New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-03-14
COLER DEFIES MACHINES.
SAYS HE WOULD NOT ACCEPT NOMINA-
TION FOR ANY OFFICE.
CHARGES WHAI,EN WITH BAD FAITH AND
DECLARES THE GOVERNOR is THE ONLY
MAN WHO HAS HELPED HIM

Controller Coer declared yesterday that ne
ready to defy both the Tammany organiza ton and
the Brooklyn Democratic organization, If such
step was necessary for the protection of the citys
financial interests. He declared that Corpora tion
Counsel Whaen had been guilty of bad faith and
had refused to keep a promise. He also declared
that the only political leader who had supported
him in his fight for the clty's interest is Governor
Roosevelt
Mr.. Coer said he had made up his mind that he
must do his full duty Controller, regardless of
political organizations, and that he would be a
candidate for public office after the expiration of
his term. You may say for me-" ne said to
newspaper men of his acquaintance. that 1 am not
TO be a candidate for Controller, Mayor. Governor
or anything else at the hands of the Democratic
the Republican party, independent
party, and if they nominated me L would not ac-
cept the nomination for any such Office
The Controller said he would contradict a re-
port that Tammany leaders had asked James
Shevlin, the active leader of the Brooklyn Demo-
cratic organization to interfere in the fight against
Corporation Counsel Whalen's method of confess
ing judgments against the city. and that Mr.. Shev
lin had tried at interview Monday evening
to induce Mr.. Coer to 'let up Whalen.' The
controller said he did not to discuss alleged
conferences, but he willing have it known
that he was ready to keep up his fight against
legalized looting of the city treasury whether he
was sustained by political organizations
Then he said:
agreement. failed 10 keep his word and has fought
me at every step in my efforts protect the city.
- year ana a haif ago. at the request of his po-
htical organization ne agreed to give me lawyer
to try case ID court to determine my right TO set
tie claims against the city and prevent confessions
of Judgment without my consent. He made that
en % 1f 4y ha sas and daS m
to the Rpo Afer nm making e
IdaeG Td TO appoint my man and to make test case
Court OF Appeals, and therefore he backed out:
If ne had been confident of winning the case and
haye kept his agreement and named the lawyer
but he fought me aed had my no o
and has opposed me in every way he could. His
also promised to stand by me. 1t is not my busi-
ness at this time TO consult with his political or
In reference the reports that efforts have been
elected to serve the people and no political
ganization or power can interfere with me or
duty. Mr.. Whalen has. gone back on agreement
standing for the rights of the city and am
not looking for political backing.
protect the city treasury the only man who is
standing by loyalty is the Governor of the State
that should support and promised to stand by me
fight for the people. But l shall not yield inch
and think that the political organizations under
The question at issue is simple one. It is Shall
the bonded hnanIla otcet OF tne fitIi & % eeT'eu py
ury from extortion and unjust claims, or snail his
an officer not elected and under no bond?
tend that I right in asserting that this power
10 ght the end for that contention, If every po-
tbaf a reht that my position is mpregnable
and that shall finally win my case
The Controller expressed satisfaction with the
decision of Justice McAdam on Monday in the case
of a painter who had been employed at the peni-
tentiary on Blackwelrs Island at 5000 year and
had sued for back pay under the prevailing rate
of wages" law. on the ground that he should have
received So 80 day. Justice McAdam held that the
I,l1or tNfOt-o
the city and had been repealed, except so far as
1t compelled the city authorities to that con-
tractors for city work paid the prevailing rate to
day laborers.
Mr. Coler said the decision of Justice McAdam
seemed to show that & great deal of money might
have been saved to the city by fighting the claims
instead of confessing judgment. He ordered the
holding up of orders to pay two claims on judg-
ments confessed by Mr.. Whalen. saying that man
damus proceedings would be instituted The two
claims were made by Thomas Maloney and James
Brennan. stokers in the employ of the Department
of Charities, who had received $50 month and SIS
a month, respectively. In the minutes confessing
Judgment on the claims it had been made to appear
that the men had been employed at 81 day less
than the prevailing rate while in the sworn afi-
davit by Brennan he asserted that he had received
$25 a month from the city
Mr. Coler had some important afHdavits in his
possession yesterday, and they seemed to show
that many of the drivers in the Street Cleaning
Department, whose claims for back pay had been
confessed by Mr.. Whalen, had been fooled into
selling their claims for little than half the
amount awarded. One affidavit made by An
drew J. IIusk master workman OF the union to
which the drivers belong. 1t states that Patrick
McNulty, delegate of the union and assignee for
the drivers making claims for back pay received
So 167 20 December g. 1S99 and sS6150 81 jan
uary 6. 1900 The sums were paid by the Controller
confessions of two judgments by Mr.. Whalen.
Mr. Lusk had been told by McNulty that il would
cost from 40 to 80 per cent to collect the claims
three lawyers had been engaged In the work and
the referee charges the first judgment would
amount to $500 Mr.. Lusl1 advised that claims
in the first judgment should not be paid until the
claims in the second judgment paid, and
McNuity agreed. Mr. Lusk heard that John Tyrrell,
the financial secretary of the union. paying
some Of the claims and that McNulty buying
up claims, but McNulty denied the reports.
Shortly before his death it was said James Nc
Cartnoy, the Commissioner of Street Cleaning
called Mr.. Lusk to his bedside and told him that
McNulty had collected large amount of money
claims and that there ugly reports
about McNulty's handling of the money. Mr. Nc
CARNEY said there was no reason for the men TO
pay large fees for the collection of the money.
Later Mr.. LusS heard that Tyrrel was buying
up the n mems claims lain at runous discount and he
with the mems own money. the men not knowing
that their claims had been paid He was informed
that John Ferguson, Daniel Ryan. Philip Ryan
and Henry Calvin drivers. had sold to Tyrrell
claims amounting respectively to S6O3 75 s573 75.
Of $3.50 $s25. s4OO and ss25
ascea if possible hoW many of the dTveS S
paid the enormous fees for collecting their claims.
law have almost ceased to come into the Con
trollers, Office IT is believed that nearly every
body who thinks he has any such claim against
Corporation Counsel whalen yesterday declined
make any comments the decision of Justice
McAdam or to make any reply to the statements
of Controller Coler. He said:
cussiOn in the newspapers whenever two city of
hcias have a dispute. The cases are to be tried
nd NOT in thn ana mar I ut1 NOT