New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-05-06
An UNSETTLED QUESTION.

II was meeting of the Board Of Estimate
and Annortlonment. and the discussion original
ly related to a proposed transfer OF Il SUN Vi
money from unexpended balances to the cohtih-
gent fund for the payment or certain ciaiih'
against the Police Department. This Is NOT
new subject Of dispute. 1t Is matter on WHICH
the President Of the Police Board and the Con-
troer have not agreed to disagree. On the con-
trary il is a question over which they nave Deeh
for n considerable time in the habit OF getting
warm and contentious Mr. Roosevelt Is OF
opinion that the desired transfer would be rcgu-
lar and proper. being sustained by numerous
prpcctlents which. he alleges. Mr. fitch III HIS
unrcgcnerac days was wont to confirm Win
cheerful alacrity. Mr.. Fitch. on the ether hand'
whatever his attitude heretofore may have Deeh,
is now prepared to maintain the theory 'hat
such transfer would be Irregular ana UNLAWFUL
and challenges his adversary 10 take the dispute
into the courts We do not assume TO decide
the controversy. our impression being that IL
involves points with which laymen, having only
the light Of reason to guide them. are uhht'eu
10 deal whereas the Counsel TO the Corporation
can doubtless produce without the slightest Diff
Guilty an elaborate and learned opinion on either
side Of the case.
But while we humbly refrain from pronouncing
Judgment as to the law we venture to oifer
few remarks concerning the facts OF yesterday
discussion IL should be- promised that Mr..
Roosevelt has a somewhat hasty temper. and
that Mr. Fitch possesses Il faculty OF proyoca-
ton which he has cultivated with much asSidu-
ity for Mr. Roosevelt's special benefit. The fact
Of this reciprocal relation accounts for the elec-
tricIty with which the atmosphere Is invariably
charged whenever they chance TO meet. They
met yesterday. and the contact was extremely
injurious to both while the public welfare was
not promoted In the slightest degree. The ques-
ton of the legality and propriety of n transfe"
of money to the contingent fund was no nearer
n settlement when they parted In a disheyeiled
condition than when they came together with
a bang And the reason Is easy TO see. They did
not coniinc themselves to the subject, in which
the community has "A legitimate interest, but
fell to fighting over personal issues. with which
the community has little or no concern. That
Is a DEPRESSION" said the gentleman whose adj
v.rsary had thrown a glass Of wine In his face;
that is a DEPRESSION, now for the argument.
II one Of the dispuiants 1T Yesterdays meeting
had initiated that example, how fortunate 1t
would have been for him.
Instead OF this. they both dcgenerated Into
well. what shall we say they degencratcd into?
Perhaps 1t Is just AZ well not to give dehn
ton II may be sufficient simply to record the
fact that the were white and trembling with
passion. and not low OF speech. persons in
that state sometimes are but loud and violent
II there had been some logical process of thought
behind the camor and vituperatlon the scene
would have been less painful. But what they
said was utterly Irrelevant II related in large
Ia, uyi al
the contestants and. OF course. threw no light
upon the contingent fund II would have been
wholly useless under any circumstances. for it
Is well known that Mr. Roosevelt Is always in
condition TO whip hls weight In wildcats. and
there is absolutely no warrant for his mpu,a
ton Of cowartlcc against Mr. Fitch. 1t Is TO
be taken for granted that the President OF the
Police Board would fight with pistols or any
thing else" and that the Controller would not
run away"
But though the question before the meeting
was not settled. two other questions were sug-
not command his temper Is lit TO command the
police force. and whether a man who has no
control over himself ought to be Controller OF
Ncw-York. We do not say that these questions
were definitely answered by yesterdays proceed
lngs but they certainly were suggested. Pos
slbly, after numerous Improbable approaches
TO a climax heretofore, Mr.. Roosevelt and Mr..
Fitch have learned lesson from the climax
which they finally attained. Let lis hope so.
But we regret that Mayor Strong did not go
a little further II he had carried his warning
into effect and called in the police to arrest the
gentlemen the consequences might have been
most sautary.