New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-10-05
HILL AND TWEED.

1t is not a new thing for David Is. Hill TO
be charged with personal corruption. The
words of DR.. Crosby that Mr.. Hill "has been
a subservient tool in the hands of the worst
and most degraded classes of this State" were
as true when he was member of Assembly IN
the days of the Tweed Ring as they are now.
Mr.. Hill was not only Tweed's subservent tool
in the Legislature, but received a large sum OF
money from him to carry on business enter
prise. In July, 1870, Mr.. Hill started The
Elmira Gazetteo with 50 G, 900 capital, 81 0,00O
of which was contributed by Tweed, whose
character was then thoroughly understood.
Samuel ]. Tilden, whose disciple Mr. Hill after
ward professed to be, had attacked the Tweed
Ring as early as April 5, 1870, months be-
fore Hill and Tweed entered into partnership.
Mr.. Hills friends have not been able to deny
this transaction, but they claimed that it took
place at time when Tweed had not been ex-
posed The dates just given show that this is
false. When the crash came Mr.. Hills paper
tried to lie out of his connection with Tweed.
On October 80, 1871, 1.-The Gazette said !:
" Mr. Tweed or any other person residing out
of Elmra has not nor never has had dollars
worth of stock nor any interest whatever IN
this paper.n Yet when Mr.. Hill was can
didate three years ago, and this matter was
brought up Mr.. Horton Tidd an intimate
friend and supporter of Governor Hill made an
affidavit in his defence, in which he acknowl-
edged that Tweed in July, 1870, subscribed
for $4,000, or half of 1.-The Gazette's" stock.
When Tweed's troubles began his stock was
transferred to Mr.. Hill for $4,000.
Mr. Hill and his paper worked hard for this
money both before and after getting it, The
Gazette" defended Tweed vigorously after he
had been exposed. On August 4, 1871, it de-
clared that "ths hue and Cry about New
York swndles is raised to divert the public
attention from the corruptions at Washington"
and on September it said: "This great out
CRY about Tweed in New York was raised, and
is still kept up, solely for political effect"
But it was Mr.. Hills legislative services
which seem 10 have been the chief consideration
for that 81 ZOO. There was no job so bad
that he would not vote for it. Not one of the
Tweed measures. by which popular government
was absolutely destroyed in this city, could have
been passed if Mr.. Hill had voted against them.
His vote gave Tweed and his friends all the
elective and appointive offices except Alder
men and Assistant Aldermen, all the power to
levy taxes and dsburso city funds, to open.
close and widen streets and avenues, to steal
whenever, wherever and however much they
pleased, and TO manipulate the registry lists
and balot-boXes at will. When Tweed lost
his majority in the Assembly Hill gave it back
to him. by reporting in favor of unseating
man honestly elected and putting one OF
Tweed's followers in his place. When the
people Of New York rose in their might to
drive the corrupt judges from the bench they
found Mr. Hill in their way. He voted against
a resolution calling for the impeachment OF
Judges Barnard and Cardozo, and also voted to
reconsider the impeachment resolution as soon
as it had passed. voting on this question against
Samuel j. Tilden. Judge Barnard was i'm
peached and found guilty, but Judge Cardozo
escaped, being enabled to resign through
clever trick of Mr. Hill. He succeeded in slip
ping in CardozOs resignation on question OF
privilege, before the report of the lmpeach-
ment Committee was presented.
About this time Mr.. Hill was prosecuting
the famous Chemung Valley claims. These
were for damages sustained by freshet twelve
years before the suits were brought, and it
was dunltteu ny CidlhldhIs "heh oho hp"''oi
came to be investigated that they did not know
they had claims until informed by the lawyers.
Hill and his partner were to pay all the eX-
penses, and 20 receive one-third or one-half the
awards. as the case might be. The appropria-
tions were put through the Legislature with
Tweeds help. Over $4,000 was taken from
the Treasury in this way, one-half OF it being
for interest, without word Of testimony be-
ing heard for the State, and Mr.. Hill and his
partner are supposed to have secured about
one-half Of the amount.
The Aqueduct scandal, bad as it is, is mere
childs play to David b. Hill. VIII the voters
Of this State choose him for Governor over that
honest man, Warner Miller?