Year: 1874




else OF my discretionary powers. So far az ra-


waive the benens Of anv an1
might claim; but for the ofiice Itself and Sor
smose s WHO succeed me- must be understood as


THE MAYORS MAGNAsIxIry.


! Notwisnstanding the length OF this communica-
| those matters which my accusers have bro1cht
lorwara 10 support Of their charges have called
illustration which Is not contained in the docu-
ments presented to you BY them. or to which they
case upon the record as they have chosen to make
1t up and while pointing out to you the evidences
far as these are furnished by the papers they
have themselves laid before you, have
Spon their motives or from % to yosr you
view the names and purposes OF those
not appearing among the number Of my
This task has imposed upon me constrant which,
able to break must, however, before closing, be
indulgea IN few observations, general, I'll true.
summer OF 1871 pubic attention became riveted
upon our municipal affairs mainly In consequence
wncS ts agss S
not prevent me from acknowledging, was made
aware OF the perilous condition OF the municipal
finances. detection among the leaders OF the
corrupt cabal whicn had long held supreme con-
troll OF the political power In this city opened 60
ME the opportunity OF suddenly rescung the
treasury rom their hands. an opportunity which.
with the AID OF Others was we'll Improved THIS
to me Of a prominent place in the Committee OF
seventy, then rapidly becoming the nucleus
gathering continued In the performance OF my
duties IN that body until the next municipal
election, when the same classes who had
sustained the action OF that committee proposed
to make me their candidate for the Mayor
atty. This place neither sought nor desired.
It's cares and vexations; but did not feel at lib,
erty at sucn time, and against the wishes OF such
when confidence In the municipal administration
had become re-established. or, at all events, the


scHEMss OF PLUMBER ARRESTED,


the mass OF those who had heretofore stood by
neid. am not the one, perhaps ate' TO declare
/ the reasons OF this apparent desertion. and per-
haps % the principal one % was the WEAKNESS which
my nomination and election was not per-
mitted to administer my ofice in the interest
OF either OF the political organizations OF the city,
had sufficient confidence in either to do so IL
had wished. Determining to hold an even nand
between them, and TO be made the instrument Of
neither, necessarily excited the hostility or both.
In this was not disappointed, as never counted
slant support Of the solid classes Of business and
labor which placed me in office 1t was Tor me to
refuge behind the ramparts OF another power. but
have earnestly endeav0red to administer the trusts
conded to me on the principle OF the platform upon
| which was elected, have no right to complain
OF any desertion. have lived long enough to learn
the hckleness OF popular support and especially OF
|
private affairs to give persistent attention to pub
lie interests Nor 90 | atfect to excuse yself
alluded 70. / do not assert that have in nv ad.
ministratfon escaped all errors and mistakes; this
would be making pretensions Of superior wisdom
found constant and Iaborious occupation, not alto.
gether iruitiess, as l believe, In good results;
IN efforts, together with those associated with
me, to make the government Of this great city
what 1t ought to be; to increase its revenues,
husband It's resources, and maintain order and
cCOnOmy OeDartmeQCS.
cure the restoration OF moneys OF which 1t has
Claims continuaiiy presenting themselves, arising
from the fraudulent administrator which for
merry prevailed, and TO procure the passage OF
laws necessary to effect restoration OF good gov
ernment, and to resist the numerous Ingenious
schemes set on loot at every Legislature to ad-
vance personal ENDS at the expense or the public
l make no boasts OF the results which have been
achieved; but whoever, comparing the municipal
has preceded II for many years, viii say that q
vast change for the better has not taken place,
shows an utter want OF either intelligence or
HIS HoNoR's PURPOSE.
. But my p purpose IN these concluding obserya-
ton l have alluded to OF the forces which over
threw the corrupt ca6al OF 1871 has been per
politicians who are not slow to take advantage OF
It. All the corrupt elements have as If by in-
stinct, struck hands together to render every
good government odious. And the elements
brace the machine poiiticIans is OF ' both I po
litical parties; the numerous adherents Of
are are pending and E 70 Be- Brought to co@pe the
restitution or millions Of moneys plundered from
rne Treasury; tne st more numerous class hold.
amount OF millions more; the army OF contractors,
who look Tor subsistence to the prosecution OF ex.
tended public works and the consequent increase
OF the pubic debt; and with these the numerous
horde Of lobbyists and adventurers accustomed to
public crib. All these play he @ same game, ne,
which Is TO foster laxlty and indifference IN
whe labor for reform In public administration
have merely personal interests in view; that
cials Of the Tweed Regime and those who have
ceeded them; that the Committee OF Seventy was
itself but ring OF place seekers and in short, that
one man Is as good as another. These mercenary
classes and their retainers inside and outside OF
the of1ces Of newspapers make 1t their occupation
to attack the character OF every man VINO strives
to render public service, so as TO make every
sucn effort perilous to what good men most prize
effort to Correct the tendencies to demoralization
and corruptlon to the end that IN the indifference
OF the general mass OF citizens the compact
and trained bands organized and LED by cor
rupt chiefs may make an easy capture OF the
places OF power. 1t Is from union among these
forces, alwaysready TO combine, however widely
divided in their political professions, that this city
has before been brought almost to the verge OF
brought still nearer to It, It is one OF their favorite
arts, which they practice with occasional success,
70 allure TO their side by specious pretenses, men
allow themselves BY the failure to exercise
be inexpedient for your Excellency TO con-
slider whether the present appeal to your
authority, under the guise Of a concern
for the welfare OF the city or New York,
is in the interest Of those who have been instru-
mental In securing and are still laboring to pre-
serve whatever we have Of good government or OF
those who are seeking to undermine it


have now said all which deem 1t necessary to
say, but In order to meet the technically formal
part OF the accusations made against it win be
proper for me to add In conclusion that am to
he Understood as interposing the plea or mot
guilty" to each and every OF the charges and specl-
hcations to which the foregoing is more CON-
plete answer. l am, sir, very respectfully, your
obedient servant A. F. HAVEMEYER.


IN BAD COMPANY.


few days ago Southerner who is not beyond
the shady side Of shirty- five was one Of the band