Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-01-01
BORN WITH THE YEAR
Continued from Second Page.)

be let in the near future. The outlay in
this direction in the coming four years Is
likely to approach 100000. coo. This vast
sum to be expended in improvements Of
fers opportunity for personal and party
enrichment never before equalled. If con-
tractors should be required to contribute
per cent of their contracts and candidates
or occupants of Offices the same percent
age of their salaries. it would mean that
$i,OOO,OU or more year. or $16,OOOOOO In
four years, would be divided among the
favored ones. By such methods, under
such favorable auspices, 1t is possible for
political organization in control of the
municipal government to furnish the SEN
ews of war for q municipal campaign; to
create fund large enough to supply every
county in the state with an abundance
of money and party workers. Such re-
sources expended in this way would make
the political masters of New York absolute
in the direction of their party in state
politics and important factors In national
politics.
Disgrace to stronK's ministra tion.
A closing disgrace of the reform admins
tration of Mayor Strong, though it is not
a matter that the mayor is to blame for,
is found in the fact that on last Monday
Corporation Counsel Scott allowed a judg.
ment for s693, 909.5 so to be taken against
the city in favor of Contractors John
O'Brien and Herman Clark Every court
in the state had declared that there was
no justice in the claims and threw them
out. John c. Sheehan is partner of Con-
tractor OBrien. and Corporation Counsel
Scott received the Tammany nomination
for supreme court and was elected. Less
than week before he was to leave his Of
flee to mount the bench he declared that
the city owes OBrien and Clark this i'm
mense sum. Corporation Counsel Scott,
who was for years a sort of high priest
among tle muewumps and the Cleveland
democrats In his sworn statement of cleo
ton expenses. admitted that he paid John
C. Sheehan and Tammany Hall nearly
$4,000 as his share of the campaign ex-
penses. Though recognized as the idol of
the Grace democracy, the old-line demo-
Gratis the democratic reform crowd in
New York city, he accepted the nomination
of his former arch enemy. And, though
fought by the united labor interests of
the city, the democratic landslide last
November carried him through. But the
thing for which he most bitterly con-
demned at the time the trading of
the national democratic gold standard)
votes for the nomination for office
which, like that of Caesars wife, should
be above suspicion. And this trade was
cation which fought the national demo-
Gratis only year ago in the interests of
William Jennings Bryan.
Much mole could be said about the pos
sbilities' for the forward march of Tam
many: but they will develop fast enough
without anticipating. Let us look at. the
history of the Greater New York legisa-
ton and what influences made it possible
for such things to be.
History of IA City's Birth.
The scheme of consolidation of the terri
tory comprised in the Greater New York
which made possible the return Of the
democrats to power, originated in the brain
of An1rew H. Green. who is commonly
called the Father of Greater New York"
The first step in actual consolidation was
taken by Judge Green in 1865. AS park
commissioner Mr.. Green brought forward
plan looking toward consolidation, and
in 1874 so much of this idea was adopted
as to lead to the addition TO the city of the
towns of West Farms Fordham and Nor
risania. The territory acquired by this act
was almost as large aS the whole of Man
haitian Island.
the legislature bill. prepared also by Mr..
Green, having for its object the appoint
ment of a commission to make inquiry as
to whether consolidation was eXpedient
or not. The bill failed to pass, owing to
obstruction. and in 1890 it was again
brought up, accompanied by memorial
N its favor. AT this time an act was
passed authorizing the appointment of
commission, with Judge Green as presi-
dent. The commission gave public hear
ngs and decided upon the expediency of
consolidation. Bills were sent to every
session of the legislature, and were intro
dUced by Senators Cantor, Aspinwall and
Lexow and by Assemblymen Weed, Webs
ter and Burtis. In 1894 the bill prepared by
the commission became law, and the
question was submitted to the ballots of
the people. The towns of Flushing and
West Chester alone opposed the proposed
plan. The total vote gave majority of
Ass. The majority in the city of New
York was 36,3I9.
Senator Plntts Influence.
Tul