Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-07-28
MCNICIPAL FRAUDS.
An Ipqsiry to be Made Into the Con
troifev's once, New York.

An IuqUtry to he Made Into the Com
troffev's once, New York.
From the New York Herald
Application is about to, be made to Su-
preme Court Jessicc William j. Gaynor of
Brooklyn by eN-Judge William Henry Ar
ncux in behalf of committee Of taxpay-
ers of this city, for an order directing an
investigation into the workings of the con-
troller's office.
The investigation is made for the pur-
pose of ascertaining whether it is true thai
there has been wholesale fraud practiced in
that office continuously for years and con-
tinuously concealed. and whether there
have been. as alleged, fraudulent issues of
bonds amounting to many millions The
committee in whose behalf this investiga-
ton is to be demanded consists of Assem-
bly-nan Judson Lawson. George W. Stokes
Orlando Smith. John W. Stevens William
II. Arnoux, Henry G. Robinson and A. W.
LiShtbourn. The application will he made
under provision I'm the consolidation act
empowering five taxpayers to institute an
inquiry into the practices and methods of
any department of the municipal govern
ment.
1t is to be made before Justice Gaynor
because the gentlemen who want nforma-
ton believe that the revelations which t.sey
will make are SO stupendous and far reach
ing, and will involve SO many persons in
high positions. that a Tammany Supre me
court justice could not he trusted to decide
the application. The Investigation is likely
to be open to the criticism of craftsmanship.
because nearly every man engaged in il IS
a republican.
Only begun by Tweed.
The step which is about to be taken is
based upon documentary and other evidence
furnished by Maj. Matthew O'Rourke. who
was an employee of the controllers Office
years ago. and claims the credit for fur
thz vx-ht a1, l,I 10. q
posures which terminated the career Of
William NJ. Tweed and led TO his downfall.
Men who have examined this evidence
say it shows that with the frauds of Tweed
the robbery of the taxpayers Of the city Of
New York only began.
One instance Is cited of a fraudulent issue
of bonds since 1870 for more than s15.OVo,-
COO These bonds We're sold in Europe and
are still held there, and the city IS paying
interest en- them. The first of the series
mature, ii Is said, in 1901 and the last in
1925. There are other Irregularities, il is
said, of a similar character. which look as
IL they could not be explained away, and
some of those who have been going over
the subject go SO lar as to say that the ir-
regular or illegal issues Of bonds affect up
ward of $10O.UO0.cOo.
Concealed by SWbOrdinates.
Stories of this sort. unless they are so alb
surd on their face IS to lie disbelieved. are
likely to injure the city's credit. and there
fore 1t is purposed 20 have sweeping in
vestigation. One point which those who
are now looking into the matter make is
that the true state of affairs in the Office
of the controller is concaaled ny supor1i-
mates who know the ropes" and who
have been in the office continuously since
the days Of the Tweed regime. Some of
these men, it is declared, are SO important
to the suppression of the true state OF
things that they never take vacation. In
this category the investigators make no Sc,
cret of including the faithful and genial
deputy controller. X. A. Storrs, VINO mas
been in the office for thirty-four years, and
has the veriest detail of the finance depart
nent at the end of his fingers.