New York, 1895
Yes, we did. When it was proposed to buy land adjacent to the Town Hall for a park, THE FARMER objected on the ground that it would cost $30,000 to acquire the land, and $10,000 more to make the improvements — and that the improvements would not justify such an expense. The proof of the correctness of this statement will be presented to the people one day next week, when the commissioners make the awards.
Splendid Work
The annual report of Joseph Dykes as County Treasurer shows that there came into his hands during the fiscal year the sum of $1,024,398.82, and there remained in his hands at the date of his report the sum of $128,380.02. His accounts have been thoroughly examined and found correct to the penny. This is splendid work. The sobriquet "Honest Joe" is well applied.
Crooker's Retirement
State Superintendent of Public Instruction Crooker did not go out of office without giving the people of Long Island an additional reason to rejoice at his retirement. He has been an exceptionally bad officer.
—The Long Island Farmer, Jamaica, NY, Feb. 22, 1895, p. 4.
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
What Do These Men Mean?
New York, 1895
THE FARMER'S Albany advices state that Assemblymen Fairbrother and Vacheron will oppose the bill to create a tax arrears commission in this county. There is great need of a commission to clear up tax liens on real estate, which amount to the sum of $500,000. The county has had to borrow the money year after year to meet these tax deficiencies, and the aggregate sum became so great that the county had to issue bonds and fund it. There is no doubt in the world that at least half of this money could be collected.
It is too bad that men elected to represent the people cannot rise above petty jealousies and a desire to profit out of legislation that is essentially for the public good. Messrs. Fairbrother and Vacheron are trying to disguise the reason for their opposition to this important bill, but they will not succeed. They object to the commissioners, Colonel Jones of Jamaica and Supervisor Wood of Hempstead, both Republicans, and Solomon S. Townsend, Democrat, of Oyster Bay. The name of Joseph Dykes has been removed from the bill to please Boss Youngs, and the name of Mr. Townsend was substituted that the Townsends might be compensated for their efforts in behalf of Mr. Phipps and other Republicans in the last election. It will disgust the people, irrespective of party, to find that a bill of a purely business character, intended to gather money into the public treasury and reduce taxation, cannot escape the prejudices, rancour and greed of these politicians. There can be no objection to the persons named as commissioners so far as ability and probity is concerned, and the public require only these qualifications. We confess it would be a stronger and more practical body if Joseph Dykes were a member of it, because of his familiarity with property locations and the tax office records, but then it is a measure fraught with such promise of good to the people that the naming of particular persons as commissioners should not be allowed to defeat it. Strike out the names, if that be necessary to save the bill, and let the County Judge name the commissioners. The framers of the bill seem to be acting in the best of faith, and with rare economy, for they have limited the pay of the commissioners to $1,500. It is not a bonanza in any sense.
THE FARMER is glad to be able to say that Senator Childs is giving the bill his sturdy support, and that it will pass the Senate. If Messrs. Fairbrother and Vacheron kill it in the Assembly, they will be held to a strict account by the people.
—The Long Island Farmer, Jamaica, NY, Feb. 8, 1895, p. 4.
THE FARMER'S Albany advices state that Assemblymen Fairbrother and Vacheron will oppose the bill to create a tax arrears commission in this county. There is great need of a commission to clear up tax liens on real estate, which amount to the sum of $500,000. The county has had to borrow the money year after year to meet these tax deficiencies, and the aggregate sum became so great that the county had to issue bonds and fund it. There is no doubt in the world that at least half of this money could be collected.
It is too bad that men elected to represent the people cannot rise above petty jealousies and a desire to profit out of legislation that is essentially for the public good. Messrs. Fairbrother and Vacheron are trying to disguise the reason for their opposition to this important bill, but they will not succeed. They object to the commissioners, Colonel Jones of Jamaica and Supervisor Wood of Hempstead, both Republicans, and Solomon S. Townsend, Democrat, of Oyster Bay. The name of Joseph Dykes has been removed from the bill to please Boss Youngs, and the name of Mr. Townsend was substituted that the Townsends might be compensated for their efforts in behalf of Mr. Phipps and other Republicans in the last election. It will disgust the people, irrespective of party, to find that a bill of a purely business character, intended to gather money into the public treasury and reduce taxation, cannot escape the prejudices, rancour and greed of these politicians. There can be no objection to the persons named as commissioners so far as ability and probity is concerned, and the public require only these qualifications. We confess it would be a stronger and more practical body if Joseph Dykes were a member of it, because of his familiarity with property locations and the tax office records, but then it is a measure fraught with such promise of good to the people that the naming of particular persons as commissioners should not be allowed to defeat it. Strike out the names, if that be necessary to save the bill, and let the County Judge name the commissioners. The framers of the bill seem to be acting in the best of faith, and with rare economy, for they have limited the pay of the commissioners to $1,500. It is not a bonanza in any sense.
THE FARMER is glad to be able to say that Senator Childs is giving the bill his sturdy support, and that it will pass the Senate. If Messrs. Fairbrother and Vacheron kill it in the Assembly, they will be held to a strict account by the people.
