New-York tribune., 1888-04-12

IGOVERNOR HILL MAKES AN EXPLANATION"
| oBRIEN's CONTRIBUTIONS PURELY PERSONAL
| NOTHING TO DO WITH AQUEDUCr LEGISLATION
| ALBANY, April ll.-Governor Hiil upon being
asked about the charges regarding tie contribu-
tions to the Democratic State Committee in 1885
and New.York Aqueduct legislation, replied:
This attack upon me is not unexpected 1t is
! simply back fire Oh the part OF the desperate
and rereaung Quarantine ring who have re-
peatedly threatened that they would attack me II
persisted in oustng them from their oDlce. Ihere
| is very little use VI saying anything; because
when one charge Is explained and exploded, they
Will invent another, ana IL would Keep Dusy
man Like myself constantly Explaining, IL notced
all their mlsstatementS Nevertheless, wiz III
this instance depart from my usual custom OF not
noticing Newspaper attacks simply To say that
their latest invention is easily refuted Inc tacts
are: Near the close oil the campaign OF 1909, Ine
Democratic state Committee were onOrI ol iunus
and appealed to me TO help them l consented
to lend them my credit, and together with Judge
Alton b. Parker and Judge w l.. Muller, the chair
man and secretary OF the Executive Committee,
l signed a note with them as Joint makers for
1000, which Mr.. John keenan,, OF New-lork,
also a member Of the State Committee and a
prominent County Democracy man, then OF eX-
cellent reputation cashed for the committee, which
received and used the avails in the canvass. L
aso upon a like request, signed another note Tor
81 1000 which was lndorsed by my friend Judge
Muller the secretary, ana also las subsequently,
learned) by Mr.. John OBTen, the chairman OF
the State Committee, who procured 1t to be dis
counted at his bank, and the committee used the
avails in the legitimate expenses OF the campaign
aside from my own contribution, this was all
had personally to do with the finances Of the COM
mIttce.
After the election these two notes were Ia ken
Nd and paid by contributions Of friends and various
d mecrats including Chairman O'Brien, who was
the largest contributor. Whatever was paid were
personal contributions The firm of Clark &
o. Brien never contributed cent to nv knowledge
Mr. Clark is Republican. Mr. O'Brien was q
Democrat and the chairman OF the State Com
mittce and had perfect right to contribute what-
ever he pleased and the mere fact that he was
also an Aqucduct contractor with Clark dlu not
make IL improper for him to do so.
The hnueduct legislation Of the next year had
nothing whatever TO do with these matters. That
LEGISLATION was introduced bv Republican Senator
Uovsradt) and passed the Republican Legislature
almost unanimously. and I approved It, with
morandum giving publicly my reasons.
While 7 somewhat Reluctantly apnroved the
hill NJ 4hp fine 7 nm satisfied after two wears Of
trial that il has subserved the best interests or
the CITY Of Now-Yor< There was end IS nothing
to conceal about the contributions which any
hodv rorde tc rho State Conlniittcc IN 1885, The
Rennb'ican candidate for Governor, Mr.. Daven
mort was = very rich man. willie al the Demo-
cratic candidates were men Of moderate means
md we made the best fight wc could under the
circumstances and won IT, and there was morning
done bv anv ono 10 he ashamed or The attack
unon mo will react uDon its authors and the lte-
nrhlicanS NAV investigate rs much as they please
Their CHARGES viii meter cut Ike the Executive
Mansion investigation. and the Quarantine ring
NAV do It's worst but I shall not change my
course In the slightest degree"