New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-05-26
DINNER FOR w F. KING.
PRESIDENT OF THE MERCHANTS AS
ISOLATION HONORED.
u1s WORK PRAISED BY GOVERNOR RoosE
WELT. CONTROLLER .CoLER. SETH
LOW AND OTHERS

II
WELT. CONTROLLER .CoLER. SETH
LOW AND OTHERS
r7or william F. King. president of the Merchants.
association dinner. which attended by over
..r, hundred representative Of the commerce
and trade of New-York. given at the Wal
dorf-Astoria last night
FMS, why Mr. King should have been thus hon
,-ed Is worthy of q few words of retrospect In
.t year 1897 that following the election of Presi-
seut Mckinley when the prosperity which mer-
chants in other cities were enjoying had not come
IN proporttonate degree 10 merchants here others
were discussing in sort Of abstract way the why's
and wherefores of the state OF things. Mr.. King
however. TO the fore with proposition for
tie merchants TO organize. In a series OF meet
ings which he arranged, as preliminary to his
project he made IL clear that the restrictions i'm
posed by the railroads entering New-York were
not conducive to the Improvement of the CONNER
cial conditions of the metropolis Mr. King car
Red forward a persistent agitation that resulted
not only in the establishment of an influential
association, but which TO a great degree wiped
out many Of the discriminating forces which
worked against the city.
Since then the Merchants Association has broad
sned in It's 1t has actively employed itself
IN the domestic affairs of New-York. 1t has made
lis influence felt not only Albany but at Wash
.ngton. and to its efforts due to great extent
the burying of the pernicious measures which
would have given life TO the Ramapo water
scheme.
A MEMORABLE AFFAIR.
It was in recognition Of Mr.. Kings efforts as
the head OF this association that the dinner was
given last night. II in every way a MEM
orable affair. At the tables were men whose names
stand for all that is highest and best In the pro-
fessional and commercial circles of the city The
large banquet hall Of the Waldorf-Astora was
decorated from ceiling floor with flags foliage
and flowers The boxes were filed with women
whose frequent applause of every good point made
by the speakers added to the general animation of
the gathering.
Ex-Mayor William L. Strong presided and with
him at the table of honor in addition to Mr. King
were Governor Roosevelt, Seth Low, Controller
Coler. ]. C Juhring. c. II. Webb, A. d. Juiard.
John Clafn, the Rev. DR.. r. s. Macarthur NJ F.
Bannin. Cornelius " Bliss. Avah Trowbridge. John
H Morgan. John c. Eames and Samuel S. Slater.
The following was the menu:
MENU
Gombo printaniere.
Raids. olives farcies ceeri, amandes saees.
VanGes de crabes pnlents dOux.
St Emilion. 1855.
raneF' de " de yiaa and saa4s 9 a "ann
csrTse dAgnea1 de printep I sauce fs msnhe
Pampemousse au KIrsch.
P1uiet de Grain grille s ave- o, Gres s
Fromage de RoqueforI
Enreets sgsres gaoes assorties petits f9grs fruits
THE GOVERNOR SPEAKS
In introducing Governor Roosevelt the first
speaker Of the evening, Colonel Strong used very
few words He explained that il necessary for
the Governor to early in order 70 catch the last
train 10 his home. Governor Roosevelt, who was
greeted with prolonged applause. said in part
The analytic accounting that business find
mana cement If it We're Both general and UNIFORM
n al cities Of ne las Class qeca ONE me
lay by stopping waste and improve the public ser
OF course. if the people whole continued in
different the waste and extravagance would also
of stopping them. Good legislation does not secure
good administration: but wise laws viii enable the
citizens OF each municipality to get good govern
s A6any TT9y syT ,s, Utica Auburn; ROeh,
Of administration Identical departments with
Identical duties and uniform system of account:
BY a State Commission OF Municipal Accounts
published in parallel columns both by total and
5eaGG9d TO 5atos nor Eco 70 II s You'd be
The steady increase OF taxation in this city.
has become so serious q matter that It counts
heavily against profitable investment here. Other
aork business interests from Mflleh otnr Ietoig
business capital are much impaired by this cause,
and both business men and estate owners are
more and more alarmed at the growing demands
II is very probable that the waste in the public
business Of this city is enormous The public re-
he present system it is impoesibIe TO anaiyze the
public business effectively. To show the need Of
analysis. 7 may mention instance dug out in
your water inquiry which showed at least $4,000
The proper remedy is the application to the
public business OF the methods which have been
FOUND essential and effective in the management
OF private business affairs The whole subject of
Municipal Accounting and Municipal Reports
should be exhaustively investigated and plans pre-
pared either by legislative committee or other
wise for each OF the several classes OF cities in
order 10 enable accurate comparisons OF OUTLAWS TO
be made
THE CONTROLLERS REMARKS.
Controller Coler whose reception no less
cordial than that given to the Governor, spoke
next and said, among other things:
You are all practical business men. and not one
OF you would attempt to conduct your own bust
ness or that OF any corporation in which yen might
be Interested en- the system that prevails in
This city and - all other cities in the State at
tempted 10 establish a uniform system or keeping
accounts in the various municipal departmen
but almost as soon had made beginning me
believe ia the power OF government TO regulate
whatever II creates, ard tn taxpayers as wen as
investors have right to know the business
methods corpora tons operating pubic utllties
holding franchises for the use or the property
OF the people Under the system of management
and bookkeeping that prevails with most corpora
this city. the municipality is powerlesS 10
a percentage Of the recepts Of a number OF cor
porations that hold franchises for the use OF the
streets other public property. Inc cry may
be. probably is. cheated every day. The companies
keep Of books for our examination ana
another set for their directors, and the city IS