New-York tribune., 1900-07-17
GREENE WANTS A CHANGE
STATE COMMITTEE FINANCIAL METH
DDS LIKELY TO BE FOLLOWED.
QUESTIONS OF FINANCE AND CAMPAIGN
COMMITTEES AND THE MIDDLE IN THE
BOOKS STILL HANGING FIRE.

The Executive Committee of the Republican
County Committee held a meeting at headquar-
tiers. No. 1 Madson-ave.. yesterday afternoon at
4 O'Clock There was a full attendance. owing
the fact that several matters OF moment were
expected TO come up. General Francis V.
Greene. president of the County Committee was
present W. H Ten Eyck. chairman of the
Executive Committee. Cornelius Van Cott, Fred
erick 8 Gibbs. Abraham Cruber. James E.
March Frank Raymond, John Reisenweber and
others also attended. The meeting was excep-
tionally brief and none Of the questions which
are agitatng the committee came UP. Prepara-
tions were made for the call for the primaries
on August 2S and other routine business was
transacted. and then the meeting adjourned
subject to the call Of the Chair Chairman Ten
Eyck was asked when there would be another
meeting. and he said that he could not tell
yet
There was a great deal of talk yesterday about
the financial condition of the County Committee
and the loose methods that have been followed
in handling the committees money The fact
that there is an apparent deficit of about
81. 600 as was pointed out in The Tribune yes
terday and that John Sabine Smith and L. E
Quigg have put in joint claim of $4,000 against
the committee caused some surprise When
General Greene was asked about the shortage
he said:
When man takes hold of a business he
naturally turns first 10 the books 10 see what
condition il is in That IS what have done. l
am trying to find out just where stand, and
! have asked John Sabine Smith and the mem
bers Of the Finance Committee to go over the
accounts with me and see just where we
stand
Is there a deficit of about $21 Ooo?" General
Greene was asked.
7 am not in a position to say anything definite
about that yet" said General Greene. we will
know more soon
There is a deficit. however," was suggested.
We'll, if there is" said General Greene. we
will try to change all that and have no more
deficits"
The facts in the case are that the books Of the
County Committee are in a good deal of mud
die and it will take time to straighten them
out. General Greene. as indicated in The
Tribune yesterday, wants 10 adopt new fnan-
cial system in the committee. He wants all
checks to be signed by the president OF the
County Committee and the treasurer Mr.. Quigg,
il is said, does not favor this plan. but wants
Finance Committee, modelled the lines Of the
one in the Tammany organization, 10 handle all
funds. Quigg would like 10 be at the head OF
this committee.
1t was said yesterday that General Greene's
IDEAS would prevail. and that the same system
of bookkeeping and financial record would be
adopted s is in vogue IN the State Committee,
where an account is kept in the name or the
committee and checks are drawn by Mr.. Odell
and countersigned by the secretary of the com
mitUee II freely predicted yesterday that
II such a financial system were adopted QulgS
would not care 10 be chairman of the Finance
Committee and therefore there would be no
significant change in the makeup OF that com
mittee
There is still trouble over the appointment of
the proposed Campaign Committee. w. H. Ten
Eyck asserts that. he should appoint and be
chairman of that committee. General Greene in
sists that he should appoint il. So far could
be learned last night, this difficulty had not
been bridged, and SO the matter was not touched
upon the meeting yesterday. 1t is declared
that General Greene will have his way in the
matter and viii be supported in his contention
by Senator Platt, Collector Bidwell, B. B. Odell,
jr., and other prominent leaders. If General
Greene does not appoint the committee, it
some incline TO the hkH4fIthat there will be no
Campaign Committee. General Greene, however
thinks there will
When General Greene was asked yesterday
about the progress toward a solution of the
problem he said:
We are all working harmoniousy toward the
appointment Of Campaign Committee. 1 think
we viii be able TO agree. There is no reason why
should not have perfect harmony. While 1t
wasn't possible TO arrange the matter to-day, 1
think 1t Will come out right in the end
The trouble is that some of the members of
the County Committee fear that General Greene
wishes to appoint to the Campaign Committee
some Republicans whom they call outsiders" "
General Greene, il is known, would like to have
strong and capable committee composed of
representative Republicans. He declared yester-
day that there would be a proper Campaign
Committee if there was one at all.
The absence of L. E Quigg. former president
of the County Committee is said 10 have some
thing TO 90 with the delay. Quigg Is in the
North Woods ana will not be back until the
latter end of this week II is said that as soon
as he gets home the question of a Campaign
Committee, the muddle over the finances and
the matter Of Finance Committee will be taken
up and settled.