New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-02-26
Az OBJECT-LESSON.

Il '
That was an interesting and, to many minds.
no doubt. amusing report printed in ne IT'D
mo Yesterday OF the Investigation Of the old
Buildings Department by the commissioners OF
Accounts. Mr. William J. Frcyer, for instance,
testified that he had been an architect for twenty
five wears and was for ten years head Of the
Board Of Examiners Of the buildings Depart
ment, in which capacity he had certain dls-
cretionary power regarding changes OF plans ana
specifications even though the law imposed dcfi-
mite conditions regarding the buildings them
selves. Being asked concerning check for $50
which Peter J. Brennan, the builder. had paid
him under peculiar circumstances, he sald the
plans submitted by Brennan for the BaDc''k
A. Wilcox building. corner Of Cortlandt and
Greenwich SITS. had been properly rejected de-
cause In his judgment. the building would not
stand up The architect then suggested 10 me-.
said the witness. that take charge Of the
"plans and modify them rs saw nt lie ASKED
me what would charge and | told him This
course was taken; the plans We're resubmltted
10 him privately: certain changes were made.
and. said Mr.. Frcycr continuing his testimony
with franl, righteousness and ltle burst Of
humor, Il then thought they were all right
passed them: received my 500. and have spent
sort OF thing almost always seem to think that
a bit OF coarse humOr like Tweed's 'What are
YOU going 10 do about IT." will divert public nj
tenton and turn the edge Of criticism In his
further testimony Mr.. Freyer admitted that he
made several thousand dollars year by just
such consultations az the one described 81 am
an architect" he said, and whenever | WIS
consulted / expected TO be paid That is my
business"
There were other things brought out during
the investigation which were Interesting and In
way. amusing. Amusing. that Is to say, II
ANYTHING can be called amusing which In Itself
IS shocking, as disclosing the utter rottcnness
OF all departments Of the municipal government
under the Tammany regime, but which serves
to divert a dulled and demorazed public sense.
Several clerks In the department, for instance.
testified that when the Tammany Wisknkie
came round and said Good morning. Do you
want to see meY' they came down without
word and paid $40. $40 or S25, as the case might
be. This testimony the Wisk'nkie himself, MIR.
Dan" Donegan, smilingly corroboratcd lie
had been q clerk IN the Supreme Court and in
the Mayors Marshal's office, for which he was
paid out Of the public treasury. But the most
active and useful Of his functions was as Wis
knkie. He never asked for contributions; lie
Just said Good morning! DO You want TO see
meY' and everybody came down with the alacrlty
Of Captain SCOTS coon. Reason why? The
same reason the coon had They knew the Wis
klnkie and his business; and that he WAS not
going round among clerks and such, who owed
their places TO Tammany Hall. and saying Good
morning. to them as a matter OF compliment
or out OF mere courtesy. The entire Buildings
Department according to this testimony, was
adjusted with great decacy and subtety, to
ITSELF to the outside public, and TO Tammany
Hall Mr.. Freyer, as head Of the Board OF Ex
aminers, did not permit himself to be corrupty
approached But when plans for building We're
submitted he disapproved them. Then, being
consulted as an architect he advised changes
and exacted Us large fees as the builders would
bear in The line Of his profession. Afterward, in
his official capacity, he approved the amended
plans Very distinct line between official func
tons and professional practice! Very! And Mr.
Freyer made thousands of dollars out Of 1t every
year Made it, and, as he humorously remarked
spent it. Similarly the clerks In the department
did not buy their places But when the Wis
kinkie came round and said Good morning."
they made their contributions to the ruling or
ganizaton with prOmptness end liberallty.
All this needs no interpretations III Is an old
story The story Of indirect methods. only half
concealed, by which all the municipal depart
ments were corruptly administered. 1t was
complete and thoroughly organized system. ex-
tending through every branch Of the municipal
government This disclosure makes no stir.
Why not? Have we been surfeted with such
things that we have ceased to care for them
That would be sad and most shocking conclu-
sion We refuse to accept II. Less than two
years ago the honest citizens Of this town rose
up in horror and Indignation at similar revela-
tons and by an overwhelming majority turned
out Of power the organization which had per-
fected the system and was responsible for ii.
Are they OF the same mind now? That Is the
question The Reform administration Of Mayor
Strong has come short Of public expectation but
it has at least made an honest effort to uncover
abuses and correct them. Why Is 1t so bitterly