Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-02-03
ate grievance and the general principle unset

INVESTIGATIONS are in favor in New York
just now, and from their developments it APP
pears that it was quite time for them. Besides
the custom house inquiry, the public interest in
which has become rather languid, and the I'M
earthing of the Tammany frauds in the city
| government not so vigorously prosecuted as
| they ought to be, Investigations are going on -
Albany into several departments OF the stat "u-
| minisration, and they all tend to conhflh '"o
impression, already prevalent, "''
there is such a thug a. "oi'9's
among New York politicians II Is reserved
for display on special public occasions, anu Is
regarded as altogether foo rare and precious TO
he exnosed IN the ordinary wear and tear of of
fetal life One of these inquiries concerns the
| Teryiuiysr prfadng frauds. Mr.. Terwilliger,
the clerk Of the senate, it will be remembered,
v,os charged a short time ago in an affidavit by
one Gaicie with having received a commission
| of fFenty per cent on the bills for state print
ing done by Weed, Parsons & Co. of Albany,
aud also with increasing the amounts of those
bills as they passed through his hands as
vouchers for the expenditure.
Immediately after the publication of Gracie's
affidavit, Mr.. Parsons and rerwiliger Joined in
counter affidavit, denying these charges, adj
hitting, however, that the clerk had received the
sums alleged, amounting to just twenty per
cent. of the printing bills for services rendered
to Weed Parsons & Co., for "proof reading, &C.
The friends of the persons implicated tried to
persuade themselves and the public that this was
triumphant vindicaton;" but the public de-
clined TO accept ii as such, and an investigation
was demanded which has now begun. MIR.
| Oracle was first called upon but, with the best
will in the world to make out his case, he proved
| but an indifferent witness. His affidavit, he
said, was drawn up to be used to prevent Ter
wiiligers reelection, but not for publication. 1t
contained some things that were not true and
| be did not know that Terwilliger had anything
to do with the alteration of the bills.
So far the friends of the latter were encour-
aged, but Mr.. Parsons testimony gave them less
pleasure. He said that he paid the clerk twenty
per cent on the printing bills because it was Gus
tomary, and regarded as one of the clerks per-
quisites. The amount was $4,000 or $4,000. The
proof reading" mentioned in his exculparory
affidavit, was not done at his request, nor was it
of any benefit to him; he should have paid the
proof reading. He had also paid twenty-five
per cent on certain other printing bills to a man
named Southwck, Tor no other reason that he
could give than that Southwick asked him Gorit.
He had also paid $4,000 to a man whom he had
never seen before, and whose name he did not
know, because this man asked him for that sum
in consideration OF his services in getting bill
passed to pay Parsons for work done, but de-
Stroyed by the burning of his printing office.
Mr.. Parsons seems TO be a man of a wonderfully,
yet iudiciously confdng disposition, for, though
he has given money TO strangers in this appar-
entity reckless way, he takes pride in declaring
that he has always found his profit in It,
Certain Pennsylvanlans and others protesting
desire to get statement of the presidents views
of the tariff question, and, perhaps, not I'M
willing to be mentioned in tine newspapers as
visitors at the White House, have been formally
presented" by Senator Scott. During the short
interview, they made direct request that the
president would state his views of the protective
policy. His reply was Gentlemen, am for
protecting every industrial interest of this coun-
try and admitting free of duty every article that
we do not produce in the United States" This
is sound doctrine, but it was not necessary to
visit the White House to know what President
Grant thinks of it. His views have been stated
so clearly in some of bis messages that no one
need mistake them. But his questioners now
cherish happy rccOllectlons of having appeared
in the executive mansion as a Delegation