Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1871-08-16
GREATEST ROBBERY ON RECORD.

The publication of the astounding Dem
ocratic frauds of the New York TammanY
King by the Times, has ut last forced from
the city officials Rstatement of the condi-
ton of the city finances.
Before considering the statement, 1t
would be well enough to recall one or two
facts. The publication of Controller Con-
molly made on the LIST inst, is the first
made since 1868, though by Tar he was re-
quired to publish them crcyy three n onths
The failure to give the people this intor-
nation was i'm itself proof that the ring
were guilty of corruption.
To apply the information sup
pressed by the Controller, the Times
began its publication of the secret ac-
cOunts.o The effect their publication pro-
duced in New York State, and in fact in
the whole country, was wonderful The
indignation provoked among all honest
men, regardless of politics, was proof that
the people still respect and will still defend
honesty, as they will condemn rascality
IL must be remembered in connection with
tie Times exposure, that though Its mo
tres were assailed, the correctness OF the
accounts were never authoritatively ques-
toned. This point should be recollected,
as il is very material to the case.
Finding that public indignation was too
great to be disregarded, Mayor Hall and
Controller Connolly decided to publish
the state of the city finances for the
past three months ut least, leaving the
balance to be published at more con-
venient season. This publication has just
been made. OF course il is intended to
coverup as much as possible the corrup-
ton of the past. Men who will plumber
the public will not stop to alter and garble
the accounts and records. We have no
doubt that Connolly and his confederates
have been busy, ever since the Times
began its exposures, altering their books,
vouchers, &C., to meet the public
investigation they know must come.
But Mayor Halls statement just made is
bad enough, and considering that 1t
covers recent months when the threat of
the Times curtailed their operations, it is
worse than we expected.
The official statement shows that from
Inc 21st &c April, 1871, to the 3lst OF July,
ISL, the debt was i,.S. from SS4e72,"
073, to S10O,955, 333. Commenting upo..
these figures the Times says:
Turning now TO the condition of the
debt on the 3lst of December, 1870 we
find it to have been, according to official
statement, S73, $50, 226 IS on the 3lst of
december 1868, it was, according TO the
same statements, S3i, OH 81.
In the two years from the 31st of De-
cember, 1865, to the 3lst of December 1870,
the total increase was 500, 270, IFS 81. This
was at the rate of 81 636, 632 45 per month
This was certainly running the city i'm
debt Mt very rapid rate-a rate more than
five times as rapid as that at which the
debt increased during the five years of war
from December 81, 1860, to December 81,
1863. Had the people fully realized then
what was going on, they would have been
justly indignant and reasonably alarmed.
Worse things, however, We're in store,
From the 3lst of December, 1870, to April
80, 1871, n period of four months immedi-
ately succeeding the period of the last cal
culation, the debt was increased by Sl0,-
49,, 4l6 %. This was at the rate of -, 49,
46l 81 month, or in Il proportion of nine
times greater than during war times The
latest statement is, however, more ruinous
to the reputation of the city government
than any official exhibits that have pre-
coded it. 1t shows that from the date of
the Mayors message, April 80, to July 81,
the city and county debt has been swclled
by SIG 2S3 ,260 80. This is ut the perfectly
incredible rate of 81, 427 ,753 43 per month
1t is nearly twice as fast as the debt was
increasing for the first four months of 1871;
it is three and one-third times as fast as it
increased during 1869 and 1870; and it is
more than eighteen times as fast as in
creased during the years of the war.