New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-04-09

success.
he stood UP in the conference and opposed tho
committee OF Seventys ticket, declaring that a.
Republican could not expect Democratic supnort
lie disguised everybody that heard him. except the
Grace gang The purpose of his speech was three
iod: First. to break the combination against Tam
many with view to alliance with the Wig
wan; second. In case he failed in this to get him.
seif or Recorder Gcff. or Judge Reekman or some
other Grace Democrat named as Mayor; or third
IN the event Of the failure in both these efforts to
GET IL possible more places the ticket for Grace
lie tailed in all three The conference repudiated
him' Inc Ant-Machine Republicans, to their last
Ing credit. met his speech by promptly Offering
though they hadn't single representative on the
ticket. to accept the report OF the Seventy Their
action broke the ice. The other organizations fol-
lowed their example The ticket was nominated
and Mayor Strong elected.
SELECTED SCOTT.
The Mayor remembered all these things and
when the question Of Corporation Counsel was dis
cussed he announced his willingness to give It to
any reputable Democrat that Messrs Laroaue
Hornblower and Peckham might name. provided
they did not select Francis NJ. Scott That how
ever was just what they did. They did 1t because
William r. Grace persuaded them to do so: not
directly Of course, but in a way peculiar to him.
They finally reported to the Mayor that Scott was
the only man upon whom they could agree. and the
Mayor felt called upon to accept him. Before doing
so he had SCOTS absolute pledge OF loyalty to the
administration
This was OF Graces important triumphs.
He followed II up with others OF significance.
Woodman, his private secretary, put in the
Excise Board. Through John Monks he obtained a
grip on the Dock Department. Constable in the
Building Department supposed TO be O'Bren's
man. but Grace IS said TO be really his sponsor.
Monroe, who was put in the Aqueduct Commits
sion. is OF his trusted lieutenants He
had secured the presidency OF the Board of Alder
men through the election Of Jeroloman. None of
these. however. aside from Scott, were important
TO him the appointment OF Andrew d. Parker.
Police Commissioner Most people who know
Parker a member OF this reform administration.
forget all about his political record He has one.
and ii Is interesting. too. He brought up in
the old County Democracy school. Hubert o.
Thompson his preceptor. Thompson considered
him an apt pupil. II will be remembered that Mr..
Cleveland declined TO appoint Thompson Collector
Of the Port account OF the way In which that
statesman had soiled himself In the Public Works
Department Hedden chosen sop to the
business men. To hold Thompson in line he was
quietly informed that although Hedden Col
lector he, Thompson. could run the politics OF the
Custom House. To this purpose he placed a trust
ed lieutenant in Hedden's office. who was sup
posed to be the Collectors private secretary; In
reality he Thompson's personal representative.
The young selected for this purpose was An
ness hours Thompson down 10 confer with
him and Hans Beattie, who then Surveyor
about appointments Poor Mr. Hedden was entire
ly overlooked.
Later on. after Thompson's death. Parker went
to Grace and result turned up as As
sistant District-A;torney. Colonel Fellows had be-
come full-nedged Tammanyite. but he had
warm place for Thompson's friends particularly II
they had ability and experience. Parker is well
equipped in this way. He possesses considerable
force and much shrewdness. He, with Scott and
Jerooman. constitute the Grace trumviraie in the
city departments. and they doing effective Work
for Grace-work the results OF which Will be more
apparent when the time comes around for another
fight to keep this city government out OF the
clutches OF Tan.nany Hall.
FAVORABLE TO PARKER
The composition OF the Police Board vas favorable
10 Parker's schemes Colonel Grant has no taste for
practical politics He is a good-naturei, easy-gong
Official who does not concern himse; with the de-
tails OF Office Mr.. Andrews Is a faithful. conscl-
entious Official who is concerned about his OIL
ciai duties than the intrcacies OF pocA while
President Roosevelt has ideas OF office that almost
preclude him from giving attention TO the politics
CT the Department. In other words, the Board wac
practically open field to Parker. He perceived
the situation and undertook to make the most OF It.
He made up his mind TO build up machine 10 use
In his aggrandzemen and for the furtherance OF
the general policy OF the organization that he repre-
sents His associates did not suspect for long
time what he doing but they finally awoke 10
realization Of the fact that he getting an iron
grip upon the Department. and the first thing they
knew, he had with the aid OF Scott. unearthed an
old statute whereby his man. Chief Con.n.
able practically TO control the police force. To
make this control absolute. he cultivated relations
with the Plat machine. and until Plat found that
he deceiving him. actually had arrangements
made whereby his fellow Commissioners would be
ousted from Office and he would be kept In TO
the police force under himself and two or three
other Commissioners whom Plat would select
/ in due time. His relations with Plat are better
known than those between that gentleman and Mr..
Scott Mr.. Scott's more subtle, but none the
less real Mr.. Scott will probably be allowed TO
in his way for while longer. but the ener-
ss.r N have his wa % Po eaSsa day
longer than Is absolutely necessary He is fight
Of the fact that behind Parker as behind Scott and
Jer0oman stand the masked batteries a; Of william
affair at IL Il is not the result Of any dnsrences
struggle for supremacy between the elements OF this
administration that represent honest reform and
the low level Of Tammany Hall and the old County
Democracy. which bad Tammany. II not
THE CHIEFS POWERS.
The bill to restore 10 the Board OF Police the
power to make details and transfers and to pro,
oe Gts become la@ Until IL the beginning Of
March these powers were exercised by the Board
system in Vogue when he was made Chief was not
disturbed by him for a couple OF months; but under
opinion OF the Corporation Counsel. requested
by the Chief it appears that he alone has the
power OF details and assignments. and. moreover
that certain matters which are In fact promotions,
in the eye OF the la " merely assignments. Inc
first and most important OF the promotions because
from 1t all others come. is that TO roundsman; ths
Is Ia reality as much promotion as any other pro-
motion: but 1t is spoken OF In the law as an az,
Ngnment and is therefore made by the Chief ana
! not by the Board. Moreover. the Board can only
make promotions Of sergeants from the men thus
appointed as roundsmen, that the Chlel can az
apv time prevent the promotion OF roundsman
by reducing him to the ranks. Moreover. II has
been the wise custom OF the Board always 20 test
a man in a position before appointing him; ior m
I