New-York tribune., 1897-01-31
CHI. VAN DUSEN DISMISSED
HE WAS CONFIDENTIAL CLERK TO THE
ELECTION COMMISSIONERS.
SUMMARY ACTION BY THE BOARD ON CHARGES
INVOLVING THE OWNERSHIP OF PRINTED

SUMMARY ACTION BY THE BOARD ON CHARGES
INVOLVING THE OWNERSHIP OF PRINTED
MATTER-A SURPRISE TO HIS FRIENDS.
Clarence II. c. Van Dusen. confidential clerk Of
the Board OF Election Commissioners Of Brooklyn,
was peremptory discharged by the Election Com
missioners yesterday at o'clock ON charges affect
ing his integrity. The great surprise in
political circles In Brooklyn Mr. Van Dusen has
held confidential relations with the Board for some
time. great amount OF the practical work OF the
bureau devolving upon him. Mr.. Van Dusen lives
at No. 397 Flatbush-ave. His salary was $500 a
year. He appointed ballot clerk on July IS,
1890. and had been continuously In Office since then
Commissioners Moulton. Blair. Edwards and Err
regger yesterday forenoon he'd long conference
headquarters. in Smlth-st The result the per-
emptory dismissal OF Mr. Van Dusen.
The Commissioners summoned William Walton, Of
fetal stenographer in Corporation Counsel Burrs
office. and gave him a statement for pubca ton,
substantially as follows
First. that Mr.. Van Dusen sold to the city OF
Brooklyn thirty canvassers official election codes at
81 30 a copy They ordered by Colonel Charles
Il. Morton, chairman OF the Board OF Canvassers.
and received by him. The Election Commissioners
say these codes the property Of the Board OF
Elections. Mr. Van Dusen says they were a part
of edition printed for him by Mr.. Jewe,t an
| Albany publisher sent from Albany Mr.. Van
Dusen's house in Flatbush-avc.. ard then sod to
| the county canNasSerS in a legitimate manner
The second charge is that Mr. Van Dusen sold
1900 election manuals Of instruction to the Police
| Board OF New-York city for use by the Bureau OF
Elections OF NewYork receiving therefor $780, $50
| of which Mr.. Van Dusen retained for his personal
| use the remainder going TO New-York printer
| who had printed a similar election manual OF IN
structions for the Brooklyn Election Commis issoners
| Mr.. Walton Informed the newspaper men that the
Commissioners had turned the case over to District
| Attorney Backus for official action.
Mr. Van Dusen5 friends expressed the greatest
| surprise yesterday that such summary action had
| been taken In matter involving comparatively
| small amount of money and disputed ownership
| of printed matter.
When Commissioner B.alr seen by Tribune
reporter. and the suggestion was made that the dis
| mssal OF MIR Van Dusen would cause surprise, Mr..
| Blair made the lacOnic reply:
He shouldn't have done IT..
The Election Commissioners are men Of high
standing and conscientious scruples. and say that
| they acted after due consideration.
Mr. Van Dusen is about thlrty-four years old and
| has made election laws study He gave valuable
services 10 the Senate committee which last year
prepared amendments 10 the Raines blanket ballot
law, and his friends say that he wrote about all
| the amendments. He Is a Republican. and used TO
| be "A newspaper man. lie had published last spring
election manual. which received an extended sale