New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-05-30
PRICE THREE CENTS.
FRANK RICE'S STATEMENT.
MUCH ADMISSION, SOME DENIAL. BUT TILE
CHARGES ARE ALL TRUE AND THE
PROOF IS IN THE RECORDS.

direction of Frank Rice, Secretary Of State.
They charges that stood or fell by the
records in Mr.. Rices office. No amount OF personal
testimony, either in afirmance or in denial OF
them, could stand for a moment against the docu-
mentary proofs of which Mr.. Rice had custody.
From the day on which we published the charges
until last Friday, Frank Rice preserved with ne
gard to them an absolute silence Allegations
more serious would he difficult to imagine. 1t
was charged not merely that he had returned to
the Legislature an inaccurate report, but that he
had actually falsied the records, that he had de-
berately altered the rolls Of the enumerators, and
for shamelessly partisan purposes. Nothing could
have been more easily disposed Of than this charge
if it had been false. The rolls were at hand.
They resting in the pigcon-holes OF an enor-
nous rack where they might at any moment have
been examined The slightest glance at them
would have shown either that our charge was
utterly mistaken that Rice and his bureau
officials had committed the Infamous fraud We
alleged.
But Mr. Rice had nothing to say. Days came
and went but he made no attempt to defend him.
self He locked the doors Of the room where
the records kept. lie soaped the windows
so that no one from the outside could see within.
lie kept watchman the inside and another
on the outside Of the locked door. Day and night
access to those records was guarded. This was
Mr. Rice's answer, and until Friday his only
answer, to the charge that an examination Of tho
records would prove that lie had made a dis
honest and fraudulent report OF the enumeration.
Mr. Rice's deputy, it is true. did attempt some
thing in the nature of defence Of the Office.
What he said vas mostly confession Much
was false statement and the rest was
folly He acknowledged that alterations
Of the rolls had heen made, but he said there
were good and ustifying reason, for every such
change. When the reporters and correspondents
sought TO have him settle the whole matter by
allowing them to go down into the record room
and the rolls, he peremptorily refused lie said
he didn't think it to the public interest
that they should be laid open TO inspection. lie
thought "they might yet lest" He couldne
bear to think of reporter looking at those
clamped sheets Of foolscap paper for fear that.
presto they should vanish into thin air. When
they had been bound. he said, and placed on file
in the State Library, then curious people would
have the chance 10 examine them.
Bat said Mr.. Benedict, the deputy, :" l have
letterbook here which will show the reason for
every change mlde in tie returns. IL contains
all the correspondence with the enumerators. 1t
is well bound and can he seen at any time"
This statement appearing in the Albany cor
responderce of our contemporary. The Herald
our staff correspondent called Mr.. Benedict
and asked to see the letter-book. He brought
to Mr.. Eencdict's attention, in order to make his
application clear ami specific, the fact that IN
the official report of Mr.. Rice 10 the Legislature
il was Represented that in the Twentieth Elec-
ton District of the lid Assembly District OF the
City of New-York there 900 aliens, whereas
in the duplicate roll for that district, filed in the
County Clerks office in New-fork City, 1t APP
peared that the aliens numbered 1856; and ho
desired Mr.. Beneict if there existed a well-bound
lettcr-book which could be seen at any time, and
which would show the for every change
that had been made in the epumerators' rolls, to
produce the book, and to show him the reason
Of the ~ changes that had been made in the
roll of tie Twentieth Election District.
Mr. Benedict did not produce the letter-bOok.
lie did not produce the roll. lie produced only
sad but expansive smile. He did not say in
words that The Herald had reported him in
accurately 10 that letterbook and what it would
show but in a sneaking sort Of way he attempted
TO escape the responsibility of his language.
The newspapers. he said, often attributed things
t, him which he had great difficulty in recosniz-
ing But he declined TO say whether he ac-
ceptcd or repudiatcd the language which was
attributed 10 him by The Herald
On Tuesday Of this week The Tribune printed
the news that an attack was 10 be made in the
courts upon the Legislatures act reapportioning
the State in legislative districts. and that one
of the grounds of the attack would Re the frauds
that had been committed in Frank Rice's office
and under his direction. On Friday The World
appeared with an Albany dispatch containing
Mr. Rice's personal answer t. our charges. IL Is
not ont Of place TO comment on the tmellness OF
this publication Three weeks have passed since
the charges were made. From their very nature, II
thcy were false, every one of them could have
been completely disproved in half as many
minutes as it took Rice to talk 10 The World
correspondent. The rolls and cards in the
Enumeration Bureau told the true story. But no
consideration. either of his own reputation or Of
that Of his Office induced Mr.. Rice 10 say
word or show a record until he knew that .his
misconduct was TO be brought into court Then
he undertakes feeble attempt to dslodge the
purpose of those who are in pursuit Of him by an
interview which, as his man Benedict suggested,
he may hereafter find difficulty in recognizing II
it so suits his convenience.
We shall assume that this interview is authen-
tic and accurate. 1t consists of six lines OF IN
troductcn. wherein the reporter says that he IN
tcrvcwed the SECRETARY. Then follows the words
Mr. Rice said, and thereafter is an uninter-
rnp,ed statement. full column long and in quota
ton marks throughout. Undoubtedly it was pre-
pared with the utmost care and is the most and
the best that Rice can say for himself Before
considering the interview it is desirable to recall
tbc charges to which it is reply. They are a.
follows:
Fiist-The returns were so altered by the clerks
in the Enumeration Bureau, under orders, As to
make it appear that large numbers of persons,
probably as many as 100000, Were returned by
the enumerators as citizens, whereas they were "
fact returned aliens.
Second-Alicn inmates OF institutions. pena
and charitable, were unwarrantly counted q
citizens
Third.-The population of the city Of Brooklys
was arbitrarily increased in the sum OF 2o,oss
after the said population had been fully finally
and correctly computed, and after the correct
Lod bccn srnt 10 the Legislature.