Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-07-25
W oRCEs TER
NM Now YorL Exposarcs.


The Times of yesterday redeems one of its
promises by publishing another instalment of
the accounts, which it asserts arc scrupulously
exact copies from the controllers books. This
is list of warrants drawn in favor of Andrew
j. Garvey, for plastering and repairs, nearly all
in the new court house, TO the modest amount
of $3.50, AGA within two years. The new court
house is still unfinished, with only the dimmest
prospect that it ever will be completed, although
the present legislature has appropriated the sum
of $4,000 for that purpose. This amount
elsewhere would go a long way in building
operations, but plasterer with such a talent for
absorbing money as Mr. Carney, could use it all
in a few days for whitewash and hardly leave
any trace of his work. II is mere mocke.y to
require the managers of that work to finish it
for such paltry sum. More than that has
been spent for repairs within year, and left the
building no nearer completion. The Times
promises another series of accounts on Wednes
day, and republication Of the whole on Satur-
day, with analytical tables and full explana-
ton of all the figures.
The New York Leader, Mayor Halls organ,
owned and edited by himself, and made very
profitable by the city advertising, though its
circulation is Insignificant, affects to be indii-
ferent to the attacks of the Times, rejects in be-
half of Mayor Hall and Controller Connolly its
challenge to prosecution for libel, because that
would only give to the scandal increased no
toriety, and says that the Times is moved by
revenge because these virtuous guardians of
fbp tvs how rod tba oil of
an unjust demand which the Times has pre-
sented. The disclosures, which are the only
specific information anybody has offered
of the contents of the controllers books, the
Leader says, were obtained from clerk who was
discharged from the controllers Office for dis
honesty. This is an astonishingly weak defence
for men who have the whole evidence in their
possession,-if they are innocent. lfthe charges
are true, such subterfuges are natural, but they
must be more damaging than silence in their eff
feet upon the pu bic In keeping the accounts
of the city from the public, these men are guilty
of the most inexcusable official nsolence and
usurpation. The same breach of duty sup
presses the evidence, which would disproye, if
false, all the charges made against the mayor
cence made, by them so long as the accounts are
kept secret, is of any more weight than the testi
mony of a witness as TO the contents of an i'm
portant document which he refuses to produce.
But the mayor himself, no longer able to en-
dure these assaults in silence, offers in his own
name what he calls an answer, addressed to the
public. He admits the accuracy of the trans
cripts published in the Times from the control
ler's books, and that the amounts are large, per-
haps exorbitant, but denies that any response
bility rests with the mayor or controller, be-
cause the claims were all audited by the late
board of supervisors, now abolished. He says
also that these charges should not be made by
the Times, because the publisher Of that paper
had some years ago demand against the city,
which the controller, not denying its justice, re-
fused to allow, and it was recovered by suit
at law. The exaction of this Just de-
mand, according TO the mayor, proves
"the then recklessness of Mr.. Jones,
in opening a dangerous sluiceway to
to the city treasury, and shows his exclusive re-
sponsibility." The mayor further says that all
the controllers accounts are in process of printing
for public information. Very interesting, even
startling information it will be, Judging from
the specimens already furnished; but we sus-
pect that the public will wait long time for it.
The mayor, Of course, denies that he or the con-
troller has obtained any share of the moneys
paid on the warrants for the exorbitant claims
exposed. Even his impudence would hardly OIL
low him TO admit and excuse that, but with that
exception everything charged is substantially
admitted His party cannot be satisfied with this
lame defense; certainly the people who pay the
taxes and are interested in their honest and eco
nomical expenditure, will not be content to be
thus insulted and defied, as well as swindled.
Popular government has not been complete
success in New York; in some respects il has
seemed humiliating failure. But such rulers
as the Tammany ring furnishes afford some
hope of viudicating the capacity of the people
even in large cities to reject bad officials
and choose better-for it is impossible that the
people should much longer endure the tyranny
OF an oligarchy so rapacious, so insolent so sub
servient to the. basest of the rabbe, and SO cyni
caly indifferent to even the appearance of virtue