New-York tribune., 1882-03-12
THE "BOODLE HOLDERS"

THE "BOODLE HOLDERS"
II appears to have occasioned some surprise
to Aldermen and the public alike to hear that
there are changers on" about the City Hall
who profess to be able to influence local legis-
lation for a consideration A lawyer OF stand
ing announces with great show of indignation
that n client of his has been approached ana
a suggestion of money influence on commit
tee of Aldermen made to him. The Aldermen
who form the committee thus reflected upon
spurn the imputaton on their honor with dls-
dain. And the public and the newspapers-or
some of them at least--wondcr If such things
can be. Why, bless their indignant ana lnno-
cent hearts, there is not Board, Commission,
Court, Department or public office OF any SORT
which does not have its influential hanger-on
if one may believe his story. If anybody Is
seeking to influence any public officer wrongly
he will have no trouble in finding somebody
who is authOrized-if his own expressive Ian
guage IS to be credited-tO carry the Doodle"
Ii is of no consequence as to the Importance OF
the Office or oficer-from United States Circuit
to Civil District Courts, or from Mayor
to Police Sergeant-each has q selt-pro-
claimed bribe-taker to influence decisions
vet resolved to investigate Office or officer
that somebody did not rush to the persons to be
investigated and offer to I" fix the thing u; and
in hundreds of cases these volunteers have
got the money and pOcketed 1t. Possibly In
some instances they have shared 1t, but 1t IS
safe to say that the voluntary medium OF
bribery never gives up anything If he can
help 1t. There is not Justice on our bench
whose decisions in cases, big and little, have
not been offered for sale by influential
persons whom the Justice knows only as
persistent lOungers in a conspicuous place
within the bar of his courtroom. AT the re-
tanned bidding of these lOafcrs the Justices grant
or dissolve injunctiOns, entertain or dismiss
complaints, and generally turn or reverse or
altogether stop the wheels of justice. a
"iury fxer," as he calls himself, is a fixture
of every Court, and, if he may be believed, he
can furnish to order, pay in advance, verdlcts
for plaintiff or defendant, and acquit or con-
demn for any crime But his fayorte method
is to chang jury" or better still, to quash
indictments in the District attorneys Office or
before the Grand Jury itself The Mayors
veto is common object of sale. The assess
ment of over-taxes, real and personal,
is daily iobbery. The giving of contracts
by the various departments, these liars
say, is influenced by them alone. The
immediate payment by the Controller
of doubtful, disputed or delayed claims is
guaranteed for liberal percentages. And the
suppression by all the daily papers of court
rcpoIts or other damaging or unpleasant state
ments is secured with neatness and dispatch
at cheapest rates by these hanSers-0n That
is, if the hanger on is to be trusted. And 1t
may he here remarked that he trusts no one;
a cash basis is his great protection as well as
profit
OF course all such petty scOundrelS as these
are unauthorized; yet they are so thick about
the CITY Hall and Court House that if a stone
were thrown at one of them it would carOm on
half dozen others before stopping. Public officers
denOunce the rascals generally whenever vague
accusations against themselves for apparent
connection with the hangers-On come up.
They could. of course, afford TO dc no less, but
unfortunately as a rule they can do no more,
because no names being mentioned, 1t Is i'm
possible to put anybody to the proof, or estab-
lisb the negative of Il mere insmuatiOn of coli
lusOn.
The case of the Aldermen now accused
offers very good opportunity to expose this
rascally business. Mr.. F. Il. Lawrence says
that someone connected with the BOardr
made proposition to influence for
money a committee of the Board consisting of
Aldermen Kenney, Martin and O'Neill, but Mr..
Lawrence names no names. See where he
leaves everybody concerned! A dishOnorable
suspicion resting upon everybody except the
"hanger-on.n Mr.. Lawrences client ought to
have kicked the fellow out Of the Office on the
start and exposed him afterward, and people
will ask why he did not No man is compelled
to listen patiently to propositions OF dis
honor, and breach of the peace under
such circumstances is not likely ever
to be punished, or for that matter prosecuted.
The Aldermen deny that they ever authorized
any such proposition, and so long as Mr.. Law
renee conceaIs the guilty person they can do
nothing nothing more to eXOnerate them
selves. Mr. Lawrence can hide behind his
privilege as a lawyer, perhaps, and refuse to
tell. but where will this leave him III public
estimation Will not people say that his
client entertained the proposition of bribery.
Mr.. Lawrence is under DO moral obligation to
protect the fellow. He can do great public
service by exposing the scamp and by refus-
ing he will simply leave himself and the Al
dermen in an extremely unfortunate position.
Come forward, Mr.. Lawrence, and give the
rascal's name.
FOOT RACES AND BRAIN RACES.