The evening world., 1894-03-08
Discomfort In the Force Likely to
Lead to an Cpon Revolt in
the Near Future.
QUEER EXPLANATION BY MURPHY.
Indications tina. Many Personal Fotcs Are
Held BY Alleged Claimants Against
Grsvesend Town.

hHuicteu private seCTetnry, ana JUSTICES
Sutherland and Newton go unwhipped
OF Justice, Just so long will the same
%impudent disregard of law prevail In
Gravesend Tow matters. When John
Y. McKane donned the convict stripes
his mantle fell on this triumvirate. They
are trying by the old methods OF intimi-
dalton n colonization to perpetuate their
power, but there are indications that a
popular upheavai threatens the old ring
with complete annihiiation. Those who
escape State prison are likely to be
driven by an adverse public sentiment to
leave the town.
While the committee OF citizens busy
digging into such books as are available
are u%nearthing methods OF financiering
which uggest the most desperate frauds,
other dangers menace the ~high-handed
trio of indicted officials.
The police have suffered long and in
silence. The men who wear the brass
buttons and called McKane ''Chief' be-
gin to realize they have been buncoed.
Many OF them have not been paid money
due them for months. while others have
been coerced into loaning money to this
one or that ono of McKane's lieutenants,
without the slightest hope OF ever re-
covering a dollar.
Not long ago n special policeman COM
planned to McKane that money due him
had not been paid. McKane said It had,
and declared he had given a check for
the money to John W. Murphy. The
officer saw Murphy and asked for his
money. The only satisfaction he got
was: well, I lost the check, see?' That
officer has never yet received his money.
He got no sympathy from McKane when
he repeated his demand. He was adj
vised by other officers not to be too
fresh"
Capt. Human. second in command of
the police. is also charged with not hest
tating to test the personal regard of the
men for himself by borrowing money of
them. In at least n instance he
borrowed IS of en- officer. and has never
suggested repa! ing the loan. The men
have been used worse than dumb brutes.
They have been forced under fear of dis
charge to do ell the dirty work asked of
them. and to subscribe literally for one
scheme or another. always In the name
or the rS:ron saint. Mckane. They have
AZ Police Headquarters at the Island
q big silk banner. heavy with gold
fringe and bearing an oil portrait Of
Mckane. rests gains the sid wall,
case. while inside, at Mechanics old desk,
a b~eetle-browed minion glares insolently
at all strangers. His usual salutation Is,
Well. who are you and what 10 yer
want?"
The feeling prevails at the beach that
Mckane was ruined by the men about
power of Murphy, Newton and Suther-
land. They were the advisers who con
trolled his actions, and they are the men
~ It M nnYe be- era @ ienF by yim n,s % bsio4a tn. real
1t is doubted whether a Judgment
s AMOUNT could Misi be- collected hee even Not, I long sm asO
he tried to borrow $4,000. and the Sc
curity he offered was rejected. A friend
accommodated him on a personal note.
The declaration that McKane is a
bankrupt and by his profigate sxtrava-
Eance has hopelessiy Involved the town
who now assert they have claims against
the town. The Dady note for $4,000 and
the Ditmar note for SOS, 900 have shed a
new light on The condition Of affairs.
The town Treasurer looks after the
bonded debt Of the town, which exceeds
$500. 900. He receives from the tax-col-
lector the money with which to pay the
COMMISSIONS of Investments he receives
the interest from, the common land
FUND. The collector paid to Mckane
a asa ins m aSe " t1r ' Tse na s=upernisor 81 is o tss
iisbursing agent. Bills against the town
are audited and put in the tax levy. In
,Se HId be nSyai fsSTse the of f sSsn.f ,hs se money X
is alleged that the claimants have been
accommodated In many cases with part
cash and notes signed by McKane. The
the notes are liens on the town for their
face value. The. money to iiquidate all
these bills has been paid over by the
authority Of law Tor the Supervisor to
Such notes, it is claimed. must be treated
to to s McKane' S 1or he e easSer' W mSie i sSis
state Of affairs would suggest that town
funds have been diverted from their
c DITG nsy c nb1cs t fnd s tina. there must is g def ss.
the fact is missing. The claimants are
t:mid about making charges against Mo
cash account more than sufficient money
to satisfy any claim the town may v
against him as Supervisor. Whether he
citizens succeed In e:ecting a supervisor
who will insist upon having all the books.
papers and cash accounted for.
nine years a ta~x-collector in Gravesend
election. Of John Y. McKane as a town
constable twenty-five years ago. d.. j.
Stillwell was Supervisor in those days,
and the annual tax levy was about
5000. The revenue from tho common
lands was about s., 200 n year. This
sufiiced to run the town then.
Mr.. Rumph says Mechanics first cleo
ton as Supervisor fifteen years &
was at the time charged 10 have been
brought about by coloniZers. The total
vote was about $50, but McKane's
friends brought $50 outsiders into the
town and elected MCkane and Inn
mediately started In to run the town
on lines to suit their convenience and
MI their pockets, Under McKane's
manipulations and the OF
the gang about him the tax levy to
meet current expenses and pay for local
improvements and interest on the $780,
OO bonds jumped to 1884. OOO. with every
indication OF going to S2o0 900.
Legitimately the expense OF the town
OF Gravesend ought not to exceed 800. 900,
and provide for police, Fire Department,
electric lights. water and needed i'm
provements.
To provide for these expenses, 1t is al
Leg. d, the revenues OF the town, under
any honest system OF financlerlng will
furnish al least half that amount. The
excise fun should reach SO, 900: the in
terest OF common n funds liz SIS, 900,
and the revenues from hack licenses and
DO l;h and other privileges. exclusive OF
water rates. II Is claimed. should produce
$2S. 900 at a low estimate. This would
leave a comparatively small sum TO be
raised by direct tax.