The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-10-29
POLITICAL NOTES.

POLITICAL NOTES.
The greatest length OF tho Greater New York Il
from R,vcriaie, south OF tho Yonkers boundary line,
to Totteuvile, staten Island. a distance OF thirty.
seven miles.
The customary campaign fireworks ordinance has
been passed by the Board Of Aldermen this year, but
In somewhat different form. 1t is as follows: Tho
ordinance relating to the discharge Of fireworks In
the city OF New York is hereby suspended $50 far as
1t applies TO out-of-door political meetings and pa.
! rades held in the streets. avenues and thoroughfarcs
other than broadway, Fifth avenue. and Madison
ayenuc) such suspension to continue until Nov. 10,
1897"
Under the Raincs law there are 6.67s fewer saloons
in the state OF New York than there were prior to the
adoption OF the law. Gov. Morton, who signed tho
original Rnines law, said In his first message to the
Legislature that the number OF saloons in New York
at tina. timc-l to each lBy of populatlou-was un-
duly large and should be reduced. 1t has been re-
duced hy the Raincs law, and the present average in
New York is l to overy 800 OF population.
The present estimate Of the vote of Queens Ror-
ough this year is 20. 900. and OF Richmond Borough
10. 500. Last year the vote OF Queens was 23, 900 and
of Richmond II goo. New York's vote was as much
above 10000 as Kings c%ounty's vote was below
0 1000.
The post OF Alderman under tho new charter is In
some respects an unenviabe one compared with tho
post of Alderman which now exists, but notwithstand.
ing this fact there is no shortage of Aldermanio can.
didates throughout the Greater New York. At pres.
ent there is but one local board In this city having
legislative powers. the Board OF Aldermen. the mem.
bers OF which are elected for two years and receive
$4,000 a year each. There are thirty OF them in this
city exclusive OF the President Of the board. Under
the new charter the Board OF Aldermen will
consist OF sixty embc including thirty six
elected by the present city OF New York
and twenty. one in Brooklyn. Instead of re-
ceiv,ng $4,000 a year each they will receive 81 900
only. This sun Is thought by many candidates to DO
totally inadequate. for it is a fact well known by
every one except members OF the Citizens Union)
that the duties Of the Aldermen are multifarious. and
that q New York Alderman to be worthy OF his tito
as such must DO familiar with other matters than
those OF legislation. He must be familiar with the
car routes and car superintendents, he must know
where the station house in the precinct in which he
resides Is situated and be prepared to furnish bail for
his constituents thereat. and he must have a door
bell or knocker which will withstand the ravagcs OF
impecuniosity and be firmly set in place.
The Maryland Legislature last year authorized tho
appointment by the Governor OF Commissioners for
tho Promotion OF Legislation in the United States.
The Commissioners are required to examine the sub
jects OF marriage and divorce. insolvency. the form
of notarial certificates, and other matters for the pur-
pose OF enecting uniformity In the United States.
49, ~ 49, 'NS W SoiAy out II
provisions of tho act. The expenditures are limited
to $500 a year. The Commissioners are to serve with
out pay. and were appointed for four years.
Tho borough OF Brooklyn has Iao public schools,
with accommodation for 1870. 900 pupils. The city
OF Now York has l65 schools. with accommodations
for about 200, 900 pupils. Brooklyn spends on edu.
cation about $4,000. 600 a year. and New York has
appropriated for this year So. 800. 600.
Gen. Tracy is the only one of the Mayoraltyc andi.
dates in this years election who has q war record.
He fought with distinction on the Union side during
the civil war. and earned. while In command Of
Union troops on the field. the title he bears. Tho Re-
publican party in New York, It is well known. ia
partial to military commanders. q fact which has
frequently been attested at the polls. None of the
other Mayoralty candidates has any war record. and
none Of them has any record IN national or State
politics. either. Judge Van wyck never held any
office except his present judicial post; Mr.. George has
been q candidate for elective ofice. but unsuccess.
fully, and Mr.. Low has never held any national or
State ONCE, either.
The Assembly district OF the Greater New York in
which there is the largest registry this year is tho
Thirty fourth. in which the total registration was H..
700, or more than l 100 greater than last year. The
Assembly district or ward in which there Is the
smallest registered vote is tho Second ward Of Brook.
Ign. In which the total is 1870. The Thirty fourth
Assembly district was carried by Mckinley last year
by 1900 votes: tho Second ward OF Brooklyn gave
Bryan / 100 votes and Mckinley 400.
The Prohibition party OF Massachusetts has as its
candidate for Governor this year Prof. Bascom. and
1t Is remarked this year. as It has been heretofore re.
marked by observant persons. that II requires a man
OF considerable principle and small s~ensibility to
criticism to run for Governor OF Massachusetts upon
o Prohibition ticket. Prof. Bascom was q candidate
for Congress in the First district OF Massachusetts
last year and made a spirited race. polling 0y3 votes
in u total OF $4,000. SO succcssful was he that he
has been honored with the post OF danger In the Pro-
hibition party-the nomination for Governor OF the
Bay State. Last year Allen CONN held this post and
polled 4,472 votes. That the Prohlbltionists Of
Massachusetts,. however ardent they may be in advo-
cacy OF the principle OF constitutional prohibition,
are not lacking in sagacity in times OF public peril. Is
shown by the fact that 800 of them who at last
years election supported a temperance candidate for
Governor, withheld their suffrage from lowering. tho
Prohibition candidate for the Presidency. In SUFFOLK
county, which includes the city OF Boston, he pollcd
only 200 votes.
very lively canvass is being made in financial
circles toward the election OF Ashbel p. Fitch as
Comptroller. Mr.. Fitch has the support OF many bus
mess people who have closely watched HIS admins
tratiou and have come to entertain a high estimate OF
his abilities as a nnancier and to recognize his init.
mate familiarity with all municipal problems such al
viii come up for settlement ut the outset OF the ad
ministration OF the Greater New York. The Bond
Buyer said recently: "Mr. Fitch's success as the
hnancier of the first city In this nation naturally
makes him a prominent figure In politics."
The State pays Its Commissioner OF Public Work.
+ $4,000, the city pays Its Commissioner OF Public
WORKS $4,000 Il year. Under the new charter OF New
YORK the functions OF the Commissioner OF Public
Works are subdivided among six onicials, each OF
|, whom receives 81 300. one Is to bo Commissioners OF
the Water Supply, another TO be Commissioner o
Highways. u third Commissioner OF Street Cleaning
| nhn lHAF mi ~ lp.u - CgeAaN ntp- nAw-w .a.I-