New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-08-20
PART Ii.
PAGES II TO IA.
CITY REFORM IN ROCHESTER,
THE MOVEMENT TO SECURE NON-PARTI-
SAN, ECONOMICAL ADMINISTRATOR.
A RESULT OF THE SEPARATION OF CITY ANr
AND WHAT 1T HAS COST ROCHESTER.

STATE ELECTIoNs-THE ALDRIDGE MACHINE
AND WHAT 1T HAS COST ROCHESTER,
IRON A STAFF CORRESPONDENT OF rnr TRIBUNE,
Rochester. Aug. l9.-When the members OF the
Constitutional Convention OF 1894 were asked to so
amend the States Constitution that city elections
should e separated from those of the State. the
argument was made that such a separation would
insure better attention by voters to municipal af
fairs Doubtless many persons sceptical of the
truth Of the theory that If State elections
thus separated from city elections there would be
closer observation OF city governments and more
determined efforts would be made by voters to
force the doctrine that city departments should be
run on business principles. Yet there signs in
New-York. Brooklyn. Buffalo and in this city that
the theorists right. and therefore the work
OF the Good Government clubs and like organiza-
lions merit attention.
Il is true that there will not be that complete
separation Of State and city elections this year that
the trainers OF the new Constitution contemplated
owing TO the election OF all the State officers ex-
cept Governor and Lieutenant Governor. but these
officers will be elected the present year for three
years and thereafter for only two. 50 that their
selection will hereafter take place in the same
year with that Of Mayors of cities and other city
officers Moreover. State Senators. for the last time
until the Constitution is amended. will be elected
with city officers The system OF separating
city elections from those OF the State or Nation
therefore will go into full effect until 1897.
A STRONG HEADwAY FOR REFORM.
Notwithstanding this partial interference OF the
State election with that of the city OF Rochester Tor
.he election Of Its Mayor and other city oincers
the municipal reform movement is under strong
Roadway here. 1t has been aroused by two circum-
stances: namely the rapidly increasing cost OF the
city government since 1t has come under the cohro
y, George w Aldridge as boss and. secondly the
snnarent design OF the State commission which is
now drawing up uniform charter LOT cites "a inc
sacond class SO 10 arrange this charter that the
Mayor will have most OF the power in city gov
eminent and be clearly responsible for Its exercise
The Nayor Of Rochester under it's present charter
is in large degree only stately hgure-heau. .i'e
chief city departments being commissions lnde-
pendent of him The greatest OF these departments
Is known as the Executive Board II TINS oe
nartment were In New-York City II would De caheo
the Department of Public Works Only in Roch-
ester besides having charge of the street PAVING
ranairs 10 streets sewering street opening, water
works and other business like that OF the New
York Department of Public Works. il is also the
Street Cleaning Department and the FIRE Depart
nent 1t Is thus apparent that the Executive
BOARD through its authority TO hire laborers Tor
street cleaning for the repair of the streets Tor 'he
care of the waterworks, and TO appoint members
of the Fire Department. can be, II lis members
choose 10 make IL. formidable power IN 'he poiicS
Of Rochester The Board, In fact. Is the poh'cai
governor Of Rochester. 1t sways eiecuohs' At
directly or indirectly makes political nominations
=. o,,ro,s many caucuses 1t sends delegates to
state conventions. 1t has many times named the
Mayor of Rochester
ALDRIDGE SEES HIS OPPORTUNITY.
George w Aidrdge early perceived the political
importance of the Executive Board In 1888 he mad
biroself elected a member of IT. and soon became
It's master For eleven years. from April l. 1881 ~
April /. 1884, he was member OF the Board. Some
Dhosrt
its directing spirit. 1t made him member OF the
Renublican State Committee. Mayor of Rochester.
p candidate for observation-disclosures IN lssi' o'a'e
Superintendent of Public Works and Coss %
Rochester Even although he has gone TO Albany
as SUPERINTENDENT of Public Works. the machinery
OF the Republican party in the city ana III .he
county OF Monroe is still in his possession and MS
followers fill the departments Of the county gov
eminent and OF the city government OF Rochester
He therefore remains "the boss He named the
Republican candidate for Congress In lsi' ana he
purposes if possible. to name some agent OF his as
the next Mayor of ROchester-the Mayor VINO VIII
be the responsible head Of the city government
Aldrjdge is a keen politician. He sees that the
LEGISLATURE the coming year will greatly curtai the
authority OF the Executive Board and enhance that
OF the Mayor AS he the Executive Board, he
now wishes TO be the Mayor. clothing some dummy
OF his in the official clothes Of the Mayor While ne
(AIdridge) shall be the actual Mayor.
GOVERNMENT BY TELEPHONE
William F. sheehan purposes to conduct the
affairs Of the city OF Buffalo by long distance tele
nhone from New-York George ". Aldridge IN
tends IL he can TO govern Rochester from Albany
nv this same use OF the telephone The telephone is
wonderful instrument but il is 10 be doubted If 1t
can stand this united strain of the voices OF Sheehan
and Aldrdge "bossing the affairs of Buffalo ana
Rochester respectively from NewYork and Albany
Peope will watch with interest to see II this extern
Lar nd arl'' 81 m lie a
Possibly IL will be- II Richard Croker rule
Tammany from London. there oud seem to be no
reason why Sheehan and Aldridge should not ac-
conplish their aim of ruling the big cities of Western
New-York from places on the eastern border OF the
State.
The Good Government club movement in Roches
ter is at once a protest against boss rule by
Aldridge or any ether man and determined effort
to rescue the city from the control OF politicians
whose only aim is 10 manage the machinery OF the
city government for personal and political ends. and
10 Mace IL In the hands Of non parsans. whose sole
thought shall be to give Rochester an economical
progressive and efficient government. Inc boss
rula Of Aldrdge has been most costly one. James
Johnston, a business man OF TINS CITY, was by an
accident of politics and his own personal popularity
elected an Alderman Of this city three years ago
n tho course of TWO years life in the Common
Council he obtained close view OF the throDDing
heart OF the Adrdge machine" and saw how ex-
travarant and wasteful he "boss's" government
was year ago he made a careful investigation
OF the expenditures OF the various branches oil the
city government and issued a pamphlet at his own
expense containing a somewhat minute account OF
them.
ROCHEsTER's BOSS EXPENSIVE
This year ne once more went over the CITY out
goes and again issued his tabuated statement OF
them Mr. Johnstons figures revealed VIVA, every
had suspected. that the most eApe"s .''' y"ss
NJ tho civ Government was the Executive Board
There evidently the snecurists were concealed The
gentlemen who drew pay from the city did one
hours work day for the city and eight hours worN
for Boss" Adrdge keeping his pohticai machine
in frst-class condition. SO Impressive were III.
figures of Mr.. Johnston that the ENe' .,,-
me, soon after they were printed. reduced their
number of employees and proclaimed poney OF
economv put this action of the Executive Board.