New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-03-09
THE MAYORS POSITION.

THE NAPORS POSITION.
The Albany dispatch to Thursday evenings
papers giving the details Of an agreement which
was said 10 have been reached by Lieutenant
Governor SaXtOn and Speaker Fish, represent
ing the Republican majority OF the Legs
laturc on the one hand and Mayor Strong
on the other, had the appearance or peihS
authoritative. 1t was given out shorty
after the return Of the two gentlemen hrSt
named TO the capital aud apparently with
their sanction, though not definitely stated 10 ne
OF their PRONUNCIATION or by their authority. III
purported to be a summing M or the sltuatoh'
according to their statements. but was so
specific in detail and positive in character mat
ii seemed 10 bear the stamp of authority. Inc
gist of it was that these gentlemen had received
an assurance from Mayor Strong that he would
appoint Benjamin +. Tracy and Charles ;. FAR
child as two of the three Commissioners under
the Police Reorganization bill. and that in con-
sideration of this assurance the Reorganization
bill and the Police Magistrates bill would be
passed in such form as the Mayor desired
Some credulOus persons who do not Know me
Mayor accepted the statement; others not qhte
so credulous. who know the Mayor only little,
lust whistle1 and wondered; hut those who know
him quite well simply said they did not believe
it and waited 10 hear from him. They had not
long to wait. The Mayor. with his usual direct
ness and promptnesS. made it known that he had
entered into no such agreement and that the
only ground for the statement was that he had
mentioned the two gentemen's names as types
Of the sort Of appointments he would probably
make IL the bill were passed. McssrS. SaHton
and Fish corroborate this statement. SO that
pretty fiction passes.
And now The Tribune is at liberty TO state
that Mayor Strong not only has not dcviated,
but that he will not deviate, from the purpose
which he expressed in his own terse and easily
understood English at the beginning Of his adj
ministration. He does not hold himself respon-
sible in any degree for legislation at Albany. and
he will not on any account divide with the
Legislature or the Governor or any party Boss
the responsibility of administering the office 10
which he was elected. He will enforce 10 the
best Of his ability the laws now on the statute
book relating to his office, and any laws which
the Legislature in its wisdom may enact in adj
dition thereto Bue he will make no trade nor
deal nor dicker, and will enter into 10 agree
ment TO affect the action Of the Legislature
either 10 secure or defeat proposed legislation
touching municipal affairs. He does not pre-
tend TO be careless or free from s0licitude re-
garling the action of the Legislature with refer
ence to the passage Of laws which will make 1t
possible for his administration 10 answer the
overwhelming popular demand for substantial
and thorough reforms in the government Of this
city Ia all departments. But his interest is no
more nor less than that of the $4,000 of his
fellowcit2ens who voted for him, and lie does
not conceive that they have given him any com
mission TO use his Office as lever with which
TO obtain from the Legislature what that Legs
lature knows Just as we'll as he does that this
community desires, expects and has right 10
demand. His position in this regard, as we
have had occasion 10 say heretofore, Is both
honorable and dlgnined and it shows a much
clearer conception Of the functions and limita-
tons Of his office than any occupant of the
place has shown, for a whole generation at
least lie has the gratifying consciousness that
the vast majority OF the voters sustain him in
this view but even were that In doubt there
need be no fear that he will wavcr in the line
of what he deems his duty. No matter what tho
Legislature may do or refuse 10 do, he will
stand firm.
Meantime ii does not escape the notice OF the
most casual observer that all the buzzing back
conferences and consultations among members
OF the Legislature the interviews with the
Mayor and with the Governor, the pilgrimages
Of Plat, the fitting Of Lauterbach, the molan-
choly gatherings in lower Broadway and at the
Fifth Avenue Hotel, and the unuttcrable glib
berygosh Of Mr.. Platt's newspapers, all relate
to one thing: and that is the necessity Of pla-
eating Plat by recognizing him as Boss and
putting his henchmen in office. There is no
pretence anywhere Of anything else. The whole
disturbance revolves around that central point.
1t is asserted that he holds the key to the situa
ton by his control Of the Legislature. and that
unless Mayor Strong makes terms with him the
citizens Of this rOgue-ridden town shall not
have the legislation they demand for their de-
lyerance That is the issue boldly. audaciously
of the great ma jority OF the voters here it would
be infinitely better TO have no legislation than
to have such would leave by the authority
and sanction Of the Republican party. any foot
hold Of power for the sef-constituted leader
who has for years been in partnership with
Tammany. The Republicans of this city can
afford 10 wait They cannot afford TO recognize
Platt as leader or Boss, to assume the shame
of his past or the responsibility for his future.
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CONSTICENEPAL USDEP CTPE