New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-10-23
NATURALIZATION BRIBERY.
HOW TAMMANY MEN FILL THEIR POCKETS.
UNFAIR DISCRIMINATION IN THE COURTHOUSE
A PROFESSIONAL PERJUBER

The Fassett men would find rich deposits Of
rascality if it could only dig into the facts con-
| cerning the naturalization of citizens in the
Superior Court The state of affairs there is about
as bad as it was in the Sherfs Office and in Lud-
low Jail before the light of day was turned on the
way in which Tammany Hall squeezed illegal
fees from citizens. The sights about the Superior
Court yesterday and for over week were enough
to disgust and shame even a Tammany man who
has not lost all sense of honor. Brides were flung
about wholesale, and half dollar was sufficient
| to get man almost any unjust or illegal favor.
The press of persons who wish to be naturalized
so that they vote at the next election has
been great for over a week. For day Oh two it
has been bad that fully 200 people have been
seen waiting for their papers at times. These
men are for the most part Kept in a line which
stretches down two flights of stairs in the after
noon. The ostcnsible plan is to have the men ap
proach the desks of the clerks in the order in
which they arrive, the only arrangement consistent
with fairness and justice. At the same time, this
rule is violated in the case of every man who has
Tammany Hall backing" or who is willing to
pay so cents
This is not the only evil Men who cannot write
their names cannot obtain an application from the
clerks unless they are vouched for by Tammany
Hall man, are willing to pay a consideration.
The foulest part OF the disgraceful business is
the shameless way in which perjury is practised.
There are men hanging about the corridors who will
swear to anything in connection with naturaliza-
tion for 81 or So. Tammany Hall needs votes
too badly to stop short of even grave a crime
as perjury to gain supporters.
DUTIES AND FEES OF THE wIGwAM RUNNERS.
The last ten days have brought good harvest
to the Tammany runners > who hang about the
Sumo rior Court Their husinpSs is to get DeOpe
into the clerks room ahead of their turns, to
see that they get their papers without difficulty,
and to furnish witnesses, if necessary, to swear
that the applicant is entitled TO citizenship.
These runners get fee of 80 cents usually tOr
slipping o man up TO the clerks desk, but one
man who wished to become citizen was seen to
give one Of these scouts So gold piece, receiv
ing 81 in change In this case the services were
probably more extensive than merely saving
time.
The crowd great yesterday that persons
who had no pull" had to wait three or four hours.
few would go to the United States District
Court for their papers, although the cost there IS
81 80, while in State court the fee is only 80
cents. If a man in the line better dressed
than the average, or showed signs of great inn
patience, he was approached by n runner, who asked
him if he wanted to get through quickly. OF
hours, and he said so. The runner would ask
for 50 cents and on receiving it would shove the
man and his witness into the where the APP
pl!catOns are issued The runner nodded TO the
policeman at the door, and il was enough.
Many men got into the room apparently with
out paying money, through their acquaintance
with employees In the court with the Tammany
Hall men scattered about. A named
Phillips was in charge Of the naturalization
bureau of Tammany Hall in the Court House cor
ridor yesterday He handled the tickets and saw
that his were not kept waiting too long.
Those of special consideration he sent past the
policeman at the door, ahead of men who had wait
ed for hours by simple nod of the head. One
Republican the other day waited half an hour at
the clerks DESK after he had stood in line for two
hours, while one Tammany man after another
walked into the room and received his papers.
A BRIBE AS GOOD AS PULL.
Men who didn't have Tammany Hall I" infiOo.
ence" and were in hurry, could avoid the long
wait by bribng the policeman at the door. Such
instances were numerous that one of the police
men, Gallagher boasted that he made $3S in one
day. He was not on duty yesterday. Louis Becker,
young German, of No. As Third-ave.. was anxious
to get his papers yesterday afternoon without
standing in line for hours One of the runners
wes appealed to, but he said his clerk was sick and
he couldn't arrange the affair. By his clerk he
meant the one who enabled him to shove in men
ahead of the long line.
why don't you pay the policeman 80 cents
He'll fix it,, said the runner A Tribune reporter
saw Becker and his witness push their way up to
the policeman. Dugan, and talk with him for an
instant The crowd so thick that the re-
porter could not see the payment of the money,
but Becker afterward declared that he handed
Dugan half-dollar. Becker and his companion
were showed in by Dugan, and they thus escaped
a long wait. Here is the most direct and absolute
proof that Dugan accepted a bribe
The clerks took many opportunities to refuse
papers to men who had the Republican tickets.
About fifty who could not write their names were
debarred within week, yet other men similarly
illieratc. received their papers. In one case this
was done as a favor to the companion of the ap-
plicant and in another instance a clerk intimated
that he could not issue the paper without fee.
dollar was paid to him and the papers were
forthcoming.
Tribune reporter yesterday had experience
which showed how easy it was to find man
who was willing to commit perjury for a small
sum- Zalel Guzik who lives in Ridge St, wanted
to get his citizens papers but he arrived at the
Court Hous, too late lie fell into the hands of
one Of these Tammany runners, named BauStein,
who lives in RidCe-st. Bausteln said that to-day
would be the last day before election which
naturalization papers could be secured. There
would be hundreds of applicants, and 1t would be
impossible unless one waited all day. to get to
the clerks desk. Guziks witness nonpluSsed
AT hearing this, as he could not spare the time
10 come down TO the Court House again, especially
if il would take all day.
That's all right said Blaustein. I'll be
the witness. lie then asked Guzik how long
he had been in this country, how old he was,
and few other questions so that he might swear
that N, had known the applicant for more than
five ycars Bauscin arranged TO meet Guzik at
9 O'Clock this morning, tO have him naturalized
in hurry Baustein said that hc knew Henry
Reilly a cl,rk in the court. Reilly is Tam.
many captain of an election district IN the Win,
Hlaustein went on, land tomorrow he Is going
to be I'm a separate room downstairs. lie viii