The evening world., 1917-10-27
U D IN MURPHYISM.

\ N 1903 the Pennsylvania Railroad asked the right to tunnel across
the city and build a great terminal station in Manhattan.
The samo year Charles F. Murphy became boss of Tammsny
Hall. He had the organization thoroughly in hand. He ws ready
to make a city government and run it. Two years later he did both,
when his friend Mcclellan became Mayor.
When the Pennsylvania Railroad made its application the Board
Of Aldermen still had jurisdiction over railroad franchises.
Murphy controlled the Board Of Aldermen.
The Pennsylvania tunnel and terminal project promised great
benefits to the city az well as to the railroad. The people Of New
York strongly favored it. Mayor Low urged it.
Nevertheless, although the franchise, carefully worked out by
the Rapid Transit Commission, was ready early in 1902, Murphys
Board Of Aldermen proceeded to dily-daly with the proposition,
holding II over and putting it off on one pretext or another, while the
public wondered.
At length, under the Tammany pressure Of little Tim" Suli-
van. John 7. Mccall and Alderman James E. Gaffney, the Aldermen
definitely turned down the proposition by a vote of Sc to 10. Tho
Board Of Rapid Transit Commissioners prepared another form Of
franchise, and in September sent it back TO the Aldermen. The same
old fight began again and lasted three months, making ten months in
all that tho franchise had been blocked.
Suddenly, on the afternoon Of Tuesday, Dec. 16, 1902, the fran
cmss was taken up and put through the Board like magic-and by
means Of Tammany votes. The public wondered still more.
Then all at once wonderment ceased.
For it became known that the 100000 contract for the terminal
excavations had been given to the Murphy firm-"Brother Jacks"
firm, the New York Contracting and Trucking Company. 1t also
became known that the Murphy firms bid was at least 100000 higher
than that Of at least one other bidder.
This famous poitico-business concern was the biggest thing Of it's
kind New York had ever seen. Organized by Murphys brother
Jack. one Of Murphys successors as a sa~loonkeeper, Richard
Couch, and james E. Gaffney, truckman, II soon outgrew its first
lucrative business Of leasing dumps from the Dock Department and
developed a manifold, rich and immensely profitable handling Of all
sorts Of public contracts. Charlie was close by on the political side to
see the firm got the choicest pickings. And Charles power could be
counted on.
Besides the $5,000000 contract from the Pennsylvania, there
was q 100000 New Haven Railroad contract, q contract for grading
Belmont Park and another for preparing the site Of the Lighting
Trusts ~$16o0o,o0o plant at Astoria, L. all at about this came
period. J.
There were easy millions for the members of this eminent con-
tracing company. Fifteen shares of the company stock could be
accounted for. The other eighty-five we're "mysteriouslvo owned"
When people asked Murphy about the Pennsylvania franchise
hold-up and the terminal contract for Brother Jacks" firm they
got no satisfaction.
Why should they' With Murphy it was simply and solely a neat
turn Of business. Why talk about it?
And there it is. From first to last Murphy has been i, nolit;cs
a. Tsmmany has been in politics, for business reasons and busi.
mess ends.
What the Murphy firm got out of the Pennsylvania Railroad i'm
provement and how is of little consequence in itself.
But I'll of the sravest consequence to the welfare Of tb, civ
- indicating the essential, unchansing spirit of the Murphy atti-
tude, which looks upon municipal government and municipaI off;c.
Ne nothing more than the means of controlling patronage and
lining pockets, holding together thereby an organization which
exists for the cooperative satisfaction of greed.
Why should the good citizens of New York, asks Lord Brvc.
"rvet on their necks the yoke of q club which is almost az much a
business concern a . one of their own dry goods stores?"
Brought down TO date, that means:
Why should they let Murphy install a Hylan in the CITY Hall?
The Murphy Pennsylvania episode is a bit of municipal
history.
Shall IL repeat itself in kind?