New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-11-14
ELECTION EXPENSES UNDER TIE NEW
I1W

Tammany Hall appears to have made liberal
reductions this year in the prices of offices.
This, probably, is due to the increased volume
of business which the Wigwam has been doing
under Croker, GiIroy, Cochran and Grant. These
sapacous gentlemen believe in the old trade
adage. Large sales and small profits" Like
all other great trusts, Tammany has been able
TO reduce the price of its commodity as the
result of combination. So long as half the
trade had to be shared with the County De-
mocracy and Irving Hall, it is obvious that
values had to be kept up in order to make
fair profit But with monopoly of the trade
Tammany has felt that it could afford to treat
it's customers generously, and it has leased the
public Offices this year at rates much below
those prevalent hitherto.
The average price for frst-cass Offices APP
pears to be $1,000. For this sum the Shirley
atty, the County Clerkship and two seats ON
the bench of the City Court have been disposed
of, presumably also the District Attoneyshlp.
In the statements of election expenses filed
under the terms of tho COrrupt-Practices Act
by the various candidates for these Offices the
pay ment of this money to Tammany is thlnly
disguised Mr.. Fitzsimons, for instance, who
has enjoyed the almost solitary distinction OF
being an Alderman who could talk gram
maticay and whose elevation to the bench
proceeded probably from that happy faculty,
says that his $4,000 was expended for the
printing and circulation of ballots. MIR. Cor
man, who will soon succeed Sheriff Sickles,
makes the same averment, and Mayor Grant
also rolls up printing and distributing" bill
of that amount. This, of course, deceives no
hoI 10 ,ot rr,rf-p roc
tees Act, in the form in which Governor Hill
consented to let it pass, is of no particular value
in putting an end to campaign assessments.
1t will not need to be argued that 81, 900
smells as sweet to Tammany called by one
name as by another. What Tammany requires
is "spot cash" paid in by 6 o'clock p. M the
night before the nomination. That DONE it
is not in the least particular what a candidate
says he paid it for, leaving that TO his con-
science and his sense OF the fitness OF things
1t will hardly be supposed that Mr.. Grant
got off with so small an assessment as $4,000
1t is true that there were reasons why Tam
many had to give especial consideration to his
bid, but in the light of the testimony presented
by Mr. Grant and Mr.. Croker before the Fas-
sctt Committee, the suspicion is justified that
il Mr.. Grant has paid no more than 81 900
now, he must have assumed the burdens of
godfather again. 1t is not unlikely that at the
right time he will go around slipping thou
sanddollar bills into the hands of prattling
infant, judicously selected. -Four thousand
dollars for "prnting and distributing ballots"
and another four thousand for being god
father would about make up the sum at which,
according to the present condition of the mar
ket the Mayors office ought to sell.
The accounts that are being turned in as
election expenses by the candidates lately be-
fore the people elOquently tell the story OF
Governor Hills trickery in the whole matter
of electoral reform. Forced into position
that compelled him to choose between con-
| ceding reform bills and administering another
shock to the moral sense of the people, he de-
| iberately undertook to cut holes in the law
so that all, or nearly all, the deviltry that has
| ever disgraced our elections might still be pos
sible. With veto ready, he was able to rem
| der his work availing and the result is an
| electoral system which has little else than the
| form and semblance of the Australian method,
| system that leaves party organizations and
INSCRIPTIONS candidates as free to work behind
| mask as before they were to work openly.