—The Long Island Farmer, Jamaica, NY, Feb. 8, 1895, p. 4.
Editorial Briefs
New York, 1895
The only excuse the Brooklyn Times can offer for putting in the mouth of the Rev. Michael Dennison blackguard words that he would not be guilty of uttering, is that the reporter may have been drunk when he wrote the article. That would not surprise any one who knows the reporter, but no respectable newspaper would entrust its work to a reporter of that kind.
It is too late now to take proceedings to remove Excise Commissioner Bauman from office. The people of Jamaica will turn him out before he can do much more harm.
The people have before them a fresh instance of the peculiar way the District Attorney's office is conducted. The Excise Commissioners of Newtown were indicted long before the case for their removal was brought in the County Court. There have been courts and courts, but the indictments have remained in the pigeon-holes. The civil charges have been tried, Judge Garretson has passed his judgment, Governor Morton has approved the judgment, and County Clerk Sutphin has bounced the commissioners out of office. Now the District Attorney remarks languidly that he will "call" the indictments for trial in April. If the civil proceedings had not been successfully prosecuted, would these indictments ever have been tried?
One of the recommendations of the Grand Jury has been complied with. The stone breaking fraud at the County Jail has been abolished by the board of Supervisors. Good.
—The Long Island Farmer, Jamaica, NY, Feb. 8, 1895, p. 4.
The only excuse the Brooklyn Times can offer for putting in the mouth of the Rev. Michael Dennison blackguard words that he would not be guilty of uttering, is that the reporter may have been drunk when he wrote the article. That would not surprise any one who knows the reporter, but no respectable newspaper would entrust its work to a reporter of that kind.
It is too late now to take proceedings to remove Excise Commissioner Bauman from office. The people of Jamaica will turn him out before he can do much more harm.
The people have before them a fresh instance of the peculiar way the District Attorney's office is conducted. The Excise Commissioners of Newtown were indicted long before the case for their removal was brought in the County Court. There have been courts and courts, but the indictments have remained in the pigeon-holes. The civil charges have been tried, Judge Garretson has passed his judgment, Governor Morton has approved the judgment, and County Clerk Sutphin has bounced the commissioners out of office. Now the District Attorney remarks languidly that he will "call" the indictments for trial in April. If the civil proceedings had not been successfully prosecuted, would these indictments ever have been tried?
One of the recommendations of the Grand Jury has been complied with. The stone breaking fraud at the County Jail has been abolished by the board of Supervisors. Good.
—The Long Island Farmer, Jamaica, NY, Feb. 8, 1895, p. 4.
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
How About This, Town Board?
New York, 1895
The bill heads printed for the Receiver of Taxes at the Standard office contained so many errors that they had to be put aside and new ones printed. Undoubtedly an attempt will be made to make the town pay for the incompetency of the printer. The Town Board shouldn't let the town treasury be fleeced in that way.
—The Long Island Farmer, Jamaica, NY, Feb. 8, 1895, p. 12.
The bill heads printed for the Receiver of Taxes at the Standard office contained so many errors that they had to be put aside and new ones printed. Undoubtedly an attempt will be made to make the town pay for the incompetency of the printer. The Town Board shouldn't let the town treasury be fleeced in that way.
—The Long Island Farmer, Jamaica, NY, Feb. 8, 1895, p. 12.
Violating the Printing Resolution
New York, 1895
Justice Kissam of Queens is a member of the town board. He should respect the resolution of the board that all printing be done by contract. Justice Kissam is not doing so. On Wednesday last a printer obtained copy for several legal blanks for him. The Justice has already obtained 6,000 blanks, enough to last him forty years, and the town has paid for them. The town board should compel respect for its own order by refusing to audit bills for work done in violation of it.
—The Long Island Farmer, Jamaica, NY, Feb. 8, 1895, p. 12.
Justice Kissam of Queens is a member of the town board. He should respect the resolution of the board that all printing be done by contract. Justice Kissam is not doing so. On Wednesday last a printer obtained copy for several legal blanks for him. The Justice has already obtained 6,000 blanks, enough to last him forty years, and the town has paid for them. The town board should compel respect for its own order by refusing to audit bills for work done in violation of it.
—The Long Island Farmer, Jamaica, NY, Feb. 8, 1895, p. 12.
Sunday, May 18, 2008
Will the People Rise Up Against Political Corruption?
New York, 1895
The Democratic Town Committee of Jamaica, which was supposed to represent the Democratic party in the town, has totally collapsed, and it is doubtful if the organization ever gets together again. Its death will not be regretted, and resurrection would entail a calamity.
There were honest Democrats in this organization at the beginning, and had they continued in control, no scandal would have come upon the party, and victories would have been won where defeats were sustained. Gradually these men of principle, or most of them, were crowded to the wall by a corrupt rabble, and since then there has not been a convention of any kind at which delegates' votes have not been openly offered for sale, and almost as openly purchased. The shameful bribery of delegates in the last county convention was but the growth of the evil, emboldened by previous successes. A crime against the purity of elections such as this startled the county, as well it might, for as long as similar methods prevailed, nominations for office could only be obtained by vicious men with no sense of legal or moral obligation, and maladministration only could result from their possession of office.
