New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-08-21

siroblc 70 have the original letter that was sent
to tho Governor and invited Mayer icT Io,, :,
give his views about producing It, Mayor lieWi,s
had very pronounced views on The subject ana
he delivered himself of them with much cnergtfi;
II seemed 10 him monstrous' that pcOPle snou;
not be allowed TO correct errors and mistakes ID
thcir corrcsuondrnce without being required to
produce the original letters with the errors hn9
mistakes lie thought that whcn H.. eu5er and and
corrected letter substituted Tor IT, ,he correcteu
letter took the place OF the original letter. Oh
general principles s nc "S Outrage, N"i TO
bc required TO produce the original
letter he had sent to the Governor " There
is no difference he said, between ,he wv ' ~
TORS that need cause one moments hesitation III
producing them. In the performance OF my dug
tried TO he moderate and avoid the use oil 'erhi'
that anybody might think offensive"
PUBLIC AND PRIVATE CORRESPONDENCE
Chairman Fassett suggested that the rules that
govern private correspondence did not apply WIN
the same rigidity to correspondence between OIL
cials Whereupon Mayor Hewitt replied tartly
." I have known public officers who were gentie-
men" Then he explained that he didn't regard
as official letter which he had written ana SUP
sequently withdrawn for the purpose OF correcnng;
The substituted letter then became the onc"i
letter, in his Judgment
General Tracy-Do you claim, Mr.. Hewitt, that your
Official correspondence after has been written ana sent
aud received by the person whom Is directed can DC
Withdrawn and another letter substituted A-Ceraihy'
With consent Of the person TO whom tho letter was
sent think that would be perfectly ushed ID oons H.
and would have been justified in tearing the copy OF
tho original letter out OF my copy-book' oecauSc IL eA
no longer as public document
Odd you submit the first letter to Governor liill TO
any person before you sent 1t? Al did not SUBMIT "
to anybody for revision
Odd you submit it for any other purpose! Al
did not that letter; I know what you want you
want to know whether while making these drafts sub
n,tcd any Of anybody draft OF the letter was
read by me the Corporation Counsel After the Cor
marathon Counsel ven, away without saying anything re-
wrote 1t entirely and The letter sent he never saw
EXPLAINING TIE VERBAL CHANGES
General Tracy questioned Mayor Hewitt concern.
ing his change OF the phrase political retainer
in the original letter to political partisan" IN
tho substituted letter. Mayor Hewitt said that he
did not remember whether Colonel Rice had sug-
ges.ed tho change.
p-would you not expect that such an Official would
~ a political parsan' A.-No. I would not 1 do not
make appointments that principle myself. and nope
that other officials do not. L believe that am no"
denounced By both wings Of the Democratic party ior
not following tho good oIdashioncd Democratic rule
Mr. Ncoll-You ought to feel compensated by the COM
mendaons Of the Republican party.
Chairman Fassctt-We love him for the enemies he has
made.
Mavor Hewitt" TImeo Danaos ct dona fcrsntes."
Rropcbt, back TO the subject of the original and
tlc substituted letter again, the Mayor SAID that
The only changes made in the ettc: were vcroal
the first letter was not good letter, IL dld hoo
give "a clear statement OF the case. The supStl-
tuted letter WIS III some respects efohgoI Oi"n
the original letter. o
The committee adjourned at o'clock 70 reas-
semblc at fl o'clock. when Mayor llewitts eX-
animation will probably be continued WI,
After the adjournment Delaney Nlc9li, WIZ
lam F. Shcehan and Corporation Counsel BcelIman
followed Mr. Hewitt over to the City Hall, where
a long and earnest consultation was hela III inc
Mayors office The subject was the adyisablliy
OF urging the Governor to ask Mayor llcWitu 10
urodncc the original letter Mr.. Nicol was clearly
Of the opinion that the Withholding OF the Mayor
first letter would he act OF suicide on INC
ciovcrnor,s part No matter how harmless 1t
might be- people would have their own lueas
about what IT, contained and surely conclude thdb
there must be something in it that the GoVerMuor
was afraid TO have come TO the ight VT.
the Mayor TO express his opinion. But MT Hewitt
refused 80 take any part in the discussion, anu
left tho three others to argue the ease among
Themselves while he went to work upon inc papers
which crowded his desk.
II required some time and much talk to BRING
,ho nronai letter Bat under the pointed argu-
ments Of Messrs Nicoll and Beellman he finally
gave way and going over to the Mayors desk
asked Mr. Hewitt whether he would consent 10
produce his first letter 70 the Governor on A1ue-
Suct matters il Mr. Hill should make the request:
Certainly, WILL answered Mr. Hewitt, II
the Governor requests It,"
Mr. Shcehan telcgraphcd at once TO the Governor
desiring him 10 request Mayor Hewitt by telegraph
TO hand over the letter to the investigating Com
mittce. Mr. Shechan was seen at the HOFFMAN
House last evening. and said Ny telegram was
received by the Governor, who at once maze In9
desired request to Mayor Hewitt. The original
letter will he produced before the committee IN the
in the morning.