New-York tribune., 1901-06-24
ROCHESTER, POLITICS.
A LIVELY CONTEST EXPECTED FOR THE
MAYORS CHAIR.

Rochester. y. Y. June % (SpeciaD-This city is
already in excited mood it's coming election
of a Mayor. the term OF George A Caruahan the
present Republican Mayor. expiring December
81 next. Rochester has had several elections for
Mayor I'm the last ten years which stirred up
political action nearly every OF it's voters but
the one this year promises to surpass them all in
arousing general interest In the welfare OF the city
and involving In the conflict all its voters whether
home or abroad
There rumors that George W. Aldrfdge the
former State Superintendent Of Public Works may
seek the Republican nomination for Mayor. When
Mr.. Aldridge retired from the State Office he
his friends urged him TO build up his political
strength IN his home city. and this ne has en-
deavored to do. year ago his influence I'm Re-
publican conventions convincingIy shown by
his successful opposition to the denomination OF
James NJ. E O'Grady for Congress. He supported
James Breck Perkins, the historian, for the nom-
nation for Congressman. and Mr. Perkins was
nominated and elected. The charter for second
class cities puts much political power in the
hands OF Mayor that possibly the office may be
an attractive that account to Mr.. Adridge.
and therefore II Is within the PROBABILITIES that he
will become a candidate for the nomination
The denomination Of Mayor Carnahan, however.
will be urged by large body OF Republicans.
When Mr.. Carnahan was nominated for Mayor In
the fail OF 1893 he Special County Judge OF
Monroe County. and only accepted the nomination
after much deliberatiOn and considerable urging.
In two previous elections the Republican candi-
dates had been defeated. Mr.. Carnakan's nomi-
nation favored by the Good Government Club
organization and the Republican organization also
promised him its jealous support. Mr.. Carnahan.
in these circumstances. accepted the nomination
and was elected He was elected by more than
the normal Republican majority in Rochester. thus
showing that practically all Republicans were
satisfied with his candidacy.
Mr.. Carnahan. however. disappointed some OF
the leaders of the Republican organization who
nfpr aoa fh- aTra Ne.
became Mayor he suddenly found himself assailed
The first attack upon the Mayor was made when
the Board OF Estimate and Apportionment, OF
which he is a member. the Common Coun-
Gil it's estimate the levy of 1890. The Com
mon Council cut this estimate down nearly $50 0O0
OF which between 5000 and 5000 in re-
duction of salaries which had been fixed by the
Board Of Estimate and the charge was made that
the salaries had been fixed too high. The
mainder of the $4,000 made up OF items like
interest local Improvement notes and other OBJ
legations. These items Mr.. Carnahans friends
say. the taxpayers will have pay ultimately
simply a postponement. The Mayor went into
court upon the proposition that under the
charter the Common Council had power TO
reduce salaries. because such power would give
It's members control over the executive depart
ments which the legislature intended when IL
passed the charter to take away from them AL
though the decision of the lower courts adj
verse the Mayors contention. Mr.. Carnahan's
friends declare that the Court of Appeals in the
case Of Pryor against the City of Rochester. has
lately rendered a decision holding that the Com
mon Council had such power it assumed in
this
Mr.. Carnahan's friends assert that he has given
a careful. conscientious and economical admins
tration of the city's affairs One of them said
day: Rochester had always been accustomed
seeing a deficiency In the city finances. but the
end of the year 1900 there appeared a surplus OF
S250Oo This surplus taken In connection with re-
duced appropriations for 1901 produced for the
latter year the lowest tax rate. with excep-
ton. that Rochester has known in the last ten
years-that is SIS IS per $1,000 of valuation And
assessed valuations OF taxable property not
Increased TO obtain this result"
In addition to the election of Mayor. the voters
also have take into consideration the relation of
the city to gas and electric light companies Mayor
Carnahan a few days vetoed Aldermanic
ordinance permitting the Citizens Light and Power
Company to lay conduit In Mill-st.. and said in
his veto message: THE Citizens company go
TO all parts of the city In the existing subways"
He added: There should be but subway. and
of the present subway. under condemnation pro-
sss ssme ay Wish 70 mgnepa % sf sbf
ing plant they Will hnd that ownership OF sub
way a first step In that direction"
STATE SENATOR To BE CHOSEN
Nearly one-half of the of Rochester will
also be called upon vote for a State Senator In
Rochester apd partly In rural towns OF Monroe
County. This district represented for many
years by the late Cornelius r. Parsons. who died
last winter. shortly after the session OF the legis
Republican candidate in the Senate district will be
bT pslc OF ns County Mr Lewis hs has had an
unusually distinguished career In the legislature
tinacity that the bin was passed in 1860 abolshing
prize lighting in this state Then. as chairman OF
trenchment the present year, he was influential In