New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-03-18
MUNICIPAL REVELATIONS.

The angry and reSentful mood into which
tbe Tammany administration has been thrown
by the earliest discoveries of the Senate Com
mittcc was plainly indicated on Saturday when
Nayor Grant made conspicuous display OF
his least creditable qualities. 1t is not sur
prising, perhaps, that so sudden change OF
fortune should have provoked our local rulers
10 wrath No doubt they are greatly disturbed
and discounted. Only few days ago they
were sailing over a smooth sea and under a
clear sky in a condition of great JOY and con
tentment. To-day they are labolng heavily
and are in great danger of being cast on lee
shore.
The revelations made on Saturday and at
Yesterdays session were not in the least degree
startling to lawyers, and there must be thou
sands of clients in whose minds they merely
served to recall unhappy memories, without
producing any new sensation. But to the ma
iority of citizens who have had no experience
with the Sheriff Office they cannot have JAILED
to suggest The reflection that 1t Is high time
the people of Newly DIRK became intimately
acquainted with the men who administer their
affairs and the methods they employ Inc
nrcsent investigation has already accomplished
enough to prove that it was sorely needed
and that its unflinching and skllful prosecution
is a matter of vital concern to this municipality
II is raining indictments. Three or four OF
the Shcriif's deputies, the Warden OF Ludlow
Street Jail and a Deputy commissioner OF
Public Works have been held already, and
this is probably only beginning. 1t Is even
possible that the Grand Jury will he impeed
hv a sense of its duty to give Mayor Grant
himself chance to describe and defend under
other circumstances some OF the proceedings
which, according TO his own testimony on sat
urday. he sanctioned. while Sheriff. to his own
pecuniary advantage. The Mayor was careful
not to admit for a moment that he ever stlayed
beyond the limits Of the statute Ill the matter
of fees and extra compensation, but his bargain
with the auctioneer Topping has an awkward
and rather ugly look. OF course. experience
has taught attorneys, and they invariably tcach
creditors who are their clients that 1t Is con
venient and cXpedient to stimulate the zeal
and reward the activity Of those who are abe
to make the process of execution and sale
success or failure as they choose. NOpOdy
imaeines that the auctioneerS fees which the
law does not mention are cyactcd at the point
of "A pistol or by violent threats. But every
body who has been involved in such proceed
ings knows that lawyers are. or AT least con
slider themselves to be, under the necessity OF
paying. at the ultimate expense OF clients, what
practically amounts to blackmail for the sake
of securing promp1 and efficient service.
We are not accusing Mayor Gran, of con-
scous dishonesty as the Sheriff Of this county,
or even of conscious unfaithfulnc>S to duty.
But. after his own admissions. he cannot com
plain if he is vigorously criticised and con
domned lie has himself disclosed the fact
that his administration of the Sheriff Office
was miserably shftcSS and disorderly; that he
was quite willing to share without question or
scruple the fruits of eXtortion, and that he
gave his confidence and support to subordinltcS
who never hcsitated to employ every chance
for making illicit gains out Of the desires and
necessities of all who came within their power