New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-10-13
DAVID b. HILL AS GOVERNOR.
THE SAME AS WHEN A TWEED LEGISLATOR
APPROVING BILLS TO LEGALzE TWEED CLAIMS
AGAINST TEE MAYORS PROTESTS.

IrRCM STAFF CORRESPONDENT OF TIE TRIBUNf.I
ALBANY. Oct 12.-While Northumberland, as
already shown Mr. Hill made use OF the few orpor-
tuntes at his disposal to personal and partisan
ends He illegally declared partisan measure car
ri, d. thor oh sufficient number OF votes had not been
recorded to make quorum, aud he had the oh'ei'I
journal "doctored " to cover mp his extraordinary
course Ills one opportunity to cast vote was used III
support of monopoly and to defeat the Elevator bill
He sought 10 prevent the appointment OF special
committee 70 investigate the unbalanced bids system
and other frauds III city government, and he ab-
sented himself for many weeks on private law business
In the canvass that followed, Mr.. Hill vas unusually
active as the success of Mr. Cleveland meant the ac
cidental occupation of the Governors chair by David
b. Hill As to the value OF his work there was not
much doubt among Mr. Cioyeaads friends. II was
shown by the returns from CEcmung County, "heTe
Mr.. Hin had done most OF his work and where he
labored at tine polls election Lay. The Denoerauc
maoIity of 40 for Hancock was reversed INTO he
publican majority OF 40 for Blaine.
"1hclcopard didnot change its spots when Nh mn
became Governor lie at once began to shape ms
course with view Of capturing the Democratic state
Convention and becoming candidate Tor Governor
before the people evidently surprising that his Tweed
Fisk 1ud record and his connection WItG ta' OahH
frauds HAD been forgotten lie made bId III BIS h'S-
saga for religious support through an uhcdiIeu LOT Az
vococv of the Freedom of Worship bill "a measure
which at that time not before the pubic. inns
was in accordance with his course in the Tweed Legs
I,tnre when lie yotec for bill which distributed nearly
81 900 600 among sectarian institutions ChniiAu4'i
of the hard times aud the heavy burdens imposed on
the people he advocated another large appropriated
for the $4,000, 600 State Capitol. supposmg tht
would please the workngmen, who pay the larger
share ,f the taxes When bill introduced III lAe
Legislature in 1872 for spring election IN order 10
AFFORD the people AZ opportunity to Gust -h'yor nan
and other members of the Tweed Ring, Fir ilI OPP
pose il; but when he had no vote TO give he assumed
the garb of reformer by adv coating spring ei''uohS
in his message On the Civil Service Reform Issue ne
made straddle by advocating practical tests oil
fitness for the Office sought distinguished from tbco
retic,l ones" His Democratic followers took this to
mean that the theoretical competitive examinations
sbonld ne swept away if Mr. Hill had the power to ao-
cor,plsh it, which is for the ardent sup
port that Tanmauy Hall and other anti-CNh Service
reform Democrat, have given Mr. I'LL.
One of tho first things that distinguished Mr. Hill III
his new ohoo was his effort to control the appointment
OF census enumerators- law OF 1900 directed iha'
tbe census ould be taken under direction OF the Sec
Ietary OF state. WHO was empowered to appoint the
enumerators Under that law the decennia census hAd
been taken, without either Democratic OF kePNo"c'h
Governors recommending any change Tor thirty years.
