Vacheron Called Down

New York, 1895

Supervisor Koehler very properly arraigned Assemblyman Vacheron for neglect of duty at the meeting of the board on Thursday. In doing so Mr. Koehler voiced public sentiment, for the people, be they Democrats or Republicans, have become displeased by what they have heard from Albany about Mr. Vacheron's course. Supervisor Koehler said truthfully that when the county was represented in the Legislature by Democrats, the public business was never trifled with. The Democratic Assemblymen did not block the local bills and ask queer questions. It was enough for them if the measures had merit and the indorsement of the public officers. When it was proposed to increase the salaries of the Surrogate and County Judge in 1890, the Legislature was Democratic. The Democrats representing Queens County in the Legislature did not throw Judge Garretson out because he was a Republican, and take Judge Weller in because he was a Democrat, but put them on an equal footing and granted them the increase of pay which the board of Supervisors said was just, and which the people ratified at the polls when both of these officers were afterwards candidates for re-election.

Assemblyman Vacheron has offered so many excuses for his hollow-headed course that it is impossible to follow him and expose the shallowness of them. He complains that certain Republicans have not treated him right. That is a matter between him and them, but his ideas of public duty are so base that he proceeds to inflict injury upon the people to spite the politicians of his own party. He complains that they have told stories of him. It is true that stories have been numerous, and there must have been some sort justification for them, looking at the character and responsibility of the men who have been talking. If they have wronged Mr. Vacheron he has his remedy against them, and he but makes himself ridiculous by trying to hurt them through inflicting wrongs upon the public. His bitterest complaint is against Senator Childs. The Senator is not much given to talking, but when he makes a statement he believes that he is fortified with facts, and we have no doubt that he will respond to any challenge Mr. Vacheron may send him. It is in Mr. Childs' favor that he is faithfully attending to his public duties, just as if Mr. Vacheron were not in existence.

Mr. Childs has put through the Senate all of the bills sent to Albany from this county that had the approval of the board of Supervisors, and all town bills that had the approval of the respective Town Boards. The Senator believes in Home Rule. Most of these bills Mr. Vacheron has locked up in the Assembly. They are all desirable measures, so much so that Boss Youngs favors them, and even he cannot move Mr. Vacheron to overlook his personal quarrels and do his duty. We take very little stock in this "personal quarrel" incident. Was it a quarrel that moved Mr. Vacheron to imperil the Jamaica normal school? He cannot have quarreled with everybody in office both at home and at Albany, but even if he had it would in no sense excuse his purblind conduct. Sheriff Doht could turn out a tramp that would represent the district with more sagacity.

—The Long Island Farmer, Jamaica, NY, March 15, 1895, p. 4.