New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-02-08
SOME T3NUJNY BLTNDERS.

Mayor Gilroy has shown ut times DISPOSE
| ton TO concatc public sentiment and Il desire
TO retain the respect of lis fcliow-citzens. 1t
is true that when he appointed John j. Scanncll
to an important Office. when he named certain
police justices. and put Objectionable TamInany
men in other important places. he brought de-
served ccnsure upon himself. 1t is true how
ever that Mayor Gilroy III many cases has
clearly acted in the public Interest; bat II IS
also true that in recent instances he has fallen
into serious errors. He has been eager TO s'ls-
tain the Commissioner OF Street Cleaning In
the award Of improper contracts. He has de-
clarpd that the inmates of the public asyluinS
and hospitals were properly cared for by the
Board of Estimate. In making this statement
he was entirely mistaken. In some other mat
tcrs the Mayor has exhibited an unpleasant
anxiety to promote the interests OF Tainmahy
Hall at the expense of the community. The
most Damaging of his recent plumbers was his
action in regard 10 the Fire Department.
Henry Winthrop Gray enjoys the confidence
of Supreme Court Judges and Of other we'll
known citizens. Not long after Mr. Gray was
made Il Fire Commissioner he discovered grave
irregularities in the purchase Of supplies ana
in the conduct of business generally. He en-
deavorcd TO bring about reform The potent
Tammany influence of Commissioners Scanncll
and Eickhoff was cXcrted against him, and Mr..
GRAY was crowded ont. Ii cannot he doubted
by any intelligent citizen that Mr.. Grays
charges are. in substance nj least. perfectly
true The record and career Of John j. Scannell
give assurance that he would stop at nothing
in order to help his Tammany friends. and that
he would be eager at all times 10 put money
in the pockets Of influential TaInnany poll
ticians. Mr. Gray charges that Commissioners
Scannell and EckhoG committed a criminal
offence by mutilating an official paper which
belonged 10 the records Of the Fire Department.
Mr.. Gray had written his protest against GER
tain expenditure and Commissioners Scannell
and Eckhoff are charged with having torn this
protest from the bill The Penal Code provides
that such mutilaton Of public rcconls Is crlm-
inal offence.
These charges have been brought to the at
tention Of Mayor Gilroy. 1t IL his obvious duty
TO compel n rigorous investigation OF the Fire
Department Instead Of doing that he has asked
his Commissioners Of Accounts. mere Tam
many tools. TO 20 over the books and figures.
These commissioners Of Accounts have distin-
cuishel themselves before by their unstinted
use of whitewash when they We're requested to
report on performances Of Tammany officials.
1t would be grotesque to expect anything but
shameless whtewashing Of Commissioners
Scannell and Eicklof from these Commission
ers The Mayor has made one Of the most
grievous errors OF his public career. He Will
deserve the scvcrest ccnsure and the most en-
phatic condemnation Of his feow-citizcns I'M
less he retraces his steps and corrects this de-
plorable blunder The people OF Newiork are
In no humor 10 BE- tri!cd with They are thor
Oughy convinced that they have been swimlled,
plundercd and defraudcd in more than one de-
partment of the city government. They have
had ample reason, TO distrllst John j. Scannell.
and 10 protest in the strongest language against
his continued tenure OF any public position.
The Mayor IS going dangerously far. The Tam
many yoke is too CALLING To be borne. Mayor
GilrOy Is acting in Just the way TO bring about
a revolution IN November, such an overthrow
Of Tanmany as has not been seen since Tweed
was sent tp prison.