New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-03-01
DEMOCRACY IN A PALACE.
PRIMITIVE WAYS OF THE GOVERNOR.
THE oAsTLKs or KINGS NOWHERE BESIDE THE
ExEcUTIvE MANSION.
fDY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRfBUSE.i


EXECUTIVE MANSION
| rpY TELEGRAPH THE TRIBUNE
| Alr,xr Feb 29.-The JefersoniaD Democrat has
been grossly deceived In his minds eye for year past
David D. Hill has living in building with much OF
the simplicity about 1t OF Tippccan"cs log CABIN ana
hard cider always tap Mt the back door 1t was Mr.
Hill himself who drew this alluring picture In DIS mes
soce to the Legislature begging for $4,000 to use IN
buying furniture Tor the Executive Mansion Is 10
neither elegant nor gorgeous STRUCTURE 'ho WV
arnor SAID II is we'll built Is plain large. subsan-
tal and connodious." But here came william stein-
way the noted piano manufacturer of New-York today
and said that In his traes through Europe he id cot
zee the castle King Queen that surpassed the Elk
ecJtive Mansion.
ut Ia the esua said Mr. Steinway. Of the castle OF
thu Duke OF Brun wick of that Of the King Of Bavaria
of the castle of che Emperor OF Austria.
and OF Windsor Castle the homo OF Queen Victoria.
This interesting testimony was extorted from MIR.
steinway By Assembyman icehsn. of Buffalo, the
especial champion OF the Governor SO II Is highly val
uable Mr. sheehan will have to take the Jefersonan
Democrat into corner and explain the discrepancy 10
tween Governors and Mr. steinways descriptions OF
the Executive Mansion Tue testimony WAS given before
the Assembly Committee on Ways and Means, which
continued its Investigation OF tho Governors purchase
OF furniture to te amount OF $4,000 In excess OF his
| appropriation for that purpose.
| WILL HAVE To REPORT A DEFICIENCY.
| The chief witnesses Mr.. stcinway from whom
| the Governor bought grand piano for $780, and
Charles b. Andrews Superintendent of Public Buildings.
who paid the bills that the Governor had run up Mr.
Andr acknowledged TO the committee that this
absr ctiOn by the Governor OF Sj0)O from the fund or
$4,000 appropriated for the maintenance or the pubic
buildings rendered 1t Impossible Tor him to maintain
them without further appropriation by tho L"gis
| Iatnre. lie should have to report" deficiency" OF
$4,000 or more.
Robert Ray IIamilt. and General Hu'ted today
the chief examiners OF the witnesses Mr. Stenvay. in
| giving his Testimony, said some time in May last
Governor Hill callc accompanied by Mr. Perry
and asked to lock NJ my piauoa soon found that Mr.
Perry q great expert on woods and therefore took
him the piano which is now IN the Executive Man
SION sold him at price. seeing that 1t was to
be the pr o. erty the stlte OF New-York The Execu
tive Mansion pre.ents picura OF taste and elegance
that is rarely surpassed In this country.
OUK PARLOR GRAvDs.
"wlll you please describe the piano. Mr. Steinway!"
said Mr.. Hamilton.
THE piano itsef is ono OF our paror granis which
furnish the uSons OF the wealthy 1t Is made OF
rare costly kind of mahogany. The case itself costs
$3.50 than the ordinary cases'
Willis T.. Merriam head clcrd OF Controller Wempie,
disrIayed to the committee the bills mp by Governor
Hill for thu. furniture They all had written across their
face IN Mr.. His small handwriting tile words, APP
proved for payment, David n. Hill, Governor"
! Charles b. Andrews. superintendent Of Public Build
ings said: 1t ha. ben my to turn sh To all inc
DEPARTMENTS furniture they desircl It, The Executive
Mansion being ono Of these buildings. furnished such
| furniture for il as deemed was necessary
Mr. Hustle do yon permit the heads or departments
! to decide what they think il neressaryi
| "Oh. no: dec 10 what /, necessary
hnd here n bill of $500 for 5tcinwav grand piano
| By virtue OF what law did you pay that oil ~ sa Mr.
| Husiel.
II thought it was almost necessity in mansion |
regarded 1t ) a proper purchase"
tailf a,k. NJ Ct nj lfa
powcri"
AN act passed in 1888 which me charge of the
public bindings and pale appropriation for tAeir
maintenance
what has been your custom in making purchases for
| five years ="
! The trustees OF public buildings always sanctioned
what have done"
| "who trustee of tho public buildings last year
when the Executive Mansion furniture bought
Din the Of pnbic buildings authorize you to buy
this furniture !"
-They did not hut T thought ha. my authority by
virtue Of my appointment superinten lent of Public
Buildings"
MUSIC OVER THAT MUSICAL CLOCK.
Mr.. sheehan. do you remember when the billiard
table the musical clock brought TO ;he Excel
tive Mansion. Mr. Audrewsi
"Mr Perry brous the clock to the Executive Man
sion SUI tho approval IT the Governor The Gov
crnor rather doubted whether f. should be purchased
and offered for it out OF his priva funls n Mr.
ItITi NV SOU h""s puppy '"'ioOt WI
purchase for the Mansion, aud accordingly it was
charged to tire building funG."
Mr. lIusted-You paid for the clock out of the main
tenance account of the public buildings
! Mr. unmilton.-when was It frat suggested to You
TINT you should reftrush tue Executive Manson
| " # was suggested to about rptenher l. OBJ
tanned information from Mr. Perry. 10 was in tie
AIR" Laughter
| "There fund. there not. to purchase the
furniturei !"
Tbere was bnt Il a small one I had u CONVERSE
lion with Hin on the subject. IL said that
the furniture had been bought and there not enough
pay for IL. and 1t suggested mat should
pay for II out III The INA nienance fund. did So
Dh you ever object To the payment OF any OF these
bills presented by Mr. Perry !"
did not except for two llterstwO f,ya't Filters at
$500. nd not know nythlng about them"
| SLIGHT DIFFERENCE or OPINION.
alp your opinion is 1t lawful tor public officer to
purchase furniture In fiscal and pay FOR 1t with
the appropriation OF the next"
| II Is NOT
| Mr. shrchan.-No such thing Is asserted
Mr. Hamilton 1t IL, and Is a. strongly since Mr..
Pcrry's testimony Yesterday.
Mr. Latiiner.-WiD your appropriation OF $l50.000 he
sufficient for This year, tnat you have expended
much for the Executive Mansion
| Mr. Andrew "A. We'll, have already cyrendef $4,000
of the ami have snySGOO 900 left. The depart
good deal aud snail apply To the Lpgi sa
| turc for an appropriation.
| The committee will resume the investigation on
| Tuesday pex,.