Year: 1871

onu tiio GTie h6IWhy-h Aoon kAlo~s


ALBANY, Feb. "a 1871.


Now that every legislator is returning TO Albany
rs fast car rural hack can bring him, 1t
may be Of interest TO give the public little


PEEP BEHIND THE SCENES,


winch were set for private exhibition only during
the late nght over the water Supply bill. Every
body knows what protestatens were made at the
outset OF the session. what promises were given,
what pledges were taken by the minority as to the
course they were TO pursue toward the majority;
how they hung out their banners upon the outer
walls during the Carey tight, and had every one en-
blazoned with ''no compromises Goodrich OF
Kings was turned into brass trumpet for every
occasion and through him the leaders blew blasts
that would have terrified any foe less used to heavy
winds than the democracy. When the small fights
were narrowed down to final battle tney
old their best. They came out in their
full strength, and the determined way In
which they endeavored TO resist the foe every
step he took was pointed at by every republican IN
the State as q true indication OF what hard road
the democrats would have TO travel for months to
come. This opinion was for time shared IN by the
democrats themselves, and they moved cautiously
enough for the first month; but Tweed and Sweeny
on the mask last week In the squabble over the
Water supply bill, and barred to the gaze OF every



their opponents more favorable opportunity for
Q square, up and down. tooth and nail fight had not
before presented itself since the session had begun.
Yet instead OF puckling on their armor and plung.
ing headlong into the thick OF the fray-if not TO
win, least 10 be defeated honorably-they delibe-
rately laid down their arms and let the enemy ride
roughshod over them. This is now matter OF his
tory, when will tell q sad tale In many country
district for many OF the warriors when the next
election takes place; but what want to come at Is
how


THE TREACHERY IN THE CAMP


was brought about. Galnsay 1T who VIII, assert
that the almighty dollar won the day. Every men,
Der OF the republican party in the House, with but
one exception, pledged himself TO vote dead against
the bill; and know that the leaders went 10 the
trouble OF sounding each in their train and that
every one, with the exception alluded to- was
ported TO be immovable in his determination TO
stand shoulder TO shoulder with his fellows when
the battle would open. Thursday came and Alex
Frears manGuvre to have the bill taken up In the
"6rst Committee OF the Whoen not full was de-
feated by four votes Alvord pretended TO take this
sign good one, but the wirepuIlers in the Della.
van House had their plans nxed even then, and did
not want 10 show their hand too soon. so the fiat
went out that Frear's motion should be lost
"by the mere skin Of its teeth,n ard the order
was obeyed by a sufficient number Of the plant
tools to make the thing look like a contested
question. When the night came the lobby agents
were busy and bargains settled. A most
notorious lobbyist was so confident as 10 the result
OF the that Just before the House assembled he
offered To bet and give the odds that AZ least twenty
republicans would vote Tor the Dll which GER
tainly getting things down TO a pretty sharp point,
as the sequel went 10 show. Now, the TACT Is that
the republicans could have defeated the bin on
Thursday night had they all been In their seats
They could nave thrown a sod sixty three vote
against II, and 90 what they might, without outside
aid, the other side could not have done better, fer
OBrien was In New YORK aud Drew nad openly and
above board declared that he would not give his
moving OF the bill IN their own hands, but then that
was an additional reason why all the republicans
should have been In Albany every day, and that the
democrats could not have prevented. However II
was not SO much for necessity that republican votes
were secured as TO shear the blIl OF strictly paru
san aspect Hence


PURCHASE


of at least ten was decided upon; but when the
agents went work they found the material they
had To deal with more pliaole tnan the, mad
pated, and without much expense, managed 10
draw into Their nets more hsh than they actually
needed. "lne more the merrern was the reply OF
lobbyist, whose hair has grown gray in the service
OF the ..third house, wnen he was informed that
instead OF having TO move cautiously TO get nbDie
many FISH were ready TO jump out OF their native
element before the hooks were thrown In TO catch
them. The rest was all plain sailing after this dis
covery. Alyord placed himself right Dy his speech,
but lie did not DO all that he could have done
stoutly as his speech went TO indicate he did.
No bill can reach third reading and be passed on



aufhorizes II. Yet Avord, who took the leadership
his shoulders, did not keep this mind when the
nnal vote was al hand Some people think he Is TOO
sharp parliamentarlan to let chance OF cornerng
an enemy slip BY nim without cause But we all
know what the final result was. II may not, how
ever be known that $500 was the lowest price paid
TO any one OF the republicans who were '.seeni by
the lobbyist employed for the occasion. Now, have
spoken about the Water Dill purchase thus at length
although j have already In previous letter expa-
tiated upon II, not much because 1t was the first
real test OF what the majority can do when





entire course OF legislation for the remainder
OF the session. And 1t has done so in this wise:-
While making their bargains IN the water supply
business the democratic leaders made bargains for
every other measure they want 10 get through; in
other words, ten republicans, II Is said have
pledged themselves TO stand by them IN every case
or sore distress. Certainly no bargains would have
about their own folks undivided support Of some
pet measure. And what might this pet measure be'
1T IL not hard 10 anticipate. It's


THE NEW TAX LEVY


idea. But II has been said that the "BoSs'' does
Tnis alleged assertion OF his was made in public
print the day after the introduction OF the BILL and
the premises for over week. He neither moved it
nor had 1t referred TO In any way. But only a week
ago ne got up up, IN mis- seat ana presented
passage. Genet taunted him about his aristocratic
friends, and asked him why the poor man didn't
petition. The iunt was taken and The next day up
came a numerously signed petition rem working
men, begging the BOSS" for tue good OF the city,
20 rush the bill through. or course, in presenting
II, he did not state how many Of the petinoners'
bread aud butter depended upon nod or his
head But that Is neither here nor there Suiice it
70 say that their cunning petition devccs-if there
was nothlng else 10 prove Ii, which there is-show
that the Boss Intends that that levy shall 20
through, The "Squlre is also determined II shall
be success; and when the team work together as
they did not IN the Westchester xation scheme.
ne Wlll indeed be haray democrat who Will dare
stand IN tue way. But the very fact that there Is
great danger that few democrats viii sand in the
way makes the acquisition OF the republican tools
al the more valuable. There has been great deal Of
talk about now Norton and Genet will oppose in the
Senate. The detection OF either one would kll IT.
Tor IL would require every democratic vote In the
upper House 10 paSs II; but II the matter Is pressed
they Will be founu on the SIDE or the majority They
both have had taste ol rebellion, and the fatted
caH whch was Killed when they returned 20 their
fainer's house has not yet been entirely Consumed
and the carcass viii last aud remain fresa as long "a
they are good boys IL is In the House that the Dill
Will