The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-10-20
The Howe Statue Presented to
BROOKLYN

There is a monument to the practical
reform which Mr.. Howe instituted back
in Brooklyn-an equestrian statue OF
Washington which was unveiled on the
29th Of September at a cost Of $50, 00o-
representing the amount Of the saving
instituted by him While holding the Of
fee Of register.
The ceremonies attending the unveil-
ing of the statue were elaborate to
degree. Mayor Mcclellan received. the
statue in the name of the city together
with q special committee from the
board of aldermen while the biggest
parade in the history of Brooklyn pre-
eeded the event. The army and navy
Of the United States were represented
in the persons of Rear Admiral Joseph
Coghlan and General Grant, who had
detachments from the two branches of
the service participating in the ex-
ercises.
The New York Herald says OF the
event: with the unwilling Of the
ton in the williamsburg plaza on Sep
TENDER 29-the gift to the city from
former Register and Representative
James r. Howe, Brooklyn, has mon
tenn in the county offices, the richest
honest graft that in the old days
could fan in the lap Of a politician.
ITO this day Mr.. Howe asserts that
he is deserving Of no credit for pre-
senting the statue to the city; that it
was purchased by the citizens who
gave him, as register, more money than
any man could earn In the employ of
a private corporation for the same
amount OF work, and that if the peo-
pie have the statue 1t is no more or
less than what they had coming to
them from him. When Kings was a
small county so far as population IS
concerned, the offices Of register, coun-
ty clerk and sheriff were on q fee ba-
sis There may have been a time that
q 81
ton but 1t is not In the memory of any
living man, for as many years back as
can be remembered these Officers were
regarded as the richest in the gift of
the people, and there have been years
when the receipts amounted to more
than the salary Of the president of the
United States. Naturally the politicians
objected to any change in the system.
One of these three places was the am-
bitiOn Of every man about to enter q
political career, for it meant the start
OF q fortune.
at has been more than rumored
that the men high up in the party
would not let the workers receive all
of the profits from these profitable
| places, but even division of the re-
eeipts made it a sinecure for a party
worker The Democrats IN 1899, be-
! lieving that if was a year when any
man could be elected on the Democrat
ic ticket, nominated John Morrissey
Gray for the place Of register. A quar-
rel between him and the members of
the McGarry family In the Tenth ward
with a feeling against his nomination.
gave the Republicans a fighting chance
to win What the Republicans needed
was a man and an issue and they found
them both IN Mr.. Howe. He had serv-
ed two terms in the house OF repre-
sentatives. was a man Of Independent
views. He was then advanced in years,
reluctant to enter into a hard cam
| paign and accepted the nomination on
/ the one condition that the fight be
made on the issue that the fee system
/ In county offices be abolished.
''Mr. Howe on the Republican tick
ct was elected. The presentation OF
/ this statue to the city is his last act to
make good the promise that he made
to give back to the citizens all the re-
ceipts from the office above a fair sal