New-York tribune., 1897-10-31

IN NETWORK THEY WORKED TOGETHER
TO KEEP RAscAr.s IN oFFICE-THEIE
GREATER NETWORK DEAL
! [BY TELEGRAPH TO THE rRIBUNE.l
Albany Oct S-Thomas c. Platt's deals with
Richard Croker the State capital in matters OF
legislation have been frequent for years that no
one is surprised the statements which come
from New-York 10 the effect that the members OF
the Republican machine have already received or
ders from Mr. Plat 10 their influence 10 elect
Van Wyck. Croker's candidate for Mayor. Mr
Plat became the Republican boss" OF the state in
1881 when he managed 10 elect Frank Hscock
United States Senator. From that time on his
deals with David Hi and Richard Croker
have been constant The Legislature was Repub-
lican up TO 1891. and Mr. Platt had the naming OF
the committees. lie took good care OF Croker
/ The Tammany Hall Senators and Assemblymen OBJ
tained the chief committee places. When Croker
himself gained control of the Legislature in 1892 he
returned the compliment. and the followers OF Mr.
Platt on the Republican side Of the House got
places on the influential committees. Mr. Plau re-
gained possession Of both branches Of the Legislat
ure in 1894 and being still true TO Croker. awarded
places OF power committees TO his Tammany
Hall allies At present two OF the three minority
places on the Senate Committee on Cities are held
bv Tammany Hall Senators. Ahearn and Grady.
! lieutenant Of Hugh Mclaughlin. the Democratic
boss OF Brooklyn, holds the third place
Legislation has thus been IN the almost aDsOlule
control Of Platt and Croker. When the power Of
one was threatened by the Legislature their lieu
tenants on committees acted together. When, on
the other hand. the passage Of any measure was
desired the Republican and Tammany Hall ma
chimes acted in unison in its support. Some times
II Is true demonstrations of hostility have been
made between Mr. Platt's Senators and M
Croker's Senators. but every one recognized that
there we're no bullets behind the powder that was
exploded In the Assembly for two years there has
been an almost ludicrous desire apparent on the
part OF Daniel e. Finn the Tammany Hall leader
TO learn what Mr. Platts agents desired TO have
done and then to manage the Democratic AS
semblymen as to permit Of the easy doing OF IT.
WHEN STRONG BECAME MAYOR.
description OF one years work OF the Legs
lature will disclose the nature Of the combine
| Take. for instance the year 1885. In the fall OF
1894 William L. Strong had been elected Mayor OF
! New-York City by a union OF Republicans and IN
dene,dent Democrats II was obvious before the
Legislature met that Mr.. Strong could not reform
the government OF New-York unless he should he
invested with authority TO remove the Iammany
Hall heads OF the city departments. Further II
was evident that the police courts needed cleaning
out and that the school system ought 10 he I'M
proved Power Of Removal bill was drawn up
comforting on the Mayor authority 70 remove all
the heads OF city departments
A City Magistrates bill authorized the Mayor to
remove all the Police Justices. BY a third bill
Mr. Strong was authorized TO appoint a new Board
Of Education.
Mr. Plat and Croker were naturally alarmed al
such a programme The Power Of Removal hill
among other things. would give Mayor Strong au-
thority 10 remove the members OF the Board or
Police composed OF their followers In the preced-
ing spring the Tammany Mayor OF the city. MT
Gilroy at the request Of Mr.. Platt and Mt Croker
had appointed Michael Kerw!n and Charles IL
Murray Police Commissioners. They formed a
worthy pair with John c. Sheehan and James Mar
TIN the representatives OF Mr. Croker. Mr.. Patt
accordingly did not pass the Power OF Removal
bill through his Legislature at once when II met In
January 1896 Instead. he held up the measure
and brought pressure on Mayor Strong TO force the
Mayor 10 name Police Commissioners satisfactory
TO him Another measure which was held PACK
was a bill for the reorganization OF the police force.
There might be a new Board OF Police, but unless
authority was given to dismiss the corrupt tools Of
Tammany Hall Of the Republican machine no
thorough reform OF the force could be made
PuBLIC INDIGNATION AROUSED
But the voters OF New-York who had elected
Mavor Strong were not content TO sit quietly and
see the Power Of Removal bill stranged. They
rememberpd that Senator Fassett had been re-
strained by Mr. Platt. when his investigating COM
mittee was on the point Of making thorough In
. curry into the Police Department, and thus Tam
many Halls grip on the Department had been
, | prolonged
the weak report OF the LexOw Committee desigr
70 shield Tammany Hall They deter
mined therefore 10 appeal TO public opinion and
on FEBRUARY ), 1896 they held a great meeting In
Cooper Union and demanded the immediate pas
sage OF the Power OF Removal bill. The cooper
" rs,tute meeting was made notable for this
year By the following speech OF Cornelius y Bliss
Ladies and Gentemen-When the Constitutional
Convention, the highest representative body known
10 our laws. adopted measures making II possible
= ! ne
, dice to their party interests in state and Natior
I to secure to the people OF New-York government
by and for all its 4hs that of seeS Myo
eSged 10 non-partsan cond 1T of the government;
( That Mayor has been in ofiice Tor more thar, a
more than a month and the legislation required tC
, give him power to make such changes as may ir
the City government hats and waits. Is there an.
gems1y some distinguished gentlemen have remarked
czens cn I can be debsrred from assembling to peace
fully discuss issues vital to their prosperity snC
to tell their represenaives what they Wv %an, and
This great assembly is here tonight 10 express
clearly wh' n ,se DSss eAea. Of the PP2R 0s 6S
t viii do without fear or favor OF leaders. bosses o.
RepnScan Srd RaT 10 IsP joan h
i demonstration. which; with others to foI9" Il
Inc fgoody reformers.' We are called by ou
: respective machines. will take no step backward
ApplauseD
- Public opinion could not be further resisted ever
. | nv Mr. Platt and accordingly he permitted tn
; legislature TO pass the Power OF Removal bill.
S POLICE REORGANIZATION KILLED.
T. Ru, this DID not prevent him from holding up
g the other reform measures and permitting hi
& creatures In the Legislature 10 threaten Mayo
II Strong that unless Murray and Kerwin were con
e ,inued in Office there would be retaliatory lega
II ton such as cutting short the terms OF the Poc
= commissioners he might appoint and curtang hi
), movers OF office The Police Reorganization bi
was introduced in form insulting to Mayor Strong
he having no authority under II TO appc,n, the Re
organ,zation Commission, but the power being cor