel his membership In the club
IL is provided however that this clause shall not APP
Div to inspectors of election notaries public or COM
| missiOners OF deeds.
THOROUGH ORGANIZATION PLANNED
At these meetings no secret is made of the fact
| that the leaders OF the Good Government Club
movement intend to have organization In every
ward Of Rochester and will exert themselves to i'm
prove the class Of members of the Common Council.
The organization Will also use all its influence to Sc
no ole NJ
| 70 conduct the affairs OF the city as though they
were those Of d business corporation. Especial EFFORT
Will also be made this fall to elect men TO the Execu-
tive Board who will cut off the snecuriss and con-
duct the business OF the Board more economically.
| Three wards have thus far been organized, nave
i IL nni.s Aenln yArk