New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-04-19
TIE M1RKET REPORT.

The report of Commissioners Holahan and
Barker, OF the Bureau Of Accounts, on one mar
ket scandal and investigation is in one sense
mournful and in another pleasant reanng. IL
NAV be assumed without injustice TO anybody
that these two loyal sons of Tammany we're not
moved to tears by any revelations discrediting
the fidelity and capacity Of their County De
nocracy compatriot, Controller Myers. If the
investigation had been conducted behind closed
doors and the public were now admitted for the
first time DO an inspection OF these discoveries,
persons of cautious temperament would prob
ably feel inclined TO insist upon considerable
discount on the commissioners charges, but IN
point of fact their report contains no news
Everybody who has taken the trouble to follow
the testimony Is competent to test the accuracy
of their conclusions, and the verdict must be
that they have MOI exaggerated the facts They
have told the truth without fear, albeit prob
ably with great oomplacency.
Indeed, it would have been hard to magnify
the open record. The city has often been more
magnifoentty, but never more contemptuously,
swindled. II would be a mistake to say THAI
1t has been systematically cheated, for there
Is not a trace of system in the misnanagement
of the markets. Whatever has been done has
been done systematically, There has not even
been a consistent effort 10 hide the pilfeTing'
fayoritism bribery and careleSsness. The whole
business has been conducted in sipShod,
happy GO lucky, devil may-care manner, as II
the day of reckoning were as remote as the
millennium, and the end of the chapter as far
outside the range of present caleulaaon ana
concern as the termination OF S99-year lease
Even when it became apparent to most people
that in spite OF O. policy Of bluSter and inter
ference, adopted too late to be efectual by those
who ought to have claimed the privilege OF
handling the probe themselves, an inter
esting dissection was going to be performed
we were officially informed that it was not
going to amount to anything.
In behalf of the Controller it will be pro-
tested that such report as MeSsrs Hoiahan and
Barker have made is nothing more than was to
be expected from that source, and Mr.. Myers
himself will not unnaturally think that he has
been abused But the people, aside from those
who make a living out Of local politics, care
very little about the bitter strife between the
Democratic factions, and viii not complain be-
cause the report corresponds with the evidence.
The Controller has recently given the puf 10
reason to think that he appreciates at iaSV the
gravity of the situation in which unfa'thiul
subordinates have placed him, and has evinced
q oommendable disposition to rectify the errors
into which he fell at the eutset Of the inquiry.
It is to be hoped that this report will not pro-
woke him to reconsider his good resolutions.
He cannot fail to be aware that he has for
feited some of the confidence which his friends
placed in his sagscity. They would DO very
glad TO see him reinStated, and we shall not
be the last to recognize whatever service no
may yet be able 10 render the city. And in tho
meantime the Tammany brotherhood will do
we'll to refrain as far as possible from extrava-
CANT manifestations of joy. 1t has too many
sins of its own to answer for, and thus far has
brought forth too few fruits meet for repent
ance, to warrant exuberant halleluiahs over tho
discontinue Of its rival.