the law had proved satisfactory to him. Bat the Sec
,t,rv Of STATE was Republican and M lllil with the
instincts of spokesman could not see tins patrona &c
On into Reoubhcan hands without at lest making an
effort TO crab some of it, 50 he conceN ed the idea tht
the law ought to changed and he sent spccH mes
sage to the Legislature recommending that the power
10 ADJ ONT the enumcrators should be lodged WIN Inc
various County Clerks. Such a charge would give
County Clerk " Pat Keenan, hom Mr.. Hi rs
lieutenant Governor tried TO shield from investigation
the power to name the enumeratoIs IL NcN-loik
CITY, and would give similar authority to the Demo
cratic County Clerks in king,, Albany and other
counties The LEGISLATURE of course did not act upon
such a foolish suggestion. Federal statute Guardn-
teed contribution from the National GOV eminent OF
about 500 900 toward defrayng the expenses OF the
census providing that it taken IN the Ola va! ana
within the uoua time lie LeSis!a'oIe t",fs E . the
usual act and the Governor vetoed It, Although me
census cnumerators for only lew days il ms
anger the Governor directed the SNh service Donl-
MISSION against the expressed Judgment oil Us mem
beTs to change its rules 50 as 10 Ietne 'he ehued
tors TO undergo competitive examinations ms "''lO1
would add $1,000 10 the expense OF lie CENSUS anu
~ tcu merely to keep the Secretary Oi state from
exercising lis discretion IN the choice oil ehueIatoIs
Provoked the refusal OF the Legislature 10 accept Ills
tiou the Governor called extra session AT an
expense OF 900 to the people lie again Nel'ei tIc
Iil passed and prevented census from beng taken,
thus lusiugfhe Federal contribution OF @lOOOOp ana
unnecessarily adding $4,000 10 the state taxes.
one the next gushing acts OF tc Governor
tI-ut.
son Tie special committee, composec OF two Demo
Gratis AID three Republicans. winch investigated the
SbeIihs Office agreed unanimously 10 present lue'c
charges. The cOmnnttce lonnd lhal the "Hell. M"
sworn to false vouchers which he hdd obtained sew
,ral II ouand dollars from tic city and had sworn 10
other false vouchers on which he obtained IL a IKE
fraudulent manner several thot sand dollars from le
State treasury. His charges were excessive ana 'A,
orbitaut and many gross irregularities were IouAu
in The administ ratOn of his Office. The charges were
substantiated by sworn evidence. Wheeler ii. Peek
ham an eminent Democrat in New York, was one OIL
those who presented the charges TO the Cox eIhQr Inc
Sheriff admitted the charge that ne had obtained money
on fraudulent vouchers but lad the blame on subor
dinatez who could not possibly have Pfohied nom
them The sheriff was the " Dos, o. irving Hail. anu
could control ten delegates to the state Convention.
Inc Governor dismissed the charges, and OF course;
when the state Convention Inet the ten Irving Han
d. legates were SOLID Tor I'LL.
As there was republican Ssndte the Governor had
no 0, portuni;y to make any political appointments
His sole effort in that direction the nomination OF
Ujrain Calkins for Port Warden Nj. CaIkins was
ccra of tue senate when Tweed was member OF II In
1871 and at the time that Ir. Hill wac a m' mbeI OF
the Assembly. In the Executive Chamber he reviewed
tie obsolete ana useless Office OF Military Secretary
and thus added $1,000 to the state taxes he once
RENAMED vacant under Governor Cornell and also
under Governor Cleveland, with the exception that It's
duties performed without additional expense to
the State. 800
Governor. Nj. Hill exhibited the same inclination to
serve personal and partisan ends as IN All ohei at
ters Senator Pluuktt introduced bI To give thIee
commissioners power to construct bridge over the
Harlem River The bill designed to ueneht the
Ogden estate, managed by AndftW II. Green, a Wei
lawn Democratic irlend of Hills The bill did not
limit the expense but ded that the Commissioners
should have power to spend a. much as they pleased
and TO build the bridge without contract, to employ
such help as they might fit without limit 10 TO
salaries and sweeping away all restrictions as 10
anJtu0 hills etc. lhe Park ID apartment already hdd
1 mover 10 construct such brcge. under proper re-
sirictions and 1t had expended $4,000 tor that pun
nose By aid OF the chairmen OF the two Ciuts Com
in;tees the bill passed. The Mayor corporation
Counsel Controller aud other city authorities suenu-
on ly opposed it. stating tbat bridge Guit under
,ucl a law would cost 81 100000 at least senator
p,uLItt The Ianmany representative, asked the Gov
1rD1r 10 sign the bill and he did 80. 900, ,
senator = lin Campbell. one OF Mr. iii old as
soctr in the Tweed legislature introduced bill TO
,cnrre the CITY Controller 10 pay 10 Charles l. har-