Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-09-18
THE NEW YORK CORRUPTION

THE NEW FORK CORRUPTION
By the disagreement of the robbers OF
the New York city treasury some truth is
likely to be divulged in relation to their
wickedness. The pressure of public opin
ion brought against them has been too
poweffil Tor them to withstand. The
Mayor requests Comptroller Connolly to
resign. -bnt the latter refuses to be made
the scapegoat of his associates in crime.
White they thus~qurrrel- among them
selves suit has been instituted against
them by citizens committee, which is
proceeding as fast rs the laws delays
will allow, to sift the matter. r
In addition to the former disclosures we
have now charges of fraud in the building
department, the announcement OF the
transfer Of half million of government
securities BY the wife of Connolly to her
son-in- law, and the robbery of the Comp
troller's office of accounts and vouchers.
According to appearances the villainous
character OF these frauds has not been
exaggerated. New developments make
them appear, greater rather than less. The
conspirators are alarmed. Hall turns upon
Connolly, and Connolly secures his i'll
gotten gains by transferring them to other
hands, while Tweed answers in court to
the charges made. The Albany Journal
has the following editorial upon the mat
ter:
Comptroller Connolly refuses to resign up
ON Mayor Halls demand. He throws himsel
at the outset upon his own dignity and at tn,
end upon the joint responsibility of the May
or His first answer is: 81 have been al
honest and faithful officer, and therefore
there 10 no reason why should resign" Hi
second answer is :s'If am a thief you ar.
another, and, therefore, there is no reason
why should resign merely to help you es
cape" In point of logic, Connolly has de-
cidedly the best Of HALL 2E1
There 10 no reply to his direct and poison
ing declaration that the Mayor is equally re-
sponsible. That assertion is demonstrated by
facts which are part of the public record
and which are known to all men. The May
or's name il upon all the warrants as much as
the Comptrolier's. The Mayor is member
of the new Board of Appointment as much
c ~ the Comptroller. Nay more, the Mayor
was interested even in the disappearance
of the vouchers a. much as the Comp
troller himself. In all financial transactions
for the past two years they are indissolubly
connected, and the one is as guilty as the 9TH
or. Thus this answer which Connolly makes
il not = vindication of himself but is an
overwhelming retort to Hall. 1t is equivalent
10 saying HYou cannot condemn me without
branding yourself. You cannot pronounce
me . thief without confessing yourself one."
And Hall betrays his consciousness OF the
crushing argument by sinking back into his
hole. tbs announced ''upoR the best author |
ity" that he will take no further action look |
ing to tie removal of the Comptroller. Most
weak and impotent conclusion 1t is a craven |
and pusillanimous retreat, and only adds to
the igneminy of the Mayor and to the ineffa-
BILE contempt with which he 10 everywhere re-
garded. He had taken position from which |
be could not recede without establishment |
and disgrace. In his letter to the Comptroller |
be had declared that the people have right |
to withhold confidence from the finance de-
partment. He had asserted that the exgency |
demanded Connolly's retirement from that |
department ALI this was tantamount to a
peremptofy demand for the Comptroller's re-
signasion, and committed the Mayor so far
that he could not honorably retreat. If Con-
molly retust d, he was bound to carry the mat |
ter to the Courts. He could impeach that
officer, or he could arrest him upon the charge
Of theft. BY the one method or the 9th
er, Hall could effect Connolly's removal. In
deed. be himself declared in one of his mes
ssges few months ago that 1.-The Mayor
practically possesses the power to remove |
An incompetent or erring head of depart
meDt" His failure to use it now is plain /
confession of his own Quilt