New-York tribune., 1905-01-05
MAYOR MURPHY SPLIT.
Warfare Mag Force McCnrers and
TGmnadny Leader To Be Allies.

Mayor Mcclellan and Charles F. Murphy the
leader of Tammany Hall. no longer are on cor
dial terms. The municipal lighting issue has
brought coIdness between them Mr.. Murphy
advised Water Commissioner John T. Oakley
to sign secretly the lighting contracts, and Oak
ley signed them, without consulting the Mayor.
In fact, the Mayor did not know that Oaisfey had
signed them until two weeks afterward. Mayor
Mcclellan decided to come out for municipal
lighting plant without consulting Charles F.
Murphy.
The Tammany Hall and McCarren men were
IN favor of the East River Gas bill. which Gov
ernor Odell vetoed. after the legislature passed
II and sent II to Mayor Mcclellan. who indorsed
it. That was extremely agreeable to Charles r
Murphy. It allowed him opportunity 10 de-
monstrate to the friends Of the bill that Tam
many Hall was for it. Tammanys campaign
treasury was filled to overfowing in the cam
paign of 1903, because Charles F. Murphy con-
vinced certain corporate interests that Tanmany
was friendly TO them.
Now. however, it is different. The secret
signing of the lighting bills created a campaign
issue that Immediately began TO worry Mayor
Mcclellan. Charles F. Murphy early in De-
cember declared that the Mayor would be re-
nominated. Thae was before it was decided to
commit the Mcclellan administration to q. n11-
nicipal lighting project. There are many people
who believe that ths city Will not build light
ing plart Of its own. That does not alterzfae
fact that The fight begun by E1ayoe Low r7yo
years ago for reduction in rates has become
a mighty issue in local politics. and promises to
dwarf other issues When this became more
and more appeTeat the Mayors intimate friends
advised hira to get OF, the popular side of the
issue and ad4oca4e municipal lighting. This IS
what ne has done, regardless OF the emSarrass-
ment of Charles F. Murphy,
The seriousness Of Nj. Murphy's predoament
NAV drive him and Senator McCarren together
again for the municipal campaign Senator NC
Carren has been informed. it was said yester-
cav at the City Hail. that he must hold himselr
in readiness to defeat any municipal lighting bill
tHat--aaches Albany. To do this he Will need
assistance from the Tammany members or the
legislature. AS Mr.. Murphy's welfare Is more
fullv wrapped Up in the defeat of munlclpaI
lighting bill than even Mr.. McCarrens s. II looks
as if Murphy and McCarren would have 10 Work
in accord this winter in Albany.
The oninion of Corporation Counsel Delany
and John f. Dillon that the city. under the char
+ar NAV 60 ahead and build its own lighting
nlant is not considered wholly sufficient Be-
cause Of the belief that the city has not full
mower to embark an enterprise or this sort
the Mayor sent a municipal lighting Dill 10 AZ
banv. If the bin becomes law, doubtless the
Mcclellan Board OF Estimate anu AppoA ltO4t-
,oert will try 10 build a lighting plant. If 1t
should not pass the probability is that the
;Tammany leaders would charge the failure 10
the obstructive tactics or the legislature. ana
that in the judgment Of Mr.. Murphy's frienGs'
would leave things in fairly good shape for the
fall campaign. 1t would not be carrying out the
Mcclellan programme for municipal lighting
plant but it would divide the responsibility Tor
the failure and that would be "a good enough
Morgan until after election.
The action of the Mayor in favortng munich
raj lighting plan: makes IT practically certain
that the Tammany managers will nominate for
president of the Board of Aldermen next fall a
man who IS not given to advocating municipal
government ideas favored by Single Takers ana
Socialists 1t may be that Borough President
Ahearn NAV be promoted" to the place now oc-
cupied by Mr. Fornes. In that case Mayor NC
Clellan might be nominated for Governor and
Mr. Ahearn would succeed him as acting Mayor
for one wear Mr.. Ahearn is the candidate of
the SulliVans for Mayor.