New-York tribune., 1900-03-04

Controller Coler made a speech before the
Broadway Merchants Association Of Williams
burg on Friday night which calls for the atten-
ton of the authorities of both State and city.
When the chief financial officer Of the metropo-
lis openly and specifically charges that financial
wreckers are at work both here and in Albany
to loot New-York taxpayers as they looted Third
Avenue Railroad stockholders, silence is no de-
fence the part of the official who can stop
that looting and for some reason shows no dis
position to do it. Answers by word or deed are
10 order The Controller declares:
1t was once said OF William NJ Tweed that he
was a fool because he did not commit his rob-
berries in a legal manner He had the Legisat-
ure entirely under his control. and he could pass
what laws he liked. Some Of our modern states
seem to have profited by his example, for
under the shield of the Legislature some Of the
most daring raids on the city treasury have been
prepared which make TWeeds efforts seem like
those Of amateur.
That is bold talk from Democratic office
holder, nominated by Tammany Hall. The ras-
calities contemplated by his associates must be
great indeed for him to describe them thus. The
men who control this city and can, If they will,
block these steals are:
Robert A. Van Wyck.
John Whalen.
Mr.. Whalen has already been stung to answer
that he is in favor Of the Ramapo repeal bills,
and that If they come TO the Mayor that official
will sign them. But, inasmuch as the scheme is
to strangle the bills, and inasmuch as the Mayor
and himself both favored the Ramapo Job last
summer. his promise of virtue If the bills are
not strangled, while quietly acquiescing In the
strangulation, only adds force to the Controllers
statements. Mr.. Whalen's silence about the
other raids described by Mr.. Coler is equally
significant. The Controller points out how the
bipartisan combination is outdoing Tweed lie
says:
raid cannot apparently be moved from the legis-
lative committee in whose keeping they now re-
pose. The bill l sent to the Legislature to pre-
vent the city from paying more than the market
price for its supplies is apparently hopelessIy
hypnotized. On the other hand, bills recognizing
all of claims against the city treasury
move along toward final passage with electric
rapidity.
That carries the conspiracy beyond the watch
fulness of Mr.. Van Wyck and Mr.. Whalen 1t
is true, they can protect the city by not making
bad contracts or otherwise abusing their power
But behind them is the lawmaking body at AL
bany which can give or withhold power likely TO
be abused. When the Controller charges that
the good bills are being held up at Albany and
the bad ones being pushed he lays upon five
men the responsibility Of protecting this CITY
from any such rascality. They are:
Otto Kelsey.
Jotham L. Aids.
Samuel L. Nixon.
Theodore Roosevelt.
Thomas c. Platt.
Otto Kelsey is chairman Of the Assembly
Cities Committee. In his hands are the in
terests Of the taxpayers Of New-York Is he
going to protect them or show that he deserves
the suspicious encomiums which the Tammanv
people, headed by the Mayor are showerinp
upon him?
lothian p. Aids is the majority leader of the
Assembly. Is he going TO make the Republican
party the tool of the modern improvements ON
Tweed's tactics?
Samuel +. Nixon is Speaker of the Assembly
Has the complimentary vote to make him a
lawyer without sxsnainauen blinded hin, 20 al