The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-10-01
JUDGE HILTON AND TOM FIELDS.

Interview ut the Department OF Parks on the
Fides of Commissioner Fields-A True
Narrative of the "RiOto Csntrovcrsy-Uow
1t Originated-W Fields Has Gone Back
ON His Friends-New Political Movements
FOreshndOwcd.
The peaceful and pleasant routine duties Of the
Department OF Parks ie.ving been disturbed during
the last two or three days by two OF the members OF
the Commission dropping into newspaper warfare,
a reporter Of the HERALD waited upon Judge Hilton
yesterday to ascertain his standing in the epistoa
tory quarrel II Will be seen by the interview that
ensuel and the differences that may be drawn there
from that below the surface Of the charges and
counter charges OF the respective commissioners
there are political movements OF no small signlf-
canoe.
The HERALD reporter found the Judge in hts onlce
one Of the elegant suites OF rooms devoted TO the
on broadway, near to the Department or Pubic
Works. He found the Judge wearing his charac-
terlstc expression OF geniality and quite disposed
TO say all that he was justified III saying In relation
TO this topic OF local talk.
swell, Judge, SAID the Reporter "a have called
to ask you now this matter stands between you and
your fellow commissioner Fields. It's rather
mixed as IT stands, Is IL notY"
II have nothing more to say, about this matter
than what has already been sand by me. My card
was published in the papers, Mr.. Fields has now
changed the base OF has tactics, but have some
tnIng better to do than to follow that gentleman
through MS strange wanderings."
ayes see there Is nothing said In Mr.. Fields let
ter ABOUT the denunciatons at MIR. SweenY's
house,
..Oh mo- the circumstance as they actually &C.
CURED can be easily and simply told. The edi-
tor OF the star was herc with otner newspaper
men, to receive some documents In relation
to the Park: Howard and ! had some talk
short .alk, ana j read to nm a draft OF notice
intended to issue should it become necessary TO no.
tify the laborers OF the inability OF the department
10 continue their employment. Judge Hilton read
this draft which was clearly wordeu Official docu.
ment in all the GOODNESS OF legal phraseoogy.l How
ard aeft, but afterwards sent me q note asking me
for by OF this draft or the draft ITSELF that he
might emDody 1t in an interview with me. | told
him that as the necessity Tor the issuing OF this
der had not arrived could not allow 1t TO be used.v
.'Then all this talk Judge, about you giving How
ard ideas for an editorial Is part Of the fiction OF
"Oh, yes; think it not unlikely that the nspira-
ton came upon Mr.. Fields at the Astor House, ana
tuis happy thought arose there and he amused some
newspaper men, or, probably, Mr.. England himself,
with this little hction-tne product OF an excited
brain.p
ara as You have SAID, you did not concern your
SELF further about the newspapers"
| saw Il with all rcspoct-i thought no more anout
them until the following morning. The only paper
take at the house Is the HERALD, and as | was
riding ~ my coupe on my way to Mr. Sweeny's /
purchased the Times, the Standard and the Siar
glanced over the Times, and by that time found
myself at Mr.. .sweenys door. on entering. the
library found Mr.. Fields and Mr.. sweeDy. There
was something said about the Say, which Mr.
sweeny had been reading, but II was only for a
moment or TWO. we then proceeded 10 the busi-
ness of the parks which occupied US entirely until
MIR. Fields and | lett. Tn the sidewalk Mr..
FEEDS asked me to drive him down
town, but told him / was going
back to nv house, and not down town. He, how
ever, renewed MS request and asked me 10 drive
HIM as lar as went l consented, but III never do
u again, and we drove away: ! took the Mdr IN
my hand, looked at 1t and tod him what took place
at the once, Just as have told IL TO you There was
nothing said or implied 10 justify MIR. Fields III put
ting me construction upon our that he
has gwen TO the public tais morning."
what can be Mr.. Fields object, Judge, In put
ting himself In so offensive position towards gen.
teinen on the same commission as himself and with
whom he Is supposed TO act with perfect harmony
well, cannot say; hut probably II | state few
lacts You can form y0ur own conclusion. one or
the inreXible rules OF this department Is not 10
allow politics To enter into competition with man
qualification FOR employment Acain and again we
tell men WHO seek employment that all we ask ~
tnat they are qualified TO do our work, They have
TO SATISFY the heads OF Departments that they
are 30 qualified and II they fulfil that reQur ement