Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1871-08-10
GREATEST ROBBERY ON RECORD.

Uh6A4Eo1 hU66Eh1 UN hECOhO
The publication of the astounding Dem
ocratic frauds of the New York Tammany
King by the Times, has at last forced from
the city officials statement of the condi-
ton of the city finances.
Before considering the statement, it
would be well enough to recall one or two
facts. The publication of Controller Con-
molly made on the 1st inst, is the first
made since 1868, though by laV he was re-
| quired to publish them every three months
The failure to give the people this infor-
nation was in 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" 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.
1t must be remembered in connection with
the Times exposure, that though its mo-
tiUes were assailed, the correctness of the
accounts were never authoritatively ques-
toned. This point should be recollected,
as it 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 at least, leaving the
balance to be published at more con-
venient season. This publication has just
been made. OF course it 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 it
covers recent months when the threat of
the Times curtailed their operations, it is
worse than we expected.
The official statement shows that from
the 31st of April, 1871, to the 31st of July,
1871, the debt was increased from SS4, 672,-
O73, to 500, 1888. Commenting upon
these figures the Times says:
Turning now to the condition of the
debt on the 31st of December, 1870, we
find it to have been, according to official
statement, So, $685. 75 on the 3lst of
December, 1868, it was, according to the
same statements, S34, 407 OH 81.
In the two years from the 3lSt of De-
cember, 1868, to the 31st of December, 1870,
the total increase was S39, 279, 178 S4. This
was at the rate of 81 $3.50, $50 As per month.
This was certainly running the city in
debt at a 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,
1865. Had the people fully realized then
what was going on, they would have been
Justly indignant and reasonably alarmed.
Worse things, however, were III store,
From the 31st of December, 1870, to April
30, 1871, a period of four months immedi-
ateIy succeeding the period of the last cal
culation the debt was increased by S1O,-
9S5, 446 IS. This was at the rate of 81, 49,
461 81 month, or in a proportion OF nine
times greater than during war times. The
latest statement is, however, more rulnous
to the reputation of the city government
than any official exhibits tnat have pre-
ceded it. 1t shows that from the date of
the Mayors message, April 80, to July 81,
the city and county debt has been swelled
by SIT, 2S3, 260 80. This is at the perfectly
incredible rate of So, 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.