New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-04-18
SCORING THE CONTROLLER.
REPORT ON THE MARKET INVESTIGATION.
REVIEW OF THE ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
IN THE WAY OF THE EXAMINATION.


IN THE WAY OF THE EXAMINATION.
Commissioners Holahan and Barker, Of the
Bureau OF Accounts, sent to Mayor Grant yester-
day 1hev report OF the new West Washington
Market investigation. It presents an extremely
long review Of the testimony taken, in which the
difficulties which beset the investigation, caused
by the attitude Of opposition exhibited by the
Finance Department, eliminating in the revoca-
ton of Marl1etman Kilby's permit aud the
embarrassment resulting from the failure Of
Graham McAdam TO produce the 1900 stand
applications and full memorands relating there
to. are given as the opening chapter. The Con-
troller's a. reform policy" is severely handled.
The testimony regarding Graham McAdsm's con-
nection with the awarding Of the stands OF the
North River Fish and Game Company, and the
50, 600 which Charles Philpsen, the manager, drew
from the cashier, Nelson Gesner, to pay for the
five. desirable stands which the company
secuted, is gone over fully, but no opinion as to
McAdam's guilt or innocence is expressed. The
Mayors attention is especially called to the
evidence showing the potent influence oil County
Democracy politicians in obtaining STANDS ior
their adherents. The report goes on:
The question Of fixing direct responsibility for ths
corrupt method OF sotting the stands In question ana OK
the unhappy but inevitable results which have noweo
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
with some difficulty. OF course the Controller himself
is ofcally responsible the head OF the Finance Do
partment But he endeayored when the witness stand
relieve himself Of the charge OF personal responsibility
by asserting that no victim Of misplaced conf
dence In those subordnates TO whom he intrusted the
business OF making allotment, and that he had no
personal participation In the matter, except In twelve
instances at the most
On this question however there is serious connict
Of evidence between Controller and his confidential
assistant, Graham McAdam.
Such was the ignorance OF the whole matter which
tho Controller displayed that toward the close Of the
investigation, when all tho dsgraeeful acts 10 which we
have referred had been spread the record the Con-
roller seemed sti in doubt whether he had
been deceived not and whether after all the allotment
was not on the whole. fair honest and satisfactory.
Not only had he word Of condemnation for the subor
dnaes who had he claimed betrayed his confidence and
prosauted his ONCE but he seemed TO believe that the
establishment Of the market and the allotment Of
stands Of credit than reproach his admin.
istration.
During the examination Of the Controller 1t appeared
from comparison of the market revenues of the years
1870 1871 1872 with those of 1885, 1897 and 1885, that
here remarkable falling Of In the receipts Of the
latter years. notwithstanding Increased market facilities
This astounding fact directed the attention Of the Com
mssioners toward the Of the Market Bureau.
Att outset the COMMISSIONS discovered condition
Of looseness and careessnes In respect the business Of
collecting this important item OF the city which
ltsle less than criminal No adequate Of books
kept No system Of checks the collectors OF market
rentals IN force. Indeed the system II the confused
state Of the be called better a1apted
make misappropriaon easy and safe than into
the treasury with the collection OF which
Bureau charged
The missing collection books of the Market
Bureau and the apparent embezzlement of large
sums collected by the bureaus officers from stand
rentals and other sources of the city's income
furnish material for q considerable portion Of the
report, the facts of which have already been
made public. The conclusions arrived at by the
Commissioners are rs follows:
Firstrhat the charges made TO the Mayor concerning
the allotment OF stands in the West Washington Mar
ke which the Commissioners investigated pursuant
the direction Of tho Mayor. In all respects we'll
founded and true.
second-That the rules Of o wise and proper policy
which claimed had Influenced the allotment. wero
wly violated in practice. and little. any respect paid
the real welfare OF the market.
Third-That allotment Of stands question
psrtIality shown and injustice done by those
ocals In the Finance Department who responsible
for the work.
Fourh-Thas stands were awarded account Of political
consideration In disregard Of the claims Of bona de deal
who anxious TO stands and to bring their
trade and following 10 she market
FfthThSt applications for stands blackmsiled by
the Finance Department and extoed from them BY
persons employed there.
sixh-That this NATURALIZATION resulted In
Ing market erected and maintained at Rreat cost to the
city. failure instead OF a success. and indicted
injury upon the business Of innocent and Industrious
dealers
Seventh-That the head OF the Finance Department
himself from personal responsibility by claiming
that ne Ignorant OF the practices Of his subordnates
and deceived BY them, although the evidence essb
fishes the fact that he had personal participation In
the actual alotments than he willing 10 admit.
Eighth-That the OF the Market in
confusion That sets OF books adequate 10 the
proper collection OF the city derived from markets
hsvo been kept for many years That many important
books the contents Of which might throw light
the subject missing and that that account It is
impossible determine the extent to which the city has
A.a-..