New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-08-19
TALK OF THE TOWN,
HE FAsSETT COMMITTEE HARD AT WORK.
WHAT THE COMMISSIONERS OF ACCOUNTS
AMOUNT To-socIALIsTIo TESTIMONY THAT
DEMOCRACY MEANS FREE TRADE
MAYOR HEwITTs CHANCES
OF DENOMINATION


OF RECONCILIATION
see that the Commissioners OF Accounts are In
vcsugating the Aqueduct II there is any droller
spectacle than these Commissioners OF Accounts pre-
sent with their Investigations should like TO see
IT, Their ONCE which costs the city about $50 900
year, is the most amusing humbug with which the
town Is afflicted. But there is a point at which n
humbug ceases to be amusing, and these Commission
ers are rapidly nearing IT, During all the years in
which they have been investigating they have
never made single picayune discovery that has
been OF the slightest advantage TO the city. Gross
frauds have been going on constantly all around them
frauds open and notorious that the most poorly I'm
formed newspaper reader knew all about them and
yet these saared detectives have silent neaccfuIlv IN
through them al. scandalburdcned atmosphere
seems to have a stupcfactivc influence upon them.
But the funny thing is that always after great fraud
has been unearthcd they suddenly begin TO invest-
cato IT, When everybody knows all about II, they
invariably appear with their shovels and pckaxes
ana oegin digging away with show of earnest
ness and suspicion. You see interviews with thcm
IN 'ne papers, where they say with pompous pom
derosity that, album, they are making a careful
inquiry into these reports, and, um-ah, II there Is
fraud there they will. album. surely discover it,
ANA that Is the last you hear Of IT, unless the
person investigator happens TO be henchman of
ex-Mayor Grace. In that event. a report of the
commissioners is always published generating the
accused.
could never understand why Mayor Hewitt re-
tained Commissioners Sherman and Adamson,
why when Adamson's death left vacancy, he should
have appointed ex-senator DAILY to fill the place. The
commissioners intended be detectives in the
service of the official head of the city They have
ample powers OF investigation their express func-
ton is TO keep the Mayor informed as the acts OF
the subordinate officials. We're this work properly
performed, IL might be OF the highest advantage TO
the city, but as it has been done It has been
worth mill. Tho charges against Squire, IL is true,
were brought I'm the name OF the Commissioners of
Accounts, but that only because It suited Mr..
Grace so 10 have them brought far the Flynn
letter was concerned, the Commissioners had more
20 do with It's discovery than the man In the moon
They did mako charge against Squire their
own account This RELAXED 10 the Ffth-ave. pave
mont, and its effect to get the city into diff
Guilty which caused infinite trouble and within
hair of costing It a round half million Of dollars |
AS the ground of an accusation against Squire how
cvor, II had be abandoned. Tho Commissioners
hold their Office at he Mayors pleasure and It would
be worth while 10 know what they have done |
that appeals to Mr.. Hewitt a for retaining
them
some people are asking why the Investigations by |
Senator Fassett's committee do not 60 forward. They |
need not worry themselves. That committee knows Just
what IL is about. SO docs senator Fassctt Indeed, |
have rarely met man who so continuously under
stands himself Senator Fassott. Most only /
men get really we'll acquainted with themselves.
IT Is 10 enjoy rare distinction then, when man !
IS pointed out possessing generally Intelligent
idea OF what he is about senator Fassctt does not
mean to waste time holding fruless sessions of his
committee lie intends, when he calls 1t together,
that something shall be elected which will Justify
meeting. The intervals between the meetings
well employed The silent probe Is all the while at
work Soon, and perhaps at the committees next
session. Of the largest schemes Of public plumber
ever operated in NewYork will be exposed. If should
speak more plainly than this might indicate the ex
act SPOT upon which The calcium light Of exposure is
10 be turned Perhaps this would do no great HARM
since the evidence is already in hand and padlocked
safely But 1t would be pity to take from the
rOgues 10 whom this vague hint may apply the pleas
ure Of specializing to which of them is to be Mr..
Fassett's next victim. Ono of them IS that's GER
tain, and II Will be so diverting TO them this hot
weather chew the reflective cud, and to relieve the
mOnotony of these warm and weary hours conjuring
up visions of political moose about their necks The
moose is dangling. They may be sure Of that.
An intelligent workiugman, who used to
81 IL week in England and who earns ZIG 10 here,
handed circular which is being secretly dis
rbutcd among the working people My friend has
lot been in this country long enough to vote, but
10 says that he measures his hope that the Amer-
an people will be foolish enough !
the fatal step toward free trade by Just the diff
crencc between 81 IL and SIG 70. Since the cam
align opened he has heard some Democratic speeches
nd las read some Democratic papers, in which 1t
'as sought 10 impress upon him that the DemOc-
acy did not mean free trade. As bearing on what
he Democracy means, he handed this circular.
nd strongly does it BEAR that give 1t herewith in
al
MAsS-MEETINC
Of advocates Of