New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-10-25
FACTS FOR THE TIME.

Ar tho meeting OF the Board or Estimate ana
Apportionment yesterday, the appropriation Ior
the Commissioners Of Accounts being under con-
sideraton. Controller Fitch said that he WAS
narfectlv willing that they should have all the
money they needed but he objected to the pup
lication Of their reports just before election. II
ceems to Ms on the contrary. that this Is an
osnaciallv suitable time for acquainting the com
munitv with important facts relating to the
management of its municipal business. Citlzehs
do NOT want TO be deceived by the Commission
ORC of Accounts at this or any other season OF the
roor If i tr,lc also that erroneous ana mis-
leading statements coming from ah o''o"''
source shortly before an election might nave
snecal effect in influencing public opinion I'M
fairly and producing unjust pohtcai conee
onoos Rut -here is no evidence that such a
noss,h,itv is illustrated in the present instance
Tho commissioners Of Accounts, in the perform
ance Of their duty. have been pusil! ehe"s'"
for months in ascertaning how various prahc"'s
of the public service have been cohduc'eu' anu
they are now promulgating facts not hc''o"s'
facts which certain officials would nave liheu to
hide and are now pretending To deny pu' VIII"
they do not even attempt TO relule. me ooi''
r,unitv moods 10 know these facts. and II Is not
40, nm fortunate circumstance that the disclosures
were ready TO be made at tins time' "iieil o''''
zens are giving thought 10 their common inter
ests. and considering how they ought 10 'o'e III
order to promote the common welfare II u"e
Commissioners had been ready to report mohths
ago n postponement Of that duty uh'il just De
fore the election would have subjected theih ~
censure for permitting abuses 10 continue uii-
known and unchecked; and the proprety OF Il
prompt publication Il ascerlained lac'S i ho'
diminished, though its value may be lhcreaseu'
by the coincidence Of an electoral campaign
Contempt for campaign slanderers Is genera
and praisewOrthy. but the political lnnuehce vi
campaign truths which ought TO De KNOWN -
legitimate and saluary.
Such is the quality and probable effect OF The
recent reports by the Commissioners OF Ac-
commits They have shown that Tammany al
ministrotiou of the Registers Office has been eX
ceedinelv inefficient and extravagant. There Is
everv reason TO believe that 1t will continue 10
no Of that sort if Tammany retains the office
The people are entitled to knowledge OF the
focts prior 10 their election Of another Register
II has been shown that under the management
Of ex-CommissiOner Sheehan the Police Bureau
Of Rcpalrs and Supplies compelled the city TO
nav grossly exravagant prices for nearly every
hing the department required Sheehan Is now
an official exponent Of Tammany Hail. the au-
thentic representative Of those methods OF gov
ernment which Tammany employed Tor years
and hopes to reinstate. The people are consider
ing It's claim and an exposure or Sneehah
practces is entirely relevant. They would have
had good cause to complain If their paid SER
wants the Commissioners Of Accounts, had de-
lberately kept them in ignorance on this SUD-
ioo+ until after the election,
| There is another reason why the publlcatloh
| Of their discoveries and conclusions by the Com
mssoners of Accounts is especially appropriate
| and useful at this time. The Board OF Estimate
! and Apportionment is now considering the re-
Oureusnts Of municipal departments for the
coming year. and presumably desires TO OBTAIN
all available information as a guide 10 It's con-
clusions Is it Of no Importance 10 the Board 10
learn on competent evidence that the Register $
| office for example has been eXtravagantly al
! ministered? We Judge not. inasinuch as Mr..
| LEWIS estimate was reduced by $4,000 yester-
| dav with Controller Fitch's approval. For two
| indisputable reasons. therefore, the dissemina-
ton Of ascertained facts relating to the conduct
| Of municipal business is especially advantageous
| at a time when they are sure 10 attract popular
| and official attention A broader basis Is there
| by furnished for the calculation Of municipal
I eypenditure and for an intelligent verdict at
| the polls