New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-02-01
AN UNUISE APPOINTMENT.

The appointment Of Louis +. Payn as Superin-
tendent of Insurance seems. from all accounts. to
have been definitely decided upon by Governor
Black 1t Is believed Also that his cOnfirma-
ton by the Senate is assured. 1t appears to The
Tribune, viewing the subject with dispassion-
ate calmness to be about as unwise an appoint
ment as could possibly be made The rumor
that Mr. Payn was candidate for the posi-
ton. with reasonable hope of securing 1t, be-
came current soon after the election and be-
fore the Inauguration of the Governor. but was
received with incredulity. 1t is doubtless no
news to Governor Black that the sensibilities of
the entire community, and especially of the great
mass Of Republican voters outside the small
circle of machine managers, were shocked at
the mere suggestion of such action on his part.
Nor has the public become more reconced to
IT as the discussion of Mr.. Payn's merits and
dement's has proceeded during the last two
months and the belief has deepened gradually
into conviction that he would be nominated and
confirmed. Were this an elective office, 1t ls
hazarding nothing 10 say that the most sanguine
and reckless Of machine politicians would never,
even in conditions the most favorable TO party
success, dream of presenting Mr.. Payn's name
as candidate for the suffrages OF the people.
Perhaps we might go further and say that Gov
ernor Black himself. with all his expressed con-
fdence in Mr.. Payn, would not have consented
willingly to have had that gentlemans name
associated with his own on the State ticket at
the late election. 1t would have been too much
TO carry.
But IL Is not alone because Of Mr. Payn's per-
sonal unpopularlly that the proposed appoint
ment Is unwise. 1t is possible. OF course that
he has been unjustly judged at the bar of pub
ic fba viz nj IL
dice. He once held the responsible office Of
United States Marshal. the duties Of which he
discharged, we believe, with ability and credit;
certainly without involving the office or himself
in scandal He is fairly entitled to reasonable
consideration of that fact. That he is not with
ont ability of a certain sort hardly need be said
The stir he has made and the influence he has
obtained in local politics sufficiently attest that
fact And ne may, perhaps. justly claim that
he has attained this influence among politicians
by LOYALTY 10 his friends, by keeping his engage
ments faithfully and not breaking his word
Granting all this. still the objections 10 his APP
uontment are, il seems 10 us, insuperabe, II any
regard 10 fitness Is to be had
In q speech made on Friday night at the New
Amsterdam Club, In this city, Senator Ford, after
expressing his own opinion that the appointment
would be unwise. frankly said that he proposed
70 vote for its confirmation because Governor
Black had assured him that he knew Payn TO be
an honest man and felt certain that he would
administer the office of Superintendent OF Insur-
ance with integrity. efficiency and ability. 1t is 10
he assumed that the Governor thinks so, other
wise he would be guilty Of most dishonorable
violation Of trust in making the appointment.
But Governor Black knows very well-for 1t is
no secret-that Mr.. Payn has been engaged for
years In the business Of legislative lobbyist In
itself disreputable occupation; that among the
corporations which pay tribute TO him and men
OF his kind, not least, by any MEANS are the in
s,irance companies Of the State, the supervision
md superlntendence Of which will be intrusted