The morning call., 1893-05-04
THEY MUST PAY.
Fiat of the Democratic
County Committee.
Political Assessments Must Be Col
lected to Liquidate the Debt of
the Last Campaign.

There is a loud, long howl which re-
echoes with dismal wall up and down the
. corridors of the new City Hall.
The cry comes from not only the en-
ployes known as copyists, clerks, deputies
and other subaterns, but may be heard
proceeding also from the soft throats of the
heads of departments.
The occasion of this growl is an attempt
which is being made by the Democratic
County Committee to collect a sufficient
sum from those who were fortunate
enough to secure positions to pay off the
indie btedness of the party incurred in the
como act OF the last campaign.
The County Committee makes the argu-
ment that many of those who now have
places promised to contribute toward the
expenses before the election. and the pres
ent demand is simply gentle reminder
that they must 60 down in their pockets
and put up the stuff
1t is well known that some of the sue
cessful candidates were assessed by tile
bosses for round sums of money reaching
past the thousand limit, and that not only
have some of these candidates now in Office
failed 10 pay all their assessments but
some have had the temerity to pay none at
all. Among those who failed TO pay $500
assessment is n pTnmin ent Judge.
Now the County Comm ttee desires set
Element, and the fat has gone forth that
the ducats must be speedily forthcoming,
and this explains the howl
The Democratic County Committee in
C conducting its campaign spent large sums
OF money, more than any other party. 1t
was the only party which had on election
day party representatives at every polling
place distributing tickets. All of these men
had TO be paid. Large sums were also spent
In watching Kelly and Crimmins and to
prevent stufling of the great register.
Before the election the County Com
mittee levied heavy assessments on the
candidates. There was an indignant pro-
test at the time, but the bosses were deter
mined ana would not recede.
Some of the assessed paid up; others paid
part and promised the rest; few paid
not at all, but promised to do so If elected
After the election the County Committee
found itself a number of thousands of
dollars behind. The committee has waited
some time in order to allow the candidates
and employees TO draw several months SAL
airy, but now they think they have waited
10 z enough. and want those assessments
p id.
1t was said at the hall yesterday that the
pressure of the powerful in Office would be
brought TO bear ON the dependent and sub
ordinate so as to compel obedience to the
collection mandate of the august County
Committee.
Late in the afternoon there was meeting
OF County Clerk Haley and all bis deputies
in one of the cOurfrooms. and the session
lasted over an hour. After the meeting
familiar clerks edged away from the report
ers. as if 10th TO betray the secret of the
meeting, and County Clerk Haley, when
asked about the meeting, said be and his
men were only tending 10 little private"
business of their own.
The "private" business had considerable
TO do with the Democratic County Commit
tees collection OF assessments.
During the last few days the Supervisors
have been holding quiet little caucuses of
their own in the new executive chamber in
the loft OF tie City Hall, where the men,
bers retire whenever they want to discuss
things by themselves. $40 90 aloft" now
in the board means to caucus. At these
quiet little meetings the assessment subject
has been discussed, as CALL reporter was
reliably informed yesterday.
In the meanwhile the assessed party Is
bowling and kicking in the traces, and
whether he will pay or not will depend on
the sting of the whip held over him.