New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-10-26
EVILS OF PARTISANSHlP.
STRONG LESSONS OF THE PAST.
THE CORRUPTION OF THE CITY Gov
ERNMENT DUE TO PARTY POLITICS.


WOODS ADxlNIsrRATIoN-Ho PARTISAN
sHIP MADE rwEEDIsM PossrBLE-ooop
GOVERNMENT RESTORED ONLY
BY NON rARrIsANsHIP
No fact has been made more painfully clear b.
the history Of New-York than that the bulk OF
evils In municipal government arise from the
subsection of municipal affairs to the exigencies
OF State and National politics. Note the for
lowing.
1t Is a matter OF establishment that city so
enlightened. and which has eminently con-
tributed to the restoration Of public liberty.
should have 80 long submitted to the abuses
OF its municipal administration. When We view
the men who compose the majority Of the Com
mon Council; when we consider the slenderness
of their Influence as individuals: when we con-
template the paucity OF their talents, We are i'm
pressed with mingled emotions OF surprise and
Indignation that men so destitute Of learning
should have been permitted to become the de-
spoilers Of the rights OF their fellow citizens.
E. The maladministraton OF our city po-
lice was unquestionably OF more general and
complicated system . offices and emOlu-
ments were heaped upon the needy or avaricious
members Of the Board. and there Is but too
much reason to believe that they were origt-
nally created 10 reward the dement's or pO-
Itical inideliiy.
That might truly have been said 1--WE years
ago or at almost any time before the last two
or three years. 1t was said than a hun
dred years ago. and It was entirely true. That
was in 1856 In every succeeding generation
and decade the same complaint was truly made.
In 1851 the city government had become 80
scandalously bad that when the State Legis-
lature set abou, abridginG the powers OF the
Aldermen and Councilmen there no dispo-
sition to protest on the part OF the business
community or of the general body Of taxpayers.
In the estimation OF most Of these NewYork
was the worst governed city on the continent.
THE WOOD ADMINISTRATION.
That climax Of evil was reached in the May
orally OF Fernando Wood. He elected for
the first time as straight party candidate"
and for the second time was elected by virtue
vf 1.-The machine" In Presidential year. His
theory OF city government was n purely parti-
san one, and in the practice OF it he brought
the administration down to the most dishonest
and inefficient condition on record Public offices
were sold for cash. and royalties collected from
the salaries attached to them.
The remedy sought foe these evils itself
an evil. namely. the abolition OF such home rule
as had then existed. II is not to be wondered
at that the creation OF the semi-independent ex-
ecutye departments of the city government by
the legislation OF 1857 and the transfer TO a
State Board OF the police and excise administra-
ton OF the three counties OF New-York. Kings
and Richmond were regarded by the municipal
Ieformers OF the period progress in the right
direction But the practical effect Of the logisla-
ton Of 1857 that the ordinary powers OF
the city government were seized by the party
then dominant in the Legislature and State gov
eminent, and that New-York City in its local
affairs governed by the State and not by its
people In the Assembly OF 1891 out Of Us
members the Democracy had but 81: OF ,I2
Senator'S II had but e. and the Governor was
Republican. But when II came 10 he a question
OF dividing the patronage and plumber OF the
city II was found necessary to strike bargain
between the Republican bosses In the State and
the Democratic bosses In the city.
PARTTSANsHiP AND TwEEDIsM
A still more striking example 81 the evils ~
craftsmanship in city affairs was presented by the
Infamous Tammany ring under the management
of Boss" Tweed. The Board Of Supervisors o.
Eew-York made to consist OF twelve mem
bers equally divided between the two great po-
ntical parties. The government Of the County
Of New-York was placed In the hands Of n body
to which only the nominees OF the Republican
and Democratic party caucuses could he elected
As Mr. Tden said. II was body composed OF
six Republicans and six Democrats. to change n
majority OF which II necessary 70 control
the primaries Of both Of the great National and
State parties for four years in succession. AZ
the same authority has pointed out. the ring
thus created doubly . ring. 1t was ring
Supervisors. and it soon grew 10 be n ring be-
xr,t, In 1ta, nd