The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-11-07
Active Legal Steps on Foot
Against the Ring.
MAGNITUDE OF THE PLUMBER
Interviews with Leading
Citizens.
Interesting Sketch of the Chief
Jobs.


promises to be substantial and effective The Taxpay
Fifty, have not been idle during the year They have
accumulated mass Of evidence against a number of
persons and they still at the work of accommodating
Their proceedings have been conducted with much
secrecy those of the Carbonar of Italy Reporters
have tried in vain to penetrate the veil of concealment
they have drawn around them. 1t is sufficient to say
that they are almost at tho end of their labors
Since Wednesday morning and McLaughlins defeat
in Kings county the public have heard whisperings Of
danger from the reformers to the members Of the
Ring, as 1t was rumored the Taxpayers Association
had placed the management of its affairs in the hands
OF a law committee which, having called in legal
assistance had prepared and coated testimony in the
shape of adavits charging the officials with fraud in
the completion OF public works-namcly construction
of sewers street paving the Hampstead reservoir the
Brooklyn Bridge the filing in of lots Gowanus
and several other equally nefarious though smaller
jobs and transmitted them to Albany TO be laid before
the Governor and the Attorney General for their
sideration. If these afdavits deemed sufficient
ground of action against the alleged maeasant officers
in Kings county the State would be asked to for
the recovery OF the stolen moneys under the "Civil
Remedy" bills passed by the Legislature last winter.
Careful investigation up to this time shows the condi-
ton OF the taxpayers movement to be far advanced
The association is composed of some of the largest
property owners and most energetic business men in
Brooklyn, who, having suffered for years from the
abuses they seek to remove have embarked heart
and soul in the undertaking, and with characteristic
vigor have reduced their operations to system and
have, above ALL determined that they shall be con
Quoted with secrecy With this latter purpose in view
the law committce-who, by the way, refuse to
allow their names TO be made public
have not informed the other members or
their association OF the names OF the lawyers who
have been retained Tor the prosecution the actual
condition of the proceedings at this moment For
many weeks this law committee have either the
residence Of Mr.. Hutchinson in Montague street,
Brooklyn at some of the Offices OF the lawyers
gagged on the reform side OF the question What was
done at any of these sessions has been divuged
hitherto, SO that all the reports published are the
MERE sPEcuLATIoNs
Of their friends and the members OF the Tax
payers Association The only persons absolutely
in possession OF any positive knowledge
of the steps taken the members of
the "citizens' committee which has met frequently
in Montague resolved that until the views of
the Governor and the Attorney General have been
tanned not syllable Of the evidence in their posses
sion should be given to the people Tho for this
is obvious. The Ring is composed of men who rich
and powerful whose minons still the important
bureaus Of the county custodans of the records and
nbe their safety depended upon to destroy youch
ers as old Tammany did here III 1871 The names ofthe
law committee and its counsel withheld to prevent
the accused those whose guilty consciences render
them fearful lest they shall be the defendants in the
coming prosecutions, from annoying them. Just as
the Attorney General shall entertain the APP
plication for 'civ remedy the proceedings will be
begun under the conduct OF his appointee who shall
have power employ such legal assistance he may
it, Until the time comes 1t is the committees
intention to keep the Ring much in the dark
touching its enemies to render preparation
almost impossible and strike it fatal blow at once
So little Roadway has hitherto been made against the
rings that from time time have held OF the
treasury that many people dcspaired OF ever seeing
a GENUINE PURIFIcATIoN
or the municipal government Of Brooklyn Things are
managed differently there from what they were in
this city under the rule OF Tweed There some
thing tangible TO strike at here. The swindng OF
the taxpayers could be traced directly to the
ONCE OF the Comptroller but in Brooklyn they
have suffered from innumerable commissions
appointed at Albany 10 do municipal work,
the applicants for the commissions generally managing
10 get appointed themselves II is also certain that
matters have been adroty managed by the
Brooklyn rings. The Dick Turpn audacty that
characterized Tweed and his gang is not paraken OF by
their more cautious and slippery fellows in the City Of
Churches With Tweed there was little disguise, and
certainly he never boosted of being active church
member The Brooklyn rings have had some very
pious members and piety and population went hand
III hand with exemplary regularity. IL is estimated by
careful statistcan that $l5g 600 added to
the present debt of New York city and county IL would
be less in proportion than the debt that now burdens
and appals the citizens OF Brooklyn.
II has been the fashion Of indignant rcformcrs to lay
the blame of the plumber conSlmmated by the Tam
many Ring at the door Of the Respectable class Of cti
zens Of New York, who instead Of taking interest
IN the management Of the government, allowed il to
DRIFT into
Low AND DISHONEST HANDS
liut then New Workers can point with pride to the
grand work they accomplished wien rising
November, 1872 they hurled the Tammany Ring in
the dust Brooklyn az yet can show nothing to com
pare VITA that aud II she can do better in tho
future, II Is vain TO hope she viii ever es-
cape from the clutches Of pundering politicians
There may be some explanation for IL In the fact that
hall her voting population 90 business in New York.
and that going home weary Of an evening after Tho
days toll they feel no disposition to interest them
solves in the affairs Of city where they might be said
70 tarry only for the night Ar other Explanation
should supplement the foregoing The press over the
water is very brave in calling attention to abuses every
where else but in Brooklyn. The citizens have to rely
the papers OF New York 10 learn the truth as TO
how they governed
The number Of commissions and departments held
responsible for accommodating
TnE ENORMOUS
that weighs heavily the citizens is quite consid
cradle. Foremost stands the Water Board, with the
responsibility Of millions unaccounted for Next come
the commissions Tor the improvement OF Fourth
avenue Atlantic avenue, Bedford avenue, Third street.
Union street, Waabout extension, the Charity Com.
mission, the Excise Board add last but not least, the
East River Bridge. These however only the
prominent There is host Of other jobs that
cannot bear the light OF day.
The Water Board and It's successor, tho Board OF
Local Works had under their control the repairing Of
STREETS the extension OF water MAINS tho building of
sewers, the superintendent Of the Water Department
building Of the Hampstead Reservoir aud many other
profitable jobs besides.
INGENUITY or the RING.
The ingenuity of the Brooklyn Ring surpasses any
thing that has been recorded Of Tweed's. Here IS
sample Of how they execute jobs;-
In the matter OF repavng Atlantic avenue the names
81 thirty -four directors OF dspensary located on the
street, and which cost 81, b0o were forged to
petition for patent pavement. AS it was neces
sary that these directors should be property
owners, each declared by the parties
in interest be the owner just eight inches Of the
ground covered by the dispensary. The patent pave
ment was put down by direction of the Water Board,
al more than double fair price, and the property
owners were swndled out Of 100000. This
worked so delightfully."- that they got up plan to pavo
Lafayette IL mi md thp pVu q