The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-09-20
THE COMMITTEE OF SEVENTY.

THE COMMITTEE OF SEVENTY.
~~~~~~->~~~o->--,~~~-~~~~~
Meeting In tho Chamber OF Comm erce-Ex.
Judge PierrepOnt's Observation-Disclosures
In support Of MIR. A. III. Grecn-A Com.
mitfec Presents Them-Speeches by Chair.
man stebolns, Comptroller Connolly and
Ex-Mray0r Havemeyer.
About forty members Of the now famous Com.
mlttee Of Seventy assembled In the meeting room
Of the Chamber or Commerce yesterday shortly
after twelve O'Clock, and at proceeded to bust.
ness. Mr.. Henry G. Stebblns, President of the Sew
enty occupied the chair. After the usual warning
that all present who were not members of the Com.
mittee would be required 10 withdraw, reports Of
the several sub committees were read and approved
member then addressed the meeting in
SHORT SPEECH,
and proposed the following resOluuons:-
70 The Once Se o Of u. sss
the finance. Of i9e city IN the immediate future:
his
place BY Of fitness and fidelity he could made
known !ss community 20! his spctess Integrity able
and management Of the public trusts heretofore
:ssSo S fs s.ss :r
e e s of s pS rpG Tue
ary By the power in al lawful
to- retain the position which, for tunaey for
a1S sas sa' ''e0 in this Trying epoch OF our NUM-
The resolutions were duly seconded.
Ex-Judge EDWARDS PIERREPoNT then rose and
said that he supported the resolutions. 1t was me-
cessary that the action Of the Comptroller should
be sustained by the Committee. lie had nothing
whatever to say for MIR. Connolly nor any OF his
confederates OF the Ring, ana ne had no intention
Of asking for him any particular considerations; but
Is voluntary action in submitting his accounts to
the scrutiny Of the committee of citizens and his
readiness to answer questions deserve favorable
mention. Especially was his action, In appointing
Mr.. Andrew II. Green,
AN HONEST DEMOCRAT
and gentleman, TO act for him pending investiga.
ton into his conduct worthy OF remark. The con-
dltion of the city and county finances mad long
war; anted decided action the part of the citl-
zens, for every department was well known TO DO
outrageously corrupt The peculations OF the Ring
were evidently Migrant, and were such as to cali
for instant lnyestigatl9p and remedy. Andrew Il,
Green, he continued, has always been q man whose
integrity was unquestioned and in whom for years
the people have had the most implicit reliance so
far as his honesty and probity were concerned.
With them We too, are satisfied, and ne IL just the
man who should have the investigation Of the city
accounts. No politician, be he lawyer or merchant,
can take any exception TO his being
DEPUTY COMPTROLLER
because OF MS character-that Is beyond cavil.
Again. Mr.. Green has always been identified with
objection can be raised to his appointment on The
ground OF his politics because or MS being re.
honorable, upright gentleman, from whom O truth
ful report may be expected. We must sustain him
y, MS ponn a. by az aM VT the Ring ATTEMPT
combat them with law. II they are determined to
effect his removal by force we are prepared ana Will
LAW WITH LAW AND FORCE WITH FORCE.
= Loud cheers followed this last remark of the
The resolutions were then passed amid applause.
Then Mr. Barrett observed that, inasmuCh as the
Green seemed to have been solely personal matter
II were just as wen 70 appoint committee OF five
Mr.. Connolly, to notify each OF the purport and pas
sage OF The resolutions sustaining Mr.. Green's ap.
COMMITTEE OF FIVE
Green and present the resolutions IT was composed
OF the following named gentemen:-Myer Stern,
Edward Plerrepont, Jackson =. Schultz, Robert b.
Roosevelt and Thomas A. Ledwith, ana on motion
added-Henry G.. stebpins, William +. Havemeyer
and Roswell b. Hatch.
The meeting then adjourned, subject to the call OF
The committee Immediately started for the Comp.
trollers once to,present these resolutions TO Mr..
Green, and on Their arrival there they were cor.
daily received by that gentleman.
SPEECH OF Mr.. sTEBBINS.
Mr.. STEBBNS, the chairman OF the committee, in
presenting the resolutions, spoke In substance as
fOIows:-
duty OF presenting TO you the resolutions passed this
day at a meeting or citizens who represent the meet
Ing held at the Cooper Institute september 4, and
known as the Citizen Committee OF Seventy. These
resolutions ana the action OF the committee today
have grown out OF your late appointment as Deputy
Comptroller, and the very deep interest felt by your
fellow citizens IN your selection for
THE RESPONSIBLE DUTIES
or that Office II Is source OF great satisfaction to
me personally. knowing you as well as do, to be
made the medium OF stating to you the cordial ana
earnest unanimity with which these resolutions |
were passed, testifylng as they do, to the high
opinion entertaineu by your ielowcitlzens OF your
strated IN many Important and highly Onerous pub |
lie duties. Nothing, l am sure, would have been |
messed these unqualified evidences of the estma. |
ton In which you are held by men Of both political
parties
Mr.. HAvEMByER then TOOK the floor and said that |
he had known the Comptroller. Richard u. Con- |
molly for many years. aud he for did believe
that ne was the only or the biggest rogue In the |
Ring. From the highest TO the lowest they had
ALL Rad THEIR RAKE"
from the CITY treasury and the biggest share did
sion occurred the Comptroller went TO him Have.
meyer) Immediately for advice and he tthe spcaker)
pro1ered advice, with me condition, however, that
whether palatable or otherwise, Connolly should &C.
cept and act upon II. The latter, having unlimited
10 - MS agreed and 81 aayss
W e the power, Of the chief as seads
known. The Comptroller expressed his utmost
willingness at the time to do tnis and seemed TO
have much less
FEAR OF AN INVESTIGATION
than some other members Of the Ring. And while
M. Havemeyer aid not endorse Richard Il. Con-
leave the financial interests Of the city in his and
Mr.. Green's hands pending this investigation, and
he was not willing to see him made scapegoat OF
TO shield greater rascas. MI. Green was also COM
plmented By the speaker.
SLIPPERY DICKS CONFESSION