New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-05-09
A CASE OF OVER-SMARINESS
THE ARGUS" TRIES SOME OF ITS OLD
TINE METHODS OF GETTING
PATRONAGE.
yl,r 1T FINDS 1T Is NO LONGER DEALING WITH
TIL, u11r.M-RPHy MACHINE-TIis TIME
TIE MERITS OF THE CASE WILL
BE TESTED IN COURT.
rBr TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBuSE.l


fBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBuNEl
Albany May s-The contest for the legislative
nr,nting for 1896 which has been going on here In
= ors or loss spirted manner for several days.
will come I'D for settlement before Judge Lanion.
in the Supreme Court. tomorrow morning j. was
taken into court by Tho Argus Company one OF
the bidders for the work. This concern. through
its manager William McMur,rie Spccr. obtained
what purported TO be mandamus from Juige
Hcrrick last Saturday compel the board oi 9"''e
oscers which consists OF the Controller Attorney
General and Secretary OF State. TO award II the con-
tract on the ground that II was the lowest pidher'
This application based upon an extraordinary
affidavit OF Mr.. Speer TO the effect that 'he pohr'
had met and refused to award tho contract TO The
.rc7,s although as he asserted, IL irdisputa-
bly, the lowest bidder.
AS a matter of fact there had been no meeting OF
the board. the bids having been simply oi"n'7i py
deputies and the matter adjourned In ORDER 10 mako
the necessary and somewhat involved computations
REQUIRED TO ascertain the relative positions OF DID
dcrs Mr. Sreers affidavit was. therefore, "a mis-
statement. and his application a case or pure e'-
frontery and imposition. In these respects II was
thoroughly characteristic Of the old H!ll-Miirhy
methods OF which he is such n vocferous exponent
So premature were his proceeding that his papers
were radically detective. and his alogcl mandnmls
has become the laughing stock Of the Albany bar.
This action OF 1.-THE Argus was IN line with
former practices whereby II had. In previous years
when Tammany was ntrenchc1 in Albany, obtained
many a fat printing contract Tho scandal con-
ncctei with the last award made by Secretary Of
State Rice and Controller Campbell. under the dc
tation OF David B Iill will stii be fresh In r"coi-
lection Unfortunately for The Argus" the present
Attorney-C;eneral, Mr. Hancock, and Controller Mr.
Roberts. are not men to be inundated or swerVed
from their duty An appearance was promptly
made in behalf Of the State, AMI as condition OF
Allowing their defective papers II be amenied INTO
prsentable legal form, THE Argus Company was
compelled 10 proceed an INN e1atc reference ana
settlement OF the disputed questions ,
Mr. Spcer had undoubtedly calculated upon io'is
delay and the consequent injury . tne interests oi
the state by the non-awafi OF the contract uhni
well into the next legislative year. bui me prompt
nroceedjngs Of the Attorney General and the CON
troller in forcing him into court at once has
trated this plan. 1.-The Argus Will ther' forr. De
Obliged tomorrow to meet n" matter ..IHhr'y oI
It's merits and as BID is noorously deieciiVe ana
has All the objectionable features oi the uHD ilhhe'
system there - little doubt that tis last eHprt OF
the Il!l Murphy organ, 10 eNlort support Io" 'N'
state viii be defeated. ,.., ,.r
A surprising feature OF the situation. however
and one which is causing much talk IN EepuhlicAn
circles here, Is The attitude of SECRETARY %, n"te
Palmer He has apparently In advance of Tie ar-
lion Of the board Of which hr " - incHb.I, m
uolnced himself az an active partisan IN brhali or
.~rhe AruIs" and has taken occasion. both publicly
and urVstfly 10 indicate his lurpor" 10 award
fht contract 10 that Democratic organ. lie f"Vr
IN ,his mornings "ATnls' an exclusive lhlllhh-
ti1n nJa,nrenily carefully prepared "I MS ln'"i
lions, and e1nally spnincani n The fact tht clerks
ia his office are publicly offering Z" btt 'ht me
Argus" vill be- sIccensfnl ~ hr e"nirhl WNh'"V',
may ba Mr. I'alInef's wcll-knoWn hdinifhN"h "ni
personal friendship Tor Bcnator ill " 'ni, hh'"ly
Ie c"nsidnfad dlpnnod IN u it'mibcan STATE ~
metal thus Ia prejudice ~ hlVhiirn "a Inh'''f ~
such importance ~ ID" Fihl'