New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-01-08

as to take care that the state was not over
charged, cheated, or swindled. What does he
dol Why, having the power to postpone pay
ment by Withholding his signature he puts oil
the creditor after auditing his account, until
he compels him to sell the claim to his (the
Auditor's) partner at discount. He does not
say to the creditor. "Here, give me seven,
eight, or ten per cent on this bill and you
." can have the money; )" that would be pal
pably corrupt transaction. But where's the
difference 1t really comes to that in the end.
And what must be the effect upon the contract
ors and others who are compelled to submit to
this sweating process The sharp contractor
OF business man who has this experience once
is not long making up his mind that if the
State, by its sworn representative is to indulge
IN this kind If sharp practice, he will take a
hand at it himself. He wouldn't consider HIM
self "smart" if in the second and subsequent
transactions he did not make up his accounts
so as to include the shave and little more.
So that i'll the end though the friends OF this
indicate and improper man assert that the
State has not suffered loss, it has suffered, and
every dime of the Auditors shave, with dollars
besides, comes out of the Treasury and the tax
PAYERS. Can we expect honest service ana
honest contractors when we set up such an
example between the workman and his wages;
between the contractor and bis awards
Let us not mince matters. Let us say resO-
utey and unequivOcally that the conduct of
Auditor Thayer was actually indicate and
improper. The party of which he is an active
and distinguished member is in power in the
Legislature. II is the same party that only So
late ms last September demanded prompt in
"ycstigations of all charges of wrong-doing,
"and summary exposure prosecution, and pun
"ishmant of wrong doers.n Here is an excel
lent opportunity to illustrate its faith by
works. This transaction may not come under
the head of "wrongdoing" in the opinion
of some members of the Legislature, but
we have at any rate high authority Tor
calling it indicate and improper" Beng
so the public would hardly hold the Legisla-
ture or the Republican party to too strict
construction Of the terms of the resolution, or
INDULGE in any severe structures upon their ac-
zion should they extend the meaning OF
wrong-doingr so as to inclGde indcicacles
and improprietics az demanding prompt in
vcstigation, and summary exposure, prose
tom and punishment. We may be per-
mittcd to express the opinion too that it will
hardly be possible for the party to err in the
direction indicated Auditor Thayer, it is
true, has been suspended, and inyest-
cation * not now necessary to put 1t ont OF
his power to continue the indicate and i'm
proper process of sweating appropriations and
shaving bills. Bat there il some curiosity on
the part of the public as to the view taken OF
his conduct by his own party. The standards
of Official virtue and political morality are one
thing in conventions and before election, and
quite another in the Legislature and after cleo
tion There's much confusion about them. II
is not so much Mr.. Thaycr rs the Republican
party that is on trial in this matter. The action
taken by the Legislature will go far to
define the meaning of the Conventions resolu-
ton. The people wait impatiently to hear
the opinion of the Legislature and the Repub-
lican party of Ncw-York on Auditor Thayers
administration. Why not brace right up and
SLY. like a Roman father or The 1iJaHy Eren-
ina journal, it was indicate and improper
That would give us n new euphemism ana
furnish MS the exact standard of political NOR
ality at Albany.