The New York herald., 1877-09-13
ASKING FOR INFORMATION.

TO THE EDITOR THE New YORK TIMES
In the editorial columns OF your OF the 7th
inss, commenting upon the examination OF William
N. Tweed before the Aldermanic Investigating Com.
mittce. you say
In trying TO account for the formation OF the ring
Tweed makes sudden jump from the period wncn
merely political questions were discussed over CITY
Hall lunches and The time when 1t dawned upon him
that nothing could be done IN the State Senate with
out paying for II. He omis 10 trace the connection
between tho passage OF the bill which enabled the city
to Issue bonds In payment Of judgments and a long
series oi fraudulent warrants which were the
OF the bogus claims against which honest defence
was made. Hoffman set that ball arolng by his sigma
ture of warrants Tor adusted caims' 10 the amount
oil some three quarters OF million, und Conan IN the
unavoidable ABSENCE Of the Mayor, signed such
rants BY the score to the great satisfaction of the per-
laying the foundation OF their private fortunes tho
spoils OF the CITY, Twecd's memory Is subject TO
vencnt lapses which NO member OF the Investigating
Committee Is likely to help him 10 supply.
The Investigating Committee Is composed OF Alder
men belonging to both the great political partiesthe
only lawyer on it being repubcan-and is, in my
opinion, honestly and earnestly desrous OF making
the investigation as thorough as possible without
gard 10 parties or persons The examination Of Tweed
far has gone, intended 10 bring out every
thing concerning ali Illegal combinations IN this city
and county. OF which he had any knowledge or in
formation down to the formation OF the Tweed
Ring" III 1870 that being far as the examination
has yet progressed. IL there were any sudden
Jumps" OF "onssions 10 trace" anything Whatever IN
that Connection IT. rs not latc 10 I'LL the gaps and
supply the omissions. Tweed st on tho stand, and,
IN TACT, notice was given HIM that at tho Eext
session Of the committee he wouid be required
to give in detail names, dates and trans
actions "as TO all bulls or claims which were pre-
senIcd to the Board OF Supervisors from tho ysar 1861
10 Tho year 1870 inclusive, and winch were passed by
the Board OF Supervisors by corrupt means 10 this
notice the witness Tweed signed his intcntion TO
spond tuy. TINS question intended TO cover the
ground OF the Ttnes' criticism.
The investigating Committee regard this investlga-
t0n as very serious ana important public matter,
about far removed IRON "a iarce, as tho Times
kindly calls 1t, as IL Is possible to conceive thing
be- Tho committee earnestly desire to avail them
solves OF ovcry means OF information IRON every
source which will aid them IN making their nvestiga-
ton really exhaustive They recognize tho fact that
this matter they but the agents Of the people
this city, and that the people are aud OF right ough:
10 be- tho real investigators, as they are the
be directly affected by the result OF the committees
abors.
Tue Times has Tor years represented to tho eopie
that has taken unusual and peculiar pains inform
sc concerning the secret history OF tue frauds upon
the treasury OF this city aud county, and the intent
the editorial remarks above quoted seems to Dc 10
create the impression In the public mind that tho Times
knows oil some matters CONCERNING which Tweed sho ud
have testified but ala not.
As counsel to the Investigating Com mttec thorelorc
| respectfully request you 10 furnish with any
formation 10 this connection which you have VIII ch
you can obtain, so that every Jump be
fully gono over, and every 'omission" minutely sup
phed- shalt be most happy to have from your hands
an abstract oil such matters as In opinion should
be inquired INTO, or, if you roally interested In
this matter. bref oi questions formulated by your
SELF with view TO making the examination OF Tweed
thorough and complete. such abstract, II furnished
by you at any stage OF this investigation shall form
part OF the basis OF my examination both Of Tweed
and oil other witnesses who are probably TO follow
HIN, anu all questions suggested by which are at
all pertinent to the subject matter shall bo propounded
TO SAID Witnesses.
ani, very respectfully, your obedent servant,
NAw YORK, Sept .. ls79 HUGH L. COLE.