New-York tribune., 1886-04-02
UdTTF IND KIRK.

WAITE AND KIRK.
Charles y. Waite never was noted for his dis-
creton and self-cOmmand. Biggest IN bulk oi
all the Aldermen OF 1884, it is difficult to select
from that extraordinary company OF moss
troopers and camp followers Que who could
rival him in smallness of brain. His father left
HIN comfortable fortune and prosperous
hotel business. but this foolish Fslstatl among
innkeepers scattered the one and neglected the
other until he was so involved in debt that he
did not know which way to turn. He bad an
odd fancy for lounging about the Police Central
Office and mad passion tor rushing TO hres'
His inofensive presence was tolerated at
the Mulberry-st. headquarters, where ne was
the daily butt OF the blunt wit OF the members
of the Police Department from the highest 10
The lowest. Lau9hcd at as an amatenr Collniis-
sioner of Police api sncered at for his whimsical
delusion thai hevas man Of political import
ance and influence. Waite continued to attend
the trials of pa.romen md to watch the laDors
of firemen for years. iusn otiicialsln Mulberry
ST. and Mercer st. found the canvasback ducks
at his tavern extremely palatabie and the
champagnes N his winc-cellar tempting to the
taste and ne was welcomed ill bO,h depart
ments as an entertaining and harmless coinpan-
ion. No one ever accRscd him Of brilliancy OF
any lird. I;ut he was good -naturcd and stood
in no ones way Finally some shrewd po'iu-
clans thought they might make him useful
ms strulnent in the Beard Of Aldermen and he
went to rhe City Hall.
Waite Was again welcomed at Police HEAD
quarters last night, but not now as an amateur
Police Commissioner. The DisInct-ht-
torney and Inspector Byrnes evidently
think he may be useful as witness
against some Of his fellow Aldermen
of1SS4, but ia his own inlmltable. chuckle-
headed way Waite has told his whole story in
advance. 1t is highly entertaining recital,
and it is SO artless, so apparently ingenious
and so DELIGHTFULLY."- stupid in putting his friends
in the worst possible lightwhile trying TO serve
them, that most readers will believe tnat Waite,
ike the overgrown boy that lac Is, is
bab6ling the truth without any compre-
hension of the possible consequences to
himself and to others. He says that lie never
got dollar himself for his voting and working
for the Broadway franchise Though he admits
that he tried his utmost to get every member
of the Board TO support it. His zeal was due,
he saws, to his friendship for James a. hlch-
m0nd and to the promise of Fire Commission
ership, a place which filled the measure OF
his babvish ambition. But Waite makes
no secret of his belief that
many members of the Board received money
payments for their votes, and with refreshing
candCr he names a number OF them ana gives
bis reasons for his belief. Simple fellow that
he is. he does not seem TO understand that his
confession that his Official action w1s influenced
ly the promised reward of . Tire Commission
ership renders hIm rs clearly liable to term
In prison as are the men VINO received $2OOCO
each IN cash.
Waite blarts out one most significant state
ment, which VII carry coHstcrnatiOn into the
ranks Of the County Democracy, already ap-
pal,ed by the revelations of corruption among
their leaders. He says that money was used IN
the Board of Aldermen "a freely in the interest
of Hubert o. Thompson as IN that
of the manipulators of the Broadway
scheme. The County Democracy organization
is now pretending to purge itself. VIII 1t
make really wholesome effort at purllcaton
and cast out Hubert o. Thompson
William J.. Kirk, one of the most conspicuous
and influential members of that infamous
Board of 1854, was arrested and taken to
Police Headquarters last evening. InIs eml-
nept downtown Democrat has been assuming
a superior virtue because he was not present at
that notorious August meeting when the Broad
way franchise was first passed. But Kirk was
extremely active and earnest in favor OF the
franchise, and cast his vote for it at the later
meeting when it was again put through. Waltc
declares that Kirk and he made a deal
to get votes for the franchise, and gives the
details. 1t may % hard with the sanctimoni-
ous salOon-keeIer.
Waites revelations and his apparent readi-
ness to become States evidence will cause
qualing in a great many quarters. Again we
renew our advice to all the implicated Alder
men of 1854 to throw themselves on the mercy
of the court and make iull confession. There
are lively days at hand.