While these offences by Democrats besmirched the record, Republican politics were not one bit cleaner. The givers of bribes are even worse criminals than the takers of bribes. If there was no one to tempt, no one would fall. The Republican machine in this town corrupted the Democratic machine. After the Democratic brigands had got all of the corruption money that it was possible for them to get out of the Democrats, they made election-eve deals with the Republicans for more money, and supported the Republican ticket. It was a fit union of political thieves. There are Republicans holding office at this time whose election was bought with borrowed money that has never been returned. There is as much rottenness in one party as the other. The death of the Democratic boodle organization does not remove the gang from the field. They will bob up as usual, but the price will hardly be forthcoming any more. When the people read the names of these vultures in print, decent candidates will be scarce, for every citizen will be sure of one of two things: That the nominations were bought, or that the nominations were dictated by Republican politicians for a price.
The respectable voters of the town are between two fires. They can no more ally themselves conscientiously with the Republican party than with the Democratic party. An instance of the total depravity of both sides was shown at the last election. There were Republicans opposing Governor McCormick because he would not bleed money for their enrichment, and there were Democrats opposing County Clerk Sutphin for the same reason.
What are the people going to do about it? There is but one thing they can do, and that is to nominate and elect candidates on a citizens' ticket. Let us have a government by the people for the people, no longer a government by fraud, bribery and force. The people can do it if they but make up their minds to it.
—The Long Island Farmer, Jamaica, NY, Feb. 1, 1895, p. 4.
The Democratic Town Committee of Jamaica, which was supposed to represent the Democratic party in the town, has totally collapsed, and it is doubtful if the organization ever gets together again. Its death will not be regretted, and resurrection would entail a calamity.
There were honest Democrats in this organization at the beginning, and had they continued in control, no scandal would have come upon the party, and victories would have been won where defeats were sustained. Gradually these men of principle, or most of them, were crowded to the wall by a corrupt rabble, and since then there has not been a convention of any kind at which delegates' votes have not been openly offered for sale, and almost as openly purchased. The shameful bribery of delegates in the last county convention was but the growth of the evil, emboldened by previous successes. A crime against the purity of elections such as this startled the county, as well it might, for as long as similar methods prevailed, nominations for office could only be obtained by vicious men with no sense of legal or moral obligation, and maladministration only could result from their possession of office.
While these offences by Democrats besmirched the record, Republican politics were not one bit cleaner. The givers of bribes are even worse criminals than the takers of bribes. If there was no one to tempt, no one would fall. The Republican machine in this town corrupted the Democratic machine. After the Democratic brigands had got all of the corruption money that it was possible for them to get out of the Democrats, they made election-eve deals with the Republicans for more money, and supported the Republican ticket. It was a fit union of political thieves. There are Republicans holding office at this time whose election was bought with borrowed money that has never been returned. There is as much rottenness in one party as the other. The death of the Democratic boodle organization does not remove the gang from the field. They will bob up as usual, but the price will hardly be forthcoming any more. When the people read the names of these vultures in print, decent candidates will be scarce, for every citizen will be sure of one of two things: That the nominations were bought, or that the nominations were dictated by Republican politicians for a price.
The respectable voters of the town are between two fires. They can no more ally themselves conscientiously with the Republican party than with the Democratic party. An instance of the total depravity of both sides was shown at the last election. There were Republicans opposing Governor McCormick because he would not bleed money for their enrichment, and there were Democrats opposing County Clerk Sutphin for the same reason.
What are the people going to do about it? There is but one thing they can do, and that is to nominate and elect candidates on a citizens' ticket. Let us have a government by the people for the people, no longer a government by fraud, bribery and force. The people can do it if they but make up their minds to it.
—The Long Island Farmer, Jamaica, NY, Feb. 1, 1895, p. 4.
Monday, May 5, 2008
The Value of Competition
New York, 1895
The town was recently in need of dockets for the Justices of the Peace, which the law requires them to keep, and bids were asked from the town printers for 25 books, printed and bound. The Standard bid $10 a book; that would have been $250 for the 25 books. THE FARMER bid $37.50 for the 25 books. Now if Republican officeholders had given this work to the Standard, under the resolution of the Republican town committee, there would have been no competition, and the town would have had to pay $250 for what it gets for $37.50. This proves the value of the Town Board's resolution to have all work done by contract.
—The Long Island Farmer, Jamaica, N.Y., Jan. 11, 1895, p. 1.
The town was recently in need of dockets for the Justices of the Peace, which the law requires them to keep, and bids were asked from the town printers for 25 books, printed and bound. The Standard bid $10 a book; that would have been $250 for the 25 books. THE FARMER bid $37.50 for the 25 books. Now if Republican officeholders had given this work to the Standard, under the resolution of the Republican town committee, there would have been no competition, and the town would have had to pay $250 for what it gets for $37.50. This proves the value of the Town Board's resolution to have all work done by contract.
—The Long Island Farmer, Jamaica, N.Y., Jan. 11, 1895, p. 1.
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