New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-10-23
A BLOW TO TAMMANY HALL.
THE EXPOSURE OF JOHN C. sHEEHAN's
RECKLESS EXPENDITURES.

TAMMANY ORATORS FIND HIS 'otfHh Nv ~"
POLICE BOARD CHECK TO THEIR FLOW
OF EIOotEXcE-w. p. MITCHELL IN No
HASTE TO nAcK TIP HIS CHALLENGE.
The exposures made by the Commissioners or
Accounts, showing the reckless ana eNoioi'an'
expenditures allowed by ex-Commissioner John c.
sheehan when conducting the Bureau OF Repairs
and Supplies in the Police Department. have had
a depressing effect upon the Tammany canvass
Mr.. sheehan is now acting chieftan of the Wig
wan. and the ostensible director Of the Tigers
fight for restoration to power Disguised Tam
many men said Yesterday that Sheehan's failure
IN meet the charges against him had seriously
damaged the chances of the Tammany ticket.
CAMPAIGN SPEAKERS EMBARRASSED
The evidences Of such great disregard of the
citys interest shown in Sheehans case have fallen
like wet blanket on the Tammany spellbinders,
who had begun their campaigning with declara-
tions that no Official misconduct had been found
in the city departments while they were under
Tammany administration. Instead OF shouting
about Tamnany's incorrupibe record, as they ex-
pcctcd To do they are forced to take the defensive
and were Yesterday clamoring at the Wigwam Tor
something In the way of figu~eJ and facts That
they might palm off on their audiences as an
explanation Of Sheehan's shortcomings. Nothing
was ready for them, however. and they were put
off with the excuse that "AIr. Sheehan hadn't had
time yet to examine the charges minuteY ont
would have a reply to make, probably, to-mor-
row"
This shutting way OF meeting charges which
indicate to an appalling extent corrupt dealing
and misrepresentation Of the public money was
disappointIng even to Sheehans friends. Other
Tammany men, who were displeased with
Sheehan's elevation TO the Crokership took
OCCASION to air their opinions in no uncertain way
They predicted disaster and defeat az a result
Of tive mistake of putting a man of John t. Shee-
hams antecodents at the heal Of affairs. Many
referred TO his Buffalo history. and said that the
facts brought out before the l.cxow Committee
last year ought to have warned prudent men not
to place Sheehan in a position to disgrace the
whole organization.
SCARCITY OF ELECTION FUNDS.
The contributions to the Tammany election
fund have been light since it became known that
sheehan was to handle the cash, ana next ID
no money has come from many former sources
of campaign subscriptions The corporations
which usually "shelled OUT literally about this
time Of the wear have refused to pay under
present conditions. The boys at the various
Assembly district headquarters, who have usu-
ally been well provided with means for making
things lively by the middle of October, are con-
ssouently "sore" on Sheehan, and blame him for
the dearth CT supplies.
MR. MITCHELL WRITES ANOTHER LETTER
The Commissioners Of Accounts showed in
their report that William +. Mitchell, the
printer and stationer and leader of the Tam
r,any organization in the Xth Assembly Dis
trict had received sl1s for 10000 amber envel-
ones No. 49, furnished to the Police Depart
ment the cost OF which in the open market was
set down at Sf7 Mr.. Mitchell on Monday wrote
q letter to the Commissioners Of Accounts In
which he said:
IN ordor fo test the correctness OF your report
which | brand as false. | make this PROPOSE
ton: I VIII donate 20 any charitable lnstitutioh
to be named by your commission, Sooo II you can
furnish the item for the amount mentioned $1.
Mossrs Terry and Denis. the Commissioners.
promptly replied to Mr.. Mitchell accepting his
nropositon. designated tie Charity Organization
society as the recipient for Mr. Mtchell's $500,
and told him that on receipt of SAT they would
deliver to him the 10000 printed envelopes de-
scrbed.
Mir. Mitchell yesterday sent his answer to the
Commissioners letter, but it contained no check
Mr. Mitchell tried to slide OUT OF his offer by
writing the following:
Your answer is in keeping with the report you
caused to be published having denied me justice
in that YOU now prOpose to buy with my cneck
The envelopes known as Amber No. Is (Police De-
partmentJ. Don't you think 1t would look more
honorable that the purchase Of the articles men
toned should be made by reputable envelope
manufacturers named by your commission,
one by me- and selected by both maHufac-
turers-that seems more businessiike than the
commission sustaining their own report by pur-
chasing the envelopes themselves. The differ
cnce between $47 and Sis would be cheap de-
fence Of a report held back for political purposes.
Come Commissioners. he gentlemen. Fair play
is an honest motto; name your manufacturer.
The Commissioners brought Mr.. Mitchell to
book in the following reply, transmitted to him
yesterday afternoon:
In our judgment your second letter Is a com
plete withdrawal Of the proposition heretofore
made by you. In reference To the final sentence
Of your letter. to wit: Fair play is an honest
motto; name your manufacturer, we nave To
say that the order for said envelopes may be
placed by yOu or by US in your presence with
Stewart. Warren Co.. No. 20 Howard-st, New
York City.
We shall expect YOU in accordance with your
offer to forward check for 5000 to the Charity
Organization Society OF New-York City